NYCFest Offers Doggy Nuptials and a Big Birfday Party
This past weekend C and I hopped on the train to NYC to celebrate Mike A’s 30th Bday.
I said hello to hotel management, John, Adrianne and Otis Bojangles who graciously provided shelter from monsoon-weekend, then booked it over to 2A. Upon arriving within about 30 seconds I was asked by Mike A. “Did you see David Cross?” — who was sitting at the next table over. Of course he was.
In the event that happens again, I know how to react properly.
Before venturing to the main attraction for the evening, we stopped at E. Village pub ‘o’ rock “Siné” to see the final performance of Brooklyn’s “Coastal Drag” featuring lead singer Tyler D. complete with sweet-ass chops and Mary on the skins.
Props to Jen for buying me my first beer for the weekend, my favorite Lager from Brooklyn — very very kind. After two of those, D, Mike and I hightailed it to Bowery Ballroom to catch Ryan Adams who was playing a ’secret’ show — well over 500 people were wrapped around the block waiting for the doors to open, in the rain, since 1200am — doors didn’t actually open till about 2am. However this was all quickly forgotten once Ryan and the Cardinals greeted NYC and laid down some sweet alt.country.
Post-show I bid farewell to M & D and met up with C and A at ZUMSchneider — NYC’s home for watching Germany in the World Cup — unfortunately as it was about 330AM, there wasn’t much soccer on the telly.
The next morning we awoke to find ourselves at a dog wedding in Thompkins Square Park. Our hostess Adrianne was alerted via Meetup that two Boston Terriers were getting hitched blocks from her home — as Billy Idol once famously sang it was a “nice day for a — dog wedding.” Oddly, the bride and groom fought during the reception quite regularly and had to be pulled from each other. There was indeed an accordian player, dress & tuxedo for the bride and groom and much drunken debauchery — doggy style.
I really just wanted to go for the jokes.
Quality cinnamon and raisin squagels from David’s Bagel on 1st Ave. offered post-wedding breakfast goodness.
Later that day we traversed to the northeast for the main event of the weekend at Genesis Bar in the Upper East Side where 17 or so gathered to celebrate Mike Ayers: Thirty Years of Excellence. The staff couldn’t have been more accommodating and even gave everyone a free shot of “Baby Guinness” and helped move the big table for the awesome group photo. Other version here.
Props to D for putting it all together. You rule.
The next day we stumbled out of bed and made our way down to the LES for some breakfast. On the way there , I we walked right by a man standing outside of a shop wearing a fairly nice suit smokin’ a smoke — “Isn’t that Ethan Hawke?” Ethan Hawke just chillin’ on Clinton street waiting for some shoot to begin. Much taller than I pictured.
Hours later we arrived to an even more drenched DC with flooding all over the streets in ankle to knee deep water. Perhaps it rained on the East coast but it didn’t rain in our hearts.
It may have rained all weekend, but the sun brightened our souls
Bah. whatever.
The weather sucked but we had fun.
