certainly after my visit to the Cornelia Street Cafe---last night, after an interesting day that included a walk from Jefferson Avenue in Bushwick to Fulton Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. Had ambivalent feelings about visiting the cafe---I had not been there in a while--was the closing "my problem?" had to force myself to go there after chilling out in downtown Brooklyn, but the trip was definitely worth it.Saw, Robin, the proprietor, offered him my condolences, but also had interesting and viable conversations with other bar patrons. Of course we discussed the closing---but what got me was just watching the genuine energy that the ambiance of the cafe radiated. What a shame---thinking of all those excellent and courteous people working there who will have to find other jobs. But what I find so upsetting is the fact that in light of the current regulations concerning commercial rent, the landlords had all the power and effectively destroyed the brilliance of the place. Why have we allowed this to happen---being at the cafe yesterday brought the lack of commercial rent control home to me in a hideous way.
What is to be done? I am thinking of calling WNYC on Friday and confronting the Mayor (if they let me get through to him) on his unwillingness to take away the power from commercial landlords. Should I e-mail Corey Johnson- the Speaker of the City Council who has already held hearings about making change on this issue? Something must be done---many of the denizens of the cafe that I chatted with were not even aware of the SJBS---a law that might limit landlord control of commercial properties. Really sad. Can I put the internet to good use as I spread the word? I guess we just have to wait and see.
This sort of negates some other reports, for instance on Saturday afternoon, had a very fun conversation with friends Clint and Kim at Banter, a kind of cool bar on Havemeyer Street. Left feeling very refreshed--went to see the movie Burning, which has gotten good reviews and left after an hour, feeling very bored---the movie simply meandered from one moment to another. Nice coffee at the Quad Bar next door.
Sunday in the early afternoon--at Cobra, and when I left, feeling strong enough to walk a long way. So I walked east on Wycoff and south on Hart, passed the bookstore, Molasses, where I searched for interesting $1.00 books and finished the Bushwick grid, arriving on Broadway and Hart, and entered Bed-Stuy. The bus was slow, and so, despite the cold, I walked south the 15 or so blocks that make up the heart of the neighborhood. Proud of myself and happy that I had the stamina to continue that southern trip. Malcolm X Boulevard from Broadway to Fulton was very mellow, not really well traveled. About the first 10 streets are pretty barren--around Hancock the bars and coffee shops began to make an appearance. All in all a very interesting walk.
Tonight the Eve at La Flaca, the bar restaurant owned by my good friend Bob. I will get there, I think around 9:30---then the grind until midnight begins. How will it be? Depends on the conversation and who is there. But it has got to be done. Will report soon.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Saturday, December 29, 2018
just entered a post....
on the Cornelia Street cafe facebook page, in regard to its sad closing in a few days. I know (or think I know) that Robin, the proprietor, really did not want to end his stay there---but with no commercial rent control in place---well, it just gets worse and worse. It strikes me as "odd" that all the people who have eaten there in the past couple of years, and payed around 30.00 for their meal plus wine or whatever, can't muster enough anger to picket or do some kind of action to either save the cafe or let elected officials know that the closing of the cafe is repugnant to them. But, as far as I can see, this is not happening. Why are people so passive in the face of such "cruelty" (for want of a better word) and why am I part of this group of people. Even with my commitment to BAN, I feel I have not been "trained" to think as a protester. So what is to be done. Just figure out what will be the next movie I see, in this movie crazy city? I should make one more visit to the cafe---at this point I am not sure that they are even serving food or coffee--just to pay my respects and to make a statement. I will try to get myself to do that sometime this weekend.
Yesterday, had a nice talk with an actor-playwright named Charley---referred him to a theater company where he could work with other playwrights---and then made the decision to get at ticket to the Met's performance of Otello that evening. I stayed for the first two acts---was thrilled by Dudamel's conducting, but the production seemed sterile to me, and the two male leads, though maybe undone by the passive staging, really did not hold up. And one other reason why I left. I find the power that destroys the life of Desdemona really frightening, and I didn't want to process it. This is a testament to Verdi's genius---and the genius of this opera in general which cuts through every cliche and strips away everything inconsequential and just gets to the murderous heart of Otello's downfall. It is really too brilliant in its frightening, cutting vision.
