NYC THE ART CENTER OF THE WORLD (c) By Polly Guerin

A new crystal clear day awakens in New York’s art world with the literary lions counting up the numerous art openings and vernissages featuring Old Masters and new icons. It’s the Best of New York, my friends, the very Best of Culture right here in the Big Apple.
Here’s the scoop!!!
MING LOYALIST ART FROM THE CHIH LO LOU COLLECTION showcases The Art of Dissent in 17th Century China, a wrenching era which spurred an enormous outpouring of creative energy as many former Ming subjects turned to the arts to express their loyalty to the noble but doomed cause of Ming restoration. The exhibit in the Galleries for Chinese Painting and Calligraphy features more than 60 landscape paintings and calligraphies highlight the intensely personal styles created by the leading artists of that time. Even if you’re not a scholar of the genre, it is fascinating to see how enduring harsh conditions these subjects took refuge in nature and their representations of landscape often project their emotional responses to the radically changed world order. Opens Sept. 7th. www.metmuseumorg.
CELEBRATING THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF EZRA JACK KEATS’ SNOWY DAY. Award-winning author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, whose beloved children’s books include Whistle for Willie, Peter’s Chair and The Snowy Day, has a play date at the Jewish Museum opening Sept. 9th. Published at the height of the American civil-rights movement The Snowy Day in particular became a milestone, featuring the first African-American protagonist in a full-color picture book. It went on to inspire generations of readers and paved the way for multiracial representation in American children’s literature. The exhibition features over 80 original works, dummy books to final paintings and collages in which he used lush color and strove for simplicity in his texts. www.thejewishmuseum.org.
INGRES AT THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM Aficionados of the genre can easily recognize the work of the French master of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867) who is arguably the greatest portraitist of his time. He was a brilliant draftsman, and his drawings have long been prized along with his paintings. Beginning Sept. 9th, the Morgan will present works that span the artist’s career from his student days in Toulouse to his role as the head of one of the leading Parisian studios of the 1850s. This is a rare opportunity to see an exceptional group of drawings by an artist whose influence was widespread in his day and continued into the 20th century. William M. Griswold, director of the Morgan said, “Ingres was famous for his devotion to a classical style, yet a number of modern artists, such as Matisse and Picasso, were profoundly indebted to him.” www.themorgan.org.
TURKISH TASTE AT THE COURT OF MARIE ANTOINETTE is a dossier exhibit focusing on ‘turquerie,’ the 18th-century French aristocrats’ infatuation with all things Ottoman. Trends emerge from foreign lands, even the French designer Paul Poiret was caught up in the frenzy which was apparently ushered in by the 1776 performance in Paris of Sebastien-Roch Chamford’s tragedy Mustapha and Zeangir, which inspired everything from Turkish robes, tobacco and candy to the more full-on commitment of the Turkish corner in one’s home, the boudoir turc. The show at the Frick Collection features rare and rarely displayed objects from these rooms, whose Thousand and One Nights take on the Ottoman Empire means decorative motifs such as camels, Nubian slaves and palm trees. Not to be missed. Through Sept. 11th. www.frick.org.
PARIS DATELINE: THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBILE. It’s a Guy Thing that I couldn’t resist adding. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren boasts on the world’s greatest collections of classic automobiles, featuring sports cars from the 1930s to today. The Musee des Arts Decoratifs’ exhibit contains 17 exceptional vehicles, from 1929 Bentley to a 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, as well as films and sound recordings. Catch it a www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr.
Ta Ta darlings!!! Inspired by the Frick exhibit I think I’ve acquired the ‘turguerie’ fever and wearing again my Turkish robe bought in Istanbul. Fan mail welcome at pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at www.pollytalk.com and in the right-hand column click on the Blog links such as http://www.amazingartdecodivas.com.

