NYC

In NYC for a couple days visiting Meaghan and Tim who moved here from Chicago last summer. I got in last night and we had dinner in Brooklyn(where they live) and some ice cream.

Today we went to Manhattan and walked the High Line and hung out in Washington Square Park before going to a play.

With the glut of options we went to A Doll's House Part 2 based almost slowly on Laurie Metcalf and Chris Cooper being in it. It was a great production, a new play which takes place fifteen years after the Ibsen original. The language is contemporary although the setting isn't, which helped to make it its own thing, more inspired by but not tied to the classic. Metcalf was stupendous, I've seen her a couple times at Steppenwolf over the years, she was always good, but this was by far the best. Cooper seemed to be a bit more unsure especially in his first scene but was more comfortable and engaging as the play went on. Even though he was good and not borderline transcendent like Metcalf it was a thrill to see him in the flesh as I've been a huge fan since Adaptation.

Meaghan and Tim have been wonderful hosts and it's been great to spend so much time with them, we hung out regularly in Chicago but its different making all day plans, sleeping on their couch, its been great. Some friends fade away, and that's fine. Some friends become acquaintances with no love lost. Some friendships endure, deepen and mature, regardless of distance. And that is one of life's greatest pleasures.