Tuesday, June 29, 2010

166 - 167: New York Demystified

Is it just me, or is the Big Apple looking less magical and more real by the day? Maybe it's the fact that I'm here almost every year, watching shows, shopping for new or recycled fashion in old stores, eating the same junk food, walking the same streets, only this time - it's way hot and not the Trench coat weather New York that I always knew. They say familiarity breeds contempt... but when a person gets too familiar with a fantasy, he's left with reality. It is what it is - not the fairytale. It's what comes after happily ever after - the hard knock life. Honest living man, honest living!

Mememoy in the elevator

Mememoy in the waiting lounge of Ate Leslie's Office. She writes a column for Baron's.

Where the action happens at FOX NEWS

Ate Leslie. I love her to bits.

Day 166 (Friday):

8pm Fela
RATING 4/5

When I entered the theater, I remember being stunned by the live Afro Band that was playing on-stage. The whole theater was dressed as though you were inside the theater where Fela was to perform his last show in dangerous South Africa. Colorful. Festive. Audiences could even bring their snacks and cocktails to their seats. It was really like a concert. The dancing was superb. The guy who plays Fela is amazing. The show dragged from time to time but i had that right emotional punch and rollercoaster ascent just when you thought your attention was taking the plunge. I found this one particular moment in the show really creepy when Fela's house was sieged, and all his wives were abused by the African military. It also showed how his mother died, a plot thread that is developed since the show's opening. I think Will Smith, Jada, and Jay-Z were right to invest in this show. Spectacular.


Day 167 (Saturday):

2pm Mamma Mia
RATING 3/5

I actually really liked the show. What's not to like? The songs of Abba. A fun story involving a daughter, his three purported fathers, and a hippy of a mother with her two laugh out loud sidekicks. How can you go wrong? Unfortunately, the producers did... in casting some annoying nasal lady as the mom, and some whippersnapper of girl for the daughter. They pulled the show down for me. Everyone was else was great, especially the three dudes, the two female sidekicks, and the fiance. But again, when you have awful leads who have no marketing value whatsoever, the show gets pulled down. Thankfully in Act 2, the mother improves. But the daughter? Still an annoying lookalike of that girl who plays Christine in the Phantom of the Opera movie. I forget her name as of the moment. But overall, I enjoyed more than I hated. And I absolutely love the concert ending. One of the best curtain calls I've seen - if only I didn't have to rush to a 5pm show.


5pm Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
RATING 5/5

I hate that I was late for this show because Mamma Mia was taking so long. Anyway, it follows the story of Andrew Jackson and his rise to the presidency from being the dude who expanded America and ghettoed the Indians. Ironically, despite the plot, the play utilizes elements from the modern times. From the use of "dude" lingo, to the punk rock costumes, and to the Spring Awakening-esque musical that was infused with the show. But the best part has got to be the slapstick comedy that was larger than life and was the bread and butter of the show. The actors were HILARIOUS as they exaggerated all the dialogue and coupled it with wit and comic timing. I found myself not wanting the show to end. I'm so excited that they're moving to Broadway by the end of the year.


8pm Come Fly Away
RATING 2/5

Should've listened to my brother. What a lousy way to spend over a hundred dollars on an orchestra ticket. I'm a fan of dance. I love So You Think You Can Dance. And that was also the reason why I watched Burn the Floor last October... a ballroom extravaganza that featured Anya and Pasha. I thought, maybe this would be a different dance experience... infused with the music of Frank Sinatra. I love Frank Sinatra. I'm actually an old soul at heart. But I found myself waaaaayyyyy bored with this one. It starts of in a cafe with all these characters who thankfully get developed throughout the show via dance... But weirdly enough, towards the eclipse of Act 2, you see them in their underwear... I dunno... to signify that it's come to that time of the day when things get raunchy. That... I did not get. I also don't know why everyone is a buzz with the choreography of Twyla Tharp. I don't get it. And I didn't like it... Ba-humbug.


WHAT I ATE TODAY:

Day 166
Breakfast:
none

Lunch:
Salad
Mango Smoothie
3 pcs. tempura
8 pcs. unagi roll
3 pcs. california roll
Lychee Sake



Manoy Ipe and Ate Leslie




Dinner:
Hanger Steak
2 pcs. bread


Late Dinner:
1 Tall Caramel Macchiato
1 Marshmallow Dreambar

DAY 167

Breakfast:
none

Lunch:
6 pcs. Spring Roll
Phad Thai



Dinner:
1 Large Fries
1 Angus Burger w/ Bacon


Late Dinner:
Lemonade
5 pcs. Cinnamon Sticks


EXERCISE:
none


- 2000 and Fat

Friday, June 25, 2010

163 - 165: Start Spreading the News

So I've been here in New York for the past four days. Been staying with my brother Ipe in his apartment. And I've been watching Broadway shows everyday since I got here... Well, I'm all about the Broadway. I'm all about the theatre. I love it, what can I say? My family and friends basically work their away around my Broadway itinerary since it's an unmovable object in my New York raison d'etre. I just can't miss out on any opportunity to catch a show.



It's JOHNNY DEPP! Haha.

