Day 4

I went out walking under an atomic sky...

Yesterday was Sunday and I started by going to the Green Bean Cafe just round the corner from the apartment. I think it's called that anyway. I had some sort of veggie thing with rice and tofu which was quite lovely. I got the subway down to 42nd because I've already walked to there and ticked some more shops off of my list of places that sell Page Plus phones. A lot of them aren't even there any more, it's getting quite annoying. The one I went into didn't have anything cheap enough. I think I need a refurbished phone to make it value for money.

I did my usual random walking around, there was a street market sort of thing going on and I accidentally went to Union Square. There were some bendy dancing men and a guy shouting about Jesus. I spent about an hour trying to find a club called Le Poisson Rouge. It gets difficult when they have a few streets and avenues together that don't have numbers in their names. I went into the venue when it opened so it was empty and I could get my bearings, chat to the staff, etc. I started on the orange juice and progressed to a house beer with fish in the name. I spoke to a Swedish guy about life, the universe and beer. I also got chatting to a cool New York "girl" (she was 38). Xiu Xiu were rather amazing, the second band were kind of interesting but they got a bit samey after a few songs and Merzbow was on fine form.

I think that's the Chrysler Building in the far background.

I got the subway back up to 86th Street and decided that if I saw the Scottish bar that I'd go in...... and I did. There were only four people in there so it was nice and quiet. I had a good chat with everyone and made a couple of contacts. Gavin the barman was playing a U2 mix on his ipod so I was singing along to that which was rather lovely. Once everyone had left Gavin explained baseball and American football to me. I understand them a lot better now. I also figured out tipping, you tip $1 per drink and then after about five or six drinks they give you one on the house, that happened twice last night anyway and it doesn't really make much sense. I ended the night with a couple of whiskeys.

Today I've done nothing except for planning and sleeping. Pretty much a wasted day but I needed to recharge. Suzy and Mike have gone to Rhinebeck so I'm home alone in NYC, that would be a good film. I'm now watching Camp Rock 2 and Bill O'Reilly is on Jon Stewart tonight so that should be fun.