I love going to the Museum of Modern Art! I have been a member since 2004 and have been going to the museum since I was eight years old, and I always see something new. Tonight, we were in for the Director’s Cut version of the Peter Bogdanovic film “Squirrels to the Nuts”, which I had recently seen on YouTube movies as the recut version “She’s Funny that Way”. You could tell there was a difference in the films as the original felt more like “What’s Up Doc?”, his comedy from the 1970’s which I love so much and one of my favorite films. This version shot on location in Manhattan was much funnier than the recut version.
The Museum of Modern Art at 11 West 53rd Street
The original film is so much different and a lot funnier that the cut version and had the same feel as “What’s Up Doc?” even casting Austin Pendleton who had played Fredrick Larrabee in the movie. He was just as funny in this film as the former. All of us in the audience were laughing our heads off. You could barely hear the dialogue the audience was laughing so much. The movie also showcased Manhattan pre-COVID in the Bloomberg years of the City when it was at its best. Funny how that changed.
This is the Trailer for the cut version of the film “She’s Funny that Way”. The full version of the film is free on YouTube.
The full film can be seen for free on YouTube (I could not connect it)
The Writer/Director Peter Bogdanovich discusses the film
Some of the funniest scenes are when the prostitutes were hiding in the bathroom when the wives walked in and the stolen merchandise scenes at both the old Barney’s and at Macy’s Herald Square. Still the best scene is when Austin Pendleton’s wife knocked him into bathtub in the apartment scene. I could not stop laughing at that (it was cut out of the film that was released).
I laughed so hard that I had to see the movie a second time on Friday night because the museum posted that Louise Stratten was going to be there to talk about the film. She was not there but the original editor of the film was there discussing what happened at the original premiere. It was nice to see both versions of the film and see the differences.
What I really love about this version of the film is that it showcases the beauty and complexity of Manhattan and New York City in general. With all the problems the City has now, this movie really puts all that aside and shows the positivity and growth that New York has in the Bloomberg years. Manhattan shined the way the movie did.
The Podcast on the movie with Louise Stratten
After laughing my head off for two hours, I was starved and on a cold night was in the mood for Soup Dumplings. So, I went three blocks down to Joe’s House of Dumplings at 7 East 48th Street. This is the third time I have eaten here, and the food just keeps getting better and better.
What I love about the restaurant (on top of the fact is that it’s the same family as the old Joe’s Shanghai from Chinatown), is that it is such an elegant space in a major Midtown office building.
7 East 48th Street
Joe’s House of Soup Dumplings at 7 East 48th Street
https://www.facebook.com/JoesHomeOfSoupDumplings/
I have eaten here many times on my walks in the neighborhood of the Midtown East (see my blogs on Midtown East walks below) and the food is wonderful. The restaurant is so airy and elegant and what is nice is that it is an open kitchen, so you get to see the dumplings being made.
Check out my other blogs on Walking Midtown East:
Day One Hundred and Forty-Three-Walking the Borders of Midtown East:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/9841
Day One Hundred and Forty-Five-Walking the Avenues of Midtown East:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/10332
Day One Hundred and Forty-Six-Walking the Streets of Midtown East:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/10451
I love coming here for Dim Sum, so I ordered the Spring Rolls, the Scallion Pancakes, the Hot & Sour Soup and to finish the meal, I ordered the Crab & Chicken Soup Dumplings. Everything was delicious and the best part is that I saw it being cooked. This is the nice part about eating at the bar.
The Spring Rolls are crisp and crackly
The Hot & Sour Soup had a nice peppery pinch to it, and you could taste the chilis in each slurp. The soup had a nice combination of vegetables and pork in a rich broth. The Spring Rolls were perfectly fried and inside a nice mixture of shrimp and shredded vegetables. They were crisp and crackled when I cut them. The Duck Sauce really brought out the flavor of the rolls. The Scallion Pancakes was crisp and loaded with scallions. The portion size was generous, and the ginger soy sauce tasted perfect on top.
The best is their Crab & Pork Soup Dumplings. These delightful juicy pillows of a mixture of pork and crab meat were steamed to perfection, and they burst in my mouth. Each of these juicy dumplings had the succulent taste of the mixture of meats and the soy sauce that I dipped each in. Soup Dumplings are the perfect meal on a cool Manhattan night.
The Crab & Chicken Soup Dumplings at Joe’s are excellent
When I left the restaurant after dinner, I walked down Fifth Avenue and admired the lit skyline of Midtown. It was such a clear and cool night. There were not a lot of people on the sidewalks that evening so it was nice to just look up and just admire the lights.
I forgot how beautiful Manhattan is at night and how many people wish they could be in the exact spot I was at all over the world.
This is what makes Manhattan so much fun!
Places to Visit:
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 708-9400
https://www.facebook.com/MuseumofModernArt/
Open: Sunday-Friday 10:30am-5:30pm/Saturday 10:30am-7:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Places to Eat:
Joe’s House of Soup Dumplings
7 East 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 333-3868
https://www.facebook.com/JoesHomeOfSoupDumplings/
Open: Sunday 12:00pm-9:00pm/Monday-Friday 11:30am-8:30pm/Saturday 12:00pm-9:00pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
mywalkinmanhattan 
Try to see the uncut/Director’s version of “Squirrels to the Nuts”. It is funny as hell!
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Good morning, Justin,
I shared your entry on Hudson Yards with family friend, Fr.Jim Williams and he was totally blown away with your content! I could’ve been sharing all along , and will continue now . He was very excited about your details and your inclusion of everything including restaurants, parks, etc for all of our walking pleasure! He’s familiar with the neighborhoods because he’s been in NY when John and I would be there. Michael lived on 48th between 9th and 10th aves so Hells Kitchen is a familiar spot which you covered so well. Fr Jim expressed my sentiments…YOU NEED TO PUBLISH your blogs . Jim and I would be first to buy hard copies.
Anyway, hope you have a good day. You work today and tomorrow, if I remember correctly. Take care, Lucy
Sent from my iPad
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Dear Lucy,
My goal is to turn the blog into a YouTube show and start showcasing the City and all the wonderful things that it holds. There is way too much negative vibes in the City right now. You really do have to watch yourself. When I finish the entire island, I may think about a book on it. I would like to see more readers for the blog though so please spread the word.
Talk to you soon.
Sincerely,
Justin Watrel, Blogger
MywalkinManhattan.com
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