BRUNCH - Bowery

Hooray for weekend brunch, my absolute favorite meal! Indulge in the Continental Pastry Basket and Frittata Caprese at Gemma. The atmosphere is so refreshingly unrushed, you’ll unabashedly stay to have an extra refill of their delicious coffee. Then head down the Bowery to the New Museum. If you have an extra minute, stop in John Derian, the enchanting home-décor shop on E 2^nd St., and have a look at the decoupage and ephemera. 

Finally, Lynda Benglis’ retrospective at the New Museum! The show spans four decades and gives you nearly every media you could imagine, from polyurethane to paper to video. I have to say I always feel a bit strange entering a retrospective of an artist I haven’t heard of (should I also feel embarrassed to admit I hadn’t heard of her?). Well, her sculptures are remarkable at creating life and movement and volume. They really are a “must see.” The highlight for me is Phantom, a series of oozing glow-in-the-dark sculptures that seem to float in mid air.  I found myself whistling the theme song to Ghostbusters and wondering if the guy who designed Slimer was influenced by this work. Hmmm. 

 

  Personally, I can’t spend too much time in museums, so I’m ready to move on, but, if you’re game, stay to see George Condo: Mental States and stop by the museum shop for some unique New York swag. Then be sure to stop by Salon 94. There’s a small collection of fountains by Ms. Benglis, a bit of extra credit for the gold star you earned at the museum. These speak directly to and still offer a great contrast to the museum’s homework.  

 These are great but not the reason I’ve been desperate to stop in Salon 94. That reason is Laurie Simmons The Love Doll: Days 1-30. Ms. Simmons, who usually works on a much smaller scale with Barbies and miniatures, this time photographed life-size, ridiculously realistic looking love dolls fresh from Japan. The results are mesmerizing. These photographs play tricks on you. There’s a rich life surrounding the woman who is their subject, but there is no life in her eyes. It’s kind of creepy and completely amazing.  

Ingredients:
Venues: New Museum; Salon 94
Artists: Lynda Benglis; Laurie Simmons
Streets: Bowery
Eats: Gemma
Map: