cityboy goes bonkers.....

Amount of sites to visit on this short trip using the machine seems endless---hope i get an extension. Yesterday, had two tutoring sessions---fine---then saw the second Lucy Thurber play, God the woman can write---still exhausted and threatened by the ending----how much more of those angry threatening northern rednecks can I take? Will see next one on Saturday evening...tonight see with Michael (and Abby?) Paola's
work at Jack. I think there is still some emotional fallout from the end of the Fringe, really realize how important the structure is for me---miss the walks around the "garish circus" that is Lower East Side. Am
reading Durrell's Justine---really arrested by his writing, but don't know how long he can sustain it. This may be last post until Tuesday  (but perhaps not) because library is closed for weekend.

Feeling better.....

really enjoyed Lucy Thurber's play, Ashville, last night---great cast, terrific writing, I was very impressed---look forward to seeing the others, if I can. Before, got there early, moodly walked through the west village and its picturesque streets---Commerce, Morton, Barrow, etc. Beautiful buidlings, memories of being young, of a different place, a bohemian world of actors, writers, painters, all living on very little---bohemianism that now seems all but gone---all the actors who once lived there---those who as a teen ager I discovered playing young, vibrant people on stage, are now in their eighties, or have left us. Memorial for a time gone by---always incredibly evocative, played off against the aggressiveness of people today---not pertty.
Afterwards went to bar on Sheridan to watch baseball, got what I needed and a nice salad, but the others there were very limited. Still have not been to south fourth since Fringe, usually would return there immediately after---oh well, maybe tonight, after FUREE meeting---will spend time there (and in Brooklyn) this weekend, and definitely at the cook out on Monday.
Tonight, FUREE meeting---before, maybe go to Brooklyn and read...let it happen

Fringe is....

over---so what happens now. Glad I did it---a show of strength from cityboy. Left feeling stronger but also
"more distant" than ever. what does that mean? Will be revealed, not sure myself. Area around venue---
Rivington Street and Stanton Street in evenings---like a "garish circus". People just exploding out to the streets. Where do they all come from. Where do they get all that money to spend in these upscale bistros?
Feel pinched, financially---a juggernaut seems to be rolling down the hill---everything is more expensive. Sure, cityboy is smart and wiley enough to make it work---but can understand the helplessness many must feel with the situation. Can the next set of public servants make a difference? Where do we go from here..?

fringe will....

be over in two days, exhausted, can't wait! or so he says, actually the truth is a little more complex. Will be happy to return to a non-structured setting for a while, lots to do the next week, the pre-labor day week. Still, fringe has been meaningful, have made new friends and strengthened other fringe relationships. Fringe, from a social point of view atleast is an amazing phenomena.
Thinking about food and money in NY this morning, of course, that is because you went through a lot of money yesterday, isn't it. Well, no matter, the point is, prices seem to really be coming intense, to say the least. A juggernaut, that perhaps the next Mayor can stop. But can he...? (Or she) But of course, city boy is so canny, that he can out think any money structure problem. Or so he says. But let's see what the next few
days have in store for us.

Fringe day.....

off, yet came down to give in scripts, simply can't stay away from Fringe Central. Tonight will see at least one, maybe  two fringe plays, tomorrow, hope to see Josh Sohn's piece. Rounding the bend, coming to the end, seems to be over before it begins, amazing use of time and space, looking forward to all the things I can do with Fringe over, yet mourn the fact that it finishes so "quickly". Longing for Brooklyn travels....? Can't say, will find out next week.

First day...

of the Fringe in which I did not have a tutoring session before Fringe roll call began. Ironically, I now feel very tired, totally in need of a cup of coffee. Things are going well, yesterday, after Fringe, went to Brooklyn
bar (Cherry Tree on fourth avenue) for party to raise money for FUREE leader's health problems. Kind of frantic, had some trouble filling out on line form for donation---after three shows at the Fringe, felt annoyed, but ultimately was able to do it---no reason to stay there---did not see anyone I really knew, and I did go there to socialize, so I left, walked up Bergen to fifth, and had hamburger (very good one, I might add) at
Bark. Somehow preferred that place to a bar. Today, three more shows, then the weekend, which, with my
"slight" schedule, might enable me to see some plays. That's all.....

good night......

yesterday, best day yet at the Fringe, Vicky and I are getting along very well----she is also great with participants. Slept well, had a "positive" dream, in which I was in a library, an old english movie was playing, and everybody (especially the women) seemed to know me. Different from last remembered dream, which of course, I can't remember now, but there was a harshness to that one. Woke up with a lot of energy at
5:30, also had eaten some barbecued chicken last night, and still carrying that with me. Anyway, have tutored and will return to Fringe box office in a little while. Not much else to say, will try to attend FURIE
fund raiser after box office is over (remarkably it ends at 8:30, very early)...so we continue......

after three days...

