Photo by Greg Vineyard
Inspiration is a Smorgasbord
I awoke recently to the oddly rhythmic sounds of Brooklyn, NY coming to life in a slowly-rising crescendo: the J Train rattling across the Williamsburg Bridge, cars whooshing below on the street, a nearby construction crew getting machines going, all intermingled with the twitter of Mockingbirds.
It was so – peaceful sounding, in its own way. Surely more so because I was on vacation, where I was in that mode where everything seems really cool and fun.
I get a lot out of Stay-cations, but getaways are great for reengaging with and feeding our creative sides, too. This nourishment can come in the form of a several-course dinner where one knows what to expect, or as a small-plate frenzy, with endless options all the time. On this trip to New York City I was pretty much in a salad spinner.
Prompted by my friends to join them for festivities surrounding one of their milestone birthdays, I was about to more than double my previous time there. I was in NYC for one day in 1995 (with one of these very same friends), and again in 2000 for a couple days. My exposure was so limited and distant that I really had no idea what I was in for.
Being the newbie, I was 110% reliant upon my friends for direction, which included lots of subway experiences, but this was also great for just living in the moment. I’m the one in the group who can’t tell north from south, or navigate the turnstiles upon entering or exiting the trains. Seemingly always moving against the steady blur of earphone-wearing, gray and black-clad sea of people, I was pretty often just in the wrong spot much of the time. Being somewhat the comedic dork, I even managed to get my suitcase stuck in the turnstile on the way back to the airport. Once I finally got through, I stopped, took a bow for my audience (there’s ALWAYS an audience), and moved along.
The whole subway experience was inspiring not just due to pace and content, but also especially because of the art. The old stations have some of the most amazing tilework and mosaics, and many others have been refreshed with new art installations. And brand new stations are architectural wonders, like the whalebone-esque Oculus, now almost finished in Manhattan. And while I’m not condoning unpermitted spray painting, I can say I saw some breathtaking graffiti, too.
The smorgasbord of cultural outings included the Met, MOMA, the Museum of Arts & Design, and the Whitney, a section of the High-Line, a smidgen of Central Park, and a smattering of Broadway. A peek at a Library or two, and a breezy walk through Brooklyn’s parks and botanical gardens. Walking the Brooklyn Bridge. Enjoying food found in the moment, from diner to posh hotel. A somber WTC site. Kids on field trips, workers commuting, vendors hawking.
This set of days included planes, trains, automobiles and boats, singing, dancing, joking, laughing, and a variety of wonderful meals. I got to sit in front of three JMW Turners, a lifelong favorite, at the Met. The walks to and from home base featured blocks of shops, cafes, bookstores and more amidst the endless residences. The days were full of art, architecture, people and sensory overload. It was, in a word, Awesome.
My friend Jeff and I have reached the point where we can see our aging selves reflected in each other’s faces, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that getting a decent amount of sleep is definitely part of the plan. At some point one must turn off some lamps and stop the day. The 20,000-plus steps per day (according to his app) were hard-felt in our feet. I also noticed how we haven’t changed in so many other ways from the kids we were in Junior High. My dear friends were the catalyst for this trip, and while I saw many great things, without them the creative food wouldn’t have held much nourishment at all. We picked up right where we last left off, as we always do.
For creative field-tripping, I say throw out the menu, order a little of everything, and eat on the run. Everybody grab a spoon, share the plates, and dash through town taking it all in. And help each other through those turnstiles!