Night at the Museum

So look, I don’t want to oversell myself, but: I am a fucking genius.

 Two weeks ago, instead of the usual post-work couch flop, I rerouted the SS Crowl into Culture Port for an evening of stunning social intercourse, starring the new Whitney Museum. How did it go down? In a word: flawlessly. (Aside from skirting a teensy snafu.) The life pARTner gets free admission from work, and here’s the tick: the museum is nearly empty after 7PM. We waltzed in, wandered around and then waddled off for delicious dinner at Frankie’s 570.

 

L'Itinéraire

Okay, let's work backwards and talk about the second half of our trip. Vacation planning can be a total chore for some people. For me, it falls somewhere between finding the last dress in your size (on super sale), and taking the first sip of your wine after a really long day. In short: pure, unadulterated euphoria.

Here's the interesting and incredibly challenging part of figuring out the itinerary: we need to balance introducing Paris—and France, and Europe, really—to the boyfriend WHILE allowing a total Paris slut like me to go nuts vis-à-vis shopping and museum visiting.

On the list

Example standard first time visit to Paris: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Marais.

My last trip to Paris before the end of study abroad: Canal Saint-Martin, Ile Saint-Louis, weird Montmartre gallery displaying Pete Doherty's blood-stained, needle-littered artwork.

Is that a good way to show off Paris? Sure. But that ain't no picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower, is what I'm saying.

Hence throwing myself into some pre-vacation planning.

Louvre for a first timer

Louvre for an insider

First up: cutting my list of "museum MUST visits—absolutely have TO DO" from about 12 to 3. THREE. I took a modern art history class in Paris, people, and that made me incredibly annoying about these places. I could spend DAYS expounding Dadaism and pointillism—not very well, but I sure would try; hurrying stunned guests through the Louvre in 20 minutes ("The Mona who?"); and lying through my teeth ("Je suis étudiante en l'histoire de l'art") to gain free entry to all and sundry.

So here's the map of all the best things. I won't show you the actual, edited itinerary because it's bound to change. Also, it's terrifying. Hopefully we can spend time in just a few arrondissements everyday—and while we're there, use the map to find nearby museums, stores and cafés.


View Pareeee in a larger map

What am I missing? What have you always wanted to do in Paris? Have I completely run you into the ground on this subject? Why do I have such a penchant for run-on sentences when I write about exciting things?

(Earlier: my map for the Loire Valley and some Paris inspiration)

MoMA P.S. 1

On Saturday I took my copilot and we flew the coop north to MoMA P.S. 1. Neither of us had been but, being "museum people," (of a sort) it had been on the list for a long time.



We made it there early enough to enjoy a leisurely brunch at M. Wells Dinette. The restaurant "pays homage" to the building's beginnings as a school, so you can pay upwards of $20 for a brunch dish to watch adults sit at desks.

It was good. We split a bi bim bap and "eggs and tomatoes pot." Let it be known that, for all its hype, M. Wells overdoes its eggs.

(Sacrilege!)







For the next hour or so, we roamed around and tried to figure out the stairwell system. A lot of the rooms had video installations (not my cup of tea), but I did have a great time.







I'll be back in the summer to check out a free concert or five.

On Touristing Your Own City

When I studied abroad, I forced my ass out of bed early every weekend and went exploring. And taking a modern art class in Paris encouraged me to check out most of the major, must-see museums. I touristed, guys. I touristed like a big, fat touristing thing.

(Speaking of Paris, I nearly had a run in with some art at the Pompidou during a class trip—after returning from an all nighter in Prague, I started nodding off in the direction of one of the works. Afterwards, I schlepped home, took off my clothes, got into bed and cried with exhaustion and relief that I could finally go to sleep.)

I do an okay job of seeing the sites in New York, but it's been a long time since I tried a new museum. After sleeping in this morning, I pried myself off the couch and decided it was the perfect day to visit the Guggenheim.



