The first weekend in May brought two great things to NYC: The America's Cup and our friends, Rafe and Robin. I've mentioned the Honorable William Wall before - Robin discovered them a couple of years ago. For the America's Cup, they hosted a great party to view the races. Unfortunately, Saturday, when we were out there was cold, grey, and completely still. So we drank beer, shivered and watched one race (which ended up not being counted). But it was still an incredible day, and all the boats came right by the Willy Wall after they finished sailing, so we got up close and personal views of all the crews.
It wouldn't be a Robin visit to NYC without a stop at the Frying Pan.
The latest art installation at Madison Square Park is Big Bling by Martin Puryear. It's about 40 feet tall, his largest work to date. A friend invited me to a talk sponsored by the park, and Mr. Puryear was one of the speakers. He's absolutely darling!
One event I've most looked forward to this summer is Duke Riley's Fly By Night. Unfortunately, tickets sold out in record time, so we couldn't get any. But that didn't stop Sally and me from trekking over to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to catch out the show from the new Rooftop Reds Vineyards. It's a tiny place with a great view, and the co-owners, Devin and Chris, are charming.
I don't own a decent camera, but here's a shot of the pigeons swooping around in the night sky.
For Ed's birthday, we took the train up to Peekskill to see the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Company's performance of Measure For Measure. We stayed at the historic Thayer Hotel, which is on West Point's campus and has an amazing view.
The weather promised rain, but we ended up getting a beautiful summer day. The show was worth the trip, though next time I'm renting a car. Taxi service up there stinks. It was our second visit to West Point--we went on the official tour with Ed's aunt and uncle a couple of years ago. If you get the chance, take it. We learned all kinds of great stories and histories. This time, though, we just wandered around on our own.
Our first Summerstage concert was terrific--Howard Jones, OMD, and the Barenaked Ladies. And I made a new friend!
Last week, we attended the St. Ann's Warehouse gala, thanks to Madeline and Shook Hardy Bacon. It's always fun hanging out with Shookies, and the gala this year did not disappoint. We got (had?) to meet the mayor who has terrific eye contact, but not a terrific handshake, and I got to meet Suzanne Vega, who was one of the many performers that night.
This week has been busy. I stopped by the New York Historical Society to see a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio:
And while I was there, I checked out the art of Mo Willems, whose Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of my favorite children's books.
Sally's friend is producing a documentary about Gilda Radner, so she got a group together for Gilda's Birthday Bingo Bash on Friday night. (Other than Sally, New Yorkers do NOT understand the rules of bingo!) On the way home, I saw these two amazing examples of NYC street art. No clue who the artists are. The face in the colorful one on the left is Federico Garcia Lorca, one of my niece Mary Elizabeth's favorite Spanish poets.
Today, I visited the Oculus...
...on my way to check out The Swings, which is a collective musical installation courtesy of Brookfield Arts. I haven't been on a swing in years. It took me back to senior year in college, when Sydney and Leanne and I were student teaching. We'd get so stressed out that we'd go to the park and swing to decompress. Girls, I swung as high as I could for you today!
Afterward, I visited the Irish Hunger Memorial, which I'd passed by but never seen up close before.
And stumbled onto Rockefeller Park, which is filled with Tom Otterness sculptures.
...and then I walked all the way home, getting myself sunburned in the process. Along the way, I also discovered City Vineyard, an under-construction place that looks like it's right up my alley. Check back later to see if I'm right. It was supposed to open May 1, but that clearly didn't happen. Now it's time to get ready to see The Cure at Madison Square Garden...
