PapaMarshall

NYC23 – Day 2 – 11/19/23 – Art and History

We were due at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET) at 10:00 so breakfast this morning was a quick stop at a coffee shop. Cheryl voted for Starbucks but I held out for Dunkin. We are, after all, on the east coast.

The Marshall-Binghams arrived yesterday with enough time to do a bit of exploring – including orienting themselves to the subway system so they led us to the appropriate station to head “uptown” (that’s New York speak for “North”) landing us at the approprate station on the west side of Central Park. From there we walked across the park to get to the MET

  • The park was created by mostly removing a layer of granite and bringing in topsoil.
  • Midtown thru the trees.
  • Midtown thru the trees.
  • Midtown across the Great Lawn
  • We found a swingset along the way.
  • Lots of “natural” area
  • Dogs walking their masters and runners galore
  • Rustic Pine grove (dog off leash area)

We arrived at the MET just in time to stand in the _long_ line of people waiting to go thru security. It’s a theme these days.

This is the line climbing the steps – it actually stretched around 2 sides of the block.

Along the way we had a chance to check out interesting architecture nestled next to more modern high-rise buildings.

Once inside we wandered a bit (the place is HUGE) and eventually made our way to an exhibit on [ ]. On our way back we found the expressionist rooms (Monet and Renoir are favorites of mine) and I spent a few minutes communing with subtile use of color. From there we wandered off in search of the musical instrument display. Along the way we passed thru some striking Asian collections.

A couple of items in particular drew our attention:

  • Bronze from Northern India, 2000 – 1750 BCE. Woman kneeling on a platform suspended by two brama bulls. Other similar figures from this area and era show the woman standing.
  • Siren holding her two tails, Italian, late 16th C. So it looks like the Starbucks logo is one of these, not a mermaid.

Outside the musical instrument section we saw a stained glass window dating to the mid 1800s. It was originally installed in Holy Trinity church in Brooklyn.

Inside we saw a wide variety of musical instruments, both ancient and modern. Here are just a few.

From there it was almost time to rejoin the group and move on to the next event. However…

On our way down a back staircase we encountered this window from the Tiffany workshop.

The window was designed for a stair landing in a mansion in Boston, but was never installed so this is its first installation.

Leaving the museum we grabbed hot dogs at a food cart…

and made our way back to get changed for our afternoon activity:

We took grandson Jesse to see Hamilton.

While we were at the show Kim and Chris took Spencer on a series of fun experiences. We met up for dinner at Uncle Lou’s Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. (Great food at a place obviously very popular with the locals – and nary a fork in sight)

  • Jesse & the Duck (Papa snitched. It was really good!)
  • Spence with the rice tacos

Following dinner we decided to skip the ice cream run and head back to the hotel to rest and recharge.

So that’s Sunday. Tomorrow promises to be an even more interesting day. Can’t wait.

Till then,

R

1 Comment

  1. You neglected to comment that the younger grandson made his way through a Cantonese feast by eating bao bread tacos filled with white rice (pictured here). But that the elder ordered Peking duck, which we all tried and found delicious.

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