tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51089759378408468302024-03-18T23:45:29.315-04:00A Little Take on NYCAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-31679429305241303182015-12-02T13:06:00.001-05:002015-12-02T13:06:20.477-05:00A touch of Something Rotten with a bit of MiseryThe biggest challenge in creating a new blog entry, for me, is how to begin. Do I just dive right in or do I write this like one of my college essays, where I provide an overview of what this post will be about? I guess, since it's my blog and I have total editorial control, I can do what I want (it's my hot body (thanks to "South Park," I can never make that statement without invoking Cartman))!<br />
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Back in September, I saw the musical "Something Rotten," which told the story of a playwright who was in competition with William Shakespeare, much like how Harvey Weinstein is in competition with everyone else in Hollywood for the consumer's dollars. It was a really funny show, portraying Shakespeare as a super celebrity who spews soliloquies like a rock star, skewering current and past Broadway musicals, and proposing the idea of an entire show based on an Omelet (due to a mispronunciation of Hamlet).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad Oscar as Nostradamus and Brian D'Arcy James as Nick Bottom</td></tr>
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There was nothing extremely profound about the show, but it did address the idea of being who we are no matter what society says we should be, and accepting and celebrating that. Which, on second thought, is pretty profound for a comedic musical, especially in the tumultuous times we are currently living in. Do what you love, not what money or outside influences tell you!<br />
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That brings me to the play I saw just last night, "Misery."<br />
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Thanks must go to my sister, Faith, for the ticket! Being able to catch Bruce Willis' Broadway debut was pretty exciting and this was a book and film that I really enjoyed, so being able to see it live on stage was something I didn't want to miss.<br />
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Like I said, the story was familiar, so I had an idea of what to expect before it began. I was impressed I was able to put my preconceived notions aside once Laurie Metcalf came on stage. She owned the character of Annie Wilkes, pushing away the iconic image of Kathy Bates from the film. Annie's psychosis is revealed subtly, as Bruce's character of Paul Sheldon goes from being thankful for his rescuer to the realization that she may not be what she seems and he may have to find a way to escape before his "number one fan" completely loses control.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce as Paul Sheldon, attempting to escape the confines of his room</td></tr>
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What initially struck me about the play was how good Laurie Metcalf was; this was the first time I've seen her on stage, but she's been in several plays and earned multiple Tony nominations. She seemed so comfortable on stage and it was easy to fall into the story as she slowly unraveled and became more obsessed with Paul and his "Misery" books. This being a predominantly two-person show, a lot fell on the shoulders of the leads; Bruce can be forgiven for chuckling a little after he flubbed a line and tried to recover it while Laurie was staring at him maniacally (who wouldn't laugh at that?). Of the two, Laurie really pulled it all together with Bruce following along for the ride.<br />
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Once I slept and thought about the play more this morning, there was another level to the experience that struck me and it wasn't what happened on stage, but how the audience reacted to it, with much laughter throughout. At one point during the show, I thought, 'Are we at a comedy?' Granted, several of Annie's lines are funny, but when you consider that she's mentally unstable and homicidal, these same lines become more sinister and frightening. Is the reaction to laugh, because we're uncomfortable with what's happening to Paul at the hands of Annie, could it be because we're used to seeing Laurie Metcalf in comedic roles on TV, or is it because Laurie's portrayal of Annie mirrored the clerk (in appearance and perceived personality) we saw in the media from Kentucky recently, Kim Davis? It made me wonder what the reaction would be if Annie had been played by a man and/or someone who wasn't Caucasian. We see so much these days how people are treated differently based on their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. If Annie had been Muhammad, I anticipate the audience reaction would have been far different, which makes this play so relevant today. What scares us more about people; their actions, their appearance, their comments, their mental state?<br />
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I guess "Misery" sparked a little more thought than I anticipated and that's never a bad thing......Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-57150724202194744452015-05-25T13:04:00.002-04:002015-05-25T13:04:59.606-04:00It's been a long time coming....How long has it been? Two months? Hmmmm.....a lot can happen in that amount of time. In my case, that would include four trips to the theatre, one dance experience, and my first half marathon! So, before I start rambling about how nice the weather has finally turned, let's get started with the recap.<br />
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This one wasn't necessarily high on my list of "must see" shows, but the opportunity came along, so I took it and dragged Von along for the ride. Those who know me well, know that I'm a huge fan of the TV show, <i>Frasier</i>, so seeing this musical with Kelsey Grammer was kind of exciting. He was a big draw for many people it seemed, from the rousing applause he received when he came on stage. He had the role of theatre producer to Matthew Morrison's JM Barrie, and he was a big presence in every scene he was in. This was definitely one of the lighter shows I've seen and, maybe I'm remembering this incorrectly, but I seem to recall the movie version of this story being fairly dramatic. Some of those elements remained, but rather than leave the audience with an effectively dramatic moment, they decided to provide an epilogue that tied everything up in a tidy box. I left feeling like they had missed an opportunity. The show was entertaining, but nothing to leave a lasting impact.<br />
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Now, another musical I saw definitely provided those dramatic moments I relish when I see a stage production. <i><a href="http://funhomebroadway.com/" target="_blank">Fun Home</a></i> is the story of a graphic novelist who is looking back at her life and how her father's hidden secret, which he wasn't really all that great at hiding, impacted her youth and adulthood. While <i><a href="http://findingneverlandthemusical.com/#" target="_blank">Finding Neverland</a></i> used child actors that were dripping with saccharine, <i>Fun Home </i>found young actors that were able to convey confusion, curiosity, and longing. The stage was in the center of the theatre space, with the audience surrounding the action. This made it a much more intimate experience and helped to draw me into the story even more.<br />
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A lot of times, the songs tend to pull me out of the action of the show and they can make the story feel less impactful, but that wasn't the case with this one; it really seemed to enhance the experience. I saw this one with an old friend of mine, Thom, who I hadn't seen in over 15 years! He's quite the theatre guy, which could help to explain the why I appreciated this one so much; he could look at the story critically and explain why it worked so well.<br />
