an interesting day...

yesterday, right after leaving this library and picking up my laundry, headed for Bushwick to participate in a protest outside a building in Bushwick that in which the tenants are being dealt with in a predatory way. Half of the tenants have had their gas shut off for the past six months, only now is is their a court order demanding that the landlord bring in new stoves with gas within the next month. Testimonies abound---many groups were there in support; had a good conversation with members of the Brooklyn Legal group that helps prevent this kind of thing. It was a very upbeat action; the woman who organized it was very nice in thanking us for coming, but it is sad that this is happening. Left the protest feeling invigorated and defined. Got off the J at Lorimer, looked for a coffee shop that I remember going to a year before on Lorimer near the J, but could not find it, found myself walking north on Lorimer---a much longer walk between the J and the L (my ultimate destination) then I had figured, nevertheless as always on my walks through Brooklyn, a great deal to see. Noticed two luxury buildings on Lorimer, both right across the street from two low lying projects---oh well, that is NYC now. Had a coffee in a nice place near the Brick theater on Metropolitan, read a bit, and then took the L and then the 1 back to the apartment.
In the evening I went to the Assembly party at Nick's apartment on Christopher Street. Lots of theater talk, though I did mention what I did in the afternoon, and the few people whom I mentioned it to, were interested. But most of the talk was about what everyone was doing (several at the party were going to Edinborough) and everyone's immediate plans. Lots of good energy---again, felt nice when I left---walked a bit around the west village (but I was tired) and returned to the apartment. Well defined day, in contrast to some of the other days this week where I felt a gap in the afternoon. This should continue.
Today, after I leave here, will go out to Brooklyn to help flyer for the protest march in Flatbush two weeks from today. This will my first flyering out in the Flatbush neighborhood---fascinated by the architecture there and the juxtaposition between old and new---like the people who will be out there with me, should be fun. Not sure about the evening---a friend from the apartment may want to have a beer with me---if not..?
Tomorrow, fringe meeting, will finally find out what my responsibilities at the Fringe will be this year. Hope they make it clear, will report soon after...

Friday morning....

after the convention---some good statements on facebook that I could respond to---like that. I am trying to put together my feelings about Hilary's speech. I n theory, I think she realizes that she cannot openly compliment her "Centrist" faction, but in order to win the votes of the Bernie delegates and followers, she has to move "left". And I think if she wins, this part of the democratic party will truly hold her accountable to meet their needs. Okay, let us see what happens.
Last night, went to Bronx Documentary Center---touched base with Mike, the guy who conceived and runs it---very nice guy, looked at the exhibit which shows real time horrors from the last 100 years. Very strong---difficult to absorb, but very glad it was shown. After that not sure, took 5 to east side---thought I might end up in Williamsburg, but too tired---wandered around third avenue in the eighties---finally found a salad place where, for $8.70, I had a large chicken Caesar salad. Pretty good, though I would have liked to spend a little less money (forget about it)---enjoyed looking at the architecture that lines the blocks between 3rd and 2nd avenues in the east eighties and seventies ( more varied than you might think) and then took 6 to Astor Place, decided not to have a beer in a sport bar, instead returned to Burp Castle and had a beer there. New bartender, he was nice, sat by myself (counter was filled) and read the interesting book on the south side of Chicago---no real conversation. Pretty tired, then left and went home---fell asleep quickly.
Today--will attend Assembly party in the evening, should be fun and meaningful---there is a protest in Bushwick  a little later in the afternoon. Have some errands to run, but hopefully I can be there.
Will report tomorrow,

anything to be.....

