Update

Tuesday July 31, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

I went to the closing night party for Grey Gardens sunday night and it was absolutely wonderful!!! It was held at the Bryant Park Grill right behind the NY Public Library on Fifth Ave. They served hors d'vores, steak, Pene pasta, ravioli, and chicken marsala. They had a full bar and an extensive dessert table. And all of this was absolutely free to the revelers! There were also 3 psychics, and 2 photo booths. I was able to have drinks and laughs with Christine Ebersol, Mary Louise Wilson, John McMartin, Matt Cavenaugh, Asa Somers, Scott Frankel (the lyricist), Jerry (the real Jerry on whom the character in the play is written), and Kelly Gonda. Kelly is the founder of East of Doheny the major producer of Grey Gardens. So, it was a very entertaining evening. I also visited with friends i have made with the merchandising and backstage staff.

I've spent pretty much all day working on my new website and IT HAS BEEN LAUNCHED!!! You can now check me out on www.jaredrpike.com!! I'm still having some technical difficulties with the navigation bar and need to put some more info in places but it is up on the web now.

And I will leave you with this thought:



John Raymond Barker, Christine Ebersole, and I at the Closing Night Party for Grey Gardens.



Jared

This week in review.....

Saturday July 29, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

This has been a very exciting week for me. I have narrowed the headshot selection down to the top two and the photographer is currently doing her touchup work on them and should get the completed high quality files to me soon so i can get my headshots, postcards, and business cards printed.

Wednesday, I went to see Grey Gardens. It was amazing. I liked the second act better than the first becasue i like the music style better. But Christine Ebersol was phenomenal!!! I got her autograph following the show.

Friday, I had lunch with David Bell, a playwright who grew up in Houston and actually went to Sam Houston for a year before transfering to UofH. We had a delightful lunch and discussed the joys and trials of moving to NYC, and, different aspects of the business. When I got home after lunch I had an email from him telling me that his best friend is a talent agent and that I should mention that i was his friend and I could get an "in" with an agent. Friday night, I went to see a show called "Guilty" at the Acorn theatre. It was absolutely dreadful. But after the show i met up with some friends at the Walter Kerr (home of Grey Gardens till tomorrow afternoon). I've made friends with some of the Marketing people there. So i was hanging out with them and pretending to be part of the marketing team and selling Grey Gardens stuff. While standing out side the theatre I met Martin Sheen and almost met Cheetah Rivera. After the stage door had cleared I went over and joined a group conversation with Christine. She is SOOOOOO AMAZING!! Also in that group conversation was William Sledd (who is rapidly becoming a fashion spokesperson for BRAVO). When Christine had to leave, the group convo moved down to Broadway to Tasti-Delight for some ice cream. After Ice cream, William, John, and I went out to a diner for a while and talked. It was a great evening.

In other news, be on the look out for the launch of my new website: www.jaredrpike.com. I now own the domain and am building the website. I will post a notice here when I offically launch. THis blog will still be your source for all my actvities here in NY but the new website will be my professional PR and Marketing website.

I just recieved an invitation to the closing night party for Grey Gardens tomorrow night. YAY!!!

Jared

Game Day

Sunday July 22, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in a landslide 21-4!!!! It was a wonderful day in the Bronx!!!

Jared

Friday July 20, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

Change of plans. Before I bought a ticket to Grey Gardens, my friend John called and offered me a free ticket to see Xanadu tonight and a ticket to Grey Gardens next week. I said sure. We are also going to see a midnight show of Hairspray tonight. This will be fun. Also got my gym membership today to Ludlow Fitness and went to work out for the first time since i've been here. It was fun. The gym is independently owned so it's not as big as NYSC but it gets the job done and the staff is friendly and helpful.

Jared

Wednesday July 18, 2007, Brooklyn, NY

So, you may have heard that there was an explosion in NYC today. I am happy to report that I was nowhere near Grand Central Station at the time that the steam pipe exploded. I was safely attending a play in Tribecca.

As for the Job search... I have narrowed down to the top six headshots and by the end of tomorrow hope to narrow down to the top two so I can get them printed. I have my envelopes and mailing labels all ready to go for the mass mailing to Casting directors for stage, film, and television in New York City. I am working on building my connections. I went out to dinner with the friend of a friend who works as the Backstage Doorman for the Walter Kerr Theatre that currently houses the show Grey Gardens. I am going to go see the show on friday, then will recieve a backstage tour and the chance to meet with Christine Ebersol who won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical. THis guy is also good friends with Cherry Jones who won the Tony for Best Actress in a Play for Doubt. I will get the chance to meet her the next time she is in the City. So I'm working on hobknobing with the elite of Broadway. THat's sure to come in handy. He's also mentioned possibly being able to get me a job working as an usher on broadway. It's nice to finally start to find some friends up here.

