another day without work.....

and one of my sessions was cut---a little disappointed about that, I had challenged myself to get to know the material, but maybe Saturday.
Yesterday evening--finally got to a movie---Wolves, by Bart Freundlich---his son was someone I liked very much at Friends---there is some good stuff in the movie---camera work is good, and colors are interesting---I think the director seems to feel that every scene needs to reach a climax---so there are very few quiet transitions, which I think the film needed. Lots of basketball---the father is a little too much of an animal to be believable. Still, glad that I saw it.
Afterwards---debated between Cornelia Street cafe---a restaurant whose bar I used to know well, but where I have not been in a while, and old favorite, La Flaca. I chose the latter---it was quiet--the bartender was friendly and I had a few buffalo wings that were nice. Went home feeling good.
This morning, continued reading 4321---the Paul Auster novel. Just went through an amazingly well written section of the book, pages 638-656---which details in full, the activities and events leading up to the student takeover of Columbia University in 1968. Auster is so clear (I believe he was a student at Columia at the time) , as he details these events. All that passion and power among the students. Where did it all go? How did it morph into this political "passive liberalism" that we had until the election.? What about...? Anyway, I would like some of the more politically aware students at Friends to read this---I think they would find it very interesting. Is any of this taught as part of the "60's curriculum"? Who knows---I was shocked to find out last year that the three civil rights workers who were killed in 1964, were not taught at Friends. And yet the teacher there is very good.
    Auster's writing is really so skillful---how long must it have taken him to put together this novel which spans the years, 1947 to at least the early seventies. I still have about 175 pages left, and I really can't wait to get back to it.
   So what will tonight bring? Not sure---might be a good time to head to Brooklyn if I am not too tired. We will see....

not much to report today

last night after two sessions, went to Wallace's for a beer (thirsty) and took an isolated spot, So nothing happened, and when a young woman was discussing theater on the other side of the bar, I did not go there. Bartender very nice, afterwards, toyed with going to a movie, but I lay down for a few minutes and fell asleep. Awakened by a call from my brother, David. who told me the exact date of my niece's wedding, September 3, or labor day Sunday. It is going to be in a hotel in Long Beach, and most people will be staying at the hotel. David told me I would be rooming with him---interesting, the first time we will be together in a long time. Remember, growing up, we shared a bedroom, (as did many children of my generation)  and had many conversations before going to sleep. Shades of "Death of a Salesman". Now I have to figure out plane travel and inexpensive (I hope) plane fare. Rest of the evening kind of uneventful, and here I am today.
 Interesting, when I fly out to Long Beach (or LA) it will be my first time in a plane since before 9/11. Yes, that was the trip to Rochester in early July of 2001---a strange vacation, I went there simply to see some minor league baseball at Red Wing Stadium---saw two games, neither very interesting---both clubs, Orioloes (whose farm team it was at the time) and Red Sox had, at that time, very poor systems. The rest of the forty eight hours I spent there was pretty uninteresting---a walk in a Rochester neighborhood only took part of the second morning. Also, a free bus returning people from downtown to the neighborhoods on the fringe of downtown, seemed to attract many people, young and old,who were either vagrants, or looked as if they had just been discharged from the nearest mental hospital. A very weird trip---also I had nothing to read at the time. The "minor league weekend" fantasy which I have carried around with me for a long time, seems to be actually kind of  a drudge.
 Today, a lot like yesterday---will see how I feel after two sessions----many possibilities----first theater dib is to go to Bushwick Starr and see the play that is there now. Hope to make it for one of the four performances this week.

Saturdaynight!

Sleep! Really tired from the work during the day.
Sunday, an interesting day---not much going on during the day, sort of took it easy, read Paul Auster's book, let time pass without doing much---all because I was going to a reading at Bushwick Starr in the evening, so I left for Bushwick about 6---as usual, arrived there very early, stopped off for a coffee at Cobra Club, relaxed a bit, watched Nightmare on Elm Street, which (for some reason) was playing on their screen. Then off to the Starr, with a reading that included a number of actors whom I know, as well as the director, who is a good friend, Sarah. That being said, I really had a lot of problems with the play---an abstruse piece which seemed to glory in its vagueness. Very well done with a lot of preparation, but seemed to me like an exercise in.....I can't even say. A good conversation with Alex, the husband of Sarah, and later with Noel, the artistic director of the Starr---I hope to see the play that is on for the next two weeks---I really want to get there. Sarah was happy to see me and did not seem annoyed that I was not in love with the piece. Also saw Kate, an actress who is appearing in Home/Sick by the Assembly---one of my favorite pieces of work, which begins performances at Jack this Thursday. I have been urging many of the Friends students whom I have known over the years to see it. Not sure when I will go. Hung out a little at the Starr Bar, across the street---really like this place, bartenders always very friendly---I feel very relaxed there---before going home.
  I am really enjoying reading 4321, the new novel by Paul Auster. His protagonist, Archie was born in 1947---very close to my age, and his experiences growing up in the fifties and coming of age in the sixties are very real to me, having passed through the same time period. I wonder if someone younger could appreciate the novel as much as someone who has the same references as he does, but at the same time, the writing itself is quite wonderful. Still a little over 200 pages to go, but I am really looking forward to moving through the book.
 Not much else to say---not sure about tonight, where I will end up, if anywhere, will report tomorrow or soon.

