An Update and a New Layout!

I promised Shannon that I wasn't intentionally stealing the layout of her blog, but was just using it until I had a chance to pick a different one I liked. I'm not sold on this, so it may change again. Stay on your toes!

Anyhow, it's been a busy weekend, and I am EXHAUSTED! Good thing I have 12 hours before I have to get up and go to work again. But I digress. I'm sure you're wondering about my weekend, no? Allow me to start with my work day Friday.

The great usher quest continues, I'm afraid, with people continuing to back out, or taking unseemly long times to get back to me telling me "I'm sorry, I've already seen the show, I don't want to volunteer to usher." Sheesh. They're in it for the freebies, I guess. I finally finished cutting those understudy inserts, which felt like a major accomplishment. I was asked to sit in on a budget meeting with my boss Jamie (the General Manager), Mara (the Business Manager who is moving to Singapore in a week), Jeff (the Managing Director), and Neil (the Artistic Director). Everyone is super nice, but these were the top dogs, so to speak, so I tried not to move or make any noise and just take it all in. I've signed a confidentiality agreement, so I won't tell you what was discussed, but it was a cool experience, and one that Jamie tells me I'll get to have more as the summer progresses.

So my first week of work in the theater industry came to a nice close with me dashing off to Times Square to eat dinner with Scott (who was in town for an audition), Caity, Aaron, Matta, Nick, and Olivia. We ate at Heartland Brewery near Radio City Music Hall (which I guess is not technically Times Square), and I had what I thought to be one of the best burgers outside of Union Grille (I know, I'm a homebody). Then Scott and Caity went off to see La Cage aux Folles (which I hear was amazing!), and everyone else went their separate ways. So I, being the social butterfly that I am, met up with Matt and Courtney who happened to be a few blocks away. We made our way to Ben's Kosher Deli, where I had an excellent apple strudel, as well as some complimentary pickles and cole slaw. Then it was off to the Village and a bar called Fat Cats.

Very cool concept, this Fat Cats. It's essentially a hip billiards hall (I can't believe I just used the word hip, what's gotten into me?) with pool tables, ping pong tables, mini shuffleboard tables, and tables for chess/checkers or scrabble. You put your name in for a gaming table and they give you a ticket, and when your ticket number flashes on the signs around the place you can go to your table. It was fun, except for the fact that none of us like the beer we got, and my sprained ankle was really hurting.

What's that you say? When did I sprain my ankle? I DON'T KNOW. Scary, huh? Thursday night, it was kinda sore, but I just thought that I wasn't yet used to all the walking I've been doing. By Friday night, it was swollen to twice it's normal size and incredibly painful. I took 4 Advil and tried to put it up, and even valiantly played ping pong with Matt mostly on one foot.

After Scott and Caity got out of the show they met us in the Village (we had to leave Fat Cats because Caity is not yet old enough to get in). In searching for under-21 friendly places, we actually ended up at Qdoba. Weird, I know. But they had a great deal: a bucket of any 5 beers for $15 (they were normally $4 each) and it came with free chips and salsa! So we grabbed some beers and chips and sat around a table and chatted. It ended up being quite nice. By around midnight, I was fading fast, and my ankle was ready to give way, so I began my hour and twenty minute long journey back.

Saturday I went to a matinee with Scott, Caity, and Aaron. We saw "A Behanding in Spokane" by Martin McDonough (originally an Atlantic mainstage from earlier in the season that transferred to Broadway), starring Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell. Yes, I saw Christopher Walken live on stage. It was awesome. The play was really funny and dark, about a guy who had his hand cut off by hillbillies when he was young and has been searching for it for 47 years. I highly recommend it!

After the show, Aaron went with Nick and Olivia to the infamous cheese shop, but I stayed with Scott and Caity. After some lounging in Times Square, we decided to visit the Museum of Sex. I know, mother, I know. Don't be shocked. I'm an adult. It was both interesting and vaguely grotesque, and I now know everything I ever wanted to know and more about how condoms are made. Not certainly what I was expecting to do with my afternoon, but I'm trying to be more spontaneous. After MoSex as they call it, Scott and Caity and I parted ways. Sadly, I don't know when I'll see Scott again, since he's off to start what I'm sure is going to be a fabulously successful acting career. Check out his new blog at www.scottwasserman.net

I just kinda crashed Saturday evening, which was nice. Today, I got up super early and made my way aaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllll the way uptown to The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine to finally hear James' choir sing. It was really very beautiful, I'm glad I that I went, even though I had to get up at 8:30 to do it (and was still late for an 11:00 service, I'll add, because there was no express service on the A or D this weekend). I then had lunch with Stephanie while James was busy doing something, which was a nice chance to get to know her a little better. Then it was down to Chelsea to do a little work with my boss Aaron.

So, the playwright for GABRIEL, Moira Buffini, was in town this weekend, and the cast wanted to have a little champagne toast after the show, and Aaron recruited me to help him out in setting up. So I grabbed some supplies from the office and set about laying out a spread of grapes, strawberries, cheese, and crackers. It was very nice, and I got to meet some of the cast members and Moira. Then it was back to Brooklyn and here I am, updating the blog!

Ok, plan for tonight: watch Star Wars, Episode I. I know, I know, everyone hates the prequels. Well, I don't, and I want to watch the entire saga, so I must start at the beginning! I'll update again soon!