October 2004 Archives

Now that I'm back in Edmonton, I thought I'd start another blog thread about my health. Before I left for NYC, I was diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Since I'm nearly 40, I thought I'd take the diagnosis seriously and try to reduce my blood pressure and cholesterol through lifestyle changes.

This blog marks the end of the first week on the DASH diet, a plan designed for hypertension, but also good for reducing cholesterol. My wife Michelle has volunteered to join me on the diet. To our mutual surprise, the diet hasn't lessened our quality of life. We're eating less, but healthier. The meals aren't super high in salt, but still have a lot of flavour. I've fallen in love with Shredded Wheat biscuits and raisins. I don't know why, but they're just fun to eat for breakfast. Today, Michelle baked lemon muffins and they were awesome. Tonight, we're going to try a butternut squash soup, and I'm actually looking forward to it. I have an obsessive-compulsive personality, and for the first time it's being directed to a good cause.

We've also hit the gym five times this week. We do work on the treadmill mostly. Michelle plans to switch over to swimming. I like the walk, so I'm sticking to the treadmill and maybe graduating to the bike later. Between all the walking in NYC and the new exercise program here, I've already lost 10 pounds. I think the weight loss will be more gradual over the next few months. I don't want to yo-yo on weight. I just want to cut down sodium and increase my exercise. It's very tough to do when most of my job involves sitting for a good portion of the day, but it's important for me to keep active.

The reason for all this health watch is a renewed zest for life, which was brought on by my doctor's diagnosis and my 3 weeks in New York. I've realized that there is a lot more in this world that I want to experience, and I want to be healthy enough to enjoy it all into my later years. Today, the Edmonton Journal reported that there were fit Japanese seniors in the 70s who climbed mountains and trekked across the world. I want to be able to make that claim when I'm in my later years. I know all this sounds like the makings of a Hallmark Card, but NYC was a life-altering experience, and I really do want to enjoy all that this world has to offer.

Now that I'm adjusted to the chilly weather of my home town, I realized that I've been taking it for granted. I gushed about all the sights and sounds of New York with the loving eye of a tourist. I wonder if I can apply the same sense of wonder to the attractions of Edmonton.

To that end, I trekked with my wife to the Douglas Udell Gallery, which is located just west of downtown. When we walked up to the gallery, we noticed a nearly empty lot beside the building. Various human-shaped scupltures posed on the snow-covered plot of land. Very cool. Then we noticed a bull sculpture in front of the gallery. How typically Albertan I thought.

Inside, a true wonder awaited. We were treated to a small selection of Picasso prints. We were taken by some of the drawings and how angry this artist must have been. There were a lot of violent strokes, repeated throughout the prints. The tour took less than an hour, but it whetted our appetites for more Picasso. Fortunately, the Edmonton Art Gallery can satisfy our hunger for more art. They're exhibiting more Picasso prints and drawings, starting today. We're going to find time over the next week to check it out.

I hope to report once a week on a new Edmonton sight or sound in this blog. I know our city is not New York, but there are still a lot of things to love about it.

What a great way to end the week. I read at the Woodcroft Branch of the Edmonton Public Library for the grade 4, 5, and 6 students of St. Vincent School. This gang braved cool temperatures and walked half an hour to the library to listen to me read. I was thrilled with the response. The kids laughed lots, and I got more feedback on the title for the sequel. They were split on Graffiti Ghouls versus Do Zombies Have Curfews, but everyone agreed that the clothes shopping fiasco story is a great way to kick off the second book.

I'm done with readings for a little while. Next week, I'm writing every day. I also have to plan a couple of outlines for plays that I want to pitch to a theatre in New York - Vampire Cowboys.

Enjoy Halloween.

Today, I read at Meadowlark School and had a fantastic time. The kids were incredibly reponsive to the reading. There were about 50 kids, a mix of grade five and sixes. Some had already read the first chapter, so they were hearing it again. I was glad that they appreciated the jokes even though they had read them already.

What I was really pleased at was the response to my proposed first chapter of the sequel to the Mystery of the Frozen Brains. The kids really laughed hard at it and some of the teachers were laughing as well. I took the laughter as a good sign and not that my zipper was undone.

My big thanks to Meadowlark School for letting me read to the students on short notice and to Ilona at the Jasper Place Library for setting it all up. This week has just been fabulous with all the positive response to the book. Now I have to get cracking on the sequel.

It's always nerve-wracking to read to a home town crowd. Last night, about 20 people showed up to the reading, and I fought hard to keep calm. Fortunately, the audience appreciated the reading. There were a couple of kids from Primeau who had heard me read in the spring, and they came with their own copies of Mystery of the Frozen Brains for me to sign. I thought that was great.

The Library was great and the staff were so welcoming. I felt at ease with everyone right away. The questions were great, and I even had a chance to try out my clothes shopping story... the first chapter of the sequel to the Mystery of the Frozen Brains.

And to cap off a perfect night, I was able to see the lunar eclipse. Wow, it was breathtaking. Being away from the smog-filled city and in clear air country, I could see every facet of the moon as the Earth's shadow cut across it. Very cool.

I've been running to various libraries across the city to do readings for students. It's been a blast. Yesterday, I was at Idylewylde, reading to kids from St. James School and Donnan School. They were pretty keyed up - lots of afternoon energy, but they enjoyed the reading. I've read the first chapter of The Mystery of the Frozen Brains so much, I should know it off by heart by now, but I still get nervous reading. Kid audiences are brutally honest, so if they're bored, they won't just sit quietly. So far, so good. I've been able to hold the attention of the kids through the reading.

