feeling "groovy"...

maybe because I finally received my first pay check of the year from Friends Finally, some money in the bank---I realize now how much pressure I had been putting on myself in the past two weeks, not to use my credit cards, even as the cash flow was low. A nice sense of relaxation has come over me---even as I write about it, I am still trying to figure it out.
  And what of the West Side Story reunion on Wednesday evening. Well, it was nothing short of remarkable. The eleven panelists, all members of the original cast had amazing memories to share with the audience. And more, they were focused and direct---Carol Lawrence, in her eighties, has a memory of the time of WSS' creation that is so detailed, she could probably take you on a day by day narrative of the rehearsals and early performances. It was great to see, eleven people about 77 and over, functioning like totally focused adults---as if their age (and mine) simply disappeared. One of the things that we learned is that there will be a movie, a documentary, about the making of WSS, featuring only the 21 remaining members of the original cast. No replacements (like Elliot Feld) no  London or movie cast people (like George Chakiris) ---just the 21 who participated in the creation of the piece, in the original process. I am really looking forward to that-the memories Wednesday evening were so gritty---I felt like I was there at rehearsals and runthroughs. Lots of praise for Jerome Robbins---as difficult as he was, from the panel, it seemed like he really "made" the show. a strange man, full of contradictions---very enclosed. In later years, I would see him sometimes at a West Side restaurant or on the subway (the subway?) coming back from BAM. His companion at those sightings was Aidan Mooney, someone whom I had interacted with in the late sixties and had remained cordial with as the years passed. So I could always say, "Hello, Aidan, Hello Jerry" and Robbins would give me a small nod (never a word), and it was clear to me, that I should move on. Well, no matter---it is his legacy and vision that remains. So I can't wait for the movie.
  The past two days have been work at Friends, so the nights have been "dull", in other words, I just come home and rest. Tonight a last play by Brian Friel at the Irish rep, tomorrow..? Not sure---might be a good time to simply make my visits to Cobra and South fourth---or find a bar that will show a baseball game, if the Yankees and Red Sox are still in play for the American League East (which is possible). Will let you know soon, how all this turns out.

as the West Side Story....

60th anniversary forum approaches, I feel more and more detached from it. Why? Probably because of last night's program at Jack. But more of that in a little later.
  WSS opened in 57, the year of my sophmore (first) year at Bronx Science. I don't have many good memories of that year---at the time, Science was overcrowded and the main building (then on 183rd Street and Creston Avenue) could only hold half the Sophmore class. The other 10 classes were sent to an Annex on 183rd Street and Marion Avenue, about 7 blocks east of the real Science. As such, my class traveled like a Junior High School class, in other words, about 30 students traveled from class to class as a group and shared the same teachers and program. Jeff Greenfield, later "famous" as a commentator was in that class, and so was my friend from DC whom I occasionally visit, Bob R. There were about 20 boys and 10 girls, so interaction with the opposite sex (which I desperately needed at that time) and its possibilities were ended early in the year. It was a very sterile social situation--like being locked in to social desert. In the midst of this banality was one really good history teacher, Mr, Karpf, who taught history with great energy and originality. I still remember his "Karpf-toons", and letting us do the minutes of the previous class as short plays. Still it was a kind of oasis--things got much livelier when I moved into the main (no "old" building) the next year. Moving from class to class alone was frenetic, but much more dynamic. At any rate it was in the third month of that school year (November 57) that I went to my first performance of West Side Story. And, well, it blew me away! On stage with the dancers, that is where I wanted to be. What passion, what energy! I had never seen anything like it before, I can see so clearly now the bodies of Hank Brunjes (Riff) and Ken LeRoy (Bernardo) lying on the ground in the dark at the end of Act I, and being so astounded by it.
 And so I come to it today, but my mind is elsewhere. Last night I attended the forum about bringing artists on to their community boards at Jack, as I said I would. What was it like? Well I was disappointed in the attitude of all---everything was information oriented, and community Boards and what they are and how to get on them and participate was made clear, but what wasn't was the world that the community boards exist in. Neither the hosts or the panelists seemed to be interested in the current state of the Brooklyn of today--gentrification, displacement, issues that have enraged certain communities, and the Mayor's role in all of this were totally avoided. I was able to ask some questions that I thought might make things a little clearer, but overall nothing remotely serious seemed to be touched on; the world the hosts and panelists talked about seemed strangely removed from Brooklyn's "bloody" present. If I was visiting from somewhere else in the country the image of Brooklyn that I would have gotten was of a "happy" place where black and white live happily next door to each other (and in some cases they do), where the police have no agenda, where apartments not too expensive were readily available to all, and smiles were on everyone's faces. Two more of these forums will be later in the month; I will try to attend the next one which is at the Bushwick Starr but I feel angry that no one is discussing the Mayor's role in all of this---he is about to be re-elected with no real opposition, and probably with the lowest amount of voter participation in the city's history. And the attempt to really educate the artists who attend these forums seems superficial---there is so much coherent information to be distributed.
 So where do we go from here? Don't know, I actually asked the co-artistic director of Jack, if she would give me an evening to discuss the Mayor's achievements and problems in front of an audience, but she seemed to feel that this should come from my other group, BAN. Maybe So here I am with all this information and a set of feelings that are different from my fellow "artists"  but no real forum to present these ideas. Should there be? 
   The next three work days will be at Friends (at last!) where my energies will be pushed elsewhere---that is probably good. No shortage of events to attend in the evenings of the next two weeks, we will see how it all plays out>

