is what cityboy experienced at his brief, but very meaningful visit to South fourth on its last night as a bar. Many, many hugs and hand shakes. Lots of sadness---questions: where will we (the regulars) meet now. Brooklyn is full of bars, but will we find one as simpatico and "regular friendly" as South fourth. And for me, who could sit there for several hours just nursing an ice coffee and the bartenders would be cool about it, does it mean I must have a beer at whatever new place or places my friends choose? All this will be determined--lots of e-mails and phone numbers taken. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out. And in a way, it is an incentive to explore new venues, in Williamsburg and in other neighborhoods. Well we will see.
Before that, a BAN meeting---kind of interesting, the route of the march is pretty determined---I will probably join a few other BAN members in taking a "practice walk" some time towards the end of August. At the same time, I am getting e-mails from the Salazar campaign, urging me to volunteer for them. Can I do both? It might be a bit much---but this is a very interesting time in the city and state history ("interesting" is kind of a nice word, for a time when developers are at their aggressive worst and that is what the conflict is all about), and there is a lot to do. No shortage of political action for cityboy as we move towards September.
Tomorrow, the protest at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Cityboy has volunteered to flyer and dialogue with Garden members. during a members only event. A little nervous at how he will be received. For all my "reluctance", I plan to do it anyway. Will check in tomorrow in the morning, as we get closer to it.
Have decided not to contact (at least for today) the curator of the upcomng Robbins exhibit at the Lincoln Center library (where I currently sit now) abut the juxtaposition of three works that he directed in a row: Bells Are Ringing, West Side Story, and New York Export: Opus Jazz. Why not?
Not sure, cityboy is wearing his "activist" hat at the moment, and a discussion that contrasts the passion of West Side with the coolness and lack of bonding in Export Jazz simply does not fit into my zeitgeist right now. Maybe later.
Tonight, want to do something easy. I have not visited my buddy Brittany, bartender at the 95th street Dive Bar for a while, maybe tonight, will eat, watch baseball and perhaps participate in the bar's trivia game. It is good for me to have one day disconnected from either theater or activism (of course it is still the morning, so that could change).
As July ends, cityboy seems to be moving into a new zone. I seem to know so many people in so many different worlds---how does it all hold together. Or does it? Well, let's see how it all develops.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
news of the weekend.....
so, the party at Bushwick Starr for my friend Sarah's theater project (which has a space at the Starr for spring 2020! No kidding) was a lot of fun. As I expected, there were many people there whom I knew, and some really good conversations. A group of terrific actresses (and one or two actors) read Julia J's plays, all of which are female takes on five great plays from the canon. For me, only the last one, based on All My Sons, was successful., but these were works in progress so it is not a good idea for me to be too critical. A good conversation with my friend Jenn, who posts on facebook, about the good and bad things that that and other social media accomplishes. All in all, a really nice afternoon and early evening.
Jumped on the L right after and took it to Bedford,,then walked south to the last Saturday at South fourth---the place was packed, the atmosphere was hot (weather wise) and only a fan kept the space very muggy. Kathy, my friend made an amazing chocolate fudge cake, which I should not have had, but I did; a little entertainment but hard to hear. The nice thing was that many old timers, particularly Lana and her husband Andrew---they were there from the very beginning twelve years ago, came around. I spent a decent amount of time outside, on the perimeter of the bar, and had a few nice conversations with friends and friends of friends. What will life be like without that place? Will I be able to keep up with the friends (good) and the friends (casual) that I have made? I guess you just have to wait and see, cityboy. Meanwhile, there is a BAN meeting tonight from 7 to 9, then it will be off to Brooklyn and South fourth for the last night of the bar's existence. What will it be like, how long will I stay? Not sure, but I am definitely going.
Yesterday, I began the Sunday at Cobra, a nice time there, then off to South fourth--it was mellow, but by 4:30 I was restless, and needed to move on. A movie? Well, the weather was so nice, it seemed a shame to go indoors. Then a trip? Yes! Boarded the B 44 at its first stop and voyaged on it south past Bed-Stuy and passed Prospect Heights. Finally I got off about 5 blocks north of Nostrand and Church, then began my great "walk journey" south on Nostrand, then west on Church to Ocean Avenue, the south again to Cortelyou and finally west to the Q stop on Cortelyou and East 18th street.
Cityboy loves these walks! Why? At that point the streets of Brooklyn seem totally saturated with the old art deco apartment houses, very similar to the one that I was raised in in the Bronx. And I feel their history, I can envision a time when that world of endless apartment houses were all white and mostly Jewish. If my parents had taught in Brooklyn I could have been raised there. And then I ask, when did the change happen, how was the transition from an all white Jewish area to an almost completely black and West Indian population accomplished, Who were the first and last to go?
Questions, question, cityboy will always be haunted by his hunger to know the history of this transition. No answers at the present.
That is all for now--will report on South fourth's last evening tomorrow...
Jumped on the L right after and took it to Bedford,,then walked south to the last Saturday at South fourth---the place was packed, the atmosphere was hot (weather wise) and only a fan kept the space very muggy. Kathy, my friend made an amazing chocolate fudge cake, which I should not have had, but I did; a little entertainment but hard to hear. The nice thing was that many old timers, particularly Lana and her husband Andrew---they were there from the very beginning twelve years ago, came around. I spent a decent amount of time outside, on the perimeter of the bar, and had a few nice conversations with friends and friends of friends. What will life be like without that place? Will I be able to keep up with the friends (good) and the friends (casual) that I have made? I guess you just have to wait and see, cityboy. Meanwhile, there is a BAN meeting tonight from 7 to 9, then it will be off to Brooklyn and South fourth for the last night of the bar's existence. What will it be like, how long will I stay? Not sure, but I am definitely going.
Yesterday, I began the Sunday at Cobra, a nice time there, then off to South fourth--it was mellow, but by 4:30 I was restless, and needed to move on. A movie? Well, the weather was so nice, it seemed a shame to go indoors. Then a trip? Yes! Boarded the B 44 at its first stop and voyaged on it south past Bed-Stuy and passed Prospect Heights. Finally I got off about 5 blocks north of Nostrand and Church, then began my great "walk journey" south on Nostrand, then west on Church to Ocean Avenue, the south again to Cortelyou and finally west to the Q stop on Cortelyou and East 18th street.
Cityboy loves these walks! Why? At that point the streets of Brooklyn seem totally saturated with the old art deco apartment houses, very similar to the one that I was raised in in the Bronx. And I feel their history, I can envision a time when that world of endless apartment houses were all white and mostly Jewish. If my parents had taught in Brooklyn I could have been raised there. And then I ask, when did the change happen, how was the transition from an all white Jewish area to an almost completely black and West Indian population accomplished, Who were the first and last to go?
Questions, question, cityboy will always be haunted by his hunger to know the history of this transition. No answers at the present.
That is all for now--will report on South fourth's last evening tomorrow...
Saturday, July 28, 2018
a busy day....
today, first, the party to raise money for Sarah's project at the Bushwick Starr, It looks like there will be plenty of people there that I know. Then, over to South fourth to catch the what is left of The Greed Show, the spoken word and art show that the bar is having to in honor of the last Saturday it will be opened. That should go until late. A really full day. Tomorrow I may join my friend Ben in canvassing for one of the progressive democrats running against the machine in Brooklyn. Very important, but still trying to rap my head around it. Ultimately would like to support the campaign of Juila Salazar, but at the same time,there is flyering to be done for BAN. There are so many reforms in the system that need to be made. Lots of choices---so little time, and then how to combine that with my own vision of "liesure"? Not sure.I guess we just have to work it one minute at a time.
Yesterday, simply returned to the very hot and humid apartment after my session here, then met my niece Natalie at Irving Farms, the "high end" coffee house, where, despite its somewhat "uppity" vision (my opinion), you can sit and talk forever. And that is exactly what Natalie and I did; we had a good conversation that lasted about an hour. We discussed the problems she is facing in her career, an later moved to real estate in NY and its problems. I was able to teach her about the administration's hypocrisy re "affordable" housing. Then we returned to the apartment she is staying in with her husband Jarrett-and said our goodbyes.
Her presence here certainly galvanized my week. I met a lot of people at the two parties she was part of--lots of energy. She offered her support if I go ahead with the colonoscopy. That means a lot.
Tired after that, but it was early---not hungry until around 9--finally decided to go to Lansdowne Road, a bar where I am comfortable.It is kind of loud and sometimes seems to have a lot of testosterone in the atmosphere, but even on days my friend Mel is not working, I feel welcome there. The bar was not crowded, and while I had a nice sandwich (but should not have allowed the french friend to come with it) and watched the end of the Met game, there was not much conversation. Still, it filled up the time and was "relatively" inexpensive--got the 11 bus very quickly at around 10:30.
Interestingly, on my way there, I tried to get the 11 bus on Columbus and 61 Street. The wait was endless, so I walked south on ninth to about 48th street then south on tenth to the bar which is on 44th and tenth. Not really a hard walk---today, its seems like I could do it again easily. Is that a sign that I am really very well? We will see, I probably will report on Monday.
Yesterday, simply returned to the very hot and humid apartment after my session here, then met my niece Natalie at Irving Farms, the "high end" coffee house, where, despite its somewhat "uppity" vision (my opinion), you can sit and talk forever. And that is exactly what Natalie and I did; we had a good conversation that lasted about an hour. We discussed the problems she is facing in her career, an later moved to real estate in NY and its problems. I was able to teach her about the administration's hypocrisy re "affordable" housing. Then we returned to the apartment she is staying in with her husband Jarrett-and said our goodbyes.
Her presence here certainly galvanized my week. I met a lot of people at the two parties she was part of--lots of energy. She offered her support if I go ahead with the colonoscopy. That means a lot.
Tired after that, but it was early---not hungry until around 9--finally decided to go to Lansdowne Road, a bar where I am comfortable.It is kind of loud and sometimes seems to have a lot of testosterone in the atmosphere, but even on days my friend Mel is not working, I feel welcome there. The bar was not crowded, and while I had a nice sandwich (but should not have allowed the french friend to come with it) and watched the end of the Met game, there was not much conversation. Still, it filled up the time and was "relatively" inexpensive--got the 11 bus very quickly at around 10:30.
Interestingly, on my way there, I tried to get the 11 bus on Columbus and 61 Street. The wait was endless, so I walked south on ninth to about 48th street then south on tenth to the bar which is on 44th and tenth. Not really a hard walk---today, its seems like I could do it again easily. Is that a sign that I am really very well? We will see, I probably will report on Monday.
Friday, July 27, 2018
WSS....
Yes, I did get in for the West Side Story event--a bit of a singalong (that I did not expect or want) but actually very fulfilling in its own way. Highlights were the interviews with Marilyn D'Hanau and Grover Dale. Ms D'hanau, one of three dancing sisters and an original Jet girl was modest but forthcoming about her involvement in the show. Grover, of course, could have talked for hours, but everything he said was meaningful. He painted a beautiful portrait of how director Robbins worked closely with the male dancers to create the opening scene. Other great anecdotes as well. The master of ceremonies was a little cloying and missed what I felt were a few important points and did not name enough names of the original cast, but in the end, he did okay. Some good comments by the woman who is curating the Jerome Robbins exhibit that the library will unveil in late September of the year. Would like to talk to her as well. Yes, there are a million questions that I could envision myself asking Mr. Dale, Ms D'hanau, and any other member of the original cast who cared to comment. Will it happen? Like everything else this summer, just moving a long, one second at a time. Each moment reveals itself.
Still feeling ambivalent about the possible colonoscopy---have a date to see the internist for the first prep on August 9th. Things are a little better in terms of how I feel. so---well, we will see. Meanwhile today there is an important film and conference in East New York that I would like to go to, but that is an area that I have never been to before. Would have to take the 3 train to Van Siclen Avenue (second to last stop) and walk a bit. A little anxious about the trip, and leaving the community center, where the film and discussion are taking place, in the dark. Still, the subway is nearby and there is a bus that runs down the avenue of the venue that would take me to places that I know. Quite an adventure, but I really don't know if I am up to it. Will see how the day progresses.
After the presentation at Lincoln Center, I went to the Dive Bar on 106th street to eat. Not much happening, watched both baseball games---left feeling overpriced and unfulfilled. Maybe I should go back to the 96th street Dive Bar, but the newer one is always less crowded. Still, maybe a little more excitement at the 96th street one. Afterwards. walked along Amsterdam to 110th, still awed by the difference in the two populations that inhabit the block of Amsterdam between 109th and 110th. The long time Hispanic population live and seem to inhabit the southern end of the block, while its northern end has an outdoor restaurant that seems only for the wealthy. Not much else to say.
Anyway, will report on all events tomorrow.
