results of long weekend...

Well, lots happened, but there were some slow spots as well (is not that to be expected?) Where to begin? Well, let's begin with the plays:
Friday evening: The World My Mamma Raised at Clubbed Thumb---like other clubbed thumb projects, the language of the play flies out at you. Bright, Bright, Bright---the content, centered around a young black man's incarceration and first few days outside has interest and is deeply felt, but it is often blunted by the language and "flakiness" of the rest of the play---the enjoyment of quirkyness that this play, and other clubbed thumb works, seems to enjoy so much. Towards the end, I got tired---felt that the play had run its course---good work by the actors (ofcourse!). It will be interesting to see whether the other two plays fit into this zone, or if they are stylistically different from Ms. Stress' play. Will try to see them both---that might be harder then it seems.
Sunday afternoon: Venus, the play at Signature, an early work by Susan Lori-Parks---mostly a disappointment--much of the play simply reads like a history report---some moments in the second act take fire, but not enough. I was disappointed in the production which stressed the colorful in a kind of arbitrary way, and two of my favorite actresses, H.C, and S.H seem wasted.  I left feeling very cold---then went to my normal South Fourth Sunday and had a good time talking film with Eric and one other person.
Two movies; Saturday night, tired so went to Bunin to see Hermia and Helena---sort of a waste--very nice to look at but innocuous---probably did not help that I was sitting in the front row. Yesterday was the movie about the last years of Stefan Zweig, the German writer.A very serious work--sober sided to the max. Again very well filmed, quite articulate and well acted. Zweig, a Jewish writer escaped German in the early thirties and lived comfortably in exile, mostly in South America. Yet he felt tremendous guilt at having survived the holocaust while others perished--the is the underlying theme of the movie---and its surprise ending (at least for me) reveals that. Much conversation in the film about the many letters Zweig received from fellow German Jews, asking him to help get them out of Germany while there was still time---his esteem gave him tremendous influence with the governments of South America. You can really feel the horror that those people who were trapped must have felt. Kind of a cold, expanatory movie, but well done and valuable.
A decent amount of socializing over the weekend with theater friends (Friday) and South fourth friends (Sunday and Monday). A major highlight of the weekend was my reading of Patricia Bosworth's autobiography, The Men in My Life. Intense, focused, full of feeling---she recounts her affairs and loves between 53 and 64, and also her adventures as a young actress (actors Studio, Lee Strasberg and his followers) at the same time. Some great anecdotes, and a great statement from Gore Vidal, about the commitment one must have if one wants to write truthfully about oneself (You understand that don't you, cityboy?)---a very penetrating autobiography.
  Ironically, the other autobiography that I took out of the library to read this weekend, the one by William Daniels, covers some of the same ground and the same people (in different lights) then Ms. Bosworths. Daniels is much more chatty and a little bit more self pleased, but the book also has some very interesting insights into the rehearsals and progress of  the original The Zoo Story (mentioned in my last blog).
No work today, tonight will go to my first BAN meeting in a while---time to leave the theater world and think about protesting this summer. Should be interesting, as should the one next Monday at JACK. Will report soon.

so the weekend.....