Hanging tough....

after a disappointment yesterday---a job at Friends was offered to me, but I responded to late---I was e-mailed, rather then texted, and it went to someone else. Quite a setback---always disappointing. Well, I will be there on Thursday, for the next three days, so that should be good. Also, this gives me a little more leeway this evening to do as I wish. There is a forum at Jack that is advertised as having artists getting more involved with their community. Sounds interesting---I am planning to be there.  There is also, the Dive bar in Manhattan where two of my favorite servers (actually one is a bartender) will be in residence tonight. Can I do both? Maybe, let the night take care of itself.
   Yesterday, I attended the BAN meeting, the first one after their incredible march. Lots of people there, lots of talk of "actions"---nothing that I can commit myself to at the present---have to see how work issues play out. If I can, I will hook in to one of the protests. The nice (and surprising) event of last evening was the arrival of Gabi, a graduate of the class of 09 at Friends, someone who I liked very much. It was great to see her---I had not seen her since the reunion in 14; she came on the advice of Alex, a graduate of 08. She is in Social Work school now. Anyhow, we had a very nice talk, and I hope to see her again at the next meeting. That was the highlight of last night.
 Not much else to report. Tomorrow is the West Side Story forum---going in with a kind of distance; the forum is now sold out---so how much chance I will have to truly interact with some of my "heroes" from 60 years ago is uncertain. Thinking a lot about the Measure for Measure, trying to assess how the critics will respond to it---will they accept it as idiosyncratic to ERS, or will they simply be looking for a Measure for Measure production. Can't really tell.
  The sun has just come out---a nice sign, maybe can create some calm in my life. Strife tomorrow...will report soon.

a long and. interesting....

