Fun in the Sun! A not-so-brief side journey from NYC to Mexico

For the first time ever, I took an exotic vacation to beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I had to actually get a passport in preparation for this trip and that's another first!  My partner in crime, Tubbs (it's a "Miami Vice" thing), I mean, Von, came along and we did not hold back from making the most of the time we had.  I rarely take vacations that are a week long, so this seemed truly decadent, not to mention that we were going to an all-inclusive resort, the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, which made us feel even more like we were doing something pretty self-indulgent.  But, hey, we're worth it, right?  Don't hate us because we're beautiful!

The flight was pretty uneventful, although it was one of the longer ones I've taken, so by the time we landed we were definitely ready to get off the plane.  Neither of us knew what to expect really.  We had seen pictures of previous resort vacations the group we booked through (Atlantis Events) had done in the past, so we knew there would be lots of beautiful people frolicking on the beach and laying by the pool, but that was pretty much all we knew.  We caught the shuttle bus with everybody else from our plane and made our way to the resort.  I knew we were in for a good time when we passed a restaurant along the way called Sofa King Good (one of my sister's favorite phrases), so my excitement grew as we got closer.

View from a beachfront restaurant in downtown Puerto Vallarta

We pulled into the resort and as we exited the bus, we all got hugs of welcome (ain't that sweet?).  We were told to leave our bags and they would be brought to our rooms later.  This made me a little nervous since the airport always tells you to keep your bags under your control (what if this was all a big scam to get me busted on my return trip with some illegal contraband??  I wouldn't make it in a Mexican prison!).  The line to check in was long and sloooooow (thank goodness they were handing out trays full of drinks; Von was pretty happy by the time it was our turn to check in).  We got to our room and there was the luggage; all was well (no Mexican prison for Glenn!).  Once we got the lay of the land, it was time for.........a drink!

And the drinks just kept on coming.....

Have you been to an all-inclusive resort?  In one word......pampering!  All the food and drinks were included in our stay, so our biggest decisions were when to start drinking and what we were going to drink each day.  The best part was being able to stay put while a member of the hotel staff waited on our every need.  So, sitting on the beach as the sun set, reading a book, was made even better by the steady stream of bourbon I received.

That's not to say that all we did was drink, there was food involved, too, and we certainly maximized our options, trying every restaurant and eating at all times of the day/night. I haven't eaten that much food in ages and I've got the extra five pounds to prove it!

But, more important than the food and the drinks were all of the people we met during the trip.  Everyday seemed to bring someone new across our path and everyone was extremely warm and welcoming.  Being an introvert, it's always been a challenge for me to meet new people, but with Von by my side, it just didn't seem so tough down in Mexico.  We met people from all over the world and there was an ease to conversations that I just don't see all the time.

We got to celebrate Shaw's 40th birthday with him at a great party in his suite:

Shaw's the one hugging Von in front

There never seemed to be a lack of companionship on this trip and we made fast friends with several people who we hung out with almost everyday.  The social events Atlantis planned throughout the week helped with this, too: a Halloween party; a dance almost every night, including my favorite: 80s night (you forget how good Lisa Lisa With Cult Jam and Full Force really were); there were excursions to all parts of the area (Von and I trekked to the downtown area and had nachos and quesadillas on the beach); and tons more.  So, it really wasn't possible to NOT meet people during the week.  Von remarked once that when he first met me, he didn't think I could speak (very funny, Von), so being able to have some great conversations with the wide variety of people we met was fantastic.  Here's just a sampling of all the great friends we made:

This crazy, fun pair from Vegas!

Nick and John from New York

Eric and Tim from Dallas

Joe and Tony from nearby PA

This group dressed as the Real Housewives of Atlantis for Halloween

I could go into all the details of what we did each day, but I don't think a play-by-play of events would be of interest to everyone reading and it would take up far too much space to talk about our trip to experience the nightlife in downtown Puerto Vallarta with all the "dancers" wanting to share their talents with us in the back, private area.  "The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club.  The second rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club."  Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world.

Until next time, Mexico!

One last note, I have to express much love and gratitude to the entire staff of the Hard Rock Hotel who worked long hours and put up with a lot of shenanigans, all with smiles on their faces and an eagerness to help with whatever we needed.  And, to the Atlantis crew who were at every event all day and night and made sure everyone had a good time, their boundless energy was contagious and I won't soon forget them, especially Ellen's performance of "Nowhere Fast" from Streets of Fire.  Can't wait to be able to order another drink from Rosie!

Check out this short video of photos Von put together of the trip!

Comics! Role-Playing! Fantasy Adventures!