Tonight Veronica, Johnny and I went to see a portion of Susan Lori Parks' 365 Plays/365 Days. It was held at the Synagogue for the Arts in Tribeca and one of our former classmates from SAM, Cadian Dumas, was playing in it. We also met Michelle Vanegas (another SAM grad) there. It was a fun evening.

Anyway, I'm here. I'm still settling and networking. I feel like things are moving really slow, but talking with people who have been in my shoes before-- I'm actually a little ahead of the game. So, that's encouraging. It's clear I know what I am doing. I just want to do it a little faster. But, yeah, Life is good.

Jared

Week 2

Thursday July 11, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

So, Week 2 in the big city is winding to a close. This week has been about building my Actor's Toolbox and settling in to the apartment. I papered myself with a day at the spa on Tuesday to get my skin preped and pretty for today's Headshot shoot. I've ordered pre-cut 8x10 resume paper. I turned in my official resume to the Atlantic theatre to work as their asst. Wardrobe supervisor and will be meeting with Adriana (the supervisor) sometime in the near future. I went to IKEA and bought some more furniture for my room. So I now have a desk, chair, bookcase, and cabinet space. And of course I have been exploring the wonders of Bed, Bath and Beyond, and THE CONTAINER STORE! Those are wonderful places!!!!! We got internet but still don't have a wireless router so I am still stealing for a few more days.

I just joined a group that gets me $4 tickets to several shows and events. I just got tickets to the Yankees game on the 22nd for $4!!!!! I'm excited.

Anyway, I'm tired and need to cook some dinner then sort through 400someodd headshots to find the perfect one. Some of you may be getting Emails asking your opinions. Hope all is well with "youse guys".

Jared

Week 1 Recap

I want to write about my first week and recap... but the stolen internet is being stubborn. We got our own internet and cable today but we don't have a wireless router yet. so i will write more when i have a better connection.

Pictures

Friday July 5, 2007 Brooklyn, New York

I stole some pics of the apartment from Johnny and added a pic of my bedroom. I have been really bad about taking pictures thus far. I will try to improve.

This is the outside of our building. That is my window in the lower left hand corner.

This is the Middle School across the street.

This is the main hallway of the building. My door is on the Left.










The Kitchen.










The Backyard.










My bedroom.

Corrections

Tuesday July 3, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

so, when i went to check on the exact time and place for the Balloon Glow and found out it was at Coney Island Park, OHIO!!! So we didn't go. Instead we went out to a nice dinner at Blue Moon in Chelsea. We then met Steph at the Atlantic and while waiting in the alley way we met Victor Garber. That was cool. We walked with Steph to the Subway. She's going to meet up with us tomorow for the fireworks.

Jared

Getting Settled

Tuesday July 3, 2007 Brooklyn, NY

Since I moved into my new apartment, I have been rushin around trying to get things settled and ready to start a life here. I bought a bed that I am waiting to have delivered...(and I am ready for it!!!!) I have purchased a new cell phone which should arrive on thursday. We set up internet/cable/digital phone service which will be installed on Friday (till then i am stealing someone else's wireless). Last night i set up my head shot consultation with a photographer. We will be meeting thrusday afternoon. So I have been busy. Today I am going into Manhattan to go shopping for some nice clothes to wear for my headshot. Later tonight Veronica, Johnny, and I are talking about going out to Coney Island for the Balloon Glow and fireworks that follow. Then tomorrow we are going down to Battery Park to see the Independence Day fireworks over the statue of Liberty.

There has been a lot of confusion over what my address here is. I think part of that was miscommunications on the phone. But I will clear it up now that I know for sure.

Jared R. Pike
173 Hopkins St
Apt 1L
Brooklyn, NY 11206

and my new cell phone number (as of THURSDAY) will be (718)354-9256

Well, It's time to go shopping.

Jared

DAY 1

Sunday July 1, 2007 East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY

I'm HERE!!!! I landed at JFK about 11 am EST.and took the subway to my apartment, getting there about 12:30. I spent most of the afternoon unpacking my boxes and settling. My roommates and I made a trip to Target in Flatbush to get some things we needed... and that was interesting. The Target was two stories with an escalator and a special escalator for the buggies. Veronica's dad drove his truck and traffic was dreadful. I'm glad i don't have to drive here. Last night I went inot manhattan to try to find a Whole Foods down on Houston St. I was unsuccessful... but i went to the Atlantic and met Stephanie and her Mom. I went back to Astoria with them to get my stuff that i stored at her house last time I was up here. THen I headed back to my apartment in Brooklyn, made up my pallet on the floor, and went to sleep. Slept late today and about to go into manhattan again and go shopping for some things i need. But things are great here and will get even better as i accrue more furniture.

Jared