NEW YORK'S CULTURAL TREASURE TROVE (c) By Polly Guerin

Where else in the world could you enter China’s Forbidden City, see a tale of Love and Fallout, view and bid on international antiques or watch Nordic Oscar Contenders ? Only in New York my friends, only in New York. Here’s the Scoop!!!
THE EMPEROR’S PRIVATE PARADISE Take a vicarious trip to Beijing. Showcasing sumptuous murals, furniture, Buddhist icons and decorative arts, almost all of which have never been seen publicity, Treasures From the Forbidden City exhibits 90 exclusive objects that once adored an exclusive compound in the Forbidden City. The exquisite works demonstrate the highest levels of artistic accomplishment in 18th-century China, which are augmented with photo murals of the Qianlong Garden and a video-simulated “walk through” of the Studio of Exhaustion from Diligent Service (Jaunqinzhai), the first building to be fully restored there. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Feb. 1 to May 1, Galleries for Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. http://www.metmuseum.org/.
RADIOACTIVE: A TALE OF LOVE AND FALLOUT
Portrays the romance of Marie and Pierre Curie in artist, Lauren Redniss’ original and engaging fairytale typeface illustrations (example pictured above) that cover the walls on the third floor of the New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The exhibit pays homage to Nobel Prize-winning couple with 50 illustrations that explore the discovery of radioactivity at the turn of the 20th century through reflecting the dangers inherent in the scientific progress. With a sense of whimsicality the artist also traces the Curie’s love story with all its intrigue, death and drama. A picture book of the same name as the exhibit, published by Harper Collins, is on sale in the Library’s bookstore. Through April 17th, www.exhibitions.nypl.org/radioactive.
THE WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW
Celebrates its 57th year as America’s most distinguished antiques show, featuring exceptional objects by 75 specialists in American, English, European, and Asian fine and decorative arts from antiquity through the the 1960s, all vetted for authenticity. A treasure trove of Southern hospitality is Grandeur Preserved: Masterworks Presented by Historic Charleston Foundation presenting over 50 works from two museum houses as well as highlights from Drayton hall and Middleton Place Foundation, the Charleston Museum and the Gibbes Museum of Art. Show hours 12 p.m.-8 p.m. daily except Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Daily admission $20. http://www.winterantiquesshow.com/.
NORDIC OSCAR CONTENDERS
Catch an exclusive sneak peak of the films chosen by the Nordic countries to compete for the Oscar nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film for 2010 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at Scandinavia House, The Nordic Center in America at 58 Park Ave at 38th St. The feature reel SIMPLE SIMON (rymden finns inga kanslor) runs on Wednesday, Jan 19th at 6:30 pm, $10 ($7 ASF members). Simon, 18, has Asperger’s syndrome. He knows nothing about love, but he has a scientifically perfect plan to find a girlfriend for his brother. http://www.amscan.org/.
TaTa darlings!!! Polly already checked out Love and Fallout, it’s not to be missed. Fan mail to: pollytalk@verizon.net. Go to www.pollytalk.com and click the links to my Blogs in the right hand column.