Amy Neftzger's Blog, page 8
June 1, 2013
More Literary Tourism in NYC
Saw a lot of interesting things and met more great people at Book Expo America Yesterday. Too much for one post, so in this one I'll share more pictures of my literary tourism and write up the conference later.
Interesting place for dinner with some more classic New York Pizza. This restaurant was once a church and is worth visiting for both the food and architecture.
Check out the ceiling and stained glass. Beautiful.
We went to Old Town Bar, a place where literary types such as Frank McCourt and Nick Hornby have been in the past.
Note to women - the ladies room is upstairs. While it seems like an inconvenience, I enjoyed the trip and the scenery in the upstairs room, which was not in use on this busy Friday night. Here's a shot of the room.
And the trip back down with all the creakiness of well-traveled stairs.
We ended the night by going to one of the most imaginative theatrical productions I've seen. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's a very creative interpretation of MacBeth called "Sleep No More" and it takes place here:
Check it out if you're in New York. It was worth staying up until 3:15 AM to see it, and I'm a "morning person."
Interesting place for dinner with some more classic New York Pizza. This restaurant was once a church and is worth visiting for both the food and architecture.
Check out the ceiling and stained glass. Beautiful.
We went to Old Town Bar, a place where literary types such as Frank McCourt and Nick Hornby have been in the past.
Note to women - the ladies room is upstairs. While it seems like an inconvenience, I enjoyed the trip and the scenery in the upstairs room, which was not in use on this busy Friday night. Here's a shot of the room.
And the trip back down with all the creakiness of well-traveled stairs.
We ended the night by going to one of the most imaginative theatrical productions I've seen. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it's a very creative interpretation of MacBeth called "Sleep No More" and it takes place here:
Check it out if you're in New York. It was worth staying up until 3:15 AM to see it, and I'm a "morning person."
May 31, 2013
Book Expo America - Day 1
We've been on our feet for days and we're not about to stop. Yesterday was the first day of the conference and we had a lot of really nice people stop by our booth to chat. I love being around book lovers. Here's a picture of our booth. Love the artwork and the cutouts we had made.
I played hooky from the conference and left to go have lunch at the Algonquin Hotel with an old friend. I can see why Dorothy Parker loved the place. Great food and a nice atmosphere.
After the conference we stumbled upon another movie set and managed to ask a crew member about the film. It's called "Birdman" and stars Zack Galifinakas and Emma Stone. Here's the scene we saw being filmed.
I went to visit my friend and artist Michael from Michael Curry Mosaics. Here's a picture of us on his balcony. Awesome view.
The Empire State Building in early evening.Apparently, there's an app that tells you what color the lights will be each evening. How cool is that?
Today will be another long be extremely fun day. Who wouldn't have fun when surrounded by so many books and book people!
I played hooky from the conference and left to go have lunch at the Algonquin Hotel with an old friend. I can see why Dorothy Parker loved the place. Great food and a nice atmosphere.
After the conference we stumbled upon another movie set and managed to ask a crew member about the film. It's called "Birdman" and stars Zack Galifinakas and Emma Stone. Here's the scene we saw being filmed.
I went to visit my friend and artist Michael from Michael Curry Mosaics. Here's a picture of us on his balcony. Awesome view.
The Empire State Building in early evening.Apparently, there's an app that tells you what color the lights will be each evening. How cool is that?
Today will be another long be extremely fun day. Who wouldn't have fun when surrounded by so many books and book people!
May 30, 2013
Pre Book Expo America Fun in NYC
Yesterday we were still playing the tourist when teh group I was with continued to explore the city on foot. Whether it rains or not, NYC is a beautiful city. Check out this view of Washington Square Park:
While Nashville appears to best every other city I've visited in terms of quantity of churches, New York has some of the most beautiful cathedrals. We went inside St. Thomas and here's the view looking down the center aisle:
Spent part of the afternoon at MOMA and, in addition to the paintings and sculpture, saw some great photography. Enjoyed the special exhibit Bill Brandt: Shadow and Light. I could post pictures of the art. Instead, here's my favorite sign inside the museum:
I finally made it to McSorely's. Great place for beer drinkers or anyone else looking for inspiration in a glass of ale. Particularly interesting to me, since I recently started making my own beer.
