New York's West Side is a haven for celebrities, from Milton Berle, Paul Simon, Kathleen Turner, and Madonna, to Donald Trump and Nicole Kidman. The West Side is teeming with celebrities for 3 reasons: 1) all the major theaters are there; 2) There's currently 11 TV series in production there; 3) all the national news and syndicated entertainment shows are taped on the the West Side.

So after awhile, celebrity spotting becomes no big deal and they just become part of NYC's backdrop, celebrity extras if you will. Oftentimes I don't recognize them till much later because they look so different without their makeup. Such was the case when I met up with Tom Cruise a few days ago.

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Posted by: Michele at 01:12 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Palm Beach County is the same way. Everyone owns a home down here for the winter and so you go places and see people and after awhile, it doesn't phase you. It just... is. I am like you... it's all about the brains and the sense of humor. I tell people all the time, higher intelligence is the ultimate aphrodisiac. I don't even think about what someone looks like anymore... of course unless they're really dirty! Blech! Tom just doesn't come across as all that bright. He comes across as... mentally plyable. Heh.

Posted by: Bou at June 06, 2005 08:44 AM (z7nbM)

2 So... when he's not on camera, does he still just let his mouth hang open all the time like a slack-jawed yokel?

Posted by: Harvey at June 06, 2005 08:48 AM (ubhj8)

3 Actors "act". So they do "fake" for a living. Would you truly trust someone who pretended all the time?

Posted by: _Jon at June 06, 2005 10:18 AM (g9Y9+)

4 I know I'm going to upset Michele and Bou with this comment but here goes: I'd do him

Posted by: Machelle at June 06, 2005 01:55 PM (ZAyoW)

5 If your going to fall into the arms of a celebrety, make sure it's a hot one. Like Tom's ex, Nichole Kidman... then get pictures of it for us.

Posted by: Contagion at June 06, 2005 03:29 PM (Q5WxB)

6 When my sister first moved to NYC years ago, I'd get the occassional phone call about a celeb who had walked into the store she worked at... no matter who it was I just couldn't work up any enthusiasm. I'm not a "star watcher" and I'm not going to gush all over them because they can act in front of a camera... I don't really care who they are. I don't dislike them, but there are so many other people I admire so much more - and would be thrilled to meet in person. But that's just me.

Posted by: Teresa at June 06, 2005 04:42 PM (nAfYo)

7 He's not a nice boy. Not at all. Does nothing for me....and still wouldn't even if he did meet the minimum height requirement. I'm with you - humor and brains.

Posted by: Tammi at June 06, 2005 08:45 PM (F4oo1)

8 Like I told Bou, Cruise just doesn't do it for me! Your story reminded me of a story my brother told me. He ran up to Hollywood just to kill some time one day, and while there, Gary Busey ran into him. Literally. Flattened him. R said that Busey was very cool, very nice. Kept making sure that he was alright. (And he didn't get the feeling that he was trying to cover his ass!) Soon as R stood up and told him it was cool, Busey smiled and apologized again, then took off. He was hurrying to a taping of the Tonight Show. Kinda cool.

Posted by: That 1 Guy at June 06, 2005 11:34 PM (A27vL)

9 The only way to be around those with fame... bring on the ULTRADORK! Fall down, fart, throw-up, lick all of the doorknobs in the room... That is how you make sure they remember you.

Posted by: Sarah the Penguin at June 09, 2005 02:36 PM (d7t5G)

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Central Park is a little slice of heaven in NYC for the 8 million people that live here. Over 15O years ago, the NYC legislature designated the 24 miles of farm and dairy land, as public space. In so doing, they assured that New Yorkers would have a refuge and comfort in natural wonder of nature.

As I approached Central Park Sunday, I thought about how my own personal history and development is so intertwined with this incredibly luscious green space in the summer, and how it has become for me this winter a quiet meditative grey space to help in my healing process from this damned carpel tunnel and tendonitis.

Last week, as I began to walk around in the park, after one of my physical therapy appointments, I began to see crews of men placing these dark pedestals on either side of the footpaths throughout the park. It was annoying because the walking paths are not very wide to begin with, and now these pedestals were further limiting the footpath space by over a foot in width by 3 feet in length on either side.

On Sunday when my son and I walked around we had to get out of the park because essentially there was not enough foot space for 4 people to walk side by side, so people were bumping into us constantly.

At first I was perplexed because these things were everywhere. It seemed like to massive a project for the Park Conservation Committee to undergo without letting NY residents know this would be happening. When I later heard about The Gates art project I was really annoyed. The total cost for the project: 23 Million dollars plus 3 Million for the 750 police officers to guard the exhibit every night for 16 nights.

At first I was just angry over the installation because the miles of non-biodegrable nylon tarp blocks everyone's view of nature in every direction. As you walk, all you can see is a sea of artificial flourescent/day glo orange fabric and steel. When I learned of the cost it pushed me over the edge. I love art, I even have 3 memberships to reflect my love, interest and support of art. To spend that much money on nylon, plastic and steel I feel is unconscionable!

Maybe if you saw the park from my point of view [in pictures], you might understand my love for this space, and my frustration with The Gates [of Hell], that are currently transforming my beloved park. Maybe then you'll understand why, even though I love art, I find this project to be an eyesore and a stressful nightmare.

