FREE in NYC: Day 5 – NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY – Standby @ NBC

The following is Part 5 of a documentary about a week I am spending in NYC.  I have a free place to stay in exchange for watching a couple of pleasant kitty cats.  With almost no money (literally) and enough food to last for about three more days, I am set on having a great week by working through these obstacles.  It’s not going to be easy, but if it works out, it could be fun…  Check out the official page of this NYC journal to get a better understanding of the factors going into this week.  NYCBLOG[portal]

*phone still out, photos still unavailable.  This day didn’t go as planned, but turned out ok.

New York has several options for TV show filmings.  Talk shows such as The View, David Letterman, and the Daily Show are filmed throughout the week, and any poor sap like myself can get in, provided they have a ticket.  Getting a ticket is not always so easy, however, and if you don’t order well in advance, you leave your fate in the hands of chance and luck.  And by luck, I mean, a hope that some folks who did have tickets don’t show up, thus leaving a few gifts for those who chose to stand on a line for a while and wait, like an unemployed soul begging for food.  Well, if you are hungry, why not try to eat for free?

Personally, I am not so engaged in television, but I love the aspects of the production.  The shows mentioned above generally provide me some entertainment on the rare occasions I watch them, but rare is an understatement.  But, I am in NY, I have no money, and I have free time, so why not try.  So i checked the schedules of recording to see who would be appearing on said shows, and the only one that looked appealing out of this group was The View, which had lined up Snoop Dog as its guest.  But I read several forums, and many of them suggested that getting a standby ticket for the View is one of the more challenging propositions out of the options.  Upon further research, I found the Late Show lineup had booked Paul Rudd, and an up and coming band called Green Day!

Now I have enjoyed the work of Mr. Rudd since 200 Cigarettes and Clueless, and I have listened to Green Day over the years, but have never seen them perform.  OK then, why not.  This seems like a good lineup, so I make the decision Thursday night to go see this program.

Friday A.M., I feed the cats around 7:30, and then prepared myself to leave the apartment around 8 a.m.  I make the long trek towards Rockefeller Center and the NBC Studios located on 43rd st in between 5th and 6th.

It was a long trek down as my food rations had really dwindled.  I made a large portion of oatmeal and one banana;  Enough to get me out the door, but not as sustainable as would be needed for my day ahead.  The excitement of the challenge kept me going and took my mind off of the impending hunger.

When I turned the corner at 43rd, i was immediately greeted by hundred of fans lined up to see Carrie Underwood perform for Good Morning America.  Not my scene at all, but still, something to tell people who care.  But I battle through the crowd and make my way to what looks like the right place.  Problem is, there’s only about 10 people lined up.

Now correct me if I am wrong, but even if Jimmy Fallon’s  ratings aren’t that great,  I am certain that he has more fans than this and even if he doesn’t, Green Day must, especially with the success of their Broadway show.  Something must be wrong.  I must be in the wrong place.

So I  get on the line anyway, and wait.  And, like an idiot I don’t ask anyone if this is the right place.  I know what you are now thinking;  this is the line for the NBC studios tour, or some other show, right?  Wrong, this is the right line.  How do I know?  Well, after about 20 minutes of standing in place following a walk of a mile and a half, this fellow comes out and approaches the small crowd.

“Hey guys, I am sorry, but it looks like you didn’t get the message:  This show has already been taped on Tuesday, and there’s no other filmings today.  I am really sorry!”

OK first of all, nice fellow, no disrespect to him as he was just the messenger and seemingly a decent person, but couldn’t there have been a sign posted that says what he said, so that idiots like myself don’t just stand there and waste their lives away?  Just seems logical, right?  Anyway, was it really a total waste?  Not at all!  I mean, I now have boring story to share here, right?  And at least I know next to time to check a little more information!

So now what?  All of the other shows are scattered and in places I am not sure how to get to, and I know the Daily Show is way far and the View has already begun.  So, I go back on 5th and head downtown.  I hadn’t been past this point all week.

A right on 39th, and a long trek West, i eventually made my way to 11th, site of the Jacob Javitz Convention center.  This brought back memories of when I was a kid and we would go to Auto shows and see the “Cars of the Future.”  But there’s nothing for me to see in there today that wouldn’t cost more than my entire savings at this moment, so a left on 11th, a right on 37th and there’s the water.  Why not take some peaceful time?

The views of Jersey from here were nice.  The weather was almost perfect, and the people walking, roller blading, and biking by were almost all smiles.  I sat here, glasses covering my sad eyes, for nearly an hour, pondering thoughts about my world and how I always find myself in these lost moments, alone.  I LOVED THE PERIOD OF TIME SPENT HERE, but it may have been better with someone to be bored with.  But, I do enjoy personal time like this, and that is why I stayed there for so long.

