Trick or...Parade?

It’s listed as one of the top One Hundred Things to Do Before You Die. It attracts over two million visitors each year, disrupts traffic all over town, and boasts some of the most elaborate displays of puppetry to found anywhere in the U.S.. Yes, I’m talking about none other than New York’s Village Halloween Parade, and yes, this was the adventure that Stephanie and I chose to partake in the last weekend of October.

Originally, our game plan had involved elaborate paper mache costumes that would shock and awe all those who looked upon us. Alas, work, visitors, and other New York adventures got in the way and we arrived at the 31st with nothing to show for ourselves. Resilient, we quickly assembled some costumes with old clothes and cheap eye-shadow-turned-face-paint. Stephanie ended up as a wandering gypsy woman, and I was a unicorn (with a somewhat dubious head-piece – I think I looked more like an uncoordinated rabbit that had an unfortunate run in with a poll).

Pleased with our quick thinking, we headed down to the village. As we drew nearer, more and more interesting folk appeared in the subway cars – Santa Clause and the Mario Brothers, to name a few. When we finally stepped off onto the platform, there wasn’t an un-costumed face in sight. The press of people was so thick that it took a good ten minutes to get through the turn styles and up the stairs. When we finally did emerge, the first thing I noticed was the ubiquitous police presence. Everywhere you looked there were officers, giving directions, keeping the crowd flowing, and making it clear that this was going to be a safe event.

After some wandering and crowd weaving, we eventually made it to a holding pen for parade walkers (we weren’t about to just watch this – we wanted to march!). At first, it was just fun looking at all the bizarre outfits swirling around us. There was a Satyr that looked remarkably real, and a glowing firefly too. But the pen was packed pretty tight, and despite the party vibe and thumping music coming from the float next to us, our feet were starting to feel it after a half hour of waiting. The rain sealed the deal for us – we were busting out! (And by busting out I mean saying a lot of “excuse me”, “pardon me”, “excuse me” as we squirmed through the press of people and clambered unceremoniously over the side barricades). Once we were free of the pen, it was easy to slip into the actual parade. We walked next to a zombie pirate ship for awhile, then tailed an LGBT marching band, and got stuck behind a huge group of “Thriller” dancers. All in all, it probably would have been more fun if the rain wasn’t coming down in sheets by this time. Sufficiently soaked and satisfied with the experience, we soon turned our attention to escaping the parade itself – a feat which proved even more challenging than getting in. Despite the rain, the crowd watching was between five and ten people deep, and protected by barricades. It took us a good half mile of walking before we glimpsed a weak spot and made a break for it.

Once we were free of the parade, we shuffled along bovine-like with the herds of people milling through the village. Eventually we came to a little Mexican Restaurant where we relaxed and dried off while eating super-spicy salsa. We met up with friends after that, then began the long trek home (there was a line above ground for the subway). Needless to say, there were lots of rowdy, intoxicated riders packed in with us. We found their loud antics amusing, to say the least, but we were just as excited when we found out that yes, the train would be going express. Joyous high fives all around!

Wandering the City

It's been a few weeks. It's actually been quite a full few weeks too, so I'll do my best to get this up to date. And thus, this entry goes out to my Grandpa – hopefully I won't be so negligent in my writing in the future!

Aidan's visit was relaxing. We took it easy, opting for lazy mornings over sight-seeing and movies over Broadway shows. Really, after six weeks apart, it was just nice to spend time together again. Of course, being the couple that we are, we still managed to get in our fair share of adventure. Among other things (including a fruitless SoHo cupcake search), one such adventure was our Sunday trek out to Brooklyn. The train ride was long, but the invitation from our Michigan friends (Alex and Zan) had included a homemade dinner, and a sneak peak at the new dance piece they were putting together – an irresistible combination. So when Sunday morning rolled around we got ourselves out of bed at a reasonable hour, whipped up a carrot cake, and hopped the downtown A train.

Once we finally got above ground on the other side of the river, Aidan and I found ourselves in a semi-industrial neighborhood. It’s amazing how other-worldly different neighborhoods (and boroughs) can feel in New York, especially when you remember how small the city actually is. But it was nice taking in the different sights as we made our way over to the small but impressive studio space their company was rehearsing in. We climbed the creaky stairs and settled in for the show which, to our delight, incorporated big wheels! The piece turned out to be both playful and moving, full of all the energy and unique movement of the best kinds of modern dance. You learn so much from sitting in on rehearsals as well: back story, tricky spots, differing opinions and the reasoning behind choices. It really fleshes out the experience (and almost always leaves me aching to create my own work!)

Afterwards, we helped pack the props into their car and headed over to their home in Park Slope. It was a beautiful, large, first floor apartment with a bay window – and a yard! We had a wonderfully autumnal meal of vegetarian chili with avocado (I still need to swipe the recipe) with thick carrot cake slices for dessert. And the conversation was just as good; it was so refreshing to talk to another young “artsy” couple that was making it work in the city. Every once in a while you need a reminder that yeah, even though there are rough days, you can get through them – and it’s worth it in the end.

