Thursday, September 29, 2011

NYC Dec. 6th - 12th 2010

Hello,

The trip was fantastic.  We started having a plane delay due to lack of oxigen in the deposit (always comforting to hear about that instance before take off.)  I was tired due to the 4 am wake up call to get to the taxi.

Monday Dec. 6th I arrived in the city, I went to the rented apartment in the East Village where I met the owner.  After the instructions on how to keep the apartment neat (great apartment and location) I went for a walk.  The area is full of restaurants, stores, etc.  I went looking for a small (tiny) restaurant called PORCHETTA, that I saw in a magazine I am a subscriber "La Cucina Italiana" where they do Pork in a shredded-tender-crunchy-savory way that I had to try.  I could not find it and I left because I did not wanted to arrive late to my art class located in West 8th Street & Fifth Avenue at The New York Studio School.   It was a long-non-stop three hour class.  Before the class, I ran into a Cafe called Le Pain Quotidien, a franchise coffee shop really well done.  I ordered a Peruvian Coffee and a pastry of mix fruit with custard, YUM!!  Then I was ready to learn and push myself.

On Tuesday the 7th, I woke up tired for all the walking and the art class.  I gave everything to those hours and later on the day visiting and walking around Manhattan from midtown all the way down to the East Village.  If you are a visitor of Manhattan, you know what I am talking about.  I walked towards UNION SQUARE, where I went to the famous Coffee Place Diner.  After that I walked around the area.  I took a taxi and went to 52nd & 11th Avenue where I was one of the attendees at The Daily Show with JON STEWART.  We waited outside for 2 hours at a cold 20 F Degrees (-8 C).

The show was great.  It started with the warm up comedian that dialogued (poked fun at the group, pointing to a few individuals and couples to make of) giving great one-liners.  We laughed a lot.  Then the show came and Jon Stewart was as clever and articulate as ever.  It was a short 1/2 hour live taping but it was worth all the way.  The guest star was the actor SETH GREEN.  After the show was over, I took a taxi home.  Then I stopped at PORCHETTA where I snatched a great roasted pork sandwich  and I bought a bottle of great Sicilian Red Wine.  I watched some TV and went to bed.

On Wednesday December 8th I woke up rested and ready to take on the city.  Dunkin Donuts was my typical East Coast fast food breakfast eatery.  I walked a few blocks with the Giant Coffee to the Metro Station where I bought my weekly MTA Bus/Metro pass.  I hopped in a bus and made it all the way to the 57's street galleries.  I visited over 30 galleries, including Malborough.  Great inspiring and educating works of art.   Exhausted and hungry, THE CARNEGIE DELI was calling me.  I ate their huge Pastrami sandwich.  After that, I went to the taping of THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW.  It was also an interesting taping with BARBARA WALTERS and AYMA MAYS who plays counselor Emma Pillsbury on Glee.  The jokes where funny in an old school way.  The warm audience comedian was a classical old timer.   After the show, I walked to the busy Times Square where I bought a toy for our son.  On my way walking, I stopped in a favorite book store called KINOKUNIYA, a Japanese bookstore and coffee facing BRYANT PARK in The Avenue of the Americas.  After I bought a few Japanese sweet delicacies.  From there I walked to the Flatiron District where I stopped a EATALY where I walked in the incredible place.  From there I walked home and ordered take out from a Japanese restaurant called TAKAHACHI.

On December 9th, I walked to get a hearty breakfast.  I walked from East Village to the Union Square Winter Fair.  It was very nice and I enjoyed people watching and arts and crafts.  I even had a real Gofre.  Rare here.  I bought a few things for Julie & Rafael.  I had a coffee at Le Petite Cafe, walked through the streets in SoHo passing by Dean & DeLuca.  I passed the NYU with all the Students between classes.  Very active and busy people all over the place.  On my way up to Mid Manhattan, I also stopped at one of my favorite bookstores, STRAND BOOKSTORE where I browsed a lot of art books of different kinds.  Then, up in Broadway I made it to the Flatiron and stopped again at EATALY for lunch.  I could not eat the night before because there was a wait of 1 Hour and 1/2.  I entered the Fish Section bar and waited for a bit.  I was lucky to see an opening.  Then, another seat next to me opened up and a women sat next to me.  We engaged in conversation.  She is a Russian living in Manhattan.  We had a good talk about the FinnancialWorld (She used to work there), Russia, Spain, Art, Family, her boyfriend and my Julie & Rafael.  I had a great wine and the grilled big calamari.  We said goodbye and I headed to the Espresso Bar and chatted with a nice couple in their sixties.  They told me about their lives, 5 kids done with College.  We had a good time.  I bought a few items, an apron and left.  I took the bus up to my Art Research Day at 76th Street and 5th Avenue where I walked to the Upper East Side.  I entered the GAGOSIAN, LEO CASTELLI GALLERIES and THE FRICK COLLECTION MUSEUM.  After that I returned walking by the Store Fronts in Fifth Avenue, stopped at the Plaza Hotel, then I turned right towards the Upper West Side in Columbus Circle's Time Warner Towers.  There I saw a great SALVADOR DALI Show.  Then, back to 5th Avenue to check all the Windows decorated for Christmas.  Lot of shopping tourists watching the wonderful displays.  I was tired from all that walking and I took a bus to SoHo.  I went to the famous LOMBARDI'S PIZZA.  It was Thursday and like every place, there was a load of people out to the restaurants.  After the delicious pizza, I walked around Bowery where I saw a couple of Art Openings.  Lot of research that day. Very productive.  I got a lot of photos and literature for me to study.  While walking from one show, I saw walking towards me the singer JOHN LEGEND, his girlfriend and entourage.  The streets where bustling of energy.  It reminded me of Madrid's energy and vitality.  It was late, I went home and felt asleep right away.  Another busy day was coming.

