It's official. I completely wore myself out today. I went to bed with every ounce of muscle, bone and thought spent. I didn't brave any EPA auditions...nothing interesting enough to get out of bed for and then not get called. Do I sound like I'm getting cynical? Well, maybe a little bit, but also a little choosier. The extended vacation is about me getting better and getting to the next level and some days I need to do that by myself. I had really missed my NIA classes so I went to one of those in the morning. The theme for the day: taking our time. What a good theme for me!
I've been really frustrated with my hair out here. I know it is quite vain to admit it but I hate how I look like a mess everywhere I go...when I use the diffuser I end up looking frizzy and frazzled or like Jersey. It's not real great...I think it might be a product issue. So, after the gym I took a shower and tried a new technique of styling my hair and then applying product...much better result but I'm still working on it. Suggestions?
I went to two dance classes at Steps. See, I told you I was vain. I was sick of looking like the wicked witch of the west at all these classes. It is strange how not being apalled by what you see in the mirror does inform your dancing. Deep thoughts...
I took Beginning Theatre Dance again and I got called out at one point for not extending my arms on this one move. I thought it was a little unfair as I was just trying to avoid running into the ballet barre, but, hey, I'm here to learn! I then took Germaine's tap class again. I really really like her and even though I am one of the slowest she always makes me feel good, and as though she's glad I came. I have to say that three dance classes in one day was a little draining and by the end of tap I was giving up in using my brain to remember combinations, etc. I'll remember that next time.
I next headed off to my first lesson with Carol. Yesterday it took me about 45 minutes but at $100/hr (and that's pretty reasonable, if not cheap here for a voice lesson!) I was taking no chances! I was so beat from dancing that I fell asleep a little on the train but clutched my valuables close to me. I ended up getting to Inwood about a half-hour early which was kind of a bummer because unlike the parts of NY that I usually frequent there is no Starbucks, no delis or any kind of store in which to browse. I mean, I guess if I was truly desperate, I could strike up a conversation at the gas station or body shop. I took a walk in the freezing cold and found a really beautiful park. Her apartment overlooks a bridge as well as the Columbia football stadium. Finally, 5:30 arrived and I had a great lesson. Her technique is new to me...all about onset and keeping the throat open. I found myself singing much "bigger" than I'm used to. It's a little scary but it doesn't hurt and she's in her 60s and can still sing like a goddess. I'm really excited as I feel like this may be the technique that gets me over high note issues for good. Yippee!
I took the train home and then the crosstown bus. I quickly grabbed some dinner before heading to Union Square. I had an audition scheduled at 9:20 for Theatre Ludicrum, a theatre company specializing in classic plays that they modernize. I'm frankly not that interested in the project but a scheduled audition is always a great opportunity to practice auditioning. I went to Trader Joes first madly picking up the 12 most necessary items so that I could be in the 12 or less line...it was still a total madhouse and they were out of our Fiber bread...but I got out just in time! I took the L train to 8th Street and walked a few blocks to the Atlantic Theatre Company which is housed in a really fancy building...they took my picture and gave me a label to wear with my picture, etc. Very swanky, especially for a place to learn how to be a starving artist! The audition was interesting with two somewhat awkward but really nice men running it. I did my monologue, then a strange cut of "Simple Joys" that threw the pianist so we did it twice and then two monologues from their script. There was a crazy Latin name in one of them and I had asked how to pronounce it. When I got to it in the reading, I totally blanked. Ah! I think it was fine and like I said, I don't want the job, so it's all good!
It took forever to get home but I finally made it back at around 10:30.
And if you haven't guessed it's now Thursday morning and I just had the best 8 hours of sleep since I can remember! I just counted and yesterday I got on 3 different busses and 7 different trains. Thank goodness for the unlimited metro card!
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
new friends and a full day!
Today was a great day...it had definite moments of questioning and imperfection...but also wonderful tastes of the community that is being knit in the pockets of NY that I've discovered. The day started early, again, this time for an open call for the Sharon Arts Playhouse. Their season includes a Carousel in concert so I was excited to sing for them. I fought the bitter cold to get to Ripley Grier on 8th Avenue...this time I walked along 32nd and found Koreatown. I need Soon to visit now!