begins---long weekends, something I always look forward to, but filling up the time---that is a different story. Tonight I will go to Clubbed Thumb to see Ariel Stress' play---I have several friends and acquaintances in it. Should be fun---maybe some hanging out afterwards. Tomorrow's plans: not clear. I had hoped to see the Susan Lori Parks play at Signature--when I checked the web site yesterday, there were tickets available---now there are none, but it should not be that difficult to get some at the last moment---this being Memorial Day. What else? Not sure---two baseball games available at the Stadium---also, I have stated many times before, several plays that I could try to see. Movies? Also at least 5 of interest---though going to a movie makes me feel a little raw and restless. Then, of course, there is room for "adventure". What do I mean by that? Maybe some long walks in Brooklyn, if the weather holds up, some bus rides, or some new bars, that I could risk entering. Have been burning to go to one or two new ones, one in Greenpoint, the other, called the Evergreen, in deep Bushwick. Actually, last time I was at Standings, I met a nice couple who hang out there often. Have to figure it all out.
  Then there is Monday. Is South Fourth having their annual cook out? I don't know, I have not heard from them. Usually an e-mail is sent out---this year---nothing. Can't imagine Memorial Day without the barbecue there, however maybe it will not happen. What then? Well, can still hang out, and then explore other options.
   Did not work yesterday (as you know, since I wrote this blog), and ended up just going to sleep early. A long sleep, with a few wake ups, kind of grim, you might say. With nothing much in the tutoring world happening this week, could stay out really late if I wished---another possibility.
   Flooded by options.
   Yesterday took out the latest novel by Mary Gordon from the library---not really impressed after about 35 pages. To ease my way through the weekend, have just found to autobiographies that I will take out. One by Patricia Bosworth---who was a young actress in the fifties---interacted with the actors studio group at the time: Newman, Gazzara, Hingle, etc. ; and then the bio of William Daniels. Other remember him for his tv work, I was fortunate enough to see him play the first Peter in Albee's The Zoo Story. What an afternoon.
March 60: final year Bronx Science---a theater in the east thirties (yes, they had theaters there in those days) first Krapp's Last Tape, by Beckett---with a Canadian actor named Donald Davis---very moving, glad to see a Beckett play that had plot clarity---and then The Zoo Story, Mark Richman played Jerry and Daniels played Peter. Blown away by the whole thing---Jerry, and his angst,  rage and non-conformity,  became a talisman for me, during the next few years. Saw it again, a year later with the same two actors. Constantly amazed how Daniels had to spend so much of the play simply listening---and that he was able to sustain that. First encounter with Albee and his vision---now a long journey. While I was watching the short one acts at Friends on Wednesday, I my mind moved to another early play of Albee's called The Death of Bessie Smith.
Rarely revived now, it is his only protest play---very realistic, unlike any of those that followed, except has some seeds for Virginia Woolf. Yes, early Albee, my days in college, such a sense of discovery!
Well, back to the world of 2017---libraries are closed this weekend, so may not blog until next week. Will try to recount all of my "adventures".

two days of work.....

at Friends, free again today, and most likely tomorrow (since school closes at 11) so next time I return there will be either Tuesday (indefinite) or Wednesday (definite). Some sense of an ending, as there always is at this time, yet I am looking forward to next year, to watch how the students (particularly the seventh and eighth grade---whom I have spent much time with) grow.
   The transition from eighth to ninth is a very strong one. I spent a great deal of time with last year's eighth grade---now, I hardly recognize many of them. Why? Lots of physical changes, but emotionally they have moved from the screaming to the diffident. Will this be true for this year's eighth grade, a group I know very well. There are at least 10 students in that group that I really feel I know, or have a (quirky) relationship with. Will they change and remove themselves from my world. Of course, I probably will work less with them as well, since I do more work in the middle school. But it will be interesting to see if those bonds hold, or if they withdraw into a kind of measured teen-age remove.
  Highlight of the last two days was my attending the student one acts---eight of them altogether, presented at 4, both Tuesday and Wednesday. I was impressed by their sense of honest invention. The script visions were totally spontaneous, not copied from anyone. Fifteen minute plays are hard---I really don't like them---and most of the ones that I have seen written by adults, have left me cold---minimal invention or forced invention. There was nothing forced about these fifteen minute works, the conflict was stated early---the focus and where the plays had to move to was very clear. The acting for the most part was very strong. Tuesday's group was a little more focused then Wednesday's, I left the theater on Tuesday feeling  a real sense of excitement--but Wednesday's group was credible as well. There is lots of talent gestating at Friends; it will be interesting to see how it develops.
  That is sort of it for now---not sure what this evening's activity will be---just signed up for Clubbed Thumb's first play of the season for tomorrow night---and might see a play or movie tonight, depending on my energy level around 6. Or maybe it will be nice just to hang out. Will report tomorrow.

so it continued....

(the reunion, that is) and it turned out very well. Had some great conversations with members of the class of 07 at the party at Brother Jimmy's. This class, particularly the women, has turned out to be very vibrant. Many of them living in Brooklyn, on land that I have traveled on. Hope to continue a relationship with some of them. But, whatever...? The exhiliration that I felt afterwards left me feeling great, but   I was  also a little tired from all the contact---the energy  was intense.

 When it was over, I thought about returning home, but it was important for me to visit La Flaca and celebrate the owner Bobby's birthday, along with a welcoming party for former security person at 199 bar, Harold. Tired, nevertheless I trekked (the only word for it) from the Canal Street station on the Q, through Little Italy to Lower East Side to finally Grand and Suffolk, where the restaurant is. Had to wait about an hour for Bobby to arrive, but his staff was incredibly gracious to me--let me sit and drink water and watch baseball---and I was glad to wish him happy birthday in person when he did arrive at this restaurant. Great guy---really responsible for my re-entry into theater, though he probably does not know it. More about that some other time. Harold, whom I got to know during my many visits to 119 is a great guy. He now lives in Fresno with his brother and is part of a whole new life--he probably will do very well. Very warm guy, gives great advice--I attended many of his son's football games in places like the Bronx and deep Brooklyn, ---but those trips were well worth it.
Had to leave soon after both guys arrived, because the day's events had left me very tired, but was glad that I could wish both guys well. Grabbed the C at Delancey Street and headed home.