Today, I'm off to the Lessard Branch; tomorrow, I'm at Meadowlark School, and on Friday, I'm at Woodcroft. A big bonus, I get to do a reading in Morinville tonight. I hope there will be a good turn out.

As for my writing, I'm slow to start, but I hope to dive back into the sequel to The Mystery of the Frozen Brains. So far, I've polled a few kids about the title. It looks like "Graffiti Ghouls" is the front runner.

Sigh. So much snow. I'm back in the city and wishing I was in NYC again. The transition was a shock to the system. First, I went from the fabulous food stores and restaurants of New York to Canadian fare. The first thing I ate on Canadian soil was a stale tuna fish sandwich and dry banana bread from an airport cafe. Ugh, it was so gross. Then I landed in Edmonton to freezing temperatures and blowing snow. Very depressing.

The thing that made me look up was the fact that 2 galleries have Picasso exhibits (prints and drawings). I'm going to check those out this week. The other good news came when I heard the temperature was supposed to go up by the end of the week.

New York was such a great city. It offered everything from the mainstream to the alternative, from crazies who talked to themselves on the streets to crazies who talked to you on the subway. I'm so glad that I went to NYC and experienced it this way. I can't wait to go back, but I'll have to save some money first.

To that end, I started doing some more book readings. I went to Jasper Place Library and the Stanley Milner Library. Both sessions were fun. The kids were good in both. Had to fight the morning lethargy in the first reading and some distractions in the hallway for the second reading, but in the end the kids were interested in reading the book.

Now, I'm going to clear out all my mail and bills from the last 3 weeks and try to get back on track. I'm going to try to pitch a travel article about my NYC trip. If it doesn't get picked up, I'll post the article on my blog.

Off to work.

All is well. Woke up this morning and picked up the NY Times. The review was more a recap than a review. Not a trash, not a rave - no harm, no foul. Whew! I had visions of being torn apart by cynical NY critics.

Now I can enjoy the rest of the day. Michelle and I are going to Rockefeller Centre and walk around, then we're going to take pictures of the NY Public Library lions. Of course, the last day would not be complete without a last slice of sour cream, apple, walnut pie at Grand Central Station. The weather is beautiful so we're doing a little walking. We're going to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, then head up to the Sky Tram to Roosevelt Island, and finish off with a walk through Central Park.

Tonight, Michelle gets to see my play for the first time. We're meeting Laara (the actor who played Li Fen on the touring production - she came out to see the show) and our friend Brad, who has also made a trip to see the show. I hope there will be a decent sized crowd. I can't think of a more perfect way to end my 3 weeks in New York than to see my show running Off Broadway. And then tomorrow it's back to Edmonton and shovelling snow. Ugh.

Oh boy, one more day to go and then it's all done. Last night, Michelle and I saw Reckless, starring Mary Louise Parker. She was great. The play was quirky, but good. Tough to get tickets for the show, but I'm glad we got the tix.

Today, I went for a morning walk in Central Park, a.k.a. the Dog Pound. Man, there were a lot of canines in the park. They ruled the entire park.

In the afternoon, Michelle and I met my director Ron for lunch in Chinatown. Food was great as usual. We wandered through Chinatown and then into the Lower East Side. We found the Freakatorium, a tiny "museum" dedicated to the exhibits of the freakish from Sammy Davis Jr.'s glass eye to P.T. Barnum's various collections. It was only $5, but worth it since I had written a Barnum episode for Mentors.

Afterward, we toured the Lower East Side Tenement with the worst guide in the world. The tour was interesting in a Fort Edmonton Park kind of way, but I wouldn't do it again.

Once we were done, we headed up to Zabars, grabbed some dinner, and then discovered we were burnt out. We were going to the Guggenheim (which is pay what you wish on Fridays after 6:00 pm), but instead we're just going to take it easy.

Tomorrow is a day for packing and for Michelle to see my show. We're going to mosey around mid-town and maybe grab one more sour cream, apple, walnut pie, and then see the show at night.

It's been a blast. If I don't blog tomorrow, I'll catch you all up when I get back to Edmonton.

All the best.

It's almost over, and there's still so much to see. Last night, Michelle and I saw Avenue Q. We sat in the nosebleed section with some ladies from upstate New York, who travelled by train for 5 hours to catch some shows. I pitched Mom, Dad... to them, and they in turn asked if we knew Wayne Gretzky.

The show was great. Michelle loved it, but I only liked it. Having seen the show 10 months earlier, I was in a mode to compare what the show was like then to what it was like now. I think some of the spark that I saw pre-Tony win has been lost. Still, it was an enjoyable night.

Before the show, we hit Zabars and grabbed a tub of Paella for dinner. It was awesome. The food hit the spot and was pretty affordable compared to NYC restaurant fare.

Today, we got up early-ish and headed as far north as possible to visit The Cloisters, a medieval museum set in a quiet (and I do mean quiet) park. Whew! It was breathtaking. The trip was well worth it. We headed up via subway and discovered a couple of quirks in transferring stations - you have to head to an elevator to get to the transfer area. It's pretty apparent that the further north you go, the less the NYC authorities spend on making things pretty.

Now I'm killing time waiting for Michelle to try to grab tickets to either the Big Apple Circle, Reckless, or the Foreigner (starring Matthew Broderick). Oh, she just showed up... no luck. Damn it! Okay, so now we might just chance a show on a whim. Broadway roulette.

A couple of minor things from yesterday and today.

- Michelle spotted Henry Winkler in Times Square. Ayyyy!

