#14 - I See Green!

Now, what green do you think I am referring to? I would not want to be too predictable, but then again, I am a dyed in the wool witch woman watcher....or is that woman witch watcher? So what, I was just teasing. I mean to glory in the resurgence of the color green to the urban landscape. SPRING HAS SPRUNG.
My father used to drive me nuts every year by reciting a little ditty:
Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
I wonder where
The flowers iz?
It used to make me crazy. Of course, I now wish, to all that's all powerful in the Universe, that I could hear him say those words to me and then chuckle at my reaction, but alas he would be something close to 106.
So, it is left for me to convey to my electronic friends, the glory of green after 5 months of grey.
If you ask me if I miss California, I would have not even a nanosecond of hesitation in answering no. I am having a wonderful time on this sabbatical. I do miss my family, my friends and my pups, but not much else. The one blatant lie in that statement is that I miss green. California never dies. There is color and life even in the bleakest corner of the State all year long. I do miss that.
As I walk about the city, I see signs. Robins returning to the trees. Trees are beginning to sprout buds. Tree wells are dotted with stalks of green stems and daffodils are blooming. Macys has guided tours of the Flower Show, in the store and out on Harold Square. Times Square has been transformed into a forest of evergreen trees, for one of the cosmetic companies. The Orchid Show is at the Botanical Garden. Oh, and the CEOs of the top 3 banks have given themselves huge bonuses (that's green backs in their pockets, right?) Green everywhere. It's thrilling, except the CEO thing.
Green is my favorite color. Stop sometime and really pay attention to how many different shades of green you see in a park or forest. I sit in Central Park and do that. There is a pond just at the bottom of the park, near The Plaza. It's called South Pond, I think. I have taken some shots of it in 3 seasons so far:

SoPond-Fall-2010

SoPond-Winter-2011

SoPond-Spring-2011-Daffys

   I really haven't spent enough time in Central Park to write about it
well. I was there today, on my way from the Theater District to the Upper West Side to do some chores, and got waylaid by the sun, the people, the dogs and the life wandering by. I will be going more often. It will be fun to compare CP with GGP (don't tell me you don't know what I mean, sillies).
The addition of sun and warmth to the equation of life is exhilarating. Today, I actually had on a short sleeved shirt and exposed my bare skin to the elements. Shocking I know, but I'm a grown woman and can handle almost anything life throws at me. New York, get ready for skin! Perhaps the memory of icy winds and slush will fade. I am certain that I will be trying to conjure up feelings of cold when I am pushed into lethargy from the sweltering heat of Summer. That's when you can say, "I told you so!"
I leave you a photo of the only flower to grow on Park Avenue this Winter. It was 6 feet tall and made of fiberglass. It made The City smile:

There were lots of shows this week, but I've got one more huge event tomorrow, so I will save that for next time. Thanks for reading and TTFN or LLAP (that's from Leonard Nimoy)

