STL DPB ON THE ROAD - THE VESSEL

The West Side of Manhattan has a recent, huge and expensive real estate development called Hudson Yards. It contains several very tall buildings, one of which has the overlook called The Edge, which I think we will come to. The central plaza contains this sculpture, for want of a better word, called The Vessel. The Escher-y network of stairways lets you walk to the top, not quite seen here from within an overpriced shopping mall. (You have to pass by Cartier on the way out.) It is closed to visitors, for now, while they figure out what to do about the rash of suicides.               

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - ON THE ICE

One of the most interesting features of Philip Glass' birthday party at the Rockefeller Center ice rink was the presence of professional ice dancers. Their jackets said Ice Theatre of New York. The changing lights made for dramatic effects.                 

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - SUNSET AT THE WHITNEY

We usually go to the Whitney when we are in New York. Technically, it's the Whitney Museum of American Art but the exhibits lean heavily modern and contemporary. The architecture is adventurous, with vistas and terraces overlooking the Hudson and New Jersey. The big show now is a Jasper Johns retrospective, which, frankly, felt overwhelming. The view from this room, something that I've photographed many times before, was refreshing for our eyes.               

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS IS REALLY LAURIE ANDERSON

Under all this Nanook Of The North clothing and under a mask, facing a couple of MacBooks and a mixer board, is one of my cultural idols, Laurie Anderson. For those who don't know her, see https://laurieanderson.com/, but it's hard to understand if you aren't a devotee. I think I've seen her perform in St. Louis twice. She was the host of Philip Glass' birthday party but I think she spent most of her time being cold. As did we.         

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIP GLASS

So here's what was going on: not long ago I saw something on Laurie Anderson's Facebook feed about an 85th birthday party for Philip Glass that she was hosting. I'm a huge fan of both. It was a ticketed event at the ice rink in Rockefeller Center in New York. I looked at Mrs. C and said, "I'd go to that!" So, given the freedom of retirement, off we went (not that I need much of a reason to visit my beloved home town). It was as wacky as I expected.