Finally, here's a picture I took in Times Square while walking back to the hotel last night. The billboards stretch for a full block and the effect is dramatic. Something to think about for publicizing my next book ...
Yes, we also did some work that morning and we will be at BEA all day today discussing books - but we're also having fun while we're here, and I'm finally getting to see the city.
While Nashville appears to best every other city I've visited in terms of quantity of churches, New York has some of the most beautiful cathedrals. We went inside St. Thomas and here's the view looking down the center aisle:
Spent part of the afternoon at MOMA and, in addition to the paintings and sculpture, saw some great photography. Enjoyed the special exhibit Bill Brandt: Shadow and Light. I could post pictures of the art. Instead, here's my favorite sign inside the museum:
I finally made it to McSorely's. Great place for beer drinkers or anyone else looking for inspiration in a glass of ale. Particularly interesting to me, since I recently started making my own beer.
Finally, here's a picture I took in Times Square while walking back to the hotel last night. The billboards stretch for a full block and the effect is dramatic. Something to think about for publicizing my next book ...
Yes, we also did some work that morning and we will be at BEA all day today discussing books - but we're also having fun while we're here, and I'm finally getting to see the city.
May 29, 2013
NYC Day 1
Yesterday we drove through 6 states and arrived in New York City for Book Expo America 2013. We arrived in early afternoon, so we stretched our legs by taking a little walking tour in the rain. Here are some highlights.
I finally made it INSIDE Central Park! On previous trips I only saw it through the cab window as I drove by.
Nice view of one of the streets inside Central Park.
Walking inside of Central Park and looking out at The Dakota building.
Made it to White Horse Tavern and had dinner there. No whiskey for me.
Love the sign. I prefer to believe that it was related to Dylan Thomas and not current customers, whom I'm sure know their limits and how to behave well in public.
May 28, 2013
What I Saw in Virginia
I'm on my way to Book Expo America and passed through Virginia yesterday. You know what I saw? Cows. I kept thinking about that travel slogan: "Virginia is for Lovers" and thought it should have been "Virginia is for Lovers of Cows." Don't get me wrong. These were very industrious cows. Grass doesn't eat itself, you know. Someone has to chomp it down all day and that's what the cows are for.
I tried to snap a few pictures. I passed Hurt Lane on the way to get coffee. I wondered what happened on that street to give it that name or who lives there and how the street name impacts property values. This is the stuff I think about.
We passed "Famous Anthony's Restaurant." What is he famous for? It's better that you don't know. Especially if you're planning to eat there. (Actually I don't know anything about it, but thought the name was ironic since the owner was virutally unknown).
I also saw a store called "Super Shoes." I figure that this is where super heroes go to buy their work shoes.
Travel is always interesting. I learn new things all the time. Back on the road today ...
May 13, 2013
What I Really Wanted for Mother’s Day
This year I ordered a case of wine for myself for Mother’s Day. I took the liberty of signing the card from my kids and writing a touching message that was so moving, it brought tears to my eyes. Note: I’m deducting the cost of the wine from the kids’ allowances.
While a case of decent wine is nice, I decided to make a list of the things I would have really wanted for Mothers Day. This list could be useful if my kids decide to go shopping next year. So here it is:
1. Bring Freddie Mercury back from the dead and restore him to perfect health.
2. Queen reunion tour (after #1 above is successfully completed).
3. A house with an awesome bathtub in the master bathroom so that I can have quiet time alone.
4. Someplace nice for the rest of the family to live. Hey - I’m not greedy. I want them to be comfortable, too. I just don’t want them where they can bother me all the time and ask for stuff.
5. To go to Paris. You can never be too rich, too thin, or go to Paris too much.
So, there you go, kids! You have almost a whole year to shop. But you might want to get started now because some of these could take a bit of planning. Of course, you can always pick up after yourselves, do all your homework, get good grades, clean the house, help with the chores without being asked, and stop asking for money all the time. I just figured that my list would be easier for you.
