Early in 2021 all states in the US started opening to tourism once again; I started my trips to NY once again but acting still cautiously we did not venture into Manhattan until now.
My daughter now a resident of Westchester and I traveled to the city for two days of relaxation.
We were celebrating my birthday and chose two activities I feel I need to do repeatedly when here; we went to the MET and out to lunch; we chose The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges.
The MET has always been home to me as a painter; we headed to see Velazquez, Goya, Titian and the European painters including Artemisia Gentileschi, one of my favorite female painters of the period.
My preference is to spend short visits to the museum; I trained as a painter at the Pennsylvania Academy in Philadelphia where we visited the adjacent museum daily, searching for inspiration and for answers on how to paint specific passages in our work.
The periods of time I spent in NY were reminiscent of my life as a student, and the MET my connection to the past as a place where inspiration was always waiting.
We did not spend extra time at the museum, bud simply visited the pieces we wanted to see and left happy to lunch at the Mark; we both ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, followed by Caramel pudding, and Panna Cotta.
Our fish was perfectly broiled fish served on top of braised fennel on a white wine, lemon and butter sauce; our desserts, a savory Panna Cotta with figs and rosemary; and a delicious pudding topped with a thick layer of butterscotch, both worthy of praise.
DAY TWO
A STOP AT STARBUCKS AND A VISIT TO THE WHITNEY MUSEUM
We decided to visit Chelsey and walk through the galleries, but chose instead a Jasper Jones exhibit at the Whitney Museum Chelsey location. My work was always compared to his and on several occasions i visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to specifically see his work, and here I had the opportunity to see mahy of his works up to his last work on a Covid theme. I had just been talking about Jasper Jones work with a fellow artist just a week ago, so I sent him photos of the latest work.
ONE OF MY PAINTINGS FROM 1985 THAT REMINDED ME OF HIS WORK
I now return to Miami with new inspiration!
My daughter insisted I had the broccolini as a side dish and I chose their chicken dish, served on top of creamed pureed potatoes. My daughter chose a favorite salad of hers and for dessert we had their chocolate cookies and espresso. We left the city feeling happy and renewed.
CITY ISLE
DAY 3 THE CATSKILLS