Fabulous

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It's Friday my loves! It's supposed to rain this weekend, I have no actual plans, I fully intend to honor my roommate's wishes and clean the bathroom on Saturday (last time this happened it took me a week to actually do the cleaning but this time, I'm doing it right!), and I have a phone date scheduled for a dear friend back in California for Sunday. Other than that, I plan to do nothing but laze about. I hope you all have equally relaxing weekends ahead! Oh and that piccy is a "just because" sorta thing.

"Ghetto Klown"

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On Tuesday night, a darling friend and I attending a showing of John Leguizamo's new one-man play, "Ghetto Klown" and I have to tell you - this show is worth seeing. I have been a fan of Leguizamo in only 2 of his "known" movies - namely "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet", and "Moulin Rouge" - and this was the first of his many shows that I'd been privileged to see. Now, oh how I wish there were a way to see the old plays!

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"Ghetto Klown" is apparently the most autobiographical of Leguizamo's impressive list of showcase pieces, and it was endearing to learn a bit about him. As my knowledge was non-existent prior to the show, and I never particularly followed the actor's career, it was almost welcoming to be privy to the same anecdotes and admissions as audience members who surely knew Leguizamo's career inside and out. This is a truly funny man, outside of being a truly incredible actor. Well-trained to boot, he studied with Lee Strasberg, the mentor of such greats as Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean. Burdened with an unfortunate youth, he strove to prove to himself as much as his parents all that he could be and accomplish. I think we can all agree he succeeded.

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This production is as funny as it is touching, the enthusiasm and excitement that was brought to the stage by this single actor and writer was invigorating, and the audience loved it. You feel a respect from Leguizamo that surely equals the respect his audiences sends up to him night after night.In the beginning of the show Leguizamo pauses and asks if we can all feel "the vibe." The fact of the matter is, we can. This is as strong a show as Leguizamo is an actor, and it is not to be missed.


"Ghetto Klown" plays at the Lyceum Theater, located at 149 West 45th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). You can purchase tickets by calling the box office or by clicking here.

Cuban Elegance

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That's the tagline Cafe Cortadito chose, not a title I miraculously came up with that does not involve what day of the week it is. On behalf of both readers, Cafe Cortadito, we thank you. But I still admit, while the restaurant at which I dined Saturday night was rather elegant - the vase full of fresh roses in the bathroom was definitely a nice touch - the food was the best part of the establishment. I know, I know, "But, Writer of Weird Little Blog I Read When I Remember your Blog Exists, isn't the point of a restaurant the food?" Well yes, yes it is Earnest And Dedicated Sometimes Reader. Sometimes I just have to write simplistic phrases to take up space so my posts don't feel quite so empty and sad when I publish them. And, full disclosure, I had never eaten Cuban food prior to that meal, so you probably can't trust my recommendation anyway.  But the food was delicious, the prices were perhaps a little steep for what you got - a lot of beef and pork, some amazing fried plantains, not much on presentation - but the meal was filling and the sangria itself was well worth every penny. And after all, young reader, don't we really go to restaurants to booze it up on drinks that never taste quite right at home?

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Cafe Cortadito is located at 210 E 3rd St (between Avenue B & Avenue C. You can make reservations by calling (212) 614-3080, or check out their website at www.cafecortadito.com

Gloomy Tuesday

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I wanted to regale you all with tales of the delicious Cuban food I ate for dinner on Saturday night, but work has gotten in my way so I shall have to put that on the back burner for now. In the meantime, I hope this picture lifts your spirits, and that your weather is looking cheerier than the gray and gloom we have outside my windows. Monday's done, on to bigger and better things - after all, the week has to hit the weekend sometime!

Monday Morning!

Oh Monday. The end of a weekend. At least I thoroughly enjoyed mine! I joined a friend for a delicious sushi dinner after work on Friday, at a BYOB eatery called Fu Sushi. I will definitely be returning to this eatery - delicious, fresh sushi and the opportunity to bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy with the meal?! Genius.