Thanks to the aforementioned modern art class in Paris, I've seen a good amount of the stuff. Dada manifesto? I speak it. I was excited to see the Guggenheim, because I know they have a solid collection, plus a little side gallery of Impressionists.





I was not disappointed. The main gallery was doing the usual suspects (Pollick, De Kooning, Rothko) and there was a Kandinsky retrospective to boot.

The gallery is laid out in a big spiral and reaching the pinnacle does bring with it a sense of accomplishment. Look at me! I climbed the Gugg! I HAVE done something today!



Plus, Shake Shack after. Come on.



And so I am glad to have touristed my own city today. I still want to see Fireflies on the Water by Yayoi Kusama at the Whitney and cross the bridge into Long Island City for PS 1. And I imagine the New Museum is like the Palais de Tokyo—weiiiird shit—so that's on my List too. Three cheers for being half an hour away from WORLD CLASS ART, GUYS.

Washi on the Job

Putting my washi tape to use on some Pyrex prints.







(Mr. walrus plate and a handmade unicorn silhouette cross stitch)

111 Archer Avenue

Who doesn't love The Royal Tenenbaums? No one, probably. Show me someone who hates that movie and I'll show you a lying imbecile. Or a film student with some legitimate opinions. Whatever.



Last night, I attended the 10th Anniversary screening of the film at Lincoln Center. My quick-witted compadre had found and bought the tickets early last week. We couldn't believe our luck.

My good friends Wes Anderson and Eric Anderson were there, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Bill Murray and Anjelica Huston. They did a Q&A panel after the screening and it was fantastic to see their rapport. As far as the screening itself?

I've probably seen the movie... well, let's say a couple of times. But never on the big screen. It was pretty incredible to lean back and notice the smallest, most random details I hadn't ever spotted on a 15" laptop screen. And, as I'm in the fever pitch stage of a decorating fervor, I was most impressed by the set design.

NOW. I am hardly the first person to write about the sets and art of The Royal Tenenbaums. I'm probably not the first person to do it today. But here's what I found interesting this time around. The kind of stuff I plan on incorporating into my next apartment.

First of all, the whole house at 111 Archer Avenue reminds me of the Museum of Natural History in New York or Deyrolle in Paris. It's stuffed to the brim with... stuff. Wood paneling, cozy nooks, taxidermied animals, painted animals and scientific objects are everywhere.







(At the museum)

The boyfriend already has some mounted horns scattered around his place, but how magical would a full stuffed animal be? Or at least some mounted butterflies. Like this:



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Another thing I love is how much art the family has.





Whether it's painted by Richie...



... or of professional interest to Ethel...





Everything is a bit scattered, but there for a reason. Everything has its place.

And maybe I should start a bright yellow collection of NGs.

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Speaking of yellow. I adore the eye-searing shade of Wes Anderson yellow. If that color were a food, I'm sure it would make you cry with pain.





Of course, it's frequently found throughout all his movies. (Ahem. One of my favorites.)

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I'm always on the lookout for some maps. Raleigh St. Clair's house reminds me of the nerve center of a British expedition.



Say it with me: White Man's Burden chic. Without any of the horrific connotations.

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I could never have enough subway tile. Ever. (And cute pink phone.)



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And finally, let's keep things a little Old New York-nautical. Like the Maritime or something.



(All photos from here)

Apartment Lately, Again

With only six months left on my lease, I'm still slowly adding little bits to my home. Here's what things look like nowadays.





Pumpkin Salted Caramel Blondies. I used a whole can of pumpkin and a full jam jar of homemade caramel sauce for a super moist, cakey result. Plates may or may not have gotten licked clean.







The vase is from a vintage store in Cobble Hill and the hat, dubbed "Ren Faire" by two different people [how dare they] [I loved it], came from a tent at the Governor's Island Jazz Fest.





A new/old three-paneled mirror from the Brooklyn Flea





New print in a new/old frame from Junk