A blog for older adults about loving this City even when your knees hurt and your hearing is not what it used to be!
Author: Kay
I knew when I started my blog I wanted to reach out to seniors like myself. I wanted to share my stories and even be a bit of a tour guide on what I’ve learned and the fun I’ve had at famous and not so famous New York places.
Or…The Westminster Dog Show winner will be awarded February 12th!
I never watched the show until about 20 years ago. My dog, Nadia, was a beautiful golden retriever whom we had to put down. She was 17. Shortly after, I was flipping thru the TV channels and stopped short when I saw a field of goldies. With tears flowing, I watched as the judges decided which of those gorgeous dogs would move on. That was it… I was hooked. I’ve been watching it ever since and have gone many times.
From NY Times – which will be the best of this breed?
Over the weekend, the selection of best breed to compete for Best in Show was held at Piers 92/94 12th Ave. on the west side of the City. It’s a wonderful family outing and one I highly recommend. The finals are at Madison Square Garden. Check it all out on their website. westminster
Photo: WKC
My pick for the 2019 winner would be, of course, a golden retriever!!!
Watching the selection is a hoot. The crowds cheer, whistle and clap like it’s a basketball or hockey game at the Garden, yelling out for their favorites.
Photo from MSG
LOVE THIS CITY – AND LOVE THE DOG SHOW!
KAY’S NOTES:
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: The first time I went – no problem getting a ticket. Now, close to being sold out each year. Ticket prices vary – general admission the cheapest.
FUN TO KNOW: Members of the Westminster Kennel Club and some owners come in gowns and tuxedos with lots of glitter looking their very best as they watch these elegant purebreds strut their stuff. The rest of us? You name it, but its always a great time no matter the wardrobe!
Disclaimer: I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.
OR…What is the exciting new cultural center opening on the west side called?
Yes…it is, indeed, calledThe Shedand it’s opening April 5. Here’s what I learned…from their website. It describes it much better than I could.
But first… a photo. This unique building moves!
THE SHED! A FLEXIBLE BUILDING!
Here is what this amazing structure is bringing to our City.
A HAVEN FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Opening in spring 2019, The Shed will be New York’s first multi-arts center designed to commission, produce, and present all types of performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture. Driven by experimentation, innovation, and collaboration, The Shed will be a center for artistic invention bringing together leading artists working in every art form with leading minds in the humanities and sciences. The program will be international, created with co-commissioning partners around the globe, and local, with early-career artists in residence in The Shed’s free creative lab. Located on the west side of Manhattan where the High Line meets Hudson Yards, the unique and flexible building can physically transform to support artists’ visions and the work they create—from hip hop to classical music, visual art to literature, film to theater and dance—with collaborations across these disciplines and beyond, welcoming the broadest range of art forms and audiences, all under one roof.
I’ve yet to go, but you can bet your sweet patootie, I will be there in the very near future. I also bet it will quickly become one of those wonderful places for New Yorkers and visitors alike to identify as a must see…not once but as often as they can. I’ll write another post on my take of this new exciting destination as soon as I can get there…just need cooperating weather.
LOVE THIS EVER CHANGING CITY!
KAY’S NOTES: IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Check out their website for upcoming events, more photos and information about The Shed located in part of Hudson Yards, west side of the City. Huge complex of apartments, offices, stores, restaurants, parks. .hudsonyardsnewyork
GOOD TO KNOW: The phrase, “bet your sweet patootie” is very familiar to some, especially us older folks. When I write my posts I always do research on the subject and other related material.(Hence my disclaimer that I try for accurate info but no promises.) I thought it would be fun to Google the “patootie” phrase to see what I could discover. Couple of things, first of all it came about around the 1920’s and used to describe a pretty girl and/or an animal’s backside…hmmm. However, most interesting to me was to find out that Fats Domino ( love his music) recorded a song he wrote,”Sweet Patootie”. Check it out and more about “Fats”: pianist, songwriter, singer and one of the pioneers of rock and roll”.www.fatsdominoofficial.com/
Photo and excerpts from the websites of The Shed and Fats Domino.
Disclaimer: I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.
Or…Did you know those big auction houses, like Sothebys and Christies, have preview days prior to an auction and are open to the public and are FREE?
(NOTE: Life got a little complicated these last few weeks which is why you haven’t heard from me. But, I’m back with my further NYC adventures!)
Fall and spring are the big art auction seasons, however, they go on all the time. And they’re fun to see and I’m all into freebees! If you haven’t gone before, it’s a new way to enjoy the City.
