By Tracy Zwick
Like many kids, Bob Eckstein thought museums ”felt academic, like homework” when he was small.
The UWS’s American Museum of Natural History changed everything for Eckstein. There, he encountered a winter fox diorama, “a dark, dramatic scene with a fox inexplicably in mid-air, leaping in a snowscape” that ensorcelled him. “That was the turning point.”
Eckstein grew up to become an avid museum-goer, a successful illustrator, cartoonist, and author of new book called “Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums.” He is a frequent contributor of cartoons to The New Yorker and West Side Rag. I spoke with him earlier this week. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Some of the museums in your new book are iconic, but others are less heralded. What was your process and how did the International Tennis Hall of Fame make the cut?
First of all, I weeded out tourist traps and places that are trying to monetize things. For example, the Museum of Sex. It’s not at the same standard and level of dedication as some of the museums in the book.
I’d hoped to have more sports museums. The International Tennis Hall of Fame earned its place in the book, but I do have a personal history with tennis. A friend who went on to play professionally taught me the game when we were kids. I played in a few tournaments where I met people like Patrick McEnroe and played against Paul Annacone. I was offered some full scholarships, without which I couldn’t have gone to college. Pratt Institute is where I ended up. It had a new gym and they gave me a full four-year ride. Tennis was a vehicle to pursuing my dream of a career in the arts.
Do you have a favorite UWS museum that didn’t make the book?
I wanted to have the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) at Columbus Circle in the book. My wife is an artist; she had a piece in a group show at MAD, so I went there and really liked it. But we had so many museums from NYC! I also didn’t include the wonderful Morgan Museum & Library in the book. I’d love to include both in the sequel. There’s also the New-York Historical Society, which I visit all the time.
If you could have one object from any of these museums what would it be?
Joan of Arc by Jules Bastien-Lepage at the Met. Though that painting presents logistical problems – it wouldn’t fit in my apartment.
What medium are you working in for the book?
These are all done on an electronic drawing pad and painted electronically. The effect is like an oil painting; it doesn’t look like a computer. I’m using the same techniques I’d use if I was working traditionally.
Who got you zipped-up about drawing and illustration?
Charles Schulz. As a little tiny kid I saw “Peanuts’ and drew “Peanuts” starting when I could barely pick up a pencil. That opened the world to me in terms of great American illustrators like Robert Weaver and Robert Cunningham. They’re sometimes shown at the New-York Historical Society.
What’s your schmear?
I like H&H Bagels and I go against purists who denounce flavored cream cheese. I eat maple walnut cream cheese when I don’t have time to build my perfect bagel: lox, Boston lettuce, capers, tomato, cream cheese, and purple onion, on a sesame seed bagel.
Tell us some of your favorite things to do on the UWS?
The UWS is the cool table at school. My best friends live there, my favorite artists live (or lived) there. I wrote there and worked on cartoons with my buddy Len Belzer, who used to host the NPR Comedy Hours. Most of my tennis opponents live there and I love to play tennis at the 119th street hard courts and the 96th Street clay courts.
Where do you go to fuel up before visiting museums on the UWS?
Historically, I’ve spent a lot of time at Papaya King, French Roast, and Zabar’s. Nowadays, after spending a year visiting museums and speaking with museum officials, hearing their plight, I try to support museum cafes and restaurants instead of eating outside. I’ve had terrific light lunches at MAD as well as lavish dinners at the New-York Historical Society, which is an excellent place for a wedding reception. For food outside, at the moment, my Flavor of the Month is Jacob’s Pickles. I’m working my way through their menu.
Best NYC Pizza?
Exclusive Pizza on 181th Street is hands-down the best pizza in NYC, narrowly beating Joe’s Pizza on 6th Avenue & Carmine Street. I’m well-versed in NYC pizza and consider myself an expert. Yes, I’ve been to the elite pizza places. I’ve run up a $300 bill for pizza at Cafe Fiorello. That said, I’m keeping an open mind and planning to visit Village Square Pizza on Broadway soon.
Is there any place you like to go after visiting museums that might surprise people?
When I leave MAD at 58th and Broadway, I like to get a juice at this juice truck that’s parked nearby. But it’s never filling enough. So I go to Whole Foods in the basement of The Shops at Columbus Circle for the hot food bar. I love their Indian food! My go-to is the chicken masala plus rice and naan. It’s one of the little secrets of the UWS.
Subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here.