My birthday was quite awhile ago, but the best sister in the world made it last just a bit longer than usual.  She knows I love sci-fi/fantasy stories and she knows I've wanted to go to Comic Con for several years, so she put those two things together and got me a ticket for this past weekend's big event!  Unfortunately, she didn't realize she bought tickets for the same day she was supposed to go see the Broncos beat the Jets, so she had to bow out (more on that later).  Fortunately, Von was ready to step in and guide me through this world of cosplay, panel discussions, and sneak previews.

The first thing I noticed was, of course, the crowd.  There were thousands in attendance (total attendance for the weekend was over 100,000.....go NYC!) and moving around was not going to be a fast process, not even a little bit.  But, that did offer plenty of opportunities for people watching and vendor shopping.  In fact, I might have missed this photo op if I would have been moving at my normal NYC pace:

This goes well with my Doctor Who t-shirt

This stop in our journey also alerted me to all of the Doctor Who memorabilia being sold just a few steps away from this replica of a Dalek (good marketing people!).  I found my very own Sonic Screwdriver, albeit one small enough to fit on my keychain (but it still lights up when you press a button, so it's almost like the real thing!).

We didn't get a program of the day's events, so we were flying blind for awhile.  Once we sat down to eat something, a guy in some type of military gear, complete with plastic guns, gave us his so we could figure out where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see.  We found a panel discussion was about to start about Doctor Who, so we headed out into the masses of people to try to get there in time.  Being naive about this event, I didn't think they wouldn't have room for everyone that wanted to check out what's up-and-coming in the world of the Tardis, but, alas, they didn't get my psychic message to save two seats for us, so we were turned away to hang our heads low in shame.......  Okay, that last part isn't true, but the rest happened just like that!  I thought I could wash the sadness from my mind by attending the "Lost" reunion just a few rooms away, but they had canceled!  Was I never going to experience the wonderfulness of a Comic Con panel discussion?!  I had to find out some spoilers at this event that no one else on the outside knew!!

So, off we went to try to attend the "Gotham" panel, but that one was even closed by the time we got there.  Hmmmmmm, we had to think of a different strategy.  We figured we would have to get in line at least an hour in advance if we even hoped for a shot at getting inside one of these evasive shrines to nerd-dom.  We walked through the vendor area a bit longer, nabbing a couple shots of creatures from "The Hobbit."

Of course, no trip to Comic Con would be complete without a sighting of Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers!

After a couple more purchases, a Heisenberg action figure for me (he came with a bag of cash and a small bag of blue meth, how cute!) and a Daryl Dixon figure for Faith, we made our way to the panel for "Sleepy Hollow."  Now, this is a show I've never seen, but Von is a big fan, so I figured at least one of us would be happy (once I found some popcorn, I got happy, too).  We were more than an hour early, but there was already a line and it grew quickly:

The security people had to reassure the crowd they didn't need to run, that they had plenty of time to find a seat, but that didn't stop these costumed hoards from rushing in to get as close to the stage as possible.  We chose our seats rather calmly and, once I had my previously mentioned popcorn, we were good to go!  We got to see the first half of the newest episode of the show (not a huge spoiler since we were finding out only 24 hours early, but still) and three members of the cast and two executive producers talked about what they go through in bringing the show to the screen.  Orlando Jones was the most entertaining of the group, interjecting funny comments throughout the conversation and even putting a couple audience members in check who needed to calm the heck down!  In the end, I left fully satisfied with my first panel discussion and thinking I might just check out this show about headless horsemen and pied pipers....

With that, we decided we'd gotten everything we wanted out of the Con and headed out onto the streets of NYC.  I could tell you about the intersection on our way to the train where hundreds of pigeons were sitting all over the light posts, looking at us with hate in their eyes, but that's another story for another time.  Suffice it to say, the birds are going to rise up and we are ill-prepared!

Comic Con 2014 is over and I have to say it was quite an experience; lots of people sharing common interests across all walks of life and ethnicities.  Not a bad way to spend a Sunday!  Can't wait for next year!

Oh, yeah, and getting back to Faith at the Jets/Broncos game, she was having her own cosplay experience:

Don't you just love her!

Side Trip to the Big Easy

What a Labor Day that was!  Von and I ventured out of the big city to hang in the Big Easy.  New Orleans has always been one of my favorite places to visit and I haven't been able to get back there for several years.  Well, this last Winter I said, "We're going!" and booked the hotel and airfare as soon as I dusted off my credit card; I sure am glad I did.  Each trip to New Orleans is different, because I've gone with different people each time, and there's always new things to experience and food to be tasted.

