En pointe

Four ballets made up the programme called 21st Century Movement at the New York City Ballet. It's also the season finale and I was beyond pleased with the short programs but especially blown away by Slice To Sharp. It was intense, almost acrobatic with a lot of aerial flips, high jumps and sharp arm movements. It held my attention for it was truly magnificent and fresh, in some way a reminder of the Merce Cunningham choreography.

The use of violin solo for the most part was brilliant. The second part, Hallelujah Junction by Peter Martins was set to the music of two pianos, which were placed behind the stage that's dim except for light that shines on the music sheets and the piano keys. It was a stunning use of black and white, with the dark stage and the dancers all dressed in form-fitting black or white.

The third program was a premiere of a new ballet by Melissa Barak as she returns to the NYCB as a choreographer. She was a former principal dancer with the Company. A Simple Symphony was the most traditional of these short ballets and very classical, romantic and beautifully Balanchine. It was also very charming.

After the second intermission and in time for the fourth part, Mercurial Manoeuvres, I fell slightly ill that I had to watch from a viewing area outside the dance hall. I was very disappointed that I missed another classic, danced to the music of Shostakovich and with an extraordinary pas de deux.



Here's a sampling of the poster displays at the balcony of the David Koch Theatre. By the way, I'm not thrilled with the name change from the former New York State Theatre to the present. This naming rights business does not agree with my whole philosophy of philanthropy. Benefactors announcing their contribution to the entire world by renaming famous institutions. Was that necessary? As Alice would say, "Who the heck is David Koch?"

This giant-sized sculpture Two Female Nudes stands at the promenade of the theatre. Note the gallery in the background.

It was an afternoon of appreciation for the poised, the elegant and some powerful footwork. I just realized how much I miss the ballet.

Wednesdays at One

It's money well spent, Marcella and I agreed. The newly refurbished Alice Tully Hall finally reopened. The corner of Broadway and 65th came alive with this all-glass design by the firm lead by Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio and Renfro. She won the bid over Frank Gehry, imagine that? There's another feather for a woman's cap! It's long overdue, the concert hall needed that face lift, after all the old design no longer fits into the neighborhood character. That was like a fortress.

Wednesdays at One is one of Juilliard's concert series, how honored the student performers must be to have participated during the reopening of this venue. There were no lines snaking around the block, there is enough room in the spacious sunlit sunken lobby to keep over 1000 attendees warm while waiting for the doors to open. Unbelievable - the hall was packed for the Juilliard Faculty and Student All Schubert concert.

I got a good seat left of the orchestra, now I'm happy. Later I was joined by a nameless young lady from Australia who's a child therapist hoping to get a job in NY (good luck with that) and a lovely old lady, Marcella who lives in downtown Manhattan. It was such a joy talking to both of them; flanked by these two ladies, perfect - now I'm no longer the oldest in the crowd!

There was no change in the stage configuration, just reupholstery of the seats and replacement of the walls with almost dark orange-brown wood which gave the hall a warm tone. Alice Tully Hall offers the best seating arrangement, so much better than Avery Fisher Hall, smaller it may be. I heard that the architects added some elements to the design to improve the already almost perfect acoustics and the stage is now equipped with mechanized extensions to accomodate all types of performances.


It was a mixed program of piano for four-hands, a string quartet, clarinet, tenor and soprano performances. These young musicians are so enviable with their talent and discipline. It was an hour long of guilt-free pure entertainment. Yeah, I skipped the Ash Wednesday services this morning for this, but not to worry, I attended mass tonight and got my ashes. I did my good deed for today anyway; a guy came out of the concert looking lost and turned to me for help. It was no big deal, he was looking for the nearest Starbucks coffee shop and that was a no-brainer. There are two in the area diagonally across from the concert hall. I was so thrilled to have been asked - one New Yorker's little moment of pride!

Thanks to the ubiquitous Starbucks. A stranger was caffeine-happy!
You go, Elizabeth Diller - art and architecture - a design that knocks one socks off!

Adriana Lecouvreuer

You've got to love the legendary Placido Domingo in this performance that marks the 40th anniversary of his debut with the Met. A story of deceit and tragedy, a performance within a performance, this unfamiliar program Adriana Lecouvreur is what it's all about.

What makes it stands out from the other operas is the fact that the story is not so convoluted, the music elegant and the solos, some evolving as duets, are just grand. The ballet sequences choreographed by the Russian Sergei Gritsai who had worked for the Bolshoi Ballet, took dance to new heights.

With minimal video projections, this production maintained the old-fashioned sets loved by the traditional opera buffs. It would not have a made a difference otherwise, since the the voice of Placido Domingo dominated the performance, not to mention the melodramatic and passionate performance of the soprano Maria Guleghina. She must have been thrilled to play the role opposite the iconic Domingo. Her monologue in Act III deserved all the acclamation not only because it was a dramatic recitation phrased in an elegant language, but it also aimed directly at the princess (played by Olga Borodina) and thus her powerful revenge. That was a statement!

New to me but not to the Met repertoire, I could add this to the list of my favorite Metropolitan Opera masterpieces.

