Is it Thursday again already?!! OK, here goes. Todays list is:
My Ten Favorite Places in NYC
1) Grand Central Station- The large open space. The clock. The architecture. The bustle of the people coming and going. The "solid, sturdy" feel of it.
2) Times Square - the heart of the theatre district! Bright lights, tons of people, Broadway shows, tons of restaurants. I remember seeing it as a teenager and the impact it had on me. Exciting, fun, and entertaining.
3) Central Park- When you need a break from the concrete and want to feel close to nature...when you need a place to lay down on blanket and close your eyes for a while and feel the sun on your face...
4) West Village- My first NYC home. Restaurants, lounges, shops...a haven for artists...."viva la vie bohem"!!
5) Camaradas- Great spot in El Barrio!! Good food and drinks, but also live music performances. On some nites they also have bomba and plena dancing!
6) Nectar Wine Bar- Classy, quiet wine bar in Harlem. Great wine, great people. You can actually have a conversation in this place and be heard! A nice place to meet after work, or for a first date...
7) UVA- A great restaurant and wine bar on the UES. Theres even a garden in the back which is so nice during the summer. Really nice staff, always very warm and welcoming.
8) Staten Island Ferry at nite time. You just can beat the view of the NYC skyline at nite from the ferry.
9) Broadway Dance Center- (although its moved a million times)- Love that you can go anytime and take any kind of dance class you feel like taking. So many great teachers and dancers there!
10) Drama Bookshop- Love this store. You can find almost ANY play here, as well as tons of other resources for artists!!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Made it thru my first football game this weekend. My team won! Not sure that I had anything to do with us winning, but it was fun to be a part of the winning team nevertheless! :) Gotta review the rules this week, looking forward to playing again next week.
So many things happening in the next few weeks! The hip-hop theater festival is starting up - wanna catch some of those shows for sure! Here is the link to that website- www.hhtf.org. The festival was started up by Danny Hoch- a really progressiv/conscious artist who I really admire!!
I'm also going to be performing in a multi- media project that addresses the very important issue of global warming. Its going to be a very exciting piece that combines spoken word, dance, and music to raise awareness on this issue. Check out 350.org for more info on the issues and what you can do to help!
Hope you all had a great day- despite the rain! :)
jenn
So many things happening in the next few weeks! The hip-hop theater festival is starting up - wanna catch some of those shows for sure! Here is the link to that website- www.hhtf.org. The festival was started up by Danny Hoch- a really progressiv/conscious artist who I really admire!!
I'm also going to be performing in a multi- media project that addresses the very important issue of global warming. Its going to be a very exciting piece that combines spoken word, dance, and music to raise awareness on this issue. Check out 350.org for more info on the issues and what you can do to help!
Hope you all had a great day- despite the rain! :)
jenn
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Exegesis
Today one of our seminarians led a really great talk on finding God in hip-hop. It was such a great discussion!! The talk was inspiring to me, because just like many hip-hop artists, there is a strong connection between my artistry and my faith.
JM started out by asking us what initial images or ideas come to mind when we think of hip hop. People shot out things like sex, violence, black people, dance, gold chains...he then went on to share his passion for hip- hop and the role that its played in his life.
JM passed around a sheet with the lyrics to a song called Silly Puddy, by a group called Zion I and the Grouch. As he played the song for us, we all took a few minutes to read thru the lyrics and find references to God in them. There were ALOT!! As JM explained, the song is really a Psalm. A Psalm is either a praise to God, or a prayer to God. They are either saying 'Thank you God" or "Why God?". Many hip hop artists such as Nas, Black Eyed Peas (before Fergie), Common, The Roots, Two Pac, have used their music as a form of a Psalm.
A lot of the hip hop artists we know today actually identify themselves as Christians. (I think he said it was 70%) . That is the faith that most of them were brought up in, and probably where they were originally introduced to music. And although they do not market themselves as "Christian" artists, (that wouldnt sell), faith is a big part of their music and who they are . They talk about the God that they know. The songs they sing are filled with progressive ideas and a passion for social change. In fact, JM suggessts that it is the Holy Spirit itself that moves these artists to write these words down.
Here are some other artists he talked about today, I'm going to check them out this week. Hope you will too! :)
K-Os
Blackalicious
Gift of Gab
Pigeon John
Talib Kweli
Jcole
Boyz in the Wood
Rhyme Fest
Arrested Development
JM started out by asking us what initial images or ideas come to mind when we think of hip hop. People shot out things like sex, violence, black people, dance, gold chains...he then went on to share his passion for hip- hop and the role that its played in his life.
JM passed around a sheet with the lyrics to a song called Silly Puddy, by a group called Zion I and the Grouch. As he played the song for us, we all took a few minutes to read thru the lyrics and find references to God in them. There were ALOT!! As JM explained, the song is really a Psalm. A Psalm is either a praise to God, or a prayer to God. They are either saying 'Thank you God" or "Why God?". Many hip hop artists such as Nas, Black Eyed Peas (before Fergie), Common, The Roots, Two Pac, have used their music as a form of a Psalm.
A lot of the hip hop artists we know today actually identify themselves as Christians. (I think he said it was 70%) . That is the faith that most of them were brought up in, and probably where they were originally introduced to music. And although they do not market themselves as "Christian" artists, (that wouldnt sell), faith is a big part of their music and who they are . They talk about the God that they know. The songs they sing are filled with progressive ideas and a passion for social change. In fact, JM suggessts that it is the Holy Spirit itself that moves these artists to write these words down.