Aidan stayed until Tuesday morning, when he boarded a terribly early flight back to Ann Arbor. But I wasn’t left without company for long. That Friday, my friend Julie arrived in Times Square ready to take on the city. Our first item on the agenda was the Broadway show “In the Heights”, winner of the 2008 Tony Award for best new musical. With a few hours to kill before curtain, I led Julie away from the bright lights and over to the sleek bars of ninth avenue. We snacked and sauntered around Hell’s Kitchen for a bit before heading over to the theater. The show was fun, full of romance, impressive dancing, and numerous references to upper Manhattan (the set looked like my street corner)!

And that was just the beginning. On Saturday, we really hit the town. After showing off the farmer’s market, headed down to the Hell’s Kitchen flea market (which was disappointingly small) and then over to Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, and the fashion district. We popped into all sorts of little boutiques, each of us succumbing to a least one fun purchase. Then later on we happened upon a street fair that we wandered through all the way to the edge of the park. Now, it wasn’t a particularly nice day out – cold, gray, with occasional spits of rain – but Central Park in the fall isn’t something to be missed. We wandered through the east side paths for a good twenty blocks, taking in the foliage, the carriages, and the harvest festival. We finally emerged around 81^st, where we quickly found a diner to soothe our grumbling stomachs. Then, it was on to the Met! Julie had never been to the enormous museum before (or the city, for that matter) so it was a lot of fun to point out the big highlights, like the Egyptian Temple and the Sculpture courtyard. However, I had never visited on a Saturday before, and the press of tourists was overwhelming at times. Nevertheless, we got in a good amount of browsing, and by the time we left, it was getting dark.

Originally, we had planned to go over to the Guggenheim (which is free Saturday evenings from 5:45-7:45pm), but it would seem that every other person in the city had the same idea; the line was around the avenue length block. Fortunately, we had our trusty Time Out with us, and were able to find a suitable alternative. Switching gears from visual to performing art, we headed down to the Public Theatre for a free staged reading of a LAByrinth play. Not without its flaws, the show was nonetheless engaging, and I’m glad that Julie’s first experience with staged readings was at such a great theatre.

On Sunday we headed up to Fort Tryon Park, strolled through the Heather Garden, and had a delicious brunch at the New Leaf Café (our “splurge” meal). Then it was off to SoHo for more gallery hopping and boutique shopping. It was a much prettier afternoon, and it was all too easy to pass the hours strolling through the gorgeous neighborhood. Eventually we made our way over to the west village as well, ending up at the Chelsea Market. I could spend days there! I love all of the eccentric little food and culinary supply shops. I must say I was impressed with my own restraint; I only ended up with some thai spices and shortbread!

We ended our whirlwind tour of the city with some karaoke at our favorite local spot, The Piper’s Kilt. It was a thoroughly fun and exhausting weekend, and I was so happy that Julie was able to make it out. Of course, the next weekend was just as packed…

To be continued!

Time to Start Checking 'Em Off

I am both overwhelmed and enthralled by Time Out New York's 101 things to do in New York city in the fall list. So many adventures, so little time! (Have a favorite? Help me out and recommend a number you want me to try!)

Unicorns and Openings and Mothers, oh my!

Continuing where I left off…

The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing. The first thing I did once I got back from my biking adventure was to cook up some tasty lunch with my market goods. I’ve recently gotten into sauteing vegetables with garlic, shallots, and a splash of wine, then putting them over pasta (I kept a stash of pre-cooked penne in the fridge in case I’m in a big rush). It’s a quick, easy fix that still tastes amazing, and I’m perfecting it every time.

Sunday started off much the same, although this time the rain clouds were nowhere to be seen. The sunshine also made for a perfect excuse to explore the neighborhood, something I’d been meaning to do for a while. After eating my fill, I strapped on my backpack and headed down Broadway. To be honest, I didn’t find too many interesting bits that direction (seems that 207th is the happening place). The walk was nice though, and by the time I got to the 190th street subway I was just bored enough to be curious about the large throngs of people entering the half-hidden entrance. Following their lead, I was packed into a giant elevator that let me out at the entrance of Fort Tyron Park, where I finally got to see what all the fuss was about: The 2009 Medieval Festival.

It was the perfect event to stumble upon. Brightly colored pennants snapped in the breeze as I strolled along the booths, admiring the intricate costumes of warriors, maidens, and knights. Although it was already quite crowded, I managed to dodge the wooden swords of rambunctious children and miss the projectiles of the tiny toy catapults for sale—mostly. I took my time browsing through the abundance of masks and jewelry and silver figurines, enjoying the high spirits of the vendors and the sounds of lutes and lyres. And then of course, there was the food. Turkey legs dripped and simmered over open-fire spits while fried dough crackled and popped in boiling oil. The spicy smell of mulled wine was overwhelming at first, but it mingled nicely with the cacophony of autumn fair-food deliciousness.