- We headed to Greenwich Village and saw Books of Wonder (a kids' book store) with $3,000 children's books. Michelle bought a gift for her dad at Mxklypk, a one-of guide houseware and office shop.

- Today, we eavesdropped on a paranoid Asian woman who believed a fellow subway passenger's radio was actually a GPS that brought bad men to attack her. She lost an eye to a previous attack. The surprising thing was that the man she bugged encouraged conversation - turned out he was a medical student who wanted to get the women some help. His offer turned out to be the wrong thing to do, because she thought he was one of "them." She slunk off the train and headed off into the crowd. Very strange.

- I saw a White Castle and wrestled hard between healthy eating choices and an impulse to eat the tiny burgers.

- If you want to see the seedier side of what Times Square used to be, just head down 8th avenue to the Garment District. The Pan Asian office is located in this area, and for the first time I noticed all the porn shops. Not a place you want to be lost in at night.

- We tried for Late Show tix and Daily Show tix, but no luck. You have to be diligent in calling.

Okay, now we're going to figure out just what the heck to do tonight.

It's a few hours later... We were able to snag cancellation tickets for Reckless. It cost an arm and a leg, and we're not sitting together, but at least we get to see what the fuss is all about.

The other thing we did today was visit the United Nations. It's a very superficial tour, but interesting nonetheless. Tonight, after the show, if we have the energy, we're going to get sushi. Tomorrow, it's Chinese food for lunch, the East Tennement Museum, the Freakatorium, and a ride on the sky tram to Roosevelt Island. Our friend Laara is also in NYC tomorrow, so we're going to try to get together with her for dinner or something. If we've got enough left in the tank, we'll try to see another show.

Later.

Okay, I'm finally burnt out. Yesterday, Michelle and I went to the Metropolitan Museum and tried to take in as much of the exhibits as possible. We split up to cover more ground, using the audio guide to fill in the blanks. I hit the European paintings. Michelle went to the Dawn of China exhibit. Then we switched exhibits. I was thrilled to see about 12 Manet paintings, including an oil of Dead Christ with Angels, the subject of my Fringe play Repose. It was an awesome sight. I wish I could have stayed all day and just looked at his paintings. Instead, I took pictures. A pale imitation, I know, but at least I have a record of it.

On the way to the museum, Michelle and I walked through Central Park and found a spunky squirrel. We tried to feed him airplane pretzels, but I guess he was used to mooching a higher quality snack. We snapped a picture of him and Michelle even touched him.

After the museum, we tried again to get tickets to Reckless. It was sold out. Man, one good review in the NY Times and a show is set for the run. Instead, we rushed back to the hotel so that I could get a fleece and then we went to see Slava's Snowshow, which was a total rush. It's a clown show with audience participation. In a lot of ways, it's like Blue Man Group - no plot, just a bunch of vignettes. Be prepared to be covered in paper and water. The climax will literally blow you away.

The play was near Union Square. Before we went to see the show, we killed time in a Barnes and Nobles bookstore that was (get this) four floors high. The top floor was set up for a reading, but we were either too late or we just missed it. When we got back to the hotel, I checked the Time Out magazine to see who was supposed to read -- George Carlin. As I've said before, anything can happen in New York.

A couple of star sightings - we saw David Hyde Pierce (Nigel Crane from Frasier) on 8th Avenue yesterday. When I saw I Am My Own Wife a few days ago, I was pretty sure I saw Bob Villa.

This morning, we went to Grand Central Station and had a sour cream, apple, walnut pie, which Michelle loved. We thought about bringing home a pie, but thought it would just end up in customs. We forgot our camera, so we're heading back to the hotel via Macy's and Zabars to get it. The one thing that's still hard to get used to is all the people. When you're walking in mid-town, add ten minutes travel time just to get through all the bodies.

Tonight, it's Avenue Q. We were thinking about a matinee, but I don't think we'll have time to see anything. Plus, the buzz on shows has been pretty quiet. I think that's why Reckless is so popular - it's really the only show with buzz in the season right now.

Okay, off to more sight seeing.

Yesterday, I had the best time of all in New York, mainly because Michelle finally arrived in the city. In the afternoon, I did a reading at a junior high school at Queens, then I rushed back to the city to wait for Michelle's arrival. She had the spark in her eye that I remembered when I set foot in the city 2 weeks ago. I was seeing NYC through her eyes, and it was great.

We met with some of the cast and crew for a "white girl" dinner at Spaghetto's, an Italian restaurant in the West Village. Very good food (no surprise) at cheap prices. The only thing to bear in mind is to bring cash. A lot of the cheaper places don't take credit cards.

Afterward, we wandered around Bleecker Street and decided to see an independent film at the Angelicka Movie House. It was a Multiplex for art films. Very cool. We saw Primer, a movie about time travel. Very confusing, but pretty good.

After the movie, we tried to get back to the hotel, but discovered that the subway service late at night is not so good. We walked a good part of the way and got lost in the tunnels a couple of times. It would have been okay with Michelle except for the rain and the fact that the airplane flight was catching up to her. Right now, she's sleeping in. Today, we hit the Metropolitan Museum and then Slava's Snowshow in the evening. It's raining today and tomorrow, so most of our itinerary will be indoors.

Today, I went out to Queens and read at Halsey Junior High. I had two classes and both sets of kids really liked Mystery of the Frozen Brains. Yay. The book works across the border as well.

This makes up for a lousy night last night. I saw the matinee of my show. The NY Times reviewer was there. I watched her watch the show. She got more interested in a cuticle than the second act of the play. I fear the review will be brutal. Well, as I said before, better to have a flop in NYC than nothing at all.

