Overdue for a meet-up?

[jbuck919]

A fellow poster PMd me suggesting a meet-up. I am invoking seniority by posting this also on the pub.

I recommend sometime near the end of this month, but not the very end because it would conflict with the Organ Historical Society in of all places Rochester. The big-ticket season will be over, but the time overlaps with Mostly Mozart as well as well as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Hunter College. The Lincoln Center Festival has alas been cancelled, but some of you may know of other events.

Anyway, the main point is to get together for lunch. Someone would have to suggest a restaurant near near some venue where one or more of us will be attending a performance. Len and I and I can't remember who else have done this in the past. I believe that last time we did separate checks. Please share your ideas about this. Probably it's best to make your suggestions for everyone and not just share them with me.

[John F]

Lunch or supper, count me in! I'm still sorry to have missed the meet-up with Barney. As long as it's in NYC. Some dates and times aren't good for me but I won't go into that until we start making actual plans.

[maestrob]

Would love to be there as well, but as you know my sleep disorder limits my availability. Please keep us posted as you decide on the time and place. For lunch I can be there at 2PM. My dinner time is later (9PM), and Teresa has special needs for food, so she may not be able to attend.

We'll try our best!

[Lance]

I like it! I like it! I must check my schedule too. Keep posted. I might be able to get Ann Schnabel Mottier (Artur's granddaughter, daughter of Karl Ulrich Schnabel) and her husband Francois Mottier to join us this year, unless they are in Lake Como. That means that Don Isler should join us as well. Maybe we could get Joe Patrych to join us, too. This could be quite a convention. How about Australia? Barney, Belle (Sue), and others?

[lennygoran]

John B-a great idea-we'll be in nyc Wed May 30 and Thurs May 31-can only do lunch May 31 because we have an opera that evening--May 30the could be lunch or dinner! Looking forward to it. Regards, Len

[Belle]

John B-a great idea-we'll be in nyc Wed May 30 and Thurs May 31-can only do lunch May 31 because we have an opera that evening--May 30the could be lunch or dinner! Looking forward to it. Regards, Len

We Aussies miss out; again. Wish I could be there. My husband wants to do one of those cruises from Toronto to Alaska and maybe we could cross Canada by rail. He is even more insistent that we should be SKINs (spending kids' inheritance now!).

[Rach3]

He is even more insistent that we should be SKINs (spending kids' inheritance now!).

Another USA SKIN here ; the kids will spend it all, and quickly, anyway.

[Belle]

I meant "Vancouver to Alaska"!! (Senior's moment).

Another Mother's Day came and went without a word from 3 out of our 4; what's not to love about being a SKIN??!!! The most consistently loyal of our offspring works 16-18 hour days in a high-flying political job and this is the most hectic time of the year for him in the federal government.

At my son's recent wedding I was in a position to tell his boss (a leader in our country) that my son had never uttered a bad word about him behind his back in 10 years working with him. It fills me with pride to learn that he has, within the last week, been very publicly acknowledged by his boss with words I won't repeat here.

Sometimes with family it's quality, not quantity.

I'd be singing this if I was coming to your meet-up!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc77Vlb-yAE

[John F]

My husband wants to do one of those cruises from Toronto to Alaska and maybe we could cross Canada by rail.

Apropos, here's a documentary from the American TV series "Mighty Trains" about crossing Canada from Vancouver to Toronto on VIA Rail's The Canadian. Four nights.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsqGjprxoIk

https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-d ... r-canadian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_(train)

That would definitely appeal to me! But then I'm a train buff.

[Belle]

Thanks so much; I'll show my husband. We love trains and alpine countries.

[Ricordanza]

A fellow poster PMd me suggesting a meet-up.

I'm the one.

I recommend sometime near the end of this month, but not the very end because it would conflict with the Organ Historical Society in of all places Rochester. The big-ticket season will be over, but the time overlaps with Mostly Mozart as well as well as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Hunter College. The Lincoln Center Festival has alas been cancelled, but some of you may know of other events.