After wandering the length of the fair (and spying a unicorn!), I returned to the jousting arena and promptly settled down with a sugary elephant ear. There was no jousting at the moment, so I settled for the somewhat amateur hawking demonstration that was going on. The two men seemed to be better trainers than entertainers. I stayed just long enough to eat my treat and lick every last bit of cinnamon off my fingers, then made one last loop of the grounds and headed for home. After a short nap, I returned with my roommate Stephanie, and we did get to see a bit of jousting. We left soon after though, opting for a relaxing evening at home.

On Monday it was back to work. There I learned that Tony Roberts, one of the actors in the MTC production of THE ROYAL FAMILY, had suffered a minor seizure during the Sunday matinee, a literal “is there a doctor in the house?” moment (his understudy took over for the evening show). Everyone was glad he was alright, though the plan for opening night (four days away) was still unclear.

That evening, I headed over to NYU with another intern to see their production of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. I knew I was going to be a hard audience member to please, as I directed the same show this past March at the University of Michigan, through the producing organization MUSKET. I did not expect to be so thoroughly disappointed, however. Without going into the details (again, this is not a theater criticism blog!), all I can say is that it made me miss the high standards of Umich. The opening talk with Terrence McNally (librettist) and John Kander (music and lyrics) was very interesting though, and I was glad I went.

Then on Wednesday it was Stephanie's birthday. I somehow managed to get out of work that evening, and was able to meet her at Red Bamboo, a swanky little vegetarian place in the village that specializes in meat-like dishes. It's a tiny hole-in-the-wall place, and you end up sitting very close to your neighbors (we struck up a fun conversation with ours though, so we didn't mind). Once we got settled, we ordered some tasty "crab" rangoon for our appetizer and then had "beef" stir-fry, and portabello mushrooms for the main course. We had both been eyeing the vegan desserts, but we were completely stuffed after our meal so we passed this time. After that, we made our way up to a theater district bar called Deacon Brodie's (a popular techie hangout, I'm told). It was lots of fun meeting up with all of Steph's friends, telling stories and playing strange games. Steph even got some birthday wishes from a troupe of European tourists!

That late night wouldn't have been so bad if the next day wasn't opening night for THE ROYAL FAMILY. The atmosphere in the office that day was akin to Christmas eve; everyone was giddy and excited. Fortunately, the day passed quickly, and by the time we left it was confirmed that Tony Roberts would be able to make the performance. Most people went to the show (with an early 6:45pm curtain), but I already had plans to attend a Umich alumni event, so I decided to just show up to the after party. Unfortunately, the alumni event was a disappointment; there were too many people in too small of a space, it was too loud, and there was no where to sit. We ate our Ann Arbor food (Cottage Inn pizza and Pizza House breadsticks - the highlight of the evening!) and left soon after.

The after party was a totally different story. It was at Planet Hollywood in Times Square, and everyone was dressed to the nines (see the picture above of me and some fellow interns). Waiters roamed the crowd, armed with wine and tasty snacks, including milkshake shots. It was lots of fun, as was the after-after party at Sardi's where the MTC staff hung out until the wee hours. It was very interesting reading the reviews (released once the curtain goes down on opening night); they were mostly positive, with a few surprising quibbles. The New York Times review is good example of this - check it out if you have a moment.

It was a thoroughly exhausting two days, but the fun wasn't over yet. Friday night, my mom flew into the city. I met her at the airport and took her out to the Piper's Kilt for a late dinner, where we got to catch up and enjoy "the best hamburger in inwood" (or in my case, the veggie wrap!). On Saturday we woke up early and hit the town. First, I showed off the Farmer's Market and cooked up a scrumtous lunch of veggies and multi-grain bread. Once the dishes were all cleaned up, we headed downtown, with no particular destination in mind. I had avoided making any solid plans for the day, prefering instead the freedom to wander. It worked out wonderfully, as we got to explore Times Square before stumbling into a street festival. After walking up and down the merchandise, we continued on to Bryant Park. I showed off the reading rooms and the library, and we both enjoyed the juxtaposition of events taking place, namely wedding photographs and a halloween costume contest. Soon after that we headed down to Washington Square Park, where we checked out the dog run and met up with Stephanie for some Thai food.

The next day we stayed closer to home, exploring Inwood. We had a lovely brunch at the Garden Cafe, and then walked up to the Cloisters and all through Fort Tyron Park. I had never ventured that deeply into the grounds, and we ending up finding some wonderful spots, like the bloom-filled Heather Garden. Showing off my neighboorhood, I was reminded of how happy I was with it. The combination of nature and city is perfect for me. Mom seemed to like it too - I know she was eyeing those dog runs and thinking how much our puppies would enjoy it!

