Djurdjevic - Personal Photos - New York, June 2007

07 Mar 2009

Updated August 23, 2007

Westchester, Broadway, Saratoga Springs...

But first, Phoenix and the desert from the air...

NEW YORK, Aug 21, 2007 - In all the decades that I have been traveling in and out of Phoenix, I never once took any pictures of this sprawling metropolis from the air. Well, today was a reasonably clear day. So here you go...

The first two shots show just how big Phoenix has now become. It is reportedly the fifth largest city in the U.S. (leftmost shot). You may recall how big Camelback Mountain looked from my former residence in its foothills. Now you can see how tiny it is from the air (second from left). The right photo is that of the Pima (Indian) reservation that abuts the City of Scottsdale along its eastern flank.

Finally, the two above photos show some of the man-made lakes that make life in Phoenix possible. Water is brought to the city through the canals from there. The lakes were constructed during the Depression Era in the 1930s.

It rained all day today in the New York area, even though Howard Dean... oops, Hurricane Dean, was thousands of miles away. I thought I might have to exchange my rental car for a submersible this evening to go to a Broadway show in the City. :-) And it was cold, too. The high here in Westchester County this afternoon was 58F, about half that of summertime temperatures in Phoenix. Brrr...

Mercifully, by the time I made it to midtown Manhattan, the rain had eased up to a drizzle. So I was able to walk around the Times Square area before taking in the show, the 2004 Tony Awards winner, "Avenue Q."

They don't forget to remind you of that. Look at the big banner above the entrance to the Golden Theater (left photo). Originally built in 1926, this historic theater has been home to many hits over the decades. But "Avenue Q," which originally opened in July 2003, has been its longest running show.

In fact, this entire section of the W 45th Street is a walk down a Broadway memory lane. Right next to it is the Bernard Jacobs theater, where "Frost Nixon" was playing (second from left). Two doors down, a reincarnation of the "Chorus Line" is selling out again. I first saw it at the Schubert Theater in 1983. The show was in its record 8th year back then. Kitty corner across the street, Angela Lansbury was starring at the Music Box, another historic theater (click here to learn more from my February visit there). And so on... a short walk down a long memory lane.

The Times Square was its usual busy self... rain or shine, tourists snapping pictures, street peddlers pushing their electronic wares as the demand for umbrellas and sun glasses had ebbed. And then there was a pensive looking Arizonan freezing even in his leather jacket. "At least you don't have to shovel it," used to be my pool man's favorite line when it rained in AZ. He was originally from Michigan.

As for "Avenue Q," the crowd really loved the tonight's show (right photo). Lots of clapping, laughter and cheering. I found it amusing and uplifting at times, but not thrilling, like "The Producers," for example, or "Mamma Mia," which are some of the best Broadway shows I have ever seen. Maybe "Q" is something that appeals more to younger generations (which formed the majority of the audience).

I did not like the vulgarities and constant sexual innuenda in the script. And I am not prudish at all, as you know well. I just thought it was in poor taste for a musical. I also did not like the Broadway's constant stereotypical images - about the gays, the Germans and the Jews. Wish the writers would let go of these worn out themes and try to write something original every once in a while. But this is New York, and I guess they are mostly catering to the local audience.

But I loved the use of AV and stage effects. And the use of Muppets was great, too. So, I would rate the "Q" about a B- overall. Well, that's my two cents' worth as a theater critic.

CLICK HERE to GO TO DAY 2 - Saratoga Springs...