weekend, beginning on Saturday with my trip to New Haven to see my friend Ben is the play he is touring in, Small Mouth Sounds. Have not been to New Haven in about three years---of course that is where I spent one "year of hell", at the Drama School, a long time ago. Still those unhappy or confusing memories have subsided, and as the train clumped through Connecticut on its journey, I felt reflective and calm. Took a taxi to Long Wharf, and saw the play. My friend Ben, and his fellow cast members are excellent in it---this is my second go round with the play---I found it more superficial then the first time. Originally it was done in an enclosed rectangular space with the audience on both sides--I think that helped the play---the audience shared the hemmed in feeling that the characters were experiencing. On a proscenium space the play's faults were a little too obvious--oh well, it was extremely well acted---I was also fascinated by the procession (that is the only word to describe it) of older couples that came to this matinee. Where do they all come from? So many people.
  Anyway, after the play, Ben and a friend of his from college named Matt, who directs opera, and myself had dinner at the nearby diner. Good conversation---I am happy that I was able to support Ben---really it is pretty easy getting to New Haven and the trip back was much more efficient. On the train I was able to read all of Miller's All My Sons---it really is an amazing work. Coming back to New York, reading Acts II and III, I was totally engrossed. Sometimes I am amazed at how strong Miller was at create detail for his characters. Glad that I read it.
  Sunday, sort of took it easy before the evening performance of Measure for Measure at the Public, that I had tickets for. Which meant going out to Bushwick and Cobra---watching the first half of a very boring Giant-Eagle game (the second half, which I missed, had much more action), and then, with some time to kill---taking the 38 bus, the one that goes west on DeKalb Avenue (and east on Lafyette) back to BRIC, where I could kill some time before the play. Finally the 4 and then the 6 to Astor Place and the ERS production of Measure for Measure.
   As usual, what you see on stage is very unique to ERS. All their actors were there. Lots of action in the first part---it was very important that I was very aware of who the important characters were. The production sometimes seems cartoonish (very inventive cartoons) but it slows down when the important and telling moments arrive. This is probably the eighth or ninth time I have seen the play performed (first time, very memorable, at the old Pheonix Theater, by the (now extinct) American Shakespeare Festival when I was 13) and in its odd quirky way, with possibly the exception of the first one, came the closest to giving me the whole play. The director, John Lyons, has an amazing eye for composition on stage--I think Measure for Measure allows him to use it more than in ERS' other works. Are there less "cartoonish" ways of making the play effective? Of course, but somehow, for me, the core of the play was present. Afterwards, waited for the cast and said hello to several members, all of whom were very appreciative, and had a good talk with Mike and Gavin, about their roles and the play and this production in general. Really felt good after my brief "hang out" with those guys.
   Today, a session has been canceled---kind of free until I enter the "other" world---the BAN meeting that begins tonight at 7. Time to forget (briefly) my passion for theater and Shakespeare and get down to the problems that beset this city---in spite of my good feelings about life now, there are many of them. Will report tomorrow

Friday morning....

feeling a little rushed---not sure about today's schedule. My friend Sibyl's performance celebrating the fall equinox at the Whitney is happening and I would like to go, but I need to be sure of a session that might happen later today in upper Harlem. Can I get them both in? Possibly, but the Whitney may be my next stop.
  So yesterday, after leaving the library, I headed to Brooklyn---there was a Save Our Streets vigil on Saint Marks avenue and Utica---a young man had been killed on that block a few days before. I have attended a few vigils for Save Our Streets, an organization dedicated to stopping violence in Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant, by having former convicts from the neighborhood, now reformed, talking to the younger members of the community and trying to talk down any "beefs" that might spiral into violence. At these vigils, I am always a little bit on the outside, but I felt it was important to attend this one, since I had the time. From the A stop at Utica, a very interesting walk south on Rochester Avenue, mostly private houses but then projects on the east side of the block and what seems like a new building across the street. Very little signs of gentrification, though I am sure that it is happening there. The block that the vigil took place on is a quiet one---I arrived as one of the speakers was calling out for an end to violence. Several other speakers cried out on the same point---they also urged people living on the block who were home to come out and stand with them. Several residents sat on their stoops but did not join. One minister who was there, thanked me for coming, and during his speech said that he appreciated someone coming all the way from Manhattan to stand with them. I felt good for this, but I have to remember that these vigils are not there for my self esteem, but to make an important point about a world that has nothing to do with me. I liked being on that block, and appreciated that the gentleman who spoke had taken  time to talk with me briefly. I will try to go to more vigils, if my time allows it.
  As I left and walked south again on Rochester Avenue, towards Eastern Parkway, I felt helpless and sad, unable to really do anything to stop what was going on. That is how I continued, and of course, as I approached the parkway, and passed more and more apartment houses, I thought that yes, this is where I could have been raised sometime in the fifties, these houses and neighborhoods were similar to the one that I was raised in in the Bronx.
   Another vigil was scheduled for 6, at Franklin Avenue and Lincoln Road. I had planned to go to that one, but the time I hit the library at Grand Army Plaza I was too tired to attend it. This would have been interesting--the juxtaposition of the black church leaders with the more gentrified residents who now live on or near Franklin. So after stopping on the Parkway, I jumped into the subway at Utica and took it to Franklin, then headed to the museum for coffee and then to the library. Instead of going to the second vigil, I took a Flatbush bus back to Fulton and Bric Arts to use the bathroom and settle myself. The early evening had become cool---I walked to BAM, and sat outside on one of the stoops---felt a nice sense of calm as I watched people pass. Too tired to hang out, yet I definitely did not want to return to the Upper West Side just yet. So I remained at and around BAM, watching the people pass, wondering who they were and what was their destination, and simply enjoying the energy that was around me. Finally it was time to return home.
  Tomorrow I am off to Long Wharf where my friend Ben is playing in Small Mouth Sounds. Should be interesting---when I leave the library today, will probably head to the Whitney, getting an early read on Sibyl's project. God, how I miss those late night or early morning vigils that she creates. Will this one be a little more earth bound? Will report soon.