Yay Beardo!

So last night I found myself back in Greenpoint to see Beardo for the second time. To be honest, I felt this visit was a little bit obligatory, I would not have seen it again (I enjoyed but did not love it the first time) if the director Ellie, had not offered me a comp, but now I am really glad that I did. I found the music to be better and deeper than I had thought, loved the cast's comittment (they are so talented with so much to do).Overall, this re-examination of the piece was just great---if it was running another week, I would go back and see it again. 

 Also, another chance to do a little exploring in Greenpoint. Ironically, the two Fridays that I saw the musical on were both extremely cold--probably the coldest of this winter. But on my way, found a really mellow coffee place on Greenpoint Avenue between Manhattan and Franklin Street---I really liked the vibe there---and got a another chance to visit this bar on Franklin Street that I have been meaning to spend time at---second time I simply asked to use their bathroom and was told "yes". I really appreciate that. When it is warmer will go back and possibly try both places. So another bar that I have "promised" myself to check out--also Crow's on Franklin, a little south of Eastern Parkway.

Not sure about tonight, depends on my "tired" quotient---tomorrow, as I said in the last blog is the 8 P.M. reading at Bushwick Starr---not sure how I will spend my time before that. May visit South Fourth in the early evening, or even in the afternoon, and see what is happening there. So everything is up in the air, but feeling kind of "groovy" at this minute.

so in the....

past 24 hours I have worked at Friends, twice, yesterday for three hours in the library and today, subbing for Noel in his sonnet class. Good work, library was taxing, but fun---and there were many attentive hard working students in Noel's class. So what did cityboy do after his three hours in the library last evening? Absolutely nothing! Tiredness set in--grabbed a slice of pizza and then had coffee and a muffin at store nearby. Fell asleep quickly when I got home, but feel rested now. One session this afternoon, but when I leave for Greenpoint at around 6 to see Beardo (my second performance) I should not be very tired. Today looks pretty unstrenous.
 This weekend has some hard work tomorrow and the Reading at Bushwick Starr on Sunday. Should be fun---not sure about tomorrow evening's plans, think that I will improvise my way through it.
Not much else to say, I am anxious to return to Auster's novel...

just call me.....

Mr. frenetic! A day without work was interrupted by a call from the librarian at Friends. They need someone to cover the afternoon hours. Could I do it? Well, I had a session scheduled with someone who was very sincere, but said yes anyway (had to, more money). Still was not feeling great about it but I did call the mother of my session taker and she understood; I changed our time to Saturday morning. This means I will have four sessions on Saturday---quite a lot---wonder whether I will have any time for evening diversion. Well, we will let it play out.
Yesterday, not much to report. Went to concert at Friends; lots of talented kids, even if the concert was overlong and the room was very hot. Afterwards felt tired, so I went to the nearest place: the Gramercy Bar, that quiet bar on second near 19th street--it is getting to be a very handy place. Had my hummus (they make a very good hummus dish) and watched two basketball games---no conversation, the bartender was very dutiful but did not really want to make conversation. Beautiful night last night, so even as I was tired, I walked a bit after the meal (ended up at Barnes and Noble) and then came home.
   Tomorrow at Friends, I am subbing for an english teacher who is teaching his senior class about the sonnets. Did some work on that, and will continue, when I am in the library. Also, continuing my enjoyment of 4321 Paul Auster's intense and sometimes exasperating, novel, but always very insightful with a good sense of humor.
That is all for now----who knows what the night will bring, or where I will end up.

will it be?

Last night at the BAN meeting, cityboy made a proposal for a flyer that would state on it something like: Who is Your City Council Person? What Does He or She Do? Did you know that..? Primaries for City Council are September 12 (or thereabouts)  How do the choices of the City Council affect you.? That is the general gist of the flyer. It would be given out at or near venues like Jack, Bushwick Starr, the Starr Bar etc. So many young people living in Brooklyn have not allowed themselves to become aware that they can be involved in the process. Anyway, a few other BAN members expressed interest, and maybe by May 1st it can happen. This would be the first idea and plan that cityboy actually conceived himself.
  Other than that, not much else since yesterday. Reading Paul Auster's novel 4321---it is amazing, an attempt to tell the story of the fifties and sixties (and probably more) in three different ways. A great page towards the end of 1:3 which encapsulates the events that made things change so quickly in summer of 1964---particularly the death of the three civil rights workers in Mississippi. Amazing that in some history courses that cover the sixties--this isn't even taught. Sometimes the novel goes a little too overboard on detail, but I really cannot wait to get back to it, that is how much I am enjoying it.
 Today, after a session, I will go to Friends upper school classical concert---then not sure what is happening. Tomorrow, if there is no work, I might see Rusalka,at the Met. That's all for now, will report later...