Tonight, I'm heading to dinner with Michelle and hopefully if there's time after, we'll try to see an indie movie at a nearby theatre.

Later

I can't believe that my trip is nearly over. Michelle is on her way to New York tomorrow, and we'll hit as many sights and shows as we can.

Yesterday, I saw an amazing show by Ma Yi Theatre called Savage Acts. The show was made up of 4 one-act plays, each one distinct, hilarious, and unabashedly balsy in writing and performance. It was an Off Broadway show with a short run, so I was glad to have caught in before it closed. Simply amazing.

I tried to get tickets to Reckless, but they were sold out. I also tried to get into the Museum of Television and Radio, but passed on the experience when I learned that the museum was a screening room for various television programs. I didn't want to slap down $10 to watch TV. Instead, I wandered around Rockefeller Center and saw the ice rink. It's actually pretty tiny. I'd say it was half the size of the rink at West Edmonton Mall. But the details in the construction of the building are impressive. The trees even have plating to cover their roots. Now that's what I call attention to details.

In the evening, I met with one of the artistic directors of Vampire Cowboys and learned more about their company, which produces dark comedies with a fight and commedia element. They sound exciting and cool. I hope to send them some pitches when I get back to Edmonton.

After the meeting, I realized I was just too burnt out to see another show, so I went to Mom, Dad... and I was glad. The theatre was about half full and the audience was loud and appreciative. They laughed at all the right places, and I could hear the buzz at intermission. All of it was pretty positive. I realized also that in NYC I'm anonymous. I can mingle around the patrons and eavesdrop with no one knowing who I am.

Today, I had a late start. Then I found out my free credit for Internet access is done. I might not be blogging as much this week with Michelle in town and the fact that I have to pay to sign on. I'll do my best to update. Anyway, this afternoon it's off to the matinee of my show (the NY Times Reviewer is supposed to be there). In the evening, I'm going to try to get into Reckless again or see Guantanamo Bay. Or I may just get a good night's sleep because tomorrow I'm going to do a reading at a school in Queens.

I think I need to slow down a little bit. Yesterday was a blur. I started off with a trip to Chinatown for an awesome lunch at Hsin Wong with Ron, Henry and some of their friends. Chinese food never tasted so good. There was a sweet and sour pork to die for, and a sea bass that melted in my mouth.

While I was in Chinatown, I checked out some of the shops and found a plaster mask of the Monkey King. I bought an adult and child size, figuring they'd be good inspiration for The Forbidden Phoenix. I also checked out the Chinese museum, which was incredibly tiny, but had free admission. I saw the history of chop suey houses in America, and noticed that the history of the American Chinese seems to parallel that of the Canadian Chinese. Very cool stuff, such as a board game called chop suey.

From there I motored uptown to see the collection at the Frick. Wow. It's a small collection, but very impressive. There are a few Vermeers, a couple of Rembrandts, one Monet, and one Manet, as well as many others. The Frick had a bronze sculpture exhibit as well, which was pretty cool. Well worth the trip.

Then I trekked to the Asia Society to see the history of games like Chess, Parchisi, and Snakes and Ladders. This museum was also small, but admission is free on Fridays after 6:00 pm.

If this wasn't enough, I then trucked back down town on a Subway line I've never ridden before to see Eyes of the Heart, a play by NAATCO - another Asian American company. Very cool show. It was Off Broadway, so the theatre was a bit off the beaten path.

And then I ended the night with a talk back session at my show. I saw the tail end of the second act. The house was pretty full, and the audiences loved it. More than half stayed for the talkback and I received a lot of positive comments.

Whew. That was a busy day. Today, I will try to see the Museum of Radio and TV, then see Savage Acts (Ma Yi). I've picked up Avenue Q tix for Wednesday night. It's definitely a hot ticket. I might also try to book advance tickets for Slava's Snowshow, which is getting rave reviews.

Okay, off to more sightseeing.

What a great day I had yesterday. I had a meeting at Playwrights Horizons, the company which produced I Am My Own Wife. I had a good conversation with the Literary Manager. They're not interested in work from non-Americans, but she did give me some leads of other companies.

In the afternoon, I hit the NY Public Library (finally) and checked out the Newtonian Moment exhibit. Lots of cool things, including Newton's first notebook and a cometarium, which is used to simulate the path of comets. I'm curious enough to do more research on Newton. I think there's a play in his life story, but I'm not quite sure what the story is yet. Anyway, I broke down and bought 3 books from the Library Bookstore. They're all about Newton, and I probably could have picked up the books in Edmonton, but I can't resist buying books out of town. There's something decadent about it.

In the evening, I went to see I Am My Own Wife. The script was incredible (it won the Pulitzer) and the performer was amazing. I was totally blown away by his control and presence. He was very understated and trusted the audience to follow him as he switched from one character to another. He earned his standing ovation at the end of the night.

Today, I'm heading into Chinatown for lunch with the director Ron and a cast member Henry. Then I'm checking out the Chinese Museum. If there's time, I'm giong to head up to the Museum of Radio and TV. And if I'm not exhausted, I'll try to get the exhibits at the Asia Society. Then in the evening, I might see another play. Not sure which one yet. Maybe Reckless. Maybe Eyes of the Heart.

Oh, and the reason yesterday was so cool was that I found out that a reviewer from the Times is coming to the show on Sunday. I figure it doesn't matter what he writes. Having a flop Off Broadway is still better than having nothing done in New York. Of course, I hope he writes something favourable, but there's no controlling what critics say, so why worry about it?

Off to Chinatown.