Thursday morning...

first time in two weeks I did not have to wait for a call from Friends---because they are closed for the Jewish Holiday. Still left me feeling a little "vacant" I guess a good word for it. Rest of the day a bit of a puzzle---lots of free time---some banking---saw a movie last night--I think tonight should be a night of "action" (that is, bar hanging out) but will let things develop and see how they go.
    Last night---tired, but did see a movie__Brad's Status and the AMC on the upper west side. Another "white bread" movie, you might say, that is the protagonist is a 47 year old semi-successful white man and his world and his vision, but this one also has a very ironic twist, and the screen writer -director, Mike White, is not afraid to laugh at his protagonist. No need to go into the plot, but as the "hero" takes his son on a tour of the eastern colleges, he comes to terms with his feelings that his three best friends in college have more money then he does, and more "prestige"
 (i.e."clout")  in the world. After some adventures he comes to terms with this, and his apotheosis, as he and his son watch a classical music concert at Harvard makes sense. I liked the screen play and the camera angles, as the hero stalks seriously through Cambridge, really laugh at his seriousness. That is what I liked about the movie. There are still some problems, the hero's wife is a little underwritten---a little too good to be true---and the hero's "idealistic" job---running a not for profit that helps other not for profits seems a little absurd. But overall, an interesting way of spending two hours---much better and trenchant then  The Big Sick---which I walked out of on the afternoon of the eclipse. After that, toyed with the idea of "hanging out" at one of the upper west side bars in my neighborhood, but after a slice of pizza, my stomach seemed full, and so, despite the fact it was kind of early, headed home. Good idea? I don't know, my sleep was kind of restless---maybe I needed more of an "adventure' to get me through the evening. Maybe that will happen tonight, I am determined to have contact, not a movie. Will I go through with this. Time will tell, will check in tomorrow.

so as I sat in...

think coffee, after my short day at Friends, I considered all the options that I could explore in my "free time".  Many movies, now there are some interesting plays on the horizon---finally I had to realize that my choices were at this moment, infinite---if I wanted to I could forsake being an observer at a play or a movie, and simply spend the evening walking through some part of Brooklyn or trying out a new bar. It was a "telling" moment; I guess an acknowledgement of my own freedom, as much as anything else. A nice calm settled over me. Some of that comes from being at Friends; I had just covered an eighth grade science class---very lively, full of eighth grade "craziness" but actually full, also of a lot of warmth. Did that add to the calm, and the sense of accomplishment. I think so. I am feeling a lot of satisfaction about my relationship to the Friends community this year, maybe more than ever before.
  Then on a walk from 57th and 7th to this library (the Lincoln Center one) I witnessed the "horror" of mass construction---how many large luxury buildings in progress did I pass? Dust or at least the smell of dust seemed to enter my lungs---how long will this keep going on. Is there really an endless need for upscale housing---how much money is there to go around? Will the ball drop at some point?
  So here I am, finishing today's blog in the library. If my lungs are not clear, at least my vision is more relaxed. Still lots of "improvement" is needed in the city---lots more awareness of how aggressive the vision of these developers are.
  That is all for now---I have said what i wanted to say. Whatever I decide, I will try to make tonight interesting, and will report on it tomorrow.