On the next day Friday December 10th, I walked up refreshed and ready for another day.  I walked to the bus stop in Waverly Place.  Hoped on M2 Bus and went all the way to 57th and 5th Avenue.  Then I went to my Art Class at the ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK.  I had an intense non-stop day, having only two 20 minute breaks from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (9:00 - 16:30)

Friday, October 1, 2010

2010 California Vacation - Vacaciones en California






ENGLISH VERSION RIGHT AFTER THE SPANISH TEXT. ENJOY IT!!

Salimos a las tan deseadas vacaciones de verano en el calor y la playa. Después de pasar una semana en el bosque profundo del Norte de Minnesota en Grand Marais, necesitábamos sentir el calor de California.

El vuelo de Minneapolis a Los Angeles fue tranquilo y directo en tres horas y media. Rafael se porto fenomenal. Vio una película y luego leyó libros y vio el paisaje desde la ventana. Rafa, Julie y yo estábamos algo cansados por el madrugón.

Llegamos a eso de las 11 de la mañana. Cogimos el coche alquilado y salimos del aeropuerto de Los Angeles a la 405 North y en media hora estábamos en Santa Mónica. De allí entramos en nuestro hotel favorito que hemos repetido por la Buena experiencia. El Viceroy Santa Mónica (viceroysantamonica.com) es un hotel muy chic e interesante. Esta a 2 minutos caminando de la playa.

Después de hacer el check-in, subimos a la habitación y después de dejar todo, nos fuimos a comer a un “Hole in the wall” Caribeño. Buenísima toda la comida. Cocido de cerdo, quesadillas, black pepper shrimp con black beans y arroz. Zumos de sandia y limonada de mango-guava ponían la nota final.

De ahí nos cambiamos en el hotel y nos pusimos los trajes de baño y bajamos a la piscina del hotel. Las dos piscinas al lado de los gazebos, estaban tranquilas con pocos niños/as y gente tomando el sol.

De ahí nos fuimos a la playa. El pier de Santa Mónica esta a tope con la Montaña rusa en movimiento que se veía desde lejos. Al acercarnos, después de caminar un buen trecho hasta la orilla (por lo menos tiene 40 o 50 metros de anchura) nos situamos al lado de las famosas torres de vigilancia. Allí Rafa se hincho a construir castillos de arena, luego nos bañamos un poco y vimos a la gente de la que yo saque fotos de las local beauties, surfer hunks y toda la demás gente interesante o no de la playa.

Mas adelante fuimos brevemente al pier de Santa Mónica. Vimos las atracciones, la gente y volvimos a las toallas. Rafa estaba cansado, pero al llegar al agua fresca del Océano Pacifico, se tiro una media hora corriendo entre las olas. De ahí al hotel donde una Buena ducha le animo un poco. Andaba cansado con el cambio horario y para mas sorpresa, el hotel tenia una noche de fiesta dedicada a España. Cantaores, Paella, vino, etc. Todo de buenísima calidad. Rafa disfruto mogollón y luego callo roque en los brazos de la Larsencita a la luz de la luna y el tacleteo de los zapatos de la bailaora. Julie y yo nos tomamos un buen vino y de ahí nos llevamos a la cama a Rafa. Eran dos horas menos que en Minnesota, pero era como las 11 y pico para Rafa. En fin, un día Redondo y unas vacaciones que han empezado con el pie perfecto.

De ahí, nos fuimos al Paul J. Getty Center. Un complejo masivo que se termino hace unos anos. Edificios majestuosos, jardines lustrosos y muy creativos. Vimos muchísimas obras de arte de todos los periodos. Nos centramos en la exposición de Gerome, un clásico del siglo XIX con muchos temas arabescos. También fuimos a la sala de apuntes, donde Rafa copio un modelo de cabeza clásica en yeso. Planto su estilo personal e interesante. Comimos allí y disfrutamos de las vistas de todo Los Angeles desde la única ubicación de este centro imprescindible del arte en California.

Los días siguientes fuimos a la Playa de Manhattan. Allí se rodó el final de la peli de Michael Douglas y Robert Duvall donde Douglas es abatido por el poli bueno. Una playa con casas increíbles. Rafa disfruto mucho de las fuertes olas y nos sentimos muy agustos disfrutando del sol y todo lo que conlleva el pasar un día entero en la playa.