Below is an artwork in the making we encountered at Columbus Circle prior to the performance. I never found out what the story was, but it looked like spray painting, similar to the mural graffiti works by the subway artists. The welcome poster read: "We can paint the world yes!".

Honest Abe

With not much promise of good weather today, I was left with choices of either baking or cooking, fixing the closet, finishing the job list I was assigned by Philip for our tax project for the Board, or simply bumming around. Overly optimistic, our handyman Luis fixed the broken handle of my garden rake this morning and assured me that the soil will be ready for tilling soon. Not so fast, my friend, the scene from my window is a mix of snow and rain. It took just one second for me to abandon any thoughts of doing any of the above, so I grabbed that book Team of Rivals and decided to continue where I left off.

What is it about Lincoln that's so fascinating? Much has been written about him but many consider him the most eloquent President the country has ever had, as exemplified in his immortal Gettysburg Address. As plain as he appeared, he surprised everyone with his words both spoken and penned. He guided the country through the most devastating experience of the Civil War and at a time when slavery was widespread, he began the process which abolished slavery in this nation.

I found that the first 30 pages of this book which I've read so far, proved to be a very stimulating introduction to the life of this man of humble origins. Definitely not a history buff, in this bicentennial celebration of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, I chose to reward myself with this book, written by the scholarly Doris Kearns Goodwin, that I may gain more knowledge about a great statesman and President.

"You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time". Abraham Lincoln

It's really just about the waiting

I found these two dogs dutifully waiting for their owner to come out of the store. Look at them and you'll see the melancholy of that brief separation. The whole time I was watching them they did not take their eyes off the door of the Teuscher chocolate shop which their owner must have gone into.

They're probably thinking, if they could only have a bit of reassurance that the waiting is not going to be much longer. I snapped several shots and they did not budge; all eyes were still on that door. I wish I knew what happened after I left. It was easy to spot them, even the tourists passing them by were also mesmerized.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.


I can relate to that. Several days ago I went through the same ordeal. Waiting can sometimes stir a lot of thoughts. It may test our resolve.

I had a couple of diagnostic procedures done on me two Thursdays in a row. The waiting was nerve wracking. I was mortified. The fact that the procedures were invasive did not make it any easier for me. Nothing serious, everything went well, but still in all it took a lot out of me.

Today I saw myself in the shoes of these two dogs patiently but desperately waiting. It couldn't have been different what they felt when they were left leashed on that bench, not knowing whether someone else would take them away and if they'll ever see their owner again. I'm pretty sure they were reunited, I'm just sorry I wasn't there to witness that.

Sometimes it's just really about the waiting.

Great men remembered

Memorable thoughts on two great men

Abraham Lincoln

(February 12, 1809 - April 15, 1865)

Emancipation Proclamation

Gettysburg Address

Charles Darwin

(February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882)

On the Origin of Species

Coffee, tea or knockoffs

The coast is clear, the Chinese New Year festivities are over and it's time to hit Chinatown for some char siu pao and cup of tea. Minor problem - my eating buddy Rose, (Remember the mutt China girl?), prefers coffee.

It was eerie. Chinatown looked like a ghost town, the sidewalks of the once crammed Canal Street were free of the usual street vendors peddling fake designer bags and watches. There was no more weaving in and out of the crowd of tourists each wanting to have a piece of China's knockoffs. Shops that used to have built-in hideaway tables of cheap imitations of Cartier, Movado, Prada or Louis Vuitton were shut down.

What's left of them are signs on the doors such as Closed for Violations or Restraining Orders. It's a good thing that the Mayor is taking steps to crack down on the sale of these counterfeit goods but I couldn't believe I actually miss the hustle and bustle of this place. At the same time I'd also like to see a clean-up and rehabilitation of many parts of Chinatown much the same way as the "Disneyfication" of Times Square by Mayor Giuliani or was it Ed Koch?

Back to our tea. After our lunch of steamed buns (char siu pao), a few pieces of dumplings (siu mai) and coffee, we headed towards the wet market to get some fresh fruits. The lobsters and the King Crab legs were so cheap, I was tempted to buy some but I couldn't see myself carrying them on the train. I might end up all by myself in one car.

On our way, we stopped at the famous TenRen Tea and Ginseng store on Mott Street. This is heaven for the discriminating tea lover. All sorts of fine teas are sold and at all price ranges. We even sampled a fresh cup of Oolong which I found too bitter. The storekeeper offered to prepare for us a lighter one but by this time we've had enough, so we declined. Also sold are an assortment of teapots beautifully displayed under lock and key. They were not cheap either.

For the Chinese, tea is a pastime, it is a culture. It is not uncommon to see men hanging around our favorite place Mei Lai Wah, just chatting and drinking tea. And they could stay there for hours, I was told. By the way, I swear this place sells the best char siu pao, customers buy them by the dozen. Highly recommended and very clean! The place was recently renovated.

Coffee, tea or whatever your pleasure, it is delightful to just take it easy especially on a pleasant 50-degree weather. It looks like we're on our way to a complete thaw out. Or is it just wishful thinking?

