This old post-punk band Jawbox was holding some special reunion shows in NYC and I decided to go. While I was in NYC (by myself) I did a bunch of other stuff.
Wed July 20th
view of Sandy Hook's North Beach on approach into NYC
arrive via LaGuardia via Delta and shiny new Terminal C
take bus+subway to Greenwich Village and AirBnB room in 5th floor walkup
dinner at Bleecker Street pizza and on to Le Poisson Rouge, venue for show
opener: Savak, with members from old DC scene
headliner: Jawbox, playing material from early albums and singles ("Dischord era"), delivered what I came for in the first three songs!
afterwards: walk by Blue Note and Village Vanguard, back to pad for planning and sleep
Thu July 21st
run along Hudson River and down to Battery Park
stop at Merchant Marine Memorial
walk up Canyon of Heroes
lunch at Chelsea Market (smaller than expected, smaller than Ponce City Market)
immersive digital projection experience at Artechouse
Little Island was closed due to nearby lightning, seemed like it would never open so abandoned for ...
Whitney Museum including Biennial
Hudson River WetLab
dinner at Joe's Pizza and on to Le Poisson Rouge
opener: Versus, beloved indie band from back in the day, didn't play any of the couple songs I'd hoped for, but OK anyway
headliner: Jawbox, playing material from middle albums, was fine but not as interested, left halfway through
over to Small's Jazz Club (thanks to AirBnB host Kristin for the tip) and saw a combo that featured the talented Simon Moullier on vibraphone but also Mark Whitfield Jr on drums was great.
Fri Jul 22nd
Museum at Eldridge Street, a grand old synagogue from the 1890s when Jews dominated the Lower East Side
met up with old friend Allan, walk around LES and end up at Essex Market (the new one, not old one across the street)
dinner at Manousheh Bleecker and then on to Le Poisson Rouge for last time
opener: Ted Leo (playing solo, not with The Pharmacists), nice job
headliner: Jawbox, playing material from late albums, those songs are growing on me, but left at end of main set (before encores)
took subway out to Williamsburg where I'd hoped to see another show but it got Covid-cancelled; walked around, took CitiBike to subway, discovered the G-line runs rarely at night, got a Lyft
met up with Allan again at The Library, out late
Sat Jul 23rd
subway up to New York Public Library for their Polonsky Exhibition of the NYPL's Treasures
hello to Patience and Fortitude, wander through Bryant Park
subway back down to Greenwich village, nope, subway halted, took long, careful CitiBike ride sans helmet!
finish packing, subway+bus to LGA, last look back at metro NYC for how long?
Regrets (didn't get to it, or want to do with Sharon):
- Mount Saint Michaels in Bronx (OAC school)
- The Cloisters
- Harlem jazz museum
- Little Island
- piano man in Washington Square Park
- Governor's Island
- Summit One Vanderbilt (touristy?)
- Frick Madison
- see Time Out NY's "100 Best Things" list for more (including several of above)