Bye February

As a winter fan, I'm sorry to see the best winter month, February, come to a close...

But with two snow days, I have no complaints about Feb 2010!

Next stop: March.

In like a lion, out like a lamb...?

... Or not?

Times Square Blizzard(s)

Well, I really don't think this last big storm truly qualified as a bona fide "blizzard"... Not the right meteorological combo of wind and snow at the same times...or something like that.

But it was a monster storm that stalled and dumped lots of precipitation over our tri-state area for a couple days straight.

And, naturally, I'm all for closed schools!! Thank you Snow Princess!

Nearby Central Park recorded a record 20+ inches of snow after all was said and done...

Naturally, the touristy Times Square received the city's finest snow removal services... Whenever you wanna have a peek... click a look at Times Square Cam in High Def. Sound included.... How cool is that??

Photo sent by Nicomar shows the Times Square Blizzard of 1888 back when the Times Square area, the crossroads of the world, was still known as Longacre Square...

A few blocks west, our Hell's Kitchen is well recovered from the snow blast... Though you still gotta be careful, for a while, of melting, and re-freezed slicks.

And, of course, don't eat the yellow and black snow...

... In a word: Ew.

Bring it Down Like the Snow

It's a rare winter that we get a single snow day... But two is unheard of.

I thank the great Snow Princess...

Her dancey dance is snowfall magic...

Click here and give her a twirl...

Green Signal for Moynihan Station?

According to an editorial in The New York Times, the project to convert the grand USPS Farley Station in lower-most Hell's Kitchen to a magnificent train station is still a "go".

Hope so.

A Super-Duper Snow Hurricane?

The National Weather Service is calling this one a potential Snow Hurricane...

Now if we can just scootch that rain-snow line just a tad...?

A four day weekend would be super-duper...

Or a three day weekend, even?... Super!

We can hope can't we??

Wednesday's Word: Mondaze

Mondaze, noun

def: a daze you find yourself in due to it being Monday

Usage: Todd packed a lunch for work on Monday but then left the apartment without carrying it along. He was in a Mondaze after a one week vacation from the work-a-day grind...

Adapted from Urban Dictionary

The Temperamentals

Caught a preview performance of the latest incarnation of The Temperamentals at New World Stages yesterday...

The Temperamentals is about the formation of The Mattachine Society, the first gay civil rights organization in America.

Script tells the story of two men - the communist Harry Hay and the Viennese refugee and designer Rudi Gernreich - as they fall in love while working on their own version of an early gay rights movement.


It takes place during the period 1950-1953. This is a an obscure period of American gay/political history.

That was years before the notorious Stonewall Riots... And with references to many pop culture icons and news events of this period , it fits neatly into the time-line in the audience's minds.

Playwright Jon Marans does a great job of making this worthy documentary material engaging and dramatic, and the cast, (featuring original casters' Thomas Jay Ryan and Michael Urie) is superb.  Once again directed by Jonathan Silverstein, this new production is fast-paced and tight.

For tickets and info go to TheTemperamentals.com

Spoiler Alert: If you're wondering how this phase of Gay history ends: The case is dismissed due to a hung jury, Jennings becomes a community hero, and the society gathers more members, even as Hay and Gernreich have their personal differences over Gernreich's fashion career and Hay is summoned to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The attending notoriety exacerbates intramural Mattachine conflicts so that by 1953 the four initial creators resign == and the rest is reclaimed gay history. - David Finkle, Theatermania

Set the Tone Monday: Acceptance is the Answer

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation “some fact of my life“ unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism*, I could no stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and my attitudes".
- The Big Book.

* Feel free to substitute anything in that spot!

Winding Down...

Winding down the end of the break...

... With a brunch with a friend and then an Off-Broadway matinee...

Then, it's early to bed, for another early to rise...

Like the Hollister Hunk?? He's obviously extremely well hung (over a bus stop, that is)...

Happy Sunday, folks...

How I Spent My Mid-Winter Break

Art, scented candles, Columbus Avenue, hot baths, Fountain Gallery, old friends, new friends, Inwood, Chelsea, parties, MoMA, Columbia University, East Village, West Village, organizing, Kodama sushi, Off-Broadway, Off-off Broadway, DVR backlog, El Centro, meetings, a clean(er) apartment, pizza, toy fair, BBQ, sleeping late, McDonald's sundae, urban hikes, social media, UWS, Veselka, photography, coffee, tea, Coldstone Creamery, coffee shops, Amy's Bread oatmeal cookies, reading, writing, reminiscing, meditation, and rest.

