New York is full of Celebs

Greetings from the Big Apple. Sometimes you’re reminded of what an interesting town you live in by some of the fascinating and famous people you bump into here in New York City.

A few weekends ago, I went to see the opening of Kembra Pfahler’s show at a Chelsea gallery. This performance artist/musician from the infamous band, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, celebrated her show with a live performance of nude and painted look-alikes who piled on each other at the end in a human pyramid and were doused in a yogurt-like substance emitted from a turkey-baster by a Kabuki-like crazed crone. As wild as the onstage antics were, the goth, freak and rock n’ roll crowd was almost as interesting as the show. Standing just behind me was a luminous Debbie Harry! Blondie’s rock goddess was breathtakingly beautiful up close, and was accompanied by a hip, young posse including current punk princess, Theo Kogan, of the Lunachicks. I was hanging with rocker Adena of Coolgrrrls’ “NY at Nite” fame.

Blondes do have more fun in this City when they get to spot some of their favorites. Trucking through the theater district last week, I spotted a TV shoot where giant sprinklers had been set against the Edison Café to create the illusion of a heavy rainstorm. Extras hurried back and forth with umbrellas, and then the star of the shoot popped out, holding a newspaper above her head to ward off the raindrops. It was none other than newly-bobbed blonde, Sarah Jessica Parker and I was witnessing the shooting of my beloved Sunday night show, “Sex in the City”. Another fan and I jumped up and down together in excitement.

I was back on Broadway the next day to attend the lavish musical, “Aida”. This theatrical event stars Simone, who is the daughter of legendary jazz singer Nina Simone, and who possesses some amazing vocal chords and stage presence of her own. Aida, the Nubian princess turned slave, falls in love with a handsome Egyptian prince amid amazing stage lighting and sets. This is not an intellectual drama by any means, but the Disney production packs an entertainment punch. During intermission, just before the curtain rose for the second act, the audience began to murmur and stare, as a diminutive Elton John strolled down the aisle. Elton John wrote the music for Aida with Tim Rice’s lyrics and had popped in to check out some recent changes to the show, while in New York for a series of concerts with Billy Joel. The audience stood up and cheered the pop star at the Palace theater that night.

Broadway is abuzz with new shows and casting changes. “The Producers” has replaced Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick with British actor Henry Goodman, and former “Wings” and current “Once and Again” star Steven Weber. I spotted Stephen Weber a few days ago on 57th Street, lugging what looked like a large laundry bag, and I have to say that this actor is amazingly good-looking in person! Other stars currently gracing the NY theater scene include Anne Bancroft, Kathleen Turner, Jason Biggs, Alicia Silverstone, John Lithgow, Willem Dafoe, and Frances McDormand. Wow, the lights are bright on Broadway!

Still waiting for Spring weather in this town, and my fashion forecast is that it is going to be full of bohemian gypsy girls, “rich hippies”, and peasant blouse-wearing, slouch bag-dragging, sandal-clad women this Spring and Summer. Eyes are smoky and lips are nude. Stock up on brown leather accessories and enjoy the ride! I’ll visit you again soon from the fields of Manhattan in “New York Tales” Cheers, Kiki