  Sunday, a strange day, stayed fairly close to home, a little fatigued from the last few days. Gil, a playwright friend of mine, really a very sweet and decent guy, had a play on in a theater on 54street, in a tiny, upstairs, theater. It was a three week run, and I knew that I had to see it soon. I was determined to see it yesterday afternoon, and I did. Gil was there, and seemed very happy to see me.
The play, sadly, was not one of his best. A couple in their fifties. A lot of interaction that is repeated for, as far as I could see, no reason. The writing, really stuck in a place. It left me very disappointed.
I hope at some point I can talk to him honestly about the play---he really is capable of much better and complex writing.
 After that, just went home and rested---had to forgo my traditional Sunday visit to South Fourth. Next weekend...? Hope so, though there are a lot of plays running that I might see in the four slots (Saturday afternoon, evening, Sunday afternoon, evening) that are available to me. But that will have to work itself out. Will report soon,

was it a dream...

no, it was the reunion with the class of 07 at CBar. Nice to see all those people, great conversations---a great way of beginning the alumni weekend at Friends. This is a class that I first met in spring of 2000, when they were completing the fifth grade. Lots of shenagagins, but  ultimately they were fun, and the first group that I actually grew with---as my work at Friends progressed from middle school assignments to upper school. And today there is more---will see them again and also the class of 12---another very interesting group. Will leave soon.
 Just want to say a few words about the Melville picture that I saw on Thursday---Leon Morin, Priest. Slow to begin, but ultimately very compelling. I feel detached from Melville's work, but there is something really individual about how he approaches a story and tells it. Beautifully shot---whereas the first Melville picture of the series that I saw---Le Cercle Rouge, was about police vengeance and crooks on the run, Leon Morin concerns a Priest and his relationship to a parishioner about his age, over a period of about 8 years---throughout the  Italian and German occupation of France, and moving through the liberation and its aftermath. The two become very close--but of course, no intimacy. How that is worked through is the crux of the story. Ultimately very compelling.

That is all I wanted to say, will report soon.

hectic day....

yesterday, but cityboy brought it off. Began with three periods in  a row at Friends---and a brief respite followed by lunch duty, watching the seventh grade. When it was over, time to go to the library on 160th street for a session with a third grader, and then home. But not really, the Spring Concert at Friends was yesterday evening---and believe it or not, I went---tiredness and all. The amazing thing is that I made it through easily and then was even able to stop off at the Gramercy Bar and watch some basketball and baseball. Like that place, though no one to talk with yesterday---it did not matter, I just wanted to watch the games and be left to think about them. What is most interesting is the route that I take after I leave the bar. Usually walk north on second avenue to 23rd, then walk to fifth avenue to catch the W or R trains. Twenty third street between second and fifth a little weird. Usually quiet, some couples and single people walking to different places, a few bars---but mostly apartment houses (with doormen) that seem to have been converted from offices courtesy of the last mayor and his programs. It is a strange, solitary street---not much else to say.
Nothing else new to report---today may decide to go to Film Forum to see Melville movie---I had thought this was its last day, so felt some urgency but it seems it will be extended for another week. Still, I should go this afternoon---really my only chance---if you look at the coming schedules and what they show.  Tonight is the Jazz concert at Friends---I always go to it--and after that---well, we will see. Doubt that i will head right home, since I don't expect to be tired---but where? Not sure. Maybe La Flaca and a pre-birthday visit with my friend Bob, who owns the place, or maybe even traipse into Brooklyn.
Will be at Friends tomorrow, and then the next day is the alumni reunion, a day that I really look forward to. Lots of interaction with those coming back, and this will be the first year that two classes that I really knew well---07 and 12, will be back together. Looking forward to it, should be really interesting.
That is it for now...will report soon

Beautiful morning...