It was harder to say goodbye than I thought it would be, but I know we both had a lot of fun. This week should be a bit slower, at least until Friday - then Aidan arrives!

Bikes Make Friends

It’s been a raucous week here in New York, full of the sorts of ups, downs, laughs and good times that make you remember why you came.

Last Friday, I worked my first full shift at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Patron’s Lounge, a private club for supporters of the theatre who have donated a minimum of one thousand dollars. Nestled between the main floor and the mezzanine of the Friedman Theatre on 47^th Street, the lounge is a great perk of the Patron’s Program. It offers true theatre-lovers a chance to mingle with one another before the show and during intermission, and ensures they have a place to hang their coats and relax before curtain time. The complimentary coffee, wine, and snacks sweeten the deal too!

Working in the Patron’s Lounge (or PLO for short) is one way for MTC interns to make a little extra money during our internship, so I was figured I would give it a try. I was admittedly somewhat less than eager to spend the night pouring drinks for rich people though. Stuffy seniors demanding food, endless bottles to uncork - not exactly my idea of a fun time, I thought.

As happens with so many assumptions, turns out mine were completely wrong.

The Patrons proved to be wonderful people, a true pleasure to spend time with. One couple regaled me with stories of the trip they took to London to see plays at the West End, how much they enjoyed the show WAR HORSE and how different the theatre scene is over there. Another woman and I chatted about how much she liked the program because it allowed her and her friend to have consistent evenings out. Everyone was curious to hear what I thought of the play as well. They brought back their own thoughts after the two intermissions and discussed the show thoughtfully and intelligently, which was a breath of fresh air. Everyone was genuinely interested that I was an intern as well, and it was obvious that they felt enough a part of the theatre to welcome me into the “family” (some had been patrons for over twenty years!). It was a good reminder that these people donate because they love the theatre and want to ensure its continued success. Working PLO was a great way to connect with them directly, and I have to say I enjoyed every minute.

Afterwards, I met up with a few fellow interns and headed out to one of the many swanky midtown bars off of 9^th Avenue. Loud, fast dance music surrounded us as we descended from the street into the main room. It’s curved walls and soft lighting gave it the look of some sort of desert bunker – in a hip way. The long, sleek bar was stocked only with giant vats of fruit-infused vodka (the bar’s specialty) which added to the surreal look. We didn’t stay downstairs long though, choosing instead to head upstairs to the dancing. It was a good time; the DJ spun bizarre remixes while even more bizarre videos were projected on the walls. I stayed just long enough unwind from the week, then said goodnite and grabbed the A train home.

The forecast for Saturday had promised perpetual thunderstorms, so I decided to lay aside my bike ride plans and sleep in. When I finally tumbled out of bed, the air was thick with the promise of rain, but there didn’t seem to be any downpour yet. Feeling invigorated after my rest, I figured that at the very least I could check out the farmer’s market via pedal and make a plan of action after that.

The fall harvest was definitely in, and the crowd was hopping at the 207th Street Farmer's Market. Determined to expand my horizons, I checked out some different stands (although I of course had to return to my staples, including the irresistible cider vendor). I ended up with a bag of button mushrooms, a couple peppers, an onion, a stellar loaf of multi-grain bread, a birthday bottle of ice wine for Stephanie and a healthy bunch of yellow and red tomatoes. It was quite a haul, and stuffing it all in my backpack was a bit of a challenge. As I was doing this, I headed back to my bike, where I happened to run into a woman unlocking hers. We struck up a conversation about how dangerous it was to come to the market hungry, and she showed off her amazingly large saddle bag, totally loaded up with vegetables. Totally the right kind of accessory!

With the rain still at bay, I made up my mind to go ahead with the bike ride (it’s only water after all). I stopped back at my apartment first to drop off my purchases and suit up. A few minutes later I was standing outside my building, struggling with my helmet strap, when I was startled by a loud shout from across the street. I looked around to see what was up and spotted a short, gray-haired woman waving at me. “Hey you,” she called. “Good job, wearing a helmet!” I smiled and waved back, so she promptly crossed the street and introduced herself. Turned out her name is Johanna, and she’s the pastor at the beautiful church across the way. An avid biker herself, we had a great time talking about how important helmets are and the reservoirs she “bags” on the weekends. She even invited me to come along on one of these day trips where the church’s small cycling club throws their bikes on her four-bike rack and heads out of the city. It sounded like a great time – I definitely plan to take her up on the offer!

After that, I hopped on my bike and headed west towards the river. I’m only a few blocks away from the Riverside path that runs the length of Manhattan, so my plan was to find the start of this trail and follow it down for a few miles. The last time I’d done this with Aidan, we’d only been able to find stairs that lead up to the elevated path. I was sure there must be way to get on it without hauling my bike up stairs though, so I traveled north towards Inwood Park, looking for a cross over. It took a little looking around, but eventually I spotted a little semi-paved path peaking out of the brush. Pleased with my investigative skills, I headed down it.