When I left, wanted a beer, so I went for the first time to the bar across the street--upscale, I had stayed out of it because of its high prices, but I sat at the bar and had a beer---decent atmosphere, no being rushed or anything like that. No real conversations, but it was interesting enough so that I might be comfortable returning there. Staff pretty nice.
That's it---I am meeting friend Kim and Clint in Williamsburg later this afternoon for what I think will be a long cup of coffee. They are south fourth people, and I want to find out what is happening to them. After that...? Will report soon.
Yesterday, had a nice talk with an actor-playwright named Charley---referred him to a theater company where he could work with other playwrights---and then made the decision to get at ticket to the Met's performance of Otello that evening. I stayed for the first two acts---was thrilled by Dudamel's conducting, but the production seemed sterile to me, and the two male leads, though maybe undone by the passive staging, really did not hold up. And one other reason why I left. I find the power that destroys the life of Desdemona really frightening, and I didn't want to process it. This is a testament to Verdi's genius---and the genius of this opera in general which cuts through every cliche and strips away everything inconsequential and just gets to the murderous heart of Otello's downfall. It is really too brilliant in its frightening, cutting vision.
When I left, wanted a beer, so I went for the first time to the bar across the street--upscale, I had stayed out of it because of its high prices, but I sat at the bar and had a beer---decent atmosphere, no being rushed or anything like that. No real conversations, but it was interesting enough so that I might be comfortable returning there. Staff pretty nice.
That's it---I am meeting friend Kim and Clint in Williamsburg later this afternoon for what I think will be a long cup of coffee. They are south fourth people, and I want to find out what is happening to them. After that...? Will report soon.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Interesting day....
Day 7 of living in an alternative universe--actually yesterday evening was the most "chill" and relaxed that I had. Have I finally come to terms with "the void"? Or maybe I was just tired and fell asleep easily. At any rate, I did not visit the Bronx, I returned home and rested---then decided it was possible for me to see Ben is Back. And see it I did, at the movie theater on 12th and 2nd, the theater that now inhabits the space that was, during the fifties and early sixties, the Pheonix Theater, probably the first not for profit theater in NY. It was there that, at 14, on the Saturday before Christmas, I trooped down and saw The Makropolous Case, by Capek. It was directed by Tyrone Guthrie, starred Eileen Herlie and had in it many stalwarts from Guthrie's Stratford Ontario crew. I was still new to going to the theater by myself---so I remember the whole experience as an incredible adventure.
Anyway, Ben is Back, the movie that I saw at the space kept my attention throughout. It is really a movie in two parts, the first, a family clinical drama, about how a well off family, in what obviously is a well off suburb, deals with the return of their teen age son who has been addicted and acted violently for several years, and now has a full day off from his rehabilitation center. An event in the middle of the movie changes the focus to a kind of obsessive mystery with the boy and his mother (who insists on being with him constantly) forced to search for the family's kidnapped dog, probably by dealers to whom the son still owes money to. The plot and tone shift is strange, but my interest was held throughout. The ending is kind of abrupt, but I left the theater believing that I had made the right choice.
It was early when the movie ended, around 9, plenty of time to go into a bar for a beer or a meal, but somehow, I did not want to do it. First of all, I felt tired---still getting over a physical malaise that I had been into for the past few days, but for some reason, also did not want to "bar socialize", or whatever you want to call it. Simply returned to the apartment and got some rest.
At Lincoln Center library, yesterday, I took out two plays: Junk and Oslo, both presented next door, neither that I got to see. Hope to read both of them very soon, still completing Hemingway's To Have and Have Not---kind of a fun read---Hemingway writes great dialogue,but the piece really does not have much staying power--still I want to finish it, have a sense of completion about it.
Also yesterday, stopped into the new Shakespeare and Company in my neighborhood. Had some coffee (good!) but what was most interesting was looking at a new complete Shakespeare collection which included both Edward the III and even more interesting, a play called Sir Thomas More. Would like to read them both.
