Richard Avedon: Murals and Portraits @ Gagosian Gallery

I love Richard Avedon's photography and I think he is one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.
The Gagosian Gallery at Chelsea had a great exhibition of some of his famous murals and portraits. It in on until July 27th actually!!!! If you can go!!!!!
Anyways, I am very happy I went and here I am to share some beauty with you all. Richard Avedon was a New Yorker and lived from 1923 until 2004. He was one of the pioneers in fashion photography, starting at Harper's Bazaar in 1945.
It is amazing how his work is so timeless and fresh. Most of these photos could have been taken yesterday!!!!!
What do you think????
Hope you enjoy!!! xxxxxxxxxx 

Must Read: Time Out, NYMag and Eater

In a city that offer so much, it is so difficult to keep up with the 1000 events taking place at the same time + all different options of places to eat. One of the best things we have done was subscribing to Time Out. Every Wednesday we receive our magazine with all the events taking place during the week as well opening restaurants and the restaurants receiving great reviews.
The New York magazine and Eater are so helpful as wel. And the best thing about them all is that you can check most of the content on line on the following websites: Time Out , NYmag and  Eater.
Therefore, if you live here or are planning a trip and would like to find out about all different sorts of events, restaurants, etc. those are great the places to go :)

Hope you enjoy!!!! xxxxx

Gustav Klimt: 150th Anniversary Celebration at Neue Gallery

One of the things I love the most about living in big cities such as London and New York are the cultural attractions. Seriously, you have no time to get bored in such cities. There is always so much to do!!!!!!! As soon as I knew there would be an exhibition to celebrate Gustav Klimt's 150th anniversary, I knew I would end up there. Klimt is one of my favorite painters. I love his style, the colours, the beautiful mosaics we find in his art. Also, I had never been to Neue Galerie, which is located in the Museum Mile and is devoted to early 20th century German and Austrian art and design. The gallery is based in an impressive landmark mansion on Fifth Avenue and it offers a diverse program of exhibitions, lectures, films and concerts.

The Klimt exhibition was open on May 24 and will be on until August 27.It features major works from the collection, as well as several never-before-seen photographs of the artist. He looks so bohemian in some of them. I could imagine him living in the 70's!!!!!

I was a bit disappointed because there were not many paintings. Anyways, it s always amazing to be so close to a master's work. Beautiful and rich as the lovely ladies from the Viennese society he used to portrait.

If you go, make sure you have a coffee afterwards at the beautiful Cafe Sabarsky inside the mansion. It evokes the great Fin de siècle coffee places in Vienna and is supposed to be a favorite spot for New Yorkers.

 Neue Galerie:  1048 5th Avenue  New York, NY 10028

(212) 628-6200

Visiting Art Galleries in Chelsea

A great free program to do in New York is wandering around the cutting-edge art galleries in Chelsea.The borough is home to over 300 art galleries and art studios, mainly the area bounded by 10th and 11th Avenues and 18th St. and 28th St.

Following the rising rental prices in SoHo with the arrival of fashion stores, the art community started moving to Chelsea in the 80s and hasn't looked back since then. Besides, the area is thriving with the High Line, Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking District.

It is one of my favorite areas in New York and I feel very lucky to live so close to it :)

I will have to prepare a post about the art galleries in the Lower East Side as well. It is another great area to explore if you love art and scouting new talents to invest on.  Very exciting!!!!!!

Art and Beauty...Inspiring thoughts

I have found this quote at the Strand bookshop. There are quite a few of these messages spread across the shop floor.
Such uplifting and inspiring messages!!!!!

Hope you enjoy as much as I do :):) Nothing like the power of words. It is all in our minds!!!! Art is beautiful and there is so much beauty in Art and in life, do you agree??

Have a great week everyone!!!!!

Love

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frieze New York Art Fair coming soon!!!!

Art lovers alike, write down on your calendars, Frieze New York is about to start!!! This contemporary art fair features 180 of the world's leading contemporary artists and will takes place at Randall's Island in Manhattan from May 4th - 7th. Frieze is already very famous in London, where it happens every October at Regent's Park and is coming to New York for the first time.

Tickets can be bought here. Have to book mine too!

