The Arsenal At Central Park

Lost Gloves

 Bottle Caps

 Cans

 Surge Protectors

New York Condoms

One of my all time favorite exhibits this time of year--wreaths at the Central Park Arsenal made from recycled and very unusual materials.  The added bonus is the magnificent building it is housed in-on 64th St and 5th Ave.  I almost forgot, it is free1

Central Park Arsenal

On one of my annual trips to see the mangificent store windows, I read about an exhibit of home made wreaths in the Central Park Arsenal.  I didn't even know this place existed, so I had to go and see.

The Arsenal is a magnificent old building which now houses offices and an art gallery.  If you have a chance, go check it out, you won't be sorry.

More pictures here, on Facebook.  (More window pictures in a few days)

Picture Day

Free day gave me time to take some great pictures from the Hearst Building.

If you love NY as much as I do, there are more pictures here.

Central Park South

Getting to enjoy a view like this-retirement is grand.

This Principal Is a Mensch

He told his teachers that getting to school Friday shouldn’t be a priority.

He told them the official starting time was 10:00 AM, but those coming in should get there whenever they could.

He told them to bring their children.

He held a short meeting and then sent them to “lunch” and told the new ones to ask the veteran ones what that meant.

 

I just met a woman who visited the school at 1:00.  She said it was a ghost town.

 

The school system needs more Principals like this one.

 

Geodome

Ghost Buster buildings behind Central Park.  View from roof of Met.

Central Park

Central Park

The giant crane causing all problems on 57th St.

Greek head--Posterized with Photoshop

 Friday I took advantage of free subway and bus rides to visit the Met.  I am grateful transportation was up and running but the 30 minute trip took 2 hours and the line getting on the train going home wrapped around 63rd St.  Smart me thought of taking the express bus and got home in no time.  Anyway, I think I will avoid Manhattan for until things are back to normal.  I did get to see the Geodome exhibit, which closed Sunday so it was all good.  Above are a few pictures.   

Still no Internet at home, but with the losses others have suffered, this is nothing.  Right now, I am at work on a school computer.  

Hope everyone is safe.

Freedom



It finally hit me.  I don't have to worry Sunday about what I will do on Monday.  There are no lessons to write, no papers to mark, FREEDOM!!!!!!

To celebrate, I decided to visit the Jewish Museum today.  The Radical Camera:  New York's Photo League, 1936-1951 is my kind of exhibit.  These wonderful photographers were really photo journalist from the era mentioned until the Communist witch hunts of the 1950's put many on black lists and ultimately led to the demise of this institution.  Anyone interested in history will love this exhibit.  Anyone following OWS will frown at the same issues photographed in the 30'.  No photo are allowed in the exhibit so you'll just have to go see it yourself.  (I did see lots of similar subjects to the kind I usually take.  Who knows, maybe one day I can have an exhibit somewhere as well.--my bathroom walls!)   In addition to this exhibit, there is one on Ezra Jack Keats.  I learned that he was the first to illustrate a book with an African American child, a child like any other who just happened to be Black.  He didn't see why race should enter into a book about a child and he never mentioned race.  His art work is exceptional and this exhibit alone would have made the trip worth while.    There is also a great menorah exhibit, menorahs picked out by Maurice Sendak.

In the past, a Sunday afternoon excursion would have ended early, but not today and not ever again.  I then headed to the Guggenheim to see the Maurizio Cattelan exhibit.  The line to get in wrapped around the block, but thanks to my husband's previous employer's sponsorship, I got in immediately and at no cost.  Time Out NY didn't particularly like this exhibit, but I did.  These strange sculptures, from Kennedy in a coffin, to the Pope being struck by a meteorite, hang from the ceiling and as you walk around the rotunda and get a close up look, you will not be sorry you came here.  Cameras were allowed and I was glad I had mine.  Pictures here. 

The day was cold but sunny.  Still, in no great hurry, I walked through Central Park and ended up at 57th and 6th.  I saw parts of the park I never saw before. 

Yeah!!!!  No more weekends spent getting ready for the week to come!

Strawberry Fields and Surrounding Area

 John Lennon wannabee

 The Dakota

Enjoying My Last Few Days

Riding home on the subway, my friend encountered a former assistant principal from her school who is now a principal. When he hugged her I cried "Principal Cooties!" Everyone who knows me knows I have poor verbal control. Luckily, this guy laughed at my comment.

It turns out that this guy is retiring soon. His job has consists of doing things to make Bloomberg and Klein look good and he just can't take it anymore.

I immediately retracted my comment.

Pictures taken while walking through Central Park, near the lake at 110th St on one of my last vacation days. We were on our way to a walking tour of Harlem. I'll post those pictures soon. Sorry the pictures are not as sharp as usual. I forgot my Nikon at home.