A Day Across the Park

Eileen and I dined al fresco on my UWS lanai on one of the first nice days in memory. We had a lovely breakfast catered by Whole Foods via my find handiwork. For all the sins that recently transpired and all the sins ahead, we went to the gym apres petit-dejeuner.

Classic dog walker in NYC.

Then it was off on a crosstown odyssey to The Metropolitan Museum of Art after an amazing (as always) walk across the Park. I capitalize Park because Central Park is just so worthy of it. I never tire of being in it.

Pat finding a comfortable bench for when he can no longer pay rent.

The Met blew Eileen's mind as it always does mine. Truly one of the finest museums on the planet. The collection and the presentetation are amazing.


Eileen knows how to dress for cool, sophisticated museum shots: black clothing.




This vase looks like it was inspired by a Disney movie.

Sargent's amazing Malcolm X.

After a losing race through the 19th and 20th Century European galleries due to time, we sauntered at a pace to quick to call it sauntering (but sauntering was my vision) down Park and then Lex to meet my friend Ellie at her house. She wanted to meet Eileen and take us to dinner. What fun it was! Ellie is a treat and she was so gracious to both of us. We had a great evening.

Pat, Eileen and Ellie at Da Filippo.

Then I was off to French class and Eileen to meet a pal. We would meet up later for my friend Lisa's surprise party at Jake's Saloon on 23rd. Such is New York life: fun, hectic, fast-paced and always thrilling.

Eileen Comes to New York After 15 Years Away

Eileen in New York City. It is a Perfect fit!


My sister Eileen has come to town. She arrived on a cold, dreary night and we got up on a cold dreary day. But hey, we are in New York City so it all doesn't matter! Hot coffee and lox and bagels (I must get off this kick, but it is SO New York delish!) for breakfast and then headed out in the rain to Soho to meet Sean for lunch. He took us to the perfect, cool boîte and we ate some Yemenite soup and and had a great visit. They got a long like the house and fire I thought they would.

Pat and Eileen with Sean on the the streets of SOHO.

As we turned the corner I realized my friend Sue lived RIGHT THERE. One always takes a risk with "Hey we are right outside your door do you wanna meet my sister?" But we did it and Sue had us up for a tour of her fab Soho dwelling and a chat on all things media and dating. What else is there?

OM gosh...this was turning into a progressive visit day. I love those days.

Eileen and Susan in her fab pad

Susan took us up to Washington Square Park and sent us on our way north.

This evening we went to my friend Bob's house for dinner. Eileen and I are SOOOO bummed that we have NO photographs of this wonderful, wonderful evening. For some reason Eileen and I were so engulfed we forgot to shoot so I have recreated it here for you.

Bob made the most amazing Cesar Salad (lemon zest and Worcestershire Sauce secret ingredients) and pasticcio with béchamel and then this incredible cherry cake for dessert with whipped cream (not pictured). Wow. We had a wonderful time.

A day of friends and visiting. Again I think this is my favorite thing in life. Thank you all friends, New York, Eileen and all who participated in this wonderful day.

And we slept like wee lambs as a result.

It's Official

Who knew there was an Official NYC Info Center? There must be a lot of pirate ones around town. Sort of like John's Pizza or Tomy's Burger in LA. So when you want to know what is real in NYC, come here...

Harlem

Love the buildings here. Really cool architecture.

In Harlem. Had Caribbean food. Brown Stew Chicken. Mmmm.

Martin Kippenberger at MOMA

Both unemployed people and those selling government secrets tend to hang out at museums during the day. At least I think so. Both myself and my pal Jerry are in the former (and if this goes on any longer maybe in the latter?) group. We met at MOMA in midtown for a walk about and a catch up.

I was SO impressed by the Martin Kippenberger exhibit there. This German artist worked in SO many mediums (media) and produced so much and lived in so many interesting places. Shame he died of liver cancer at 44. But it wasn't too late for me to compare myself and make a whole fantastic exhibit all about my shortcomings (My thought bubble: "Wow, he made all this stuff and lived in Florence and Madrid and Los Angeles and didn't give a damn and did all this stuff ALL before 44 years of age! Damn, what have I done?").

It is that healthy thinking that should restrict me to looking at art of only the aged.

I loved so much of the Kippenberger show and highly recommend it if you are in New York. It is a huge exhibit and there is so much to amuse. I really liked all the art on hotel stationery and many of his large paintings especially "Really Nice Communist Lady" or "Sympathische Kommunistin."



I do have to say I loved my morning with Jerry and MOMA and felt energized overall to continue with what was a busy and rewarding day.

Thank you Jerry and Martin.

Easter Parade

All the lovely people save for Bob sadly since he had to leave before we broke out the cameras.


EASTER this year was one of those pinch myself moments when I KNEW I was SO blessed. Today I tabled my fears of the future and was just in the day. I was surrounded by friends and friends who got to meet other friends. Nothing makes me happier than that. I know these people from all over: Sue from LA, Pat and Sean and Bob from New York, Danny from Glasgow, Audrey from Glasgow and Katherine and Frances from Yorkshire. And here we all were together in the apartment I love and on Audrey's birthday for Easter brunch!

Katherine and Frances. We were told to make a bunny face. I was the only fool who did.

The traditional Easter Monkey?

It is a celebration of bounty as far as I feel. We had bagels and lox and cream cheese - good Jesus-being-Jewish-and-all food. People bore gifts of daffodils, Easter eggs, Cinnabons and amazing homemade Irish soda bread. We delighted in a shared meal, a shared time and each other.

After brunch it was a walk en masse through Central Park on a truly glorious spring day. The blooms are coming out and rebirth is all around. There was hope and renewal today. It was in the air.


A jazz combo in the park. A cliche, but a really good cliche!

My pal Danny, from Boston via Glasgow. Truly a King of the Americas!!

Finally we descended on 5th Avenue for the famous Easter "parade." It is not so much a parade as a mill about. Or a Milliner About - since all sorts of folk wear amazing Easter bonnets and parade and revel in being photographed. There were some amazing ones this year.

The beautiful and wonderful Audrey

Bonus, I crashed into my friends Tom and Phil, New Yorkers who had never been before!










And my two fave photos of the DAY!! (thanks Susan and Sean good work!!)

Angela Lansbury

My pal Danny was down from Boston and it was 7:37pm on a Saturday night when we decided to try and go to the theatre. A taxi ride through impenetrable traffic and a scurry through seas upon throngs of people in Times Square and we were at the TKTS booth looking at the board. Nothing appealed there so we raced to get into top tickets "Gods of Carnage" and then "Billy Elliot."

"Nae chance pal" as they say in Scotland.

Back to the board with minutes to spare and we were at the Shubert Theatre seeing Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit."

It is a fun chestnut of a play and this production was pleasing, if a little uneven, but pleasing for a night out at the theatre. I have to say the real thrill was seeing Angela Lansbury on the stage. I had never seen her perform live before and she is in her 80s and still amazing. This role had a lot of physicality to it and she was game for every step.

I marvel at her. Always have. She has been Oscar-nominated, won 4 Best Actress in a Musical Tonys, made a pot of money on "Murder She Wrote," been happily married AND lived a good long time in Ireland. She doesn't need to work and yet there she is 8 performances a week.

She is gifted and she is blessed.

I once saw her at 11 o'clock at night walking down Broadway by Columbus Circle on her own. This unassuming legend. But that is New York.

Grateful tonight to have seen her on the stage and I hope I take away from it some of her blithe spirit.