At the audition I found a girl I've been seeing at other EPAs and became acquainted...her name is Emily and I really like her! Yay! I feel like she could be my audition buddy. She is also a Christian and we shared stories about the churches we've been going to. I sang well but didn't get a callback. Oh well. From there, I headed to the Performing Arts Library and had so much fun looking through scores and finding songs and books on acting.
Tuesday has become my favorite day of the week thanks to my fellowship group. I just love the people. They are all so smart yet artsy and humble and full of faith. Even though I had to leave early, I was so inspired and excited and encouraged for the future friends and family I see in them! There was a new guy, Mitch, that moved to NYC a week after I did. He is a pianist and composer and has lived in Paris for the last 6 years. He was quirky and smart and I think he and I will be friends! Yay!
I left early because I was going out to Inwood to observe a few voice lessons taught by a potential new teacher, Carol Kirkpatrick. She was recommended to me by a colleague of Adrienne's at Cornell. The two sopranos I observed had fierce, rich voices with great tops and I was so excited by Carol's teaching. I have a lesson scheduled for tomorrow! She is a warm and no-nonsense kind of a teacher in the vein of Dr. Farwell. I really clicked with Anna, the second student who I joined on the train home. She studied at Indiana and we know some people. I'm excited for her potential friendship!
So that's the daily summary...I'm really thankful for all the points of connection I made with folks. On the bus ride home I started feeling like this could be home, temporarily of course.
At the audition I found a girl I've been seeing at other EPAs and became acquainted...her name is Emily and I really like her! Yay! I feel like she could be my audition buddy. She is also a Christian and we shared stories about the churches we've been going to. I sang well but didn't get a callback. Oh well. From there, I headed to the Performing Arts Library and had so much fun looking through scores and finding songs and books on acting.
Tuesday has become my favorite day of the week thanks to my fellowship group. I just love the people. They are all so smart yet artsy and humble and full of faith. Even though I had to leave early, I was so inspired and excited and encouraged for the future friends and family I see in them! There was a new guy, Mitch, that moved to NYC a week after I did. He is a pianist and composer and has lived in Paris for the last 6 years. He was quirky and smart and I think he and I will be friends! Yay!
I left early because I was going out to Inwood to observe a few voice lessons taught by a potential new teacher, Carol Kirkpatrick. She was recommended to me by a colleague of Adrienne's at Cornell. The two sopranos I observed had fierce, rich voices with great tops and I was so excited by Carol's teaching. I have a lesson scheduled for tomorrow! She is a warm and no-nonsense kind of a teacher in the vein of Dr. Farwell. I really clicked with Anna, the second student who I joined on the train home. She studied at Indiana and we know some people. I'm excited for her potential friendship!
So that's the daily summary...I'm really thankful for all the points of connection I made with folks. On the bus ride home I started feeling like this could be home, temporarily of course.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Super Bowl Sunday and Super Cold Monday
I think I've definitely settled on the AM West Side service at Redeemer. Maybe in a month or two I'll even have regular friends to sit beside! My new friends from last night go to the PM West Side service...I would consider giving that one another chance but apparently last night's band leads at that service...and as hard as it is to criticize a band leading worship...it was too loud for me! I LOVE the music in the morning service. I can't wait for you all to visit! This week a flutist played a Bloch concerto as well as the Mozart "Laudate Dominum" (my wedding hit) with a soprano soloist. So beautiful! Tim Keller continues to be an amazing teacher and I can't write down fast enough all the morsels he shares! This week he talked about the significance of the Last Supper and all the ways it connected to the celebration of Passover. I love nerdy Bible talk!
