Philippine Butterfly

Archive for April, 2010

The one thing you cannot do in New York City is to be at a loss for something to do or see. That might be a silly phrase but it is also the truth. There is an endless offering of great stage shows on Broadway, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway, which typically means everything else. In addition, there are a number of museums, galleries and other art exhibit spaces that present some of the best original works in all mediums. The music scene is another example of one of the city’s thriving cultural aspects and there are opportunities to see and hear the best of symphonic music, rock bands, as well as jazz, blues, country and any and all other genres of music.

If all of this bores you then there is plenty of shopping to do and some of the best department and retail stores in the nation. However, that might not last your entire vacation and you may want to start exploring some of the popular landmarks and attractions of the city. Be careful though, this could actually take up your entire vacation. You would be better off writing down some of the top attractions you would like to visit, such as Times Square, the Lincoln Center , The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty among others.

And if you are being stubborn at this point and still haven’t found the exact right thing you would like to do then you probably fall into the category of people that loves a great meal. And what category is this? Well, it’s everyone of course, so there is almost no way it won’t include you and New York has some of the best opportunities for having the greatest dining experience of your life. And this is true whether you prefer a slice of pizza or a four-course dinner. From sandwiches to stakes, you are guaranteed to find something to love in one of New York’s restaurants, diners or street vendors. With all of this being said, the challenge remains for any tourist in New York to find themselves at a loss for something to do.

It’s always difficult when a brilliant artist’s life comes to an end, even if it was full, and even if it was long. Nancy Spero had a magnificent career, with a lifetime of very provocative work that made art lovers wake up, and generations of artists inspired to follow their own inner vision. She was in her 80s when she passed last winter, and her artistic output still didn’t seem to be wavering, and perhaps that’s the most tragic part.

Mortality is a part of the ride, but when there’s work inside an artist that’s unfinished, the world recognizes that it will never come to be. Perhaps that’s perfectly suitable for a woman who had adopted Antonin Artaud as one of her personal heroes. An unlikely choice for a hero, but somehow manages to make it on a lot of visionary lists, Artaud’s own ideas about mortality come close to rivaling the spookiness of death itself, and Spero’s work was singularly unafraid to look into the eye of the haunted without blinking.

Born in 1926, she studied in Chicago and Paris before moving to New York in 1964. This was at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Viet Nam War was well underway, and both of these gave her a lot of material to work with. This was the period when she would start to integrate the themes of war in contemporary culture into her paintings, and it’s something that would characterize her work for the next four decades.

She was a true visionary artist, and broke ground for many others to follow, and also walked in well-traveled paths accompanied by the inspiration of the artists of the past. That might be one of the things that distinguishes a real genius, the ability to position oneself in a present as well as a past, and find one’s way in their particular continuum. It is artists like her that bring people to the city, to book nights in New York luxury hotels , and touch the city that inspires and challenges, holding mortal bodies that make immortal works.

Are you looking into some of the great nightlife in Boulder Colorado? There are many places to go for dinner, cocktails and entertainment that have very different atmospheres and styles. Unless you find a favorite spot the first night out, you may be hitting a different scene each night on the town. To get the party started head over to the classic Johnny’s Cigar Bar this a great place to have that first martini while listening to some jazz or blues bands and enjoy a cigar if you choose. If you don’t like cigars, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the place, the smoking area is separate from the rest of the bar. It is a real class act place with some fine refreshments and music.  

To continue onto some dinner and even more entertainment, check out the Boulder dinner Theatre they offer up some really nice dinners from oysters on the half shell to prime rib and ending with a great piece of apple pie. Each dish has a real gourmet presentation and most have organic ingredients. While enjoying your dessert, the curtain will raise and one of the fabulous theatre productions will light up with lots of energy. They offer up some of the hit Broadway style shows that will make you forget about normal life for a while.  

Just check with your Boulder accommodations to help you find the way to another really great live experience. If you are into the opera or a good symphony you may want to check out the Boulder Theater . This venue offers up everything from feature films to touring concerts and symphonies. It is an elegant theatre that hosts some really great events most nights of the week. There should be something going on there while you are visiting.