the cold is gone---nice to feel. Only have one session today at around 5, and I am tempted to see a movie this afternoon (the Jean Pierre Melville one at film forum) but hate to go inside on a day like this. Will have some time to kill, however---how? Maybe just glory in the day---maybe a visit to the Met (it is almost free) but not sure. Well, we will let it happen. Tough and long day yesterday at Friends, but today I feel very alive and rested,
Sunday after library: Followed the plan which was to go to Standings to watch baseball and basketball. Remained there for about two hours--had a nice talk with a couple who have just arrived in the city from Houston, who seem to be in their thirties, and who now live (where else?)  in Bushwick. And deep into Bushwick too, near the Wilson Avenue stop. Can't get much further in then that---shows you how far gentrification is moving. They live near a bar that I have always wanted to try, called the Evergreen, on Evergreen and Moffat. This gives me nice incentive to visit there---perhaps I will meet them there.
After that, time to go to South fourth where my friend Harlo hangs out. Good conversation with her, as usual. Others were very nice to me as well---sometimes the energy there is so friendly---quite amazing!
Not much else to say---yesterday came home from Friends and a session and went to bed quickly. Slept very soundly between 7 and 11. More info to come.

in the midtown...

library Sunday morning. Last night: Made it through the rain to see the Encores version of The Golden Apple. Love the score---great to hear it. The piece is a bizarre confection of parody and seriousness that (until the end) never quite makes up its mind what it wants to be. The serious operatic duets and one solo for the female lead are beautiful. The "campy" parts are clever but are written in a totally different style---going from the serious to the campy can be quite jarring. Nevertheless a terrific experience, just to get it all in. Production over busy---choristers seemed to be running around frantically changing costumes as they moved from one scene to another. Full orchestra kind of overpowered it---still very glad that I went and experienced it. I had previously seen two full length productions at York Rep, one, the better one in 1978 and the other in the early nineties. Again, happy to be there.
  Yesterday afternoon: trapped indoors by the rain---was lucky enough to hear the third act of Der Rosenkavalier. I have never liked the opera---much too talky for me, but listening at home, really was thrilled by the sound---the Met orchestra is amazing---but also thrilled to find out how much invention there is in Straus' music. Goes from very romantic, to what seems like twelve toned, to make its effect. Amazing orchestral coloring! A great experience, just listening from home.
  Today I think will be a sports immersion day. After I leave here, will head to Standings, or someplace like that to watch baseball and maybe stay for interesting match up between Spurs and Warriors. After that, will head to South fourth, for usual "Sunday evening hang out". Should be home fairly early since tomorrow's day at Friends starts early.
Will report on all soon...

rainy day......

after two hardworking days at Friends---back there at least 3 times this week. Middle school takes a great deal out of you. Today, bed-stuy protest was called off, so the whole day (and tomorrow) is free.
What to do? Would like to see The Golden Apple---tonight or this afternoon. Rain is supposed to be very hard--that might have something to do with the plans. Anyway, will try to figure it out as we go along.
Last two nights were rest nights---no sessions today. Am reading a novel, Mr. Penumbra's Bookstore, written about four years ago. A quirky, energetic book---its beginning is very tantalizing---now, in the middle, however, the author's invention seems to be slowing down. So here I am in the 83rd Street library, and after this time at the computer will look for something else to read. Particularly if I am stuck in the apartment, do not want to be stuck with just that novel.
Have read numerous articles about forced gentrification, and an"as of right" very tall building planned for Amsterdam and 66th street. Community protest? Possible. When will it stop? Walking through downtown Brooklyn frightening enough.
I think between now and say, late June, about 13 theater pieces that interest me (maybe more). Wonder how many I will be able to see, I know I have to go to the first Clubbed Thumb piece and then my friend Gil has a play off off, on 54street. I really have to go to this as well---really want to support him. Well, we will see how it all plays out. Movies to (of course) but harder to get myself up for those.
 Let's leave things for now--will report soon---maybe tomorrow.

Wednesday morning....