BIG APPLE VENUES AND DAYTRIPPING (c) By Polly Guerin

Although the Big Apple can be a vacation in itself, nearby day trips also give summer a very special way to enlarge your appreciation for other venues. From Broadway musicals to Stratford-upon-Avon-upon-Park Avenue and DUMBO delights, adding daytripping jaunts to the Amish country can be fun and educational. It’s the Best of New York, the Very Best of Everything, my friends. Here’s the scoop!!!
THE OLDEST AMISH COMMUNITY IN AMERICA….As the world turns its modern head into the 21st century one thing remains constant and that is the Lancaster’s "Old Order Amish' a self-sufficient community that has remained true to its beliefs and simplistic way of living. Learn about the Amish life on a day trip to Pennsylvania where you visit a quaint 1840s Amish farm house where electricity is banished and in a typical schoolhouse the school mistress with her white cap and simple dress sits ready to answer your questions, albeit with discretion. Don’t miss the blacksmith shop as busy today as yesteryear as the one-horse buggy is still the mode of transportation as it carries its Amish occupants through the pristine farmlands and country roads. Farm animals, including baby bunnies, reside in the barnyard. The day ends with a real buggy ride through the back roads of the Amish country. Hines Tours, 1.646.403.5653 Book on line at www.hinestours.com. Email: sales@hinestours.com.
STRATFORD-upon-AVON-upon-PARK AVENUE
Go no further than 67th street to the Park Avenue Armory where the Stratford-Upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre has been rebuilt within the confines of the Wade Thompson Drill Hall. Not only did they build the physical structure—a replica of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre but it is authentic, complete with its seating, lighting, wardrobe and personnel. Five full-length productions are staged including As You like It, The Winter’s Tale, King Lear, Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet. Audiences seeking to have the experience of being in an authentic Elizabethan theatre can see the plays from through August 14th. www.armoryonpark.com.
DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY Polly’s Theater Pick of the Week is a jolly 1920s romp through the Villa Felicita where the assembled Art Deco attired cast meets an unusual guest, Death himself disguised as a Russian Prince who will spend a mere weekend falling in love and causing havoc in the run among the social elite of the villa. Ah, but who will Mr. Death take with him when he leaves to go back to eternity…that is the intriguing question that can only be revealed if you see this new musical madness. At The Roundabout Theatre Company’s, Laura Pels Theater, W 46th St., www.roundabouttheatre.org.
OLD FULTON RESTAURANT Polly’s Restaurant Pick of the Week is a short East River Ferry ride right to the heart of Dumbo-short for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass—a location where the Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers spectacular views of Manhattan and a chance to take a detour to 70 Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights where Truman Capote wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's. Down to the waterfront the Old Fulton Restaurant with its nostalgic European paintings and ambiance is a final respite after visiting the Dumbo area. A reasonable lunch menu makes it a ‘find.’ I had baked eggplant, authentic and delicious!!! A dinner Prix Fixe at $22 includes appetizer and main course. 7 Old Fulton Street, 718.797.0007. www.7oldfulton.com, info@7oldfulton.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I loved ‘Death Takes a Holiday!” Any Art Deco aficionado would too. Fan mail welcome at pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs at www.pollytalk.com and click on the link in the right hand column http://www.amazingartdecodivas.blogspot.com/.