The trail was lovely. Narrow, right next to the river, with the trees on either side seeming to arch up over the top... I was certain I had found the hidden way and was already planning how to smuggly brag about it on my blog. However, while plotting out my tale, I failed to notice the lack of bikers. Or the abundance of fishermen. It was only after I cleared the woods that I began to suspect my mistake, and even then I pushed on out of sheer stubbornness. That too was cut short though when the path dead-ended into the rail-road tracks. Hopping off of my bike, I stared in dismay at the large rocks lining the railroad bed and was forced to admit that my secret path was actually the route fisherman took to get right up along the bank.

Now, I am positive that had my morning not been so lovely and had my veins not been coursing with pedaling-induced adrenaline, I would have made a different decision at this juncture. But in the moment, hefting my bike on my shoulder and walking along the tracks in search of the path seemed perfectly logical; after all, the fisherman had to get in from somewhere and it made sense that it would be the big Riverside path. At the very least, I knew that the trail I wanted was directly underneath the George Washington bridge looming large in the distance. So away I went, staying way to the side of the actual tracks.

It was hard going. Those rocks are not meant for walking, and certainly not for walking with a giant, oddly shaped object across your shoulder. It took a good fifteen minutes before my perpetual optimism started to wear thin. I kept eyeballing the tall fencing on either side, looking for a man-made hole to escape through. There were none. Thoughts of eternal wandering along the New York rails flitted through my head. I wondered if this was just an exercise in stupidity and decided that maybe I should give in, turn around, and go back the way I came. But then up ahead, I spotted it - the path! Bikers zoomed across, joggers seemed to bob along. Grinning, I congratulated myself on my superior geographical skills and my spirit of adventure. Finally! Only problem was, this path was crossing the railroad tracks perpendicularly - at an elevation of about forty feet.

Once again, I blame the pedaling high. (Biking is obviously a gateway drug into more stupid acts of adventure, so please cycle with caution.) Readjusting my bike, I lumbered over to the fencing and looked carefully at some weaker rusted points. It wasn't long before I found the loose sheet of fencing, propped up to make it look like nothing was amiss. I slipped through the hole to the other side (this is a bit of writing flourish, I admit, because one does not "slip" through any sort of opening, let alone one this size, with unwieldy two-wheeled cargo - wiggled, squirmed, yanked, and heaved are all more accurate descriptors). The fun didn't stop there though, since the "other side" was one of those massive sheer rock formations that make northern Manhattan so beautiful. It was pretty impressive, and more than a little daunting, but knowing now that someone had done this before me, I wasn't about to give up. So up I went.

It was slow going. The rock face was mossy and damp, so I took my time finding solid footing. I clung to saplings for support, and eased my bike up along the rock when I couldn't carry it any longer. After what seemed like ages, I reached the top. A few steps later, and I was on the path. It would be an understatement to say I was glowing with accomplishment though, much to my dismay, there were no crowds of impressed fans waiting to cheer me on. But nothing could get me down after all that. Once I took a moment to catch my breath, I hopped on the bike and began a long (and long-awaited), leisurely ride along the river.

There were lots of people out, despite the gray skies. After a while, I stopped at a rock outcropping along the bank (a shorter one this time) where I sat down and took a moment to take in the beautiful scenery: the just-changing leaves, the gray-blue water lapping at the shore. I sipped some cider and stretched my muscles. Just then, a gentle rain began to fall.

To be continued!

Unique Breeds

On Sunday, Stephanie and I partook in our first true New York adventure. With us both being theatrical and curious kids (with a secret love for mischief), we had signed up to receive updates from the infamous Improv Everywhere group a while back. Known for "causing scenes of chaos and joy in public places", this is the organization behind such fun (and notably, harmless) pranks as "Frozen Grand Central" and the annual "No Pants Subway Rides". Naturally, we were pretty stoked when we got our first top secret mission. All they sent was an address and a time to meet, so when Sunday rolled around, we hopped on the A train and headed for Cobble Hill Brooklyn. For those of you unfamiliar with New York geography, it's about an hour long subway ride from Inwood, so we had plenty of time to speculate about what we'd be doing. We had deduced that we were meeting in an art gallery of sorts, so we hoped it might involve some kind of art project. When we finally got to our destination we tried to act casual, stroll around a bit. It soon became pretty obvious that we weren't the only ones though; everywhere we went we overheard snippets of conversation, all centering around "What do you think we're going to do?!"

