BROADWAY'S BACK

THE NEON LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT ON BROADWAY

Thought this might be of intereswt after 19 days of darkened Broadway stages.
Hope we all go back to the TIGHT SMALL seats taht are ridiculously priced and once again are taken away into theatreland adn magictime.



STRIKE UPDATE: SETTLEMENT REACHED; PERFORMANCES TO RESUME ON NOVEMBER 29
by: Brian Scott Lipton · Nov 29, 2007 · New York


TheaterMania.com hits Times Square to talk to theatergoers about the strike.

The League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One of the I.A.T.S.E. are pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached ending the Broadway strike, and that Broadway performances will resume Thursday evening, November 29. No specific details of the settlement were announced.
In a statement, the League's executive director Charlotte St. Martin said, "The contract is a good compromise that serves our industry. What is most important is that Broadway's lights will once again shine brightly, with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatre-goers during this holiday time. We look forward to celebrating the season and welcoming our talented stagehands, and the theatergoing public, back to Broadway."
Local One President James J. Claffey, Jr. said, "The people of Broadway are looking forward to returning to work, giving the theatre-going public the joy of Broadway, the greatest entertainment in the world."
The strike, which began on November 10, centered on a number of issues, most notably, the number of employees -- including carpenters and electricians -- that need to be hired during a show's load-in process. Under existing rules, certain Union members must be paid for the entire load-in process, whether or not their work is required every day.
The strike has already caused the postponement of the opening of five Broadway shows: Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention, Conor McPherson's The Seafarer, Tracy Letts' August: Osage County, Is He Dead? and Disney's The Little Mermaid. In addition, the revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming has postponed its first set of previews, but is still scheduled to open on December 13.
It is possible that some of 26 affected shows will not be back on the boards immediately, or that they will play different schedules than usual. For more information on schedules, as well as how to obtain refunds or exchanges for canceled performances, visit www.ilovenytheatre.com or call 212-575-3824 or 866-654-6362.

SLEEPY BROADWAY HOLLOW

Hello out there...
Had some interesting emails from pals today and thought I would start by sharing a LINK that one included:

http://glumbert.com/wii/view.php?name=womenfilm

E N J OY !

