Nothing to get hung about...

...yes, a visit to Strawberry Fields in Central Park was in order, although it happened somewhat by accident. The plan was to meet a friend in Central Park for lunch on Saturday before heading to The Met and I intended to arrive a little bit early to just sit and relax. I meant to hop off the subway at 59th/Columbus Circle but I got lost in "Scoop" and didn't realize my mistake until 72nd. I walked into the west side of the park on 72nd expecting to make my way over to the east side, when I realized where I was. I had planned on coming to this mosaic since I was 13, listening to "She Loves You" and running my hand over the print--"Anna (Go to Him)"--on the back of my mom's record, Introducing...the Beatles. In high school I was obsessed with John Lennon...every documentary, book, exhibit (I spent a whole day just in the John Lennon exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland), article, photograph, video captured my attention and fed my peace/love/rock and roll understanding of the world. I stood at the corner of North Broadway and High Street in Columbus with my No War sign, I wrote Imagine all over my notebooks and on chalk boards, I wanted my life to be like "The Wonder Years"...circa 2001. As I grew up my extremes became much more moderate, as happens to most people as they age and idealism becomes much harder to hold on to...I still love John Lennon's music and I felt nostalgic looking at the Imagine mosaic even though I had never been there before.

I sat on one of the benches to pass the time and it was one of those absolutely perfect moments--a bright sunny day with a slight breeze, light streaming through the trees' branches, a steady flow of people but not too many, the sound of a jazz trumpet far off in the distance--it was satisfying. I took out the paper and began to read, and it was then that all nostalgia left and I was face to face with the older me. The story was about Now Zad, Afghanistan and the stalemate between the U.S. troops stationed there and the militants...this line sums it up: "For the U.S., it’s a prize too valuable to lose, not valuable enough to win." What would have raised only anger in me as a teenager now made me feel sad, intrigued and left me trying to figure out where this story fit in the larger picture of that region...and then came the amusement when I realized the irony of objectively reading a story about war right next to a mosaic dedicated to man who was--and still is--a symbol of peace...


...Weekend Anna

P.S. The awesome photo is courtesy of rootinshootin.

"Just a perfect day, Drink sangria in the park..."

I love May and I love the fact that it actually feels like spring--a rather elusive season I haven't truly experienced in a while since teeth-chattering Chicago winters usually transitioned immediately into sweat-inducing summer. I got a taste of that heat the weekend before last while I was in Florida visiting the family. It's still weird to think of my parents down there among the palm trees, backyard swimming pools and alligators...going to visit them feels like going on vacation instead of going home. Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend with my parents and sister. It was filled with lounging, a little bit of swimming, and games of Scrabble, Sorry and Euchre. I miss all of them, although I will get to see my Dad in a few weeks (Yankee game!).

Last weekend was another New York weekend with dear friends--from an exhibit of Picasso's later paintings in a Chelsea gallery to a lovely outdoor brunch in the West Village, a street fair on Barrow St. (whoopie pies!), a stop at Bleeker Street Records, dinner in Little Italy, mass at St. Pat's, the Museum of Natural History and pizza at John's on Bleeker. My wallet was lighter by Sunday night (beautiful stationary--pictured above!--from the street fair, chocolate covered espresso beans from Porto Rico Importing Co., Lou Reed's "Transformer" on vinyl, to name a few culprits), but I was filled with satisfaction, happiness, and a feeling of gratitude for being lucky enough to have some pretty awesome friends, both near and far.

My next weekend is approaching rapidly and Memorial Day means another one of those rare Mondays that I look forward to...and the return of another dear friend...


...Weekend Anna

I'm still here.

I’m sorry. I’ve been failing at the whole weekly posting thing—as the wonderful Papermoon pointed out the other night I haven’t updated in a while. I’ve been busy, but I’ve also found it overwhelming to sit down and write something worthwhile about my weekends. I’ve started a post several times over the last several weeks, but each time I get distracted or don’t like how the words are coming out. I can be very picky sometimes with writing…not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.

I’ve had five wonderful weekends since my last post, with too many things to fully recount—Easter in Chicago, the return of the lovely RMB, Jersey Boys with my Dad, movies galore courtesy of the Tribeca Film Festival, Glasvegas and Ida Maria at Webster Hall, Pete Seeger’s 90^th Birthday concert—including Bruce!—at Madison Square Garden, “Around the World in 80 Days” at the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, a visit to my new favorite bookstore Idlewild Books, and lots of time spent with friends.

Today I continue my busy weekend theme with a trip to Jacksonville—I’m giving the gift of myself to my mother for Mother’s Day. The Florida weather will be hotter than I desire, but it is so nice to see the family.

Maybe I’ll even post about it later…

...Weekend Anna