The Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest museum in the United States, covering the area of four football fields.  Even though only a fraction of their 2 million works are on display at one time, the idea of trying to "see" this museum is overwhelming, almost mind-boggling.  Since we live only a half-hour walk from the museum, we go over often if we have a few hours of spare time.  Here are some of our favorite views from our last visit.

Besides the sculptures and paintings one expects to find in a museum, the Met collections also include musical instruments, clothing, tapestries, manuscripts, photographs, armor, furniture, jewelry, ceramics, etc.

 The museum's founders wanted to provide an experience for their visitors which would make them feel like they were actually visiting historic or foreign places, so there are many "rooms" created with authentic pieces. These are from a series of American rooms.  Of course the museum has many traditional galleries as well, and several lovely courtyards lit with glass roofs.

Snow in the City

Although we did not get the foot of snow that was predicted, the six inches we did get earlier this week brought the city almost to a standstill.  This is our street corner, where the plow has added a layer of snow to the bags of trash from our building.  All the public schools were closed, so the kids enjoyed a day off.  Many went to Central Park to sled and make snowballs.

We, along with thousands of other New Yorkers, decided we should stock up on food as the blizzard descended.  One challenge of our new big-city life is living without a car. I miss it the most when it is time to buy groceries, and we must somehow get them back to our apartment.

A City of Great Music!

We have so enjoyed attending several productions of the Metropolitan Opera, which was founded in 1883 and is currently in its 129th season. The present opera house opened in 1966 at Lincoln Center and is a jewel of red velvet, grand white staircases, and crystal chandeliers.The auditorium seats 3,800 and more than 200 operas are staged here each year.  The large stage is highly mechanized, allowing for elaborate sets and stunning stage effects. The gold-damask front stage curtain is the largest in the world; the entire ceiling is gilded.  The wonderful music we enjoyed here was worthy of this fabulous setting!

Most of the operas presented here are sung in a language other than English, so translations of the libretto appear on individual screens mounted on the back of each row of seats.  Opera-goers can choose to see English, Spanish or German translations of what is being sung on stage.

Last week we also attended another, very different, concert, this time held in the small Catholic
church of  Notre Dame, "The Grotto," on the Upper West Side. The Renaissance choral music
  filled and resonated beautifully in this setting. 

The Flushing First Branch in Queens

We have enjoyed getting to know our assigned congregation for Sundays:  The Flushing First Branch in Queens.  We travel about an hour and a half each way on train/bus to meet with these precious people every Sunday.  They meet in a building built in 1890 (built originally for a different denomination) in the heart of an Asian neighborhood.  We felt like we were in China when we got off the bus.

Queens is reportedly the most diverse community in the world:  48% of those living here were born outside the US.  Our branch is about 80% Spanish-speaking. A Korean branch and a Chinese Ward also meet in our building.  We love associating with the young elders and sisters, too. These four--two Spanish-speaking and two English-speaking--serve in our branch.They are faithful, dedicated, energetic young women!

Curt is especially valuable here because of his Spanish language and music skills.  He is already assigned to play the piano for Primary and the organ for Sacrament Meeting.   Mary plays for Relief Society.  Hymns are sung simultaneously in Spanish and English!

The "Best" New York Pizza

It is easy to get into an argument about where to get the BEST New York Pizza. . . Lombardi's, Di Fara's, Franny's, Grimaldi's, Joe's, on and on.  New York claims to be the best "pizza city" in the US.  But don't expect a thick crust and loads of toppings.  New York Pizza is thin-crusted and sparse on top, but the flavor is incredible.  Some of us senior missionaries tried out Juliana's in Brooklyn at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a simple place with a shrine on the wall to their most famous customer, Frank Sinatra.  They bake their pizza at 850 degrees in a coal-fired oven;  a genuine treat.

Manhattan Temple: "House of the Lord"

Our mission service is in the Manhattan Temple located on Columbus Avenue at 66th Street, right at Lincoln Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  The temple was constructed inside an existing building which sits on a very busy, noisy street.  It is insulated from the commotion and clamor of the city, and offers a sweet "refuge from the world" for all those who come to worship there.  This photo shows the "celestial room" of the temple.  I think the stained glass windows are particularly stunning. We have the opportunity to visit this "heavenly" room every day.  We work a seven-hour shift every day the temple is open, typically Tuesday through Saturday each week.  We feel incredibly blessed to be able to spend so much time in this sacred space:  "The House of the Lord."