But, it wasn’t enough to keep me pegged down any longer, so I backtrack on the path the took me there and eventually, I am back on 5th heading uptown towards the apartment.  I found myself by Bryant park again, and even after all of these years of going there, I had never stopped in the library.  I mean after all, it’s just a library, right?  WRONG.  This is a very historic library, rich with information and importance.  How do I know this?  I took the tour!

It was free and was worth every penny.  We strolled around and saw beautifully sculpted wall hangings and murals to rival some of Europe’s most famous.  Johannes Gutenberg’s Bible has a copy on display here as do many other priceless treasures.  I learned about the founders of this place and how it was built on the grounds of a reservoir that was demolished  to make room for this structure; it took two years to remove completely.  And I learned how the original collection of books was actually a combined collection of two very wealthy, prominent, and influential men of the time.  This place had some serious investors when it was in motion, as I am guessing it does today!

Overall, the tour is boring for those who have no interest in such things, but for someone like me, it wasn’t boring at all and quite informative.  For those interested in architecture or history of New York, this is a recommended stop.  The kids may want to have something else to do that day if they are the impatient variety!

So I left there and back up 5th avenue for me.  In fact, I just went all the way back up to the apartment.  This day was a bust in terms of following through with plans, but a success in terms of making something out of nothing.

The nighttime highlights involve food.  As mentioned, I had very little left to eat.  The eggs were gone, the oatmeal about done, 1 piece of pizza and two apples were about it, with the exception of one thing:  The bag of Mung Beans.  What are mung Beans, you ask?  Well I’ll tell you.

They are green, and they are small.  They may have originated in china, and are a staple food for that region and parts of India amongst others.  Why do I have them?  Well, I bought them after reading about them about 3 months before.  But I had never eaten them before I bought them, nor had I used the ones that I had bought.  But I brought them with me on this trip, knowing I would need something nourishing at some point.  Today was the day, finally, Friday night, alone in NYC, nothing else to do.

So I cooked them up and about 40 minutes later, they were done.  I added a bit of salt and pepper, cause that’s about all I had.  I tried them and found them to be quite delish.  They tasted like split peas and had a similar texture.  They had more sweetness and a bit more umph.  I liked them already.

So I threw in an avocado to add some essential fats and I had myself a very filling and quite nourishing meal.  I bring this up because if you are on a tight budget and are perhaps a vegan and need a simple nourishment, Mung Beans may be just your thing.  Perhaps I’ll start a food page on this site to discuss such things.

Anyway, that concluded Day 5.  To sum up, I did lots of strolling around, sweated quite a bit, waited on a  line for 20 minutes for no apparent reason and I walked the halls of the New york Public Library.  And most importantly, I made something out of nothing and ate Mung Beans for dessert!

>the dayscribber<

FREE in NYC: Day 4 – MUSIC @ HIP SOULS AT THE MALL – Broadway @ Bryant

The following is Part 4 of a documentary about a week I am spending in NYC.  I have a free place to stay in exchange for watching a couple of pleasant kitty cats.  With almost no money (literally) and enough food to last for about three more days, I am set on having a great week by working through these obstacles.  It’s not going to be easy, but if it works out, it could be fun…  Check out the official page of this NYC journal to get a better understanding of the factors going into this week.  NYCBLOG[portal]

*side note- my phone and camera are still not working.  this sucks as I really wanted to share those photos with you.  My apologies for now, just give it time.  This was an incredible day for me and its great to tell someone about it and without the photos, the presentation just won’t be the same, so please check back in some near time or subscribe and you will get an update when they arrive.  Thanks…

DAY 4: Broadway @ Bryant, Music at the Mall, Dirty Urchins, Hunterfest, soulful meetings.

This was by far my most active day so far, and will probably conclude as being my favorite.  I took many pictures.  I saw beautiful sights.  I met beautiful people.  I heard lots of free music.  NYC rules on days like today.  Here’s how it all got started.

The trek downtown began on Park Ave, then up 72^nd and over to 5^th.  With a left on fifth, I was in an architectural  photo heaven.  Beautifully carved  human-made designs amplifying the natural ambiance of Central park.  The history of this area screams of wealth and influence.  This was a wonderful prelude to the rest of the day’s journeys.

Continuing down 5^th, I found myself in the hustle and bustle of 59th st, which strikes me as predominantly tourism.  Languages from all over the globe meld into one sound. In this atmosphere, one can’t help but feel like a tourist, even if they are from these parts.