Finally, it was time. We made our way to the gallery, which turned out to be an old belt factory that had been acquired by this awesome organization called No Longer Empty. They basically take old industrial spaces and turn them into spaces for art:

"NO LONGER EMPTY is an innovative project involving a group of artists and curators who are interested in exploring a new paradigm for making and presenting art. It was conceived specifically to encourage an artistic response to our present economic condition and the effect on both the urban landscape and the national psyche. The numerous vacated buildings in New York City provide an opportunity for artists to revitalize these spaces with thoughtful, sustainable art installations."

I would absolutley love to be part of an organization like that, or in the umbrella sponsoring organization Fractured Atlas, which "facilitates the creation of art by offering vital support to the artists who produce it. [Fractured Atlas] helps artists and arts organizations function more effectively as businesses by providing access to funding, healthcare, education and more." Wonderful, innovative missions... totally worth donating to if you're in a position to give back.

But now, to get back to our adventure: We finally got inside the space, and it was jam packed with some of the coolest, most outgoing people you'd ever care to meet. There were lots of young twenty-somethings, but also a lot of middle-aged people, and a surprising number of kids. Everyone was packed in pretty tight, but there was a smile on every face; the whole room was literally buzzing with anticipation. The cool art installations strewn about gave us all something to look at at least, something to keep our mind off the burning question of what we were about to participate in. After what seemed like ages, a bearded, 30ish looking guy in jeans and a Tshirt stood up on a wooden pallet and quieted the crowd. I was amazed at the instant hush that feel over the group once he started explaining about the mission. It actually turned out to be pretty brief and straight forward. The space we were standing in had at one time been a belt factory, but had also come to be the birthplace of the popular "Invisible Dog" toy - a stiff leash with a muzzle on the end that, when held at the right angle and viewed with the proper amount of imagination, made it look like you were walking... you guessed it... an invisible dog. Thus, the crew of NO LONGER EMPTY had found themselves in possession of around 2,000 of these things, packed away in every nook and cranny of the place. And so of course, they called Improv Everywhere, because I mean come on...

... what could be better than 2,000 people out for a Sunday stroll with their invisible dogs?

The crowd went nuts. Fun, non-confrontational, and just quirky enough, the prank had all the makings of a great time. Surprisingly, everyone was very patient and calm about getting their "dogs". We had all been told to simply tell anyone who asked that we were just out with our puppies, totally ignoring the fact that "some" people might not see them. And so, after retrieving our retrievers (we decided they were Golden puppies, from the same litter) Steph and I started off.

The range of responses we ran into was AMAZING. Some folks we ran into were angry; they just couldn't understand what was going on and why no one they asked about thought something was going on. Lots of people played along, complementing our pooches, or excitedly pointing them out to their slightly more dubious children. It was great walking around Cobble Hill too, an area that I really hadn't explored at all. There are some beautiful shops and lovely tree-lined side streets that almost made you forget you were in New York City. All in all, we had an amazing time. We returned our doggies at the end, and slowly made our way back up to Inwood. But the adventure didn't end there! After a short break, we were back on the streets, this time headed to karaoke at the Piper's Kilt. I was, admittedly, less than enthused at first. But after some tasty sweet potatoe fries and some irrestiable songs, I was hooked. We ended up singing along until our voices were hoarse, and leaving completley happy with our Sunday adventures.

Sugared Vegetables

Last week, my roommate Stephanie and I decided to sign up for Urban Organic home produce delivery. Basically, every week they deliver a box full of whatever fruit and vegetables are ripest right to your door. It's a great way to ensure you get plenty of tasty green things, and it's always fun to see what all you'll end up with in the box. For example, after the first delivery, Stephanie made some hearty soup with all the kale we got, then used the leftover veggies in a pasta dish. This week, among other things, we had quite a few carrots. Naturally, we figured the only proper way to treat this super healthy root was to smoother it in sugar and cream cheese frosting.

Yes, it was carrot cake time.

Now, Steph and I are close friends. And we get along very well. But if there's one thing I've learned over the last few weeks it's that I am no match for her in the kitchen. Sure, I can whip something together, but she can cook. So I've come to accept my role as su-chef, focusing primarily on preparation, and she's agreed to (mostly) look the other way at my unique and sometimes messy ways of cooking. Thus, I was put to work grating our giant bag of carrots. With both of us on the project, it actually all mixed up pretty quick, and the baking itself flew by too (with the help of a few episodes of Dexter). The frosting turned out to be a bit of an issue though. We probably needed at least twice the powered sugar we had, but neither of us wanted to head out for more (even though the store's only on the corner). So it sort of turned into a cream cheese glaze. The runniness wasn't helped by our impatience to ice it either; hot cakes equal runny frosting. But it tasted delicious nonetheless, and it even looked pretty decent in the end, right before we dug in (see Stephanie about to have at it with the knife, above). My hands are still faintly orange, and we're still finding tiny shreds of carrot all over the kitchen, but it was so, so worth it.

Is That Man Wearing a Cat on His Head?