Here are some other artists he talked about today, I'm going to check them out this week. Hope you will too! :)
K-Os
Blackalicious
Gift of Gab
Pigeon John
Talib Kweli
Jcole
Boyz in the Wood
Rhyme Fest
Arrested Development
Friday, September 24, 2010
Ten Things Thursday (belated)
Out much too late last nite!!! Forgot to post the ten things. Here they are- better late than never!
Ten Jobs I've had in my Lifetime (so far):
1) Newspaper girl
2) Babysitter
3) Teacher
4) Receptionist
5) Waitress
6) Coat Check girl
7)Personal Assistant
8)Private tutor
9) Barista
10)Secretary
Ten Jobs I've had in my Lifetime (so far):
1) Newspaper girl
2) Babysitter
3) Teacher
4) Receptionist
5) Waitress
6) Coat Check girl
7)Personal Assistant
8)Private tutor
9) Barista
10)Secretary
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Happy Tuesday!
Hi- I'm back! Did you miss me? :)
Been getting a lot done over the past few days. Babysat on Saturday nite. Barter work on Sunday (one more month of coaching paid for!!) Audition yesterday. Emailed a director. Signed up for a new class starting next month. Cleaned and organized my place last nite. Personal training session this morning (ouch!). Work is going well.
I love this time of year so much, but one of the challenging parts about it is that there are almost too many opportunities out there. I feel overwhelmed by all of my options and have a hard time deciding which ones to choose. Everyday my inbox is flooded with messages about this class, or that show, or such and such activity. I want to do EVERYTHING because it all seems so great! New York City is just SATURATED with tons of all the best classes, workshops, and shows. I find myself pulled in a million different directions between work, gym, church, social, family and a milion other things. I feel like if I dont do it all, I will somehow be missing out on something.
One of the things I try to remind myself of is that its actually ok to say no to doing something. I dont have to feel obligated to do it all. That same class will be offered again next semester. That show will run for a couple of months. The gym is not going anywhere and theres no rush to meet my goals. That party will be fun for my friends even if I'm not there (well..)
The other thing I do , and I have to do this often, is to ask myself: "What do I really, really want? Where do I want to be one year from now?" And all of my decsions and choices will stem from the answer to that question. Which of these options is going to get me closer to my goals? Will this choice help me reach my goals, or get in the way of my goals?
After a lot of consideration, I think Ive finally come up with a plan for what I want my schedule to look like this fall. Ive made decisions about which classes and activities to say yes to, and which ones to pass on for another time.
How about you guys?
jenn
Been getting a lot done over the past few days. Babysat on Saturday nite. Barter work on Sunday (one more month of coaching paid for!!) Audition yesterday. Emailed a director. Signed up for a new class starting next month. Cleaned and organized my place last nite. Personal training session this morning (ouch!). Work is going well.
I love this time of year so much, but one of the challenging parts about it is that there are almost too many opportunities out there. I feel overwhelmed by all of my options and have a hard time deciding which ones to choose. Everyday my inbox is flooded with messages about this class, or that show, or such and such activity. I want to do EVERYTHING because it all seems so great! New York City is just SATURATED with tons of all the best classes, workshops, and shows. I find myself pulled in a million different directions between work, gym, church, social, family and a milion other things. I feel like if I dont do it all, I will somehow be missing out on something.
One of the things I try to remind myself of is that its actually ok to say no to doing something. I dont have to feel obligated to do it all. That same class will be offered again next semester. That show will run for a couple of months. The gym is not going anywhere and theres no rush to meet my goals. That party will be fun for my friends even if I'm not there (well..)
The other thing I do , and I have to do this often, is to ask myself: "What do I really, really want? Where do I want to be one year from now?" And all of my decsions and choices will stem from the answer to that question. Which of these options is going to get me closer to my goals? Will this choice help me reach my goals, or get in the way of my goals?
After a lot of consideration, I think Ive finally come up with a plan for what I want my schedule to look like this fall. Ive made decisions about which classes and activities to say yes to, and which ones to pass on for another time.
How about you guys?
jenn
Friday, September 17, 2010
Some Words from Mother Theresa
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway."
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Ten Things Thursday
So, Thursdays will be my "Ten Things" day. Starting today. :)
And today's topic is...(drumroll...)-
Ten Things that Drive me Crazy:
1) Insects/Rodents (I'm afraid of them)
2) Being Late (puts me in a bad mood- I dont feel grounded or centered)
3) Rude/Disrespectful People (like on the subway during rush hour)
4) The Rain (like tonite!)
5) Ignorance/Intolerance
6) Dishonesty
7) Unreliable People
8) Clogged sinks
9) Traffic jams
10)Waiting in line.
And today's topic is...(drumroll...)-
Ten Things that Drive me Crazy:
1) Insects/Rodents (I'm afraid of them)
2) Being Late (puts me in a bad mood- I dont feel grounded or centered)
3) Rude/Disrespectful People (like on the subway during rush hour)
4) The Rain (like tonite!)
5) Ignorance/Intolerance
6) Dishonesty
7) Unreliable People
8) Clogged sinks
9) Traffic jams
10)Waiting in line.
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