This has been a whirlwind trip, cramming a lot into a brief time. Today our friend Jacqui took the train down from the Midlands to meet Sue and me. After catching up during a leisurely breakfast, we headed to the Tate Modern. The Tate Modern, opened in 2000, is a massive museum housed in a former Power Station. The special … Read More
London – Day 5
I started the day off very slowly because I hadn’t slept well. Caffeine in my system, I had just about enough energy to board a bus to Selfridges on Oxford Street. In years past they’d had some wonderful holiday windows. This year most of the windows were announcing the post-Christmas sales. Back on a bus, I headed towards the Royal … Read More
London – Day 6
Five out of six days have been rainy, but that hasn’t dampened my spirits. London has too much to offer, inside or out, to make me feel gloomy. I walked from the hotel to Covent Garden with the intent of exploring the London Transport Museum. Adjacent to the museum was a small flea market that I couldn’t resist poking around. … Read More
London – Day 7
The weather on my final day in London convinced me it was time to go home. For the sixth day out of seven it was raining—not a drizzle but full-out drenching rain. Because my flight wasn’t until evening, I wanted to spend it productively. I headed over to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. It seemed as if every other … Read More
Fabrics
I can neatly sew a button or hem, but beyond that I’m not fond of sewing. That’s probably because of a home ec class in middle school. The wrap-around skirt we sewed and were required to wear to class was less than flattering. Consequently, shopping instead of sewing became my go-to. But I love looking at fabrics. The myriad patterns, … Read More
Women Dressing Women
This morning I headed over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were two shows I wanted to see: at the Fashion Institute, Women Dressing Women and in the Japanese Galleries, Anxiety and Hope. The fashion exhibit was interesting, but not spectacular the way the Diva show at the Victoria and Albert was. There were some lustrous fabrics, beautiful designs, … Read More
Metropolitan Museum: Japanese Art Galleries
There’s a new exhibition at the museum, Anxiety and Hope. The art is from the 12th to the early 19th centuries. I was struck by a number of things in addition to the beauty of the work. Considering the age of many of the scrolls, they are in astoundingly good condition—colors are bright and paper intact. They must be loved … Read More
Back to the Future—The Musical
Yesterday I went to see Back to the Future on Broadway with my nephew Scott, his wife Sherrie, and daughter Brianna. I’m always somewhat leery of seeing adaptations of movies into musicals, especially movies that I remember fondly. But this adaptation was fun. The lead looks and moves like Michael J. Fox, the new “Doc Brown” is uniquely his own, … Read More
Terence Blanchard
Until a few years ago I hadn’t been aware of Terence Blanchard. Then his opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, premiered at the Metropolitan Opera to rave reviews. Friends told me to see it, unfortunately I didn’t. But Blanchard’s name rose in my consciousness and I began to hear more about him. He is a seven-time Grammy winning musician … Read More
Border Crossings
The NY Public Library for the Performing Arts is a gem located in Lincoln Center. Researchers from around the world head to their massive collections of theater, film, dance, music, and recorded sound materials. The public can also use the library. When I was in High School, I went there often to listen to recordings or watch films. They mount … Read More