I jetted over to an audition that I'd been called in for after submitting my materials via mail. I learned a painful lesson about the necessity of always caring extra headshots and resumes. Eek! I wrongly assumed that they would have my h/r on hand since I had submitted and they called me. Nope! It made my audition really awkward and I was embarassed that I made that rookie mistake. The good news is that I don't even think they got my last name so hopefully they'll forget they ever met me! It was an audition for a small company in Florida who is doing a show about Judy Garland called, "Beyond the Rainbow." They had called me in for Young Judy...a fun prospect but not a great match vocally. After some serious self-beating I went home and got ready for our fun adventure to North Plainfield, NJ for the Six's Super Bowl party. Scott and Amy have a really nice house...and they went all out with mini-hot-dogs and mac and cheese and every kind of chip and dip you could imagine. YUM! It was really fun to see Gabe and be around Amy's energetic family! We also had a fun time meeting some of their friends, including Chemagne, who we've invited to stay with us in NYC for some big city partying. Chemagne gave us a ride to the NJ Transit station after the Prince half-time show. Good times!
Today was a fun and somewhat productive day. I had high hopes for an audition for Musicals Tonight, a company very similar to 42nd St. Moon, but when I arrived and found the line already looping around hallways I knew my chances were slim. Two fun things happened. I realized that a guy I'd recognized a few weeks ago was indeed the Richard I lived across the hall from in Aspen. I guess he's doing a lot of musical theatre in addition to opera work. I also ran into Michael Hunsaker, my prince from "Into the Woods." He is one of the funniest guys I know and it totally lit up my lackluster morning to see him! I was #3 on the EMC list but the way things were going it wasn't looking great, so I left around noon and didn't return in the afternoon, opting to leave my headshot behind. From my other experiences, the afternoon only seems to get worse with the Equity alternate situation. I think the hardest thing for me is that second-class citizen feeling all based on a little card that I don't yet have. I end up feeling after a while that I'm not talented, that I don't belong in that room, etc, etc and it puts me into a spin of self-doubt that certainly doesn't help my confidence.
The best thing I did for myself was leaving and deciding to spend the afternoon practicing and remembering why I came here (not just to spy on equity actors!). I had intended on going to the Performing Arts Library and picking out some new songs...alas, closed on Monday! I walked in the bitter cold for nothing but luckily found a bus home pretty soon thereafter. After practicing a bit at home I decided to rent a studio for an hour to really let loose and SING. I'm so glad I made that decision. I now feel energized and excited to keep learning and growing and practicing!!!!
I went to a fun and intense "urban rebounding" aerobics class where everyone bounces on individual trampolines. I loved the teacher. He made lots of high screams, ala Prince yesterday!
I had planned with my two new friends, Carrie and Kristin, to go to Michael's piano bar tonight. I had thought it was weird that they hadn't called me after I left the directions. But then Carrie called to let me know the fire dept. was on their way over....they think they had Carbon Monoxide poisining. Yikes! And honestly, it's 8 degrees out, with a windchill of negative that, so I decided I couldn't trek out there alone. Hoping for next week!
I just opened an amazing package from Pie. She knit me the most beautiful and colorful scarf...I just love it and even more I love the note she sent with it. I write with a heart very full of thanks for the amazing friends and family God has given me! Miss you!!!
I jetted over to an audition that I'd been called in for after submitting my materials via mail. I learned a painful lesson about the necessity of always caring extra headshots and resumes. Eek! I wrongly assumed that they would have my h/r on hand since I had submitted and they called me. Nope! It made my audition really awkward and I was embarassed that I made that rookie mistake. The good news is that I don't even think they got my last name so hopefully they'll forget they ever met me! It was an audition for a small company in Florida who is doing a show about Judy Garland called, "Beyond the Rainbow." They had called me in for Young Judy...a fun prospect but not a great match vocally. After some serious self-beating I went home and got ready for our fun adventure to North Plainfield, NJ for the Six's Super Bowl party. Scott and Amy have a really nice house...and they went all out with mini-hot-dogs and mac and cheese and every kind of chip and dip you could imagine. YUM! It was really fun to see Gabe and be around Amy's energetic family! We also had a fun time meeting some of their friends, including Chemagne, who we've invited to stay with us in NYC for some big city partying. Chemagne gave us a ride to the NJ Transit station after the Prince half-time show. Good times!
