New York was full of surprises, as usual. We stopped by the MELA: Dream House: Eight Years of Sound and Light one night. Since it is a sound installation, as well as light, it is difficult to describe, but the moment of arriving on a deserted Church St. and needing to ask "Is the Dream House open?" and feeling the building pulse was worth the trip if you are in NYC. From sound and light, we grounded ourselves at the New York Earth Room which is a second floor room filled with over 20 tons of, yes, EARTH. It has been on view since 1980, and thus is a year older than my kid Liz, who found something very attractive about the space. Perhaps as a New Yorker, just the connection to "earth" is missed on a daily basis. A final note, the "STOP BUSH" grafitti campaign was in evidence everywhere. Anti-war sentiment seems more obvious in NYC, at least among young people, but I suspect when they mobilize on the 15th of February they will be joined by folks of all ages....Chicago is featuring a two-day event on Feb. 22-23rd.