gained....in the Lincoln Center Library, a little bit at odds---this morning listened to some of the reports and comments from yesterday. Feel the whole thing is a bit silly. Am willing to wait to see if Hilary gets elected (this I hope) and then pass judgement as she selects her cabinet, her advisors, etc.
Before that, it is all conjecture.
Last night, somewhat tired, but I managed to get to Standings, the baseball bar that I frequent; bartender Sam was there---very nice guy, knows that I am only a one beer man, even if I spend about two hours watching the games. Which is what I did--got restless--then headed next door to Burp Castle, the quiet bar where my friend Erin was working. Had a nice time talking with her-discussed the forum at Brooklyn Museum last Sunday---also had a nice conversation with two of her regulars about Woody Allen's new movie and then a good conversation about Philidelphia with a guy who just wandered in. Left feeling good, but where was I to go. Hungry, so headed over to Two Boots for my slice of peppironi pizza (undercooked) and then got some ice cream at the waffle place on second and B. Still not too tired, walked down Clinton (more new building on the street) and then over to the F train on Delancey and Essex. Went home, reluctantly, but figured it was time (I was getting tired)  and my stomach could not take any more input. Read a little bit of the book The South Side, a book about segregated Chicago that looks like it will be very interesting. Then went to bed.
Today, after library session__not sure, there is an opening at the Bronx Documentary Center that sounds interesting---and since I have not been there in just about a year, and it is free, might check it out. A few other choices as well---but right now, that seems like the best. Later, in the library, after this session, might check out a copy of Troilius and Cressida and see if some of Sullivan's choices came from the text or were imposed. Still glad that I saw it on Tuesday night. The "imposition" really centers around the character of Cressida---the way it was staged on Tuesday makes her an unwilling
"betrayer" of Troilius---I have always read it more that she is simply intrigued by Diomedes her Greek captor. Anyway, we will see.
That is all for now---let's see how things develop for the rest of the day.

where are we....

going? What is happening in the city? What is happening to us?
Last night: Troilius and Cressida in the park. Where to begin? Got there at 6:30---had no trouble getting in---on the line sat next to a very nice couple---she teaches at Woodside, he is a copywriter; they live in Sunnyside.
The production--this is a very difficult play to bring off--a true ensemble piece---found the first act a little "streaky"---performances somewhat obvious---had trouble with the vision of Cressida as a kind of privileged private school girl---yet the play evolved fairly, Second act was much stronger--the final scenes had an incredible impact---the acting was far more focused---director Dan Sullivan really understands the play and allowed its brutal and unfair strength to show itself. At the center of  all this was Bill Heck's Hector---an actor of incredible charisma whose death was really frightening. Audience gave them a very deserved strong ovation. Also liked Max Casella who caught the garbage mouthed Thersites very well. Sullivan's updating seemed a little gratuitous at times, but ultimately got out of the way of the action. The play itself is a stunning piece of writing---some of the lines are so aware and the language so amazing, that I was in awe.
Now the bad news: the voice over from the Public's artistic director, blatantly asks the patrons to thank Bank of America--I find that really repugnant---you know the abuses that Bank of America participated into cause the bank destruction of 2008. How can this man honestly ask us to be greatful to the Bank? And why does the audience---a 90% white audience, most of whom look like they graduated from Ivy League Schools or somewhat similar ones---who probably know the difference between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton--sit there in silence. Nothing, not even a reference---it is as if they had no awareness of Bank of America's role in the 2008 breakdown. And while the artistic director of the Public has raised the standards of production and performance in Central Park immeasurably in the past few years---why must I, as an audience member be forced to hear this blatant statement praising this bank, every time I see a Central Park production. Very sad, even sadder that I don't even know who to discuss this with---or what kind of reaction I will get from my theater friends. I feel like Dr. Stockman in Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. (possibly a little far fetched). Want to continue this dialogue, but where?
This morning---two articles in the Village Voice stressed that the city seems really divided into two sections, two visions. The one on Bronx Borough President Diaz pointed out that he is interested in undermining, possibly destroying the small businesses that line Jerome Avenue, a little bit north of Yankee Stadium. In this way, he is in "cahoots" with the Mayor. A "populist" supported by the current Governor of the State? I doubt it. A lot of money has been poored into the Bronx in the past few years. The second article was about Mr. Tusk, and independant "technocrat" with a hatred of left wing populism (according to the article) who is campaigning against the current Mayor---although with no real alternative selected. But who will ask for his support in the coming election? Anyone who wants to show that deBlasio has failed the very people he was supposed to help (the middle and lower classes of the city) would have to reject his philosophy. And the people that I support in Brooklyn,the anti gentrification---displacement, black lives matter people want blood---they are everything that he does not want. So where do we go from here?
Wow! Got a lot of venting out---time to go back to a theater web site---maybe somebody saw the third understudy for the genie in Alladin, and wants to tell us about it. Would be a relief....