Still feeling ambivalent about the possible colonoscopy---have a date to see the internist for the first prep on August 9th. Things are a little better in terms of how I feel. so---well, we will see. Meanwhile today there is an important film and conference in East New York that I would like to go to, but that is an area that I have never been to before. Would have to take the 3 train to Van Siclen Avenue (second to last stop) and walk a bit. A little anxious about the trip, and leaving the community center, where the film and discussion are taking place, in the dark. Still, the subway is nearby and there is a bus that runs down the avenue of the venue that would take me to places that I know. Quite an adventure, but I really don't know if I am up to it. Will see how the day progresses.
After the presentation at Lincoln Center, I went to the Dive Bar on 106th street to eat. Not much happening, watched both baseball games---left feeling overpriced and unfulfilled. Maybe I should go back to the 96th street Dive Bar, but the newer one is always less crowded. Still, maybe a little more excitement at the 96th street one. Afterwards. walked along Amsterdam to 110th, still awed by the difference in the two populations that inhabit the block of Amsterdam between 109th and 110th. The long time Hispanic population live and seem to inhabit the southern end of the block, while its northern end has an outdoor restaurant that seems only for the wealthy. Not much else to say.
Anyway, will report on all events tomorrow.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
feeling a little....
calmer today, but still thinking about what the colonoscopy means. For some reason, I see it as very threatening, not a positive action. I spoke to both Natalie and Jarrett about this last night, they were pretty cool and supportive what was happening, but need to discuss it further. Today I received my appointment with the internist who will prepare me for the procedure. It is August 9, two weeks from today exactly. This gives me some time to work my feelings through---also see if there is any improvement in my "condition" that is what sent me to the doctor in the first place. Meanwhile, a lot of other things are happening. On WNYC, there was a discussion that highlighted the frightening was those seeking asylum are treated by government agents. Have to feel a lot of compassion for those people,--I wish there was something I could do---well there is, I could make some contributions to groups trying to legally help the immigrants, and I have done that once. Now, with money pretty tight, it is not the time to make another contribution. Still, will think about it.
Ironically, my fears re the approaching colonoscopy did not prevent me from having great discussion with many people at the party Jarett and Natlie had at the club on 37th street. It is in a luxury building a little west of 10th avenue, on the second floor. Out of the way? It would seem so, but the place was packed---no place in the city offering drinks seems hard to find in this city at the moment. But really good conversations, I continue to be very impressed by my niece Natalie---she really tries to see the whole picture re everything that is going on. Anyway, there were a lot of interesting people there---many of them classmates of Jarrett from Horace Mann (2000) whom he has kept up with. I got there around 8, left around 11, and waited for the 11 bus to take me back to the apartment. A good night.
Earlier in the afternoon, I had met with Mitre, who works at Google (my first visit to the premises--lots of space---a lot of money easily spent to create it) to discuss a storyboard project. She would like me to participate in a dialogue with another New York person. Today, if I attend the West Side Story project at the library (if I get in) and my friend Jamie Sanchez the original Chino is there, I might ask him to have a dialogue with me for Story Corps. Not sure how I feel about that, will play it by ear.
Finally a few words about the West Side Story celebration which will take place in the Lincoln Center Library auditorium. I am excited to go, but also feel a bit detached---although I live or die by what information I can still glean from the creation of that work from its original cast (an amazing group of people by the way) my present life is so interesting with all the interaction I am having, I am wondering if I may have reached my saturation point with the musical. Well, since I don't have a reserved seat, the plan is to join the line about 4 45 and wait until 6 in the hope I get in. Long line? Not sure, but should be interesting. Will report tomorrow.
Ironically, my fears re the approaching colonoscopy did not prevent me from having great discussion with many people at the party Jarett and Natlie had at the club on 37th street. It is in a luxury building a little west of 10th avenue, on the second floor. Out of the way? It would seem so, but the place was packed---no place in the city offering drinks seems hard to find in this city at the moment. But really good conversations, I continue to be very impressed by my niece Natalie---she really tries to see the whole picture re everything that is going on. Anyway, there were a lot of interesting people there---many of them classmates of Jarrett from Horace Mann (2000) whom he has kept up with. I got there around 8, left around 11, and waited for the 11 bus to take me back to the apartment. A good night.
Earlier in the afternoon, I had met with Mitre, who works at Google (my first visit to the premises--lots of space---a lot of money easily spent to create it) to discuss a storyboard project. She would like me to participate in a dialogue with another New York person. Today, if I attend the West Side Story project at the library (if I get in) and my friend Jamie Sanchez the original Chino is there, I might ask him to have a dialogue with me for Story Corps. Not sure how I feel about that, will play it by ear.
Finally a few words about the West Side Story celebration which will take place in the Lincoln Center Library auditorium. I am excited to go, but also feel a bit detached---although I live or die by what information I can still glean from the creation of that work from its original cast (an amazing group of people by the way) my present life is so interesting with all the interaction I am having, I am wondering if I may have reached my saturation point with the musical. Well, since I don't have a reserved seat, the plan is to join the line about 4 45 and wait until 6 in the hope I get in. Long line? Not sure, but should be interesting. Will report tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
cityboy gets the news....
Early this morning, cityboy went to a clinic on West 97 street to speak to a doctor about some internal problems he had been experiencing. The doctor listened, then insisted that cityboy undergo a colonoscopy. Frightening! Cityboy has avoided this for so long, with no consequences, but the complaint that I went to the doctor with is real, and if the colonoscopy is the only way of checking this complaint out--maybe making it meaningless, I guess it must be done. Hopefully soon.
Still, it casts a pall over me and over the summer. The idea of spending the day before the procedure at home, isolated, is pretty scary. Could not do it in 05; it turns out it was not necessary---unless things change, it should be necessary---is it that hard to deal with, which friend should I ask for support---reach out---this all has to be figured out. I do not like to be tampered with physically. The good news is that the doctor gave me a brief check up and found absolutely nothing. He said he was 99 percent sure that I was healthy, but that I should do it anyway. So let's see what happens, and who I discuss this with.
Yesterday, before this all happened, did go to South fourth for bartender Mark's last movie, Kubrick's 2001. I really did not concentrate on the whole thing--but the images that I saw were extremely strong. A lot of conversation during the movie--in the end, one of the patrons got carried away and annoyed me before he left. This made the last part of the evening unsettling. I left and wandered around north Willaimsburg a bit before returning home, kind of tired.
Today, an "interview" with a woman who wants to talk about the changes in the city over the past -----years. Should be interesting, then "hanging out" with Jarett and Natalie and their friends at a bar in midtown--that should be my evening event. Hopefully a lot of good conversation, also Jarett has had some stomach problems of his own; maybe he could give me some supportive advice about the approaching colonoscopy. Should be interesting, will report soon.
Still, it casts a pall over me and over the summer. The idea of spending the day before the procedure at home, isolated, is pretty scary. Could not do it in 05; it turns out it was not necessary---unless things change, it should be necessary---is it that hard to deal with, which friend should I ask for support---reach out---this all has to be figured out. I do not like to be tampered with physically. The good news is that the doctor gave me a brief check up and found absolutely nothing. He said he was 99 percent sure that I was healthy, but that I should do it anyway. So let's see what happens, and who I discuss this with.
Yesterday, before this all happened, did go to South fourth for bartender Mark's last movie, Kubrick's 2001. I really did not concentrate on the whole thing--but the images that I saw were extremely strong. A lot of conversation during the movie--in the end, one of the patrons got carried away and annoyed me before he left. This made the last part of the evening unsettling. I left and wandered around north Willaimsburg a bit before returning home, kind of tired.
Today, an "interview" with a woman who wants to talk about the changes in the city over the past -----years. Should be interesting, then "hanging out" with Jarett and Natalie and their friends at a bar in midtown--that should be my evening event. Hopefully a lot of good conversation, also Jarett has had some stomach problems of his own; maybe he could give me some supportive advice about the approaching colonoscopy. Should be interesting, will report soon.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
so there I was.....
first at the BAN meeting and then at my niece's performance at Studio (I know that is not the right name for it) 54. Quite a strange juxtaposition. The BAN meeting consolidated some issues around the march. I made a few statements that I feel helped. Lots of serious good people there. When I am at these meetings I feel very centered, very focused on adding what insight I can to the group. This, I feel is where I belong at this point in my life---dealing head on (as much as possible) with these issues. But I had to leave a little early to get to the performance---will be there next week for the full time.
On to Studio 54---I was amazed at the atmosphere of this place when I got there. An all white audience that seemed comfortable ordering the heavy prices---while the wait staff moved quickly and efficiently--but at least 7 out of the 10 servers in the room were black. They were all dressed in black, austere outfits, and while they did their job cleanly, they were so blatantly separated from the customers, I really felt like this was a scene from South Africa before Apartheid ended. Servers as servants. This appears to me as being openly racist---and if you feel that is too strong, at least you could call it "classist". Coming from the BAN meeting, lead by several very perceptive black and hispanic leaders, I was really shocked and put off by what I saw. Nobody in the room seemed particularly disturbed by it.
Then the show, the 10th anniversary of "The Search for Elle" the reality show. This is the one my niece Natalie participated in, and eight of the 12 original girls did a number with some patter in between. Natalie was terrific in her number; most of the other women were also profoundly good. While I was watching it, I was a little put off by the show's blatant self-congradulation, but there was much to be enjoyed. Amazingly enough, I could not identify any of the musical numbers that were sung---most were from current or ten years away musicals. Cityboy, you have really lost touch with the current musical theater; well who could blame me when there are so many other aspects of my life and theater to deal with. The original producer of the show Legally Blonde sat at my table, he was of course,ecstatic about the whole thing. Then the show ended and we "hung out".
And so began the third part of the evening, hanging out at Characters, the Irish bar across the street. This was the best part---a lot of my ill feelings about the performance or the complacent vision of the spectators at the show, vanished during this time. Natalie was there, her husband Jarett, and three or four of the other "Elles" Had some really nice and friendly conversations, my first time talking to Jarett in a while---he seems very friendly. Natalie is really terrific---she is terribly giving and always in a friendly place. A sweet natured warmth seems to radiate out of her. She copes with her life as an entertainer and its frustrations very easily. Just the walk with Natalie and Jarett as they waited to get a taxi back to the hotel they were staying in for the night, left me in a very positive place. It was about 1:00, but I walked back to the apartment from 54th and 8th to where I live.
So there you have it. A strange set of events. I wonder how others feel about the atmosphere at Studio 54. Can I challenge what I feel is other people's complacency? Is the venue an ugly mirror of the very "diversity" that Broadway likes to praise itself for? Once you challenge people who cut off whole ideas about race, what do you do then? More discussion is needed---let's see what happens.
On to Studio 54---I was amazed at the atmosphere of this place when I got there. An all white audience that seemed comfortable ordering the heavy prices---while the wait staff moved quickly and efficiently--but at least 7 out of the 10 servers in the room were black. They were all dressed in black, austere outfits, and while they did their job cleanly, they were so blatantly separated from the customers, I really felt like this was a scene from South Africa before Apartheid ended. Servers as servants. This appears to me as being openly racist---and if you feel that is too strong, at least you could call it "classist". Coming from the BAN meeting, lead by several very perceptive black and hispanic leaders, I was really shocked and put off by what I saw. Nobody in the room seemed particularly disturbed by it.
Then the show, the 10th anniversary of "The Search for Elle" the reality show. This is the one my niece Natalie participated in, and eight of the 12 original girls did a number with some patter in between. Natalie was terrific in her number; most of the other women were also profoundly good. While I was watching it, I was a little put off by the show's blatant self-congradulation, but there was much to be enjoyed. Amazingly enough, I could not identify any of the musical numbers that were sung---most were from current or ten years away musicals. Cityboy, you have really lost touch with the current musical theater; well who could blame me when there are so many other aspects of my life and theater to deal with. The original producer of the show Legally Blonde sat at my table, he was of course,ecstatic about the whole thing. Then the show ended and we "hung out".
And so began the third part of the evening, hanging out at Characters, the Irish bar across the street. This was the best part---a lot of my ill feelings about the performance or the complacent vision of the spectators at the show, vanished during this time. Natalie was there, her husband Jarett, and three or four of the other "Elles" Had some really nice and friendly conversations, my first time talking to Jarett in a while---he seems very friendly. Natalie is really terrific---she is terribly giving and always in a friendly place. A sweet natured warmth seems to radiate out of her. She copes with her life as an entertainer and its frustrations very easily. Just the walk with Natalie and Jarett as they waited to get a taxi back to the hotel they were staying in for the night, left me in a very positive place. It was about 1:00, but I walked back to the apartment from 54th and 8th to where I live.
So there you have it. A strange set of events. I wonder how others feel about the atmosphere at Studio 54. Can I challenge what I feel is other people's complacency? Is the venue an ugly mirror of the very "diversity" that Broadway likes to praise itself for? Once you challenge people who cut off whole ideas about race, what do you do then? More discussion is needed---let's see what happens.
