The Village Idiot

“So do you think you will be able to join us?

if you want to you can stay over our house (anyone can) on Sat then go on the hike Sun.
We can fit about 2 more people in our car.”

“I can't make it, but highly recommend the Tree Tour of the Manhattan Auto Pound. Good time guaranteed. The Trees know how to entertain visitors!”

“and why cant you make it hhhmmmmm???”

“If we have time, we can make a stop at Riker's Island!”

“why, something your not telling me TB?”

“9pm at the Idiot? I'm usually in bed by then.

RE: Hike difficulty. I'm not worried. ;-D”

“Just thought maybe Geo would like to see some real inmates instead of the metal, inanimate ones...”

“I have to be in West-By-God (and smile when you say it) Virginia that weekend for the spring review of the Highlands Conservancy. The meeting will be on wind power.”

“Don't worry, the inmates will still be there for your next visit, whenever that is...”

“have to be in West-By-God (and smile when you say it) Virginia that weekend for the spring review of the Highlands Conservancy. The meeting will be on wind power."
Geobeet
09:43:12 AM
04/16/03


Holy crappy batman. you mean Artex will be there?


j/k LOL”

“Hmmmmm, maybe we could work out a deal where they move the windmills to Florida ....”

“I can see it now, Artex, sitting in a room, with a pipe up his tail and a plate of beans in front of him...talk about renewable energy!”

“... And windmills spinning faster than a dynamo in Grand Coulee.”

“Maple, we're still probable "maybes" on the Saturday night event. As for your offer, thanks, but we've got PatchyG to come home for.

:o)”

“Hey Maple and all, what do you think of This?”

“where is that in the city?”

“It's downtown...not too far from the village.

#6 to Astor Place
or
N/R to Broadway and 8th

432 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003”

“think pathman can find it? should we even tell him where to find it? or let him alone in the city to fend for himself?


boy I feel like GOD LOL”

“but I think path wanted to do Italian...

I think?

but no biggy, what ever you all want. just feed me is my motto.”

“Found a bit of a problem here. I tried to call the phone # on the web site for Helena's Tapas Bar and got a recording saying it is not in service. Then I called information and they have no listing for them. It seems entirely possible that they may not be in business anymore. I have no other way of verifying this except actually going over there, which I will not be able to do today or tomorrow. There is a Spanish restaurant that we've eaten at located at 222 W. 23rd St (bet. 8th and 9th Aves) called El Quixote. The food was excellent. It's been a few years since we were there. I just looked and couldn't locate a web site, but if it's Spanish you want, that was the first thing that came to mind. If you have any alternatives, let me know so we can move on this...”

“OH MAN I forgot about that place..
good eaten!!
can you say LOBSTER?”

“I need some input from the attendees. It's 9AM and I just tried to call the phone number for Helena's again, just to see if maybe they were just having 'Verizon' problems yesterday. It still says out of service. So, I would like to secure a reservation, but I want to know where you guys want to go. Twinky? Corp? Amy? Help!”

“I already made my suggestion on the trip page: Slate (has food and pool tables - very nice spot).

But hey, if you guys want to slum in some dingy NYC pit and not take my adavice then fine :p

;)”

“Oh yeah, forgot to mention that the food in Little Italy is generally NOT the best Italian food in the city AND it's extremely over-priced.

hmmm...Mexican - I know a great in the East Village - we can make reservations there too....need to remember the name???? hmmmmmm

Hey, one thing I did'nt like about the last dinner was the fact that we had to sit at a long table - it sucked because it was very difficult to get a chance to talk with everyone :( (that's why I suggested Slate - cause then we can move around and mingle, baby, mingle!)”

“Ok, TT. We eliminated Little Italy. I was going with the suggestions of the guests. They seemed to want a Spanish place. If they would like to go to your spot, then I'm ok with it. I just thought that we should accomodate them. Ok, pipe up guys. that means you, Path and Amy And Dare. Waiting on you ...”

“someone pick already
really!!!”

“Who cares what the guests want! Just kidding.

My two cents:
1) La Palapa Cocina Mexicana - 77 St. Marks Pl. (bet. 1st & 2nd Aves.)New York (212) 777-2537
*we would definately need to call and make reservations beacuse we are a large group. This place is terrific - great food - great drinks (they have pomegrante margaritas!) - great area

2) Slate - great food and pool tables

Some one please decide”

“Ok, Guys! We seem to be chock full o' stumbling blocks here. The earliest I could get a reservation for at La Palapa is 9:30. I don't think that would be too cool, so I didn't make it. Just to have something in the books, I made a reservation at El Quixote on 23rd St. for 6:30 PM. Now, this is subject to change. But, consider this. The food is very good. There are lobster specials that are very appealing. It has traditional fare such as steaks, seafood, etc. they also have pitchers of Sangria w/ fruit that are absolutely addictive. The tables are round, so conversation is easy. Please forgive me if I overstepped bounds by taking this intitiative, but with the obstacles and time growing short, I wanted to at least make sure we had a viable alternative. Now, we can cancel this and go a different route if the consensus takes us there. But, not being able to talk directly with you folks and having to do this through trail talk is not an efficient short-term means of communication. So, please, if we want to do something different, then please communicate with me and we can alter the plans.”

