the pushback against

Amazon coming to Queens has been pretty strong. Good sign---good wake up call for those who are just "going along". Lots of fb posting---maybe some real discussions in person can be generated out of this. Much prefer that then just chiming in on FB.
  Three days of work at Friends this week so far---another one, a long one, tomorrow. This is the first weekday off I have had in two weeks. Seems a little weird. But here I am. All nights this week simply at home. But Saturday---
  Went to the Quad first to see the Bergman bio. Some good things---captured some of Bergman's haunted qualities---brought me back to the sixties and early seventies when it seemed "de riguer" to see his movies, past and present. While it did not present a coherent whole of his work---did not explore themes that go throughout---or if it did, maybe a little to superficially---I was glad to be there. I remember being at Hopkins in 63 and 64, when Dr. Macksey would moderate discussions after the films. Interesting---I was in such a different place then. But the memories are strong.
   After that, walked to the diner on 23rd and 7th and had a nice blt and coffee---then was stunned by the bill---$11.60---before the tip. Where is this going? Was able to get to the theater where i was seeing Caitlin S's play early. The play itself was eclectic, very well directed and acted (a little too much over the top) about two female twenty something workers who wake up on a Sunday morning wiped out from the night before. But what happened? The playwright challenges herself by creating to kind of "dense" characters who speak in a cold, stylized voice, but for the most part, she is strong enough to carry this through. For a small production the technical aspects were terrific (they almost always are, at this point). Said hello to Caitlin afterwards (I had met her at a few Assembly parties so she know me---that is why I came to this play) ---she was cordial and grateful that I had come. Trip home uneventful---got hungry again, so settled for pizza at the ninth avenue Two Boots---not the greatest but cheap--and I wanted to save money.
  Sunday, decided to check out an "immersive" production of Merrily We Roll Along, performing in, of all places Muchmore's a coffee beer place in Williamsburg with a performance venue in the back. A small company called Brooklyn Theater Company put it together for 3 performances---amateur it wasn't! Cast was strong and focused, some actually played the instruments as well--Merrily, of course, is the Sondheim musical that means the most to me---especially the second act. The first act was a little ponderous---I think the company wanted to dot all the i's and cross all the t's of the text, but once Charlie sang Good Thing Going in Act II, it was all over for me---I am just so moved and taken in by everything that follows. A few nice conversations with other audience members---always easy at these small theaters---it is amazing how much theater of this nature---really talented people performing in small companies---exists. A good afternoon, I want to return to Muchmore's in the future, just to hang out and have their coffee.
  Finished the night at La Flaca---had a nice talk with Tom, the night bartender whom I have known for several years.
  Tonight is supposed to be stormy---might be a good time so see if I can get a return for Uncle Vanya at Hunter---must see it soon since it is closing this week---but it will depend on how I feel, will report soon.