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Posted by: Michele at 11:55 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I believe everyone has the right to speak their mind in a coherent and intelligent manner to prove their point. When you get to name calling, however, all bets are off. An insult like this can only be responded to with a swift kick to the "nads".

In his essay, Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens, CU professor Ward Churchill argues that:

• Victims of the Sept. 11th attacks were "technocrats of empire, ... little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the twin towers"

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Posted by: Michele at 09:10 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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As of 10:00am today, there have been a total of 1,786 protest related arrests. From listening to the protestors as I walk past them in the East Village, it now seems to be cool and an honor to have multiple arrests under your belt. People mill about in groups sharing their arrest experiences and try to one up one another in telling their own tale of what they did to fend off police .

Yes, they are violent and they are proud of it. But what of there message? IÂ’ve been getting emails with questions about this very thing. You are puzzled as to why there have been so many arrests. What are they trying to do/accomplish or say? Well Jeff Jarvis, commenting about this phenomenon yesterday in his blog sheds some light on these very questions and poses one of his own:
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Posted by: Michele at 09:02 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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After surfing the web all day in hopes of finding pictures that illustrates the atmosphere between the 3 camps: anti-Bush, pro-Bush and the Police, I was successful. This NY Newsday slideshow, though not truly reflective of the violence that I've seen on Fox 5 news here in NY, does give you a glimpse of what's going on.

Unfortunately, there are no images of the protestors beating Police Detective Sample unconcious last night. He is currently in critical condition and his assailant, which escaped with the help of other protestors, is still being sought.

Posted by: Michele at 09:41 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This morning, I quickly discovered that my ability to move about freely and the brief sense of peace I enjoyed in the last 24hrs, were gone. They left me as soon as I had the train station in sight. At the station there was a visible police presence, which to date had not been seen or felt on this side of the river (Queens). As I sat in a near empty train, I checked the paper for the list of protests scheduled for today, I spotted nothing unusual. All the organizers are legitimate, nonviolent groups, so I just made a mental note of where they would be to make sure that I avoided those areas. I thought that was all I needed to do in order to stay safe. As w approached the Frozen Zone, my thinking changed with the ever increasing numbers of police at each station. more...

Posted by: Michele at 10:54 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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The atmosphere at Protest City/Union Square(US) ranges from the political to the bizarre, where protestors are temporarily outnumbering skateboarders, dog walkers, tai chi lovers and kids who use the playground daily. Around 9:00am there were barely 20 protestors milling about facing the main avenue. These die hards were holding up 2 huge banners (approximately 30 ft in length and 5 ft high) which read:

- STOP THE WAR SAY NO TO BUSH
- STOP BUSH (where the S in Bush was a swastika)
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Posted by: Michele at 10:22 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Friday was a day of conflicting emotions. Anger at the individuals that were arrested for threatening the peace and security of New Yorkers. Worry over the safety of my mom who lives right just a few blocks away from Union Square, the epicenter of protests, and where over 200 arrests occurred that night. Frustration over how a certain number of lawless individuals can create such chaos and cause injury (several police officers were cut by a knife wielding individual as they moved in to arrest protestors).

Finally, I’m truly saddened for what this violence means for our democratic process, for it is this process that is truly being hurt by everything that’s going on. I’ve tried engaging several of these protestors in a discussion over the last week, both out of curiosity and out of genuine interest in there positions. Each one of these opportunities has resulted in me being exposed to shrill and strident opinions, and some pretty foul language, that began with “I hate Bush,” and finished without a coherent discussion or a substantial reason for their point of views. From what I gathered, they are against the war, more out of a self-centered need for peace, that on any geopolitical point of view they may have on the war on terror. Debates and stumping seem to be dead in America. Instead, it has been replaced with an anger that has finally boiled over to hostility and violence in New York City.
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Posted by: Michele at 06:04 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Newschannel 4 has learned that authorities broke up a bomb plot aimed at New York City subways, with the arrest of two men. The men, of middle eastern descent had planned to detonate a bomb in the 34th St/Herald Square train station, which is located 1 block away from Madison Square Garden.

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Posted by: Michele at 08:28 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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There are 1 million stories in this Naked City. I intend to tell only a few from the perspective of a native, who's city is currently under political siege. Starting today, I will give you a glimpse of what itÂ’s like living/working here during the Republican National Convention.

First, yesterdayÂ’s highlights: The nudes more...

Posted by: Michele at 09:00 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Well, the mass exodus by NYC residents has begun. Last night and this morning I saw lots of people with carry-on luggage being wheeled about, before the influx of visitors begins. Today the subway trains were so empty I could have sprawled out in any number of them. I'll be coming into Manhattan every day to work and will be posting throughout the day on any interesting developments as they happen.

There are already police officers on every corner in full riot gear. But so far the only thing they've been busy with is handing out lots of tickets and making a few arrests of protestors who insist on breaking the law. They must be confusing this administration with the pre-Giuliani administrations of David Dinkins and Ed Koch.

On a different note, the anarchists organizing group held a press conference last night. I thought this was very ironic considering they are against any form of establishment in general, and against the media and government in particular.

Just as with United for Peace and Justice Committe, these anarchists have vowed to march where they please. Their stated position is that this city is theirs and no gov't or court can impose a ruling on where they can march.

Au contraire, mon frere! You are about to find out why they call the NY Police Department NY's Finest. You'll see whose city this is soon enough! Our police and security forces are not going to allow terrorists, foreign or domestic, to hold us hostage and take over our beloved city!

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