Bryant Park Friday Afternoon

Wow, this place is incredible, free wi-fi and as I type they're putting the finishing touches on the screen for the bryant park summer movie series.

Picture this, I'm on the lawn at a table with my feet on the green and soft grass. Bryant Park is basically a lawn with trees that frame the square. It's New York so you have the Grace Building and other tall buildings that surround the park.

It's like a breath of fresh air in the middle of all these imposing buildings. Most New Yorkers are grateful for green spaces because we're so used to concrete, metal and hussle. Here we get a chance to relax, meet up, etc. As I look around friends are chatting, people are reading and some are just napping. There are even two guys jamming on drums, so cool. Oh and don't forget the merry go round and restaurant.

I love New York.

My Fortune from Lunch

If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.

AMEN!!!!

Cheyenne Jackson on Broadway Again

Now I have to see Xanadu! I'm a Cheyenne Jackson groupie, ever since The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway I've been a fan.




Check out these photos. I couldn't pick one photo over the other.

Update: He's going to be in It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman at the York Theatre....I will be there, if I can get tickets. Here's a great rehearsal photo courtesy of Ben Strothmann.

Brownout Discussion

Provocative title isn't it? Brownout was a panel discussion about casting, training and presenting actors and works of diversity, produced by the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts.

Great title, but like most panels, they covered too much and the moderator was more a spectator than someone steering the conversation (who could blame her, it was a great discussion). That aside, I was grateful to be a part of it. The artistic community needs more discussions about this. Here are two questions, to think about.

• How is diversity represented in the performing arts? This includes film, tv, and theatre?

• Does this representation validate you and your experience? if it does, how does it? If it doesn't, what would you like changed?

There are lots of expressions and we have the room for more of them. When I was young, I remember watching the Keaton's on Family Ties, but when I saw the Cosby Show it spoke to me on a deeper level. Seeing people that looked like me and being portrayed in a positive light was very affirming of what I looked like and to my experiences. Hopefully, members of the dominate culture can comprehend and appreciate that.

Communities need to rediscover how powerful the theatre can be. That responsibility can't be left to "someone". Those of us looking to change the landscape and the industry need to cultivate new audiences and get honest feedback from the communities that these regional and community theaters represent. Do audiences really want to see another production of My Fair Lady? The danger is if we don't bring new audiences into theatre, we'll be working in a medium that will eventually die off with the 50 and 60 year olds it caters to now. That's one reason that I love Spring Awakening. It speaks to a group of people and topics that theatre normally avoids, with music they can rock out to!

And that's just part of the discussion we had...more later.

Corporate Welfare

JP Morgan Chase is this extremely profitable company and they get these kinds of discounts and kickbacks? Talk about welfare. Is it that important to have them down in the Wall Street area? I wish they turned "ground zero" into moderate income housing. That's what New York City needs. The working class can't afford to live anywhere near Manhattan. This just ads to the suburbanizing of Manhattan.

Manhattan used to be the epicenter of arts and culture. With the average price of a 400 sq. ft. studio in upper Manhattan being $182,000 and rent being $1000 a month artists can't afford to live, much less contribute to this once vibrant city. NYC is riding on it's history and needs to step it up. What is so bad about having housing that is affordable to everyone?

BBC Article

Jake on Broadway

Sure he's a fine film actor and I did like him in Brokeback Mountain, but why do stars think they have the chops to do theatre. We'll see.

All I can say is, he was robbed during the Academy Awards for Brokeback.

Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway

Peter and Pinoyboy

Oh my pod is one my favorite podcasts. I have been a regular listener since June or July 2006 and found their podcast via Blackgayblogger.com. Because of Peter's ending message..."Even the smallest voice makes a harmony so make sure yours get heard." I posted a voice comment and from then on I've contributed as much as I can. So visit their website and/or subscribe to their podcast at Itunes. It's fun.

Wait, I'm not done.

Anyone looking for an apple computer should really should check out past episodes of their podcast, especially episode 101 and 102. Those were the first ones I listened to. They are practical and give an honest view about the macintosh. In fact, I had the pleasure of meeting them at the 5th Avenue Apple Store, where I bought my macbook.

Hey guys, thanks for the shout out on your show!

Awwhh What the heck.

Free sundae Tuesday. I'm headed to get one. I deserve a treat.

Update: I should have said, it's buy one get one free!

Is this a good thing?

Scores going up? Taking a standardized tests is a skill you can learn and I think it's important, but the fact that these scores are up does not mean that these children are learning the skills they need to succeed. The real question will these children get into college.

Standardized tests are a way for governments to sleep at night and politicians to get reelected.

