June was very busy! I started the month frantically getting ready for another show, this time in NYC. Those of you who know me well have heard my alternating raves about California and NYC being the two coolest places in the world. I love them for different reasons. NYC is so much more than just a city..it really feels like a big, living and breathing thing (for lack of a better word). Being there leaves you with two options. Become part of it or go insane with over stimulation. I usually take the train from Maryland and usually, I start getting nervous anticipation about an hour before I get there. It feels like I am going on a date–knowing it’s going to be a good one.. Exiting Penn Station ALWAYS makes me turn into a tourist. I stop for a minute and just look UP, sometimes I am standing in the middle of the sidewalk, which is not something I recommend. My last trip to NYC was during a big, big heatwave which added a very interesting dimension to the already frenetic population of the city. I arrived mid day, the temperature was about 95 degrees and I decided to walk from Penn Station to the Javits Center, where I typically spend my work day. The Javits is a giant Glass BOX. It was built in the 70’s, around the same time when plastic pants and matching sofas were in style… The outcome is an odd looking structure, looming by the rivers edge.
In the summer, the Glass Box becomes a giant Greenhouse. Because it’s glass all around, the sun is a constant companion. I can’t imagine what it costs to cool this place– it must be a lot because we typically have no air conditioning during our setup days, making for a sweaty and cranky crew. When the weather outside is above 85degrees, the air conditioning just gives up and being inside feels only a little better. Despite the sauna conditions, we had a great show with lots of interesting attendees although the heat made everyone a little edgy. My evenings in NYC are always spent walking the city, exploring the shops, finding good Italian food and this time, visiting a Salsa Club with my NYC “boyfriend” Michael. I’ve been taking a salsa class and wanted to try my skills, preferably somewhere I could get lost in the crowd. The club we went to ended up drawing an amazing group of what looked like professional salseros and watching them was so much fun! Michael is a struggling actor and musician and he’s lived in NYC all of his life. He has no sense of direction (literally and figuratively ) and is definitely someone who takes the motto “One Day at a Time” very seriously. It’s always so cool to see the city with a native New Yorker–between him and a crazy ex GF who was also from NYC, I’ve seen some pretty interesting places. I love Central Park in the morning, when the mist is rising and the runners and dog walkers are all about. I love Bryant Park in the evening, when the tall trees are throwing shadows and the crowd has thinned out a bit. There are some amazing old Churches in NYC, this one is on 5th Ave
The Public Library is breathtaking too. Every time I go to NYC, I tell myself to go see a show but I still haven’t done that. It’s the part of me that feels that sitting in place for 2 1/2 hours would mean that I am missing out on 2 1/2 hours of wandering the city randomly, finding little surprises around every corner. I am headed back again in a few weeks and this time, I am really, really going to try to see a show..!
