If the two subjects of the post seem a little unrelated, I apologize but the reasoning is … there is no reasoning. My brain has been all over the place lately and so have I. Fear not, I’m going to embrace it wholeheartedly. I may or may not manage to find an appropriate transition between my two subjects BUT more importantly, with two visits so different, I’m appealing to a larger crowd. (See? I planned the whole thing.)

Two weekends ago, a friend and I made a visit to the Morgan Library, on Lexington Avenue at 36th Street. If you’re not familiar it once belonged to JP Morgan and is now a beautiful space encompassing some of the original digs and also newly renovated exhibition areas. A very thorough exhibit about the evolution of the space (on display in the lower level) will inform you that the Morgan’s original residence still stands next door to the library, which was constructed as a separate building to house the enormous collection of books. The institution became public in 1924.

If you go you cannot miss Mr Morgan’s study, decorated in floor-to-ceiling red silk damask, which lends quite the luxurious feeling. The room does not particularly get a lot of light, strange considering it was a study, but it is still easy to imagine Mr Morgan working away, with a fire going, surrounded by some of his beautiful books. Another one of the original rooms is the actual “library” – and though it contains an already ridiculous amount of books I have a feeling it’s not even the entire collection. The best part is how close you can get and actually read titles off the spines of books – most all in gorgeous leather bindings, for example a copy of Candide from 1759 as well as probably most every major work of literature. You can get into a debate about how many of these were actually read, but at least they are being well-preserved here.

If fancy institutions and capitalism aren’t your thing, there is also art to be seen in Red Hook (holla back Brooklyn). Though I have been to Red Hook countless times before, this time I was wearing a backpack and wielding a camera – and so I have automatically dubbed this a field trip (in case you thought I made all of my Grand Tour trips looking like a study abroad student – no, I do not.)

One thing that draws people by the busload to Red Hook is the Fairway market – that place is amazing at times, frustrating at others – but did you know that in one of the warehouses directly next to it, the BWAC [Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition] lives? Well, I did but I had never actually been in there until last weekend and I did not actually know what the BWAC was – which is, according to the website, the largest artist-run not for profit in Brooklyn. It is a good thing I didn’t wait any longer to go in because it was the last day of their show (sorry yes this show is now closed). BUT at least I saw some interesting art by living artists, and know about another local group supporting the arts. There are several artists in the buildings – I saw a woodsmith turning pieces outside and walked by a glass blowing studio as well.

While the show is now closed, Red Hook is also just fantastic to walk through – not only for the amazing views of the statue of Liberty and Manhattan, but also for cool old warehouses and a still interesting mix of gentrification and authenticity. You should make a mental note to wander beyond the gates of Fairway (or the parking lot of IKEA) when you find yourself in Red Hook. If nothing else at least go have a delicious brownie at Baked, there’s no excuse.

I leave you with this view from Red Hook (which could just as well be the view from a Massachusetts compound, no?)

happy almost winter and happy travels!