Summer In The Borough

Holy crap Batman, did you see that flash? it was summer flying by.

You'll have to exuse my prolonged absence - it seems that when the weather is nice I don't sit by a computer for very long, only long enough to upload pictures to facebook. If only I had patented that device that takes your thoughts (as you are thinking them) and transcribes it, spell checks it and posts it. If I was more technologically savvy - it probably already exists I just can't afford it.

So I'll have to go back and recount for you July and August 2008. So where did I leave off? I'm sure I already went on at length about Greenwood Cemetery..an amazing place just steps from my house. .

Mom and I tried over and over again to see Shakespeare in the Park - either it stormed or it was one of those "special" nights where you couldn't actually get tickets. The whole process really annoys me - (what me annoyed?) you have to get on line at 1pm (luckily I can send my mother for that part) - I mean other people don't have mothers to go stand in line for an hour or two (and complain about it for the next week or two). In the end we both decided that Hamlet was not worth the trouble (Can they pick a play that has not been done to death?), we'd both have rathered seen MacBeth (which I thought it was). Actually, I'm a bigger fan of Richard III, and I'd like to see some of the histories or even some of the lesser known dramas performed somewhere. And no, I don't want to trek up to Harlem to see a Midsummers Night Dream, again. leave it for those who have never seen or read it.

There has been alot of beach time for me this summer, since my monthly metrocard not only takes me to work everyday but also takes me to one of my most favorite places on the planet - Ft. Tilden. I'll put the link on the sidebar - but suffice to say Gateway National Recreation area - is the largest national park in the country - covers huge swabs of beach and is home to many species of endangered and migratory birds and butterflies (wow orange and blue and monarchs so many everywhere). This past weekend was dragonfly weekend ( I forgot about this from last summer) the giant ones (as big as your hand) start buzzing around this time of year.

Mom and I did manage to go see Encounters at the End of the World (Herzog) an a amazing documentary that takes a quirky-herzog like view of Antarctica. I watched it purely for the ice diving scenes - which made me want to buy a dry suit.

The July4th weekend here was a washout - it stormed on the 4th - the fireworks went on anyways - but it was a soggy mess. I stayed home. On Saturday, I trekked out to NJ for a day of fun (no sun) at Keansburg - aka the poor mans coney island - on the nasty smelling NJ side of the harbor. The beach there was disgusting, smelly and not nice. the amusements were amusing and we had a fun day.

That Sunday I went to my beach (back to Tilden!) and enjoyed a pristine day on the beach. So many pristine days this summer - the sun glistening off the water and cool ocean breeze, sailboats off in the distance...gulls stalking you revery move (don't open that plastic bag - they know whats inside!)

The following weeks passed uneventfully, leading up to Coney Friday night - I managed to go to more than half of the Coney Friday Night happy hours - fireworks thangs. It was awesome each time - I met strange and unusual people- discussed strange and unusual topics and drank alot of MGD. I really will miss Ruby's whenit's gone, if only for the fact that I feel so at home there.

In July as well, the Philharmonic came to Brooklyn, that was a nice show - and I was not-so-secretly chuckling when the cops made the yuppies get rid of their wine bottle...open container laws are open container laws - and they apply equally to the rich (fuckers) as to the poor. when I heard them whining I just could not hold back (well I could have, but what fun is that!). I exlplained to them that they were not above the law and if they were stupid enough to bring a bottle and a cork and uncork it 10 feet from the cops - I mean c'mon. I have friends who understand that in these situations it's called a plastic soda bottle. uncork it at home, pour it in the flask or other container, then don't bring fancy wine glasses - think stealth - you are breaking the law after all.

There is a long list of things I did not attend this summer, or I should say things I did not show up at. MetalJohns last gig, (or two), Scott's b-day (sorry Scotty), some opening he invited me to in the far west village, readings at Unameable Boooks, game night and diorama night at Freddy's (why on a sunday - when I don't want to move after the beach). The thing I most regret missing was my friend Mike's party last week - I haven't seen him in 20 years and I was really looking forward to it. But a nasty cold and a late start time (if it was at 7, I may have gone by for an hour - but 9pm is just too late for this old lady!)

There were fun films at the bandshell (Enter the Dragon was awesome)..I missed Farenheit 451 and Philip Glass. I did make it to the Magic Garden daytime party in Coney but who goes to Coney in the DAY. It was Ok once (for Zoe), but you will never find me there during the day. Who would have thunnk 15 years ago I'd be saying that - it used to be when it got dark you got the hell out of dodge. Times have changed, and luckily so have my underwear. So the last summer(I say this every year now) of ghetto on the beach, fireworks and fried food has come to a close. well except for this coming Friday......

Back to July - many things I didn't attend and many more got rained out. We had a few weeks of almost nightly storms that didn't ease anything - steamy hot and full of insects. Let's not even talk about waterbugs (or american roach as they are actually). They were crawling out everywhere. huge (in some cases 3 inches long) fast and generally gross. yuck.

