Three days at Friends....

Cityboy gets to come in contact with his practical, meaningful side. Lots of work, lots of energy, lots of really good connections with students---and with some staff as well (that is always the case). I reminder that the restlessness and rootlessness you sometimes feel, cityboy on the days when you are not called to work---is eliminated on the days that you do come to Friends (always early) and work. You are like a whole different person. We have a lot to be proud of---so keep that in mind when you are not called.
 Stayed home all three nights after work, just rested; at Friends I am always in motion---good to take it easy once it is over, and I prepare for the next day.
 The call to confirm my unemployment was much easier then I expected. All was accomplished in a very short time.
  This afternoon, will join a protest outside the Brooklyn Botanical Garden (a builder wants to build a large building that would cast a shadow over the building)  and then use my ticket to Scraps, the play at the Flea, that amzingly enough I got tickets for about three weeks ago---a long time for cityboy, but it looks like that will be necessary for a few plays this Fall.
  Still ambivalent about the scheduled colonoscopy with two weeks to go. Can't say no; can't say yes. Something tells me I am okay, but things are a little different in the stomach area. Will just let it happen, until I spontaneously make a decision. My niece will be in that weekend, so if I need her support, she will see me through. But cannot make a decision yet.
That is all for now, will report soon.

frustrated....

because having just completed my online unemployment claim, I still have to call the claims office. That is rough, because in the past it has been hard to get through to them---you spend a long time on the phone waiting, or being re-sent to other places on the line, that don't relate. Hopefully this time it will be better, but for the last two years, I have not had to use the claim line---really don't understand why I have to do it this time. Well, let's hope for the best.
  All this colors how I feel now---yesterday the BAN meeting---a lot of people who are important at BAN did not attend. We went over some issues---talked about the success of the march, and made some plans for other activities. Afterwards, my stomach was full, but still went to the Greek diner nearby and had an ice coffee while I watched the end of the Yankee game (not very interesting). Then went home, but was full of energy.
  Lots of ideas in my head---played out a sketch of a one act play, but doubt that I will ever write it. Can't seem to harness some of the energy that I feel.
  If my unemployment is stalled, it will not be terrible, since there is not a lot coming in, but hate the thought of dealing with the machine that directs you to the telephone prompts.
 One session this afternoon, after that not sure---money is tight, so that will be a consideration. Have not seen the "South fourth" people since the bar closed---Wow! actually close to two months ago. Maybe will check out another bar in Williamsburg tonight to see if any of them are hanging out there. (Might be East River).
That is all for now---will report tomorrow, and hopefully will have completed my unemployment duties so that the money coming in can begin.

the weekend continued...

Saturday afternoon: basically rested---got ready for my visit to the Whitney to see Sibyl's pageant celebrating the Fall solstice. Got to what we now call the Meatpacking district very early, wandered around the museum area, tried to figure out who was living in all the luxury housing that had recently been built. One building, directly parallel to the Museum on Horatio Street seems enormous, does it stretch backwards north to Gansevoort Street? Cityboy could only find one entrance. Anyway, entered the Whitney and prepared for the pageant. It was the usual Sibyl vision---statements filled with earth pronouncements with a little whimsy added. It took place on one of the platforms outside on the Whitney's sixth floor. A perfect night for it---soft and cool, the beginning of Fall. And yet I could not really give myself to it--as the pageant unfolded, I found myself considering my own energy--what it was, what I wanted. I payed attention as much as I could, but my mind wandered. I spent a lot of time looking at my fellow revelers, curiously I only saw one of the "Indie theater practitioners" who know and have worked with Sibyl over the years, at the pageant. Apparently she has built her own audience for this---really good.I participated in the final moment, when we were invited to lie down on the floor of the Whitney and remember our bodies, but again, I could not really get into it. Still, I expect to go to the next (and last) one in December. Will enjoy it if it is an early morning event.
  Afterwards, I was hungry, but instead of looking for a place around the Museum (would be expensive) I, for some reason entered the High Line, which begins caddy corner to the Museum and walked on it all the way up to 23rd street. Not very crowded, a few couples, some making out (it is a great make out space at that time) and a few small groups. All food complexes closed. Not sure why I chose to do this---seemed propelled by some energy that was pushing me towards 23rd street. Could look into some of the luxury apartments that were right on the High Line's boundaries. When I arrived at 23rd, I thought of going into the bar Half Moon, right next to the High Line, (usual bar food, all over $10.00) but it seemed "not of my kind", and instead, opted for a piece of cheap (and not bad) pizza on Ninth Avenue. After that, it was just home.
  Yesterday, did the usual Sunday trek to Cobra in the late morning---watched some of the Yankee game and later the football game---had a nice salad at a nearby place-then took the DeKalb bus to BAM and decided to see the Michael Moore movie. Very intense---beautifully edited--it skillfully gives out a great deal of information---some parts of it seem overblown--but generally a very strong experience. I wonder how many people will allow themselves to see and contemplate its issues---it really is about apathy and acceptance of a really dismal political order that exists now. But so many people have "insulated' themselves against really dealing with these issues. They have accumulated enough money---are sports freaks or theater freaks or whatever. And how does this pertain to the issues that I am fighting against in the city now?  A lot to think about and deal with.
  Tonight the first BAN meeting after the march. I have a feeling it will be pretty easy---should be over pretty early--not sure what (if anything) I will do afterwards. Will report tomorrow.

