well, things seem...

a little more normal with a little more than 24 hours before the plane to Long Beach lifts off. Just got my invoice and payed for my ride to my brother's house tomorrow afternoon. All efforts to try to understand how to get to his house by public transportation failed miserably (very poor directions). Anyway, it is all arranged. And is I get closer to it---a lot of the trepidation seems to be lifting. The plane leaves at arund 1:45---I expect to be at the airport around 10--taking no chances, and also since I have not flown since before 9/11, I don't know what the check in procedure will be. At any rate, that is the plan.
   Yesterday---the baseball double header dream that I had in my mind was squashed along the way. For some reason, I just did not want to do it. But I got off the 2 at 110th and Lenox, only to be surprised by a new luxury building and a new coffee place right around the corner. The barista was very nice---we chatted a bit---and for some reason I mistook Lenox for 8th avenue---had to reminded that I had landed two blocks east of 8th. Moved west 2 blocks, and found the other coffee cafe which has a tv, in the hopes that the Yankee game would be on. It was not---mostly CNN showing the horrifying effects of the Harvey storm now in Louisiana--but to my surprise, I ran into Joe, a teacher in the language department at Friends, who was killing some time at the coffee shop. A long and interesting conversation followed---we talked about the Mayoral races, City Council races and many events going on at Friends. A great way to  kill time---we must have talked for about an hour. For the normal faculty, Friends begins today. I asked him to say hello for me to all that he interacted with, and moved on.
  Tired in the evening, but went to the plaza at Lincoln Center to check out Roberto Devereux on the screen. After a few scenes I had to admit that I found the music uninteresting---all those cabalettas and cavatinas, all the traditions that locked in the form---that Verdi put aside as his own work progressed. So I returned to my apartment early and after listening to some radio, went to bed.
   Not a great sleep---awoke around 3, with the usual restlessness, but at this moment, around 11, I feel very wide awake. Tonight I will probably go down to La Flaca--check in with my friend Bob, the owner (if he is there), watch the Yankee Red Sox game, and then return home.
   Not sure when the next post on this blog will be; I don't expect to blog from California, but who knows? I return on a Tuesday early morning flight, so I may be too tired to go to the library on that day. But definitely Wednesdsay, if not sooner. I can't remember the last Labor Day weekend that I was not in New York. Well, will report next week.

here I am, and...

the transportation problem from Long Beach airport to my sister in law's home, has not been solved A few more phone calls to make---I have now compromised, and hope that I can pay around $56.00, a price quoted to me yesterday. I must have made about 15 calls, but either there are no shared rides from the airport, or the limousines want around$75.00. I suppose I could just get to the airport and improvise--all my public transportation inquiries on certain web sites come to nothing. One more phone call to make today-we will see how it plays out.
     Yesterday evening, went to Dive Bar to visit my friend bartender Brittany. She was there,but very busy, but I was able to join a group that was playing trivia--three young women, and that was a decent amount of fun. After the game, I had a conversation with one of the women, Kelly, and found out that she is a Special Ed teacher, near the library where I work with kids. We compared notes, then I found out that she was a musical theater major (amazing that they have them) at Wagner College--so of course, there was a lot of theater talk after that. She was not knowledgeable about the "downtown" theater, or Brooklyn theater world, that I know well,  and I promised to let her know when I thought something was playing there that she might find interesting.; After that, it was simply a walk back to the apartment, with a stop at Barnes and Nobles, as I tried to find a short story anthology that I might take with me on the plane. Arrived home and went to sleep.
    It is still hard to contemplate my trip or to put it in perspective. Again, it seems like I am entering into a netherworld---why? Maybe because it seems so cut off and separate from the one that I am living in now. I have lots of conflicting feelings about it---I make so many choices in my life; since I am the "guest" of my brother and his wife, perhaps I feel some of that control will be taken away from me. Anyway, will see how this plays out.
   The Yankees are playing an all day doubleheader against the Indians today, something practically unheard of at this time. That means one admission for two games, a fairly normal baseball happening during the forties, fifties and sixties but ,since  then has all but disappeared,  except in emergencies. The thought of going, after I leave the  library, is very appealing---for cityboy, a step back in time to the Sundays of his youth when he and a friend looked forward to spending six or seven hours at the ball park. Will I do it? Really no time block; I can get there as late as 4, and probably buy a cheap ticket.I can wander around the ball park, leave when I please, really does not matter.  Choices, choices---will probably make some phone calls for transportation before I decide if it will happen. Then tonight, the Metropolitan Opera movies that are on the Lincoln Center plaza is showing Roberto Devereux, the Donizetti opera that they performed a few seasons ago. I am very curious---I like the opera; I actually saw the opening night performance of it at City Opera in 1970, when Beverly Sills and Placido Domingo sang the leads. (Also, Beverly Woolf, a very under rated mezzo and Louis Quilico were in the cast) . A very exciting evening. Will I take that option. Should I instead seek out someone to discuss my conflicts with the weekend? As usual, will let it happen.
 I will report back on all of this tomorrow.
 

frustrated...

yesterday afternoon it seemed like I had found an inexpensive shuttle to get me from the airport in Long Beach to my brother and sister in law's house in LA. But today I could not find that price on the Long Beach Airport Web site. So, after many frustrating and non helpful google searches, I finally got sent to Yelp, and with that, the phone numbers of a few car services from Long Beach into LA. Maybe that will do it---that will be my afternoon assignment--not exactly what I want to do, but I am determined to find a reasonable price to get to my brother's. Public transportation seems long and difficult, but will do it if necessary, But first I will try to numbers that I have found via Yelp.
  Not much else to report. Yesterday afternoon was slow---waited until it was time to go to the BAN meeting. That meeting, as we get closer to the march, was really well attended--I think the largest amount of people that I have ever seen at a BAN meeting--and many plans for the march were thrown out. I said very little, usually I contribute more, but I am a bit stopped by my plans----usually I help out at the BAN table on Labor Day, but of course, this year I cannot do it. And i did not volunteer for a few other events as well. But, I will be on the march---will try to do it from start to finish if I have no tutoring that day; if not, will join the march either at the Bed-Stuy stop or either of the Bushwick stop. I would really like to see the march well attended---truly there is so much to fight for; the developers get more and more aggressive as the days go by, while the Mayor, if he defeats Albanese, clings obstinately to his plan for rezoning---a plan that seems very slanted towards the wealthy.
    A good article in one of the small free newspapers that are thrown at consumers at the local subway stations---it shows how there is a picture of a Trojan horse on a mural in Spanish Harlem. The mural sees the horse as dropping upscale people into the neighborhood, similar to the Greeks releasing their soldiers into Troy,  while promising, I suppose, to benefit the neighborhood. Well, it is good that more and more citizens of the city are understanding how disenfranchised the Mayor's policies will make them. "Pockets of rage", is how I describe them.
  For the rest of the day---well--as I said above, will be in the hunt for a decent price for a ride to LA from the airport. Might go down to La Flaca this evening, say hi to Bob, also one of my favorite bartenders is working at the Dive Bar tonight---or maybe even a trip to Brooklyn. I am toying with the idea of getting on the rush ticket line for either of tomorrow's performances of The Great Comet---I would like to see it again before it closes, but I will leave it to my feelings for tomorrow morning. Will definitely be a "wake up" decision. Will report tomorrow.

where to begin....