I'm a little confused. This month is May. However, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF) is in July. It was my suggestion that our meet-up take place in conjuction with one of the IKIF events, but I'm open to other suggestions.

[lennygoran]

I'm a little confused. This month is May. However, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF) is in July. It was my suggestion that our meet-up take place in conjuction with one of the IKIF events, but I'm open to other suggestions.

Oops I think it was me who was confused-now I see the dates of that festival-that gives us more time to plan it. Regards, Len

http://ikif.org/Schedule.aspx

[John F]

Thanks so much; I'll show my husband. We love trains and alpine countries.

Have you ridden the Ghan? Not exactly alpine, and it doesn't get you nearer to a New York City meetup, but it's closer to home.

The Ghan episode of Mighty Trains isn't available complete on YouTube for free, but this program will do. Not as much about the train ride itself as I'd like, a lot of scenery and such, but there it is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWoVQTFFZIg

[Donald Isler]

It would be nice to have another meetup in New York if that can be scheduled. I will be away the latter half of June, and I think the Mottiers are in Europe for the next half year or so. Will be interested to hear if it works out.

[jbuck919]

A fellow poster PMd me suggesting a meet-up.

I'm the one.

I recommend sometime near the end of this month, but not the very end because it would conflict with the Organ Historical Society in of all places Rochester. The big-ticket season will be over, but the time overlaps with Mostly Mozart as well as well as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Hunter College. The Lincoln Center Festival has alas been cancelled, but some of you may know of other events.

I'm a little confused. This month is May. However, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF) is in July. It was my suggestion that our meet-up take place in conjuction with one of the IKIF events, but I'm open to other suggestions.

Duh. I was thinking ahead to July and called it "this month." Let's begin, if we may, by deciding that it will take place in July (when the big ticket places are off for the summer and Mostly Mozart is going on as well as the piano festival) and take it from there. And it cannot include July 29 if you care for me to be there because that is when OHS starts. (In case you're interested, and I know you're not, they always arrange it so that the transportation is on a Sunday afternoon and the return on a Saturday so that none of the organists has to take a vacation Sunday to attend.)

That puts time on our side--famous last words. Everything else still needs to be decided, including whether we can do a reservation with separate checks as we have done before. Years ago we did a big one and I took everybody's check (made out to the restaurant) by mail (including Chalky who has a most improbable Welsh name) against an advance payment. I think we would all like to avoid such a situation while at the same time guaranteeing that there will be room for everyone who wants to come. In addition to the usual suspects and everyone who has been mentioned, there is the much-sought-after Garrett (IcedNote) and perhaps Larry Rankel, who was once a valuable member here. (I think I can find both on Face Book.)

[lennygoran]

Let's begin, if we may, by deciding that it will take place in July (when the big ticket places are off for the summer and Mostly Mozart is going on as well as the piano festival) and take it from there. And it cannot include July 29 if you care for me to be there because that is when OHS starts.

John we're pretty free in July-we sure don't need July 29--btw what is OHS? Regards, Len

[Belle]

Thanks so much; I'll show my husband. We love trains and alpine countries.

Have you ridden the Ghan? Not exactly alpine, and it doesn't get you nearer to a New York City meetup, but it's closer to home.

The Ghan episode of Mighty Trains isn't available complete on YouTube for free, but this program will do. Not as much about the train ride itself as I'd like, a lot of scenery and such, but there it is.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWoVQTFFZIg

Trust you to know about The Ghan!! Takes its name from the Afghan workers who originally laid the tracks! Last year our second national broadcaster (SBS, not ABC - yes, we can afford both with a population of 24 million; NOT) ran wall-to-wall coverage of The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin; the locals all talked about it as a 'deterrent'. Prozak on railway lines!! We saw enough on that day to know that The Ghan isn't for us. Our next door neighbours and my sister have done that journey (separately) and both report 1) the cost, 2) the endlessly monotonous scenery!! Australia is basically 'fly-over country', sad to say. The coastal regions are where the main interest lies. My son works in the Pilbara region (mining) on fly in/out basis and he reports liking the desert landscape because after it rains all this multi-coloured vegetation suddenly appears and it's quite beautiful. Dunno about the 52 degree heat!

