Day 9: "Let's Talk About Sex"
Don't worry, we won't. Not much.
Today I completely changed the plan. I felt quite spontaneous.
I went to SoHo and went shopping and by shopping I mean I walked around a few stores that I could never afford and looked at everything. I sat in a couple of parks and did some people watching. I went to the Museum of Sex. And you're going to read about it.
I walked from the train station to Broadway and Broome in search of Top Shelf. It is a really cute store! It's kind of like a more ritzy, expensive Forever21. The first shirt I picked up was $310. Insanity! People were walking around with armfuls of stuff! We are still in a recession right? It's great to keep the economy going but wow! I've been in search of a purse because it'll be easier to transport back to Phoenix in my suitcase than another pair of shoes, but the purses I picked up were crazy expensive! The cutest clutch with a flower print which would look perfect with the dress I had worn at graduation was $240. Ah, when I'm with my rich somebody in the future I'll have armfuls of outrageously priced things and expensive stores.
Two common themes for all these stores: Men's department in the basement. There's a first floor with women's stuff and however many more with women's stuff, and the guys can go to their one floor underground to shop. It's smart, they know who their targets are. And, tons of women with tons of money all sporting a gay guy shopping buddy. Some of whose advice on shoes was incorrect. Sad.
After Top Shelf I walked around SoHo and went into a few stores with forgettable names. Everything down there is so trendy like Xtreme or Sparklz or something expensive and tacky in the same breath.
BUT, I saw Bloomingdale's out of the corner of my eye and decided to go in. So fun! They had a sign out stating students received 10 percent off all purchases all the time which is unique. AND they were playing some awesome music (Frankmusik "3 Little Words" if you haven't heard it yet get on it and spread it like wildfire!)!! Women here wear shawls. No joke, I haven't seen so many shawls in my life and I want one. The ones at Bloomingdale's were $78. I don't want one that badly. Men's wear was in the basement and it was 5 floors of gorgeous clothes. I walked around with a Burberry purse on my arm. I looked at their trench coat but they didn't have my size and there wasn't a price on it which made me nervous. It was the one Emma Watson wears in the adverts. I want it.
While walking back to the train I sat on a bench and ate a granola bar and watched a homeless man try to talk a guy into giving him the bread another man was throwing to the pigeons. They were both shrewd negotiators but I can't handle that sort of thing, human beings before rats with wings is my motto, so I left. Got back on a train and off at 28th St. and 5th Ave. to walk to the Museum of Sex or the MoSex as it's called.
Not many cities can boast a museum dedicated entirely to sex which is why I went and this is a subject I'm planning to build my career around so I'm interested. I had no idea what it would be like as far as art pieces or historical collections, and it was both! There were 3 exhibits that were open--they were doing renovations so the whole place smelled of paint thinner and was freezing in the permanent collection but stifling hot in the "Rubbers" exhibit, maybe on purpose.
First, it was all really tastefully displayed, I thought. The purpose was to be informative, just like any museum. People are afraid to talk about sex and I don't understand why.
I started with "Rubbers: The Life, History, and Struggle of the Condom" and it was really interesting! Having been involved in a research lab that studies condom use on the part of the population a lot of the information I knew already but it was interesting to see it. There were a lot of videos (don't let your mind wander, think tasteful, think naughty sex ed), but the one in this exhibit was about the connection between condom use and pornography and how it isn't part of the rules to show condoms being used. While porn provides fantasy sexual situations, condoms aren't part of the fantasy and the slogan was "safe sex is hot sex" which is interesting. A lot of people think of condoms in terms of birth control or with a one night stand, but what if you have to use one all the time with every sexual encounter for the entire lifespan of your sexual activity? The exhibit also talked about "condom fatigue" that people have been inundated with so much safe sex talk that they feel above it or like it's not applicable to their situation which is interesting. I liked the exhibit, except the pictures of people with syphilis; that is an ugly disease.
Next I saw the permanent collection where I also saw my first blow-up doll. I've seen them on t.v. and in movies but never in real life. There was also some artwork and photography displayed and it was interesting to see the explanations between the sexuality of males and females in photos and drawings. The way they are portrayed, men in the sort of Greek and Roman god-like pose and women as pin-ups and how there are problems and benefits on both sides.
The last section was on "The Sex Lives of Animals" which was sort-of interesting and a little weird. There was a part dedicated to the penguins from Central Park who were in a homosexual relationship and given an abandoned egg to raise by one of the caretakers. They've been turned into a book, which has made it to several banned book lists, and even though they're not together anymore they're one of my favorite couples as far as penguins go.
I liked the museum. It's very small, I was a bit disappointed when I realized I had seen everything. It was nice on one hand because I got to take my time and read the explanations for the artwork or the time period or whatever I was looking at. But on the other hand, I think it's telling of people's unwillingness to discuss sex in a public setting. However, getting the space, contributers, and collection to have a museum is a great thing.
