Day trip to Europe

A while back we got the subway up to the top of Manhattan to visit The Cloisters Museum and Gardens. It's part of The Met Museum and is a huge collection of medieval European architecture, art and artifacts. 

The walk there from the subway takes you through a lovely park overlooking the Hudson, with some great views of the George Washington Bridge. 

When you arrive it kind of does feel like you're suddenly in Italy. 

Pretty much everything in there, including the materials the actual museum is built from, was imported from Europe over a hundred years ago. 

It was a really hot and muggy day so after a brief explore of the exhibitions we mainly just enjoyed the cool courtyards and gorgeous medieval gardens (they smelt amazing too).

 And then on the way home we spotted what Dave assures me was a groundhog!

After all that it seemed only right to end the day with an incredibly American dinner - our first US-style BBQ meal at our local Dino-BBQ.

Other things happening lately

Here is what the past few weeks have looked like for us...

Boat trip to the fascinating Immigration Museum on Ellis Island (via the statue of libery)

 Showing Mum and Simon all around campus and our neighbourhood (including our favourite local brunch and sushi spots)

Enjoying sweet treats brought from home.

A lovely evening out with free tickets to the Affordable Art Fair opening drinks reception. followed by a new delicious pizza discovery with friends.

 Continuing to enjoy just how colourful New York is when everything comes in to bloom.

Sunny afternoons at the Brooklyn Flea.

Enjoying Mum's food whilst we had the chance (and reaping the benefits of lending her my Ottonlenghi cookbook when we left London)

 Celebrating Dave turning 30 with an amazing dinner and cocktails out and some New York cheesecake at home.

And sampling a new Taco Truck at the end of our street for a pretty much perfect working lunch...

(And just in case you're thinking it's one long holiday there has also been a lot of paper writing and abstract submitting -from Dave- and job applications, interviews and freelance craziness -from me-!)

Happy weekend!

Rainy day at the Guggenheim

I think it might be my best New York gallery so far. 

Two of my favourite things combined - clean white walls and round rooms.

We visited with Mum and Simon on a wet and busy Saturday and I thought it was going to be packed. But actually it still felt pretty peaceful and relaxing.

I particularly like the fact that you start at the bottom and just follow the spiral up to the top so you don't even have to think about where you're going, it was almost hypnotic. 

(I get anxious if I think I'm not doing exhibitions in the right order, silly I know)

We saw the John Chamberlain retrospective (which mainly consists of surprisingly beautiful and colourful crushed cars). Despite having no previous knowledge of his work I completely loved it. 

Partly because the free audio guide was so great with insights from curators, family and the artist himself. 

I do always appreciate art so much more with a little explanation!

 (can you spot Dave and Simon having a chat above?)

I can't even complain about the weather as the rain and mist allowed us a very atmospheric walk there and back. 

New York really suits all seasons so well.

 

Walking home (via Whole Foods) for an evening of roast lamb and red wine.

Saturday night in Chelsea

Had a lovely New York Saturday night with some lovely new New York friends. 

P and L kindly took us to a great exhibition opening in a warehouse by the river in Chelsea then we went for dinner and drinks in nearby Park. 

We ate delicious wood-fired pizzas in the Garden (which is an atmospheric indoor garden).

Then moved into the Red Room, which was like a Chinese influenced speakeasy, for drinks.

 Now enjoying a rather lazy Sunday. 

Tomorrow is a national holiday for Martin Luther King Day, it's currently -3 outside and we got a huge bunch of Collard Greens in our veg box this week so think we might attempt some Southern comfort cooking this evening.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!