An entertaining week...

Last Monday: Veteran's Day. Many businesses where closed, schools, the post office, etc etc. I worked at Sephora. Surprise.
When I got home my roommate Lebeka had made us all Korean food for dinner. I don't think I've ever had Korean food so it was a new experience. She had worked really hard preparing authentic dishes and it was very tasty.
Tuesday: 'Nother Sephora day. Right as I was getting off work my friend Drea came in to see if I was working. I haven't had a chance to see her since I got to NY back in August. I was so happy that she came to visit me!
I left work and Drea and I walked down to the west village and decided to eat at the "Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant." It's a themed restaurant where there's live entertainment and sort of a 'haunted mansion' feel to it. Don't ask why we decided on that but we'd never been so we though it'd be fun. On the way to the restaurant we saw Christine Baranski. She played "Mary Sunshine" in the movie "Chicago." She was just walking down the street with her grown kids. And just so you know, she's the same in real life as she is in every movie or TV show I've ever seen her in. haha. Random sightings never get old. I love NY.
When we finally got to the restaurant I checked to see if my friend Ed was working that night. Unfortunately he wasn't but we ate there anyway. There were about 6 other people in the restaurant so it was ever so slightly awkward. Characters in costumes come around to your table during dinner. I imagine that with a full restaurant it's pretty cool. With 6 people it's just weird.
After dinner Drea and I parted ways so I could go to my friend Murph's showcase. She was performing in a musical theatre showcase designed to gain exposure to casting directors for the performers. The show was at a historical NYC cabaret theatre venue called "The Duplex."
When I arrived I didn't see any of our mutual friends in the audience and no one had heard of Murph. I began to wonder if I was in the wrong place. I waited until the show started and discovered rather quickly that this was not Murph's showcase. Nope, it was a drag show. Oops. Somehow I wrote the wrong day down in my planner. My happy little mishap landed me in an interesting performance. Drag shows, don't get me wrong, can be quite entertaining I'm sure. This one was just awkward. It was a one shman (man/woman)show and he/she was less than entertaining. When there was a lull I made a quick getaway as discreetly as possible.
Well, wrong night, but the show was actually on Wednesday night so I didn't miss it.
Back to Tuesday. After I left the drag fest, I took the train up to 42nd street Times Square and I made a transfer to the NQRW line. In the train station I was walking to my train and someone behind me called my name. It scared me half to death but it turned out to be my friend Marianne (from college). She randomly saw me in the station and we rode the train back to Queens together. (What are the odds?) She also lives in Astoria. I hadn't seen her in a while so it was great to get caught up.
I had a good laugh about my unusually eventful Tuesday and went to bed.
Wednesday I slaved away in makeup land THEN went to my friend Murph's showcase. I knew exactly how to get there this time!
I sat next to my friends Clay and Lauren at the little cabaret theater and had fun catching up with them. We watched others perform 3 songs each for a little audience (with or without casting agents). Murph performed last and Clay accompanied her on the piano. They did a great job. In my entirely unbiased opinion, Murph was by far the best singer/actress up there.
After the show the four of us (Murph, Clay, Lauren, Me) hung out and talked for a while then we walked to the trains and went our separate ways to get home. I was so glad to get to support Murph. I hope something comes of this performance for her. Possibly work with agents or casting directors?
Thursday I had a much needed day off so I slept in. I watched some Netflix (little old school "Pride and Prejudice" ala Colin Firth, ah thank you) and went to the gym. In the evening I went to my Community Group meeting. Always good to see my friends.
Friday I ran circles in cosmetic kingdom then made the most of my evening. I went down to Soho to attend an album release party for my friend Jamie's band "The Johns." He plays the bass and his band has quite an admirable following here in the city. They had a great party/performance in "The Slipper Room" bar where there was free, yes FREE beer and no cover charge. That meant lots and lots of people to mingle with. I hung out with my friend Ed and we had some FREE beer and watched "The Johns" perform. I was rather impressed by Jamie's skills on the bass. He was so glad we came out to see him perform and to support his band. I was happy to be there. It was a great FREE way to spend my Friday night. Did I mention it was completely FREE? hehe. I couldn't get over it. Nothing in this city is ever free. Especially beer and entertainment!
I met both Jamie and Ed through the theatre company I'm working for. We're in "The Soapranos" together.
Saturday I slept in again,(so sue me). Then I was in a performance of the murder mystery I'm a part of through the NY Dinner Theatre. The show went really well and I really feel like I'm figuring out how to fit the mold they're looking for in this character,(Yet another OLD woman.) I have been thinking less about how old she is and more about how corny she is. It seems to be doing the trick. I really have to fight against playing up the fact that she's old. I'm just basically making sure that I don't let her age dictate her presence on stage. This would slow her pace down and, in turn, slow the whole show down.
After the show I hung out with my cast mates Aileen and Laura and we cruised around in Aileen's boyfriend's fancy SUV. I don't get to ride in cars in Manhattan very often, let alone fancy ones, so I had fun riding along.
Sunday morning I went to church then went immediately to work. After work I straightened up the apartment and went to sleep.
Monday, (today), I went to work (don't worry that's not all I do). After work I met up with my Community Group and we visited Toys R Us. We bought toys for a toy drive our church is supporting. We had so much fun searching around the toy store together. We were all nostalgic as well as astonished by all the toys kids get to choose from these days. I kept finding stuff I want to play with now,(ie. A "Guess Who" game modified with Disney characters). I settled on a huge set of Crayola art supplies. I knew,(from experience), that it was something fun to play with and that it will promote creativity (which I believe to be very important). So I knew it would be the perfect gift for me to donate to the toy drive.
After that excursion I went to the gym then headed home to Queens.

If any one's wondering:
I'm still searching for "The Cash Cab"
The word "Express" in reference to a subway line DOESN'T mean "fast."
Right turns on red lights are prohibited anywhere in Manhattan
Signs that read "Don't Honk: $500 fine" are merely for decoration
Tap water in NY is tasty thanks to the Pocono Mountains
Ice Skating in Bryant Park is free
The "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" has less public viewing area than "The Grand Floral Parade."

Just a few little "fast facts" for ya. haha