So Canada looks very attractive to me. If we can find some friends to accompany us on the long journey from Vancouver to Toronto it might be a 'goer' (as we say in Australia). Last year some friends asked us to accompany them to Antarctica from South America. We declined, despite liking alpine scenery!!

[John F]

That's what I thought about the Australian outback's scenery, and as for the ticket prices, you'd think it was the Orient Express. But here in the US we no longer have any passenger trains that cross the country, a change in Chicago is always necessary, so I'm impressed by other big countries that do.

Closer to my home, I'm thinking about riding the Crescent to New Orleans and back - just one overnight each way, but when you arrive you're in New Orleans. Haven't made up my mind yet. If I go, I'll certainly be back in time for a CMG meet-up - wrenching this post back to the topic.

[Belle]

I'd love to get there for a meet-up and am trying to arrange it - but also having to incorporate other possibilities so that prevents us having to return - on that loooong plane trip. Sydney to Dallas is a long haul. My sister says the worst she ever experienced was 17 hours 15 mins NON-STOP. Just talking to her on the phone now whilst writing this she commented that it was "horrendous". Then she followed up, "Sue; when do you think you might go"!??

[IcedNote]

I'd be game! I live just a few blocks from Lincoln Center, so anywhere is just fine with me. Doubt I'll attend a performance (still need a break from that stuff!), but lunch or dinner works.

-G

[jbuck919]

I'd be game! I live just a few blocks from Lincoln Center, so anywhere is just fine with me. Doubt I'll attend a performance (still need a break from that stuff!), but lunch or dinner works.

-G

Wonderful, Garrett! We can talk about the person we both know.

Len, OHS is Organ Historical Society.

[lennygoran]

Len, OHS is Organ Historical Society.

John what days and for how long do you plan on being in NYC-I can say this-July 26th is no good for us for either lunch or dinner. Regards, Len

[Lance]

I was talking with my surrogate son, tenor Steven Nanni, whom some of you got to meet during our last get-together in NYC. Today he was in NYC at a reunion for New York City Opera folks. They lunched at the Atlantic Grill on West 64th Street - and said they had a wonderful lunch. I'm trying to see if he can to NYC when we arrange a date. He strongly recommends the place for our meet-up. I have no idea about it since I have not been there and look to see what your opinions are about it. It's near Lincoln Center as was O'Neal's. Is the place pricey, good selection, good service? Might we have our own room or a place where we can all congregate?

[Belle]

I'll check out the Atlantic Grill on the internet when you're all there eating!! Sigh.

[John F]

Hey, Lance, I told you about Atlantic Grill in the Birgit Nilsson thread: "the successor in O'Neals' space, a branch of the Atlantic Grill, which is mainly though not exclusively about fish and seafood and costs rather more." When I ate there the food was good but the menu rather limited - they don't believe in vegetables. See for yourself:

http://www.atlanticgrill.com/menus-and-food/

For these reasons I vote against Atlantic Grill. There are many other good eateries within those few blocks if we want to meet near Lincoln Center.

[lennygoran]

Is the place pricey, good selection, good service? Might we have our own room or a place where we can all congregate?

Lance in another message in this thread I mentioned we had a CMG forum dinner there-around 6 to 8 were there-it was pricey, service was slow, food okay but not great. I don't know if they have a private room-that would help. We're game for any restaurant if the date fits in for us. Regards, Len

[Ricordanza]

I'll leave it in the hands of our NYC contingent to come up with a good choice for a restaurant.

As for concerts, I looked at the program for the International Keyboard Institute and Festival and found lots of interesting choices, including Yekwon Sunwoo on 7/17, Bevouzet on 7/18, Feltsman on 7/22, Ferrati on 7/24, and Burleson on 7/25.

http://www.ikif.org/Schedule.aspx

Personally, the 5 pm recitals on the weekdays make even more sense, since I could get back to Southern NJ without the need for staying overnight in NYC. Vladimir Feltsman's 4 pm recital on Sunday, July 22, is also good for me (and he's a great pianist). I realize, of course, that this is not a factor for the NYC contingent, or for those who live further away from NYC.

