Beer, standard

Anish Kapoor @ Kensington Palace Gardens

Fashion @ GSK Contemporary

I visited the GSK Contemporary exhibition on a lunchtime jaunt to Mayfair with Miss A. It was a well-edited show with works from fashion legends including from McQueen, Margiela and Yamamoto.

The gown pictured on the stairwell is by Grayson Perry, and the embroidery detail was exceptional. The transparent gown is made from material which slowly degrades in water and looked like something for a selkie. Unfortunately I couldn't take any more pictures - even without a flash - due to a staff request.

Covent Garden

Giant reindeer sculpture from greenery:

a festive version of Jeff Koons' Puppy.

Volkspark Friedrichshain

This park was just one block behind our apartment. Being winter, the fountain was closed and many of the ornaments around it were covered in wooden boxes. All of the visible sculptures were either of animals or small children - and on a weekday morning, it had a feeling of quiet gothic.

Grey cells green

In memorium

This memorial - for the murdered Jews of Europe - was designed by Peter Eisenmann and after considerable controversy, opened a few years ago. It's a very sombre experience walking through the 'field of stone' and it was very disconcerting to see people running through the avenues; laughing, shouting, and playing pranks on each other.

The Wall @ Potzdamer Platz

I found the layers of faded chewing gum oddly compelling.

Fiona Banner @ Tate Britain

As part of the Duveens Commission, Fiona Banner has brought two fighter planes into the Tate Britain galleries. This is one of the most thoughtful and arresting installations I've seen in a long time.

DIA Beacon

After a very scenic 90-minute train ride from Penn Station, we arrived at Beacon station which has a sweet view across the Hudson River. From there it was a few minutes' walk to the DIA: Beacon - which holds one of the finest collections of contemporary art I've seen.

The space is a converted print factory and its high ceilings, concrete floors and incredible natural light create a backdrop for the thoughtfully curated spaces; each gallery contains work by a single artist - in some instances a single work by a single artist. Many contemporary greats are here: from Beuys, Bourgeois, Flavin, Richter, Serra and Twombly.

I loved that there were none of the usual signs requesting visitors to 'stand back' or 'do not touch'. You can get close to the works and everyone respects the space and the artwork featured; this is a place where incredible architecture and fine curation meet.

Almost a month after visiting DIA, this remains one of the highlights of our trip to New York. A beacon indeed.

East Village

After spending three hours waiting in line for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's anniversary show (and missing out due to the high numbers of queue jumpers), we spent the following day in the East Village, and passed Nick Zinner walking down Second Avenue. We were so close to hassling him for a couple of freebies.