looks like....

a free day today, until BAN meeting at 6:30 (finally I will be early). Nice day to take it easy, have been running around a great deal in the past few days, maybe I welcome the passiveness of the day. Just bought NY Review of Books, good to read over the long (and not too structured) weekend. I could see Yankee Ranger game today for $5.00, but not really what I want to do. Wish that there was a true coffee shop in the neighborhood that I live in (upper west side) where I could lose myself in a book, but none of them feel right for that. Might go up to 145street just for the granola-yogurt parfait that I like so much there, and there I can read as long as I wish.
       Yesterday evening, went to Dixon Place to see a play that my friend Lucy was in. Turned out to be a very good experience---saw some other friends there, and found the play quite inventive. This is a playwright to be watched! Great performances by the two young actors in the leads. (Lucy was good also). Had an interesting conversation with the uncle and mother of the playwright---this is the kind of gathering that makes "downtown theater" going very meaningful. Came away feeling good.
After that went to La Flaca for some wings (which I had because they were the cheapest thing on the menu). It was pretty quiet there, no one there that I knew, so I ate, watched the end of the two New York ball games and went home. Fell asleep very quickly.
      Long weekend will soon begin. Tomorrow I see War at Lincoln Center---aside from that not sure what else I will witness. A good time to go to South Fourth to hang out or to try some other bar-restaurants---but there is plenty of theater for me to check out as well. No sessions since library is closed on Saturday and parents of my students work during the week (well, there could be one; I will find that out very soon, but I doubt it) Also possible that there will be some BAN activities over the weekend, that I might participate in. Will find out tonight, see what happens...

so I actually went...

to the Stadium last night---glad I did, although I woke up this morning feeling a little raw-----anyway, left at 5, picked up ticket at Stub Hub place---about 10 blocks from the stadium, people there were very nice and organized---first glance at getting off subway at 149th and Grand Concourse---a different world, totally people of color (except for a few Yankee fans going to the game) a sense of distance everywhere. Walked down Walton from 149th to 151st two very nice streets of completely private houses---very mellow, although a half way house confronts them on 151st. Walked from Stub Hub to Stadium via Exterior street, the back end of the bronx, very lonely walk, Arrived at Stadium, was checked and wandered around for a while before going to my seat in the upper deck. Not  a lot of people at the stadium between 6 and 7---and no batting practice or fielding practice as in olden days. Really miss that, the field is barren in the last hour before the game, finally with about ten minutes until game time, a few players from either time take the field for catch or a little exercise.

Seat was very high, but very good, nobody next to me, which was helpful Game had only one half inning of action until the eighth inning when the Yankees fell apart. Left with feeling that Texas is very good at gutting things out---liked the hustle of Choo, the right fielder. After that Yankees could muster absolutely nothing, even with a bull pen of Texas that is considered one of the worst in the majors. But 7-0 is hard to overcome.
    Interesting that unlike the old stadium which just had ushers (older, usually whtte) and security people around, the stadium now has an abundance of "ticket holder helpers"  who seem everywhere. They are very polite---also most of them were black and hispanic. Ticket holders were also a mixed group---the night had an egalitarian feel to it. Spent the last five innings moving around, but always saw well, the outfield seats are much better here than in the old park, the slant to the filed really works.
Basically glad I went, nice to know that there are reasonable tickets if I decide to go in the future. Different feeling from watching the games on TV, I like my eyes to choose what to look at. Still, missed the conversation that I might have had at Standings or La Flaca.
    Tonight, will see play that my friend Lucy is in at Dixon Place. Weekend, after Friday, is still full of "tantalizing" options. Will see how it develops

stub hub has....

