cold continues....

handled it well last night, but needed two heaters to do it. Some anxiety as to how high my electric bill will be this and next month. There is heat being delivered to my studio apartment and the bathroom, but because of my large bay window, cold comes in with pretty strong force. That is why the heaters are needed. Anyway, today and tomorrow look to be a little warmer, so perhaps the heaters won't be necessary tonight.
Weekend report: Saturday, after examining my many movie choices, decided that it would be best for me to go to Metrograph and see Holiday, the old Cary Grant--Katherine Hepburn movie. It also contains a really strong performance from an actress I have never heard of before named Doris Nolan. She plays the pivotal part of an upper class young woman who plans to marry Johnny, the character played by Grant. Always happy to go to metrograph--the place seems so alive and focused on movie seeing. But its "commissary" is extremely upscale---fine dining as opposed to grungy movie seeing. A strange contrast---one that I suppose, is necessary for the place to exist in this day and age. Sometimes when I sit at the bar and ask for a cup of coffee, I feel a little bit embarrassed,  but they serve me anyway. The movie itself, very different from the Philip Barry play that it is based on, is very clever, observant in its 1936 way, and full of tart comments. It really works--a tremendous esprit goes through the whole movie---I was glad that i saw it. Afterwards, went over to La Flaca, only two blocks away for some food---my friend Bob and his girl friend Kelly were there---we talked and they were happy that i was coming back the next day for the New Years Eve party. Nice time.
  Sunday, after somewhat of a long and sloppy afternoon, I did return to La Flaca for its New Year's Eve party---got there about 9:30--ready to endure the two and a half hour wait, but most of the time was spent very presently. Nice contrast in the restaurant--two rather loud and "raucus" groups played off against some quieter gatherers. Bob and Kelly were incredibly gracious---some good conversations to move the time, and finally the countdown and finish. At last!  But I was glad that I had chosen to spend the eve this way, Bob and Kelly are a terrific couple--totally decent and honest--the wait staff at the restaurant is very friendly, and the atmosphere in the space, which was not brutally crowded, but had enough revelers to make one feel this was a good place to be, was very simple and nice.  Went home feeling good.
  Monday: New Year's Day party at Ron and Liz',  a couple my age (he is a former teacher at Friends---she is a terrific artist) that turned out to be a lot of fun. Lots of good conversation---I spoke to several guests about what was happening in the city, and made some reading suggestions that people found helpful. Also, I recommended to several people the Arthur Miller documentary made by his daughter--hope that that will implement their interest in him. I was surprised at how many interesting conversations were possible, but sure enough, there was a lot of stimulation in the room. Totally full when I left to brave the cold, decided to see a movie---chose---the one at the Bunin about the crazy stuff  happening at a Museum in Sweden---called the Square. It is a really eccentric piece of work very well filmed---irony abounds everywhere. Again, like Hanneke's movie that I saw last week, it seems to be obsessed with the classisim that pervades European culture. Anyway, passed the time until I got home to my heaters.
  Today not sure--might just spend the evening at the Dive bar, and keep warm there, or might add something. Will report tomorrow.