new york city - fall 2003 - day 5
Today we stayed uptown and did some stuff closer to the neighborhood.
It was kind of a dreary, drizzly morning, so we slept in and relaxed in the apartment for a while before we got going. When we did get going, we started with a run through Central Park. The New York City marathon is coming up in a few weeks so the park was packed with people working out. (At least at seemed packed to me. For all I know, it may always be that crowded, even on non-marathon prep weekends.) We ran all over and saw what we could of the park. It's a big place.
After cleaning up, we decided to head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the afternoon. We hoofed back through the park and spent 5 or 6 hours wandering the halls or taking guided tours. The Met has a lot going for it. It's obviously a huge place with incredible resources, funding, and space. It also has a nearly unparalleled collection of art from genres ranging from the old masters through some very modern stuff. I - like most people, I think - prefer the impressionist period pieces along with the more romantic and early abstract works that bookend them. I also dig the occasional suit of armor. The Met has it some of that, too. Even the kind for horses. Neato.
For dinner we hit this neighborhood sushi joint named Hanu. As promised, it was very good - especially for an anagram of Huna. On the way home, we stopped and had smores at this little cafe next to where we were staying. How big of a kick is that?
Highlights
While taking a break and having a dog on the steps of the Met, three giant limos pulled up and unloaded a wedding party and took a bunch of pictures. There must have been 2000 people watching them pose. It was a real flashy production, like any good East side wedding should be. Fun.
Mooching a free lecture on the art and history of armor making from a teacher who was at the museum guiding a bunch of students around.
Running through Central Park and noticing that nobody else seemed to be running the same direction as we were. Getting tired and stopping to rest right next to a sign that indicated we had been running the wrong way. Oops.