The Metropolitan Museum of Art: China: Through the Looking Glass Exhibition

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has always been one of my favorite places to spend an afternoon…or a whole day (especially if it’s raining)! The grandiose architecture of the building itself is enough, along with the treasures that it holds. Ever since I was little I’ve loved history. Everything from historical architecture to old European paintings to novels about the American Revolution to even begging my parents in elementary school to spend our vacation re-tracing the Oregon Trail in full prairie style clothing (something which they never actually agreed to do!). I’ve also always had a passion for travel and seeing other cultures, seeing the world from different perspectives. Museums allow me to do this, to go back in history and travel the world, all while standing in one place.

As a great movie once asked “where does today meet yesterday?” (…If you must know the movie was a Sesame Street special called “Don’t Eat the Pictures: Sesame Street at the Metropolitan Museum of Art”…yes I consider that a great movie). The question itself is a thinker, and can have multiple different answers, one of them being a museum.  

Now on to the current show at the MET! Last week I went with my mom to see The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s special exhibition of China: Through the Looking Glass. The exhibition is a perfect example of where the East meets the West, through fashion, film, and porcelain design. Curated by the Costume Institute and the Department of Asian Art the exhibition spans three floors. The dresses were what stood out to me with their intricate beading and stitching work. The designs must have taken months or maybe even years to complete. My favorite ones were the blue and white dresses, as well as a magnificent gold dress that took my breath away and was in a room all to itself.

Not only are dresses otherworldly but so are the rooms they are displayed in. Two of the rooms in particular were transformed into what looked like a Chinese garden and palace corridor, such that when you enter you feel as though you’ve just walked back in time. It is definitely something that you have to go and experience yourself!

Do you have a favorite museum?

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a post! I’d really appreciate it!

~ Monique ~

Ed Sheeran Concert

Last night I was lucky enough to see Ed Sheeran in concert on his ‘X’ tour at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York! Although the skies were grey and it was pouring rain outside, once I stepped into Barclays Center nothing else mattered. To say I was excited would be an understatement due to the fact that (1) this was my first concert ever, and (2) I am a huge Ed Sheeran fan. Needless to say when Ed first appeared on stage my mental dialogue was a continuous string of  “OMG that’s Ed Sheeran. He’s right there, he’s so close I can see him!” In between fan-girling I managed to snap a few pictures.

The second Ed walked on stage the crowd went wild screaming. He started the concert not by talking, but singing right away, starting with “I’m a Mess.” There was no band, no back up singers, only a guitar and a loop pedal station as stage companions. The graphics that played on the big screen behind him were as beautiful as Ed’s song lyrics, all tailored to the theme of the song he was playing at the time. Ed’s projection on the big screen was either transformed into colorful comic art or creatively broken up on various smaller screens like a puzzle.

In addition, the beams of light that spread out into the audience changed with each song, with a transfixing turquoise for “Tenerife Sea,” a deep red for “Bloodstream,” and a captivating purple for “Thinking Out Loud.” During the performance of “Thinking Out Loud” the music video of Ed dancing played in the background.

Watching the lights from people phones being held up in the dark arena like stars in the sky and the sounds of people singing along louder then Ed himself was one of the most surreal moments and a memory I will never forget.

What I loved about seeing Ed perform live was witnessing the life and passion he brings to each song. While he played songs from the albums, there were parts that were completely different, such as when he did a mash-up of “Don’t” with a cover of Chris Brown, Tyga and Lil Wayne’s “Loyal” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.” It should also be noted that although Ed is classified as a singer/songwriter, he is also an amazing rapper. I was in awe of his rapping skills that were showcased during “Take It Back.” Other songs I was that I was most excited to hear live were “Photograph,” “One,” “Nina,” “A Team,” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.”

To end this post and my ramblings about the concert I’d like to leave you all with a few lyrics from Ed Sheeran’s songs that I hold close to my heart and I think summarize the night quite nicely:

“We keep this love in a photograph

We made these memories for ourselves

Where our eyes are never closing

Hearts are never broken

Times forever frozen still" - “Photograph”

“And we’re wrapped in light and life and love” - “Afire love”

“‘Cause honey your soul could never grow old, it’s evergreen” - “Thinking Out Loud”

~ M ~

Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park is a classic New York City summer tradition! Run by the Public Theater, every summer two plays or musicals are performed at the open air Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Typically one the productions is a Shakespeare play. It is one of my favorite summer activities, since (granted it’s a nice day) you get to spend the whole day outside!

New Yorkers who have been doing this for years have got the routine down. You get up early, go to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park and wait online until midday when the Public Theater gives out free tickets! It’s essential to be prepared since you will be waiting a couple of hours. Make sure to bring a comfortable blanket to sit on, a good book, some music, snacks…the whole shebang. It is also a great way to get to know your fellow New Yorkers and new people in general, striking up conversations with people online around you and swapping stories about favorite city spots. Also be prepared for a lot of passer-byers asking what you’re waiting online for.

While waiting online for the tickets is half the fun, the performances themselves are even better. The actors and actresses put their heart into every production, not to mention the costumes and set designs are amazing considering the stage is relatively small.

Some of the most memorable and my favorite past performances include Hair (2008), Into the Woods (2012), As You Like It (2012), Love’s Labour’s Lost (2013), and Much Ado About Nothing (2014). This year’s production is Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and as expected it was a wonderful production and I would highly recommend it to a friend!

Hello Blogging World!

Hello blogging world! 

I’m so excited I finally got the time to start this blog that I have been dreaming up for months. As it is stated in my little bio, my name is Monique and I am a New York City girl. 

Just a few things about me, I am a Psychology student, travel lover and flower crown enthusiast with a passion for photography and bringing smiles to peoples faces. 

I created this blog to share my love of writing and photography combined with my love of NYC and travel. I’ll mainly be blogging about lifestyle, my city life, any my wanderlust travel adventures. I hope you enjoy!

P.S. Feel free to follow my adventures on Instagram: @morethanacitygirl