Whew...It's been quite a week. Matt's mom, Gale, and some friends of hers came to visit this week and we were going, going, going all week. I got a lot of things crossed off my Want-To-Do-This-Summer list, which was great. Here are some (actually a lot of) highlights:
Shakespeare in the Park: King Lear with John Lithgow and Annette Bening!!
We waited in some rain...
but were successful! It was worth the 5 hour wait.
During the day, Gale and I went to the American Folk Art Museum to see an exhibit entitled "Self-Taught Genius" about people who invented or did things on their own. We saw some "interesting" things, including a model of the Empire State Building made out of cherry sticks that looked like clothespins.
Also an awesome quilt hand-stitched by slaves in Virginia. Some beautiful, intricate work...and it was cool that they actually attributed the work to the slave women, instead of the slave owner's wife, which was customary.
Later that night we went back to Central Park for the SitP performance. As I was waiting for Matt, I turned and saw Danny DeVito standing around waiting to see the show. That's one of those random, magical things that happens in this city.
The show was awesome and mostly dry until the very end when it started to pour. The actors and actresses were truly professionals and the show went on through rain and thunder. I'm glad we stuck it out!
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The next day I took everyone on the "Matt and Anna tour" - we saw our work places, our grocery store, our church, etc. We wandered and sauntered around the city and wore ourselves out walking. That night we went back into the heart of the city to see Bullets Over Broadway at the St. James theater. It was so good!!
Matt, Gale, Barbara, and Mark
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The next morning (briiiight and early!!) Mark and I went to The Today Show at Rockefeller Center. This was one thing that I'd wanted to do, but it seemed too silly for a resident New Yorker to do on her own. I needed a visitor to make it acceptable. Mark was the right person because he's done this about 15 times. We were right on the corner between the studio and the outdoor plaza. I don't think I made it on TV, but that wasn't really my goal. I just wanted to see it all happen and to say I've done it. Check.
From there we went to a free "Broadway in the Park" concert in Bryant Park. Cast members from several Broadway shows sang songs from their musicals and we got to hear them for free.
Cast of Mamma Mia
Next in our whirlwind day was a trip over to the main public library...a mecca for book lovers such as myself. The iconic lions out front have a long history. Excerpt from the NY Public Library page:
Their nicknames have changed over the decades. First they were called Leo Astor and Leo Lenox, after The New York Public Library founders John Jacob Astor and James Lenox. Later, they were known as Lady Astor and Lord Lenox (even though they are both male lions). During the 1930s, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia named them Patience and Fortitude, for the qualities he felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression. These names have stood the test of time: Patience still guards the south side of the Library's steps and Fortitude sits unwaveringly to the north.
As a tribute to the Lions' popularity and all that they stand for, the Library adopted these figures as its mascots. They are trademarked by the Library, represented in its logo, and featured at major occasions.
I'm standing in front of Patience.
Inside, there was a free exhibition called "The ABC of It: Why Children's Books Matter". It was like they were just waiting for me to come along that day. It was a fabulous display of children's books and why they are so important in children's (dare I say everyone's) lives and how they have changed over the years. We saw many favorite titles, original illustrations from authors such as Lewis Carroll, and even the real stuffed animals that inspired Winnie the Pooh! What a treasure find! Gretchen Westman, if you're reading this, I thought about you the whole time and wished you could see this phenomenal display of work!
Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, Piglet, Pooh. Roo was lost in the woods by A.A. Milne's son, who was the inspiration for Christopher Robin. Winnie the Pooh was originally Edward the Bear.
Later that day we rode the Staten Island Ferry, which is free and affords you great views of the city. We didn't do anything on S.I., but the boat ride was nice.
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I will be sharing adventures from a different city next week. We are headed out to San Diego, California for a vacation. We should have lots of pictures and stories to share after we get back! Have a great week : )
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