It’s about 2 AM and we’re just settling back in to the boat to go to sleep. We had a long and fun day cruising NYC. We woke late on the boat and took our sweet time getting ready.   It was about noon by the time we left.. which was about as planned..  The rain/snow mix we hadn’t planned.. but it didn’t slow us down.  we noticed a family of swans hanging out near the back of the boat as we left. they were still here at 1:30 AM when we got back.

first sop was a trip up town to see the Ann Hamilton show at the park ave armory. Several friends and even moms of friends had recommended it to us. It was well worth the trip !

first you walked past a group of people reading to pigeons.. their voices were broadcast through many paper wrapped packages scattered throughout the cavernous venue.

thjen you saw ‘it’.. it was a huge (150 foot ? ) piece of white flowing fabric suspended from a set of wires connected via pulles to a large number of 2 person swings. The idea was simple and elegant.. as each persona swung (swang ? hot geswungen ?)., it pulled one of the wires and that pulled up one point of the fabric.. multiply that by about 60 times and you get a beautifully flowing organic movement that was both chaotic and calming.. absolutely amazing

we all had to give it a try..   first gabe and raya

then diane and i did it

then jac

you could lie down under the fabric and look up.. it was beautiful as it wafted sometimes on you and sometimes 20 feet up.

there was also an element that we didn’t get to see.. every afternoon they record an opera singer doing a piece.. and they play i the next day… odd.. but I’ll bet it was cool…

at the other end of the exhibit a woman was constantly writing something.. didn’t quite pick up on what..

then we walked down 5th ave towards the modern art museum (MOMA) .. checking out the christmas displays  which were all still up

we grabbed some knishes on the way..   they’re hard to get anywhere else..

MOMA was abolutely packed due to the rain.. it took max about 45 minutes just to check his backpack !

crowds aside, visiting with the art was great.. i forgot how wonderful the collection is there.. … i particularly liked the  4th flloor.. they had some beautiful Cezannes.. i remember seeing the Cezzanne show here in 1980.

Van goghs starry night was there.. and everyone was packed around it.. even though there were equally fine  pieces all around it.. so you really couldn’t see,

There were Rousseaus’

picassos

and the star was a short stay here by Edvard Munch’s famous Scream.. I called it the ‘Screen’ because all you could see was the back of folks cameras’

they also had Munch’s Madonna which is one of my fav’s

they had somewonderful Matisses.. I also went to a matisse retorspective here when I was in college in the 70’s .

A great couple of Chagalls

pollucks

They also had a magritte that we’d just used as the cover art for a report we just did for work !

even some chip art (none from IBM .i note.. . we gotta fix that !)

and some great interactive pieces.. this one recognized shadows and added things like hair, teeth and wings .. very cool !

then back out into the rain and snow… ..We found a nice thai place near times square on our walk to teh garden..

we got to the garden just as door were opening…  it was PACKED !

we ad GREAT seats.. about 11 seats back right off stage left..

Phish played tow great sets.. .. some favorties included great versions of bathtub gin. prince caspian, suzie greenburg, reba.. and a ton of others..

covers of ‘lou reeds ‘nothing happening at all’ and stevie wonders ‘boogie on reggae woman’ (really amazing !)

we left-three samstones in the stands then took off back into the snow and rain..   We grabbed a few slices of pizza near the garden because miraculously, we were still hungry !

we all almost fell aslep on teh train home, but the freezing air woke us up as sson as we surfaced in brrooklyn.. max took us on a quick tour -de-streetart on the way home..

we capped the day by rummaging through our stash of candy

yike 2:30. i better get to bed.. It’s about 40 degrees in here.. so I need to bundle up !..

great, great day with my family.. very gratful for the chance to do that… more tomorrow

nite all,. nite sam.. (we missed you today .. and everyday)

-me