I have been a notoriously picky eater over the years, but in the last couple I have tried to expand my palette just a bit.  So, on this trip I was determined to try things I never had before.  We started off the first night at Emeril Lagasse's place, NOLA (http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant), and there's just not enough complimentary words that can be used to describe that experience.  From the service (we had three people looking after us), to the drinks (the Double Barrel was just what you'd expect), to the food (outstanding Gumbo and delicious salmon), we had a complete foodgasm.  Once we finished up there and made our way to get the requisite frozen daiquiris, we sauntered into the Cigar Factory New Orleans (http://www.cigarfactoryneworleans.com/dev/).

I've not been a huge aficionado of cigars, but this seemed like one of those new things I should try.  The atmosphere in this place was old fashioned and the music added the right amount of island feel.  They actually roll all their cigars on sight and it was cool to watch them.  The guys handling this repetitive task day in and day out looked like they'd been doing it for years; a little weathered and weary, but still in good humor.  We had a great guide through their humidor and in no time we had been clipped and lit!

The next day was..........rainy.  We had to use the many awnings throughout the French Quarter to try to stay somewhat dry.  We would wait for a lull and dash for the next covering.  But, the good food continued at Huck Finn's Cafe, where I got my first Po' Boy of the trip, this one with crawfish.  This was also the place I decided to try alligator and I have to say, it tastes like chicken, albeit a much tougher version of chicken.  Once we finished up there, where else could we go but........Starbucks (I think my desire for the Skinny Vanilla Latte might just be getting a little out of hand)!  I mean, if you want to try to wait out the rain, where better to do it?!  From there, we decided to make our awning-hopping way to the gallery of a local artist, Jamie Hayes.  It was full of all types of art and I couldn't leave without a few little mementos.  By that time, there was nothing left to do but hit happy hour!

Now, I know what you're thinking, isn't every hour in New Orleans happy hour?  And you'd be right!  Even with the rain, Bourbon Street was still busy with debauchery, booze, and skin.  We hopped all along Bourbon Street and even found a spot or two off the main line of crazy.

On the patio at Razzoo Bar and Patio

Even with all the people crawling along the Quarter, we ran into a few people Von knows from Texas and I even bumped into a guy I know from Colorado!  We ended that night once again at the Cigar Factory, trying a stronger flavored stogie this time around.

The next day was sunny, hot, and humid, just what I expect from Labor Day weekend in New Orleans.  We tried going to Cafe Du Monde, but the line was huge and I just didn't think I could make it with all the sweat pouring from every part of my body.  So, we opted for Johnny's Po-Boys, which might be considered a dive and dive we did, into a couple fantastic sandwiches (that was a painful pun, wasn't it....).  More bar hopping ensued before we tried to end the night at our regular spot, the Cigar Factory, only to find it was closed for the night!  Who remembers what day of the week it is when you're on vacation (damn those early Sunday hours)?!  Oh, well, it was only a slight blemish on an otherwise fantastic trip.

The last day in New Orleans arrived far too quickly.  We made our way for a late breakfast back at Huck Finn's, where we finally got those Big Easy staples, beignets.  They were so good, my mouth is still watering.

New Orleans, NOLA, the Big Easy.....it's such a unique place, really unlike many other places I can think of in the US.  Maybe that's why I like it; the people, the food, and the fun are so diverse, which, incidentally, is also what attracts me to NYC.  You can visit these places again and again, getting something different from them each time.  One of the best parts of this trip?  Leaving behind a schedule and letting the day unfold however it chose to.  I could use more of that in my life....

New York and the Arrival of The Doctor!

It's been awhile since I've written anything, I thought I might have to dust off the keyboard!

It's been even longer since I've been able to make it to a Broadway show, or even an Off-Broadway one.  But, that's what happens when life gets in the way and you run out of that wonderfully disposable income.  Man, being an adult with responsibilities isn't like what I read about in the brochure.  Where are the yachts and penthouse apartments?!  Oh well, I guess I'll have to keep on working for "the man" for a while longer.

Over the last few weeks, I've observed some things that really represent what I love about living in NYC.  These may not be universally accepted as positive aspects of city living, but even negative things can make us appreciate where we live sometimes.

I've gotten into the habit of reading the New York Times' blog, specifically the stories that are short entries about people's individual experiences with life here.  It's definitely an entertaining read and I often identify with the stories.  This one, in particular, I thought represented the struggle of Summer (How can Summer be a struggle, you say?  Humidity, humidity, humidity; enough said.) and how people can choose to deal with it: New York Times: City Room.

Along with the heat come all those A/C units, which can sometimes drip water onto unsuspecting heads as they pass by and in a city where you're never too far from urine (pet and/or human) and feces (Faith's favorite word!), having unknown fluids drip on you can be especially disconcerting.

With all these units, we don't stand a chance!
Photo courtesy of Hiroko Masuike, New York Times

But, what you really have to avoid are the drips that come down in the subways and on the subway platforms.  There's some mysterious fluids you just don't want to know about and you'll contort your body in all kinds of ways to avoid them getting on you.

