Stars in our town and some mics...

Barrow Street Theatre on May 21, 2010: In This Is New York, E.B. White wrote, "When I went down to lunch a few minutes ago I noticed that the man sitting next to me (about eighteen inches away along the wall) was Fred Stone. The eighteen inches were both the connection and the separation that New York provides for its inhabitants. My only connection to Fred Stone was that I saw him in The Wizard of Oz around the beginning of the century. But our waiter felt the same stimulus from being close to a man from Oz, and after Mr. Stone left the room the waiter told me that when he (the waiter) was a young man just arrived in this country and before he could understand a word of English, he had taken his girl for their first theater date to The Wizard of Oz. It was a wonderful show, the waiter recalled – a man of straw, a man of tin. Wonderful! (And still only eighteen inches away.) 'Mr. Stone is a very hearty eater,' said the waiter thoughtfully, content with this fragile participation in destiny, this link with Oz."

When I ventured downtown over a week ago to see Our Town, I noticed at the second intermission that there were some famous folk in the house. In the surreptitious iPhone photo up there is Frances McDormand, Peter MacNichol, and Austin Pendleton. Since I've been here, I've on numerous occasion seen many a highly regarded personality. I think folks like this can have a life about town more easily here than, say, LA because there's a bit more respect for that thin layer of privacy... and it's more of a necessity that everyone is on the same playing field here. It's always a fun thing, though, to notice that the person at the next table won a few Emmys or the guy behind you in line at the Starbucks is a Grammy winner and Broadway star or the fellow you're sharing beers with is a Tony-winner. Neat place, this NYC!


The Nederlander Theatre on May 30, 2010: Also... had the opportunity to wander on the set of Million Dollar Quartet at the Nederlander Theatre. Here's a shot of the onstage mics and the theatre's ghost light. Note: The mic in the foreground is the one used by my pal Rob Lyons when he plays Carl Perkins in the Tony-nominated show.

Wartime diversion...

44th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave. A plaque marking the location of the Stage Door Canteen during World War II.

Hipstamatic.

I've discovered a new tool in my photo documentation around the city. Hipstamatic is an application for my iPhone that makes photos look like old school polaroids... saturated colors and rough around the edges. Really cool! I don't want to use this amazing novelty too much on this blog, but occasionally I'm sure you'll see some shots in this format. The photo on the left was taken down 45th Street around 6:30pm on May 25, shortly before the Broadway marquees were dimmed to honor the memory of AP theatre critic Michael Kuchwara. Below is a gathering of shots I took around Central Park... statues and Sheep Meadow. Can't wait until they're done refurbishing the Angel of the Waters statue in Bethesda Fountain!

Overheard...

[Occasionally, I might post dribs and drabs of conversations overheard about the city. These are fun to notice too.]

[Overheard while walking past the local middle school...]
Hoodlum #1: "And then he said 'F**K YOU!!' and 'F**K YOU!!' and 'F**K THAT!!'"
Hoodlum #2: "I know! That's what I was saying... 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely!'"

[Overheard at the bar down the street...]
Barfly #1: "Hey, I smoked one of Keith Richards' cigarettes!"
[Long explanation about a buddy who works at a studio where Richards recorded and left some cigs.]
Barfly #2: "You smoke? Don't you know that's bad for you?"
Barfly #1: "Man, I thought that'd go over better."

Rumble in the jungle, Jim Joe, and jumpers...

On the Manhattan bound R train from Queens. Some folks on the way to the Yanks v. Red Sox game. The cute little family bedecked in pinstripes is playing a little educational game on the iPhone. Their show of solidarity with the home team is a unified front. The guy with them has a message more geared towards the visiting team. Sorry the pics are a bit blurry. It was the best I could do in that "creepy guy with a camera on the subway" way.


On Madison in the upper 20s. There's a graffiti artist out there these days called Jim Joe. Some of his writings are gently poignant.


Madison Square. I posted a pic of one of these a couple posts back. Here are a few of Antony Gormley's jumpers. I really don't think that's what they're actually called, but they look like they're poised for action, don't they?



And finally, I was waiting for the train at a Fifth Avenue stop, and I saw a little window into possibility.

A pee tree and a sparkly ballerina...

UWS around 68th and Columbus. There are a lot of signs around the city, reminding folks to curb their animals and/or clean up after them. This one struck me as funny. And then I zipped up and kept looking.


Lincoln Center. I love the way the chandelier lights in the lobby make the ballerina's costume look all sparkly.

A marquee and a jumper...

The Booth Theatre on 45th. NYC. Lovely light, partially bounced off the neighboring building. I love the clouds and the water tower. This was Bobby Spencer's last day in Next to Normal.






Part of Antony Gormley's art installation around Madison Square Park. I tried my best at keeping the camera still, but the double-ish exposure is pretty nifty. Some of these sculptures are in the park. Some, like this one, are perched on rooftops around the park, including on the neighboring Flatiron Building.

Coffee and clown hair...

First, a note... I had originally wanted to present each photo on this blog in the same artsy fartsy monochromatic tone, but I've since realized that to deny y'all the wonderful colors of this city would be a crime. So I've changed it up... even retroactively (well, one entry).


Stumptown Coffee at the Ace Hotel. On 29th Street near Broadway.





A patron at the American Folk Art Museum on 53rd. Getting ready to hear the folk singer Jo Williamson and enter the museum on the free Friday session.

Random turret...

Astoria, NY. On 30th Avenue around 42nd Street.

The incongruity is whimsical. The old building has been updated with vinyl siding... except for this little tower.