1964 Worlds Fair a memory

Inspired by today's article in the New York Times read here by Joesph Tirella, I thought I'd share my own memory and family slides of the 64 Worlds Fair.

My Mom gave me an old box of family slides to scan and archive. I was very excited to find images that my Dad took of our visit to the 1964 Worlds Fair (he was quite a good photographer).  The experience is one of my earliest childhood memories. In '64 we were living in Connecticut. My parents were both raised in The Bronx and had many relatives living in Queens, so it was an easy commute!

I was really disappointed when they told me I was too small to ride in the convertible. My favorite was sitting in the boat and floating through while singing It's A Small World as loud as I could.  My first NYC singing in public space experience!  My sister and brother are seen in a few of the shots.

You also might find interesting the images in another NY Times article by Alan Feuer about the dismantling of the Fair.

Paris Subway Performers audition

I lived in Paris in the '90's before I became a NYC subway musician (busker). I've returned to France many times over the years and have always appreciated the music found on the streets and in the subway. Maybe one day you'l find me there.  ParisSubwayGirl seems like a good idea! or guess that would have to be ParisMetroFille!

I wanted to share this NY Times story about the audition process by Liz Alderman

Here's a video of some of those underground musicans and sounds that I made a few years back when I brought my neice to visit for her graduation from High School.

Re “Homecoming Of Sorts For Navy Ship” November 3, 2009 NY Times

USS New York fabricated with steel from destroyed towers, enters NY Harbor

http://bit.ly/7T8X1C

To the Editor,

The photo of the USS New York pausing at the World Trade Center painfully reveals a visible slice of an empty lot idly waiting. A more fitting “homecoming” use for the 7.5 tons of steel could have been a memorial at Ground Zero instead of material for a Naval ship. While the USS New York might be an honor to board for the harbor pilot Neil Keaton, imagine if instead he stood where his brother perished to inaugurate a memorial in a renewed neighborhood rebuilt from the ashes and same melted steel as the USS New York.

Cathy Grier

Taking Woodstock NYTimes review An Aging Hippieish Woman-guess who?!

Ang Lee's new film about Woodstock was filmed not too far from our upstate home. I was invited to perform for the people's screening (an enthusiastic audience full of extras and crew).  I sang acoustically mostly my own songs, but as the film got out, I sang "Piece Of My Heart" (Janis sang that one at Woodstock).  Imagine my surprise to see a review in the NYTimes last week.  I guess the reviewer wasn't thrilled with the assignment, her description: The slightly decayed theatre, the flimsy red carpet, the lone news van, and an aging hippieish woman (me).  Ouch!  

The adjective rich account sounds like a pathetically sad event, it wasn't! Here's an excerpt

NY Times Turn On, Tune In, Turn Back the Clock By KAREN SCHOEMER

Published: August 20, 2009

NEW LEBANON, N.Y.

Excerpt:

A few weeks ago Mr. Lee headed, so to speak, back to the garden. He and Mr. Schamus returned to Columbia County for a “people’s screening” of “Taking Woodstock” at the Crandell Theater, a slightly decayed 1926 movie palace in downtown Chatham. A flimsy red carpet decorated the sidewalk. A lone news van from a local cable channel parked across the street, and police officers in spotless uniforms cast a leisurely eye on the proceedings. Locals sported themewear like tie-dyed and tiered skirts, and an aging hippieish woman with flowing gray hair serenaded the crowd with folks songs on an acoustic guitar.