MOMA and Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn

Headed off for MOMA, just a mere four blocks from our place in midtown. Ira had seen the William Kentridge exhibit and loved it. I shared his enthusiasm over the incredible videos, drawings, and mechanical stage sets. Another standout at the museum was Marina Abramovic. She was there in a piece called "The Artist is Present," in that big main room. She sits at a table all day and museum goers can sit in a chair opposite her. Then they both stare at each other for 15 minutes without speaking. Of course, Abramovic does this repeatedly all day. It was OK, but going around the museum it was fun to check in to see who was seated across from her. At one point it was a woman in full burka, with only her eyes showing as they stared at one another. Upstairs, actors portrayed one of her other "hits." A naked man and woman stood in a narrow doorway, and to get in, you had to brush by them. I'd heard about it, but was unprepared for how powerful it was, daunting to brush by, and just seemingly "wrong."

Then we got on the R train and headed for Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, located at the bottom of the island just across from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Ira grew up there so we walked by his old house and took in the neighborhood. The storefront where his father had a pharmacy is now a diner. Ira reminisced about the changes and the things that stayed the same. Mostly everything has changed of course!

At night we went out for a lavish Indian food dinner, we had lamb and spinach, shrimp in a fiery red curry, and vegetables (including pineapple) in a green curry sauce. Then we headed across the street to see Vincere, a fiery Italian film about Mussolini's discarded mistress to prepare ourselves for the trip. The movie was magnificent, full of sexy, dark performances and passion leading to madness

Some pictures to add color...