A SUMMER HOLIDAY IN THE BIG APPLE (c) by Polly Guerin

Whether you're a Manhattan native or visiting tourist spectacular summer events provide a unique holiday in the Big Apple. From viewing the fireball sun, to dining in a neo-speakeasy restaurant to accordion, piano, jazz, music festivals it’s a joyous round of entertaining venues that make summer in the city the Best of New York, my friends, the Very Best of New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
MANHATTANHENGE…AN ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENON. Midtown is the place to be Wednesday Night, July 13th at 8:25 p.m. to catch Manhattanhenge (image above). This visual spectacle arrives when the setting sun aligns just so with New York City's street grid, casting a radiant glow of light across Manhattan’s skyscrapers and every cross street. As the sun dips below the horizon in perfect alignment with 42nd Street it sends waves of orange across the skyscraper facades, tricking the eye with visions of evening traffic headed into fiery oblivion. It’s an amazing occurrence, not to be missed and a great photo opportunity. Share yours with the American museum of Natural Histories Manhattanhenge group on Flickr.
MINETTA TAVERN, Polly’s Restaurant Pick of the Week is the standard bearer of the old tavern tradition, a haunt frequented by the likes of various layabouts and hangers-on including various writers, poets and pugilists. The place reeks of nostalgia and as one passes through the red velvet entrance curtain the ghosts of the literati of the day seem to be still lurking in its dining room, albeit in photos on the walls. In its heyday Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O’Neill, E. E. Cummings and Dylan Thomas were regulars but today the neo-speakeasy is a modern fashionistas destination where its reputation as ‘the best steakhouse in the city,’ does not disappoint. 113 MacDougal St., NYC 10012. Tel: 212.475.3850 www.minettatavernny.com.
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL launches a month of free music in the West Village. Chill out, sit on the grass, find a bench seat and listen to operatic selections by Schubert, Mozart and other great composers in the repertoire of masterful music. Guest appearances by a New York Philharmonic clarinetist fills the summer nights with delightful melody, while jazz, by the late, master Charles Mingus gives cause to find our place in the maddening crows. Dates: July 12-Aug. 2. For schedule contact: www.washingtonsquaremusicfestival.org.
MUSIC, DANCE, POETRY, and a LUSH LAWN wind down at Bryant Park where accordion music, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, brings a nostalgic Parisian feel to a summer day. Ragtime jazz also has its due, and Word for Word Poetry introduces internationally renowned poets who share their latest works to an admiring public. Feeling playful, then pick up a mallet and join the Ping Pong enthusiasts at the 42nd Street Allee, cutting up games from 11am to 7pm daily. Deanna Wiktowski, world class pianist, holds forth at the Upper Terrace from 12:30pm-2:30pm. Contact events@urbanmgt.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! You’ll find me sun gazing on Wednesday night on 42nd Street. Fan mail: pollytalk@verizon.net. Polly’s Blogs: go to www.pollytalk.com and in the right-hand column click on the link to the Polly Blog of your interest like amazingartdecodivas.blogspot.com.

DECORATIVE DIVERSITY IN THE BIG APPLE(c) By Polly Guerin

Decorative diversity takes us on a stroll through the exotic ‘lost’ world of mystical Hinduism whilst stopping for a spot of tea and tranquility as we ponder the wonders of furniture art. It’s the Best of New York my friends, the Very Best of New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
VISHNU: HINDUISM’S BLUE-SKINNED SAVIOR, Polly’s Exhibit of the Week takes you on a visit to Vishnu, one of the most important Gods in Hinduism, often depicted with four arms, engaging simultaneously in many activities as well as a blue skin tone that associates him with the cool expanses of water and sky. The exhibit explores the many personae and legends of Vishnu, his entourage, and his accoutrements, as well as the diverse traditions of worship related to him. The Brooklyn Museum’s large scale exhibition includes Indian sculpture, paintings, textiles and ritual objects on view through October 2, 2011. 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. www.brooklynmusum.org. Picture above: Vishnu Saving the Elephant, mid 18th century. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper.
KNOLL TEXTILES, 1945-2010 Founded on the premise that a well-designed environment enriches our lives, Knoll, the German-born U.S. furniture producer of modern textile design, supplied sleek, classic and sophisticated furnishings and interior design for chic office environments and gave new meaning to ‘modern’ in the 1940s. The exhibit at Bard Graduate Center, 18 W. 86th St. comprises approximately 175 examples f textiles, furniture, photographs and ephemera using color and texture as primary design elements with new fabrications: parachute webbing, fishnet and manmade fibers. Over the years Knoll’s contribution to modern environments included the work of leading artists, architects and designers including Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, Mies van de Rohe and Frank Gehry. Through July 31, 2011. Visit http://www.bgc.bard.edu.
FRANCHIA RESTAURANT, Polly’s Restaurant Pick of the Week is a welcome refuge for a spot of tea in an unexpected location: Park Avenue (Between 34th & 35th Sts.). Tea and tranquility merge in a Zen-like setting that is a welcome retreat from summer sightseeing and museum hopping. With an extensive tea menu you can find just the right tea to tame the heat or soothe a headache. If comfort food is needed, try the Asian-inspired vegan menu that has an exotic flair and tasty sauces. Franchia is located at 12 Park Avenue. 212.213.1001. www.franchia.com.
ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT Polly’s Movie Pick of the Week is an enchanting story of Flora, adopted at 2 years old by David Balding the owner of a small St. Louis circus who made her into the star attraction and their attachment is a lesson in love and devotion. In the end as both owner and animal become old together Balding must find a home for Flora but the separation is heart wrenching and the separation unbearable for both. The unhappy consequence of this relationship makes one pause to think twice about separating animals from other members of their species. At Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St, west of Sixth Avenue. www.filmforum.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m off to visit the Blue-Skinned Savior. Fan mail welcome www.pollytalk.com . Visit Polly Blogs at www.pollytalk.com and in the right hand column click on the link to the Blog of your interest.

