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Tuesday night we went into the city to see an Opera at the Met in Lincoln Center. The tickets were a wedding gift from my friend Abdul who lives in England.

We arrived early enough to get something to eat before curtain time.  I was struck by all the trees wrapped in lights on Broadway and Columbus Avenue. This is looking downtown toward Columbus Circle.

We discovered a new space just south of Lincoln Center, it is the David Rubenstein Atrium. I think it also serves as a place to buy tickets for  performances in Lincoln Center. There are two of these living plant wall pieces in the space that seems to run all the way through the building from Broadway to Columbus Avenue.

It is a pleasant space, interesting music is playing and the acoustics are comfortable without echoes. People were gathered here  reading, talking and using their computers. I suspect there’s WiFi here too. We ordered hot sandwiches and tea which was brought to us for an unhurried, light meal before going to the Met.

The ceiling is punctuated by these oval light wells. The mural on one of the walls seems to be made of sound absorbing felt, it is pierced by windows through which projectors were streaming moving words and images on a huge screen on the opposite wall.  We couldn’t see what it was other than to feel the change of light and color being reflected on us while we ate.  There is a lot of stage lighting hanging overhead, I can only assume that the space is occasionally host to musical or film events.

Approaching  Lincoln Center  from Broadway.

We saw Stiffelio, a not often produced opera by Verdi. It is a beautiful production, it was a real treat to hear live orchestra and voices without amplification.  Stiffelio will be broadcast on the web this Saturday at 1:00PM EST from the WQXR web site.

A parting shot of the Met Lobby as we left.

We had to walk up to 72nd street because construction has closed the downtown platforms for the  1 train, a walk of about 7 blocks.

This is the new Alice Tully Hall.  I was surprised. It is a suprisingly large, cantilevered building.  There’s a dance studio that  hangs below the main part of building with a huge window facing Broadway. The construction is glistening, it looks like magic.

Electrified trees trail up the median of Broadway and  up Columbus Avenue.  It gives this part of the city a festive air.

Yesterday I went into the city to make a delivery so that I would be able to accompany Colman to the Silva Open House I New Jersey. As I was leaving I walked down Fifth Avenue toward 23rd Street. It was a beautiful day, temperature in the 40’s, the air felt like Spring wearing a Winter coat.  It was about a quarter past four, twilight was beginning as the sun moved lower in the West.  The towers around  Madison Square were beautifully luminous against the sky.

Getting closer to 23rd Street I looked back and saw the Moon rising between two towers.