When you sit too close to the stage!

Eight years ago Don scored lottery tickets to "Hamilton," which landed Ashley and I in the front row at the Richard Rogers Theater. That experience was amazing! 

This weekend we ordered tickets to see "Ghost of John McCain" at the SoHo Playhouse. They seated us in the very front row. 

That was not so amazing.

I was wrestling with the difference and came up with the size of the stage. Last night I was eye level with the actors as my knees were crushed up against the stage. At times the left the stage using the step I was resting my foot on due to the lack of space. The theater used every inch possible to squeeze in 130-140 seats. I didn't even need my glasses. Had there been an intermission, I suspect we would have moved back a few rows. I'm just grateful it was not an audience participation kind of show.

I have no idea how Don managed to take a curtain call picture of all six actors. My attempts only captured 4 or  at a time. 

The show is timely and panders to its audience. I think it is overpriced. Don said it matched the reviews he read, so he shouldn't be disappointed.

I am glad I saw the theater. Shows such as Job have started there and landed on Broadway. It would be cool to see something before it makes it to the big leagues up the island.

A few days later we sat in the front row to see "Alma" at Passage Theater in Trenton. That had a lot more leg room and did not feel too close.

 

Elephants in New York City?

One hundred elephants are hanging out in small herds throughout the Meatpacking district of New York City.

The Great Elephant Migration: a journey for coexistence is "a mission to raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations and to foster awareness about the challenges wildlife face. Don asked "who picks up their poop?" as I wondered "how can they possibly find enough to eat on the streets of Manhattan?" 

All jokes aside, wild animals are struggling to repopulate as humans are filling more of their spaces. Locally we see it with the deer and fox populations. In Australia, Andrew sees it with wild kangaroos and koala bears.

These elephants are made out of lantana camara, the second most widespread invasive species in the world. The sculptures are made by 200 indigenous artists. Each one is based on a real elephant, and has a plaque describing its model.

They are only on display through October 20, 2024, after that they migrate to Miami, Florida, then Browning, Montana, before finishing in Los Angeles, California. Individual elephants are on sale.

Here are some of the dozens of pictures we took. We enjoyed the juxtaposition of wild animals in the urban environment.

Upside down map

Quite rainy -- hard to keep the lens dry

The little ones were so cute!
Very tempting to take one home.

Real wildlife in NYC

When Don first told me about the migration, I really didn't think we'd see it. After all, we don't go to this part of Manhattan very often. Then a friend invited us to her daughter's engagement party giving us the perfect excuse to play tourists for the day.

Thank you Helen for the invitation and for including us in your celebration! Mazel tov!

Art After Dark

Saturday night was one of those rare times when life seemed to click into place just right. Both Don and Ashley were working, and I was sitting at home looking at Facebook when I noticed an event: Arts After Dark from 4-9 pm on the grounds of Smithville Mansion in Burlington County (sunset these days is just before 7 pm). Brittney was displaying artwork, and I had meant to see her art display, but it never quite made the calendar. When I realized it was only a half an hour away, I decided to drive down, check it out, and be home around dark. I really thought I would spend more time driving to and from then I would spend at the event, but I was going a little stir crazy and needed to get out of the house.

I was pleasantly surprised by the entire event and wished I had brought a friend with me.

The parking lot was filling up quickly. Walking past the two food trucks, a large tent with vendors, and smaller tents with flyers and smaller vendors I was beginning to think the rapture had taken place, leaving everyone's cars behind. 

First I entered the Underground Railroad Museum. What a surprise! The museum started in the home of Louise Calloway, and moved to the grounds of the Smithville Mansion about a decade ago. She passed away last year at the age of 93. I caught the tail end of a passionate presentation being given by the president. I walked in when she said slavery was finally abolished by the 50th state in 2013 when Mississippi FINALLY ratified the 13th amendment. Technically the ratified it in 1995 (sheesh!) but failed to file the proper paperwork to the US Archivist. The woman said she gives talks to corporations because it is her mission to spread the word to everyone -- not just school groups. It is probably also the mission of the museum, but coming from her you can tell it is a vocation and not just a job. I'm sorry I didn't catch her name, I wrongly thought I'd find it through a quick google search. She told me about a walking artist named Ken Johnston who is personally retracing the paths taken by Harriet Tubman. The term walking artist is a new one to me, so I am going to leave it here with a link to the UK website as the concept resonates with me, and I decide if it is a term I want to apply to myself. Ken walks to commemorate history.