Subway goo is something you certainly don't have to worry about where I came from in Denver.  Very little would drip on you, unless it was raining or snow was melting.  Denver has been on my mind of late, especially seeing all the beautiful pictures people are posting from their adventures over the Summer.

Photo courtesy of Steve Jonson

Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson

So nice to see a little nature on my computer screen, because that's almost the only place I see it these days!  But, I can only reminisce for so long or I'll miss my subway stop or trip over the homeless person who sleeps outside our office building and happens to have Ralph Lauren underwear (his pants were sagging, that's how I know; I wasn't investigating, they were just there!).  And, while Denver has some incredible natural beauty, I've got these views that suit me just fine.

Sunnyside!

The dreaded 7 train.....

Central Park

Looking toward downtown Manhattan

Doctor Who World Tour!

Plus, as luck would have it, NYC happened to be the only place in the US that was part of the Doctor Who World Tour last week!  Tickets went on sale just three days before the event and they sold out in less than ten minutes.  I was able to secure two tickets and then had to decide who among my friends and family I would have to alienate, by not inviting them.  What I should have done was have a Thunderdome-type battle for the second ticket (hindsight is 20/20)!

Enjoying The Silence!

What a crowd!

The event included a screening of the first episode of the new season (no spoilers) and a Q&A with the new Doctor (Peter Cipaldi), Clara (Jenna Coleman), and Seven Moffat (show runner).  The panel was lead by the one and only, Chris Hardwick, and, boy, does he know how to control an excited audience!  I was pretty impressed with the dedication a lot of the fans have to this show and got a little taste of what Comic Con must be like (lots of character outfits and props).  I could go into all the ins and outs of why this show is so great, but that would take a lot of space.  I suggest you check out a few episodes and just let it flow over you.










What a great time and a fantastic reminder of one of the reasons I love living here!   Next up, a trip down South over Labor Day for some fantastic food and drinks in the streets of New Orleans!  Allons-y, Von!

"Run, Forrest, Run!"

So, let's start at the end and work our way back, shall we?  Who says you have to always start at the beginning of a story anyway?!  I know those fans of Doctor Who out there would agree with me, "People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff" (that's a quote from one of the best episodes of the series, "Blink").

Again, we're starting at the end, so here it is:

It all ended at 5th Ave and 59th St, in the midst of hundreds of tourists trying to get the perfect photo of their family in Central Park, riding in horse-drawn carriages, or being pulled along by human-drawn carts.  I could hardly believe I'd made it, but my rubbery-feeling legs kept reminding me.  All of my nerves and apprehension were gone and I was left with an exuberant feeling, not just because of what I'd just done, but where I had been fortunate enough to do it.

This was a run set up through work as part of a yearlong initiative to share our values with each other and connect on more personal levels outside of the work we do everyday.  Couldn't there be an easier way to bond with people?!  I mean, it's not like I even talked to the guy running next to me the whole time.  But, there was definitely a connection between us; he helped me keep a steady pace and even pushed me to work harder, all just by being there.  Plus, we had the shared experience of running, sweating, and dodging around pedestrians, bicyclists, and baby carriages.

So, to explain how I was approaching this, I should jump back a little.  I'm a beginning-level runner.  While I've gone to the gym off-and-on over the years, the last couple (really, since I moved to NYC), I've become more committed (obsessed?) about going regularly (everyday; again, obsessed?).  It's paid off in amazing ways, not the least of which is a desire to push myself, which is a fairly new thing for me.  I would have to say I used to feel (and still do at times) that sitting on the couch, watching a marathon of some show or movie was better than almost anything else I could imagine.  But running, NO WAY!  I would look at these people running in marathons and tell myself, even if I got in better shape, I would never do something like that; it looked painful and so not worth it.  While I'm nowhere near marathon level (yet), the thought started creeping in the last couple of months that I might like to try some smaller runs.  Why?!  I HAVE NO IDEA!  I think my obsession may have truly scrambled my brain.  But seriously, I think I wanted to try out these gym results and see if my going everyday had really paid off.  My biggest fear was that I would come off looking like Phoebe running through Central Park on Friends.

Fortunately, I don't think I ended up embarrassing myself too much.  At least, no one turned and laughed or looked horrified as I ran by them.  Plus, like I said, I had the benefit of running with someone who kept my motivation up.  He's a real runner, too.  He's already run 14 half-marathons this year alone and was going to be doing another one the very next day.  So, five miles?  That was no problem for him.  I felt bad for him at first, because I felt like I was holding him back from sprinting ahead with the other people in the group.  But, he didn't seem to mind and once we got going it seemed like this spontaneous partnership was working just fine.

But, like I said before, part of what made this a great experience was where I got to do this, Central Park.

