Perfect days in NYC: discovered String Orchestra of Brooklyn & an apartment

Have had some lovely days here in town and today the heat broke, so was particularly lovely.  Went to my friend Eva and Stu's son's first birthday party in Prospect Park, which was lots of fun.  Saw friends I haven't seen in ages and gave my well-received present of clothing that I had been particularly pleased with finding (hipster orange plaid shirt with orange cargo pants - tres Brooklyn).

Then I went to Fort Greene Park to have the revelatory experience of seeing the String Orchestra of Brooklyn (hilarious acronym: SOB) perform Beethoven's 5th Symphony, outside and for free.  It was the least yuppie classical music situation I have ever had the pleasure to experience.  And they were Good!  I know they are technically amateur musicians, etc., but this was a special performance.

I was joined there by my new friend Nina and her friend Koren, who is now quickly becoming another friend.  We had a blast.  The sky was perfect blue, sun setting, a cool breeze, beautiful music played with heart and what more could you want?  Afterward we decided to take pictures of each other, which started because Nina needed a new photo for her Linkedin page, but as she is a professional photographer, she then took photos of me and Koren.  I took some photos of that interchange and the orchestra, which are below.

The beauty of the time with Nina and Koren was we all - 40-something single women - somehow managed to access our inner 12 year olds.  So great.  I don't think I've laughed like that in ages, just giggliness.  No drugs or alcohol involved, just a great day, great music, serendipitous moments and admitting to instantaneous crushes on various members of the orchestra and/or noticing how a trombonist was crushed out on a French horn player (I'll never tell who said what to whom).  I was transported back to my days in Band...learning clarinet (I still have my clarinet!) and playing - not incredibly well - until I was about 16.  Band was in middle school and then quartets and such a little later.  When in Band at Middle School I had a crush on the 1st Clarinetist whose name was Robert I think.  I wanted to be the 1st clarinetist as well but mostly stayed 2nd.  I also remember marching in a dismal rainy Memorial Day parade in Waterford, Connecticut or maybe New London, with music attached to a mini-music stand clipped onto my clarinet...I was about 9?  Ah memories of geekiness...endless, it's just endless...

But here are some photos from the lovely day:

Nina taking Koren's photo after the concert.

we were right next to orchestra -
gentleman in orange jacket was sideline conducting
 - smiling arms waving, lovely

just so you can see the crowd - this was when orchestra was playing with younger students

Beethoven's 5th - SOB Brooklyn style - Fort Greene Park (it used to be dangerous...)

July 15: Woody Guthrie's family celebrating his 100th in Central Park
(because I forgot to post about that...)

Yesterday was a banner day, too, because I was offered the apartment I wanted up here in Inwood, so I can stay in my beloved new hood.  I am so delighted that soon I won't be subletting and will be able to have my own furniture and my own rent-stabilized lease (if you are not from NYC, what this means is: the increase on your rent is regulated each year by the city, so you can't get gouged if neighborhood suddenly becomes popular, etc...in other words it's a guarantee if you can pay the rent when you get it, you can pay it as the years go by...).  I lost my last rent-stabilized lease back in 2006 because I was in London.  I do not plan to make the same mistake twice.

The apartment is on the 5th floor of a walk-up so I'll never have to join a gym but it is a real one-bedroom, which I so wanted and there is a real kitchen with counter space and new appliances.  All this for less rent than I'm paying now.

This is because I am moving (drum roll please) East of Broadway.  I wrote a long post about the idiocy of the West/East Broadway divide a couple months ago so will not repeat it, other than to say because I am not freaked out by living "East of Broadway" my rent is going down and my space is expanding considerably.  I'll take the trade.