so It's Tuesday......

kind of relaxed as I sit in the library at Amsterdam and 82nd, writing this. Yesterday after I left the Lincoln Center library was "strange' the best way I can describe it. By 3:30 was tired, rested a bit, thinking that I would be in good shape to go out to Bushwick for the reading last night. But it never happened. Woke up about 5 with a stomach ache and also it was dark and raining hard. A little nervous about trekking out to Brooklyn in the storm---worried that there might be a power outage in the area, or a breakdown in the subway. Also tired, so I did not go. Nothing to do except wait until hunger took over---so I continued tor rest, listened to the Yankee game and pondered my options for the rest of the week. Finally got restless and left the apartment around 9---took 104 to 96th---then walked north. By this time, a little hungry, so the question was where? Passed a bar on the east side of 106th that has always seemed interesting to me, but a little noisy and crowded, so I passed. Next a Greek diner on 109th street---pretty empty but I had a book with me---checked menu---a tuna fish sandwich would have cost about  7.25---before tax and tip, really made me sick, so I passed it. Finally settled on a "burger bar" on Broadway (east side) near 111th. Had never been in there before. It is an interesting place---actually a large table area and a decent bar area--place somewhat crowded but there was room---very much a young crowd; I was able to take a very light pilzner to a table and sit and watch two baseball games there. Definitely a bar where one should be with "somebody"; since I was at a table, I was left alone---did not really feel alienated but not great either (of course not cityboy, why should you have feltl good if no one was talking to you?) Left after it looked like the Yankees had sealed the deal (they did); had a large and overpriced pizza next door and returned home.Listened a bit to rap up of convention first day and slept--still kind of tired from the day but awoke around 4 this morning with my energy restored. But what can one do at 4 in the morning, especially on the upper west side (a different answer if I lived in Williamsburg). Had a strange dream, about being cast in a play, not learning my lines, and on the day of the performance, the theater being destroyed. You figure it out.

This morning, listened to Convention takes on NPR---better to get information that way rather than listen to the whole thing while it is happening, definitely do not want to hear the speech of the former president this evening---though role call (if it is allowed to happen) might be interesting.
Just heard that the city has purchased a lot of anti-terrorist equipment for the NYC police---supposed to protect them from attack but also might be used against protesters---at least that is my take on that---more on that some other time.
Today, a good day to see Troilius and Cressida at the park---really want to see it and this might be my only chance, but also ambivalent---would like to explore some other choices---maybe I should go to south fourth just to be with people. Not sure. Park or movie? Manhattan or Brooklyn? Will probably just let it happen. Will report tomorrow.

after the exhausting....

