I don't mind publication tours but giving out money is much more fun than begging for it and since we had to be in New York to do the former what better place to have some food and art at our old haunts.
The Metropolitan Museum's Members' Dining Room has gone from an exclusive only top members except during August weekends to letting almost anyone in and a good thing too. Our meal of Lobster Bisque, Lobster Salad, Red Snapper a la plancha with two puree/sauces and Molten Valrhona Lava Cake. Everything was terrific and this is a great place that I don't see a lot of buzz about. But then I'm not tuned into the NY scene and the place keeps changing its requirements - from "top members of the Met only except for August weekends on leap years" to "anybody who is breathing." Our bill, with a bottle of fine Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, no bottled water and 2 espressi, one a double - before tip - was $131.74. And then, one goes through the fabulous Met....................
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Then, I then went thru the Garry Winogrand (ah, I don't get it) and Sol Lewitt (horribly displayed) at the Met; The Annual 2014:Redefining Tradition exhibition at the National Academy Museum and School (some quite nice pieces and TV stuff); the South American "Under the Same Sun" show at the Guggenheim (Ok, some good stuff but not nearly as dazzling as the Italian Futurism show there I saw earlier this spring); and the 3 shows at the Jewish Museum which were interesting for the eyes but empty to the souls.
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Dinner was another old haunt - the Grand Central Oyster Bar where I've been coming since World War II when my Uncle Stanley tried to pass off clams instead of oysters on me thinking I didn't know the difference at age 8. Colette had a mixed salad (which one could have had anywhere in the world) and lobster gaspacho (which one could not have had anywhere in the world) and I had 6 beautiful Malpeques and a classic heart-stopping/clogging oyster pan roast - my oh my. With a bottle of French Muscadet, no bottled water and no coffee, our bill before tip, was $83.67. A Classic Dinner in a Classic/Classy place.