NY times article

Family Violence

Not too long ago a put a story about a Texas Tragedy, where a mother hung her four children. Now we have another tragedy involving caregivers, children and guns. This is unacceptable. Why is this happening? Where is the outrage? Guns have no place in a home with children. People are running with less sleep, money and patience and when conflict arises deadly choices are made. I think in terms of causality. What events could bring a parent to shoot their infant twins?

I've always wondered, do people feel that unsafe that every household has guns? What are people so afraid of? Actually, I think Bowling for Columbine said it best. For more information about the Wisconsin tragedy click the link below.

CNN Article

Act of Desperation

It seems like immigration is really important to President Bush. I wonder how high up Health Care and Education are? Does he fight like this for the American people? These people aren't even citizens...yet.

CNN article

Spring Awakening wins Best Musical

I'm going to call it at 5pm Sunday at Grounded. There shouldn't be too much surprise tonight. If we are surprised and Mary Poppins wins the Tony's will have made another poor decision for Best Musical (i.e. The Producers over The Full Monty.)

We can remember when were young and didn't know what was happening to us and our bodies. I thought no one knew what I was going through or how to help. I had a friend close to me get bone cancer and another die in a car accident. I took it especially hard because it was they were close to me and I was the only child. If you're the only child you understand that your friends are treated like family by you and your parents.

This musical uses music from today to give a contemporary voice to issues that have been around for ages. Sexuality, suicide, child abuse, anger, parents and love are just some of the issues. One reason I'm so on the Spring Awakening "bandwagon" is because it's on the few original works out there. I'm not against Legally Blonde; it's already sold 9 million dollars in advance ticket sales, but nothing I would see unless I got a free ticket or knew someone in it. The Little Mermaid is coming in November and I know two people in it! It better be halfway decent.

Spring Awakening was based on a non-musical play by German Frank Wedekind — written in 1891. The songs woven in this tapestry add to the beauty. They don't really move the story along, a concept started by Oklahoma. At one point, the actors go off, get mike stands, come back onstage and "rock out". It's hot. I'm very into Bertolt Brecht, so I was in heaven with this style of theatre. The style of...scene, song about scene, then another scene. It's great. It's hard to pick a single song that I love, but I have to mention two, Mirror Blue Light and Left Behind. I was crying.

That's my small rant. I hope Broadway gets the hint. We need to blow a little fresh air into Broadway. You can pander to the older crowd of you want, but when they die off, who are you going to have left going to the theatre? Let's open our eyes and let Americans of all ages and colors get their story told. It can only help Broadway in the long run.

Talkin bout S'Mac

Another plug, but I had to mention this.

This isn't the healthy option, but that's okay. You can make this a once a month treat for yourself. I'm talking about S'mac. This weekend a friend was in town from Florida and we went from restaurant to restaurant. Outside of the bars one the highlights was Smac. It's fun and extreme comfort food. Surprisingly the service was good and staff friendly. I told the young man at the counter that it was my first time and what would he recommend. He immediately said the cheeseburger mac and cheese. Boy, was he right. It was filling and it was the right amount of beef to cheese, so I was in heaven. If you like macarroni and cheese, this is a must. Make you way to the East Village as soon as possible.

The pic is of what I actually ate! It was as good as it looks.

Pinkberry

I feel like today is ad day, but I have to mention the "hot" yogurt place in the city, Pinkberry. It's refreshing and fun, who can resist captain crunch and fruity pebbles in your yogurt. All I have to say is it's a must trip this summer if you're in town. My favorite location is the Chelsea one. There's normally at least a fifteen minute wait. If you're single, that's not a bad thing. ;-)

Here's to green tea!

Sunday @ Grounded

Grounded is one of those places that I frequent. It's relaxed and there always lots of Macs, more Macbook Pros than anything. Today's selection of music is Johnny Cash's San Quentin album.

It's not perfect though. Today they have their ceiling fans going when they should have their air on. Maybe they're doing that so people won't stay so long. I've been here at long as a few hours and I don't think that's a bad thing, if they have empy seats. I try to be respectful. :-)

How do people find this place? It's pretty out of the way on Jane Street. It must be by word of mouth. I only found it because a friend heard that this was a cute place. New York is funny because there are so many cute places that people don't want you to find out about. I know the feeling. You have a spot you love and when the word gets out you can't even find a seat. We'll see what happens to this place.

If you're in NYC, go. Just make sure you show respect of other's are waiting for a table. :-)

Soy Luck Club

I gotta give a shout out to this place. It's almost better than than Grounded. Grounded is great and I love the "loungy" feel of it, but Soy Luck Club is just filled with windows and people are constantly walking by. Plus, I love this one chair that gives me back support, and allows me to relax. To top it all off there's an outlet right next to me.