Another day in Brooklyn! Doing the last few things on my list in this area, I am acutely aware how quickly time is going and that I still have so much to do. I am returning briefly to the Brooklyn botanical gardens to see if the other cherry trees are in flower (free in Saturday morning), then going to the Brooklyn art museum next door which has a great reputation for its Egyptian artifacts and woman arts focus, then I will hit Atlantic ave for an antique/ shopping crawl. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!

The trains are their usual mess on the weekend and it took forever to get to my admittedly remote spot in Brooklyn. I missed the free entry to the Brooklyn botanical gardens by 10 mins but could see the outside cherry blossom trees had completely lost their flowers so did not bother to pay to see if the others had bloomed in full yet. So... Straight to the museum, it's not as slick or well displayed as the MET but it still has good stuff. Particularly interesting were - monumental works by African artist El Anaysui who works with commonly discarded rubbish to create art. One used the foil ribbons around the wine bottles in different colours to become a tapestry of a woman - or maybe it appealed because I'm missing wine from being sick so long. I also enjoyed the Egyptian collection, especially the cat and ibis mummy. There is a room where things are stored / archived as a display without being a display. I would have happily helped them out by taking their Tiffany lamp collection and original Eames chair collection if space ever gets too tight!

I'm now walking Atlantic ave and already like this quirky part of Brooklyn. It starts off as a little Arabia, and I have picked up some really good Persian nougart so cheaply. I have stumbled into a busy local saloon style bar called Hollow and nickel - having a clove and ginger sangria which should mix well with the drug cocktail I'm on, and snacking on a spicy hot corn and black bean quesadilla! Love the vibe, it's so eclectic!

Just as I'm about to leave the rain pours down - I brave it anyway and duck from shop to shop. It's a mix of retro, industrial and antique, interesting to look at but not what I'm interested in buying. Then the shops get very hip and interesting - johnathon Adler, alessi with vintage alessi pieces, a really good grocery store! Just as I get to the subway station it changes again and gets commercial with a Macy's and maccas. It's another Macy one day sale and I check to see if there is a change in gift with purchase. There is but the one Janet and I got was much better! Still have some stuff to get for mum and I'm holding out for another Clinique gift with purchase for her. It will happen.... I'm late getting home, I'm currently waiting for the 1925 train to leave but have enjoyed my day!