Matisse Picasso at the MoMA QNS

Picasso Self-Portrait with Palette, 1906. Matisse Self-Portrait, 1906 from MoMA.
A blockbuster exhibit in the making, Matisse Picasso, will be at the MoMA QNS from February 13 through May 19. The extraordinary show was previously at the Tate Modern in London (over a half a million visitors!) and the Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais in Paris. I was lucky enough to buy tickets early through my firm and prefer going in April or May as I can skip the coat check (the MoMA QNS at 25,000 square feet has a smaller lobby much less equipped than the 85,000 square foot home in Manhattan, where it is currently under renovation until 2005.). The enormity of the collaboration can't be understated. So seldom are shows of this caliber available. And so close to home! Even my friends will be traveling from out of state just to get to this exhibit.

See:
Matisse Picasso about the exhibit and an excellent chronological timeline
Museum of Modern Art Matisse Picasso exhibit information at the museum
MoMA home
Matisse, Picasso and Concerns About the Crowds from the New York Times, January 27, 2003, by Robin Pogrebin

Also, to note, from MoMA: "One Monday of each month during Matisse Picasso, the Museum will remain open late, with pay-what-you-wish admission from 4:00 p.m. through 7:45 p.m. This reduced admission is available on a first come, first served basis."
Dates are: February 17, March 24, April 21, and May 12

Cook for the Cure

About every three minutes, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. Every thirteen minutes, a woman dies because of breast cancer.
Cook for the Cure was created to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. If you're thinking about buying a KitchenAid, the specially produced pink stand mixers provide a $50 donation to the foundation, and other KitchenAid products contribute too. It's great.

Gastronomic Gourmet shops in Greenwich

Got up this afternoon and felt like a European as I popped around Bleecker Street, running my weekend errands.

First stop, the Laundromat on my block, second stop, Rocco’s (243 Bleecker), the Italian Pasticceria known for its freshly-squeezed cannoli, where I go every Saturday for my cup o’ joe, and last bit before the real food run, the hardware store. I crossed the street to Strawberry Fields supermarket at 311 Bleecker Street for some cupboard basics. Next door at 309 Bleecker is where Thomas Paine spent the last year of his life in 1809.

Crossed back over Seventh Avenue and made for Murray’s Cheese shop at 257 Bleecker, with the country's best cheese selection of over 250 varieties from around the world at great prices (I picked up a ceramic pot of St. Marcellin for $4.99 and nice wedge of cave-aged swiss @ $10.99/lb so I can make grilled cheese sandwiches) and friendly fellows serving. Because they were out of bread, I headed into Zito’s Italian bread bakery, around since 1924, to grab a baguette next door at #259. I crossed the street to Faicco’s Sausage shop at 260 Bleecker where the shelves are lined with marinated Italian olives and artichokes, dried pasta, vinegars, specialty spreads, and cans and cans of tomato products. Alongside are Faicco's acclaimed sweet and hot Italian sausages (I got hot sausage for $4.99/lb and super fresh ground beef for $3.99/lb), ready prepared meals, ground meats, and fresh chops. Plus, adoring and adorable Italians behind the counter. Last stop, Turquacino, my little gourmet grocer’s with just what I need, plus a hot bar and upstairs seating area for quick eats.

Take a trip to this block of Bleecker one Saturday for excellent groceries and you’ll feel like you’re in some little part of Europe. Oh, and a new café called Noi Café (in Italian, it means "Our Café") just opened. I’ll have to check that out another time, but in the meantime, get your creamy risotto at the Risotteria at the corner of Bleecker and Morton - a little expensive, but always perfect for a cold wintery day or John's Pizzeria, according to others, New York's best pizza.

**Note** Murray's cheese has since moved across the street to #254!

catch

Ok, on my return trip on Washington Deluxe, the bus arrived half an hour late, and by the time we actually departed after the bus driver collected tickets and payment, it was a full hour late. If you're not in a hurry, it's really not a big deal, but that's pretty much the only drawback to the price you pay.