getting through the weekend....

was not too difficult--did some interesting things in spite of the intense heat.
  Saturday--after the library returned home, then off to the Dive on 106th to watch the Yankee game--another not very interesting game dominated by the Yankees. On Saturday afternoon the Dive at that address is a good place to watch a game, but again, no one was very friendly--finally left and returned home. Then off to Medicine for Melancholy at the Walter Reade---the first movie that Barry Jenkins made--the story of two black professionals in their 20's recovering from a one night stand. Really enjoyed it--I found it much more open and freewheeling then Moonlight. Jenkins did the screenplay for this as well---that could be one reason it has more energy. A large crowd there, mostly white, enjoyed the movie---I was pretty tired at that point, but going home was not an option---I simply would not do it. Jumped on a bus going to the east side  (66th street crosstown) and took it to 68th and second. Then walked for about 15 blocks---felt pretty good, it was not too hot. The east side was kind of "normal" that is restaurants and bars filled, lots of couples both young and old were walking around. As I walk there, I see the old tenements, back when (even before I was born), the area east of third was a bit of an Irish shanty neighborhood. I remember crossing third when I was six or seven on my way (with one or both parents) to the Jan Huss playhouse, there to see my Saturday afternoon Gilbert and Sullivan program. On the way back, occasionally would see a man (white) lying in the street---I guess by today's standards the neighborhood might be called "sketchy"---very unlike today, but these old buildings, which often to me seem out of place among the luxury buildings, bring back a certain kind of nostalgia and sadness for a different time. Anyway, the walk was productive, I thought that I would end up at the enormous Barnes and Noble on 86th, but found a nice and large coffee place on second and 82nd, and stayed there and read for a while.
   Sunday, overcame my fears that the subway would stop running if I went to Brooklyn, and headed for the Gotham Market, had my ice coffee and the bartender was nice enough to put on the Yankee game for me. Had a nice talk with  gentleman who, with his wife, was looking to move to the area--he was five years older then myself, but a baseball fan, so we had a decent amount to talk about. Always enjoy sharing fifties baseball trivia with someone "close" to my age.  When it was over---decided against a movie---spontaneously took a Halsey Street bus through Bed-Stuy (beautiful brownstone streets) and got off on Broadway. Could have gotten on the J and taken it back to the city, but some part of me, in spite of the heat, desired to walk and explore, and so cityboy followed Broadway to it merge point with Eastern Parkway and Fulton Street--called the junction, and hung around there. Loved the walk, always fascinating to see that the brownstones stretch even to the eastern part of Bed-Stuy---then a little exploring around the somewhat barren stretch the surrounds the train station which bonds the A, J, and L. Lots of people pouring out of the station into the heat around 6 o'clock. Thought I might check in at La Flaca after that, but then after the walk, the fatigue set in. and figured it was best, just to take the A and C back to the upper west side.
  Today, just the BAN meeting around 7---did my homework for them about the different City Council districts the BAN september anti-gentrification march would cover--anxious to  present my findings, will report soon.