have to rush.....

through this post, since I have a session in about a half hour, and must, I mean must, check out the box scores from last night. The Times does not list the box scores any more---so I have to check it out on the web.
Just read the Times article on the violinist who walked away from a major career. Good article, it is good that he was able to reconstruct his life without music (or much of it) but did not like his comment about Mozart.
Last night, the Seder, had its usual ups and downs, but glad that I went. Had to leave early---my stomach could not hold that much food, and after the turkey the desert---but I was smart enough to protect my stomach, and leave before they were offered. They looked beautiful, though, which would have made them even harder to resist. Then I walked to BAM, from Flatbush and Park Place---you know why---but decided not to end the evening with a movie.
Two more days before my return to Friends---time is closing in. Will try to make the most of it until then. Lots of sports to watch on TV, if I don't want to check out the Gunn or Pacino movies.
Sorry for such a short post--will report soon.

quiet night....

only left my apartment to do some shopping. My stomach was not happening, and I was tired. I finally got some chicken salad to eat from Fairway---really enough to keep me through the evening.
Tonight I will journey to Park Place in Prospect Heights to have Passover dinner with my cousin, her two sisters, her husbands, and possibly a few others. Always look forward to these events, although the Thanksgiving dinner that I recently attended there really did not work out---I overate and had to leave early, Hopefully today will be better. Nice to be in Brooklyn again, but if the celebration ends early, might be stuck--if I am full it will be impossible for me to stop off somewhere else for a beer or something--anyway, let's not worry about that now.
Just got the word that I will be subbing a monster program at Friends this Tuesday--four periods in a row, three seventh and one eighth grade class. A lot of input will be required.
Today I went down to Friends to pick up my check---after that decided not to simply go to the nearest library with internet, but went south to Abrons Arts to watch the documentary about the changes in Bushwick that Flako had made. Glad I did, I had seen much of it on Friday, but it was good to watch it in silence and ponder all the points made. Then I went to the library on East Broadway---they had several books that seemed interesting, but I left them all there. Why? I don't know---maybe the intensity that they promise is too much for me. So back to Lincoln Center and the internet here.
Tomorrow and Sunday are pretty open. The movie by Bill Gunn which is playing at the Metrograph got a good review in the Times, as did Pacino's two movies. Would like to see two out of the three this weekend, will have to figure out the order and the times. This weekend might be my only chance.
That will be all for now; will report soon.

a torpor.....

seems to have overtaken cityboy this morning. I had hoped to be in the library by 10, out by 11, down to Abrons Arts, to see the docs related to Flako's piece that I saw last Friday, and then over to La Flaca to share part of opening day with my friend Bob, La Flaca's owner. But it is not happening. Here I am at the Lincoln Center library, feeling kind of tired---it is pretty gloomy outside, as we are about 40 minutes away from possibly the first pitch of the Mets season, so I won't be heading down to La Flaca---at least not this morning. This evening..? Possibly.
Yesterday: I did go down to Film Forum and see Belle De Jour. It is a beautifully filmed movie---very well done on all levels---but I felt strangely detached from it. Not as "important" as I once thought of it, though I can see how it would have been very sensational 50 years ago. Then in the evening, went to my friend Alaina's piece at the Tank, directed by my friend Sarah. It needs some work, the opening, with its almost complete references to computer games, went past me, but also it takes a long time for the music to get started---and this is a piece conceived by a very talented musician. Afterwards, went to Houndstooth, a bar on 8th and 38th (one of the most crowded streets in terms of foot population, in the city). Watched the game on the top floor, while waiting for the group from the play. When they finally arrived, we all went downstairs. Bar was crowded, but wait and service staff was very nice. Stayed by myself for a while, then Alaina came over and talked to me, which was nice, and when Sarah finally arrived, had a very interesting talk with her about the piece and other plays that had people that we knew in it. Felt very good afterwards, yet I left after our discussion, since no one else there really knew me and vice versa. Good contact with both Alaina and Sarah, I guess I got what I came for.
Only four days before the return to Friends---in kind of no man's land---not sure of how the next four days will be spent, The baseball season (see above) is finally here, so that will obviously take some of my focus in the next few days. Movies, there are a few that might be interesting, also want to check in at my "places" i.e. South Fourth and Cobra Club. One of my main disappointments of this vacation is that I have spent so little time in Brooklyn (once, for the WInter's Tale---maybe one other) why? Well the weather is one reason, also going up to 145th street or thereabouts for my sessions leaves me far away from the L or the J, and in need of some libation immediately. What about tonight? Well, we will see....

cityboy in flux.....

