Give my regards

So day 2 of New York is of course another whirlwind of activity but I've decided that I should try and keep things to a minimum when there's just tons and tons to write about. So this is by no means a full account of the day but hits the high point.

A Broadway show.

The Dramatic Arts major in my clamors to see something when I go visit. While there were clearly more "artistic" shows offered while I was there, budgetary and time restrictions (couldn't get to TKTS early enough to grab tickets to much else) helped me decide that I would be going to see that camp-tastic movie port of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert".

Rachel and I searched for about 15 minutes trying to find the theatre...another moment of "I wish they'd just put up a huge sign somewhere and then it'd be easier to fi....oh."

Gay confession time: I'm not a huge fan of this movie. I've seen it once and did really enjoy it but I couldn't quote it to save my life. I felt a bit like a poser rolling in but nevertheless glad to be there. My friend Rachel joined me for the trip and we ended up moving up a tad to get a bit better of a view. I was kicking myself for not getting the cheapest tickets possible because they moved EVERYBODY up. Oh well. This was our final view from the balcony.

Sparkles!

Of course I didn't take any pictures during the show (because I'm a respectful theatre patron) but that's where all the real visuals were. The costumes were insane and over the top. The dance numbers were well done and the quick changes were all super impressive. I felt like overall the characters were pretty engaging (with an especially touching yet humorous performance from Bernadette the full on transexual). The arrangements were fun and the staging exciting. We ended up actually seeing the understudy for Adam/Felicia who did a pretty solid job overall but you could tell that the chemistry was a bit different between the girls. It was really clear though that he was really enjoying the chance to take the lead so I couldn't fault him for anything. The final number culminates with every cast member on stage in over the top Australian themed costumes. (Read oversized koala heads and full body kangaroo jump suits etc. etc.) The girls came out in Victorian hoop skirts that transformed pretty flawlessly into the silhouette of the Sydney Opera House. Really nice touch.

While it wasn't ground breaking theatre and the audience didn't leave the theatre changed in any sort of profound way, it was a fun show with some great spectacle. Aristotle may say spectacle is the least important aspect of a show but I think in a show based around 3 drag queens in a pink bus the order may shift around a bit.

Acrobatic Boobies

NYC. A city of "experience". Millions flock here to experience something. Theatre, food, culture, drugs, alcohol, excess, poverty and beauty. Constantly changing and moving. Even writing about NYC at all in a way seems cliche. Every writer and their mother talks about New York. All the theatre kids flock here to "make it". Everyone who grew up in a small town feeling like they didn't belong finds their niche in New York or dreams of finding it there at some point. So much to do and see and a constantly changing and growing landscape with an unceasing pace make this the perfect city to experience all sorts of things. (Hence the delay in writing about it, there was a whole lot of stuff crammed into three days and I wanted to include some pictures for this one. Maybe I can learn how to budget some time in the morning or something to get this done in the future. Damn you complete lack of self-discipline. Damn you.)

I'm quite honestly a bit intimidated of New York. Could I live here? Sure. I'm adaptable and pretty savvy about most things so I think I could totally "handle" living there. Every time previous to this trip I've come to NYC thinking "It's such a cool city but I don't think I'd want to live there." This trip I may have changed my mind. This time I thought it could be great to live there just for a year or two to really get the feel of the city and understand it...at least to some degree. Still, I wonder if I could keep up with the pace. Where would I find my "break" time? Where would I get the quiet moments? I know they exist here but they're pretty tough to find when you're just on a quick visit. Maybe one day in the future though a post will be titled "The Big Move". Until then, long weekends will have to do.

I arrived in New York as the sun was heading down and met up with Cathy's friend Cole (who's apartment we graciously crashed at) and we all went out to grab dinner at a vegetarian/vegan Thai place called Red Bamboo which was pretty tasty. We took a brief stop at a gay bar called "Boots and Spurs" (maybe?) where Cathy and Keri touched a footlong in a mesh hammock (I do have pictures but I don't think I'm allowed to post those) then we jetted off to meet Danielle (Cathy's bestie) and her boy Joe (both of whom have amazingly thick Bostonian accents which I for one find adorable...not the word most Bostonians would probably want attributed to their accent but trust I mean it with best intentions...it's a sexy accent and it makes me like you more so talk bean town to me). Our destination was "The Floating Kabarette" at a spot called the Galapagos Art Space.

The space is beautiful. My lame iPhone photos can't do anything justice but I'll include a couple.

I want a space like this.

There are two levels, the main level has 6 islands shooting off of a main aisle where patrons and performers can walk to get to their seats and the stage. The main stage is a proscenium and has a very minimalist charm to it. The stereotypical red curtain and velvet ropes separate the stage from the audience and our enigmatic host Bastard Keith paraded and entertained. Keith was a great blend of camp and talent and was a great MC for the show. The show opened with the performers from "Suspended Cirque" who had a great routine from hanging silks. The aerialists were just mindblowing, in particular the male members of the company. The movements being combos of sexuality, power and grace. It was truly inspiring (and makes you feel like the weakest piece of shit that ever walked the earth when you see them roll themselves up to the ceiling in the silks with their arms).