 Friday night I also saw some live music - not something I do with much regularity though I suppose not for any distaste of the subject. I just don't think to go search out venues or acts. But a friend of mine recommended what turned out to be a great band called The Pass, playing at a fun venue, Pianos. In typical fashion, I was informed later that weekend that the "upstairs" of Pianos was an awful place, accompanied with an eye roll as to why I would have ever agreed to patronize such an establishment. To each his own I suppose, and although admittedly I did not go into any upstairs area, I liked the presumably downstairs bar. And the little arena for the bands to play was intimate, as most things in New York are. One thing that stuck with me from my music-listening experience, was a rather encouraging thing. Next to where I stood was a case full of sample CD's of the band's music. Open and out for all to see - literally, I used the stack of CD's as an armrest for part of the set - and not a single person did I see swoop in to snag a freebie. Granted, the crowd seemed young-ish, it's possible I was surrounded by students still living off the comforts of their parents, but I more think it was just a reminder that humans are innately honest and good. And there you are,  a little zen to kick of your week. Now go to, and make this Monday count!

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Springy

In spite of a rocky workday start, I am having a Springy Friday morning. The sun is out, the sky is blue, the weekend is ahead, promising and sparkling with as-yet-unknown possibilities. And finally Manhattan is looking like Spring. There is still a threat of rain this weekend, but I couldn't help but smile at the excitement New York feels for Spring, evident to me as I walked to work today. Not only are all the trees blossoming - as everyone promised would happen - but in all the planters lining the streets, and all the parks dotting this cement jungle, daffodils have been planted. Smiling up at passersby with their bright little faces, these enthusiastically planted bits o' spring certainly put a pep in this girls step! I just love that a city as stereotypically gritty as New York, would make such an effort to create beauty and welcome the end of winter. And the steadfast knowledge that this move was a good idea, surfaces yet again. Happy Friday all!

"Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo"

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Directed by Moises Kauffman, "Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" is a play that is not-to-be-missed. With or without Robin Williams - who, for better or worse, may be more of a draw to this show than its subject matter for the average viewer - this tumultuous story of unanswerable questions will give you chills, and make you think.

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Boasting a strong storyline that infiltrates humor with heartbreak, this play has a strong book that is brought to life by a stellar cast. Robin Williams truly was superb as the "Tiger." Reigning in his comedic panache, he brought to life a myriad of emotions and left the audience mesmerized as much as he made us chuckle. Arian Moayed's "Musa" was perhaps the most wretched of all the characters, struggling against demons we were introduced to slowly and painfully, and remaining human and defiant throughout the storyline. Rounding out the leads of this cast were equally strong performances by Glenn Davis as "Tom" and Brad Fleischer (a UCSD MFA graduate, hey-o!) as "Kev," who went from frustratingly immature to sadly lost until he made a refreshing growth into a character with inquisitiveness as well as intelligence.

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This storyline was rounded out by the rest of a very talented cast, and was brought beautifully to life with sets by Derek McLane. Truly, the garden - which served as a predominant background throughout the play - was beautiful in its devastation and its significance to each character. The sound design, by Acme Sound Partners and Cricket S. Myers, as well as Kathryn Bostic's musical compositions, were together beautifully effective, lulling into everyday simplicity just as quickly as it yanked us from reverie into realization of cold, hard truths.

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Without a doubt this show is worth seeing. The sort of story you lose yourself in until you emerge, blinking, back into the bright light of day, and life in America, unsure of what to do with what you've seen, unsure of the life so many men and women have lived - and are living - in countries abroad, where war is fought, and there are no easy truths, and there is no black and white. A reminder that life is hard in ways we cannot even imagine, for so very many people we most likely will never come close to meeting.

"Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo" plays at the Richard Rogers Theater, 226 West 46th Street. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office or by clicking here.