Not much happening for me these days. Guess i am in a holding pattern.
Went up to Lenox Hill Hospital for my partner's foot surgery follow up. LORD the Xray was amazing. Two screws holding the reset bone which was BUNION-ATED and a 4 INCH pin..SPIKE...in his second hammer toed toe..It comes out on Friday. YIKE !!
I haven't had foot surgery but Dr.Karen Schneider was recommended and she is terrific and thorough.
I have also had many relatives and Friends email that they are coming to NY after Christmas and are concerned that they can't see a Broadway show what with the Stagehand's Local 1 Strike in effect.
Nonsense I tell them. There are plenty of things to see. Even YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is still playing...don't play into the false deprivation the Producer's League is counting on for Public sympathy.
This is a VERY important time for the creative Unions. The Stagehands fight is one that the Producers prompted by creating tight rules that the Producers knew could only result in a Strike.
They had been planning this for almost 5 years...Because they have been charging the Public an extra dollar per ticket..WHO knows what category.."theatre restoration fund" comes to mind...SO that they have a $20 MILLION DOLLAR STRIKE FUND to float themselves through weeks of dark houses without it hurting them...AND they are SUING the Stagehand's Union for Losses of those dark weeks ..LOSSES THE PRODUCERS INCURRED BECAUSE THEY INDUCED THE STRIKE TO BEGIN WITH. These are very mean and GREEDY people. NOT the real showman Producers of years too far gone and sorely missed.
They are BOTTOM LINE not CHORUS LINE type producers. They could care less about those who work for them.
The Producers set the ultra high ticket prices and NONE of that goes ANYWHERE but into the Producer's DEEPENING pockets. Nothing more goes to the Actor or the Crew people.
This is a PRODUCT that is only alive when the Creative People are doing their Professional Top Notch Best..which is every night and matinee. But now the Producer wants to minimalize the Minimums and thereby corrupt the very product he is selling.
This is not a PEANUT BUTTER or a Packaged Meat. This is a very intangible and extremely immediate product. It only lives within the confines of the theatre house and the time it takes to perform it.
It's shelf life is as long as the performance lasts. Each audience is witness to a miraculous melding of forces and professionals that combine to make a WICKED or a PHANTOM or a LION KING etc...
Each individual audience sees it's own Individual product that performance. THAT is something that is so Unique and that is something that only the Professional creative teams inside the piece can conjure each performance.
When the Producers who by the way never really lose a cent it is the investors that are losing..when the Producers ATTACK their own professional teams and want them to work for less and use less manpower. Well even though all my professional life I have been told "Less Is More"..here LESS is.. well..L E S S !!
I won't even go into what safety problems they are creating...and not only for the actors, but Musicians , dressers, and even the audiences.
Shame on their arrogant Greed.
And Ultra Shame on Gerry Shoenfeld ..a Subert Head whose organization owns 17 Broadway theatres.
He threatened to pull funding for Charitable programs for AT. MALACHY'S Actor's Chapel if they kept allowing the Unions to hold Press Conferences there.
What was the Priest to do??
SO it is not enough to TAKE money and Benefits from these hard working people but also through abject BLACKMAILING deny them a HOUSE OF WORSHIP to congregate in.
WHEW!!
That is amazing and so belittling to someone who has been involved in some of the most wondrous of Broadway productions.
Anyway..That is my vent..
Ther are plenty of other venues like OFF or OFF OFF Broadway.
I also suggest XANADU among those still running as a very wonderful and entertaining evening on all counts.
It is at the Helen Hayes on the same Block as the Shubert Offices which are in the Sardi Building.
The Actor's contract is up for this same holocaust come summer. SO if they don't meet a balanced amicable settlement here we will again see a darkened theatre town.
All this in the most Successful and Profitable Theatre seasons in History!
Those of us in the industry know we are the life and breath of the shows and product onstage. We strive for perfection and high professional standards daily. Let alone the maintenance of classes and instruction just to keep competitive.
I keep faith that the reality of how vile the Producers are behaving will eventually reach such a peak that they have to back off and get into a reality based arbitration.
This is Collective Bargaining after all.
But so far the Union is Bargaining and the Producers are doing ALL the COLLECTING!
AND PLEASE don't buy into the $160,00 a year salary figure the producer hae thrown into public view. It is not true..and Even if it were..whose business is it anyway?
Do the Producers let us know what they are pocketing and taking home? And take this into account..Not too many people in this profession WORK A FULL YEAR.
Not many shows area hits, and those that are running are not always at capacity and will have a shorter run. Eventually ALL SHOWS CLOSE.
And it takes a lot of technical know how in today's theatre to work a show.
A producer looks at cost sheets and cuts this and that not to help make the show better but to MAXIMIZE his Profit.
ENOUGH..
So many actors are out of work and the market is tight and the pay is less and the most honored of professions is tarnished into becoming a marginalized HOBBY because one cannot sustain a living unless one is a Name and can demand a high salary. Even then unless one is a Movie name it is difficult in the theatre.
SO enjoy the Holiday in NY. The Wonderful X-mas windows and the Gorgeous Rockefeller Plaza ...go see the Radio City Spectacular and the Holiday movies. I hear ENCHANTED is terrific...even though I was called back 2 X for it and didn't get it!
Visit the various parks like Gramercy and Union Square
Also hit the Off Broadway fare..you'd be amazed..ALTAR BOYS/ DIE MOMMIE DIE and so many other really terrific offerings.

Let's see what happens and see if they can STRIKE a balance.

AND don't forget there are WORLD CLASS MUSEUMS and the Palenetarium is astounding..the Rose Center is something dazzling.
XXXX
Keybored

