Wednesday, May 26, 2010

ARRIVEDERCI ROMA (for now), HELLO NEW YORK!

Alas, it is time leave Rome. We walk down the steps at the American Academy for a taxi to Fiumicino airport for a flight back to the United States. However we are already planning a return trip to Italy, and as usual we save some euros to assure a future trip (tradition or superstition?)


The Roman Forum
Pliny (23 CE), the naturalist, philosopher and author was sent to Rome to be educated. Rome is a city that captures the heart and imagination. It is ancient and that can be felt throughout the city, especially here at the Forum or at places such as the church of San Clemente.
Rome is magical, just walking through the streets of the neighborhoods such as Trastevere or entering Santa Maria Sopra Minerva to find masterpieces like the Lippi fresco in the Carafa Chapel. Then there is romance, a visit to Piazza Navona to admire the great Four River's Fountain by Bernini, followed by a glass of Prosecco in a tiny bar off the square.
Food in Rome is about pasta, fish, artichokes and whatever is fresh. Thursday in Rome is always gnocchi!

Passing the Colosseum in Rome's morning traffic. It is about 7am, traffic is light.
Arrivederci Roma! (for now)


Hello New York!

Still Life with Bearded Irises, James Aponovich

We arrive in New York for a show that James is having at David Findlay Fine Art.

A installation photo of three Aponovich paintings at the gallery.
The show features still life paintings with flowers from our garden and landscapes inspired by Italy.

We meet our daughter and her husband, along with a few friends at the gallery to see the show. We are very pleased with the show and gallery.

Time to head downtown , James has an idea for a New York lunch!

Katz's Deli
Katz's is the oldest deli in Manhattan. It is classic, a place where the meats are still hand sliced.

A New York Experience....eating at Katz's Deli on Houston St.
A Rubin on rye, a corned beef on rye, pickles and a platter or potato pancakes, an American treat!

YUM!
Ana and Chris manage to hold the sandwiches together for that first bite!

A return to Italy? No, a salumeria in Little Italy where we are on a mission to buy guanciale. We find it here. We look forward to making Spaghetti Amatriciana when we return home.


The Salumeria in Little Italy
After lunch we walk through Little Italy and Greenwich Village. We stop for a refreshing and delicious frozen yogurt with fresh fruit at a place Ana suggested, Pink Berries. After a stop in the park we head back uptown.
We are meeting friends for martini's at the King Cole Bar (St. Regis Hotel) to give a toast to James and his exhibit. The large mural of Old King Cole that spans the length of the bar was painted by Maxfield Parrish from our home state of New Hampshire. It is a marvelous mural, and the martini's here aren't bad either!
On to dinner at Shun Lee Palace, and then a good night's sleep at Hotel San Carlos.



Sunday Morning Manhattan

Looking up......always looking up. Here we are looking up to the Chrysler Building. We agree this is our favorite building in NYC. We walk to Grand Central Station in hopes to have pan roasted oysters at the Oyster Bar but find it closed. After touring the building we head towards Central Park, with a stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Chrysler Building

Finally a visit to Rockefeller Center to see the Paul Manship sculptures. The use of space here is quite dynamic. The incorporation of art into this public space is very interesting, art was part of the original design, not an after thought. We agree this space is captivating.
A fun time in NYC with family and friends!

So it is time to return to our studios, garden and kitchen.

*******************
David Findlay Fine Art
41 East 57th St., NY, NY

Katz' s Deli
205 E. Houston St.

San Carlos Hotel
150 E. 50th St

King Cole Bar/Lounge (at St. Regis Hotel)
2 East 55th St.

Shun Lee Palace





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