Today was a fun and somewhat productive day. I had high hopes for an audition for Musicals Tonight, a company very similar to 42nd St. Moon, but when I arrived and found the line already looping around hallways I knew my chances were slim. Two fun things happened. I realized that a guy I'd recognized a few weeks ago was indeed the Richard I lived across the hall from in Aspen. I guess he's doing a lot of musical theatre in addition to opera work. I also ran into Michael Hunsaker, my prince from "Into the Woods." He is one of the funniest guys I know and it totally lit up my lackluster morning to see him! I was #3 on the EMC list but the way things were going it wasn't looking great, so I left around noon and didn't return in the afternoon, opting to leave my headshot behind. From my other experiences, the afternoon only seems to get worse with the Equity alternate situation. I think the hardest thing for me is that second-class citizen feeling all based on a little card that I don't yet have. I end up feeling after a while that I'm not talented, that I don't belong in that room, etc, etc and it puts me into a spin of self-doubt that certainly doesn't help my confidence.
The best thing I did for myself was leaving and deciding to spend the afternoon practicing and remembering why I came here (not just to spy on equity actors!). I had intended on going to the Performing Arts Library and picking out some new songs...alas, closed on Monday! I walked in the bitter cold for nothing but luckily found a bus home pretty soon thereafter. After practicing a bit at home I decided to rent a studio for an hour to really let loose and SING. I'm so glad I made that decision. I now feel energized and excited to keep learning and growing and practicing!!!!
I went to a fun and intense "urban rebounding" aerobics class where everyone bounces on individual trampolines. I loved the teacher. He made lots of high screams, ala Prince yesterday!
I had planned with my two new friends, Carrie and Kristin, to go to Michael's piano bar tonight. I had thought it was weird that they hadn't called me after I left the directions. But then Carrie called to let me know the fire dept. was on their way over....they think they had Carbon Monoxide poisining. Yikes! And honestly, it's 8 degrees out, with a windchill of negative that, so I decided I couldn't trek out there alone. Hoping for next week!
I just opened an amazing package from Pie. She knit me the most beautiful and colorful scarf...I just love it and even more I love the note she sent with it. I write with a heart very full of thanks for the amazing friends and family God has given me! Miss you!!!
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Crazy for You!
I woke up this morning at about 6:15. I did not intend to be #2 in line for the open dance call of "Crazy for You." I had set my alarm for 8:30 since last night ended a bit late. But, I was wide awake and ready to fake my way as a dancer. I headed over to Chelsea Studios and arrived there before 8. I guess I was walking through the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood on my way there...not the best, but I did discover they have a flea market there and lots of cheap wig stores if anyone is in the market for one.
Like I said, I was the 2nd girl to arrive and we waited about half an hour in the hallway of the 6th floor before the studios were opened. I was afraid the audition wasn't going to happen because of the low turnout, especially considering the masses that have been showing up at every audition. But, at 10 o'clock the fun began and we were taken as a group of 30 to learn a short tap routine. It really wasn't impossibly hard but I psyched myself out at the beginning, intimidated by leggy dancers in fancy leotards and well-oiled tap shoes. I was lucky enough to be in the last group of three. I wasn't the worst in the room but also not in the top 75% and I didn't get asked to stay to sing. I was hoping my smile and shimmy might have made them forget my missteps. Alas. I knew going into the call, that as a singer-actor-dancer, I would be competing amongst dancer-actor-singers...and I think for now, I'm going to stay away from such calls! I was just proud of myself for not escaping from the room before my number was called.
I came home and intended to take a nap but instead Adrienne helped me put together a match.com profile...haah! Here's to meeting some NYC boys that are not actor-singer-dancers!
I took a walk in the freezing cold weather, finally finding my way across the park from 94th and catching up with friends on the phone.
After I made dinner, (tonight... Adrienne's special salad and a whole-wheat quesadilla) I got to talk to Mom and Dad briefly and hear about my favorite boy. I think that got me crying for about an hour. Sorry for the crazy message, Lis.
