Scouting: New York Public Library

I have to give credit to my parents for the endless bedtime stories, birthday Anne of Green Gables box sets, and regular trips to the library for making me a reader since I was a little girl. I'm fairly sure I can still find my first library card nestled in an old Velcro wallet alongside my National Honor Society membership and my Red Cross swimming certificates. 

I join the library system in each city I live in and the tradition continues today with my newly minted membership to New York Public Library. There’s a branch in my neighborhood, but the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building on 5th Avenue (aka ‘the one with the lions’) is truly an iconic New York landmark and I couldn’t pass up a chance to walk up the same steps where giants such as Dr. Peter Venkman have tread.

I timed my visit so that I could take advantage of the free (!) daily building tours led by a library docent. Here’s a really brief sketch of what I learned: the NYPL was founded in 1895 when two private library collections – The Astor Library and The Lenox Library – and funding from a bequest were combined. The ‘Main Branch’ opened in 1911 on a site provided by New York City and has served as a place of learning for the city and the world ever since.

During my visit I also saw a special library exhibit called The ABC Of It: Why Children’s Books Matter that explores how the content, illustration, and design of books for children have evolved over time. The curator, Leonard Marcus, showed examples of these changes through an amazing variety of materials – everything from a Puritan era alphabet primer, to super hero comics, to a Kara Walker pop-up book. There's also a solid representation of several New York-centric characters like Eloise, James and the Giant Peach, and Lyle Crocodile.

The whimsy factor is fairly high – a good thing in my book (#sorryimnotsorry #puns) – so prepare to be transported back to childhood. For me the highlights were seeing an original manuscript of The Secret Garden – Mary Lennox and I go way back; P.L. Traver’s parrot handle umbrella, which later became Mary Poppins signature accessory; the original stuffed animal that inspired Winnie the Pooh (Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger all make appearances too); and a video demonstration of Eric Carle’s handmade paper collage illustrations for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Amazing to all these items from some of my favorite literature collected in one spot.

I’d recommend checking this exhibit out before it closes in September and if you’re looking for more context for the library’s history and architecture the tour gives a good overview. I know I’ll be keeping tabs on future special exhibits and author events, and I’m definitely excited to see what the NYPL comes up with next.

Scouting: New York Botanical Garden

Why, you might be asking yourself, would someone visit the New York Botanical Garden on a cold, grey day in early March? What on earth could there be to see when it’s still winter?

One word: Orchids.

Specifically, The Orchid Show: Key West Contemporary, which features, surprise!, lots and lots of incredible orchids. The show was designed by the aptly named Raymond Jungles and inspired by an actual garden he created for a client in Key West, FL.

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show; Image: Laura Messersmith

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show; Image: Laura Messersmith

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show; Image: Laura Messersmith

Perhaps it goes without saying, but the flowers are absolutely stunning and there are so many that the plants literally cascade from nearly every branch and trellis, and spring up from almost every surface. Extra bonus: orchids are tropical – cue the camera lens fogging up! - and were being kept warm inside the climate controlled Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Enid A. Haupt Conservatory; Image: Laura Messersmith

Built in 1902 the Conservatory is a beautiful white ironwork and glass structure straight out of My Fair Lady. It reminded me so much of the former Covent Garden Floral Hall (now part of the Royal Opera House) that I was curious if they were architectural cousins from across the Pond. It turns out that the Haupt Conservatory was actually inspired by the Palm House in Kew Gardens and the Crystal Palace. All three were built between 1844 – 1851, but by different architects - so maybe second cousins once removed….?

Palms; Haupt Conservatory; Image: Laura Messersmith

Anywho, enough architecture; back to the orchids! The variety of colors, shapes, and sizes in the exhibit was amazing: giant alien green orchids with strange, pointed petals and delicate yellow orchids that looked like itty bitty popcorn. As you can probably tell I took about 1,000 pictures.