I hope that wasn't too awful for you guys; I didn't take pictures so don't worry about that and I really edited a lot (A LOT) of the dirty. Anyway...
...after the museum I walked to Madison Square Park and watched the people. It was about 5:30 so I can assume everyone was leaving work but New York isn't like most cities. There are people everywhere, all the time. Always wearing suits. Always "walking with purpose" as Alex described it to me. Who knows where they're going.
I saw a guy feeding a squirrel corn nuts from his hand. Crazy! I like to look at the squirrels too, but if one runs up to me it's going to get whatever food is in my hand as I drop it and run away so as not to get any weird squirrel disease. This guy was, apparently, trying to train it and was displaying the corn nut and moving it up the fence so the squirrel had to climb the fence to get the nut. There was a lady walking her Schnauzer, Chuchi, and Chuchi was wearing shoes. On all 4 feet! It was the cutest! Upon leaving the park I saw a guy trying to figure out how to get the bike that was chained to his car, and clearly not his, unchained so he could drive away. I saw another guy start yelling at someone and use the "C" word. He also proceeded to walk across the street, turn around in the middle of the road and yell the "C" word again and continue to do that every couple of steps. It was like a nasty echo. I saw someone do the "lick-the-index-and-pinky-fingers-and-straighten-their-eyebrows-with-the-devils-hand-shape" thing.
Before getting on the train, I walked to a church that has ribbons tied to the fence around the front for soldiers who have been killed in the war and took some pictures. Then I got on the train and went to Times Square to do some shopping for souvenirs and get Gray's Papaya but I got caught in the rain.
Caught in the rain! For the first time in my life and I liked it. It was fun and sort of romantic even though I was by myself. But then it started to pour and I wasn't in possession of a jacket or umbrella, I was, however, wearing a hat so that was handy. I just got back onto a train and headed back to Queens. The shopping and hot dogs can wait, I do not want to be sick while I'm here and the rain was coming through my shoes.
So that was today.
Tomorrow's Goal: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It will take all day. I brought my green scarf just for this day. I'm so excited! As an immigrant to this country I feel like this is the Mecca. Immigrants came through Ellis Island until the 1950's and I can only imagine the feelings of unimaginable possibility tied to the location.
A few of my favorite pictures:
Street in SoHo.
Flatiron Building through the trees in Madison Square Park.
Empire State Building.
Statue of Antony Gormley scattered around the tops of buildings in New York and this one on the street. It's weird how the guy stepped in front of the picture but kind of looks like he belongs there.
MoSex.
Marble Collegiate Church through the trees.
Today I completely changed the plan. I felt quite spontaneous.
I went to SoHo and went shopping and by shopping I mean I walked around a few stores that I could never afford and looked at everything. I sat in a couple of parks and did some people watching. I went to the Museum of Sex. And you're going to read about it.
I walked from the train station to Broadway and Broome in search of Top Shelf. It is a really cute store! It's kind of like a more ritzy, expensive Forever21. The first shirt I picked up was $310. Insanity! People were walking around with armfuls of stuff! We are still in a recession right? It's great to keep the economy going but wow! I've been in search of a purse because it'll be easier to transport back to Phoenix in my suitcase than another pair of shoes, but the purses I picked up were crazy expensive! The cutest clutch with a flower print which would look perfect with the dress I had worn at graduation was $240. Ah, when I'm with my rich somebody in the future I'll have armfuls of outrageously priced things and expensive stores.
Two common themes for all these stores: Men's department in the basement. There's a first floor with women's stuff and however many more with women's stuff, and the guys can go to their one floor underground to shop. It's smart, they know who their targets are. And, tons of women with tons of money all sporting a gay guy shopping buddy. Some of whose advice on shoes was incorrect. Sad.
After Top Shelf I walked around SoHo and went into a few stores with forgettable names. Everything down there is so trendy like Xtreme or Sparklz or something expensive and tacky in the same breath.
BUT, I saw Bloomingdale's out of the corner of my eye and decided to go in. So fun! They had a sign out stating students received 10 percent off all purchases all the time which is unique. AND they were playing some awesome music (Frankmusik "3 Little Words" if you haven't heard it yet get on it and spread it like wildfire!)!! Women here wear shawls. No joke, I haven't seen so many shawls in my life and I want one. The ones at Bloomingdale's were $78. I don't want one that badly. Men's wear was in the basement and it was 5 floors of gorgeous clothes. I walked around with a Burberry purse on my arm. I looked at their trench coat but they didn't have my size and there wasn't a price on it which made me nervous. It was the one Emma Watson wears in the adverts. I want it.
While walking back to the train I sat on a bench and ate a granola bar and watched a homeless man try to talk a guy into giving him the bread another man was throwing to the pigeons. They were both shrewd negotiators but I can't handle that sort of thing, human beings before rats with wings is my motto, so I left. Got back on a train and off at 28th St. and 5th Ave. to walk to the Museum of Sex or the MoSex as it's called.