I then bravely headed out by myself to a Redeemer praise night for the 20s and 30s group. It reminded me a lot of Sanctuary at MPPC except that the band was soooooooo loud. I seriously could not believe it. No restraint whatsoever. I really loved some of the songs and learned a few new ones. The greatest answer to prayer is that I happened to be sitting next to two girls who I ended up following out to dinner. They were helping lead the after-worship dinner at Arnie's Deli. It turns out they live really near me on the UES and I loved talking to them and hearing about their graduate studies in forensic psychology! I gave Carrie my number and we're planning on meeting up maybe even on Monday. I'm so thankful for the promise of new friends! Okay...need to go to bed!
Like I said, I was the 2nd girl to arrive and we waited about half an hour in the hallway of the 6th floor before the studios were opened. I was afraid the audition wasn't going to happen because of the low turnout, especially considering the masses that have been showing up at every audition. But, at 10 o'clock the fun began and we were taken as a group of 30 to learn a short tap routine. It really wasn't impossibly hard but I psyched myself out at the beginning, intimidated by leggy dancers in fancy leotards and well-oiled tap shoes. I was lucky enough to be in the last group of three. I wasn't the worst in the room but also not in the top 75% and I didn't get asked to stay to sing. I was hoping my smile and shimmy might have made them forget my missteps. Alas. I knew going into the call, that as a singer-actor-dancer, I would be competing amongst dancer-actor-singers...and I think for now, I'm going to stay away from such calls! I was just proud of myself for not escaping from the room before my number was called.
I came home and intended to take a nap but instead Adrienne helped me put together a match.com profile...haah! Here's to meeting some NYC boys that are not actor-singer-dancers!
I took a walk in the freezing cold weather, finally finding my way across the park from 94th and catching up with friends on the phone.
After I made dinner, (tonight... Adrienne's special salad and a whole-wheat quesadilla) I got to talk to Mom and Dad briefly and hear about my favorite boy. I think that got me crying for about an hour. Sorry for the crazy message, Lis.
I then bravely headed out by myself to a Redeemer praise night for the 20s and 30s group. It reminded me a lot of Sanctuary at MPPC except that the band was soooooooo loud. I seriously could not believe it. No restraint whatsoever. I really loved some of the songs and learned a few new ones. The greatest answer to prayer is that I happened to be sitting next to two girls who I ended up following out to dinner. They were helping lead the after-worship dinner at Arnie's Deli. It turns out they live really near me on the UES and I loved talking to them and hearing about their graduate studies in forensic psychology! I gave Carrie my number and we're planning on meeting up maybe even on Monday. I'm so thankful for the promise of new friends! Okay...need to go to bed!
Friday, February 2, 2007
Restaurant Week!!!
Friday, friday! I didn't have any auditions to crash this morning and after a little research, I realized that the S & M retelling of Oliver called "Twist" I briefly considered singing for was even less appealing than a tap-dancing opression piece. So, I had the morning free to do our weekly Trader Joes stock-up. We are doing so great on our whole grains and no sugar plan. Except for very special occasions...like tonight...I can't wait to tell you all about it!
There was a problem with the local train on the East Side and I've never felt so crowded than in that teeny, tiny subway car. Eek. Needless to say, I took the bus home and I was sure excited to have my new cute Bible because as great as the bus is, it takes forever to get home!
I nearly missed my tap class, but I had great luck getting on an express train. This was my second attempt at Scott Thompson's Broadway Style Tap Class...so much better this week! He didn't make us do crazy pull-back combos and instead we did a routine to "Move" from Dreamgirls. So fun and I have th soundtrack so I can practice!
I came home and prepared myself for a long afternoon of waiting around for the cable guy (again! but this time for the right company). To my amazement he arrived about 15 minutes into the 4 hour window and now I have internet. All the time! No excuses for late blogging from here on out. I will say that I noticed that this week my blogs got kind of boring. I'll try to boil down the uninteresting stuff and don't worry, you can just skim...I'll never know!
I did some practicing and chose a great time to run out to WaMu for some cash...it started raining, almost freezing, and certainly got me nice and cold. Too bad I was having a great hair day. Oh well.