#13 Part B - The Computer Ate My Homework

Well, there really is a reason that my blog has been off the wonderful world of the worldwide ethernet...I have had a very sick 'puter. I had "curser disease" I cursed that curser and almost went mad (both as in seriously mentally disturbed AND as in so angry I could pop a blood vessel). I found a Lap Doctor named Mike, and he has cured "Bettie'sWickedLittleMacBook" (don't you name your computer, too?) So, here we go again, back to the world of cold, noise, dirt, stench, congestion, rudeness, expense, frenzy and magic that is New York City. While all those adjectives are true, I still love it here.
So, in January, there was a rumor going around Broadway that Theater was dead. Shows were closing faster than you could read the articles about them, even shows that were damn good. A sort of gloom floated over the slush in the street that was ruining my boots and people were not going to 42nd St. Of course, I did. I go to shows multiple times. Luckily I have great sources for discounts and don't mind waiting in line for RUSH tickets for hours in the freezing morning wind. I do, also, like to challenge the Lottery Gods (Caps, because you never want to insult those deities). I have tried the WICKED lottery 8 gazillion times and have only won 3 times and consider myself VERY lucky. Well, the tide has turned, and Broadway is back and damn is it fun to watch the hits and flops. Really, I haven't seen any true flops.
I have had lots of friends visiting, and I have been going with them to the new shows. It is my civic duty to help the economy of this town, right?
Did you know that you can hear a jackhammer 20 floors down,  just as loud as if you were standing right next to it on the street? TRUEFAX  For 47 minutes!
So, what was I saying? Oh, yes, the shows are back:
Here is a truncated version of some things I've seen and done, theater & otherwise:
Other Desert Cities: Palm Springs, with a really messed up, pretending not to be Jewish or Democratic family, with a gay daughter and a deep secret. Stacy Keach, Stockard Channing & Linda Lavin. I know those people in PS. It was sold out and fantastic.
WontheWICKED lottery!!!!  Nuff said.
Idina Menzel NY-Philharmonic: Second row, same concert as SF, but with Marvin Hamlisch. The entire Symphony Hall was sold out. First she was funny and did her stories. At the end she sang a cappella. I cried. The huge house was enraptured and in silent awe.
Camp Wanatachi: Last show. I hope they come back. Loved that music and the actors.
Carrie Manolakos: Solo show in the East Village. Tiny club. Great singing. I am her fangirl. She is a former witch. They must be followed and revered.
Raul Esparza American Songbook: Lincoln Center's Rose Hall. Late night concert. He was full of sass and perhaps some spirits. Started with Begin the Beguine by Cole Porter and then veired off to his Cuban roots. Magical evening. I was at a front table with wine. His Momma was in the house and there were childhood stories. I didn't want it to end. The room had a glass wall overlooking the lights of Columbus Circle and the Park. He is a riveting entertainer. We were all a little bit in love with him.
The New York Idea: Donna S. came in from Oakland, and we went to this Off Off Bdwy show in the Village. Victorian drawing room, bit Noel Cowardlike, marriage, divorce and stuffy attitudes of the time and a woman who was needing to break loose. Very much a Philadelphia Story wanna be from 1906. We also went to a kickass German restaurant called HeartBreak. Fun evening.
Celisse Henderson: Best Buy, Flatiron District, singing her album and making the loyal fans who came very happy.
Crystal Chapell: Book signing at Rock Center. To see her walk down the staircase and own the entire room was worth the waiting and the crowds. The woman is a Goddess.
Organ Recital St. Patrick's Cathedral: Fifth Ave, sunny Sunday, beautiful Bach, 90% Spanish congregation, stunning architecture. I love a free concert.
Double Treat Monday: Teal at The Canal Room & Carrie M. at Le Poisson Rouge: Teal sang Firefly, Drew Gasparini's song, at an evening of new composers. There was some Schwartzhate in the room. I didn't like that. Allison Case, Morgan Karr, Rachel Potter, Anthony Rapp also sang. Teal was outstanding! Then we taxi'd over to watch Carrie in a theaterpiece called Things to Ruin. She was VERY funny. This work could be a real show. Hope it comes to that.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying: DanRad has moved on from Harry Potter. He sang and danced his little heart out. I think this show will be a huge hit.
Katie Thompson: Triad Club Upper EastSide. I have been waiting to see this woman for 3 or 4 years. She writes the most poignant songs and plays the piano as she sings them. She was accompanied by 2 women cellists. What an interesting sound. The evening was to present her new CD. Magical.
Kendra was a no show at Joe's Pub: I don't want to talk about it!
Arts & Crafts: Sandra Bernhard's musical in progress at Joe's Pub. Funny. Good music. Needs good singers in order to go to the legit stage. I love this woman. She cracks me up and is a good person.
Lombardi: I only went to see Judith Light, who I think is a phenominal actress. She was lovely afterwards and talked to me for a long while. The play is good, as well, but she knocks me out. I'll go see her read the phone book.
LosttheWICKEDlotteryAGAIN: Joe was in from SF. He got a "noshow" ticket, and I hung around to go to SD and make sure he got back to his GMa's apt on the Upper EastSide (her neighbor is LIZA with a Z). It was pouring rain. I didn't get home until 2...soaked and cold, but it was still fun.
The Desert of Forbidden Art: Documentary film about the abstract artists of Stalinist Russia who's works have been saved in a remote part of Uzbekistan. Went with Susan. I am ArtsyFartsy, you know.
Kicked out of the apartment for 5 days.   Arghhhhh
Anything Goes: What can you say about a classic? It has Joel Grey, Sutton Foster and Jessica Walter. Sumptuous music, goofy slapstick and an ArtDeco cruise ship. What's not to like? and the tixs were $10.
The Man Who Ate Michael Rockefeller: Off Bdwy, in a church basement on 73rd Street. Funny Funny Sexy, did I say Funny? show. The Asmat cannibals were more interesting than the art collector who does not return home to NYC. His disappearance was a tragedy. This is an interesting/political take on that.
More Carrie Manolokos: Rockwood Hall. Lower EastSide(Alpahbet City) She did a very long set, with a great band. Went with a group of her fans. It was crowded and nutso, but total fun. She is so good. The girl needs to do an album.
Storm Large: Yes, that's her name! She is a singer who can draw the drama out of ANY song and boy did she ever. Almost 2 hours of high intensity and emotions at Joe's Pub. I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Thanks to Elisa for making me go. I am now a fan. Even got the CD. Stunning performer. Beauty to go along with the beautiful voice & she was nice afterwards and talked with us. Great night.
Arcadia: Tom Stoppard at his best. Raul Esparza as a Brit...what fun! Must go back. It's very cerebral.
WontheWICKED lottery!!!! First called!!!!....but Teal was out....Chris was most unhappy. Next time!
Catch Me If You Can: Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Tom Wopat & Kerry Butler...this will be a hit. We were flying! Great music and story. Super dance numbers. There is going to be some fighting at the Tony's in June. I have still got lots of great shows to see. This was the first blockbuster on the list.
WontheWICKED lottery!!!! Well, Chris did. Told her so. Front and center. I got a Teal fingerwave at curtain call. Is she a sweetheart or what? That made my month! (well, it's not over yet)
Mary Poppins: We went to Philly to see Nicolas Dromard. The one and only Neeeecolas. It was so worth the early departure and 2 hour bus ride on a bus with no heat. So what, it was wonderful. The show is all you would expect. Great music and dancing and special effects, but made perfect by his dynamic performance as Bert. The man is just perfect. I told him he was perfect, and I think he agrees with me. He has a great sense of humor, but is really appreciative of the support his followers from SF give him. We are going to see him at the Tonys some day. Mark my words. All he needs is the show. We talked at SD and met his Mary, Steffanie Leigh. Lovely voice. Lots of laughs and good hugs. I collect hugs. I don't do autographs. They just sit in a drawer. Hugs bring happiness.
Oh I forgot, one more...
Where's Charlie: So, I was sitting at the bar at Junior's waiting for Elisa, and was talking to this dude who is a theater-nut, no duh, I find them all. At the end of the conversation, he says, "You obviously love a good show. I have a free ticket to the Encores presentation of Where's Charlie" (a musical version of Charlie's Aunt from 1948) He gives me the ticket and says good by...WOW It was very dated, but had great singers and there is one famous number in it that Ray Bolger (think Scarecrow...you know the Wizard of Oz...WICKED 6 degrees of separation, folks) sings called Once in love with Amy. The entire audience sang along in nostalga...they were all in their 80's and were going up the balcony aisles in their walkers, really. It was fun, but I prefer to see young people in the audiences. That way. I think Theater will have new recruits and will thrive forever.
Thhhhhhat's all folks. Thanks for reading. It was long, but I had fun writing it, and I am a selfish bitch.
(no pictures, I'm tired)

