The Kitchen
512 West 19th Street at 10th Ave.
Thru February 10th
The Kitchen is a performance and visual art facility located near the Chelsea gallery row. The building itself is fantastic- its winding staircases and hallways make you feel like you've entered a different world and that you're part of a big secret.
This being my first trip to the gallery- I don't want to discount it completely, however I found the two current installations to be pretentious and silly.
In both cases, I found myself looking around for more components of the work. Then I found myself, thinking 'Am I stupid- is there something I don't get?' While both artists had fascinating ideas, the follow through seems incredibly cerebral and uninviting.
I wouldn’t write The Kitchen off completely, the space itself is so exciting, but maybe just wait for a different installation to come in before you make the track over there.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
5th Ave at 82nd Street
Thru February 19th
My enthusiasm for this exhibit is overwhelming- I think every person under the age of forty living in New York City should go and see it. Focusing on the rise of the Verists, a group of artists who questioned their own participation in the darkly ugly under culture of post WWI Germany, the portraits display a searing examination of the self and surrounding society (something I’m sure we can all relate to in this day and age).
Featuring work by Otto Dix, Max Beckmann, Christian Schad and George Grosz, the exhibit is both extremely accessible but also different than the rest of the collection found at the Met. It gives you interesting insight into an overlooked yet critical moment of German history.
While your there, go breeze thru “American’s in Paris” – its nice enough, nothing mind blowing though- sort of feels like your walking in your high school art history textbook

The Morgan Library- Special Exhibit
225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street_
Thru March 6th.

You’ve seen Steinberg’s work before- you just don’t know it.
He created covers for the New Yorker for over forty years- you know, all the ones that you look at for a good thirty seconds and then laugh out loud. Seeing this exhibit makes you realize, not only how smart this guy is, but also the time, effort and talent it takes to create these seemingly carefree images.
I would highly recommend making the trip over to the Morgan. Beyond this special exhibit, the complex as a whole is fascinating. Originally, Pierpont Morgan (my first born son’s future name) private library and office, you can ramble through his vast collection of really, really, really old books, art and furniture.
A perfect afternoon to take smart, out of towners or a nice little treat if you’ve got an hour to kill in midtown and H&M is crowed.

I was sitting around jabbering about Carolina basketball with my friend Jack the other day, when it dawned on me. He and I are two incredible smart people, since kindergarten we've attended some of the most celebrated educational institutions in the United States and we live smack dab in the middle of in the most exciting city in the world yet all we ever talk about is Carolina Basketball, drinking and sexual exploits. That's just silly. And boring.
Really- what's the point of paying all this rent to maintain an existence I could well as have in Cary, North Carolina? I might as well start eating at Outback.
So I'm on a mission. For the next ten days I will attend an artistic or cultural affair and report back to you, my friends, about it. I will tell you if its good or lousy- how much money it costs- who you should take with you- if there are good looking people etc. Hopefully, by filling you in on all the details that usually keep us from going to something slightly unknown and different, it'll be that much easier for you to say, "The Real World Denver is mind numbingly fascinating but perhaps tonight I'll do something else..."
Wish me luck.