STUFFED THANKS

By this time we should all be TRYPTOPHANING.
Turkey all gobbled and are we all Pumpkin Pie-Eyed!?!
Let's talk about how WARM it was ALL DAY...For once the Rockettes didn't look like frozen dancedroids. They were actually smiling for real and looked like they were getting a great kick out in front of Macy's.
The parade looked so Commercial to me this year. I guess I am getting older and seeing through what I once thought was such a joyful, more innocent event. We commented on how Mickey Mouse is just NOT THERE anymore..nor Donald, Goofey and a few other old favorites....DUMBO was one I loved. Didn't see Mighty Mouse fly into view either!
I can't remember what the other commentators used to be like but these seemed
so DULL and trying so hard to be with it that it was white noise to the ears and eyes. Even Meredith Viera, who I usually find so personable, was stuck with Al Roker who was more fun when he was FAT!
And what is with the Lip Syncing?? We KNOW it is lip synced so at least can we see an effort on the performers part to try to look like they are trying!? This year it was worse than ever.. Ms. Judd actually throwing verbal hellos to the crowd while the soundtrack is singing what she is suppoed to be emitting.
Not even an attempt to look like Audrey Hepburn in MY FAIR LADY or sweet and achingly talented Natalie Wood in WSS!
Oh well...If they can technically make Britany Spears be on pitch why not ignore the track and, well just be??
Friends came by in the late afternoon and we ate and had some wine and talked till after 8PM.
After bitching about Bush and the state of political corruptions, electioneering, real estate and the declining dollar and the Stagehand's and Writer's strike..we finally gaveup and they decided to try and see ENCHANTED at the Zeigfeld. I thought about seeing it but felt I would likely pass out from all the turkey and snoozzzze.
UGLY BETTY was tuned in after they left so we missed the first half. LOVE THAT SHOW!
I am curently on the last 2 episodes of MARPLE 3 with Gwendolyn McEwam. Wonderful Series. I loved the Joan Hickson version as well..and Margaret Rutherford's zany interpretation was likewise a treat. I love the characters and the plots and am sort of addicted to it.
I recommend it to all!
Managed to get a box of those wonderful ELENI theme box (of expensive) cookies on sale at Chelsea Market. 2 for 1 at $30...a reduction from the $40 per box normal price. But it was yesterday and that was the eve and in store special. Also got 2 small chocolate turkeys..they are too pretty to devour..so far!
Hope you all have a great Black Friday and don't overspend tomorrow.
If it stays this warm they should knock down all the winter coats and accessories!!
Have a great time.
C H A R G E !!!

XX
XKeybored

MONDAY

GENDER HUMOR:


Male or Female?

You might not have known this, but a lot of non-living objects are actually either male or female. Here are some examples:


FREEZER BAGS: They are male, because they hold everything in, but you can see right through them.

PHOTOCOPIERS: These are female, because once turned off; it takes a while to warm them up again.

They are an effective reproductive device if the right buttons are pushed, but can also wreak havoc if you push the wrong Buttons.

TIRES: Tires are male, because they go bald easily and are often over inflated.

HOT AIR BALLOONS: Also a male object, because to get them to go any where, you have to light a fire under their butt

SPONGES: These are female, because they are soft, squeezable and retain water.

WEB PAGES:
Female, because they're constantly being looked at and frequently getting hit on.

TRAINS: Definitely male, because they always use the same old lines for picking up people.

EGG TIMERS: Egg timers are female because, over time, all the weight shifts to the bottom.

HAMMERS: Male, because in the last 5000 years, they've hardly changed at all, and are occasionally handy to have around.

THE REMOTE CONTROL: Female. Ha! You probably thought it would be male, but consider this: It easily gives a man pleasure, he'd be lost without it, and while he doesn't always know which buttons to push, he just keeps trying

A HELLUVA TOWNE

So yesterday I was emailed the link ot the STAGEHAND'S STRIKE that was broadcast on NY 1.