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The next two shows I saw, in no particular order or preference, were comedic plays that brought the humor, but with one also bringing some thought and insight about the subject of death. Before we go dark, let's start in the light. The <i><a href="http://www.39stepsny.com/" target="_blank">39 Steps</a> </i>is a farce from the unlikely brain of Alfred Hitchcock. They throw a reference to every Hitchcock movie in some way or shape, and they definitely bring the laughs in a story that isn't as important as the characters' interactions with each other. Each scene is like a one-act play and can stand alone as a comedic ribbing of noir films and 50s era thrillers. I've seen this one a couple times before, but it just doesn't get stale to me.<br />
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Hitchcock even makes his typical cameo in the play, yet in a very un-typical way. There's no point to the story, it's just a lot of fun and, sometimes, that's why I go to plays or movies. Does it always have to have a point?!<br />
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That brings me to <i><a href="http://handtogodbroadway.com/" target="_blank">Hand to God</a></i>. The title would suggest something pretty conservative, but this is anything but that! The playbill recommended no one under 13 see this one without a parent, but I'd have to say this was more like an R-rated movie, so I would think anyone under 17 might need to be with their parents. Because, this one will bring up lots of questions...... Like, how do two puppets have sex? Can they make little puppet babies? If you've seen <i>Avenue Q</i>, you'll be fairly well prepared for what's taking place in this one. Although, this show is more about the impact the puppet has on the humans in the story. It's used as a device to deal with death and actually becomes more sinister as the story continues. Is the boy with the puppet on his hand possessed by an evil spirit or is he so broken from losing his father that he can no longer relate to people without using the puppet as a buffer, albeit a cursing, rude, and violent buffer?<br />
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The puppet says things we'd all like to at times, but refrain from because people would take offense. The puppet doesn't care, I mean, why should it? It's really a lifeless bit of fabric until someone sticks their hand up its butt and makes it talk. I digress....<br />
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Ultimately, these four shows are vastly different, but, considered together, they really are what Broadway is all about. They encompassed the traditional musical, envelope-pushing courage, and dynamic story-telling. While one was a bit of a disappointment, all four are why I am continuously drawn to seeing live stage shows, they're engaging and being that they're live, each show can be vastly different from night to night, so you never know for sure what you're going to get.<br />
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Speaking of not knowing what you're going to get, I have to mention this show I saw last month, called <i><a href="http://www.dreamringxperience.com/" target="_blank">Flexn</a> </i>(that's right, don't get your spellchecker out, that's the way it's spelled). This was put on at the <a href="http://www.armoryonpark.org/" target="_blank">Park Avenue Armory</a>, where I've seen a couple other shows before. This one was all about dance and how it can be used to communicate stories and convey conflict and challenges we face in our lives. I'm a big <i><a href="http://www.fox.com/so-you-think-you-can-dance" target="_blank">So You Think You Can Dance</a> </i>fan and <i>Flexn </i>had the potential, for me, to be an exciting night showcasing some fantastic dancers. I was not disappointed.<br />
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Before the show, there was a panel discussion about minority youth and education, specifically about how those who don't have the same opportunities as those in more affluent areas have their only choice being go to school or go to prison. Nothing was solved in the hour-long discussion, but some consciousness was raised and, hopefully, more action can take place as a result to help those who need it avoid the destructive path to incarceration.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqGfjtm_OOtv-iMGVebfx3j0L1PVarS6e09kj42Y7sO34FLGNrdEcnoyk7DEvm8hUMoBNuhHxRQ88pstpf-3buV7_fV72SriXZGdX-1M0CcdefXASiA7qcIV4qORg_mHrJeL12YqKwExy/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqGfjtm_OOtv-iMGVebfx3j0L1PVarS6e09kj42Y7sO34FLGNrdEcnoyk7DEvm8hUMoBNuhHxRQ88pstpf-3buV7_fV72SriXZGdX-1M0CcdefXASiA7qcIV4qORg_mHrJeL12YqKwExy/s200/IMG_1546.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2Xx2UjgYfNOElfHuWzgtSg1zX91tcyW2Em2fTA4ATkkvxdHh3VkWA38T1YQIV8TwB3uuYVtPTCi6YKGbhyphenhyphen4LkaR4wPajyqSOs4xKcRJ-qkRMR5oobmCl591JdaNbVbFnN9z_-JOMzxQd/s1600/IMG_1499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2Xx2UjgYfNOElfHuWzgtSg1zX91tcyW2Em2fTA4ATkkvxdHh3VkWA38T1YQIV8TwB3uuYVtPTCi6YKGbhyphenhyphen4LkaR4wPajyqSOs4xKcRJ-qkRMR5oobmCl591JdaNbVbFnN9z_-JOMzxQd/s200/IMG_1499.JPG" width="200" /></a>Once the dancing began, that theme continued as the stories the dancers told reflected on their cultures and their daily experiences as they try to survive in their urban homes. They told tales of violence, drugs, and seemingly little hope left, but ended the evening celebrating their lives and how their choices have brought them to this place, where they can show people another way. It's no surprise the group behind <i>Flexn </i>is called The Dream Ring Experience. They provide young dancers with the opportunity to follow their dreams and realize they can shape their lives however they want to, they don't have to fall into stereotypes.<br />
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Maybe that thought of how we can dream bigger and accomplish more than we expect of ourselves is what pushed me to do something I would have thought impossible, even two years ago. Two weeks ago, I ran my first half-marathon in Brooklyn; this was 13 miles of mental olympics that ended up being something I'm truly proud to have accomplished for myself. While training for this was a challenge in itself, the fact I finished has been the validation of the journey I started when I moved to NYC. I started off just wanting to lose weight, but I'm becoming more interested in what running can do for me from here. I guess you can say I've caught the running bug, which I find pretty funny, since I used to see runners and think they were crazy for doing it! "Who wants to work that hard?!" Now that I've got my first big run under my belt, I'm on the lookout for other challenges to tackle. I've just completed the Color Run this weekend, and next month I've got two more runs on deck. There's no stopping me now!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sfB8U6lKfLQiCPj_md_SRrkETSjxrQgXmy6EskS-b9oo53g8p6JoSwKKupkaJQmrIyAtaq9rn3P0hUuuw-F2oWM_QLww-1kTxaPwEKIa3pKVbV7ImSf_npo7ERNXGsdBFSkeSdvNhgO_/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sfB8U6lKfLQiCPj_md_SRrkETSjxrQgXmy6EskS-b9oo53g8p6JoSwKKupkaJQmrIyAtaq9rn3P0hUuuw-F2oWM_QLww-1kTxaPwEKIa3pKVbV7ImSf_npo7ERNXGsdBFSkeSdvNhgO_/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AirBNB Brooklyn Half</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Run 2015</td></tr>
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I hope it won't be too long before I write again, but I can't make any promises. Til then.......Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-9501424377660438982015-03-19T14:45:00.001-04:002015-03-19T14:45:03.950-04:00Gyllenhaal and Wilson Dance, While a Thief Finds Redemption, and Whiskey Flows on the Lower East Side<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Park</td></tr>
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This is what I feel like most of this Winter in NYC has looked like and I'm just about at my limit! On those days when the sun does come out, you can see people trying to pretend Spring has finally arrived, wearing lighter jackets and, in some cases, shorts, even though temperatures have barely started to reach 50 degrees.</div>
