NYMYSTERIES.CO
In the sweltering heat I attended Judson’s Pride Sunday. It was glorious. Henco Espag did his usual piano magic. Jason Tseng’s wonderful queer saints’ portraits circled the room. After the service and lunch, there was a walk with the queer saints portraits to Foley Square, followed by the Pride Day March. Exhausted, yet?
The following day, a friend and I attended Frick’s Pride Day. As you know, the Frick mansion on Fifth Avenue and Fiftieth Street is being renovated. The Collection is being shown temporarily in the former Whitney Museum building on Madison and 75th Street. Bright, extravagant floral arrangements decked Frick Madison’s front portals. Once inside a gleaming bar had replaced the book & pamphlets counter. Downstairs stood four formally dressed servers, each offering on a tray a different liquor. We selected champagne – what else? – mingled with the crowd on the cement terrance and, in the background, there was a jazz quartet and Madison Avenue traffic. A few champagnes later, we took the elevator to the wonderful art work such as Bellini’s St. Francis in the Desert, Titian’s Portrait of a Man in a Red Cap.
Recovering the next day, we went to see Elvis. My friend and I like big, noisy, American trash movies. Elvis fits the bill. Austin Butler who plays Elvis looks like a Brown University sophomore. That’s Elvis? Where are Elvis’s early days with Jerry Lee Louis? Yes, I know he married his thirteen year old cousin and, on occasion, played the piano with his feet. So what? There was a gaiety and sense of naughty fun when he and Elvis made GREAT young music together. Tom Hanks stole the show. He was perfect as the Colonel. He wielded a cane, softly and menacingly. He had a quiet cruel smile and gentle cruel eyes.
Elvis is watching a great actor surrounded by kids still learning their stuff.
Last but certainly not least, I have a short story on purplewallstories.com. “My Letter to Martha” is about a ghastly NYC bus ride during a blizzard. Please (I beg) read it and if you like it vote for it.