I am finding myself really drawn to vis. arts, and while I don’t get the same “totally overwhelming” feeling I get from theatre, I think I could actually do it. Performative art is definitely something I would like to look into further and develop more.
Anyhow, that was just a thought I had. Today I let myself sleep in again. I want to prevent getting sick at all costs! I also knew that I had no clothes left to wear (except one set) and was going to be meeting a family friend, Clinton Curtis, close by between 11 and 12. Ash and I got up and ready, left, had to come back because I forgot my metrocard...doh...and left again. Clinton lives on West Ave and 94th St. Very close. We got there and we chatted for a bit to get better acquainted as I had never actually met him before. He said that he wanted to show us around by driving us around Manhattan. Cool. We headed out to the car (which was a good 20 minute walk as he had parked for a friend to use it later that afternoon before thinking her would take us for a ride) along the riverside park. It was really beautiful and a nice walk. Once in the car we drove just about everywhere. We headed up to Harlem where I said I was interested in seeing. He showed us a famous church up there where he sings sometimes (he’s a very talented and full time musician). We got out and had a look around, it was really beautiful. Then we drove down the West Side of the city towards the new Trade Centre building. He showed us Greenwich Village and we got out and walked through Washington Park near the (or some of the extensive) NYU Campus. He went to NYU and did music. We also drove around Little Italy, SoHo and the East Village. He had a lot to say about all of it. I was really informative and interesting to hear what he thought of the city and it’s different parts. He showed us a lot of the famous clubs and quite a few he has played at. He showed us where to get the best pizza. Where he took my parents to dinner and I should go back to. We drove past Katz’s Deli and Gray’s Papaya. We say A LOT!!! I also saw that Alvin Ailey has a show on at the moment that I MUST see!!! He is one of my favourite choreographers and it would be incredible to see his work. I am also going to get tickets to a Rangers game, the ballet and some other events. At least, that’s the plan!
Clinton invited us back to his house tonight for a Thanksgiving Party at 9pm. He has invited his friends and they are going to ‘jam’ which is really cool. I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing them.
Ash and I came back to the Hostel but all our roommates were asleep and one of them was on the floor (?!) in front of my bed, so laundry was out of the question...again...it was getting dire! So we headed back out into the city.
We ended up just wandering around the city all afternoon, snacking on a pretzel, going into shops that were open on Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue. We then got the subway to 50th and I showed Ash where I had the amazing pizza the other night. She had the cheese and tonight I had the tomato, basil and mozzarella. Delicious! If the place Clinton showed us is better, I have to go there!
We then came back to the room, FINALLY did the washing (phew!) and I am not writing on my blog site J We will get ready soon to head back out to Clinton’s and I will have to write what happens tomorrow.
Wow, only two pages of writing today! Nearly every other day has been at least four!!! I guess I haven’t discussed the art as much, more what today has brought and the perceptions of New Yorkers. Clinton pretty much said that: Harlem is fine, New Jersey sucks and is polluted, Washington DC wasn’t worth going to unless you were doing the museums – but make it a day trip, but then it’s too expensive so don’t bother, and that we shouldn’t go to Boston unless we wanted to hang out with a lot of white people. Hahaha. He really only seems to like New York and San Francisco. Like I said in our presentation – New Yorker first and American second.
Oh, it’s also Thanksgiving. That pretty much meant, for us, that the roads were good, the sidewalks clear and a lot was closed. We still had a great day. We saw a little bit of the parade on Clinton’s TV, but that’s it. Happy Thanksgiving!
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