well, just found out that it will not be the easiest thing to get from Long Beach air port to the house where my brother lives in LA. A cab might cost as much as 45, does cityboy have the tenacity to try to make it by city buses? Will be much longer, and i will be tired, but you know, you are a public transportation guy. May need to do some more research before I figure it out.
   Weekend report: Saturday night: Sarah Ruhl's new play at Playwrights Horizons---I found it disappointing- a strange cross between reality and magic realism that does not quite succeed on either level. A seventy year old woman remembers that she played Peter Pan in the fifties, at the time that Mary Martin was touring in her production Then she meets with her three male siblings and one female sibling as their father is dying. Lots of talk about family and predictions of death, but it a lot of time, the playwright seems to be riffing on ideas, rather than making them theatrical. Finally the present is linked to the past, but there is really very little sense of who the woman who played Peter Pan as a child is, and what effect starring in the role in school had on her adult life. Yes, I wanted something more concrete then what is offered, but it is never clear if the play is realistic or wish fulfillment. Good acting and it was nice to talk to actors Keith (always friendly and upbeat) and David, whom I had not seen in a long while; he filled me in on much that the had been doing in the past fifteen years. Afterwards, wandered along ninth avenue, looking for a bar to have a beer in---it was much too early to go home---but passed all of them--finally decided to go to the Dive Bar on 96th and Amsterdam, even if it meant overshooting my apartment---had to choose a bar that I at least felt comfortable in. Had my beer, a small conversation, and returned home.
   Sunday, off to Bushwick to watch the baseball game and hang with my friend bartender Olivia---witnessed the comedy of "errors" that the Mariners made in the first inning of what could have been a close game (it wasn't). I was wearing my Brooklyn is Not for Sale shirt, and it attracted the attention of two other denizens of Cobra and we spoke for a long while about the state of the city. Then off to South Fourth (following a long walk along Myrtle, from Wilson to Broadway) and good conversations with my friend Harlo, and her husband Noah. There was also a young man there named Johnny, who lives in Astoria. We spoke about his neighborhood---I asked him whether he had been following the Mayoral election---he said that he had not---in the nicest possible way, I urged him to follow it, if only by going on DNA info and watching what was happening. By about 7:15, I was tired and felt that it was time to go...but where. Yes,  felt physically tired, but to return to my apartment on the upper west side by eight would kill the evening---and worse---my imagination. Had to stay out, but where? Did not want to go too far from Williamsburg,  Finally I decided to catch the 62 bus---it runs south after Broadway, then down Wythe Avenue and finally under the Brooklyn Queens expressway, adjacent to Fort Greene. But was not crowded, a nice moody trip---I got off at Park and Vanderbuilt---then proceeded to the epicenter of Fort Greene---the BAM area. Walking down DeKalb and Lafayetter towards BAM, I was amazed at the number of people (almost all white) sitting at the many outdoor restaurants that I passed. I guess you might say that Fort Greene: 2000, when I first began to wander there to now---the transition has been fully realized. Where does all the money come from?  Finally, with a full stomach, settled on the only place in the area where I could truly kill time--the bookstore on Fulton near BAM. I must have spent about a half hour browsing there--saw many books that I would like to read, but did not buy any of them. Still reading the novel about the African immigrants who go to work for the Wall Street couple in 2008. Long subway ride home, but I arrived intact.
Today, the next BAN meeting, then...not sure---will depend on how tired I feel. Only four days remain until my trip to LA, and a very different world from the one that I inhabit here. Well, will let you know what happens.

so here we are...Saturday...

morning---will see Sarah Ruhl's new play tonight;it is chock full of actors whom I am acquainted with. Wonder whether I will wait to say hello to them--one of them, David, whom I met when he was in the Dustin Hoffman revival of Death of a Salesman, is a really nice guy. I have not seen him in about 15 years; it would be nice to talk to him again. Well, we will see. I am interested to see how Ms. Ruhl presents people of what I think are, my generation. And knowing that I will see the play, gives my day some structure.
    Next week at this time, I will be in California for the events that lead up to my niece's wedding. Facing this with some trepidation---I am not used to being away from home---also, will be interesting to see where my relationship with my brother is at. It has never been contentious, but we will be exposed to each other for a pretty long period of time. The whole trip seems somewhat unreal to me---what with everything going on in the city---and my focus on the current Mayoral race and a few races for the City Council. Lots of thoughts about that. The Mayor's intractability--his insistence on not listening to communities---to forcing his own policies on them---is very unsettling. An editorial in today's NY Times, expressed disappointment that two other New York office holders, Scott Stringer and Hakeem Jeffries, may have felt it was politically expedient to wait until the Mayor can't run again due to term limits---and so are setting their sites on 2021.  But the current Mayor' policies are so brutish that by that time it may be too late to effect too much change.. I am frightened for what the city might become if things remain the same---of course, perhaps I am being too pessimistic---but discussion, discussion, discussion, that is what is really needed. Too many people I know don't realize the importance of this election, and how who the Mayor is effects the living conditions of all. Where does it end?
    Yesterday, my blog entry was the last thing I did on the library computer---for some reason there was a big demand for computers at the Saint Agnes branch. Determined to continue, I headed to Brooklyn, stopped at Coffee on Bergen Street and Flatbush (I love their coffee) and then walked to the Central Library at Grand Army Plaza. I love that place! Spent about an hour on the computer, then walked north on Washington to Fulton---grabbed a pizza slice near there (pretty good) and then took the C back to Manhattan. My goal was to see the movie Step!, a documentary about the graduating class of a charter school in Baltimore. It is a class of about 60, all girls, and the class is completely made up of black young women---mostly from homes on the poverty level or close to it.
Seven years earlier they were admitted as the first class-sixth graders with the goal of the school to make sure all were accepted into accredited colleges in 2015. The movie centers on the Step dancing group of this class and on three young women and their families in particular. Each of the three young women graduating have different stories---one is bright but distracted, one is the valedictorian who gets in Johns Hopkins, and one gets into a smaller school in Alabama. Interesting, a although all the people in the movie are black, the violence that seems to be prevalent in those neighborhoods was never discussed. That, to me is a good thing. I found myself moved by much of the movie, I wanted to go down to the school and serve as a tutor for those girls.
    Yet when I left the movie house, it was only 6:30. A whole night ahead for cityboy. I played with three options in my mind---I wanted to eat somewhere where I could watch the Yankee game---my choice was the Gramercy Bar on 2nd between 19th and 20th street---it is usually a quiet bar and pretty friendly. The bartender I hoped to find there---Amanda--was not there, but the one who was was welcoming, and I settled in for my grilled cheese and watched the start of the game without much contact from the other patrons. Left at about 9---could not get myself to just go to the subway, instead I walked north on 2nd to 23rd street, then right on 23rd to first avenue, and then south on First to 14th street. All of a sudden I realized that I had not been on that section of first avenue for a while, and I was hungry to check out what was new. Did not find much---some new restaurants and coffee places---Stuyvesant Town seemed the same as always. But the point was, I had to wander---just not ready to return to the upper west side yet, even though I was a bit tired.
   The rest, as they say, was silence---L train to sixth and the 1 back to the West Side, Oh yes, I did stop off at Lincoln Center where they were showing the somewhat bizarre Bergman movie of the opera The Magic Flute. What amazing music! Really bonded with it.
   So that is all for now---will report on Ms. Ruhl's play and other things, probably on Monday

activist or...

West Side Story dork? That is where cityboy is at this moment, Why? Let's flash back to yesterday. As I finished my computer session in the Lincoln Center library, I overheard in the snack bar adjacent to the computers, some discussion of the original West Side Story, which will have its 60th anniversary in September. Two gentlemen were talking about it, and finally, after some trepidation, I introduced myself to them, asked to join their conversation, immediately letting them know that I knew all about cast changes in the original, which four original cast members went to London with the production there, and other facts. They were very welcoming---we talked for a while; apparently there will be some event at the library and they were interviewing many original cast members---who live in other areas of the country. They had taken pictures on their i-phones---oh, how old those incredible actors and dancers whom I worshiped looked in the pictures! But they saw that I knew my stuff---the younger of the two planners, took my number---perhaps he will contact me for my memories---I would like to be part of this if I can. I told them a few anecdotes from the five performances that I saw during its first and second run--but I have more, and some other thoughts. Well. we will see what happens.
   Meanwhile, no day at the computer is complete without more gentrification abuses---I just read a short article on Long Island City---basically the same thing, the city giving land away and luxury housing replacing older homes and closing businesses using working class people from the neighborhood. And the Mayor proclaims the success of his "progressive" agenda. Lots happening--I wonder if his challenger can make showing that lets him know how disappointed people are in his vision. Some of the things I read about---the way landlords withhold services from tenants or shut off their hot water in an attempt to remove them, really smacks of complete sadism. It must be stopped.
   Today, after this library session is totally open. Lots of choices---from free admission to the Whitney to Standings to a movie to...well you get the point. Also, since I did not sleep very well last night, will see how tired I am and how this effects my movement throughout the day.
  Last night, after some rest, headed to Bushwick and "hung out" at the activist Starr Bar. Nice kale salad, (though at $11.00 a little expensive for activists) and an interesting conversation with another activist who was sitting next to me. We discussed the debate on Wednesday, also the meaning of deBalsio's actions during his term.
 Okay, time to go--this computer will be given to someone else, so must get off. Will report on what transpires later today tomorrow.

a little annoyed....