So, tonight we did a really fun thing. We had made plans to have dinner with Adrienne's friend Stan (the one who is an intern at Union Square Cafe and hooked us up on her birthday) and last night, searching Open Table, we realized that it was still NY Restaurant Week. It is this great tradition where most of the best restaurants serve a prix fixe menu to let us poor laymen taste what the rich get to eat, once a year! The lunches are $24.07 for three courses and the dinners are $35. Most of these places have entrees above and beyond $35 so it's quite the deal! I wish I had known earlier...next year! After reviewing several menus online last night we landed on Maya (http://www.modernmexican.com/mayany/index.htm), a modern Mexican restaurant on the Upper East Side. OH, yum! We had a 6:15 reservation. We started with homemade guacamole and Sangria...my new favorite. For an appetizer Adrienne and I both chose the mushroom tamale...amazing...and Stan had the duck puff pastry something, something. My entree was an adobo chicken breast, sliced like steak and stacked with a fried manchego cheese dumpling on top and garnished with a cilantro pesto and roasted corn. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMY. Adrienne and Stan had a tender hanger steak with chipotle sauce of some sort. Also delicious. And for dessert we shared a flan (almost as good as Mom's) and a silky arroz con leche (rice pudding). My favorite thing by far was my second drink (I know, scandalous), a mango mojito. AH, the best drink I've ever tasted. It was a really fun evening and Adrienne came out of nowhere and treated us which was totally out of control and generous.
And now we're home...Adrienne and Stan are playing Donkey Kong and I'm all caught up on my blog! Yay! Happy Weekend everyone!
Here is the full menu if you're interested:
MAYA
RESTAURANT WEEK MENU $35
January 22-26 & January 29-February 2nd
ENTRADAS
~choice of
MAHI-MAHI CEVICHE
mahi-mahi / mustard seeds / capers / horseradish / red onion / cilantro
CARNITAS DE PATO
braised duck / puff pastry / camembert cheese /
butternut squash pureé / frisée salad / chile ancho~cranberry sauce
TAMAL CON MORILLAS
steamed cornmeal / goat cheese~requesón /
chanterelle and morel mushrooms / tomatillo sauce / crispy leeks
PLATOS FUERTES
~ choice of
PECHUGA ADOBADA
adobo marinated chicken breast / roasted corn / pico de gallo /
cilantro pesto / huitlacoche-manchego cheese dumplings
HANGER STEAK
grilled hanger steak / black bean purée / grilled tomato /
caramelized onion / guacamole / chile de arbol sauce
SALMON CON PEPITAS
spicy pumpkin seed crusted salmon / mixed vegetable fondue /
creamy wild mushroom-chile chipotle sauce
POSTRE
~choice of
ARROZ CON LECHE
~ mexican style rice pudding
FLAN DE ELOTE
~ caramel corn flan
There was a problem with the local train on the East Side and I've never felt so crowded than in that teeny, tiny subway car. Eek. Needless to say, I took the bus home and I was sure excited to have my new cute Bible because as great as the bus is, it takes forever to get home!
I nearly missed my tap class, but I had great luck getting on an express train. This was my second attempt at Scott Thompson's Broadway Style Tap Class...so much better this week! He didn't make us do crazy pull-back combos and instead we did a routine to "Move" from Dreamgirls. So fun and I have th soundtrack so I can practice!
I came home and prepared myself for a long afternoon of waiting around for the cable guy (again! but this time for the right company). To my amazement he arrived about 15 minutes into the 4 hour window and now I have internet. All the time! No excuses for late blogging from here on out. I will say that I noticed that this week my blogs got kind of boring. I'll try to boil down the uninteresting stuff and don't worry, you can just skim...I'll never know!
I did some practicing and chose a great time to run out to WaMu for some cash...it started raining, almost freezing, and certainly got me nice and cold. Too bad I was having a great hair day. Oh well.
