To Brooklyn....!

And so to Brooklyn today, this afternoon, to support the 82 year old woman forced to leave her home in Bedford Stuyvesant. Should be an interesting trip---will begin at Bank on Fulton and Nostrand, then probably stop off at one of the coffee places around there, then wonder east to Tompkins (have never been east of Nostrand). Then probably back to Bob at La Flaca, and then to trivia at South Fourth.
Yesterday, after the meeting on Willoughby Street, took R one stop to DeKalb, got off and walked to Mullane's, nice Caesar Salad and decent company to watch Yankee Boston game, which was the idea, then decided to check out Fulton-Grand, so took the long walk up Fulton Street in the dark (really not so dark) to Grand. Nice bar, you can read there, bartender very cordial, drank my Pilsner, no television, not much else to report---like most city bars, a nice place to chill if you are with someone interesting---for me, alone, sort of a blank adventure, but, that is the way it is. Cleintele very similar, most young and attractive, but what can you expect on a tuesday evening at 10:00. Took Halsey bus back to downtown, then home.
Tonight, had a dream that included my downstairs neighbor's cat. First time I recall ever dreaming about a cat---ever! He was running around my apartment, how he got in I will never know.
Plenty of options for the weekend...bus rides around Brooklyn......maybe....?

after two days....

well, Fringe cut short by hurricane---last thing I would have expected before it happened. have to say now that I really miss it---best Fringe ever, atleast from the work situation. Good group of people, nice team work between most of the four theaters at CSV. Memories of fourth street as being so incredibly hectic----also found a lot of coffee places to hang out at and read on LES; so many more than around here. Last two days, strange and solitary, got through it, looking back on it almost surreal. Want to get back to Brooklyn, will probably go today to La Flaca, check in, and then probably to South Fourth. After this will probably look for some classical music records to take out (I am in Lincoln Center library). Went by closing Borders today, looked for Wendy Wasserstein biography--want very much to read it---so many people in it that I knew peripherally, some better, some not at all, anyway it should be a study of the people who changed theater during the late seventies and eighties. Still very sad that she died so young...wonder how much time in the next week I will have for traveling, etc.....

second wednesday at the Fringe...

sitting in the nearbye library filled with sweat! yesterday, two fringe plays, Jeff Sweet's, another one that lacks focus, still it was nice to direct Sheldon Harnick to the Cherry Lane (surprised that an old timer like he did not remember it!) and also thought a lot about the "Pat Birch" group, people in their late seventies or eighties who were appearing on Broadway in the 50's and early 60's. What knowledge is there to be gained from then....it is possible? Anyway, continue with the Fringe for the next five days, then it is over....and back to the real world. Maybe even some movies....?

two more days.....

till Fringe starts----everything now seems in preparation for this. Yesterday, quite an interesting day, began with a great conversation with Michael, about, ofcourse, theater, followed by the FUREE meeting---very glad I came , don't know how much I can contribute, but need to stay involved...how do you fight a monolith.....? Still, very productive, possibly I can give some tutoring sessions to the teen-agers for free...that would be meaningful. Rest of today, wait for the evening, first La Flaca, then South Fourth and Trivia, my last for atleast two weeks. So each moment has its own meaning...let it go........

spent a....

tough couple of hours this early morning, chastizing myself for going through $20.00 last night, most of it spent at Bowery Electric. Still, constructive because I got a chance to hear Layla play, and it meant something to her that I came, she is really on the way, her musical vision seems to be improving and building. Also had a nice talk with Ruth, so that was valuable. Very tired when I left, but knew that going home early would provoke a three thirty A.M. evaluation. (for want of a better word) Got some sleep, then woke up, my body feeeling tired, but seemed to have worked thought that. So here I am (in real time) sitting in the library, waiting for the time to pass, before I attend Jerusalem. Ideally, this might not be the right afternoon to watch Mark Rylance's explosions, but the ticket is there, must use it. Rest of the weekend, kind of improvised, maybe meet with cousin Matt tomorrow evening for a beer, if he is available. Need to catch up on that part of the family, see how Audrey (Matt's grandmother) is doing in Amherst. Any surprises....well, one always lives in hope........

so what's....

the problem City boy. Well, we were determined not to spend too much money today, as we added some extra money that we hoped we wouldn't have to, to our checking account. Should hold you until the Fringe begins. Speaking of that...last weekend before the Fringe, today is going kind of slowly. "Holed up" in Lincoln Center Library trying to pass time on the computer. Can't find any book, fiction or non-fiction, terribly palatable for the weekend. Tomorrow, Jerusulem. Last night, bit of an "identity crisis" in Williamsburg, as I could not choose a bar to go into after leaving South Fourth, so took an incredibly nice walk west of Berry between s fourth and metropolitan. Still, why feel that stigma when approaching a new bar...? Something enchanted about those blocks in williamsburg that I walked through, still very quiet and roomy in the evening. Finally had a "smoothy" instead, gloried in the fact that fruit is much nicer to my body than beer. Then returned on L train. So this is the last weekend before Fringe madness, let's see what happens....?

fighting with....

anger---well it is "that man" in the news again. God, the way The Times fawns over him! It leaves me feeling angry but afraid (that's right, that's the proper word) to express that anger. I could add something to the city room blog, but I fear doing so. Better to keep tomy comments about Shakespearean performances in the 1980's or plan on talking about Clyburne Park. So what do we do? Calm down, then we will work it out. Otherwise, life interesting, good trip to DC this weekend, glad I did it, but must remember next time to stay closer to downtown, and in spite of using AMtrak to go home (well, I was tired!) Now time is closing in until the Fringe begins---if we return to our "arts" track, how many movies are there to see before it begins, also what plays to check out.....what about Jerusalem. Well, it will all work itself through, continue to be "passive" or try to find some constructive outlet for your anger. Need to take a walk in Brooklyn again, soon,,,,,,,