Monday, July 23, 2018
Monday morning....
cloudy, a mishmash of ideas and feelings going through the brain of cityboy. This evening, he will deal with one of the oddest juxtapositions of events ever. First the BAN meeting, at 7, in which all sorts of problems with the ongoing pattern of gentrification will discussed,: I am sure we will hear about many injustices. Rage, rage, rage. But cityboy will leave early to attend (no kidding!) the tenth year anniversary show of Legally Blonde, the search for Elle, which includes his niece Natalie, a really terrific singer and actress. Talk about juxtaposition! From rage to stage. or something like that. The time at the BAN meeting will be difficult as cityboy listens to the complaints (valid) from the neighborhood groups that are participating in the march, and thinks about the rollicking upbeat "heat and joy" that he will experience at Studio 54, where the Elle celebration will be held. Well, report tomorrow will reveal all.
Saturday, did go to South fourth and "hung out" there for a while. Did not see my friend Harlo, maybe she will still be in the city tomorrow, when I go to the bar for the final film showing of the year. (It is 2001, which I have never seen. I have been scrupulously avoiding it, I guess I will have to face all of it or some of it tomorrow.). Still hard to rap my head around the bar closing, even as I have visited there less and less in the last few years, still see it as a resource for me when need it. I returned to the city, not sure of what was next, when I passed a coffee shop and saw, at the window, waving to me, Chelsea, a graduate of Friends, who was the barista there. So I went in, stayed for an hour, and when she was not getting coffee for others, compared notes with her. It was really nice to see her, and "hang'---she told me that she was moving soon to Bed-Stuy (where else?), and we will stay in touch, maybe have a beer or coffee together when she gets settled. At that point, cityboy decided to return to the upper west side, since the storm was predicted to be very intense. It wasn't, one could move around in it fairly easily, but I was tired, so returned home and stuck out the night.
The movie experience that I craved on Friday, but was denied me for two days, was finally given to me last night when I went to Metrograph (I love the energy at that place!) and saw Wanda, a movie by Barbara Loden. It is a terrific movie, about a woman moving around a group of small factory towns, mostly penniless, who finds men to go to motels with, as a way of surviving. A short be stronger relationship with an intense robber defines her a bit more and gives her a bit more to live for but when he is killed, she is forced to return to her drifter ways. Miss Loden is great in the title role, and playing off her is Michael Higgins as the robber. Ironically in the early nineties I met Mr. Higgins, a really nice guy, who lived in Stuyvesant Town. Before the movie, Ms. Loden, played Maggie, the character based on Marilyn Monroe, in Miller's After the Fall, when it opened at Lincoln Center. I saw her do the role four times, once with Jason Robards and three times with his replacement, Hal Holbrook. She was amazing! She died very young, sadly, the movie is a real testament to her talent. It was also nice to be absorbed in something other than baseball.
The earlier part of Sunday was spent at the two coffee house-bars I usually frequent: Cobra (nice to visit with my friend bartender Olivia) and South fourth where Clint, who usually does not bartend was bar tending for the day.
So that is it---a gap of time between now and the BAN meeting, will probably return to the apartment and rest a bit, as time moves forward. Then off to BAN and the Legally Blonde celebration. Will report tomorrow.
Saturday, did go to South fourth and "hung out" there for a while. Did not see my friend Harlo, maybe she will still be in the city tomorrow, when I go to the bar for the final film showing of the year. (It is 2001, which I have never seen. I have been scrupulously avoiding it, I guess I will have to face all of it or some of it tomorrow.). Still hard to rap my head around the bar closing, even as I have visited there less and less in the last few years, still see it as a resource for me when need it. I returned to the city, not sure of what was next, when I passed a coffee shop and saw, at the window, waving to me, Chelsea, a graduate of Friends, who was the barista there. So I went in, stayed for an hour, and when she was not getting coffee for others, compared notes with her. It was really nice to see her, and "hang'---she told me that she was moving soon to Bed-Stuy (where else?), and we will stay in touch, maybe have a beer or coffee together when she gets settled. At that point, cityboy decided to return to the upper west side, since the storm was predicted to be very intense. It wasn't, one could move around in it fairly easily, but I was tired, so returned home and stuck out the night.
The movie experience that I craved on Friday, but was denied me for two days, was finally given to me last night when I went to Metrograph (I love the energy at that place!) and saw Wanda, a movie by Barbara Loden. It is a terrific movie, about a woman moving around a group of small factory towns, mostly penniless, who finds men to go to motels with, as a way of surviving. A short be stronger relationship with an intense robber defines her a bit more and gives her a bit more to live for but when he is killed, she is forced to return to her drifter ways. Miss Loden is great in the title role, and playing off her is Michael Higgins as the robber. Ironically in the early nineties I met Mr. Higgins, a really nice guy, who lived in Stuyvesant Town. Before the movie, Ms. Loden, played Maggie, the character based on Marilyn Monroe, in Miller's After the Fall, when it opened at Lincoln Center. I saw her do the role four times, once with Jason Robards and three times with his replacement, Hal Holbrook. She was amazing! She died very young, sadly, the movie is a real testament to her talent. It was also nice to be absorbed in something other than baseball.
The earlier part of Sunday was spent at the two coffee house-bars I usually frequent: Cobra (nice to visit with my friend bartender Olivia) and South fourth where Clint, who usually does not bartend was bar tending for the day.
So that is it---a gap of time between now and the BAN meeting, will probably return to the apartment and rest a bit, as time moves forward. Then off to BAN and the Legally Blonde celebration. Will report tomorrow.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
need to clear my mind....
this Saturday morning. Woke up very tired, better now, no "must" plans for the day, but a lot of options. One of the most alluring: to be by myself and just wander through Brooklyn. Not even sure where. But just need to "clear my mind". So many options, so many ideas of what to do, so many choices, even as there are still six full weeks to Labor Day. But somehow, all I wish for now is some space.
Just got an e-mail from my actor friend Ben. He has been canvassing and phone banking for a progressive candidate for State Senate. He asked me if I wanted to join him. I e mailed him back that at this point I found it impossible, that my commitment to BAN was first and foremost---but that I might join him as we got closer to the primary on September 13. At the same time I received an e mail from the Julia Salazar campaign, urging me to help them. Would really like to---she is the Bushwick candidate against the "normal" democratic candidate and her voice is really needed in Albany. But will I have time, or energy?
Interesting movie choices today. I would really like to push myself to see Wanda---not sure how I can incorporate it into the rest of my day. I should visit South fourth---my friend Harlo is leaving on a business trip and will miss the final week. I would like to spend a little time with her before she goes---do not know where she (and other South fourth regulars) will re-locate after the bar closes on the 31st. Also, possible, but probably not what I will see is a movie of New York Export, Opus Jazz, the piece that has been in my mind since high school, you know what it is, a movie of the first project Jerome Robbins undertook after West Side Story. He got a group of young dancers together, including four dancers from West Side: Gene Gavin, Jay Norman, Wilma Curley and Tommy Abbot., and choreographed this forty minute piece for them. I have seen it many times, and also saw the movie earlier when it was shown in an independent movie festival in Brooklyn. It is a strange piece, after the intense physical passion of the musical, you never see men and women bonding in this piece. It creates a no feeling zone that I find off putting and disappointing. Nevertheless, feel attracted to this piece. But I probably won't go to the movie, or other movies, some that appear very interesting in the Dance on Camera festival that the Bunin is showing. Just another in one of the exhausting possibilities that today offers.
After this, what? A beautiful Saturday afternoon awaits cityboy. At this moment, simply can't conceive of a plan. I am reading a very interesting book (non-fiction) about the history of Cabrini Green, a project built in Chicago in the early fifties to alleviate the horrible conditions most black residents of Chicago lived in prior to that. Very intense, will continue reading this on my journey, don't get too wet this evening, ciyboy.
Just got an e-mail from my actor friend Ben. He has been canvassing and phone banking for a progressive candidate for State Senate. He asked me if I wanted to join him. I e mailed him back that at this point I found it impossible, that my commitment to BAN was first and foremost---but that I might join him as we got closer to the primary on September 13. At the same time I received an e mail from the Julia Salazar campaign, urging me to help them. Would really like to---she is the Bushwick candidate against the "normal" democratic candidate and her voice is really needed in Albany. But will I have time, or energy?
Interesting movie choices today. I would really like to push myself to see Wanda---not sure how I can incorporate it into the rest of my day. I should visit South fourth---my friend Harlo is leaving on a business trip and will miss the final week. I would like to spend a little time with her before she goes---do not know where she (and other South fourth regulars) will re-locate after the bar closes on the 31st. Also, possible, but probably not what I will see is a movie of New York Export, Opus Jazz, the piece that has been in my mind since high school, you know what it is, a movie of the first project Jerome Robbins undertook after West Side Story. He got a group of young dancers together, including four dancers from West Side: Gene Gavin, Jay Norman, Wilma Curley and Tommy Abbot., and choreographed this forty minute piece for them. I have seen it many times, and also saw the movie earlier when it was shown in an independent movie festival in Brooklyn. It is a strange piece, after the intense physical passion of the musical, you never see men and women bonding in this piece. It creates a no feeling zone that I find off putting and disappointing. Nevertheless, feel attracted to this piece. But I probably won't go to the movie, or other movies, some that appear very interesting in the Dance on Camera festival that the Bunin is showing. Just another in one of the exhausting possibilities that today offers.
After this, what? A beautiful Saturday afternoon awaits cityboy. At this moment, simply can't conceive of a plan. I am reading a very interesting book (non-fiction) about the history of Cabrini Green, a project built in Chicago in the early fifties to alleviate the horrible conditions most black residents of Chicago lived in prior to that. Very intense, will continue reading this on my journey, don't get too wet this evening, ciyboy.
Friday, July 20, 2018
still have not heard from....
Tessa if she is available for me to visit in DC the weekend of the 17th. Would love to confirm that cheap (49.00) Amtrak ticket that is available so far. But I will wait.
Yesterday, quite an interesting day after I left the library. First was the debate. Should I see Visconti's The Leopard or Variety by a female director. The latter is a film made in the early eighties. Variety won out, and around 4:30 I ventured down to the Quad to get my ticket. Now they are $13.00 not $12.00 for seniors. Oh well, one has to have one's "art". Right? Anyway, while I was waiting, I had an interesting talk with a playwright named Allan, and then, to my surprise, met my friend Ben, who was also seeing the movie. Nice conversation with him, and later with the woman, whom, I assume, he is now involved with. A Faulkner scholar, no less. Then came the movie, a beautifully shot sometimes ponderous, sometimes fascinating take on Vertigo, except this time the woman is the wonderer, the pursuer. A little obscure while I was watching it, but now as I remember it, there are mesmerizing moments as well. Glad I made the trip, nice to "hang" with Ben, again.
Then it was a question of where to go. I chose La Flaca, have not been there in a while, and I am glad I did. Had a good discussion with owner Bob, now, one of my oldest friends in the city, and relaxed, and watched the Cubs-Cardinals game. Nice to see Raquel, who also works and bartends there as well. A good choice.
Natalie, my niece arrives Sunday for a week. She will be staying at her husband's parents' apartment which is only a block away from me. Monday is her "Legally Blonde" performance and I should be able to spend some time with her later in the week. What about before that, meaning today and tomorrow? Choices abound---I would really like to see a few movies---Wanda, the only movie made by Barbara Loden is at Metrograph---that is a movie I should really see, as well as a few others. Will it happen? Would love to just "hang" at a few bars this evening as well. Will report soon.
Yesterday, quite an interesting day after I left the library. First was the debate. Should I see Visconti's The Leopard or Variety by a female director. The latter is a film made in the early eighties. Variety won out, and around 4:30 I ventured down to the Quad to get my ticket. Now they are $13.00 not $12.00 for seniors. Oh well, one has to have one's "art". Right? Anyway, while I was waiting, I had an interesting talk with a playwright named Allan, and then, to my surprise, met my friend Ben, who was also seeing the movie. Nice conversation with him, and later with the woman, whom, I assume, he is now involved with. A Faulkner scholar, no less. Then came the movie, a beautifully shot sometimes ponderous, sometimes fascinating take on Vertigo, except this time the woman is the wonderer, the pursuer. A little obscure while I was watching it, but now as I remember it, there are mesmerizing moments as well. Glad I made the trip, nice to "hang" with Ben, again.
Then it was a question of where to go. I chose La Flaca, have not been there in a while, and I am glad I did. Had a good discussion with owner Bob, now, one of my oldest friends in the city, and relaxed, and watched the Cubs-Cardinals game. Nice to see Raquel, who also works and bartends there as well. A good choice.
