A week went by so fast in NYC. After apple picking on Sunday I packed up and moved into my new residence at Public Storage out by La Guardia airport. I wasn't the only one with the comical idea of actually setting up residence there as I discovered in John Cameron Mitchell's new movie "Shortbus"
that one of the characters actually did it. In my second week in NYC it was Halloween and I hung out with lots of friends. On Halloween we all had PLANNED (the key word here is planned) to go into the city somewhere away from the parade and enjoy a night out on All Hallows Eve. However tiredness and schedules set in and no one was able or willing to go. I went over to my friend Alicia's in Brooklyn and had some wonderful Thai cuisine and "soul food" sweet potato and pecan pies. We each got a single portion and split it. We also watched a movie and carved our pumpkins for the delights that would sprout forth from their insides. Mainly the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies that my friend Brooke pretty much informed me when she saw me I had to bake. In her words she said: "I have 3 words for you. Pumpkin Chocolatechip Cookies." She prefaced this statement with a face so serious; I thought she was going elsewhere with what she was about to say. So not only did I get about 9 dozen pumpkin cookies, but I also got about 15 pumpkin pancakes and a huge bowl of spicy pumpkin soup from the 3lb gourd. I also have a wound from the whole thing since while chopping onions I skimmed a little of my thumb tip in the process. Fear not though. No fingertips will be found in my makings unlike the Wendy's scandal years ago. Wednesday was my big move day that took me less time than I imagined hauling all my things over to my new residence. On Thursday I hung out with my local peeps in Forest Hills at a lovely diner (the Georgia Diner) in the area. Friday was my big day in Clinton, NJ as I traveled to see my friend Trisha in her recently opened CHRISTMAS show at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse. Christmas just after Halloween and before Thanksgiving. Oy!! I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and seeing my friend again for a day. I lived on the ship with her for 6 months so it was like I knew her for years. The playhouse was also reminiscent of a place I worked for in Pennsylvania called the American Music Theatre. Both do 2-hour reviews instead of the book musical although HHP does venture off and do an occasional play or musical. Their next venture is a cute musical called "I Do, I Do." You get a lovely lunch (because they cater to the elderly bus groups most of the shows are in the afternoon) and a show for the small price around $50. Check them out online at www.hhplayhouse.com. On Saturday I had a wonderful experience. I met up with a group in Union Square for brunch at the Coffee Shop, which is a great atmosphere and good brunch. Brooke highly recommends the Brazilian brunch. Afterward some of us were off to see "Borat." I was enlightened. It was hysterical!! A must see!! This character brought out the most ridiculous personalities in real people. Some either came out innocent and smelling like roses or stunk like the anti-Semitic, sexist, white trash that they are. I commend this actor for diving into this character with gusto and never letting go. I can't believe what I saw on screen and was crying with laughter as well as in awe with disbelief. It IS an eye opening experience and most fun with a NY crowd. I highly recommend this adventure wherever you are. I endured another Ashtanga Yoga class with my friend Brooke again and realized how inflexible I still am, but felt I had a great workout after. That night I hung out with another friend, Thomas, who took me out in NYC for some good times at some of the bars in lower Manhattan. One was a new place I believe called "Xes" and the other was a dance club off Houston and Essex that I STILL can't remember the name to. I guess it will be one of those names that don't stick for a while. It was a great dance club for Saturday night and had a fabulous atmosphere. I think it may be called "Bank" the other 6 days of the week, but for the gay night it's got another identity. I was out until 3am that night tearing up the town. We met some other people at the dance club so it was guys' night out.