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During this cold, frigid, pain inducing season, though, we can still find ways to laugh, spend time with friends, and experience some beautiful moments. My personal joy during the Winter months comes from going to dinner and seeing live theatre. Fortunately, there are a wide array of both here, so all I have to do is walk down the street (while stopping at regular intervals at Starbucks to get warm along the way). With the added bonus of the twice yearly occurrence of Restaurant Week, the choices become even more plentiful.</div>
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At the end of February, my trusty companion, Von, and I made our way to <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/nycmq-new-york-marriott-marquis/crossroads/71633/home-page.mi" target="_blank">Crossroads American Kitchen and Bar</a>. The best that can be said for this place is they have really nice decor and lots of space. We didn't actually get to eat a full meal there, because there was a problem in the kitchen (they lost our order) and by the time they had our entrees ready, we had to leave to make our curtain time a few blocks away. I did get to try their wedge salad, which was tasty but hardly gave me a good idea of what their food is like (how can anyone really mess up a salad, unless there's some kind of insect or band aid hiding in there). Von's appetizer of lobster mac-and-cheese was quite good and I was a little jealous I didn't make a different choice when I ordered, especially since this course was the only one we were getting.</div>
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With that disappointment behind us, we headed over to the Imperial Theatre to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson in "Constellations," a play about a couple's relationship, but with a twist. They showed us the different ways events can play out based on the "infinite possibilities" that come from the choices that are made and each one's reaction to the other. It played with the idea of parallel universes where every decision we make (and don't make) exists, but we are only conscious of the one we live in.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake and Ruth in one version of their dance</td></tr>
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Jake and Ruth would perform a scene, then very quickly reset (literally) and do the same scene again, but with different emphases and responses. The physicality alone of having to perform this way was impressive, but even more so was how the actors had to instantly change from crying, for example, into being joyful. It felt a little schizophrenic at times, but was fascinating to watch and note how the least little thing we do can have a great impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. I left thinking about many of the choices I've made in life and wondering, "what if....."</div>
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The following week, I decided to be an awesome brother and take my sister, Faith, out for the evening. It was still Restaurant Week, so we tried <a href="http://eegrillhouse.com/" target="_blank">E&E Grill House</a>. I had a little anxiety about the timing, because, once again, we had a tight curtain time to meet. This experience was far better, though (we actually got to eat a full meal!). They had a great staff and the food was really good.</div>
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From there, we made our way to the theatre, just in time for the show, <a href="http://www.lesmis.com/broadway/" target="_blank">Les Miserables</a>, to start. Now, this was never a show I was dying to see; it just wasn't one that was on my radar. The only time I'd seen it all the way through was when I went with Faith to see the movie starring Hugh Jackman. But, I knew Faith was a big fan and she hadn't seen this version on Broadway yet. It was suggested that I could have just dropped her off after dinner and said, "see ya," but that would have brought down my awesome quotient, don't you think?</div>
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The show started with a prologue to set up the story and I have to say, rarely am I caught up in a live musical within the first 10 minutes. It usually takes some time for me to suspend reality and get immersed in the story, but this time I was grabbed from the beginning by the music and the emotion and that's all because of one person.......Ramin Karimloo. His voice is outstanding, but besides that, his grasp of the character of Jean Valjean had me believing everything that came out of his mouth. Once this prologue ended, I leaned over to Faith and just said, "whoa." The whole show was that way and for anyone who loves musical theatre, and this show in particular, this new version is one you should see. It was raining when we left the theatre, but I didn't really care too much; I had just experienced something that was truly beautiful.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean</td></tr>
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I'll end this entry with an event Von and I tried for the first time, the Time Out New York Whiskey Walk.</div>
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Oh, but before that, I have to give rave reviews to the last restaurant Von and I visited for Restaurant Week, <a href="http://www.perrystrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Perry St</a>. We had, what seemed like, five different servers looking after us. We never had to ask for anything and the food was beyond good. They are truly all about providing exceptional service.</div>
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Now, back to Day Drinking on the Lower East Side, I mean the Whiskey Walk. It was really more of a tasting, as most of the places we visited gave us a shot of Irish Whiskey to try. Like Restaurant Week, this was a great way to see some new places that we might not otherwise find on our own in a part of Manhattan we don't often get to. The highlights were <a href="http://www.thecopperstillnyc.com/" target="_blank">The Copper Still</a> (good food), <a href="http://m.mainstreethub.com/mamasbar" target="_blank">Mama's Bar</a> (fun atmosphere and great bartenders), and <a href="http://www.thunderjackson.com/" target="_blank">Thunder Jackson's</a> (reminds me of New Orleans). The biggest lowlight was <a href="http://www.shadesofgreenpub.com/" target="_blank">Shades of Green</a> (get a bartender who's not in such a bad mood!). The most unusual place we went to was <a href="http://www.libationnyc.com/" target="_blank">Libation</a>, which is a full-on night club. Once you get past the velvet rope, you can't tell whether it's light or dark outside and everybody is having a party (all at 3:00pm in the afternoon!). Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon overall!</div>
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Finally, I want to give a shoutout to Mr. Von and a film he helped bring to life, <a href="http://www.allurethefilm.com/" target="_blank">Allure</a>. It's making the rounds at film festivals all over the world and recently premiered in New York. It's a great piece of filmmaking and tells several intertwining stories of women from other countries and their lives in NYC. If it comes to your area, check it out!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127837 -74.00594130000001840.3275822 -74.651388300000022 41.097985200000004 -73.360494300000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-44069583791450092262015-01-17T15:09:00.000-05:002015-01-17T15:09:17.442-05:00A Time for Queens, Hawkes, and PoeI have to start this edition by promoting the new issue of <i>Time Out New York</i>, because, well, it's promoting the best borough in NYC, which happens to be where I live (I'm not biased.......no, really).<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks <i>Time Out New York</i>!</td></tr>
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It seems like Queens started this upward trajectory soon after I moved here...........I'm just saying.....</div>
