We Take Ourselves With Us

On our last full day in NYC, we decided to split our time between Iceland and France--with a morning at MOMA's Bjork show , dinner at Daniel Boulud's db Bistro , and an evening at An American in Paris . We started with a quickie brekky at everyone's go-to NYC staple: Europa Cafe .  Where nothing is European but everything is brightly lit, fast, and fairly cheap. Why does she make these faces? Sigh. Then, Bjork at MOMA.  This show has been savaged by critics.  I get it--a lot of what's here wouldn't be out of place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or the Experience Music Project; swan dress, I'm looking at you.  But, I would argue the criticism of the "songlines" poem that guides one through the exhibit is really off the mark.  The story may seem a bit twee, but it also captures the persona and context that Bjork has adopted and that has remained a clear through line in a varied career.  And, the pacing of the exhibit moves on...

Wednesday morning, we started with our courtesy breakfast, which was yummy.  Plus, big points to our server, who when told why we were getting a comped meal responded, "Seriously? Jesus Christ!"  Love it :) We set off for MOMA to catch the incredible, inspiring and just gobsmackingly lovely Matisse Cut-Outs exhibit.  It was already raining when we left the hotel, and it quickly turned to slushy, frozen rain. Coupled with the holiday week, this seemed to drive everyone and their extended family into the museum.  Rather than fight every line, we opted to support MOMA by (once again) becoming members.  Problem solved!  BTW, the last time we joined, it was triggered by the Tim Burton exhibit mob scene, again at the holidays.  Needless to say, MOMA was delighted to welcome us back. Here, Harper and Penn watch a new installation, "Let's all go to MOMA the day before Thanksgiving." It's a moving commentary on the intersection between ...