weekend, just trying to pull everything together. Last week was full of waiting and holes. Since Friday, it seems like I have been on the go every second.  So what happened?
Saturday, after library, went to meeting at Flatbush library on Linden Boulevard---more planning for August 13th march. Productive, but people from the previous two meetings were missing. That was troubling to me, because some people who were very assertive last meeting were simply not present, so the tone of the meeting was much more benign. Nevertheless, a lot was done, planning for the march---where it will go, where the group will meet and how to publicize it were all worked out. I committed myself to contacting WBAI, a radio station that I think would be very responsive to this march. Should go to there web site soon. Also, going to reading tonight at Bushwick Starr, which, by its name, figures to be very afro-centered. Will give out some flyers for the march there--will be interesting to see how many of the artists involved are aware of the march, or of the Equality for Flatbush group.
As I was walking here today, considered the gap between the "two worlds" that I travel in, the activist world, and the theater world. None of my theater friends were at the forum; sometimes feel hesitant to even discuss this role that I play with them. Would not bring flyers to the Bushwick Starr, except that the reading itself, seems, from everything that I read on the web site, to be afrocentric.
 Continuing Saturday: after meeting, went to Plan B, the sports bar in Prospect Heights, had a beer and watched a bit of the Yankee-Giant game. Good bar for watching sports--nobody to talk to, could have gone to Soda Bar, right down the street, but somewhat hesitant to go there. Why? Not sure, might not have been baseball, but might have had better conversation.
Left plan B not sure of where the next stop would be---thought of attending the Shakespeare project at Brick, but that started at 9, did not want to wait around---finally decided, somewhat reluctantly, to check out the new Woody Allen movie, Cafe Society. playing at BAM. Not sure what I would think, so it more of a time killer than anything else, but actually I enjoyed it a lot. Very skillfully written, and also its "look" amazing as it captures a wealthy depression environment. Costumes, hair styles, amazing---extras (several hundreds of them, it seems) look authentically thirties, no hint of the present in their look at all. Also brings up meanings of Allen's films---the central character is a young untried guy, going to Hollywood, and of course he is an idealist, but---gt this---it was never mentioned in the reviews that I read---for most of the film he is a successful man about town with a family. And the ending, which some people read as romantic, I found very complaisant. Much more to write about and talk about this film---with its very specific value set. Hope to write more or talk more about it in the future, certainly while I would not wholeheartedly recommend it, I would urge anyone who wants to write a screenplay, or be in movies, to see it.
  Sunday, the "Day" my 6 hours at the anti-gentrification forum. Got there early, decided to give out flyers. For about 4 hours, stood outside the museum, serving as the "welcoming comittee"  to those going to the forum and entering the museum. Had to find out that those going to the forum were not expected to pay---museum was not asking for an admission contribution from them. When I found out, about 30 minutes into my comittment, ---I was able to articulate to those entering how to not pay and where to find the forum.  Talked to a lot of people, really felt my communication skills helped shepherd people in, and get some people to the forum who were not planning to go. Very tired (and hungry) by 4:30, thought that I would go to my friend William's reading at Bushwick Starr at 8, but really too fatigued to do that. When I returned to the main square, where the forum was taking place, was very happy to see how many people were there, and how passionate the discussions were. I think more and more people are picking up on how serious the problem of gentrification in Brooklyn really is. This is a good sign, but walking around the upper west side, get such a feel of complacency; maybe one or two people are involved in changing things.
   That will be all for now; have some other sites to visit; should contact BAI about the march on the 13th---will report on rest of the day and Bushwick visit tomorrow.

so things got....

better, yesterday, beginning with a trip to Burp Castle to give Erin a few flyers for tomorrow's forum at the Brooklyn Museum. Ran, totally accidentally, into my friend Rob, who had been a music teacher at Friends for two years, a few years ago. He now teaches in China, back for a brief visit, brought his friend Sarah, a lawyer, to Burp as well. Good conversation, Sarah and I discussed all the theaters in the area. May hang with Rob before he goes back to China. Then headed to Sunny's. My friend Tom was playing with his latin band there. Arrived early, chatted with kate, a musician who bartends there, had a beer, and finally listened to Tom and his excellent band for about an hour. Left around 10:50--walked to bus stop on Van Brunt (cityboy hates to take taxis) and waited for bus. Area for the most part very quiet, a little threatening at the beginning, but ultimately liked the quiet and felt comfortable in it as I waited for the bus. Should make another trip before Fringe, if possible---want to explore and learn more about the neighborhood.
Today, meeting in Brooklyn at a new library, it is on Linden Boulevard, a street that I have long wanted to explore. Another street from my childhood, that is one where, if my parents had been teachers in Brooklyn, I might have lived in. Love those art deco apartments, would love to know their story for the past 60 years. How the neighborhood changed and evolved during this time. When did the Jews leave...? What was the last cry, When was the last String Quartet (Beethoven?) played on an lp player. Mysteries...mysteries---no answer.
After meeting, on my own, find a place to watch Yankee game. Shakespeare at the Brick might interest me, but it is  late, don't know if, with my heavy schedule tomorrow, I can handle the time.
 Tomorrow, forum at Brooklyn Museum, should be exciting----afterwards, try to catch reading of new play at Bushwick Starr. Should be interesting---see if I can make it.
Will report all on Monday.