"Thanks for coming out on this very balmy New York evening...!"

*updated with photos*

Current location: NYC

Some quikc highlights of the last few days.

Spooky Ghost Show
Last night Spooky Ghost played a show at The Living Room on Ludlow St and WE WENT. Spooky Ghost, aka Gerry Leonard, aka David Bowie's lead guitarist!

The story was rather interesting. Strictly a 21+ venue (they check EVERYONE's ID) we got into a bit of situation. I was waiting outside hoping to see a Bnetter because there was BOUND to be Bowienetters there. Then I spotted Luis who was helping Spooky unload his guitars so I was like "LUIS!!" and all was very exciting getting to meet Bowienet's nicest guy! Then I said to him that we have a problem and that we can't get in. Leeza showed up shortly after and after Luis had a talk with the bouncer, Leeza was suddenly our stepmother. And we had to behave ourselves and not drink - very easy. So we got in!!



The venue is very intimate and there were small little round tables with chairs around the stage... very New York. So I met the whole NYC crew which was amazing because they are just the coolest people in the world. And they were good friends with Gerry and Earl Slick (David Bowie's other lead guitarist). EARL SLICK was hanging out with US! And I told him who I was because I met him when he played in Melbourne. He remembered me and still has my piece of paper that I gave him! AHHH!!



It was a fantastic night out. I'm so glad I joined Bowienet because we've just met the best people and my America trip would so not be the same.

MoMA
ALSO - yesterday we went to MoMA with Dick Mac. 2nd time lucky! MoMA is amaaaazing. Dick Mac took us to level 4 and suddenly I was standing amongst some of the worlds most famous paintings. Van Gogh's Starry Night, Cezanne's Bather, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon... paintings and works that I've been admiring only in books. Also surprise surprise, Salvador Dali's Persistence of Time was there too! And it's TINY!

And yes, with Starry Night... wow...

I actually got into trouble immediately following taking a photo next to it. I was told off for BRUSHING IT WITH MY SHOULDER and was threatened to be kicked out!! But I hardly touched it. The security guy just had this massive flag pole up his arse or something. How anal. We sure kicked his ass when we showed him the photo we took - EVIDENCE. Then he goes "You touched it AFTER!"... He can go lick himself.

The museum is bigger than the NGV (well, what isn't?). 6 levels full of modern art including some of the most cutting edge works of today. It is my mecca. I would so love to have my work there one day... but the rate I'm going at the moment, I don't really think so.

Kayaking on the Hudson River
And today? We went KAYAKING ON THE HUDSON RIVER!!! It was a very memorable experience because just imagine kayaking around this bay area with the Statue Of Liberty on your right and the Manhattan skyline on your left. It was simply breathtaking.

I had my own kayak and kayaked as far as I possibly can get and just to get the most incredible view. Unfortunately I couldn't have a camera with me as I was drenched myself. You should have seen my soaked butt. I have a few photos but they are to follow as I'm too lazy to do it now. Posting photos is rather time consuming...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp
God damn!! I love it!!! We saw it at Time Square tonight at AMC, which had close to 30 cinemas in one single building, dedicated 5 whole screens for the film. Besides the typical kids come in, kids do silly things, kids get kicked out business, the plot was unexpected. Willy Wonka's character in this version of the film is just incredible. He is completely different to how he was portrayed in the book and in the first film but for some reason, it just suits perfectly and makes so much sense.

Johnny Depp is the best actor for the role - I can't imagine anyone else doing the same. Really hit the spot and ohhh man... I was just blown away by his performance. Completely. In the book and the old film, Willy Wonka always came across as a very nice guy but had this whole level of mystery behind him - where he came from, how he got there, why he's there... this film completes it and more. Like an extended fan fiction of the book itself that comes across as official.

I left feeling very satisfied because the film finally had a well deserved actual ending.

Brooklyn Bridge tomorrow!!