So I’ve been falling in love with the city more and more every day. There is a certain rhythm to the city, and it’s reflected in all the street/subway performers. Music is everywhere, and it’s all good. I’ve yet to hear one bad street performer.

In fact, several days ago, when heading up to the ABC building with a bunch of people from the program, we were waiting for the sub when we encountered one particular subway performer. He was a little old hispanic guy (probably Puerto Rican) named Frankie, just sitting there with his guitar. He announced to everyone that it was his 73 birthday that day, so he wanted to sing Happy Birthday to himself. And then he did. With his little guitar in hand, he proceeded to perform a very sassy version of Happy Birthday, and whenever there was a break in the lyrics, he would shout, almost mariachi-like, “SEVENTY-THREE!”

Frankie was the definition of a cute old guy. Rachel would have absolutely fell in love with Frankie. No doubt in my mind.

Anyway, since then I’ve just been working and wandering around the city having fun.

On Wednesday, I was helping out on a shoot for a pilot when one of the producers assistants asked me if I had a pair of jeans (I was wearing khakis). Of course I do, so they sent me home to change, saying they wanted to use me as a “model” in one of the segments. I thought I would just stand there as the technology guy demonstrated digital cameras, since that was the topic of this particular show. Little did I know…

I returned to the assistant who asked me to put on a T-shirt they’d bought for me. I wear XXL. They bought me a medium. So I put it on. Then they told me to go to make-up. So I did. And they made me up to look Euro-Fab. I was everything an alpha-male shouldn’t be. The irony was completed when I found out that I was supposed to be the centerpiece to a mock fashion shoot, sandwiched between two gorgeous girls, both of whom actually do some modelling on the side.

I felt absolutely ridiculous, and they say I look high in a lot of the pictures, but it was such a goofy fun time. I opted to keep the make-up on for the rest of the day, just for the hell of it. Hopefully I’ll get a copy of these pictures because they’re so ridiculous. And I do mean ridiculous.

Then that night, Efren requested that I watch a movie called “Grave of the Fireflies.” Traditionally, I have been very vocal about how much I hate the anime style of animation. Efren suggested this movie would change my mind, so I approached it as openly as I could, despite my bias…

...and I found it to be one of the most moving films I think I have ever seen in my life. It’s the story of a teenager brother and his very young sister trying to survive in Japan during World War 2 after both of their parents die. It is quite possibly one of the saddest movies I’ve ever seen, and a tear did fall. It’s a beautiful movie, and I now strongly recommend it as well.

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MEALS OF NOTE:

“Haru” - Japanese / Sushi - Sushi Variety Entree, Sake
Thoughts - OK, I was worried about this place. I’m not huge on fish, and I especially don’t like Tuna, which seems to be a large part of almost every dish here. However, I figure I might as well try everything once, and if I don’t like it, then at least I’ll know why. Well, the sushi was absolutely fantastic. It took some experimentation to figure out just how much wasabi was appropriate, but I loved nearly every bite. The only part I didn’t care for was the caviar. So bland. The sake was quite possibly the strongest drink I’ve ever had. I couldn’t handle more than a drop at a time. Overall, a great meal.
Total Cost - $40 for everything, including tip.