Christies – Rockefeller Center
Sothebys Upper East Side
I saw this stunning work by Gerhard Richter at Sothebys prior to the auction on Contemporary Art on November 14th…and it sold that night for $33,604,500!!!! I watched the auction live stream on my computer. It was an interesting couple of hours as bidders on the phone or sitting with bidding paddle in hand decide what was the highest they would go to own a particular work of art.
Gerhard Richter” Abstraktes Bild
Keep in mind, auction houses sell more than paintings. Example is an auction on the collections of Barbara and Frank Sinatra.
Below is from Sothebys’ website.
Final take? If you want to do something different and perhaps get away from the crowds (except for Christies which is only a block from Rockefeller Center) and see up close interesting and beautiful works of art and other collections along with estimated selling prices shown next to the art… visit an auction house!
And, of course, followed by something nice to drink at a nearby friendly spot, like a sparkling Prosecco, not expensive, low alcohol and delicious as you think back on what you saw and try to make a decision if you could bid on one piece, which one would it be…hmmm.
FUN TO KNOW: Good places for celebrity sightings. GOOD TO KNOW: HBO has a documentary called, The Price of Everythingabout artists and collectors. I was surprised to see that a few of the artists in this documentary had works auctioned the evening of the 14th. KID FRIENDLY? Best for older kids
Photos: Sothebys, Christies, Kay
Disclaimer: I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.
My thoughts and prayers go out for the safety of everyone effected by Florence’s treacherous path and my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones.
I had to take the LIRR at Penn Station a few weeks ago and forgot how crowded, noisy, messy with people, vendors, cars,taxis, buses all trying to get somewhere. If that was the first impression that I had as a tourist arriving in NYC and coming out of Penn Station, I too would question the sanity of anyone choosing to live here. Of course, once away from that chaos, the excitement of this City starts to hit and that first impression begins to dissipate at least for a while.
Upper West Side Neighborhood
I think that all tourists should be required (rather strong word) or encouraged (better word) to visit a neighborhood where people actually live. You know, where they work, go to school, buy groceries, go to kids’ sports games like families do. Visitors might then have a better idea of why living in the City in a tiny expensive apartment might have some pluses. Now the really young – teenagers, kids with dreams-this is where they want to be. They get it.
Upper East Side Neighborhood
I’ve written about our neighborhoods before, but I’m making this suggestion. If you are coming in to see the sights, a show, eat at a great restaurant, visit a museum how about making another plan to venture out of those popular and interesting places and find a neighborhood to walk around. A great one is a few blocks from the important and heavily tourist area of the World Trade Center. Cross over West Side Highway to Murray Street which is very easy to find. If it’s a weekend or in the evening watch the kids play soccer or baseball on the large sports field. The neighborhood has a library up the street – a school nearby –grocery stores and restaurants. Walk to the river – and then walk along the river – see families having picnics on the grass – napping and reading, playing ball, climbing and swinging in the playgrounds.
Near Murray Street and Battery Park Neighborhood
These neighborhoods are all over the City. Granted some more dense than others, but it gives a glimpse into the lives of New Yorkers who live, retire and work here and enjoy most everything that visitors do with a great perk…home is just around the corner. Maybe you still won’t want that small apartment without a yard, but maybe you’ll understand why some of us do.
Happy Labor Day! Love this City!
KAY’S NOTES:
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Just have fun here – and maybe I’ll see you in my ‘hood!
Photos by me!
:Disclaimer: I try for correct info on my posts, but no guarantees people.
Or…Without you Aretha, our party wouldn’t have been the same!
Many years ago the women in my family performed a skit for a special occasion…a tradition . We had trouble deciding on what kind of skit to do. Then, coming across my car radio was that glorious voice singing,
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I screamed out, to no one in particular because I was alone in the car, “That’s it, that’s our song!”
And indeed it was. We wowed the crowd as we lip synced and danced, dressed in tuxedo t-shirts, top hats and canes to that amazing voice. It was a huge hit and we had such a ball doing it.
Thank you Aretha for your voice, your music, your activism and your generosity.
We love you…. The Oliver Girls (the performing women – a family name)
KAY’S NOTES: What Aretha said about RESPECT:
“I was talking about the male-female relationship. The respect part of it became a mantra for the Civil Rights Movement and for people everywhere,” Franklin said.”