ASYLUM: Artists from the Living Museum

Got over to the Fountain Gallery's latest show: ASYLUM: artists from the living museum...

Works by over 20 artists from Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens explore the ways in which patients create masterpieces in an (art) asylum within an asylum.

My favorites: Frank Boccio's mixed media "Nuts", some clever collage work by Maria Slovakova, and some striking black and white pastels by Sabita Neron'.

This group exhibition of paintings, mixed media pieces, sculptures, and installations is on view until February 24th at Fountain Gallery, the premier venue in New York City representing artists with mental illness.

It's long been a Hell's Kitchen neighborhood treasure... And I make it a point to go see every show.

702 Ninth Avenue @ 48th St.
New York, NY 10019
212.262.2756


Hours: Tues-Sat. 11am-7pm Sun. 1-5pm

Speaking of Chicken

Stopped for lunch the other day at Dallas BBQ on West 72nd St on the UWS, while on a self styled urban hike.

This restaurant has been there since I first moved to NYC in early 1980's.

Told my handsome young tatooed Dominican waiter (!) that I used to eat here in 1982/3 when it was called "Dallas Jones". 

He confessed he wasn't even born til 1986! Jeezus!

Then he called the manager over to talk to me about the ancient history of the place. 

It was originally a Swiss Chalet franchise (a Canadian company), and served chicken dishes only. The owners added ribs which broke the franchise so they decided to go it alone. That was 1980 he reckons that it became Dallas Jones... Mr. Manager thinks there was never any real "Jones" person/owner per se.

Today, it's just Dallas BBQ and there are several locations all over the city...

They are all great. I think I've been to all the Manhattan ones over the years. 

But my very first early bird chicken platter is now actually older than the young Latino waiter... 

...Talk about your chicken! 

I Won't Buzz, Don't Ask Me

I Blog.

I Twitter.

I Flickr.

I Facebook.


I *don't* Buzz.

Computer guru David Pogue explains new Google Buzz in simple terms and the surrounding criticism and controversies.
 
Roger highlights the privacy concerns of Google Buzz.

I think I'm gonna ignore Google Buzz and hope it just goes away.

I'm pretty socially media exhausted...

Also still adjusting to those newest FaceBook layout changes...

Sheesh.

The Divine Busch & Halston

Caught The Divine Sister at Theater for the New City the other day...

Charles Busch remains legendary as Mother Superior, in a fluffy, campy, all new comedy with bite.

And one of his original co-stars.... Julie Halston is just plain terrific.

Busch really outdid himself in tailoring a perfect role for his dear friend Julie (from his founding company back in the day) and her unique comedic talents...

Julie was brilliant.... in a quintessential hysterical role to showcase her comedic gifts...

I was a little wary going into the theater of the "reserved" looking matinee audience... But they quickly sprang to life for this rollicking romp of a comedy that affectionately mangles the entire genre of historic nun movies of earlier decades...

Great fun was had by all!

Bad News/ Good News: This run at TNC is completely sold-out... But trust me, even though you can't see them under the habit, The Divine Sister has legs...

MidWinter Break Report

Today is an "inny"... That is an indoor day, not an inward belly button... A friend or two is dropping by at different points today to catch up, and I'm cleaning and organizing...

Gray and a few sloppy wet snowflakes make it all the more desirable to stay in pajamas and work work work...

And that includes updating this blog...

Yesterday was the opposite... Blue skies, sunny and brisk clean air... So I had a runaround day... An urban hike, as it were:

Lunch at of hot wings and salad at Atomic Wings.

Toy Fair. Toys, toys, toys...

Ran by that huge McDonald's at West 34th and Tenth to sit for a spell and catch breath for a chocolate sundae and a Diet Coke. (Opposites attract!)

Headed on foot up through Times Square for some photo opportunities of the ever-changing signage. A few years ago, ever changing meant they hung a new neon sign somewhere or switched out some billboard sheets... Today's Time Square is comprised of fast moving ever changing digital signs that seem to change the environmental character every few seconds. Even the famous red Coke logo was colored green for a while...

The Times Square Visitor's Center in the landmarked Embassy Theater has made a lot of changes since I was last there. More museumish now.

