The Cooper-Hewitt just happens to fall into both categories. I found myself there because I followed my Disney-instincts to a special exhibit on Pixar (more about that later). The museum, having just undergone a huge revamping and renovation, provides a new and unique interactive experience for visitors. Though I may have my own biases, mostly pertaining to my pocketbook, the new Cooper-Hewitt does push the limits of technology and completely revolutionizes the purpose of a museum and role of the visitor. Not to mention, it has some pretty awesome chairs!
I have become quite the museum junkie having spent all of my life in New York City. I grew up going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art because it was free and big enough to capture my attention through multiple visits. I then spent half of my high school summers interning at the New-York Historical Society and took advantage of my ID card to get into many of the city’s museums. Having visited most of the big New York institutions like the MOMA, the Guggenheim, and the Natural History Museum, I have been left with some more obscure collections, like the Morgan Library, and the more expensive ones, like the Whitney.
The Cooper-Hewitt just happens to fall into both categories. I found myself there because I followed my Disney-instincts to a special exhibit on Pixar (more about that later). The museum, having just undergone a huge revamping and renovation, provides a new and unique interactive experience for visitors. Though I may have my own biases, mostly pertaining to my pocketbook, the new Cooper-Hewitt does push the limits of technology and completely revolutionizes the purpose of a museum and role of the visitor. Not to mention, it has some pretty awesome chairs!
0 Comments
One of the most highly anticipated events for foodies around the city is NYC’s summer Restaurant Week. From July 25th through August 19th, many higher-end restaurants open their doors to the little people like you and me (sorry, if I stereotyped you as the bourgeoisie, but I figured that people like Warren Buffet are a bit too busy to be looking at my blog). For a fixed and reduced price, you can enjoy a three-course lunch and dinner at some fancy schmancy, pretentious restaurants like Tavern on the Green, The Russian Tea Room, and Delmonico’s.
When I first learned about this opportunity, I was definitely all gung-ho about playing at being better off than I actually am. However, as Restaurant Week sneakily becomes more expensive and my experiences surpass the Honeymoon stage, I find myself turning into a crotchety and frugal skeptic. To be fair, a few years ago, you could get a dinner that would normally cost maybe $50 plus for $35. The next year, the same meal was $38 and this year, $42. To put things into perspective, the current inflation rate is only 1%, which would mean that using last year’s price as a reference, this year’s fixed price should only go up 38 cents, and Restaurant Week is definitely lapping that! Furthermore, not every restaurant has lived up to its expectations. Last year, my parents and I went to the Blue Water Grill near Union Square and were completely disappointed by their “specialty” seafood. Forty-two dollars for subpar food…I am not really all that enthusiastic. In the past, I have definitely been accused of “complaining.” I do confess that I may have exclaimed, “It’s too hot outside” or “I have too much homework” quite a bit, but let’s face it, hasn’t every young person? However, I do find myself being, perhaps, more critical and opinionated than others. In the words of Hamilton, “I can never be satisfied.” It seems like I cannot go to a restaurant and simply enjoy the entire experience or see a Broadway show without fixating on the plot holes. In some ways, it is kind of annoying, but I guess it also means that I have a very good idea of what I like and what I do not.
Thankfully, I do not go around volunteering my criticism to the rest of the world (or, at least, I hope not), but you can be sure that if I am asked to, I will share and quite bluntly and relentlessly too. Instead, I have found a better way to channel this “complaining” into something much more meaningful and productive: reviewing. If you have been following my blog (big shout out to Mom and Dad!), it may have become apparent that I review pretty much everything under the sun- restaurants, movies, museum exhibits, Broadway shows, etc. Reviewing is my way of creating personal standards and seeing how others match up to that. Former New York City mayor Al Smith once joked he received a degree from the “FFM,” which stands for the Fulton Fish Market. At first glance, we assume our late mayor is merely poking fun of his humble beginnings and lack of a formal education. However, New York City, being one of the largest and busiest urban metropolises in the world, is the perfect school for people of all ages. The lessons the city teaches are practical and undeniably street-smart. Growing up in New York City, I have learned much about the people, the sights, and sounds. I have learned how to own the streets where I live and take care of myself in a city that is both friend and foe. However, many of the lessons I have been taught by our marvelous city have been learnt underground.