Wednesday morning---cityboy faces a full day with no sessions are obligations. So what does that mean/ A plan, tentatively is to try to see Belle de Jour at the Film Forum this afternoon, and then see my friend Alaina's piece at the tank, this evening. Should not be difficult---still, things seem a little strange.
About Belle de Jour, a movie by Bunuel, I remember the first time that I saw it---labor day weekend, (believe it or not) 1968. I think I saw it with my friend Fred--at that time I was still working at Riverdale Children's Association (that job would end in about two months) and feeling kind of raw and alone. I was very interested in a woman about my age named Zita, I think I had a date with her planned for the Monday evening of Labor Day, which, at the last moment, she finked out of. I remember being very upset by this. Not much I could do. Those were the days when my relationships with women, really dominated my life. And now? Well, chill out, cityboy---you know what is going on now. Anyway, back to Belle de Jour, it will be interesting to see how I perceive it after this gap of time. How much did I miss the first time? Will my "experience" as an older person play into what I understand of it now. Well, we will see.
Yesterday evening---kind of quiet, after some deliberation, I decided that my best bet for the evening was to go to Lansdowne Road, the sports bar that I go to sometime on 10th Avenue and 44th street.  I had hoped to find my server friend Mel there, actually I went there to check in with her, but she was taking a day off; I was told that she and her twin Sinem, had just returned from Barcelona where they made a commercial. Very happy for them, they are a great set of twins---totally innocent of theater, but very talented. It's great that they got this work. All this info was given to me by a nice bartender named Alex. I could have left, but I decided to stay, watch some of the Toronto-Denver NBA game (really fast paced and lots of fun to watch) and fill myself up with their avocado salad. Other then the game and some nice talk with Alex, nothing much happened---the place was kind of quiet, actually, but the salad was great---glad to have a lot of greens---and I just sort of went with the flow.The 11 bus returned my to the apartment.
Any more to say---not at the moment---my time  may be running out on the computer---so I will report soon on the day's events.

must remember to visit

Flako's exhibit at Abrons Arts, in the little room that is right off the downstairs theater. Documentaries about Williamsburg and the changes that have taken place there. I was very interested when I watched some of it on Friday---but some of the important sound was hard to hear, because there were so many people in the lobby. I would like to see it and be able to think about it and be more reflective about it. So maybe on Thursday, if I go to see the opening day Met game at La Flaca,  I can go there before. Or maybe some other time. Not so hard to get there, and you know I like traveling
Last night---did have a kind of "adventure"--two stops, first a reading of a new play at Japan House, directed by Sarah, a friend of mine. Japan house is located near the UN, on 47th street, east of Second Avenue. Interesting to wander around there, it seems like there are now so many luxury houses in the surrounding area; I always ask myself "who lives there?" How much money is there in the world to support all these luxury dwellings?  The reading itself, which had a number of actresses in it that I know, was pretty boring. An hour and a half, without a break---hard to sit through---I don't understand, since the playwright was present, why some cuts wern't requested during the short rehearsal period. Left feeling kind of frustrated, but I said that I would go, and I did. Nice to support Sarah---she seemed happy to see me. I will go to her next project, tomorrow night, which is at the Tank, a song cycle she is working on with another friend of mine, Alaina. Should be interesting.
    It was early (about 9:15) when I left Japan House, and the plan was to visit my friend Brittany at her bartender post at the Broadway Dive Bar, on 101st and Broadway. Quite a trip, from 47th and first to there. How to get there? Will, took the third avenue bus north to 96th street and then waited in the cold, for the crosstown. Luckily, it arrived quickly, then I walked to the Dive Bar. Brittany was happy to see me---we talked for a while; not much going on there in the way of conversation---I had my beer (enjoyed it) and left after about 45 minutes. I like the place, it has a kind of relaxed vibe about it, and the inhabitants of the bar seem, for the most part, like people I would enjoy interacting with. Return trips? We will see.
Today, one session, then things are open---might go to Brooklyn to watch a movie at South Fourth (I think they are still having them) or maybe check out the Starr Bar, for some interesting "protest" conversation. Somehow, am not into seeing a play or movie tonight, but that could change.
 One more week before my return to Friends---now getting used to the "stress free" vision of life that comes when I am not thinking about work there. As for tonight, will report soon.

another article....