Now I sit home in Ohio relaxing after my whirlwind trip to NYC. I'm trying to catch up on family affairs and see some old friends in the process. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing another avant-garde film called "Shortbus." It's definitely one that sparks conversation and yet ANOTHER belly acher in the laughter department. Yet another shocker like "Borat" depicting the sexual misfortunes of different couples in love and how they deal with them. I only recommend this to the highly open minded. The film contains REAL sex and I mean I saw REAL sex. I thought Sacha B. Cohen was brave in his performance in "Borat," but these actors lay EVERYTHING on the line not only revealing deep emotions in their characters, but also really diving into the sexual scenes and "going there" with their relationships. It brings acting to a whole new level of "laying" it on the line. Some will call it pornography, but with the emotions and histories of these characters, it's hardly something to tuck away for self-pleasure. There's not only real sex, but also the comedy that comes along with it. I'd compare the sex scenes to the hotel room scene in "Borat." That's general enough for those who haven't seen it and those who have know what I'm talking about. They're just hysterically funny some even a little serious and disturbing. I picked up a film magazine called "FLM Magazine" that was free at the artistic theatre in Shaker Heights (no Thomas, it's actually Cleveland Heights, but I know you LOVE that area sooo much). Here's what they had to say about it:
"After years of buzz, actually seeing 'Shortbus' leaves you wanting to invent new adjectives – Sextastic! Copular-ific! Breastalicious! – but it also leaves you more than a little impressed by how funny and loose, and yes, emotionally engaging the film is. All the sex makes 'Shortbus' kinda hot, but what's surprising is how John Cameron Mitchell's sensibility and comedic charm makes it warm, too. James (Paul Dawson) and Jamie (PJ DeBoy) are a gay couple dealing with the monotony of monogamy; Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a couples counselor, is trying to help – although she reveals she's never had an orgasm with her husband Rob (Raphael Barker). Jamie and James invite Sofia to a sex/performance space called Shortbus, where Sofia meets and befriends the dominatrix Severin (Lindsay Beamish). But 'Shortbus' isn't just interested in how these characters have sex, even if they do a lot of it; it's just as interested in the mechanics of inserting tab 'a' into slot 'b.' 'Shortbus' has much to do with real sex as 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' has to do with real confectionary: it's a brightly-colored, fanciful, fun world of pure imagination. Although 'pure' might not be the right adjective. It's rare for a film to leave you aroused and amused, hopeful and horny, impressed by both the development of the characters and the flexibility of the actors – but the sexy, silly, startling, slight-but-sweet 'Shortbus' pulls all those things off."
- by James Rocchi, film critic for CBS-5 KPIX in San Francisco and editor-in-chief for Cinematical.com.
It definitely stimulated conversation afterward and was a new way to explore relationships in film. I think it would be worth the price to see it with a NY audience as well. Just for the laughs. I paid a mere $5 Monday Movie Madness special and got free popcorn so it was a definite delight. I'm so glad I have such wonderful friends that have a great sense of adventure and wit to keep me high-spirited in these difficult family times.
It was good to get a taste of home. I was afraid I might not get to see him over the holidays with all the family matters happening in Ohio. It was also nice to go outside in shorts on Thanksgiving day after seeing that NYC was getting drenched in rain and that everyone looked like they were freezing. Another winter deterred. Despite it being a huge travel day too I was glad I didn't have to fight with people traffic at the airports and all that jazz. The whole trip I had minimal road traffic, which was nice. It was a relaxing visit. I know Christmas will be a good visit as well back to Ohio, but the airports are what's going to be stressful. I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving with their families and friends. Gobble Gobble. Pic to follow. My internet connection here is so slow. How I miss the high speed at dad's house.
It was good to get a taste of home. I was afraid I might not get to see him over the holidays with all the family matters happening in Ohio. It was also nice to go outside in shorts on Thanksgiving day after seeing that NYC was getting drenched in rain and that everyone looked like they were freezing. Another winter deterred. Despite it being a huge travel day too I was glad I didn't have to fight with people traffic at the airports and all that jazz. The whole trip I had minimal road traffic, which was nice. It was a relaxing visit. I know Christmas will be a good visit as well back to Ohio, but the airports are what's going to be stressful. I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving with their families and friends. Gobble Gobble. Pic to follow. My internet connection here is so slow. How I miss the high speed at dad's house.