Natalie, my niece arrives Sunday for a week. She will be staying at her husband's parents' apartment which is only a block away from me. Monday is her "Legally Blonde" performance and I should be able to spend some time with her later in the week. What about before that, meaning today and tomorrow? Choices abound---I would really like to see a few movies---Wanda, the only movie made by Barbara Loden is at Metrograph---that is a movie I should really see, as well as a few others. Will it happen? Would love to just "hang" at a few bars this evening as well. Will report soon.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
cityboy is excited....
about a possible trip to DC in four weeks. Just looked at Amtrak rates (reasonable but for how long) and some hotel rates, which also seemed to work. Just need the word from my friend Tessa, that she will be available that weekend. All of a sudden the thought of travel (something I have put off so far this summer) sends a rush! Have to control yourself, cityboy, calm down, you still have a few weeks to get through. Let's see if Tessa is available.
Last night: quite a night, arrived at 700 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn around 6:15, already Imani and Ariella from BAN were there with signs. Took one immediately, and stayed until 8. There were four of us at the beginning, by the time I left there must have been about 20 protesters. Great spirit, several of the group stood in the street and encouraged cars driving by to honk in support. It usually happened. Also, I had some good conversations with tenants of 700, and other tenants of the same landlords, experiencing the same harassment. Still a horrible thing. The energy was angry and potent. Really glad I came.
Now a few words about Ocean Avenue---it is dense with apartment houses, wondering when they all changed, wondering if my parents had taught in Brooklyn, if I would have been raised in one of those apartments. I seem to have a hunger to walk around that neighborhood. (that is Ocean south from Church to...). Would love to talk to someone who has lived in that neighborhood for over fifty years.
Still, that was not to be the end of the evening. I had made a commitment to Mark at South Fourth to come to the opening of his mini-exhibit, and so the task was to travel from Flatbush to South Williamsburg playing by the rules (which in that case meant never leaving Brooklyn). Also hunger overtook me and I had to P. So how did I do it? The Q from Church to DeKalb. Off at DeKalb to use the BRIC bathroom (open late) then east on Fulton to my favorite Pizza store (on the north side of the street) and then, fully sated, to the G which took me to the Broadway stop. No bus in sight, I walked from Broadway and Union to South fourth, a little longer walk then I expected. Arrived, bar was semi-filled with those that I knew and did not know---had a beer, talked to a few people, observed Mark's work---very clever---and, around 10 returned home, very tired.
What I took from last night: A sense of strength---very proud of myself for being at the rally, standing outside the house with the other folk, some who lived there and were angry and others who were just supporting them. Sticking it out and joining the chants for one and three quarter hours. felt that way when I awoke this morning---very strong. Will continue to participate in BAN events, leading up to the march on September 15.
What about today? Not sure, lots of movies to check out (actually more tomorrow), after this time in the library will see how I feel. Have not gone to the Kubrick photo exhibit at Museum of the City of NY, today might be the day. Funny, it seems easier to get to parts of Brooklyn then to travel from 76th to 103rd and fifth. Too many gradations. Well, we will see what is possible, will report tomorrow.
Last night: quite a night, arrived at 700 Ocean Avenue in Brooklyn around 6:15, already Imani and Ariella from BAN were there with signs. Took one immediately, and stayed until 8. There were four of us at the beginning, by the time I left there must have been about 20 protesters. Great spirit, several of the group stood in the street and encouraged cars driving by to honk in support. It usually happened. Also, I had some good conversations with tenants of 700, and other tenants of the same landlords, experiencing the same harassment. Still a horrible thing. The energy was angry and potent. Really glad I came.
Now a few words about Ocean Avenue---it is dense with apartment houses, wondering when they all changed, wondering if my parents had taught in Brooklyn, if I would have been raised in one of those apartments. I seem to have a hunger to walk around that neighborhood. (that is Ocean south from Church to...). Would love to talk to someone who has lived in that neighborhood for over fifty years.
Still, that was not to be the end of the evening. I had made a commitment to Mark at South Fourth to come to the opening of his mini-exhibit, and so the task was to travel from Flatbush to South Williamsburg playing by the rules (which in that case meant never leaving Brooklyn). Also hunger overtook me and I had to P. So how did I do it? The Q from Church to DeKalb. Off at DeKalb to use the BRIC bathroom (open late) then east on Fulton to my favorite Pizza store (on the north side of the street) and then, fully sated, to the G which took me to the Broadway stop. No bus in sight, I walked from Broadway and Union to South fourth, a little longer walk then I expected. Arrived, bar was semi-filled with those that I knew and did not know---had a beer, talked to a few people, observed Mark's work---very clever---and, around 10 returned home, very tired.
What I took from last night: A sense of strength---very proud of myself for being at the rally, standing outside the house with the other folk, some who lived there and were angry and others who were just supporting them. Sticking it out and joining the chants for one and three quarter hours. felt that way when I awoke this morning---very strong. Will continue to participate in BAN events, leading up to the march on September 15.
What about today? Not sure, lots of movies to check out (actually more tomorrow), after this time in the library will see how I feel. Have not gone to the Kubrick photo exhibit at Museum of the City of NY, today might be the day. Funny, it seems easier to get to parts of Brooklyn then to travel from 76th to 103rd and fifth. Too many gradations. Well, we will see what is possible, will report tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
refreshed.....
as this is a beautiful summer day, and cityboy is pushing aside all the unpleasant thoughts from the external world (you know what world that is) at this given moment. The structure of today is set---a visit to Brooklyn followed by a BAN demonstration at Ocean Avenue, followed by the opening of an art exhibit at South Forth---and an interesting bus ride to get from the demonstration to the art opening (any ideas? Cityboy will figure it out later)
Yesterday, did attend the On Whiteness project at the Kitchen---got there in the rain. The lobby was filled with about 20 books dealing with the issues of racism in all its forms. I discovered two interesting books that I would like to check out: one called Between Barack and Hard Place, and to a book called Good White People. Will see if they are in the Manhattan catalog after the computer is exited. The performance by a group of black-latino-muslim actors who call themselves the Woodshed project, which was the centerpiece of the evening was disappointing. Instead of a vision of seriousness, the group seemed self-congradulatory, calling out to their friends as the program began. The rest of the program which consisted of some poems, a discussion among the group, a q and a, and then more poems, brought forth some interesting ideas, though scattered, but also never quite achieved a seriousness which I had hoped for when I chose to come to this event. Of course, maybe that is me---some of the discussions were extremely heart felt, maybe I just did not pick up on the feelings the individuals projected. Nevertheless, I left the Kitchen feeling disappointed.
I was tired after that, but hungry. I rejected the two places where I knew the wait service people---Dive 95 and Lansdowne Road, and opted instead for the Greek Diner on 23rd a little east of 7th. Tried and true---their blt was reasonable and I think I needed to be alone after the event at the Kitchen. I also read a great article in the Brooklyn Rail, by a writer named Christopher Stackhouse that describes a kind of "passive liberalism" that I find upsetting.
So that is the report---tune in tomorrow for a run down of today's events.
Yesterday, did attend the On Whiteness project at the Kitchen---got there in the rain. The lobby was filled with about 20 books dealing with the issues of racism in all its forms. I discovered two interesting books that I would like to check out: one called Between Barack and Hard Place, and to a book called Good White People. Will see if they are in the Manhattan catalog after the computer is exited. The performance by a group of black-latino-muslim actors who call themselves the Woodshed project, which was the centerpiece of the evening was disappointing. Instead of a vision of seriousness, the group seemed self-congradulatory, calling out to their friends as the program began. The rest of the program which consisted of some poems, a discussion among the group, a q and a, and then more poems, brought forth some interesting ideas, though scattered, but also never quite achieved a seriousness which I had hoped for when I chose to come to this event. Of course, maybe that is me---some of the discussions were extremely heart felt, maybe I just did not pick up on the feelings the individuals projected. Nevertheless, I left the Kitchen feeling disappointed.
I was tired after that, but hungry. I rejected the two places where I knew the wait service people---Dive 95 and Lansdowne Road, and opted instead for the Greek Diner on 23rd a little east of 7th. Tried and true---their blt was reasonable and I think I needed to be alone after the event at the Kitchen. I also read a great article in the Brooklyn Rail, by a writer named Christopher Stackhouse that describes a kind of "passive liberalism" that I find upsetting.
So that is the report---tune in tomorrow for a run down of today's events.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
tired...
at this given moment as I sit in the library at the computer. Why? Hectic schedule the last few days? The heat? Sitting in one place (body does not like it) Not sure
Yesterday, went to the BAN meeting. Accomplished a lot---plans for the march. A few people of importance missing (that is always the way it is) but things got done. Feel like I made one or two important contributions. Next two meetings are conflict days for me, but I may be able to get to the first three quarters of the meeting.
Tired after that and a little bloated, nevertheless went to the Dive on 106th street. Bartender Samantha was there. She is leaving to go to Saint Louis to alternate in the role of Evita, starting in August. A pretty reputable theater, Evita will be followed by Doll's House II ( I still have not read that play) and then some other stuff. Looks very much like the usual regional fare, one serious, one trivial, don't do anything truly offbeat. All these theaters locked into a "conservative" vision. Anyway, we had a nice talk; I told her that my niece Natalie is coming in next week for the Legally Blonde reunion. Samantha also is auditioning for Clueless the musical, that Natalie also has an appointment for. Stayed for about an hour, glad I did, then returned to the apartment. Home run derby on the TV's. Very uninteresting.
Natalie comes in for a week starting Sunday. She and her husband Jared will be staying very close to my aparatment. I will go to the second Legally Blonde reunion at Downstairs 54, then probably see her in the middle of the week. Should be fun, and different.
Today will visit the Kitchen; they have an exhibition entitled On Whiteness. Will get there about 5, then there is a discussion in reference to that by a theater group that I have not seen. That is at 7. Want to remain for that---made a reservation, have had no response, but will go anyway. This means I will miss "Mark's movie" at South fourth, which I usually go to. Sorry, would love to hang out there, but this seems more important. After that....not sure.
That is all for now...will report tomorrow.
Yesterday, went to the BAN meeting. Accomplished a lot---plans for the march. A few people of importance missing (that is always the way it is) but things got done. Feel like I made one or two important contributions. Next two meetings are conflict days for me, but I may be able to get to the first three quarters of the meeting.
Tired after that and a little bloated, nevertheless went to the Dive on 106th street. Bartender Samantha was there. She is leaving to go to Saint Louis to alternate in the role of Evita, starting in August. A pretty reputable theater, Evita will be followed by Doll's House II ( I still have not read that play) and then some other stuff. Looks very much like the usual regional fare, one serious, one trivial, don't do anything truly offbeat. All these theaters locked into a "conservative" vision. Anyway, we had a nice talk; I told her that my niece Natalie is coming in next week for the Legally Blonde reunion. Samantha also is auditioning for Clueless the musical, that Natalie also has an appointment for. Stayed for about an hour, glad I did, then returned to the apartment. Home run derby on the TV's. Very uninteresting.
Natalie comes in for a week starting Sunday. She and her husband Jared will be staying very close to my aparatment. I will go to the second Legally Blonde reunion at Downstairs 54, then probably see her in the middle of the week. Should be fun, and different.
Today will visit the Kitchen; they have an exhibition entitled On Whiteness. Will get there about 5, then there is a discussion in reference to that by a theater group that I have not seen. That is at 7. Want to remain for that---made a reservation, have had no response, but will go anyway. This means I will miss "Mark's movie" at South fourth, which I usually go to. Sorry, would love to hang out there, but this seems more important. After that....not sure.
That is all for now...will report tomorrow.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Saturday's theater...
as I promised, a report on the two projects I saw Saturday afternoon and night. They could not have been more different. The PTP (the acronym for the theater) project was two one acts, one by Caryl Churchill and the other by Howard Barker. The one other PTP project that I saw was in 2015---a very strong and vivid production of his Scenes from an Execution. Sadly this grouping of four pieces was pretty bland---over intellectual, and the Churchill play, originally written for radio was long and arduous. My friend Tara was very good, working her way through the heavy laden plot (she was the protagonist) and it was nice to see her afterwards. Others in the cast were excellent as well, in fact one could really admire the cast's commitment to the work. But the endless english accents---it is so counterproductive, in my opinion to have american actors imitate Great Britaners ad nauseum---so much energy used for so little. And a greater question. Why does this theater exist? The place was over half filled, so there is some audience for their work but one can't help wondering if their infatuation with all (or most) playwrights British is really necessary. Well, I guess its just a sign of the times, everyone is doing theater nowadays, and feels entitled to do it. Seems like there are enough people to patronize these offerings, so what can one do.