While a case of decent wine is nice, I decided to make a list of the things I would have really wanted for Mothers Day. This list could be useful if my kids decide to go shopping next year. So here it is:
1. Bring Freddie Mercury back from the dead and restore him to perfect health.
2. Queen reunion tour (after #1 above is successfully completed).
3. A house with an awesome bathtub in the master bathroom so that I can have quiet time alone.
4. Someplace nice for the rest of the family to live. Hey - I’m not greedy. I want them to be comfortable, too. I just don’t want them where they can bother me all the time and ask for stuff.
5. To go to Paris. You can never be too rich, too thin, or go to Paris too much.
So, there you go, kids! You have almost a whole year to shop. But you might want to get started now because some of these could take a bit of planning. Of course, you can always pick up after yourselves, do all your homework, get good grades, clean the house, help with the chores without being asked, and stop asking for money all the time. I just figured that my list would be easier for you.
April 23, 2013
Requirements for My New Home
I'm in the process of selling my house and looking for a new one. In order to make things easier for my real estate agent, I've put together a list of house requirements. Here they are:
1. The house should be self-cleaning. That’s a no brainer. I just don’t have time to clean a house. Unless the house is less than three years old, it really should know how to clean itself, anyway.
2. A secret room with a door that’s hidden behind a bookcase. I’ve been after the husband to build one for me, but it hasn’t happened yet. He’s tried to convince me that he already built one and that it’s so secret that only he knows where it is. But I don’t believe him.
3. Apparently Johnny Depp has recently bought a home in Nashville. I will consider any house next door to him, even if it isn’t self-cleaning. However, the secret room behind the bookshelf is still a requirement.
4. A library. This can be either inside of the secret room or outside of it or (preferably) both.
5. The house must be kitsch-proof. It’s a well-known fact that kitsch is like kudzu in some areas of suburbia, so my house is probably going to need to be in a slightly more urban area. Cookie cutter houses are also prone to kitsch, so the house will need to be unique.
6. It should have at least one large bathroom with a deep bathtub in which I can soak for hours to read. Soundproof walls so that I can’t hear the kids calling for me would be a bonus.
These are my top requirements. A kitchen would be nice, but having one in the house can often lead to the pressure to do some cooking, so I’m okay without one. Unless it already comes with a cook, of course.
April 2, 2013
Things to Do When You're Bored
I almost never get bored. In fact, I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to update my blog. So, since I haven’t been available to keep my readers properly entertained, I’ve created a list of things you can do -- just in case you happen to get bored waiting for my next post.
1.) Create a LinkedIn profile for Satan and send people connection requests asking for their souls.
2.) Go to the grocery store and ask the butcher if s/he has any koala meat available. If the response is no, tell the butcher you know where to find it cheap and give him/her directions to the zoo.
3.) Write up a proposal to add a helicopter landing pad on top of your house and submit it to the homeowners association for review.
4.) Start a corporation called “Pass the Buck, Inc.” and specialize in blame shifting. Place ads in the Wall Street Journal and wait for the phone to ring. Offer special discounts to politicians.
5.) Step into a crowded elevator, look around, and then remark how impressed you are that the cleaning crew managed to get all that blood off the walls. Then talk about how you still can’t get it off your shoes and would really like to know what products they use.
6.) Randomly place “For Sale” signs in front of your neighbors’ houses. Add a line advertising “Family included!”
7.) Paint flames going up the arms of your chair at work. If your chair doesn’t have arms, place it in the hallway with a coffee cup and a sign that says, “Please help - I have no arms and need money for a transplant.”
8.) Dress up as a witch and go to your neighbor’s house asking if you can borrow a cup of children.
9.) Think up creative names for your WiFi to mess with your neighbors such as “I am Big Brother” or “Party tonight at [insert your neighbor’s address here]” or “Silence of the LANs” or “IRS Surprise Mobile Audit Team.” Be creative and think like a stalker.
10.) If all else fails, follow the example of Pinky and the Brain and try to take over the world. That should keep you busy for quite awhile. It is a big place, after all.
1.) Create a LinkedIn profile for Satan and send people connection requests asking for their souls.
2.) Go to the grocery store and ask the butcher if s/he has any koala meat available. If the response is no, tell the butcher you know where to find it cheap and give him/her directions to the zoo.
