A Busy Week in Lake Wobegon

Well, it's been a busy week in Lake Wobegon. 

Following a busy weekend, we did not slow down.  No rest for the weary.

Monday brought more volunteering at New York Cares where we read more than 150 Dear Santa letters.

The letters are very sweet and some are very moving, especially those from a unique group of adults.  

Tuesday found us back at New York Cares helping recent parolees to prepare resumes.  The clients are highly motivated, especially the older ones who understand they this chance is likely their last chance to lead a productive life outside of prison.  In a legal development, New York City has "banned the box" with the 10/27/2015 implementation of the Fair Chance Act.  The team discussed whether and how that development impacted the resumes we were preparing.  If you want to learn more about the trend, click here.       

Tuesday evening found us in what a good friend calls God's Country.  It was Hockey Night in Canada Brooklyn where the Islanders hosted and defeated the Devils. There is nothing quite like the speed, grace and intelligence of NHL hockey.  At this level of the sport, the players make everything look effortless, not an easy thing to do while skating backward at high speed looking for the next check into the boards --  always better to be the checker than the checkee.  Plus, we saw the amazing Barclays Center for the first time, just a short train ride away and the new home of the Islanders.  It is a great place to grab a Nathan's hot dog and watch some great hockey. 

Devils v. Islanders (11/2/2015)

Wednesday was filled with lots of walking, Fall colors in Central Park, plus a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Later, on Wednesday evening, we were transported to 1960's Las Vegas, the setting for the Metropolitan Opera's Rigoletto.  Think, Greek tragedy meets Ocean's Eleven with Frank Sinatra. We guess Verdi would have approved.

Thursday found us back in Brooklyn, so to speak.  We caught a matinee of the film Brooklyn.  Susan especially enjoyed the film because it involved a strong, brave young immigrant who fell in love and followed her heart and her mind . . . all the way from Ireland to Brooklyn.  (P.S. Cinema admission is now $18.  Thank goodness for matinee pricing.)

Friday found us in Madison Square Garden where the Knicks battled the Bucks.  Watching Melo play the game is great fun.  Celebrity row was full with the likes of Bill Bradley, Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, John McEnroe and actors Regina King and Nick Sandow.  Understandably, Bill Bradley received the loudest applause.  MSG has an amazing way of introducing the Knicks team that uses projection mapping, the same technology some might have seen at a Disney theme park during the past 5 years.  The floor and the stands of MSG come alive and move.  We had never seen it in a sports arena.  Very cool.  

Pre-Game:  Bucks v. Knicks (11/6/2015), a view from Section 419

Game On:  Bucks v. Knicks (11/6/2015), a view from Section 419

To see so much diverse entertainment in just one week is amazing!  To recap the highlights of the past seven days:  We went to the opening of All About SEX, an off-Broadway comedy (billed as "the new Latino Gay Cisgender Glam Sex Farce"), the Halloween parade in the Village, the NYC Marathon (as viewers, not as runners or zombies), exhibits at two art museums, a tour of the historic Woolworth skyscraper, two volunteer community service projects, an ice hockey game, the Metropolitan Opera, two top-rated films, and a professional basketball game!

What's next?  The Lowline (not a typo), Diwali, Indian food in Queens with family, the Brooklyn Museum and back to the Barclays Center for an Islanders/Bruins match up. 

No rest for the weary.