that I did not stay at home and listen to Brian Lehrer's call in assessment of last night's Mayoral debate. With my own strong feelings about it---it would be interesting to see how others reacted. I thought Albanese, with his bull dog approach, came on strong---does he have a chance? Well, even a strong showing by him, even if he loses would be a reminder to the Mayor that he has lost a lot of his 2013 constituency---those of us who really believed that he could make change.Yes, some of his progressive policies have been helpful--certainly one can't fault his lowering of the rent stabilization rates for the past few years. But what has he done for tenants who are not rent stabilized? Nothing. It will be interesting to see where this goes---there is one more debate on (I believe) September 6.
    Now a few words about "apathy". I think I am the only person I know who was aware of the debate. Even the tenants union in Crown Heights was not going to let it interrupt its meeting. Strange and very sad. The Mayor has so much power of the way we live. But---if you have enough money to make it through the next four years, why should the needs off people living on the Jerome Avenue corridor in the Bronx be important to you? Huh? Jerome Avenue, where this all began? Well, let's see how this plays.
   Yesterday afternoon---a different afternoon for cityboy. First went to Greenpoint to search for a suit for my niece's Natalie's wedding. The one store that I tried, really did not sell suits, but of course, since I was in Brooklyn, could not simply get back on the subway. I browsed through the bookstore on Frankin Avenue, called Words---it is a calm, quiet place on a very quiet spot in Greenpoint. Saw many books that I would have liked to read--for a moment I wished that that was all my life was--to buy a book in Greenpoint, and absorb myself in it, and nothing else. Yes, placid, but intense. But of course, it was not to be, I had to leave and explore Orchard street for a suit-so I took the G to Broadway (and Union) then switched to the J to Delancey and walked south on Orchard Street. Wow! What a transformation, even in the past few years. Orchard, between Delancey and Broome, is loaded with restaurants, a few coffee places etc. After some searching, I came upon a small store which sold suits. A cluttered place, but the proprietors, a husband and wife were extremely nice, and lo and behold, I bought a suit for a very low price. I must "yelp" the place---it really deserves  a good review. Then home, the debate (on WNYC) and finally, hummus at the Dive Bar (the only reasonable bar in the neighborhood for hummus) where I watched some of the baseball games of the evening. My stay at the bar was uneventful---no interesting discussions---since the bar is one block away from Symphony Space, where the debate was held, I thought I might find someone who was there, but it was not to be. Returned home and went to sleep.
  Today, no specific plans, but might visit Starr Bar in Bushwick to confirm the afterparty  after the BAN march. Also, syndicated has Rushmore at 6--a movie I always wanted to see. After that...? Well, will report tomorrow.

so much hapening...

today, the Mayoral debate, which I plan to watch or listen to, and then there was the performance last night at Roulette, by the Team, called "A Primer for a Failed Society" Hard to describe; a series of songs and chants, all in an "underdog" vein, by that I mean workers songs, songs from the protest days of the sixties, many civil rights songs, and some chants, songs and interviews about the present state of inequality. All generations included, from high school kids to baby boomers. Lots of intense singing and moving.
  For someone of my generation, it was more like watching a replay of the "greatest hits" of the sixties and seventies, with some modern issues thrown in. I was annoyed that sometime the passion reeked of a kind of self congratulation---and with all the issues championed, and a fully diverse group of people, no comments about the world right outside the Y, where Roulette is located---a world of luxury buildings designed to keep the very people this show seemed to be fighting for---out. Afterwards several activist groups spoke and asked for commitment and contributions from the mostly white, mostly twenty or thirty something audience, and that was an attempt (well meaning, I suppose) to bring the audience into the present, yet none of these groups spoke of today's debate, the Mayor's vision of the city, the exploding cost of living---things that seemed to be happening right outside the venue. I left feeling a little spent---also a bit left out---I could have made some kind of valuable contribution, but was not asked--really I don't know if I would have fit in with the rest of the group. I am so fond of the people in The TEAM---want to support them as much as I can, just watching the energy of some of them was exciting--but--well, my perspective on the past fifty years seems to be kind of unique---hopefully more discussion to follow.
  Afterwards, I walked around Park Slope (near the venue) and landed at a bar on 5th and Bergen, one that I have often passed and been curious about. Air conditioning was off (fans were pretty useless)  as it was at Roulette, but stayed anyway. Had a bud light for (you got to believe this) $7.62 (with tip it came to $9.00) and watched the end of the Met game as the Diamondbacks held the Mets off in the ninth. No conversation---not a great experience, but trying a new bar always has its ups and downs. Tired after that returned home.
  Today, should try to find a suit or at least sport pants for the upcoming wedding---then the debate---will report tomorrow.

so the eclipse....

came and went---and where was cityboy? Like he predicted, in a movie theater watching "The Big Sick", a movie so disappointing, it almost made me want to go out and look at the sun. Well, it got the job done, and to my surprise, I was not alone. Definitely the Loews theater was not crowded, but there were at least nine or ten people watching this movie with me. And what made it so disappointing? I am always suspicious of rom-coms, but this movie got some serious reviews---I just found it inane. Nothing at all original in the dialogue or situations, and a lot of repetitive actions. I would have liked to know the cast, out of curiosity, but by 4 (the eclipse safely over) I simply left. The rest of the afternoon and evening taken up with the BAN meeting, some nice progressions as we move towards the 9th. Also, one woman whom I had invited, came, and brought another person, But as the meeting went on, I experienced an incredible fatigue spell; I could hardly keep my eyes open. And on the way home on the subway, also extremely tired. Why? I don't think I slept much the night before---I was feeling very anxious about what I would do and how I could protect myself during the eclipse. Got to sleep very quickly, and feel quite solid at this given moment.
  Tonight, the much anticipated (by me, I guess) Primer for a Failed Society at Roulette, done by my friend, The Team.  A really incredible challenge, to come to terms with the last 50 years of America--at least that is what I think it is about. Some older people who experienced the sixties will be performing---I wonder how and whether I will relate to them. I have my own vision of the sixties and how it has evolved into the present--and I wonder if those on stage will be in agreement with me. At any rate, should be interesting, also I  should know many people there. I will wear my Brooklyn Is Not For Sale shirt, and bring a few flyers for the march with me. For a normal theater project I would not do this, but since this is an "activist" and political work, I think it is appropriate. No hard sell, but if the shirt gets some attention, I will try to explain why I am wearing it and what it stands for.
  Just took out a novel from the library called, Behold the Dreamers that looks interesting. Another book in the library that caught my attention was a biography of Diana Trilling. Who was she? A "liberal" icon of the sixties and seventies, and the wife of the well respected Columbia Professor, Lionel Trilling. But the world they inhabited---a kind of elite class of fifties, sixties and seventies "liberals" seems so protected, so "white" (for want of a better word). Do I really want to spend my time reading about her and watching her life in this world?
Anyway, all this should be clearer tomorrow, when I will report on the evening and other things.

somewhat nervous...