I've always loved Central Park.  On every visit I made to NYC before I moved here and now that I live here, it's been one of my favorite spots.  The juxtaposition of the park's natural beauty and the skyscrapers all around it is fascinating to me.  It's a great place to watch people and see the interactions between tourists and residents in all sections of the park.  You can even find some areas where you can't see any of the buildings and can feel almost like you're in the middle of the woods.  I often joke, though, that areas like that are where we have to keep our eyes open for dead bodies (thanks, Law & Order).

While I was running, I got to see areas of the park I hadn't been to yet and since we weren't running at such a great speed, I could still enjoy the scenery.  It sure beat running on a treadmill, that's for sure.  I could use landmarks to check our progress and knew that once we got to Sheep's Meadow, we were almost done.  As we approached the end, I thought to myself, 'How New York is this?!  Running through Central Park!'  It was a great experience and one I'll be looking to repeat in the future.  I've already signed up for a 10K in October on Roosevelt Island, which lies between Manhattan and Queens, on the East River.  Maybe one day I'll be able to say, "I finished the New York Marathon!"  But, I think that'll be several years off......

Pride and Love for Alan Cumming

Pride in New York City is nothing short of a marathon of rainbows and marchers.  This year's festivities started with a boat ride along the Hudson and East Rivers, stopping to admire the major, iconic fixtures of NYC.  While I've seen the Statue of Liberty plenty of times, there's nothing like seeing it up close and personal on a boat, drinking a beer, and listening to dance music pumping at maximum volume.  Even the Empire State Building was lit to commemorate the weekend's celebrations. One of the best parts of the annual boat ride is just being out on the water and seeing the city, including Brooklyn and Queens, from a different perspective.

As the sun set over New Jersey, the skyline exploded with color and lights as NYC woke up from its Saturday afternoon siesta.  The beer kept flowing and once we got off the boat, it was time to figure out where to go next to celebrate the weekend!  There is no shortage of late-night locations to enjoy in this city and with such a big event going on, there were plenty of revelers anywhere we went.

Courtesy of Faith Little

The next day was the big march down Fifth Avenue to the Village and, while it's exciting to see the huge crowds and the creativity of the participants, it can get a bit overwhelming, especially at the four-hour mark, when the parade is still only half over!  The great thing was Von getting us access to a cafe in the New School, so we could be out of the heat and above the crowds (the only way to fly).  Once we finally had enough, we took our leave and found a place for food and drinks, away from the throngs of people and the police barricades that made traveling through the West Village more difficult than we wanted to tackle.

Courtesy of Chris Reed: Can you see us up there?

SIDE NOTE: THE FRIEND/FAMILY FACTOR

Courtesy of Chris Reed

Courtesy of Alex Hudson

Friends are the best part of the events each year; seeing those I don't get to see as often as I might like and meeting new ones from out of town or from across town.  Von and Faith are my constants these days and they are always up for fun, shenanigans, and just plain hanging out at home.  Even when I'm dripping and soaking my shirt from the humidity, I can't believe my good fortune in being able to live in a place like NYC with these awesome folks.


I've said it before (and apparently I'm going to say it again), but theatre is certainly a major plus in living in this great city.  Following up Pride, Von, Faith, and I took in an outstanding performance by Alan Cumming, reprising his Tony award-winning role in Cabaret.  I've seen him one other time on Broadway, when he did a one-man version of Macbeth and that was truly an awe-inspiring experience.  He's someone I've come to admire for his fearlessness and commitment to his roles, plus his genuine appreciation for the audiences that come to see him perform; after Macbeth, he stayed until absolutely everyone got an autograph, to the delight of my visiting, freezing mother (she's a trooper for standing in the cold for as long as we did).

It's Alan Cumming!

For Cabaret, we made our way to Studio 54 and we couldn't help but wonder what kind of debauchery occurred when this used to be THE dance club to see and be seen in (even if you were just in the crowd and couldn't actually get in).  This seemed to be the perfect setting for a musical like this, since it has to do with a racy nightclub that caters to those looking for some dark and twisty fun.

We had great seats (thanks again, Von!) and even had table service since the entire lower area was set up as a nightclub.  Now, Faith had received a call the night before to let us know Michelle Williams wouldn't be performing as Sally Bowles during our show, so I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the understudy.  Besides, wasn't I there just to see Alan anyway?  Don't think I'm obsessed with Alan Cumming, he's just so damn good!

