W42ST Daily 4/22/2020

I finally caught up with Liana Pavane this week. She’d originally reached out to me in early March as “founder of TTYL – a tech-free community dedicated to human connection.” Her mission: to help people embrace a healthier relationship with technology.

We’d planned to meet at her event on Thursday March 12, an epic #TBT pop-up party going back to the 90s for one night only. The catch? You can’t go back to the 90s with your phone. Check your phone at the door and get to enjoy a tech-free evening. There will be board games, play dough, Polaroids…

Yesterday, Liana said the event was due to be featured on CBS but in the end “it was cancelled – sorry, not cancelled, postponed. Cancelled is negative.”

We’d connected at first because we shared a vision of getting people off their phones and doing something more wholesome; Liana with in-person, real-time events, and W42ST with a print magazine that gave people permission to take a screen break. We won’t be doing that for some time.

We are paused. Life is going on. Liane is now hosting virtual events (but keeping to the rule of “no phones”). She’s tuned out the news and has compiled a fabulous list of links to stay connected. I hope this is some help in the balancing act we are all challenged by – how do we stay connected, but disconnected!

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NEW YORK STORIES 
“I basically formed a coalition of all of the Broadway stitchers who were normally creating Broadway costumes, who are now at a standstill, but have this skill that’s really necessary. Essentially, I’ve transformed our studios into a gown factory.” Read the story of this band of stitchers at w42st.com.

PRESSING PLAY
Writing this (and with a little research), we’d not be hitting pause, or pressing pause, without Dutch engineer Lou Ottens. He spearheaded the development of the Philips cassette tape and players back in the early 1960s. Thx Lou!

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting very, very bored with my Spotify playlists. Whatever new mix that I try, it just seems to sound the same. I’ve been looking for variety.

This week, I had two virtual coffees with a musical theme (hit me up for a virtual coffee date here). In both we talked about playing music during the pause.  

Stuart Brown talked about his radio station, Sounds of Broadway. It’s a passion project that is gaining real momentum. For anyone who needs a musical Broadway fix from every era, this is the place 24/7 . And from 8pm-10pm every evening Stuart takes requests.

I also chatted to my friend Aimee. Another Brit, ex-BBC. She’s surviving on W42nd St by listening to BBC Radio 6. After our coffee I dowloaded the BBC iPlayer Radio App and tuned in for ad-free delight. I hit on a 2012 interview with Simon Le Bon. And there’s some great music. I hope you enjoy too.

WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Sad to say, Hell’s Kitchen’s hub of improv excellence, the Upright Citizens Brigade, is no more. Shed a tear…

Suzy Darling of the Pocket Bar echoes what many small businesses are feeling right now in this interview with ABC News. See who answers her…

How Susie Mosher and a song about her son’s changing table have become an internet sensation. Change here…

Advance warning of air activity tonight. Choppers out…

It’s Earth Day! Join NYC Parks for a host of virtual workshops, starting at noon. Dig deeper…

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