That evening, a completely different experience, life affirming, vivid, challenging, alive, I am talking about the Twelfth Night at the Delacort. A wonderful musical version, using about 50 people, 5 Equity actors and the others, (some really terrific) from Public Works, an institution that has been part of the Public's vision for the last six years. The music and lyrics really enlarged Shakepeare's vision ( quite and accomplishment) the songs built on what Shakespeare created. Great cast--I am really lucky that my friend Kim, whom I have known for 11 years now, decided to become involved with ASL , and through that, joined the staff of this production. I went out feeling wonderful; afterwards, Kim, Clint and myself had a pizza at Pizzeria Uno and a long discussion about the piece. It was a dress rehearsal, but in incredible shape, and its use of all the neighborhood people who participate in the production was totally relaxed and organic.
Yesterday, spent a lot of the early day just reovering, then off to South fourth where I "hung" with Tommy, a musician friend and his girl friend a Riverdale person and social worker. So there was a lot to talk about, and Rhonda ( the girl friend) invited me to visit a bar she likes 248th street near where she lives. One of the many bars I should check out before the summer ends.
Then a reading at Bushwick Starr' a play written by a friend, kind of abstruse, but it was nice to be there---one disappointment, a woman friend of mine waved to me, but did not stay around to talk to me afterwards, that disappointed me. But I will probably see her again at the party scheduled for the 28th. Finished the evening across the street at Starr Bar---ordered a coke, was given it gladly,(i think the bar by now knows that I am the "coke" person---well it is an activist bar, and activists must stay sober) but the bar was pretty empty and no conversation was available. Finally took the L home.
Taking it easy today until the BAN meeting tonight at 7. Afterwards may visit with a bartender at the Dive Bar on 106th street. Hope she is still there-I should be pretty rested to visit there after the meeting. Will report tomorrow.
That evening, a completely different experience, life affirming, vivid, challenging, alive, I am talking about the Twelfth Night at the Delacort. A wonderful musical version, using about 50 people, 5 Equity actors and the others, (some really terrific) from Public Works, an institution that has been part of the Public's vision for the last six years. The music and lyrics really enlarged Shakepeare's vision ( quite and accomplishment) the songs built on what Shakespeare created. Great cast--I am really lucky that my friend Kim, whom I have known for 11 years now, decided to become involved with ASL , and through that, joined the staff of this production. I went out feeling wonderful; afterwards, Kim, Clint and myself had a pizza at Pizzeria Uno and a long discussion about the piece. It was a dress rehearsal, but in incredible shape, and its use of all the neighborhood people who participate in the production was totally relaxed and organic.
Yesterday, spent a lot of the early day just reovering, then off to South fourth where I "hung" with Tommy, a musician friend and his girl friend a Riverdale person and social worker. So there was a lot to talk about, and Rhonda ( the girl friend) invited me to visit a bar she likes 248th street near where she lives. One of the many bars I should check out before the summer ends.
Then a reading at Bushwick Starr' a play written by a friend, kind of abstruse, but it was nice to be there---one disappointment, a woman friend of mine waved to me, but did not stay around to talk to me afterwards, that disappointed me. But I will probably see her again at the party scheduled for the 28th. Finished the evening across the street at Starr Bar---ordered a coke, was given it gladly,(i think the bar by now knows that I am the "coke" person---well it is an activist bar, and activists must stay sober) but the bar was pretty empty and no conversation was available. Finally took the L home.
Taking it easy today until the BAN meeting tonight at 7. Afterwards may visit with a bartender at the Dive Bar on 106th street. Hope she is still there-I should be pretty rested to visit there after the meeting. Will report tomorrow.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
disgusted.....
after reading an article in Gotham Gazette (actually this is the second time i have read it) about police surveillance in the city that we,its citizens do not know about. It is part of a larger article that states that for all their talk about protecting immigrants,there are many ways they can be arbitrarily tracked. So much for "progressive" vision of the mayor. Again, cityboy experiences a feeling of helplessness, or what is the point of focusing on anything else---in comparison to that, all my personal "reports"seem trivial. On the other hand, as I stated in an earlier blog, people are helping the refugees struggling for asylum. This seems to have created a lot of passion. I guess that might be a nice counter to what I have just written.
Still, life goes on, I have events to participate in this afternoon and evening, and will possibly get a lot of pleasure from both theater projects that are before me. But what is to be done?
Last night was spent mostly at South Fourth. Important for me to make sure that Mark knew the way to the Delacort for tonight (he does). Now, however, a text tells me he is not going---Clint, my friend is, so that should make things easier. I spent about 5 hours at South fourth, good conversations with many people, so new friends and some old. Everyone is trying to figure out the next move after the sad closing of South fourth on the 31st. Other bars? Coordination? Just life in the city, right? After the closing I will probably spend more time at La Flaca, I have not been there as much recently as I would have liked. Well, we will see how it all plays out.
Today in the afternoon, the double bill at the Potamac Theater project that my friend Tara is in, and this evening, the invited dress for the Shakespeare musical. That really sounds interesting, Will report soon.
Still, life goes on, I have events to participate in this afternoon and evening, and will possibly get a lot of pleasure from both theater projects that are before me. But what is to be done?
Last night was spent mostly at South Fourth. Important for me to make sure that Mark knew the way to the Delacort for tonight (he does). Now, however, a text tells me he is not going---Clint, my friend is, so that should make things easier. I spent about 5 hours at South fourth, good conversations with many people, so new friends and some old. Everyone is trying to figure out the next move after the sad closing of South fourth on the 31st. Other bars? Coordination? Just life in the city, right? After the closing I will probably spend more time at La Flaca, I have not been there as much recently as I would have liked. Well, we will see how it all plays out.
Today in the afternoon, the double bill at the Potamac Theater project that my friend Tara is in, and this evening, the invited dress for the Shakespeare musical. That really sounds interesting, Will report soon.
Friday, July 13, 2018
"wasted" night?
I am referring to last night and my "adventure" in same. Actually not much of an adventure, and disappointments in certain areas, but not wasted by any means.
By 7, I was pretty tired; probably still recovering from Wednesday night's long trip from Wycoff Myrtle to the upper west side. I was anxious to share my reports from Saturday evening with bartender Hannah at the 106th street Dive Bar, and it was a short trip from the apartment, so I went there. Both baseball games were on, and I ordered a beer. Hannah was happy to get my reports; also told me about her move from one apartment to another in the upper Harlem area, but the bar got crowded quickly, so it was impossible to continue the conversation. I settled in and watched both games, but got restless quickly, then ordered an enormous wedge salad--- loaded with blue cheese---I was not that hungry but wanted to continue at the bar, and watched a few more innings of both games. The salad was about $12.00, much more then I hoped to spend, and I was a little annoyed at myself for ordering it--but if one peruses the many bar menus around the low 100 area on the upper west side, one will find it almost impossible to find any item under $10.00; perhaps french fries. Yes, it is a monopoly, and anyone wanting to sit at a bar and eat (you can still drink) for less then $10.00 is totally excluded. Annoyed at not finding much conversation while I was watching the game, I left at around 8:30 and decided to wander the neighborhood.
Rather than going north to Columbia, I walked east on 110th street---my first stop was the Amerista Cafe, a cozy place where I thought I might grab a cup of coffee. I did, and it was the worst coffee I had ever tasted---luke warm, flavorless--just horrifying. Yet cityboy did not feel like confronting the barista-bartender who gave it to him---guess it would have been thankless. So he moved on.
Some thoughts about 110th street between Manhattan and CPW. A few new luxury apartments, and then right on the northeast corner of 110 and 8th is a glitzy new condo. Amazing! Twenty years ago and back, one would not have even felt comfortable near the street, now this expensive condo, and a twin that goes south to 111th street exist there. From there I continued north on 8th to 116th street. That stretch is an contains two city projects almost next to many new luxury buildings. Beer houses next to Duncan Donuts. Revelers (mostly white) next to older natives of the area doing their laundry or getting groceries from the still remaining bodegas. Continued to the large outdoor bar-restaurant on 116th. That was far enough. Then I walked back via 8th 110th, to Columbus to 106th---kind of deserted---and then west to Broadway. The bus took me the rest of the way home.
Have just sent an e-mail to a city planning executive protesting the possible high rise that a realty company wants to build near the Botanical Garden that would cast a shadow over the garden (not to mention stress the near by subway stations far past the limit). The brutal vision of these realtors is not to be believed, even worse the way the mayor's administration tries to help them at every turn. Where will it end?
Plans for tonight? Probably start off at South fourth to discuss plans for tomorrow at the Delacort with Mark who is joining me there. A few protests to go to---but I probably will stay at the bar as long as the conversation flows, then figure out the next move. Will report tomorrow.
By 7, I was pretty tired; probably still recovering from Wednesday night's long trip from Wycoff Myrtle to the upper west side. I was anxious to share my reports from Saturday evening with bartender Hannah at the 106th street Dive Bar, and it was a short trip from the apartment, so I went there. Both baseball games were on, and I ordered a beer. Hannah was happy to get my reports; also told me about her move from one apartment to another in the upper Harlem area, but the bar got crowded quickly, so it was impossible to continue the conversation. I settled in and watched both games, but got restless quickly, then ordered an enormous wedge salad--- loaded with blue cheese---I was not that hungry but wanted to continue at the bar, and watched a few more innings of both games. The salad was about $12.00, much more then I hoped to spend, and I was a little annoyed at myself for ordering it--but if one peruses the many bar menus around the low 100 area on the upper west side, one will find it almost impossible to find any item under $10.00; perhaps french fries. Yes, it is a monopoly, and anyone wanting to sit at a bar and eat (you can still drink) for less then $10.00 is totally excluded. Annoyed at not finding much conversation while I was watching the game, I left at around 8:30 and decided to wander the neighborhood.
Rather than going north to Columbia, I walked east on 110th street---my first stop was the Amerista Cafe, a cozy place where I thought I might grab a cup of coffee. I did, and it was the worst coffee I had ever tasted---luke warm, flavorless--just horrifying. Yet cityboy did not feel like confronting the barista-bartender who gave it to him---guess it would have been thankless. So he moved on.
Some thoughts about 110th street between Manhattan and CPW. A few new luxury apartments, and then right on the northeast corner of 110 and 8th is a glitzy new condo. Amazing! Twenty years ago and back, one would not have even felt comfortable near the street, now this expensive condo, and a twin that goes south to 111th street exist there. From there I continued north on 8th to 116th street. That stretch is an contains two city projects almost next to many new luxury buildings. Beer houses next to Duncan Donuts. Revelers (mostly white) next to older natives of the area doing their laundry or getting groceries from the still remaining bodegas. Continued to the large outdoor bar-restaurant on 116th. That was far enough. Then I walked back via 8th 110th, to Columbus to 106th---kind of deserted---and then west to Broadway. The bus took me the rest of the way home.
Have just sent an e-mail to a city planning executive protesting the possible high rise that a realty company wants to build near the Botanical Garden that would cast a shadow over the garden (not to mention stress the near by subway stations far past the limit). The brutal vision of these realtors is not to be believed, even worse the way the mayor's administration tries to help them at every turn. Where will it end?
Plans for tonight? Probably start off at South fourth to discuss plans for tomorrow at the Delacort with Mark who is joining me there. A few protests to go to---but I probably will stay at the bar as long as the conversation flows, then figure out the next move. Will report tomorrow.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
nice to hear....
that with all the horrors that the people seeking asylum from the cruelty of the Central American countries are experiencing, there is a great deal of help, both legal and financial that is funding people trying to help the exiles exist in better situations. Clumsy writing, I know. Hard to listen to all the terrible things these people must experience in the holding prisons, and the separation from their children, but from listening to a program on NPR, it seems that the response to help these people is overwhelming and strong. Heartening, at least.
Last night, did go to the bar Sweet Jane's in Middle Village and had a very good time. It is a small bar that seems to come right out of the low lying houses that surround it. Very different from being in Brooklyn. You can feel the residential essence of the area, also it seems very diverse. Greeted by my bartender friend Olivia, she turned on the Yankee game for me and served me an onion dip. The bar was not very crowded at that time, later there were more people. After about an hour and a half I grew restless, but remained when I found out, to my surprise, that trivia was about to be played. I bonded with another friend of Olivia, a Bushwick resident named Lindsay and we made a team. She is very good, and our chemistry was pretty solid. A good time was had by all.
The real adventure came on the trip back to the upper west side. Took the M to the L, only to find out (I should have planned for this) that the L was down between Broadway Junction and Lorimer Street. What to do? Could have waited for the next M to take me to Myrtle,; that probably would have been the most practical idea, but for some reason was frozen, waiting for the shuttle bus that would take me to Lorimer. Hunger pains grew. It must have been fifteen minutes before the L shuttle arrived; this was my first time taking such a bus---it was a large group of people, mostly black and hispanic, but everyone was just focusing on getting to the next point.. The bus slowly plowed across Wycoff, then in the East Williamsburg sector of the L path, and finally, after what seemed like a long time, to Lorimer and Metropolitan. It was about 12:30---cityboy is rarely out that late, but he was cool, and was happy to find an all night bagel place right off the bus stop. I grabbed an american cheese sandwich and jumped on the subway. Would the ride on the L into the city be okay? Slow, but it was, then easily home to upper west side.