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One more thing about this issue, then I'll move on. They have a section called "Word on the Street," which contains quotes the writers overhear regular New Yorkers saying as they pass by. I thought I would highlight a few, because they're just too funny not to share:</div>
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<li>"I can de-lint my own boobs, thank you."</li>
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<li>"This morning, I took my bra off and confetti poured out." Now, this situation I'm familiar with. No, I don't wear a bra, but I've been to enough raves to have confetti and glitter pour out of various garments I've been wearing.</li>
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<li>"Would you rather lose the Internet or your foot?"</li>
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<li>This has to be the best one, though. "I thought Ariana Grande was a font until yesterday."</li>
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Okay, enough free advertising for <i><a href="http://www.timeout.com/newyork" target="_blank">Time Out New York</a></i>. But seriously, if you're planning a visit, it's a good resource for what's happening in music, events, shows, and restaurants.</div>
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Next up is a play I saw a couple months ago with Von, called <i>Lost Lake</i>. It starred Tracie Thoms and John Hawkes, both of whose work I have greatly appreciated and enjoyed over the last few years. It was a play about two people who come together because he wants to rent his lakeside house for the Summer and she is the willing guest who agrees to take it for a couple weeks. They aren't fast friends, by any means. In fact, he's constantly dropping in and making her uncomfortable, while also not making repairs to the largely dilapidated house, much to her frustration.</div>
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What brings their connection, as the story unfolds, is that they're both harboring secrets that will ultimately alter the trajectory of their lives and they find they can each be a confidante to the other, which is highly unexpected for Tracie's character.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLx21b_k9N2lnM_fB2dcUDdd1vuCJjiPH2VrW8gnlUmi1KH3t2vgT8RkxdRT5T3CBvhpc_zsvYYfLePSEwr-LgPkZhdNFVFrXakQ3B1KnxqtEWu995a2Hi__sBd-kQZRSMzQQwGEZSrWr/s1600/LostLake0102rsc-1222x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLx21b_k9N2lnM_fB2dcUDdd1vuCJjiPH2VrW8gnlUmi1KH3t2vgT8RkxdRT5T3CBvhpc_zsvYYfLePSEwr-LgPkZhdNFVFrXakQ3B1KnxqtEWu995a2Hi__sBd-kQZRSMzQQwGEZSrWr/s1600/LostLake0102rsc-1222x1000.jpg" height="261" width="320" /></a></div>
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There was no huge revelation made during the show, it was more a character study of two people who are having a difficult time with no real happy ending to look forward to, much like real life can be.</div>
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The biggest takeaway I received was in understanding that with all the crap and challenges we experience, what we need are people we can talk to and commiserate with; they won't make our problems go away, but they can help us through our trials by not allowing us to go through it alone. There's nothing worse than having bad things happen and be unable to reach out to someone for comfort or solace. Even if it's through a phone call or an encouraging text, we all need someone we can unload on, who will understand us. I know there are times when I've needed that for sure; I don't often seek advice, what I'm most interested in is just having someone hear me. In many ways, this play reminded me that as much as I enjoy my "alone time," I shouldn't use my independence to hold people at arms' length.</div>
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Finally, there was the play Faith and I saw just this week, called <i><a href="http://nevermoreshow.com/" target="_blank">Nevermore</a></i>. It's described as "the imaginary life and mysterious death of Edgar Allen Poe." Their website also calls it a theatrical experience and it definitely fits that bill. Most of the dialogue is sung, but to call it a musical doesn't do justice to what the show is trying to achieve in its telling of Poe's life.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poe's mother and father</td></tr>
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The story is that Poe comes across a group of theatre performers on a steamer and they share with Poe stories from his life that he has forgotten. It comes across, at first, as a kind of farce, but as the show goes on, it becomes darker and darker, with tragedy upon tragedy occurring in his life. Throughout, we see tidbits from Poe's writing and the whole thing has a strong dreamlike quality. By intermission, Faith and I were both exhilarated by the experience and we couldn't wait to see what happened next. I won't give away too much of the ending, but suffice it to say, he dies, and we're left to wonder how much of this was real and how much was imagined, much like Poe's character in the play.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poe and one of the loves of his life, Eliza</td></tr>
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It's funny, before the show, Faith and I were talking about how there are so many revivals of plays and musicals, and we don't hear about truly original work as much (the same can be said of movies, too). This was wholly original and the actors involved (a small cast of seven) took on their roles and performances with abandon, not holding back an ounce of emotion.<br />
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What we were left with was an intriguing story about a complex man, and we were drawn into his world of macabre imagery, where we couldn't trust what we were seeing, but nonetheless didn't want to look away for fear of missing something vital to help us understand Poe evermore (see what I did there?).<br />
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The dreamy feeling lingered on as we left the theatre and I don't know if it was that or the lateness of the hour, but we certainly had a challenge getting to the right subway to get us home afterward. When we went underground, it seemed that everywhere we looked, every sign led to trains headed downtown, when all we wanted was the train going uptown. It's a good thing Faith was around, because at one point I almost threw my arms up in desperation, thinking we would just have to live in the subway station from then on. It would have been comical had we not wanted to get home to bed so badly. Fortunately, we made it to the right train and finally got back to our apartment, where I had the weirdest Tim Burton-esque dreams of my life. Poe's influence on Mr. Burton is quite clear when you experience it in dreams, let me tell you.<br />
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Until next time........Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-91195547851069528702015-01-07T13:29:00.000-05:002015-01-07T13:29:51.378-05:00Phew! A New and Exciting Year Lies Ahead!It's been a couple months since my last post, mainly because I was looking for what commentary I could make as 2014 ended and 2015 loomed ahead. There are all kinds of posts out there about the past year and what we should focus on as the new year begins; why should I add to the din? So, after much consideration and focusing on getting through the holiday season over the last few weeks, I feel like I can finally write down some thoughts, which may or may not matter to the population at large, but are still thoughts I'd like to share.<br />
