September 05, 2005 NYC

3 days - faces

C. called on her way to the airport.
"do you want to meet for lunch? 2.30? maybe Peter Luger?"
she asks
"What about Nha Trang? we haven't been there in a while"
I reply - thinking about a place where we could share the check.
30 min later my cell rings again " my flight has been delayed - we should do dinner. let's go to Nobu!"
skipped the beer and a pool game.
cocktail sake sashimi and more sashimi and steak.
we get a bit drunk
and we have a lot to talk -
she can understand more than I need to say
I know.
It's been a while - a whirlwind of situations.
I dont want to forget how good this dinner tastes so I tru to not get too drunk.
at the end of the meal
the best espresso I sipped in NYC - smooth the way it should be.
not that overtoasted burned aroma that is mistaken for strong.
we forget to ask
brand they use.
––––
I eat at a new polish restaurant.
white borscht and blintzes
polish catholic girls wear the shortest miniskirts
when they work as a waitress in a restaurant.___
I run into Lizzi Bougatsos -
she hangs up her cell phone so I can take her picture.
she tells me her band
has a review on the NY Times for the second time -
she looks so happy about it
____
on my bike
early morning
12 st and university place
run into ryan
amazing looking face
he carries all these psychology books.
he just made $140
recycling bottles and cans
he tells me a bit of his life -
and
he has some wisdom
he worked for 10 years
in Poughkeepsie at some psychology institute.
he gives me a nice book - with a nice cover.
he does not want
money for it.
sometimes in america
you see people that have no means and no home
but
they have this wealth inside their minds and hearts.
----
I run into gregor
on his way to a show at tonic
we drink
a glass of wine on norfolk street
at sunset
the block is changing
new condos are being built
more steel and glass expensive housing and generic chain stores.
there are no more rats on norfolk street
---
on the Dirty Three video set
Braden is directing
I run into photographer Michael Ackerman
I see film-maker Jem Cohen
I meet director Peter Sillen
we talk
about the documentary Benjamin Smoke - they shot during many years.
Peter has kids
and at 39 he has been married to the woman he has been with since 22.
He has love and a family -
he says it is great but sometimes comfort can make it hard to leave and go to work on projects.
---
breakfast in williamsburg
bedford avenue
a blintz and coffee
religious tapes for sale
hasidic men wearing coats on a summer day.
a beautiful short haired piercing blue eyes polish woman works there - with
her young daughter behind the counter
what a strange combination.
the owner
wears a wig and lets me take her photo
but she can't shake my hand.
I forgot
observant
jews and muslims
have so many
rules in common
-----
A kid stops me on avenue A.
"So you want to see my tattoo?"
he says with a grin.
braces and missing teeth.---
biking
all the way up to harlem
110th and 1st ave
amazing bodegas -
amazing sky
these kids wearing shirts so white
with a white little dog -
I ask them if I can take their picture
the older one
acts tough and says no
but it is easy to explain
and take a few.
the little girls smile when I show them
the photos I just took.
-----
9 am sunny day
riding on stanton st
I see 2 punk kids with a camouflage backpack trying to use the phone.
I go back
I like that they have a big backpack - it reminds me of when I used to travel across europe
taking night trains from city to city country to country.
they are really strung out
heroin I guess
the girl has long lashes and black and purple bruises on one side of her neck.
I take a few pictures.
they ask me for change as they have to call
long distance.
I give them 2 quarters
and
i tell them they can use my cell phone.
she leaves a message to her mother's answering machine
she mentions some person that is causing them problems and needs to be taken care of.
her voice is slightly slurred - a bit aggressive.
no money - young and fucked up
----
Union sq -
young people
old people
against bush
against the war.
the light is beautiful
but after all
does it matter?
a few people can decide against
millions of people's will.
---
sometimes
i find
more wisdom in public toilets than fortune cookies.