Holy crap! This day has not really gotten much better. We eventually made it back to the Met and got our stuff. I almost cried when I saw my coat. It’s so warm and water-proof.
Then we high-tailed it to Juilliard to try and get on the waiting-list for a new Criag Lucas musical they’re premiering. We got there and were told that there was pretty much no way in hell we were going to see the show. Another bust.
So, we waited in the lobby for Krista. Then tried to get cheap tix to A Light in the Piazza. No luck. Then we checked out the ballet. A wonderful solution presented itself. Acacia and Krista would revel in the beauty of the ballet while Dave and I tried to find respite at Casa Java in midtown.
Guess what. Another foiled plan. Casa Java cerrada.
Called JoetheArtofCoffee. Closed as well. got a cob. Astor Place and … I can hardly bear to say it … Starbucks. AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!
Yes, we’re at the Bucks. The evil, evil bucks. But the thing is, only Starbucks can afford a large comfortable space for a coffee shop, with plenty of room for tables and chairs and counters. AND, they keep it open 24 hours. That’s what they have goin on at Astor Place. In fact, they have it twice. Yep, two huge, 24 hour Starbucks at one major intersection. Crazy.
So, I’m sitting here dealing with me guilt. Wondering when I’ll get to change out of these wet shoes. It’ll be at least 2am before we get back to Krista’s apartment. 3am before I’m sleeping. And at some point, I’m going to want to talk to Brant and John about 24 Hours.
But seriously, the most challenging thing to NYC to me this weekend is our inability to stop back at homebase. How often do we all get to do that back in Columbus? Most days, if I’m doing 3 things, I’ll stop at home between each. Usually. I can get home from anywhere in 15 minutes, it’s no big deal. I don’t have to wait for public restrooms, I can just wait till I get home. I can change my clothes, sit down and relax, and, perhaps most importantly, be alone for a few minutes. The unisex bathroom at Starbucks became an oasis of isolation a while ago. I washed my hands, rinsed off my face, and took a few minutes to breath in the peace and quiet before moving on with the night. Where does one go in the city that never sleeps to be alone? Where does one go to sit down and relax without buying anything on a rainy January night? I wish I knew. For now, traveling 36 blocks for a corner table by the trashcan at Starbucks seems like the greatest thing in the world.
I wonder how the girls are fairing. I’ll bet they’re loving it. I hope so.
Kurt Elling tonight. At Birdland. We’re having dinner there, some (good, I hope) soul food. I hope Kurt is rockin, I hope he tears the room up. He’s the only vocalist I’ve ever heard that can just blow the doors of a place in the same way a great saxophonist can.
What else? The Met was great. I’ve never actually been there, and I was really into it. I think I liked the scupltures best of all, especially the European and Greek/Roman stuff. The had a beautiful and very expressive Sappho, and there was a Rodin (they had lots of Rodin) with five large figures, the Berghers of something, I think. Have to look that up. I wanted to get to the Japanese art section, but never made it. The modern section was also great. They had lots of Clyfford Still, who I really love, and Stuart Davis, who I wasn’t too familiar with but was finding very intriguing today. Of course they had a couple Pollocks, including the huge #30. I’m hoping to go to the Guggenheim tomorrow. They have one called Alchemy, which I’m really hoping is on display right now. You can see it here.
Well, it’s time to retire, to another cab or train, back uptown. I’ve gone up and down this island 3 times today. But, I can’t complain, I’m having tons of fun, and I’ve got great people to do it with.