Saturday, March 9, 2024

The Folly Chariot's First Field Trip

I bought a Muskmobile (aka Tesla Model Y) after hemming and hawing for almost a year. Our new chariot will live at the Folly.  Herr Cucaracha taught me that owning a car in Manhattan is more headache than convenience, and it's only going to get more expensive with the imminence of congestion parking.
 

Up-to-four-passengers was a luxury only provided by Folly rental cars in the past so Chris and I picked up Paul and Linn in Boca en route to Miami.   We began our afternoon visit at the Holocaust Memorial.  None of us except me had seen it.

An engaging docent whose parents had survived the camps told us her father refused to paint all Germans with the Nazi brush.  She'd seen The Zone of Interest, too, and pointed to the kindness of the little girl who hides apples for the prisoners as an example of humanity's capacity for kindness even under the most horrifying conditions. 



The nearby botanical garden offers relief from the grimness of the memorial.


We're in an ongoing discussion at the Folly about the meaning of "meta."  I think this mural qualifies as it X-rays the often illegal activity that first put Wynwood on the art map in 2009.


We parked just below Frida Kahlo's roller-painted visage while the friendly and talented artist worked to finish it.  He laughed when I pleaded with him not to get red paint on my new car.  Chris and I visited Kahlo's home on our trip to Mexico City last year.


Blank spaces are as rare as icebergs in the ever-gentrifying neighborhood, which I've visited almost annually since 2017.


Introducing Paul and Linn to the area mixed up my standard tour (which includes artisanal popsicles at Cielito and kosher babka at Zak the Baker, unfortunately closed on Saturdays).  They wanted to check out Walt Grace Vintage which specializes in strings and wheels.  Very cool.



Colorful guitar straps and books were on sale, too.



If anyone ever sculpts a rock Mt. Rushmore, Bowie and Lennon better be included.



Wynwood Walls, the pioneering art space that started it all, now charges $12 admission.  It may no longer be as edgy but it's just as much fun.  Too bad New York City didn't find a way to preserve 5 Pointz.

I love this fantastic take on Florida's flora and fauna.  Is that a unicorn or a roseate spoonbill?





We Work opened this space just about the time the company imploded.  I'd wager it's one of the bankrupt company's most valuable assets.  Hipsters only have to cross the street for delicious babka.


BTW, the Folly Chariot made it to Miami and back (~150 miles) with less than an 80% charge.  So far, home plugging it in at home has been more than adequate.

No comments:

Post a Comment