The show is on until April 21st – heaven help us if spring hasn’t arrived by then – and I highly recommend it if you’re in need of a getaway that doesn’t require a plane ticket. The chance to be somewhere tropical for the afternoon was well worth the train ride north. Or, maybe you just want to pretend you’re a character in Clue. Let me guess: Miss Scarlet with the candlestick, in the_________.

New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show; Image: Laura Messersmith

Scouting: Central Park Zoo

Earlier this week I took a little jaunt across the Park to visit the Central Park Zoo. First things first, how cool is it to be able to WALK to the zoo? About 20 minutes after I stepped out the front door I was inside the front gates and strolling through the tropical zone, which is a pretty good place to be on a cold winter day, assuming you like birds. The tropical zone is open air and the birds fly freely through the exhibit. This peacock nearly landed on me while I was there - no joke - so, prepare yourself to be up close and personal!

Peacocking at the Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

To me there’s something so wacky and retro about the idea of going to a zoo in the middle of the city. I could picture it in the sequel to The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Or maybe it’s the next stop after Tiffany’s and the Five & Dime on Holly and Paul Baby’s day of trying new things. Think about it. Right now there are thousands of people who have penguins for neighbors. Those penguins have some pretty fancy real estate and the snow monkeys have a great view of the Plaza.

Snow Monkeys at the Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

Snow Leopard Cub at Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

Highlights for me were the red pandas - adorable!, the sea lion demonstration, and the snow leopard cubs. What is it about taking pictures of wildlife that makes me channel Austin Powers’s fashion photographer? Check out that attitude on the snow leopard cub - I'm pretty sure this was the female and she was definitely working it. “You’re an animal, baby! Yeah, fierce, baby!” Tyra would be proud.

Naturally, Central Park Zoo is smaller than say the National Zoo in Washington, DC; but I think its small footprint is what makes it so charming. It also means that you can take your time and still see all the exhibits in a few hours rather than committing a full day. And, because it’s so centrally located - no pun intended - it’s possible to be window-shopping on Fifth Ave just a few minutes later. I really enjoyed my visit and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who wants a little something different on their next trip to the city.

Red Panda at Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

Penguins at Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

Scarlet Ibis at Central Park Zoo; Image: Laura Messersmith

Scouting: Gilded Age Selfies

Today was one of those gloomy, rainy days when curling up on the sofa with a cup of cocoa and a novel seemed like a fantastic idea. Instead, I decided to rally and make a visit to Beauty’s Legacy: Gilded Age Portraits in America an exhibit showcasing selections from the New York Historical Society Museum’s permanent collection. Culture!

Gilded Age Portraits at the New York Historical Society Museum; Image Source

The portraits are of prominent members of New York Society and something occurred to me as I walked through the gallery that made me feel brilliant. When that happens I try to enjoy the moment, so I hope you'll indulge me for a minute. This is my theory: Gilded Age portraits are the selfies of yesteryear. 

I’ll pause while you contemplate that idea for a moment….

This is my reasoning. In the introductory text the curators described how having a portrait painted was the intersection of “art, beauty, and celebrity” and was intended to document and emphasize a family’s wealth, history, and power. No judgment for folks who love posting selfies, but think about it. These people were essentially the Blair Waldorfs and Chuck Basses of yesteryear and had portraits painted to show how great or beautiful they were, right? The purpose is the same. I mean, check this guy out. He certainly seems to be sending some sort of message and I think the same is true of our modern day social networking. Something to consider the next time you pass by a gilt framed portrait or scroll through your Facebook feed…

James Hazen Hyde, 1901; Theobald Chartran; Image Source

Final thought on the exhibit is that the curators did a fantastic job making these people real and compelling by sprinkling the bios that accompany each painting with hints of scandal. Exactly the types of things that would grace the cover of US Weekly or headline on Gawker: disappearing husbands, shockingly expensive costume balls, business meltdowns! I highly recommend this exhibit anyone who is interested in celebrity culture and wants to get a glimpse of the people who were the 1890s answer to The One Percent. Fascinating.

Mrs. Middleton Shoolbred Burrill, 1899; Benjamin Curtis Porter