Otro día decidimos ir a Paradise Cove en Malibu. Un lugar precioso con una bajada fuerte hasta llegar a la playa. Allí el famoso restaurante que se ha visto en muchas películas. La playa es pequeña hasta el embarcadero aunque continua hacia Los Angeles. Olas grandes, buen sol y gente de todo tipo. Comimos pescados muy Buenos y otros sabrosos manjares. Cansados, regresamos al Viceroy para terminar la jornada con una buena cena y donde Rafa callo roque inmediatamente.

Otra noche fuimos a pasear en Santa Mónica Boulevard donde esta lleno de artistas en la calle, restaurantes, centros comerciales y un ambiente fantástico. Tienen hasta Zara y Mango. Una calle peatonal lo que siempre me hace sentir en casa. Gente de todos los colores, sabores y pintas. Muy, muy interesante.

El final del viaje fue de estrella, ya que pasamos el día entero en DisneyLand. El autentico, el primero creado por Walt Disney. Fuimos a muchísimas atracciones, comimos, picamos, fuimos a atracciones que no han cambiado desde que se abrió el parque. Me recordó a mucho a las fotos y descripción de mis Padres cuando pasaron un mes en USA en 1980 donde finalizaron su viaje en DisneyLand y nos enseñaron todas las fotos de las atracciones. Fue muy emocionante el sentir el pasado de mi niñez y ese recuerdo del viaje de mis Padres, con la madurez de ser padre y ver a nuestro propio hijo con 5 años viviendo el sueño de ir a DisneyLand. Disfrutó muchísimo con las casas de Mickey y Minnie, las atracciones de Pinocho y muchas otras. Terminamos en “It’s a Small World” donde figurines sacan a todos los estereotipos de los países, muy naintinsixtis (1960’s) con cosas políticamente incorrectos ahora, pero muy representativas de como veían el mundo en esa época. España con el bailaor y la guitarra…..ja, ja, ja…..al final terminamos cenando en un buen restaurante mientras los fuegos artificiales adornaban el final del día para nosotros, a eso de las 11 de la noche.

La mañana siguiente tranquilos en el Viceroy. Nos bañamos en la piscina, desayunamos y al aeropuerto. Viaje tranquilo hasta Minneapolis y nos sentimos genial después de haber disfrutado de nuevo de Los Angeles y de Sunny California.

Saludos.

--------------------------------------------------

ENGLISH

We left to our most deserved summer beach vacation. After a whole vacation week in the deep wet forest of Grand Marais, we yearned the hot Southern California heat.

The Minneapolis-L.A. flight was calm and direct in about 3 hours and a half. Rafael was such a big boy. He saw a movie, read a few books and enjoyed the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains from above. We arrived tired from the early wake up to catch the flight.

We arrived around 11 in the morning. We rented a car and left the airport to the 405 North. In about half hour we were in Santa Monica. There, we went to our favorite hotel, we repeated at the Santa Monica Viceroy (viceroysantamonica.com) a cool hip and interesting hotel. It is about 2 minutes from the beach.

After our check-in we went to our room and left the hotel to eat in a Caribbean "Hole in the wall" with excellent food. Pork stew, quesadillas, black pepper beans and rice. Watermelon juice and mango-guava lemonade put the final yummy touch.

From there, we changed back in the hotel, put our swim suites and went to the Hotel pool. Rafa was asking to go to the pool. The two small pools were calm with a few kids and adults enjoying the sun.

From the hotel to the beach. Santa Monica Pier was full, the roller coaster in action that could see from the beach. Approaching to the water took us around 40 to 50 meters. It is a wide beach. We sat near the famous beach rescue control towers. There Rafa built sand castles, we swim and we saw the people which I took photos of the local beauties, surfer hunks and all the other interesting or not in the beach.

After all our swim time, we went walking towards the Pier. We looked around, the rides and we returned to our towels. Rafa was tired but the crisp Pacific water woke him up. He spent around half hour running from and to the waves. We went back to the hotel, a good shower later, and Rafa was feeling great. The jet-lag was taking a toll on Rafa. We went down to eat at the hotel garden where they were having a Spain Party. The placed looked great, posh L.A. party people, female DJ, Chef and Spanish musicians and dancer. The Paella and tapas assortment was done to a very high standard. Rafa enjoyed the food and show but ended up sleeping with mommy at the moonlight and Spanish serenade. We were two hours ahead of Central Standard Time and Rafa's real time was around 11 p.m.. Well, it was a perfect day to start our vacation.

Another day, we went early morning to the Getty Center. A massive building complex finished a few years ago. Majestic buildings, creative and lustrous gardens. We saw a lot of pieces of art from many different periods. We enjoyed the Gerome exhibit, a 19th century classic painter with arabian themes. We also went to the sketch room where Rafa copied a studio classic sculpture head in a paper. He placed his personal style. We ate there and enjoyed the wonderful views of Los Angeles. This is a must go place in L.A.