It's rainy in New York right now. How appropriate, considering that the show is opened and there's nothing more I can do with it. All the anticipation for the opening and it's over before I could blink. I'm reminded of what Wayne Gretzy said in his final game. He looked up at the play clock and realized that in 30 seconds, his career would be done, and wondered how it all went by so fast.

The opening was good. Lots of laughs in the first act. At the gala, I met Ken Taylor (the fellow who sprung the hostages in the Iran crisis) and his wife Pat. They seemed to enjoy the show. Others were pretty positive about the show as well, but opening night crowds are hard to gauge. I'm going to see the show on Saturday maybe with non-friendlies and see how it plays.

Yesterday, I was able to get tickets to The Producers. Quick tip. Disregard my earlier advice about TKTS. If you don't mind sitting in the balcony, you can get cheap tickets from the theatre box office directly. Just ask for the balcony seats. In my case, I paid $41. I could have gotten tickets for $31, and then just moved down to an empty seat. I imagine on a sell-out show, this strategy will probably not work, but for a long running show, you shouldn't have a problem.

I didn't get to the NY Public Library, because I wanted to spend more time there. Instead, I wandered through Grand Central Station. Very cool. The outside is being renovated, but the interior is magnificent. I also had a slice of pie from the Little Pie Company (sour cream and apple walnut). By New Yorkers' standards, this is supposed to be the best pie in the city. It was pretty darned good.

Today, I've got a couple of meetings, then I'm going to check out the Newton exhibit at the NY Public Library and I'm going to see I Am My Own Wife tonight. Now I can actually enjoy the NY experience.

Later.

This is it. The show officially opens tonight, and I'm starting to get that crampy feeling that twists me into the fetal position. Last night's preview went over well. It was a small house, but someone from the Asian Media Watchdog Web site was there. This group is responsible for protesting against offensive negative Asian images in the media. They led the charge against Details Magazine when they did a "Gay or Asian" feature, and exacted an apology from the publisher. The AMW co-founder laughed at my dig at Details Magazine. I was glad I kept the reference in the play.

Today, I'm going to catch a matinee of the Producers to take my mind off tonight's opening. Then I'll track down opening night gifts and then pace for two hours.

I might jog over to the NY Public Library and check out a display of Isaac Newton's collected artifacts.

Okay, I'm off. I'll report tomorrow on opening night.

Today was a bit of a bust for being a tourist. We had an 11:00 am matinee. Now I'm just killing time before the evening show, which is supposed to be a press night. So far no reviewers have booked for tonight, so it looks like the show won't be reviewed until later in the run. That's a little disappointing, considering the people who have seen the show to date have really enjoyed it. In fact, one gentleman raved about the show after the matinee today. I was thrilled to hear the positive feedback. Hopefully, word of mouth will spread.

Tomorrow, I might go see a matinee of I Am My Own Wife. And you probably guessed it by now; no, I didn't see a show last night. I ran out of time trying to market the play on the Internet. For sure, I'll see a show other than mine before I head back to Edmonton.

Okay, I have to walk back to the hotel now. Later.

I can't believe that I've been in NYC for nearly 2 weeks. It's been great fun. Lots of ideas popping into my head for writing. I think this was the recharge that I needed. I'm starting to come down with a cold that's going around, but I'll pop Cold F/X until the cold is gone.

Today, I headed to the American Museum of Natural History. Wow! It's incredible. The displays ranged from dinosaurs to animals to various cultures across the world. I saw a show in the planetarium (Are We Alone) which was narrated by Harrison Ford and looked awesome. It was almost like an amusement ride for science geeks.

Anyway, I spent about 4 hours in the museum, and the time was well spent. I was getting some pretty cool ideas for a television series that I'm developing with a friend. Now if only I can remember all the ideas.

I'm killing time before I meet a fellow Canuck, who is studying at NYU. Then tonight, I may go see a show. I just don't know which one yet.

I swear that I will start enjoying NYC tomorrow. Today, we had a matinee and I also had to be part of a coffee chat pre-show and a question and answer period after the show.

The pre-show chat went over very well for congregation members of the church which also doubles as a theatre venue. The people were very receptive to me and enjoyed a quick reading from Mystery of the Frozen Brains. I even sold a few copies of the book and the play.

The matinee went much better than I expected, considering how tired the actors were last night. The cast are gaining confidence in the material and themselves. The pace was good, less rushed, and more controlled. I think we'll be in very good shape for press night. I'm not sure if reviewers will come out that night, but I'm hoping they'll come out at some point during the run.

The Q/A session after was good. Half the audience stuck around. There were some good questions and the audiences seemed to really enjoy the show. Tisa Chang seemed happy with the direction of the show, and Ron sounds confident. Now all that is left is to get audiences out to the show.

I had full plans to see Spatter Pattern tonight, but the director Ron invited me to dinner for all-you-can-eat sushi. I couldn't say no to that. The place we went to was Kinoko. Very good sushi for $19.95 (all you can eat). I was stuffed. I rolled out of the restaurant around 8:30 pm. No time to see any show, so here I am using up my free credit on the Internet. Tomorrow is a sight seeing day. I'll decided specifically what to do when I get up. Maybe a museum and a parade (it's Columbus Day down here). I know I'm meeting a friend at 3:00 pm for coffee. Maybe I'll see a show tomorrow night. I'll play everything by ear.

