Finally, a free day....

my only scheduled free day this week. More and more, the focus of my life seems to be on Friends, this day off, while nice, seems only to be a short passage of time until I return. So much time spent with middle school classes, they are really exhausting, but I will make it through.
Anything else significant in my life? Well, this Saturday after three sessions, I did go to see my friend Sybil's project, Sasquatch Rituals, at the Kitchen. But before I even talk about the play, even more on my mind is the walk I took too and from the seventh avenue subway to the space (which is on 19th between 9th and 10th avenues). Endless brownstone streets, beautifully sculpted, a sense of calm and prosperity projected in those streets. Right in the middle of all this, though is a group of NYCHA houses (the projects); however their presence seems to have no effect on the surrounding area--indeed, there are luxury high rises practically next to the projects. So what is one to make of all this. On the way back from Sybil's project, feeling highly energized, because I had met so many people there that I know, it came to me that there are no longer neighborhoods in this city. There are simply two kinds of world: comfort zones (like Chelsea with its brownstones) and places where poor people live. That is the city today. Is that an oversimplification? Possibly, there are still areas in Queens, and the Bronx (the neighborhood where I was raised, actually) that are diverse and have a solid economic mix that includes working and middle class. Still, often I feel that I have been the inheritor of this "good fortune", that is the exclusion of poorer and more diverse people from the areas that I travel in.
    Now to Sybil's project: As usual, her dialogue (in this case collaborative dialogue) seems obscure at times, there is a sense of exclusion or perhaps you might call it "non-play"---but at the end it all came together in a very theatrical and passionate dance piece---utilizing fully the seven actresses who made up the cast. And it was a great cast---so many inventive actresses doing their thing, I feel fortunate to know Lindsay, Linda, Eleanor (although I did not say hello to her) and of course, Sybil. Lots of warmth from many people I had not seen in a while, which is why I left the Kitchen space, feeling so excited. Sybil's next project is her solstice event at the Whitney, I read that it will be an early morning piece---I love those things---and am really looking forward to it.
   Tonight is free, I don't expect to be too tired, and there are many artistic events that people I know are involved with that I should check out, but I think what I really want to do is to hang out and watch baseball---maybe at La Flaca, if I can swing it. Anyway, the next post will probably be on Saturday---will report anything that takes place interesting then.