Touristy Day!

For a summary of my life recently, I would recommend some serious Facebook stalking. Friends, I know it will be difficult, but I have faith that you are all experienced stalkers, and you have developed the stamina required to look through the million pictures.

Because it was a Weekend of Epic Proportions (TM). Diane Laban, Scott Laban and Beka Kroesing all came, and took the city by a storm. I could go into intimate detail, but that would literally be eleven million paragraphs and I don't think any of you are really that interested.

The most interesting thing that happened to me this week was that my Monday acting class was taught by Anna Strasberg. Yes, THE Anna Strasberg. Of Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute fame. (She's Lee Strasberg's widow.)

It was the most amazing experience of my life. She is the most vibrant, energetic, passionate, elegant and present person I have ever met. She goes off on tangents, but I don't even care because I learn SO MUCH. We played Red Light, Green Light during class, and froze at the red light parts to show that sometimes we really do move our bodies in weird ways, and to see what it's like to have coiled and reined-in energy at our disposal. She had me do an improv based on a Hemingway play and told me I did really well.

It was incredible. She's amazing. And my favorite quote of the class (if you haven't seen my Facebook status): "Now, I know you kids know how to move your hips. I see you, listening to your Bruce Springsteen...he brings out something crazy." RIDICULOUS.

The rest of the week was business as usual, until the weekend. Nick's fam showed up on Thursday (which was awesome because I FINALLY got to see Scott, my favorite Laban brother). And then on Saturday morning, Beka arrived!!! Hooray!

I kicked off the weekend with my attempts to get to the airport. As is the status quo when either Anne or I (or, heaven forbid, both of us) try to travel somewhere, it is ALWAYS MORE DIFFICULT FOR US. Subways are basically no longer running on the weekend. And the people who work for MTA are NOT HELPFUL. I scampered over the entire island of Manhattan before calling Nick and waking him up and having him help me find a working subway station. I should really get a GPS on my phone or something.

So when Beka and I were reunited (approximately an hour after we should have been), the day began. We dropped off Beka's stuff, went to lunch with the Laban clan and headed off to take the Staten Island Ferry.

I'm pretty sure people just like the ferry. There isn't anything on Staten Island. I actually had no intention of actually getting off the ferry. I just wanted to ride it right back home. This was not an option, but I did not leave the ferry area. The boat ride was a good (and windy) time however.

Saturday also brought a sobering trip to Ground Zero, a jaunt around Greenwich Village (where we gazed upon apartments we will never be able to afford, but would LOVE to steal) and a long and hard search for Little Italy. The search was eventually fruitful when we found a wonderful Italian restaurant where we were led through a dark hallway that was sketch to the maximum before emerging in a really nice restaurant.

Saturday night we also went to the top of the Empire State Building late at night, a la Sleepless in Seattle. Except for there were tons of people there and I did not fall in love whilst up there. Except with Beka. It was cold and windy and expensive and a long line, but totally worth it. We saw the Flatiron Building and the Chrysler Building and other famous buildings, and Nick and I found our building! Hooray! This was mostly exciting, because I like anything that reminds me that I live in New York City. I am obsessed with this concept, because it is still a little hard to wrap my mind around.

On Sunday, Beka saw her first Broadway show in the form of Shrek: The Musical. A good time was had by all, and Beka got to meet Broadway stars at the stage door later. Nick and I were stood up by Sutton Foster for the third time (!) and I was not thrilled. I had an elaborate plan in which I told her that I am from Troy (because she is from Troy) and when she asked me about it, I would answer as if I were my cousin. Alas. Alack.

Plus also on Sunday we frolicked in Central Park, which is always one of my favorite activities. It was the last nice day of the season, and Beka and I managed to fit in Strawberry Fields, the Alice in Wonderland statue, Belvedere Castle, the Turtle pond and the Great Lawn. Plus she was fascinated by the street performers.

On Monday I had to go to class (see above), but Nick and Beka ran around the city like maniacs. However, I did not go to class until after going to The Today Show that morning, where we saw a small child perform. He is approximately 14 and beloved in the 10-14 year old girl demographic. Those girls were CRAZY. Seriously. Why weren't they in school???

The rest of this week has been pretty normal. The New York Musical Theatre Festival is going on, and Nick and I saw In Therapy with Celine earlier this week. This is a musical based on the music of Celine Dion.

Life just doesn't get any better.

To clarify, this musical does not take itself seriously. I have never laughed so hard in my life.

We also saw Open the Dark Door today, which was very good. It needs a little work before being professionally produced either on or off Broadway, but it was still very enjoyable. And tomorrow we will be seeing Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, which is an ensemble piece in which the actors perform 30 two-minutes plays, chosen from a list of...I don't know. A lot more. Tres exciting. Especially because the tickets were free. Unfortunately, the show is at 10:30 and the theatre is a forty minute walk away. Eeek. No fun.

I know I promise this every time, but I really am going to try to update this more regularly. Not even for your sake. I'm concerned that in six months I'm going to read over this and want to remember what I did while I was in New York and my reactions to being here and I just won't have anything real written. Because I go so long in between updating that all I can do is give a quick summary of everything, rather than go into the detail that I would love to have.

So we'll see how it goes. I'm very busy, especially until Tuesday of next week, but hopefully I manage to get more done.

Remember to mail me things. Seriously. None of you has taken me up on that yet. Lamefaces.
Love, Kelly