$6.00 tickets to Yankees game tonight. Very tempting, but have chosen not to at the moment. Not sure about how I wish to spend the evening, still $6.00---quite a bargain!
Already voted (for Nagler) this morning and got my hair cut, did not really want to, but what the hell, it had to be sometime soon.
Last night had a good time in the company of my friend Sarah at Ars Nova to see a project on their first floor. Project itself was not great, but a lot of fun being there, saying hello to people in their lounge, afterwards So a few other people whom I know, so the evening was good. After Sarah returned to Brooklyn I tried the sports bar on 10th about 50th. Not bad, very inexpensive, could watch both baseball games---played a quick game of Trivia (I probably came in last)  and stayed for a few innings. No conversation, but it took the time until I was tired. Slept well last night.
  Tonight not sure---should go immediately after this to Boston hotel web site and try to firm up a place for my trip there next Wednesday. Time is short, yet I hesitate. Have already tentatively canceled my trip to DC the weekend of the 16th, because there seems to be just too much going on in NY. Anyway, time to see what is possible in Boston. Will report on tonight's choices tomorrow.

my friend....

Sarah H, just posted on facebook that she has an extra ticket for the project at Ars Nova tonight. Said that I would take her up on it, sounds like fun---this alters the tone of the blog post today---gets me kind of up---wonder if she will accept. If she does not, no sweat---lots of good and important baseball on tonight.
No work today---spent the morning picketing outside the new "53rd" street library with about 30 other people, protesting the smallness of the new library which it took eight years to build and open. The Donnell library which it replaced was 5 floors and had a teen age center and an auditorium, also many books. Most of the people handing out flyers on the line were in the 60 to 70 range---have very fixed ideas and difficult to communicate with. They understand the large problem that this is symptomatic of,  the Mayor's commitment to the real estate industry---but don't have much idea of what to do about it. They don't have a fighting vision of what the next Mayor ought to be, or what he should stand for. Very hot out there, but think that the point was made. Glad that i attended.
Saturday night---very tired from work that day---too tired to visit Brooklyn, managed to get to the Village, but times for movies were off--went to Formerly Crows where I could watch the baseball game---they are very friendly there and let me watch for as long as I wish, but never really find anyone there to talk to. Beer seemed to fill my tired stomach with sugar, so I walked from Crows (sixth avenue and Washington Place) up Greenwich Avenue to 14th and 8th, then north on 8th to23rd. Good walk, many people out, but streets were maneuverable. Took subway home at 23rd. Think that I had a restless night.
Sunday, plan was to see movie at BAM fest, and that is what I did. Had no trouble getting a ticket for the 6:00 showing of A Woman, A Part---interesting movie of which I will say more later. But first, visited Brooklyn library, then down to Mullanes to watch Yankee game, somewhat interesting conversation with a guy visiting his musician son from Australia. Left with much time on my hands prior to movie beginning. Walked east on Greene for quite a while, found a place to have ice coffee at Greene right off Classon, (that is how far I walked from BAM to there). Then found a public garden on the corner of Greene and Franklin. Nice time there for a while, not too crowded, then south on Franklin to Fulton, which is about eight blocks, by this point, all the "revolutionary" streets (Monroe, Quincy, Madison etc.) have joined the grid. Fascinating to think about where they begin; most begin off Classon. Nice walk, fairly uneventful---too bus on Fulton back to BAM (can't walk everywhere)
    The movie was a deliberate look at a successful sit-com star who decides to break off from her Hollywood existence (she feels dehumanized by it) and return to the apartment that she has kept in Greenpoint and two old friends with whom she was an unknown several years before. But the two friends have fallen way behind her artistically and the movie is how she relates to them and their problems and how/if they can reconcile. Also, many scenes in which the heroine wanders among vast construction spaces (no end of them in this movie)---as the movie deals with, in some manner, the gentrification craze in Brooklyn. Some scenes in which the heroine wanders around the vacuous construction sites reminded me of Red Desert---a movie Antonioni made in 63 with Monica Vitti.
I saw it twice in 65, at a very difficult time for me---the colors of the movie were fantastic. Anyway, in the end, the woman returns to her "sell out" world and the others are slightly changed. The movie reeks of a kind of "independant" feel, but for the most part it kept my interest. Talk back afterwards revealed that it was shot in 18 days, kind of amazing since the acting is so good.
     Had hoped to head for South Fourth afterwards, but a series of events and slow subway trains changed that---starving by that time, I found a pizza place on Montague, had my pizza slice, and very tired, headed home.
That is enough for now---will wait to see if Sarah contacts me and what happens tonight.