http://broadwaycarl.blogspot.com/2007/11/broadway-stagehands-strike.html

It is rather an amazing thing. It is also ultimately refreshing to hear the voice of not only that Union but of the Musicians 802 local and the Actor's Equity Association. All spole respectfully of the opposition but were adamant about not giving away things that were fought for and were a necessity in todays Ultra Technical theatrical environs.
The Stagehands President Caffey was strong and obviously not intimidated by the Producer's very blatant tactic of making the public venues aware of provate negotiating.
And they also were willing ot throw certain points to the public arena that were not true and so did what the Republican party is so good at; Creating a mind set. But the Union refused to take that bait and walked from the table until these terms were not part of the negotiation patois.
So we see a seed of the workers standing up to the tyrannical depotic pin this case Producers.
They want to lower minumums and cut back on crews. Which will disrupt not only the shows but the safety of the houses one works in.
SO we'll see. I was ultimately inplressed with jJohn Connelly the Exec Sec of the Actror's Union who spoke passionately about how this i s a reflection of what is going on in this country. But this is NEW YORK CITY and this is a totally PROFESSIONAL business. Not a bunch of unwashed low lifes doing these intricate and sometimes dangerous jobs.
I am empathetic and sympathetic. I also can't understand the grosses on some shows being over A MILLION A WEEK and the Producers wanting MORE PROFIT...taken from their workers.
REMEMBER : ALL people who work in the theatrical profession do not have a guarantee of a 52 week season. If you are getting decent pay it is always in danger of the show closing.
SO even a Glenn Close may make tens of thousands a week..but if her show closes she needs a job!
The Stagehand's PResident said at one point "I am a representative of my people in the Union. I do what they ask me to do. I do not lead them they lead me."
WOULD I LOVW TO HEAR A US PRESIDENTIAL CNADIDATE SAY THAT?? YOU BETCHA!
Hey..I would just like a decent paying job period with benefits and structured the way the old contracts were. We'll see what happens. I hope for the best. I would find it a joy if the theatre turmoil was able to be a model for other unions and workers as a way to stand up to management. I have to go watch NORMA RAE!
I have to comment on the weather. It is actually hot today!!
New Thought:
When is it going to be Fall again? I was sweting while doing house chores and realized that it si bloody Nov 13th ...a week from THANKSGIVING and we could go kayakking on the Hudson in shorts.
I don't much like this weather change as IU so loved the seasons.
Grouse as you might against the winter but I also LOVE the snowfall and the crisp air. Check out the two photos I took of the Olney Theatre's Main house where the actors stay
Anopther thought:
Only yesterday I found out a friend's dear Mom has very bad cancer and that another friend and colleague has Prostate Cancer. What is happening to us. What the Hell did they put into our food chain?
My heart and hope go out to all who are suffering with these awful maladies.
May the world mind set change and may ctrue humane compassion once again be the guiding force instead of the ever devaluating dollar.
Please get checkups and stay healthy.
XXX
KEYBORED

