Great Adventures in the Northeast

By Nate Feldman

A painting at the MOMA museum

The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

On Monday, February 24, I did a day trip to New York City to visit the Museum of Modern Art, or MOMA, in Manhattan.

Before I arrived there, I bumped into six of my students from the ELS language center I teach at, and we sat together for a while.

At the museum, I saw both older and contemporary works of art, ranging from Vincent Van Gogh's iconic Starry Night to works by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and other famous artists.  

Some paintings that really stuck out to me included Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans paintings.  He painted all of the types of Campbell's Soup he had eaten over the years.  It made me think of things I often eat and if I should paint or draw pictures of them as well.

Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup Cans series of paintings

There is also the Sun Mad Raisins painting, that shows the Sun Maid woman, found on all Sun Maid Raisins products, but as a skeleton.  It says on the painting: Unnaturally Grown with Pesticides.  What is interesting about that is that for years I ate the Sun Maid Raisins, but I specifically always got the Organic kinds to avoid that very issue.  The artist was depicting something I had always wondered about Sun Maid products.

An afternoon at the MOMA is a great way for both art enthusiasts and others to enjoy their time in New York City. 

Ryers Farm for Aged Equines

On Monday, March 10, I visited Ryers Farm for Aged Equines in Chester County, PA.  Since 1888, this farm has been a refuge for retired and disabled horses, donkeys, mules, and ponies.  The animals have stalls where they reside, and during the day, they are able to graze and relax in the scenic fields on the farm's property.

Visitors are able to come between 10-4 PM on a daily basis and can feed the animals treats as well as pat them if they animals permit it.  In addition, people are able to volunteer, and if they desire, they can sponsor one of the animals for $500 a year.  This gives a person access to the animal of their choice.  They can groom and get one-on-one time with them.

Walking throughout the farm, I find it enjoyable feeding and interacting with these amazing creatures and strongly recommend people come and visit and do the same.

A horse at Ryers' Farm

Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, MA

Kalmus Beach

On a trip to Cape Cod in Massachusetts last June, I spent a couple of days in the town of Hyannis.  In Hyannis, there is a place called Kalmus Beach, located on Nantucket Sound on the southern part of the Cape.  I went there several times during my stay, and I found the atmosphere relaxing and enjoyable.  It is not a particularly large beach, but people who go there will more than likely have a good time.

Riverfront Park in Harrisburg, PA

Riverfront Park in Harrisburg in the spring

At the beginning of spring in 2024, I visited Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, for an afternoon and took a walk in Riverfront Park, along the Susquehanna River.  The view was splendid, and it happened in the middle of March, so the spring flowers were blooming. 

Trees blooming at Riverfront Park