TULIP TIME
With the cold, somewhat snowy March followed by cool April weather, the trees here are just leafing out. But, there are tulips galore! I love the little fenced square and rectangle gardens along the streets with their big bold tulips. Jefferson Market Garden was also a riot of tulip beds. Makes for a lovely spring! Usually we come in May and any remaining tulips are bedraggled and beaten down.
AT THE WHITNEY
American painter Grant Wood is arguably best known for his portrait of a farm couple called “American Gothic.” Actually it’s meant to be a father and daughter and if you look closely, you can see the difference in their ages. Most people just assumed it was a husband and wife. 
Wood painted farm scenes and the rural folks of his native Iowa, but he did it from an idealized perspective based on memories of his childhood and his view of a simpler time. Lots of rounded shapes and flat surfaces. 
Early in his career, he made the requisite European tour and this exhibit includes several impressionistic works from that time. 
But I was also taken with his “Women of Revolution,” a less than admiring portrait of three women of the DAR.
What comes across here and what I enjoyed most was getting an enlarged sense of the variety in Wood’s oeuvre. The exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art runs into early June and is well worth a visit!
GRANDPARENTS’ DAY
The Chief Penguin and I had the pleasure of experiencing Grandparent and Special Persons’ Day at Brearley, our granddaughter’s school. Fortunately, all four of her grandparents were able to attend. It’s an impressive place and it was great to hear and see how these kindergarten girls are being empowered to be creative, bold, and caring individuals. 
RETURN VISITS
We will eat a lot of meals out while we are in the city. Here are several places we’ve re-visited.
Lenox Hill Grill. The all-American comfort food you would expect from any respectable diner. Grilled ham and cheese with fries and a tuna salad sandwich with cole slaw on the side made for a quick tasty lunch.
Amali. Now billing itself as “sustainable Mediterranean” with a new menu with more veggies and small plates, it’s easy to avoid ordering an entrée. We had prosciutto, chorizo, and buffalo blue cheese, followed by chickpea and cauliflower croquettes with a spicy salsa, grilled asparagus and green onions, and fluke crudo. All delicious, with Greek and Italian overtones, and mostly healthy!
Gradisca. This Italian restaurant on W. 13th Street was jumping on a Thursday night and service was slower than we’ve experienced in the past. But, the pasta was as wonderful as always! One of the specials was farfalle with little chunks of zucchini and shrimp in a light lemon cream sauce; another was Mama’s homemade beef tortellini that we watched her make at a side table in the dining room. And our friends B. and A. were pleased with the cavatelli with eggplant.
Note: All photos by JWFarrington.