#13 Part A - Miss me?

6 weeks. I have gotten worried e-mails. Could it mean there are peeps out there who read my words? Probably, just friends wondering if I have been stymied by the weather and shut in the Powder Blue Palace, too afraid to venture out into the grey gloomy icy streets. Not so.
The primer event of the month was as you may have heard me mention before, was Teal Wick's debut on Broadway. I've lost track of how many people came in from San Francisco to witness this event, but Australia was represented as well, and my apartment was TWickie Central. It was a bit like college, with a whole lot of musical dialogue. We were constantly quoting lines from one particular Ozian opus. Laughter was rampant. The Tuesday night of her opening show, I was treated to a REAL seat in the audience, as a gift, and we had the extraordinary good fortune to be sitting next to Teal's parents and 1 seat away from her best friend. It was just too much fun to be able to lean over and kvell with her mother, who was as ecstatic, as you might expect. Then there was the added challenge of not acting like an ass. The one note gushing fangirl was so not what I wanted to be that night. I do think I pulled it off. We were all there to witness the next, albeit huge, step in Teal's theatrical journey. Don't think she will be just a showgirl...too much talent to be contained by one medium...just wait.
So, need I say that the evening was a monumental success? DUH? All the happy and love in the entire world was centered in front of the StageDoor that night. The entire area glowed with it.
(it is very hard to type when the curser acts on it's own volition and skips all over the page...ARGHHH)
The visiting CaliGirls were game to to go to shows and concerts I had targeted, so we were all over Manhattan; highlights of which were Camp Wanatachi, sumer camp for girls (oh, how I loved camp) & Carrie Manaolakis (former witch who is moving on).
(it has taken me 45 minutes to type 2 sentences.....this is a seriously sick sweet laptop. Must stop before I go mad)  More, if I can find a LapDoctor. SORRY

#12 - My week in the theater

I have had really wonderful theater luck these past few days. That's why I came here, to soak up as much theater in the center of the universe of acting on stage, so I need to reflect on my good fortune. In just this past week, I have seen comedy, spectacle, a fledgling musical and a memorial for a giant. Not bad. All were memorable and the most they cost was $30 and one was free. I do love a bargain.