I'd always seen Rockefeller Plaza decked out in a colorful slew of international flags... But yesterday, for President's Day I guess, it was exclusively red, white and blue. The skaters didn't seem to notice.

Moseyed into St. Patrick's Cathedral for a few minutes of reflection and dim light non-flash instant-camera hand-held photo-taking...

Then down Fifth Avenue to snap a few mannequin pics for my Flickr collection.

And over to MoMA which was a madhouse of tourists... But I managed to get in/out of a basement gallery that held some Tim Burton stuff that I had missed the first time... Loved the blue baby... With knitting needle acupuncture and stitches.

Met some friends at the Clubhouse and grabbed some Indian food at Aaheli again... Will have those Tikka and Saag leftovers for lunch today... As the wet gloppy snow has intensified but will still amount to nothing as far as I can tell...

So that's the latest up to the moment postcard from Hell's Kitchen & Vicinity.... And here's a montage of a few pics from my Flickr page

Happy President's Day 2010

Happy President's Day!

Check this out It's an Op-Art piece on the power of hair in a tribute to American Presidents.

Might be fun to play the soundtrack of Broadway's HAIR! while you look and enjoy!... LOL

Kudo's to illustrator CHRISTINA CHRISTOFOROU of the New York Times for the fun illustration.... 

Set the Tone Monday: Time Passes Quickly

"Time passes quickly regardless of what you do. Your best option is to make it count, to make the highest and best use of it".

- Ralph Marston

Valentine's Day 2010

Started the mid-winter break yesterday with a typical Saturday of chores and tasks... Today, had a fabulous Beef Stroganoff at Veselka in the East Village... Now texting this blog post while standing in line to see a sold-out Divine Sisters* starring Charles Busch and Julie Halston at Theater for the New City. Later, is a Valentine party in Inwood if I make it that far... Happy Valentine's Day to all and to all a good night...

* Correction: The show is correctly titled The Divine Sister. Review forthcoming.

Update: I posted my review of Charles Busch and Julie Halston in The Divine Sister here.

Public Service Announcement: Give Blood

The New York Blood Center is experiencing an extremely high need for blood as soon as possible after the snowstorm canceled many blood drives throughout the city this week.

Your donation would be of tremendous help to New Yorkers in need of life-sustaining transfusions.

The NYBC is making it even easier for you to donate blood this weekend with a winter blood drive. Come to the mobile blood bus while it is parked in Columbus Circle on Monday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm with your ID to donate. Walk-ins welcome.

Winter Blood Drive

Monday, February 15th, 2010, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Mobile Blood Bus, Columbus Circle

Thanks to MyUpperWest

Coming Attraction: Miracle on 42nd Street

Documentary films about Hell's Kitchen and environs always catch my eye...

Here's one...

Miracle on 42nd Street

Construction of the Manhattan Plaza buildings began in the early 1970’s as part of a revitalization plan for the Westside of Manhattan. They were originally planned as affordable housing for middle and upper income people who, it was hoped, would move in and revitalize the blighted area. As a result of New York City’s financial crisis, and the fact that middle class people did not want to move to Hell’s Kitchen, construction work stopped and the buildings sat vacant, the apartments un-rented. Out of what many saw as a failure, others saw as unique opportunity. When developers, elected officials, community leaders, representatives of the theatrical industry and the federal government joined forces, no one could have predicted the outcome. They came up with a unique plan to convert the buildings to affordable housing for a targeted group, performers, and for the neighborhood’s poor. This energetic and creative population pioneered the crime-ridden neighborhood and, little by little, families and hard working artists replaced the prostitutes and drug dealers, restaurants and small businesses replaced the porn parlors and gang-controlled dive bars. Slowly, jobs were created, tourism increased, property values rose – all providing increased tax revenue to the City. Manhattan Plaza and the West Side of New York were on their way.

Here's more about the documentary film

Snow Day Morning Mind Dump

Snow days off from work are rare and wonderful!

I always love the freewheeling posts of Donner. They invariably inspire me to do the same...

Something quite tempting about spending the WHOLE DAY inside my apartment...? Let's see how I feel about that after a couple of hours...

I could never sleep just anywhere and admire those that can.

I didn't get an H1N1 vaccine, on principle.

I could never do embroidery... I get nervous just looking at it closely. Knitting? Maybe.

