Today DH and I went to the Whitney Museum today to see the Hopper exhibition. I have long been an admirer of his painting and it was a great pleasure to see his watercolors and sketches - which I had not seen before. Sadly some of his greater works were absent from the collection. Obviously could not be slung across a few streets from the Met!
Gas Station and a few other notables where there, so that was nice.
Despite having lived in these parts for some years now, it was the first time I had been to the Whitney and I can't say I was impressed. It's building design is reminiscent of cheap construction blocks and it's not really a very warm place at all.
I did enjoy their display by Charles Ledray. His sculpture works in miniature were fascinating to say the least and THAT more than Hopper, was worth the visit.
From there we crossed to Central Park to "take the air". Covered in snow, it's almost as if the paths of Summer and sunnier days to not exist. The boat pond is empty, save for inches of snow and grassy knolls have become toboggan slopes for scoop sledders and tube riders.
The hush is also different. Everything muted by the layers of snow.
By the time we'd walked our stomachs grumbled. DH offered a place to snack that he'd found via UrbanSpoon or something else likely. So we decided to experiment and crossed to E.73rd St, found the designated spot and squeezed in. Squeeze being the operative word, with tables the size of postage stamps and lots of other guest who apparently seemed quite unable to use their "indoor" voices - which by the way is a term I have garnered since I have lived HERE!
Anyway, about 40 minutes later we exited the restaurant, being about $48 lighter in the pockets for two sandwiches and two cups of coffee PLUS the damned TIP (for what I am not sure - brownie points for me being able to fit into the seat??)...... I don't know, call it parsimonious me, but when did a basic sandwich, sans plate, sans garnish, sans anything? start costing $13+?
By the time we'd got our coats and got moving again the conversation went like this....
"Since when did a sandwich and a coffee cost that much?"
DH goes...."well it's New York"....
I go ..."well it's daylight robbery"..
DH goes..."well it was a nice sandwich"...
I go ...."yes it was, but two slices of procuitto and a dollop of mozarella do not $13 make"...
DH..."the coffee was good"
I go...."yes it was"...
So far, in the interests of conjugal harmony, we have decided not to discuss the matter further!
Your city stories are always so much fun to read...and those Central Park photos looks like they could be from the 19th Century!
Posted by: Seth | January 18, 2011 at 10:14 AM
The snowy photos look nostalgic in a lovely way (as I've said before, I really prefer photos of snow to the real stuff). I get angry at over-priced skimpy food, too - especially if the service isn't wonderful.
Posted by: joanne thieme huffman | January 17, 2011 at 06:37 AM
Ah, living' in the big city. DH and I have walked out of some places here too, shaking our heads at what we paid for what we received.
Nighthawks is my alltime favourite Hopper work (I know it's likely his most popular, but the whole piece just resonates with me so much). It was a tremendous treat for me last April, when I was in Chicago, to finally see it up-close-and-personal. The Art Institute of Chicago is where that particular piece lives (along with another classic that was a treat to see, although it isn't really a fave of mine, Grant Wood's American Gothic).
Love those two Central Park photos; they're SO different from all the summer ones.
Posted by: Lennie | January 16, 2011 at 11:00 AM
You tell a great story and I love hearing about your excursions. And frankly I'm with you a $13 sandwich had better be something extraordinary :-) I expect the DH felt bad that it was his suggestion to dine there. Love what you did with the CP bridge photo.
Posted by: Bren | January 16, 2011 at 09:11 AM