AUTUMN IN NEW YORK

Saturday in November.
A cold day today after a rainy and moody Friday night.
Call me absurd, but I do love the weather. I prefer a comfy clime, but also enjoy the blast of energy each new season brings.
And in truth love the initial cold snaps and the warm sweaters and crisp air.
Went out today for groceries in my neighborhood and had to wear the scarf and gloves and knit hat. BRISK for sure.
We took my partner Jeff to the hospital on Thursday afternoon for a bunion operation. Lenox Hill on 77th and Lex.
He was scheduled for a 2:30 surgery but it was delayed till 4 PM. Poor guy was so streesed with anxiety he just slept in the prep room in one of those recliners and I went to Butterfield's for a sandwich and the MOST delicious rasberry crumble...then hit Starbucks for a coffe to go with it. By the time I got back they were ready to take him to surgery. My girlfriend Annie works in Lenox Hill in the Black Hall building and came by to say hello. The anesthesiologist was full of good humor and Jeff was in good hands with him and the surgeon Dr. Karen Schneider. She was recomended by our good friend Susan who had foot surgery a few months back.
It was a long day and he finally was in recovery by 6:30 or so and was ready to leave by around 9:15.
Susan, and her terrific husband, Stephen picked us up and took us home in thier spacious SUV. We got to our street and 8th Avenue and were stalled for more than 20 minutes behind an on call fire truck. SO we finally got in the house and settled by 10:30 or so. A VERY LONG AND STRESSFUL DAY!
Percoset and Kelfex have kept him steady..but I made homemade Chicken soup with ALL the fixings and that is nourishing him.
Six to 8 weeks of this may drive me to the edge of BABY JANE Hudsondom, but so far it is fine.
I got all the reviews sent to my by my friend Jim who sends them when a show opens. I am so grateful for that.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN was generally reviewed in the way we thought it would. NOT GOOD ENOUGH...but fun.
Our friend Mark answered my query with his take on why we have no major stars as we once had.
He blamed it on the AIDS epidemic taking who knows how many budding geniuses including Michael Bennett.
I cannot deny that is a major factor in shaping the artistic landscape, but I think it is just one of the elements.
I believe the English invasion had a lot to do with things as they are.
And Ironically our own Hal Prince who I would consider one of thee first and foremost pillars and standards of theatre in New York if not universally, is partly to blame.
In 1979 after his many years of collaborating with great artistic success with Sondheim he brought to these shores his London Hit EVITA.
I had the joy and pride to be part of that production.
It was intersting to see how they, meaning the creative team approached their already successful show in the Broadway atmosphere.
How Hal was said to want the show to be the Star. Rumor had it that he really was not happy when a leading person held sway over a productions hit or miss run.
We had a great production and previewed it in Los Angles and then San Francisco.
We got to NY and opened in September (27th I believe) of 1979 at the Broadway theatre. I was with it for a couple of months and was asked to go to Los Angeles and open the West coast company of EVITA as Magaldi the role I understudied in NY.
I was in LA by Dec 6th and by Dec 10th in rehearsal. Ruth Mitchell, Hal's second in command was doing the initial staging and asked me to help stage the Aristocrats as I had done that number in the NY company. So I did. It was fun and took the boredom out of the initial rehearsal period.
Anyway..All that aside over the years the English took a strong hold of the NY theatre. Andrew Llyod Webber made his mark and PHANTOM is still making Hal and Andrew a hefty coin of the realm.
SO Hal with EVITA's success really was a vanguard for the beachead of the English Invasion.
When Cameron Mackintosh came a courtin and LES MIS took the stage by storm it was clear that the American Producers and Equity were willing to bend over in all directions to let these newcomers change the face of the business and the way in which business was done. Cameron threatened to NOT bring LES MIS in unless he , THE PRODUCER held the Advance..up till then the Theatre owners held it I beleive.SO he was in control before he even had a hit show. Equity and the League could have told him: "OK Don't Bring your show" but they folded.
Then we got the mass amount of Mega Musicals with MISS SAIGON and CATS and all of those type productions. They kept a lot os people employend but they changed the temperament of our American theatre structure.
The MIDDLE MANAGEMENT became a new wall to climb along with the Casting Directors obstacle course..
They became a necessity as these shows were a huge undertaking and had recasting and also sending out of major tours while the Broadway show was running. This practice wasn't in solid stead until Cats I believe. Although even CHORUS LINE had multiple companies during the Broadway run as did EVITA a few yers later.
But it was the CATS & LES MIS that created a middle management powerful enough to block the artist from the producer and sometimes even the casting people and the director.
It created ill will and strange misinterpretations of rules and regulations.
And many were competing for the head honcho position in management while the show was running and the actors became a second thought and the shows wound up being populated sometimes with lesser talents than they should.
Nowadays we have extremely talented performers..IF you notice the performers are seldom taken to task by critics. It is usually the production and direction etc..
But the Actor has his ass out there in front of the people and is a Prime target for sometimes nasty crtical assumptions.
I always wanted the PLAYBILL to have the disclainmer:
"THE CHOICES MADE IN THESE PERFORMANCES ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE ACTOR>"
But even with all these really talented people the theratre continues to hire TELEVISION or FILM "names" to "SELL TICKETS!" A practical but sometimes detrimental idea.. The Name will take a huge chunck of profit and not necessarily add anything special and once their limited contract is up...then what and who?
But we have so few Angela Lansbury's, who in her prime was an untouchable STAR of Broadway. They seem to hire talented folk like David Hyde Pierce from TV land and luckily he is a stageworthy star not just a name but that isn't always the case.
And who decides WHO exactly is a real "name" and who will actually attract the audiences?
Marketing concerns..demographics? The producer's mother???WHO?
In todays artistic fields, and I include all areas, the hiring process is screwered. A good friend who has been on a constant Job Search for too many years, gave a very intersting overview. He is about 40 but looks younger and is in great shape and presents a more vital personage that one would expect of someone in that age group.
So what his joourney through the job market in NY has shown is that they will hire inexperienced and unsuited people who will take a very low unlivable wage!
End of story. When he told one Human Resource person that the salary was not good enough they were insulted. No Kidding. THEY were insulted..He said they thought he should be grateful for pittance.
Work cheap and you'll get a job. Even if you are too young and too inexpeienced. SO those are the people making major decisions in all areas of business nowadays. But it is also those kids who are in high end positions in the arts and making an odd playgound even stranger.
Also the FEAR of something NOT working causes shows to be put together in corners in workshops that aren't always available to audition prospects outside the"A" list.
This in practice might keep the show critically safe and in the loop of its own creators, but then it limits the general actor from getting into anything new and working with people that might intrigue or inspire him.
The bottom line is now getting more important than THE CHORUS LINE.
A good show with good performers should be all you need.
Ironically the addage that Hal Price wanted..No Star Bigger than the SHOW itself is being eroded in that there are too many "stars" with a small "S" and very rarely is the audience privileged to DISCOVER a natuaral ball of fire!
It is an odd business and one wants their $100-$200-$300--now $450 dollars worth!
There are still stories amongst the actors of walking into an open call and getting a job..But yerars back that open call was in a Broadway Theatre in front of the likes of Hal Prince or Tommy Tune. Not what most of those calls are now with a secondary office person from a high end casting place being given the "chore" of sitting through hours of hopefuls spewing 8 or 16 bars of music.
We have a lot of talent and thank God a great deal of it is in the canyons of NY. But it is so expensive to live or exist here now that I doubt a budding James Dean or a Brando or Mary Martin can manage without a substantial trust fund.
These practices have also managed to permeate the genral corporate world and has eaten away at the general work ethic.
I don't know what the future might bring, but with the Stagehand strike and the Writer's strike I think the Producers realize their Bottom line is not the only bottom in the playground.
Audiences are the consumers but the actor is the ingredient that makes the Product, a show, live and breathe. All the technical elements are useless without that ONE ingredient.
I wish actors would be bold and strike as well.When and if the time and place call for it. We had a greatr chance in 1994 when LES MIS fired the NY company and manipulated the system by bringing in the road company. There were a lot of elements I cannot disclose here that were also factors in that mess. I watched the whole thing unfold as we played in SUNSET BLVD at the Minskoff theatre.
The Actor's Union should have called a strike and as it was a holiday time we would have had the producers over the proverbial barrel. But they wimped out for dumb reasons and we have gone downhill from there.
Anyway..the theatre will live on as it is part of the culture and a strong thread in the fabric that makes up the multi million dollar business of show here in NY.
I am going on and on..
What else is one to do on a cold Saturday night.
We watched RATATOUILLE last night and loved it.
Jeff is moaning in pain in the living room and I am wearing my fingers to a pulp on this worn out keyboard.
It has actually warmed me up.
Stay Warm..but be Cool!
XXX
Keybored

