first of all, the weather--cold and rainy--cast a pall over everything. Then my session: two cancellations without warning---one left, but that was at 5, and I was stuck in the library at 2. If the day was nice, I could have taken a trip---maybe a walk in the nearby Bronx, or up to Inwood or Riverdale, but with the weather so brutal---had to accept some coffee and a lot of reading. Finally at 5, my student arrived and what followed was a vigorous lesson---I felt good about my commitment, but when I returned to the apartment, I was "bushed"---had very little energy--so simply went to sleep. The apartment is cold; and no heat yet, so that was also a bit of a trial. Glad to get up this morning---will have work at Friends tomorrow, and just collected $23.00 for a lotto ticket that I purchased yesterday, almost by accident.
The situation remains the same for tonight--not sure how much energy I will have or where that will lead me. There is supposed to be a brutal wind tonight, so I would like to be out of the house for it. Baseball game of importance on at 6---several plays begin at 8--we will see. I just found out about a forum for theater leaders on Sunday--it will be moderated by a friend of mine---that talks about theater leadership that moves in a different direction from the more established theaters in New York. But is that possible, and should I attend---after all, i am just an interested participant not a "leader" Not quite sure if I want to commit to it---maybe I will meet someone in my "community" who is going, and I can ask them if my presence would be appropriate. I would really do a lot of listening, and maybe make some small contributions. Well we will see.
Tomorrow at Friends, will probably report Saturday or soon afterwards.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
so I finally got
to see a movie---I had been planning but putting this off for about a week, but yesterday, after some rest in the afternoon, I walked down to the Film Festival at Lincoln Center, and got a "rush" ticket for My Father and Me, a documentary by Nick Broomfield, an English film maker. Nick's father, Maurice, was as well known still photographer, whose pictures defined the growth of Industry in Britain after World War II. Nick describes his father's upbringing, his ambivalent relationship to the working class city of Darby, where he was raised, and his subsequent marriage to a woman he deeply loved. Nick tries to decipher his own childhood with memories of his father and mother. The documentary also describes Nick's attempts to separate himself from his father; he becomes a film maker of documentaries, some very controversial, and often steps into the middle of them.
I thought the movie was very deeply felt, really well articulated---I was never bored or outside of it for a minute. Really glad that I saw it---slept much easier last night, probably because I had "fulfilled" myself earlier.
Nothing much else to say, a full day of sessions awaits me, maybe will spend a little time afterwards in a bar in the village where a friend of mine is the happy hour bar tender. Will report soon.
I thought the movie was very deeply felt, really well articulated---I was never bored or outside of it for a minute. Really glad that I saw it---slept much easier last night, probably because I had "fulfilled" myself earlier.
Nothing much else to say, a full day of sessions awaits me, maybe will spend a little time afterwards in a bar in the village where a friend of mine is the happy hour bar tender. Will report soon.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Tuesday morning...
so there I was, getting out of the shower at 7:10, figuring there would be absolutely no need for me to be at Friends today. Then the message machine on the phone clanged. A message: Could I cover a first period (8:15) class in math. First I wanted to say "no", but very quickly change my mind and started to move quickly. Out of the house by 7:30; on the train soon afterwards, arrived at the Union Square Station (near the school) at 7:50. Really great time---could go down to the cafeteria and grab some granola and coffee. Still, amazed that I could make it. Class went well, now I am out---body is still adjusting---two more sessions this afternoon, not sure what the evening will hold.
Yesterday and Sunday: two Brooklyn days---Sunday, too tired to go to Cobra Club for coffee and football---ended up at Gotham Market (my usual base now in Brooklyn)---watched some football, then wanted to do something else---took the subway to Ditmas Park, a neighborhood about two miles south and a little west of the market. Very laid back and diverse vibe there---a kind of easy calm on the streets that is so different from downtown Brooklyn. The area, mostly Jewish in the 40's and 50's includes apartment houses and some sprawling streets with all large private houses. Young people began to discover the area in the late nineties, long before Bed-Stuy or Prospect Heights began their gentrification voyage. Walked about seven or eight blocks along Coney Island Avenue where there is a large Muslim population. Then returned downtown.