Yesterday was wonderful. After sleeping in good and long, I finally got to go back to the Inwood farmer’s market (one of the sad truths about working as a PA: the inability to get to fresh produce). Even at 11:00am, it was bustling with activity. Children and dogs were getting tangled up underfoot, and the smell of sizzling turkey sausage filled the air. The colors alone were overwhelming; I had to circle a few times before diving in to make my purchases. I came away with some red and yellow tomatoes, a few apples and pears, a bunch of fresh cilantro and some sheep and cow’s milk ricotta. I also picked up a bottle of fresh cider for the walk home, the cool crispness of which removed any doubt of fall’s arrival.

When I got home, I quickly set about using my food finds to make some lunch. It really is amazing the difference that fresh produce makes. Everything tastes so rich and distinctive! I threw together a sliced tomato and ricotta salad with a balsamic vinaigrette, and I could pick out the flavors of each different type of tomato I used. It was lovely.

Afterwards I made my way down to Christopher Street to see MCC’s production of STILL LIFE (this excursion made possible by a generous comp offer from my friend John). I met up with another MTC intern, Annah, and was mostly happy with the new work, at least for the first act. But I won’t go into details here, as the last thing I want this to become is a theatre criticism blog! So, moving along, Annah and I wandered into a street market after we got out of the theatre. It was a lot of fun strolling down the packed streets, looking at all the cheap purses and bizarre knick-knacks for sale. We both got fruit smoothies and laughed at a man walking around with a cat on his head, then parted ways. As I had to see a show on 54^th at 8:00pm, I headed up to Central Park to kill some time and enjoy the day. Thick, creamy sunshine and long cool shadows – some of my favorite things about September afternoons. It was made even better by a funky trio of jazz musicians playing near the statue I was sitting under. They got the crowd into it; tourists and locals alike paused for a few moments and smiled. Some stayed. A few even danced. It was the perfect way to wile away the hours.

The next show I saw was fairly unremarkable. I stopped by another intern’s (Madeline’s) birthday party on the way back to the train though, and was warmly welcomed by her group of theatre friends. It’s funny to see a group of people identical and yet entirely different to one that you yourself are a part of, like peaking in on a parallel universe. The cupcakes were delicious though, and the hotel itself was wild (see the picture of some of the crazy backlit murals above).

Today has been much tamer, involving an early morning start and seven hours of manning the front desk at MTC. It was good to have some forced productive time, read some plays, pay some bills. I also had some excellent Thai food delivered. But I was feeling worn down and so passed on seeing another show tonight, opting instead for a home cooked meal (eggplant and tomato casserole with garlic sautéed broccoli on the side) and getting some laundry done. A good choice.

Jet Planes and Doctors

Somehow, during the two days I just spent in Philadelphia, fall has come to New York. There's a chill in the air and the sweaters are coming out; I can't wait for the leaves to turn!

It's been a busy few weeks. Highly exhausting but hugely entertaining too. Lots of fun things to report... First, I'll back track a bit to labor day weekend. I got off early from work that Friday, so I met up with my roommate Stephanie for some lunch in Bryant Park. We ate at a small table and watched the old men play chess while in the background the Fashion Week crew set up the enormous tents that house the famous shows. Then we wandered around a bit, poking into different stores and finally lounging on the steps of the New York Public Library. After some good people watching, I made my way to the airport and boarded a flight for Columbus, OH. My parents met me there and we got a chance to catch up in person, which was great. The dogs were both happy to see me too!

The next morning I headed out early for Ann Arbor. It's an easy drive, a straight 2 1/2 hour shot up Route 23, and there's nothing better for a road trip than lazy sunshine and Saturday morning NPR. Between "Car Talk", "All Things Considered" and "Wait, Wait - Don't Tell Me" the miles flew by. Soon enough I was literally leaping into Aidan's arms and cooking up a labor day barbecue with friends. Later on, we visited the Humane Society and looked at some very adorable kittens and puppies. Somehow, we managed to leave without an extra passenger; I was pretty impressed by our restraint. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, then met up with more friends for dinner and pints of ice cream enjoyed in front of a good movie. Sunday and Monday were more of the same - visiting theater friends (at Pizza House of course, our regular haunt), taking in Ann Arbor. On Monday, Aidan also had some headshots taken by Angie Cesere, the same girl who shot my production photos for Kiss of the Spiderwoman and The Full Monty, plus my own headshots. As you can see from the picture above, I managed to sneak my way into a few...

I drove back down to Columbus on Monday night. It was hard leaving, but it was nice to have some more time with my family, get to see them a little before my very, very early flight the next morning. I crawled out of bed slowly at 3:00am, sleepily enjoying the similarities between Ohio crickets and New York traffic, and then managed to get packed up and ready. Dad drove me to the airport, and my busy week began.