TWILIGHT

It is just about 4:30 and almost DARK !! Lord the daylight is certainly saving time.
I don't know about you but I want to hybernate and sleep long hours in a snuggy comfoter and watch DVD's and sip SPIKED hot chocolate.
I like to drop a sqaure of Dark 85% Coca into my concoctions with that chocolate liquer we have in thh cabinet, YUM!!
Went to Birthday gathering for friend Patrick last night and it was fun if the joint was, as most places are in this town...L O U D!
Saw friends and colleagues pictured here.
It was fun..walked from 53rd to 42nd & 9th and took a cab home. It was just past midnight and the after theatre and tunnel traffic were gons. Got home in no time..But the trip used to coast about $3.50..with tip it was $6.
These little changes in prices are to me similar to the slow boil you throw frogs into ...all of a sudden you are COOKED without even realizing it. AND what about a 25 cent Transit increase. OH COME ON. Have these greed mongers ridden the subways? OR WAITED FOR THEM? OR stood there on the 23rd St platform and read the CANCELATIONS each weekend.
we have lived in Chelsea for 30 years this coming summer and in the last decade the trains at the 8th Avenue stop either bypass the station or DON'T RUN on the weekends.
We had a memorial gathering in Brooklyn Heights and neither train that went to Clark St area was stopping or ruunning at 8th Ave & 23rd St. Of course we were late.
This area is so congested with people and traffic now it is unconscionable that more attention isn't paid to public transit. AND THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE FARES> W R O N G!!
The subway was 20 cents when I first got to NYC. And that was annoying!
AM going to see GLORIOUS ONES tonight at Lincoln Center tonight. I love Connedia dell' Atre and hope the reviews were wrong. It is such a colorful theatrical experience and I can't imagine Flaherty & Ahrens' music not being memorable. But who knows?
Just bought RATATOUIE and want to get in the mood to watch that as we can always use a good laugh.
The doggie in the pic is Yoshi and he belongs to pal Alan. They are both affable and sweet but Yoshi Licks better!
So I hear!
Hope you have all gotten the sweaters and gloves and scarves out. See you briskly about the Rialto!
XXX
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FALL IN FEEL IT