about the eclipse this afternoon--no, I don't have the glasses--I expect to be at a movie---will go in about 1, and stay in until at least 4:30. I think by then it will be over (the facts state that  it will be over at 4, but I will take my time).
The weekend: by far the most interesting part of the weekend was my participation in the Bronx March against gentrification, on Saturday afternoon.  A long hard march in the heat and humidity---nevertheless, important. At 2, I met a group from Washington Heights who were supporting the march at 167 street and Jerome, and we walked three blocks to 170th Street. There, we met a large group that was beginning its march to Burnside Avenue, about a mile away. Of course, being in that area brings back a great deal of memories and feelings---many of my classmates from Bronx Science lived in the area that we passed. And, cityboy, of course, the ultimate romantic--immediately raps his mind around that time---the 50' and most of the 60's, when those many art deco buildings that we passed on the march were part of a Jewish neighborhood. Of course it is very different now, even short blocks away from Yankee Stadium, you have many people living in poverty. The racial make up of the march was about 85% black and hispanic---which makes sense, because these are the citizens of NY who are most threatened by the mayor's "scheme" (he refers to it as a plan) to rezone the area and bring in renters and perhaps even condo buyers who have much more capital then the current residents. I had some interesting conversations with marchers--the police were a presence, preventing any cars from running into the route. Also, there were several marchers moving us along. Still fascinated by some of the geography of the area, at one point around the middle of the march, the land slopes upward, and then there is Morris Avenue which crosses from east of the Concourse, under a bridge to become west of it where it continues north. Why is this so important to me? Why do I want to know more, to walk more in the area? What do you think you will find, cityboy, the friends you had, the young women from Science whom you had crushes on, are all gone now. Still, you want to wander, to explore. Next trip?
   The march ended at a square and park on Burnside Avenue a little west of the concourse. One block west was Creston Avenue--my grandmother on my father's side lived there until her death in 1954. The apartment house was somewhere between Burnside and the other large street three blocks away, Tremont Avenue. Many Sunday afternoons were spent there, with the whole of my father's family, a fairly large brood. Watched some baseball games there on their television as well. At any rate, I did not venture south on Creston to see if I could locate the specific building where on grandmother, and two of her children, my aunt Mary and my Uncle Sigmund, lived. More about them at another time. Suffice it to say, that my father, the youngest of about 10 children born in Poland, was the most educated of all of them, and in that sense, we were a little bit "above" the others in our vision of the world.
   I was hungry, and remembered a luncheonette on Bedford Park Boulevard, a few subway stations north of Burnside. Took the concourse bus there, and had blt and a coke (much needed in the heat) at that luncheontte---not too crowded at around 5. From there, the 4 to 149street---again spent most of the trip on the 4 looking out at the surrounding neighborhood---art deco houses seem to be endless in my view. Arrived back at the apartment, but felt that I could not simply end the day, so I went to see Nocturama at the Bunin---a very taut, controlled movie, (effective in that way---there was no time for my mind to wander) with beautiful colors, incredibly well conceived, about a group of young (possible) terrorists who seem to be able to blow up several buildings in Paris and then hide out in a lush department store, until they are caught. Any point to the horror and carnage that we witness. The twenty something characters that set this off are purposefully vague---but that is the point--we never know much about them---so greater detachment from the movie. Glad I saw it, it kept me involved, but a cold piece of work.
  Yesterday, spent most of the afternoon at Cobra, watching the Red Sox Yankee game, one of the slowest games that I have ever witnessed. Nice to see my bartender friend Olivia at the bar---when it ended, I thought I would travel through Brooklyn, but I was really tired, so I returned to the upper west side---kind of "chilled" for the rest of the evening---really, I think, needed to clear my mind---a lot of events happening in the next three days.
   More of that tomorrow, and a report of my afternoon during the eclipse, in tomorrow's post.

two current visions...

of the moment. Have just read a Times Real Estate article which blithely discusses how purchasers of two million dollar condos want a garden on the roof of their apartment house. My God, is this what we need now? Just a moment before that I went to the page of a woman whom I knew well (and liked---well maybe that is a little too "soft" a description)  when I was a student at Hopkins. She does not post much, but an older post of hers talks about the pre-mature death of her parents when they were killed when a truck crashed into them. I remember receiving a postcard from her telling me of this, in August of 1963. She had not written in a while, and I wondered why not, then I received the postcard. Strange, the sadness and my familiarity with the memory, really got to me. How does one come to terms with a memory like this.? Will stop now...let's go on to the present.
   This afternoon I will head to the Bronx, specifically Jerome Avenue and 167street where on forum on gentrification (it might also be a walk) will begin. I am bringing flyers for the BAN march on the 9nth. It should be interesting, and of course, being back in the Bronx, will bring back memories, even as I try to focus on the present---as those art deco buildings remind me so much of the past.
   Last night--in spite of being tired, decided to go to the Reparations project at JACK. This night a movie was shown:"The Price of Memory (a very different type of memory than the one that is described in the first paragraph)  which dealt with the slave heritage of Jamaica in the Caribbean, and the many monuments there and in London and Liverpool that were built by slave owners from their profits made, solely by the slave trade. Much of it was informative and meaningful, however the last half hour, mostly dealing with the demands for reparations that Jamaicans are asking from the English government, I found to be very repetitive..Discussion afterwards, touched on some points, but also seemed long. The movie seemed to incite a lot of feelings from those who were there--so I guess you could call it effective. Afterwards, stopped off at Pizza parlor near BAM (not my favorite one near there,  which was already closed) and then took the subway (the Q and the 1) back to the apartment. I simply did not feel like going into a bar to watch the Yankee-Red Sox game, and spending over $13.00 for a meal. In all fairness, I was tired, also---I returned the the apartment just as the Yankee loss was ending.
   Tomorrow, there is a "practice' march for the 9/9 event---it starts at 11:30 at Barclays Center. Will I go? Well, when I woke up this morning, I felt there was no way that I would accept the challenge of the walk, but now I think it may be possible and meaningful. An interesting challenge, though I don't think anyone would be upset if I dropped out at some point. Still, I probably won't make my mind up until about 10 tomorrow morning. Will I go? Tune in Monday (I probably won't blog tomorrow) to find out.

getting deeper...

and deeper into the "activist" game (not a great way to put it), cityboy finds himself swamped with commitments over the next few days---all of which involve BAN. Well, come on, cityboy, the march is on September 9---you are getting closer and closer to it---what do you expect? But the intensity...?
Maybe a little too heated for you--nevertheless, we are putting our "feet to the fire...so to speak.
    Last night, I could not make the vigil on Throop and Gates, a little too tired for that, so I went straight to the Crown Heights Tenants Association meeting to present the BAN march, and ask for the Tenants Union to join in sponsoring it. An affable group, mostly white, at last night's meeting--BAN did not speak until the middle of the meeting, so I got a chance to listen to some other issues---this group is really focusing on the Bedford-Union Armory project---that is on stopping it in its current form. They are following every move made by the current City Council Person, whom, they feel, supports it, even if she has pulled back a little because she is fighting for her re-election. They are ON TOP OF IT.  Finally, BAN got its chance to speak around 8:20. Zakiyah, (the lead presenter) Mike and myself, made some statements and answered some questions, but essentially it was an easy vote. That having been accomplished, I left the building, which fronted on Classon Avenue, the very avenue that the bus to take me to Brooklyn was on. It came quickly and I was soon on Lorimer Avenue and Broadway, not far from South Fourth. When I arrived, my friend Molly, an activist in Williamsburg and her husband, Beck, were at the bar; I showed them the flyer for the march, and they became very interested---Molly promised to bring much of her group to the march in solidarity, and hopefully will join the meeting on Monday as we make preparations for the march. I left feeling very pleased, but a little bit over-defined--as I still feel now. But somehow this commitment and this group which every day I am more and more a part of, is defining me more and more. It continues tonight at JACK for a movie and discussion, and then tomorrow, when I go to the Bronx (Jerome Avenue and 167 street---an area with a lot of meaning for me) for a forum about changes there, and to distribute flyers, then I hope to go to the Bronx Documentary Project to leave some flyers there and also participate in a discussion with an author. (Her subject is not gentrification but it should be interesting.) Sunday is the "practice march" with several BAN members, not sure if I will go or not---it will depend how I feel Sunday morning, and then the planning meeting on Monday.
   Two more weeks, exactly to the plane ride to Long Beach, and then my niece's wedding on Sunday the 3rd. Even as all of the above happens, I am very aware of time closing in. After Wednesday, I hope I can see Pipeline and For Peter Pan etc. at least those two theater works, and maybe a last look at Natasha and Pierre, the following week. Any movies---there are some I should see---well, maybe I will have a report for tomorrow.

more stuff. about Chatlottesville..

on Facebook. It is troublesome, takes me a while to stop my imagination from running freely and anticipating something unfortunate. But I don't think this will really happen. I need space, away from the computer to sort things out.

  I had hoped to make today's blog about the next four days: busy days for the cityboy. Tonight, will go to Crown Heights Tenants Association to help make a "pitch" for them to become a sponsor for the 9/9 march. Before that, might participate in the vigil at Throop and Gates, displaying anger for one more shooting in Bed-Stuy. The Association is located about 15 blocks from the vigil, so it should be a nice walk, or interesting bus ride, between the two places. Maybe after that will deliver a few flyers to my friend Kim at South fourth, waiting to hear from her. My partner for tonight will be Zakiyah, and it will probably be she who makes the presentation. She is a young, friendly, and feisty woman---always fun to be with. Should be interesting.