Believe it or not at post time it's 60 degrees here. Yippeee!!!!

Fallen on hard Times

This is the New York Times Building shown with its signature façade made of ladder-like ceramic tubes that wraps the building. Its designer the world renowned architect Renzo Piano called these screen of rods “suncoats” as opposed to "raincoats.” He who has been named the “master of light and lighting” having demonstrated that with his work with the Morgan Library in New York and the great Centre Pompidou in Paris, an ugly monstrosity to some but is a fascinating museum of modern art. Piano’s building designs show how he uses the light coming through the roof or the sides of a building to dramatically create space.

In the name of security, many of these rods have been removed from the New York Times Building last summer after a third climber scaled the building and used them as ladder for ascent. How fun unless you have fear of heights like me!

Whether that’s the end of it for those rods, no one is certain. But for the iconic New York Times, the future of the printed edition is also challenged. With global economies tumbling down, the prospects do not look good for the paper. And with the proliferation of bloggers and news analysts, as competitive as it is even at the best of times, the future of print journalism is at stake.

Is it going to be the end of the Times? If it is, then it would be a misfortune for those of us who remember looking forward to the 3-inch thick, 3-pounder Sunday edition. For some of us who still prefer the look and feel of the hard copy, the digital version is not the same. No more tear sheets, no more recipes to cut out and stash away in a folder. Yeah, yeah, I used to work in the information industry where we pushed for a paperless work environment, but in my heart I sometimes crave for some of that printed paper. I guess only a few of us can honestly say we can walk the walk.

Here are two of the local giveaway tabloids - the daily Metro New York and AM New York, definitely not substitutes for the prestigious New York Times. If nothing else these papers certainly can capture the harried subway rider's fleeting attention once shoved in their hands. Well, they serve as a quick source for the schedule of local activities and fulfill our need to be on top of the local news without spending a penny.

I guess if we are resorting to the tabloids for our source of information, we must really have fallen on hard times. That is a pity.

It's a blast!

Super Bowl Sunday, how's that for a starter? 'Not into the game, but I can still party, right? I have a feeling that this year is going to be a blast. Today is my birthday and it started off with a bang.

Around 5:30 AM the CO detector went off as my mom was preparing her breakfast and getting ready to cook her famous pansit noodles for lunch. I jumped out of bed, opened all the windows and made sure that the burners of the stove were shut off. Then I took down the darn alarm which was wailing away and I frantically yanked out its battery. After a couple of minutes of silence I snapped the battery back in place, it didn't sound an alarm but it beeped after a few seconds with the low battery indicator lighting. This went on for a while, then I decided to bother my neighbor Chong for help.

She took down her CO detector and tested it at my place. No alarm sounded. She then loaned me a new battery and that seemed to work. What a relief. Alarms are good to have but not when they work to scare the wits out of you!

Half an hour later, the place was quiet but I wasn't - I was busy in the kitchen cooking at this time, since my nephew and my cousin invited themselves to "celebrate" with me. It was supposed to be a no-fuss day but mom and I ended up preparing a simple lunch on the fly.

Quiet that didn't last very long. Suddenly I heard this burping sound coming from the hallway. Oh no, not again! We have to vacate the place or else we're going to die, I thought. I stood there watching to see if the LED lights indicate anything. Nothing. A few seconds and it hiccuped again. It was driving me crazy. I panicked and called Chong. Maybe my brain has been poisoned and I'm starting to loose it. We stared at the detector and tried to figure out where the sound was coming from. "Chirp" it croaked and Chong turned her head to her left towards the bookshelf. Duh! She gave me that is-this-a-joke? look, rolled her eyes and pointed to my cell phone sitting on the shelf. There it was - "low battery". The darn phone was faintly chirping away.

Yes, I've owned a cell phone for some time and I know how to work it! This is a new one, a replacement for the one I lost in the parking lot which I didn't recover until much later in the night and not after I have gotten a new phone. I still am not attuned to the weird sounds this one makes which explains all the confusion. And no, I don't have hearing problems yet. Perish the thought. I have some of Inang's genes and you know she's got everything intact!

But one more high-pitched sound that I hear and you'll find me in a straight jacket already! You know how they say it comes in three's. True. The third shriek came from my cousin Amor. She makes these strange sounds. Anyway, lunch was served on time, with no further equipment and auditory malfunction and our menu of:

• pansit noodles
• broiled red snapper stuffed with fresh ginger root
• roasted red, green and orange peppers
• mixed grilled vegetables bruschetta
• boiled shrimps

For dessert:

• leche flan
• buko and ube ice cream
• coffee
• roasted brown rice and green tea

We were joined by Carol & Ped, Amor and Joe, Chong and Tita Lumen. Amor brought the ice cream, Noris prepared the flan, Inang cooked the pansit and I did the rest. Ped and Carol brought me a large package of filets mignons to satisfy my primal meat urges. I'm drooling already, I love steaks but I'm not sharing. Ha Ha ha!

Another year, same cliche. Grow old gracefully. Despite the surprise fireworks on my birthday I think I handled myself pretty good. My batteries still serve me well.