My first destination was Bryant park, and 42^nd street quickly approached.  A quick right past the library and I arrived.  Amongst the 90 degree temps was a block of humidity, strong enough to weigh down a feather on the moon.  This didn’t stop hundreds of people from grabbing  chairs and flocking to the grassy area of the park.  At the head of the grass was a stage, featuring a well displayed banner describing the days events and their corporate sponsors.  Corporations love to brag about their endowments towards the arts, but who can really complain, as they spend millions to allow freeloaders like myself to enjoy a free show once in a while.  So thank you to the fine sponsors of this particular event.

Today’s sampled productions came from 4 top billed shows:  The Lion King, The Adam’s Family, Wicked, and a new hit called Next To Normal.  It was way too hot for this type of singing, but it was entertaining enough that the heat could be overlooked ( I love watching people use umbrellas as sun visors without little regard to the fact that they may be obstructing someone’s view.)  All of the performers here were very talented, but the young girl from Next to Normal was by far, a standout performance, at least for me, and judging by the applause, for everyone else who was there.  {try and find out her name.

When it was all over, I placed my borrowed chair back on the stone path and traveled back towards 5^th.  My next stop was to be at “The Mall,” a district of central park, where live music was going to take place.  It was however, about to rain, but I wasn’t gonna let that stop me from getting there and enjoying some free tunes.

Last week, I had visited a friend in New England and we up to the mountains to hike.  As we got closer to the range, it appeared that rain would soon follow.  We stopped off at some random exit and we each bought a poncho.  Fortunately for us, the rain had already hit the top of the mountain by the time we got to it, so the poncho was never used.  I did however bring it with me on Day 4 just in case it rained… which it did.

While everyone was popping umbrellas and casually hitting random tourists with their pointed borders, I was breezing on up the ave, confident in my decision, proud to be wearing my mountainous rain gear.  I think New Yorkers and Bostonians take a certain pride in being prepared for the elements.  Today, I was a prepared New Yorker!  The rain only lasted 10 minutes, but it may have been this rain that hath destroyed my telecom unit thus hindering my means of sharing photos with you.  Win some, lose some!

As I approached the park, I was excited.  I had read about a small festival that was taking place here today, and from what I gathered about it, the music was to be to my appreciation.  When I got there, it was too early, so I wandered towards Bethesda Lake.  Over time, this has become one of my most favorite spots to hang.  The beautiful lush scenery and mellow vibes never fail at bringing me calm.  And usually, there is some sort for thing going on there.  Last time they were filming a movie.  This time, there was a choir with strings singing in the tunnel.

From the warm sounds of Bach, to their inspirational covers of pop or R&B hits, The Boyd family was a charming addition to my day.  Not only myself, but scores of others gathered around under the tunnel to be captivated by their angelic sounds. A couple wearing a dress and tuxedo pranced around as if it was their wedding ceremony (which it may have been, although I suspect it was a photo shoot.)

The group contained what appeared to be the  father singing tenor, while there were 4 young kids of varying ages, two boys and two girls, harmonizing with the father all while being backed by an upright bass, an alto sax, and a cello.  This was thoroughly enjoyable and the ambiance was nothing short of spiritual.  This was a nice way to fill time in between the Broadway at Bryant, and the music that was to take place at the Bandshell.  Thank you Boyd family for being there when you were.

The Naumberg  Bandshell has provided me several musical experiences over the years.  The last time I was here, there was the solstice festival, which I will create a page for at some time.  It was at this bandshell that I saw the Yale Percussion  group and that was a great time.  At other random occasions,Ihave stumbled upon some other random shows.  So when I arrived here and no one was playing, I had to pause and wonder if I had mucked the dates up.

I approached a lady who had a positive energy flowing from her.  She seemed to be setting up some artwork for display.  I asked her when the music would start and she said that 45 minutes seemed about right…  great!  I could go back and feed the kitties, and have  a guilt free night of dancing and listening.  I thanked her and it was back to the apartment.

On the way back, I overheard a conversation from two young hippy types who had been hiking the mountains.  I gave them a thumbs up and continued on my way.  They probably thought I was crazy.  Great!

Upon arrival, I fed the kitties had a quick snack which was basically an egg and an apple, took a load off of the feet for a few, and then back out to the park.  I mention this moment because I want to emphasize what an amazing feeling it is to stay at at place in the city that is so accessible to so many things, and so close that I could stop off for a quick bite and then go back into the city and be where I was going within minutes…  most people have to travel to the city from other areas and may not have this sort of luxury.  I am very appreciative of such things and am really envious of those who can do this on a daily basis.

