Bestie NYC Trip - Day 7 - cont

Bibble & Sip - New York, NY

After every scrap of tasty Thai has been scraped off every plate, we amble over to Bibble & Sip for something sweet. 

We sit down to a Black Sesame Cream Puff, a crusty shell encasing an airy cream. 

The Milk Tea Cloud Cake comes from the heavens, a hard cream cover with a tea-soaked sponge inside. 

Even in a city where even a single slip can put you out of business, the stars can't help but shine. Bibble & Sip is bound to be a favorite for anyone who loves a perfect pastry, full of classics and creations that never go out of style.

Death Becomes Her

Oh what a note to end on. 

Our Broadway shows just keep getting better. Michelle Williams belts it out in Death Becomes Her, finally free of her more famous girl-group counterparts. Her voice is rich, and she is unbelievably beautiful, a talent no longer stifled by Destiny's Child, allowed to shine like the star she always was. She sells it as she prods the plot in this devilishly dark comedy about victims of their own vanity, a side-splitting comedy that toes the line between hilarity and absurdity.

Death becomes the rest of this incredibly talented cast as well, and of all the shows we saw, I'm glad we saved the best for last. 

An EPIC trip comes to an end as we selfie and go our separate ways. 

I've never seen so much in such a short time, and never so many memorable things in a single week. There was music and museums, decadence and dining, and best of all there were friendships that are meant to last forever. I saw so many of my friends with my bestie by my side, and even with all the crazy-amazing things we saw and did and ate, it was truly all these people that turned a good trip into one that was truly spectacular. 

Bestie NYC Trip - Day 6

This morning kicks off at my old stomping grounds, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. 

We walk just a brief bit around the blue expanse as I wonder what could have possibly possessed me to run around this 1.5 mile loop every single day for months. 

No more running, I'd rather sit on this silhouette couch. 

The Guggenheim 

I hate modern art. I unabashedly bash, unashamedly shame, and so often sneer at a genre I abhor. I will always choose oils of angels and lush landscapes painstakingly painted over haphazardly splatter and piles of yarn. 

Still, even I can't deny the magic of the great Guggenheim with its descending swirling spirals and wondrous webbed-glass dome. 

At the top is the Infinity Mirrored Room with its suspended balls of light so beautiful we break up our descent to see it a second time. 

The rotunda is replete with the sculptures of Carol Bove, voluminous metal structures folded and bent to her exacting will. 

The way she makes metal mimic fabric in the crumpling and the texture is quite unique, 

and this imposing garden is a different experience from every angle. 

(Bestie for scale)

A more permanent side room showcases some pieces I haven't discovered yet. 

Young Horses make a deep and dark oil by Emil Nolde,

and Egon Schiele makes a moving portrait. 

Finally, a museum we can finish. I love the sensible layout, the size of the spiraling walkways seeming to set their own rhythm and pace. I still loathe most modern art, but even I'll admit they picked the better bits of the bunch. 

Bestie Trip NYC - Day 5 - cont

Dream House - New York, NY

There's the glow of the pink light illuminating the way upstairs. 

Slip off your shoes and slowly enter the pulsating space where photos are forbidden. 

The first room has flashing lights and a floor with a mirror. We settle into the second room, letting the loud, rhythmic sound waves and scent of burning incense engulf our senses. 

And for the first time in a very long time, my mind stops scattering, and my neverending internal monologue goes still. Amongst the booming noises, I sense only silence. 

We stay still, switching between sitting and laying down, propped on white plush pillows, staring at the ceiling, contemplating the magenta pink, simply listening to the sine waves without really hearing the sound. 

For 45 minutes I lasted, I, who cannot stop for five, stopped for 45 whole minutes in a meditation I didn't know I needed. 

I love this idea, this genius way to drown out the noise of the city that cannot keep still. The loudness of life is inescapable...unless you are louder than life. The vision is clear, though my only critique is that the execution feels cheap. The windows are covered in cellophane, the ceiling has a few hanging strips, and the floor is mostly bare. That said, this experience for a mere $10 in a city where even millionaires must make more is worth every cent you spent and every cent they didn't. 

Banksy Museum - New York, NY

This time I'm the one meandering, making my way through the muraled walls.  

Multiple artists took many days to replicate all of Banksy's work, and since most of it is no longer available, it's quite special to see it all here. 