“Sounds good! I think its safe to say that whomever suggests the outting, is always safe in making all preparations. That way it saves the "guests" from having to worry over every detail.

Too bad about La Palapa :(

No go on Slate huh?”

“sorry, what is slate again?
is it the place you wanted to play pool?”

“Yes, Slate is the cool and fun place where you can have sirlion steak while playing pool. Also, its in a good location - near other fun and cool stuff.”

“All sounds good to me. I agree, the person doing the arranging has final say in the face of adversity. ;)”

“yes, but since this is in honor of you - it might help if you made a clear indication of your likes and dislikes.... :)”

“that will be treebeard then...


twinks, I like the idea of taking path to a pool hall. but I hope its a really sleezy one LOLOLOL


really it sounds like a blast. just getting outta the house and seeing old friends and meeting new ones is what its all about!


so Ill see you all Sat night at dinner.”

“cool.

and the winner is????”

“I'll call Slate and see if we need a reservation. I'll post again in a bout 5 min.”

“Ok, we have a 6:30 reservation at Slate for tomorrow night, Twinky. But, let me warn ya, if one yuppie comes up to me and asks me why I don't want a latte, Pathman will have a body to examine.

j/k we'll have a good time...”

“Cool Beans!!

Nah, I don't think they have latte's there! Remember, its a pool hall (maybe a bit more chic than the rest - but still a pool hall)!

Hope everyone likes it or I'm in big trouble!!!

ps - if means anything to ya, the Corp has been and likes it too :)”

“Cool. Now where are the MIA Amy G and Dare? We have to arrange things with them. I will be leaving work in about an hour. If all is not set up by then, I will check in tonight and see what we can do about meeting. We'll get it together...”

“You aren't keeping up with the trip threads. ;-) As long as its not raw fish or meat, I'm ok. Anyway, I like a good latte. LOL”

“Still looking for Amy G and Dare. Come in, guys...”

“Time for me to sign off. I'll call the Tree Family when I've checked in or if I get delayed.”

“6:30 PM at Slate
54 W. 21st St.

Got it.

Catch ya'll in happy town!
>:D”

“Well, they didn't make me the Idiot, but I met the Tree couple, Twinkie Toes, Corporal Nasty, AmyG and Dare last night. Had a great time, good food and a few brewskies.”

“Ah ha, glad you got to meet the NY crew, Pathman! They're a fun bunch, aren't they? :-)”

“wow everyone is up so early this morning!
good morning

(maple)”

“Morning! And goodbye! Off to the beach... :-)”

“Artex, is the water in FL like NJ, dark and green? or is it more blue and clear like in mexico?”

“I've got a good friend that we call the village idiot. He never fails to say something stupid.”

“After a fun day of running around in the city, visiting family, etc., Dare and I headed to Slate in Downtown Manhattan. After being carded at the door by a gargantuan black man who ordered me to conceal my bottled water before entering, we entered the promised land. The place was a dimly lit pool hall with funky, sheer curtains that divided off a couched sitting area. The mood was set off dozens of little candles on the sitting area tables and by red lights that illuminated the place, vaguely reminiscent of a brothel. ;p

Twinkles and Corporal Nasty arrived and Twinks immediately proceeded to abash any plans the waitstaff had of seating us in an area where we could be controlled. They escorted us downstairs to a cozy nook in the back…very dark...very scared, I was. =:0

Maple, Treebeard, and the honorary Pathman arrived soon afterwards and we all greeted like old friends. We sat around and TT gossiped a while (oooooh, the intrigue!) over a few drinks, before dinner. It was a good thing that we had this area to ourselves, because the laughter levels alone caused permanent hearing loss. The waitress came to check on us at one point, escorted by several big fellas and asked us for more information about our group...such as last name, etc. We thought she was kidding, but...no laughter. I think she thought we were some real looneys (probably an accurate assessment). Pathman really helped the situation when he informed the waitress that we had never met eachother before and didn’t even have real names. Mapleleaf told her that the last name was Smith and Corp also mentioned that we wanted 7 separate checks – just for fun. ;)

Dinner was great, as were the margaritas. It was wonderful to meet another great TT’er. Pathman is a great guy and I have always enjoyed hearing his trip reports, but his stories were even better in person. (especially the ones involving cutting up dead bodies)

Dare and I left early, so that we could get back home to PatchyG. Our efforts were foiled however, and we ended up in the city an extra two hours. We stopped at a corner coffee shop for some Joe and brownies and walked back to get our car...we got there and my car was damaged. To make a long story short, I ended up in a huge fight with the management, police and everything.

Playing the role of the New Yorker, I was pretty fired up and Dare had to restrain me. Put the coffee down and step away from the brownie. &%#@$!

We finally got home, safe and relatively sound. PatchyG, of course, slept through the whole thing.
:)”