Author: Stacy Horn

I’m so glad I did this. Sweat was pouring off me non-stop, in rivers, but shockingly, lots of people came out in this insane weather to hear us. When they went to check the crowds before we went out, no one was there, and we were fine with that. There is simply no exaggerating how hot it is here. There’s nothing like urban heat. The buildings and streets and sidewalks soak up and radiate everything the sun puts out, so the temperature is not only amplified, the waves are coming at you from all directions.

But when we walked out people were everywhere. They were encouraged to walk among us and they did. They commented and talked while we sang, which sounds like it should have been annoying, but it was the exact opposite. It was exciting. It was like having roving sportcasters giving live assessments of our progress. I loved it.

Here is David Lang (composer), Simon Halsey (conductor) and Annie-B Parson (choreographer)!

I’ve posted about the premiere of a choral piece by David Lang called the public domain that is supposed to happen tomorrow, in the plaza of Lincoln Center. I’m one of 1,000 singers expected to participate. We’re supposed arrive by 11am and practice for hours in the sun, when the temperature is expected to have a real feel of 105 – 110 degrees (like today). Honestly, I’m starting to think this may not be advisable. It can’t be a good idea to be out in the sun for hours when it’s like this. I can see going ahead with the performance, it’s not a long piece, but perhaps we should rehearse elsewhere. Except, there’s movement and we do need to practice at least once in the plaza. I feel for Lang and everyone who have worked to make this happen.

I’m still in, but this really is so unfortunate weather timing. The pictures below are from the last rehearsal of my group and another.

They close the pool for a half an hour after thunder. Then they reassess whether or not the pool will be open. We had a incredible storm, so I may not swim tonight.

I know this sounds incredible, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rainbow. Or rather, I haven’t seen one in so many years I can’t remember the last time I saw one. From my roof, a few minutes ago! It’s so big across the whole sky I couldn’t fit the entire arc of the rainbow in … without falling off my roof.

I wish I understood pigeon behavior better.

I’ve just started working on the final section of my book, which will be about the Penitentiary on Blackwell’s Island. At first, I wasn’t all that into this section, I’m not a crime buff. But in the course of my research I’ve come across so many interesting stories to tell about what happened in the Penitentiary that now my problem is going to be narrowing it down to just a few.

A lot of famous people ended up in the Penitentiary, and I was going to cover them, but as I posted before, now I’m thinking I should mention them, but I should instead focus on the stories people haven’t heard. The problem with that is, fewer materials have survived. When someone well known gets into trouble not only is more written about it, those materials are saved and preserved. When it’s some poor schlub, they barely get a mention and those materials tend to get thrown away. It’s going to be a lot harder to uncover their stories.

But I love a challenge.

I keep the cat carrier out so the cats aren’t afraid at the sight of it. Bleecker likes to sleep in it because it sits right near one of Finney’s favorite sleeping spots.