Stargazing has been the the activity du nuit lately, and I relish the moments to enjoy the cool of the evenings after the sun's vapors have vanished. But only after I've annointed myself with bug spray, of course. No West Nile for me, thank you.
We were blessed with pefect weather at the Bjork concert in Coney Island this past Saturday. Keyspan Park, a baseball stadium framed by the beach on one side and the jolly neon of the carnival on the other, was the ideal setting to see Bjork in all her animated elfin mirth. She glowed in the stagelights wearing some designer dress that resembled a wedding cake- complete with large swirly rosettes- that revealed her arms and legs and freed her to dance and bop around the stage, just as one would imagine Bjork does naturally. In between songs she would let out the cutest chirps of "Psank Yooh" tinged with her Icelandic accent, to quiet the applause of the crowd.
Bjork performed selections from most of her solo albums, including Vespertine and SelmaSongs, with a final encore of "Human Nature". If I had one disappointment with the show, it was that Bjork didn't have any costume changes, because it's always interesting to see what she'll wear next. However, I was thrilled to see an elegantly color-coordinated fireworks display for three or four of the songs. Subtle violets and pale yellows played off the fire of the sparklers on stage.
After the concert, we set off to the amusement park. I haven't been to Coney Island since I was four, so there was much to rediscover. We rode the 76 year-old Cyclone roller-coaster, creaking and groaning with its wooden rails. I of course screamed my lungs out, throat hoarse, pulse racing until the very end.
Then we did it again. Wheeeeee!
Next, a slowly supsenseful Ferris Wheel ride, with cars that swing on caster-railings. Everything would appear calm and we'd be enjoying the vista, and then suddenly it'd would be the moment "when the bough breaks, and cradle will fall"... a sudden whoosh as the skyline dips and you face the ground for a moment, and then the comforting catch of the pendulum swing. Once our feet touched the ground we soothed our nerves and throats with freshly spun cotton candy.
I hope we have good weather tomorrow night to hear Paul VanDyk spin in Central Park.
Otherwise, we are getting busy to celebrate one of my closest friend's weddings, on Sept. 6. Congratulations to Diane and Mickey! I am honored to be in the bridal party, and look forward to posting pictures of the big event.
I am also in rehersals to record the vocals to a house track... once I stop fiddling around with the lyrics, that is... I wish I could say that I did lots of writing on my road trip to Chicago, but I was too busy having fun. I suppose it was good inspiration though.
Fond memories of the beach at Lake Michigan, fried cream cheese balls studded with smoked bacon and scallions from Nevin's Pub, a backyard trampoline, late night rides on an Aprilla motorcycle, touring Oak Park and its Frank Lloyd Wright homes, and a 24-course birthday dinner for Michael at Trio topped off with a pie party (Key Lime, Bananna Cream, and Triple-Berry) make for a most excellent summer vacation.
Homeward-bound, we detoured slightly to visit Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob- both homes designed by F.L. Wright. While Fallingwater is beautiful to behold from the outside, I preferred the high-ceilings and much more livable interiors of Kentuck Knob. The area of Pennsylvania both homes are in is like being in a different country. Excellent picturesque roads for driving with lots of hills and swerves. Lots of hiking and biking and rafting and such... we found some natural waterslides and went for a refreshing little swim in our skivvies.
Back on the road, and closer to home, we stopped at King of Prussia Mall to stretch our legs. (When is it not ideal to stretch out your legs by shopping?) Seeing throngs of people clustered around the televisions in the mall, we learned of the big blackout affecting New York, our destination for that evening. So, we took our time and shopped, eventually closing down the mall and heading over to South Philly to hit Pat's King of Steaks for an authenthic cheesesteak.
If you've never had a fresh cheesesteak in Philly, you don't know what you're missing. The components seem so simple- a bun, meat, onions, cheese, grease... but there is a magic in the making that goes on in South Philly. Perhaps it's the sheer volume and thus freshness of all the ingredients. I don't know. But I dream of sinking my teeth into the warm, savory, meaty, cheesy, tender cloud of a sandwich that is the Philly Cheesesteak.
Finally, at around 1 a.m. we drove into a dark but not desolate New York City. With the chaos of normal daytime traffic gone, driving was a surreal and slow experience since cars were the only sources of light. The tiles of the Holland Tunnel shimmered like pale fish scales. In Union Square Park, there were safety flares marking a dance floor where people moved to the rythym of a bongo, accompanied by the clanking of empty whisky bottles, and then a snare drum and bass were added to the mix. We had to pass through Times Square, like a scene in the movie 'Vanilla Sky'- everything was peacefully and oddly dark, though the streets were filled with people like a big slumber party.
So, I hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend. I'll be rehearsing for that wedding, and spending time by some pool. Till next time...
-Mary
Posted by Mary at August 27, 2003 06:02 PM