Tonight still up in the air---should I check out an Othello with a not so great cast---see some more movies---or maybe try a bar in Brooklyn or thereabouts. Will report tomorrow.
Anyway, Ben is Back, the movie that I saw at the space kept my attention throughout. It is really a movie in two parts, the first, a family clinical drama, about how a well off family, in what obviously is a well off suburb, deals with the return of their teen age son who has been addicted and acted violently for several years, and now has a full day off from his rehabilitation center. An event in the middle of the movie changes the focus to a kind of obsessive mystery with the boy and his mother (who insists on being with him constantly) forced to search for the family's kidnapped dog, probably by dealers to whom the son still owes money to. The plot and tone shift is strange, but my interest was held throughout. The ending is kind of abrupt, but I left the theater believing that I had made the right choice.
It was early when the movie ended, around 9, plenty of time to go into a bar for a beer or a meal, but somehow, I did not want to do it. First of all, I felt tired---still getting over a physical malaise that I had been into for the past few days, but for some reason, also did not want to "bar socialize", or whatever you want to call it. Simply returned to the apartment and got some rest.
At Lincoln Center library, yesterday, I took out two plays: Junk and Oslo, both presented next door, neither that I got to see. Hope to read both of them very soon, still completing Hemingway's To Have and Have Not---kind of a fun read---Hemingway writes great dialogue,but the piece really does not have much staying power--still I want to finish it, have a sense of completion about it.
Also yesterday, stopped into the new Shakespeare and Company in my neighborhood. Had some coffee (good!) but what was most interesting was looking at a new complete Shakespeare collection which included both Edward the III and even more interesting, a play called Sir Thomas More. Would like to read them both.
Tonight still up in the air---should I check out an Othello with a not so great cast---see some more movies---or maybe try a bar in Brooklyn or thereabouts. Will report tomorrow.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
feeling tired...
a little bloated---trying to determine a vision for this afternoon and evening. A hunger to not return south, to my apartment but to visit the Bronx--just to look around. But maybe I should just go home to rest. I would like to see Ben is Back, the movie made by the playwright who once I angered when I shut him up in a talkback---but this was about 30 years ago, does it really matter.? Anyway, to some extent, that is the plan. Afterwards, assuming that I have the energy, it might be nice to take the L to Brooklyn, check out east river, (the bar, not the river) and see if anyone I know is there. Then a bit of wandering? But am I up to it? We shall see.
Yesterday, I made a strong decision to detox from films---so I stayed home in the afternoon, did not see any---and then went to La Flaca for the evening meal and spent most of the evening there.Good idea, the place was fairly empty, the three staff members on duty were really welcoming, and I was able to watch all of the Nets-Charlotte basketball game--a messy affair, if there ever was one---I was so annoyed at the sloppy play of both teams that I did not even stay to watch overtime. So be it.
Not much else to report. Perhaps the adjustment to "freedom" after the four intense months at Friends has been a little more difficult then expected. My mind races---sometimes my body simply can't keep up with it. Well, lets see what happens by the next report.
Yesterday, I made a strong decision to detox from films---so I stayed home in the afternoon, did not see any---and then went to La Flaca for the evening meal and spent most of the evening there.Good idea, the place was fairly empty, the three staff members on duty were really welcoming, and I was able to watch all of the Nets-Charlotte basketball game--a messy affair, if there ever was one---I was so annoyed at the sloppy play of both teams that I did not even stay to watch overtime. So be it.
Not much else to report. Perhaps the adjustment to "freedom" after the four intense months at Friends has been a little more difficult then expected. My mind races---sometimes my body simply can't keep up with it. Well, lets see what happens by the next report.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
so I have just read that...
the Cornelia Street cafe, one of the spots where I once spent a lot of time at is closing--because of (of course) "landlord problems". I knew that Robin (the owner) was having these problems because on a short visit there a few months ago, he told me so, but wow, this is very sad. I wish all those people who could afford that place (and there are many) would write e-mails to Corey Johnson, and urge him to pass some sort of law preventing landlords from being "gods", which they are now. That certainly applies to commercial landlords. Very sad. I directed a lot of readings of new plays there from 1990 to 1994 or thereabouts. Something must be done.