When I returned to the Bandshell, there was a fellow on guitar, singing.  He had a good spirit and was enjoyable to watch.  There was at this time however, no crowd, so the energy levels lacked.  Unfortunately for this fellow, there was a group of musicians playing just up the Mall and they were sounding awfully good to me, so I strolled on over.  What I got to see here was for me, quite astounding.

They combine blue grass and folk and feature a male singer/guitarist, an upright bassist who also sings, and a female guitarist who had one of the most powerful voices I have heard in a while.  I sat there for 15 minutes, with my mouth dropped…  who was this group of souls and why were they here?

They call themselves the “Dirty Urchins.”  After they were through, I immediately thanked them for a tremendous performance.  I spoke with the bassist who informed me that they were local and that they gig around town.  After doing some research, I realized that the beautiful voice of Julia Hatigan, which is what drew me there in the first place, is actually an acclaimed solo artist and apparent friend of the band who may have just been sitting in on this day.  Fortunate for all of us there, as she melds well with this group and the overall sound was very intriguing.  If this is your scene, check em out.  They really had the stuff today!

As soon as they finished, music began to emanate from the bandshell.  They were called Cryptic Skin, and it was mix of electro beats and a female vocalist.   She later invited a friend of hers to the stage and her name may have been Jen.  She is a guitarist with remarkable skills.  When the electro set was over, Jen appeared and walloped the devoted crowd with a solo rendition of Stairway to Heaven.  Very nice!

When their set ended, a fellow came out and played an elctro-acoustic guitar solo for a bit.  Turns out, he was the guy responsible for this festival of music.  It was called “Hunterfest,” aptly named for the band that he is part of called “Mr. Hunter.”  I saw an ad for this fest that they had posted on Craigslist and it seemed to be something I would enjoy.  After about 45 minutes of set up, Mr. Hunter came on and played a nice set.

They began with a jam and then a cover of Rolling Stones.  So far so good.   Then they came on strong with a cover of Breathe by Floyd and tucked a couple of other songs in between the intro and the Reprise.  I was impressed as that song is on my list.  They continued to play a mix of covers and originals, but their covers were unique in that they weren’t just covers, but alterations, adding a Jam Band sort of feel to a rock and roll groove.  This was my cup of tea.

The singer was outstanding.  She seemed to be either new or filling in as she read the words from sheets, but after her nerves settled, she really fell into the groove.   Not much dancing going on here, but a lot of foot tapping and head bobbing.  They took a song by Collective Soul and added texture to it.  That was unique.

I enjoyed this festival.  It could have been promoted more and maybe more people would have shown up, but heads like me were probably down at Times Square for Phil and Bobby anyway so it was understandable that the crowd was thin.  Nonetheless, it was a good time and this band has potential for success.  I gave an ample compliment to the singer after the show.  I went to say hey to the guitarist and founder of the festival, but he had already taken off.  Maybe he was heading to see Phil? So hey, thanks for the festival Chris.

Anyway, the real highlight of my day came when I glanced over and saw the lady that I had spoken to earlier, you know, the one who told me I should come back.  Turns out, she was one of the artists that were displaying their works.  I hadn’t even payed attention to the art as I was so focused on the music.  But during one of the songs, I peered over and was floored at how stunningly beautiful these pieces were;  Abstract design with radiating colors of a magical hue.  This is the kind of art that I dig.

I approached her after the show and we immediately were in tune in the conversation.  It was indeed her work and she was a traveling soul.  We spoke for some time about festivals and art and places where art thrives and Frida Kahlo and all sorts of other things.  Her friend was also very nice and we spoke for a bit as well.  These were kindred spirits; the type of person that I connect with, and the type of soul that is needed to keep this earth in balance.  May you both find ample amounts of joy and success on your endeavors and may prosperous times greet you wherever you may be.

By the way, her name is Alicia, and here is a link for her website…Artbyalicia

We parted on pleasant handshakes and smiles.  And I was off to capture my days events and upload them here, to this blog.  It is unfortunate that I couldn’t take more photos or have them uploaded right away.  Hopefully, soon, down the road, I will be able to share those pics with you.

This was a remarkable day filled with arts and entertainment, and most of all, positivity, which I needed more than almost anything else.  May this energy be passed on to you, the readers of this page.  Check out the artists and musicians I spoke of.  I feel it is my duty to share them with you, in case you haven’t seen or heard of them before.  Many thanks to all of them, to Central and Bryant Parks, and once again to NYC, for allowing a poor soul like myself the opportunity to enjoy music and arts for free, when I really needed them.  Peace.  See you tomorrow…

ONE LINE SUMMARY:  It is easy to feel less hungry when your are being fed free music all day!

>the dayscribber<