MDNA GONE WILD

She ripped up the BX. MDNA Yankee Stadium 2012

Keith Haring '78-'82 | Brooklyn Museum

until July 8th 2012

"Keith Haring: 1978–1982 is the first large-scale exhibition to explore the early career of one of the best-known American artists of the twentieth century. Tracing the development of Haring’s extraordinary visual vocabulary, the exhibition includes 155 works on paper, numerous experimental videos, and over 150 archival objects, including rarely seen sketchbooks, journals, exhibition flyers, posters, subway drawings, and documentary photographs.

The exhibition chronicles the period in Haring’s career from his arrival in New York City through the years when he started his studio practice and began making public and political art on the city streets. Immersing himself in New York’s downtown culture, he quickly became a fixture on the artistic scene, befriending other artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Kenny Scharf, as well as many of the most innovative cultural figures of the period. The critical role that these relationships played in Haring’s development as a public artist and facilitator of group exhibitions and performances is also explored. Pieces on view include a number of very early works never before seen in public; seven video pieces, including Painting Myself into a Corner (his first video piece) and Tribute to Gloria Vanderbilt; and collages created from cut-up fragments of his own writing, history textbooks, and newspapers." -BrooklynMuseum.org

Sowing the Seeds of Love

Speaking to two dear friends about dealing with an insurmountable fear of losing the attention, love and affection of a relationship, I realized that so many of us search to fill ourselves with other people, fill ourselves with tending to others needs, wants, desires, dreams, and wrapping ourselves in someone else's perspective, instead of tending to ourselves.

If my life is a garden, who should tend to it? No one else but I can know best how fruitful I wish it to be. Yet so many of us expect for others to water our garden of dreams, destiny, love, accomplishments, and memories. Most who seek someone to tend to their garden are not aware of the unintentional neglect they are allowing, and often slowly realize that their garden needs the love and care of the owner.  Submitting to the fear of not tending to our own needs,  expecting others to provide that care, leads to flowers wilting, leaves falling. It is is easy and often we blame those we thought were responsible for its growth, leading to weeds flourishing in our garden.  Rarely are we happy to see our garden left in disrepair, but only we are at fault and only can we clean the debris, rid the weeds, and start over. Should others weather bad winds and harsh frost, helping hands we can provide, but never should we be someone else's gardener.

We also must respect the gardens that surround us. Only the owner can ever truly feel, see and know their garden, no matter how much they wish for others to commit to its care. With love we can teach each other how to enjoy each blossom, but who are we to tell anyone which seeds to plant? In a relationship, there is no room for growing happiness when two people commit themselves to tending two gardens.  In the end it is within our own garden were we can find our own happiness, and learn to admire the breadth of beautiful gardens that exist around us.

Para Los Rumberos

Jam En El Barrio

Love you Graaaandpaa.

THE GREAT WALL

A wonder of the world indeed.  The Mutianyu wall is the most recommended section of the wall to visit.  Hosting a little degree of difficulty, lots to walk, a ski lift up and a long taboggan down makes the wall the highlight of my trip to Beijing. Opting for a visit to the Wall instead of the Forbidden City, we were able to accomplish this visit before a late afternoon flight back to NYC.  Leave Beijing early enough (6am) and the trip there is quick, and the market at the entrance/exit is fun and not as overwhelming as the Badaling wall (the most common section visited) markets sound to be.

Vino - Heads Up

My two latest favorites in the wine realm have interesting names, and one would believe, from their very different websites, that they were totally unrelated (?) but they are both completely satisfying reds that while satisfying a different taste and appeal, there is a richness to each type that deserves a wide audience.

GNARLY HEAD
Authentic Red
 I found out from my local wine vendor that this had become his most popular wine and now, favorite recommendation.  Under $11 a bottle, this touch of sweet yet spicy bold red wine accomplished exactly what I sought from a blend.  I have grown an immense appreciation for red blends because I do not think my palate seeks what one type of grape can accomplish, I appreciate the mix of tart, sweet, bold, oaky, rich, fruity, and spice.  This is my perfect idea of a wine that can be enjoyed everyday, used for Sangria, enjoyed slightly chilled or room temperature.

TOASTED HEAD
Shiraz
One of the first types of red that I grew an appreciation for was the Syrah or Shiraz. Its blended boldness was what led me to appreciate Chianti later on.  I come back to the world of Shiraz as I found a perfect representation of the Shiraz, that spicy bold slightly tart and slightly oaky wine I first fell in love with.  It is hard to say if I like one over the other, as the Gnarly Head is definitely something that can be enjoyed with frequency, but the Toasted Head is definitely the kind of wine I like to savor, the spice notes are unique and the bold tart nature of this wine would be more appreciated in lighter rotation, like a fine cigar (or with a fine cigar!)

Mememememeeeeeeme (NYC EDITION)

 Featuring the new improved sexy Duane Reade! I do live there.

Sunset : Whitney Houston

I mimicked your every turn, note, breath, pause, in hopes of mastering your songs even remotely close to your mastery.  Through you I became a better singer. I dreamt of becoming a singer, having your poise and grace, and your intense control and fluidity.  I dreamt that I would meet you and be able to share with you how much I enjoyed your music and how much your voice impacted my determination to sing with strength and emotion, sounding as effortless and as angelic.

Life takes us to unexpected places, sometimes dark and treacherous, and although I can't imagine the breadth of difficulty you faced, I always hoped with hands clenched tightly that you would find your peace with us on earth, find your way to sing again, even if not perfect, but find the beauty in sharing your gift.  You leave us a tremendous gift that can be shared forever, and countless performers were born from your presence and music.  That I do not consider a waste of life.  You lived a full life in a short span, and all I can hope for is that you somehow know how much you were cherished, and hope you are resting in loving peace.

Now, to play what became one of my favorite songs of yours, which came later in your career, an album I wholeheartedly admired and felt had more of your own soul within it.  I cherish these lyrics and how you sang them everyday, as I will cherish all of your contributions to this lifetime.

Loving Cup

Although today is the exception, spring feels like it is making an early arrival, and nothing transitions winter into spring better than Pimm's. 

"Pimm's was first produced in 1823 by James Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. Pimm offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing quinine and a secret mixture of herbs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name."

My two favorite ways to drink Pimm's No. 1? Let's break out the Collins glass and:

Pimm's Cup ~  lemonade + Pimm's + ice + thin slice of cucumber and slice of strawberry
Royal Cup ~ Champagne/Prosecco + Pimm's + thin slice of cucumber and lemon

...also try mixing with iced ginger tea. YUM!

Seboowsey bowsey bop, dittybop.

The countdown begins!

Until then...

Antony & The Johnsons

1/26 at Radio City Music Hall, the perfect place to experience his exquisite, hypnotic voice and the gorgeous stage show MoMA contributed, spectacular.  No video will exist of this performance, so the next best thing is...

QUEENS?!?!?

Oh my beautiful NYC

SUNSET: Etta James