Hope you enjoy :) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hell's Kitchen Flea Market

Spring has arrived, the weather has been amazing and people are on the streets enjoying this great city :) I love how seasons have the power to change people's moods!!!!! In London, any sunshine is an excuse to hit the pubs. Couldn't be different in New York. And what a better weather than that to visit some of the flea markets around?
The Hell's Kitchen Flea Market is one of the most famous and the fastest-growing fair in New York.  I live very close to the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market and was astonished with the amount of stalls and people wandering around there today. Couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing as it had been pretty empty during winter. Some days we would just be able to see a few stalls.Now I believe the hype around the HK Flea Market!!!!! lol There you will find retro antiques, vintage clothes, old furniture, hand made stuff and bric-a-brac. It is great, but nothing compared to the amazing markets we have in London though :(
There you will find retro antiques, vintage clothes, old furniture, hand made stuff and bric-a-brac.
It is worthy paying a visit if you are in New York during Spring/Summer :)

Hell's Kitchen Flea Market : 39th St, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues

Peter Tunney @ Tribeca

Walking in Tribeca last week with a friend, we stumbled upon Peter Tunney's gallery. I had never heard about him but as soon as we walked in I was mesmerised by his bold pieces and the messages written on some of them. I could not photograph on the spot but when I got home I started researching about his work. So uplifting that I felt like sharing with you :)

Photos: Disclosure

Peter Tunney @ 73 Flanklin Street
Groundfloor
New York, NY 10013

Elizabeth Street Gallery @ Nolita

It was so weird and interesting at the same time finding this outdoor gallery wandering in Nolita...There was a fire house and bread company where the gallery is located. There you will find a mix of Antiques and architectural objects for sale, rent and you also can place order for bespoke reproductions of historical stuff (don't think I will be doing that anytime lol)

Photo: disclosure

Nolita is one of my favorite neighbourhoods in New York. There are loads of independent shops and restaurants in the area. In spite of being beside Soho, there are not as many tourists. Somehow it reminds me of East London. It is a very stylish, personal and quirky area of New York :) I am sure I will be writing loads about it...

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian @ Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House

I have discovered the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, last week, when I was wandering in the Financial District with my parents in law. It was very windy and we were trying to kill some time to meet my hubby for lunch. Then we saw this beautiful building very close to Bowling Green where there was the National Museum of the American Indian. And the best of all FREE entrance :):):)

What a beautiful place!!!!!!! A definitely must go if you are in New York. The building itself is one of the best examples of Beaux-Art architecture you can find in New York. It was built in 1902-1907 and is home of the National Museum of American Indian, Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and from 2012 the home of the National Archives.
It was designed by the same architect who designed the famous Woolworth Building as well, Cass Gilbert.
The custom house was there until 1970, when it was moved to 6 World Trade Center, destroyed with the attacks on 9/11 :(
The National Museum of American Indian features year-round exhibitions and has amazing objects and ornaments representing almost every Native American tribe as well as tribes from South and Central America. They even have ornaments of tribes in Brazil and Patagonia :):)
1 Bowling Green  New York, NY

Whitney Biennial 2012 @ Whitney Museum of American Art

I had a lovely day yesterday at the Whitney Biennial 2012. I had never been the Whitney and loved this new experience. The Whitney Museum is one of the most important art museums in America and was founded by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1914. It showcases mainly the work of living artists and gives emphasis to the work of younger and lesser known artists.

Gertrude was a sculptor and champion of American art and wanted to create a space where American artists could show their pieces. In 1929 she offered her collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and they declined her offer. On top of that, the Museum of Modern Art (Mo MA) was giving preference to the work of European artists. Therefore, Gertrude decided to open her own museum first in Greenwich Village in the late 30's . Moving to the current spot on Madison Avenue in 1966.

The current building was built by the architect Marcel Breuer, one of the leading practitioners of the Brutalism architecture, very popular after the World War II.

Without any doubts, the Biennial is the most important exhibition and usually takes place between March and June in every numbered years. I am very happy I was able to see it :) I loved the drawings and paintings by Nicole Eisenman and would hang them all on my wall.