Monday, I was invited to join a protest outside an apartment house in Flatbush, about a mile and a half east of Ditmas Park, to call attention to a new front door that was needed. The landlord is negligent and the tenants, mostly black and Caribbean are angry. Also, the elevator has been out a lot, causing much havoc for the many elderly tenants who have been living there. But there were only four of us, the the two tenants who joined the BAN group decided to wait until a Sunday when more tenants would be available to carry signs and protest outside the landlords office. Afterwards, I wandered around the neighborhood, much of which, as you go east is completely Hassidic. A strange vibe, very self enclosed, and I soon left.
That is all for now, will report soon.
Yesterday and Sunday: two Brooklyn days---Sunday, too tired to go to Cobra Club for coffee and football---ended up at Gotham Market (my usual base now in Brooklyn)---watched some football, then wanted to do something else---took the subway to Ditmas Park, a neighborhood about two miles south and a little west of the market. Very laid back and diverse vibe there---a kind of easy calm on the streets that is so different from downtown Brooklyn. The area, mostly Jewish in the 40's and 50's includes apartment houses and some sprawling streets with all large private houses. Young people began to discover the area in the late nineties, long before Bed-Stuy or Prospect Heights began their gentrification voyage. Walked about seven or eight blocks along Coney Island Avenue where there is a large Muslim population. Then returned downtown.
Monday, I was invited to join a protest outside an apartment house in Flatbush, about a mile and a half east of Ditmas Park, to call attention to a new front door that was needed. The landlord is negligent and the tenants, mostly black and Caribbean are angry. Also, the elevator has been out a lot, causing much havoc for the many elderly tenants who have been living there. But there were only four of us, the the two tenants who joined the BAN group decided to wait until a Sunday when more tenants would be available to carry signs and protest outside the landlords office. Afterwards, I wandered around the neighborhood, much of which, as you go east is completely Hassidic. A strange vibe, very self enclosed, and I soon left.
That is all for now, will report soon.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
weird Saturday morning....
have just had one nice session and have another in about 2 hours (long wait!) Just found out that a woman who I was friendly with in the summer of 2012, when she worked for a play appearing at my venue at the Fringe, has directed a play off off Broadway. Would like to see it---wonder if it is any good. Have two weeks to try to go---another interesting play at La Mama with some actors whom I like and my friend Amina's play which is opening at Jack next week. Then there are the plays that I would like to see with people I don't know in them---Slave Play, The Sound Inside, etc. Millions of movie, opera, etc as well. Have to see how it all plays out---don't want to spend too much money for now.
Yesterday, still feeling the effects of the grueling schedule of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I opted to stay in the neighborhood last night---and ended up at Keegan's a bar on Amsterdam around 83rd street--a friendly place catering mostly to a youngish crowd. I was there to watch the Yankee-Twin game---had a nice soft beer and some french fries which were "killers". Enjoyed watching the game and had a nice conversation with the young man sitting next to me--named Peter---then went home. I think it is pretty obvious that the Yankees are superior to the Twins---lets see if this is borne out at today's game and the next one.
Today the plan is to go to the Preludes at City College---this is a preview of a lot of stuff that will be performed off off Broadway in the coming months, a sort of forum and get together for members of
the "indie community". Two friends of mine will be showing a work in progress there, then I might stay around for some other projects as well. Tomorrow---wide open---that is how I want it.
That is all for now---will report soon.
Yesterday, still feeling the effects of the grueling schedule of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I opted to stay in the neighborhood last night---and ended up at Keegan's a bar on Amsterdam around 83rd street--a friendly place catering mostly to a youngish crowd. I was there to watch the Yankee-Twin game---had a nice soft beer and some french fries which were "killers". Enjoyed watching the game and had a nice conversation with the young man sitting next to me--named Peter---then went home. I think it is pretty obvious that the Yankees are superior to the Twins---lets see if this is borne out at today's game and the next one.