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2014 was quite a year. There were a lot of memories made, new experiences to be shared, and new friendships established. This year, New York felt even more like home and as I continue to explore it (it seems never-ending at times), I look forward to putting down even stronger roots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn1MmL3Zw3K3jGAxbASTZ4tUAH9PHSTogK1jmEIbala_hux6b6qRdZ8_gplwxy8a5zg-6rZA5CTDyy2-bPjnyjRll4fnF6XYR-W9MX5IF3SIQNU-SSYbo-HPJvvRRESC2jYp7ABJz2qWG/s1600/Faith+and+Glenn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUn1MmL3Zw3K3jGAxbASTZ4tUAH9PHSTogK1jmEIbala_hux6b6qRdZ8_gplwxy8a5zg-6rZA5CTDyy2-bPjnyjRll4fnF6XYR-W9MX5IF3SIQNU-SSYbo-HPJvvRRESC2jYp7ABJz2qWG/s1600/Faith+and+Glenn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiki pub crawl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY8P_2r3yTib0cEx2SL-HKk7LeAaHxOcVS83AGd4nDG_HWdSVdfa6CBPVSu9n4XVg-e4lzfPXjVOGSBtRWdhFmCNrc2UkjWpPtEPRlfyhWsHn884hyphenhyphent0X_E_UBhDEGadZLOSNS8D4BGrw/s1600/Silly+Roberta+and+Glenn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY8P_2r3yTib0cEx2SL-HKk7LeAaHxOcVS83AGd4nDG_HWdSVdfa6CBPVSu9n4XVg-e4lzfPXjVOGSBtRWdhFmCNrc2UkjWpPtEPRlfyhWsHn884hyphenhyphent0X_E_UBhDEGadZLOSNS8D4BGrw/s1600/Silly+Roberta+and+Glenn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roberta and I giving the tongue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-1zvYiwaxS4v1hdLp_aeVVax9nVgh-MZVECtgvG1RP1muRt8gPEpQxwD6OO58Sb1NQHh9U1xfp_-WxSI8J1gpY0Uc5isj_KgD0csKY0j12C9qC3U3IPLrNWFdFUOjOdOGh6OzP6lO0a/s1600/Sunnyside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf-1zvYiwaxS4v1hdLp_aeVVax9nVgh-MZVECtgvG1RP1muRt8gPEpQxwD6OO58Sb1NQHh9U1xfp_-WxSI8J1gpY0Uc5isj_KgD0csKY0j12C9qC3U3IPLrNWFdFUOjOdOGh6OzP6lO0a/s1600/Sunnyside.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighborhood, in sight of the Empire State Building (it's closer than it appears)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM95kx-8sTi6Ca5TGXP5c7bn4Vv_rCH7UzePt1hzTAiq6Vo3U13kd9Ug_P6UJ28GhcjOUWWgoQCyI_xzZ01Dof8ZfGx9TnsLZVpugRex5hEdqmKvPB6CDzVP4EJcoRmCZhjn39kFzNaS-y/s1600/DoctorWho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM95kx-8sTi6Ca5TGXP5c7bn4Vv_rCH7UzePt1hzTAiq6Vo3U13kd9Ug_P6UJ28GhcjOUWWgoQCyI_xzZ01Dof8ZfGx9TnsLZVpugRex5hEdqmKvPB6CDzVP4EJcoRmCZhjn39kFzNaS-y/s1600/DoctorWho.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A uniquely NYC event!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4WoSoENVgfqI42uVaU0rwe8enk-Fb_YwziuP1wn7brmHCOruXqn8xHrYL7wCBSr3NH5AHnZ81WEbWx58xF3sh5J9ATCu4ofaCoPI1to3Nbunb0mK4iVvLOgtb1Vsf-ir7dg9UdgB8e7m/s1600/FandG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4WoSoENVgfqI42uVaU0rwe8enk-Fb_YwziuP1wn7brmHCOruXqn8xHrYL7wCBSr3NH5AHnZ81WEbWx58xF3sh5J9ATCu4ofaCoPI1to3Nbunb0mK4iVvLOgtb1Vsf-ir7dg9UdgB8e7m/s1600/FandG.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising around the Hudson River with Faith</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpd7ssd2e_JEGxZxKsojxJeN8arx2Ng1jg9H8ZNte4jjdApnWDP8B9mcai_dJdv0Lfh_spj8ilEAHgEgq4QaR_Bv3KJVtAQRk3bX46ytGUu04KAmlROwSm5NFacbOBPpqhvMowGxfBgBJ/s1600/Dalek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpd7ssd2e_JEGxZxKsojxJeN8arx2Ng1jg9H8ZNte4jjdApnWDP8B9mcai_dJdv0Lfh_spj8ilEAHgEgq4QaR_Bv3KJVtAQRk3bX46ytGUu04KAmlROwSm5NFacbOBPpqhvMowGxfBgBJ/s1600/Dalek.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first Comic Con!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w-OcQC9NZv5XvUlGRbFN27ROHeZLepCGVVG-tM7XfSClA3OZR2JGssK_m59Moiz6x7kzGJLsXuFNgc-XXiea29xQKbHQEQyRrRpOpqZf15Q9yMf0rlylffFwGDSI2d_Fc-KUnLh5203U/s1600/7train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w-OcQC9NZv5XvUlGRbFN27ROHeZLepCGVVG-tM7XfSClA3OZR2JGssK_m59Moiz6x7kzGJLsXuFNgc-XXiea29xQKbHQEQyRrRpOpqZf15Q9yMf0rlylffFwGDSI2d_Fc-KUnLh5203U/s1600/7train.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over our little borough and the train that (sometimes) gets us where we want to go.</td></tr>
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2015 looks to be an even more exciting journey!<br />
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Starting off the year celebrating my mom's birthday back in Denver! I can't wait to see my Colorado family and friends; I only wish there was time to see everyone. Thankfully, there's technology that can keep us together throughout the year and whenever anyone wants to come to the Big Apple, you have a free place to stay!<br />
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I'm looking forward to attending more plays, visiting more museums, and trying out some of the events I keep hearing about, like Governors Ball Music Festival and the Jazz Age Lawn Party. I'm hoping, too, that I can put on my dancing shoes a little more often (before my bones/joints tell me to stop) and get around to going to the MoMA PS1: Warm Up and the Mister Saturday Night/Mister Sunday parties.<br />
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In the meantime, I'm enjoying the frosty winter of the city, with the smell of scorched street food always reminding me I'm in New York (in case I forget). That's far better, however, than the smell of urine we always get during the warmer months, so I'll take it. The cold seems to have no effect on the people that need to push their way along the sidewalks or onto crowded trains to get to wherever they're going. As challenging (and smelly) as it is, I still love it!<br />
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I guess my point is, wherever I am, there are challenges and happiness in equal measure. There's really no way around it. But, I'm learning to overcome the challenges more quickly and enjoy the happiness that comes along the way. I've found ever more positive people to surround myself with and I'm beginning to understand why they're so freaking joyful all the time! I'm still a little grumpier than some, but not as grumpy as I used to be (I think my cold black heart might be brightening up a bit) and much less grumpy than many New Yorkers. Who would have thought living in a city this size, with so many obstacles, I could find such strength and joy? (Ok, sappy emotional moment over)<br />
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Happy New Year everyone and here's to another year of life, learning, and letting go (now you'll have that Idina Menzel song in your head; will it ever go away?)!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsfUTzcQWwWjDLp-_ovmeAdxPwPYfBRe-odO6U4S8fg2XTYaFmHU8E17K309zziMNKrQKxb_i3W3ttUoW5cqqSSZKgEFlGv7oXJfZFwleH7TnLo1mFFs4Lbj0skOwnPMu8gvrjXt6H5gy/s1600/Goodbye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsfUTzcQWwWjDLp-_ovmeAdxPwPYfBRe-odO6U4S8fg2XTYaFmHU8E17K309zziMNKrQKxb_i3W3ttUoW5cqqSSZKgEFlGv7oXJfZFwleH7TnLo1mFFs4Lbj0skOwnPMu8gvrjXt6H5gy/s1600/Goodbye.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to see Mexico in the Fall!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-69804159299470220692014-11-08T16:48:00.003-05:002014-11-08T16:50:54.999-05:00Fun in the Sun! A not-so-brief side journey from NYC to MexicoFor 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 <a href="http://www.hrhvallarta.com/" target="_blank">Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta</a>, 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!<br />
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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 (<a href="http://atlantisevents.com/" target="_blank">Atlantis Events</a>) 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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V1LotL6fYfUDjsFdoXB-jitKyhwPtpq0HG8bn5Wby6ce1XV967nO7JXFmxuE53ST1k8DLPXLVFBkUyhYOPOLgvJWLxLRuf-ELV-HrkXKGAcKBgtgjZUFueFhJvUHe2dARY-LrR8llrMK/s1600/PV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3V1LotL6fYfUDjsFdoXB-jitKyhwPtpq0HG8bn5Wby6ce1XV967nO7JXFmxuE53ST1k8DLPXLVFBkUyhYOPOLgvJWLxLRuf-ELV-HrkXKGAcKBgtgjZUFueFhJvUHe2dARY-LrR8llrMK/s1600/PV.jpg" height="116" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from a beachfront restaurant in downtown Puerto Vallarta</td></tr>
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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 <i>happy</i> 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!</div>
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And the drinks just kept on coming.....<br />
