Okay, city boy---deliver it....

Sunday early evening----have returned to the apartment after  trip to Brooklyn. Interesting how I feel. Like an eight year old child who has lots of treasures in his room---his parents are in another part of the house, so he has permission to turn his room into whatever he wants it to be? Is this right?  The virus has---i don't know. Do I really wish the solitude of the evening---call a friend..? Not sure.  
  Two trips. yesterday, the 79th street crosstown to Lexington, then south on Lexington to Third then by the 50;s far east to Sutton Place,. My friend, the actor Jamie Sanchez has an apartment in that area---I was hoping to run into him---I did not. Still, the trip was interesting---constantly observing the juxtaposition between the older tenement and apartment buildings---brownstones as well, and the new luxury monoliths that are all over the area. Sometimes I look at the remaining tenements and to me they seem like helpless children---its only a matter of time before they are replaced by a high rise. Although with all the money that has been lost because of the virus--one wonders how many of the luxury places will have offers. The rich has lost money too (I guess). At any rate, back to third up to 34th and then a brief stay at the pedestrian walk place that begins on 34th and Park, and continues south on Park to 28th street. I did not go all the way--I was tired so at 34th determined that I should take a crosstown bus to 7th Avenue and then the train home.
   This afternoon, somewhat hesitant about taking the subway all the way into Brooklyn. I should not have been--it was no sweat. Began (as usual) at Fulton near BAM, and then walked east to Franklin Avenue---then south on Franklin to Eastern Parkway. A good strong walk, then I found a bench on the parkway and read and observed for about 40 minutes. A nice short story by Elizabeth Parsons called "And the Nightingale Sings". But every few paragraphs I would just stop and watch the couples, joggers, single people walking by. Considering the virus, that spot was great for people watching---lots of people moving north-south or east-west--all observing social distancing.
  As I sat there, the novel in my mind takes place. When I was growing up, the area was mostly Jewish middle class, a mirror image of my neighborhood in the Bronx. Then they were replaced
by the black community, and for the last 15 years, the young professionals, mostly white have returned. I tried to understand the whole thing---but how do you put it into words? Who would the characters be. Why would a 70 something man be returning to the neighborhood. What would he want? Lots of feelings as I sat there---can the imagination be corralled into something concrete.
Do I want to?
   Lets leave it there---and see what happens tomorrow...

Saturday morning...

the beginning of a long day. Already have heard on you tube the final scene from Yeoman of the Guard and Opening Doors. Sondheim and Sullivan---quite a group! Now what? All the music in the world...all the classical music that I have wanted to check out for a while, but could not because my dvd player was broken, is at my fingertips. But so what? I am still here in one place. Something artificial about that. In the hospitals, dedicated people risking their lives---in the apartments, trying to cope.
 So what is the plan? I would like to hear at least the beginning of the broadcast of Orfeo this afternoon on the Metropolitan Opera playbacks. The music has always interested me, but I have never really had  chance to listen carefully to it. After that---have to get out---to where---is it too risky to try to get to Brooklyn? Not sure. Can go to the open space that the city has provided on Park Avenue between 34th and 28th street. I wonder if it will be more populated then last Friday. But must go, or be, somewhere.
  Last night read all of Auster's short novel The Locked Room. Really a compelling and remarkable work. A writer leading a "normal" if somewhat isolated life in NYC (that is how all of Auster's heroes seem to begin)  is asked by the wife of his former best friend to catalogue the best friend's writing. This guy, named Fanshawe, has simply disappeared, leaving his wife and infant behind.
Thus begins the narrator's adventure, as he slowly takes over, or becomes obsessed with the writing and identity of Fanshawe. Lots of ideas about doubling, or one personalty being absorbed into another. Could not put it down, even if I was getting tired towards the end. It was intense.
  Is that all? Well, for now, yes--maybe some memories tomorrow---since yesterday's post I have started a post on the Facebook page for growing up in the Bronx, 40's, 50's, 60's. The post, which was about the difference between a trip to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees and a trip to the Polo Grounds to watch the Giants got about 8 replies. Very good. I added a postscript this morning, so we will see how that goes. Anyway, should report tomorrow.

to begin again...

Am I ready to begin again. Now the computer is in my home---truly part of my life. A totally different reality, in that I can go to it any time---find any web site that I wish, ad infinitum. Up to Tuesday, being stuck mostly in the apartment meant I had two choices: to read or to call or text friends. Very simple. In between that was simply contemplation---a silence--almost a voyage between the two choices. Now comes the computer--the third choice. Well, it is mine now, and I better deal with it. So what does that mean about putting things down here.
  Just finished the first Paul Auster novel, City of Glass--kind of fascinating if a bit opaque, but that is probably what he wants. As is usual in Auster, there are shifting points of view, realities that lead to other realities and also a lot of "doubles" ,that is people who morph at times into other people.
  So where to begin? Should I create memories on this blog, or talk about the present. Last night I was able to find an hour film about the making of West Side Story---it covered a lot of ground that I already knew, but I always get a kick out of listening to the interviews of some in the original cast, or hearing the endless anecdotes about Bernstein, Robbins etc. Also have played "opening doors" my favorite Sondheim, from Merrily We Roll Along, several times---it brings me much happiness. Merrily in some ways for me echoes West Side Story---don't ask me to explain the links, but in some ways it does. Even Merrily's overture---a truly brilliant piece by itself--seems to echo the West Side Story overture.
   Also yesterday,  I took a walk---from 76th and West End to 119th and Broadway. A long walk, but my body really loves doing it. During this lockdown, it is important to me to leave the apartment, unless the weather is really bad. Not sure about today---the weather is "grimy', but definitely tomorrow and Sunday---possibly I will end up in Brooklyn again.
  But that remains to be seen. Will stop now---and try to keep going most days.