very sad news....

about the project at 80 flatbush---again the city council representative seems to have caved to the real estate industry. so that a few "affordable" apartments can be built. How far can this go? It is incredibly depressing to me---how much power we are allowing the people who represent the real estate industry. It makes me want to not report on the few other experiences I have had in this blog. And they were interesting.
 Thursday: After a hectic day in the library at Friends, decided not to go straight home but to see a movie. It was Hale County, the morning, the evening at IFC. Another documentary, like the one about John McEnroe, that has no "talking heads" but simply puts the viewer in the middle of the action, and lets him or her figure it out. In this case, the subject is a poor black community in Georgia and how it functions. A distance in the way the information is delivered. We are left to make our own conclusions. I was surprised at the abruptness of the movie's ending, and I wish the director-conceiver of this movie could have been at a talk back---I have a lot of questions for him. A cold, but interesting experience.
 On the way home, stopped off at the Cornelia Street Cafe---where I "hung out" a lot in the early nineties, and curates some new play readings. The owner Robin, was there, and since he was an old friend, we chatted for a while. He is nervous about the future of the place, and his life, should the cafe have to close. Again, a real estate battle---the new owners have no respect for the history or warmth that the cafe offers.
 Friday, after a shorter day at Friends, was restless in the evening---should see a movie---since I was tired and did not want to travel, it was either the Moore movie at AMC, or a Czech revival at the Walter Reade. I chose the latter--not wanting to sit through a million trailers, among other things. The movie at the Reade, called Daises, was a superficial, sometimes quirky, other times repetitive look at two young Czech women during the Iron Curtain days, who like to wreck havoc on all things. They do, with bizarre results. The movie is colorful and inventive, but I left a few minutes before it ended because it was just repeating itself. That is all.
 Today, after a session, some free time before Sibyl's project at the Whitney at 9.
  How does on put all of these things together: the horror of the builders, against the excitement of the other "non-political" events of the city. Not enough people are concerned about this, or they just take a passive, "what can you do" stance. It is not enough.

another quiet night....

for cityboy, as the combination of rising early for the day at Friends, and one session in the afternoon, seemed to make it impossible for him to do nothing but relax at home in the evening. And that is what he did, listening mostly to the Yankee-Red Sox game. They have another game tonight---this time will try to hit one of my "hangouts" (i.e.bars) where they are showing the game. As I am near the stadium now (145th street) might even try to get a cheap ticket for tonight, but that is doubtful. No movie yet, do not think I can combine the two this evening, so it will either be a game or a movie.
  After this, there is not much more to say. Life seems to returning to the normality of the "real world" (as opposed to the openness of the summer)  where I tutor and sub at Friends. So far, so good. Not sure what the weekend will bring. I should at some point, try to get tickets for Sibyl's project at the Whitney, if it is not sold out by now. Might have the afternoon (Saturday) open, so it might be good to catch up on a play. We will see.
 Tomorrow a full day at Friends (library duty all day) and Friday  a shorter day, so far. Not much else to report---no memories (at the moment) haunting me. Will return soon.

another short day at...