Jackie Hoffman, comedy genius, is celebrating her 50th BDay by skewering the people who stood in her way, on her rise to the almost top. She is not a household word to anyone out of Manhattan. She has the role of GrandMa in the Addams Family, but they didn't give her anything to do in the second act. Oh the chutzpah of those writers!...She nails them. She has a crackly voice and is not much to look at, but she cracks every funny bone in the room. Joe's Pub is a wonderful place to see a show, and I got a bunch of fun friends together to laugh for the evening, one from Maine, one from Texas and one from Australia. It was perfect. Of course, I related to Jackie's lamenting about getting old, but my friends are blissfully ignorant of such issues. "Just you wait, Henry Higgins!" That's all I have to say.

Next, on the agenda was Spidey. Well, for a show that won't even open until March 15th and has a terrible habit of hurting it's actors, it is maddeningly sold out every night. The only way to see this train wreck is to get "rush tickets" on the day of the show. They sell $30 seats to fools who get there at 7 am, to fill in the few holes they have in the audience, single seats, anywhere that they need a body...well, I am a fool...a smart fool! Got there at 7:45 because the subway was closed down for a police action, one stop before 42nd Street. I watched the policemen pull people off the train I was on and search them and detain the most normal looking people. No one ran or sassed back. It was quite a show in itself, but I was rushing to a box office, so I was most annoyed I had to hoof it 6 blocks (not the walking, but the time). I didn't want to be at the end of the line. They only give out 10 to 15 tickets. When I finally got there, there was only one person waiting. A very nice girl from the real Oz, who was spooked into getting there at 7, because there was a line around the block the day before. Well, by 10 o'clock, there was no feeling in my toes or fingers, and I was certain nothing would make up for that pain...I was wrong. Spidey has a new second act, and it is GREAT. I saw it with Barbara in December, and it was a snore (except for the flying and the set design). Now it is a whole lot of fun! I'll go back again when it warms up a bit. The music is OK, but the singing is fab, and the action scenes are just spectacular. They are selling tickets through May, and it hasn't even opened yet. Glen Beck said it was better than WICKED. He is an asshole. Wicked is a gazillion times better, but it will bring lots of $$$$ to Broadway, and that is a good thing.

From the huge to the small; next up was a baby show called Camp Wanatachi, the pet project of one of my favorite actresses, Bridget Regan, from Legend of the Seeker. She has been pimping this show for months now, and it finally opened, well the proper word is previewed. The opening is Wednesday, tomorrow, and I had such a great time, I'm going back. It is a show about summer camp and falling in love. I'll say no more than that, but it spoke to lots of things I know and understand. I was a camper and those days were formative. I lived for those months I went to camp. Chicago was a place to get out of during the summer. Not like California,where there is lots to do if you go 10 minutes in any direction. Camp was heaven and this camp is great: great singing and music. The girls in this show seem really young, but if you read the program, there is a great deal of Broadway credit, and they were holding notes as high and long as any in the huge shows. How wonderful to see talent that good in a 50 seat black box theater. Actually, the theater is a story in itself: The La MaMa. A most historic spot. A founding institution in the Off Broadway world, and right across the street from the original home of RENT. This is where shows come to grow and actors learn their craft.  It is a 10 minute walk from my apartment. How lucky am I?

Last, comes a history lesson. Ever hear of Fiorello (NYC politics)? She Loves Me (The Shop Around The Corner/You've Got Mail)? The Rothschilds (Mega rich European Jewish power brokers and wine makers)? The Apple Tree (Eden/Barbarians/Cinderella in Hollywood)? Fiddler on the Roof? Oh, that got your attention! Well, the man responsible for all that beautiful music was Jerry Bock. He was one of the last biggies who wrote wonderful melodies. Musicals today are very much influenced by pop and rock and there is precious little lyrical melody around.

