Honey...Wagon!!!

Gorgeous day today in Gotham. In fact I took a break and walked to the gym. Good to get out and air myself! It is so easy to stay behind a hot computer and never get up. My generation will see a lot of blind, humphy-backed seniors I am certain.



As I walked down to my beloved YMCA (two days and it is already beloved. When I fall, I fall hard.) I passed by blocks and blocks of film trucks. It is silly, but I thought that was a thing left behind in LA: filming all over the streets everywhere. Well it is not at all. There is constant filming in New York. It is just like LA except the New York Streets here are real.





I laughed to myself (to myself because 1. I was alone and 2. it is not all that funny, but : Wouldn't it be funny if the studios in New York, if there were any true studios, had "LA Streets" on their back lots with loads of palm trees and desert-like vistas and rows of those dingbat apartments?

City Is Theatre

It is hot in New York at night. Windows are open. Air conditioners hum. People stand outside and whistle for their cats. I know this because the back quad area makes for good stereo sound.

The same guy who had a full on discussion with his doctor on the phone this afternoon as I was trying to work (He is fine, results were good.) is now whistling for his cat. I know this because he is explaining to some neighbor woman that he is missing his "big fat, grey, bald cat. "

If any of you find it his number is 212-2*6-4455. I know this because he just gave it to the neighbor lady.

I am not doing a Gladys Kravitz either. I am just sitting at my desk typing to you. Well, taking dictation almost.

Now he is back to doing that hissing whistling thing, or hisstling. When one is not a part of all the cat excitement it is sort of annoying.

Poor guy lost his cat. That is sad, but I am just amazed at how good the acoustics are and I can hear everything. Scary because of the conference call I had today that probably was broadcast out my window.

On another note, walking home today by Lincoln Center I heard a guy in a yarmulke say to his mom, "They even close down the website. You can't buy ANYTHING from them on Shabass."

Love that. I hope they hit "Shut down" on the computer before the sun sets.

Dining Al Fresco in Brooklyn

Met my friend Cooper at the Sundance Film Festival Goes to BAM event. He was here from LA and it was great to see him. It was so good to see Todd and Matt and Trevor as well. I really miss my days on the Fest side of life. They are all great and talented people.

BAM (or the Brooklyn Academy of Music) is a huge ass place as is Brooklyn itself. Yet both are intimate as well. It was an exciting field trip to even go there. I got to watch a Shorts film program and then listen to Todd and Trevor on a panel afterwards. Saw my boss from the channel there and some other people too. Again if I could do it it would be the film festival life. I lerve it. Air kissing and parkas and a lot of hard work. I am IN!

After the event Cooper and I took off in a taxi with Steven to Jerret and Cort's for a dinner party. Chris, Steven's partner met us. (You probably are confused and checked out, but I need to have accuracy as well as my own interpretation of what happened.)

That is pork with prosciutto and sage and chunks of bread. A-mazing.

I know there were keggers in my twenties and clubs/bars in my thirties, but I have to say dinner parties in my 40s is by far the best. It is one of my favorite things in life (ed. note: Perhaps you should throw one?!)

Jerret and Cort are documentary filmmakers who take off on Wednesday for South Africa on their latest project and they had time to have us all over for a Tuscan feast in the back garden. Can you just smell the sage and see the lights? It was just perfect: the food, the people, the chat. And the weather. Their home is a lovely brownstone from the 1800s down the street from a building that was there during the Revolutionary War and Washington may have been there. That sort of vibe. They are truly so gracious that I felt completely welcome. They had all the excellent hosting skills! Now to brush up on my guesting. We started around 6:30 and left close to midnight. No charades were even played. It was almost like being in Italy.

Cooper got me into the whole indie film biz and here I am surrounded by people who do it. Incredibly pinchmyself worthy. It was great. Funnily enough we talked more about theatre and pop culture than Botswana and Global Warming. And lots of attention was paid to who was the best Gypsy. This conversation happens a lot in New York. Well, with the people I meet...

Thundestorms!

In my book this is great weather. It didn't last long, but it was magnificent. Living in a city where I am walking and not driving AND there is variable weather is exciting to me. Remember when Steve Martin as the weatherman in LA STORY used to pre-record his weather reports as "75 degrees and sunny" or something like that because it was always that same weather? (And I know LA readers that is not a 100% true at all, but it is 75% true!) Here the heavens just open and wail and then it is off to sunny Sunday brunch.

Where is the city with the perfect weather conditions where you read a lot AND you are in the best physical shape of your life through outdoor activities?

Wait, are you saying that is up to ME?!

I'd Walk a Mile for a Camel

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I finally joined a gym. The walking in New York is abundant, but so are the bagels, b & w cookies, ice cream and cheese. My Scottish side wanted to stay fit through free stuff like stretching whilst waiting for the train, running from muggers, and helping old ladies with their bags up the stairwells, etc. There were just not enough agreeable old ladies to offset the Zabars purchases.

So I went TWO BLOCKS from my home to tour the New York Sports Club. This is what they call the Starbucks of Gyms here as they are instant and everywhere. You can get a workout in all over the city. Lots of equipment, classes and location, location, location. After my tour on the way to get a pain au chocolat from Zabar's, I thought, "Hmmm? I may want to swim on occasion. Maybe I better check out places with pools." "But this gym is RIGHT HERE!" The only solution was to eat and think some more.

I decided on the way to the movies today that I would check out the Westside Y. It is 17 blocks from where I live and cannot even compete on the convenient card with the NYSC, but it has a pool and after a wonderful tour given by Bernadette she had me at "Tennessee Williams premiered one of his plays in the theatre here." I am a sucker for character and history. I signed up for a summer deal and will try this out. I should post a before picture here to see if by Sept. 1 progress has been made.

Think of all the calories burned walking down to the gym from home and going "Naaahhh, I can't be bothered today" and turning around and walking home!

My Faith Restored

Like an urban manic/depressive I bounced back in full OTT glory today and was back partying on rooftops with good food and really glamourous people talking glamourous talk and eating roasted things topped with other things. Glamourous.

Sean took me to a client party at one of the top production houses in town. Little did I know until I got there that their offices are in the penthousesque home of the architect of the Chrysler Building, William Van Allen! I swear. I was in his greenhouse and private office. He lived there to watch the Chrsyler Building go up and the perspective from there is a-mazing.

Creative people don't need to dress up.

A few weeks back when I was a mere commoner travelling on the Hop On Hop Off bus with my cousin Fidelma we heard all about this apartment in the sky, but anyone who is on a Hop On Hop Off bus never imagines in their wildest that they would ever be swilling seltzer in such a place on one of the four terraces no less.

What an achievment. I mean, this picture.

We had a great time and ate much and laughed heartily.

What Can I Say About Today?

Well, blecch, frankly. It was beautiful and sunny outside. I got out from working and took a walk along the river. But it was a crap day and I am not going to say any more. Time to turn it off and go to sleep.