Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Friday, October 22, 2021
Halftime Thriller
I couldn't find Nina and Pablo on the field when the show started, so I got off to a late start on my video documentary work on this half-time production featuring 200 performing arts students. I think Nina and Pablo both did a good job of staying in character.
Saturday, October 16, 2021
NYC: Day Last
On our last day in NYC, we checked our bags into the concierge and took the subway to The American Museum of Natural History. As on our other museum visits on this trip, we split up and planned to rendezvous at lunch time in the museum's cafeteria.
I spent a considerable amount of time in the museum on an exhibit about the controversial Theodore Roosevelt statue at the front of the museum. I believe the exhibit was an effort to "teach the controversy." But a June 2020 "update" noted that they now plan to remove the statue.
I didn't see that an actual removal date has been determined, but I suspect that it will not be here when I return to NYC.
After leaving the museum, we walked through Central Park to get to the Metropolitan. And stopped along the way for sweet desserts from a concession stand.
That's Gerard's portrait of Talleyrand (1808) in the image above.
In the Metropolitan, I took a few photos without my hand in them. That's Antonio Canova's sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" (1793) in the foreground in the pictures below. In the background in the image below is Gerard's 1808 portrait of Talleyrand.
That's David's portrait of Antoine and Marie Lavoisier (1788) in the image below. According to the Met, "Lavoisier was a pioneering chemist credited with the discovery of oxygen and the chemical composition of water through experiments in which his wife actively collaborated. However, he was also involved in studies of gunpowder and a misunderstanding about his removal of this precious commodity from the Bastille in the summer of 1789 threw his alliances into question. This mishap and his status as a tax collector (the more prosaic means by which he funded his scientific research) led him to be guillotined in 1794."
That's Gerard's portrait of Madame de Tallyrand in the image below. According to The Met, "her affair with the statesman Talleyrand was sufficiently scandalous that Napoleon demanded they marry; neither was particularly faithful, however, and, by the time this portrait was painted two years later, they had separated."
I got to spend a little bit of time with Nina in the contemporary section of the museum, and took the pictures below of her with "Lilith" (1954) by Kiki Smith.
After we left the Museum, we walked back through Central Park at dusk in the direction of our evening's appointment in the Theatre District.
Along the way, Pablo guided us the "Alice in Wonderland" statue where she posed as a 3-year-old, when she lived in NYC.
Some buskers make beautiful music. Nina gave a tip to this pair. The woman was singing "You Raise Me Up."
After leaving the park, we had some delicious tacos and quesadillas at "La Esquina" on 55th street. I also enjoyed the horchata. Our next stop: Studio 54, now a theater, where we watched "Caroline, or Change," a revival of the 2003 musical, with books and lyrics by Tony Kushner, inspired by Kushner's childhood in Louisiana in the 1960s. The presence in the musical of a racist statue of a Confederate soldier (labeled "Defender of the South")--and important plot point--connected with our earlier encounter on the day with Roosevelt's statue. And the relationship between a white child and the family's black maid echoed "To Kill a Mockingbird."
After the show, we walked through the rain to our hotel, where we called a taxi service that would take us to the hotel we'd booked near the airport in New Jersey (a free night--using points). Sujata had left 3 books at the main desk: gifts for the kids. Good choice! The "taxi" (no brand markings; cash only) came after midnight and we got to New Jersey around 1 a.m. Transportation to the airport, the flight to DFW, and the dad pick-up all went smoothly. Operation NYC: success.
I spent a considerable amount of time in the museum on an exhibit about the controversial Theodore Roosevelt statue at the front of the museum. I believe the exhibit was an effort to "teach the controversy." But a June 2020 "update" noted that they now plan to remove the statue.
I didn't see that an actual removal date has been determined, but I suspect that it will not be here when I return to NYC.
That's Gerard's portrait of Talleyrand (1808) in the image above.
In the Metropolitan, I took a few photos without my hand in them. That's Antonio Canova's sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" (1793) in the foreground in the pictures below. In the background in the image below is Gerard's 1808 portrait of Talleyrand.
That's David's portrait of Antoine and Marie Lavoisier (1788) in the image below. According to the Met, "Lavoisier was a pioneering chemist credited with the discovery of oxygen and the chemical composition of water through experiments in which his wife actively collaborated. However, he was also involved in studies of gunpowder and a misunderstanding about his removal of this precious commodity from the Bastille in the summer of 1789 threw his alliances into question. This mishap and his status as a tax collector (the more prosaic means by which he funded his scientific research) led him to be guillotined in 1794."
That's Gerard's portrait of Madame de Tallyrand in the image below. According to The Met, "her affair with the statesman Talleyrand was sufficiently scandalous that Napoleon demanded they marry; neither was particularly faithful, however, and, by the time this portrait was painted two years later, they had separated."
I got to spend a little bit of time with Nina in the contemporary section of the museum, and took the pictures below of her with "Lilith" (1954) by Kiki Smith.
After we left the Museum, we walked back through Central Park at dusk in the direction of our evening's appointment in the Theatre District.
