On The Road — Page 63

February 22, 2015 at 9:59 am by Claudia

Lots of snow, sleet and rain here in the city. I do love watching it fall outside my window, knowing that I don’t have to shovel. Apologies, Don! But really, it’s so nice to know I can enjoy it, without wondering how I’m going to clear everything out and drive on the slushy and/or icy roads. Reminds me of my apartment days in Philadelphia and Boston, both of which accumulate a lot of snow in the wintertime. Yes, I have to walk in it, but hey, that’s nothing!

2-22 more cupcakes

I went back to The Mysterious Bookshop and then, as if my feet had a GPS of their own, found myself at Billy’s Bakery. It wasn’t open. Oh no, I thought. Not open on Saturday? Then I saw someone inside and looked more closely at the posted hours. They didn’t open until noon and it was about 11:50. So I contented myself with finding the address for Whole Foods in Tribeca. I wanted a good lunch from their food bar – I’ve not been eating as well as I usually do – it’s a problem with being on the road for a relatively short time on a budget and with no per diem. Then the door to Billy’s magically opened and I bought three more cupcakes. Yellow daisy. I had one yesterday, will have one today, and – you guessed it – will have one tomorrow. Ummm-mmmm good!

Back to the bookshop. I want to work there. Wouldn’t it be heavenly to order books, sort them, put them on the shelves, and have lovely chats with customers about what books to buy, about recommendations, about the authors? All in that wonderful shop with tall bookshelves made of darkly finished wood? With a glass case full of rare books? With a leather sofa to sink into?

The only drawback: a three hour commute every day. That does put a damper on things.

I bought three more books:

2-22 more books

The books by Christopher Fowler are part of a series about two men, Arthur Bryant and John May, called the Peculiar Crimes Unit Mysteries. I believe I have the first one in the series at home – still unread. They are supposed to be wonderful and the man I spoke to yesterday confirmed that. He said he loves them.

The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey has an introduction by Louise Penny where she says that this book “changed to the face of detective fiction when it was released in 1991. It broke every template, every tradition, every ‘rule’ of the genre.” She’s a huge fan of the series. So, of course, I bought the book.

When I’m going to get the time to read all of these with my list of “To be Reviewed” books quite lengthy, I don’t know. But they will be there, on my bookshelves, waiting for me. Meanwhile, I finished the Olen Steinhauer book yesterday. I think I’ll start Cara Black’s Murder in Belleville. Not sure yet.

I’ve sent off a note to the director to find out if I can leave tomorrow. Fingers crossed. My family needs me. I need them. I need to nuzzle my nose into the hair on Scoutie’s head. I love her scent. I need to hug my husband. I’m grateful for this job and the opportunity to spend some time in Brooklyn, but I need my sunny little cottage.

You understand.

A review of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry on Just Let Me Finish This Page today.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

On the Road: Coffee, Reading & Snow

February 21, 2015 at 9:08 am by Claudia

2-21 Billy's

I posted this photo on Instagram yesterday. Isn’t this the best diner-like mug? I couldn’t resist. It’s very heavy and solid. Why is it that coffee just seems to taste better when it’s in a mug like this?

Don’t know. But it does. And it’s helped by that gorgeous shade of pale aqua on the logo.

I’ve read two books since I’ve been here: The Swimmer by Joakim Zander, which I’ll be reviewing in a few weeks for TLC Book Tours, and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, which I’ll talk about on the book blog. Now, I’ve moved on to All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer. Being out of town with a certain amount of free time on one’s hands and frigid temps outside that make walking more than 100 feet painful seems to be conducive for reading. Now, if I only had a fireplace…

I am going to venture out today as I don’t have a rehearsal to attend. I hope I can swing a visit to The Mysterious Bookshop again. The shop isn’t open on Sundays, so this may be my last chance to spend some time in that little slice of heaven. We’re also due for some snow this afternoon, so I’m going to try to get going early before it really starts coming down. Poor Don – 4 to 8 inches due in our neck of the woods. Where the heck is he going to put it? Really. I’m serious. I don’t think there’s anywhere else to put it. (This reminds me of last winter, when I felt actual panic about how I was going to lift the shovel high enough to dump the freshly shoveled snow.)

I’m assuming that I’ll go home on Monday, but I have to confer with the director to get her take on how it’s all sounding. I believe I only have the apartment through Tuesday and Monday is the day off. I’m homesick and really need to see my husband and doggie again, but if I have to stay one more day, I will, of course.

That, my friends, is it. I’ve arranged to see the matinee tomorrow, so I can watch the Oscars in the evening. I suppose Mr. Sparks and I will be watching it together via an ongoing conversation on the phone. We’ve done that sort of thing before.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

On the Road: Performing Arts in Brooklyn

February 20, 2015 at 9:09 am by Claudia

I haven’t checked in with Don yet this morning, but I hope all is well there after a night of wind chills that went down to 25 below zero. Crap. Same thing here, though not quite as low; about 15 below. Thank goodness I only have to walk about 100 feet from the theater to the apartment building!

This February has been one for the records. Literally. The temperatures in my neck of the woods have broken records that are over 25 years old; in NYC, over 50 years old. You have to hand it to New Yorkers, though. Nothing stops them. All of the warnings about wind chill did not keep a full house of audience members from watching the show last night and giving it a standing ovation.

It’s pretty powerful theater. I can’t take credit for any of it. It’s the incredible work of the playwright, the director, the designers and the wonderful actors. I just do a little tweaking.

2-20 TFANA

This is the theater at night. Theater for a New Audience moved to their new home a couple of years ago after years of using other spaces in Manhattan. It was a dream come true for the Artistic Director and the TFANA staff. Beautifully designed, the front of the building is glass and incredibly striking – which is why I wanted you to see a picture of it at night. The theater space can be converted to just about any configuration. It’s a wonderful, wonderful space for this particular theater company. And it’s an acoustic dream come true, as well.

Right across the street is the beautiful Brooklyn Academy of Music, or BAM.

By day:

2-19 BAM

By night:

2-20 BAM

Those white lights in the tall windows move in a constant circular motion.

This is an amazing three or four block mecca for the performing arts. BAM, TFANA, and two smaller BAM theaters – all within a hundred feet or so of each other.

Today? More coaching work, another preview tonight, then a four show weekend. I’m not sure, just yet, when I’m heading home. I expect it to be on Monday, unless something comes up. I’m only booked in the apartment through Tuesday and Tuesday night is the Press Opening, so I want my work to be finished by then.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

More

On the Road: Coffee, Reading & Snow

On the Road: Performing Arts in Brooklyn

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Archives