On a more positive note, I was very happy that the Times is paying more attention to destructive residential landlords then ever before. A good article on today's front page showing how this "progressive" city allows residential landlords to be very cruel to tenants if they are paying low rent. This also has got to stop.
Christmas eve: another Tourneur movie, this one Canyon Passage with Dana Andrews as the lone hero, standing tall against everyone else, or most everyone else. A beautiful movie to watch, its plot moved nicely from moment to moment--but what is really remarkable about Tourneur's movies is there incredible flow---the way one scene leads to another. Whoever those writers were, they were extremely polished in the way they created scripts.
Christmas Day, always a "lonely" day for the cityboy. So what was he to do? How about two movies and some long walks around Brooklyn. Sounds good? Well, that is how it began.
First movie: The Last Resort---a strong documentary about the working class Jews who settled in their retirement in Miami Beach, and lived comfortably there, and also about the two young men who photographed this community and what happened to them. The doc shows how, as the seventies moved into the eighties, crime came to Miami Beach and the older Jews, once so happy, were terribly isolated. It is also about one of the two photographers, his name was Andy. He was the more eclectic of the two--but his originality pushed him into some strange and dark places. He was murdered at a very young age--the second half of the movie is about the reconstruction of his negatives into the excellent prints that they are today. A very good documentary. But it was only 1:15, and cityboys next movie, another Tourneur one, was not until 6:30. What to do? Well, off to Brooklyn---nothing doing around BAM as all the usual haunts were closed--so cityboy took the 25 to Franklin and then embarked on his journey on the Brooklyn 49, which traveled south from Franklin to Bedford, then west on Foster and finally continuing its southern route on Ocean Avenue. Cityboy took it all in---still amazed by the contrasts between the small and large houses. And what stories did the apartment houses have about the past? If only he knew. The bus travels the mostly integrated sections of Ocean, but when cityboy got off the Bus on Avenue M, the only people on the crowded streets were either Russian or Orthodox Jews. Then the Q to Church. Then walking west on Church, even in the cold weather, to Macdonald. Then a visit by the F to the new Nitehawk movie theater (very crowded) and then back on the F. And believe it or not, it still was only 4:00. Cityboy had time to go home, then return to the Bunin for his daily Tourneur "fix". And quite a fix it was, entitled Berlin Station, a thriller about the attempt of the four countries victorious in World War II, to make a plan for defeated Germany. Some great pictures of the destroyed Frankfort and Berlin streets. The plot, somewhat "hoakie" but like all of his movies, the flow was incredible. Lots of good performances, particularly was effected by featured player Robert Coote, playing the British delegate to the convention. Could not escape the irony that two doors down from the Bunin was the revival of My Fair Lady, and that Mr. Coote was the original Colonel Pickering in that show.
So that was the day---returned to the apartment tired, fell asleep quickly, later the usual restlessness.
Lots of choices for today, but really feel that I have spent enough time in a movie theater passively receiving the messages from the screen and should spend whatever free time I have today "with people" Does this mean a visit to La Flaca in the early evening, or somewhere else. Choices abound, will report soon.
On a more positive note, I was very happy that the Times is paying more attention to destructive residential landlords then ever before. A good article on today's front page showing how this "progressive" city allows residential landlords to be very cruel to tenants if they are paying low rent. This also has got to stop.
Christmas eve: another Tourneur movie, this one Canyon Passage with Dana Andrews as the lone hero, standing tall against everyone else, or most everyone else. A beautiful movie to watch, its plot moved nicely from moment to moment--but what is really remarkable about Tourneur's movies is there incredible flow---the way one scene leads to another. Whoever those writers were, they were extremely polished in the way they created scripts.
Christmas Day, always a "lonely" day for the cityboy. So what was he to do? How about two movies and some long walks around Brooklyn. Sounds good? Well, that is how it began.
