I have to give a shout out to my cousin, Tim: he is now writing crossword puzzles for The New York Times! He even corresponds with Will Shortz- I’m so proud! Look for his latest contribution on Oct 22nd, 2008. Read Full Story

  The final performance of Rent was September 7th, 2008. I remembered this in a panic on September 5th, and tried desperately to get a last minute ticket, tried to rush the lottery, tried to figure out a way I could see it one more time. I cursed myself for forgetting that date. I had dismissed it so casually all summer, thinking, there was plenty of time to see it one more time. And then there wasn’t- and I just had to accept it, and move on. Maybe it was better this way. I saw it in... Read Full Story

 My first step in revitalizing this sleepy blog is to write an URGENT REVIEW of a Broadway show. This review is URGENT because the show is closing in a few weeks, so if you want to see it- (and you will want to see it) you have to do it right. now. And this show is too special to be missed- in fact, I’m trying to figure out a way to see it again myself before it closes- so if you need a theater buddy, you know where to find me. But! I’m getting ahead of myself- before we set up the phone... Read Full Story

  I know, I know, I know. There’s no excuse.  It’s been a month since I’ve blogged, and it shames me- especially since I was doing so well this summer with posting regularly. I thank everyone who kept checking back to see if there was a new posting, and I can only hope that Henri was a good host in the meantime. As to my silence- I offer a few meek and humble excuses.  At first- I was busy. As in, getting my ass handed to me, busy. I could descriptively detail the grading process, or what it... Read Full Story

Hello readers, I know I’ve been a bad blogger as of late- but I’m swamped with the turn-over from summer classes to fall classes- we have mere hours and minutes between the two!  In the meantime, I’m pleased to share with you a video that one of my students sent me. It made my day. Read Full Story

 An especially random assortment of celebrities wandering the streets of New York on Sunday… I wasn’t able to actually capture them on film at the moment, but I had to note them here, just to point out what a unique little trio they make when grouped together. But- this is New York- and on any given day, you never know who you might run into.  Mary Kate Olsen, on 7th Ave and 12th street, heading north….   Amy Sedaris, on 6th ave and 11th, heading south…. Lance Reddick, on 18th street... Read Full Story

  For Saundra i wanted to write a poem that rhymes but revolution doesn’t lend itself to be-bopping then my neighbor who thinks i hate asked – do you ever write tree poems – i like trees so i thought i’ll write a beautiful green tree poem peeked from my window to check the image noticed that the school yard was covered with asphalt no green – no trees grow in manhattan then, well, i thought the sky i’ll do a big blue sky poem but all the clouds have winged low since no... Read Full Story

  I just finished reading Love, by Toni Morrison.  I’ve spent the last few hours hungrily devouring the second half of a book I began with immense anticipation as my students labored over their in-class midterm. I’m going to have to read it again. When you read a work of Morrison for the first time, you fumble through the dark for most of the text. Sure- you can detect outlines, and textures, and there are definitely moments of delightful discovery. And slowly, you find your way through to... Read Full Story

Thank god for simple indulgences. That little gift  given unto oneself that won’t break the bank, but nevertheless, feels like a treat.  For me- it is lip gloss. This is hardly unique- I know most women in New York- hell,  everywhere– have at least 2-6 different lip gloss/stick options in their purses at any given moment.  So clearly, I’m not alone.  And I really try to show restraint. I don’t buy a new lip gloss that often. Even though it is a rather inexpensive form of indulgence, it loses... Read Full Story

A few weeks ago, (I know, this post is horrifically outdated)  I bypassed Batman and instead went to see Pixar’s newest offering, Wall-E.  This is a special movie.  The eponymous protagonist is a robotic trash compactor, left on earth 700 years after humans have evacuated the planet, and it only takes about 5 seconds to become emotionally invested in his story.  The first thirty minutes of the film progresses without any dialogue as you take in the magnitude of Wall-E’s daily routine. The... Read Full Story