Could I have taken a taxi---sure--though I did not want to pay for it. This morning, as I awoke, the whole trip seemed very logical to me. Not sure about tonight. Another trivia possibility awaits at Five Boroughs, if I want to go there. There is also a work in progress about violence and black bodies at the Kitchen. Have ambivalent feelings about being there. Also, the tired factor will weigh in. So where will I be tonight? Not sure---will report tomorrow.
Last night, did go to the bar Sweet Jane's in Middle Village and had a very good time. It is a small bar that seems to come right out of the low lying houses that surround it. Very different from being in Brooklyn. You can feel the residential essence of the area, also it seems very diverse. Greeted by my bartender friend Olivia, she turned on the Yankee game for me and served me an onion dip. The bar was not very crowded at that time, later there were more people. After about an hour and a half I grew restless, but remained when I found out, to my surprise, that trivia was about to be played. I bonded with another friend of Olivia, a Bushwick resident named Lindsay and we made a team. She is very good, and our chemistry was pretty solid. A good time was had by all.
The real adventure came on the trip back to the upper west side. Took the M to the L, only to find out (I should have planned for this) that the L was down between Broadway Junction and Lorimer Street. What to do? Could have waited for the next M to take me to Myrtle,; that probably would have been the most practical idea, but for some reason was frozen, waiting for the shuttle bus that would take me to Lorimer. Hunger pains grew. It must have been fifteen minutes before the L shuttle arrived; this was my first time taking such a bus---it was a large group of people, mostly black and hispanic, but everyone was just focusing on getting to the next point.. The bus slowly plowed across Wycoff, then in the East Williamsburg sector of the L path, and finally, after what seemed like a long time, to Lorimer and Metropolitan. It was about 12:30---cityboy is rarely out that late, but he was cool, and was happy to find an all night bagel place right off the bus stop. I grabbed an american cheese sandwich and jumped on the subway. Would the ride on the L into the city be okay? Slow, but it was, then easily home to upper west side.
Could I have taken a taxi---sure--though I did not want to pay for it. This morning, as I awoke, the whole trip seemed very logical to me. Not sure about tonight. Another trivia possibility awaits at Five Boroughs, if I want to go there. There is also a work in progress about violence and black bodies at the Kitchen. Have ambivalent feelings about being there. Also, the tired factor will weigh in. So where will I be tonight? Not sure---will report tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
most recent post from
the ay report. A new building with 750 or so apartments to be built on the northeast corner of the lot. Good god, when will it end? Do these developers really think that there are so many people who can inhabit these apartments? It is getting to be obscene. End it.
Yesterday---meeting of BAN, a really good one. As soon as it began, I felt very centered---a really good feeling. Plans were made for the march in September. Interesting, last year's march was the Saturday before the primary elections, this years will be after---also shorter, but since it centers on Industry City,perhaps more confrontational. Anyway, glad to be participating in the planning of the march.
The meeting was at Uprose which is on 22nd street off fourth avenue in Brooklyn. I much prefer the meetings to be there, there is something about being in Brooklyn that I find much more interesting then the meetings at the solidarity center on 24th street. The pizza came late, but I treated myself to 2 pieces, one will usually fill me up. The result: instead of jumping on the r to head home, I decided to walk north on 5th avenue and see whether I could make it to the Atlantic Avenue station. A bus runs on 5th, so if I was tired, I could just wait for it and take it. It turns out I was not tired, and so I walked the whole distance between 22nd street and the station. And what did I see. A mostly quiet street, but many bars. A few were crowded but for the most part it was the usual Tuesday evening blahs. Because cityboy was filled, he could not stop in any of them---though some looked interesting enough to check out. Not a lot of foot traffic on the street as well. At some point, the tentative plan was to have a beer on the west side when I finally returned to the area, but by the time I got home I was too tired to even consider it. Something amazing about the walk, however, when I awoke my body felt incredibly strong.
The rest of today: am planning to finally visit Sweet Jane's, a bar in Ridgewood (my first one) to support my friend Olivia who is filling in there. I have heard a lot about this bar--it is owned by the same two women who opened Cobra. There is supposed to be a very mellow and welcoming vibe in the place. Should be there about 7---might be the whole evening. Subway trip a little longer than usual, but that is all right. Will report tomorrow.
Yesterday---meeting of BAN, a really good one. As soon as it began, I felt very centered---a really good feeling. Plans were made for the march in September. Interesting, last year's march was the Saturday before the primary elections, this years will be after---also shorter, but since it centers on Industry City,perhaps more confrontational. Anyway, glad to be participating in the planning of the march.
The meeting was at Uprose which is on 22nd street off fourth avenue in Brooklyn. I much prefer the meetings to be there, there is something about being in Brooklyn that I find much more interesting then the meetings at the solidarity center on 24th street. The pizza came late, but I treated myself to 2 pieces, one will usually fill me up. The result: instead of jumping on the r to head home, I decided to walk north on 5th avenue and see whether I could make it to the Atlantic Avenue station. A bus runs on 5th, so if I was tired, I could just wait for it and take it. It turns out I was not tired, and so I walked the whole distance between 22nd street and the station. And what did I see. A mostly quiet street, but many bars. A few were crowded but for the most part it was the usual Tuesday evening blahs. Because cityboy was filled, he could not stop in any of them---though some looked interesting enough to check out. Not a lot of foot traffic on the street as well. At some point, the tentative plan was to have a beer on the west side when I finally returned to the area, but by the time I got home I was too tired to even consider it. Something amazing about the walk, however, when I awoke my body felt incredibly strong.
The rest of today: am planning to finally visit Sweet Jane's, a bar in Ridgewood (my first one) to support my friend Olivia who is filling in there. I have heard a lot about this bar--it is owned by the same two women who opened Cobra. There is supposed to be a very mellow and welcoming vibe in the place. Should be there about 7---might be the whole evening. Subway trip a little longer than usual, but that is all right. Will report tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
where to now, cityboy
well, not to the rally outside City Hall to protest the rezoning of the Inwood Public Library--although that should be where you are. Why not? Cityboy is tired. Tired from what? From a long trek yesterday through Brooklyn. Yes, my body is not ready for another trip away from the West Side until this evening. Then I have the BAN meeting and I will definitely not miss that. Remind me to "yelp" a few bars in the area, where I might explore after the meeting is over (around 9:15) But remember, cityboy, the lesson from Saturday---a new bar may render you anonymous. (Oh Heaven!)
So what happened yesterday--well Ben and I met and had a long discussion about politics, neighborhoods and theater, after which we walked from Lincoln Road to Grand Army Plaza, at which time we split, he to his home in Park Slope and I to the library to check my e-mail and look at a few other web sites. I exhausted my time in the library, and then, for some reason, decided to walk to BRIC---actually I waited for the bus to BRIC on Flatbush but when it did not come, I made up my mind to do the walking. So I did, but when the walk was finished, I was incredibly tired. Nothing more to be done but to get on the train at Nevins Street and return to the upper west side. All dreams of visiting bartender Samantha at the new Dive Bar were squashed, as when I returned home, I was incredibly tired. Ironically enough I had not eaten since around 4; in the small restaurant that Ben and I chatted I had a very rich (and very good) Almond Danish. And amazingly enough, it kept me going through the rest of the night. I was amazed that even around 12 or 1 o'clock, on my sleep breaks, I did not feel hungry. So I had nothing in me from around 4 in the afternoon until my coffee around 7 in the morning. Your stomach is strange, cityboy.
When I leave here I will have about 6 hours until the BAN meeting starts. How to spend that time. Could go to the Met, have not been there in a long while, and it's free (but very crowded---my first choice would be the Kubrick photo exhibit at the Museum of the City of NY, but they won't be open until tomorrow.)Maybe just some serious reading.
I looked at the Mostly Mozart brochure a little while ago, it made me think of spring and summer of 67, when I was supporting myself by sorting mail in the 33rd street post office--also, during that time, I was fascinated by Mozart's music. I tried to listen to almost everything he wrote, took records out of the Lincoln Center library as much as I could. I worshiped and became enthralled by the piano concertos, of course, the fact that I could discuss them with my friend Richard was a big help.
Yes, that was a lonely time, I had believed that night post office work would give me time to audition, yet I found myself turned off by the system, not getting any auditions, and longing for some kind of "normal" social life. That finally changed when in July of 67, I left the post office after getting a social work job at Riverdale Children's Association---that is a story in itself better for another time.
Anyway, will report tomorrow on the night's events, tune in to see if cityboy conquered a new bar with his expertise and charm, or whether he was frozen out of the proceedings. Report to follow.
So what happened yesterday--well Ben and I met and had a long discussion about politics, neighborhoods and theater, after which we walked from Lincoln Road to Grand Army Plaza, at which time we split, he to his home in Park Slope and I to the library to check my e-mail and look at a few other web sites. I exhausted my time in the library, and then, for some reason, decided to walk to BRIC---actually I waited for the bus to BRIC on Flatbush but when it did not come, I made up my mind to do the walking. So I did, but when the walk was finished, I was incredibly tired. Nothing more to be done but to get on the train at Nevins Street and return to the upper west side. All dreams of visiting bartender Samantha at the new Dive Bar were squashed, as when I returned home, I was incredibly tired. Ironically enough I had not eaten since around 4; in the small restaurant that Ben and I chatted I had a very rich (and very good) Almond Danish. And amazingly enough, it kept me going through the rest of the night. I was amazed that even around 12 or 1 o'clock, on my sleep breaks, I did not feel hungry. So I had nothing in me from around 4 in the afternoon until my coffee around 7 in the morning. Your stomach is strange, cityboy.
When I leave here I will have about 6 hours until the BAN meeting starts. How to spend that time. Could go to the Met, have not been there in a long while, and it's free (but very crowded---my first choice would be the Kubrick photo exhibit at the Museum of the City of NY, but they won't be open until tomorrow.)Maybe just some serious reading.
I looked at the Mostly Mozart brochure a little while ago, it made me think of spring and summer of 67, when I was supporting myself by sorting mail in the 33rd street post office--also, during that time, I was fascinated by Mozart's music. I tried to listen to almost everything he wrote, took records out of the Lincoln Center library as much as I could. I worshiped and became enthralled by the piano concertos, of course, the fact that I could discuss them with my friend Richard was a big help.
Yes, that was a lonely time, I had believed that night post office work would give me time to audition, yet I found myself turned off by the system, not getting any auditions, and longing for some kind of "normal" social life. That finally changed when in July of 67, I left the post office after getting a social work job at Riverdale Children's Association---that is a story in itself better for another time.
Anyway, will report tomorrow on the night's events, tune in to see if cityboy conquered a new bar with his expertise and charm, or whether he was frozen out of the proceedings. Report to follow.
Monday, July 9, 2018
busy day coming up...
will meet my friend Ben in Brooklyn in about 4 hours. Cityboy is recovering from a busy weekend.
Report:
Pass Over, the play itself I found somewhat manipulative---the performances were amazing and the writing, if you can separate it from the manipulativeness of the play was very inventive. Also met an actor, M, and we spoke about past projects (his) and talked a bit about Shakespeare. A good afternoon--see, the choice to spend extra money on the ticket actually paid off.
That evening, went to see Saint Fortune's project at the Ice Factory---really disappointing---the creator-director is a very nice guy, but this was all in his head. Bored a lot of the time. Did, however, have a nice chat with Lindsay, who is part of ERS. Afterwards, my body was tired, but my head wanted to hang out. But where? I returned to the upper west side, and chose a bar on Amsterdam near 80th street---one that I had passed several times and looked mellow. Unfortunately the bartender and her friend had a discussion that included a lot of cursing and was near enough to me to make me uncomfortable. I watched what I could of the Red Sox-Royal game (the bartender was nice enough to find it for me), but did not feel good. Kind of barren that evening, but remember cityboy, when you try a bar where you are not known, you can't expect "magic". Might return and hope for some better conversation and some quiet.
Yesterday, spent the early part of the day chatting with my friend Clint at South Fourth. Good talk, then on to Cobra to see my friend Bartender Olivia and watch baseball. Olivia told me she is bartending at Sweet Jane's a bar in Queens that I have long wanted to visit. Will do that, I hope, on Wednesday. Then it was off to a forum on gentrification at Mayday Space. Four panelists, not a great discussion---I presented a question afterwards that, I think, galvanized more talk about the role of elected officials in the fate of Bushwick. I left, and as usual, felt angry and somewhat helpless. The monolith of gentrification seems to be pushing so hard in Bushwick and in other places.Stopped off at Starr bar the sister bar of Mayday and had a coke (well, it is an activist bar, so I did not have to order a beer) Nice time, very quiet---only 7, but tiredness had set in, and it was time to go home.