slow day....

yesterday, culminating in my trip to Standings to watch one or two or three games---gorged myself on the free pizza (three pieces---much too much, remember that, cityboy)  and watched for a little over an hour---then moved next door and hung out for about an hour with my friend Erin, who is the bartender at the "twin" bar of Standings, Burp Castle, a bar with no television and soft talking.
Enjoyed my time with her---went over all the things happening in her life and some of the events that I have been attending---I had to "educate" her about the seven investigations that are plaguing the mayor's administration at this time. Felt good as I left, stopped off again briefly at Standings, but did not feel like picking up the games that I had left in progress so continued home. Slept well and am how here in library prior to a busy schedule--still feeling the after effects of overeating at the bar.

Once I am free, not sure exactly what I will do. This would be a good evening to visit the bar, Sweet Janes in Ridgewood--might check it out in the early evening, then return to South Fourth to hang a little bit with Lana, who will be leaving soon. That is one possibility. The others...? Not sure---possibly could fit in a movie in the trip, or if my body is not up to visiting Brooklyn, might just stay in Manhattan and do something there. It just hit me that tonight and tomorrow or the last two performances of The Taming of the Shrew at the Delacourt  bit doubt that I could get a last minute ticket, this is such a nice day, plenty of people will be picking up tickets in the line when they are released at 12:00. Not sure how I feel about missing it--will definitely see Troilus and Cressida, one of my favorite Shakespeare plays when they do it later in July. Intense and ugly play by Shakespeare, remember studying it in the course that i took the second half of Junior year at Hopkins, with this great professor, Laurence J Ross. Changed and enhanced a lot of my ideas about Shakespeare and definitely stimulated my interest in him (though it did not need much stimulation, I was pretty excited by Shakespeare already).  But that is later in the month.
 
Time to make reservation for trip to Boston---now that I have the bus ticket, should make a decision about where to stay. Are these trips necessary? Yes, need to escape the city at times, and long for a trip to Fenway Park. So let' s begin the process....

yesterday evening....

went to Invisible Dog to see Minor Characters, what I thought would be a "take" on Uncle Vanya, by Chekhov--not sure what to expect, as these things can turn out to be very unique or utterly frivolous, or in between. Found myself very involved from the very beginning. Three actors play each of the plays four important parts--the director moved them in and out very coherently, and soon enough the passion and sensitivity of the play, which I have missed in previous productions that I saw, was present. Acting was very committed---two of the three Yelena's were the best that I have ever seen, really got the sexuality of the character, the others also performed very well. But somehow I was completely lost in the play, at the same time, still fantasizing myself playing either of the two male leads. (Is that possible, of course not, but I can still identify strongly with both)  Third act was even stronger--pulled all the disparate elements together, and even if I felt the fourth act was a little indulgent, I was terribly moved in the end. Audience, which was about 95% young, seemed to have really got it.
      Odd that on a day that I felt so strongly about issues concerning the state of the US and the city, all political, that I should lose myself completely in the Chekhov---I am Vanya; I am Astrov. This world completely eliminates the political world that I participate in. Now I have returned---can continue my work with BAN and other groups--but the play simply defined me.
    Yesterday's trip to the new library left me with good feelings about the space and my possible use of it---then checked e-mail only to find out that a protest across the street from it was planned for Monday morning, the grand opening. Well, yes, the protest is viable, after all the library was closed to the public for eight years--so that this building for the rich next to it, could be built. Also the price the former Mayor exacted from the realty company is paltry compared to how much the condos in that building are selling for. Still, my first impulse was not to go--now, as we get closer to it, I think I will go--then maybe after the protest, actually use the library. Will they let the protesters in?  The librarian whom I spoke to for a while downstairs was very friendly and helpful, how will she react knowing that I am the "enemy". Still, feel that is important that I support library protesters---I really do stand with them.
   About to make bus reservations for the trip to Boston, somewhat ambivalent about commitment to the trip but really should do it. Same about DC trip that in my mind I am taking between July 17, and July 19. Lots of things to do and see in NY, still, I think I owe myself some variety, just to "see" another place, get in touch with the rhythm of another city.
 Tonight, not sure of plans, don't really need to see another play just yet, may go to MOMA at around 4 when it is free, and then head to either Standings (for baseball and pizza) or try out Sweet Janes in Queens, a bar that I have heard much about and that is owned by two very nice people that I know.
Could jump on the M or E to Queens but that would mean a bus trip once I got off, or take M through Manhattan and Brooklyn (much longer) to get to the place. Will probably play it by ear---see what my mood is and go from there. Movies that interest me abound, but might need a day off and want to keep the expenses down, so possibly not tonight.
  Will report on events tomorrow, keep posted...