  Last night had to examine my choices. Wanted to see Bobby, the owner of La Flaca, whom I have not seen in a while, so I ventured down there to hang out and eat. Before that, on my way to the A train at Columbus Circle, I was "accosted" by a young man who tried to get me to go up to a new bar in the Columbus Circle venue. He was there with a young woman and a security guard---we had some good banter as he tried to convince me to go up there, and I tried to explain that I couldn't at the time. (Actually I could have---I did not have to be at La Flaca at any given time). It's nice to know that I was "looking good" enough to have him "solicit" me as a possible patron of what must be an upscale bar. But they had just re-opened, so I guess they were looking for people. Anyway, I continued to La Flaca, arrived there, only to be told be bartender Anton that Bobby had gone for the day. I was disappointed, but decided to stay anyway, and watch the Yankee-Mets game---later I was joined by Sam (Samantha) a La Flaca regular who I am friends with, and her friend Ben. They both live in the East River co-ops that are about 5 blocks east of the restaurant. They both come from families that were the first tenants there, when the project opened in the fifties. So these apartments have been passed on, allowing further generations to remain there. Interesting NYC history. I thought that I might head over to  Metrograph and catch a showing of the 9:30 movie there, but the conversation was going well, so I decided to stay at La Flaca.
   I left around 9;40---the subway was near, but I wanted to walk---it was too nice to go indoors, and I was not that tired--I wandered over to Ludlow and Broome--as I was walking north towards Delancey I noticed a bar that I had not seen before. It was small and dimly lit--another bar! I thought--but the bartender was taking a break outside, and he and I (his name was Matt) engaged in an interesting conversation about that bar, bars with and without televisions, and some other things. Very spontaneous conversation--I enjoyed it--he invited me to return to the bar (called Left Field) on the days that he was working. Wow! Cityboy is a real favorite among bartenders. Never expected that, early in my adult life. Well, strange (and interesting) how these  things turn out.

  Remember, cityboy--you still need some dress clothes for your trip to California for your niece's wedding. Don't wait too long---you can't attend the wedding or the pre-wedding party in dungarees, you know. Get to work--will report on today's stories, tomorrow.

looking forward to...

Friday night's Reparations program at JACK. Finally a place where all that is going on can be discussed. There is a movie being shown, but hopefully there will be some meaningful discussion as well. Have to get off Facebook. And hopefully (I want to make this a positive statement) some of the participants will realize that there is a real fight going on in the city---to stop the abusive gentrification in and around JACK (and especially further south). Also, some antigentrification work planned for tomorrow--will report more on that as it evolves.
   Yesterday, dropped off flyers for the 9/9 march at Molasses and at Cobra, where the owner was nice enough to accept them. Then had a nice talk with Bruno, who was bartending at Starr Bar about planning the after party on the 9th. We also talked about what he and his volunteers were doing in Bushwick in terms of educating the people living there about the Mayor's rezoning plan-there is a lot of commitment there, but he lacks people to help. How long will it take to make "non-political" people realize that they should get involved, that what the Mayor has planned will effect all of them?
     At any rate, most of what I hoped to do in Bushwick was accomplished.
   After that, I headed to Greenpoint, a place I have not spent much time in this summer. A graduate of Friends class of 16, Ewen, told me he was interning there this summer and invited me to come to one of the independent movies that they were showing on Tuesdays. This was the only Tuesday that I could make it--since I arrived at the Lorimer L stop early (as usual) I decided to walk the approximately 15 blocks to Freeman Street. An interesting walk north on Manhattan Avenue---many stores, a few new bars, etc. Imagine my surprise when I bought my ticket for the program to discover that Ewen would not be there--kind of disappointed, I probably would not have gone if I thought he was not going to be there, but---what the hell---there I was, and the ticket was only $8.00, so I stayed.
The evening consisted of two documentaries--both about India in the 70.s, The first a propaganda piece by the almost dictatorship of a government that ruled India from 74 to 76, claiming that things were better in the universities, and the second---a really brutal documentary, documenting the horrible torture that any prisoner considered "political", had to experience. Really brutal beatings and in some cases, killings. Very few people brought to justice after a kind of democracy had been brought back in the late seventies. Very intense---yet it taught me something about India I did not know. Afterwards I spoke to one of the curators of the space---he was very gracious and very pleased with the work that Ewen had done. Hopefully, I can pass this on to him.
    I was tired, but would not leave Greenpoint without trying out a new bar. And, of course, there was one, that I had scoped out on my way there, right around the corner. It was called Barley, and I went in to eat and watch the Yankee-Met game, at that point in the sixth inning. One look at the menu freaked me out---nothing under $10.00! Well, of course, it is NY in 2017. I thought about leaving, but I had come in---I found a Kale Caesar Salad that was only $9.00. (No coke or beer, just a glass of ice water). It was not exactly what I wanted, but I had to keep to my budget. It came soon after, and was really very good---perhaps among the best Caesar's that I have tasted. The bartender was friendly but not particularly talkative---though I struck up a very nice chat with Yolanda, a Greenpointer who was there with her husband, and who liked the place very much. Finally it was time to leave---I payed my bill---$12,00 with tax and tip (pretty good for nowadays). I liked the place, I would probably return there at some point.
    Headed to the subway, but somehow, with all my fatigue, decided to walk some more. Did not want to end the evening. (it was about 9:15) Wandered west on Greenpoint Ave--looked in a few places, because the salad was light, but decided not to go in anywhere. Took the 62 bus to north 7th, and then the L back to Manhattan.
   Today is the one day of the week that I have no plans, And maybe that is a good thing, I am kind of exhausted from all the action of the past few days. A movie? Maybe---Maybe a visit to La Flaca---all is open, will report tomorrow.

exhausted this morning....

from all the posts that I have been reading that are trying to come to terms with the incidents in Charlottesville---once I process them, what then? One can have opinions, but how does that stop the bigotry and violence? It's an impasse, that I can't quite cross. Jack, in Cllinton Hill, is having another program in their "reparations" yearly project on Friday, and maybe some serious discussion will come from that. Also, as it looks now, I will be spending a decent amount of time Saturday in the Bronx, first with a march-forum at Jerome Avenue and 167 street, and then probably at the Bronx Documentary Center for a discussion ---I also hope to give out some flyers for the march on September 9, there.
  Last night: duality: First the BAN meeting---more planning for the aforementioned march. In addition, I made commitments to presenting for BAN on Thursday evening at the Tenants coalition, to get their support, and the possibly on Sunday, to do a practice walk for the march, or at least participate in some of it (it is a long march). I get so many e-mails, regarding actions that need to be taken, I feel almost exhausted by the choices I am asked to make. Should I go to Brooklyn Court tomorrow to support a Caribbean tenant who is in danger of being forced out by her landlord?  That is a lot, added to what I have already committed to, including this afternoon (more about that later) --and yet I know that this is important, and I probably have the time. I won't make my decision until tomorrow, depending on how I feel, and what else is happening. Oh, cityboy, what happened to the days where the most important decision that you had was simply what movie to see? They are long gone, I suppose, and with the trip to LA for my niece's wedding not that far away, well it seems like time is closing in. Calm down, cityboy, I guess you have to take it one step at a time.
   After leaving the meeting, I went, as quickly as I could, to Douglass Street in Brooklyn to meet a birthday party group that had assembled for my friend Ben. The bar, Three Brews, is located on Douglass between 4th and 3rd, (a former no man's land, but not any longer), It is a large, roomy space with a nice outdoor place to "hang". The vibe was as far away from "anguished"  as you can get---lots of easy chat, couples, etc--you know what I mean. Amazing how many bars there are in the area, and this one is so big. But I enjoyed myself, had a good conversation with Ben, his wife, Jess and a friend, Caitlin--totally apolitical all about the plays that I had seen this summer and the plays that were coming up--Ben is going to New Haven to begin a tour of Small Mouth Sounds, a play that was much praised two years ago. Nothing political or about the state of the city was spoken--we were in a totally different zone---as it seemed were all of the other bar-goers. After leaving, I walked Ben and Jess back to their apartment a few blocks away, we did get into some city problems and they seemed sympathetic, but I was struck at how different the world I had entered in the bar was.
  I left them about 11:00---had to walk about seven blocks to the subway; the air was soothing---it was a beautiful night, and believe it or not, I was not really tired---I could have walked all through Fort Greene is necessary. The walk towards the arena on fifth avenue was quiet--a nice Park Slope walk, surrounded by the blocks full of brownstones (now very expensive) that line the side streets. Did I want the night to go on forever, to forget the commitments that I had made to BAN---to just deal with the "romantic" aspects of being alive at the moment? Possibly, but this morning it is back to the current reality which is definitely still with us.
   Plans for the rest of the day: Hit Brooklyn around 3 or 3:30. Drop off some flyers at Molasses, an all day book store in Bushwick, a place where I think they would be very sympathetic to the march. Then maybe at a few more place, all try to talk to McNair, who manages the Starr Bar a few blocks away and try to talk about the after party of the march. After that, head to Greenpoint to visit Light Industry, an independent film center where one of the graduates of the Friends class of 16, Ewen works. They also might be interested in taking a few flyers for the march. Is that enough? Will report tomorow...

