All That Jazz

I had some business uptown today. Since it's finally not 99,999,999,999,999 degrees out, I decided to walk. I went up Broadway, for a change, which runs diagonally and happened to go exactly where I needed to go. It was nice to see things I haven't seen before. It was about a 10-block stretch totally unknown to me. I passed several touristy landmarks (like half the things ever referenced on Letterman, including his studio) and a few other spots I knew were around here somewhere but just hadn't seen.

After I was done, since I was in the neighborhood, I took a nice walk in Central Park. I was all excited that it would be the perfect time to check cancelations for Shakespeare in the Park, until I realized that the next production doesn't open for a few weeks-- oops. Ah, well, I had good intentions. And it beats getting in line the morning of at 6am (for a box office that opens at 1pm... the true price for free tickets).

It was nice to get outside. It's been really, really hot here the past few days, so I've been opting to stay closer to air conditioning.

I saw a staged reading the other night of a new play based on The Scarlet Letter, starring Marisa Tomei and Bobby Cannavale (rawr!). Marisa left a little to be desired as Hester, but Marin Ireland, who played Pearl, was terrific. The adaptation of the play itself was nothing to write home about, unfortunately. There were a couple of good ideas there, but not enough to make it good. I wouldn't expect this will go much further (which, of course, means that it'll win the Tony for next new play next year, haha).

I never did make it to see Mose Allison last weekend, but I DO have tickets to see Annie Ross next week (and for super-cheap half price at that)! I'm excited to see her. I also just saw that Bob Dorough and Tierney Sutton (both of whom I've seen previously) are playing in town next month (separately), which should be fun. Tierney is playing just around the corner at the Iridium and Bob is at Joe's Pub downtown. I wish Bob was still doing his Sundays at the Iridium. Someone I don't know has the Sunday brunch spot these days. Too bad. I bet that was something else to get to see him on such a regular basis.

About a month ago, I saw a show Off-Broadway called "10 Million Miles". It contains a few songs I really liked. I was happy to later learn that I didn't have to wait for the show to go anywhere to get my hands on the tunes! The score was comprised of existing Patty Griffin songs, some of which have been published. All I have to do is track down my doorman (he wasn't there when I got home) so that I can get the package that's been delivered to me containing the book. Very exciting to have some new material, although it may take a little work to give them more jazz-ish charts, but just about anything is doable in jazz :)

Oooh, I almost forgot- I actually found a reasonably-priced gym not too far from here, *with* a pool. I need to go check it out in person in the next day or two, but it sounds so far like a good fit, at least while I have the freedom to work out during less-crowded times.