3.) Write up a proposal to add a helicopter landing pad on top of your house and submit it to the homeowners association for review.
4.) Start a corporation called “Pass the Buck, Inc.” and specialize in blame shifting. Place ads in the Wall Street Journal and wait for the phone to ring. Offer special discounts to politicians.
5.) Step into a crowded elevator, look around, and then remark how impressed you are that the cleaning crew managed to get all that blood off the walls. Then talk about how you still can’t get it off your shoes and would really like to know what products they use.
6.) Randomly place “For Sale” signs in front of your neighbors’ houses. Add a line advertising “Family included!”
7.) Paint flames going up the arms of your chair at work. If your chair doesn’t have arms, place it in the hallway with a coffee cup and a sign that says, “Please help - I have no arms and need money for a transplant.”
8.) Dress up as a witch and go to your neighbor’s house asking if you can borrow a cup of children.
9.) Think up creative names for your WiFi to mess with your neighbors such as “I am Big Brother” or “Party tonight at [insert your neighbor’s address here]” or “Silence of the LANs” or “IRS Surprise Mobile Audit Team.” Be creative and think like a stalker.
10.) If all else fails, follow the example of Pinky and the Brain and try to take over the world. That should keep you busy for quite awhile. It is a big place, after all.
March 26, 2013
Marriage Equality: Just Do It
I live in the Bible Belt.
I am a Christian.
I also believe in marriage equality.
I don’t know the mind of God and I refuse to put words in the mouth of Jesus. However, I know that God is love and that wherever there is love there is God.
So you may call me a heretic*, but I can’t understand how discouraging a loving commitment to another person is justified. It looks too much like hate or fear disguised as love and that doesn't sound like Jesus to me at all.
Most of us are simply trying to find our way through this life. Being able to make a commitment to someone we love and having the ability to walk through life with that person makes this journey easier. Part of loving my neighbor is wanting the best for them and this involves not discouraging them in pursuing strong relationships in their own lives. So from this perspective, supporting marriage equality is the right thing.
*Note: Jesus was called a heretic by the religious leaders of his day. I’m in good company.
March 5, 2013
The Consequences of Art
So ... what are the consequences of an artist’s imagination?
Artists are often visionaries who see new possibilities. In some cases, they can bring deeper understanding to things in our current world because artists look at common objects and situations with new eyes.
However, individuals who want to keep everything the same may feel threatened by an artist’s creativity. Therefore, one of the negative consequences of thinking differently is that the visionary may become marginalized by those holding the power in the status quo. People who fear change will often resort to persecuting the agents of change in an attempt to stifle the process.
At the same time, artists can hold the keys to the future. We would never have most of our modern conveniences without creative people. There would be no automobiles, telephones or cell phones, computers, movies, or streamable online entertainment. All of these things are the result of someone thinking outside the box and saying “what if ...?” Creativity has the potential to enhance the lives of everyone. The arts feed the creativity within science and other disciplines.
But it can do even more.
Artists have the potential to help in healing the common wounds that life inflicts upon all of us. Movies, paintings, photographs, stories, and other forms of art can be used to depict our common shared experiences. Knowing that we’re not alone in these experiences can ease some of the pain. It can also point the way to dealing with loss in a way that is helpful, rather than destructive to the soul. Art is also able to help us overcome our fears by showing us how to walk in the darkness with confidence instead of avoiding it. The possibilities are endless.
Regardless of how you look at it, art makes life better for everyone both materially by feeding the creativity that brings new and better products to market, as well as emotionally by enhancing and helping us to understand the human experience. Taking a few moments to appreciate art can also help us to remember that money, while we need it to survive, is not the best measure of anything.
The bottom line is that art is essential. Society and culture need art, but artists also need to create. If all the artists stopped engaging in the process of imagination, both the artists and society would fail to thrive. Life would go on, but the development of society and culture would stagnate.
So invest in something that will leave a lasting impression. Buy some art, whether it’s an original painting or a print, music, jewelry, pottery, or a book. All artists need to be supported. If we don’t support their work financially, their creativity will not be able to feed our culture and heal our souls.