Another day we went to Manhattan beach. At their pier was shot that film from the nineties with Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall. Manhattan Beach has a lot of beautiful houses. Rafa Enjoyed the big waves and we felt awesome after spending the whole day in the beach.

Another day, we went to Paradise Cove in Malibu. A beautiful place with a steep hill. There we went to the restaurant. The beach feels small and cozy until the pier where it continues long pass L.A. Big waves, sun and people. We ate good fish and other goodies. After another day on the beach we returned to the Viceroy to finish with a great dinner where Rafa fell asleep really fast.

Another night, we went to Santa Monica Boulevard where it is full of artists in the street performing, restaurants, malls and great energy. They have a Zara and a Mango. It is a walking street what it makes me feel at home. People of all color and shapes. Very interesting.

We spent the last day in DisneyLand. The original created by Walt Disney. We went to a lot of rides, ate, snacked and visited those old rides that haven't changed since the park was created. It reminded me of the photos and descriptions of the month long trip that my parents took in 1980. It was emotional to feel the past of my childhood memories combined with the maturity of becoming a Dad and seeing our five year old son living the dream of visiting DisneyLand. He enjoyed a lot Mickey and Minnie's homes, the Pinocchio ride and many others. We finished with Is a Small World where small dolls portray all the 1960's views and stereotypes of the nations. Spain where the flamenco dancers and guitar player. We finished late at night eating at a good Disney Restaurant while the fireworks decorated our meal around 11 p.m..

The next morning, we enjoyed a quiet time at the Viceroy. We swim at the pool, had breakfast and went to the airport. Returned our car and we had a pleasant flight to Minneapolis. We felt great after a good time in L. A. and sunny California.

Cheers,

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Future Show.

Hola a todos,

I am working hard since the last 3 years about a series of paintings that are coming along very nicely. I am taking aggressive moves and making a shift from my previous direction.

This series is about people and the Big Apple. I collected a lot of drawings, photos and research material after all our trips to Manhattan since 2004. We have spent an average of 2 trips a year but the busiest times where when we spent 2 full weeks every two months in Manhattan. We even had to pay NYC taxes for all the days we spent there during a couple of years.

Thanks to all this trips and being located in a nice hotel in Bryant Park (Midtown Manhattan), I was able to walk all over the Island. I went to the majority of Art Galleries in Chelsea, SoHo and the 57th Street. I visited all the biggest Museums and also the not so famous. I talked to a lot of New Yorkers and we ate in very good restaurants.

Anyway, all was going really good those trips to NYC. I really felt like we lived the life of a New Yorker in a very real way. We had a kitchen and we did groceries and other normal things people do in a day.

I have over 15 pieces, from small to large ones, at 60% completion. I am planning on having a few more to then move on creating a portfolio to then market the pieces and get a great show.

Thanks,


Santiago Zarzosa

Summer 2009 - Spain



Greetings,

It's been a while but finally I have to update my blog. We have had a very busy year. Our son is great and we love our life. We went on Summer 2009 back to Spain to visit my family and friends. There was a very really special occasion. My parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. They organized a great dinner in a restaurant with all their daughters, sons, nephews, nieces, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law (but one that sadly couldn't make it due to her parents illness.) Their best friends also came to the event. We had an 8 course dinner with starter wines, whites, reds and ended up with liquors and Cuban Cigars that one of my brothers brought to celebrate. We started the dinner at 9 P.M. and we finished at 2 A.M. It was fantastic and they were very happy. We all went to.

We had a great time on the beach and our son really enjoyed the sun, Mediterranean, family meals, my mom's cooking and all the amenities of our childhood summer home. After a month there, we also spent a few weeks in their winter home (an hour away from their summer home in the Mediterranean.) My wife and I really enjoyed visiting our special romantic places where we dined and wined as best as we could. We also enjoyed a lot our time in the sun and our close time together with no work worries.

My son & I went everyday to have a few tapas appetizers where he enjoyed very much the Octopus, Ensaladilla Rusa and other delicacies. Also, his Fanta de Limon, a treat for him due to the lack of Pop/Soda exposure in his life. I enjoyed my cold beer with the tapas. I also had a chance to meet my friends and go out with them out at night. I also reconnected with my oldest friend after 8 or more years where we had our differences and did not had any relationship.

We ended up staying a few days also at my brothers home in Madrid, where we had a very good time with them and their daughters.

Our son with four years and a couple months had a great new skill. He learned at my brother's home (a nice complex) to ride the bike without the supporting wheels.

Then, we returned to our daily routines. Our life is good.

Thanks,


Santiago Zarzosa

Tuesday, March 24, 2009




ENGLISH - INGLES >>> Debajo en Castellano - Below in Spanish

New York March 10 - March 14, 2009

I woke up at 5 a.m. to take the taxi that was going to pick me up at 5:15 to go to the airport. From home, all the usual airport procedures to get into the plane. I arrived to JFK sometime after 10 a.m. Shortest flight in memory because I had a Morpheus-sleeping-kind-of-flight. From the airport a taxi toward the hotel in Bryant Park in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. It was nice to cross again Queens towards Midtown and the Holland Tunnel.