GARDENS 'N MUSIC SERENDADE NEW YORKERS (c) By Polly Guerin

The 'Leopard' at Des Artistes>>>

Visit Spain’s Alhambra, enjoy music, dance and poetry on a lush lawn, hear music in a sculpture garden, and bask in the summer serenade. It’s the Best of New York my friends, the Very Best of New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
SPANISH PARADISE, The Gardens of the Alhambra, pictured left, a feast for the senses, features flowing fountains, elegant arches and a broad palette of Mediterranean plants that intoxicate with the aroma of rose, jasmine, lavender and gardenia in this Islamic palace city. It’s an exotic escape to Spain right here in New York City at New York Botanical Garden where the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory exhibit showcases manuscripts, watercolors, engravings and prints with a special section on New York’s native son Washington Irving, author of the fictional collection “Tales of the Alhambra.” Stroll along the poetry walk and read verses of Granada’s native son, the poet Federico Garcia Lorca. On weekends, there are Flamenco performances. At 2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY. Through August 21. www.nybg.org.
MOMA’S SCULPUTE GARDEN, Polly’s Music Pick of the Week is a cool way to spend an evening of international music presented by MOMa’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden in two sets (5:30 and 7:00p.m) on Thursday nights during July and August. Featuring adventurous musical performers from Africa, South America, China, Indonesia, and beyond the musicians build on specific national and popular musical traditions, bringing new instruments into standard ensembles, and enlivening the music with distinctive personal approaches. As the music wasps through the night air sit back and feel the stress melt away. www.moma.org. FREE July 7,14,21,28 and August 4, 11, 18, 25.
THE LEOPARD AT DES ARTISTES, Polly’s Restaurant Pick of the Week is set in the old Café des Artistes where scenes of those naked nymphs cavorting in the restored murals remain a favorite decor. The Wood Nymphs and Swing Girls look brighter and happier and so do the patrons of the Italianized version of the old-favorite restaurant. The long front room, elevated dining area and bar behind it survived but the new mellow lighting makes diners’ faces glow almost as fetchingly as those of the nymphs on the walls. Regional authenticity includes fregula, a seafood couscous ragout of Sardinian inspiration while other dishes speak of Sicilian, Calabria and Sicily origins. At 1 W. 67th St. 212.878.8768.
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! “PAGE ONE" is Polly’s Movie Pick of the Week. Contrary to what the naysayers say newspapers are not dead and the movie Page One: Inside the New York Times, an entertaining documentary by Andrew Rossi, attests to the value of newspaper journalism and the incredible journey of the pulp process. Watch as editors and reporters tackle news breaking stories, deliberate on developing stories and grind out with dizzy race the news in the hectic newsroom. Grindstone journalism at its best “Page One” is a ‘must see’ for the sheer value of appreciating newspaper journalism. Check movie schedules in your local newspaper.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m heading for the Alhambra, a short hop on Metro North of the Botanical Gardens. Send fan mail to: pollytalk@verizon.net. Polly Blogs go to www.pollytalk.com and in the right-hand column click on the Blog of your interest. The latest feature “Yoga: Rock & Roll Exercises in the Sky” at http://www.awakenyoursleepingbeautyedgarcayce.blogspot.com.