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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.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5cXhRswB8Xo-OaEg87Ryu_z6dWCxdRUWSHD3xnW837Ms9eTf0gtYN7qrm6F-_Mw1f8fjFx0970nChBRs5FV6uYBY8S4CdfbsQt8lrgTQjFTKm7kEIdLEpie-dcX_4SQbMuO2miCJ7Sz0/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5cXhRswB8Xo-OaEg87Ryu_z6dWCxdRUWSHD3xnW837Ms9eTf0gtYN7qrm6F-_Mw1f8fjFx0970nChBRs5FV6uYBY8S4CdfbsQt8lrgTQjFTKm7kEIdLEpie-dcX_4SQbMuO2miCJ7Sz0/s1600/Sunset.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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We got to celebrate Shaw's 40th birthday with him at a great party in his suite:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY26_RmOq_kme_1DQfPIyUq5RE3EqDL6z-PVpZbe4zdkeeL_zHwx3E0zkKToKrKqmKe8wqGjdIYdKFSAFLxrAdIDi4Z-D_C2EncgvG82dGo8D2b5j4koDPhC3fzNK11qNstaB6zfJzIPku/s1600/Shaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY26_RmOq_kme_1DQfPIyUq5RE3EqDL6z-PVpZbe4zdkeeL_zHwx3E0zkKToKrKqmKe8wqGjdIYdKFSAFLxrAdIDi4Z-D_C2EncgvG82dGo8D2b5j4koDPhC3fzNK11qNstaB6zfJzIPku/s1600/Shaw.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaw's the one hugging Von in front</td></tr>
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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:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcJEQhWXJW5cEcYoFdd3tDUy_e4wH0YRfqhEXpbyQ6hq3g5AmGzujJlWRY9nRdP_Tmx_uteaq7XD-2M1b5eivgmnCvcj-0YluxRl9LdQaw8kVMl1IMjDomu2SCbvw0b5kOP3vyGrnSCzk/s1600/Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcJEQhWXJW5cEcYoFdd3tDUy_e4wH0YRfqhEXpbyQ6hq3g5AmGzujJlWRY9nRdP_Tmx_uteaq7XD-2M1b5eivgmnCvcj-0YluxRl9LdQaw8kVMl1IMjDomu2SCbvw0b5kOP3vyGrnSCzk/s1600/Halloween.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This crazy, fun pair from Vegas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAjHDp00yzxI3GuSCiMv0Tkq9ytffZhZMpX7z6fmZxVnBhLnaf3dKxvZL3mt3g6vS9KjiNtENKXs_uSTCKfNxEizHiHwoj9mkOw5DWej-QZwWlHzociUisa1jAFBveREP4CmNndwEa2EB/s1600/John+Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAjHDp00yzxI3GuSCiMv0Tkq9ytffZhZMpX7z6fmZxVnBhLnaf3dKxvZL3mt3g6vS9KjiNtENKXs_uSTCKfNxEizHiHwoj9mkOw5DWej-QZwWlHzociUisa1jAFBveREP4CmNndwEa2EB/s1600/John+Nick.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick and John from New York</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClz9VshVqJe-7Byd8Kx_JgRpB4ArT0dEp6ld4RzWCAgs9dv0pvxjnonuDVeKuphtyaZX91KOqLBzKL5hurPlTvYEyZwcOTi1PcmOgzUZxBcVV6tlRBYwpcvtzWD-toEZXNQQwadsx4KVy/s1600/Tim+Eric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClz9VshVqJe-7Byd8Kx_JgRpB4ArT0dEp6ld4RzWCAgs9dv0pvxjnonuDVeKuphtyaZX91KOqLBzKL5hurPlTvYEyZwcOTi1PcmOgzUZxBcVV6tlRBYwpcvtzWD-toEZXNQQwadsx4KVy/s1600/Tim+Eric.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric and Tim from Dallas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSM3Vd0bHrFb9DWxoJXCTEqjXgiMDs7WkONbQ1L4D5iwlJRP4mWoh4HBWXh0XgTLfBowKeGdZ765oB_elR-zzHNIs0eYxdGqU83EJiEvUGMu8MbljSeUKwfCi1NZ_rUQ3Xku1mMkv1PcNt/s1600/Tony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSM3Vd0bHrFb9DWxoJXCTEqjXgiMDs7WkONbQ1L4D5iwlJRP4mWoh4HBWXh0XgTLfBowKeGdZ765oB_elR-zzHNIs0eYxdGqU83EJiEvUGMu8MbljSeUKwfCi1NZ_rUQ3Xku1mMkv1PcNt/s1600/Tony.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe and Tony from nearby PA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1uNgwdkmXXlBCbA3FBw0_SgpxMIEBgmkubJVrS8PzZsryLO6AOkIvy4p9HF2hh3V43wA-j7xKym7DmHvdwV569_hHt-hHkNenvAqN9WX53Z19vPGgPORTW2rWpyw3pShFvDTvJU3WAMl/s1600/WhiteParty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1uNgwdkmXXlBCbA3FBw0_SgpxMIEBgmkubJVrS8PzZsryLO6AOkIvy4p9HF2hh3V43wA-j7xKym7DmHvdwV569_hHt-hHkNenvAqN9WX53Z19vPGgPORTW2rWpyw3pShFvDTvJU3WAMl/s1600/WhiteParty.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This group dressed as the Real Housewives of Atlantis for Halloween</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until next time, Mexico!</td></tr>
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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 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNHZe9s75e4" target="_blank">"Nowhere Fast"</a> from <i>Streets of Fire</i>. Can't wait to be able to order another drink from Rosie!<br />
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Check out this short <a href="http://flipagram.com/f/LSLMRJgIEH" target="_blank">video of photos</a> Von put together of the trip!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-85004155992856869842014-10-13T16:03:00.000-04:002014-10-13T16:03:20.345-04:00Comics! 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.<br />
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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:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This goes well with my Doctor Who t-shirt</td></tr>
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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!).</div>
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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!!</div>
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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."</div>
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Of course, no trip to Comic Con would be complete without a sighting of Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers!</div>
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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:</div>
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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....<br />
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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!<br />
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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!<br />
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Oh, yeah, and getting back to Faith at the Jets/Broncos game, she was having her own cosplay experience:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you just love her!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-61657019233204254052014-09-09T14:42:00.004-04:002014-09-09T14:42:58.406-04:00Side Trip to the Big EasyWhat 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.<br />
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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 (<a href="http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant" target="_blank">http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant</a>), 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 (<a href="http://www.cigarfactoryneworleans.com/dev/" target="_blank">http://www.cigarfactoryneworleans.com/dev/</a>).<br />
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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!<br />
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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 <a href="http://www.huckfinnscafe.com/" target="_blank">Huck Finn's Cafe</a>, 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, <a href="http://www.jamiehayes.com/" target="_blank">Jamie Hayes</a>. 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!<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the patio at Razzoo Bar and Patio</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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The next day was sunny, hot, and humid, just what I expect from Labor Day weekend in New Orleans. We tried going to <a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Du Monde</a>, 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 <a href="http://johnnyspoboys.com/" target="_blank">Johnny's Po-Boys</a>, 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-11154818353993899412014-08-21T14:35:00.003-04:002014-08-21T14:35:32.422-04:00New 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!<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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: <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/06/a-cool-pizza-man-on-a-hot-day/">New York Times: City Room</a>.<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw2uAtu4QE5bvLQNQQJMlkQA85Akix7-r7GNhEvghPzZGl1sDj0tLAPOpARIl9FTzD3m7aCHjG05GllScNHCG6Xdlh-p4XYea7TYNC8MRApbEOkk5gDnOq9L9TKejY3m5iqPaUQitECLU/s1600/HirokoMasuikeNYT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw2uAtu4QE5bvLQNQQJMlkQA85Akix7-r7GNhEvghPzZGl1sDj0tLAPOpARIl9FTzD3m7aCHjG05GllScNHCG6Xdlh-p4XYea7TYNC8MRApbEOkk5gDnOq9L9TKejY3m5iqPaUQitECLU/s1600/HirokoMasuikeNYT.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With all these units, we don't stand a chance!<br />