I arrived to the hotel and left the luggage at the front desk. The hotel service is very good and amicable and a complete breakfast bar. It is less luxurious hotel but more useful if you come with kids, because all the rooms have kitchen, big fridge, etc. It is a hotel that is in the center, Midtown, around four blocks from Times Square. It is near Bryant Park and the Fifth Avenue and it's stores. On the other side it is the Empire State a few blocks away.

At the front desk they told me that my room will be ready around 1:30 p.m. So, I went walking toward Herald Square (Macy's biggest store in the world location) between 34th Street and Sixth Avenue to people watching. I took a lot of photos to the street and the people. I even bought a CD from those group of rappers that they offered "free" with a donation (so, not really free), and after a few bucks, he told me if I wanted to take a picture with him. I did. After an hour and a half around the area, I was really close to go to the hotel and collapse in the bed but I decided that it would short my NYC experience. So, I went walking towards SoHo. I stopped in a few stores on the way (like STRAND BOOKSTORE at 828 Broadway) up until Union Square. There I was hungry and I stopped at CAFE AMORE PIZZA. I had a slice and from there I went to MAX BRENNER in 845 Broadway between 13th & 14th Streets where I had a thick Italian Chocolate.

I was very tired, as you can imagine, with all the walking, long trip and lack of sleep but the pizza and chocolate (fructose high!) gave me energy for another couple of hours. I keep pushing ahead, walking and observing the empty store spaces near the NYC Campus. From there I crossed into SoHo. I entered in a few stores, CAMPER included. Then I went to one of my favorite cafes, CAFE GITANE. It is a coffee-bar with style with a small-not-so-great-menu but really enjoyable. It is very interesting the street NoLITA area. From there I walked near the New Museum, a new museum of art with a beautiful building that is a great contrast to the buildings around.

At six p.m., I took a taxi and left the hotel. The NYC taxis have changed since last year. They where obligated to install a small TV and the card payment system. One of the taxi drivers told us that they don't like it because it takes 5% of their revenue and then pay $65 Dollars per month. It is something convenience for the consumer but not good for the taxi drivers. Like they said here, the pure Capitalism country, Cash is King.

After a good shower and a change of clothes, I went for dinner to a French restaurant called MADISON BISTRO (madisonbistro.com) between 37 & 38 Streets near the MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM. A beautiful building from the Morgan Industrial Dynasty with it's addition by the renown architect Renzo Piano. I have been there several times for different exhibitions. They had an incredible one about many of their incunabulum books. There, I ordered marinated mussels cooked in a reduced wine shallots and white wine sauce. Add on french fries with a steak au poivres and a Kronenbourg.

After dinner, an HBO film and the went to sleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, I went walking through Bryant Park behind the NY Library. I stooped in the corner of 39 and Fifth Avenue to look at people, shapes, angles, lights, contrasts, all that interest me and helps my art work. After more than fifteen minutes (it was cold), I went right back to work. From there, I went walking on Fifth Avenue along 30 ROCKEFFELLER CENTER, RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, MoMA until I arrived to my destination at 57th Street, where there are a fair amount of art galleries. There I worked extensively researching all the artists works, talking to the gallery people and picking up material for later research in my studio in Minneapolis. I was tired and hungry afterwards.

I went to a casual cuban restaurant nearby. TINA'S RESTAURANT in 23rd West 56th Street. I had a couple small empanadas, moorish rice with shredded beef and a thin breaded steak with rice and beans. I finished with a strong cafe con leche (like those we have in Spain.)

After the meal, I went to work again to take a class in the ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK at 215 West 57th Street where I work from 16:45 to 18:45. I have been talking classes there in our frequent trips to NYC, where I kept improving my techniques. From there, I went walking to the hotel (more than 18 blocks) passing through Times Square.

Shower, change and then dinner at the Meat Packing District, where, as you know, where the docks where they sold the meat to NYC markets. Now the image is not like in the movie, The Godfather, where Robert De Niro starts his Mafioso career anymore. Cool hotels, restaurants, shops dominate the old look. I walked around checking the different places previously researched and I went to the SPICE MARKET (www.spicemarketnewyork.com) in 403 West 13th Street property of the famous Chef, Jean-Georges (www.culinaryconcepts.com) that has many restaurants and a good one we have tried in Minneapolis. The food was great. A menu filled with 8 courses and desserts with wine. Exquisite!

From there taxi and hotel.

The third day after breakfast I went to work at Chelsea, where there are more than 300 art galleries and where I walked all the galleries in the 23 and 24th Streets and 10th Avenue. I stayed working there from 10 in the morning until 13:00 where I took another taxi to go to the NEW YORK ACADEMY OF ART, where I visited the studios and program. From TriBeCa, I went walking nearby to SoHo where I ate a pizza (just cheese and folded like a New Yorker do) slice that tasted great!. From there, another taxi and back to work at Chelsea. The second round included all the galleries at 25th and 26th Streets. I had a short stop at a good restaurant, NAIMA (www.naimanyc.com), where I had a much needed bathroom break and afterwards I enjoyed a good California Pinot Noir while I worked in my booklet.

