Been a while.

I've been living in New York for more than two months now and I can honestly say I love it. For those who don't know, I'm living in an apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan a block away from Central Park, three blocks from a metro station, and about five blocks from a Whole Foods and a Michaels. Granted I've not started painting again, but once I do, the Michaels will be a valuable resource.

This city is fantastic. Yes, there is a lot to be pissed off about. Public enemy number one: Duane Reade the most overpriced of all convenience stores. They never restock anything (I went to three in one day to find a legal pad, a legal pad!) and the clerks don't pay attention to you. But as much as there is to be pissed off about, there always seems to be something to make up for it. In Seattle, I'd write at my local Starbucks or I'd journey to the U-district. Here every Starbucks is packed and a lot of them don't have power outlets so people don't stay on their laptops all day.  But Starbucks' loss is Central Park and Tissire's gain. The former - I never though I'd enjoy writing outside, the latter - a little known 7th avenue coffee house that no one goes to because it's next door to a Starbucks. At first glance, you'd think it's a little pastry cafe, but turns out there there is an expansive back area that no one enters. Perfect for solitude.

I've been seeing Broadway shows by rushing them. I can't believe I'm seeing first run premiers from playwrights like Mammet, Gurgis, and Lindsay-Abaire. I've even written reviews for some of them.
http://culturemob.com/manhattan-theatre-clubs-good-people-asks-what-makes-a-person-good
http://culturemob.com/review-the-motherfker-with-the-hat
Walking out of them gives me the awe and fullness not experienced since childhood. Ben Stiller was 4 feet away from me as he choked the life out of Edie Falco in The House of Blue Leaves.


But given the theatre, beautiful women (and I mean both physical and mental,) the architecture, Central Park, and the intangible but undeniable energy that you can just feel some days walking around, my favorite thing here are the dreams. Everyone's got one and everyone's here to fight for it. The people of this city are here to go after what they've always wanted. The door man has a script. Your waitress is an actor. I've met more dancers on the subway than I ever did in Meany Studio. It's both encouraging and intimidating. But it makes me feel like I'm in the right place.

Current song:
DCFC: My Mirror Speaks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPLlCcE-Dq8