Before I go on to explain this busy week, I feel a little explanation is needed. Back in August, right before I moved in to my apartment in New York, I worked as a Production Assistant for the Dr. Phil show. A good friend had called me and offered me the position, and what with a generous stipend and all expenses paid, I couldn't pass up the opportunity. So for three days I went along with the director, the location manager, and the executive in charge of production scouting different locations to shoot the opening of Dr. Phil's eighth season. These included Kleinfeld's Bridal in Manhattan, and numerous places in Philadelphia, like the U.S.S. New Jersey battleship (see picture to the left), the "Rocky" steps of the Philadelphia art museum, and Liberty Plaza. We also shot a commercial spot in Times Square and ate some wonderful food at The Waterworks restaurant. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun! Now, although I was (and am) currently working as an intern at MTC, when the Dr. Phil people called and offered for me to work on the actual shoot in September, I was really eager to help out (and make some extra money!). Luckily for me, my boss was very understanding and gave me quite a few days off to take advantage of the opportunity. And so, that Tuesday morning after Labor Day I arrived in New York at 7:15am, just in time to hop in a taxi and dash off to the 7:30am production meeting on Central Park South.

More to come on the Dr. Phil adventures!

Inner Life of an Intern

I've been working as a casting intern at Manhattan Theatre Club for just about two weeks now, and there hasn't really been a dull moment since I started. Besides fielding phone calls and filing headshot/resumes, there are lots of other tasks to be done, like finding out actor availibity for an upcoming project, putting together audition materials, and assembling sides (sections of the script that an actor reads during auditions). It's a great office to intern for because everyone is really willing to take the time to teach me what needs done. I also work some nights at the front desk of MTC, which is a really nice way to make some extra money. And today I had lunch with one of the other new interns from the Literary department. Lots of fun; I think we're going to try and get all of the interns together after work on Thursday night, get to know each other and relax before the long weekend.

In other news, I checked out the new gym that opened up near me yesterday. It's nice, though a bit crowded (no surprise at 7:00pm). It's very basic, only sporting cardio and weight equipment, which lets them charge only $10 a month - a great thing for a new grad like me! After that, I settled in for some script reading... a task which I return to now...

Moving in to Inwood

So after being prepared for an all-out real estate battle, I found the actual process of procuring an apartment in New York City to be surprisingly easy. I think the key is a lot of research; we looked at neighborhood blogs to see what realistic prices were and where the "good" parts were and we were also very careful not to set up appointments to view places that were farther than two blocks from a subway. This meant we passed on a lot of almost-good Craigslist ads, but in the end it meant that all of the four places we looked at were true, feasible options for us.

We ended up with a lovely three bedroom place just north of Dyckman Street, in the Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood (which I had never heard of before this adventure). For those that aren't familiar with the island, it's on the west side of the north-most tip. But thanks to an A train express stop on the corner it's only 25 minutes to Times Square. It's also close to beautiful parks and restaurants, of which I'll write more later.

Most of our furniture has been purchased through Craigslist as well, and that's lead to some bizarre and funny times. Take, for instance, the sofa bed we got from a sweet man named Eric. I've never seen a man so buff and so knowledgeable about how to remove spots with Woolite. ("Do NOT use water, sweetie. Ya just gonna rub it in.") Between the two of us, we managed to finagle this couch down a narrow three flight walk up - and now we have a perfect bed for visitors! There was also the adventure with the (free!) kitchen table that we got down a five story walk up, only to discover that it was too large for the car. After lugging it back up the five flights, we managed to shove a kitchen storage unit into the backseat. At least, we almost did. The door wouldn't quite shut. But that's not a huge biggie, right? So, we set off. It seemed fine at first, but after a few blocks we came to a hard stop and whoosh, the door was open wide. So, with my roommate navigating the crazy traffic, I stuck myself halfway outside the car and held the door shut, sometimes with my body, sometimes with sheer force of will. The constant laughter from the drivers seat paired with the stares from pedestrians was not helpful.

We've also discovered a lot of wonderful little spots in our new neighborhood, like The Cloisters (picture). This beautiful Spanish Castle was relocated block by block from Europe to it's current home two streets down from us. It sits high atop a hill overlooking the river, and makes a great place for a picnic! The Garden Cafe has also quickly become a favorite of ours. Located at Broadway and 207th, it has gorgeous outdoor seating and terrific service, not to mention fabulous food. For our first visit we had pear and zucchini soup, pumpkin and sage raviloi, strawberry and mango stuffed chicken in chipotle sauce, chocolate cake, and white sangria. Delicious! And speaking of delicious... the Inwood farmer's market is full of great produce and smiling faces. This past Saturday we purchased a local blush wine from the friendly couple that owns the winery and were very impressed.

Some other activites we hope to check out soon include...

Sunday garden tours at Ft. Tyron Park
Triva night at Coogan's bar
Kayaking on the Hudson River

http://www.washington-heights.us/calendar/

That's all for now; more to come on Inwood adventures, plus the life of an MTC intern!