Afternoon-and suddenly it has struck me, I have to go to my second bank to withdraw money. This was all planned, but as it comes upon me, a panic begins to set in. Angry, because I can't get unemployment for the summer, and because I am usually rejected from tutoring jobs that are not referrals, because of my lack of degrees. I would like to make some money for August, but where? And how much does my own passivity play into this problem. Anyway, have enough for August---jobs are promised for end of August or early September. We'll see what happens.
Yesterday-----after South Fourth Street cafe, went to Stain---the "arts bar" on Grand, close to Bushwick Avenue. Nice place---but I was the only one there. The bartender, a nice guy named Jethroe (cuban) was eager to talk, so there was no problem with contact. Will go back and visit him again.
Found a copy of Brooklyn Rail, a really nice article on current idealism, getting out of Iraq, and what the meaning of grassroots activism is, by Tom Hayden. All true, yet as long as there are people who essentially measure their success in terms of wealth, and nothing else,(and consider that to be the meaning of "freedom") how much change can be acccomplished?
Yesterday evening, after leaving South fourth, walked down Wythe Avenue, into the North Side.
Totally quiet---passed Zebulon, seemed like a nice place, but then many gaping holes as I got closer to the epicenter of Williamsburg (North sixth and seventh). Are these all going to be luxury buildings? How much can the city take. Will New Yorkers realize that the two men responsable for the vision behind all this building----Mayor Bloomberg and his deputy director of development Dan Doctoroff, never held public office before the 2001 elections, therefore, they have never felt any responsability to the voting populace. Even the most corrupt or minimal politician understands that he or she is on some level beholden to the people who elected him.
Anyway, time to move on.......
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
late Saturday and Sunday
Saturday afternoon---leave South 4th Street Cafe, take a long walk to Graham and Metropolitan---the sun beats down mercilessly. What to do next? Want to stay in Williamsburg, but hot and sweaty---getting tired, can't walk forever, if I eat and then go to my baseball bar, I will still be sweaty as hell. Finally decide to return home--get on L train into Manhattan. Relax at home, visit 119 and Bobby for a while in the evening, not too crowded, relax, prepare for tomorrow's trip.
Sunday---day of Memorial for Lloyd Richards, head of Playwright's Conference (atleast artistic head) for many years. A little ambivalent about going, but leave early, make a 7:00 Metro train, then the Amtrak to New London. Meet actress Lori Chin on the train, don't know her but we are both going to O'Neill, so we have no trouble talking to each other.
At the O'Neill, many old friends, faces, nice, enjoy my status as Bob Landau Reader for the O'Neill---everybody's friend. Memorial begins, many tributes to Lloyd, a man who knew me but was unresponsive to me as an "artist---director" had to deal with that--as I get older it is easier to understand how one can be liked by certain people, and considered dispensable by others. Feel a little annoyed as Lloyd's "in people" do tributes, but realize that there being here means I can share a lot---memories particularly, with people I havn't seen in a long time. In a way, it all adds up to a collage of my twenty seven years of being part of the O'Neill---maybe it is really about the memories of conversations and interactions that flow back at me as I watch the proceedings.
Dominick Chianese offers me a lift home. I have known him for many years, interacted with him before his success as Uncle Junior. Surprised at how open he is--myself, Carl C, and Marilyn Stasio go back to New York in his van, good time, good conversation, Dominick's first job was with a Gilbert and Sullivan group that performed on the upper east side, (then pretty trashy, actually) The group played at a Church on 74th St. and 1st, I remember crossing the EL at third avenue (it was up then) and often seeing drunks lying on the ground in the mid afternoon as we walked east on 74th Street. Probably was a working class area then.
Dominick invites us to his "neighborhood hangout" aka Elaine's, a place I thought I would never go into. We go in, chat have fun, shake hands with Elaine, who is very fond of Dominick. Dominick very open and responsive and gracious to people who come over or fans. For all my feelings as a person who saw Elaine's as a place for the rich and pretentious, must admit I come away feeling exhilirated--as if I have crossed over into a new place.