Photo courtesy of Hiroko Masuike, New York Times</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Steve Jonson</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kGZ171JPtEOEl5hO5VLdnQPs5TQoVlWJVuV1TDA92Nxl6jVNPF321rxycsz4iIuIz1f9l7-iZdztdfyLW8b75JVNI0Tu222y-dVVp7MSOrMgsew_laoVzwySjQhn81cMRPEfyuGh6sjl/s1600/Steve2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kGZ171JPtEOEl5hO5VLdnQPs5TQoVlWJVuV1TDA92Nxl6jVNPF321rxycsz4iIuIz1f9l7-iZdztdfyLW8b75JVNI0Tu222y-dVVp7MSOrMgsew_laoVzwySjQhn81cMRPEfyuGh6sjl/s1600/Steve2.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Steve Johnson</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqOeRS999M5WEND49rWSCi7T3f6cW3xeR6GeiRN7luxWSNV__wr5uuQmhJWNiMk6c8egrlyRzPAEIg4Pl3Vrwi-ZTcSSKt8WAF1L51dV4tPDe8AqhhAQCojmN4wJ6BN7goGXLjm7JJ7G_/s1600/Sunnyside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqOeRS999M5WEND49rWSCi7T3f6cW3xeR6GeiRN7luxWSNV__wr5uuQmhJWNiMk6c8egrlyRzPAEIg4Pl3Vrwi-ZTcSSKt8WAF1L51dV4tPDe8AqhhAQCojmN4wJ6BN7goGXLjm7JJ7G_/s1600/Sunnyside.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunnyside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEQ-yPKuIL8FHGIw0ZlfUQNbFE6RZ17SW8Swv7mf-Q6MSQ4IzJRQCz6Cl5VVFXSMeWiPAQAONSFgVnOegHAoZhEuiRKeVZ4iTneFJtFR-6RZlJFj8P7iYJr5yF_g1clMqdH8QnVa7Qii0/s1600/7train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEQ-yPKuIL8FHGIw0ZlfUQNbFE6RZ17SW8Swv7mf-Q6MSQ4IzJRQCz6Cl5VVFXSMeWiPAQAONSFgVnOegHAoZhEuiRKeVZ4iTneFJtFR-6RZlJFj8P7iYJr5yF_g1clMqdH8QnVa7Qii0/s1600/7train.jpg" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dreaded 7 train.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_-WHoJ-I0AH4ZpDIXabfo_-Yf8prO6f4X8f07JYurdN4M3J40imwosBH-NrXvIyLfMacfYaXgrRnLtYag35_iFFgCnWnrekONNAz9vldS8LsJxcWqRFZKQWEFLJMnfrP63BTKv8lqapp/s1600/CentralPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_-WHoJ-I0AH4ZpDIXabfo_-Yf8prO6f4X8f07JYurdN4M3J40imwosBH-NrXvIyLfMacfYaXgrRnLtYag35_iFFgCnWnrekONNAz9vldS8LsJxcWqRFZKQWEFLJMnfrP63BTKv8lqapp/s1600/CentralPark.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L7iq3DvnfUF1sGizfuTeqh11e7h_HAXbFgxAYx1f30HtwLeLeme73dcecDPisInb4VZzR9UP4J0-MncjDxyBkiLXlFLQSxweZKfH7SaSwW_pUdcL7PH-UPWhsOVKeeMXFmcViEVp3ljX/s1600/NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L7iq3DvnfUF1sGizfuTeqh11e7h_HAXbFgxAYx1f30HtwLeLeme73dcecDPisInb4VZzR9UP4J0-MncjDxyBkiLXlFLQSxweZKfH7SaSwW_pUdcL7PH-UPWhsOVKeeMXFmcViEVp3ljX/s1600/NYC.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking toward downtown Manhattan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doctor Who World Tour!</td></tr>
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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)!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying The Silence!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a crowd!</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-36518238466164629042014-07-16T15:40:00.000-04:002014-07-16T15:40:12.351-04:00"Run, Forrest, Run!"<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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 <i>Doctor Who </i>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").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, we're starting at the end, so here it is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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 <i>Friends</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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, <i>Law & Order</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">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......</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-17467646314647370892014-07-07T16:12:00.000-04:002014-07-07T16:12:34.639-04:00Pride and Love for Alan Cumming<div>
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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.<br />
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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.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Faith Little</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Chris Reed: Can you see us up there?</td></tr>
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<b>SIDE NOTE: THE FRIEND/FAMILY FACTOR</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Chris Reed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Alex Hudson</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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 <i>Cabaret</i>. I've seen him one other time on Broadway, when he did a one-man version of <i>Macbeth</i> 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 <i>Macbeth</i>, 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).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Alan Cumming!</td></tr>
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For <i>Cabaret</i>, 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).<i> </i>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.<br />
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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!<br />
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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.<br />
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It seems appropriate seeing <i>Cabaret </i>the same week as Pride occurred; both events were about being strong in our convictions and unafraid in our expression. Til next time.....</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-25522807490454375202014-06-25T12:08:00.000-04:002014-06-25T12:08:03.747-04:00This 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.<br />
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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!).<br />
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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."<br />
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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 <i>Frozen</i>. 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 <i>The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon</i>, with The Roots and Jimmy playing classroom music instruments (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17QQcK4l6Yw">The Roots, Idina, and Jimmy kicking butt</a>) as backup.<br />
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All in all, it was a great night of music in an iconic location.<br />
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Speaking of icons, the second show I caught was last night's performance by Bryan Cranston as LBJ in <i>All the Way</i>, 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.<br />
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This is Mr. Cranston's (I'm using his formal title because I saw him in <i>Breaking Bad </i>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!).<br />
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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 <i>Lincoln</i>, 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 <i>Us Weekly </i>(the new issue arrives Friday!) or watching Gordon Ramsay yell at some horribly under-qualified "chefs" (new episode tomorrow night!).<br />
