What a treat to view Cindy Sherman’s genius in this MoMA retrospective. The 170 images cohesively highlight her career-long vision of reflecting society’s narrow ideas of identity at the viewer. Sherman’s lens exposes society’s perceptions and depictions in startling, poignant ways. For 35 years, Sherman has played the role of model, stylist and director to […]
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Ghost Signage
All over New York, faded signage from past eras lingers on the sides of buildings, reminding us of the city’s long industrial history. This building housed Griffon Cutlery Works, which was founded in 1888. Griffon manufactured razors, nail files and all kinds of scissor, including nippers, Ladies’ Button Hole, embroidery, poultry, barber, and nose. Griffon […]
Sunrise over Battery Park
Although I’ve run the same route along the Hudson thousands of times, I never tire of watching the sun cast its light on the waking city. sunrise, Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Edith Wharton’s New York
In honor of the 150th anniversary of Edith Wharton’s birth, the New York Society Library curated a small, pleasing exhibit,“Edith Wharton’s New York City: A Backward Glance.” I’m always interested in learning all I can about favorite authors. I guess I’m a bit obsessed with the stories behind the great stories. Or is it that […]
Free Falling
Am I just a total wimp, or is this a startling sight? I was walking down a quiet Chelsea street, happened to look up and saw this untethered guy. We’ve all seen window washers on swing scaffolds float past high-rise windows, but has anyone ever wondered how midrise buildings addressed dirty windows? Yikes. window, washing, […]
Vredespaleis, or Peace Palace
You might find this hard to believe, but at the end of the 19th century, a peace movement was sweeping the globe. Hundreds of peace organizations existed, some with millions of members. High-profile intellectuals and businesspeople led the endeavor. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia invited representatives from all major nations to join a peace conference. […]
‘t Ogenblik
We were in seach of a quick lunch and this casual brasserie tucked down a side street fit the bill. The comprehensive menu serves breakfast to high tea and consists of pastries, eggs, soups, salads, sandwiches and large plates. We arrived a little before noon (what can I say? We were starving!) and were seated […]
Haags Historisch Museum
In a city full of striking museums, this one was the least compelling. The ground floor gives an overview of the city’s history through paintings and a projected time-lapse drawing, which was interesting, but the upstairs is markedly less intriguing, with a collection of portraits and historical household odds and ends. The museum is in […]
It Rains Fishes
This restaurant’s name first got our attention, then its French-oriented seafood menu caught our eye. The menu features mainstream choices like lobster bisque, mussels and sole à la meunière and more interesting ones like fishes curry and tempura scallops. After changing our minds a few times, we each opted for the market menu, which consisted […]
Panorama Mesdag, Den Haag
Stepping into this amazing exhibit is like getting into a time capsule and emerging on a 19th century beach. A 19th century Dutch beach, that is. The panorama is a large-scale naturalistic depiction of the sea, the dunes and the seaside resort town of Scheveningen in 1881, as envisioned by Hendrik Mesdag, a Dutch banker-turned-artist. […]
