NYC Trip Update

6 Apr

 I’ve been back from New York for almost two weeks now. I had intended to write all about how much fun I had as soon as I returned, but, unfortunately, some unpleasant life stuff arose as soon as I got into town (aka I got laid off), and I’ve been a little distracted. But! I had a seriously swell time and I’m settling into my new employment situation, so, here we go…

I feel so lucky I’ve been able to travel. I’m not a world traveler by any means, but the handful of trips I have taken (even if just back to NY every year) have been some of the best times of my life. I never really leave with much of a plan, but I feel like that’s kind of the best part. I think that’s also why I like traveling alone so much. I’m able to just go and do what I want, when I want. Sometimes that is just sitting in a bar, talking to strangers–which is often really awesome! When you’re with a friend or family member, you often just end up talking with them and not opening yourself up to meeting new people. Which leads me to what was one of the highlights of my trip to NY.

I had an early (like senior citizen early-bird special early) dinner reservation at Eleven Madison Park (which was awesome, by the way!) and so I finished early and had the evening ahead of me. I went back to my hotel to change and I had one of my moments that I always have when I go back to NY. One of those Crap-I-Sure-Wish-I-Still-Lived-Here-What-Am-I-Doing-With-My-Life moments. So, I cried a little, changed my clothes, and headed out, thinking I’d maybe go up the Empire State Building, which I’d never done before. I was walking around midtown when I remembered a Sharks game was on and a hockey bar I’d heard of was a few blocks away. So, I popped in around 10:15 or so. Anyway, long story short slightly less long, I wound up talking to two nice dudes at the bar. Turns out they take an annual trip to NY in the spring just like I do. We spent a few hours chatting and the three of us ended up hanging out and drinking together the next two nights as well. It was really great. And, upon coming back to such crappy news, it kind of helped put things in perspective for me. Like, as much as I like my job and money and stuff, all that really is far less important in life than actually connecting with people. We’re all still keeping in touch, too, which is swell.

As for the rest of the trip…  My main impetus to take this vacation was to see Gatz at the Public and it was amazing. It was everything I wanted it to be. And, Scott Shepherd , the actor who reads the book/plays Nick knows all 49,000 words to The Great Gatsby by heart. I think I’m in love with him. Heh. I also, as you might have seen in my last post, got to see Denis O’Hare’s An Iliad, which was pretty good, Evita, which was less good, and The Book of Mormon, which was pretty awesome. Andrew Rannells, the lead, was out when I saw it, which was sort of a bummer, but the actor who filled in did a great job. I had a great time, but I think I might have enjoyed the show more if I wasn’t already so familiar with the songs.

Food-wise, as I mentioned, Eleven Madison Park, which is a fancy-schmancy three-Michelin-starred restaurant, was really, really good. Food and service were excellent and they were great with me, a woman dining solo, which I always appreciate. I also hit my favorite NY restaurants, Lederhosen and Celeste (which generally affords me my favorite meal of the year, including these amazing chicken livers, which you can see at the top-center of the collage above).

I also managed to hit a few museums, including a trip to the Met to see its new American wing, which was closed for renovations when I was there last year. It’s really well done and does a great job of showcasing the most famous pieces. They even recreated the original giant gold frame for the giant painting of Washington crossing the Delaware (pictured in the collage above), which makes the canvas even more impressive.

This trip, combined with me being out of work/contracting, which I can do from anywhere, is making me seriously consider up and moving back to NY. My lease is up here at the end of May and I’m trying to decide if I should go for it. My natural inclination is to over-think it and never go. I’m trying to fight that…but at the same time it’s a big undertaking that shouldn’t be decided upon lightly. Decisions, decisions!

Broadway Bound

15 Feb

I’m taking my annual trip back to New York at the end of March and most of my energy of late has been spent deciding which shows to see while I’m there. I didn’t think it through enough last time, though I did see the Arcadia and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying revivals, which were solid, though not amazing. If I still lived in NY, things would be easier. I’d just see every damn thing, but with seven days/six nights (longer than my usual three/four) in town, there are only so many things I can see.  I mean, I still have to make time to eat at my favourite restaurants and other random crap.  Anyway!  After much debate (and accepting that certain things that are opening now will be ending their runs right before I get there), I’ll be seeing…

 

Love the cast recording, can’t wait to see the show!

 

The Great Gatsby is my favourite book and I’m so looking forward to this.  Eight hours of Fitzgerald-y goodness combined with theatre-y awesomeness.

 

I have no particular interest in Evita, but I love Michael Cerveris (you may recall I mentioned my love for his Sweeney Todd in a previous post), so here we go. (I am, though, still trying to figure out how Ricky Martin has billing over Elena Roger who is PLAYING EVITA IN EVITA!)

 

I also have great admiration for Denis O’Hare’s work. This is his adaptation of Homer’s Iliad conceived as a one-man show. He and Stephen Spinella are alternating nights.  I’m seeing an O’Hare performance.

 

So, that’s that. I debated seeing Porgy and Bess (mostly just to see Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis, whom I’ve not yet seen on stage) and the Once musical, but I figure four shows in seven days is probably more than enough…though if How I Learned to Drive extends, I’m getting a Norbert Leo Butz fix too.

Merry Christmas!

24 Dec

Merry Christmas, everyone!   (We open our gifts on Christmas Eve, so today is more like Christmas to me than tomorrow will be.)  On this festive day, please enjoy Mickey’s Christmas Carol, which is one of my favourite parts of the season.  Some lovely person has put it up on YouTube.  It’s 26 minutes of awesomeness.  Enjoy and have a great holiday!

Another Thursday…

17 Nov

 
Donuts.  The other day I was wondering how long I could go eating nothing but donuts before I got tired of them.

 

This, my friends, is Michael Stuhlbarg. He is an actor of immense awesomeness. The picture on the left is Stuhlbarg as Arnold Rothstein on Boardwalk Empire (he’s never in the show enough!) and the photo on the right is him as the lead in the Coen brothers’ A Serious Man (which is hilarious!).  He’s everything an actor should be.

 

The “Subway/Pamela” episode of Louie. This might be the best 3o minutes of television ever.  It’s certainly up there with the best of the best.

 

Mashed potatoes. ‘Nuff said.

Hey, Look, it’s Me

14 Nov

Well, look at that. It’s yours truly making a silly face over on UncommonGoods. They were kind enough to feature some guest editorial I put together on behalf of Kaboodle. If you’re so inclined, check out my 20 favourite holiday gifts available on UncommonGoods.com.

 

“…These Go to Eleven.”

11 Nov

Some genius out there decided 11/11/11 should be Nigel Tufnel Day.  I can’t help but get on board with that, especially with the accompanying picture.  So, folks, bust out your copy of This is Spinal Tap this evening and revel in its genius.

Chronicle Books’ Happy Haulidays!

10 Nov

Chronicle Books (a lovely local SF company where a former co-worker now works) is running its Happy Haulidays giveaway again this season.  To enter to win, simply post a blog with a list of up to $500 worth of Chronicle Books titles you’d love to win.  Best of all, if you do win, you’ll also be able to give your charity of choice $500 to pick out books too.  And, if I win, one lucky commenter on this post will also win the books I selected!  Pretty sweet deal all around.  So, here are the books I’d love to win…
 

If you’ve any interest in a chance to win these books too, be sure to leave a comment.  Happy Haulidays!