And so it is that our stay here will be coming to an end next monday. Tonight will be our last chance to walk in the streets of East Village - on our way to  what will be the final chapter of our NY 2012 Tattoo fest. 

It's often sad to leave, whether it's Moscow or Montreal, but leaving NY is just heartbreaking for both of us. Plus, we have no clue how we'll like Vegas, though neither of us ever thought it's a place we'd particularly like to even just visit. But it's where life takes us...

But we'll be happy to enjoy some real time off together at last - right in time for us to celebrate our 3rd anniversary, probably somewhere in California. I have friends in San Diego - and a great tattoo artist who's been recommended to us lives there - we want to see San Francisco and LA. 

Plus, we possibly have some interesting things and gigs ahead for us in Vegas. And we'll be back here every chance that we get - we're already planning a visit in March - though it obviously won't be the same as living here. 

It's weird because I never really felt at home anywhere I lived. I could appreciate a city, get used to it, enjoy it. But none felt like "home". I didn't even care all that much for it before we got here, because, wherever I go, that's where I am, and that's it, pretty much, and I wasn't expecting this city to be any different. So it's not like I was even interested. But NY won me over the first night we spent here. It felt like the right place for me, and it's been the same every day since.

Oh, well...

Sin city.... my sister in law has been several times and seems to enjoy that city. 

I've never been there,,, yet. Maybe someday soon I will get there.... 

Hope you enjoy it. I really loved to travel and that was one of the things I liked about playing in a band....we traveled all over to gig, and have a good time....

Enjoy Vegas.

I've been to Vegas many times since several of the large tournaments I've played in were there (and only once, briefly, was I on stage for a music gig for two friend's acting as roadie, photographer and, momentarily, part of the act).

To me it's a dead, plastic city artificial in every sense of the word.  That said, I have had a few good times there and, I'm sure, I will again.

craigb


I've been to Vegas many times since several of the large tournaments I've played in were there (and only once, briefly, was I on stage for a music gig for two friend's acting as roadie, photographer and, momentarily, part of the act).

To me it's a dead, plastic city artificial in every sense of the word.  That said, I have had a few good times there and, I'm sure, I will again.

Dead plastic city... You know what? We were talking w/ friends who visited us last week and the best way I could describe my impression of the city was - try imagine a cemetery in Vegas... All I could see were pink plastic flamingos and tombstones w/ flashing lights and neons on them.


I'm not an overly social person, so wherever we go, as long as I have a place to make music... 

But this night we just spent in East Village was probably one of the coolest we've spent here. Wherever I can get served free Guinness while listening to Mr. Bungle in a place that has skulls hanging from the ceiling, I know I'm home. Plus we made friends w/ new people. And we know we definitely know want to stay there someday.

The good news is, I get to go again next Sunday before we leave because the tattoo artist (and that guy deserved to be called an artist, seriously) improved on my original idea so much that we'll need to spend some more time on this one. :)

I've mostly done the touristy, casino-y things while I was there for the old Comdex PC convention or when I stopped on my way to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park.  What I saw was plastic and artificial as Craig said.  However, I have known people who've lived there who are far from artificial.  I have to believe that there is some culture that the residents experience outside of the strip.   

Enjoy your last week, 
Jan

I really enjoy Vegas for about three days at a time.  It's no NY!


Kev

We got news from our friend who is renting the condo to us for our first few months there. Seems that Vegas - or at least that part of Vegas where we'll live - doesn't really have a recycling service, which, alone, justifies the Sin City label. That doesn't really agree w/ our ethics, so we'll probably have a hard time w/ that. I just can't imagine throwing away stuff that could be recycled - it's been part of our life for well over 25 years. 

As part of our enjoying the last week, we went to a friend's studio in Brooklyn last night. I was happy to finally have an opportunity to walk the streets of Henry Miller's birthplace before we leave. Reminded me of the part of the city where we lived in Montreal. 

I also lived another personal historic moment when I put my hands on (and heard my wife's voice through) a late 70s Harrison 4032 mixing board, one which actually started its career in Westlake Studio.  Wow...

And now that I've heard them in action, I wish I could stretch the budget and get my hands on a pair of those Dynaudio BM15A... Good stuff. :P

Last year, I had mentioned that we'd seen and heard a young japanese lady playing a Koto, down in the subway station at Time Square. It was the first time I heard one played live, or even seen one, though I own a bunch of traditional oriental music CDs.

A few days ago, I finally had the opportunity to hear a erhu, which is also one of my favorite oriental instruments, played by an older man in that exact same subway station.

One of those things I'll miss about that amazing city...

  I have never been to Vegas although my wife and I almost made it a destination this year.

 It's funny....a lot of the people who live on the shore seldom go to the ocean. There are probably people living within 10 miles of Disney who have never gone there. I guess it is likely the same way in Vegas. People who live there don't all go to center city every weekend. The community of Vegas is probably a different thing altogether,and a better thing.

 You will be one of those people who will get to know the regulars. Way different than the people who go only for a few days or a week. 

 Wish you all the best there.

Thanks. 

That's pretty much I imagine things. Away from the strip, either we'll have a cool little community w/ decent neighbors or, we'll be happy to live on our own. We both come from fairly isolated regions, so we can appreciate that as well. And anyway, w/ all the rest of the crew also moving to Vegas, and a few friends who already live there, we can always socialize if we want. 

Me, I'm looking froward to the day when I can just walk out in the backyard to drink my morning coffee. 42nd street isn't exactly the ideal place to quietly breathe a bit of fresh air in the morning.