Broadway

Despite my lack of internet connection, I have decided to write an entry and drag my computer across the street to the library to update my dormant blog. Its been silent too long. Apologies.

Its officially fall in New York. I think we hit that day a few weeks ago, but the weather has changed and the warmth is not coming back. The temperature might get up to 60 today, but the wind chill is somewhere closer to 45. In Texas we call this winter! I'm wearing all the clothes that I used to wear during the months of December-February and its only October! Trouble! Luckily the sun still warms me up, but I've been warned that eventually that won't even help! I will try to enjoy it and not fear the cold that darkens my future (dramatic, huh?). Leaves are changing into the most interesting colors, unlike in Texas where they just turn brown and fall to the ground. I remember the season of Fall from my younger years in Virginia and playing in piles of leaves that my dad had just raked in our yard. I just need to buy a good coat, some gloves, hats and scarves and enjoy this time of year!

I've been back in New York nearly two months. Home seems forever ago. I'll hit the highlights and if anyone cares for more details or anecdotes pertaining to one event or another, please leave a comment and I will embelish further. I cannot possibly tell all the stories, but I've had a very eventful two months!Upon arriving to my apartment, my landlady, Karen, was not in town however her daughter and friend were in the apartment. In case I failed to mention, I'm renting a room in an apartment of a woman whose adult children have moved out. Its on Roosevelt Island, which is a tiny strip of land between Manhattan & Queens. Many New Yorkers don't know it exists. Its amazing! Its like a little town, with one grocery store, a little library, pharmacy, church, diner, pizza place, Starbucks! Its safe and so lovely! My only complaint is that we don't have wireless internet in our apartment, but that is because Karen and I can't figure out how to set it up. So, the purpose of my early return to New York (classes didn't start until Sept. 19th) was to find a job. Before I even left Texas, I had a job interview set-up for marketing company to promote Broadway shows in Times Square. I interviewed for that the day after I arrived and started doing that job the following day. I was promoting a show called 'Xanadu'. It was a musical comedy (the two most glorious words in the English language) making fun of the terrible 1980's film starring Olivia Newton-John. Anyway, the job was a huge blessing in disguise. Initially I thought it would just be a job to do until I found a job in a restaurant, but it ended up supporting me enough so I could find a job I actually wanted instead of just taking anything. I interviewed with some weirdos! The job hunt could be an entire entry. Now, did I enjoy wearing a giant, pink sandwich-board sign in the middle of Times Square? Not particularly, but I had fun with it. One of my most memorable days was a Saturday I was positioned at 45th & Broadway. There was one of those sidewalk bands that play the little Peter Pan flutes. Now instead of trying to compete with them by projecting over their music, my friend (who was promoting 'Legally Blonde') and I danced to the music. People were so much more willing to take my fliers when I was dancing. We had so much fun that day and I was complimented on my dancing more than once! Ha! Another memorable day was when they held "Broadway on Broadway" in Times Square, which is the only other time besides New Years that Times Square is shut down. There was a huge stage set up at 43rd between Broadway & 7th, with barracades to hold the crazy fans back. "Broadway on Broadway" is when every Broadway musical performs in some way. Some shows had the whole cast, some had one performer. This is the kind of event that people came out for in the wee hours of the morning to get a good spot. Well due to the fact that I was handing out flyers, it was like an all-access pass. I went wherever I wanted to go. So naturally, I went to the very front. Of course, I did my job for the first part of the day, but once the performances started no one wanted to listen to me talk about my show. My fellow flyerers all agreed that on that day, we loved our jobs. It was pretty incredible! My job with 'Xanadu' allowed me to connect with some theatre folks, I got to work outside TKTS and met several wonderful friends and learn about every show on Broadway, talk to Leonardo DiCaprio and have fun making money.
It ended up working out perfectly... just as 'Xanadu' was closing I got hired at the Bourbon Street Bar & Grill where I currently work. God is good! Bourbon Street Bar & Grill is a beautiful restaurant located on W. 46th (a.k.a. Restaurant Row in Hell's Kitchen). Its owned by four Irishmen, who are lovely. I love the people I work with. Our food isn't all that memorable, but our bar is amazing. Of course it is, being owned by the Irish! Classes are going really well. Its difficult to express what they're like, but they are going well! I cannot think of anything more to write at the moment.