and pay $66.00 for Dance Nation. And yet I want to see it so much. Should I go down to Playwrights and by the ticket for (I hope) $59.00. Somehow that seems more palatable to me, but hell, it is only $7.00, and I find myself in pretty good shape financially. But in my gut I just can't do it now. Well, I will see how I feel when the session at the computer is over.
Yesterday, spent from 6:30 to 8 picketing outside Empire Boulevard address very near Prospect Park, with the BAN folk. Carried a placard for 1,5 hours, not tired at all. Made our statement, not sure what was accomplished but I am glad I participated. If only a few more people are made aware of the brutal gentrification vision that exists in Brooklyn, and how to hold it back, it is better for that. When it was over, I walked over to Rogers where the Bedford Avenue bus stop is, and took the first one north on Rogers and then Bedford. Not sure exactly what I wanted to do, but the bar, Do or Dive is right on Bedford, (a teacher from school told me she spends a lot of time there) , so I thought I would check it out. I was nervous (as I am mostly when I go to a bar where I am not "known") but went in.The patrons were entirely 20 or 30 somethings, and cityboy immediately felt out of place. But, I told myself that once I entered, I would stick it out, see what happens, so I found a place at the bar. I ordered a bud light (no food though I needed some) and then luckily, the male bartender turned on the Met game on a small black and white tv that faces the bar seats. Since no one was talking to me, this made me feel a little better--I drank my beer slowly and watched a few innings of the game. Left shortly after---will probably not return unless I am with someone (possible?)---but one never knows, that could change. Took the G (half a block away) to Fulton, had a nice slice of Pizza and bought a ticket for First Reformed, the Paul Schrader movie that I had wanted to see for a while.
It is a remarkable movie; every moment is deliberate, not a moment of screen time is wasted. The plot, about a lonely Priest in a small Parrish in upstate NY, and what happens to him when he is asked to comfort and advise a young man who sees global warming as destroying the world in close to 30 years. The man commits suicide, but leaves his will to the Priest, who has become close to the man's widow. Of course, the main funder of the church is the owner of a plant nearbye that has a reputation of being a high polluter. What will the Priest do---what feelings does this revelation bring out in him. That is the movie.
Many parallels in this; not going into them now, but as i left, I was confronted with the new skyline of downtown (or BAM centered) Brooklyn, and its ravenous buildings that mirror the aggressiveness of the developer class. It is an overwhelming vision, but who backs it, and how do these people affect my life, and why are they invisible? If I find them repugnant, as the Priest finds the Church benefactor repugnant---what is my role. Is being part of BAN enough? What action to take, can't mediate between my desire to make change, and my need to be "on my own".
Well, it is going to be a long summer, and from the looks of things, cityboy will have enough time to find out. Many conversations are needed.
Today, free for the rest of the day---maybe check out Five Brothers, the bar in which I had a nice time last Saturday, or maybe...? Not sure, don't really feel like processing another movie, but still it is a long time before bed. Will let you know tomorrow.
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