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Sunday 22 March 2009

Last days in NYC

My darling is in the shower and I'm sitting and trying to figure out a way to not have to leave New York.

This morning we were up at about 8 and the weather was looking nice and sunny so we decided to do the last thing that was on our list of things to do - see the Statue of Liberty.

We subway-ed our way down to Wall Street and walked to the Staten Island Ferry terminal.  The ferry goes every half hour and is free - better than paying $20 to hang out with tourists I say.

The ride was very cold though, took about 20 minutes and we got relatively close to the Lady.  Close enough for some snaps.  We turned around pronto and decided to go shopping at Bloomingdale's. Not the fanciest of the department stores here, but it did offer us an 11% discount.  

Bojan hadn't been on any of my shopping expeditions yet, but he did enjoy Bloomy's and the sheer range of things it had on offer, even if it was a bit overwhelming.

I ended up with a pair of J Brand jeans that I'd wanted forever and ever but couldn't try anywhere in Australia and didn't want to buy off the net without trying on.  Bojan bought some red and navy Ralph Lauren socks and a "The Who" t-shirt (he's going through a rock t-shirt phase I think).  I saw my Chloe perfume lady again and she tried running after me - it sent a shiver down my spine! 

The rest of the day we spent at Bleecker Street- the Village really grew on us today.  It was wonderful and sunny! We had some cupcakes again, this time in the park and walked up and down.  I went into some of the stores, which were nice and very well priced.  I loved Intermix!


Tomorrow is our proper final day - we are definitely going skating again and we'll see about the rest!

Saturday 21 March 2009

One week on...

Today we woke up at about 9am, as didn't really have any plans.  We were loosely considering going on the Staten Island ferry which goes right past the Statue of Liberty.

When Bojan pulled the blinds up - it was snowing outside! I'd always wanted to come to New York in winter, but honestly it was terrible outside.  We walked around the block and ended up with huge headaches from the cold.

We finally ended up at at our little Elmo for breakfast and had some pancakes and eggs and warmed up.  Bojan had decided that apart from Lady Liberty he'd seem most of the things he'd wanted to see, so he went home to study and I opted to go to The Frick Collection as it was another indoors appropriate day weather wise and  student entry is $5.

Wow! 

The Frick is located on the corner of 5th Avenue and East 70th Street across the road from Central Park.  The building it is housed in was built in 1913-13 by Henry Clay Frick as his residence who later bequeathed the building and his artwork with the wish that it be developed into a public gallery for the purpose of "encouraging and developing the study of the fine arts".  Aside from the furniture, drawings, prints etc, he left 131 paintings with a further 37 having been acquired since his death by the Trustees with endowments from the Fricks and other gifts.

Even though photos were not allowed, Milijana would not Milijana without sneaking a couple in (don't worry I didn't use flash as I know the harm it does to artwork).  


The gallery is made up of glorious dining rooms, sittings rooms and an actual gallery.  It is said that Mr Frick held 2 dinner parties a week, to which he invited 27 gentlemen.  The ceilings were high and gilded with beautiful gold borders.  The paint on the walls was a deep green.

The main staircase is exquisite.  I am so happy I managed to sneak a photo of it in, as the official portraits don't really do it any justice.  The staircase itself was inspired by Dean's Staircase at St Paul's Cathedral in London.  

I loved the Rembrandts and the Van Dycks, but my favourite was Jean-Augustine-Dominique Ingres' Comtesse d'Haussonville.  A portrait of a married woman in her mid 20's who already had 3 children, but was a seductress and an independent woman capable of making just about every man fall in love with her - including the artist.

After the gallery, I decided to wander around the Upper East Side - which is definitely my sort of neighbourhood.  
 


The streets are clean and wide, the buildings architecturally designed.  Each one has a door man that helps you out of your limo when the shopping bags get in the way.  Stores a plenty, but again, nothing in my price range!  

The funniest incident was when waiting at the lights near Bloomingdale's.  A perfectly put together lady with a fur coat and a Louis Vuitton handbag was walking with her 2 year old daughter.  When we stopped at the lights, the little girl pointed at a subway station and said "Mummy, what's that?"  to which the lady said "That's the subway world - we don't go there".  LOL - very symbolic of the Upper East Side.

I hadn't yet been to Macy's or Bloomingdale's so I went into Bloomy's.  Yikes.  I smelt a nice perfume on my way up the stairs and when the lady stopped me to ask if I wanted to try it I said "sure".  Well, she kept going on and on and on and on about some special that she would only give to me, a jewelry box, extra perfumes and creams - all for only $125!  Well lady, I have no shopping budget on this trip.  But the next thing I know she's pulling me towards the counter and ringing it up! With tax it's $132 and I know that I can't buy this.  So she walks off to get my "extra gifts" and I make a run for it!!!!!!!  

The jeans section was great though and I'm lemming a pair of dark denim J Brand skinnys... I'll see what Bojan thinks!

Right now we're off to watch the Knicks play at Maddison Square Garden!

Friday 20 March 2009

Day 6 - MoMA, Saks and other shenanigans that Bojan didn't want to part take in..



After returning from a very expensive round of drinks at The View atop The Marriott Marquis smack bang in the middle of Times Square, we got to bed fairly late last night, so ended up sleeping in this morning, which was meant to be our museum day. Besides, Bojan was not feeling the best.

And what an appropriate museum day it was - about 0C and raining. 

