The Progress of Love and Christmas in New York

Our daughter’s business

Small field papers

took us to New York City last night.  She had a trunk show at the River House,

River House

so we loaded up her wares in Greenwich and headed in to the bright lights of New York.

Husband is celebrating a BIG birthday so once we helped with the off loading, we decided to hit some favorite haunts, and that always means stopping by our first home together on East 73rd Street.  Time seems to have stopped on that wonderful street and I could imagine myself with the baby buggy and the afghan hound taking our daily stroll.

East 73 Street, New York

Our old friend, Calla, is still parking her bike in the same old spot.

Calla's bike

The children who lived in this home used to ride their hot wheels up and down the street; wonder where they are today?

Who could help but be envious of their garage?  I had to abide by the alternate side of the street parking in those days, and had to take the newborn and a good book to sit in the car until it was safe to leave the car parked on the right side!After a walk down Memory lane, we headed  to the Frick Collection, another special place, passing by the sparkling holiday lights of Park Avenue.  Signs of holiday parties were in evidence along the way. We both love the Frick, and found it magical as dusk was settling over Central Park, barely visible through the heavily draped windows.   First we viewed the Picasso drawings on the lower level. Next, as we are owners of  Cavalier King Charles spaniels, we wanted to see the Fragonards, as we know he often included a King Charles spaniel.  What a surprise to open the Wall Street Journal today to a review of ‘The Path of Progress.’ (pg. c-7).   The history of the Fragonard paintings is the subject of a small book by the Frick’s Associate Director, Colin Bailey.  I must have been in a dream state, because I totally missed the book in the Museum store, but strangely enough, I purchased a book mark with the painting, because it was the one painting I wanted to “take home” with me.

Fragonard's Progress of Love

This was one of four paintings commissioned by Louis XV’s Mistress, the Comtesse du Barry.  Besides the besotted lover, I was drawn to the dog (spaniel!), a symbol of fidelity and the romantic setting in a beautiful French garden.  DuBarry rejected the paintings upon their completion, and to find out more….READ the book! (Or at least the WSJ review!)

Then we were on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The Steichen exhibit is well worth the cost of admission (I let my membership lapse – forgot how pricey a visit can be!)

There is more to the evening, but how long do readers linger on one post – there is so much to review in blogland!  Dinner at Le Perigord preceded the  long drive home …. mulling  over another chapter of our Christmas stories!

Happy Christmas!