24 hours in NYC
Well, that 24 hours flew by fast.
On the train into NYC yesterday, I almost finished reading Rick Riordan's THE LAST HERO. (And then I did finish it up whilst Dave was running errands today.) Short version: Enjoyed it. Kudos to Riordan for figuring out a way to up the ante and create new mysteries surrounding the Camp Half-Blood gang, and for attempting to deal with that old thorny mythological issue of Greek vs. Roman names and personalities for the Olympians. Looking forward to the next installment.
Speaking of books, it's not a trip to NYC if Dave doesn't get to watch me buy books. This visit to The Strand netted me a few goodies: THE DEL-RAY BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY edited by ellen_datlow ; TRUE GRIT by Charles Portis; THE JOURNAL OF PROFESSOR ABRAHAM VAN HELSING edited and with critical commentary by Professor Allen C. Kupfer; A JOURNEY IN OTHER WORLDS: A Romance of the Future by John Jacob Astor; and John Buchan's THE COMPLETE RICHARD HANNAY (all 5 Hannay novels, including THE 39 STEPS). And at Mid-Town Comics I finally found Roy Thomas' THE ALL-STAR COMPANION VOLUME 4.
Last night, Dave and I went to see DRACULA at the Little Shubert Theater off-Broadway. The play is still in previews until January 3rd or so. The great George Hearn stars as Van Helsing and Italian light-opera star Michel Altieri as Dracula, with Emily Bridges (Beau's daughter) as Lucy, John Buffalo Mailer (Norman's son) as Renfield, and Jake Silbermann (Noah from As The World Turns) as Harker. Now, we all know Dracula is my favorite novel, so I'm a bit biased when it comes to anything to do with the character. And this is not the first production I've seen of the 1931 Balderstone-Deane script (I remember an enjoyable production in Syracuse back in the 80s, for instance). In the stage role Bela Lugosi originated and Frank Langella made sexy ... Altieri is just out of his league. He looks too emo-boyish. And while that look can be sexy, Altieri exudes no heat whatsoever. I could go on about what I thought was wrong with the production, but I don't want this to be a lengthly post. I'll say this: when you meet the cast at the door, tell George Hearn you're a big fan, and get "even after this performance?" (delivered with a wry smile) as a response ... even the cast knows the show isn't working. I think they were genuinely surprised to see anyone at the door, but how could I pass up the chance to meet George Hearn (and I'll admit I was a bit starstruck) and the Cute Guy from the same-sex couple on As The World Turns? I have to say that George Hearn is a perfect gentlman, Emily Bridges is just a sweetheart, and Jake Silbermann was very nice. If I ever get the pictures transferred from my camera, I'll post the pics of Hearn and Silbermann here. (And hey, totallygay81 , I did mention that I had a friend who would be VERY jealous that I was meeting NOAH.)
After the show we had a late dinner with Roxy and then a walk through the Subway platforms under Times Square so that Dave could point out a very old "hair model" photo hung in an empty storefront window and have me guess who the actor was. Sadly, I was stumped until he told me who it was, then I could see the resemblance. I'm still not sure exactly WHY there's a picture of Paul (Harry Dresden) Blackthorne from his hair-model days hanging in that window, but ours is not to reason why.
Last night ended with a viewing of The Doctor Who Christmas Carol. My first real exposure to Matt Smith as The Doctor, considering I don't get BBC America (darn you, Cablevision!), and I quite enjoyed it. There aren't many twists on the Dickens classic that can surprise me. I liked the twist regarding "The Ghost of Christmas Future." And it's always great to see Michael Gambon chew the scenery.
Today, after breakfast, Dave and I took in TRUE GRIT. Possibly the best movie I've seen this year (and granted, I haven't seen many compared to some of you). The script is pitch-perfect, the cinematography is great, and the story is moving and affecting. Jeff Bridges is the showpiece, the eye-catcher, but Matt Damon turns in some truly understated work and Hailee Steinfeld both centers the movie and steals it from her older, more accomplished co-stars. I loved almost every minute of the movie, and my quibbles are so minor they're not worth mentioning. Even the supporting cast are great: Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper ... and unexpectedly (to me, anyway), Domnhall Gleeson (Brendan's son, also appearing as Bill Weasley in the final two Harry Potter films).
The train ride home was spent finishing reading Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, which I never finished rereading on Christmas Eve. It's a tradition for me to reread it, and I always love it.
