Franklin Avenue

Matisse-Picasso: An Adventure
Someone urged me to see the Matisse-Picasso show at the MoMA in Queens while in New York. The exhibit was sold out and the only way to see it was to venture to Queens and somehow, be lucky enough to buy one of the few same-day tickets they release. And by the way, the show is ending in a few days.

I got there at 3:30 pm (what was I thinking?) on a monday and there was chaos. I see lines forming everywhere, questions flying from ticket holders asking where the 4 pm line was... in short, I was screwed. I asked the lady by the entrance where I could get same-day tickets and she tells me that I need to get there early in the morning on thursday since the museum was closed tuesdays and wednesdays.

"Do you think I should get here right at 10 am on Thursday when you open?

"I think you should get here at 9, maybe even before that... or, you can line up on the side of the building tonight, it's pay-as-you-go night."

What to do? Mike was out for the evening with work duties and if I line up, I don't have to come back to Queens on Thursday. I check out the line. It formed a U around the building but I grudgingly stand at the end to strategize about waiting or coming back early on Thursday. Soon, the line behind me grew but a museum worker assured us that we'll get in so I decide to stay.

In front of me were a middle-aged husband and wife, seasoned new yorkers. She quickly found out that I had taken the subway to Queens, my husband was here on business and I tagged along for the ride. "Don't take the subway home," she advised. "Take the 32 (or was it the 34) bus and get a transfer." They talked of living in New York (Chelsea), where they grew up (lower east side), how much they pay for their garage in the city ($65 a month, what a steal!), how abominable that you have to pay toll fees to get in the city, etc. etc.

As we neared the entrance, I was thinking silently how much I should pay on pay-as-you-go night. The regular price for a ticket was $20, maybe I should pay half. Is that fair, I wonder? So, I ask the husband what I should pay while the wife was talking to the people behind me.

"I wouldn't pay more that a dollar, If I were you" he said.

"Really? Are... are you sure?"

"Listen, last week news came out on how much these museum curators made in bonuses. Don't pay more than a dollar, they can certainly afford it. New York is the only place where you have to pay money to get in (again with those damn toll fees) and do yourself a favor: If you visit another museum like the Met on this trip, don't pay their suggested entry fee, pay them a dollar. That's what we do."

"Honey," he taps his wife's shoulder, "how much do you think we should pay tonight?"

She turned around, and I swear to God she had a quarter (25 cents!) in her hand. "I'm paying this much!" she says defiantly.

"Tell you what" he says waving his dollar bill, "we'll splurge tonight and pay a dollar for the both of us."

It was time to pay and I proudly handed over my dollar bill. I looked around and the new york couple smiled proudly. In the end, I splurged and paid $5 for the audioguide ducking behind a wave of people in fear that my new friends will see me. Oh, and I ended up taking the subway back since 2 trains whizzed by while I waited for the bus so I decided to catch the 3rd train that was about to pass me.