East River to Moss

East River. Nearly every day I cross the East River on the Q. As the train approaches the Manhattan Bridge, I find myself wondering what color the river will be today, pulling my guess from the sun and time of day and musings about the city's feelings. Sometimes it is liquidy cement, like the edge of Manhattan finally couldn't stand up to the summer sun and slid down into the river bed. Other times it's a seaweedy green and the boats are thin silver fish skipping over a pond. And then there are the days where it hints at a deep blue, a faint reminder of the river's past and the islands' history, in the days where things were not made of steel or glass, but of thick forests and clear waterways. The river is always different, not one day the same, and I appreciate it for this. I like to see it daily, how it interacts with the bridges, how people look up from their books and papers to watch it glide underneath us, how it reminds me (us) that the city is so shaped by water and we so easily forget it.

Sights and sounds. I have been trying to utilize my monthly metro card to the fullest (and I have to buy another tomorrow). I've deepened my appreciation for smaller galleries, finding myself bored, distracted and overly air-conditioned after more than an hour in any museum. Luckily, this city abounds in small galleries in addition to the mammoth-sized museums (or the museums with mammoths). I saw a nice Brazilian photography exhibit at the Americas Society and a mixed-media exhibit on the 2005 riots in France at the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Art (easier to write, and more fun to say: MoCADA). Also, despite a temporary stomachache, Chad and I saw an interesting mix of "orientalist" art at the Dahesh Museum (right near the Trump Tower, a strange thing to see, for me)- I especially liked a painting that featured fog and camels. There were a lot of architectural drawings that didn't interest me as much. Tomorrow I'll be breaking this trend by going to the mammoth of mammoths- the MET. I've also had the great luck to witness some amazing concerts. Most notably: Manu Chao (free courtesy of volunteering with Celebrate Brooklyn!), Cafe Tacuba (also free, in Central Park), Built to Spill (free AND back stage, gracias a dn!), and tonight, the woman of many guitars, Ani DiFranco (free and sangria, dn! rocks). Also saw Zoe, a Mexican rock band who was enjoyable, along with the Pinkertones, an electronic group with a lot of energy and dance-y beats. Coming up soon are Neko Case and the Siren Music Festival (though I've yet to see who's playing). Finally, I've seen a couple of films. One, 'Y, tu cuanto cuestas?' was good, had funny and poignant moments though a bit long. And the other, Wait Until Dark, was shown in Bryant Park and it was certainly a good film to watch out doors with a big crowd. It also brought back many memories of playing the role that Audrey Hepburn plays when I was in the play way back in high school.

News: Working at Democracy Now! is great, better with each week. True, the office has bizarre undercurrents and moments (what office doesn't?)- but how many people can say that they work for an organization that they truly support with all of their heart? I mean, I feel really proud to say that I'm working with DN! because I run into so many people who love the show and respect Amy very highly and support our work. It's inspiring, really. Even being a intern, low down on the post, so to speak, is a great experience. It's actually quite the lovely mix of not any actual authority, free concerts and lunch, being surrounded with wonderful, experienced, dedicated and conscious folks, and the fact that, ultimately, Amy Goodman is my boss. Highlight: Amy called yesterday personally to get Katie (another intern) and I tickets to Ani. Nice. Also, our supervisor Clara is wonderful and I'm really happy to work with her.

Moss: This city is certainly growing on me. I need to start looking at schools to see if it's really a good idea or some heat-induced, summer fantasy inspired by too much good music and art, too many great people, and too much luck in this amazing city.