TUES 4 MAY 2004
Big Apple trip ate money, provided memories
By Jon RossArgonaut Staff
A long journey to the East Coast coupled with extensive layovers in Seattle and Minneapolis at ungodly times of the morning made the landing at La Guardia less of a climax than a relief.
After soothing my jet lag with a few hours of sleep, I proceeded to hit New York with a passion and did not rest until the return flight home.
Aided by a few journalism colleagues I experienced the happenings of the city without seeming like a tourist. Covering most of Manhattan by foot and resisting the temptation to gawk at the countless skyscrapers, I felt like I belonged to the city. I was in my element.
On Saturday I experienced firsthand the persistent nature of the chess players in Washington Square Park. Never being one for chess, I politely declined a first request for a game, but on the trip back through the park I decided to give it a try. Sitting down across from a man in his mid-30s — his frizzy black hair hidden beneath a gray stocking cap and earphones wrapped around his head — I wondered how badly I would fare.
Three games and 15 minutes later I had a good idea and a firm grasp on my chess-playing abilities. I had lost $20 to a guy named “Flash.”
With my intellectual abilities in question I wandered over to a table wreathed in deep concentration. My friend had already received his beating and was enjoying a chess lesson. I decided to stay and listen. Halfway through the lecture our impromptu professor whipped out a joint and started smoking it right in front of his students.
Between puffs he explained the intricacies of the game and was rewarded with a bit of extra cash. One trip through the park garnered him $55.
Sunday morning found me wanting baseball. The Yankee organization has kindly provided cheap bleacher seats to fans on a budget, but I had awoken to the drumming of intermittent rain, so I spent the next few hours wishing away a storm.
The storm never came, and we snatched up a few tickets for the afternoon game against the Royals.
I enjoy watching baseball, especially while munching on $4 hot dogs, but this was more than a game. I needed to see the Yankees lose. It was kind of important, but in retrospect, I could have picked a better team than the Royals.
All weekend long the Blue Note featured Horace Silver with an eight-piece backing band for a very reasonable price. Silver approached old age long ago, and I thought it my duty to see one of the founders of the “hard bop” movement before it was too late.
My $25 ticket for the early show allowed me to stand at the bar, which boasted a poor sight line to the stage, and fight for elbow room with a few weekend jazz fans. Silver was adorned with excellent sidemen, but this underscored the fact that his best playing happened years ago.
Silver played mostly pieces from his new album but closed with an old favorite. “Song For My Father” proved to contain the best performances of the night and allowed Silver to save a little face after his less than thrilling warm-up numbers.
New York is replete with money-gobbling opportunities. In more than three and a half days I blew about $200 on cabs, food and random necessities. I even ended up paying $20 for a pitcher of beer because I had the misfortune of paying with my debit card.
In the end I financed the trip with a war-torn credit card and learned not to scream as I succumbed to the service fees of well-hidden ATMs. But I still love New York.
Schedule for Eastside Cinemas
“Mean Girls” PG-13 (12:50), (2:55), 5, 7:05 and 9:10 p.m.“New York Minute” PG (12:55), (3:05), 5:05, 7:10 and 9:15 p.m.
“Godsend” R (12:45), (2:55), 5, 7:15 and 9:25 p.m.
“Man on Fire” R (noon), (3), 6 and 9 p.m.
“13 Going on 30” PG-13 (12:50), (3), 5:10, 7:20 and 9:30 p.m.
Schedule for U4 Cinemas
“Van Helsing” PG-13 (1), (4), 7 and 9:55 p.m.“Kill Bill 2” R (1), 4, 7 and 9:45 p.m.
“Envy” PG-13 (1:30), 4, 7 and 9:30 p.m.
“Laws of Attraction” PG-13 (1), 4:30, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Showtimes in ( ) are for Saturday and Sunday only.
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