Broadway in BP 25th Anniversary

Music, NYC

Broadway in Bryant Park

This is the 25th anniversary of Broadway In Bryant Park! My first year was 2003 when I saw Bernadette Peters from Gypsy along with some preteen phenom belting out “Let Me Entertain You”.  At that time, construction had not even begun on the massive Bank of America Tower overlooking the northeast corner of the stage.  For many years I went to every show, making notes about performers’ names on the distinctive menu like programs.  I don’t attend regularly anymore, but yesterday I was able to see Tony Award winners “Maybe Happy Ending” along with “& Juliet”, “BOOP! The Musical”, “Hell’s Kitchen” “MJ the Musical” and “The Great Gatsby.” Joy comes from seeing stars of the stage but also from observing the hot weather fashion choices of Aussie tourists or midtown office workers.

Of course, many folks were taking shaky videos from a distance, but there are plenty of decent videos online from the press section up front if you want to get a flavor of the experience, including of Mamma Mia, which was always a crowd favorite during their 14 year run.

Make Music New York 2025

Music, Nature, NYC
Mass Appeal Harmonicas: Union Square

MMNY Day once again sizzled both with weather and music.  Amid hundreds of concerts, I caught four.  First, in Union Square I found harmonic players age 6 to 86 display their skills with the mouth organ.  Next, I made my way down to Chinatown where Cellist Tiffany MJ Anderson played popular tunes amid the heavy pedestrian intersection of Doyers and Pell.

Tiffany MJ Anderson Trio: Doyers Street

In the Lower East Side oasis of The Children’s Magical Garden the community was treated to the voice of 14 year old Mariama Diop, whose credits include The Lion King on Broadway.  Finally, the award winning classical pianist Beyza Yazgan performed in the same space, a program that ranged from music of ancient Byzantium to her own contemporary composition.  This was definitely the highlight for me, and what makes MMNY so special: the ability to see a world class musician share her brilliance with a small group of neighborhood locals, who just stopped by for a break from the sweating sun.

Beyza Yazgan: Children’s Magical Garden

SNL Line Sketch

NYC, TV
  • Lines NYC
  • Lines NYC
  • Lines NYC
  • Lines NYC

I started taking photos of the long New York City lines way back in 2018 and first posted about it in 2019.  SNL finally made a sketch about it for their latest episode.  My main complaint: the line does not look like it was filmed in NYC.  I guess shooting in Soho–which is queue central–would have been overly complicated: too many people waiting in line!

Lafayette Inn, Clinton IA

History, Politics

The historic Lafayette Inn, long abandoned, is being renovated to create affordable housing in rural eastern Iowa.  Part of the funding will come from Power Forward Communities, which received a major grant as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.  This funding has come under attack as an example of “fraud” and “waste”, when in fact investing in more efficient infrastructure is precisely the opposite.  Replacing inefficient furnaces, water heaters, appliances etc. will clearly save money as well as benefit the environment.  Ironically, it is red states that have the most to lose from these cuts.  Let’s hope common sense prevails, and projects like the new “Lafayette Lofts” can continue.

MOMA on Sunday

Food, History, Museums, NYC

Two Sundays ago there were two very long lines extending down the steps and sidewalk before The Met Museum; once inside, another long line to buy tickets.  On the positive side, the lines moved fairly fast, and the Caspar David Friedrich exhibit was well worth it.

Today, MOMA had a surprisingly short line and was not too crowded.  Walking the galleries, it is sometimes shocking how many iconic modern paintings they own.  In part, this is thanks to Lily P. Bliss, one of the museum’s founders.  Highlights of her collection are assembled into an exhibit, including postcard bestseller: Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

At the other end of the value spectrum were Flat-Bottomed Paper Bags, displayed as part of Pirouette: Turning Points in Design. 

After the museum, we stopped by K. Minamoto where edible art is displayed like jewelry behind glass cases.  The white peach jelly Tosenka I found especially luscious.