Biting the Big Apple (Cont.)

A Weekend in New York City (Part 2)

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Last night was very short; today is going to be long. I didn't get much sleep but still had all the energy to take on the day's plan. Lucky for us, our location is convenient, so we grabbed a quick breakfast. I had a whole-grain breakfast panini with eggs, tomatoes & avocado. Everything felt within reach as we strolled into Grand Central Station, a couple of blocks away, to catch a subway. Ahhh, the New York metro. I love how I can go anywhere with these trains. Life would be impossible (or very expensive) without the metro. It is a lifesaver.


I was entertaining the idea of being an art dealer around this time. Our first stop for the day would be a game-changer had I continued down that line. We waited for opening hours to start and went into MoMA – the Museum of Modern Art. The six floors of vast gallery space were enough clues of the treasure trove between these four walls. Noticing a donor list with names like Rockefeller, Getty, and so on gave me an idea, but the space speaks for itself. Explorations began as we made our way up through the IKEA-like maze. Our trail covered vast areas and walls dedicated to photographs of childbirth scenes, VR Lego worlds (way before the Metaverse), grand and miniature sculptures, and so on.


Architecture models at MoMA (2018)

Copyright © Kidus Assefa 2023


My focus shifted to the paintings that have cemented beyond legendary status. The main attraction was Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night," guarded by a security staff who stood there all shift long. All the so-called "greats" have pooled their legacies here. Impressionism and abstract, French, and Russian painters alike leave their marks. Picasso; Warhol, and his prodigy, Basquiat; Matisse; Bacon; Pollock; and so on. were all present. I was having a blast, then my capacity to be impressed was getting saturated beyond a point. Looking back, I now find some of the styles pretentious and inflated. We saw countless artworks in a few hours and wrapped up our stay with visits to the museum library & life-size sculpture garden before leaving.


Heavily-guarded "Starry Night" by Van Gogh (2018)

Copyright © Kidus Assefa 2023


Time was ticking at our first stop. We had spent a long time here. We had to squeeze every minute out of the remainder of the day. Harlem was next on the agenda. I was excited to see the epicenter of the local Black culture. A jazz lover like myself would feel ecstatic to see where it all started. We took another subway and headed straight north up the spine of Manhattan. The blazing sun was getting hotter, and we were afraid it might tire us since we planned on walking around. Harlem has vibrant street scenes adorned with large murals and street vendors selling various souvenirs and items. We treated ourselves to snow cones to bear the heat and kept walking around. I met a low-key Jamaican gentleman who was selling Afro-centric jewelry and artifacts. I can't remember his name now, but I'll never forget his presence. He started sharing Haile Selassie legends and tales with me since I brought up the subject. His eyes lit up once he learned where I was from, and couldn't contain his excitement. A few minutes passed, and I bought some badges at a brotherly discount and then exchanged goodbyes. We were off to our Harlem tour highlight - the Apollo Theater.


Street mural in Harlem, New York City (2018)

Copyright © Kidus Assefa 2023


This hall was where so much history took place. This place is a historical part of that Black culture epicenter legacy I was hoping to witness. I was delighted to walk where all the jazz greats had plaques engraved with their names. Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong were among my favorite jazz musicians whom I would have loved to see live here. The talent in these grounds extends beyond jazz. Musicians of the soul, blues, and funk eras and genre legends, including Michael Jackson and Ray Charles, have graced this stage. It was worth a visit; I felt good to be a part of this glory. The Apollo now sadly feels more like a shrine with its fading prestige.


The Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York City (2018)

Copyright © Kidus Assefa 2023


What an exhausting yet rewarding day so far. We are starving and very worn out. We returned to the area where we spent the night and stopped by Subway for a late lunch. It was time to head back to the apartment for an afternoon nap. The friendly ushers opened the lobby door and escorted us to the elevator. I felt at ease from all this special treatment and care. We crashed for about an hour and started the second leg of the day's journey.


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