Around 16:15, I took another taxi and I went to the Art Students League of New York in the Upper West Side where I worked again until 18:45. Burned out and hungry I went walking again to the hotel. While walking, I was looking at every restaurant in Broadway and I even stopped in a couple to see if they where worth eating there. But I kept strong and went to the hotel. I changed, went downstairs, picked a taxi and went to the Lower East Side to a restaurant where a big black artistic door welcomed me. BUDDAKAN (www.buddakan.com) is the place. Downstairs, people very well dressed, that NYC scene where some of the people seem to came from a Soap Opera from either of the three networks. The dinner and menu was excellent where I enjoyed a great Sake-Martini and then a couple of Belgium beers.

The last day, I was tired from the dinner and all the fast pace work in the last few days. I told myself after waking up to keep going strong with my plan from Minneapolis. I did not wanted to waste a day in my King bed watching movies because I was tired and cut short my work experience. So, took shower, strong breakfast, good coffee and off I went. In my research I decided to visit only one of the best NYC Museums this time (I normally visit 2 or more Museums each trip to NYC. Lately, I am leaning towards visiting art galleries to keep up with the latest vanguards and tendencies). The METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM (www.metmuseum.org) at the Mile art where the Frick Collection, Guggenheim, Whitney, Galerie Neue and other museums is the one I visited. There, after stopping at the Velez Patio from the Almeria Castle and the Iron Fence from the Valladolid Choir Cathedral in Spain! It made me feel at home.

There at the Met, the exhibition "From Raphael to Renoir: Drawings from the Collection of Jean Bonna" Excellent, quite number of master pieces. The other was the exhibition about Pierre Bonnard, a French impressionist that had a very interesting technique to paint where he said that he was trying to paint a scene where looks like nothing is happening, nothing shows more than other and he gets it. Very interesting. I then walked all over the museum to remember all the great art in one of the best museums in the world in my opinion. After my first loop, I went outside, walked to Central Park and to the Guggenheim. From there I went inside to work in my booklet. After that, a taxi, Bryant Park, a pizza slice (of course, no surprise there) for lunch and around 14:20 a big coffee with a pastry at a gourmet coffee place. At 15:30 to the airport!

It was a great trip. NYC see you soon.

Bye,


Santiago Zarzosa

CASTELLANO - SPANISH

New York 10 Marzo - 14 de Marzo 2009

Me levante a las 5 de la mañana para ir en el taxi que nos recogía a las 5:15 hasta el aeropuerto. De ahí, lo típico que todos conocéis de los aeropuertos. Llegue a JFK a eso de las 10 y pico, en le viaje mas corto que recuerdo porque Morfeo me dejo roque nada mas despegar. De ahí en taxi al hotel en Bryant Park en Midtown Manhattan. Daba gusto volver a la isla al cruzar el barrio de Queens hasta Midtown por el Holland Tunnel.

Llegue al Hotel y deje las maletas. El hotel tiene un servicio muy bueno y amigable y un servicio de desayuno muy completo. Es menos lujoso pero mas practico si vas con niños, ya que las habitaciones todas tienen cocina, frigorífico grande, etc. Es un hotel que esta en el centro, Midtown, a cuatro manzanas de Times Square, al lado del parque Bryant Park y la Quinta Avenida con todas las tiendas. También hacia el otro lado, donde hablo en el siguiente paragrafo, esta el Empire State.

En recepción, me dijeron que la habitación estaría lista a eso de las 13:30. Me fui a Herald Square entre la calle 34 y la Sexta para ver gente de todo tipo. Me hinche a echar fotos a la calle y sobre todo a la gente. También le compre un CD a un grupo de raperos muy simpáticos con el que me hice una foto. Después de estar una hora y pico por esa zona, estuve a punto de ir al hotel, pero sacando fuerzas de flaqueza, me fui andando hasta SoHo (South of Houston Street), parandome en Union Square. Luego me entro hambre y compre una pizza en CAFE AMORE PIZZA, Pizza slice que estaba genial y de ahí me fui a tomar un chocolate denso como los de España en un sitio que se llama MAX BRENNER (www.maxbrenner.com) en 845 Broadway entre las calles 13 y 14 en Union Square.

Estába muy cansado, como podéis imaginar, con el caminar, viaje largo y el mucho sueño que tenia, pero la pizza y el chocolate (subidon de fructosa!!) me dio energía para un par de horas mas. Segui adelante, caminando y viendo bastantes tiendas cerradas cerca del campus de la Universidad de Nueva York (www.nyu.edu). De ahí hasta el cruze de Broadway y Houston, entrada al corazón de SoHo. Entre en varias tiendas, CAMPER entre ellas. Luego fui hacia uno de mis cafés favoritos (CAFE GITANE) que aparece en la Guía Cara B de EL PAIS (si miráis en el website de El País viajante). Es una cafeteria-bar que tiene un menú pequeño que no esta mal, pero que si es muy interesante por su ambiente offbeat en NoLITA. De ahí, pase al lado del THE NEW MUSEUM, un nuevo museo de arte que tiene un edificio que contrasta con la arquitectura de la zona.

