the problem with not blogging

is that by the time a few days have elapsed, I have so much to say that it is daunting.  I was in NY over the weekend with no Internet access. None. Zero. Zip.  My friends have a gorgeous apartment but since they are there just for weekends or random times, it doesn't pay for them to have Internet. SO - I went  cold turkey.

P.J. Clarke's is a NY Landmark, built in 1884 and still going strong.  When a college date took me there in 1960, I had no idea then what a venerable place it was.  Surrounded by skyscrapers, it is a small building on the corner of 3rd Ave. and 55th St. that was once part of a whole row of similar tenements dwarfed by the 3rd Avenue El.

Saturday morning we took the subway up to the Met to see the exhibit of Richard Serra's drawings. We couldn't take pictures but click on the link, read about him, and visit his drawings. I have to say that I have never been a fan of his huge metal sculptures but the exhibit of his drawings was spectacular.  The way he uses space in his work is amazing and inspiring; he conveys so much with so little.  We spent hours there and had some wonderful conversations with very knowledgeable guards. I plan to visit Dia Beacon again and take a look at his sculpture with new eyes.

When we first got to the museum we headed for the roof to see what was up there.  I don't remember what cast this shadow but I had to photograph it.

I do know what cast this shadow but I photographed it anyway, just to amuse myself.

There is always some exhibit or other on the roof - weather permitting.  This time it was Anthony Caro's sculptures.  Here are a couple of them. 

The weather was gorgeous and so was the view.  We just sat and relaxed -- very Zen.

As we walked away from the museum, I had a brief moment of feeling I was in Paris (where they probably sell similar art crappé to the tourists).

Through the park and past the Plaza Hotel.

After a yummy lunch at Sarabeth's, we kept walking. As we approached 55th St., we headed to a small park by the East River.  This is the Queensboro Bridge made famous by Simon & Garfunkel's 59th St. Bridge song.  They have attempted to name it the Ed Koch Bridge but nobody will ever call it that.

That spot of green is Roosevelt Island.  Behind the bridge you can see some of the apartment buildings. The island is accessible by tramway, which once stopped in midair. There is no ferry and there is no subway, so when the tram is out of order...not good.  I have never been over there; it has a rich history and once was a privately owned island.  In the past it has housed a prison, a lunatic asylum, and other institutions. Today, co-ops.  Having just spent 1/2 hour on line scanning its history, I am tempted to get there some day.

Sunday we went to MOMA for a little while. The architecture exhibit was poignant (to me) and absolutely fascinating,

On the way back to the apartment, we passed this guy on Park Avenue.  I think there was a picture of him in the Times - he is heavier than he looks.

Today, back to real life.