first day....

not called to Friends in seven days. Strange feeling this morning, having the time to myself, but some good things should come out of it as well. I can't say it was not expected. I was lucky to get all the work last week---people are usually always there the first week, but some unforseen illnesses and there I was. Yesterday in the library for four hours, I continued what I feel is my terrific relationship with the students of the school A real "feel good" experience. I expect to be working tomorrow, and there should be some work in the next two weeks as well. Can't predict how much--we will see.
  The rest of the weekend: Saturday afternoon---hot, hot, hot---but did get to Saint Luke theater box office and did pick up my ticket to the 60th anniversary celebration and talk of West Side Story. Strange, at this point I am not very excited about it. Seems to be just another point on my various travels. But I am glad I purchased the ticket. Afterwards, just came home and rested, then off to Fresh Salt, a laid back bar-restaurant near the seaport to meet with Assembly people. Some good conversations---a nice one with Rolls, who has appeared in several off off Broadway productions that I enjoyed. He was in Beardo---the Rasputin Musical with music by Dave Malloy---and has also worked with my friend Sibyl and Sarah Hughes. A good guy and good actor. Then some conversations with the black actress who is playing Arkadina in Assembly's Seagull-Machine, which will be performed in April at La Mama. Finally a good talk with Steve Aubrey---not about theater---but about gentrification in Brooklyn and our collective disappointment in the current Mayor. He liked my complaint about the canteloupe and coffee at the Greek Diner for (before tip) $8.40. Said that it was a good explanation for the growing cost of living in the city that could be harmful to so many people if it is not stopped in a few years. Our conversation was a good way to end the evening at the bar (which, by the way, had terrific bar food).
With some time to kill on Saturday, I decided that I must go to Lincoln Center and see the Rat Film, a film about exterminators in Baltimore, with larger implications. I got my ticket and entered the auditorium at the Bunin which had a very small audience for a nine o'clock Saturday show. The documentary itself was a weird, ironic film, that did not quite link the racial prejudice that it believed   had dominated Baltimore with the story of the exterminators. But it did include one very charming and cool black exterminator---sort of the link between the world of Baltimore and the audience---a man of about 55 with an incredible philosophical sense. Lots of fun listening to him. Left the movie  feeling a little cold---I would have liked a greater pulling together of the vision, but was worth seeing.
   Sunday, an odd day, which began with my trying to get a free ticket via lottery to ERS's Measure for Measure at the Public. When I got to the theater at 11:30, the crowd was small; I felt I would have no trouble getting in, but by 12, the crowd had increased, and my lottery ticket number was not called (off by one). I could have come back and tried to get in right before curtain, but by that time I was at South Fourth and fairly tired. I want to see it, but still have not heard from my friend Sarah, who should have a link to some discounts. I definitely cannot see it at full price (really a turnoff) and the only $20.00 tickets are by lottery, which I do not play, since I don't have a smart phone, and don't want one. How will this play out? We will see--I am anxious to see ERS's vision of the play---the first Shakespeare that they have done.
  The rest of Sunday was inconsequential---as for tonight, I am not sure where I will be. I will report soon on how it turns out.

