Shakespeare in the Park
Yesterday me and Tina, as well as my parents (who, unlike us, didn't stand in line all day waiting for tickets) went to see Two Gentlemen of Verona in Central Park. We met near my school to wait in line at the Public Theater, figuring that it would be less crowded than the Delacorte, where it actually took place, at 9 A.M. Tickets went on sale at 1 P.M. Meaning that we were waiting on line for 4 hours, sometimes in the rain. I spent most of the time doing crossword puzzles, and Tina was reading the New York Times. While we were waiting, Mom called me and said that Rosario Dawson was in the show. If you're saying "Who?" I totally sympathize. At any rate, we waited that long just to say 2 tickets, get them and leave. Then we went to meet Mrs. Betancourt (Amelia, we must call her Amelia, remember that)for lunch. I finally got to go to Dojo, after passing it all the time, and having it part of so many Japanese class discussions. It really wasn't worth all that hype, but whatever. We had fun. Then we left her to begin our long trek to Central Park. Yes, Tina and I walked. From 8th and broadway to 14th street, then to 5th avenue, and down 5th to the park, around the park, and then to 81st, where we met my parents. Along the way, we visited a Halloween store, the Strand bookstore (which has airconditioning now, miraculously), Bookoff,and the American Girl Store bathroom, admired the Gershwin Hotel's facade and cracked up reading the warning sign in The Museum of Sex next door to it through the window (No, we did not go in). Most museums have a Do Not Touch Sign. This sign read: "Do not touch, lick, stroke or mount the exhibits." Seriously. We tried to take a picture of it, but it didn't come out. When we finally got to 81st street, we went to dinner at Ray's Pizza nearby, the first time I've ever been to one. It was pretty good, though not exactly spectacular. At least it wasn't spicy though, I hate when they put hot pepper on it. We had to wait on a bench for my parents, who were late because my dad cannot stand sitting in traffic and thus took every street in Astoria to get there. But we got in with time to spare, and actually had to wait for the place to open. On the website, it said that this would be a musical. When I saw that, I figured it would be exactly the same, except with a few Renaissance type songs added in. Well, it wasn't. Most of it actually was music, and not old-fashioned, but really good music and amazing dance numbers. It also was hysterical, and very modern, with a few pokes at current events. It was also very multicultural: the cast was made up of all different races, including Rosario Dawson, who randomly broke out in Spanish when she was upset, and the guy who played the Prince in the Brandy version of Cinderella. So it was really great, even my dad liked it. Go see it, trust me. You'll like it.