I've been going to NYC quite a bit in the past weeks.
A couple weeks ago, I specifically went down to my Dad's
place in Stamford, CT on a Friday night so on Saturday I
could go into the city, do some shopping & see the electronic
band ADULT. play at the Bowery Ballroom>.
Well, I headed for the city on MetroNorth commuter rail
to Grand Central (parking at the super cheap garage across
from the train station - for example: $8 for up to 24 hours) and I
had a mission: to go to Canal Jeans in Brooklyn on Flatbush
Ave. I had the plan all laid out except that on Saturdays, the 5 train
doesn't go where it normally goes, so I had to transfer at Bowling
Green to a 4, then at Franklin Ave. change for a 2 to go to Flatbush
Ave. / Brooklyn College. Further proof that the BEST way to get around
NYC when you don't know what the hell you're doing is to buy a $8 FUNPASS so you can ride the train unlimited numbers of
times on ONE pass for the day. (I just discovered that the FUNPASS is
only good until Midnight and then you have to buy another one for that
next day. I had thought that the FUNPASS was good for 24 hours, not
just until the end of the day you purchased the pass on.)
I found Canal Jeans mere blocks from the subway stop. It was
remarkably empty for a Staurday around 11:30 AM. But that was fine by
me. This store has TONS of bargains on guys clothes (women's too, but
I was by myself and only shopping for me today), like $40-45 tops for
$15, $80 jeans for $20... All kinds of good deals...
Because it was drizzly out, I decided that Canal Jeans would be
my only stop that day. I rode the train back to Grand Central and went
back to Stamford to relax, get breakfast/dinner and to deposit all of my
excess stuff at Dad's apt. so I wouldn't have to lug all this crap into the
city to see ADULT. perform.
With only by Bad Batz Maru bag (full of Action Geek zines to give
out) and my coat, I went back to NYC. I hopped a 6 train to Spring Street,
walked past Rice to Riches (an all rice pudding place in SoHo) and
found the Bowery Ballroom with no difficulty whatsoever.
Bowery Ballroom
I saw three bands at the show: ADULT., Magas and Tamion 12 Inch, (see photos here) met lots of cool people (which kinda sucks,
because 9 times out of 10, people you meet briefly while on trips never seem
to get in touch with you afterwards for future get-togethers... grrrr) and
hopped a cab to race up from SoHo to Grand Central to catch the last train
back to Stamford at 1:30 AM.
By the way...
This is a picture of a GREAT
place to see bands when in NYC: Pete's Candy Store