The show did not disappoint!  From the first song to the last, it was engaging, funny, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.  The actress playing Sally Bowles was great and since I had no basis for comparison, she was the only one I could picture playing this character next to Alan's Emcee.  The cast worked the entire stage and even flowed into the audience.  Throughout the show, Alan's character addressed the audience, including those in the balcony ("Hello poor people!"), to make us all a part of the story as it unfolded.  I think this made the impact of the finale all the more heartfelt; as the Nazis gained power and influence in Berlin, people had to choose what side they were going to be on, whether for self-preservation or the belief that these things would pass soon enough.  This was another theatre experience that brought history to life, albeit an ugly part of it.  I have to say, Alan's choices like to challenge us and remind us how important it is to be who we are, because it can all be taken away in a moment.

It seems appropriate seeing Cabaret the same week as Pride occurred; both events were about being strong in our convictions and unafraid in our expression.  Til next time.....

This Idina Needs Her Stage and Bryan Cranston Goes "All the Way"

It took me a few days to recover from last week's blog takeover, but I think I'm back to normal again!  It helped that I got to see two great shows in the interim, although both were vastly different from each other.

The first was a concert at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the "wickedly talented" Idina Menzel (I still picture John Travolta butchering her name at the Oscars.....ugh!).

The show was sold out and my seat was in the last row of the uppermost mezzanine, which would normally have caused some sadness until I remembered who this was.  Idina's voice can fill every inch of an auditorium without too much effort, a fact she proved on numerous occasions throughout the evening.  At one point, as she often does during her shows (have I seen her live too many times?), she sang without accompaniment and without her microphone, and even in the rafters we could hear her song, "For Good."

One of the great things about Idina is her ability to sing in such a classy, Barbra Streisand-style, way one minute, then tell the audience to cover their kids ears so she could talk like a grown up without fear of offending their innocence.  She tells great stories about her years struggling for success and has a good time making fun of herself (she almost popped out of the leather bra she was wearing at one point and this provided source material for most of the rest of the show) and, occasionally, others (funny bit about her ex).  Before her encore, she had to sing that horribly catchy and infectious "Let it Go" song from Frozen.  It seemed to me that she rushed through it (or was that my wishful thinking?), knowing we all had to be sick of hearing it, but knowing the kids in the audience would cry all the way home if she didn't do it.  I'm sorry Idina, but the best rendition I've heard of this song was when you were on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with The Roots and Jimmy playing classroom music instruments (The Roots, Idina, and Jimmy kicking butt) as backup.

All in all, it was a great night of music in an iconic location.

Speaking of icons, the second show I caught was last night's performance by Bryan Cranston as LBJ in All the Way, a play about Lyndon Baines Johnson and his efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 before he had to run for re-election.

This is Mr. Cranston's (I'm using his formal title because I saw him in Breaking Bad and to disrespect "Walter White" is to do so at your own peril) first time on Broadway and don't you know he hits a home run on his first at bat (Why am I making baseball references you might ask? I DON'T KNOW!).

It was a fantastic show and included all the major players of the time: Martin Luther King, Jr., Hubert Humphrey, J. Edgar Hoover (who was clearly a little too obsessed with bringing down MLK, Jr.), and the "compassionate and inclusive" George Wallace.  The story reminded me of the movie Lincoln, in how it showed the behind-the-scenes action that takes place in order for a bill to pass.  Everyone, of course, has their own agenda, compromises are made, and threats are leveled; you know, the basic method for anything to get done in politics, even today.  The play highlighted the relationship between LBJ and MLK, Jr. and what I learned, more than anything, is that I need to bone up on my history, which the play made a living, breathing thing, not just something to read in an old textbook.  While I doubt I'll become a history professor anytime soon, it was good to be immersed in it for a few hours, rather than reading about the most recent celebrity gossip in Us Weekly (the new issue arrives Friday!) or watching Gordon Ramsay yell at some horribly under-qualified "chefs" (new episode tomorrow night!).

Next week's a big one: Pride in NYC and Alan Cumming in Cabaret!  Keep a lookout!

A sisterly takeover!!

So, it didn't take long for my dear, sweet sister to try and steal my thunder!  Just when I get something of my own, she swoops in to take center stage.  Isn't that just like a big sister?!  It's a good thing I love her so much, because I would never take this from some random person on the street.  Actually, there's not much I would take from a random person on the street; I've gotten good at ignoring people trying to shove pamphlets in my hand.  Anyway, here is Miss G. Faith's theatre (she spells it a different way and I just can't get on board with that) entry, I hope it brings her joy and happiness to "steal my sunshine" (I love that song!).

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I'm a homebody.  I mean a HOMEbody.  In 2006, when I wondered if I was home enough to care for a dog (I had wanted one badly for a number of years), I kept track of how many nights I was home and how much I was gone on the weekends.  The results: most nights & rarely.  So between being a homebody and a recovering co-dependent, workaholic who is still exploring healthy boundaries and the practice of putting on my own oxygen mask before assisting others, I find myself saying no to a number of offers to see plays, have dinner out meet in "the city."  