getting tired...

of statements re the horrible Charlottesville incident of  "let's look at what we are, where we live etc".
Why? Because these statements are so general---they demand further discussion and insight, and on social media they just sit there without making any further demand.  I think this is the time for people who care to sit down and form groups where if they want to discuss racism in the US, or anything else that they feel is pressing, they should have ideas that are shared.
   Yesterday---a long day, with a lot of walking. Began at Cobra, stayed a while, saw my bartender friend Olivia, but it was too early to go to South Fourth, so I  "wandered" ,  bit---took the 60 bus to Fulton and Rockaway Avenue, then the 25 to Utica, where it becomes Malcolm X Boulevard. Then began the walk from Fulton all the way to Broadway, in other words a south to north walk through the heart of Bed_Stuy. And what did I see---the first part of the walk, the part of Malcolm X closest to Fulton has several coffee places--as I continue north, there are less of them---most of the street consists of small apartment houses, with some brownstones in the middle. Saw about the same number of white people as black people---the feeling on the streets was pretty mellow. After hitting Broadway, I walked to Myrtle, and got on the J. Somehow my description of my journey seems hollow to me. I dared myself to take this trip---what did I hope to find? Beautiful Brownstones on the side streets. Can this be the Bed-Stuy, that until a few years ago, I was taught to avoid?  Yes, cityboy loves walking---but what is he trying to come to terms with?
   Several friends were waiting at South Fourth, so had a decent discussion for a while, then decided to catch a friend in a comedy club on Franklin, on what I call, the Bed-Stuy---Clinton Hill border. Hard to find---when I did, I felt uncomfortable about going in, and opted instead for a beer at Black Swan--the bar restaurant that I have been attending intermittently for a number of years, that is a block away on Bedford near Lafayette. Watched the first three innings of the Yankee Red Sox game, until fatigue came in. Tired, jumped on the G, to the C, to the 1 and home. The events of the day don't galvanize, yet somehow I felt very challenged by the walks, what I saw, how much ground I covered, simply on foot.
  Saturday night, I went to my friend Alaina's song cycle at the Tank, an artist theater space located in the heart of the Broadway area. Walking around there at around 8:45 at night, is very frightening, crowds of what seems like thousands of people milling about. And this is after everyone who has gone to the theater is in. Alain'a song cycle was beautifully performed by a cast of four women--it was very short---very much an embryonic piece, but one that could be expanded in many different ways. Afterwards I spoke with Alaina about it---she said she is  turning down other assignments for the next few months so that she can expand the cycle. Looking forward to seeing how it evolves.Afterwards we all went across the street to an Irish bar, Pig and Whistle. About 10 of us hung out--some good conversation. The bartender was very nice and efficient, and surprisingly enough, the bar was not very crowded, considering the craziness outside. Would go there again.
  Tonight, a BAN meeting, then not sure what will happen afterwards. I am little tired from yesterday, but perhaps will find a place to hang out and watch the Yankee Met game, or something else. Will report tomorrow.

so I did...

go to Brooklyn to pick up flyers for the march on 9/9. An interesting trip---I got off at the Church Street station of the 2, walked south to Beverly Road, and then west to where I was to pick up the flyers. The walk west, about 8 blocks (I had actually thought it was less)  consists of mostly private houses with a few art deco and small apartment houses thrown in. The street was pretty quiet, mellow, I guess you can say. Again, I ask myself what would it have been like to have walked that street in, say, 1955.  What would I have seen? The apartment houses would have mostly tenants who were Jewish (poorish to middle class), but what about the private houses? Who lived in them. My guess is that black homeowners began to buy them in the early or middle sixties. There is a great book, called South Bronx Rising, by Jill Joness, which, in almost novelistic terms, describes the changes in two major Bronx Jewish neighborhoods from 1930 to 1975. Amazing (and sometimes very frightening) stories. But nothing similar has been written about the transition of the enormous neighborhood called Flatbush during the late sixties and early seventies. Mark Naison, who teaches at Fordham, writes a very beautiful description of growing up in the fifties and early sixties, in the section that would probably be called, East Flatbush. But the story of the more galvanic transition of that area, and the area west and south of that has, to the best of my knowledge, not been documented. Still, I am fascinated each time I walk around there, it is as if the neighborhood holds some secret for me that I might discover in these walks. And I always ask myself, what would it be like to live there? At any rate, all these thoughts were motivated by the eight block walk that I took yesterday, to E 22nd street, before I picked up the flyers.
   Flyers were heavy, but I walked west, towards Ocean Avenue, and crossed it, into Ditmas Park. A little more upscale and diverse on that side of Ocean. But how was I to get to Bushwick from there? Almost impossible, right?  Well, the Q took me to DeKalb, then I got off---thought of walking to the G, and then picking up the L, but realized that the 38 bus would take me right to the Mayday church where I was to deliver the flyers. And that is what I did. Interesting trip through Bed-Stuy, into Bushwick. Dropped off the flyers, then walked over to Starr Bar to leave some more there---had a nice talk with a bartender named Lace--we were the only ones in the bar, at that point, and then figured I had to find a place to watch the Red Sox-Yankee game. I chose Pine Box Rock Shop, grabbed a beer, had the bartender put on the game, and watched for about an hour--one of the most boring three innings that I have ever encountered, and I am a baseball fan. But carrying the flyers (there were a lot of them) had exhausted me, so around 8:15---hit the subway and returned home. Slept very well, I might say, between about 10 and 4 A.M.
  And what about today? Well, tonight I will be at my friend Alaina's song cycle, which wlll be performed, ironically, on 46 street near Broadway. (A strange venue for a downtown theater experience). Before that, not sure, have to figure this out now--another Red Sox-Yankee game at 4---important game, but that is what I said yesterday, as well. Well, will just let it happen and report Monday

Friday morning....

kind of quiet----I may to go to Brooklyn this afternoon to pick up some flyers for the 9/9 march, an then take them to Mayday Space. Of course, they may already be there. But if i go, I will probably take three buses from Flatbush to Bushwick, near the Queens border. The Church Avenue bus east to Utica Ave,; the Utica Avenue bus to Broadway, and then the DeKalb avenue bus to Mayday Space. An interesting group of rides, to say the least; if I do that, I will have seen a lot of Brooklyn--that is what I like. Of course, the flyers may already be there in that case---well, lots of other things to do in Brooklyn as well.
What else---well yesterday was kind of quiet--still recuperating from Wednesday's fun late night at the local. I ended up going to the Dive Bar on 96th street---had a beer, but no one to talk to. It was very loud there last night, so I did not stay long--then a pizza slice at Two Boots, and back to the apartment to sleep. The best idea? Well, I could have opted for a movie, but was not in the mood. But sometimes I think it would be better if I pushed myself to see a movie, if I have a free evening---might relax more when I am sleeping are come awake early. Well, that is neither here nor there.
  So today is a wondering day, not sure about the weekend, except for my friend Alaina's concert tomorrow evening. Important baseball evening---this is definitely a make it or break it weekend for the Yankees. That is all for now---will report tomorrow.

cityboy in....

wonderland..so it seemed last evening at Local 621 on Bergen Street, where he witnessed his friend Sarah's production of a "Take" on All My Sons, by Julia  Jonas. All singing, all dancing, all theater---gone from his thoughts were the horror of the aggressive name calling by the two countries, the frustration at the over aggressive push of developers in Brooklyn, even the result of the evening's Yankee-Blue Jay game, instead an immersion in theater, with everyone talking about projects, feelings, and a great cast giving the piece a really dynamic vision.
  What this playwright is striving to do is to reinvent Miller's play changing the sexes of the sets of characters. Has she succeeded (so far, for it is a work in progress) ? To some extent, yes, she accepts the challenges of the plot of the original play, she does not avoid or shy away from them, and her dialogue at its best, challenges itself to be as serious as in All My Sons. So there are some very telling scenes and confrontations this is not an easy challenge to take on, and Juila does it successfully.  The original play was created in the shadow of World War II, it tempered the post war optimism with human frailty---the denouement was both personal and political. Here, the "betrayal" and its revelation have a human and family content but lack the larger world vision. Joe Keller, the protagonist of All My Sons, was involved in a larger issue---winning the war, which may have forgiven some of his expedient choices, that might have caused the death of his older son whom he worshiped and had high hopes for. The female protagonist of Juila''s play does not have the historical impetus to act--so the import is a little less--more pressure on the audience to accept the personal tragedy of her play. Still, a meaningful evening---I admire Julia's ambition and her vision-will be anxious to see how she and Sarah develop it. Once again, they were helped by a group of terrific actors--watching the bring the text to life, was very meaningful.
  Afterwards, had some terrific conversations with cast members and friends of cast members---members of the community---they are a very welcoming bunch. It is nice that they have always appreciated my dialogue with them.
  Now, back to the real world---tonight, I may go to Starr bar to see if I can find their manager and coordinate the party after the BAN march on one month from yesterday---at least that is the plan as it now stands. But, as you know, it is all open to change. I will report tomorrrow...