Along the way, Pablo guided us the "Alice in Wonderland" statue where she posed as a 3-year-old, when she lived in NYC.
Some buskers make beautiful music. Nina gave a tip to this pair. The woman was singing "You Raise Me Up."
After leaving the park, we had some delicious tacos and quesadillas at "La Esquina" on 55th street. I also enjoyed the horchata. Our next stop: Studio 54, now a theater, where we watched "Caroline, or Change," a revival of the 2003 musical, with books and lyrics by Tony Kushner, inspired by Kushner's childhood in Louisiana in the 1960s. The presence in the musical of a racist statue of a Confederate soldier (labeled "Defender of the South")--and important plot point--connected with our earlier encounter on the day with Roosevelt's statue. And the relationship between a white child and the family's black maid echoed "To Kill a Mockingbird."
After the show, we walked through the rain to our hotel, where we called a taxi service that would take us to the hotel we'd booked near the airport in New Jersey (a free night--using points). Sujata had left 3 books at the main desk: gifts for the kids. Good choice! The "taxi" (no brand markings; cash only) came after midnight and we got to New Jersey around 1 a.m. Transportation to the airport, the flight to DFW, and the dad pick-up all went smoothly. Operation NYC: success.
Friday, October 15, 2021
NYC: Day Three
We got up early on day three and took the subway south to Battery Park, after stopping briefly to take a morning photo with an Empire State building backdrop.
We'd reserved spots on the ferry and arrived before 9 a.m. for our 9:30 trip, but the line was loooong. Though we had to go through "airport security" checks, the line moved really fast.
Most of the ferry-riders got off at Liberty Island to climb the Statue, but we continued on to the Museum of Immigration at Ellis Island.
The Registry Room is in the Great Hall.
After we left Ellis Island, we walked through Battery Park, Bowling Green, and past Wall Street's "Charging Bull" bronze (1989)--there was a line to take pictures with it ("Touching the Balls" was a particulary popular pose), to the Fearless Girl (2017) bronze, which used to stand in front of the Bull, but now stands in from of the NYSE.
We then paid our respects to Alexander Hamilton, his son Phillip, his wife Elizabeth Schuyler, and his sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler, in the Trinity Church Cemetery (the church and graveyard were closed to the public). Alexander's tomb towers about the others (which we couldn't see). The church--the third built on this site--was the tallest building in the U.S. between 1846 (when it was completed) until 1869, and the tallest in NYC until 1890.
We then walked to the 9/11 memorial--there are now fountains where the north and south towers stood.
We then took the subway back to Midtown Manhattan, where we had planned a rendezvous with ECU Honors graudate Sujata Kandel (who now works as a nurse), her husband Arun (going to a school full time), and their son Aidan.
We told Sujata our kids like Mediterrenean, and she made reservations for us at a restaurant called "Turkish Cuisine." We got there early, and found our seats in the patio. I told our server that I would be paying for dinner, but that the people we were meeting might argue about that. He assured me that he would get the bill to me.
This was my first chance to meet Aidan. He is a lucky boy.
And a happy one!
After a few mosquito bites, we moved inside and ended up ordering many, many dishes from the menu, including mint tea, Sigara Borek (cheese-filled filo pastry), Mucver Kofte (zucchini patties), falafel, hummus, lentil soup (my favorite), babaganush (grilled eggplant puree). It was delish!
We had a lovely time.
When it came time to pay the bill (I'm sure it was a big one), our waiter let us down. It was not pretty. I think it is VERY important to Sujata that she and her family pay the bill. It was also very important to me, but I got boxed in. It was embarrassing--especially when we learned later that it was Arun's birthday!
It was great seeing Sujata and her family.
After we said our goodbyes, we started walking to the the Theatre District.
Our kids' first Broadway show: "To Kill a Mockingbird," adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch. We had to show our vaccination cards to get in to the Shubert Theater. And we had to wear our masks the whole time. In 1962, Barbra Streisand had her Broadway debut in this theatre. And in 1965, "A Chorus Line" opened in this theatre . . . and stayed for the next 15 years.
We all gave the show two thumbs up.
We walked through a crowded Times Square on our way back to the hotel after the show.
We'd reserved spots on the ferry and arrived before 9 a.m. for our 9:30 trip, but the line was loooong. Though we had to go through "airport security" checks, the line moved really fast.
Most of the ferry-riders got off at Liberty Island to climb the Statue, but we continued on to the Museum of Immigration at Ellis Island.
The Registry Room is in the Great Hall.
After we left Ellis Island, we walked through Battery Park, Bowling Green, and past Wall Street's "Charging Bull" bronze (1989)--there was a line to take pictures with it ("Touching the Balls" was a particulary popular pose), to the Fearless Girl (2017) bronze, which used to stand in front of the Bull, but now stands in from of the NYSE.
