| I am sorry that you are once again the recipient of bad news. I am glad that I could be back in town to greet you in your foray back to SI. Just returned from the Big Apple, although it was almost too cold to bear. There are some amazing finds from the Russian steppes at the Metropolitan Museum, golden deer from Scythian burial mounds, and other metalwork from Sarmatians and other nomadic groups. A lovely exhibit of decorative arts and some middling fine arts from mid- 19th century New York, giving one a sense of the city as it came into its own; an excellent, but small, exhibit of Byzantine pieces; and, of course, the usual Christmas creche in the the Medieval section. I missed the MOMA, as I had overscheduled given the weather, and got worn out unexpectedly early, so I have now seen only two of their anniversary exhibits, and not the third. Took the family to see "The Music Man"---- still wonderfully rousing--- and, for the first time, caught a Rockettes Christmas show. Much fun! Went to the Tavern on the Green (wildly decorated) and the Russian Tea Room, on successive nights. Over the top at the Russian Tea Room, there was a bear, ostensibly an ice sculpture, with gold fish swimming in it, a huge thing. Skipped the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree (did that before). Altogether, very jolly, indeed....... |