Heaven's Kitchen

We will miss you, Bobby.

I Would Do The Same

This video is terrible and doesn't allow embedding, but it's the last remaining footage of this, my favorite acceptance speech. Viacom pulled all the others for copyright infringement. I threatened Happy last night that I'm going to write him a similar speech...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHho5WBK1vo

Can Anyone Answer the 25 Year Old Question: Why is Dan Aykroyd In This?

The Digital Mercury

You're Really Harshing on My Mellow, Times Square

Summer Patio

Summer Afternoons

Summer Picnic

Kitchen View

Opening Night

Last night, I attended Shakespeare in the Park's opening night performance of "Winter's Tale," to see my wonderful boyfriend, Happy, as the Mariner. The show is truly magical, and I was moved to tears by the sheer beauty and power of the ending.

Everything was incredible; from the staging to the music to the astonishing performances from the likes of Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Linda Emond, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Jesse L. Martin, and the brilliant comedic timing of Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Max Wright (the Dad from Alf!).

The company is doing rep and their other show is "Merchant of Venice" with Al Pacino. OMG.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/06/29/arts/1247468150463/the-merchant-of-venice.html

"Jamaica Bay is one of the most important urban wildlife refuges in the United States"

Around Town

Where the...?

Sorry for the long absence. It's summer now. Thank God, we made it.

I made myself so busy and got through the darkest, rainiest months of Spring: We moved into an awesome new apartment; I helped organize the white-tie Spring Waltz for City Opera; We adopted the most beautiful and hilarious Russian Blue kitty and named him after country music legend Waylon Jennings; I met Al Pacino; I started teaching improv classes at The PIT; I "won" a trip to Cancun.

The summer just officially began and already it's packed to the brim with classes, shows, showcases, rehearsals, working part-time for Jewish Partisans, anniversaries, a temporary gym membership, more Al Pacino, wonderful visits from Happy's family, making videos, working in the Hamptons again, and the eager anticipation of the newest member of the Griffiths-DeChant clan. When will He/She arrive? And, how quickly will Boy/Girl think I am my twin sister, Her/Him's mommy?

So many questions to be answered...and so many cat videos to be posted...

Upside of Moving #33: Happy Finds His Collection of Single Socks

New York Does Winter

Lincoln Center Trash

And He Was

Last night, some Baldwins and I were sitting around trading New York celebrity run-in stories when Griggs www.chrisgriggscomedy.com suggested that I share my story with the interwebs. So, here goes...

The summer I moved to New York, I scored a part-time job working at the box office at Joe's Pub, one of the city's best music venues (see blog post July 2007). The Pub got a lot of famous people coming to see shows, but one run-in is particularly memorable to me.

One night, the wonderful Brazilian musician Bebel Gilberto was performing. And who should walk into the box office in hopes of catching the show, but champion and lover of Brazilian music, David Byrne!

Now, I love the Talking Heads, so this was very exciting for me. But, David Bryne is a liiiiittle jarring to meet in person. His is already very tall frame was accentuated by his spiky, bright white hair (that he freed once he removed his 80s bike helmet), an all-white shirt, all-white shorts, all-white socks pulled up to his calves, and all-white sneakers.

He awkwardly floated towards the counter and in his soft rhythmic way, asked for a ticket. I happily told him that he could go right in, compliments of the house. He expressed his gratitude, but insisted on paying for his ticket. After a little back and forth, I told him of course I would sell him a ticket.

But, as reached his hand into the pocket of his bike shorts to retrieve his money, his hand got stuck. So, he tugged harder to release his trapped appendag and suddenly, the pocket loosened its grip, his hand gave way, and hundred dollar bills and pennies came flying across the counter at me. Embarrassed, David Byrne leaped to the floor to begin picking up the scattered cash. I joined him on the ground, but he immediately handed me a crumpled hundred, so I made change and handed him his ticket.

Then, he stole into the show.

The End

Today's Blizzard

Pre-Super Bowl Wii Boxing: An Amazing Match-Up

Happy (33 years old) vs. Thomas (7 years old).

A room full of people are laughing hysterically, while James (off-screen) warns, "Watch the mantle, watch the mantle!"

Kippa Digging

Help! There's a Jew buried at 60th/Columbus!