Sunday---day of Memorial for Lloyd Richards, head of Playwright's Conference (atleast artistic head) for many years. A little ambivalent about going, but leave early, make a 7:00 Metro train, then the Amtrak to New London. Meet actress Lori Chin on the train, don't know her but we are both going to O'Neill, so we have no trouble talking to each other.
At the O'Neill, many old friends, faces, nice, enjoy my status as Bob Landau Reader for the O'Neill---everybody's friend. Memorial begins, many tributes to Lloyd, a man who knew me but was unresponsive to me as an "artist---director" had to deal with that--as I get older it is easier to understand how one can be liked by certain people, and considered dispensable by others. Feel a little annoyed as Lloyd's "in people" do tributes, but realize that there being here means I can share a lot---memories particularly, with people I havn't seen in a long time. In a way, it all adds up to a collage of my twenty seven years of being part of the O'Neill---maybe it is really about the memories of conversations and interactions that flow back at me as I watch the proceedings.
Dominick Chianese offers me a lift home. I have known him for many years, interacted with him before his success as Uncle Junior. Surprised at how open he is--myself, Carl C, and Marilyn Stasio go back to New York in his van, good time, good conversation, Dominick's first job was with a Gilbert and Sullivan group that performed on the upper east side, (then pretty trashy, actually) The group played at a Church on 74th St. and 1st, I remember crossing the EL at third avenue (it was up then) and often seeing drunks lying on the ground in the mid afternoon as we walked east on 74th Street. Probably was a working class area then.
Dominick invites us to his "neighborhood hangout" aka Elaine's, a place I thought I would never go into. We go in, chat have fun, shake hands with Elaine, who is very fond of Dominick. Dominick very open and responsive and gracious to people who come over or fans. For all my feelings as a person who saw Elaine's as a place for the rich and pretentious, must admit I come away feeling exhilirated--as if I have crossed over into a new place.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Okay with me
today I am in a good mood, since Lana was nice enough to lend me her computer to type this on. Gone are all the questions I had this morning, I was sitting here waiting for Jen (who didn't show---more on this later) and contemplating the difference between writing and observing. Strange how things change so quickly. So now I am in a good place, suing the computer, actually taking my mind off the ball game. So it goes, for now........
Friday, July 27, 2007
both sides now
What a wonderful day, how many things to do today, so much to look forward to, so much "art"; tonight I see a new play, King, an operetta at the Barrow street theater and look forward to watching the Yankees play the Orioles (makeup game first) a little bit before. There are atleast seven movies I could go to, plus God knows how many other performances of dance, theater (Broadway or off off Broadway) , and other entertainments. What New Yorker could ask for more?
And yet...and yet...at the same time as I write this, an article in the Times tells me that tenants on Columbus Avenue and 100th street are being terrorized by the enormous building (luxury, of course) that is being built adjacent to where they live. A wall falls down they have to vacate, constant dynamiting below their terraces, older people forced to walk around with ear plugs or with their windows closed. How can we live with this? Do we just shut it out, and simply "enjoy" what the city has to offer culturally, because after all, it is not happening to us. How do we deal with this.?
And yet...and yet...at the same time as I write this, an article in the Times tells me that tenants on Columbus Avenue and 100th street are being terrorized by the enormous building (luxury, of course) that is being built adjacent to where they live. A wall falls down they have to vacate, constant dynamiting below their terraces, older people forced to walk around with ear plugs or with their windows closed. How can we live with this? Do we just shut it out, and simply "enjoy" what the city has to offer culturally, because after all, it is not happening to us. How do we deal with this.?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
more about that
Sometimes I wander through neighborhoods, I look into the windows, I try to imagine the history of the apartmen---who was there 30, 20, 10 years ago, how were the occupants different? Different by age; different by race; different by custom. What is the story of the house, or the street? How did it evolve into its present state? The story of the street, the story of the neighborhood, the story of the city.
cityboy-bob why?
Why did I choose the blog to be called cityboy. Because I am infinitely of the city---live here, like other cities, have never felt comfortable in open spaces or needed large houses. I love to walk and explore city streets. Brooklyn, Manhattan, Bronx, the borough fromwhich I am from. Doesn't matter. I enjoy being around, looking at, observing people. So you can call me cityboy.
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