The first week of August Mom and I (I try to spend time with her y'know) went to Moztly Mozart and had the worst time ever. If you are buying tickets to any show there - BE WARNED - look at the entire program - call them if you have to - we thought we were seeing Mozart's 40th symphony - which turned out to be 25 minutes long - followed by over an hour of Mahler Opera (I HATE OPERA) - it was german torture. I like Mahler's symphonies - but this was painful and so not worth it.

The days and nights go from work to lounging at home, day after day - reading, doing chores and generally just chilling out- then I went for the 3rd (or 4th) year in a row to Hal Willner's project at the Prospect Park bandshell - this year it was Bill Withers, and it was a great show. A few family BBQ's later and a weekend in hiding with cramps (sucks to be me again). I dragged myself on an Eco Cruise run by National Park Service to Jamaica Bay. Next year I'm going on every one of these, it was excellent. I'd like to live in the middle of jamaica bay except for the airplanes - constant barrage of air traffic heading into JFK could make you go postal.

Oh, I'm welll into August now, I went to see a film at the elevated acre, Kubrick's "Killers Kiss" is one of his earliest films (go look on IMDB yourself) and even though as a film it was ok- I could see how he was developing his style. It was beautifully filmed and very interesting. If they show films up there again next year (which I'm sure they will) check it out - it's part of River to River, which makes finding the schedule difficult if not impossible.

I kept wanting to get out on the one day getaways to fire island - but it's just too expensive for the same ocean I get for my $2 (or free on my monthly card). I get sick to death of rich people talking about their summer homes - they make me sick. pretentious assholes who change their online status to show that they have summer homes. can I punch them all?

Amituofu. balance, acceptance, namaste.

Well that about wraps it up. I got a nasty bug last week and spent too much time dealing with the illness - but it's all gone now!! I hope your summer was as good as mine, or better. And that you get off your fat ass and do something.

With Fall around the corner, I'm looking into what volunteer prgrams I can get involved in (hard when you're working) and see what kinds of community service I can muster.

I'll be back soon.

A Park In The Borough Redux

Now playing: Nick Drake - Northern Sky
via FoxyTunes
I know it's been a while. While I'm spending my days feeling like Goldilocks in a suit "no this one is too big, and this one is too small!" I haven't been keeping up my touring duties in The Borough. I was able to spend a whole day back in Prospect Park - basking in the sun and continually amazed by vistas and hues. The walk that we took, is my favorite up and down route through the park - starting at the Vale of Cashmere- taking the back route over to the pond and up and down and around the hiking trails (Lullwater is one of my favorites)- eventually ending up at the boat house. Then the most lovely part are the new hiking trails (complete with markers) that take you down to the carousel. I love that Audubon has taken over the boat house as some kind of real facility - but I still wish there was a restaurant there, or at least a 24-hour bathroom of some kind. Check out the hiking trail infoby downloading the pdf park map from their website - the trails are all in ocher dots - in reality there are a few of them and my guess is eventually Audubon will produce a better quality - more detailed trail map - that would be cool, right?

I say, even though there is big damp out there - every day the leaves are still bright and blazing - and maybe a bit mushy - but dying to be made in paper mache or centerpieces or simply arranged in a funny way. It's not just the tress and leaves that make me so ga-ga. It's all the freakin' animals.

During part of my hike I had some close encounters with mallards and other duck like creatures, and then I managed to creep up on a giant blue heron near the carousel, standing in the reeds. sweet.

Gobble. Gobble.

A Park In The Borough

Probably the best thing about living in The Borough is being so close to Prospect Park. I know the Manhattanites have a thing about Central Park, and it is also worthy of great admiration and respect..but Prospect Park is my own salvation - the green rolling hills that separate people not by class, race or economic standing but only geography.

One of my earliest memories of the park is when my third grade class went for some kind of outing in the park - we decided that in the ravine - down many steps leading off into the woods that there was a creature that lived down there - it dwelled in the darkness waiting for unsuspecting children to wander down so it could eat them all alive!!! . These days I know the only thing going on the side paths and in the ravines is probably too x-rated for most audiences - but by the number of used condoms you can still find, I'd say cruising is alive and well. no monsters here, unless you're some kind of religious right looney tune.

The park itself may not seem as spectacular to those who have climbed Mt. Hood or stood at the top of any state or national park and been overwhelmed by enchanting views and marveled at scenery that goes on to the horizon. Nor, it could be argued, is it as inspiring as the modern marvels of architecture that line city streets. I think that is goes beyond all of these - since within an incredibly confined space they were able to create a place that relates and connects to the buildings and people outside on its periphery, but also welcomes you in and protects you from outside interference - creating vistas and enchanting experiences all within walking distance of a good bathroom (picnic house).

Even with throngs of picnickers, children screaming and playing sports on the open fields and the occasional drumming circle, It still holds its own personal charm, as a respite from the city in a quite civilized way. You can check it all out onine for yourself, including a map and all the good stuff that goes on in the park. http://www.prospectpark.org/

If you;re really interested in the history of the park, here is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_Park_%28Brooklyn%29