no work, kind of glad about that--I had a very long and arduous schedule (a mixture of two teachers whom I was substituting for) and my body can stand a little rest. No work scheduled as of now for the rest of the week, but that could change.
Some reports:
Saturday evening---decided to attend a movie at Film Forum by Jean Pierre Melville--le circle rouge---it is a beautifully made film about (essentially) a hunt by a humiliated chief of detectives for a man who has escaped while he was guarding him. Style very deliberate and intriguing, even as I write about it would like to see more of his films (about eight of them are showing now) but probably will have to settle for one, if at all, an unknown film of his that the Film Forum is showing all next week. Interesting thing about it was that the theater was packed for a 4:50 Saturday show---mostly older people but some young film buffs as well. Just about every seat was taken.
It was over around 7:30---much time to kill on a Saturday evening, and I did not want to go to another movie. So then what? After walking to second avenue from the forum, had a pizza slice on 2nd and 2nd, then figured I would see if I could watch some baseball at Standings. But the place was packed,  mostly with patrons watching hockey---so instead headed next door to Burp Castle where my friend Erin was bar tending. We talked for about a half hour---she is still adjusting to living in eastern Bed Stuy with her boy friend---and then I headed out---was hit by another hunger pang, and so I crossed second avenue at 14th street---away from the seven or eight bars that line the street and of course were packed---and headed to Gramercy Tavern on second and 20th, not far from Friends.
Place was empty by comparison and my new friend Amanda, who bar tends on weekends, was there. Had a good conversation with her and a nicely filling grilled cheese sandwich. The place is really reliable. By then tiredness had set in and I headed (slowly) back to the upper west side.
 
     Sunday; a nice free day. In the early afternoon I visited the Brooklyn Historical Society on Pierrepont Street to see the Jackie Robinson exhibit--a must for someone like myself, a baseball fanatic in my early days (the fifties). Slightly disappointed -it is enclosed in a small space- but some of the artifacts,  pictures and statements were very interesting. Also some pictures taken by a friend of Truman Capote of Brooklyn Heights in the fifties. He lived on Willow Street in a house owned by Oliver Smith (scenery: My Fair Lady and West Side Story, among others)  that were kind of evocative.
At that point, walked to BAM. A really frightening trip, one can see on Schermerhorn Street one new Luxury Building after another, and these are already built. Then around BAM about five or six new luxury buildings---how long will this go on. And to add to this the corridor on Fulton between Clermont and Franklin. What an eyesore for the city. And what does it mean?  Must continue to work with activist groups to save Brooklyn as much as possible, and make people aware. Toyed with going to South Fourth via bus, but it was cold, so the G to Broadway made much more sense. Walked in the rain to South fourth and remained (as usual) until around 9--nice and meaningful conversation with my friend Harlo who is going through some changes and conflicts and needed my support. Left around 9 and returned home.
Ah, the city with its endless potential for excitement.
Today, not sure what I will do in the evening, nothing too strenuous I think, but might be time to visit my friends the twins at Lansdowne Road, have not been there for a while. Right now, that seems the plan---will report soon.

mesmerized and fascinated by

last night's performance of Mourning Becomes Elecktra at Abrons Arts. Went with mixed feelings, Scared, because yesterday's schedule at Friends was very heavy (actually a little less than I expected)  and usually, after a day there, I either tiredly head to 145 street for a session or simply go home and sleep. But this was going to be different; I had to be at Abrons, and even in my tired state, I walked (rather than wait for the slow and crowded  A14 bus)  from 16th and 2nd to Grand and Pitt. Not so hard, simply walk down Avenue A then Essex, then over to Clinton, south on Clinton to Grand and then a block or so to the Center. And what a center it has become! But there I was---willing to sit out the five hours, more out of courtesy for my friend Sarah then anything else. But what I found was something different. A very strong and detailed production of the play---an incredible text and acting that was totally honest.The three lead actors were simply amazing---this is  a play that at times is overheated (all O'Neill verges on that) and performances can easily lapse into bluster and cliche---this totally did not happen last night. Instead, I was completely drawn in to the horrors that these characters face--their arc in descent was totally honest. Shattering! Also, I was not aware how much of O'Neill's text is focused on the destruction that war causes on the psyches of men. He sees this so clearly. David Hertzkowitz the director, had a vision that always illuminated the play. I am so glad that I went.
Afterwards, stopped off at La Flaca to say hi to owner Bob and join the Cinco de Mayo party, but it was very crowded, I settled for a walk up Ludlow and a pizza place just south of where Ludlow meets Rivington that has very good pizza. Ludlow Street--Wow! Must be at least eight or nine bars between Delancey and Houston on that street. I remember when there were only two. I remember when the idea of walking on Ludlow Street at night would really frighten me. No more. The "joint was jumping" (Good thing?) Could have followed with a beer at one of the places on my journey but was not into a new bar experience---ended up at the old reliable Been on 3rd street and 2nd avenue and had a smores bar---which I really did not need but took it anyway. Finally walked to 8th street and Broadway for R train back to Times Squre then home etc.
 Great evening---about today, not sure---may be tired from yesterday's exhaustive journey---many choices, might like to just relax at a movie tonight, or watch the two or three interesting baseball games that are being played.  Will report tomorrow.

