I went to the opening night of Grey Gardens and sat front and center, because I’m way fancy like that. I also had cocktails prior and sushi after. I know, right?!?

Here are my thoughts on Grey Gardens:

1) I think maybe making a musical about two women who go totally bonkers and eat cat food out of the cans and live in squalor after being at the height of society is sort of odd. Like maybe a musical is not quite the genre that best matches the mood of the story. Like at all.

2) The final act is all about the women being bonkers and living in squalor. And, with the exception of a few bit roles passing through, it’s just the two of them being crazy together. Not much there in the way of narrative development. I mean, once people are crazy, that’s about a done deal.

3) I liked the first act, despite the dude sitting next to me falling asleep here and there. I like the tension between the mother and daughter. It was a pretty good dramatization of that thing that happens where you love your mom and want to please her at every moment and also want to rebel and ignore every single thing she’s ever said and also love her and know she’s right and also want to rebel and also GOD WHY IS SHE ALWAYS RIGHT?!?

4) I liked being at Portland Center Stage. It’s a beautiful space and I also like going to plays. I did, however, wear my new high heeled sandals for the second night in a row and now I have a blister on my toe that looks like a growth.

In summary: I like getting dressed up and watching people act out uncomfortable situations. And being drunk. [Insert line about a strip club here.]

So, forgive me if this is OLD news. But, I’m going to tell you about it anyway. My most favoritist artist, Olafur Eliasson is doing an installation in New York. But before you start clicking things or rolling your eyes because who fucking cares about art, Eliasson ain’t no dude with a spray paint can and a bottle of Elmers crafting things from cow’s brains and swizzle sticks. Olafur Eliasson once changed the weather as an art installation. CHANGED THE WEATHER.

He also did a scent tunnel, where you walked through this tunnel and were overwhelmed by the scent from the plants growing around you. This one got its own art book complete with scratch and smell pages.

I’ve never actually seen Eliasson’s work in person, but it is a dream of mine to do so. One of the few regrets of my life was missing The Weather Project, but I had no idea it even existed. I went to the Turbine Room a few years later because I just had to see the space, and it is huge. Gigantic. A room that’s, in and of itself, a work of art. When Steve and I went there, the installation was something to do with sound and had nothing to do with Eliasson. And I was three weeks pregnant, which means I was dying. And I had to sit in that room and die and eat ginger nuts, which are British ginger cookies, as Steve walked through the various sound walls. And then I ate a scone with clotted cream and died a little less for about five minutes.

Here’s my point: if you’re in New York (Chris) check it out. And take some pictures and let me know what it’s like. Eliasson is one of my heroes and I really would love to meet him someday just to get a glimpse of someone who thinks on such a large scale. I mean, who goes into a room and thinks, “Oh, I’ll just change the weather in here. No prob.” Or, “I know, waterfalls. In New York!”