Cuban food + Guggenheim = yay!

I have wanted to go to the Guggenheim for some time now. When it wasn't that I didn't have enough time, it was that I didn't have enough money to pay for the $12 student admission [thanks pratt!]. I've grown acostumed to pay as you wish or better yet free admission. I've paid my dues with my tuition to Pratt and have no problem using my ID. Enough about this... anyhow, I found out that Fridays between 5:30-8pm, is pay what you wish. PERFECT!!

We made our way from this hole in the wall Cuban restaurant in Chelsea. This place is literally a hole in the wall. Poor Ian, he was the only one in there that wasn't Cuban. Everyone kept speaking to him in Spanish and all he could do is just look at me. We made our way to the garden and had it all to ourselves. The service was pretty good, the waitress quickly realized that I am Cuban and did her best to please us with suggestions on what is good there and what is not. We ordered a Margarita and she quickly said, nope- when you are here, you need to order the frozen mojito. Well we did and we're very glad she suggested so. Ian ordered Croquetas de Jamon [ham croquets] and I had the Tamale Cubano con Puerco [corn meal tamale with pork] for appetizers. I surprised myself with what I ordered. While I was still in Cuba, I HATED tamales. My grandma was known for them yet I never liked them. I went with my gut instinct and ordered. Once again, i'm glad I made that choice. When it came time for our main course, we opted for Cuban Sandwiches. Ian had the traditional one, with chorizo slices as a plus [spicy sausage]. I ordered the steak cuban sandwich. I will admit, the bread was a little dry and the meat a little tough but hey that is how it is in Cuba. No one cares about cooking perfect meat-- we just care about the flavors. We quickly devoured the sandwiches and found ourselves ordering cafe con leche [coffee and milk] and flan. According to the waitress, it is the best in NYC-- i like my mothers better. After we finished, we were brought our check and the woman said " Here's your check but that doesn't mean you have to leave, stay as long as you want and give yourself some time to digest all that food that you both just ate". She wasn't kidding, Ian quickly went into a food coma and I had a food baby! The best part of it all-- our check came to a little over $30.

Now for the Guggenheim, we got there to find a line almost around the corner of the front entrance and it wasn't even 5:15. By the time, they opened the door the line had wrapped around the whole entire block [ridiculous!]. We went in and paid what we wanted and got a free audio tour. Walking into the museum was heavenly for me. Last fall semester, I had to design a book based on Frank Lloyd Wright's design aesthetic. I submerged myself in all the research on him but faulted at visiting the Guggenheim. Louise Bourgeois's work is on display. I had read an article on the NY Times about it and have wanted to see it for some time now. As we made ourselves around the rotunda that display all of her work in chronological order, I found myself talking about all of the pieces. This is quite an astonishment for Ian. I'm usually one for viewing the work and moving on as opposed to Ian who loves to talk about it [and drives me insane quite often, anyone that knows Ian knows that he loves to talk- cute]. We made our way through her drawings, installations and sculptures. One of her pieces made me feel really uncomfortable, it is one of her CELL pieces. Ironically enough, it became Ian's favorite pieces. He said that it reminded him of a "sterile, quirky, left behind psychiatric ward". It gave him the feel of a Tool video and Silent Hill. For me it brought me dark memories -- disturbing! Not until now does Ian know how it made me feel and what it meant for me [we're talking about it as I work on this post]

One of the side galleries, to my delight has on display as part of the permanent collection my favorite artist-- KANDINSKY!! It is also one of Ian's favorite artist. This is one of the first thing we found in common when we met 4 years ago. We made our way down the rotunda and Ian had to make a pee stop. When he came out, he found himself another surprise, I was sketching!! Anyone that knows me and knows me well know that I HATE drawing and sketching. I have never liked doing it and have gotten into plenty of discussions about it with Ian and friends. Sooo many times has he tried to encourage me to pick up a pencil and draw. Throughout the whole time, I made comments about how her work made me want to sketch. Ian brushed it off and didn't think much of it. Well it's true, I just wanted to plop down on the floor and sketch.


Feather mattress on the floor with lots of pillows, the fan blowing in our faces, mango flavored hookah, Mirrormask playing on my computer and sketchbook and pen in hand concluded our day full of surprises and inspiration. Next post, Mirrormask and perhaps some of my sketches!