In Cold Blood

When a crime happens in the neighborhood, it’s shocking.  When it’s a hate crime in cold blood, it is even more shocking.  And when it happens on a corner that one frequents it is incomprehensible.  This was all of the above and more.


Again, Coincidence?

520 8th Avenue is a huge office building, and a place with many, many, many audition spaces where each and every aspiring actors in the City will at one time or another, enter.  Today, outside on the street was heavy artillery:  1 fire truck, ambulance and assorted other rescue vehicles.  I tell you, this entertainment industry is not for the weak of heart!!

Marathon

The Del Close kind.  Yesterday, until 1 July there are 390 shows of improv available all over the City. And a four day pass is $30!!  An unheard of price and it’s a fun adventure.  Once a year, the highs and lows of improv come out and strut their stuff.  Some of it is terrific, some of the troops, well, you hope for better next year.  The participants come from around the world to join in.  Del Close was a Chicago based improver who believed that improv was an art.  This year marks the 15th year of this annual salute to him.

Never Seen It From This Perspective

A friend, Frank, sent me this historical perspective on the crash of the Hindenburg.  The moment I clicked on it and saw the photographs of the dirigible flying low over the City, it struck me anew -what a sight it must have been. And all that Nazi propaganda right here in the US.  Never before thought about the swastika being here, and the German-Nazi salute [as seen in the film on the above link].

Rude Awakening

If one has a car, and parks it on the street, figuring out which days it has to be moved for street cleaning and then leaves town, because the move-the-car-to-the-other-side-of-the-street-day is the day before you leave or after you return, these little colored notices could be a nasty surprise.  These went up yesterday, to say that today and tomorrow, there is going to be a movie shoot utilizing the street space, and you must move your car.  If you don’t move your car, well, it will be towed.  What a difference a day makes… 24 little hours.

Bus is Faster

When there is work congestion on the Avenues, it is expedient to take a bus, not a taxi.  The bus has the right-a-way over all traffic, and can ease out a cab at any intersection, and fudge on the red light, green light.  Of course the best of all is to go underground and take the subway.  No congestion ever.

You Look Up

And there it is!  I don’t know how long it has been placed on this parking sign post.  Or how long I have walked by it, days? weeks? months? years? and then one day, you look up and there it is.  Why it is there, or who placed it there or any other information about it is missing.  There it hangs on a quiet residential street in the West Village.

The Divine

Ms.  M.  There is no one like her.  Seldom do I tell you about the theatre I see on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway, but this is an exception.  Saw her this weekend in a solo piece titled”  I’ll Eat You Last”.  A 90 minute monologue where she inhabits the person of Sue Mengers, a yester-year powerful agent for famous clients in Hollywood.  Bette Midler carries it off in spades and has the entirely filled theatre in the palm of her hand.  First time she is back on B’way in 40 years.  She should have won every award given this year, but she took home none.  Don’t know what the voters were thinking.