Well, the show is up and running now. We had our first preview tonight. A pretty good turn out for the first preview. The theatre was about half full, which Tisa Chang, the artistic producing director, was happy with. There were good laughs in the right places. The actors had a lot of fear running through their veins, which helped keep the energy going. The only wonky thing came at the end of the play when lines were dropped all over the place and a spear head broke. I think the cast is pretty tired, but they're pulling it all together now. We have a matinee Sunday, then a day off. Press night is Tuesday and opening is Wednesday. I'm pretty worn out, but feeling good about the process.

There were some Pan Asian friends who saw the show and said that they enjoyed it. A reporter saw a tech run in the afternoon and laughed through a lot of the play. I thought that was a good sign. The actors just have to get confident with their lines and trust themselves to carry the show.

Nothing exciting to report outside of the show. However, I did find out that the dispensers at the Internet Cafe where I log on are like slot machines. To buy time on the computers, you have to go to these self-serve vending machines and deposit bills. The machines are quite finicky. I lost a couple of dollars trying to get time. Tonight, in frustration, I pushed a swack o' buttons and got a print out for 17 hours of computer time. I decided that this was my lucky break.

Tomorrow, I have to meet with a youth group before the show. Should be fun. Then it's the matinee and a question and answer period. In the evening, if I have the energy, I'm going to see Spatter Pattern at Playwrights Horizons. Now that I know the 7:30 start time, I'll be sure to arrive at the theatre on time.

Once the show is up and running, I'll check out more shows and hit NYC attractions. I really want to get into the Daily Show. If not, then the Late Show. And I want to see Slava's Snowshow and Avenue Q. Boy, oh boy, how does one actually survive in the Big Apple? There's too much to do and not enough money. Still, it's the greatest city I've ever visited.

Tech rehearsal was well, what can I say about tech rehearsals? They're technical. The lighting designer has built some very cool looks and used a device called an IQ, which is a mirror with motors that can rotate and reflect the beam from any lighting instrument. You can create a crude follow spot and an iris effect with the IQ. Very cool.

We were able to get to the start of the second act with the cues, but at the end of the night a decision was made to go back to all the first act Yellow Claw scenes to ensure they look distinct from the real time scenes. The director, Ron, is sick, but he seems to be holding it together well. We went to Saigon Grill for dinner (apparently, it's the only place the crew goes for food when they're in the theatre). The restaurant has good food, huge portions, and reasonable prices. I'm on a health kick though, so I might skip the restaurant tonight in favour of Zabar's salads.

Small vanity thing today. I walked into a Barnes and Nobles book store to look for my kids' book and play. Couldn't find the book, but found Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl in their theatre section. I was thrilled. But I was even more happy to find the public restrooms in the bookstore. If you're ever in NYC, get to know where all the Barnes and Nobles bookstores are. They are your bladder's best friend.

I also picked up the Time Out NY Magazine. It's official. My play is opening Off Broadway. Well, a play written by young Chinese Canadian playwright Marty Chang. Two errors - the spelling of my name and the fact that I'm young. I only want to correct one of their mistakes.

The other thing that was cool was going to Whole Foods, a gourmet department store that was the size of a Safeway, but with delicacies. They had a cold and hot bar where you could pick up a lunch at $6.99 per pound. You can load up with roasted veggies, various salads, and hot food (yesterday was latin and Indian cuisine). How the heck does a person stay thin in this city? Oh yeah, all the walking. I covered 44 blocks getting from the hotel to this Internet cafe. Took me about 45 minutes. Not bad considering it took about an hour fifteen the first time I tried the route. Hopefully, today's walk worked off yesterday's food fest.

Okay, I'm done report for today. I'm heading back to the hotel to eat the rest of my Whole Foods buffet leftovers and then I'll pop into tech rehearsal. Ugh, I hate being around tech, because there's nothing to do except watch. I wish I could do something to help, but the best thing for me to do is just watch quietly and answer questions if and when they come up.

Oh yeah, I decided to splurge and drop off my clothes at a laundry mat. They should be done later today. I figure if I'm on vacation, why give up 2 hours to doing laundry.

Back to the Upper West Side I go. Later.

A comedy of errors last night. I arrived at the New York Public Library just as it was closing. I was able to head up and see the amazing reading room which had giant oak tables and looked so old world. Remember the library scene from Seven. That's what the room was like.

Then I headed over to Playwrights Horizon to see a show. I arrived at 7:35, thinking I had plenty of time to catch the show. Turns out the play I wanted to see started at 7:30. I thought that's okay; I'll have enough time to get to Zabars and grab one of their cool salads. I arrived five minutes after they closed.

I just went back to the hotel and watched the Yankees win game 2. Today, I'm in tech rehearsal, so I'll be scarce for a few days. I'll try to log on when I can this weekend. My big dilemma is finding a laundry mat to wash my clothes.

Later.

Today was the last day in the rehearsal space. Things went well. Lines were better. Still a little wonky in places, but overall the actors were better. The thing that's interesting is how dedicated the actors are to getting the lines perfect. No one gets away with paraphrasing in New York.

The ending is still a bit wonky, but given time it will sort itself out. I'll try to talk to the actors during tech and give them my two cents. I think they're finding their own way through the script; I just want to make sure that they know they're doing a good job.

Now I'm just killing time and trying to figure out if I want to see a show or not. I think I might be coming down with a cold. Ah, well.

Other good news to report -- Pan Asian wants to do outreach to schools and is setting up visits to various schools in the area. I may be able to read Mystery of the Frozen Brains to American kids and see how they react.

Okay, I'm headed to the New York Public Library now. After that, if I have the energy I'll see a show at Playwrights Horizon.

I've got some time to kill before rehearsals start. I walked past the New York Public Library but didn't have time to go in. Maybe once the show is up and running, I'll do the day time tour stuff.

