Dear Diary,

It cooled off a bit yesterday evening, after the initial rain, which was fortunate since there was a really cool Target fashion show in Rockefeller Center where the runways ran up and down the building. The models (athletes?) were on ropes so they were walking and dancing down the "runways" like Spiderman!

Here's a little rundown:

Target Stores will turn New York City's Rockefeller Center into a vertical catwalk for a p.r.-driven fashion show next week.

Target's July 27 stunt will feature 15 acrobats (in harnesses) walking down nine floors of Rockefeller Center in clothing from Target's fall collection from designers Mossimo, Liz Lange and Isaac Mizrahi, per news reports. A traditional runway on the ground will host another 50 models.

Yet ANOTHER reason why I could never be a model!

So today is a chilly 75 degrees. A perfect day for Broadway in Bryant Park! Every Thursday in the summer at 12:30pm in Bryant Park (Sixth avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets) you can go and listen to great Broadway show numbers for free!

Today I went and heard selections from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Chicago and Wicked.

What fun! The park was packed with all sorts -- kids, tourists, old and young, business people, you name it. There is free WIFI hookup, free reading material and lots of chairs. What a great public space!

First they had the Chitty people accompanied by piano, which was lovely. They sang "Truly Scrumptious", "Hushabye Mountain" and of course, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Apparently the car is the most expensive special effect ever created for the musical stage! I can totally see that show working in a large theater. I thought the introduction to "Truly Scrumptious" was charming: (I'm paraphrasing a bit...the sound was a bit choppy at times):

Kids: Is your name Truly?
Truly: Yes, you should meet my sisters, Madly and Deeply...
Kids: Seriously?
Truly: No, he's my brother!

Then next came Spelling Bee. This is a show that needs to be done in a more intimate setting. Half the fun is seeing the expressions on their faces. They did a great job, but it lost something without the intimacy. They also sang with piano.

Next up was Chicago. Low marks for using tracks! It really takes away from the whole "live" thing if the chorus that is singing behind you, isn't behind you! Although "Class" done by Carol Wood and Luba Mason was quite good, despite the karaoke back up!

Finally we got Wicked, who brought their own band -- yeah to live music! The Elphaba standby (Saycon Sengbloh) and Galinda standby (Stacie Morgain Lewis) were very good and they finished off the concert with "For Good", my favorite song from the show.

So guess where I'll be next Thursday at 12:30 pm...

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