Friends from NYC and Arizona gather for family-style dinner in Little Italy
So funny how our true friends are never really far away. Having just spent 2 months performing with Kevin in Seattle, I joined him and his partner, Enrico in NYC. They welcomed me at their cute Lower East Side townhouse for the balance of my stay in the City. Labor Day weekend some of our dearest pals came to visit and we all had a blast! Kevin, an official walking tour guide of NYC, lead us through Central Park-known by me as the Human Zoo. We also enjoyed an evening in Little Italy followed by drinks at the bar where I worked: cute, small bar at La Fayette & Grand on the edge of SoHo. I may not have mentioned my good fortune in landing a bar tending gig when I flew in from Texas. If you take a trip to the City, visit the La Fayette Bar and say hello to the gang for me.
Central Park on a hot holiday Sunday afternoon. Oops the statue's head is missing...
I was lucky to have substantial time in NYC. So many people, so much trash, so little personal space. However, the City has a rhythm and diversity like no other which clarifies why people from all over the world head to its shores. After about a month of walking the streets in the famed City, I finally scheduled my flight(s) back out into the world. Before I spew about more of my gypsy adventure, here are some more photos from NYC...
The boardwalk at Coney Island.
Change is great, but sometimes the new replacing the old can suck. Rumor has it Coney Island is losing its carnival attire to become a sprawl of condos for the newly rich who want beach front property not too far from NYC action. So I headed out to the beach one last time. It was an amazing day of boardwalk music, sunshine, wind, and lots of dancing. The DJs were were spinning and everyone else, too. The community was out for an all-ages bash on the water. FUN!!!
Thought I'd get to ride the Wonder Wheel, but the sun sank quickly after the dancing and I was freezing in the breeze.
The Pickle Festival~LES 2007...
Whoa, a pickle extravaganza right in my neighborhood! Who knew I was living in New York's Pickle District? It's not what it once was, but what is? The lines formed around the block for fabulous pickled treats at the 7th Annual International Pickle Festival. I waited too long to get a cool T-shirt, so I settled for a pickle button. We know how I hate lines, but I cued up for the little green delights.
Harlem called out to me one weekend. I hadn't traveled very far out of my various hoods and decided to check out this famed small jazz dive. Lady Day on the wall was a good sign. However, I was too early for the real music. Nevertheless, I soaked in the vibe and felt a bit of the Harlem hey-day spirit as I walked the boulevard.
I had a wonderful NYC adventure for which I am grateful. As I look over the months I've wandered the planet thus far, I'm reminded of the huge role my friends and family play in making this portion of my dream come true. Everything I've been blessed to do has been simplified due to your love and support. I love you and am ever grateful!!!
New York is behind me now. I flew into Miami yesterday to visit my brother before I leave the States again. Z-Free is such an inspiration! When the roads pointed here, I knew we needed to energize each other before the physical distance became greater. Today we swam in the warm Atlantic Ocean and visited one of his healing friends, Kai- an older Asian woman who makes magic potions from her garden and drinks homemade wine in thimble-sized dixie cups. When asked if I was "good at drinking", my brother and I both laughed heartily, simultaneously echoing the answer to let her know the thimble wouldn't do.
St. Nick's Jazz Club in Harlem...
Harlem called out to me one weekend. I hadn't traveled very far out of my various hoods and decided to check out this famed small jazz dive. Lady Day on the wall was a good sign. However, I was too early for the real music. Nevertheless, I soaked in the vibe and felt a bit of the Harlem hey-day spirit as I walked the boulevard.
I had a wonderful NYC adventure for which I am grateful. As I look over the months I've wandered the planet thus far, I'm reminded of the huge role my friends and family play in making this portion of my dream come true. Everything I've been blessed to do has been simplified due to your love and support. I love you and am ever grateful!!!
On the beach in Miami with The Uber Artist...
New York is behind me now. I flew into Miami yesterday to visit my brother before I leave the States again. Z-Free is such an inspiration! When the roads pointed here, I knew we needed to energize each other before the physical distance became greater. Today we swam in the warm Atlantic Ocean and visited one of his healing friends, Kai- an older Asian woman who makes magic potions from her garden and drinks homemade wine in thimble-sized dixie cups. When asked if I was "good at drinking", my brother and I both laughed heartily, simultaneously echoing the answer to let her know the thimble wouldn't do.