A eso de las seis de la tarde, cogi un taxi y me fuimos al hotel. Por cierto, los taxis en Nueva York, han cambiado desde el año pasado. Les obligaron (después de muchas protestas) a instalar una pantalla de TV y el sistema de pago por tarjeta (genial) pero, como uno de los taxistas nos dijo, no les gusta porque el pago por tarjeta les quita el 5% de la carrera y luego tienen que pagar $65 Dólares al mes por la TV. En fin, algo que es cómodo para los usuarios pero que no les conviene a los taxistas. Como dicen aquí, en el Capitalismo puro, CASH IS KING.....o el Dinero (Suelto en billetes, no de tarjeta o cheque) lo cual echan de menos.

Después de una buena ducha y cambio de ropa, cene en un Bistro Francés que se llama MADISON BISTRO (madisonbistro.com) que esta entre las calles 37 y 38 al lado de la MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM, un edificio de la Dinastía Industrial de los Morgan con el edificio ampliado por el renombrado arquitecto Renzo Piano. Ahí he ido en varias ocasiones a varias exposiciones. Tienen unos volúmenes de libros incunables impresionantes. Allí pedí unos Mejillones mariniere cocinados en chalotas en reducción de vino blanco y con patatas fritas y un filete au poivres con patatas fritas y una Kronenbourg.

Después de la cena, un poco de HBO y al sobre a dormir!

La mañana siguiente, después de desayunar, me fuí caminando por Bryant Park, detrás de la Biblioteca de Nueva York. Me quede en la calle viendo a gente, formas, ángulos, luces, contrastes y todo eso que me entretiene e interesa. Cuando llevaba mas de un cuarto de hora fuera (hacia frío), me fui a trabajar. De ahí, me fui caminando por la Quinta Avenida, pasando por 30 ROCKEFFELLER CENTER, RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, MoMA hasta que llegue a la calle 57, donde hay muchas galerías de arte. Ahí hice mucho trabajo viendo mas de veintitantas galerías y recogiendo material para estudiar en Minneapolis. Me dí un buen tute y acabe cansado y hambriento.

Comí en un restaurante muy casual cubano, TINA'S RESTAURANT en el 23 West 56th Street. Unas empanadas, Arroz Moro con carne de res y una milanesa con arroz y habichuelas. Un cafelito para terminar.

Me fuí a clase en la ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK en el 215 West 57th Street donde estuve trabajando hasta las 18:45 de la tarde. Ahí he ido los dos últimos viajes a Nueva York donde he mejorado muchas de mis técnicas. De ahí me fui caminando al hotel pasando por Times Square (saque mogollón de fotos de nuevo para ver el cambio de anuncios respecto a otros viajes).

Me duche, cambie y me fuí de cena al Meat Packing District, donde literalmente estaban los almacenes de carga de comida y carne desde el inicio de la ciudad de Nueva York - imaginaros las imágenes de El Padrino cuando Robert de Niro empieza su carrera de mafioso - pero que ahora están transformados los edificios con tiendas glamurosas, hoteles modernos y restaurantes alucinantes. Camine durante un rato hasta que entre en el restaurante SPICE MARKET en la 403 West 13th Street www.SPICEMARKETNEWYORK.com que es parte del negocio del famoso chef (en USA) Jean-Georges www.CULINARYCONCEPTS.com, que tiene un resturante en Minneapolis muy bueno, ademas de otros en muchas partes del mundo. La comida estuvo genial, tuve un menú de la semana de los restaurantes que era una combinación de 8 primeros y segundos platos con postres. Exquisito.

De ahí, taxi y hotel.

El tercer día, por la mañana despues de desayunar me fui a trabajar a Chelsea, donde hay mas de 300 galerías de arte y donde me di una caminata que de una barrida visite las galerías de la calle 23 y 24 y la 10 Avenida. Allí estuve desde las 10 de la mañana hasta las 13:00 donde fui en taxi hasta la NEW YORK ACADEMY of ART donde estuve visitando las instalaciones y sus programas. De TriBeCa, donde estaba la Academia de Arte me fui caminando al Oeste de SoHo donde me comí una slice de pizza y de ahí agarre otro taxi (vaya sangría de dinero en esos días) hasta CHELSEA otra vez. La segunda pasada, me recorrí todas las galerías de las calles 25 y 26, con un paron obligado en un restaurante muy bueno italiano que se llama NAIMA (naymanyc.com) porque tenia que ir al baño y no había ningún lugar decente cerca. Allí me tome una Copa de Pinot Noir de California o sea, un robo para descargar el depósito, pero estuvo bien, ya que me relajo después del ritmo frenético e hice un apunte en mi cuaderno de trabajo del lugar mientras disfrutaba del vino.

