New York

New York – Trinidad

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SMS 06.29
”Lige nu er klokken halv 7 og jeg sidder I en taxa på vej til JFK. Lidt for spændende, for flyet letter halv 8 og jeg er ikke sikker på jeg kommer ind i den rigtige terminal. Arrrgh. (…)”

SMS 07.15
”Update; står I security kø med final call I højtalerne. Ankom til forkert terminal, men fandt et airtrain videre. Tjekkede ind som den sidste I køen og løb til båndet med bagagen (“They are waiting, – run!”). Håber jeg når det (…)”

SMS 07.34
”…har lige sat mig I flyet. Sveddryppende, men jeg er med. :-)!!”

IMG_0399

Øhhh… Baseball???!

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Daniel is from England. Mark is from Holland. We met last week before I went to Washington, and now we were all back in our New York hostel. When I met them again, they asked if I wanted to join them for the Mets game that evening at Shea stadium. Tim from London would be joining too.

It sounded like the right way to spend my last evening in New York, so of cause I said yes. After all, I have already (maybe a little boldly) declared myself a fan of the New York Mets.

Anyway, it turned out to be a great evening. We started having a beer at an English pub watching the last 20 minutes of a Champignons League semi final, and after getting in the right sporty mood, we took the express subway to Shea stadium in Queens and watched the game.

New York Mets

And so, how was the game? Well… The seats were great and the atmosphere was good. But baseball…???! That is truly a wired game. Most of the time we were simply waiting for something to happen. If it wasn’t for the men constantly trying to sell you beer, hot dogs or candy floss, you would get really bored. Then there is finally a good ball and a homerun, and then… You wait again. What is most engaging is actually when the wild audience tries to catch a ball that has been hit the wrong way by the batter. That’s great.

We left the stadium after three hours and 9 innings. There was a tie score and they had to keep playing, but we were freezing and had to go. Maybe I will never be a true baseball fan…

Walking past the homeless

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I just met a homeless girl in the streets near my hostel. She was asking for change, but I walked past her.

The streets of New York are full of homeless people, and I cannot help everyone. At least that’s what I am thinking when I look the other way. But this girl really got to me. A thin and dark colored beauty wrapped in old clothes and a wooly hat. She was too young to be living on the streets – maybe my age – and her look when I walked past her was simply devastating. With a low voice that sounded shy and almost frightened, she caught my eyes and asked if I could spare a few change. Sir…

United States is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world if you look at the realities of the social security system. The minimum wages here are extremely low, so you have a large class of working poor holding doors for you, putting thing in bags etc. And then there are the homeless. Thousands and thousands of people living in places like deserted tunnels underneath the city coming to the surface only to find food. Read “The Mole People” for more on this scary side of the American dream.

Anyway… I don’t know how to save the world. But it felt wrong walking past this girl.

The House of Brews (46th street)

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Just wanted to say that I followed Peter Munks advise and had a sample plate of four different US beers at the House of Brews this afternoon.

  • Arrogant Bastard Ale (7,2%). Aggressive beer with a big taste. But tastes a little like vomit. 4/10
  • Goose island I.P.A (5,9%). Fruity with a long hop finish. Great beer. 8/10
  • Blue moon (4,5%). Belgian style unfiltered wheat ale, that is easy drinkable and still tasty. 7/10
  • Brooklyn Brewmasters reserve. Bright and full-bodied beer from Brooklyn. Mmmm… 8/10

Seasons of love !!!

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I just returned from Broadway watching the musical RENT. I know that I am an emotional “popboy”, but this was truely beautiful. Tried to capture a glimpse of the opening of Act 2 . You can’t see much, but then just listen to the love streaming from the stage…

RENT on Broadway RENT on Broadway RENT on Broadway

The Bitter End

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I am now back in New York, and last night I met with Anders Mogensen – a Danish friend and former colleague at Innovation Lab, who happened to be in town for a conference on good experiences (GEL). Seeing a familiar face again and talking about real and interesting things. That was great.

We went to grab a beer and ended up in Bleecker Street – maybe the hippest live music location in downtown Manhattan – and checked into an overcrowded “The Bitter End” (finally back) with partypeople everywhere and the upcoming, local band “Caracter Nine” on stage playing tight and sweaty rock. Very cool. However, they were followed by a folk/country/rock band – “Adam Ezra group” – who apparent had both talent and a huge number of fans, but it just sounded too much like Johnny Madsen and Lars Lilholt… So we had to leave. But a nice evening 🙂

The worst haircut ever

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Okay… I must respond to the Ane Kirstines comment on my long hair posted some days ago. Yes I knew something should be done. But… Aaaargh, – you know… I really like my hair – even when it is not very controllable – and cutting decisions are hard 🙂

Astor Place Hairstylist

But well… Finally, yesterday I went to Astor Place Hairstylist – a huge basement in Greenwich Village. Where they cut hair all day. I was placed in a chair in one corner of the enormeus room with hairdressers and customers all around. The mirror in front of me was filled with pictures and greetings from famous-looking persons. And then…

“SUUUUZZYYYY”

The calenderwoman yelled the name to the curtain behind her. And after repeating the call a few times – the answer (“COOOMIIING”) finally appeared followed by the entrance of a small, 40-year-old lady.

I told Suzu that I wanted my hair cut. Not too short and not with a machine. And a second after… WRRROROOTTTZZZ. RRRITZ. WRRRAU. The woman had transformed herself into a haircutting hurricane chatting about Denmark and the great “King Konstantin” (Suzy was Greek and had been working in the saloon for 18 years). 10 minutes later she was all done and the next costumer was ready.

I payed 14$ to the calender-money-woman and left Astors Hair Place. It is probably the worst looking haircut I have ever had. You can literally see every cut and it is extreamly uneven.

But my hair cutting experience was cool 🙂

Halleluja Harlem !!!

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Today, I attended the Sunday service at “Canaan Baptist Church of Christ” – 117th street north of Central Park. I does not get any more black and spirited.

After waiting in line outside with hundreds of other tourists, I finally got in the packed church room and was placed with a young French couple in the left side of the hall. Locals were sitting all around us. On stage were two gospel choirs, a sign language interpreter, a funky miniband and a huge, bald jazz-organ-man dressed in red robes. Plus the reverend himself.

“We are a congregation in mission”

Those are the first words I remember. I felt a kind of activist power and passion in every statement coming from the stage (in words, drama og songs) – regarding both social justice and the glory of God. The Holy Spirit was present, some might say. And he combined it all with a jazzy organ soundtrack, gospels tunes and yelling from the church.

After two and a half hour, the service ended by everyone standing hand in hand singing a gospel about how the Lord may be with us. I left the church spirited and with real Gods blessings from the Harlem girl standing next to me. And my life could continue.

The Cotton Club 2
Cameras were not allowed in the church. This photo is from a Gospel and Brunch -event at the legendary “Cotton Club” this same afternoon. But that is another story 🙂

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