New York in the Spring

A trip to New York for me always includes art immersion, a little consumerism, and eating out with good friends.

ART
My first stop was the The Met and the current exhibition: Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity. The collection includes 80 major paintings displayed with period costumes from the mid-1860s to mid-1880s, when Paris emerged as the fashion capital of the world. The stylish men and women in the paintings reflected the modern spirit of the times. Highlights include Monet's The Green Dress and Luncheon on the Grass, Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day, Tissot's The Shop Girl, Seurat's Grand Jatte and Renoir's The Swing. The Impressionists sought to capture the look of the moment often consulting fashion illustrations to complement their portraits.

Edouard Manet said it best: "The latest fashion...is absolutely necessary for a painting. It's what matters most."

The MoMa has a dazzling display of abstraction from the early 1920s that includes Kandinsky, Delaunay, Mondrian, O'Keefe, and Picasso. Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925 traces the development of abstraction, the new modern language of the arts, as it moved through cities, nations, and the artist community. It includes paintings, drawings, books, sculptures, music, and more. I was inspired by how much the artists influenced each other and this is evident in the layout of each gallery where similar pieces are hung next to each other and within the diagram developed for this exhibition.

SHOP
Fishs Eddy
Fun linens, kitchenware, and cake stands - I loved all the polka dots and vintage tea cups.

Global Table - SOHO
107 Sullivan Street
Carefully edited selection of dishes and accessories from around the world with an emphasis on simple lines and vivid finishes.

EAT (& DRINK)
Little Branch - West Village
A non-descript brown door and hipsters waiting patiently outside was my only clue to this cozy, dimly lit speakeasy with stellar cocktails.
22 7th Ave S

Market Table - West Village
54 Carmine Street
I had a delicious sauteed skate wing with parsnips, brussel sprout leaves, golden beets and a cumin citronette. The atmosphere was warm but lively.



ABC Kitchen
This consistent restaurant offers organic local ingredients in a fresh and articulate space next to ABC Home (where I tend to get lost for a couple of hours on every NYC visit). These are my old stomping grounds (my husband and I used to live at 19th and Park). My tasty dinner menu (no complaints):

• Roasted Kabocha Squash Toast

• Kale Salad with Serranos, Lemon, And Mint

• Wood Oven Roasted Maine Lobster