We then paid our respects to Alexander Hamilton, his son Phillip, his wife Elizabeth Schuyler, and his sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler, in the Trinity Church Cemetery (the church and graveyard were closed to the public). Alexander's tomb towers about the others (which we couldn't see). The church--the third built on this site--was the tallest building in the U.S. between 1846 (when it was completed) until 1869, and the tallest in NYC until 1890.
We then walked to the 9/11 memorial--there are now fountains where the north and south towers stood.
We then took the subway back to Midtown Manhattan, where we had planned a rendezvous with ECU Honors graudate Sujata Kandel (who now works as a nurse), her husband Arun (going to a school full time), and their son Aidan.
We told Sujata our kids like Mediterrenean, and she made reservations for us at a restaurant called "Turkish Cuisine." We got there early, and found our seats in the patio. I told our server that I would be paying for dinner, but that the people we were meeting might argue about that. He assured me that he would get the bill to me.
This was my first chance to meet Aidan. He is a lucky boy.
And a happy one!
After a few mosquito bites, we moved inside and ended up ordering many, many dishes from the menu, including mint tea, Sigara Borek (cheese-filled filo pastry), Mucver Kofte (zucchini patties), falafel, hummus, lentil soup (my favorite), babaganush (grilled eggplant puree). It was delish!
We had a lovely time.
When it came time to pay the bill (I'm sure it was a big one), our waiter let us down. It was not pretty. I think it is VERY important to Sujata that she and her family pay the bill. It was also very important to me, but I got boxed in. It was embarrassing--especially when we learned later that it was Arun's birthday!
After we said our goodbyes, we started walking to the the Theatre District.
Our kids' first Broadway show: "To Kill a Mockingbird," adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch. We had to show our vaccination cards to get in to the Shubert Theater. And we had to wear our masks the whole time. In 1962, Barbra Streisand had her Broadway debut in this theatre. And in 1965, "A Chorus Line" opened in this theatre . . . and stayed for the next 15 years.
We all gave the show two thumbs up.
Thursday, October 14, 2021
NYC: Day Two
On Day Two, we walked to Times Square (Nina was particularly eager to go there). 
When Mari and visited NYC in 2019, the MoMA was not open to the public because it was being renovated. On this trip, we started here. We got there when the Museum opened, at 10:30 a.m., and we all split up and agreed to rendezvous for lunch at 12:30. On the one hand, this allowed me to move at my preferred glacial pace. On the other, it left me wondering if the kids got as much out of it as they would if I'd been looking over them. We had lunch outside the museum at "Hale and Hearty Soups." Pablo was particularly pleased with the salad they served him. We weren't allowed to eat inside, but we found a nearby plaza with tables and chairs. Then, while I went back to the MoMa, Mari and the kids found a Gelateria and wandered around Central Park for a bit (see image below) before meeting up with me again in the museum at 4.
I made sure everybody saw the painting by Frida Kahlo, and the Kathe Kollwitz etchings, and we took these group photos with Jackson Pollock's best-known work.
After leaving the MoMA, we took the subway to Chelsea Market.
In Chelsea Market, we had smoothies and more pizza.
When we left the Market, we walked the High Line to Hudson Yards.
The Vessel (opened in 2019) was not open to the public, but we took these pictures from outside.
We had dinner at Mercado Little Spain in Hudson Yards (pan con tomate, tortilla, papas bravas, huevos y arroz, ...).
After dinner, Nina and I took a walk around the mall, and as we were walking past a Shake Shack she said to me "That man looks like Andrew Yang." Reader, it was. He was having dinner with his wife and kids. We didn't bother them, but we took Emilio and Mari to see him. And then we walked back to the hotel.
When Mari and visited NYC in 2019, the MoMA was not open to the public because it was being renovated. On this trip, we started here. We got there when the Museum opened, at 10:30 a.m., and we all split up and agreed to rendezvous for lunch at 12:30. On the one hand, this allowed me to move at my preferred glacial pace. On the other, it left me wondering if the kids got as much out of it as they would if I'd been looking over them. We had lunch outside the museum at "Hale and Hearty Soups." Pablo was particularly pleased with the salad they served him. We weren't allowed to eat inside, but we found a nearby plaza with tables and chairs. Then, while I went back to the MoMa, Mari and the kids found a Gelateria and wandered around Central Park for a bit (see image below) before meeting up with me again in the museum at 4.
I made sure everybody saw the painting by Frida Kahlo, and the Kathe Kollwitz etchings, and we took these group photos with Jackson Pollock's best-known work.
After leaving the MoMA, we took the subway to Chelsea Market.
In Chelsea Market, we had smoothies and more pizza.
When we left the Market, we walked the High Line to Hudson Yards.
The Vessel (opened in 2019) was not open to the public, but we took these pictures from outside.
We had dinner at Mercado Little Spain in Hudson Yards (pan con tomate, tortilla, papas bravas, huevos y arroz, ...).
After dinner, Nina and I took a walk around the mall, and as we were walking past a Shake Shack she said to me "That man looks like Andrew Yang." Reader, it was. He was having dinner with his wife and kids. We didn't bother them, but we took Emilio and Mari to see him. And then we walked back to the hotel.
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