On my way to rehearsals, I stumbled across a bunch of trucks, burly men resting their beefy arms against C-stands. Instantly, I knew it had to be a film or TV shoot. I think it was for Third Watch. The side of one of the carts had Third Watch stencilled on it and the camera crew seemed to be around a fire truck. It was very cool to watch, but it made me wonder what a nightmare it must be to shoot in NYC. There's barely enough room to live let alone shoot a show. I guess one gets used to working in cramped quarters.

The other cool thing was a contrast of history and crass pop culture. Near Columbus Circle, I saw a bronze statue erected to Dante Aligheri, the writer/poet who conceived the Divine Comedy (you know the book - the one everyone knows about but has never read... kind of like Moby Dick). Anyway, it was great to see this Italian literary figure in the middle of New York. Then I walked to Times Square and saw the Naked Singing Cowboy. And yes, the name says it all... well sort of it. The guy has a Stetson, boots, and underwear with Naked Cowboy written across the butt. And he has a guitar. I think he sings, but I didn't stay around long enough to hear. Only in New York could I see Dante's statue and the Naked Singing Cowboy in one day.

Okay, I'm off to rehearsal.

Rehearsals are going better today than yesterday. I started talking a lot more to the actors about my thoughts and notes. My observations seemed to help get them back on track. And the director didn't club me over the head. I'll keep giving feedback, as long as no one sticks a gag in my mouth. Still some wonky bits, but I'm hoping they'll get smoothed out by the time we preview.

Unfortunately, I didn't get down to the New York Public Library today. I had a late start today. But I did get up to the theatre venue to see the set. It's a cool theatre that is upstairs of a church. The ceiling is domed and super high. The stage is very shallow and the seats are converted pews. It has a very Fringe-like feel about it. As for the set, it's very simplistic, because the stage is so shallow. This production showcases the actors rather than production values. It's all about how the actors transform from one reality to another. I think the set will give the actors freedom to create the space for the audience. The venue is very intimate. I have no idea where I can hide. Maybe up in the balcony.

The other cool thing today was eating at Saigon Grill, a popular Vietnamese restaurant with affordable prices. I had a dinner of three porkchops and salad for under $10. It was delicious and I was told that this was one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in New York. I guess the cast and crew frequent the restaurant during the tech run, so I'll be seeing more of it over the next two days. Although, I have to take it easy on the restaurant food. Since my hotel is 2 blocks from the theatre, I might just do the salad thing on the dinner break.

Tomorrow is the last day in the rehearsal space. In the evening, I might check out a show. Not sure which one yet. I can't see Avenue Q or I am My Own Wife until later. Maybe I'll check out Plan B, which is a physical movement Off Broadway new work. Either that, or I'll see People be Heard or Spatter Pattern, both shows are productions by Playwrights Horizons. They're both new works by a theatre dedicated to new works by playwrights. This theatre premiered Christopher Durang's Betty's Summer Vacation and Sister Mary Ignatius...

The big thing that I'm really excited about is the Time Out magazine comes out tomorrow night... I think. I want to pick it up to see if Mom, Dad, I'm Living with a White Girl is listed in the theatre section. When I see the listing, then I'll know that this whole thing is for real.

Okay, I'm heading back to the hotel to get some rest. I want to hit the library in the morning and see if I have the energy to see a show at night.

Later.

Boy, it's tough to enjoy New York (or any city) while you're working. I spent a lot of energy in the rehearsal today, just trying to keep a track of what the actors are doing with the script and how to give them help so they can make the right decisions. The first act is looking cleaner. There are still a couple of wonky bits, but they can be cleaned up. To be honest, the second act is still a mess, but the cast hasn't had time to really work on it. They're really going to dig in tomorrow, so I hope that everything will be in shape by the time we move to the theatre. The cast members are busting their butts to pull it all together, but this is a complicated show with fight sequences, magic effects, and that's in addition to the dual realities. I'm sure that the cast must be fried right now from trying to keep everything in their heads. Anyway, it's got to come together in less than a week, so fingers crossed.

On to better thoughts, the performance of Symphonie Fantastique was simply amazing. Five puppeteers manipulated various objects from feathers to giant silks in a 1,000 galleon tank of water. At first, I thought I was watching a projection screen, because all that showed was the tank. The effects were wild and mesmerizing. At the end of the show, the audience were allowed backstage to see the mechanics of the puppeteer work. It was then that I realized just how amazing the performance was. The puppeteers were harnessed above the tank so they could manipulate the various silks and feathers they danced through the water. And boy, did the puppeteers look tired. I was thrilled to see this show, because it was probably something I would have never seen anywhere else but New York. It was a truly unique experience.

The cool thing was that while I was in line I met a reviewer for the Drama Desk. I pitched Mom, Dad... and she seemed politely interested. I'm not sure if she'll come out to see the show, but at least I tried.

No media has come out about the show yet. I'm hoping some press will do interviews. I think it's going to be hard since October is the opening of many shows and the launch of many books. I've no control over the publicity stuff since I don't know any NYC media types. I'll leave it all to the capable hands of our publicist.

Funny thing in rehearsals. On a break, the cast asked where I ate yesterday and I said "a little grocery store called Zabars." They laughed, because apparently, it is by New Yorkers' standards, the best grocer in all of New York.

Very cool day. Hope tomorrow will be just as cool. Not sure if I have the energy or cash to see another show. I have to wait until my wife arrives to see the shows I really want to see. I just might walk back to the hotel and take it easy tonight. Tomorrow, I want to head to the New York Public Library and check it out. Maybe I'll see if they have my book on their shelves.

