I loved my visit to NYC. I took the train in early hoping to visit the MET. About 5 minutes from Manhattan the train stopped, for over 2 hours. Electric trains don’t work when the wire runs out, obviously.

But I made it to the MET anyway.

I think the Metropolitan Museum of Art has to be one of my most favorite places on this planet. Every time I walk into the lobby, I get a little teary and overwhelmed. (It’s not the flowers, my allergies aren’t that bad! – this week anyway). It’s a lovely place filled with history, talent and inspiration.

When I was in college I had a costume class that met every week behind the scenes of The Costume Institute. I was in heaven. I’ve always love clothes, accessories, fashion and textiles. With my little white gloves on, we were able to handle Vionnet, Grés, Schiaparelli, Dior, Balenciaga and, well, everything. We were allowed to study the fabric, the techniques, the embellishments, all the handiwork. Everytime I visit the MET, I head to the Costume Institute first. This time I arrived on the final day of blogmode.

The collection presented for this exhibition was impressive displaying fantastic period pieces as well as innovative ideas from present day designers. I had my favorites, and while I was DYING to take pictures, I didn’t thinking there would be a printed catalog, but there isn’t. The pictures on the web site are small, but there is lots of information to explore.

Tara Donovan has an installation at the MET as well. I am quickly falling for her work, I love discovering the materials used in her pieces. Here, she’s used Mylar tape. I find that I really like the way light plays a part in each piece.

I’ve been craving Spring, so a walk through Central Park was next. Lots of budding color. I love NYC in the spring.

I was in NYC for Printsource. I was working with Patricia Nugent Textiles, a source for vintage inspiration. Here’s what our lovely booth looked like. This is another piece of heaven for me, I love textiles, especially textiles with a story. Makes my heart pitter a bit faster. For the show, there was a lovely selection of clothing, paintings, fabrics and wallpaper. yum, yum and more yum.

We finished set-up early and cabbed it off to dinner. On West 37th Street, they were filming something…Evangeline Lilly and Clive Owen in the middle of the photo. Anybody know what they are shooting?

Another experience :: Wine in a Cup. Don’t try it. Yuck.

I ran into an old friend from college – and out to dinner we went. Hi Andrea! It was FUN! See, Andrea and I used to stop and have lunch on our way back from our class at the MET at an Italian Restaurant on 86th St, so we had a lovely dinner in Little Italy. It was delish!

My last day in the city I was delivering a package when I walked by the Broadway Windows @ NYU. I’ve always loved that they make art accessible by having shows here. And, it was the Hyperbolic Reef that I’ve been fascinated with, and I’m so in love with the ocean right now anyway.

I did love my visit to NYC. I miss living there. I’ll keep visiting, and I hope to bring Iz with me next time. I took the bus and met Iz and Rob in NJ. I missed them so much! At least this time, there was no pneumonia.

Big thanks to Rob for being my Guest BlogStar while I was away.

I’m off to the Big Apple for 7 days. I’m excited to spend a little spring time back home. Miss you. I’ll have lots of pics for when return!

xxoo

ps – check back – guest posting will occur by my main star…

So, she’s on antibiotics, she started this afternoon and Rob says she’s already feeling better.  I can’t help but feel that I should run home and take care of her, but I’m here working and anyway Rob is taking excellent care of her.  Hopefully the fever will be gone by tomorrow and Thursday, she and Rob can drive down and meet me in the city.  Did I tell you how excited she is to visit NYC?  We’ve been watching Muppets Take Manhatten and she LOVES it!  She tells everyone, I’m going to New York City!!!!

This is my very first visit away from Iz, ever.  She’ll be 3 in a few weeks.  I cried the day I left.  But, even though she’s sick, she’s fine.  Of course.  We talk on the phone and after a minute, she says, “Here’s Dad”.  I know, harder on me than it is on her.  Whew.  Of course she had to get Pneumonia.  Of course, and everything is fine.  JOY oh freakin’ joy.

I’m going to try to get caught up on emails before my hour ends.  Cheers!

We had dinner at La Bonne Soup and sat next to a man that plays a DR on ER.  I had the best steak hamburger with perfectly cooked fries and delicious wine.  I am bummed to say that the rooms don’t come with gratis internet access.  Note to self – perhaps find a different hotel next time.  Although the rates are great, and the show is right here in the hotel.  It’s supposed to snow tonight.

The food was really, really good.  Refreshing.  I love that we live in Western Mass, but I sure do miss NYC.  Imagine, I can go to a completely different place tomorrow for lunch and dinner and still have wonderful food.  We took a cab and were there in just a few minutes and got back to the hotel in just a few minutes, not hours.

Ok, I took the train here.  As we got closer to the city, I could see the population getting thicker and I thought to myself, why did we move away?  I know why.  I didn’t want to raise a family in NYC.

We need to visit more often.  I figured I haven’t been here for 2 years.  Now that Iz is getting older, we need to have regular visits.  I love where we live.  The nature is magnificent and it’s the perfect place to raise a family, I think.  But I miss the city.  The city is so much a part of us.  We can’t let that go.  Visits are good.  We can do visits. Many, many visits.