Giving NY a second look

Being unemployed as I am, I find that I need to contrive activities to entertain myself for longer hours.

I am now a member of the Dragon Boat race Boston team, with whom I'll be "competing" (or trying to keep in step with) in Montreal come late July, and a participant-in-training for the upcoming Holliston, MA triathlon, in which Dales and Corliss are conveniently enrolled for now as well. If I'm going to sacrifice my body, it will not be alone.

Last weekend, I hopped on the oh-so-reliable fung wah bus and headed to NY, Brooklyn specifically. What a thriving neighborhood Carroll Gardens is. So many quaint restaurants with hidden gardens in the rear and eclectic boutiques lining the streets. I was in my element. Before venturing out in the mornings, I attempted to tackle the Wall Street Journal (or at least the first page). Didn't follow most of it, but hey, I was in NY, it felt appropriate at the time. Spent some time at a couple roof-top bars, a hippie loft party, Buddy Burritos, and the Broadway comedy, Spelling Bee. As an FYI, I would stay clear of the F line late at night and it doesn't hurt to stay awake for your subway ride home either.

Speaking of Brooklyn, it was my first time in the majestic Symphony Hall last night. The Brooklyn band Hem performed on stage with the Boston Pops. Knowing little about Hem, since they were a last minute replacement for M. Ward, I didn't know quite what to expect. There were 6 band members in total last night, 4 being of the original crew. The lead singer was a stately dressed woman in her late 30's with soft features and red curls framing her face. She appeared soft-spoken but was able to project her voice effortlessly so that it filled the hall. Although the electric guitarists contradicted each other in style and composure, one resembling Jamie's good friend Ben Beach with his sheik and intelligent upright-citizen look (or maybe it was just the glasses), while the other was chosen for his role as a bad guy in a Quinten Tarantino film, they were able to harmonize beautifully together. In addition to the lead singer, there was a young, modest back-up vocalist, an Italian pianist with an incredible hockey cut, and a mad scientist on the slide. The slide and the harmonica offered a twangy sound that the audience seemed to appreciate. Hem's music has been labeled as pop country at times, and it became evident why when I caught myself imagining one of their songs as the theme to a Disney animated movie. For a mellow band with a number of lonely lyrics, Hem had the right amount of liveliness and spunk, with the help of the Pops of course, including a xylophonist, a dj keyboardist and an electric drummer. A very impressive demonstration all in all.