Strolling in New York is a personal account of New York City through the eyes of Brazilian artist Kátia Moraes, combining reflections on 9/11, art, music, restaurants, nightlife and Brazilian culture. From the World Trade Center site and Guggenheim Museum to Soho, Uptown Manhattan and Café Wha, the story explores the contrasts between life in New York and California.
By Kátia Moraes
The World Trade Center site leaves the author reflecting on the human consequences of radical acts.
I stood in front of the World Trade Center site, and there was silence in my heart. Almost everyone there was silent. The only noise you heard was the traffic on Church St. The sky was cloudy, and a fine rain was coming down on tourists who were reading the signs posted on the iron fences around where the two towers had been. The signs tell the history of the buildings and list the names of the deceased. On Fulton St., there were vendors who whispered the prices of the T-shirts they were selling.
I felt that everything was wrong. Like nobody was supposed to be there with their cameras and their curiosity. And that we were all being very disrespectful. I called my husband on my cellular and shared my impressions with him. It was essential to me to be there, to be reminded of what radical acts do to humankind.
Art, Museums and New York’s Cultural Scene
It was a trip to see the exhibition “The Cremaster Cycle” by Matthew Barney at the Guggenheim Museum. The exhibition includes sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs and five feature-length films that explore the processes of creation. What an abstract experience!
Going to St. Patrick’s Church was a present to my mother, who lives in my heart. It’s just an incredible place. I had seen it once from the street, but its interior was so unique to me.
My visit to the Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera House was also wonderful. I was happy to see that Carlinhos Brown and other, not-so-well-known artists from Brazil — Selma do Coco, Lactomia, Mundo Livre S/A, Vanildo de Pombos, Mestre Ambrosio, DJ Dolores and Orchestra Santa Massa, Mestre Salustiano and Timbalada — were scheduled to play in July under the title “Brazil: Beyond Bossa.”
Eating My Way Through Manhattan
I had a great meal at Elaine’s, a traditional Italian restaurant in Uptown Manhattan, where Robert Altman and his film editor, Lou Lombardo, used to hang out.
The place is full of great vibes and history, and probably would be full of men smoking their cigars if it hadn’t been made illegal. I don’t think people are having much fun with this new rule in NY.
Balthazar, a French restaurant in Soho, also made my stomach very happy. The place reminded me of Colombo, a very traditional restaurant in downtown Rio where great artists used to go in the beginning of the 20th Century.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to eat at Sushi Samba! I wonder if they have naked tuna doing a samba show later in the evening.
Brazilian Music and New York Nightlife
New York’s museums, theaters and cultural venues provide an intense and diverse artistic experience.
After my performance at Sounds of Brazil with the Latin Project, I watched a little bit of a ten-piece Brazilian band playing at Café Wha.
The guitar player opened the set playing Brasileirinho and Noites Cariocas on a guitarra baiana, a little electric guitar usually used to play frevo.
I also had the pleasure to hear Barbara Mendes’s voice. I got to see great people, including DJ True, who I met at the Dance Conference in Miami.
The only downside of the night was missing a trip to Cielo, a new electronic music club that had a wonderful sound system.
New York vs. California: Two Very Different Experiences
The concrete jungle is very attractive, but I feel much more peaceful in California.
I would be depressed living at such a fast pace and being surrounded by so many buildings. The variety and quality of entertainment offered in NY is way beyond what Los Angeles has to offer.
While I was walking, I thought about how much I love being around nature. The mountains, the ocean and the space in LA bring me comfort and calm my anxiety.
On the other hand, people in NYC seem to have much more of a sense of humor. They don’t take themselves so seriously. I have the feeling that they understand the human condition better because they are always interacting with a lot of people.
Caetano Veloso wrote a song about São Paulo that says: “Narcissus thinks everything is ugly, but the mirror.”
Maybe I’m having a Narcissus attack.
** Katia Moraes is a singer, songwriter, and artist from Rio de Janeiro. She is a long-time Soul Brasil magazine contributor and lives in Los Angeles since 1990. To know more about her, visit: @brazilianheartbykatiamoraes
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
1. What is “Strolling in New York” about?
“Strolling in New York” is a personal account of New York City that combines reflections on the World Trade Center site, art, museums, Brazilian music, restaurants, nightlife and the differences between New York and California.
2. Which New York attractions are mentioned in the article?
The article mentions the World Trade Center site, the Guggenheim Museum, St. Patrick’s Church, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera House, Café Wha and several restaurants and nightlife venues across Manhattan.
3. What Brazilian artists are mentioned in the story?
The article mentions Carlinhos Brown, Selma do Coco, Lactomia, Mundo Livre S/A, Vanildo de Pombos, Mestre Ambrosio, DJ Dolores and Orchestra Santa Massa, Mestre Salustiano, Timbalada and Barbara Mendes.
4. What does the author think about living in New York?
The author finds New York attractive because of its entertainment, cultural diversity and the humor of its residents, but says she feels more peaceful in California because of its mountains, ocean, open space and connection with nature.
5. What restaurants are mentioned in “Strolling in New York”?
The story mentions Elaine’s, a traditional Italian restaurant in Uptown Manhattan; Balthazar, a French restaurant in Soho; and Sushi Samba, which the author unfortunately did not have time to visit.