Friends, a Spanish class full of "rambunctious" ninth graders. Got through it, and touched base with several teachers whom i had not seen before. I will be in the school on Thursday (full day) and Friday(half, maybe full) and already I have two assignments for next week. All kind of quiet on the money front.
 Yesterday, after a session just returned home, and stayed there for the rest of the evening. Tonight, not sure of the agenda---tomorrow is off, so do not have to be home early, but with more work coming at Friends, chances to rest seem a bit more desirable. If I see a movie, it should be Hale County, morning and evening---that is the most important movie for me to see at this time.
 The rest of the week is kind of up in the air. No plans until Saturday when maybe I will take part in Sybil's Fall solstice celebration at the Whitney. Have not got a ticket yet---might go down there tomorrow.
 That is all for now, after yesterday's very vivid  blog about the march, am a bit understated.Will report soon.

well, the BAN

march finally happened--and an amazing and painful march it was. We met at Ocean and Parkside (the southern base of Prospect Park) and immediately the speeches began. At least three were from loved ones who had lost their children, siblings etc to police gun violence or police negligence. Much attention was given to the fact that in this neighborhood--a neighborhood few white people wanted to live in ten years ago, back, but is now the newest place for the young people looking for not too expensive housing---police are harassing people of color, just for listening to music on the street. The activists feel that since this neighborhood is the newest outposts of gentrification, the cops are being told to harass the longer time, mostly Caribbean residents. Much anger and sadness, The march continued and this theme was played out at all the stops.
  A great moment occurred when the group of about 60 stopped at the Brooklyn Museum. Could we all get in? First the guards said no, but the leader of the march insisted that the lobby of the museum was free space, and we all walked in with out anti-gentrification signs. We all took bathroom breaks. I have never experienced anything like it. While there, I explained to a couple who were sympathetic, the meaning of the march, and the aggressiveness of the housing market, aided and abetted by the Mayor. A total shame. But the taking over of the museum's lobby was a meaningful moment.
  I marched with the group to the Wycoff Projects, another stopping point, where several people spoke. At that point I was dehydrated and starving. As the march took off towards Sunset Park, and more specifically, Industry City, I remained, then pulled myself up, and walked towards Threes Brewing, an upscale coffee and food place near the projects (but very different from them). There, I had an ice coffee and used their bathroom, and got some real interest in the march and the group from a patron and a host there. After that, a slice of pizza at the nearby Pizza place (Union Street) and finally a bus ride from 5th and Union to 41st and fifth: the park, where the final speeches would take place.
  I rejoined the march right before the climb up the steps to Sunset Park. The speeches given there were heartfelt and also scary. Industry City is trying to rezone and get more space for a hotel and more retail, but the jobs they claim they will offer are low paying jobs. IC looms like a juggernaut attacking the neighborhood. Then a Chinese woman in her twenties, who had been raised in the Chinese section of Sunset Park, spoke of a whole block being turned into a hotel and retail. She feared that she would not be able to remain in her home, as this development would spur aggressive displacement. It was sad.
 I left feeling a sense of sadness but also horror. So many different areas that need protection are not being given it, while this Mayor seems oblivious, indifferent, or downright hostile to the needs of the people living in the neighborhoods under siege. I don't understand it, does not the man have a heart?  At some point we must fight for a City Council that is free of development money---that, I fear is the only chance the relatively middle and lower class people have to exist in the city. What will it be like in ten years?
The dam is bursting. Something must be done.
 A nice conversation with one of the marchers, Mackenzie, who started talking to me at the end of the march. We went to the afterparty at a bar named Xtasy, and continued talking. Then yesterday, on my travels through Brooklyn, I had some other conversations with people who seemed concerned. This must go on.
Tomorrow, one period so far---this evening may go to a forum about the world of JACK, the new theater in Clinton Hill, that I attend regularly. Will report tomorrow or soon.