June 13, 2010

Shakespeare in the Park begins with waiting. Yesterday was Manhattan distribution up at Harlem Stage at The Gatehouse, 135th Street and Convent Avenue. Got there early and was 10th on line. Number one and two arrived at 2:00 a.m.



Then, it was the 8th Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party.



Working them links.



The music featured musicians from Austin, Texas. Carolyn Wonderland was awesome.



Big Bob Gibson BBQ Booth.



The beer was great.



Best ribs were from Baker's Ribs of Texas.



Then, up to the Park for a Picnic and a play.



Hanging out in the back. Real peaceful and rustic.



Birds and Squirrels abound.



You would never know you are in the middle of Manhattan.


Photo by Joan Marcus

The Play, Merchant of Venice was great. Al Pacino played Shylock with a Lower East-Side accent. A real wild Baptism scene. That Fifth act is a downer, a fill-in. Of course, Shylock is banished, broken, from the stage by then and you know it.


Photo by Joan Marcus

Salar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh: what's that good for?

Shy. TO BAIT FISH WITHAL: if it feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.

The supporting cast was terrific. Especially, Hamish Linklater, Byron Jennings, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

May 22, 2010

Sailing to Byzantium

That is no country for old men. The young
In one another's arms, birds in the trees
—Those dying generations—at their song,
The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,
Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long
Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.
Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unaging intellect.



In this week's Rolling Stone:The Global Land Grab by McKenzie Funk: A new breed of investor is planning to get rich off global warming, overpopulation and famine. Meet the new capitalists of chaos. The article is about Philippe Heilberg .

The article mentions the above book as Heilberg's recreational reading. Have to try it. A UPI Article describes the essence of what was in Rolling Stone.



Crowded at 10:00 a.m.



Lots of Police about.



Strawberries at $7 a Quart or $4 a Pint.



Coming up June 12 -13, 8th Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Partyat Madison Square Park. The Fast Pass is now $125 for $100 worth of BBQ, it is still worth it to beat the enormous lines.



Big Ed and "Whole Hog" BBQ will be back.