Saturday morning....

experiencing a little bit of fatigue---probably a result of the five days of work at Friends that you did this week. Another day on Monday---will be fun. Still, on a day with no plans, until early evening, cityboy's body is tired. Maybe some food input would help
   No night life this week for cityboy. Every day, with one exception, home and rest are what was required. One exception was meeting Jen, who teaches Spanish at Friends, on Broadway and 102nd street, and accepting her invitation to have accompany her to dinner at a restaurant on 114th street and Broadway, right across from Columbia. First time that I spent a decent amount of time with her, we had a nice conversation about "things" in general and then wandered down a very quiet West End Avenue, where I dropped her off at her apartment.
  At some point in the afternoon, I will go over to the box office of Saint Luke's playhouse on West 48 street and try to buy a ticket for the 60th anniversary of West Side Story celebration. Many of the original cast, all in their eighties or late seventies are scheduled to be there. I feel strongly conncected to the event, since WSS was so dominant in my life from the years 14 to 18 ( and further) still, if for some reason they are sold out, I will not be devastated. Right now, my hunger to experience the cast and their memories is meaningful, but only a part of a very intense lifestyle. So we will see how this plays out.
  Later this evening, one of my favorite theater groups, the Assembly (they did the remarkable Home/Sick)  is having a get together for their actors and followers (I guess you could call me that) at a restaurant on Beekman Street in the financial district. I am looking forward to it---I have not been in that area for a long time. I remember in the late eighties, during my horse racing handicapping craze, taking the train to Fulton Street, then walking east to Water Street, then south of few blocks to the OTB parlor that you needed to $5.00 admission, but was a much more welcoming and civilized place then the normal OTB's In 88 and 89, I went their many times--had my greatest triumph---betting on a horse named Sunday Silence to beat a horse named Easy Goer---in the 89 Preakness. That seems a long way from where I am now; I experience some longing to go to Belmont Park to try my luck. (OTB parlors are no longer) but there are so many other things in my life now that are important, I can't really say where I could fit this in.
One more thing: I will call up the Long Wharf theater this morning to see if my ticket for next Saturday's performance of Small Mouth Sounds, that my friend Ben Beckley is in has come through. That means next Saturday I will be traveling up to New Haven. Much better choice to go next  week  then this week---Friends will be closed on Thursday for the Jewish Holiday, so even if I am asked to work on Friday, will be better rested for the trip. Tomorrow the plan is to try to get a free ticket to Measure for Measure at the Public, via the 12:00 lottery, will see how that plays out. But whatever, I expect to do my usual Sunday "hanging" at Cobra during the afternoon, and if I can't get into to Measure, will spend the later part of the day at South fourth. All good, let's see how everything plays out.

Five days at....

Friends, and will be there Monday as well. Great luck---had two very vibrant experiences with tenth graders, getting to know that class very well. Left Friends feeling incredibly relaxed and open---a kind of "all is right in the world" feeling,  as I walked down third avenue and then west on 22nd street to my bank.. But is it? And if I feel very fulfilled by a work experience does it allow me to forget some of the anger and sadness that i feel about different problems that are faced by the city. Balance, balance.
  The march was a remarkable experience---I did the whole thing. There was great energy and strength in the marchers, as we chanted all through Brooklyn. A great walk as well, especially as we walked north on Tompkins to Myrtle, and then the whole walk towards Queens on Myrtle Avenue. A real look at what mostly people of color experience as displacement and aggressive posture of the development community. Also, a real betrayal by the current Mayor in terms of the promises that he made four years ago to unite "the Two New Yorks" He has not done this, and I don't believe that any policy he has in the next four years, unless he changes his vision at some point, will make life easier for people with little money.  At the final stopping place, a mini mall where Wycoff meets Myrtle, the anger was intense. So where do we go from here?
  Not much else to say, perhaps today I will got to see The Rat  Movie at the Bunin. A movie about exterminators in Baltimore---and you know how important I feel it is to find out as much about that city as possible.Baltimore---the only other home I have known besides New York. So the movie tonight, if I am not too tired, then will report tomorrow.

off today.....

