I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps...

If you read Hudsie's blog, you'll know this is my first time in NYC. I LOVE this place. Time is precious - some edited highlights below.

Museum Of Modern Art

http://www.moma.org/

- teeming with people - great to see so many people engaging with art
- jaw droppingly, fabulous collection
- hit after hit after hit paintings including Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Picasso, The Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh. I could go on. You can see highlights of their collection on their website above. Have seen these images so many times, so it's a bit odd seeing the real thing - just there. You could touch it if you wanted to - not that you'd want to.
- interesting show on nano technology and design
- great show on colour with fabulous Andy Warhol painting by number paintings and Gerhard Richter paintings of giant colour charts. Just discovered there's a nice wee website with the works from the show. Check out:
http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/colorchart/flashsite/index.html
- we ran out of time because there is so much to see, so will return for another look on Friday evening (free from 4-8pm) to spend some time with the Rothkos. You can't rush Rothko.

Dinner at 12am - because we weren't hungrier earlier in the evening and because we can

City Pass - $65 for a nine day pass to see each of the following greatest NYC hits - MOMA, Met, Circle line ferry, Empire State Building, Guggenheim,
American Natural History Museum

American Natural History Museum - This was surprisingly compelling. It is an old-fashioned-museum (pre Te Papa) with exhibits on animals, dinosaurs, space, people and artifacts of the world. The animals were our favourites. The museum is full of beautiful tableaux of wild and wonderful animals from the various continents. These all have exquisitely taxidermied animals posing for the scene, hand painted backgrounds and trees and rocks and props which would make a Kirk's window dresser proud. These exhibits are built into the rooms with wooden panelling surrounding each scene. We overheard a man saying in the lift as we headed to a space movie "I'm pleased to be looking at something modern - those exhibits haven't changed for over 40 years"....which is what we LOVED. Each animal had its name engraved in the wood stating who the benefactor was who donated it. While the benefactor was most likely to have given the money to fund the exhibit, I liked to think that Mr and Mrs Bloggs actually contacted the museum and said " Is that the American Natural History Museum? Well I have this lovely pair of African Elks for you".

Bryant Park where they hold NY Fashion week and of course the final of Project Runway - also saw Gotham Apartments where PR contestants stay. Okay this is probably only relevant for Project runway devotees

Cafe Habana - a cool little Cuban joint recommended by Ruth and Andrew. Delicious Mexican corn, Huevos rancheros and pork sandwich. Yum

Broadway - Pinter's "Homecoming". We saw this tonight. Great seats. Play about the ultimate dysfunctional family. For Deadwood fans, it featured Ian McShane who plays Al Swearengen.

Grand Central Station - beautiful building. Gorgeous roof.

Really fantastic food, in whatever form you want it. Vegans can eat out well here. I am not Vegan though. I am Megan