AT LAST it truly feels like Fall....AUTUMN IN NEW YORK.
Time to hit Central Park and walk among the falling colors and breathe the crisp air.
There are so many lovely parks in the city and now is the time to take advantage.
Was out all afternoon and New york was active and without the humidity even the crowds were bearable.
Chelsea is so congested now it is like the Upper West Side when it comes to street traffic. They have overbuilt with too many highrise buildings let alone the plethera of small sidewalk Bank places and the ubiquitous Nail Salons!
My God how many Nail salons do you have in your neighborhood? huh? We have about 9 in a 3 block area. Oh I forgot the necessity of Duane Reade, CVS and Rite Aid now standing guard on about every corner or block in this area and along the avenues.
We used to laugh at the cloning of Starbucks but now it is these overly present boring establishments as well.
We are not at a loss for restaurants either..more and more. One day I counted about 19 in a four block walk.
The Noise level in a lot of these places along witht he outrageous prices ofr Wine let alone entrees keeps us going to only certain places. But for High end dining DEL POSTO is a sure fire HIT! Expensive like a Dowager Dame from the past..dripping in elegance and spruce. WOrht saving your pennies for. ON 10th near 15th Street.
I seldom go to Starbucks anymore since they raised the prices. I lived on that coffee as I traveled the length and width of the US and even in Tokyo in 2001. Say what you like about them their product is consistantly good grade and satisfying.
However I make my own and go to Bergamonte on 20th and 9th for a scrumptious Almond Croissant or two now and again.
I have taken to drinking more Tea than coffee nowadays and have a great love of Chai Black Tea but down more Green and White tea for health reasons.
I have to go meet friends for a Birthday gatehring at 10PM. Usually I am if not in Bed then on bed by 9:30 these days. But this is a friend of long standing. I met him when he was 18 years old...adn is now 45!!
LORD!
Tempis Fugit and all that Jazz.
Bye for now
XXX
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COMMENTS

HAVE I GOT YOUR ATTENTION? INTERESTING OLD ADV, HUH?
ANYWAY::::
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NEW WEEK

Happy Monday!!
Hope your weekends were enjoyable.
Went to a Memorial for a friend in Brooklyn Heights yesaterday.
Getting to the outer areas of the city is always much easier than one thinks.
Went to West New York, New Jersey a month or so ago. Visited a freind who lives there. Such an easy trip and only $2.
The views of the city were extraordinary. And instead of taking the Jitney Bus back to NY we took teh Ferry which was about $7 if I recall. that was a treat. Back on the Manhattan shore at 39th Street in 7 minutes with a joyful jaunt across the Hudson. I recommend it!
Am trying to keep these wrtings less masssive than I see on other blogs.
I have set the COMMENTS so that you may Comment ..They were locked and I finally figured how to clear that.
SO SORRY!
Had a long conversation at the dinner following the memorial last evening. It was centered around the theatre as there was a playwright adn an actor (working as a paralegal), and a program person for NBC. Very interesting. Many varied experiences as well as multi points of view.. and some I agreed with. But we all are so hungry for the kind of moving experiences we were so used to in the Arts in many years past. Why are there no true Musical Stars ..Why aren't people rebelling about the absurd ticket prices now jacked higher by YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN? Even in Opera's major voices aren't as Dynamic as they were or as celebrated ...why? All these interesting views were generating huge commentary over wine and pasta.
This made me happy as I see that cultural commodity is a passionate and tangible thing still.
We all agreed that the younger generation is awakening and not as AMERICAN IDOL dull.
We'll see how things go along the Rialto in months and years to come given the parameters of ticket prices and Cartoonish shows ala LITTLE MERMAID permeating the venues.
I suggest a laugh filled evening with Charles Busch at DIE MOMMIE DIE at New World Stages and THE FARNSWORTH CONNECTION at the Music Box for a thought provoking eye opening trip through Television History.
I heard many views of YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN battered about.
It will of course have a run but I thougt it not as strong a show as Brook's THE PRODUCERS. Needless to say it has tons of fun and frolic and gorgeous scenery (ROBIN WAGNER a master) and terrific voices and performances. It just, to my eye and ear, didn't hang together as solidly as a whole piece as THE PRODUCERS.
Which we are all in confusion as to why that 11 or 14 TONY AWRD winning show is now CLOSED?
I just got invited to see GLORIOUS ONES at Lincoln Center this Wednesday. That is one show I am very curious to see. it is about the forming of the Commedia del Arte troupe. The Flahetry & Ahren's musical directed by Graziella Daniele.
ALSO for a major treat while it is on display..GO SEE the LUX exhibit at teh FIT Fashion Museum..a small place on about 28th and 7th and FREE..WOnderful clothes anf fashion from great designers..go go !
Hope you all have a great week loaded with CULCHA!
XXX
Keybored