to the BAN march against gentrification in Brooklyn. Will meet all where the march begins, the Barclay Center. After that, a long trek south to Ebbets Field, north to Marcy and Lafayette and then from there into Bushwick. Will I do it all? I hope so. It could be a very spirited event. So here I go..!
   Yesterday:  shortly after posting Thursday's blog, I got a call from Jen, a Spanish teacher at Friends, asking me to sub for her on Friday. She is a senior adviser and the seniors were going to their Field Day at Prospect Park. Surprised at how sudden this was, but I accepted, and spent yesterday at Friends. Good to see all the teachers there again. A lot of "frisky" (we will leave it at that) seventh graders to work with, but I got through it. Nothing after that, returned home and slept. Finally left the house at about 10 to get some food.
  I chose the Greek Diner on Broadway and 95 Street, A tuna sandwich, that is all, for (including tax) $8.18.  (and then a dollar for the tip) Amazing! So again, where will this end? Prices everywhere in the city are exploding upward, but nobody insists on some form of commercial rent control---and it is only a small issue in the coming elections. What can we expect in four or five years. Already, having $7.00 in your pocket is the same thing as having nothing.
  Something must be done. Someone must be confronted. I am leaving now for the march. Will report either tomorrow or Monday.

headphones finally here....

yes, a "break through" for cityboy. He finally buys headphones from the library---ostensibly to listen to wnyc program that he missed yesterday. So yes, revelations of revelations, he hears some of that program, but his thoughts turn to Natasha and Pierre and he goes from there to the original cast recording and is attracted to its second number: Pierre's monologue of despair and rage. So it rings in his ear and he becomes fascinated by it. But he is able to tear himself away, and go to a live stream of a debate in Brooklyn between the City Council race that is taking place next week where the central point of contention is what will happen to the Brooklyn Armory and focus on that> But will the "earphone commitment" change his web browsing habits. We will see. Meanwhile he continues to be drawn to that monologue, who knows how many times this session at the Lincoln Center Library's computer, he will listen to it.
   Yesterday, after the blog report, fairly uneventful, still making up some sleep from the airplane flight that began on Monday evening and ended Tuesday morning. So, actually right at the beginning of the second Mayoral debate, cityboy fell into a deep sleep. When I awoke at about 11, my body felt disjointed, usually after a nap or short sleep I wake up full of energy, this time it was as if my body was useless. Strange feeling. A little more sleep, then some improvement--actually took a walk to get a fruit drink, and things returned to normal. Still, it was more than a little unsettling--then a strange dream---that is somewhat hard to recollect---taking place in Boston (much happened to me there in the early stages of my adulthood) I think it had something to do with encountering an old girl friend or acquaintance---also some of it took place in a theater--but that is all I remember.
   Saturday is the march against gentrification---if I have no assignments, I will try to walk  the whole march, a very long trip. And yet, I want to go. The little statement that I recorded has not been e mailed to the others yet---or put up on the BAN facebook page. Will it be later? We will see.
  Today is completely open---need  day to put things together---the only plan is to visit La Flaca this evening and chat with Bobby, my friend who owns and runs the restaurant, he has been experiencing some flak from his landlords, and I want to be supportive of his fight against them.
  So we march on towards Tuesday, the primary day---a day which could determine the direction the city moves in the next four years. I think this is the most important election that we have had in some time---in my opinion, deBlasio will continue his policy of supporting for profit developers building in "fringe: neighborhoods, that is neighborhoods that are mostly working class but that are moving slowly towards gentrifying. This will only push it forward. Ultimately this policy, if pushed through. will simply increase displacement. And no one says anything about a need for commercial rent control. As I walk the streets of the upper west side (where I live) I am greatly disappointed by the lack of concern I see in my fellow citizens. Very few people realize the significance of what is happening here---very few people seem to allow themselves to be concerned with deBlasio's policies, and their ultimate effect on the whole city. What will the next four years be like. Should I be more worried then ever before? We will see.

taut and tense...

