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Working hard with Theatre East to keep bringing Art to Life, On Stage and Off! Check out the blog, the website, and join us at O'Lunney's Times Square for Theatre East Third Monday Mixers!

Bike MS NYC 2010 Wrap-up

Last week, I rode 100 miles (in one day!) to raise funds and awareness in the battle against MS. Over the years I have done a number of these rides back in Minnesota but I hadn't done one for a long time when I was prompted to fly back in 2008 to join my niece, Alli, in her first MS150 (150 miles over 2 days). That was only Alli's first MS150; now 12 years old, she's completed 3 of them. So I figured I should step up and do NYC's MS100.

It took a little longer than I expected, since it takes longer to ride up the hills of Palisades Interstate Park than the flatlands of Minnesota. But it was a lovely day for a ride, the rain of the preceding week lifting for the weekend just long enough for me to finish the ride, which took about 10 hours from entering the Lincoln Tunnel to returning to Pier 94 on the Hudson River in Manhattan. The photo is of my "I ride for" bib & the medal they gave out at the finish (more photos here).

Probably the most memorable moment of the ride was in Garnerville, NY. They were holding their Columbus Day parade a week early, so there were vintage cars and civic leaders in sashes milling about as the marching band warmed up; nothing to lift your spirits like riding out to the marching band rendition of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."

However, the most memorable aspect of this entire experience has been the generosity of my friends and family, who in a very short time helped me raise over $1,500. Sadly, this is in part due to the fact that MS touches so many lives that many people donated in honor of someone they know affected by the disease. It is my hope that someday soon there will be a world without MS, and that in the meantime those with it can remain as positive as my Uncle Ron, who took his last step 15 years ago and yet feels that "Even though my legs and my arms don’t work anymore, I wake up every morning with a smile. I have a great deal to be thankful for. I am a happy man. I am a lucky man." (Read more from Uncle Ron here.)

Thanks again to all who donated!

Riding to Battle Multiple Sclerosis

My family will be riding 150 miles again this year in the MS150 in Minnesota. I won't be able to join them, but don't let that stop you from donating!

http://bit.ly/MS150RR

Red Letter Day

Went out with the wife to the Lower East Side last night. Originally we were headed to Gallery 151 for an Art & Aromatherapy lecture, since those two topics hit Jody's areas of interest and expertise.Unfortunately the lecture was canceled due to illness, but we were happy to check out the current installation (and the current space -- Gallery 151 is a moving gallery, so check out this show at 311 E. 11th before the end of the month).
After chatting with the artist and the owner and the gallerist, we decided to grab a bite to eat in the neighborhood. Since our friends Guy & Sara used to live there, we asked them.
Motorino was the first recommendation and we lucked out: the 30 minute wait ended up being only 7, and we got the prime table by the windoor (or whatever you call a floor-to-ceiling window open to the street). We had the warm & spicy octopus & potato starter, a salad and Jody had the spicy soppressata pizza and I had the special with ramps. The look big, but the thin Neapolitan crust makes it very easy to finish a whole pie by yourself. This is perhaps the best in the city (Jody had heard of it but somehow I had not). Do yourself a favor and check it out.
This all followed Jody winning a cool new lamp for our apartment on Apartment Therapy and being featured in yet another Etsy showcase.

HomeLand reading with David Straithairn, Jay O. Sanders, and many others

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of being at the Lark Play Development Center once more, this time for a reading of HomeLand by Christopher Cartmill, originally commissioned by the Lied Center for the Performing Arts in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This is an amazing play that I can't begin to describe, but it centers ostensibly on Chief Standing Bear of the Ponca Nation and on themes of home, identity, and so much more.

The cast included me, Christine Marie Brown, David Strathairn, Gerry Rodriguez, LeRoy McClain, Jay O. Sanders, Annie Henk, and Kathryn Layng Hwang.

Bold New Steps for Theatre East

Had a great company meeting last week for Theatre East. Very exciting, ambitious plans for our Education Outreach and Community Outreach committees, not to mention some cool artistic programs forthcoming, like our Mi Casa Es Su Teatro program.

Jumbotron On Your Laptop

After some technical difficulties, I have finally been able to upload all four of the Big Ten Network Commercials I shot about a month and a half ago (and first mentioned here).

You can see them full quality on YouTube, on my website, or in little blogger videos below:

#1) First Rule

#2) Email

#3) My Hero

#4) Silence