after the exhausting....

weekend, just trying to pull everything together. Last week was full of waiting and holes. Since Friday, it seems like I have been on the go every second.  So what happened?
Saturday, after library, went to meeting at Flatbush library on Linden Boulevard---more planning for August 13th march. Productive, but people from the previous two meetings were missing. That was troubling to me, because some people who were very assertive last meeting were simply not present, so the tone of the meeting was much more benign. Nevertheless, a lot was done, planning for the march---where it will go, where the group will meet and how to publicize it were all worked out. I committed myself to contacting WBAI, a radio station that I think would be very responsive to this march. Should go to there web site soon. Also, going to reading tonight at Bushwick Starr, which, by its name, figures to be very afro-centered. Will give out some flyers for the march there--will be interesting to see how many of the artists involved are aware of the march, or of the Equality for Flatbush group.
As I was walking here today, considered the gap between the "two worlds" that I travel in, the activist world, and the theater world. None of my theater friends were at the forum; sometimes feel hesitant to even discuss this role that I play with them. Would not bring flyers to the Bushwick Starr, except that the reading itself, seems, from everything that I read on the web site, to be afrocentric.
 Continuing Saturday: after meeting, went to Plan B, the sports bar in Prospect Heights, had a beer and watched a bit of the Yankee-Giant game. Good bar for watching sports--nobody to talk to, could have gone to Soda Bar, right down the street, but somewhat hesitant to go there. Why? Not sure, might not have been baseball, but might have had better conversation.
Left plan B not sure of where the next stop would be---thought of attending the Shakespeare project at Brick, but that started at 9, did not want to wait around---finally decided, somewhat reluctantly, to check out the new Woody Allen movie, Cafe Society. playing at BAM. Not sure what I would think, so it more of a time killer than anything else, but actually I enjoyed it a lot. Very skillfully written, and also its "look" amazing as it captures a wealthy depression environment. Costumes, hair styles, amazing---extras (several hundreds of them, it seems) look authentically thirties, no hint of the present in their look at all. Also brings up meanings of Allen's films---the central character is a young untried guy, going to Hollywood, and of course he is an idealist, but---gt this---it was never mentioned in the reviews that I read---for most of the film he is a successful man about town with a family. And the ending, which some people read as romantic, I found very complaisant. Much more to write about and talk about this film---with its very specific value set. Hope to write more or talk more about it in the future, certainly while I would not wholeheartedly recommend it, I would urge anyone who wants to write a screenplay, or be in movies, to see it.
  Sunday, the "Day" my 6 hours at the anti-gentrification forum. Got there early, decided to give out flyers. For about 4 hours, stood outside the museum, serving as the "welcoming comittee"  to those going to the forum and entering the museum. Had to find out that those going to the forum were not expected to pay---museum was not asking for an admission contribution from them. When I found out, about 30 minutes into my comittment, ---I was able to articulate to those entering how to not pay and where to find the forum.  Talked to a lot of people, really felt my communication skills helped shepherd people in, and get some people to the forum who were not planning to go. Very tired (and hungry) by 4:30, thought that I would go to my friend William's reading at Bushwick Starr at 8, but really too fatigued to do that. When I returned to the main square, where the forum was taking place, was very happy to see how many people were there, and how passionate the discussions were. I think more and more people are picking up on how serious the problem of gentrification in Brooklyn really is. This is a good sign, but walking around the upper west side, get such a feel of complacency; maybe one or two people are involved in changing things.
   That will be all for now; have some other sites to visit; should contact BAI about the march on the 13th---will report on rest of the day and Bushwick visit tomorrow.