$5 at ALDI

If you're not familiar with ALDI, you're forgiven. The grocery store is relatively new here in the States, though you're probably familiar with a chain they own: Trader Joe's.

Now, it's not a perfect store - at least, by American sensibilities. They're not particularly convenient. (Case in point: the closest one to my Manhattan apartment is in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.) They won't have everything you're looking for, though they'll have quite a bit. If you want to use a cart, you have to put down a 25-cent deposit (you get it back at check-out). You bag your own groceries, and provide your own bags. Oh, and no credit cards. Cash and pin-based debit cards only.

So why even bother? They have some organic produce, some gluten-free items, and some items similar to store brand items you'd find at the aforementioned Trader Joe's. But the real reason to go is their price-point. It's like shopping at Wal-Mart without dancing with the devil.

After reading yet another article about this store and what they bring to the table, I decided it was time I checked this place out for myself. I gave myself a challenge: to see how far I could get with $5. I walked out with two cans of beans, a dozen eggs, two bell peppers, and a box of mushrooms for a grand total of $4.91.

I put my bounty into my tote bag, tucked that nine cents in change back into my pocket, and managed to restrain myself from victoriously skipping all the way home. It was tempting, but would have jostled the eggs.

The Guardian loves THE HONEYCOMB TRILOGY

The Guardian just named The Honeycomb Trilogy as one of the Top 10 New York theatre experiences of 2015. It is such a treat to see our show short-listed with these amazing productions. Long live House Four!

tonight, we dine in Venice

It's that week. The one where I have no - and I do mean no - money, but there's two cans of sardines, a can of tomatoes, and some finely-ground cornmeal for polenta in the pantry, some dying basil near the window, a half dried-up nub of garlic on top of the microwave, and the remnants of some parm-reg in the fridge. 

A proper Italian will rage that I topped it with cheese, but the fish came out of a can, and they can get over it.  I'm Sicilian (among other things), and I do what I want. But mostly I give thanks every damned day that I was raised on the kitchen counter by good cooks, and that I know how to feed myself. 

Tonight, we dine in Venice.

Misty Copeland's breaking ground

I know Misty Copeland has been getting a lot of press lately for her recent (well-deserved) promotion to American Ballet Theatre.  That's a big deal, a huge deal, but it's not what I'm going to talk about here. What I'm currently clasping my hands in delight over is the fact that Copeland is making her Broadway debut and performing in ON THE TOWN at the Lyric Theater.

It makes sense, really. ON THE TOWN is dance (indeed, ballet) heavy for a musical, and she's a delightful choice for the part. To be fair, she's not really a singer. But does she really need to do everything when she does what she does so very well? (For that matter, do any of us? Could we all just own what we're really good at, and be enough for once?)

But the truly magical thing for me here is that, as an artist, she has bravely thrown herself headlong into a milieu that is not her forte. She didn't say, "Eh, you know what, I'm not really a trained singer. I don't know if I can pull off a Broadway musical. I think I'll pass." What she said, and what she's saying every night that she's out there on that stage, is Yes; let's do this. She's knocking the ball out of the park for what she's there to do, widening her creative reach, and allowing herself to play.

Here's to all of us doing a little more of that.

web series in progress: A Guy/Girl Walks Into a Bar

A few outtakes from my day on set for the comedy web series A Guy/Girl Walks Into a Bar. Such a fun day. We're hoping to have it online this fall; stay tuned for updates! Photos by permission of Wide Eyed Productions. 

Top and bottom shots by Kristin Skye Hoffmann

Middle shot by yours truly

what we make of it

On the lean days - and this is one of them - I am grateful for creative opportunities and the roof over my head, that I was taught how to cook, for the food on my plate, and the cheap (but not at all bad) wine in my glass.

Exciting news to come in the next couple of days. Onwards.

Last call: Boomerang Theatre Co's crowd-pleasing production of LICKSPITTLES!

A photo posted by @animasolaarts on May 11, 2015 at 8:12pm PDT

It's closing week for Boomerang Theatre Co.'s production of Johnna Adams' crowd-pleasing verse comedy! Get your $15 discount tickets with the promo code BOOM2015. Come play!