so what's new....

not much. Worked yesterday---off today but will spend the next four work days at Friends. Evenings of the last two days have been uneventful, even on the day I did not work I returned home at around 7, and remained there as I prepared for Tuesday. Yesterday I was tired and went to sleep sometime around 8---got up a few times during the evening---not much else to report.
  Do I want to see the movie at Metrograph about Aleppo.? Possibly will go tonight---hard to deal with what I have read is the blood shed and agony there, but maybe I should confront it. If not today, when else?
  For Friday, I have just been offered a comp to Mourning Becomes Elecktra, the O'Neill play from the thirties that Target Margin is reviving with a unique cast. The complete play runs about 5 hours---at Abrons Arts, apparently it makes use of all three theater spaces that are there. On Friday I had a fairly easy program to sub for, but yesterday I also added to classes on the Chinese program. One might be small, but the other is probably the fifth grade class. Could be energy consuming. At any rate, the play begins at 4---I should be out of Friends by 3:10---will have to scurry down to Abrons to make it. Maybe just jump on the Avenue A bus, or maybe just make a run down first avenue myself.
We shall see.
  Had a strange dream the night before this one. I am traveling into Long Island by train---suddenly I find myself off of the train in a deserted suburban landscape-lots of trees, maybe a house--how will I get back to Manhattan in time for today's sub assignment? A sense of panic and bewilderment---I wake up and have to remind myself that I am not in Long Island, but here in Manhattan and that it will be very easy to arrive on time at Friends. Not quite clear what the whole thing means---both a feeling of being deserted in LI, but also intrigued by the greeness of the trees and the fullness of suburban space. Of course, once I was in gear and focusing on the day, all was forgotten, but still the dream sticks in my mind.
 That is it for now---just returned from Barnes and Nobles on 82nd street---lots of books there that I would like to read. Will see what happens...

Monday morning.....

a little tired after a long day yesterday. After the library, took the subway to Cobra (a very short trip, I  might add, about 20 minutes from 33rd and Park to Jefferson Street in Brooklyn)  expecting to ask my barista friend Olivia for the Yankee game. Much to my surprise, she was off, and no game on. I asked the barista replacing her to put the game on---he seemed a little hesitant, but agreed. It turns out he is a big baseball fan---and after the ice was broken, we had a solid talk about his team, the Royals, past and present. He of course, followed them through the two world series recently, I had some great memories of the seventies and early eighties Royals (Freddy Patek, George Brett et. al) so there was a lot of good banter back and forth. Will visit him again at some point. Left cobra at 3:45---ultimate destination South Fourth, but where before?
    I walked to Wilson Avenue, and there decided to take the 60 bus, not towards Williamsburg, but take its route further into Bushwick and then into Bed-Stuy, via Rockaway Avenue. Needed to see places I had not seen before, last took this trip in October of 2012, or something like that. Interesting trip, follows Wilson to its very end, then south on Cooper, until it joins Rockaway at Broadway. The bus follows Rockaway to Fulton, which at that point is only  six block trip. Still amazed at the mostly beautiful brownstones that one sees at the cross streets that Rockaway is perpendicular to.Got off at Fulton, and decided to take the bus that runs on Fulton---to where, not sure. Had many chances to get off, but ultimately thought the best idea was to go to Franklin, stop at a coffee place, use their bathroom (too much coffee at Cobra) and get a biteto eat. But two restaurants were busy, finally walked from Franklin down Fulton all the way to near the Academy for my favorite pizza place (the thin crusted one) Then another walk down Fulton to the ever reliable BRIC---the weekend festivities were continuing, and I was invited to join a group that was discussing Brooklyn's future via its neighborhoods. This is a passion of mine, but somehow could not get into it at the time. Figured it was time for me to get to South Fourth, the end of my afternoon's journey. Jumped on the G, took it to Broadway, mistakenly got on a Broadway bus heading the wrong way, jumped off, took the subway to Marcy and finally arrived at my destination.
   South Fourth was crowded, and my favorite regulars were not there, nevertheless remained for about two hours; Mark, Olivia's replacement made me two cups of good but strong coffee---watched some of the Cub Red Sox game, talked to a few people, and went home. Lots of walking, which I guess is good, considering that I felt tired from all the work at Friends last week.
 Tonight, not sure---will depend on my tiredness quotient. Tomorrow I will be at Friends, then either another day on or off, and the work their Thursday and Friday. Will see what happens...