One of the most prominent features of New York is the subway, a completely different city that lies beneath the sidewalks. While other urban areas have subterranean public transportation, our city can taut its historically significant and world-known transit system. Growing up just outside Manhattan, I have been riding the subway my entire life. In high school, I even took the subway every day to get to school or work. During this time, I have observed and experienced startling moments, stressful situations, and heart-warming memories that have opened my eyes to the complex fabric of the Big Apple. Unconsciously, these instances have become lessons, both big and small, that have changed my life for the better. Modern technology has revolutionized many fields and thus, opened up new frontiers of possibility for all professions. Perhaps most fascinating is the influence of new technological advances in the arts, where handcrafted creations and human ingenuity has reigned supreme for years. In this day and age, what took Donatello years to chisel can be recreated in five minutes through 3d printing at the single push of a button. The world of fashion is no different when it comes to the imprint technology has made on the field and the horizons of creativity and innovation there within. Needless to say sewing machines have facilitated quotidian clothing making and allowed for the commercialization of runaway styles at expensive high-end stores like Saks Fifth Avenue. With the line between haute couture and pret-a-porter blurring as we speak, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology explores the dichotomy of the handmade (“manus”= hand) and the machine-made (“machina”= machine), through the juxtaposition of various outfits that represent a broad spectrum of construction technology. For fashionistas and the artistically inclined, this exhibit is an enjoyable free runaway show filled with prominent designers like Chanel, Dior, St. Laurent, and Alexander McQueen and an intimate look into the avant-garde techniques and ideas of contemporary garment design. However, it is also an apt commentary on the fashion industry of our times where we continually to turn up our noses at the machine made, but can barely tell the visual difference between similar dresses sporting disposable trends from Forever 21 and Bendels. Part Four of an Insider’s Look at NYC’s Specialized High Schools SerieS I know what you are thinking, "Aglaia is almost graduating college and she is STILL writing about high school!" For the record, this last installment of my specialized high school series has been sitting on my computer for a while. It has been passed over for more time sensitive and appropriate posts, like reviews for movies still in theaters. So why is this conclusion finally making its debut? Well, I had the same idea you were thinking- it is about damn time!
Despite all that I have loved and hated about attending a specialized high school, I have no doubts that it has influenced the person I am today. Being part of a dynasty of specialized high school graduates is like being part of an exclusive club of students who share the same experiences as you. It does not matter which school you attended, the stories you have from high school are often quite similar. In college, two of my close friends are from Brooklyn Tech and although our high schools may have been rivals, we share a bond being all products of an elite public school system. The education I received at Stuyvesant may not have topped that of private schools, but it did provide me a foundation and many opportunities to explore different subjects. It was many of the special electives I took in high school that sparked my interests in college. I couldn’t have cared less about chemistry when I took the introductory, regents-level class my sophomore year. Even the more challenging AP chemistry did not attract my attention, thanks to subpar teachers. Instead, it was the optional organic chemistry class I took my senior year of high school that really made me rethink further studies in science. Now, more than halfway through my time at college, I am majoring in chemistry. My passion and love for history also was not nurtured in my early days at Stuy. It would take a semester of New York City history and many field trips for me to accept history for more than just a pure recitation of facts about the past. Now, I am a history major and pursuing a history thesis on, you guessed it, New York City. They say that animals, including humans, are happiest when they are sleeping or eating. My family tends to have an affinity towards the latter. The way to our hearts is definitely through our stomachs. Save your money on electronics, clothes, and picture frames that we will only display when you come over for a visit for Christmas and birthday gifts. Just give us a basket of bread, cured meats, cheese, chocolates, and French pastries (especially French pastries) and we guarantee that those will be greatly appreciated. We love all types of food and specifically gravitate towards street fairs less so for the music and shopping, but mostly to sample all the edible goodies. This summer, we found our new foodie haven at the Queens International Night Market. Inspired by open-air food markets in many Asian countries that cater towards evening clientele, the International Night Market is a weekly food fair that hosts numerous different local vendors. The initiative, located behind the New York Hall of Science in Flushing-Meadows Corona Park, is meant to showcase the melting pot that is Queens both through its ethnic cuisine, merchandise, and the diverse patronage that visits the market. The premise of the Night Market much like the Smorgasburg, which my family visited last summer when the franchise opened a location in Long Island City. Unfortunately, we found the experience far from relaxing and enjoyable. While, there were some hidden gems to be found, we were rebuffed by the high prices, claustrophobia-inducing special organization of the venue, and the slim offerings. The Night Market seems to correct for these faults, which may explain why it seems marginally more successful than the Smorgasburg, which has decided to not return to Queens this year. |
About this BlogA collection of random musings from the mind of a native New Yorker. Be sure to find everything from personal narratives, reviews, lists, and rants. SubscribeCategories
All
Archives
January 2022
Recent Posts |