This morning we walked over to the east side and down to the UN. We had no plans to go inside, but there was no line and they said we could go in and look in the lobby so we went through security and got to look around. I don't think anything has been done to update the building or furnishings since the 50's. It felt like you were in the movie "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." Very Cold War-ish. In the 80's my mom and a family friend came to visit and we visited the UN and did the whole tour thing. The part of the building that backs up to the East River was open and we were able to walk around and see the sculpture from the Soviet Union, Swords Into Plowshares. That whole East River side is not open to the public now and the guard told us there is no way even to see that sculpture. He said in the future when some construction was completed it would be viewable from a distance but not like we saw it back in the 80's.
The sculpture Sphere Within a Sphere was a gift from Italy in 1996. If you look closely, you'll see a reflection of Tony and me in our walking clothes!
The above picture was taken just inside the UN lobby.
Above, the Chagall Window
Inside the chapel at the UN
This was a cool Amish grocery we passed heading back from the UN.
I thought this sign regarding Sunday's sermon should spark some interest...or maybe not.
Tony had read about Tom Sachs' Mars exhibit at the Park Avenue Armory. He was all crazy about going. It really defies all effort to explain/describe it. The best I can come up with is that it is interactive conceptual art for those who love The Container Store. It was artistically interesting for sure, somewhat entertaining but not at all educational in the academic sense. We were glad we experienced it though.
After leaving the Armory, we walked up Madison Avenue. When we were in Paris, we had macaroons from Laduree. They were incredible. New York got its first Laduree last year and I couldn't wait to try them. The caramel with sea salt was tres bon!
We decided to walk on up to our old apartment building at 1212 5th Avenue. We had been seeing the renovations and the ads for apartments to purchase in the Sunday New York Time's Magazine and we were very curious. We walked by and while we were looking, the doorman came out and invited us to come inside to see the lobby. It was, of course, nothing like the old pre-war building we had lived in.
Above is the "new and improved" 1212 5th Avenue and below is a picture taken when we lived there in 1985.
Central Park, across the street from 1212 5th Avenue
11 Madison Park
Tonight we had dinner at 11 Madison Park. It was way beyond anything we have ever experienced. We walked in and the maitre'd Ramsey met us and called us by name! He visited with us a bit and congratulated us on our anniversary. We were then shown to our table and the best meal of my life began. On the table was a hand calligraphied card in an envelope thanking us for allowing them to help us celebrate our anniversary and the one page menu which was simply four rows of four words. These words were the main ingredient in the dish. You chose one word from each row, two starters, an entree and a dessert. You told the server if there was anything you really didn't like and the chef then customized your meal. I chose hamachi (tuna), plantain, beef and chocolate. Tony chose asparagus, lobster, pork and chamomile. In between every course was a little taste of something out of this world. And the bread...to die for...was served hot with goat's milk butter, cow's milk butter and salt for sprinkling. At the very end of our meal, the captain came over and asked if we would like to visit the kitchen. WOULD WE!! Oh my gosh! We were escorted back to the kitchen and told how the orders come in and how the kitchen is arranged, and then we were taken to a tall table where we could stand and watch and a chef came over and made this drink for us; she froze part of it using liquid nitrogen. It was all really over the top. No place I have ever eaten or will ever eat at could ever come close to this experience.
Our card, the menu and a box containing two savory New York black and white parmesan "cookies" to start the meal. At the very end of the meal we were given a box with two sweet New York black and white cookies and a jar of homemade granola for our breakfast. I'm full now just reliving the whole thing.
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