To continue our bad form, we got on the wrong subway, so ended up nowhere near MoMA!  In the end we caught a taxi, which is never recommended in NY's stand still traffic, especially in the wet. MoMa is located just off 5th Avenue on 53rd Street.  This is the view from inside!

And what is the Museum Of Modern Art?  What defines modern art? According to the "Highlights" booked I picked up in the gift shop, it's not as easy or as simple to define as one would hope.  MoMA was founded in 1929 and now occupies the whole block, 7 curatorial departments and over 100,000 objects!  The founders believe (and still believe as most of them are still actively involved with the running of the museum) in the premise that the art of our time is as relevant and as important as the art of the past.  And when I think about it, I guess it is true, even though sometimes I fail to understand the abstract and the non-conservative interpretations of art that modern artists tend to have.

There are paintings, sculptures, film, media, photos, design, print and drawing galore.  

There is no doubt that MoMA has done tremendous things for modern art and it is interesting to see where it will head - how it will continue to select the pieces and build upon its legacy.  

I adored the Picassos and the Van Goghs.  I loved learning and seeing how the different types of printing paper make a photograph print entirely differently.  I never really realised that before until I saw the prints side by side.


 Another notable piece was this drawing - which are DOTS!  Totally cool!

I had hoped to have lunch with Bojan at the Terrace Cafe on the 5th floor, but it was far too small and the line was too long.  The food here has really been terrible and the places that serve anything half decent are really difficult to get a table at.  Bojan tends to get really grumpy when he's hungry, so waiting was not an option.

I really hope to be able to go to the Met, Frick and or Guggenheim on Saturday.

At this point we parted ways as Bojan needed to study and I wanted to see some things that Bojan had no interest in seeing.

I made my way to 5th Avenue, which is so depressing due to its affluency.  There is nothing to buy there that's within my Gold Credit Card limit, haha!  The only things within my reach are from the Americana chain stores - and Zara!  Banana Republic was on sale and the skirt that I tried on on day 1 which was not available in my size, suddenly had two available!  So I snapped it up.  It's a gorgeous, silk, pale gold tiered, ruffled skirt.  Plan to wear it to a wedding we have coming up.

I love people watching on 5th - the old ladies with their fur coats, the businessmen in Ralph Lauren talking about hedging, the Gossip Girl tweens texting and wearing perfectly put together "I don't care" outfits, the tourists in stone wash jeans and sneakers talking photos...

Of all the department stores I've visited, Saks has been my favourite because it has the full range - the couture, the runway and the contemporary.  And what I loved is the fact that I was "ignored" by the sales assistants.  Not so much ignored, but not hounded, they'd smile and say hi and let me browse.  I ADOOOOOORED their 8th level shoe salon.  It has it's own post code.  The Louboutin section is wonderful.  It has a bigger selection than any online retailer I've come across.  Anyway, my point is to retell seeing a girl about 16 shopping with her dad, pointing at the Loubies she wanted and she got them all.

Next I made my way further along 5th to the New York Public Library.  The famous location where Carrie and Big were MEANT to get married for all you SATC fans.

The building is grand, you feel like you're in Venice or something.  It's so peaceful and elegant, with carved desks, high ceilings and intricate paintings and carvings on the walls and ceilings.

I then made my way down to Grand Central Station where I got a cookie, the new US Vogue with Beyonce on the cover (yawn @ them using celebrities all the time) and I was on my way home.  I knew that Bojan would be worried about me at that stage because I didn't take my mobile with me.

For dinner he's dragging me back to Kafana in Alphabet City, but that's ok, because I like a good pljeskavica too!

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Today, Tomorrow.. Always

TODAY:
What is today's date?- March 4, 2009...
What was the first thing that happened?- I woke up.. went to get my mail and came to work??
Who was the first person you talked to?- My husband of course
What was the best thing that happened so far?-The new issue of Vogue being out... oh how vain I am lol
What was the best thing you've eaten?- A mint lol
Whats the worst thing you've eaten?-Considering it's not even 9am I've not eaten much at all
Who were you with?- Woke up next to my husband and am now at work!
Where did you go?-Post office then work
What did you wear?-A suit
What did you buy?-Tram ticket & Vogue
What was the best song you heard?-I've not heard a song yet
What's the funniest thing that happened?-My tennis partner being keen to win the final tonight, a bit too keen!


TOMORROW:
Whats tomorrow's date?-March 5, 2009...
Got any plans?-Same as always - working
Is there anything you HAVE to do?- Nothing is a "have to" apart from death. Which I hope won't happen tomorrow
Who are you going to be with?-The usuals
What would you like to get accomplished?-Book the other bits and pieces of the trip
Who are you defiantly going to talk to?-Customers!
Do you have to go to school/work?-Work


FUTURE:
Who do you want to marry?-I am already married to him!
When do you want to get married?-Been there done that
How do you want to get married?- NA
Where do you want to settle down at?-Anything but a massive McMansion!
Whats your dream job?-CEO of a charitable organisation
How many kids do you want?- However many God gives me
What do you want your kid's names to be?-They'll be named after the saint they were born close to
Do you want to have kids early or later on in life?- Middle ground
What kind of house do you want to live in?-As long as it isn't bigggggggg.. Not my thing at all
What kind of car do you want to drive?-A nice lil Merc
How many and what kind of pets do you want to have?- Just a doggy pls
Where do you want to go to college (If you haven't already)?- Been there and never doing that again!