Today the plan is to go to the Preludes at City College---this is a preview of a lot of stuff that will be performed off off Broadway in the coming months, a sort of forum and get together for members of
the "indie community". Two friends of mine will be showing a work in progress there, then I might stay around for some other projects as well. Tomorrow---wide open---that is how I want it.
That is all for now---will report soon.
Friday, October 4, 2019
can you believe it.....
about 54 hours of non stop work (with some time for sleeping). Beginning with the session at 10 A.M. Tuesday and ending with one at 6:00 Thursday, including to very busy days at Friends, the action never stopped. Today I would have worked at Friends again, but the teacher whom I was to substitute for was on jury duty, and her case was suddenly settled, so she is back. And I am here in the library, experiencing exhaustion take over.
Still, as an intense experience, the last three days were remarkable. Especially since there were so many "slow" days during the summer. The energy that I needed to expand in those three days was non stop. I was tired when it was over, but I got through it.
Tonight I thought of getting a Standing Room ticket to Macbeth at the Met, but if seems a little too expensive. So many options-some interesting stuff at the Film Festival, lots of plays, etc. A lot will depend on how physically I feel as well. The reporting will begin tomorrow....
Still, as an intense experience, the last three days were remarkable. Especially since there were so many "slow" days during the summer. The energy that I needed to expand in those three days was non stop. I was tired when it was over, but I got through it.
Tonight I thought of getting a Standing Room ticket to Macbeth at the Met, but if seems a little too expensive. So many options-some interesting stuff at the Film Festival, lots of plays, etc. A lot will depend on how physically I feel as well. The reporting will begin tomorrow....
Monday, September 30, 2019
a busy morning so far....
as i sit here in the Lincoln Center library. Made my unemployment application---picked up my check from Friends, sent out my rent check---functional, functional----now there is not much left to do, except prepare for the BAN meeting tonight (surprised we have another one so soon after the march, but I will be there)
First day of the Jewish New Year, I have never been very religious---my family was very "Jewish secular" you might say. I have a memory from my first year i Baltimore as a freshman at Hopkins. This is the only time I have fasted---I did so along with a friend---another freshman. On Saturday afternoon, a beautiful, late summer early fall day, my friend Jeff and I walk along Park Heights Avenue (we probably took the 22 bus there), The street is filled with Jewish, mostly well to do families, walking to and from or standing outside the several synagogues that line the street. To me, in my idealistic and romantic 17 year old head, those images seemed totally beautiful. I wanted to be part of it. The avenue is regal and well ordained, no hint of what it will turn into around ten years later. Finally Jeff and I enter a synagogue and listen to the end of the Yom Kippur service. The rabbi is angry at the Presidential candidate John F Kennedy; I think for not taking the day off, or something like that. We finish the service, then take the bus back to Hopkins, at the bus stop we meet a middle aged man who by some odd coincidence attended my high school The Bronx High School of Science and remembers well one of the teachers. An odd experience.
Yesterday, spent the day in Brooklyn---watched a lot of football at Pine Box Rock Shop,,felt happy there- then back to the Gotham Market. Tired after some long walks---at home by 7. I have to remember, if I want to hang out with my friend Eric who tends bar in Williamsburg beginning Sundays at 9, I have to restructure and re plan the whole day---keep it simple and no strenuous activities until the evening. Will have to stop now---will report soon.
First day of the Jewish New Year, I have never been very religious---my family was very "Jewish secular" you might say. I have a memory from my first year i Baltimore as a freshman at Hopkins. This is the only time I have fasted---I did so along with a friend---another freshman. On Saturday afternoon, a beautiful, late summer early fall day, my friend Jeff and I walk along Park Heights Avenue (we probably took the 22 bus there), The street is filled with Jewish, mostly well to do families, walking to and from or standing outside the several synagogues that line the street. To me, in my idealistic and romantic 17 year old head, those images seemed totally beautiful. I wanted to be part of it. The avenue is regal and well ordained, no hint of what it will turn into around ten years later. Finally Jeff and I enter a synagogue and listen to the end of the Yom Kippur service. The rabbi is angry at the Presidential candidate John F Kennedy; I think for not taking the day off, or something like that. We finish the service, then take the bus back to Hopkins, at the bus stop we meet a middle aged man who by some odd coincidence attended my high school The Bronx High School of Science and remembers well one of the teachers. An odd experience.
