My apologies to all. I was taking this economic meltdown by the horns (on a personal level) and wrestling it to the ground. This took more resources and a bit more time than I thought it would. But I’ve returned! Battered and bruised by the battle but victorious. And I bring news! I am seriously considering a train journey. Amtrak has cut their fares across the Northeast for the summer. Let the planning and pondering begin!

Closer to home – at long last – a nice sized chunk of the American Wing has reopened at Metropolitan Museum of Art. While I was never much interested in the majority of the pieces in the American Wing (I’m still not) , it was very often my inter-museum destination thanks to the Tiffany garden. I would bring a snack and a book and spend hours there. Then they closed the wing so they could revamp it. Apparently, long after I noticed the place was a badly lit rabbit warren, someone in authority finally reached the same conclusion. They decided it was so convoluted and hard to navigate that most people never saw the majority of the collection. Bravo to them for fixing it but damn! It took ages and I was denied my garden escape. Sadly, it looks like I will continue to be denied by habitual escape since they have replaced my beautiful jewel-like atrium with one of their cold, marble courts. Grrrrrrrr.

And when I tire of the museum, I can wander out into the park to catch a classic flick. What’s that? Yes the Central Park Film Festival has returned! And even better 0 the first film on the schedule is SHAFT!