I seek balance between spending time with friends I don't see often enough and roaming the streets of our little Sunnyside, Queens with Madge (the dog) germinating writing ideas while taking photos of the beautifully-strange to post on Instagram.  

And then there's the time-consuming reality of actually doing the writing alongside developing a yoga practice, getting to the gym, cleaning, working, cooking, staying on budget, and Game of Thrones. This might explain why I avoid what are, no question, amazing offers of fun-city-life.  But on Thursday, I said, "Yes!"

*Seriously, yes, it's called that on my ticket, see...

Actually I texted, "Yes.  When?" A flat (text-wise) response to a friend's message: "My Colorado friend just offered me an extra ticket to see Violet on Broadway.  I'd love you to meet.  Can you come??? Say yes." But I was working under deadline when her text came in, so Yes. When? was the best I could get out.  For some reason I felt happily compelled to accept, and so I did.  Glenn graciously offered to walk Madge for me that night, so I could stay in the city (and go buy a pair of new shoes since I felt cloddish in my comfortable-I-have-a-blister-and-nobody-will-really-see-my-shoes-under-my-desk-all-day crocs) before meeting up with our friend at the American Airlines Theater*.

From the moment I took my seat, saw the stage and read a quote about the show, "It's about the journeys you take to discover who you are," I was all-in.

It is a beautiful show** about a young white woman with a disfiguring facial scar (instead of seeing through makeup, we see through Sutton Foster's* interpretation of her character) who takes a trip to see a televangelist healer she is convinced will make her pretty; along the way she encounters people who struggle with their own scars, including a young black soldier (Joshua Henry) whose friendship stirs up some conflict along the southern route of this 1964 bus ride.

The music moved me with its simple story-telling, soaring energy, and tender grief.  About 3/4 of the way through the show, I realized I was holding my shoulders up near my ears, and my muscles were tight across my back and chest.  It occurred to me that I was holding myself in; I imagined if I was alone in the theater, how would I be responding?  I realized I would be crying.  So, I relaxed and just let it out.  It felt good to connect with the show and myself, and, as it turns out, others in the audience who were also experiencing their own mini-journeys, making their own connections.  Like Joshua Henry's character, Flick, sang so gorgeously-melty and strong, "You've got to give it room and let it sing!"

Clips of some of the songs in Violet: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/violet.aspx

Thursday morning, I was sitting in my office wearing garden clogs, trying to finish an overload of work before heading home to share a great dinner with a wonderful brother; Thursday night, I was sitting next to a friend, wearing my new silver shoes, letting my own scars rise to the surface, not to be healed away but to be seen for what they are: strangely-beautiful evidence of life.

**Links for more on theaters, Violet, and Sutton Foster:

Short videos (5ish minutes) on Broadway theater, including the American Airlines Theater (previously the Selwyn): http://Spotlightonbroadway.com

Violet: http://youtu.be/_1gsQE5t3fE

Sutton Foster: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/sutton-foster-violet-no-makeup

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Okay, so it wasn't half-bad and some of you may even say it's better than what I could have written, but you would be WRONG!

Seriously, though, I always enjoy reading Faith's writing and I'm glad she was spontaneous, and did something different from her usual routine.  She is BEST!

Later tators!

Let's Have a Tiki and a Tony!

Hello again!  I'm giving this another try and hope that it will bring a smile to whoever reads it.

This last weekend, I got together with some great friends and family to tour a few restaurants/bars in our little part of Queens called Sunnyside.

The theme, in case it eludes you from the picture, was beachy (Is that a word?  Spell check is telling me "no," but I'm gonna use it anyway).  The first place we hit was Claret Wine Bar, which is a nice place that we've frequented in the past and probably will again.  The main obstacle we came across here was our server, though.  She was a bit chilly, especially for this being an island themed event.  Had they been extremely busy, I could have understood, but seeing as how we were one of the few occupied tables in the place, it was a mystery as to what was causing her frosty demeanor.  Oh well, after a couple drinks we made our way off to the next location, determined not to let her ruin what we hoped was going to be a fun time in the neighborhood.

Is this a hit or a miss?  You decide!

There were hits and misses along the way, but I think the event succeeded in its intended purpose, since there are definitely some places we'll try again in the future.  I'd have to say, the best one we went to was the last place we ended up, Flynn's Garden Inn.  The staff was extremely friendly and the bartender even brought in food for everybody, free of charge!  Most of the crowd seemed to know each other and I thought, 'Could this be my Cheers?'  I'll have to go back and see if the experience is the same before making that big decision.

I have to thank Roberta, Larry, Faith, Danny, little Sammy, and Von for making it such a fun time and I look forward to the next crawl, walk, or sit we have together!  Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't show off the excellent portrait Roberta and I took together.  It was a special moment I know I shall treasure for, at least, the next five minutes.