No photos were allowed inside. The talk made enough of a lasting impression that I want to return one weekend (they are open on Saturdays and Sundays) to learn more.

Outside I went past more booths, and into another house, this one housing a temporary exhibit on the early days of moving images. It was cool, but something I wish I could share with someone.

Back outside I walked behind a brick wall when I finally saw a crowd of people. They were waiting for the unveiling a troll. That rang a bell -- Don had told me about Troll Trek, inspired by the artwork of international artist Thomas Dambo's Big Rusty in Hainesport, NJ, it is a collection of 19 trolls made out of recycled materials appearing throughout Burlington County. Saturday night was the kick-off for the trail as two trolls were being unveiled, one using plastic bottle caps, and the other out of bicycle parts. I scored a map. Don and I will consider it a challenge to see all of them.

While waiting for the second one to be unveiled, I saw Brittney. Brittney was Ashley's beloved high school art teacher. She was displaying her artwork in a way that reminded me of Art All Night, except she could display more than one piece.  I enjoyed visiting with her and her husband, and their assorted friends and family. 

I then thought to walk inside the main museum. When I saw the Penny-farthing (an early bicycle) I realized I had been there before. The place looked completely differently at night, especially during a festival. The old bicycle brought it back to me -- Ashley and I toured there in 2011 back when she was in fourth grade and I was trying to educate her on New Jersey history. 

What a treat that a quiet night at home turned into a really fun time. I stayed longer than planned, and even scored gas below $3/gallon for the first time in a long time ($2.89/charge). An added bonus, it was cold an rainy in Mercer County, and warmer and drier in Burlington County.

Grounds for Sculpture

Two years ago I bought a membership to the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. The gardens are a true treasure. My membership allowed me to bring a Plus 1. Sometimes the extra person is Don or Ashley. I've brought Sylvie, Sylvia, Alicia, and others. I enjoy going with friends who are encountering the sculptures for the first time. Friends have a way of taking me on paths I don't usually take, which in turn shows me new sculptures, or at least see sculptures in a new way. 

Sometimes they've been there before and they show me what they love, which makes me love them anew.

Alas, the membership is coming to an end this week. I could renew and get an extra month added in, or I could pass and renew when I feel like returning. I've decided to take a break. Maybe I'll renew on a snowy day in February, or as the buds are appearing in April. I recognize my visits have been spaced further apart.

Last week I took one last lap through the grounds. I brought my Panasonic DMC-G85 and tried to capture what my eyes were seeing. In some cases, I brought out my iPhone14.

I know it was not very crowded, yet somehow taking out my camera to try to play with the lighting acted as a magnet and brought crowds to where I was standing, or rather directly in front of me. I'm sure my frustration on that midday visit helped me solidify my desire to not renew.

Then, just as I was thinking I was surprised I did not see anyone I knew, I bumped into Tom and Diane from church all dressed up to dine at Rats.

Some of my favorite pictures from the day.

With the iPhone -- always a favorite

With the iPhone. I struggled with my camera
to get the colors right.

From the parking lot

I still think she is too pale, but I like being at
eye level with "her"

I wanted to try this a few more times,
but a man insisted on reading the sign visible
in the left-hand side of this mirror

I spy a statue

It's alive!

Some foliage already appearing in mid-September

This was hard to get to appear in a picture
because it was in the shade

A selfie with my big camera

I spent much time in a back corner
trying to get both the statue and the pink sign
across the street in focus, and in color. I could not
replicate it no matter how hard I tried. 

Just a favorite statue

I first saw this statue in 2015 at Art All Night

Struggled to get the color right

Again, much playing with settings to get the colors right

We always peek behind the fence to see
what they are working on

Close-ups are fun

If I was with a friend, I'd frame their face here

I could not get the camera to capture
the lighting the way I wanted it to, see
iPhone picture above

I want to be able to catch this with the
sunlight glistening on the glass

This statue of a couple embracing
has been here so long they appear
to be sinking! I think they missed their train.

Flowers in focus. Statue in soft focus.
Just like I wanted.

Dinner time?

Look at that pretty sky!

See above's iPhone version. 
Could not capture the blue sky, as well as the
other colors.

Thanks, Seward!

A quick picture before someone stepped
in front of me with a slow moving stroller

The flowers are also important

From the viewpoint of the cat