Graffiti @ Brooklyn Museum of Art

I love museums with "suggested donation" prices. The BMA suggests $4 for students and $8 general. Pay what you can, man. Anyway, I wanted to see the Graffiti beginnings exhibit before it left town this weekend. It's been getting a lot of press, in NewYork Mag and the like- more about the history, rather than the exhibit itself. I took the trek to Parkslope to meet my friend Jason at the museum. I got there early, so I took advantage and checked out the rest of the museum. I love Egyptian artifacts, and the BMA has a ridiculous collection from Early to Late Egyptian periods, including a ton of sarcophagi. More interesting, is the extensive collection of "cosmetic" cases and tools. They have cases and cases of actual kohl applicators and jars! That sort of blows my mind- to see the actual day to day possessions of Egyptians from thousands of years ago. I mean, statues and tomb goods are one thing. But eyeliner? That's just so, real.
There is also an interesting American Art collection- from paintings to sculpture to furniture. Being the weirdo I am, I love that there's not only a painting of Niagara Falls, but also some china and even a Niagara Falls pitcher (ugliest thing ever.)
The Graffiti exhibit was small, but informative. I am more impressed with the story, rather than the works. Also, I had to keep in mind that the artists' greatest masterpieces were on trains and buildings and have long since been painted over. They had a sort of cheesy wall area where you could "make your own graffiti". You know, because living in New York City, you wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity.

Anglomania at the Met

What a great day. I went over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today to see the Anglomania fashion exhibit before it closes this weekend. ($20/$10 for students) It was ok- not really that big.

afterwards, I just allowed myself to get lost. I wandered through the Byzantine galleries, and over to the Renaissance. Then browsed the private collections in the Early Netherlandish area, searching for anything by Hieronymous Bosch. I found a work by him, that I wasn't so into.
I'm obsessed with The Garden of Earthly Delights, but this painting was just sort of ordinary. I was still happy to see it in real life. Then..it happened. I was beside myself. Right there, in the Met, I never knew it was there. The Crucifixion by Jan Van Eyck! RIGHT THERE!

The painting depicts Jesus on the cross on the left panel, and the right panel is a cross section of the Earth, of Heaven and Hell. Heaven is adorned by an Asian looking Jesus, Mary, Joseph and a dimensional choir. Heaven melts into a tumultuous Earth, with a chaotic sea meeting chaotic humans. And then the crowning glory, a spread eagle skeleton leading to the netherworld. Much like Bosch's Earthly Delights, the humans below are showed in various states of terrible pain, torture and disfigurement. Paintings like this were the soap operas of the time. Viewers (much like me) could look at the details for hours. Who needed TV? I stared at this painting for 20 minutes. The guard thought I was crazy. Maybe I am?

Babycakes, eh.

I went for a long walk down Broome Street to the ever/over hyped Babycakes vegan bakery yesterday. I've read sooo much about how amazing these cupcakes are. So on this rainy day, I thought, TODAY IS THE DAY! THE DAY FOR CUPCAKES. I was so excited. So, the place is really adorable. The hot chick owners are looking all glamorous and baking in the back, and the requisite gay is taking my order. I got a chocolate and a vanilla vegan cupcake= $5.50. They weren't very..pretty. Or big. And they tasted...boring. Dry. Note, the gray icing on the vanilla. Sorry Babycakes. I won't be returning. Will vegans really eat anything if its vegan?

Screw The Quakers

I finally live in a city where Trader Joe's sells cheap cheap wine! Picked up some Australian Shiraz for $3.99! I'm so sampling the entire store.

A l'Opera

Summer in the city can be magical. Especially if it includes Central Park under the stars, a lavish picnic spread, blankets, friends, and a free performance of La Traviata by the metropolitan Opera. Friends, friends of friends, friends of friends' friends and I all met on the lawn armed with blankets and goodies. I made a spread from seemingly nothing that you can check out at my other blog here.
I'm new to opera, having only seen Marriage of Figaro before I left Philly. I probably would not have seen even that (tickets are expensive!), but the many of the musicians in the orchestra I worked for also played in the Opera's orchestra, so I got the hook up.
The Metropolitan Opera stages free performances in parks around the boroughs and New Jersey during the summer (sponsored by Bank of America and other financial institutions). The operas aren't staged, they are just vocal and instrumental performances. My friend Mario is an opera enthusiast, so he was on hand to explain the story to all of us. Despite this, it was still an amazing evening. One friend got there very early and scouted an L shaped five blanket spot near the front (which quickly filled up with our entourage.) Mario was smart and brought a red umbrella to "twirl" so that late comers may spot us. About 50,000 people showed up, and the sound isn't great- so get there early. The performance was about 2 hours long, and eased into a (semi) starry night. Actually, I saw a lot more satellites. But probably the most stars one could see in Manhattan. Slightly tipsy on wine and basil lemonade with vodka, I laid back on the blanket and just focused on the sky and the arias I was hearing. Talk about feeling alone in a sea of 50,000! Wow. There are still some dates yet- check the schedule and get yourself to a park!

So I Walked to Manhattan

Thirty minutes to the Queensboro Bridge, thirty minutes over the bridge into the Upper East Side. It's a beautiful sunny morning, so I decided to get coffee- in Manhattan. The view is great, although I wish the pedestrian walkway was on the south side. I got an eyeful of Roosevelt Island (boring) and those smokestacks that anti-Semite Mel Gibson drew over and over in Conspiracy Theory. I also got asked out by 6 construction workers, who must have low standards since I was walking in my pajamas. I'd hoped that the Roosevelt Island Aerocar was running, but for some reason it wasn't. My legs feel like rubber. My only regret was getting the large iced coffee in Manhattan....damn that bridge is long when you have to pee.

Beer Garden- the reason Astoria is the best

A few blocks from my great apartment is the Bohemian Beer Garden (take the N R W to Astoria Blvd, 24th avenue and 3oth street). The last beer garden in New York City, the Bohemian is cheap and great for summer drinking. Think extended backyard- rows and rows of picnic tables, thick trees, strings of lights and Czech BBQ. Mugs of beer are $5 and pitchers are $14- may sound pricey, but they have great beers, like Hoegaarden, Erdinger and Spaaten. Bring a deck of cards or a board game. The weekends get pretty crowded and sometimes there will be a long line to get in. And don't even try to steal a mug, the extensive security staff will check your bag on the way out to make sure you aren't a thief. The Hall itself is really cool- and huge. Aside from the outdoor area, there's an oddly lit auditorium, indoor bar area, and finished basement. If the bar is too full, try the cute tiny bar, The Sparrow, across the street. Cheers.

Coming soon!