Look at those crazy kids!

The Beginning...

It was suggested to me, as I was relaying my experience attending a performance of Macbeth, that I should write a blog about all of the plays I see in NYC.  I thought about it for awhile, thought some more (I do a lot of thinking before I do almost anything), and then thought even more (see?).  My main thought was, 'who would want to read something like that?'  Do I really have anything interesting to say on a subject that has been written about countless times (theatre (yup, I wrote it that way) critics are great in number in NYC)?  Then, I thought (again) about what different perspective I might bring to a discussion on plays and musicals, being from an almost Midwest town like Denver, Colorado.  My exposure to theatre (I'm gonna keep spelling it that way, cuz I like it!) was pretty limited, but I was always greatly entertained whenever I made it to a show.  However, since moving to NYC almost three years ago, I've made it a point to see, at least, one show a month.  I know, that doesn't seem like a lot when you consider how much theatre is out there (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, Scary-Off-Broadway....), but I have to take into consideration actually being able to LIVE here, too.  While salaries are definitely higher here, so is a gallon of milk (ok, I don't drink milk, but you get the idea).  My final thought was that I should include some other tidbits about life in NYC and how theatre is infused as part of my whole experience with life here.  So, while I don't expect rampant exposure or notoriety from this, maybe I can connect a little better with those few who decide to take a gander at what I have to say.  So, to the three or four (if I'm lucky) people I think will read this, let's talk life in NYC!

I suppose the best place to start is with the performance I saw most recently, Macbeth.  This was staged at the Park Avenue Armory, which is an actual armory, "built by the state's Seventh Regiment of the National Guard, which was the first volunteer militia to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops in 1861."  Check out their website for more about this remarkable and beautiful (in my opinion) space: http://www.armoryonpark.org/.

Once I picked up my ticket, I was given a wristband with a "clan" name on it: Caithness.  This was curious to me, but I was open to the experience, so I went with it.  Each person was divided into different clans and we had to report to a room designated for our clan prior to the show starting.  The programs for the show were even specific to our clan, providing some history of where we were supposed to be from in Scotland (where Macbeth takes place) and whose side (Macbeth's, Macduff's, etc.) we supported.  Once we heard our name called, we made our way into the Wade Thompson Drill Hall, which is a huge space (55,000 square feet) and considering how space is at a premium in NYC, I'm surprised they've been able to keep it from developers.  Once we entered, there were few lights except for torches of cloaked soldiers we followed to find our seats.  The stage wasn't front and center as I expected, but was at one end, with bleacher-type seats rising on each side.  The rest of the space contained swamp and marshland with a path we had to stay on unless we wanted to get dirty.  I was impressed with how the creators really wanted to give the audience an immersive experience and not just have us passively watch the play.  I found my seat and to my dismay, I seemed to be on the only bench without a cushion.  So, I settled in for two hours of a hurting butt.

Fortunately, the action in the arena-style stage helped keep my mind off my numb behind.  The play starts with a battle in the mud and rain, with plenty of both splashing into the front rows of the audience.  The staging was such that it really seemed like the actors didn't know we were there watching them.  They used every bit of space and even went into the audience for sections.  The performances were all fantastic, but I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the power and ability of Kenneth Branagh (who also co-directed) and Alex Kingston; I've known Kenneth was brilliant when it comes to Shakespeare (hello!  Henry V!).

But Alex was a pleasant surprise, although I kept hoping she might sneak in her most famous catchphrase, "Spoilers."  It's a Doctor Who thing.

I've seen one other version of Macbeth in NYC and that version starred Alan Cumming.  He did a one-man version of the play, using the concept of someone in a mental hospital who does the entire play in their head and is every character.  That was a very remarkable and original idea and I don't know many actors that could pull it off as well as he did.  While Alan's version was more cerebral and the audience had to use more of their imagination, Kenneth's version was action-packed, laying it all out and making it highly accessible.  Not a bad night for theatre, that's for sure.  Now, if I can just get my sister and others coordinated to get tickets to Cabaret with Alan Cumming before it closes......

Oh, one last thing, on my way to the subway, I passed a cafe and sitting outside on the "patio" (it's really just tables and chairs on the sidewalk) was Roger Waters enjoying a meal.  It was a surreal moment seeing a legend like that just sitting there a few feet from me.  But, as always, my intimidation at meeting famous people took over and kept me from saying anything to him (that and I didn't want to bother him mid-chew).  Oh, and for those unfamiliar with who Roger Waters is:

This is my first attempt at something like this, so I hope it was everything you expected and more.  I can only get better from here, right?  RIGHT?!

Until next time......