On the train into NYC yesterday, I almost finished reading Rick Riordan's THE LAST HERO. (And then I did finish it up whilst Dave was running errands today.) Short version: Enjoyed it. Kudos to Riordan for figuring out a way to up the ante and create new mysteries surrounding the Camp Half-Blood gang, and for attempting to deal with that old thorny mythological issue of Greek vs. Roman names and personalities for the Olympians. Looking forward to the next installment.
Speaking of books, it's not a trip to NYC if Dave doesn't get to watch me buy books. This visit to The Strand netted me a few goodies: THE DEL-RAY BOOK OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY edited by ellen_datlow ; TRUE GRIT by Charles Portis; THE JOURNAL OF PROFESSOR ABRAHAM VAN HELSING edited and with critical commentary by Professor Allen C. Kupfer; A JOURNEY IN OTHER WORLDS: A Romance of the Future by John Jacob Astor; and John Buchan's THE COMPLETE RICHARD HANNAY (all 5 Hannay novels, including THE 39 STEPS). And at Mid-Town Comics I finally found Roy Thomas' THE ALL-STAR COMPANION VOLUME 4.
Last night, Dave and I went to see DRACULA at the Little Shubert Theater off-Broadway. The play is still in previews until January 3rd or so. The great George Hearn stars as Van Helsing and Italian light-opera star Michel Altieri as Dracula, with Emily Bridges (Beau's daughter) as Lucy, John Buffalo Mailer (Norman's son) as Renfield, and Jake Silbermann (Noah from As The World Turns) as Harker. Now, we all know Dracula is my favorite novel, so I'm a bit biased when it comes to anything to do with the character. And this is not the first production I've seen of the 1931 Balderstone-Deane script (I remember an enjoyable production in Syracuse back in the 80s, for instance). In the stage role Bela Lugosi originated and Frank Langella made sexy ... Altieri is just out of his league. He looks too emo-boyish. And while that look can be sexy, Altieri exudes no heat whatsoever. I could go on about what I thought was wrong with the production, but I don't want this to be a lengthly post. I'll say this: when you meet the cast at the door, tell George Hearn you're a big fan, and get "even after this performance?" (delivered with a wry smile) as a response ... even the cast knows the show isn't working. I think they were genuinely surprised to see anyone at the door, but how could I pass up the chance to meet George Hearn (and I'll admit I was a bit starstruck) and the Cute Guy from the same-sex couple on As The World Turns? I have to say that George Hearn is a perfect gentlman, Emily Bridges is just a sweetheart, and Jake Silbermann was very nice. If I ever get the pictures transferred from my camera, I'll post the pics of Hearn and Silbermann here. (And hey, totallygay81 , I did mention that I had a friend who would be VERY jealous that I was meeting NOAH.)
After the show we had a late dinner with Roxy and then a walk through the Subway platforms under Times Square so that Dave could point out a very old "hair model" photo hung in an empty storefront window and have me guess who the actor was. Sadly, I was stumped until he told me who it was, then I could see the resemblance. I'm still not sure exactly WHY there's a picture of Paul (Harry Dresden) Blackthorne from his hair-model days hanging in that window, but ours is not to reason why.
Last night ended with a viewing of The Doctor Who Christmas Carol. My first real exposure to Matt Smith as The Doctor, considering I don't get BBC America (darn you, Cablevision!), and I quite enjoyed it. There aren't many twists on the Dickens classic that can surprise me. I liked the twist regarding "The Ghost of Christmas Future." And it's always great to see Michael Gambon chew the scenery.
Today, after breakfast, Dave and I took in TRUE GRIT. Possibly the best movie I've seen this year (and granted, I haven't seen many compared to some of you). The script is pitch-perfect, the cinematography is great, and the story is moving and affecting. Jeff Bridges is the showpiece, the eye-catcher, but Matt Damon turns in some truly understated work and Hailee Steinfeld both centers the movie and steals it from her older, more accomplished co-stars. I loved almost every minute of the movie, and my quibbles are so minor they're not worth mentioning. Even the supporting cast are great: Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper ... and unexpectedly (to me, anyway), Domnhall Gleeson (Brendan's son, also appearing as Bill Weasley in the final two Harry Potter films).
The train ride home was spent finishing reading Dicken's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, which I never finished rereading on Christmas Eve. It's a tradition for me to reread it, and I always love it.