Another possibility that has been mentioned is the Mostly Mozart Festival. The program I found most appealing is on Tuesday and Wednesday, 7/24 and 7/25, at 7:30 pm.

http://www.lincolncenter.org/mostly-moz ... s-in-paris

[jbuck919]

Sigh, so many variables. Those who want to hear a program at 5:00 will have to agree that it must be lunch. (This is fine with me. Like Hank I can also get home because Amtrak does run late.) However, not all of us are retired or have flexible schedules. Young Garrett (IcedNote), for instance, probably has a fixed daily work schedule. Some of the guests that have been mentioned by Lance would possibly also think more in terms of dinner. Even if we do dinner, it will have to be very early and we will perhaps rush ourselves if anyone has to make a 7:30 curtain. As for that Mostly Mozart program, folks here know what I think about Gershwin as a classical composer, so I'll forego that one. There is of course no obligation for everyone to attend the same performance, or any at all for that matter.

As to the day/days I plan to be in NYC, I have to be back in time to play on Sunday morning the 29th. Len and Sue are unavailable on the 26th and 27th for Bard, when I am also probably going to meet my friend Ted, whom some of you met a couple of years ago, in Albany. So it looks like we are talking about the period near the end of July with a terminus on July 25.

[John F]

If it's to be lunch, any day of the week is fine with me. If it's dinner, I work at the library until 8pm Mondays and 6pm Fridays. Since I won't be going to any performances at Mostly Mozart this year, that won't be a factor with me.

[IcedNote]

I should be able to make it for a weekday lunch -- probably just won't have the luxury of staying for the whole thing.

-G

[jbuck919]

Having examined all the variables, I suggest lunch on July 18. If maestrob is to join us, the time must be a little late for lunch (2:00), which may or may not be possible.

Now we need to select a place. The Atlantic Grill is out. John F has voted against it, and IIRC we did meet there once and were put at two tables in the main dining area, minimizing the possibilities for interaction with others. The last place we met was the Italian spot with the private room, and to my mind that worked out well, but I can't remember what it was called. In any case, I'm not the one who made the arrangements. (I think it was Len.) I'm too out of the picture to take this part of the arrangements on myself. I would be grateful if someone else would kindly have a look at the possibilities and make the reservations. Also, we need something more solid in the way of RSVPs to get a head count. This thread can be used for that. You may put me down now. Other than that, I've gotten at least positive vibes from IcedNote, John F, maestrob with limitation as noted, Lance, Len and Sue, Donald Isler, and Ricordanza.

[John F]

July 18 suits me fine. We've been talking in terms of the Lincoln Center area, with the Mostly Mozart concert on some people's minds, so let's do that and keep it simple.

Where we eat depends on what we want to eat. A proper meal or hamburgers, sandwiches, salads? Any of the above is fine with me. As people RSVP, please say what kind of midday meal you'd prefer, and if you have a favorite eatery, name it! Len and Sue probably know the restaurants near LC better than the rest of us, so Len can be our expert adviser.

[lennygoran]

Having examined all the variables, I suggest lunch on July 18. ...Now we need to select a place. ...The last place we met was the Italian spot with the private room, and to my mind that worked out well, but I can't remember what it was called. In any case, I'm not the one who made the arrangements. (I think it was Len.)

John a lunch on July 18th would work for me-the restaurant I made arrangements for was this place.

http://www.pomodororossonyc.com/

I could try to make arrangements there again-I think everyone was happy with that place-last time they were even willing to give separate checks. I'd like to know about how many people would be coming. Regards, Len

[barney]

I was there at the Pomodoro Rosso, and thought it was fine. Mind you, that might have been more particularly the company....

[lennygoran]

Mind you, that might have been more particularly the company....