SERIOUS CULTURE IN STORIED VENUES (c) By Polly Guerin

“Making Lists” creates historical reference to famous and celebrated Literati, while Museum Mile celebrates art and Callas returns to the stage waxing nostalgic over Ari. It's the Best of New York my friends, the Very Best of New York. Here’s the scoop!!!
LISTS, TO-DOS, ILLUSTRATED INVENTORIES, COLLECTED THOUGHTS! Save your lists my friends!!! Who ever thought that these documents would be historically significant? On view at the Morgan Library & Museum the exhibit presents a broad range of artists jottings, from Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder to H. L. Mencken to Elaine de Mooning and Lee Krasner to name a few giving an intimate view of an artist’s personal life. Take Franz Kline’s $274.51 liquor, I’d like to have gone to that New Year’s Eve bash for his abstract artist friends. Then let’s take a lesson from Adolf Konrad’s whimsical and detailed “Illustrated Packing List” for a 1962 trip to Rome, pictured at left. Picasso was a list maker par excellence. He itemized his recommendations for the ground-breaking 1913 Armory show. These personal artifacts sometimes become works of art, some dashed off quickly, other beautifully illustrated. www.themorgan.org.
MASTER CLASS, Polly’s Theater Pick of the Week, CALLAS is back in true form in the guise of Tyne Daly who comes to the stage to teach Master Class just as Callas did at Julliard during her last years. I was there when the original Callas dispensed the secret of her art to a new generation of singers passing through her searing scrutiny. Her directives were riveting and glad I was not to be one of the singers on the stage under her baton. During Class, Callas monologues about her tempestuous relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Tyne Daly holds class at the Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., with an affable Manny (Jeremy Cohen) at the piano. Previews begin June 14. Tickets as low as $48. ClubManager@playbill.com.
MUSEUM CRAWL, Polly’s Event of the Week Tuesday, June 14th is FREE for the walking, up and down Fifth Avenue where New York City’s cultural institutions open their doors for Museum Mile that stretches from 82nd to 110th Streets. Start at the top at Museum for African Art (110th St.) where dance performances enliven the evening and nearby catch El Museo del Barrio’s Files: Voces y Visiones featuring works of Latino Caribbean and Latin-American artists, and don’t miss Joel Grey’s exhibit, “New York Life” at the Museum of the City of New York . Fashion aficionados head for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for the Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and the Parisian artist, Sonia DeLaunay’s textiles and interior design. Stop off at the Neue Gallerie for Vienna 1900 and check out the Café Zabriske to indulge your chocolate cravings. Catch your breath and go up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s roof for Anthony Caro’s sculptures and a breathtaking view of the city while sipping cocktails named after the art works. More fun awaits with entertainers, variety acts and musicians along the way.
ARTISANAL, Polly’s Restaurant of the Week, off Park Avenue and 32nd Street, a Fromagerie Bistro and wine bar, features a unique varied menu and a world of cheese specialties including the starter sampler, the Cheese Plate with three seasonal cheeses $15.50, wine is extra. The Lunch Prix Fixe is value priced at $25 and includes Hors-D’oeuvres, Plats Pricipaux, a choice of 3 entrees such as Wild Mushroom Risotto with Fava Beans and Black Truffle Butter. Desserts include Crème Brulee “Le Cirque.” On a budget? Choose, Croque Monsieur/Madam or Vegetable Quiche at $16.50 or the Artisanal Blend Burger $15.50. Best to make a reservation. 212.725.8585. http://www.artisanalbistro.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m revisiting Callas at MASTER CLASS!!! Fan mail welcome, pollytalk@verizon.net. Visit Polly’s Blogs: www.pollytalk.com, just click on the Blog of your interest in the right-hand column.