The Whitney is opening another building in the Meatpacking District, facing the High Line designed by Renzo Piano, one of the most famous architects of our generation. He is responsible for the Centre George Pompidou in Paris, The Shard in London and the new New York Times Building on 8th Avenue. I stare at it everyday from my window :) So lucky! The new Whitney is due to open to the public in 2015. Can't wait!!!!!
If you are in New York during the Biennial, do not miss it!!!! :D

Whitney Museum of American Art: 945 Madison Avenue  New York, NY 10021

Yelp - my best friend in New York City after Trader Joe's :)

After Trader Joe's, Yelp is my best friend in New York City lol It was recommended by a friend as soon as we arrived in the city and our relationship gets stronger everyday lol
I do not do anything without asking for its advice...It is an essential tool to have in a city which offers so much as New York does :-) Mainly for newcomers who do not have a clue about restaurants, hairdressers, flowers, eyebrow threading, waxing, real estate, professional services, hotels and travel, etc....Whatever you are looking for, I am sure you can find useful reviews there :D

Crafts @ The City Quilter

As a craft lover, albeit a lazy one at the moment, I am constantly looking for craft shops. I must confess I have not switched on my sewing machine since it arrived in New York. I know I should start using it again considering I have so much time in my hands at the moment. At the same time, I have being so anxious waiting for my EAD (it has been nearly 3 months) that I cannot put my mind into it...
I started sewing last year in London. I always felt like having a creative hobby and sewing appealed to me. Once my mind is into it I find it so relaxing and enjoyable :):) It is so nice to have the feeling you have done something with your own hands. Before we left London, while I was waiting for our visa (waiting has been the main verb in my life for the last year lol), I started making place mats to give to my friends as a keep sake.
Who knows now with the blog I can start sharing some of my humble sewing projects with you? lol
Let's see...
Anyways, the main reason of this post is to share with the craft lovers this amazing shop I have discovered while walking around Chelsea last week. It is amazing for quilter and sewing lovers!!!!!!! You can find beautiful fabrics, tools and books :):):) The City Quilter is located at 133 West 25th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue).

Book lovers paradise @ New York City - Part 1

I have always loved reading and books are very dear to my heart. In spite of being part of the kindle generation and buying most of my books online, I love stopping in bookshops I find wandering the streets of this amazing city :) If books are also your thing, New York is one of the best places in the world to indulge :):)
It gives me great pleasure holding a book in my hands and going through it. I am particularly fond of coffee table books. I wish I had the money and space to buy them all!!!!! lol I love this photo of Gwyneth Paltrow by Mario Testino for Vogue America.

Photo: Mario Testino

Anyways, after 3 months living in New York City, I have come across a few lovely bookshops and I am already looking forward to finding a few more on my way.

• Strand Books: WOW!!!!!!! What an amazing store :):):) I have been to the main store on 828 Broadway (at the corner of 12th Street - very, very close to Union Square). I think I could spend days wandering through the wide selection of every single subject you can imagine. It is a must go for book lovers. They also sell second hand books for under $5. The coffee table books are incredible!!!!! A dream come true for the book lovers for sure!!!!

• Around the World: This is s must go place for fashionistas. It is located in front of Bryant Park (28 West 40th Street), between 5th and 6th Avenue. You will be able to find every single fashion publication in the world.

• Barnes&Noble : The biggest and most famous bookstore retailer in New York. 555 Fifth Avenue (between 45th and 45th Street). They are present in 6 others addresses in the city. 

• Taschen: Some of the most beautiful artsy coffee table books can be found here. 107 Greene Street (Soho).  

• Mo MA Store: You can shop for contemporary art books in 2 different locations: in the museum itself  or at the store in Soho (81 Spring St, at Crosby Street).  

• The Drama Bookshop: In this bookshop you can find scripts, theatre books and publications of drama related subjects. When I walked in this shop there were so many people around reading. Not sure if something was going on or if they were actors/writers waiting for a rehearsal or anything like that lol 250 West 40th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenue.

Phrase of the day 2 :):)

It is such a beautiful day here in New York today :):) Feeling very inspired and like sharing positive vibes!!!!! Something I have read @ MoMA yesterday:

Have a lovely day and weekend everyone!

Love xxx

Target Free Friday Nights @ MoMA

Following the list of things to do in NYC, I I went to the Target Friday Nights at the MoMA yesterday. It happens every Friday, from 4pm to 8pm and you have access to all the galleries, exhibitions and films for free. Amazing in this city!!!!! I had been to the MoMA more than 10 years ago with my mother, before the refurbishment and I was very excited to go back :) I was very lucky and did not have to queue to get in.