A eso de 4 y pico cogí el taxi y me fui a la Art Students League of New York en el Upper West Side donde estuve trabajando hasta las 6:45 de nuevo. Quemadisimo y hambriento, me fui caminando de nuevo hasta el hotel (unas 18 manzanas)...mientras caminaba, iba mirando cada restaurante en Broadway, e incluso me pare en dos a ver si cenaba o no.

Al llegar a la habitación me asee lo mas rápido que pude, me cambie de ropa, baje a la calle y otro taxi otra vez hacia el Lower East Side. Llegue al restaurante, una puerta Negra enorme y muy artística, el nombre, BUDDAKAN (www.buddakan.com). Escaleras abajo, gente muy puesta en todos lados, ese lado friki de Nueva York donde parece que todo el mundo sale de una agencia de modelos o de una seria de Soap Opera (Novelas de Día de los tres networks, ABC.com, CBS.com o NBC.com), parecen irreales y de plástico. La cena y el menú excelente regado con unos cocteles muy interesantes. Me tome un Sake-Martini y unas cervezas Belgas.

Después de la cena, taxi y al hotel a sobar!!!

El ultimo día, estaba cansado,....., me dije a mi mismo....llevas tres días de machaque total pero aprovechando al cien por cien y currandotelo como lo planee en Minneapolis. No quise dejar que la cama KING de la habitación, las pelis y el cansancio me cortasen corta la experiencia. Así que me duche, baje al desayuno y de ahí me fui al museo con las exposiciones mas interesantes. Que quede nota, que en todos mis viajes anteriores a NYC, siempre he visitado al menos dos de los muchos museos que hay. Esta vez me fui al METROPOLITAN ART MUSEUM (www.metmuseum.org), la entrada, en la Milla del Arte, donde al lado esta la FRICK COLLECTION, GUGGENHEIM, WHITNEY y otros museos menores como GALERIE NEUE. Me fui en un taxi de nuevo y me lance a ver la primera exposición dentro del museo, eso si, parando primero en el patio de los VELEZ de su Castillo en ALMERIA que veréis en las fotos. ALUCINANTE!!!!! siempre que entro en el MET me siento un poco cerca de casa. Pero luego, en la zona de arte medieval, también hay otra cosa que me llena el alma. Ahí tienen las rejas del coro de la catedral de VALLADOLID!!!!!!

En fin, la exposición es Raphael to Renoir: Drawins from the Collection of Jean Bonna. Excelente. La otra exposición de Pierre Bonnard, un impresionista Francés que tenia una técnica muy interesante de pintar en la que el, en su propia definición, decía que ha intentado pintar una escena en la que parace que no pasa nada, nada destaca y si que lo consigue. Muy interesante. Me camine todo el museo para ver de nuevo las esculturas, templo egipcio, etc.....es muy grande. Ademas tienen una colección de arte moderno muy buena. Cuando acabe la primera vuelta, salí a Central Park y camine hasta el Guggenheim, saque unas fotos y me fui. De ahí di otra vuelta he hice unos estudios con mi libro de estudio. Después, agarre un taxi y me fui a comer. Por supuesto, otra pizza newyorkina!!! es la mejor, buenísima. Luego, a eso de las dos y pico tome un café antes de irme al aeropuerto a eso de las 15:30. Taxi y au revoir big apple!!!

Ha sido un viaje genial, NYC Hasta pronto!! tal vez en dos meses regrese de nuevo.

Best to all!!


Santiago Zarzosa

Saturday, January 10, 2009

New Works

I am working on new series. Big 36 X 36 Inches oil paintings about New York. We traveled extensively to Manhattan from 2004 to 2007. We spent 2 weeks every 3 months in the heart of Midtown in Bryant Park. We walked all over the island of Manhattan. We know now what it is to live in NYC. Quite similar as any other big city, like when I used to live in Madrid. Spain.

I am also working on a series about Spain in the same size and also smaller pieces. I am working in these two series for the last 2 years.


Santiago Zarzosa

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Spain & Rome 2008




This summer we went to Europe for a month and a half. Spain & Italy where the places we choosed to go. It was fun to see the family and friends.

Rome was awesome. We were in an apartment near Castle Sant Angelo facing at the Tiber River front. Great location. We were ten minutes walking to the Vatican State and 15 minutes from Piazza Navona in the historic center.

We saw the Papal Audience where we enjoyed the Pope's reading and the people watching. Then we we went to the Vatican Museums where we saw the amazing work of the Romans and the master works of Raphael and Michaelangelo. The Sixtine Chapel was something out of this world. The first time I saw it was in the late 80's when the restoration started. The change is just amazing.

We walked all over Rome and saw the Italian Forum and all the other Roman ruins. We also saw a great Basquiat Show in a Palazzo in Via del Corso. It was great work. I bought the catalogue.

We enjoyed a lot this trip.

Santiago Zarzosa