a quiet night...

last night--I had considered going to see a movie at Light Industry, and Independent Film screening theater where one of the class of 16 at Friends is working, but it did not happen. I was tired---by 7 I knew it was too difficult to go into Brooklyn. Instead I headed to the Dive Bar on 96th and Amsterdam--my friend Brittany was working there as a bartender. Had their nice hummus and watched the Yankees get beaten by Toronto---shared some information with Brittany when she was not busy serving others, and had an interesting conversation with a young man named Dustin. He is from Ohio, has been in the city for seven years, supports himself as a server at a very expensive Steak House, and lives in Spanish Harlem. We talked a lot about gentrification in the city---he mentioned that the way things were going, he thought he would be priced out of his east Harlem apartment in a few years. He was resigned to it (as so many other people I speak to are). I told him about BAN, encouraged him to try to see things differently, I let him know that there is great opposition by the citizens of Spanish Harlem to the Mayor's plan for building there, and that the city contains "pockets of rage"  in various neighborhoods---people who are experiencing "disenfranchisement"  due to gentrification, and want to stop it. How? ---by putting pressure on their City Council representatives and letting them know that the community is not going to be governed by developers. He was responsive--not someone who would join a group, but at least I made him aware  that he did not have to think so passively.
Walked a bit after leaving the bar--my stomach still had room for a beer, so I considered going to a few other West Side bars, but I was tired, and decided it would be best to return to my apartment and sleep.
 Two interesting dreams from last night that I remember. In one, I am sitting in a bar (not the Dive Bar) talking to someone about the actor who played and danced Zack in the original production of A Chorus Line. Then my companion turns to me and says, look that guy is sitting right next to you. I look, and of course see the face of a much older man--try to put it together---end of dream. The second one finds me in a school that seems to be closing--for some reason---inadequate teaching methods, or something negative. All I remember is going through the school, floor by floor, walking the halls. Nothing else. Then I woke up.
  Any interpretations? Well, schools and theater are two very important aspects in my life at this time. The choice of Zack in the dream---well he is very career oriented, in charge, a creative choreographer who has conceived the show that the Chorus Line dancers are auditioning for.  Also the actor was wiry, thin, moved well---do any of these aspects represent me at this moment?  Hard to say.
  Lots of choices if I want to see movies and a few (overpriced) theater festivals happening at the moment. But money is tight--I have to focus on the theater evenings that are important to me. Maybe only two or three until I make the trip to California for my niece's wedding. One must be the Don Gionvanni at the mostly Mozart festival.
  Tonight, my friend Sarah is directing a work in progress at a great bar on Bergen street in Brooklyn---the Local (there is an upstairs room for the work,; it won't be performed in the bar) Lots of people I know in the cast---a different take on Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Should be interesting---will report tomorrow.

back in ny

after an amazing weekend away---DC---an "urban paradise" one might say, but that means both good and not so good things. I arrived after a decent bus ride that let off at Union Station, then I walked from there to my hotel, on Rhode Island Avenue and 16th street. A much longer walk then I expected, but the grid in DC is so easy to navigate that I had no problem finding it. As I walked west on G street, I was struck by the number of new luxury buildings that I saw; This continued until I reached the hotel--I don't remember seeing this kind of housing on previous trips to DC---granted I have not been there since 2013, and that was a  one day trip---but the city seemed overwhelmed with luxury buildings. 

Saturday evening--took the Metro to Judiciary Square and was able to get a rush ticket to An Octoroon, the play by Brandon Jennings-Jacobs that I really wanted to see. I got the ticket at 6---the play began at 8, so again, I had a lot of time to look around. The Theater (Wooly Mammoth) is on D street, I followed 7th street north to F--again I was confronted with an amazing "strip" of bars and tourist restaurants. I was hungry, but all of those places seemed really crowded and really expensive---for a while, I thought I would not be able to find a place at all (no grocery stores around) but next to the Harmon theater on F near fifth, there was a gourmet coffee shop with prepared sandwiches. Had a very nice filling turkey-swiss--then with about 45 minutes left, continued walking around the area, and finally went into the theater and saw the play.
  This is a very tart play which begins with a black playwright, discussing his identity, then moving onto his  fascination with a play written in 1859 called, The Octoroon. That very playwright, Dion Boucicoult then makes an appearance, confronts the playwright and then some version of The Octoroon is presented for us. An Octoroon was a mixed race child out of slavery who was only one eighth black, but still could be treated like a slave. The rest of the play was a fantastic and inventive "hodgepodge" of both the original play, and the playwright's updating of it. The production and the acting were amazing---I wonder if the NY production of the play that I missed could have even come close to it. In this production, the play and all its ups and downs, seems to explode in front of you. Left the theater feeling very invigorated, really happy that I had taken the trouble to see the play. 

  Sunday, woke up early---no coffee at the hotel, walked a little bit towards 14th street, at one of the (more upscale) hotels in the area, the outside porter heard I was looking for a coffee and invited me in to take some that his hotel had made available. Really nice (and the coffee was very good).  I was to meet Tessa at about 1, so with plenty of time, wandered around the area and again found it to be very homogeneous. Trolled the hotel internet for a while, and then it was time for brunch with Tessa, and, though I did not know it then, her sister Taylor, Tessa's boy friend, and an older woman named Jane. We were all given a nice table at the Logan Tavern and settled in for a warm and friendly meal. Good conversation, Jane, who lives nearby, left us soon after the brunch, and so I walked a bit with the girls. Again, good and interesting conversation-- as I tried to describe to them my overall vision of the world, as I perceived it at the moment, and as it evolved from the sixties, which was the first part of my adult life. I walked them to Taylor's car---we said goodby; it was a fun and invigorating time, and I hope that the conversation with Taylor and Tessa continues. 

   Amazing how much walking I did on this trip, but after the girls drove off, I did not return to the hotel. Instead, I walked north on 18th until U street, they walked east until 14th street. There I encountered another incredible "strip" of mostly bar-restaurants and a few coffee places that were loaded with people who seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Was this only about a mile a way from the White House and the Capital, where so many unpleasant things were taking place? Hard to believe it. What I saw was a world created for young professionals to enjoy themselves--an almost never ending series of places to go into and have fun. The vision of it seemed very planned. Different from NYC where luxury high rises are built not just for people to live in but for wealthy people to store their money and for European investors to get a good return on that investment. Say what you will about the intense aggression of NYC developers. these neighborhoods, for the most part, don't eliminate the elderly or the disabled. There can be an apartment house filled with elderly people paying very little rent in the city next to one of these high rises---where in DC, the neighborhood vibe almost seemed to be about the elimination of anything unattractive or unpleasant, I may have seen one or two people needing assistance on this journey---but mostly everyone was incredibly well fed and fit. Is this such a bad thing? Well, I think it needs more discussion to figure that out, certainly I can't complain because on all these walks, I felt incredibly safe, and the scenery on the side streets was calm and pleasant. The discussion will be continued at a later date.

