Top 3 from October 17, 2013

Carl Schurz Park, New York City

I'd recently just seen Spike Lee's film 25^th Hour and was impressed not only by the film, but by the setting of its opening and climactic scenes, the lovely little park along the East River overlooking the northern tip of Roosevelt Island and the southern tip of Randall's Island. Also great views of the Triborough Bridge and the Feelin' Groovy 59^th St. Bridge. Take the Lexington Ave. subway to the 86^th street stop and walk east till just beyond the point where you think it might not be worth it, but once you go over the little hill and the view presents itself, you'll be glad.

The War Series by Jacob Lawrence at the Whitney Museum of American Art

Some stunning paintings which present the pain and solitude of the soldier and the folks at home, how you can be overstuffed in the inside of a ship and still be alone, and the hollowness of things like "victory" when it all seems like we could go back into it at any moment.

The Nose by Dmitri Shostakovich at the Metropolitan Opera

Shostakovich's first opera, which in this setting equates the Czarist Era's system of status and bureaucracy with the Soviet's system. William Kentridge's production is full of vivid sets and images projected onto the stage. A production proving this work should be much more well known.