Barney the company was superb! Regards, Len

[Ricordanza]

Having examined all the variables, I suggest lunch on July 18. ...Now we need to select a place. ...The last place we met was the Italian spot with the private room, and to my mind that worked out well, but I can't remember what it was called. In any case, I'm not the one who made the arrangements. (I think it was Len.)

John a lunch on July 18th would work for me-the restaurant I made arrangements for was this place.

http://www.pomodororossonyc.com/

I could try to make arrangements there again-I think everyone was happy with that place-last time they were even willing to give separate checks. I'd like to know about how many people would be coming. Regards, Len

Date, time and place look good for me. You can put me down as a "yes."

Ricordanza (a/k/a Hank Maurer)

[lennygoran]

Date, time and place look good for me. You can put me down as a "yes."

Ricordanza (a/k/a Hank Maurer)

Henry great-I put together a little list of what I've gathered so far but I may have overlooked people-please let me know. Regards, Len

Wed July 18th 2PM Lunch

http://www.pomodororossonyc.com/

Definites

John B

John F

Henry M

Brian

Len and Sue G

Lance



Possibles

Garrett

Steven Nanni

Theresa

Larry Rankel

Donald I

Ann Schnabel Mottier

Joe Patrych

[maestrob]

Having examined all the variables, I suggest lunch on July 18. If maestrob is to join us, the time must be a little late for lunch (2:00), which may or may not be possible.

Now we need to select a place. The Atlantic Grill is out. John F has voted against it, and IIRC we did meet there once and were put at two tables in the main dining area, minimizing the possibilities for interaction with others. The last place we met was the Italian spot with the private room, and to my mind that worked out well, but I can't remember what it was called. In any case, I'm not the one who made the arrangements. (I think it was Len.) I'm too out of the picture to take this part of the arrangements on myself. I would be grateful if someone else would kindly have a look at the possibilities and make the reservations. Also, we need something more solid in the way of RSVPs to get a head count. This thread can be used for that. You may put me down now. Other than that, I've gotten at least positive vibes from IcedNote, John F, maestrob with limitation as noted, Lance, Len and Sue, Donald Isler, and Ricordanza.

Thank-you, jbuck, for your kindness regarding the time. IIRC, 2PM worked fine for us last year, and would this time as well, so count us both in for July 18 at 2PM (That's a Monday)!

[IcedNote]

All of that is fine, so count me in.

And Maestro, July 18 is a Wednesday.

-G

[maestrob]

All of that is fine, so count me in.

And Maestro, July 18 is a Wednesday.

-G

Yikes! I wrote it in for June! Thanks, Garrett !

[Lance]

Well ... a shame ... I expect to be away most of the month of July especially to see my daughter in Florida whom we see only once or twice a year, and I will be driving, with a long stopover in the Atlanta area. Going by car (since wife refuses to fly). Long drive, it will be hot, but unless it is possible to change to a later date I may not be able to make the meetup.

[jbuck919]

Date, time and place look good for me. You can put me down as a "yes."

Ricordanza (a/k/a Hank Maurer)

Henry great-I put together a little list of what I've gathered so far but I may have overlooked people-please let me know. Regards, Len

Wed July 18th 2PM Lunch

http://www.pomodororossonyc.com/

Definites

John B

John F

Henry M

Brian

Len and Sue G

Lance



Possibles

Garrett

Steven Nanni

Theresa

Larry Rankel

Donald I

Ann Schnabel Mottier

Joe Patrych

Some revisions then.

Lance will be out of town.Without him we are unlikely to get Stephen Nanni or Joe Patrych. Unless you have had a private communication from her, I doubt that Theresa (Brandt) will be coming up from Tampa. (Incidentally, I had dinner with her and her husband down there once when I was visiting my father.) Garrett is now a definite yes. It is Larry Rinkel (I have made that mistake before, so I am embarrassed; here he went by the name Alban Berg). I have just contacted him on Facebook so stand by. Most of the people he knew are dead or otherwise gone, but he was and is fantastically knowledgeable. Other NY area people who are still active here, you know who you are (I almost said we know where you live ). There is still time to "sign on" to something that won't happen for more than six weeks.