First movie: The Last Resort---a strong documentary about the working class Jews who settled in their retirement in Miami Beach, and lived comfortably there, and also about the two young men who photographed this community and what happened to them. The doc shows how, as the seventies moved into the eighties, crime came to Miami Beach and the older Jews, once so happy, were terribly isolated. It is also about one of the two photographers, his name was Andy. He was the more eclectic of the two--but his originality pushed him into some strange and dark places. He was murdered at a very young age--the second half of the movie is about the reconstruction of his negatives into the excellent prints that they are today. A very good documentary. But it was only 1:15, and cityboys next movie, another Tourneur one, was not until 6:30. What to do? Well, off to Brooklyn---nothing doing around BAM as all the usual haunts were closed--so cityboy took the 25 to Franklin and then embarked on his journey on the Brooklyn 49, which traveled south from Franklin to Bedford, then west on Foster and finally continuing its southern route on Ocean Avenue. Cityboy took it all in---still amazed by the contrasts between the small and large houses. And what stories did the apartment houses have about the past? If only he knew. The bus travels the mostly integrated sections of Ocean, but when cityboy got off the Bus on Avenue M, the only people on the crowded streets were either Russian or Orthodox Jews. Then the Q to Church. Then walking west on Church, even in the cold weather, to Macdonald. Then a visit by the F to the new Nitehawk movie theater (very crowded) and then back on the F. And believe it or not, it still was only 4:00. Cityboy had time to go home, then return to the Bunin for his daily Tourneur "fix". And quite a fix it was, entitled Berlin Station, a thriller about the attempt of the four countries victorious in World War II, to make a plan for defeated Germany. Some great pictures of the destroyed Frankfort and Berlin streets. The plot, somewhat "hoakie" but like all of his movies, the flow was incredible. Lots of good performances, particularly was effected by featured player Robert Coote, playing the British delegate to the convention. Could not escape the irony that two doors down from the Bunin was the revival of My Fair Lady, and that Mr. Coote was the original Colonel Pickering in that show.
So that was the day---returned to the apartment tired, fell asleep quickly, later the usual restlessness.
Lots of choices for today, but really feel that I have spent enough time in a movie theater passively receiving the messages from the screen and should spend whatever free time I have today "with people" Does this mean a visit to La Flaca in the early evening, or somewhere else. Choices abound, will report soon.
Monday, December 24, 2018
nice e mail from...
my friend Sibyl, in response to mine in which I apologized for not being able to attend her three day winter solstice ceremony. It came at a difficult time---by Friday, the last possible day, I was exhausted. Anyway, it was nice to hear from her.
Some reports:
Saturday afternoon, had tickets to Arturo UI at CSC. Feeling tired but went anyway. This is a harsh, distanced production (probably somewhat close to what Brecht intended) that was very well performed. Raul E, the lead, held back in his beginning scenes, but then exploded by the end of Act I, very effective. Unfortunately it was hot, I felt distanced, the theater was cramped, and by the end of Act I, I was feeling tired. So I left. Was I disappointed or angry at the production? No. The theater at CSC is really effective, but the lobby is constantly packed---it does not have room for the theater audience and the coffee shop that is also there. It is extremely off putting.Anyway, I left, had a blt nearby, and returned home to rest. Later I was rested enough to go to the Dive Bar on 95th street for some hummus and to watch the first part of the Charger-Raven game. Interesting, but after the first half I returned home.
Yesterday, headed to Cobra for the early afternoon football game and to hang with my friend Bartender Olivia. Another bartender named Stephen was there---and we had a long discussion about what..? Brooklyn bars and their neighborhoods. He currently works at Dynaco in Bed-stuy and also at Turtles, a little further east but also in Bed Stuy. Nice guy, good conversation, might visit these places during the vacation. Returned home, rested then headed to the Bunin for another Tourneur picture, and was very happy that I did. What a director! This movie was Stranger on Horseback, a good guy bad guy shoot em up that was beautifully crafted. Loved every moment of it---Joel McCrae was the lead, but it was fun to watch a really young Kevin McCarthy as the villain (or son of the villain). After the film, grabbed some chicken at Fairway (thank God that there hot food section was still open!) and headed home.