So, tonight we did a really fun thing. We had made plans to have dinner with Adrienne's friend Stan (the one who is an intern at Union Square Cafe and hooked us up on her birthday) and last night, searching Open Table, we realized that it was still NY Restaurant Week. It is this great tradition where most of the best restaurants serve a prix fixe menu to let us poor laymen taste what the rich get to eat, once a year! The lunches are $24.07 for three courses and the dinners are $35. Most of these places have entrees above and beyond $35 so it's quite the deal! I wish I had known earlier...next year! After reviewing several menus online last night we landed on Maya (http://www.modernmexican.com/mayany/index.htm), a modern Mexican restaurant on the Upper East Side. OH, yum! We had a 6:15 reservation. We started with homemade guacamole and Sangria...my new favorite. For an appetizer Adrienne and I both chose the mushroom tamale...amazing...and Stan had the duck puff pastry something, something. My entree was an adobo chicken breast, sliced like steak and stacked with a fried manchego cheese dumpling on top and garnished with a cilantro pesto and roasted corn. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMY. Adrienne and Stan had a tender hanger steak with chipotle sauce of some sort. Also delicious. And for dessert we shared a flan (almost as good as Mom's) and a silky arroz con leche (rice pudding). My favorite thing by far was my second drink (I know, scandalous), a mango mojito. AH, the best drink I've ever tasted. It was a really fun evening and Adrienne came out of nowhere and treated us which was totally out of control and generous.
And now we're home...Adrienne and Stan are playing Donkey Kong and I'm all caught up on my blog! Yay! Happy Weekend everyone!
Here is the full menu if you're interested:
MAYA
RESTAURANT WEEK MENU $35
January 22-26 & January 29-February 2nd
ENTRADAS
~choice of
MAHI-MAHI CEVICHE
mahi-mahi / mustard seeds / capers / horseradish / red onion / cilantro
CARNITAS DE PATO
braised duck / puff pastry / camembert cheese /
butternut squash pureé / frisée salad / chile ancho~cranberry sauce
TAMAL CON MORILLAS
steamed cornmeal / goat cheese~requesón /
chanterelle and morel mushrooms / tomatillo sauce / crispy leeks
PLATOS FUERTES
~ choice of
PECHUGA ADOBADA
adobo marinated chicken breast / roasted corn / pico de gallo /
cilantro pesto / huitlacoche-manchego cheese dumplings
HANGER STEAK
grilled hanger steak / black bean purée / grilled tomato /
caramelized onion / guacamole / chile de arbol sauce
SALMON CON PEPITAS
spicy pumpkin seed crusted salmon / mixed vegetable fondue /
creamy wild mushroom-chile chipotle sauce
POSTRE
~choice of
ARROZ CON LECHE
~ mexican style rice pudding
FLAN DE ELOTE
~ caramel corn flan
Fun times in the Actors Equity Building, again.
Thursday I woke up quite early to get a jump on the Tuacahn EPAs at the Actors Equity Building. I won! I was the first EMC signed up and I was sure that this was my day to break through! The way it works is that the building opens at 7:30 and so until then we wait in a line outside. (I think I got there about 7:15). Once inside, they make you stay in your original order and sit and wait until 8:30 when they pass out the appointment times for the equity folks or sign you up on the EMC list (me first!). So, depending on when you get there and when the next Bernadette Peters gets there...you never know who you might have to sit next to for an hour. And I had fun luck on Thursday. The girl next to me had been one of the final girls who got cut from Grease Academy before they went to the live shows. And chance would have it that she recognized the girl sitting across from us from the NY callbacks and so they started chatting about their experiences. Girl across from me is actually Derek's roommate for those of you who watch the show. He is my favorite! It was fun to listen in on their conversation and eventually offer up my opinions. I think the guys are more talented because they chose the Sandys more for look than talent. Adrienne and I think they all have the same face. Anyhoo...that was kind of fun. I waited and read my new play for another 3 hours or so (even getting all made up because I was sure I would be called) before they said the EMCs would definitely not be seen before lunch.
I discovered the Drama Book Shop...apparently very famous and most thrillingly across the street from Parsons School of Design, home of Project Runway! EEEEEEEK! It's Fashion Week here too...I wish I was a somebody so I could go in the tents. Wouldn't that be amazing? Adrienne tells me that even though I'm somebody special, I'm not the right kind of somebody to get an invite. Oh well.
