Chocolate Cake (New York)

Today's title is from Crowded House because the song references both Picasso and Warhol who feature prominently at the MOMA.

Really? Then drown.

The morning was cool, overcast and breezy. No rain - a pleasant change. The night was not a great one. Saturday night, after a wet Friday night, meant everyone came out to play. It was like the local bars released waves of loud Americans to walk home together having unintelligible discussions underneath our window. They let them go in waves with just enough time difference for us to drift off to sleep as the next group staggered past our window. I was most concerned for the couple across the street at 3:30am - concerned that she would not give in and take him upstairs because he clearly wasn't going anywhere. Unless it was upstairs or home after total rejection. It all went quiet. Upstairs.

School buses look just like they do on TV

After another night of interrupted sleep, we slept later than usual. So it was close to 10am before we commenced the walk to the subway for today's tourist event: MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art.

We discovered another subway curiosity today.  Caught the L line to our change of station to get an uptown train that placed us near to the museum.  Standing on the platform, as were maybe 50 or so others, but no train.  Waiting, waiting, waiting.  Nothing.  No announcements, no trains, nothing. People began getting impatient and left to find alternate modes of transport.  I suggested walking, but it was too far given we would be on our feet all day.  Then we overheard a conversation that basically informed us that this line was closed.  Well, that explained the lack of trains.  Jayne went straight to the subway map and planned another route for us.

The Museum of Modern Art

Answers to the question: what is art?

And then we were there, 5th Avenue and 53rd Street, half a block from MOMA, 6 floors of modern art, some of which include special exhibtions.  Painting, sculpture, film, photography, installation, MOMA has it all.  Including incredibly stupid people who bring children to an exhibition they don't understand or care about to destroy the moment for everyone.  Nice work.  One example, among many, was the child who was being dragged, selectively, from painting to painting, in the room featuring European classics.  At the top of her 5 year old voice she recited the word 'art' over and over and over in a nasal American accent.  Jayne told me that I was not allowed to pick the child up by the ankles and dash her brains out on the floor. That could be art and I would have received an ovation.

MOMA is well worth a visit.  Picasso is a current favourite, his sculptures a special feature, not to mention that his art work is a major display.  There is a special exhibition of Andy Warhol's work too and the photography exhibition was quite interesting as well.   Other gretas include Cezanne, Gaugin, Monet, Duchamp, Chagall and van Gogh's Starry Night.  The photos below I present without comment - well most of them.

Cait - you were ahead of your time. This is an artwork.

Emily could do better

Design and 

Um, really, would you sit on this? I'd feel violated.

Design and Technology photos

Bloomingdales

Oh, come on, we went to Macy's, we had to come here too.  Not quite as big as Macy's but just as crowded and as confusing to navigate, BUT, they had someone to answer questions and direct you. The question?  Do you stock supporters' gear?  On the day the Packers beat some no name Australian's team, the 49ers, the  answer was a disappointing 'no'.  Enough with the shopping and working.  Home time.

The Subway

It was an easy trip back to East Village with nothing much to report except, well, there's always something, it really depends on what I remember, or Jayne reminds me about.  There was a young couple of the train, maybe late teens; he was reading to her from a novel.  It was obvious that he was focused on this book.  She, however, could not have cared less about the book, but she loved him. The way that she looked at him was beautiful, she was so full of love for him, and he, totally oblivious.  She was happy just being there on the subway sitting next to him.

Sunday night dinner at the local to sample Rocco's next recommendation - rigatoni bolognaise with proscuitto accompanied by a French merlot.  Jayne had the chicken stuffed with proscuitto and mozzarella.  Life is tough.