One of the best things about living in New York is not all the fun stuff to do, but people to do it with. I'm lucky enough this year to have two like-minded chicks: with them I visit museums, theaters, historic houses, and all those sorts of places we like. Here are some highlights from our "adventures" (using the term loosely here).New York City Ballet - we first went together to see The Nutcracker. I know we're not twelve. We got cheap seats on the side and sat kinda single-file. It was actually really fun to be that high. Unfortunately, Katie and I have since been ruined because my boss gave us ballet tickets to see "Four Voices." In really, really good seats. At this ballet I learned a few things about my ballet taste. Most importantly, music matters. Maybe even more than the dancing? I learned that I am absolutely into the harpsichord. There isn't enough harpsichord around these days. Also, that I prefer more modern dancing. Especially when paired with the harpsichord. And finally, SweetTarts have a place everywhere, even the ballet.
Frick Collection - the three of us decided to branch out and go to a talk at the Frick about the Riccio Bronzes. You know, leave America for a second. We quickly tooled through the exhibition first, making our snarky comments for all to hear. Katie schooled us on Moses and his accidental horns (mis-translation incident); we wondered aloud what would art have been about without religion? So then it's talk time. I spent the few minutes prior blabbing about bad public speakers... it was not the best talk. Too much assumed knowledge. One of our merry party fell asleep - if you know us, you know who. Lessons learned? None, really. You can't predict a good or bad lecture. I suppose I learned that I should refresh my mythology skills. Oh, and read the Bible. Ha! Right!
Vanderbilt Bling - We took two Vanderbilt-centric day trips in the past few months. The first was partially an excuse to drive on the Taconic State Parkway (prettier when you're going up to Williamstown though). We hit two houses, the Vanderbilt Mansion and Lyndhurst, both in the Hudson Valley. I'll start with the V-bilts. Our guide was HILARIOUS. And not on purpose. It seemed that he had just scrambled his way into the Park Service: he was young, overly professional, and boy did he want to teach us how the V-bilts lived the "American Dream!" Honestly, the house was underwhelming anyway. Lyndhurst was so much cooler. A gothic revival house designed by A. J. Davis (on two separate occasions!), the house was filled with all kinds of yummy vaulted ceilings and faux finishes. The dining room was pretty impressive - cool wall treatment, overall quite the gothicy baronial "powerful man" room. I would recommend it to most people (which is rare for historic houses).
Okay, so trip #2... The Vanderbilt Museum, Long Island. Oh boy. First, purchase a ticket from a mop-top teenager at the Planetarium. YES, I just said Planetarium. We trotted away from the screaming children over to the house (of William K. Vanderbilt II). Two different guides kindly let us know that Crocodile Dundee II was filmed there! To kill time while we waited for our tour to start, we took in as much of the grounds as possible. That is, after we studied V-bilt's collections of bugs, sea creatures, birds, and other taxidermied and preserved objects. Oh, did I mention the shrunken heads? There was a small exhibit about V-bilt's various boats. Did you know he named one of his yachts after his mother? Okay, so next comes the house, right? WRONG! Do not, dear friend, forget to visit the natural history-style section... I don't even know what to call it... ah, they call it "natural history habitats." Darkly lit... some in the midst of restoration, so so creepy. The best part is the hallway of trophy heads, leading to the poor lonely polar bear in his fake snow. I am so glad they haven't trashed these scenes yet, because they are relics, dude. Okay, so, the house. Inside, the Italian revival style house wasn't very Italian, post-entrance hall and maaaaybe dining room. Our guide gave us the tour-that-would-not-end; we learned that things were "very old," "beautiful," and that they filmed part of Crocodile Dundee II there!! Verdict: don't do the house tour, but general entrance fee is worth the wacky exhibits, especially if you're macabrely (is that a word? probably not) inclined. The worst part of all of these house tours though, is that these guides love the houses, for better or worse. And some rightly so. Others not (wOOt Crocodile Dundee!). Stay tuned to Alison's blog, I think she's going to write more articulately on this in the future.