of  box officing at the Fringe, feel exhausted, but very glad I did it. Hard to imagine the difference in my life before and after the Fringe begins every August. Before; a lot of wandering, trying hard to make structure,
a decent amount of time killing, striving to make every day interesting---after the Fringe opens; Structure, structure, structure---always a place to be, usually a good conversation to have. Already hanging out with those who I have known for the last few years, strange the way we forget each other, then come together and have no trouble "hanging".
Also good time at Luke's farewell party on Saturday. Could not believe that after three shows at the Fringe, I had the energy to make it out to Brooklyn, but I did, had some really good conversations. left sort of quickly, since I was worried about going home by subway, of course, city boy promised himself a cab ride if necessary, but money conscious sole that I am, fought hard against it. Waited on "bus island" for a bus that would take me back to Nevins street station, a really long wait, about twenty minutes. Nervous, since this is the Clinton Hill bed-stuy border, but no problems. Directly to my left, a new bar, full of well heeled, mostly white people, celebrating. Directly to the north of me, still on the island, though a good 20 yards away, was a group of black men, standing outside a night club. Nobody bothered me, nobody even remotely acknowledged my existence---exhaustion continued, cabs passed by, easily could have taken one to Nevins or one of the other subway stops in downtown Brooklyn, but waited and waited and finally a 26 arrived, took it to Flatbush and got on the train at Nevins. Returned home tired, but with money intact.
Tonight still not sure, maybe Fringe, maybe a trip out to Brooklyn to see J.A.'s new work. Not sure yet...

so it begins.....

finally, after so many weeks of waiting, the Fringe begins, and so does my box office. Party last night---the usual, today we meet at 12, already had a tutoring session with Miguel. Not much else to say, the usual anticipation, remember this is your seventh year as a box office man. Should be fun and some good bonding with the other people at the theater,(actually the four theaters that cover the space). Remember, this is the school (at least I think it is) where Harold Clurman and Lee Strassberg went to when they were young. There is the history for you city boy...anyway, let us begin!

feeling more....

whole, after Fringe orientation meeting, and two strong tutoring sessions yesterday.
Monday evening finally made the Fringe real---begins Friday---bring it on!
Still will have a lot of time to kill, due to an easy schedule---first time in four years, that schedule is so
lax. What will it mean...? Time to see other plays....wander around the lower east side, read, well, should be interesting.
Today, Michael has invited me to see an invited dress of his play at Signature---that will be in the afternoon, then possibly see The Nance, this evening---only show left that I need to see before Fringe.
There is also some trivia tonight at 54 Below, it starts late, though, don't know if I want to do it, or if I will be
strong enough at that time.
Last night, tired after the two sessions. Slept a little then not sure of what to do, ended up trying to see
Love's Labors at the park; did not get in, took B to 110th, went to Ameretta to watch baseball, very quiet there, had about an hour to myself, afterwards, walked north on eighth, to 116, quite a scene, quite a few new luxury houses, felt very safe walking down the block, bars attended by two thirds white couples, and one third black (at least that is what it seemed)---then back to 110th, then west to Broadway, wandered through that long block of 111th between Broadway and Amsterdam, then down Broadway to 103rd, finally felt ready to go home.
That will be all for now....we'll see what happens today as we wait for Fringe......

cityboy feels raw.....

this morning---a tough night, with a strange dream, that included directing a reading (and not doing much), working with children, and a few other weird images. Thought I had taken care of everything yesterday on my journeys, but still must have had fragments of feeling that did not allow cityboy to sleep well. This morning  
did a lot of calculating re finances for August. Cityboy was surprised that finances are in pretty good shape, and there is some credit if he needs it. Still, not sure about how much tutoring will prop up my finances as August progresses.
Yesterday, traveling to all my familiar places on the Williamsburg-Bushwick axis. Good conversations with many...yet....cityboy thinks he may still be holding back.
Today, Fringe orientation this early evening---should be good to see the old group again, many returning
from the last few years---of course, that is the whole thing, two and a half weeks of a group, then a diaspora,
 don't see them again until Fringe returns. Just 4 more days, cityboy....push it through, you can make it......

what a day.....

for cityboy yesterday, full of adventure, new friends(I suppose that is the best way to put it) and good conversation. Definitely a theater day---feel good about that. Thursday evening dragged my tired self out to
Greenpoint to hear JD's reading---very glad I did, most enjoyable, also a chance to wander around Franklin Street---look at what seemed to be few interesting bars---have to get out there at some point, ah but there is the rub---bars in which you don't know anyone, always seem better from the outside, once you are in, one drink and -----alienation----anyway only a few days left before the fringe, should try to see The Nance, that will probably be my only theater outing, unless Michael calls with info about his play. Lots of tutoring before the Fringe, but am anxious to let it happen, tonight a little structure provided by visiting Irene's comedy group---before that---I guess just rest---after----?????

interesting trip....

up to Westport last night to see Zach in Loot. enjoyed the play. As I rode in the metro north train at around 6, saw all the houses in Connecticut, the "trail of the dashing commuter" as they called it as I was growing up. Somehow imagined the possibility that I could live there....how...? Strange that my imagination counters my age. Tonight party for JD at Word Bookstore in Greenpoint. Never been there---rarely get to Greenpoint, and important road on my travels. Should be fun---afterwards have option to watch Megan play at Two Moons Cafe, at 10, a long way from Greenpoint, but I might do it. Tomorrow morning hang with Sibyl---
possibly...? Still a little freaked that I wasn't payed for my tutoring today...very nice kids though, hope I continue with them---looking for a decent amount of tutoring for the coming year. Nice income supplement.
Getting tired...should move on.....