Eleven days ago, my older daughter and I flew to New York for 36 adventurous hours, prompted primarily by the imminent closure of the spectacular exhibit of Michelangelo’s drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (but also by my recent milestone birthday).
I must admit that the Met’s exhibit was the highlight of this trip. I was verklempt then and remain so now whenever I recall the short but intense encounter I had with these precious artifacts. So much about them seems miraculous, starting with their mere survival for 500 years despite Michelangelo’s own attempts to destroy all such works right away for the sake of his later reputation. I’m no artist, but even I can appreciate the astonishing craft evident in the simplest, quickest drawing and the breathtaking intimacy conveyed in some of the finished portraits. Lacking the ability to express an informed opinion here, I will let the memory rest as a brilliant jewel in my mind’s eye. If anyone reading this post saw the exhibit themselves, I look forward to reading your own reactions.
But I am happy to go on at length to express my appreciation for the great Kossack welcome my daughter and I received from the NY Kossacks who met us for brunch that Saturday morning. Kathny went above and beyond the usual on our behalf: it was held on a different day and time than the usual NY/NJ Kossack gathering, and the usual venue wasn’t available either. To top it off, kathny herself was able to stay with us only for a short time, because she had a pressing personal obligation for later in the day. I’m sorry the timing was so awkward for you, kath, and I appreciate all the leg work you put into making this happen regardless!
I enjoyed meeting cohenzee very much, someone with a long and illustrious history here. I was happy to see Design the Future again and to meet Sean Robertson. I definitely appreciate the effort required by all the attendees to make it to a social event on a soggy and unpleasant Saturday morning.
As it happened, the brunch was a bit of a tag-team event, because no sooner had kathny departed than sidnora arrived to take her place. Unfortunately, we were so caught up in conversation we neglected to take another group photo, thinking that we’d have a chance while some of us were at the museum together. And then we all forgot again later. It is always a treat for me to spend extended time with sidnora, talking politics, art, urban planning, history — you name it! — and I definitely look forward to our next visit. We promise photos will be forthcoming then.
Our photos aren’t up to the standard that Neeta sets, but my daughter did her best. The more fuzzy ones are mine. :)
Now, traveling to the east coast in early February tends to be a risky business, and all along we had concerns about the likelihood of bad weather. Indeed, the snow we had in Michigan caused the cancellation of the flight my daughter and I had planned to take on Friday evening. Unfortunately, the rain and ice that the metro New Yorkers had that weekend meant that anyone coming from outside the city had additional environmental hazards to overcome. I’m very sorry that they were not able to join the meet-up, but I understand completely the desire for self-preservation. With luck, I’ll be able to return in better weather with a little more open time.
On Saturday evening, my daughter and I did something pretty close to a busman’s holiday for me, at least in some aspects. We attended a performance of the topical play starring Uma Thurman, The Parisian Woman. The reviews I read afterwards
were probably too kind to Thurman, who was not at all compelling. The script was amusing in parts (lots of zingers directed at the BLOTUS) but not coherent over all, with no plausible back story conveyed for the protagonist. In retrospect, I think that this review in the New Yorker by Michael Schulman is on point. But it was fun to see live theater regardless, and her co-star and ultimate foil in the piece, Blair Brown, was a real pro.
Oh, a 36-hour trip to New York City is just too short, even if (especially if) it included a 21-hour day. It was long enough to remind me just why I <3 NY, and why I would like to be on the annual visit plan again. For longer than an overnight, thank you very much!
Next time, my dear NY/NJ/CT friends, I will aim to arrive in any other season than winter, and to build in more time to visit. We’ll have plenty to talk about whenever that might be. Or perhaps I’ll see some of you sooner somewhere else — say, in DC for the next mass demonstration, or in New Orleans during Netroots Nation…? Think of the possibilities! Road trip!