this morning--in spite of being tired, I did attend the BAN meeting last night. A good meeting, with lots of last minute plans being made for Saturday's march. During the meeting, the leader asked for volunteers to be filmed about why they are marching on Saturday, I was one of the volunteers and made my comments for the film, after the meeting. I said that though I loved NYC, with all the opportunities it offered, I did not want to enjoy the city's strengths, while knowing that others were being viciously displaced, simply to meet the needs of a brutally aggressive development class. The two young men making the film seemed impressed---I felt that I had taken another step toward expressing myself in this battle.
Another Mayoral debate tonight, between DeBlasio and Albanese; I am hoping for a more focused vision from the challenger. I am sure the growth of groups like BAN, or places like Mayday, these "pockets of resistance" or maybe even more appropriately, "pockets of rage"  will not be mentioned.
The sad thing is that the media seems to want to avoid even dealing with their existence.Then of course, there is the general disinterest that I see in many New Yorkers, even my friends in other worlds.This is not a "Shrug your shoulders and deal with it, because we are New Yorkers," election; I am frightened by DeBlasio's inflexibility in his approach to housing. Four more years gives him a chance to implement his "affordable housing" agenda, which could lead to a lot of displacement and a greater polarization between classes.
  So it plays on. Not sure what the evening will bring, after the debate. Before I left for California, I promised Bobby, who owns La Flaca, that I would check in with him today--he is undergoing some harassment from his landlords---and was seeing his lawyer yesterday, to find out how the whole thing was handled. But the debate makes this impossible---will probably stay home and rest after it.
  The march begins Saturday at the Barclay's center---I am not sure if I will have a session that morning or not---but if I do, I can meet the march at a later point. That is something that remains to be seen---will figure it out as we get closer to it. Will report tomorrow

back from Long Beach....

since 5:30 this morning, my mind reeling from all the e-mails I had to delete from being away from my account for the past 4 days. Still tired, have a meeting this evening, a BAN meeting and i hope to be together for that. Still have to make up sleep---I slept very little on the plane. Efficient but crowded. I amazed that the five hours went as fast as they did.
 The wedding and its environs. So many things that I could say---so many impressions, so many comparisons of the lives of others to my own, I really don't know where to begin. There were four events---a "friends" party at a popular bar in downtown Long Beach on Friday---a pre wedding dinner on Saturday--the wedding and its celebration party on Sunday, and a final brunch on Monday. Also, my first encounter with my brother David since his illness has made him a little more limited, and my "rooming" with him for two evenings. (Saturday and Sunday).  My niece's wedding, her humor and lack of "self love" in this situation--yet a somewhat too"happy" celebration at this time. Then, being on someone else's schedule, waiting around---I feel that I am not doing justice to my whole experience. My brother deals with his illness in a very adult way---he gets a little frustrated at times---but I can hardly blame him. At other times he is extremely mellow and likeable---the highlight of our time together was for me, just reminiscing with him over times we shared as teen-agers, while sitting and talking at the brunch. His memory is terrific---like me, he easily brings back very specific moments that we shared, or that he experienced in his childhood. And yes, we were very lucky to have two highly functioning well adjusted parents---our father, who was the more dominant of the two parents was prone to mini-explosions at certain moments, but for the most part, there was nothing erratic in either parents' behavior for us to deal with---really no "survival" issues as children that we had to face at all. I think this resulted in allowing our imaginations and passions to "explode", that is to be fully explored. So we became baseball experts, theater experts, et al, because there was freedom in the apartment house to do that. And at moments in time, when we were together, I think we got back to that---a core warmth, coming from recollections of the past. David asks for no credit for dealing with his illness---he just does it. There is probably more courage in that then I am capable of understanding. And so it goes.
   The rest of the participants including two cousins of mine who live in San Francisco (Judy and Gene) and their daughter, Barbara. She and I had some interesting discussions the first we had in a long while. There was the group of mostly 70 somethings who were friends or relatives of the grooms' parents, and another group of the bride and groom's friends, mostly in their thirties (the age of the bride and groom) who had either gone to school with one of them, or who had worked with them more recently in California. All were couples, amazingly enough---all seemed complacently happy---not entitled, but comfortable in their lives. I interacted with both groups with varying degrees of success. And my niece, Natalie, who had to wade all through this, did it with aplomb and a little bit of satire---it was impressive that she was not scared to make a little fun of the seriousness of the setting, even at crucial times.
I think that is all for now---many more ideas and visions came out of the weekend, but do not feel like discussing them at this moment---tiredness is setting in, I want to be ready for the meeting this evening, and visit a few more web sites before returning home. Will report more tomorrow.