Perhaps the most crucial item you could take on your travels is your smartphone. Now there may be a temptation to use your phone to stay connected with everyone on Facebook, Twitter, or the latest news. This isn’t ideal when you’re supposed to be a pilgrim in a new land. Be sure to protect it from water using a reliable sealed plastic bag. The same thing goes for your passport. You have probably seen the pictures of refugees coming and travelling across terrible terrain with very little in their possession. But they all have their phones. Why? Not because they’re…
Jet Lag and Iceland
We just returned from a four-day trip to Iceland, and I have felt jet lag since we left. It was like going to Europe for a long weekend! Is it me? Am I getting too old? Never! Iceland is in the same time zone as Great Britain – five hours difference, so I would naturally suffer some jet lag. It’s important to note that individual experiences with jet lag can vary, and factors such as the flight duration, the time of day you travel, and your overall health and sleep habits can also affect how severe your jet lag is….
The Treasure of the Tenement Museum NYC
The Tenement Museum in New York City is a unique historical museum dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the immigrants who lived in the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is located in two tenement buildings at 97 and 103 Orchard Street, constructed in the 1860s and served as homes to thousands of immigrants from various countries. A tenement is legally defined in New York by the Tenement House Act of 1867 as “any house, building, or portion thereof, which is rented, leased, let or hired out to be occupied or is…
The Wonderful Whitney Museum
The Whitney Museum was high on our list to visit, as we missed it the last time we were here in New York City. We went this past weekend because Edward Hopper’s New York exhibition and the At the Dawn of a New Age: Early Twentieth-Century American Modernism were leaving within the following week. There were no deals on memberships so we just purchased a one-time visit. It was jam-packed for the Hopper exhibition on level 5, which did deter my interest a bit. I did enjoy his sketches for the various magazine cover he created. The Whitney Museum…
New York Public Library Walk
The Library Walk in NYC refers to a public art installation consisting of a series of 96 bronze plaques embedded into the sidewalk on both sides of 41st Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue. It is best viewed by walking from Park Avenue up toward the Public Library. The plaques feature quotes from famous authors and thinkers, and the installation is designed to celebrate the literary heritage of New York City. The quotes on the plaques are carefully curated and represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives, from classic authors like Shakespeare and Jane Austen to modern-day writers…
The New Group and The Seagull Play Broadway
The broadway version is adapted from “The Seagull” by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, first performed in 1896. The play is a four-act drama focusing on the lives and relationships of several characters, all artists, who gather at a country estate. It deals with lost opportunities and the clash between generations. “The Seagull” is considered a masterpiece of modern drama and has significantly influenced the development of theatre and literature. It has been adapted into many different forms, including films, operas, and plays, and continues to be widely performed and studied today. Off Broadway Production at Pershing Square Signature Center This…
The Guggenheim Museum and Nick Caves
MembershipsMembershipsSaturday, we visited the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Some people may tell you that it is the building and not the artwork that is the most impressive. It is true that the building itself is quite a design feat. The most distinctive feature of the museum is its unique architectural design, which features a cylindrical shape and a spiralling ramp that ascends through the building’s six levels. This design allows visitors to view the artworks from different angles and perspectives as they move through the museum. The Guggenheim Museum is a modern and contemporary art museum located in New York…
First Day of Rain NYC
Today is the first day I think it has rained in New York City since we arrived two weeks ago. But I am sure it won’t be our last as rain is predicted intermittently for the upcoming week. While I wasn’t feeling up to getting out, I had stayed home yesterday, so I felt a little walk was necessary. I have rediscovered that I need a day a week at home – not going out. I have known this for some time but felt that being in New York City might be different. It isn’t. The rain was mild, and…
Talk Show Live From New York
I went to my first live studio talk show yesterday – Late Night with Stephen Colbert. Well, I have been to a live show studio once before when I was about 13. More on that another time. This was more of a performance and a lengthy one at that. But, oh my, the time waiting is ridiculous. Let me give you a typical wait time for a Talk Show. 15:00 – Priority Check-in opens for those with a “ticket.” 16:00 – Priority Check-in closes / Group A Check-in opens. 17:00 – Load into Studio 17:30 – Warm-up, but at least we…
Magnificent Visit to the United Nations
Yesterday the weather was absolutely fabulous after a very bitter cold couple of days upon arriving. Today was a little bit chillier, so I decided it would be perfect for me to walk the few blocks over the United Nations and take the tour. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and they run most of the day in various languages. Only six were on our specific tour, so it felt a little more intimate. The shallow U-shape of the Assembly Building is dominated by the Assembly Hall, the biggest room in the Palais, which can seat about 2,000 people. It…