I'm catching 30 shows on this trip so I can officially seal my record and beat the shit out of my pal Felix who beat out my 22 musicals with his 23. Haha. Die bitch! So far... I've seen the following:

DAY 164 (Wednesday):

11am Imaginocean
RATING: 3/5
COMMENTS: Story is basic. Music is so-so. Black light show is amazing. It's a kid's show. And I think I was the only adult there who wasn't a chaperone of some kid. Haha. The bubble effect in the beginning of the show was a bit on the annoying side. Bubbles are fun but when they leave some kind of thick glow in the dark residue on your skin which stays on for the entirety of the show, you'll get annoyed. Apparently they put some chalk solution in the bubbles so your outfit, and your skin is covered in a sticky glow in the dark coating all throughout. annoying.


2pm Mary Poppins
RATING: 5/5
COMMENTS: I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I was about to bawl in several scenes, including the Feed the Birds Scene with the Old Lady, the family squabbles, when Mary Poppins left the family, and when Michael said... "Mary Poppins... I love you!" The whole theater literally went, "Awww...." It's a show from everyone's childhood. It brings you back to that time. I looked around and saw that it wasn't the kiddies who were crying... it was the parents, especially the dads. Woah. Gave me all the license to bawl. Hehe :)


8pm Memphis
RATING: 1/5
COMMENTS: Fucking boring. What a waste of my time! And I fell asleep. Sayang sa pera. Shet.


DAY 165: Thursday

8pm: Sonheim on Sondheim
RATING: 5/5
COMMENTS: Beautiful musical revue featuring the songs of Stephen Sondheim. It's basically an autobiographic piece on Sondheim's lionized career. The deconstructed digital set was amazing. And the cast was amazing. The counterpoints between his famous songs were amazing. And they performed several numbers from Merrily We Roll Along... the musical that defined my love and passion for theater, and that of my theater barkada's. We're all products of this musical and it was nice to see some of the scenes recreated on-stage... especially "Opening Doors."

"But that's just not a hum-mum-mum-mum-mum-mummable melody.."

Barbara Cook and my favorite Vanessa Williams aka Willemina Slater from Ugly Betty rocked!


WHAT I ATE TODAY:
DAY 163:
Breakfast:
none

Lunch:
none

Merienda:
Coffee

Dinner: Fred's @ Barneys
Spinach Fetuccini
2 Slices of Pizza Bianca
2 pieces of Bread
3 servings of calamares
Fries
Lemon Sorbet






DAY 164:
Breakfast:
none

Lunch:
Tall Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks
1 Slice White Cheese Pizza
1 Glass of Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice w/ Pulp



Dinner: Bon Chon!!!
1 Glass of Draft Beer
7 pcs. Bon Chon Chicken Wings





DAY 165:
Breakfast:
none

Lunch w/ Mia!!!
7 pcs. Tempura Roll
Mango Smoothie
Crappy Curry Noodles
1 Slice of White Cheese Pizza





Merienda: GROMS
Small Crema de Grome



Dinner:
none

Midnight Snack:
1 Glass of Draft Beer
Chicken Shawarma Wrap


EXERCISE:
walking?


SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:


Spiderman the Musical! Coming in November 2010. Apparently, it cost $50 million to mount this musical. Holy camote!

Mia and Jared

My brother Ipe... dressed to the nines!

Francis, Krista, Mia and Joe! Finally i met Joe! I love him!

- 2000 and Thin

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

161-162: Country Club

A few days ago, Manoy Snooky invited us to join him for lunch at a private country club in San Francisco. Wow, talk about pompous. There's a strict dress code that had to be followed that we couldn't wear jeans. Okay sure, no problem. So I didn't wear jeans. I wore a denim top and formal cargos and boatman shoes. True enough, when I showed up at the club, denim of any kind wasn't allowed - top or bottom. And they also didn't allow cargo pants. I was like, "What?" Thank God I was still let in because Manoy Snooky was good friends with the owner. But still... ummm hello?! Strict much.


It's a good driving range though. Manoy Snooky and my nephew DJ joined some Father and Son Gold Tournament for Father's Day. How cute! Do I wish I had that with Dad? Ummm... haha. But I thought it was really sweet of him to send me off when I left for New York a couple of days ago. From the inside the house, he saw me off 'til outside and gave me a hug. Awww Dad. You're full of suprises. Until he saw a duck fly by... and in typical manly fashion, imitated a shotgun motion, and went "Bang!" Haha. Our family is so weird.


WHAT I ATE TODAY:
DAY 161:
Breakfast:
1 strip of bacon

Lunch:
2 Sliders
2 pieces of bread
Half a Fish Strip
Risotto with Sausage



Merienda:
1 Lemonade from Auntie Anne's
Cinnamon Pretzel

Dinner:
2 pcs. Ribs
White Rice



DAY 162:
Breakfast:
none

Lunch:
1 Glass of Lowfat Milk
Sinangag Rice
Lechon Macau
Half an Order of Taco Bell Nachos



Dinner:
2 bowls of Sukiyaki
1 pc. shrimp tempura
1/2 gindara


EXERCISE:
Day 161:
20 minutes jogging

Day 162:
none

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

At the Country Club
DJ, Joycie, Mikey

Me and Ginny


At the Great Mall of America


Jollibee in SAN FO!!!!

Huwow!



At siyempre, kung saan may Jollibee, dapat may Red Ribbon

WEIGHT UPDATE:
187 pounds...
oh my god. himala. despite everything I've been eating, though I feel my stomach and my love handles expanding exponentially. Crap. Here now in New York! Time to walk of this shit! No subway!

- 2000 and Thin