it’s easy in New York to imagine that you are living in a movie. Tonight was no exception. Freezing wind and squalling snow caused us to dash into the Fort Hamilton Parkway subway stop, only to wait on the plant form as tumbleweeds rolled by on the unused center express track and the “N” was no where to be found. The station was complete with a deserted feeling, graffiti and a chainlink fence above rattling in the wind. I’m not sure what happens next, but probably something sinister.
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Paris Via Velib
After spending the quietest new years ever (laundry), on new years day we took a bike ride through eastern Paris, ending up at Notre Dame and then the Jadrin de Tuilleries. I love seeing Paris at the pace of a bike, it’s a great way to get to know the city and see how it all fits together. Velib is Paris’ new bike rental program where the bikes are everywhere. It’s not as straightforward as it should be to rent a bike (I couldn’t have done it because I have a US bank card without the chip that European bank cards have) and you have to go through several seemingly redundant steps, but once you get the bike, it’s pretty damn cool. And people really use them! I also feel like Paris has done a lot to become more bike friendly and I feel safer there than in NYC, but maybe this is just being naive.
Barcelona Beaches
One great thing about Barcelona was the weather! I loved sitting outside in cafes in December and walking on the beach looking at the Mediterranean.
Barcelona from Park Guell
As an escape from the tourist clogged streets we went to Gaudi’s Park Guell, which is probably the only thing I really liked that we saw by him. It was relaxing, a breath of fresh air, and I could actually feel the architecture, landscape design and nature in dialogue with each other. Plus, it afforded a wonderful view of the city and the sea in “magic hour” light. You can see the electric company building and the Sagrada Familia (a Gaudi creation I was “unimpressed” with, or rather, was impressed with its ugliness).
MACBA, Barcelona
Though the phrase I uttered most often in Barcelona was “unimpressed” (with Modernisme, with the tourists, with the rude bartenders…), I did like the MACBA and the CCCB (Center for Contemporary Culture, Barcelona). The CCCB especially had interesting and provacative exhibitis on Apartheid in South African and it’s ramifications for racism worldwide and on the end of Franco’s rule in Spain. Both the exhibits at the CCCB mixed politics, history and art in a way that I have never seen in an American museum (probably because they can’t get funding to do so) and I found that really exciting.
Holidays in Europe
For the first time ever I didn’t go to Maine for the holidays, but headed further afeild to Paris (and later Barcelona). It was a fantastic mix of walking around, taking in the sights and just hanging out. Like ever American who has ever been there, Paris never fails to move and inspire me with its city charm. I forget how much I love it and then when I come back I get so excited!
Fall at Coney Island
G. semi-suprised me with a visit this fall. In honor of the outer boroughs we also took an off-season trip to Coney Island. The beach was way cleaner than in the summer and the water warm enough to wade.
Trip to the Queens County Farm Museum
Last weekend, in honor of all things Halloween, Andi organized a trip to the Queens County Farm Museum. It was really far away (it’s practically in Nassau county), but once we got there I felt like I had been transported back to Maine and the Cumberland County Fair. There were sad looking animals in small pens, a cord maze (it was too crowded to go) and a pumpkin patch where you could pick out your own pumpkin, which we did. I’m glad that there is a place that is trying to teach city people about farming, but I wish the farm was a little less hokey in a way. We had fun though and next year I want to go back when it’s less crowded and try the amazing maize maze!
LJ reading at ABC No Rio
Several weeks ago (time is going too fast!) there was a zine reading at ABC No Rio as part of their “Art of Zines” show. It was pretty awesome to hear some old school zinesters like LJ and Elissa Nelson read. I thought about how not only had I started reading their zines about 10 years ago, but how amazing it is that we have become friends. There has been a small amount of zine activity around the city lately (I taught a workshop and attended a reading at Think Coffee the week previous) and I find that so interesting and important. Even though I’m not always sure what the power of zines are in the digital age, I know they have power. Seeing all the zines also motivated me to finally finish a new one. It’s going to be about art (big suprise) and especially about art I hate (nothing like a good rant for a zine, right?).
…Let’s Go Where We’re Happy
Jennifer and I spend a lovely, sunny Sunday strolling about historic Green-Wood cemetary, a mere 20 blocks from my home! I made a set on flickr called “Cemetary Gates.” I realized I always compare Green-Wood to Pere La Chaise in Paris. This is probably wrong, as Brooklyn is not Paris and Paris is not Brooklyn. However, I feel like I need to have some kind of reminder of Paris in my days. Nevertheless, Green-Wood shines in its own right and I want to write a longer essay on it one of these days.
Killerfemme 