Was just at the Met a few days ago – but I had no idea as I passed by the Picasso’s that one of the Metropolitan’s  Picasso paintings was damaged last week by accident – appearently, this happens more often than one would have thought – and there is an article I linked to from the New York Times that describes what the museums do when this happens.

From left, Tullio Lombardo’s “Adam” before it was damaged and virtual images of restoration and of degrees of stress.

Based on all the information we’re hearing about Ice Glaciers melting in this century it’s a no brainer that eventually most of New York City will be underwater – perhaps, by the year 2100, if not before.

A four-foot rise in sea levels would cover more than 80 percent of the Northwest Palisade Bay/Hudson River area in the New Jersey area, including Liberty Park/Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, with water during high tide.

While I can understand that it is nightmare, politically speaking, to build dams around New York City, and lets face it, New Jersey and Connecticut will also be largely underwater – hardly anyone really wants to talk about the future – but that’s not exactly true – in fact, Artists and Architects are thinking about it and they have Re-Envisioned New York to Combat Sea-Level Rise

One team’s vision of a “New Aqueous City.” Image credit: nArchitects

The New York art institutions MoMA and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center are looking on the bright side of the down economy: “As in past economic recessions, construction has slowed dramatically in New York, and much of the city’s remarkable pool of architectural talent is available to focus on innovation.”

Too bad it’s going to take another 20 years before anyone takes all of this seriously – but if you wanted to take stimulus money and spend in on infrastructure – this would be a very good way to do it.

The problem is the sea level isn’t high enough yet to justify this kind of expenditure – but here’s what will likely happen when the sea level goes up by 4 feet or more this century – I guess “stuff happens”.

Map of project zones. Image credit: Guy Nordenson and Associates, Catherine Seavitt Studio, and Architecture Research Office with Lizzie Hodges, Marianne Koch, James Smith, and Michael Tantala

I’ll go and see this show when it opens as it’s of interest to me – sure, it’s not going to happen in my lifetime, most likely, but if your alive in 50 years or so – well …. you might need to think about where to live next.

I need to post more -  especially here -and as more people contact me to let me know about exciting things that are happening here in NYC in the Arts and Technology, I need to pass them on.

Well, here’s one that just came up recently called NYC Nights (at the Museum) – but not the haunted type that come alive at night – more like the types of places I like to go and often do go to on a weekday night – usually Fridays.

Here’s the list from the NYC Arts Website and my favorites are the Rubin Museum of Tibetan Art – I often go there and it’s a really fun place to hang out – especially on a Friday night.   Some of the other places listed on the NYC Arts page aren’t places I regularly go – but I might consider trying some them for a change, like One Step Beyond at the Museum of Natural History and Get Weird: Experimental and Freaky Jams at the New Museum.

However, I’ll say that I like the Metropolitan Museum and Rubin Museums the best to hang out and if you had to place a bet on where you’d find me on a Friday or Saturday night – and I’m at a Museum instead of somewhere else – it’d probably be one of those two places.

Of course, there are plenty of gallery openings as well – and sometimes, those are more fun, because your not sure what your actually going to end up seeing whereas, in a Museum, you usually know what you get – at least, I do.

1

MoMA Nights

Museum of Modern Art

ManhattanThurs, Jan 7, 2010 – Thurs, June 3, 2010

The museum stays open late on the first Thursday of each month. Visitors can stop by after hours to enjoy full access to the galleries and theaters, a DJ spinning dance tracks, a prix fixe dinner and cash bar, and more.  More

2

Free Fridays

Rubin Museum of Art

ManhattanOngoing

Every Friday evening, the museum offers free admission to its galleries as well as a full bar in the K2 Lounge (happy hour is 6-7 pm), ticketed soul and jazz music performances, and access to a classic film screening with any $7 purchase at the bar. More

3

First Fridays

Bronx Museum of the Arts

BronxOngoing

On the first Friday of every month, the museum offers free admission to a night of film, art, performance, music and other special programming. Previous First Fridays have featured local artists performing spoken word and hip-hop music, and dancing for all. More

4

First Saturdays

Brooklyn Museum

BrooklynOngoing

A party atmosphere reigns on the first Saturday of the month at one of the country’s oldest and largest art museums. Patrons of all ages can view the world-renowned permanent collections and special exhibits or attend the evening’s events, which include films, performances and a dance party. More

5

One Step Beyond

American Museum of Natural History

ManhattanFri, Jan 8, 2010 – Fri, June 11, 2010

Not that the museum isn’t cool every day, but on one particular day—the second Friday of every month—natural history gives itself over to some highly-evolved partying. This after-hours event features music from live bands and guest DJs, dancing and, of course, cocktails. More

6

Super Sábado! Target Free Third Saturdays

El Museo del Barrio

ManhattanOngoing

Once a month, El Museo opens its doors to everyone interested in exploring Latino culture. Through free concerts, exhibitions, gallery tours, art making workshops, walking tours, film screenings and spoken word recitals, Super Sábado showcases traditions, cultural expressions and the latest in Latino art. More

7

Get Weird: Experimental and Freaky Jams

New Museum of Contemporary Art

ManhattanOngoing

This monthly performance series features experimental music—anything from dusted-off salsa to psychedelic harmonies—performed on the third Thursday of every month by both unknown legends and young-gun mavericks. More

8

Dancing with Darcy

Morgan Library & Museum

ManhattanFri, March 12, 2010

Museum goers are invited to travel back to Regency England for an evening of English country music and dancing in the Morgan’s Gilbert Court. More

Actually, I was at Havana Central West End location at 2911 Broadway (113th Street)  for New Years Eve 2009 as it turned into 2010 -the best place I could imagine for a New Years celebration and the food was fantastic.  Wish my iPhone camera has built in flash, but it doesn’t so the photos were a little darker than they should have been.

At #hcnye10 having Chicken Lollypops!

And here’s the Cuban Rib Eye Steak with Green Rice and a Fried Egg – that was so, so good.  Company of other bloggers and Havana Central employees around me was great and got me thinking about the history of the Havana Central on West End – it seems to have a story all of it’s own, connected to the Beat Generation, back, 60 years ago.

#hcnye10 Cuban rib eye steak with green rice and a fried egg at Havana Central

Then, I had one of the 4 special sauces on my rice that made my tongue tingle and buzz – it was pretty darn hot, I think it was called the Triple XXX Hot Sauce.

#hcnye10 Mango Salsa at Havana Central, there's 4 special sauces, XXX Hot Sauce is one of them ... Mouth tingling

There’s a whole story about the 4 Havana Central Sauces that could be a blog post in itself, but the art on each bottle is a masterpiece, and as an artist, I noticed it.  Turns out the pictures of the beautiful Latin Woman were drawn by a former employee at Havana Central – and the sauces are a unique blend that you can’t buy anywhere else.

Havana Central Yucateco Habanero Pepper Sauce with Mango Salsa in the background

I digress.   I was encouraged to order the Chocolate Rum Cake and while I planned to have a fruit salad, so as to not over indulge – but … it was New Years Eve, the best NYE I’ve ever had, with great people around me, and great food in front of me – what could I do but give in to it.

I am having a classic Mojito and Chocolate Rum Cake while waiting for hot coffee at Havana Central #hcnye10

I’ve been at all 3 locations of  Havana Central and had lunch and dinner at them – and enjoy the music, and I admit, the Mojitos are excellent, and I’ve had the classic and the blueberry Mojito.

What's Happening at Havana Central

The best New Years Eve I ever had, and the best meal on New Years Eve that I ever had, plus great company and a great location on the upper West Side.