sadness all around....

while my brother seems to be recovering nicely from his health problem, all around politically and economically the "forces of evil" are closing in. What do I mean by that?
In Baltimore, the policeman charged with the murder of Freddy Gray has been found not guilty of all charges...not even depraved indifference. Really disappointed that the judge could not impose some penalty on the defendant, the officer driving the van who gave Mr. Gray the "rough ride". Then there is the Supreme Court ruling which prompted the passionate dissent by Justice Sotomayor.  Again, how much licence are we giving the police to unfairly impact the poorer communities of the city.
Not even a fourth justice could have voted with them? Unbelievable!
Finally, I am writing this post from the 53rd, (formerly Donnell) library, the one that was closed by the former mayor and sold to a major hotel chain. The city received around 50 million dollars for it, a penthouse is now selling for about 10 million dollars more than that. Approaching the library from sixth avenue, one has to cross the entrance to the new residences---they seem to be bathed in wealth a message to passers by that wealth is "the thing". Walking into the library the first thing you see is a security guard---and the entrance floor is incredibly antiseptic. However, in all fairness I like the layout of the second floor (down, not up)  it seems, if it is not too crowded, like it could be a welcoming comfort zone for library visitors. Lots of room to move (of courses, the library just opened this week)  and a decent appreciative ambiance. Computers are plentiful, so, as long as I am free in the mornings, despite my turn off at the location, I will probably come here fairly often.
More reports to follow...

So here we are, the two worlds, The world of New York culture, which I inhabit with great energy, but totally cut off from the political reality which makes up the first paragraph of this post. Why must one cut off, the other. This evening, i will try to see a take on Chekhov's Uncle Vanya at the Invisible Dog in Brooklyn. Could be a fascinating world, but totally cut off from the political and racial reality of the day. Chekhov excites me, can you imagine is someone invited me to Fiddler or Phantom---how do you simply "enjoy" these works in this society?

Last night, went to Lansdowne Road to watch baseball (talk about a non political environment) and found that more people were watching soccer (of course!). Still, had a nice time, was able to focus on two baseball games, and was greeted and treated warmly by my waitress friend CC. Have built up a nice friendship with her.  Nothing really earth shattering, but nice to be there---walked from the restaurant (44th and tenth) to 57th and 10th, then waited about 25 minutes for an 11 bus, had a nice conversation with another patron waiting, (a middle aged black woman) who warned me about going out into the middle of the street to look for the approaching 11. (Street was empty, by the way). Bus finally arrived and returned home.

Tonight will get on the waiting list for Minor Characters, will arrive around 6:45--hopefully will be close to the start of the line---usually people get in. Rest of week......will see