displaying the total aggressiveness of the development community and the city's desire to advocate for this community. Where are we going with this? How do I report on my "adventures" when in fact this aggressiveness is all pervasive. Is the Mayor determined to leave the city in ruins, for those who are not wealthy? To price out everyone else? Sometimes I feel that is the case. Well, let's see how things develop. How much resistance to these plans can be created.
As to the "adventures":
Saturday afternoon, after a short session at 145 street, cityboy goes to the 145 street A train station to get o 179th street. Sounds very simple, yes? Well after 15 minutes, nothing happened. Time to get out and try to get a bus, a taxi  (but you would have to pay for it) or walk the 34 blocks in 30 or so minutes. Of course, that is what happened--my determination to get to the library at 179th was intense---so there I was, walking north at great speed on Saint Nicholas and later Amsterdam Avenue. I could feel the pressure on my body as I walked; amazingly enough I made it only five minutes late, and had a great session. Afterwards, walked around Washington Heights in search of Greek diner in which I could have some coffee and a cheese danish, but a wrong turn on Bennett Avenue lengthened that trip. The subways were incredibly slow that afternoon. Returned home and realized that a near by movie experience was impossible. I could hardly move. Rest of the night was spent (to no one's surprise) sleeping.
Sunday, Winter's Tale in Brooklyn scheduled for the evening, but what of the afternoon. Too tired to go to Brooklyn early, I decided to take in Ismael's Ghost's, a movie playing at the Walter Reade theater. It's main character is a movie director, with a lover, whose wife, who had gone missing twenty one years earlier, reappears. Interesting story with interesting shots, but the movie centers on the director, whom I found selfish and indulgent---I was annoyed with his "angst". pretty early on. Stayed until the end, though---some good things, great performances by the two women whom he is involved with and some great shots---but overall, I was turned off by the central character's overheated self indulgence.
  Arrived in Brooklyn early (thankfully), had some coffee, browsed the bookstore in Fulton and headed to the Polonsky theater for the play. Winter's Tale is a play that i have seen many times---this production, while sloppy in parts, and with many different accents and visions of performance, nevertheless, left me very moved. I don't know---maybe the arc of the play is so strong (It is a brilliant piece of writing)  that, despite all the things that annoyed me (poor line readings, costumes that seemed inept)  the whole thing worked. I wonder if a play like Hamlet or Macbeth could have survived some of the weak links in this production, but for Winter's Tale, those problems were stifled by the sheer "guts" of the play. Afterwards, traveled the subway back to Manhattan with my friend Michael, who did a really nice job playing Camilo---we talked about some of the problems that the actors faced as the train went back to Manhattan.
First play for cityboy in a while---well, there was also Flako's monologue on Friday, but being there really reminded me how excited I am to be in a theater watching live performers create at the moment---a much stronger experience then being at a movie.
Tonight---hopefully will go to a reading that my friend Sarah is directing at Japan House, should see a lot of people there that I know---will report soon.

freedom for cityboy....

Friday night, first real night of the vacation, first night that I really "moved" through the city. I followed my instincts and went to see my buddy Flako's show at Abrons Arts. Glad that I did, Flako was there before the performance and greeted me with great warmth. He also showed me a booth that as part of his project at Abrons Arts, has interviews concerning the changes brought about by gentrification in Bushwick, and also has  stories from Bushwick's intense past, when drugs, apparently were everywhere in those seven blocks that move from Wycoff to Broadway. Then his project, a dynamic exploration of his life, and other things pertaining to his color and his vision. Enjoyed it- then ended up having wings at La Flaca, and watching the first half of the Duke-Syracuse matchup (a chess match of a basketball game, if there ever was one) . Nice to be back at La Flaca, where I am always welcome. Perhaps because of all the work I have had since the beginning of the year, I have found it difficult to get to after a long day, or perhaps I allow myself to be a little removed from places that I take for granted, but La Flaca is a place where I am always made to feel welcome. All the service staff knows and likes me---and I should take advantage of that. Hope to make the next visit soon.
 Tonight: not so sure, have a few sessions and what I do will probably be effected by how tired I feel. Last session is in Washington Heights, so may, if I am hungry, try to find a place around there to hang out. And possibly a movie afterwards. We will see.
Tomorrow, Winter's Tale at TFANA in the evening--my friend Michael is in it---will say hello to him afterwards---before that---lots of choices---do I really "dare" to see two theater events in one day? We shall see, will report soon.