Yesterday, spent the day in Brooklyn---watched a lot of football at Pine Box Rock Shop,,felt happy there- then back to the Gotham Market. Tired after some long walks---at home by 7. I have to remember, if I want to hang out with my friend Eric who tends bar in Williamsburg beginning Sundays at 9, I have to restructure and re plan the whole day---keep it simple and no strenuous activities until the evening. Will have to stop now---will report soon.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Sunday morning....
feeling much better---an offer to work on Tuesday at Friends turned out to be a false alarm (as of now) but it grounded me anyway. Yesterday, after my session (pretty fulfilling) took the train to Brooklyn an headed for Jack. Its open house was part of a street festival---when I arrived there was a performance by an afro-Amreican performing group that was very dynamic. Afterwards, the leader thanked the Jack artistic staff for giving them their space to create rent free, and also I assume, some performance time. This is what a not for profit should do--whether theater or not---empower the community---reach out and create something that is not already there. How many theaters operating now under a not for profit umbrella can say that? Lots of entitlement there. Later I said hello to Alec, Jack's artistic director, and told him how much I was looking forward to the new theater's first presentation, a play by my friend Amina. Her work and imaginative vision seems to be sprawling out---so looking forward to her latest play, about two weeks from today.
When the activities died down, I decided to walk a bit in the neighborhood---Jack would have been considered part of Bed-Stuy up to about 10 years ago, now it is more like the outer reaches of Clinton Hill. So much has changed in that area in the past 10 years---Fulton Street, the main drag, is loaded with new high and mid rises. Anyway, I walked north on Cambridge Place a few blocks, came to the beginning of Quincy Street, then moved around the corner and one block north the beginning of Lexington Avenue. These avenues and where they begin---they arrive out of the streets of Fort Greene and Cinton Hill---fascinate me. First time for me to look at those streets. Both are lined with some nice brownstones, but with some new luxury buildings as well---they are everywhere in the Bed-Stuy-Clinton Hill area. The streets were kind of empty, but the majority of people that I crossed paths with were white. At Grand Avenue, where Lexington begins, I moved to Gates, then followed Gates back to the Gotham market---my "home away from home"
Then it was just a question of would I go to one of two movie choices at BAM, or just sit it out. I decided on the latter---stayed in the very convenient fiction center and read for about 45 minutes, then, feeling physically very tired, returned home.
Today, after this off to Bushwick--will watch some football at Cobra, then not sure about the rest of the day. My friend Eric bartends at Clem's a bar in Williamsburg, but his shift does not begin until 9. Can I remain in Brooklyn that long? Return to Manhattan and then come back? We will see.
When the activities died down, I decided to walk a bit in the neighborhood---Jack would have been considered part of Bed-Stuy up to about 10 years ago, now it is more like the outer reaches of Clinton Hill. So much has changed in that area in the past 10 years---Fulton Street, the main drag, is loaded with new high and mid rises. Anyway, I walked north on Cambridge Place a few blocks, came to the beginning of Quincy Street, then moved around the corner and one block north the beginning of Lexington Avenue. These avenues and where they begin---they arrive out of the streets of Fort Greene and Cinton Hill---fascinate me. First time for me to look at those streets. Both are lined with some nice brownstones, but with some new luxury buildings as well---they are everywhere in the Bed-Stuy-Clinton Hill area. The streets were kind of empty, but the majority of people that I crossed paths with were white. At Grand Avenue, where Lexington begins, I moved to Gates, then followed Gates back to the Gotham market---my "home away from home"
Then it was just a question of would I go to one of two movie choices at BAM, or just sit it out. I decided on the latter---stayed in the very convenient fiction center and read for about 45 minutes, then, feeling physically very tired, returned home.
Today, after this off to Bushwick--will watch some football at Cobra, then not sure about the rest of the day. My friend Eric bartends at Clem's a bar in Williamsburg, but his shift does not begin until 9. Can I remain in Brooklyn that long? Return to Manhattan and then come back? We will see.
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