Jerry Bock died in November, but they gathered Broadway's giants to celebrate his life: Hal Prince, the legendary producer, Chita Rivera, a Diva, Tony Walton, Julie Andrew's first husband and set designer, Boyd Gains, great actor, Barbara Cook, another Diva and sort of Kristin Chenoweth's godmother, and last but certainly not least, Harvey Fierstein, a Tevye who wishes to be a rich man, but God is his voice gone. They sang and talked about the history of musical theater in the 50's and 60's. It was wonderful. Fiorello was the first real on Broadway show I ever saw. I was VERY young, but as a Chicagoan, I related to the graft and political chicanery of a song such as "A Little Tin Box". There were always such boxes, with lots of cash, in the newspaper stories when I was growing up. So, I had a history lesson and a concert of classic songs sung by the originators of the roles. I was in heaven, which is where most of the people thought Jerry Bock was as well.

Looks like I wrote a book today and no photos...sorry Richard. They frown on me using my camera in the theater (not that it isn't done). I will leave you with a picture I took at the Farmer's Market recently of a crazyass bunch of cauliflowers. I never saw this before, but it is green, and I am thinking I will never see that color again...I miss green. Oh, that reminds me....Teal Wicks becomes the Green Girl next week. Company is coming from SF to celebrate that event. I have a full house and not enough beds, but so what, Teal takes over Broadway. TWickies, bring it on!

TTFN

#11 - 3 Queens (and the sky was on fire)

All Hail the Queens...Hail yes! Royal and dignified and very large!
Last night was an historic evening. Cunard Lines had a gathering of it's 3 famous cruise ships at the base of New York Harbor and threw a fireworks show in front of Lady Liberty, to mark the occasion.
Queen Mary2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth set sail at 6:00pm, January 13th, for world cruises and points South. The largest, QM2 was docked in Brooklyn and the 2 matching other ladies were birthed off 57th street at Piers 90 and 88. I got some pics just before the sun set of Vicky and Liz. Note that they are too large to get in one shot of my fancy camera/phone.

Queen Victoria Pier 90

Queen Elizabeth Pier 88

Queen Elizabeth 2nd half

QLiz Bow

The Intrepid looks sooooo small

So, as you can see, they are impressive and magnificent ships. A camera can't capture the feeling of standing next to them. I have always been a boat person. Living on Lake Michigan does that to a person. I've been a sailor since I was 10. I can't go too long with out checking into whatever body of water I live near. I was always driving out of my way to take the Shoreline Drive in Alameda to look at the Bay. I do it here, as well. It takes exactly 16 minutes to walk from my apartment to the East river. There is a lovely park there. Actually there are lovely parks all over the river fronts on Manhattan.
Anyway, after freezing all my extraneous body parts off taking these shots, I worked my way down to Battery Park, where I was going to perfectly time a trip on the Staten Island Ferry around 6:45, when the special fireworks show was to start, as The Ladies met up near the Green Torchbearer. It didn't exactly happen as I had planned.
While waiting in the modern (and warm) SI Ferry Building, I met a nice couple from England. I talk to people. This is a fact. They, most interestingly, had just disembarked that morning off the QLiz after her maiden voyage from South Hampton. These two spend their retirement traveling all over the world on the Cunard Lines, my good luck to meet them. Liza and Gerald have been on all the ships and are like Super Frequent Sailors or what ever the ultra passenger list is called. They were just so much fun. I learned lots from them, and we had such a great time, that eventually, when the ships did line up to view the fireworks, I didn't even want to get on the Ferry. It was being routed away from the ships, anyway, so I stayed there, and we oohed and aaahed together like little kids. She is 75, and he is 80...they have been married 25 years (and they have a home in Mallorca, Spain)...not a bad situation.
The pics I took of the fireworks were ruined by the glare of the glass, so I give you a very short video I pulled off the Internet. It captures the ships lined up and the fireworks.
                         http://www.twitvid.com/2V6O2
It is shot from the opposite side of the harbor on the New Jersey side, and shows the QMary2 leading the other ships out to the Verrazano Bridge and the Atlantic Ocean. Leaving us....I'm still sad.
TTNF

#10 - What A Year! Oh, Nevermind...

Has it been since last year that I blogged? Guess so. Well, I've been busy, traveling and sick. That's my excuse, but that's lame, so perhaps I should shut up and catch up.

First, there was The Barbara Visit:

We had too much fun. Went to too many shows. Ate at too many restaurants and walked miles and miles every day. I showed her all over this island. We saw Spidey for $20, ate THE BEST street food at the corner of 6th and 53rd, and saw the worst production of Cirque du Soleil (Wintuk, never spend any money on that show). She had a great New Years Eve, and so did I...not together.