Here we have the ladies opening act. There was a third member who was performing on stage but these guys had our focus clearly. Core strength + 1000

Here are the menfolk: one singing a version of "Mad World" the other blowing my mind.

HOW DO YOU DO THIS?

The other "main act" so to speak was Jenny Rocha and her Painted Ladies who combined hardcore tap dancing (which I wouldn't have really believed existed until seeing them perform), Burlesque and a playful theatricality into what ended up being some amazing performances which I would categorize as the most turned on by women I've ever been .

This may be the first time I've had to "think about baseball"

with ladies.

If you made Stomp sexy and took off all their clothes and added pasties, you would have the above photo.

Interspersed between these acts were some great burlesque performers (who ranged from a pretty hot take on Alice in Wonderland to a pretty terrifying take on BDSM with lots of violent pelvic outbursts and flailing).

The group's agreed upon favorite.

There was a singer who had a decent voice who “remade” songs into a bit dirtier versions and it was fine and decent filler but nothing terribly exciting. We also were treated to the intensely weird but equally intriguing comedic stylings of Manchego the rail thin, poofy haired yet balding comedian who adeptly dealt with a Jersey Shore Douche Bag (JSDB) and ended up in a gas mask and tighty whities snapping a whip at a confused but well mannered chubby gay jewish guy tied to a chair.

There are lots of moments in my life, this being one of them, where I think to myself "I grew up in Harlan, Kentucky and now here I am watching a skinny caricature of a man wearing a gas mask snapping a whip at a tied up gay Jew while sipping on bourbon and coke...how did I get here?" I'm always pretty happy to be in those places.

After the show ended we all went out to some bars in NYC and ended up at a pretty cool spot called 2A. It was a low key and chill spot until the inevitable bar fight broke out and a dude punched a window and spidered it out. After some police drama and lots of drunken yelling the guy was arrested and taken off. We had a pretty great time overall though and we stayed out until around 4:30am then made our way back to Washington Heights to crash.

Night 1 officially closes as the sun starts to rise on the city.

Wolftrap!

Having lived in DC for nearly two years something that has always been on my to do list has been to go see something at Wolftrap. Sadly most of the time it's so far off my radar that I don't see that something I would enjoy is there until it has already cleared out and then a lot of the other things they have there aren't super exciting.

This week a Facebook friend posted a coupon code to see The NSO Perform songs from Disney while movie clips and artwork played on the big screen. I thought this was the perfect chance to see something on the cheapish side while still actually being into it. (I less than 3 Disney, most notably the little mermaid and that's what they opened the show with so I had to go.) I bought two tickets for me and Chris and surprised him with a picnic (which I've been told is the best way to enjoy anything at Wolftrap.)

The venue is beautiful and I really want to go back maybe just to walk around and explore a bit more. It was a perfect summer's eve (but seriously folks) with amazing weather and just a great atmosphere of little kids dressed in Disney gear and adults reliving some childhood moments with a classy edge of symphony. The NSO was amazing as always, the vocalists were on point, the artwork and movie clips were fun to watch and the picnic was delicious. Wolftrap gets a gold star for fun and low key date night.

Overall it was a fantastic night with great music and a really fun mood. There is only one little thing I have to be pissy about.

I love kids. I often give kids more of a benefit of the doubt than most. Having been a teacher for a huge age range of kids and some with developmental issues I recognize that in public you almost never know the full story of what's going on and why a kid is acting up. I give parents a really long leash when it comes to keeping kids quiet and respectful. That being said, I also can spot when it's absolutely the parent 's fault that the kids are being brats and for that I have zero tolerance. Kids will be kids but adults should be adults. If your kid is wrapping himslf in blanket and fighting with your other kids on top of the people in front of you it is YOUR resposibility to do the following things.

1) Stop the kids
2) Chastise the kids
3) Apologize to the people they disturbed

This is your job. You are an adult. We are adults. If your kids interrupt other adults we don't expect the kids to stand up and say:

"Oh, I'm ever so sorry sir, I was excitedly playing with my friend here and we got so wrapped up in our tomfoolery that we lost track of our personal space and ended up on your blanket. We won't let it happen again."

What we DO expect though is for you to say "Ian! Stop fighting with Michael and scoot back up here. You're disturbing those people." Then you need to turn to those people and say "I'm really sorry."

At this point I'd be totally fine. In fact I'd probably still think "awww kids are cute and rambunixouus." But when you are a German au pair and you keep screaming

"IAN!!! MICHAEL!!! Schtop fighting and get back up here! Zer are ozha peeple he-yah! You are sho laud!"

And then go back to texting on your blackberry without acknowledging that the brood of the Aryan nation that you're babysitting for has rolled over the bag of food I brought and spilled water all over the place...that's when I get pissed.

Apparently ice dagger stares don't translate the language barrier because even when glaring full force at each child and said Frauline no one ever offered up an acknowledgemlent let alone and apology.

Oh well. Kids will be kids and German ladies will be bitches. Wolf trap still kicks ass.

(PS: if you're still wondering, when I say I less than 3 something: <3)