Leaving NYC

In no particular order. The MOMA was so crowded you couldn’t enjoy the art. I was bummed. My advanced age has accumulated to many experiences of museum going in sparsely filled rooms; the intimate experience of being with the art wasn’t possible at the MOMA. The place crowded like a sale at Macy’s. Some of the art I really like and that is personally moving to me was off the tourist radar so I got spend some intimate time with Joseph Cornell, Marcel Duchamp, Brancusi, and HC Westerman. The museum felt like being on a freeway filled with rubberneckers slowing down to see an accident.

Lily wanted to be in some crowded New York street scenes so we left the Museum and headed south down 5^th ave. Lots of people, lots of women in too tight clothes and painful (but attractive) heels with faces that looked passed you as to not be seen and then glanced at you to be sure that they were being seen. We walked down to 42^nd. St And over to Times Square. I miss the seediness of the hustlers, peep shows and people of questionable gender. Once more the creeping NICE has leveled another area to make it comfortable and feel like a mall that you have seen in lots a movies.

We spent the night at our friend Robins sisters place. (Robin was baby sitting and there was an empty 3 floor.) We stopped at the Chelsea market, got food and I used a real kitchen to make dinner.

Yesterday was Lily’s photo shoot. There is an agency in SF that is interested in her modeling and sent us to their favorite photographer in New York. Lily was nervous but not too nervous for a good Lunch at Sarah Beth’s in Tribeca. Fabulous Guacamole with homemade Potato chips. All of the food was good. We spent 2 ½ hours in the photo shoot and Maxim got some great images. It took about an hour for Lily to lighten up. Once a friendly conversation broke out between the Photographers, make up artist and the family the energy shifted. Lily laughed and relaxed, then the photos got good fast. Afterwards  we went for dinner at the Tribeca Grill with our friend Robin. Great food, really nice place and a perfect way to walk off the island for the last time on this trip.

4 days have come and gone, we have walked out butts off, traveled through many holes in the ground, ate some great food, saw art, fashion, tightly wrapped uncomfortable women and a decreased grit factor. The spread of money is obvious and common. San Francisco bears the same scars as Lower NYC. Creeping moneyed white people happily

displacing who ever and whatever culture had established itself and it is OK because they can afford it. Nothing cleans a consciences like cash.  Brooklyn has welcomed the refuges driven out of the city and Brooklyn is better for it.

I don’t mean to leave the impression that I didn’t have a god time, because I did. It is just that Creeping NICE bums me out.

The Hot Dog that Lily wanted but never got. 100% natural.

Lily working with Maxim in Tribeca studio.

The perfect hand cut potato chip heart ( with guac.) Loves speaks a unique language and Andrea and I understand this one. A little green goop is what make loves real and taste good too.

the cat on the hat

A Times Sq. I would never have recongized.