The New York Public Library is so much more than just books. If you go to nypl.org and click on the events tab, you can find performances, concerts, lectures, coloring for adults, movies ...
While nypl.org has listings for Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, they don’t include the other two boroughs. Hey, I don’t make the rules, I just let you know about them. Anyhoo, this post is about movies.
I attended a Friday afternoon showing of Almost Famous (2000). I enjoyed it a lot. The story was good, the cast was good, and the afternoon was fun. Attendance was light (about ten people) but that might have been partially due to the weather (cold but not frigid). Here’s one of the odd things about seeing a movie with a small audience. There were a couple of things in the film that were pretty darn funny. Alas, there was very little audible laughter. I like to think there was at least some inward chuckling going on. Without spoiling the plot too much, it was about a wannabe writer trying to get a story written and printed in Rolling Stone. As a result, the music (rock ’n’ roll) was not quite to my taste, though it made for quite a few interesting scenes—backstage hijinks, lots of booze, beer and dope, and one almost overdose. Oh, and the protagonist was younger than everyone thought he was, which contributed to the arc of the story as well as to some of the humor. Yeah, there was slight intrigue, fledgling romance scenes, and a deflowering (not actually shown on screen).
This was at the 53rd Street Library (Manhattan between Fifth and Sixth Avenues). It’s a weekly series, and upcoming movies (none of which I’ve seen) include Zoolander, Memento, The Prestige, and Pan’s Labyrinth. I’m sure I won’t attend them all, but I may see one or two.
All of this is to say that there’s a lot out there for free and for fun. Some (not all) library branches also have jigsaw puzzles in partial stages of completion. Anyone (even non-library-cardholders) can join in the fun. My point is—go exploring. And have a happy new year!
ConcertMeister