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Next week's a big one: Pride in NYC and Alan Cumming in <i>Cabaret</i>! Keep a lookout!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-69293366503343987432014-06-16T15:11:00.000-04:002014-06-16T15:11:59.760-04:00A sisterly takeover!!<span style="background-color: black;">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!).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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 <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_366129440" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Thursday</span></span>, I said, "Yes!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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-<wbr></wbr>and-nobody-will-really-see-my-<wbr></wbr>shoes-under-my-desk-all-day crocs) before meeting up with our friend at the American Airlines Theater*.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">Clips of some of the songs in Violet:<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/violet.aspx" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.roundabouttheatre.<wbr></wbr>org/Shows-Events/violet.aspx</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_366129441" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span> 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; <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_366129442" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Thursday</span></span> 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.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">**Links for more on theaters, Violet, and Sutton Foster:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">Short videos (5ish minutes) on Broadway theater, including the American Airlines Theater (previously the Selwyn):<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://spotlightonbroadway.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://Spotlightonbroadway.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">Violet: <a href="http://youtu.be/_1gsQE5t3fE" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/_<wbr></wbr>1gsQE5t3fE</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">Sutton Foster:<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/sutton-foster-violet-no-makeup" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.vanityfair.com/<wbr></wbr>online/daily/2014/05/sutton-<wbr></wbr>foster-violet-no-makeup</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">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!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: inherit;">Later tators!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-42536370534362857002014-06-11T11:48:00.000-04:002014-06-13T09:29:53.316-04:00Let'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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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 <a href="http://www.claretwinebar.com/">Claret Wine Bar</a>, 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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this a hit or a miss? You decide!</td></tr>
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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 <i>Cheers</i>?' I'll have to go back and see if the experience is the same before making that big decision.<br />
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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.<br />
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Now, onto the biggest event of the weekend and the one everyone is here to discuss.......the 2014 Tony Awards!<br />
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What would a blog about New York City and theatre be without a discussion of Broadway's biggest night!? I never really watched this show with much conviction until I moved here and started actually seeing the shows that were up for awards. It's a whole different experience when you have some vested interest in who's nominated and who's winning. Of course, what do the results really mean? They mean it will be that much harder to get tickets for the winning shows and you'll have to rush to see those that didn't win (AKA the losers) before the producers decide to close them down ("Aaahhhh, I'm sorry you didn't win, but guess what?! You're also out of a job!!").<br />
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There were lots of great moments in the show and I found myself smiling often and thinking, 'You didn't win anything, wipe that smile off your face before someone sees you!' I thought Hugh Jackman was a great host, although second best to Mr. Neil Patrick Harris. But, then again, Neil (he lets me call him that, he just doesn't know it yet) can't do everything (just most things).<br />
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Of course, one of the biggest moments came when Audra McDonald won her sixth Tony Award, making history for the most wins; plus she's won in every acting category (well, except for the male categories). She was understandably tearful during the standing ovation she received and her speech. Having had the opportunity to see her in <i>Porgy and Bess </i>last year, I'm sure her portrayal of Billie Holiday in <i>Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill </i>was outstanding. But, I couldn't help but be a little disappointed that Cherry Jones didn't take it home for <i>The Glass Managerie</i>.<br />
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Two other standouts of the night were performances from Neil and from <i>Wicked</i>, celebrating the 10th anniversary of it playing on Broadway. Neil is in <i>Hedwig and the Angry Inch</i> currently (for which he won Best Actor) and his performance was, to me, fantastic! Watching the two leads from <i>Wicked </i>perform the song, "For Good," made me nostalgic and made me think of Miss Emily back in Colorado. Okay, maybe I got a little teary during that one, but who can blame me? For those that know Emily, you know she's worth a tear or two when you're far apart. But, I digress.....(sniff, sniff, see, it's happening again)<br />
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The overall feeling I got from the Tony Awards was how much everyone seemed to really be rooting for each other. The sense of community here in NYC among those in the theatre is palpable, even through the television. I felt like I was a part of that community for a couple hours watching the show and it's the same feeling I get whenever I see a play, musical, or almost any live performance around here. They're creating art and letting us be part of that; to feel something, to provoke thought and discussion, or to escape from everyday life in a unique way. I sure hope I never become jaded as I've been warned can happen if you live in NYC long enough; I want theatre to feel as fresh and exciting in five years as it does for me today.<br />
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Until next time....Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5108975937840846830.post-33237800724695541592014-06-04T16:19:00.002-04:002014-06-04T16:19:56.664-04:00The Beginning...It was suggested to me, as I was relaying my experience attending a performance of <i>Macbeth</i>, 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!<br />
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I suppose the best place to start is with the performance I saw most recently, <i>Macbeth</i>. 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: <a href="http://www.armoryonpark.org/">http://www.armoryonpark.org/</a>.<br />
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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 <i>Macbeth</i> 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.<br />
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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! <i>Henry V</i>!).<br />
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But Alex was a pleasant surprise, although I kept hoping she might sneak in her most famous catchphrase, "Spoilers." It's a <i>Doctor Who </i>thing.<br />
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I've seen one other version of <i>Macbeth</i> 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 <i>Cabaret</i> with Alan Cumming before it closes......</div>
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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:</div>
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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?!</div>
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Until next time......</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01853973022378988343noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7056308 -73.978003540.3204428 -74.6234505 41.0908188 -73.3325565