so it is over.....

the world as I knew it. In survival mode now---traying to be as rational as possible as we move through all of this. I am an 'outdoor animal"---staying in is not conducive to me. I have several books that interest me to read. But I wish we were given an "end date" or something like that. Can't stay on the computer much longer because I am paying for it Will continue when I can.

so it is over....

my theater going adventures, at least for a while. Wow! For the first time in my life since I was 6, I will not have any theater going to think about. It is a strange time---almost surreal, as I try to figure out my day, and my options, in the face of all the entertainment that has been for so long a part of my life, and is now not available. Yes, most movie theaters are open, and I will go to some, but for me, movies leave me detached---unlike theater where I feel part of the community that is creating the work. But all the theaters---large and small---have closed,save possibly for Dixon Place which (if it stays open) might have some interesting projects in the next few weeks.
  Yesterday evening, after leaving La Flaca, walked around the city for a bit---moving from Clinton and Grand to the Angelica on Houston and Broadway, and later over to the Film Forum. A quietness pervaded the city---streets were mostly empty. Today, another "free day"''after this I will probably head to the Fiction Center and read a while, before deciding what my next move will be.
  Metrograph is showing two movies that I saw at two different and very well defined times in my past. Red Desert, by Antonioni---saw it twice in March 65, as I was leaving Yale and my life of the past few years was falling apart around me. The second, Persona, by Bergman, I saw in fall of 75, with the woman that I was then dating named Nancy---my life was pretty focused and satisfied at that time. However that would change soon as well. Do I want to see either movie again..? Will it mean getting in touch with the memories from that time rather then enjoying the film?  An interesting dilemma.
  Before writing this blog, went to the web site that has my Yearbook from Bronx High School of Science. Always, I go through the individual pictures, each of which has the graduate's address. If that address is around the Concourse or its vicinity, I usually go to google maps and look at the apartment houses. Of course they bring back memories, of a Bronx that was all white and mostly middle class. But how do I incorporate those memories and feelings with my vision of what the area is like now. The change, from an all white to an all black and Hispanic neighborhood for me was drastic. But there are good people living there now--why do I...? What do I want to do...? Turn back time...? Impossible
  All right, time to let it go, time to make use of this weather which, by the end of the day will be in the high 60's. Will report soon.

bewitched, bothered and bewildered

about how to spend the day, and the whole virus situation as well. What is happening with the theaters? On the blogs, there is great alarm. For myself, I can't see it. I still feel comfortable attending a play in a large (or, as usual in my case) small theater. I guess its just a "wait and see" situation. And what about movie theaters? I intend to go to some of them during this vacation. Nothing to do, I suppose, but wait it out.
  Tonight, may head to Brooklyn to see a play in Sunset Park, first stopping at a friend's opening at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (a long way from Sunset Park). Yesterday two good sessions---will continue on Saturday---I don't expect any of them to be canceled. Afterwards, kept my promise to myself. Did not go straight home---instead visited Lansdowne Road, the bar on 10th and 44th, where I watched some basketball, had a nice salad, and visited with Mel, my server-actress friend. She was glad to see me--I have a  nice bond with her. She is getting married in June---seems comfortable with it, I have not met her fiance. Returned home in a much better state.
  Is my vision of theater going changing? Somehow I can't feel as excited as I did even a year ago. I know there are really interesting pieces that I could see, but in my head, I have already seen them. I can't find the urgency that I have previously felt---still, I am scheduled to see a musical on Saturday, and do want to go to Brooklyn to see GNIT next week (if the theater remains opened) . City Center's Encores is presenting Love Life, the little known collaboration between Alan Jay Lerner and Kurt Weill---that is next week, and I really feel I have to see that. Nothing to do but to take things one day at a time (or really one hour at a time).
That is the report for today--will report soon.

nothing much to report since...

yesterday. I did my sessions, then returned home to find myself a little sleepier then I expected. So I stayed in with low energy. Not a great idea, but it had to happen.I have probably two sessions, today. I promise myself, no matter what, go out and do something after the last one. Meanwhile, lots of discussion re the virus. From one of the blogs I read, people are staying home from the theater. But I expect to go---to live my life without change. I don't feel the need to stay away from people at this point.
  I returned the book of Cheever Short Stories to the library yesterday. The man is a marvel! The short stories are pungent, witty, sharp and again not a word is wasted. He really knew how to zero in on his people. Last week I enjoyed the Updike short stories, but Cheever's are sharper. Will miss them, hope I get another chance to take out the book.
  Currently not reading anything. Still shying away from the "heavy" stuff like a Faulkner novel (I have been promising myself to read one of them for a long time), or perhaps, War and Peace. But yesterday, in two libraries, I was not able to find one book that I really wanted to read. What is that about..?
  I think that is all for now. Will report soon, let's see if I keep my promise to myself and do something interesting, out of the apartment, this evening.