NYC in Winter

It’s been a really long time since I’ve landed in NYC at night or been there when it's really cold, but I wanted to go somewhere for my birthday at the end of January, and while I usually opt for someplace warm, it has been two years since I've been to New York, and that's one year too many. So I bundled up and booked a room at the Yotel in Midtown. The motif of the hotel is PURPLE (you can see the signage glowing purple from a block away), and this was my room when I opened the door:

Luckily, the color spectrum is entirely adjustable so this is what it looked like once I figured that out:

Friday night:

 Saturday morning:

My friend, Shelagh happened to be in D.C. the same weekend,
so she and her sister Missy met me in NYC and
they treated me Swedish Princess Birthday Cake on Saturday morning. 

The Guggenheim

Hilma af Klint: Painting for the Future

 Saturday afternoon:

birthday dessert: vanilla ice cream stuffed profiteroles with chocolate olive oil.

Sunday:
At DIA: Beacon

main hall was empty; new exhibition going in soon.
I love this space.

 

 Monday:

Finally got to eat a cronut. Worth the wait and the hype.

Animal Farm

My niece (by choice) was visiting over the weekend and she loves animals. To that end, we trekked up to Lynnwood just north of here to visit a lady named Tess who keeps bunnies, a few goats, a couple of ferrets, and a pig in her very large yard, and anyone who wants to hang out with them is invited to come on up (for a small fee).

Too Much Food: Mexico City

This morning, Brenda and I had some spectacularly rich and delicious French toast for breakfast, a spectacular lunch at Contramar, and dinner at Pujol. #imfull.

Contramar

tostadas: shrimp and tuna

fish tacos

And then it was time for dinner. I confess that I wasn't even remotely hungry but I valiantly stuffed myself with some of the most exquisite food I've ever had.

roasted and smoked baby corn

chayote squash slices with lobster ceviche 

softshell crab, cucumber, daikon, shiso leaves

sea bass with some details I don't remember - but the combo, whatever it was, was utterly delicious

the dark mole had been aged 1,777 days, the light mole was made that morning.
Mole is one of my least favorite parts of Mexican cuisine, but this was interesting. 

coffee tamale, ginger ice cream, honeycomb

the lightest churro ever made

I absolutely LOVED Mexico city and can't wait to go back.

New Years Day: Mexico City

For one of the world's largest cities, this place is quiet and calm (at least the corners we've been hanging out in), and most places are closed today due to the holiday, but Brenda and I booked a street art walking tour in the Roma neighborhood and had a great time seeing another slice of Mexico City.

Our tour guide, Chris, started by explaining the difference between street art and graffiti (legal/often commission vs. illegal; image-based vs. letter-based; for the viewer vs. for the artist - and a few other interesting finer points), and then we walked around the neighborhood viewing pieces done by artists from around the world.

commissioned by Jet Blue promoting a non-stop from MEX to BOS. Art meets commerce. 

 

I LOVE the cat part of this piece!

made with stencils

done after the 2017 earthquake in Mexico City - Frida and Frida the dog. 

Frida the dog worked search and rescue after the quake and is credited with finding and saving 35 people
who were buried in the rubble.

Can't remember which famous Mexican artist lives here - gorgeous house and studio. 

another symbol of Mexican strength and solidarity post-2017 quake.

commissioned by the owner of the restaurant property who is a huge fan of Haya Miyazaki.
Fittingly, the restaurant is a BBQ joint.