Later.

My day off from rehearsals. I was pretty tired last night and slept in today, but I did make it out to see the tail end of the Blessing of the Animals at St. John Divine Cathedral. The church looks incredible. It's all stone work. The detail is incredible. Reminded me of the buildings in Paris.

As for the ceremony, I arrived just in time for the priest to hold up a hawk and then lead in a procession of four legged animals. The only thing inelegant about the whole thing were the shovel brigade at the end of the procession. As I walked up the steps, a squirrel bolted from the ceremony, weaved its way through the crowds and escaped up a tree. I'm not sure if he was part of the ceremony or not.

Anyway, on my way back from the church, I stumbled across the restaurant which is used in the exterior shots of the restaurant that the Seinfeld gang frequent. It was surreal to see it live and in person. The place was packed with a line of people waiting to go in.

I opted to grab sushi instead at a restaurant that was reviewed in the Time Out New York magazine (a weekly events guide). If you're ever in NYC, get the Time Out magazine. It's a vacationer's bible. Not only did I find out about the restaurant, but I also read about all the shows on Broadway, off Broadway, and off off Broadway. I haven't seen my show listed yet, but that's probably because it doesn't preview until next week.

Other tip for NYC bound people, never call the ticket line to book show tix. I called to book a ticket to the Symphonie Fantastique (a puppet show that is apparently underwater). When I called the box office, I was quoted a price of $66. Too expensive for a one hour show - instead, I went to TKTS, which is the discount ticket centre. I had to pay cash, but I got the same ticket for $36.00. What was really cool was that a lady in front of me bought tickets for another show, but was ten dollars short. She had to walk away, but the guy gave her the tickets for the money she did have. I guess in NYC, it's better to make a sale at any price.

Another cool thing is Zabars, a gourmet grocer on West 80 Street. Thanks to Stewart Lemoine (who was in NYC for the Fringe). He passed on info via my wife to me to shop there for groceries. There were decent pre-prepared meals, so I can eat healthy food without paying an arm and a leg.

Now here are some random thoughts

- How do you tell a tourist from a native New Yorker? The tourists wait at crosswalks. I might do a travel article on that, which also notes the evolution from Midtown Manhattan to the Upper West Side. The people seem to evolve from carrying luggage around on leashes to leading dogs around on a leash.

- New York seems to be a very literate town. There are magazine stands on almost every corner, and all the advertisments seem more text heavy than visual oriented.

- There's a lot of a walking in New York. Great for the heart. Crappy on shoes. Make sure to wear runners.

- The lack of public bathrooms is tough on people with small bladders.

Okay, I've killed enough time. I have to go see Symphonie Fantastique. I'll report on it tomorrow.

Oh boy, am I tired. What a long day. Started off with a sneak preview of the play for participants at CUNY. I'm on a big health kick, so I walked 40 blocks in the morning and was sweating like a pig by the time I got to the function.

The event itself was cool. Not a lot of people came out, but the few who were there seemed to enjoy the preview. I was happy to see a couple of young guys in the audience. They loved the snippet and totally identified with the situation. My hope is that the show does what it did in Canada - bring out people who normally don't step foot in theatre.

After the CUNY event, I went for lunch with the director, Ron, and one of the actors, Henry. We hit a Korean restaurant. The food was terrific. Plus, we went through Little Korea during some kind of special street event. There were musicians, dancers, and a lot of street atmosphere. I wished I could have stayed for longer, but we had to get to rehearsal.

The afternoon session went better than yesterday's stumble through. The actors were better with their lines, and I was able to put in my two cents every now and then to help keep things moving. Ron told me to jump in with thoughts, so as long as he doesn't tell me to shut up, I'll keep offering up suggestions. I think the play is getting into shape, but I wish we had an extra week. Damn, I hate the economics of theatre sometimes, but that's the reality of the world today.

Anyway, things are going well. I'm totally burned out and there are tons of people all over Times Square. Too late for a show. Might just grab some street food and hang out for a little bit. Tomorrow's the day off, and I want to check out the Blessing of the Animals at the Feast of St. Assissi, or I might go see a show. I have to be careful not to see the shows that my wife wants to see when she gets here in two weeks. But this New York; there's a thousand things to do.

Okay, I'm off.

I went to rehearsal today and saw a stumble through. Oh boy, stumble throughs are hard. That's when the actors get up and try to run the play even though they're aren't completely off book and stumble through the lines (hence the name). Things were pretty rough and it was hard to see the play because so many lines were dropped. Plus, I think the actors were nervous about my reaction. Unfortunately, I tend to be pretty stoic in rehearsals, because I'm analyzing the play. I think the actors might have misinterpreted my silence as disapproval. Of course, it didn't help that at the end of the first act, we had a break and I used it to spring to the bathroom to pee. My bladder is super tiny and I'm trying to drink 3 litres of water a day.

Anyway, I explained why I ran out, which hopefully mollified the cast. Afterward, I had a chat with my director Ron to get a sense of his feelings. We seemed to be on the same page about the dropped lines killing the momentum. I told him what I thought was working and what wasn't. I'm hoping that he can iron out the wonky bits by opening.

Tomorrow is going to be interesting. We preview a snippet from the play at some kind of university function. If I know actors, they'll be off book tomorrow, or at the very least, very good paraphrasers.

It's too late to catch a play tonight, plus I'm not sure if I want to fork out weekend prices for shows. I think I'm just going to grab something to eat and head back to the hotel to get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be along day with the preview thing at noon and rehearsals running until 8 pm.

End of day 2. Let's see what day 3 has in store.