Notes on a few trips

Times Square and squad cars , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Every couple of weeks whole lot of squad cars converge on a point in New York as a test to see how quickly they can get to one point in the city. It also is a bit of a show of force for a city gripped in fear for the next calamity. On the Tuesday I was there this happened in Times Square, which tended to frighten many of the tourists who thought armageddon was just about to break out... And sure they may drive fast and carry a gun, but I couldn't imagine any NY cops running too far with all that extra weight they are carrying. They aren't thin and they sure don't look fit... It also probably means it isn't a good idea to run away from a NY cop as they will probably either run you down with their squad car or shoot you...

Monday nights in New York is a great chance to catch Jim Caruso's Cast Party at jazz club Birdland. It can be quite a happening place where aspiring singers, Broadway stars on their night off, and other "talent" get up and have a sing. And since Patti LuPone's solo gig at the Lincoln Centre had sold out I figured it was a worthy second thing to do… The audience consisted of the standard issue of musical theatre afficianados, aspiring singers and the odd startled tourist who was expecting jazz on a Monday night at the club. Shortly after arriving at the bar I felt a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder. It was a woman next to me. "Excuse me," she began. "Do you mind if you pretend you know me in a minute as there is a guy about to come over and talk to me who I would really like to avoid?" Well that's something you don't get asked everyday. Naturally I said yes to the woman, thinking it was pretty funny; just like when Terri Hatcher asked Kyle MacLa

Theatre in New York was a lot of fun. Day one in New York was the chance to see The Light in the Piazza at the Lincoln Centre. It was a big winner at last year's Tony awards . It didn't win best new musical (that went to the Monty Python show Spamalot) but the production, music is so good that the punters have still been coming to it one year on. Actually last year was a good year for musical theatre on Broadway as all four new musicals that were nominated for best musical are still playing. This contrasts starkly with the mostly crap they served up this year. I was only in New York for a few days and several plays and musicals closed while I was there (including West End transfer Festen and another vampire musical bomb, Lestat ). Piazza was still playing with Victoria Clark in the lead. Clark won the best actress Tony for her role in this. The show takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson (Clark), the wife of an American businessman, is touring Italy with

Scenes from Central Park Thursday 15:08 , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Jogging along the reservoir, east side...

Black Man: Man youwere a good cook. You cooked me up somethin' once... Ahhh I don't know what it was, but it sure was good... Black woman: Uh huh... Black Man: So what you doin' eatin' here?

Scenes from Times Square Wednesday 23:04 , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Fleet Week starts today so the place is crawling with men (and women) in uniform... Some even save in the armed forces...

Scenes from (after) the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . I didn't go to see the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Musical to be one of the four members invited on stage to be part of the show. I was approached after entering the theatre to consider putting my name forward. It was then I remembered reading about the audience participation in this show where audience members are invited to be "spellers" too. I was going to this show to appreciate the music as I am a fan of (composer) William Finn's music. I told the woman interviewing potential audience involvement members this and she asked "Oh so you're a fan of musical theatre?" "No!" I lied. Just like I did the previous night at the jazz club. Either that or I was still thinking about that Tarzan show. The conversation then continued somewhat along the following lines: "Are you a good speller?" &qu

Scenes from Central Park Tuesday 18:05 , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Rollerblading is popular here if you are fit, young and know how to work those inner thigh muscles...

Scenes from the Meatpacking District Monday 19:12 , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Some of the area is a gentrification work in progress... Most of the area is just so... Who would have thought meat houses could be so chic?

Scenes from the Empire State 102nd floor , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Well, this is a nation of barge-arses... Not since that trip to Southend-by-Sea have I seen so many fat people...

Scenes from Danny's Sunday 20.14 , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Blossom Dearie and Paul... Blossom Dearie (just turned 80) is one of the great jazz vocalists of the last five decades and has recorded for Verve and her own label. She sounds just as great as any of her recordings (her own label is finally re-releasing some classic recordings) and is a master of the hip and understated comical lyric. Cool and clever and she is a master of the witty song and her numbers included "I'm Hip", "I'm Shadowing You" and my favourite "Bruce". Being such a fan of her style of music I couldn't help but get a gratuitous photo and autograph on some of her CDs. She is a regular at Danny's Skylight room and insisted to everyone that they come again. It's a great venue for jazz and cabaret, even if this sort of music no longer gets the punters in like it used to... Afterall how can you not like songs with lyrics like: "Happy as can b

Assistant: Did you see who that was buying cough syrup? Chemist: No.. . Assistant: That was Darryl Hannah! Chemist: What? And you didn't tell me? Assisstant: What was I going to say to her? Excuse me but the pharmacist wants to take a look at you?

Scenes from a Chelsea cafe restroom , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Well that's nice to know...

Scenes from Times Square around 3pm , originally uploaded by Pauly_ . Things are pretty big around here...