today......

in the past twenty four hours, I have been to Williamsburg, and Harlem.
1. Williamsburg:  saw The Beckett Cycle at Soundscape Festival at Brick theater. Beckett always hard to watch and deal with---really distances the viewer, you have to love words. First piece fun but over excessive. Second and third, Eh Joe, and Act Without words part 2, difficult but thinking about it, fascinating. Done with a great deal of commitment. Second part had two mixed media pieces, a little foggy, the fifth piece Act Without Words, 1 also had a strong commitment from its performers, especially the male one. Wasn't sure what to do afterwards, late, became very hungry, did not want to return to city still hungry, pizza place on Bedford much too crowded, finally had a bagel with a few pieces of American Cheese on it at the bagel store near North 6th street. Filled me up, Spyten Duyvil not too crowded, but did not want to go in, not sure why, sometimes I just stay away from places where I am not known.
Today, Harlem, a story in itself. Began tutoring Noagh, a really  nice young man entering sixth grade.
Harlem has really been transformed---sense of unreality as I sit in the coffee place on 129th off Lenox. Ask myself, "how does this gentrification effect me?" Probably would have to answer that question on several levels, on one hand, I enjoy moving around the neighborhood, feeling safe, not isolated, marvelous brownstones to observe--really beautiful architecture most of which is restored. Nice to have places to go into where I can read.
Other level---gentrification means a higher standard of living is necessary to maintain one's lifestyle.As someone on a "tight" income (at least that is what I like to call it) the gentrification brings up prices which have a direct effect on me. So am I a beneficiary of gentrification or a "victim"? Who is to say...?
Tonight, final hangout with faculty of Friends, if I can find out where the faculty will be partying, after the dinner. No such luck yet. Next two days, plenty of theater to commit too...we shall see....

beautiful day.....

here I am in the Bronx, Riverdale to be exact---came here after having coffee at 148street and Broadway, have not been in the neighborhood for so many years, really interesting wandering around these streets-the ones east of Riverdale, between Tibett and Broadway.Feel upbeat---big improvement over yesterday.
Read the pamphlets that were given to participants at Real Estate meeting a few weeks ago at BAM.
Really frightening! These people are without any moral scruples or feelings. It is just one big feeding frenzy.
Doesn't anyone realize the connection between all the luxury housing being built, and its effect on our way of life? Do we really exist in two worlds?
Well, ready to block it all out now, return to internet with all its "enjoyments". Nice to know there are other interesting places in the city to wander around in besides Brooklyn. Possibly Beckett cycle tonight at
Brick (ah yes, cityboy, you are a theater dork!)  One day will get off at 225street, and see if I can wander up Kingsbridge to Bronx public library.....

so here I am...

summer vacation actually has begun---very different feeling, the awareness of no phone calls coming in. Much more to think about and focus on.
Really nice time at the graduation last night---yeah, class of 2013---very special people. Something a little warmer about the experience. Great to see many alumni back as well. Woke up this morning, thinking, well, Bob, this is your identity as of now. Makes sense....?
Next few days, out and about, FUREE tonight, see what that will bring---feeling less political in the past few days...toying with idea of going to DC to see Winter's Tale at Shakespeare theater; hard to handle all of the logistics, is the production really that interesting....? Still,  in my head, fascinated by the idea of checking it out...we wil see.....

worked Friday....

afternoon, proctoring for Stephen N. who will be going to Stuyvesant in the Fall. Good kid, have always liked him, shows a lot of focus when he does his work---left starving, exhausted, thought a movie might be possible, but just went home and basically collapsed.
Now only event that remains on the Friends calendar is the graduation this Monday---today, two plays,
the Nelson one, and Jeremy's experimental piece in Williamsburg. Tomorrow, tutor in the morning, then
the party at Bushwick Starr, should see a lot of people that I know there---feeling kind of relaxed about things, maybe pushing myself a little too much, but play is closing next Sunday; might as well see it today, since it was on TDF. Yesterday got another tutoring call from a friend of Michaela's mom. Means there might be more work this summer.......

so today....

not much until tutoring Michaela at 4:30 at Harlem library--means I get a chance to go to the coffee place on 129nth  and Lenox again, if I wish. Last chance to see the movie at Sunshine---your fault cityboy, it has been playing there forever, still will try to check it out: The Place Among the Pines, that is it!
Yesterday attended Ken's fund raiser petition kick off---had a few interesting discussions, he recongnized me, seemed glad to see me; I will continue to e-mail him about issues in the city that I think are important. Lots of "glamourous" people there--the roof at Empire hotel  a little intimidating, might go there to "relax";  there is a television, I guess they watch baseball, prices probably are quite expensive.
Afterwards headed down to La Flaca, for my favorite blt, quite good, easy on my stomach, Bob was there, said hello, he seems to be fine, when over, walked from the restaurant (Grand and Suffolk) to Bean at 2nd and 3rd street. Walked mostly up Orchard--bars galore, even south of Delancey, between Delancey and Grand, many between Delancey and Houston, most filled, where do all these people
come from...? Seems to be an endless supply of money available to these people, mostly 40 and under.
Tomorow, work then home to clean up (I guess) then the senior dinner, which I am really looking forward to. Possibly after to Dixon Place, might catch the end of the short plays, catch up with the
Assembly people...probably will be late, though.....

What a...

difference a day makes---subbed yesterday at Friends (recess, but it doesn't matter) and have work for Thursday---lots of tension gone. Really feeling kind of easy...body aches a lot from yesterday.
Never did get to see David M, left the theater before first play commenced because the theater was
unbearably hot. Simply could not take it, glad that Patricia and Ned needed the ticket. Went back to
 Bushwick---visited Cobra than a few last stops on the Bushwick Open House program---looking back at it, really glad I did it, only sorry that it didn't last longer---artists were extremely open and
gracious---loved the way the maps helped me to learn the Bushwick geography. Later spoke to Andy and Alex who are doing a Beckett evening at the Brick a little later in the month---clued in Andy to some new theaters that he should check out. Later bumped into Sam S. (Class of 09) and friend on way back to station (after a short hang out at South Fourth) amd talked briefly.
Tonight probably go to Ken's petition party at Empire, meet some political types---got to get back into that...later....

feeling good....

excellent session with Alem (second grade, NEST) on math. They have a very advanced program; she is doing work that some fifthgreades are just getting to. Rest of day...? Thought I might try Nostalghia at BAM, but remembered this is Bushwick open house weekend. Probably will go out there later today (even with the heat) and wander around. After that find a place to watch one of the games.
Last night---baseball immersion at Standings--somehow it is always better in theory then what happens. By the time two hours rolls around pretty exhausted---I guess there is just so much the mind can take in.
Yet now have become accustomed to bars with televisions ad infinitum. Only one game on one TV?
Impossible!
One more tutoring scheduled for tomorrow---also the EST play, looking forward to seeing D. Margolies
act, feel very connected to him, even though we are not much more than casual friends. We will continue....