I met Manami so that we could walk over to her voice lesson together. I wanted to observe her lesson with this man who has a pretty unconventional teaching method (mostly alien sounds with no real singing for an hour and only $75 for all that). The great news is that I didn't fall asleep (I got really close) and I have one teacher crossed off my list. Hurrah! I got to meet Manami's husband, Sean, and we talked about getting together for dinner soon.
I went back to the Equity Building to check out the situation....of course, more and more alternates showed up and after waiting for another hour, I took off. I went home and quickly worked out (Adrienne thinks I have issues on days where I go sit at these auditions...I have to feel like I accomplished SOMETHING) and then had dinner and tetris time with Adrienne before fun tv and Backstage perusing.
I discovered the Drama Book Shop...apparently very famous and most thrillingly across the street from Parsons School of Design, home of Project Runway! EEEEEEEK! It's Fashion Week here too...I wish I was a somebody so I could go in the tents. Wouldn't that be amazing? Adrienne tells me that even though I'm somebody special, I'm not the right kind of somebody to get an invite. Oh well.
I met Manami so that we could walk over to her voice lesson together. I wanted to observe her lesson with this man who has a pretty unconventional teaching method (mostly alien sounds with no real singing for an hour and only $75 for all that). The great news is that I didn't fall asleep (I got really close) and I have one teacher crossed off my list. Hurrah! I got to meet Manami's husband, Sean, and we talked about getting together for dinner soon.
I went back to the Equity Building to check out the situation....of course, more and more alternates showed up and after waiting for another hour, I took off. I went home and quickly worked out (Adrienne thinks I have issues on days where I go sit at these auditions...I have to feel like I accomplished SOMETHING) and then had dinner and tetris time with Adrienne before fun tv and Backstage perusing.
Dance what you feel!
The Performing Arts Library behind Lincoln Center was my morning project. Earlier this week I discovered the secret to the West Side train....there's an express from 96th (where I get on) to 72nd (where I get off for dance, Lincoln Center, etc). So great! Well, I arrived at the library with high hopes of pouring through scores and scripts for hours upon hours. Alas, it doesn't open until noon! Ding Dong! (That's the new swear word for #7F) So, instead I went to the Barnes and Noble across the street, read through monologue books, read some magazines, bought some monologue books and a great thin-line Bible to carry in my purse. After trekking my big 'ol Study Bible to church and bible studies and nearly breaking my back, I decided it would be great to have a more compact version of the good book. I got the cutest, leather-bound, NIV Bible and it's perfect for everyday use. You never know how much time you'll have on the crosstown bus to break out a little Isaiah. :)
Anyhoo...I did get to go to the library for about 15 minutes and quickly checked out some plays and got really, really excited for all the fun that is in store in all those shelves! They also have viewing rooms where you can watch all sorts of archived Broadway shows and operas. Can you say music-nerd paradise???
I went to two dance classes. I started off with Scott Thompson's Beginning Theatre Dance...yay for a true beginning class! I didn't feel like as much of an idiot. I then went to Germaine Goodson's Advanced Beginning Broadway-Style Tap Dance. She was so encouraging and fun and never made us do steps alone which makes newbies like me really happy.
I spent the rest of the day practicing, cooking dinner and watching American Idol and Top Chef. I still can't believe Sam didn't get to be in the final 2 and win. He was robbed. Seriously.
Anyhoo...I did get to go to the library for about 15 minutes and quickly checked out some plays and got really, really excited for all the fun that is in store in all those shelves! They also have viewing rooms where you can watch all sorts of archived Broadway shows and operas. Can you say music-nerd paradise???
I went to two dance classes. I started off with Scott Thompson's Beginning Theatre Dance...yay for a true beginning class! I didn't feel like as much of an idiot. I then went to Germaine Goodson's Advanced Beginning Broadway-Style Tap Dance. She was so encouraging and fun and never made us do steps alone which makes newbies like me really happy.
I spent the rest of the day practicing, cooking dinner and watching American Idol and Top Chef. I still can't believe Sam didn't get to be in the final 2 and win. He was robbed. Seriously.
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