Suddenly, Right Behind Me: Bam!

I was hurriedly crossing a street in SOHO while keeping my eyes on the cross-walk countdown when suddenly right behind me: BAM! I turned around and saw a woman in a blue sun dress roll on top of a black SUV as her bike went flying out in front on the street! She then rolled onto the street herself, and I thought she must have been killed.

My attention was diverted to a man in a brown uniform who started yelling at the driver "That's what you get when you don't let people through!" Seconds later, the women herself was on her feet and in the face of the driver who had come to a stop in the middle of the intersection. She was beat up, but still feisty.

A small crowd started to gather, and I asked a nearby school traffic guide if she was calling an ambulance. I stepped back and waited to see if she was okay. Others were attending to her, and she remained on her feet until a fire truck, then an ambulance came. I'm sure she went into shock once they got her on the gurney.

She had been on one of the new city bikes that were placed on the streets just three days ago. A really bad idea, if you ask me--both putting the bikes out there for the public and actually riding them.

More on the Rope Sculptures in Madison Square Park

I went back to Madison Square Park to photograph the part of Red, White and Blue that I missed this weekend. The park is 6.2 acres, and the rope sculptures are integrated into the landscape, so it's easy to miss them even though they are huge.

Here a young woman lounges in her sundress while others catch the sun's rays which have pretty much alluded New York City this spring until today.

The yellow wall was close enough to the ground that people used it to lounge upon.

The blue sculpture created an enclosed space for a more quiet experience. Here's the outside of it--so many people checking their phones!

A sunbather chose the quiet blue wall for more privacy. 

The sculpture also creates a sitting spot for park-goers.

 

Expect Long Lines at MOMA's Rain Room

On Memorial Day weekend we hightailed it--do New Yorkers say "hightailed"?--from the Theatre District to the MOMA Museum to see the much talked about Rain Room. Unfortunately, even though the museum was closing in an hour, the line to see it was three hours long! So that didn't happen.

However, I went back yesterday by myself to get there at when it opened. The line had already become a two hour wait! I showed my membership pass and was able to skip about a half hour up in line, so that helped. Here is the front of the exhibit which is located outside of the museum.

Basically, the Rain Room is a squared off area inside a large dark room where water pours like a spring shower from the ceiling, but you can move through it and not get wet. Sensors shut off the flow of droplets as you move through it. The museum staff was letting about 10-12 people roam the area at a time. You could stay as long as you liked.

After waiting one and half hours outside in 90 degree heat, I finally was ushered inside where I could see the exhibit, but there was still another 30 minute wait. After watching so many people go through it, I spent only three minutes in the rain myself. This would be a more enthusiastic post if the wait time and the play time was turned around: wait three minutes, play two hours! (-:

I took this video of a cute mom and daughter couple playing in the rain together.

Sculpture: 1.4 Million Feet of Painted Rope

This brilliant red wall of rope is a sculpture in Madison Square Park. I came upon it by accident, but I'm heading back today to take more pictures. Apparently I missed the yellow and blue walls, perhaps because when you see this you think "What else could there be?" The artist collected used lobster rope from the eastern shoreline and knotted and painted it over a period of three years. Watch this short video on the subject to learn more: New York Artist Orly Genger’s Red, Yellow and Blue. 

Even the little dog wanted a longer time to take it all in.

Another Way To Get Around: Bike Share

This new system of getting around New York City started Monday. You can rent a bike for around $10 for 45 minutes and park it at any of the stations located throughout the city. Helmets are not provided, so beware! I can't imagine navigating a bike here while dodging the busses and taxi cabs.

Henry's Rooftop Bar

If you'd like to rest your tired feet and have a drink while you're in New York City, don't settle for street level bars if you can find a rooftop one! Simply let your smart phone locate one near you. That's how we found Henry's Rooftop Bar in The Roger Smith Hotel on 48th and Lexington Avenue. I liked the artsy flags out front and also the scratchboard images of old cars lining the lobby walls.

This photo below is from their website, but we had the place almost entirely to ourselves Sunday. 

Here is my beautiful daughter-in-law (right) and her also beautiful friend, Megan.

How to Decorate a Long Hallway, Part Two

You could maybe purchase a Monet painting. . .

Or one by Matisse, if you have high ceilings as well. 

You can view these awesome pieces of art at the Modern Museum of Art (MOMA) at Rockefeller Center. I doubt that they can be purchased, though, sorry.

They Will Take You Away

Pedicabs line the street ready to take exiting Broadway show-goers to other destinations. These guys are a worth every penny if it's raining, but DO ask up front how they charge as each one has a slightly different method.

Hats for All

When friends and family visited this weekend, we took them for a stroll in Park Slope in Brooklyn where we stopped at the Goorin Brothers Hat Shop. My husband and I have purchased hats here before--as I've mentioned in an earlier post, if you live or work in New York City, at some point in time you will absolutely need a hat! 

The place was literally shoulder-to-shoulder with shoppers. I heard a couple customers ask the sales staff if the latest Great Gatsby move has helped their sales. The way the hats were flying that day, it  wouldn't surprise me if the hat industry itself was behind that movie's re-make.

Great Date Place: Bottega del Vino

Hubby was finishing his work day near 59th and Fifth where we'd been wanting to try Bottega del Vino. I'd been out in the heavy rain all day and was glad to get out of it into this cozy restaurant where I had a nice view of The Plaza Hotel and surrounding Midtown buildings. Food was great, too.

Paul McCarthy Scupture

We saw this exhibition in Chelsea yesterday. I looked up Paul McCarthy on the internet when we got home. I watched a couple videos and read some articles trying to like even a little about this artwork. Couldn't do it. He seems like a normal guy, but I can't figure out the stuff he produces.

Queens Train Ride

On my way to volunteer at Material for the Arts (a kind of Goodwill organization for student artists) I took the wrong train by mistake. Why?  Because I was running late and thought I knew where I was going. Bad idea. The route got a little sketchy, and these two young men were carrying on a loud conversation and rapping as if they were the only ones on the train. I took this video of the view outside my window to look distracted and to record them without being obnoxious.

I was so mad at myself for getting turned around, then I looked at the map of the subway network I had to navigate to  get there and gave myself a break.

One good thing about being a volunteer is that nobody fusses at you if you're late. Here are some of the works by the place's resident artist this month. It's all from donated trash, basically.

Bunny!

I love being back in the suburbs and seeing wildlife in my back yard. I have yet to see any bunnies in New York City. 

Finally, We Have These Tickets!

After living in New York City for two years, the price of the tickets for Book of Mormon has come down to a reasonable (Broadway) price. It had better deliver; I've been pretty disappointed with Broadway lately.