So..I was in the city on Monday..and it was..it was back! Times Square had panhandlers, a woman garbed entirely in black garbage bags, a three card monte game, some homeless folks were back, wheeling their rubbermaid utilty carts through Central Park instead of up in the Bronx or wherever they were hiding, the The Naked Cowboy was peforming in jockey shorts, cowboy hat and boots and guitar on the median strip on Broadway. It was wonderful! Rudy's out and Mayor "420" Bloomberg doesn't seem to give a shit and NY is now NY instead of a Disney-like simulation. Of course, I do hope that the shooting doesn't come back. There was excessive shooting for a while there, but long live the sleaze and the weirdness! I hope graffiti is the next thing to make an appearance.

i hear ya, pat...sure do love that city..

the world's a sick place...thank god!!

I only know NYC, as a wide=eyed tourist, and yet, I've felt the city's indominable spirit.....New York "IS" and that "IS" is bigger than Giuliani's "clean-up" or, 9/11!!
Pat, Todd, good to hear that spirit is showing, again...not just in coping w/ tragedy, but, in everyday life...

that's wonderful news, pat! thanks for the report!

to be fair pat, the nekkid cowboy never left!
I think rudy-toody was kinda infatuated with the guy...
and as for times square... well they put in all those new buildings and theatres and stuff, but it never felt natural... and notably, they put Mdme Toussaud's on 42 St., and somehow it seems to evoke memories of old sleeze in a new package!

so you came into the city and didn't even call me for lunch? harumph!

Sorry, Arnie. We weren't there by lunchtime. Didn't get there til afternoon. Also, I don't have your work number. Where do you work, anyway?

I didn't know about the Naked Cowboy. I've been through Times Square in recent years but didn't hang around and I guess I was there when he was taking a break.
My sister was in the city yesterday (she doesn't know your work number either) and there was a bomb scare and Penn was closed. She was in Penn, waiting for her train home, I think, and got kicked out along with everyone. This gave her a chance to soak in the vibes, too and said she really felt like it wasn't the Stepford NY any more and there was more energy in the air.

Lol Arnie. What do you want for nuthin....??(kidder). Someday, I'll venture the city. If you see the guy that looks a lil more than lost, it's probley me....lol

Man those Dillards at Carnegie is temtation at best. Wish me luck getting Derek a job. His dissability just ran out, and his broken arm is on the mend. Derek is excited about visting the big Apple again. But that lil reminder of money talks and bull-shit walks. Nice to know my kids are willing to go 1/2 way with me tho. I musta maybe did somethin right???(think I was Dutch in another life)ral....Yes, seeing Pete the gang at Carnegie would be a wet Folk dream. Sounds like a song Johnny wrote?

ummmmm, hmmmmm, I think I really need to plan my first visit to NYC. If I'd only known ...

Now a dilemma for us. We've been hoping/planning on a trip to the church next fall. But Carnegie sounds like a not-to-be-missed event. Can't do both. What to do?

oh, that's a tough one, ceashel! i might lean toward carnegie as it sounds like a pretty special night, but carnegie and the church are two very different experiences. carnegie is hectic...the church is a much more relaxed time. lots of variables in this decision...and i think i'm being no help at all, so i'll shut up now.

That is a really tough one this year. Most years I'd say if you can only do one, do the church. The church shows are great for hanging out, getting to spend some relaxed time as a group and the shows are so special. A real treat for the regulars, because they're informal and usually different and they're all great. On the other hand, this Carnegie sounds amazing. If it helps at all, the fact that the church shows are being held over two weekends is complicating the group dynamic a lot. It's going to be a partial group on either weekend. Maybe a plot by Arlo to keep us from ganging up on him?

No, Deb, the input IS helping. And yours, Pat. And thanks, Baldwinville, too, for your e-mail. All your experience will help us make a decision (never easy, even with lots of information).

You know, Ceashel, if you were Deb, you'd be making hotel reservations for both events right now. Of course you'd have to remember to cancel the ones you don't use. Looking into that and the costs of each trip might help you decide. The Berks are at their most expensive in October, but even so the room rates don't come close to NYC and Thanksgiving weekend is busy in NY, too. It's a lot easier to eat inexpensively in the Berks, too. But other things, like a flight or car rental costs if they apply might come into play, too. Either way, it'd probably be a good idea to make reservations now, cancel later.

hi, cea! good to see you! sure, you can do both,,,! e-mail me, ok?

I've been kinda wondering which one to do also since it looks like I probably can't do both this year, and I'm leaning towards the Church gigs and then cruising on the Clearwater for a week or so...
Is there any consensus (I know, silly question) of which weekend most of us will be there and which weekend Larry's Official Annual Tailgate Party will occur?