    Returned by train yesterday---went to the BAN meeting yesterday evening, today is free-may mostly rest ( or maybe not) but still have the energy from the weekend. Will report tomorrow.

last night...

well, an interesting one to say the least. What happened? First decision---to go to Standings to check out the three important baseball games in the American league---and stay most of the night. So, before dropping in there, I got a nice slice of pizza, then arrived, was greeted warmly by bartender Aaron, got my beer and took my place. But it did not work. After about 45 minutes I found my hunger growing, and quite frankly, the games wern't holding my interest. So the next move was obvious. The Gramercy tavern, about 14 blocks north, a nice little bar that usually is not crowded and where the bartender was friendly---but when I got there the place was packed a party! For some company, or so I was told. Loud, loud, loud, and when a nice guy at the bar told me that the party would end in about an hour, I felt I should leave.
   Thus began a strange walk, north on 3rd avenue, looking for a bar that would a) not be too expensive, and b) where I would be comfortable walking in as a stranger in a bar that wold probably be mostly filled by younger people. How many bar-restaurants did I pass? How many menus did I check? Might have decided to go to Brooklyn but my stomach was growling, so I sought immediate relief. What did I find? 1) that every menu had almost nothing less then $10.00 (that is before the tax)  and 2) somehow, cityboy did not feel comfortable going into any of them, even the ones that were not so crowded. So, with the stomach growling, I must have walked from 20th street to 31street on third, then east to 2nd, in the hope of finding less crowded bars---but again, nothing I wanted to go into. I even stopped off at the Kips Bay movie house--maybe I would just take out a sandwich and go to a movie, but their price for a movie:$13.99 for senior ticket, just seemed to much for me at this point. So I now continued south, in the hope that the gentleman sitting at the bar at the Gramercy tavern was right---that the party would now be over, and the bar would be habitable, but no, the party was still going on, the sound, ear splitting, and once again, I left quickly. So, a compromise had to be made. I went into the Greek diner on 23rd and 2nd, and had a BLT---for a reasonable $6.45 (with tax). Kind of boring, but it got the job done, and cityboy had to consider his place in the (bar) world--often he looks into a bar, but stops before going in---let's face it---cityboy likes bars where he is known.
Looking back at it now, the voyage north on third avenue and then back again on second, seems almost like a harsh,  dark, dream---a trip in a netherworld of luxury buildings and bars (forbidden) on every street. Luckily, I was tired when I got home and fell right to sleep, although when I awoke around 5, the harsh coldness of the past night, seemed to remain with me.
   Today, after the library, a breather, then dinner with my friend Robin, here from Baltimore. Tomorrow the trip to DC, and on Sunday, a visit with Tessa, My next blog report will probably be on Tuesday, so hold on.

two events for....

cityboy...Last night, tired, but went to forum on Bedford Armory---arrived to find the energy very welcoming and low key---de Blasio was not coming, so there was no tension in the air. As a matter of fact, a little too little tension as the discussion did not begin until about 7:15, and people seemed to be loping with no regard for the time. When it finally began, the usual thoughts about the resistance to the Armory were stated--nothing new for cityboy, and then, I felt the same ideas were being thrown out over and over again. There is still something too friendly about the whole business--as if the leaders of the resistance to  the armory really did not want to confront the barbarity of the developers. At least that is my take. But the meeting was very well attended, the auditorium, which is a school auditorium, and hence pretty large was almost totally filled. After about a half hour, I left, I was tired, there was a lot of repetition, and I felt that I had heard enough. And so, into the Flatbush night cityboy went. Jumped on a bus that was going north on New York Avenue and figured I would either take it to Eastern Parkway, or Fulton---got a chance to look at a lot of the New York avenue architecture for those blocks. Pretty amazing, mostly beautiful one family houses and small apartment  houses, very few people on the streets. Again, my mind is amazed at how this was an area that, until about 12 years ago, was considered undesirable. Why? What stories do the streets and the houses have to tell? How did the neighborhood evolve, and how did it change from the fifties and sixties? Ah, if only cityboy could find out--unlock the key? But to return to reality, I got off on Fulton, then the C to Lafayette, and a nice cup of coffee at the place on Fulton, right across from the bookstore. Then I grabbed the Cinematheque calendar from BAM, and took the 3 home.
   This morning, up bright and early to volunteer for the city wide high school climate change forum. Arrived at the Union Theological Seminary around 7:50---found very little organization, but with a small group of volunteers, found things to do (serving breakfast---showing people where to go) and had some really good conversations with the other volunteers, giving out information about BAN---and educating one recent graduate of Tufts about some good web sites that will give him insight into what is going on in the city. Got very hungry around 11 ( I had committed to stay until 12) and when the supervisor of the volunteers told me that there were only bagels from breakfast to eat (she did not mention that lunch was in the offing in about an hour and a half) I left (on good terms with everybody, I thought, and at a time, when there was very little need for volunteers) and headed across the street to a grocery store, for what I thought would be a $5.00 roast beef sandwich. I ordered, did not look at the prices, and to my surprise (and rage) was charged $7.00. Once again, taken by overpriced food ( the sandwich was good, but should not have cost that much), I ask, How Long Can We Allow this to Go ON? No commercial limits will ultimately be destructive to all but the wealthiest people of the city.
  After this stay in the library, which might end soon, city boy is not sure where he is headed. I could go back to the forum and resume my volunteer activities, but I really don't want to. Then what should I do? Where will the night find me?
   Two more days to the DC trip---can't feel the excitement yet, but will soon, will report tomorrow.

cityboy, moving further...

into the maelstrom of New York city politics. Tonight is the night of the forum regarding the much discussed and protested Brooklyn armory. I was at the solidarity center last night, helping to make some slogans, thinking that I would not attend tonight's meeting (too crowded), but speaking with ALicia made me want to come. So I am going. Will the Mayor be there? If so, real increased security. If not, a little easier. But just in case, I don't think I will take my monthly metro card. Better buy one just for this evening, even if it means spending more money. What about the phone? Well, can take that, but if it is confiscated..? You are getting crazy, cityboy. I don't think that it will happen. Anyway, the feelings, as you can see, are fast and furious. Last night, awoke about 2, and could not fall asleep for quite a while, thinking of this. Into the maelstrom!
    Last night's BAN meeting was not greatly attended, but I did participate and helped with the planning. I must call McNair, a gentleman who manages the Starr Bar, and tell him that BAN wants to have its afterparty on 9/9 there. It will be my responsibility to coordinate the details.I am fine with that.
  After the meeting, wanted to watch some baseball, but near by bar on 23rd and 7th was packed, so went to the near by diner---had a decent fruit cup and coffee and watched a little bit of the Yankee-Tiger game. The price, before the tip: $8.75. How long will this go on? In a couple of years will the price be over $10.00 or $12.00?
Not much else to say. Reading Janesville, and interesting and intelligent non fiction book about a Wisconsin town that lost a great deal of jobs when the GM plant closed in 2008. Very well written, just began, looking forward to continuing with it. Will report on "excitement" of this evening, tomorrow.

very happy to...

read Jesse Green's review in the TImes of A Midsummer Night's Dream, He is not as annoyed by the obvious performances as I am, but he does admit that they are obvious, and that a director could go much further with a stronger vision. And there is a post in Talking Broadway which says exactly what I feel---so good for that!
   Last night, knowing that my new bartender friend, Brittany was going to be working at the Dive Bar on Broadway between 101st and 102nd street---I got there about 7:30, only to find out that she had not arrived. But the day bartender, Erin, was very sweet, put on the Yankee game for me, and gave me a beer. Brittany arrived about 8:30---she was held up because of some dog sitting problems,  and was friendly and warm until I left, actually about 10. This was my first time in the bar---kind of an eclectic crowd, some men who seemed intellectual and approaching middle age, some young people, a couple of musicians, but it was hard to get a take on the whole place. I did not find anyone to converse with (except Brittany) --it seems to me for the most part, this is a kind of mellow place---I would hang there again, even if Brittany was not bartending, and see what happens. They make a nice big frank---and that went well with the beer. Left around 10, and went home on a practically empty 104 bus. Remember how they used to appear every four minutes (it seemed) and how they were full of young people. Well that does not happen any more---most of the people on the bus, which now, even during rush hour, arrives every seven or eight minutes, seem elderly or parents or nannys shepherding  their kids to and from school or after school activities.
   Tonight is the BAN meeting---there will be some poster designing for tomorrow's protest against deBlaiso's visit to Flatbush to defend his armory vision (and what a sad vision it is) . Also, I hope to present Mayday's Starr Bar's offer to host the 9/9 march through Brooklyn after party. After that..? Not sure---these meetings can be very tiring, still, would enjoy hanging out somewhere--especially since the Mets are calling up their new shortstop, who will be playing in the game against the Rockies.
   Looking forward to my trip to DC---feel better and better about the location of my hotel (near Dupont Circle) and I am looking forward to my visit with Tessa. No fringe this year---but lots to do in the month of August, which, as you know, has just begun. Will report on all, tomorrow.