Not many cities can boast a museum dedicated entirely to sex which is why I went and this is a subject I'm planning to build my career around so I'm interested. I had no idea what it would be like as far as art pieces or historical collections, and it was both! There were 3 exhibits that were open--they were doing renovations so the whole place smelled of paint thinner and was freezing in the permanent collection but stifling hot in the "Rubbers" exhibit, maybe on purpose.
First, it was all really tastefully displayed, I thought. The purpose was to be informative, just like any museum. People are afraid to talk about sex and I don't understand why.
I started with "Rubbers: The Life, History, and Struggle of the Condom" and it was really interesting! Having been involved in a research lab that studies condom use on the part of the population a lot of the information I knew already but it was interesting to see it. There were a lot of videos (don't let your mind wander, think tasteful, think naughty sex ed), but the one in this exhibit was about the connection between condom use and pornography and how it isn't part of the rules to show condoms being used. While porn provides fantasy sexual situations, condoms aren't part of the fantasy and the slogan was "safe sex is hot sex" which is interesting. A lot of people think of condoms in terms of birth control or with a one night stand, but what if you have to use one all the time with every sexual encounter for the entire lifespan of your sexual activity? The exhibit also talked about "condom fatigue" that people have been inundated with so much safe sex talk that they feel above it or like it's not applicable to their situation which is interesting. I liked the exhibit, except the pictures of people with syphilis; that is an ugly disease.
Next I saw the permanent collection where I also saw my first blow-up doll. I've seen them on t.v. and in movies but never in real life. There was also some artwork and photography displayed and it was interesting to see the explanations between the sexuality of males and females in photos and drawings. The way they are portrayed, men in the sort of Greek and Roman god-like pose and women as pin-ups and how there are problems and benefits on both sides.
The last section was on "The Sex Lives of Animals" which was sort-of interesting and a little weird. There was a part dedicated to the penguins from Central Park who were in a homosexual relationship and given an abandoned egg to raise by one of the caretakers. They've been turned into a book, which has made it to several banned book lists, and even though they're not together anymore they're one of my favorite couples as far as penguins go.
I liked the museum. It's very small, I was a bit disappointed when I realized I had seen everything. It was nice on one hand because I got to take my time and read the explanations for the artwork or the time period or whatever I was looking at. But on the other hand, I think it's telling of people's unwillingness to discuss sex in a public setting. However, getting the space, contributers, and collection to have a museum is a great thing.
I hope that wasn't too awful for you guys; I didn't take pictures so don't worry about that and I really edited a lot (A LOT) of the dirty. Anyway...
...after the museum I walked to Madison Square Park and watched the people. It was about 5:30 so I can assume everyone was leaving work but New York isn't like most cities. There are people everywhere, all the time. Always wearing suits. Always "walking with purpose" as Alex described it to me. Who knows where they're going.
I saw a guy feeding a squirrel corn nuts from his hand. Crazy! I like to look at the squirrels too, but if one runs up to me it's going to get whatever food is in my hand as I drop it and run away so as not to get any weird squirrel disease. This guy was, apparently, trying to train it and was displaying the corn nut and moving it up the fence so the squirrel had to climb the fence to get the nut. There was a lady walking her Schnauzer, Chuchi, and Chuchi was wearing shoes. On all 4 feet! It was the cutest! Upon leaving the park I saw a guy trying to figure out how to get the bike that was chained to his car, and clearly not his, unchained so he could drive away. I saw another guy start yelling at someone and use the "C" word. He also proceeded to walk across the street, turn around in the middle of the road and yell the "C" word again and continue to do that every couple of steps. It was like a nasty echo. I saw someone do the "lick-the-index-and-pinky-fingers-and-straighten-their-eyebrows-with-the-devils-hand-shape" thing.
Before getting on the train, I walked to a church that has ribbons tied to the fence around the front for soldiers who have been killed in the war and took some pictures. Then I got on the train and went to Times Square to do some shopping for souvenirs and get Gray's Papaya but I got caught in the rain.
Caught in the rain! For the first time in my life and I liked it. It was fun and sort of romantic even though I was by myself. But then it started to pour and I wasn't in possession of a jacket or umbrella, I was, however, wearing a hat so that was handy. I just got back onto a train and headed back to Queens. The shopping and hot dogs can wait, I do not want to be sick while I'm here and the rain was coming through my shoes.
So that was today.
Tomorrow's Goal: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It will take all day. I brought my green scarf just for this day. I'm so excited! As an immigrant to this country I feel like this is the Mecca. Immigrants came through Ellis Island until the 1950's and I can only imagine the feelings of unimaginable possibility tied to the location.
A few of my favorite pictures:
Street in SoHo.
Flatiron Building through the trees in Madison Square Park.
Empire State Building.
Statue of Antony Gormley scattered around the tops of buildings in New York and this one on the street. It's weird how the guy stepped in front of the picture but kind of looks like he belongs there.
MoSex.
Marble Collegiate Church through the trees.
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