Today and tomorrow (Christmas day) pretty open---lots of movies that would be valuable to see. The Tourneur festival continues (I could probably see all of them if I had a mind to) but there is other interesting stuff as well. One John Ford picture at the Metrograph. Imagine, a chance to see movies by both Tourneur and John Ford. What a time for movie going, if that floats your boat.
Still trying to adjust to "no work" life formula, between now and the 7th of January. Some reconception necessary. Will report soon.
Some reports:
Saturday afternoon, had tickets to Arturo UI at CSC. Feeling tired but went anyway. This is a harsh, distanced production (probably somewhat close to what Brecht intended) that was very well performed. Raul E, the lead, held back in his beginning scenes, but then exploded by the end of Act I, very effective. Unfortunately it was hot, I felt distanced, the theater was cramped, and by the end of Act I, I was feeling tired. So I left. Was I disappointed or angry at the production? No. The theater at CSC is really effective, but the lobby is constantly packed---it does not have room for the theater audience and the coffee shop that is also there. It is extremely off putting.Anyway, I left, had a blt nearby, and returned home to rest. Later I was rested enough to go to the Dive Bar on 95th street for some hummus and to watch the first part of the Charger-Raven game. Interesting, but after the first half I returned home.
Yesterday, headed to Cobra for the early afternoon football game and to hang with my friend Bartender Olivia. Another bartender named Stephen was there---and we had a long discussion about what..? Brooklyn bars and their neighborhoods. He currently works at Dynaco in Bed-stuy and also at Turtles, a little further east but also in Bed Stuy. Nice guy, good conversation, might visit these places during the vacation. Returned home, rested then headed to the Bunin for another Tourneur picture, and was very happy that I did. What a director! This movie was Stranger on Horseback, a good guy bad guy shoot em up that was beautifully crafted. Loved every moment of it---Joel McCrae was the lead, but it was fun to watch a really young Kevin McCarthy as the villain (or son of the villain). After the film, grabbed some chicken at Fairway (thank God that there hot food section was still open!) and headed home.
Today and tomorrow (Christmas day) pretty open---lots of movies that would be valuable to see. The Tourneur festival continues (I could probably see all of them if I had a mind to) but there is other interesting stuff as well. One John Ford picture at the Metrograph. Imagine, a chance to see movies by both Tourneur and John Ford. What a time for movie going, if that floats your boat.
Still trying to adjust to "no work" life formula, between now and the 7th of January. Some reconception necessary. Will report soon.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
not a lot to add...
to yesterday's post. I did go to the holiday celebration at Friends---as usual, kind of raucus, but many alumni I had not seen in a while were there, also some good holiday wishes from my "buddies' in the senior class. Thought that it might be possible for me to attend the last part of my friend Sibyl's solstice celebration at the Whitney, but by 6, when I would have had to leave my apartment, was totally exhausted. Spent the rest of the evening mostly at home, in a kind of emotional limbo, though I did get a chance to hear most of Tchaikovsky's Symphony Number 1--which is not played very often. Loved the fourth movement the final one, full of the usual Tchaikovsky "fireworks", but also with an intriguing fugue part. Then I took a short walk and visited the nearby Barnes and Noble, which was open until midnight, so I was not rushed. That's about all.
What next? This afternoon, Arturo UI at CSC---looking forward to it---not sure about the rest of the day. Would enjoy watching an important pro football game this evening---but where? Not sure. Will probably depend on how I feel after the play. So that's it---tomorrow, will go to Cobra for the first part of the afternoon, maybe stop off at the Molasses bookshop nearby, and then...? Who knows? But will report soon.
What next? This afternoon, Arturo UI at CSC---looking forward to it---not sure about the rest of the day. Would enjoy watching an important pro football game this evening---but where? Not sure. Will probably depend on how I feel after the play. So that's it---tomorrow, will go to Cobra for the first part of the afternoon, maybe stop off at the Molasses bookshop nearby, and then...? Who knows? But will report soon.
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