I hadn't realized just how current his themes are and just how much they speak to the dumpster fire that is Gen X and Y.

I identify with his tribute to rats, who exist and survive and sometimes thrive without permission. 

Turning classic painting into a cry against consumerism feels particularly poignant, and I am just in awe of all that this person(s) managed to accomplish. 

We still have a little time to kill, and Union Square is on our way up to Atomix so we slip into the Strand Bookstore and walk through Union Square on our back up to dinner. 

Bestie Trip NYC - Day 5

MOMA - New York, NY

As much as I appreciate this space, it is the museum of MODERN art. 

Still, there are these classics that take my breath away, like the haunting Demoiselles d'Avignon, painted by Picasso at his peak, 

Christina's World, which gives disability a perspective,

and what more is there to say about Van Gogh's Starry Night.

There are also more modern things like their current exhibition on Marcel Duchamp, full of things I can't begin to understand. 

I roll my eyes at his "ready-made" pieces, which consists of him stamping his name on a piece of junk and selling it at an exorbitant price, though even I can appreciate the marketing genius of these miniature boxes containing all his most famous art. 

I do also love his Coffee Grinder cubism,

and in other galleries I discover this Dali with depth,

a stunning piece by Vuillard that I'll admit I know nothing about,

and The Subway by Jose Clemente Orozco that draws me into the dark spots. 

And there is a wire cow with wire poop which is possibly the best piece in this place.

Much to be seen, much to take in, a beautiful collection housed in this Midtown marvel. 

Maybe Happy Ending - New York, NY 

There are no happy endings here unless you count the privilege of seeing this show. 

Two decommissioned robots meet, by chance or by fate, you decide, and a flurry of events ensue that explore the themes of sentience and love. It serves as a cautionary tale as both their owners choose the cleanly-choreographed love of their programmed-to-please servants over the messy ups and downs of the relationships that are human and painfully real. 

The ending is supposedly hopeful, though I find it mostly sad. The songs are quite forgettable, but I love how these themes make you think. I leave wondering if these robots were decommissioned to make room for newer models or if they were cast out because people stopped using them after seeing the side effects on society. 

Sushi 35 West - New York, NY

It's a strange trek up a flight of stairs to a small stall in a classic walk-up building close to seedy Herald Square. There are a couple of folding tables and chairs, but it's clearly meant to be taken to go. 

The Sushi Premium is a dealer's choice, ten cuts with a tuna roll on the side. All three types of tuna are a ten, and as are the halibut, snapper, and whatever other white slices they select. Salmon is sleek, both the belly and the regular, and the fresh and creamy uni isn't the least bit bitter. 

The sweetest chefs are slinging sushi here, procuring cuts that are far nicer than the location would imply. 
Of everything I ate this trip, Sushi 35 is my favorite find. 

Bestie Trip NYC - Day 4 - cont

Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria - New York, NY

The work uniform for women is a floor-length sequined gown, in case you're wondering what world you're in. 

The walls, the floor, tastefully tiled, precisely planned, 

the bar with a grand gold clock. 

The complementary cheez-its are grand, aged cheddar full of flavor. Furikake nuts go with just about everything, 

and the cocktails are enchanting. 

How about a Cheese & Charcuterie, salt and savory to offset the sweet? Cured hams and aged cheeses are paired with plush dried figs and a gooey onion jam. 

Pigs in a Blanket are served on this tiered tray, individual shelves to highlight the fluffy dough encasing house-made wagyu dogs. 

Beef Fat Fries are just delicious, a perfectly crispy wedge.

Not my kind of place, I thought, but the longer I sat, the better I felt. Sure, I’d default to something less upscale, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love sipping and snacking in this lovely lounge. What a wondrous place this is, perfect for prattling, fitting for friends. 

We continue on a walk around the area, stopping to see highlights like the newly-constructed JP Morgan building which has been generating quite a buzz. 

I find the scaffolding fascinating. 

Atlas holds the weight of the world as he keeps watch over Rockefeller Center,

across from the flashing lights of Radio City Music Hall.  

The rink is decked out in rainbow flags, 

and we stop for a moment to gaze wistfully into the window of American Girl, pretending we will buy the dolls our childhood selves could never afford. 

There's a long skinny building that doesn't stand straight housing luxury condos no one wants. 

Not nearly as cool as the towering store of Louis Vuitton which has fasteners built into the building.