That is all for now---feeling somewhat fatigued, and I have a few things to do before I meet Ben.
Will report tomorrow.
Report:
Pass Over, the play itself I found somewhat manipulative---the performances were amazing and the writing, if you can separate it from the manipulativeness of the play was very inventive. Also met an actor, M, and we spoke about past projects (his) and talked a bit about Shakespeare. A good afternoon--see, the choice to spend extra money on the ticket actually paid off.
That evening, went to see Saint Fortune's project at the Ice Factory---really disappointing---the creator-director is a very nice guy, but this was all in his head. Bored a lot of the time. Did, however, have a nice chat with Lindsay, who is part of ERS. Afterwards, my body was tired, but my head wanted to hang out. But where? I returned to the upper west side, and chose a bar on Amsterdam near 80th street---one that I had passed several times and looked mellow. Unfortunately the bartender and her friend had a discussion that included a lot of cursing and was near enough to me to make me uncomfortable. I watched what I could of the Red Sox-Royal game (the bartender was nice enough to find it for me), but did not feel good. Kind of barren that evening, but remember cityboy, when you try a bar where you are not known, you can't expect "magic". Might return and hope for some better conversation and some quiet.
Yesterday, spent the early part of the day chatting with my friend Clint at South Fourth. Good talk, then on to Cobra to see my friend Bartender Olivia and watch baseball. Olivia told me she is bartending at Sweet Jane's a bar in Queens that I have long wanted to visit. Will do that, I hope, on Wednesday. Then it was off to a forum on gentrification at Mayday Space. Four panelists, not a great discussion---I presented a question afterwards that, I think, galvanized more talk about the role of elected officials in the fate of Bushwick. I left, and as usual, felt angry and somewhat helpless. The monolith of gentrification seems to be pushing so hard in Bushwick and in other places.Stopped off at Starr bar the sister bar of Mayday and had a coke (well, it is an activist bar, so I did not have to order a beer) Nice time, very quiet---only 7, but tiredness had set in, and it was time to go home.
That is all for now---feeling somewhat fatigued, and I have a few things to do before I meet Ben.
Will report tomorrow.
Saturday, July 7, 2018
A two play....
day, today, first Passover---I finally broke down, went to the box office and got a ticket for today's matinee---then, after what I think will be a short break, off to the Ohio Space to see One Small Step, It is by a group called Saint Fortune, I know some of them, and is supposed to be a take on the moon landing of 1969. I remember that well; at Bernstein Institute, where I was a drug addict counselor, we were given the option to take the day off---I didn't---probably was not too enthused about the landing. Anyway, that was part of a frenetic year that ended with the beginning of my relationship with Susan, who would, in time, become my wife and then ex-wife. (It all happened in a four year period, but then again, that was the 70's---apartments in NYC were pretty cheap, so divorce was pretty possible).
Anyway, very excited about the first play.
Last night: no trip to the Brooklyn Cyclones, my body was much too tired, instead, after a short rest, headed to the new Dive bar on Amsterdam and 106th, for a meal and a baseball watch. Nice time, the Yankee-Blue Jay game got ugly early, and I lost interest. Both bartenders were very warm and friendly, one of them, a young actress named Hannah, had just returned from an upstate production of The Little Shop of Horrors, and was pretty savvy theater wise. Looking forward to talking to her again. Still, it was early, cityboy did not want to see a movie, so he walked north on Amsterdam to Columbia and then south on Broadway to 106th. And what did he see? Well, the "strip" on Amsterdam between the bar (106th) and 110th, had at least five restaurants---all very upscale, all full of people (mostly white) who seemed very relaxed to spend their money there. The west side of Amsterdam and 109 th is very interesting. The first part seems to be a last remnant of the once dominant hispanic population in the area, the Hispanic "street life" dominoes playing, etc. is still there. But right in the middle of the block is a break; after that we find an upscale restaurant, seemingly oblivious to the first part of the block, and shortly after another very expensive restaurant, on the corner. Both restaurants packed with outdoor patrons---where does all this money come from? The area from 96th to 110th, between Broadway and Riverside Drive was the last gentrified part of the complete Upper West Side (61st to 125th street). I would guess that in the last 35 years it attracted an "intellectual" crowd, and that from being scrabblers in their early twenties, they now have done well in their mid fifties and sixties. So it goes. Similarly, on my return trip on the West Side of Broadway from 116th street south, at least three outdoor eating places that seemed relatively expensive were packed. And this was on a holiday weekend. The money is really flowing in.
Finally, a word about The Invention of Solitude, Paul Auster's memoir written shortly after his father's death, about his father and the family that he came from. A very well focused and moving work--lots of insight about how a parent relates to a child, and what that makes the child feel. Also, a generational look at a family---how early events in Auster's father's childhood, shaped the lives of his father and his three brothers. Really glad that I read it. Will read of more of Auster this summer.
That is all for now. Tomorrow will be centered by a forum in Bushwick on gentrification and displacement. A busy day, will report, probably on Monday.
Anyway, very excited about the first play.
Last night: no trip to the Brooklyn Cyclones, my body was much too tired, instead, after a short rest, headed to the new Dive bar on Amsterdam and 106th, for a meal and a baseball watch. Nice time, the Yankee-Blue Jay game got ugly early, and I lost interest. Both bartenders were very warm and friendly, one of them, a young actress named Hannah, had just returned from an upstate production of The Little Shop of Horrors, and was pretty savvy theater wise. Looking forward to talking to her again. Still, it was early, cityboy did not want to see a movie, so he walked north on Amsterdam to Columbia and then south on Broadway to 106th. And what did he see? Well, the "strip" on Amsterdam between the bar (106th) and 110th, had at least five restaurants---all very upscale, all full of people (mostly white) who seemed very relaxed to spend their money there. The west side of Amsterdam and 109 th is very interesting. The first part seems to be a last remnant of the once dominant hispanic population in the area, the Hispanic "street life" dominoes playing, etc. is still there. But right in the middle of the block is a break; after that we find an upscale restaurant, seemingly oblivious to the first part of the block, and shortly after another very expensive restaurant, on the corner. Both restaurants packed with outdoor patrons---where does all this money come from? The area from 96th to 110th, between Broadway and Riverside Drive was the last gentrified part of the complete Upper West Side (61st to 125th street). I would guess that in the last 35 years it attracted an "intellectual" crowd, and that from being scrabblers in their early twenties, they now have done well in their mid fifties and sixties. So it goes. Similarly, on my return trip on the West Side of Broadway from 116th street south, at least three outdoor eating places that seemed relatively expensive were packed. And this was on a holiday weekend. The money is really flowing in.
Finally, a word about The Invention of Solitude, Paul Auster's memoir written shortly after his father's death, about his father and the family that he came from. A very well focused and moving work--lots of insight about how a parent relates to a child, and what that makes the child feel. Also, a generational look at a family---how early events in Auster's father's childhood, shaped the lives of his father and his three brothers. Really glad that I read it. Will read of more of Auster this summer.
That is all for now. Tomorrow will be centered by a forum in Bushwick on gentrification and displacement. A busy day, will report, probably on Monday.
Friday, July 6, 2018
the journey of....
cityboy. last night. It begins near BAM, hate to say it, but BRIC, the all purpose gallery and sometime performance space right next to the BAM Harvey theater, is a great place to use the bathroom when one needs to. Not where I thought I would start off, but there I was. What next? I thought I would hit the central library, but hunger stepped in, and I grabbed a pizza slice at the pizza place situated on the north side of Fulton, near BAM They make a unique slice, unfortunately there was no AC, and so cityboy had to eat most of the slice in the intense heat, aided at times by a pretty pathetic fan. Nevertheless, the place is one of my favorites---will continue to go there, hopefully in cooler times.
Then it was off to what I thought was the main event for the night: a return to Five Boroughs, the out of the way bar in Sunset Park near 2nd avenue, that I had had such a good time with after the last project at Target Margin. Not too crowded when I arrived---thought I would find a seat and continue reading Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, (very good by the way---some very strong Shakespearean echoes) , but bartender Irene was friendly, as was Jose, the gentleman sitting next to me at the bar, so we had a three way discussion, mostly about how the neighborhood was changing, for about 45 minutes. Not the greatest, but warm and friendly nevertheless---this seems like a bar I can return to, and they do go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable.
So I left, and then felt some unexpected hunger pains---walked east to fifth avenue. waited a bit and then took the bus going into downtown Brooklyn. My goal: to hit Freddys, a neighborhood bar that is pretty relaxed on fifth and 18th street. I arrived there a little later---not a large crowd, but a very relaxed vibe---I went straight to their kitchen, which is independent from their bar and ordered some black bean hummus. At $8.00 it was as much as I wanted to spend---the kitchen head was very friendly---I took a seat and ate the hummus (black bean is not my favorite, but at $8.00 it was necessary) Did not talk to anyone---I like Freddy's there is a welcoming and relaxed vibe coming from them, but a look at the menu reveals most items over $10.00. And so it goes---one more place where having less then $10.00 in your pocket makes you irrelevant. Will it ever change? Where do we go from here. Cityboy is operating on a limited income, yet he must BE out during the evenings.
Let's figure it out.
After that it was just the ride on the F train into Manhattan, and then home. I was tired. On the ride home, I bumped into a guy who had just come back from a Brooklyn Cyclones game. We had a nice talk about minor league baseball---I may go to a Cyclones game tonight, as all seats or $5.00. Check me out tomorrow.
Plays to see: Passover, Fairview, the PTP project that a friend of mine is in. Have to fit them all in.
Will report tomorrow.
Then it was off to what I thought was the main event for the night: a return to Five Boroughs, the out of the way bar in Sunset Park near 2nd avenue, that I had had such a good time with after the last project at Target Margin. Not too crowded when I arrived---thought I would find a seat and continue reading Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, (very good by the way---some very strong Shakespearean echoes) , but bartender Irene was friendly, as was Jose, the gentleman sitting next to me at the bar, so we had a three way discussion, mostly about how the neighborhood was changing, for about 45 minutes. Not the greatest, but warm and friendly nevertheless---this seems like a bar I can return to, and they do go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable.
So I left, and then felt some unexpected hunger pains---walked east to fifth avenue. waited a bit and then took the bus going into downtown Brooklyn. My goal: to hit Freddys, a neighborhood bar that is pretty relaxed on fifth and 18th street. I arrived there a little later---not a large crowd, but a very relaxed vibe---I went straight to their kitchen, which is independent from their bar and ordered some black bean hummus. At $8.00 it was as much as I wanted to spend---the kitchen head was very friendly---I took a seat and ate the hummus (black bean is not my favorite, but at $8.00 it was necessary) Did not talk to anyone---I like Freddy's there is a welcoming and relaxed vibe coming from them, but a look at the menu reveals most items over $10.00. And so it goes---one more place where having less then $10.00 in your pocket makes you irrelevant. Will it ever change? Where do we go from here. Cityboy is operating on a limited income, yet he must BE out during the evenings.
Let's figure it out.
After that it was just the ride on the F train into Manhattan, and then home. I was tired. On the ride home, I bumped into a guy who had just come back from a Brooklyn Cyclones game. We had a nice talk about minor league baseball---I may go to a Cyclones game tonight, as all seats or $5.00. Check me out tomorrow.
Plays to see: Passover, Fairview, the PTP project that a friend of mine is in. Have to fit them all in.
Will report tomorrow.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Happy (or at least reflective)
Fourth! Now the morning after. Freedom (aka unstructured time) continues. So many thoughts, so many visits in my mind to very different areas. Where am I now?
Yesterday: Everything centered around the cookout at South fourth in the early afternoon. This, by the way, will be the final one, in light of the place's closing on the 31st. Such solid relationships with the people there---hard to believe that this will end in less then a month. Anyway, it was hot, cityboy did not want to take a train going either a) under the tunnel like the L, or b) over the ground, like the J, so he settled for the A, and got off at the Nostrand stop. From there, a jump on the select 44 going south to the bridge. Good idea, one person seeing my Brooklyn is Not For Sale shirt, asked to take a picture of it, and took an interest in the BAN movement. and I arrived conveniently at the Bar. There a series of conversations, first with my good friend Kathy (the second one in two days actually) and then a long one with Clint, who I have known for about 8 years. We discussed practically everything from the state of the opera to the enormous monoliths opening near the bar, and what that meant for the future. Time was filled well, which was the point. When it was over, the plan was to check out the syndicated Bar on bushwick, to see if I was on time for their movie (the second Invasion of the Body Snatchers) or get some ice coffee to cool off.
As I arrived on the L, caught a glimpse of a young woman who looked familiar, it was Elena, who is now a Junior at Friends. I descended the stairs to the platform first, she came down a second later, and we greeted each other---she seemed very happy to see me. Unfortunately she was going back into Manhattan, while I was heading east, so we had very little time to talk, but I was happy that a lot of warmth was shared between us. Looking forward to seeing her ( and many othrers in her class) in September.
