ah, no. for me, no. but not that i would know this firsthand (this has only been secondary information).
people who wander aimlessly on the sidewalk or cluelessly take up the entire sidewalk so you can't pass? (they are usually couples conversing or groups of people - damn tourists!). and then finally finding your "window of opportunity" so you can finally pass them and be on your way?
no and no.
then, WHAT??!!
shopping at union square's trader joe's.
i have never been in a store where there have been so many people shopping in such a small space. i have never been in a store that i am so excited to be at because of all the great foods/ prices i'm going to take home with me. ...eventually.
then again, i haven't ever been in a cabbage patch doll or play station stampede at walmart or target. i guess never say never, huh?
everything's got a price.
this trader joe's is so much smaller than the ones i've shopped at in california when i lived there. the size of the union square store is actually half the sizes of those other stores. welcome to nyc.
at least people aren't rude; i am happy to report that civility is alive and well at NYC's tj's. there is a little frustration with climbing over/ around people. the 12 items or less line and the regular line wrap endlessly around the aisle and shoppers. many times you can't even tell where the line is despite the tj workers hanging out with their line signs. the shopping carts do not fit by skinny or fat people when the aisles are crammed on the sides middle and people are trapped because of the traffic flow just because they had to get one item in the nut section.
i feel their pain. i have been that nut in that section before.
"get out of my way!"
"me first!"
"oh, god...just pass already!"
"you and your shopping cart just ran over my toe...again!"
"oh, YOU again. get out of my way...again!"
here is a wonderfully cute tj youtube video. it's genius. awesome. and he gets kudos for using one of my favorite jazz tunes: antonio carlos jobim's the waters of march.
in 2001 on this day, i was in florida with my mom, dad at their new house with my aunt, and uncle. i was not feeling well and hadn't been for a while. we were trying to figure out what we were going to do for the day, i mean - we were on vacation. as we tried to get our morning started, mom got a phone call from a friend who told her to turn on the television. mom said, "turn on the t.v. - something is happening." what we saw next was beyond acceptance and belief. we saw smoke and a the twin towers on fire. but that was old news. what we saw next was too much to watch: the footage showed the towers collapsing. it was a rough day for me to begin with because i wasn't feeling well, but when i saw what was happening in nyc, i knew i had been there at the top of the WTC and it was too much for me; i sank down behind the couch trying to take it all in. the rest of the day and week was spent checking in with the television news. i remember listening to the round the clock coverage on NPR. too much information took on a whole new meaning. everyone was looking for hope, but it seemed everyone's worst fears were coming true.
i now live in nyc. i've been to the WTC site. it's sombering to be in a place where so many lost their lives. what happened is still in the back of my head and sometimes i wonder if we will all have to deal with something like this again.
i guess this day was a reminder to be thankful for who and what we have in our lives. everyone was touched by the devastating happenings. i'll never forget where i was.
here are some pics of the firehouse by my apartment. 48th and 9th.
‘23 COINS’ A WORLD PREMIERE OF A NEW MUSICAL
Written by Mark Abrahams
Direction by S. Barton-Farcas & Michelle Kuchuk
Arrangements & Musical Direction by Michael O'Dell
Ginny Walker is not like other girls. Hiding out in the badlands of southern Louisiana, this genius girl-prodigy and her fugitive mother, Sarah, live precariously. But the law is not the only threat. Both of them dangle beneath a giant question mark—a fatal genetic legacy that may (or may not) strike. Laid bare under such catastrophic shoes about to drop, how does one plow through an average day? As you might’ve guessed, Ginny turns to preaching the gospel. After all, she’s gifted. She’s got fire & brimstone. Healing hands. And somehow, the full text of the bible committed to memory. In the pursuit of soul saving, these gifts are invaluable. To Isaac Thigpen of Christ’s Road Show Tent Revival, Lil’ Gin Walker’s talents are gold. When she preaches—the collection plate doth runneth over. Thigpen has big plans for which he’ll fight if necessary. And he’ll surely bring down hellfire on anyone who gets in the w ay—to make sure that his golden girl-preacher goose keeps the cash comin’. Things may seem hopeless. But this special (and highly motivated) girl isn’t about to leave her fate up to chance.
How will Gin and her mother survive their gods and demons?
this month and next i get the privilege and thrill of Music Directing mark abrahams' new musical 23 COINS at nicu's spoon theatre, NYC. it's extremely exciting for me because i not only get to arrange the music and shape the show's sound, i get to play (and sing) a great character and also play keyboards for the show. who says you still can't be a triple threat when it doesn't involve dancing?
off-off-broadway here i come....
p.s. the cast is amazing.
23 COINS performance times, dates & info:
october 7th - 25th, 2009
wednesdays - saturdays @ 8PM/ sundays @ 2:30PM
38 west 38th street, 5th floor, NYC
tickets: general: $18/seniors & students: $15
click here to buy tickets
Berta's Bleu is performing at art that rocks @ at the clemente soto velez cultural center (107 sulffolk street, NYC) this saturday, september 12th, 2009 @ 8:30PM.
check out some of our tunes (in youtube form).
here's one of the great songs Berta's Bleu is gigging with. and this is angelo edwards doin' his thang in this video. CLOTHES THAT DON'T FIT.
here is the LIVE version of CLOTHES THAT DON'T FIT performed by Berta's Bleu at ashford and simpson's sugar bar, NYC 08.05.09. our first gig! we're back at sugar bar ...in october!
here is the LIVE version of GO DOWN performed by Berta's Bleu at ashford and simpson's sugar bar, NYC 08.05.09.
here is the LIVE version of MR. WRONG performed by Berta's Bleu at ashford and simpson's sugar bar, NYC 08.05.09.
...waiting for my light to turn on...UPDATE: the light has finally turned on. help IS on the way.....
NYC: madison square garden - looks like a fight to me - jay-z vs. the empire state building. and i think i saw the stay puff marshmellow man coming up 8th ave. ready to rumble!
POPPY! is completing its 2009 NYC International Fringe Festival run this afternoon. it's been a great run but we aren't through with the show and audiences haven't seen the last of us: we are gearing up for a small tour in VT at the end of the month and we hope to do the show back here in NYC and beyond this fall and on. stay tuned....
next week berta's bleu has it's first big gig in a line of many coming up this fall. check it out if you can.