The MoMA has one of the world's most comprehensive collections of modern art, with works of Picasso, Dali, Max Ernst, Van Gogh, Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pollock, Miro...The list goes on...I think you could be able to spend days there in order to absorb it all.

My 2 favorite exhibitions apart from the ongoing ones were:

1. Diego Rivera: Murals for the Museum of Modern Art. It is on until May 14th 2012 and contains 5 of the 8 murals painted by Diego Rivera specially for the museum's exhibition in 1931-1932. It is crazy to think it was conceived in 6 weeks prior to the exhibition's starting date.
2. Sanja Ivekovic: Sweet Violence (until March 26th 2012). I had never heard about this great Croatian photographer, sculptor and installation artist. The place of women in today's society is the main subject of her work. It is a mixture of photo montages and media installations.

 It was great to revisit work by American artists and also by European artists who found shelter in America during/after the World War 2.  I would love to learn more about it and I will :):)

Definitely it was my fault for being bored in New York :):):)

MoMA:
11 W 53rd St  New York, 10019

Things to do in New York when you are very bored and tired of waiting for your EAD....

I am so bored!!!!!! And waiting...Waiting for my bloody EAD in order to start job hunting :( It has been exactly 75 days I have applied for it and still waiting...I was thinking about going for a wander today, but felt so lazy to go on my own. To feel better I have started researching things to do with my hubby during the weekend. The first thing I read when I opened the book was:

"If you're bored in New York, it's your own fault." - Myrna Loy

Yes, maybe it is!!!! lol Anyways, to make me feel better, I have decided to sketch a plan of places to go following some guide books advice (not the wisest as I am one for avoiding the very touristic places...). My parents-in-law are visiting us next week from England, maybe I can use some of these tips myself. Not sure as it isn't their first time in New York and and I am sure they have done most of it as well lol Anyways, here we go:

1. Empire State Building - Have been there a long time ago and look at it the whole day from my window!!!! Why I would I want to go there??? lol I love looking at it every day to find out which colour it will be in the evening. It is amazing to think it was the tallest building in the world until 1970 and 1072, when the Twin Towers were built. I love the movie Affair to Remember as well. It was on TV last week :)
2. Central Park: Have been there so many times recently!!!!! What else can I do in the park during the winter??? Maybe I should go for a run there?? Possibly...
3. Ice skating at Rockefeller Centre: Not sure if my parents-in-law would be keen on that. Maybe I can take them for a stroll around the rink :)
4. American Museum of Natural History: I think it is a pretty museum from outside and certainly has great stuff inside. But paying $19 admission fee ?? :(:( The Hayden Planetarium is supposed to be amazing though. Maybe...Again, you would have to pay $19 ...Or you could buy the ticket package to the Museum and Rose Center for Earth and Space plus all special exhibitions, IMAX films, and the Hayden Planetarium Space Show for $33. Sounds so expensive!!!!! Sometime I have to forget about how things work in London, where most museums are free ;-)
5.  Frick Museum: This Museum is definitely on my list!!!!! Have heard lovely things about it. The collection is made mostly of European art. Again $18 dollars to get in...
6. Lincoln Center: I love this complex of beautiful buildings and would love to go to opera or to the ballet there one day. It is New York's centrepiece for performing arts, having as residents 12 companies such as the New York City Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. Can't wait to go there in the summer when dance bands perform in the central Josie Robertson Plaza as part of the center's Midsummer Night Swing series. It is worthy going there as well to see Marc Chagall murals Source of Music and Triumph of Music hanging behind the Opera's facade. The library in the complex is great as well :) I will definitely take them there and will try to learn more about it. 
7. Metropolitan Museum of Art: It is a beautiful place to visit and there is always so much going on. Another good choice! :)
8. Museum of Modern Art: I have been there a long time ago. Actually, it was before the refurbishment. It is on my list as well. Apparently it is free admission on Fridays between 4pm and 8pm. There is a very interesting exhibition with Diego Rivera's murals. 
9. Time Square/42nd Street: I can see it from my window and walk around the area at least 2 times per week lol I will give it a miss for the moment!!! 
10. Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: The access to the pedestal and crown of the Statue of Liberty is currently unavailable due to renovations. Might have to stick to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum :)

Yes, If I am bored it is my fault!!!!!!!! I will make these lists just to make me feel guilty and stop saying I am bored!!!! :):):)