09-18-09: Deanna Starts her weekend with Sol Lewitt

Mark planned for me to kick-off my birthday celebration with a date with one of my favorite American artists, Sol Lewitt. I featured him in one of my earlier posts and now I will see him about 4 times a week on the 59th Street Station since this is my train stop to get to my gym which is only 4 blocks away.

I love what Transit Blogger writes: "Talk about a sure fire way to brighten your day or night!"

Don't forget to CLICK on the photo to see Lewitt's awesome installation.

09-19-09: Pieta at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Soho

It has been a long time since I have been to Mass at the St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in Soho. While I initially came to church to view the Pieta, I was blessed to attend mass and the Blessed Sacrament adoration.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, a private collector moved an exact casting of Michelangelo’s masterwork, The Pieta. The rare piece is one of only nine casts commissioned by the Vatican in 1932 by the Marinelli Foundry of Florence, Italy. It is an exact rendition of Michelangelo’s original marble sculpture on display in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

This Michelangelo Bronze Pieta is not a replica. As an original cast from the official plaster molds of Michelangelo’s sculpture, it captures every detail created by the artist’s hand. Unique to this display is the unprecedented access the viewer is afforded to study the work. While the original sculpture in the Vatican is protected behind glass, this piece may be viewed from every angle and without barriers. (ref: http://www.1888pressrelease.com/private-collector-loans-michelangelo-bronze-pieta-to-st-pat-pr-134990.html)

Don't forget to CLICK on the photo to see the beauty of the Pieta and the St. Patrick's Old Cathedral!

09-18-09: A Huddle at the Old Boy Club, Chinatown

It is customary for Mark and I to go to the Old Boy Club for some authentic Asian kaffe pausa. We love the old feel of the Old Boy Club and the charming old customers. Mark is having his favorite custard while I have the sticky rice.

09-18-09: Pre-Birthday Dinner, Meat Market in Chinatown

I may be treated like a princess for the weekend, but I still need to feed my habib! I decided to cook easy-to-cook, comfort food - Teriyaki Beef Ribs. Check out my cooking blog!

09-18-09: 2nd Year of Park(ing) Day NYC, Upper West Side

This is the second time Mark and I participated in Park(ing) Day. It always takes place around the time of my birthday! I am pleased a "civic holiday" takes place on my birthday!

09-19-09: Happy Birthday Deanna!

I was thinking hard about why this year has been good to me. Am I near death? Am I close to achieving self-fulfillment on earth, even if I have not reduced my weight? On one my web-trawling moments, I realized that I have a triple auspicious date. The Chinese believe nine is a lucky number, which makes Triple 9's in my birthdate particularly auspicious - for good luck and long life. Lucky numbers are based on Chinese words that sound similar to other Chinese words. The numbers 6, 8, and 9 are believed to have auspicious meanings because their names sound similar to words that have positive meanings. The words the words “nine” and “long” are homophones.

09-19-09: Monet's Waterlilies at the MoMA

09-19-09: Grovaloo at the Joyce Theater

Mark took me to this no-intermission, 90-minute performance of free-style dancing at the Joyce Theater, my first time. Defying the laws of gravity, this award-winning troupe of dancers continually defies it with their many spectacular moves. More importantly, the show gave these kids from the streets a chance to express themselves through poetry and dance. There are 6 stories, but the most touching belongs to BoogieMan (Steven Stanton) who had been shot right before the first incarnation of this show launched back in 2003. His spinal injury left Stanton in critical condition with expectations of paralysis; yet every evening Stanton dances on the stage with energy and grace and retells his rehabilitation with poignancy. Call that inspirational!

I am not a fan of free-style, hip-hop or rap. But this show, made me aware, on my birthday, to keep an open mind about things.

Afterward, Mark took me to Cola's, a small Italian restaurant nearby for dinner. Tutta bene! Si grazie, mi amore Mark!

09-20-09-Opening of the Gifts!

The day after my birthday, we opened my birthday gift. And of course, the event is not complete if Mark doesn't open a gift of his own, birthday or no birthday. Happy Birthday!

CLICK on the photo to see what Mark and I got as pressies!