On a sunny Tuesday this past April, a few hours before the Met's gala performance of Strauss's Die Helena, the dramatics have already started across the street, outside the pre- and post-opera hot spot Café Fiorello. Despite the balmy weather, all the outdoor tables are empty. But the sidewalk is packed with protesters. Behind police barricades, they shout, sing, and carry signs: "Stop Stealing Tips" and "Being Dehumanized, Being Abused." Some placards bear the image of Martin... More >>>