Salt trucks worry me. They over-salinate the waterways... Glad my apartment is in the back away from the street, and I don't even have to hear them rumbling by...

Unemployment can't go down until we bring back all the jobs lost to foreign countries. Including telephone technical support and widget manufacturing...

It's lunchtime and I haven't read the New York Times yet today? Breaking this regular routine won't kill me, of course, but it does feel completely weird!

This is definitely Lapsang Souchong smoky-flavored tea kinda weather.

I have trouble living fully with the day at a time philosophy. How do you plan your retirement if you are living a day at a time?

I'm so happy that this friend just finished his first draft of a screenplay.

And I'm so happy that this friend's new play performance is going so well and is almost sold out...

And I'm so happy that my family all seems to be safe and healthy despite being over wrought with snow in Maryland and Delaware this week.

This is definitely a mulled cider scented candle kind of day.

So far, it's been a silent morning... No TV, no radio, no music.... And that's been perfectly fine.

Your Snow Day Homework Assignment

Dear Class:

This is your homework today.

Study it.

Learn it.

Save a life...

Wednesday's Word: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, noun


def: Fear of long words

Usage: Todd does not have Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia, but his readers might?...

Source: OMG Facts

Snow Day on Wednesday!!

I'm ALL FOR IT!

Schools are closed tomorrow...!

...Winter Storm Warning in effect from midnight tonight to 6 am
EST Thursday...

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a Winter Storm
Warning for snow...which is in effect from midnight tonight to 6
am EST Thursday. The Winter Storm Watch is no longer in effect.

Snow is expected to develop later tonight. The snow may become
heavy at times on Wednesday...before slowly tapering off Wednesday
night. Snow accumulations of 8 to 13 inches are expected. At this
time the higher amounts are expected across the New York City
metropolitan area and Long Island.

As the storm intensifies...east to northeast winds will become
strong and gusty during the day on Wednesday...and these winds
continue Wednesday night. Gusts of 35 to 45 mph are certainly
possible...especially across coastal sections. This will cause
blowing and drifting of snow...with near blizzard conditions at
times along with possible power outages.

WOO HOOOOOO!

Jazz Baby Tuesday

Carol Channing, Jazz Baby, from Thoroughly Modern Millie

Set the Tone Monday: Alive, Alert, Awake

"I AM alive, alert, awake & enthusiastic about my life! My spirit knows it & my body shows it." 

- Unity Affirmation

Site of the Week: NYPL's Flickr Page

New York Public Library's Flickr Photostream is always a treasure trove of fun stuff...

Aaheli Indian Dinner

It's a cold crisp night in New York City and I decided to try Aaheli...

In Sanskrit, Aaheli means “pure.”

Grabbed some take-out...

Behold (pictured): Chicken Tikka Masala, Saag Paneer, Naan, Biryani rice, and sauces/spices

This was enough for two meals... So the other one is awaiting in the fridge for a zap in the microwave another day...

Everything except the naan... Ya gotta eat naan when it's fresh...

Everything was delicious, and fresh...

I'll be back for more!

Celebrity Sightings: Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick

Saw these two yesterday at one of my own favorite UWS lunch spots...

I won't say which one cuz apparently they are regulars, too...

Also, I have high regard for both of them and wouldn't want to rat them out... LOL.

When Kevin Bacon was asked in an interview lately (by Joy Behar) about the longevity of his relationship with Kyra Sedgwick, he declares "I believe in keeping the fight's clean, and the sex dirty...".

How could you rat out a guy like that...?

And don't even get me started on those blue eyes...

(Photo: Source unknown)

Crazy People

Know any crazy people?

Wednesday's Word: Vegangelical

vegangelical, pronoun
n. An extremely zealous vegan who is eager to make other people believe in and convert to veganism. [Blend of vegan and evangelical.]

Usage: Todd has never been a vegangelical, more like a vegetariangelical for an increasing amount of mealtimes per week.

Source: Word Spy

Site of the Week: Rainy Mood

RainyMood.com for whenever you're in a rainy mood (dot com!)

They suggest you play your favorite music along with it...

I think it's good for meditation... Although it might put you right to sleep!

Zzzz.

(Thanks to Keith for this one!)

Set the Tone Monday: Andy Rooney

"Cold days are good because nothing makes us feel better than keeping warm."
-- Andy Rooney