I must apologize to you for some errors and awkward sentences that appeared on my post about the Marx Brothers this morning. Hopefully not noticeable except to me and maybe a talented English major. There was a misspelling which everyone probably caught. All has been corrected. I try very hard not to have this happen, but as the saying goes…nobody’s perfect!
Thank you for reading my blog.
Be safe and be well,
Kay
kaysnycways.com
Or…Can you believe it? To kick off the Met’s free outdoor HD festival they will be showing the Marx Brothers’ classic film A Night at the Opera… with all its zaniness!
Photo courtesy t2.gstatic.com
Now talk about zaniness, not on the screen, occurring on the Plaza. I’ve named it the Great Zany Seat Hunt to describe the annual ritual of finding the seat among the 3,000 available. If you’ve been reading my blog these past few years, you know I’ve written on the Great Zany Seat Hunt before, although this is the first time I’ve actually given it a name.
Here’s how it works. Visitors, New Yorkers, students, et al begin their search by moving from subways, buses, cars, apartments, hotels and even Airbnbs to the Plaza in front of the Met to find thatseat. Some regulars know to get their early and have no problem. But then there are the others who, in their naivete, think whenever they arrive it will be OK with a seat or seats just waiting. Those foolish, foolish opera fans.
Hence, the Great Zany Seat Hunt and why I get there early, nabbing a seat on the aisle to watch the fun. I have my hat, my sweater, my umbrella, my popcorn, my water, and my wine. I’m on the ready to take notes and photos of what’s about to unfold.
Now some poor souls think that they can come minutes before the start of the film and find an open seat. Hah! Good luck is what I always say to myself as I watch those optimists roaming the aisles. I see their heads turning left and right as they stare with a hopeful look at an empty seat only to have that hope dashed as the seat that looked empty was indeed… saved.
Ah, the seat savers, the bane of those on the search but makes for good entertainment to those of us watching. The tension between the seat-saver and the wannabee seat-sitter is real life drama. Optimistic looks turn to cold stares and the face of the saver ranges from anxious to downright fear and then great relief with lots of arm waving as he or she sees her party arriving.
Like in any theater as the lights dim, the audience settles down, so it is here as the huge screen lights up. Really late comers are helped to whatever seats are open by the nice security guards who also keep the aisles clear. They also tell those seat-savers, in a kindly manner, “Seats can’t be saved once the film begins.” Panic sets in again as desperate whispered calls go into a cell phone…”Where are you?”
So ends the Great Zany Seat Hunt for this performance. If anything really interesting happens during the series, you know I’ll tell you all about it.
This Marx Bros. film will be a really fun night and definitely a full plaza. Come early! If you can’t, be prepared to join the Great Zany Seat Hunt. BTW many viewers prefer to stand in the back or the sides or bring a chair or sit on a blanket, especially if they bring their dog.
Speaking of dogs… don’t forget to bring your snacks, your dogs, your kids, your friends, your relatives and be ready to forget everything else that’s going on around this crazy world… sit back and enjoy. It is a joy!
With the choice of this film, it goes to prove that even the powers that be at the Met are lovers of great crazy comedy…well maybe as long as there’s an opera involved. Bet those powers that be have never been part of the Great Zany Seat Hunt. Hmmmm?
Here’s the full list of operas to be shown starting August 24
Friday, August 24, 8 pm A Night at the Opera
Saturday, August 25, 8 pm Roméo et Juliette, Gounod
Sunday, August 26, 7:45 pm Norma, Bellini
Monday, August 27, 8 pm Elektra, R. Strauss
Tuesday, August 28, 8 pm Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini
Wednesday, August 29, 7:30 pm Lulu, Berg
Thursday, August 30, 7:45 pm Rusalka, Dvořák
Friday, August 31, 8 pm L’Elisir d’Amore, Donizetti
Saturday, September 1, 8 pm Un Ballo in Maschera, Verdi
Sunday, September 2, 7:15 pm Der Rosenkavalier, R. Strauss
Monday, September 3, 8 pm Madama Butterfly, Puccini
Then ….Opening Night…SAINT-SAËNS Samson et Dalila – September 24
LOVE THIS CITY
KAY’S NOTES:
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: “The most popular of 13 films created by the legendary Marx Brothers, A Night at the Opera endures as one of the funniest comedies to ever appear on the silver screen. The straightforward plot—which follows the brothers as they try to launch the career of an aspiring Italian tenor—allows ample opportunity for their trademark hijinks, from the witty banter of the Contract Scene to the film’s raucous finale backstage at a performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore. A co-presentation of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera ” from the Met website
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