So, as a result of all that flouncing around, I got sick. A damn head cold that migrated to my lungs. 2 weeks later, and I am still coughing...now I don't care about being sick...I'll get over it, but the thought of my illness interfering with my visit to Cambridge last weekend was intolerable. My peeps from SF were in town to see Teal Wicks in The Blue Flower, now that is serious! This was our second trip up on the bus to Cambridge. We do that, drive or fly or trek all over the planet to see Teal. We are TWickies. 

Took the T, a far nicer Subway than the non escalatored NYC version. They call the admission a "Charley Ticket". Kingston Trio memory anyone? Oh, you are all too young, sorry. You don't remember Folk Music. 

Anyway, we saw the 3 final performances and were blissfully happy. It is a wonderful show, as I reported a few posts ago. It will be back. There is talk of taking it to Europe. That may inhibit my attendance. My traveling may be limited for a while to the boundaries of this island.

On that subject click here http://vimeo.com/18554749  and see a wonderful video of NYC (I did not shoot it but I wish I had).

Speaking of the island. Kate and I had a really fun close encounter with a Sopranos kind of guy on a trip out to Staten Island. We had taken the free ferry ride out to see the harbor and sneak a peek at Lady Liberty freezing in her long skirt on that cold waterway and had lunch at one of the local diners. Really local diner, I'm sure we had "tourist" tattooed on our foreheads when we walked in the joint. So, I ordered a Gyros sandwich and the man sitting next to me at the counter (always sit at the counter, you can see how they handle the food) asked how it was that I knew how to pronounce that word properly. We got into a discussion about Chicago Greek Town and his trips to Greece and before you knew it we were all best buds. He is a part time actor, played the bouncer at the BadaBing and has a daughter in Harvard. I didn't ask how he can afford that tuition on a part time actors wages, but it made for a good story, and I think he is "connected". We hung out there 3 hours just shooting the breeze. Too much fun. He gave me his business card. That's something I need to do, have some cards printed up. Bettie Laven, Theater Whore and 2 year explorer, then have my blog http and phone number. Just might do that.

So now my visitors are off to their home towns, I am hunkered down to rid myself of this cough and get healthy for February. They are all coming back February 1st for Teal's opening week as the Green Witch...you know, that show I have an attachment to....a WICKED addiction.

Tomorrow I will report on the 3 Queens. I'll let you think about that for a while. Hee Hee

TTFN

PS: There was another blizzard, but it was only 9.2 inches, hardly worth mentioning.

#9 - The Blizzard and I

I love that title! Those who know me, know why. To those just on the fringe.....it's a WICKED reference. Deal with it or leave.
So, there has been a weather emergency in NYC (well the entire East Coast)
It is being called snowmageddon. A phrase coined by The Bama on February 7th. This is the 4th snowmageddon this year. 20 inches in Central Park and 18 on the streets on Manhattan. Worse out in the boroughs.
Something like this does not stop me. I still was in the Theater District Sunday night when the bitch storm was blowing old ladies over in the street. Then again on Monday I was back on Times Square watching hapless tourists and furious locals curse Mayor Bloomberg for not getting the shovels and plows out to the most important part of town....more people on their asses trying to hurdle piles of snow. It does no good to plow the streets, if you make huge walls of snow no one can get over. If that happened in Chicago, the entire administration would be out of office. No joke. I have seen it happen. I was a City Planner for the Real Mayor Daley you know. Anyway, the storm provided lots of drama and plenty of photo ops.

 owners out of town

from apt Monday morning

17th Street car under there somewhere

NewYorkology 

  

If you're not in a rush to get from Pt. A to Pt. B, it's especially nice outside now. Sun's out, wind's gone, snow's still white." 

The NYC Twitter site says it's over. It is for now. This is winter and actually it is only Day 8 of the season. More slush to follow. I hate slush!

While I am on the subject of snow....there were some really fun Christmas decorations and trees this year. Well, as I was never here before in the Xmas season, that is a dumb thing for me to say, but I have seen pictures and film of the twinkly magic Manhattan has to offer. The FENDI store in Fifth Avenue was a liquid wall of blinking icicles. I was not able to capture it adequately, but it was just outstanding. Here are some highlights from the tree category:

Rock Center

EmpireStateBldg City'sTree

Martha's Tree RadioCityMusicHall

New Years Eve is next......Oye Vey!