Arriving in Bushwick, I was completely sweaty, nevertheless I got off at the Morgan stop and walked to syndicated, only to find out that the movie had already begun. So what next? Back on the L, one stop to Jefferson, only to find a bit of chaos at Cobra, but still in desperate need of an ice coffee (and a bathroom to change into a less sweaty shirt) I found a new place, actually only a block and a half away, also on Wycoff. Yes, the neverending growth of Bushwick continues, new coffee places and an outside bar within blocks of five other coffee places and a million (so it seems) other bars. The coffee place was very congenial, I read some of Ibsen's The Master Builder (an amazing piece!) but fatigue was really setting in, and by 7, I had no choice to return to the UWS. Return trip was uneventful, so by 8 or so, was pretty tired. A restless sleep in the night, and an awakening into this new and (I hope) interesting day.
Just got a ticket for a theater project on Saturday evening; a group called Saint Fortune, I know some of their members. Today the plan is, after returning home, to go to Brooklyn, first to their library, and second, to check out Five Boroughs the bar in Sunset Park where I had a great time after my last visit to Target Margin theater, five blocks away. Of course the great time was because of the company, not the bar, but the latter seemed very friendly and inviting. Will I make it? Tune in tomorrow.
Yesterday: Everything centered around the cookout at South fourth in the early afternoon. This, by the way, will be the final one, in light of the place's closing on the 31st. Such solid relationships with the people there---hard to believe that this will end in less then a month. Anyway, it was hot, cityboy did not want to take a train going either a) under the tunnel like the L, or b) over the ground, like the J, so he settled for the A, and got off at the Nostrand stop. From there, a jump on the select 44 going south to the bridge. Good idea, one person seeing my Brooklyn is Not For Sale shirt, asked to take a picture of it, and took an interest in the BAN movement. and I arrived conveniently at the Bar. There a series of conversations, first with my good friend Kathy (the second one in two days actually) and then a long one with Clint, who I have known for about 8 years. We discussed practically everything from the state of the opera to the enormous monoliths opening near the bar, and what that meant for the future. Time was filled well, which was the point. When it was over, the plan was to check out the syndicated Bar on bushwick, to see if I was on time for their movie (the second Invasion of the Body Snatchers) or get some ice coffee to cool off.
As I arrived on the L, caught a glimpse of a young woman who looked familiar, it was Elena, who is now a Junior at Friends. I descended the stairs to the platform first, she came down a second later, and we greeted each other---she seemed very happy to see me. Unfortunately she was going back into Manhattan, while I was heading east, so we had very little time to talk, but I was happy that a lot of warmth was shared between us. Looking forward to seeing her ( and many othrers in her class) in September.
Arriving in Bushwick, I was completely sweaty, nevertheless I got off at the Morgan stop and walked to syndicated, only to find out that the movie had already begun. So what next? Back on the L, one stop to Jefferson, only to find a bit of chaos at Cobra, but still in desperate need of an ice coffee (and a bathroom to change into a less sweaty shirt) I found a new place, actually only a block and a half away, also on Wycoff. Yes, the neverending growth of Bushwick continues, new coffee places and an outside bar within blocks of five other coffee places and a million (so it seems) other bars. The coffee place was very congenial, I read some of Ibsen's The Master Builder (an amazing piece!) but fatigue was really setting in, and by 7, I had no choice to return to the UWS. Return trip was uneventful, so by 8 or so, was pretty tired. A restless sleep in the night, and an awakening into this new and (I hope) interesting day.
Just got a ticket for a theater project on Saturday evening; a group called Saint Fortune, I know some of their members. Today the plan is, after returning home, to go to Brooklyn, first to their library, and second, to check out Five Boroughs the bar in Sunset Park where I had a great time after my last visit to Target Margin theater, five blocks away. Of course the great time was because of the company, not the bar, but the latter seemed very friendly and inviting. Will I make it? Tune in tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
depressing, depressing....
is what one feels after reading 1) a facebook article about how larger corporations and wealthy people avoid their fare share of taxes, and 2) an article about how condo buyers are buying apartments in certain sections of Brooklyn with the goal of using them as rentals. Sometimes I am amazed that there is an economic structure in play that actually allows me to exist given the "small" amount of money that I work with. But it does. And isn't there a little bit of jealousy there as well, cityboy, admit it, when it comes to your generation financially, you have missed the boat! Well, anyway, life goes on and you exist in a healthy and "happy" (or at least productive) framework.
So we begin again in the beginning, in the Jewish neighborhoods of the Bronx and Brooklyn in the late forties and fifties, a place where all seemed easy and placid, where young men and women were groomed by their parents to do "better", economically. Its why so few baby boomers who were raised in these neighborhoods remained there, no they had to move to the "meccas of success" namely, first, the upper east side, and then gradually the upper west side. Park slope too, by the early eighties. And now.....
Yesterday evening: the choice was to go to Standings, so that I could simultaneously watch the Yankee-Brave game and the Red Sox-National game. The place was fairly empty, when I got there it was just me and Gary, the owner. I stayed about 2 hours, drank two glasses of bud light ( a lot for me) and then left. I was somewhat tired, although both games were important, neither game was terribly interesting to me ( a lot of long counts). Still hungry, I walked six blocks south on 2nd, to the incredibly rich and delicious friend chicken place and had a thigh. My god! Delicious! Although I was tempted to have one more, I refrained---did not want to "gump up" my stomach. But cityboy never gives up---and never simply walks to the nearest subway when he want to return to his apartment. So I walked west on Houston, until I reached the Film Forum (every time I pass it I think of Isabel, a graduate of Friends from a year ago, who lives around there), which is still being redone as its fourth screen is being rebuilt. At that point, I was tired, and returned home.
Today, the plan is to hit Brooklyn around 3, maybe visit a library in search of a Paul Auster opus and then head to South fourth where bartender-manager Mark shows a movie every Tuesday afternoon. After that...not sure...just read a really good review by a reviewer whom I trust about the new movie directed by Deborah Granik---it sounds a little intense and lonely for me at this time. So the evening is opened---finally after four weeks from my last day at Friends, am beginning to understand what "freedom" means. Tomorrow also at South Fourth a cookout. What happens after that---can't say---will report on Thursday.
So we begin again in the beginning, in the Jewish neighborhoods of the Bronx and Brooklyn in the late forties and fifties, a place where all seemed easy and placid, where young men and women were groomed by their parents to do "better", economically. Its why so few baby boomers who were raised in these neighborhoods remained there, no they had to move to the "meccas of success" namely, first, the upper east side, and then gradually the upper west side. Park slope too, by the early eighties. And now.....
Yesterday evening: the choice was to go to Standings, so that I could simultaneously watch the Yankee-Brave game and the Red Sox-National game. The place was fairly empty, when I got there it was just me and Gary, the owner. I stayed about 2 hours, drank two glasses of bud light ( a lot for me) and then left. I was somewhat tired, although both games were important, neither game was terribly interesting to me ( a lot of long counts). Still hungry, I walked six blocks south on 2nd, to the incredibly rich and delicious friend chicken place and had a thigh. My god! Delicious! Although I was tempted to have one more, I refrained---did not want to "gump up" my stomach. But cityboy never gives up---and never simply walks to the nearest subway when he want to return to his apartment. So I walked west on Houston, until I reached the Film Forum (every time I pass it I think of Isabel, a graduate of Friends from a year ago, who lives around there), which is still being redone as its fourth screen is being rebuilt. At that point, I was tired, and returned home.
Today, the plan is to hit Brooklyn around 3, maybe visit a library in search of a Paul Auster opus and then head to South fourth where bartender-manager Mark shows a movie every Tuesday afternoon. After that...not sure...just read a really good review by a reviewer whom I trust about the new movie directed by Deborah Granik---it sounds a little intense and lonely for me at this time. So the evening is opened---finally after four weeks from my last day at Friends, am beginning to understand what "freedom" means. Tomorrow also at South Fourth a cookout. What happens after that---can't say---will report on Thursday.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Monday morning...
after a strange weekend.
Let's begin with Saturday evening, the plan was to go to La Flaca and watch the all important Yankee-Red Sox game. That is what I did---had a nice time, but the game was not close, and cityboy was impatient---time to go around 8:40, but where? Thus began cityboy's walk on the"new" lower east side---he found luxury towers on Suffolk, Norfolk, you name it. One of those blocks between Rivington and Delancey seems almost completely converted. Same with Clinton between Delancey and Houston, which features a new bar on the corner of Rivington and Clinton (It's big!) At Houston and Suffolk (or was it Norfolk?) cityboy paused to look at a another edifice for wealthy people..while standing outside a new bar across the street. The security person, a mild young man from the Bronx, engaged cityboy in a long discussion, first about the neighborhood, then about his neighborhood in the Bronx, which is very close to the Bronx Zoo. A good discussion, just what cityboy needed, since he was feeling kind of empty at the moment. Then, instead of finishing at another bar, cityboy went to The Bean, on 2nd Avenue and Third Street. Over a nice ice coffee, he read a couple of short stories from the 80's anthology that he was carrying with him. Then home via the R at BRoadway and 8th, so cityboy had walked from Grand and Clinton to Broadway and 8th with just one stop in between Good exercise.
Yesterday, first off was to see Crime and Punishment, a documentary about 10 black and Latino officers who felt they were being forced by their superiors in the department two harass black and Latino youth in the poor areas in the city in order to make money by summonses. Very strong movie made with a lot of guts---you really saw the hypocrisy of the the previous mayoral administration and also this current one (believe it!) Afterwards, several officers and others prevalent in the movie spoke---really liked that and admired those guys. Theater was about half black and half white, make of that what you will.
Then it was off to Soho rep to sit in the sun for an hour while waiting for a 99c ticket to Fairview. Not as hard as it sounds,; I had nice conversation with a woman who had come down from Harlem who teacher social work at Morgan State college in Baltimore. So we talked about Baltimore and its problems and waited for a possible chance to see the play. We did not get in---but for some reason the rep allows anyone on that line to buy two tickets---something that does not make any sense at all, and is unfair to those of us who waited. But actually once I knew I was not getting in, rather then hang out and watch baseball, I felt "smelly" and returned home, only to find that I was exhausted and I could serve myself best by staying home and listening to what turned out to be the Yankee massacre of the Red Sox on the radio. And that is what happened.
Today I am tired, so I don't know exactly what the plan is for the rest of the day. Will report tomorrow.
Let's begin with Saturday evening, the plan was to go to La Flaca and watch the all important Yankee-Red Sox game. That is what I did---had a nice time, but the game was not close, and cityboy was impatient---time to go around 8:40, but where? Thus began cityboy's walk on the"new" lower east side---he found luxury towers on Suffolk, Norfolk, you name it. One of those blocks between Rivington and Delancey seems almost completely converted. Same with Clinton between Delancey and Houston, which features a new bar on the corner of Rivington and Clinton (It's big!) At Houston and Suffolk (or was it Norfolk?) cityboy paused to look at a another edifice for wealthy people..while standing outside a new bar across the street. The security person, a mild young man from the Bronx, engaged cityboy in a long discussion, first about the neighborhood, then about his neighborhood in the Bronx, which is very close to the Bronx Zoo. A good discussion, just what cityboy needed, since he was feeling kind of empty at the moment. Then, instead of finishing at another bar, cityboy went to The Bean, on 2nd Avenue and Third Street. Over a nice ice coffee, he read a couple of short stories from the 80's anthology that he was carrying with him. Then home via the R at BRoadway and 8th, so cityboy had walked from Grand and Clinton to Broadway and 8th with just one stop in between Good exercise.
Yesterday, first off was to see Crime and Punishment, a documentary about 10 black and Latino officers who felt they were being forced by their superiors in the department two harass black and Latino youth in the poor areas in the city in order to make money by summonses. Very strong movie made with a lot of guts---you really saw the hypocrisy of the the previous mayoral administration and also this current one (believe it!) Afterwards, several officers and others prevalent in the movie spoke---really liked that and admired those guys. Theater was about half black and half white, make of that what you will.
Then it was off to Soho rep to sit in the sun for an hour while waiting for a 99c ticket to Fairview. Not as hard as it sounds,; I had nice conversation with a woman who had come down from Harlem who teacher social work at Morgan State college in Baltimore. So we talked about Baltimore and its problems and waited for a possible chance to see the play. We did not get in---but for some reason the rep allows anyone on that line to buy two tickets---something that does not make any sense at all, and is unfair to those of us who waited. But actually once I knew I was not getting in, rather then hang out and watch baseball, I felt "smelly" and returned home, only to find that I was exhausted and I could serve myself best by staying home and listening to what turned out to be the Yankee massacre of the Red Sox on the radio. And that is what happened.
Today I am tired, so I don't know exactly what the plan is for the rest of the day. Will report tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)