A NEW YORKER'S DREAM VACATION IN NYC (c) By Polly Guerin

Why travel the globe when New York City is a dream vacation. Just stay put and invest in the Big Apple’s diversified venues from pulp art to a musical hit at its best, free movies and dining at Sardi’s. It’s the best of New York my friends, the very Best of New York!!! Here’s the scoop!!!
PULP ART: The Robert Lesser Collection. When Americans needed an escape from the harsh reality of day to day life pulp magazines provided the fantasy escape. This is a rare opportunity to view an almost forgotten art form because very little of the work, often by leading illustrators of the time remains today. Lesser said, this “unique American (art) form combined all the elements of the male imagination during the Great Depression.” An exhibition of 88 rare paintings created for the front covers of popular fiction magazines in the first half of the twentieth century are colorful, bold eye-catching adventure-charged scenes which pushed the boundaries of what was then acceptable to society. With a hint of six, rescued maidens, murder and mayhem the original oil paintings like the one pictured here "Fleeing in a motorcycle and sidecar after their heist" by Richard Lillis is on view at the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrations through July 30th, 2011. FREE admission at 128 E. 63rd St., Tues. 10-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am to 5pm and Sat. 12-5pm. Visit www.societyillustrators.org.
BABY it’s YOU! Polly’s Theater Pick of the Week is one of the best musical hits on Broadway. Though I’m a devotee of classics and baroque I was blown away by The Shirelles with a high voltage cast re-enacting the story of how Florence Greenberg, a New Jersey housewife-turned-mogul, discovered four black teenage girls singing in a playground and turned it into one of the music industry’s greatest success stories, the Shirelles, one of the most successful girl groups of the early 1960s. No ordinary woman, Greenberg founded a record label and changed the face of pop music. They were a million dollar quartet, climbing the charts with such hits as “Soldier Boy,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” and the title tune, “Baby its You!” You’ll be dancing in the aisles. At the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St.
A WEEKEND OF FREE FILMS June 10-12 in Lincoln Center’s first movie multiplex, the Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center. There will be a marathon of choices from Ran to Pulp Fiction. For Film schedule and Free Tickets visit www.filmlinc.com. West 65th Street, between Amsterdam & Broadway. The official opening is June 17th with “Page One,” inside the New York Times, a documentary about The Times newsroom. General Admission $30. www.TimesTalks.com or call (888) NYT-1870.
SARDI’S, Polly Restaurant Pick of the Week. To hang your picture on the wall of Sardi’s is to make your mark on the history of the American stage. Broadway’s hall of fame started in 1927 when Mr. Sardi was brainstorming about ideas to increase business. Taking a cue from Joe Zelli’s in Paris where the walls were covered with caricatures of celebrity patrons, Mr. Sardi hired Alex Gard, a Russian refugee who pledged to exchange caricatures for two meals a day. Sardi’s remains the “Toast of Broadway” and one can dine quite reasonable from a classic cuisine menu to veggies and tofu but do ask for the Sardi’s original, Baccone Dolce dessert, a sweet mouthful of meringue, fresh strawberries, whipped cream and a touch of chocolate. 234 W. 44th St. Reservations: 212.221.8444. www.sardis.com.
Ta Ta darlings!!! I’m going inside the New York Times newsroom checking in at the new film multiplex at Lincoln Center. Fan mail welcome pollytalk@verizon.net. Polly’s Blogs can be accessed at www.pollytalk.com, just click on the Blog of your interest in the right hand column.