That Was Quick
Aug. 21st, 2005 06:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
plumtreeblossomBack from New York. That was the fastest there-and-back trip ever. Prior to leaving I had seriously wanted to postpone it to any weekend other than this, but I had promised my online friend (platonic) a meet-up, and I had Brooklyn neighborhoods to investigate. So, off I went on the surprisingly-full-considering Fung Wah to the little budget hotel I've recently discovered on Broome Street.
My meet-up with my friend was awkward to surreal proportions. I had expected a degree of that, but this was an illustration of the fact that sometimes e-mail friendships should remain exclusively in that realm. I couldn't coax more that a single syllable out of him at a time, even with leading hook questions meant to invite easy discourse. After an hour I was already exhausted from having to do all the talking. I might have a lot of personality, but I don't have enough personality for two. I couldn't sustain both ends of the conversation anymore. For the first time ever in my life, I just called it quits and released myself from entertainment duty and let the uncomfortable silence have its way across the dinner table. I was beginning to get angry, to be honest. Enter the first of several saviors of the evening, Darian Cunning.
This kid was completely wonderful – a singer/songwriter with the most together jazz/fusion/folk/trance sound. At that point I would have been grateful for absolutely any music no matter how bad, so it was great that he was someone I could enjoy that much. I got to chat with him after the set (so sweet like an itty baby puppy!) and get myself on his mailing list. You should go see him when he plays your area, and if that area is Boston, he will.
In MareWorld, uncomfortable situations = cigarette every 10 minutes. That's what I was doing by the time we got to the next venue. Luckily, there was a talented piano bar chanteuse with a lovely soprano voice singing her Norah Jones-esque originals. The venue was quite tiny, and when her set was over, she sat down right next to me at the bar to watch the next act. I had a great conversation with her and her boyfriend, which later revealed that the boyfriend was a fellow former-Rochesterian (when you're from Rochester, you can't go to any large city without meeting other Rochester ex-pats. It's always funny when you do though, because wherever you are in the world, you have to talk about things like Garbage Plates and Abbott's Frozen Custard and The Bug Jar.). I tried to integrate my friend into the cheerful dialogue, to no effect. After saying goodnight (to all) at about 1:00 AM, I went back to my hotel by myself and sat in my room for 5 minutes, not tired in the least, and then went down to check out the bar beneath my hotel for more (blessedly easy) chatter.
In the morning my plan had been to get Il Lab gelato for breakfast and spend the day exploring some Brooklyn neighborhoods to see where I might want to consider living. But the humidity and heat were a serious problem, and so I only went to visit one neighborhood. As it turns out though, I do like me some Park Slope. I was seeing the Sunday morning version of it and a lot of things weren't open, but I got a very pleasant feeling from what I saw. Little bit crunchy, little bit coffehouse-nerdy culture, little bit of lots of things that would make me feel at home. So, that's one. I want to go back and check out more Brooklyn neighborhoods later in September when it's not so hot, and maybe drag one or two of y'all with me.
My meet-up with my friend was awkward to surreal proportions. I had expected a degree of that, but this was an illustration of the fact that sometimes e-mail friendships should remain exclusively in that realm. I couldn't coax more that a single syllable out of him at a time, even with leading hook questions meant to invite easy discourse. After an hour I was already exhausted from having to do all the talking. I might have a lot of personality, but I don't have enough personality for two. I couldn't sustain both ends of the conversation anymore. For the first time ever in my life, I just called it quits and released myself from entertainment duty and let the uncomfortable silence have its way across the dinner table. I was beginning to get angry, to be honest. Enter the first of several saviors of the evening, Darian Cunning.
This kid was completely wonderful – a singer/songwriter with the most together jazz/fusion/folk/trance sound. At that point I would have been grateful for absolutely any music no matter how bad, so it was great that he was someone I could enjoy that much. I got to chat with him after the set (so sweet like an itty baby puppy!) and get myself on his mailing list. You should go see him when he plays your area, and if that area is Boston, he will.