[maestrob]

Having a meet-up without Lance is sort of like ordering a cheeseburger w/o cheese! Can't we work this thing out for a date to include Lance, perhaps in August? I'd hate to go on with this without our fearless leader!

[jbuck919]

Having a meet-up without Lance is sort of like ordering a cheeseburger w/o cheese! Can't we work this thing out for a date to include Lance, perhaps in August? I'd hate to go on with this without our fearless leader!

The July time frame was originally recommended by Ricordanza (with my endorsement) because there is at least something musical going on. I agree that Lance will be missed, but he has not himself asked for any concession, IIRC even though he only lives in Binghamton he does not particularly like coming into the big city, and this would not be the first meet-up he will have missed. In the meantime, Larry Rinkel has (somewhat surprisingly) given me a definite yes which I am passing along to Len. He suggests the renovated musical instrument galleries at the Met Museum as another possibility.

I am available all summer except anything that would involve Sunday morning plus the week following July 29 which is OHS. I'll go along with some other consensus if people feel strongly that we can find a date that is problem-free for all the usual suspects. However, someone else will have to take over the masterminding, if you can call it that, if it is to be anything but July 18.

[lennygoran]

John B-I've added Larry R to the definites-July 18th works perfectly for Sue and myself-maybe Lance could suggest some other dates when he can make it-early Aug like when Bard is doing Demon is definitely our for us-maybe later in Aug? Do hope Lance sees this and gives us some other times when he can make it? Len

[John F]

If the idea is to tie in our luncheon to a Mostly Mozart concert, the last will be on August 10-11, a Friday and Saturday: Mozart's concerto no. 21 with Stephen Hough and the Requiem. Of these, Saturday may be best for those of us with weekday jobs. If that suits Lance, maestrob, and the others, it's fine with me.

http://www.lincolncenter.org/mostly-moz ... rt-requiem

Also on the 11th, the Mark Morris Dance Group has a program at the Jazz at Lincoln Center theatre, which is at Columbus Circle, five blocks south of Lincoln Center:

http://www.lincolncenter.org/mostly-moz ... ce-group-1

And in the afternoon (3pm), for free at Harlem Meer in the northeast corner of Central Park, world premiere of John Luther Adams's "In the Name of the Earth" (rain location is St. John the Divine):

http://www.lincolncenter.org/mostly-moz ... -the-earth

Nothing prevents us from meeting for lunch on July 18 as well. Easy for me to say, since I live here. But if some of also want to attend a concert, the fare at Mostly Mozart is Bernstein's Mass, of all things. So if it's either/or, August 11 offers more and better choices.

[lennygoran]

John this idea of meeting twice makes sense to me-July 18th is perfect for us and Aug 10th and 11th are open right now. Len

[John F]

I work at the library until 6pm on Fridays, so Saturday Aug 11 would be my preference.

Now, of course, Lance will say he can't make it then either...

[Lance]

Well, Lance would really like to make this meet-up. Finding dates for everyone is always a problem. I will say this, though: if you decide to make it for August 10th, and 11th (Friday and Saturday), BOTH tenor Steven Nanni and yours truly will absolutely make every effort to be there. Steven may be in Italy but thinks he will be home by then and he would like to see you all again, and perhaps meet other CMGers. However, I don't want to rock the boat especially if you change your date from July to August and then, for some unknown reason, we will not be able to make it. So PLEASE, select the date that is best for the majority. The only thing the change does is to make it more possible for me and Steven Nanni to be present. We would probably have to drive back home early evening on Saturday because of singing commitments Steven has locally. Please give me your thoughts.

[lennygoran]

Please give me your thoughts.

Lance thanks for getting back to us-hope others will let me know if we should keep the July 18th date for some who have events planned for then and also work on a tentative date for Lance's available dates-as John F says there can be 2 events. Regards, Len