2005 New York City

The last time Bruce was in New York was in 1984 after I moved there to live with DJ. He was pretty freaked out by the experience. In the next twenty years he went frequently and even spent the night on the floor in La Guardia Airport during the Great East Coast Blackout of 2003. Since he survived that just fine, we decided to do an adventure in the Big Apple after my show and his customer visit. This is a first for us. It was our first Big City Adventure.

The Brooklyn Bridge without tourists.

Tourists. Sheech.

I ain't no Art Shay. I'm trying but I'm still young. This is our Art Shay tribute.
(Or it is our tribute to pigeons. I forget.)

I haven't read the next photo to tell you what this is but the person on the mast and the helicopter make an interesting composition.

My old neighborhood.

View from the Observation Deck

View from the Observation Deck

At Rockefeller Center. I had to pee after viewing this.

Salad growing at 30 Rock

Rockefeller Center

Rockefeller Center Skating Rink

More salad at 30 Rock

The famous 21 Club.

Our first stop was Times Square and on the way he noticed The Brill Building. This is one of the most famous places in all of music. It's history is found on the official Brill Building Website.

He can prove he went to Times Square.

We also hit the Virgin Mega Store.

The Tush. It was the best looking tush walking reound without supervision.

The Face Above The Tush.

"Why is this place so famous?"

Bruce's photo will be on the wall soon. Up there with Alice Cooper and Bruce Hornsby.

One half of a 1/2 pastrami and 1/2 corned beef combo. We took it home. We're going to donate it to a starving village in some third world country. They will eat for a month.

Rose Science Center

Rose Science Center

I'm not Penn and Teller but I'm going to take you behind the scenes of a BNEA trip. It always starts out with an itinerary which Bruce meticulously researches at the library and the Internet.

This time, however, a first occurred. I had to plan the order of the trip because I have extensive knowledge of NYC. I got everything planned and Friday was a hit. We did all three things on the list and, NO "U" turns!

More Brooklyn Bridge.

Carissa and Francesco at
The Empire State Building

Sometimes we just get lucky with strangers. Carissa and Francesco are from Toronto. (Almost sounds like a song lyric, doesn’t it?) I was watching Francesco perform a tonsillectomy on her for about ten minutes before Bruce came in to head down. He decided to find out what was going on and went out to speak to them.

It seems that Francesco brought her all the way up here to propose marriage. They have been dating for seven years or so and she was pretty surprised. We hope they got a room since they steamed up the viewing window glass with her acceptance.

Carissa shows off her new ring.

I get to take the first official engagement photo.

This is what I was watching from the warmth of the observation deck.

Bruce interrupts them after about three minutes of heavy breathing.

He asks them to smile for my camera and they do.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

We start the day late. Bruce slept in. 12 hours worth. By the time we got on the road, it was raining and overcast and cold. First Stop, Brooklyn Bridge, Second stop J&R Music World, Third stop Battery Park, Fourth stop Statue of Liberty park, Fifth stop Empire State Building. Sixth stop CBGB night club. We walked about ten miles. I’m tired.

Manhattan from Liberty Island.

Waiting for the boat to Liberty Island you can buy almost anything.

Wanna Rolex?

It is cold. Really. COLD.

Inside the Statue Visitor Center

Inside the Statue Visitor Center

Liberty Island

The base of the Statue

C B G B

There is a story to this but I’m going to bed now and will have to tell it tomorrow. G’day, mate.

CBGB was a well known early music club. A fixture for decades.

We had several stores we wanted to visit. This is JR Music.

Had to buy a tshirt.

The girls who greeted us at the door. We're married. Shoot.

Inside CBGB

Just get in line and wait.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Today was a better day. No rain, some sun, but cold, cold, cold !!!  We got up really early and went to the Statue of Liberty. Then, to the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center. Finally, to the Museum of Radio and Television to watch old TV programs. Finally, to Chinatown for dinner. Early to bed… got to get up early to go to work and home.