In MareWorld, uncomfortable situations = cigarette every 10 minutes. That's what I was doing by the time we got to the next venue. Luckily, there was a talented piano bar chanteuse with a lovely soprano voice singing her Norah Jones-esque originals. The venue was quite tiny, and when her set was over, she sat down right next to me at the bar to watch the next act. I had a great conversation with her and her boyfriend, which later revealed that the boyfriend was a fellow former-Rochesterian (when you're from Rochester, you can't go to any large city without meeting other Rochester ex-pats. It's always funny when you do though, because wherever you are in the world, you have to talk about things like Garbage Plates and Abbott's Frozen Custard and The Bug Jar.). I tried to integrate my friend into the cheerful dialogue, to no effect. After saying goodnight (to all) at about 1:00 AM, I went back to my hotel by myself and sat in my room for 5 minutes, not tired in the least, and then went down to check out the bar beneath my hotel for more (blessedly easy) chatter.
In the morning my plan had been to get Il Lab gelato for breakfast and spend the day exploring some Brooklyn neighborhoods to see where I might want to consider living. But the humidity and heat were a serious problem, and so I only went to visit one neighborhood. As it turns out though, I do like me some Park Slope. I was seeing the Sunday morning version of it and a lot of things weren't open, but I got a very pleasant feeling from what I saw. Little bit crunchy, little bit coffehouse-nerdy culture, little bit of lots of things that would make me feel at home. So, that's one. I want to go back and check out more Brooklyn neighborhoods later in September when it's not so hot, and maybe drag one or two of y'all with me.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-22 01:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-22 06:19 am (UTC)Because it's all about me, I'll tell you about a friend in high school. We were pals, it was all good, completely platonic. Then I went away for a year and he wrote me these funny, longing letters about how much he missed me and how special I was and hinted at what he might do to show me how he felt. I was sort of puzzled, but intrigued, and went home with an attitude of "ok, show me," which got the reaction "hunh, wha?"
We lost touch, but found each other online last year. We're both married, both happy, etc. But by the third email, I could feel it drifting into the crush-zone. I laughed and pointed it out to him and we chuckled together--we're just made to be long distance lovers :)
Anyway, I'm sorry you got stuck in the awkward zone, but I'm so glad you had a good time overall and found what sounds like great music and fun people to talk to.
Welcome home!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-22 11:31 pm (UTC)can i be nosy and ask about your bargain on broome street? i'm going to NYC this weekend, and always looking for a decent (and affordable) place to stay. thanks!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-23 10:57 am (UTC)One important thing if you stay -- there is a bar on the ground floor that stays open (with a DJ) until about 3:30 AM most nights. If you plan to go to sleep earlier than that, it's imerative that you ask for a room "not above the bar." The 4th floor is very quiet, as is the non-bar side of the 3rd floor, and the 2nd floor rooms around the corner from the lobby.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the least expensive stay in Manhattan, other than as hostel. I'll be staying there again. Have a great trip this weekend!
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-23 04:50 pm (UTC)special thank you's for the tip about the club. last time i was in NYC, earlier this summer, i stayed at the gershwin hotel which was very cute, but just way too loud. i have been trained by boston's blue laws!
luckily, we were able to move to the last available room (on the 13th floor!) and it ended up being just fine.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-23 05:34 pm (UTC)That's happened to me to a slight degree. When I first moved hree I hated the early-start/early-close of Boston nightlife -- I wanted to stay out late. But a decade here has had some effect on my internal clock, as has rising at 6:00 on weekdays. But when in NYC, I'll force myself to stay up, so as not to miss the fun.
Definitely try Sohotel. I also had a pleasant stay at Herald Square Hotel, which costs a bit more but is quite a value nonetheless. Still, Chinatown is kewler.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-24 02:23 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-24 01:36 pm (UTC)