Missing a Bit of 'Glee'?

I watch "Glee" every week. Partly because I like the cute freshman show with inventive and impressive musical performances. This Wednesday night ritual is also because of the company I keep, however: two of the girls I live with are what some might label "Gleeks." I adore them, and have come to really enjoy this fall's somewhat unlikely musical television hit as well.

In the recent episode "Vitamin D," the show furthered what have become increasingly darker turns. We're already dealing with baby drama on two fronts. There's the hysteric pregnancy/cover up scheme of Mr. Will Schuester's unlikeable wife, preventing Matthew Morrison's character from leaving the Mrs. and ending up with Emma, the quirky, germaphobic guidance counselor. Then, there's the teen pregnancy and baby-daddy drama of abstinence champion and head cheerleader Quinn, preventing another hookup we want to watch amidst the song and dance numbers--Lea Michele's Rachel and Cory Monteith's Finn.

Now, said guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury has gotten engaged to sloppy schmuck football coach Ken Tanaka. Not only is Emma dating him merely because of her desolation about Will's unavailability, but she agrees to marry Ken, live across town, have no witnesses, and keep the arrangement a secret because, she says upon accepting, she fears being alone forever.

Add in a key subplot where Mrs. Schuester, growing suspicious of the Will-Emma potential, becomes the school nurse and gets the glee club kids amped up on over-the-counter cold medication, and we have a recipe for some dark drama. And crystal meth, as indicated by the FBI's arrest of one character buying up so many decongestants at Mrs. Schuester's direction. The kids' high led to some great performances in a mashup competition, but that's really beside the point. The music and the--perhaps somewhat faint--authenticity of the characters' stories is increasingly overshadowed by these plot twists.

"Glee" has thus far defied the skeptical predictions of a quick loss of enthusiasm and fast fade for the musical television series. Adding depth and dramatic plotlines is a great move to keep audiences tuning in, but so far, there's a lot of disproportionally heavy drama without much justification.

New York Musical Theatre Festival: 'Street Lights' Clip

For those who have seen, have heard of, or want to hear of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's new musical "Street Lights," here's a song from the new recording, available online and at shows. The show is already slated for a professional staging at the Old Globe in San Diego this February and future possibilites hover on the horizon.

I've been listening to the soundtrack thanks to my job. This number, "Stand Clear," performed by Krystal Brown, Desiree Rodriguez, Chad Carstarphen, and the Street Lights Singers, utilizes sounds recorded from the New York City subway to further the realistic, urban feeling of both the song and the show. Joe Drymala, who recorded the album and wrote the music, lyrics, and book, said, "I feel like the music is what has been selling this show. It sounds like normal radio pop music that can even stand on its own." Take a listen and see if you agree.

Flatiron District Walking Tour

Every Sunday at 11 am, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership offers free guided walking tours of the Flatiron District. On a “90 minute journey through this vibrant neighborhood,” anyone with appropriate footwear and time can set out with to learn about 46 Manhattan landmarks in the Ladies’ Mile and Madison Square North Historic Districts. Yet many like sleeping late on a Sunday, do not enjoy traveling in packs, have difficulty hearing tour guides address dozens on busy streets, or otherwise want to avoid the tour scenario. The Partnership has these people covered: the self-guided version online.

While easily downloaded, the self-guided tour brochure layout is difficult to print and, as it is formatted for a larger page, can be difficult to read when reduced to standard paper size. The PDF itself can be opened on BlackBerry and iPhone devices for the eco-conscious user—though only when emailed as an attachment.

This tour is an excellent resource for visitors seeking a comprehensive rundown of the neighborhood’s many historical points of interest. That being said, several stops are rather minor. In fact, some are both minor and no longer exist. The written material does not do much to bridge the historical and the contemporary in a neighborhood that has drastically changed over the 156 years accounted for in the tour. The result is somewhat dry and requires a bit too much imagination to appreciate the bygone buildings.

For those seeking a historically rich experience and a thorough grasp of the origins of the Flatiron District, there is a wealth of information in this self-guided tour. The tour would also make a great leaping-off point for any Flatiron visitor to learn about some of the iconic buildings it holds, and for the price, you can’t complain.


The guided tour version is held every Sunday at 11 am and meets at the Southwest corner of Madison Square Park at 23rd Street and Broadway.