Note
I had a little training holiday. Busy until 2pm Monday at work, then in the car to Manhattan to have dinner and watch Andy Murray play Djokovic in a World Tennis Day demonstration. Saw some silly tennis and some absolutely fantastic tennis, but most of it was in between. Ian McKellen was in the front row, which made me proud of my celeb spotting abilities.
We stayed over in a very noisy Manhattan Hotel opposite Stephen Fry in Twelth Night that we can't afford, had a slow morning doing some work then tried to spend a nice few hours in Manhattan. The problem is that without a mission in Manhattan you tend to drift aimlessly, which is no fun at 8 degrees sensible below zero. We eventually found a french restaurant for lunch which was nice, then drove over to Brooklyn for holiday part two. Hung out in an "artisan" coffee bar (Excellent mocha), then decided at the last minute to see the Oscar winning Italian Film who's name I've already forgotten at Nitehawk, and ate gourmet popcorn in an almost empty cinema. Then tried to go to Brooklyn Bowl but there were no lanes, so we ate at Reynard opposite in the Wythe Hotel (where all the bands who visit Brooklyn stay), lovely seasonal food very well cooked (All the kohlrabi!), and then went to see Wild Beasts. I thought this would be the pinnacle of hipster gigs, but the crowd was generally a bit older and ecstatic to see them. A large chap wearing a batman T shirt was in raptures, yelling along to every word and fist bumping with pleasure and a huge grin. It was wonderful to watch. He got the only fist bump from the overwhelmed singer at the end, and it totally made his year.
Sound was worryingly ropey at first, but then it came together and the last two thirds was truly excellent. Looking forward to the new album and Rob even enjoyed himself, despite hating them on record. Then back to the car, who's sole purpose in coming this weekend had been to get us back to bed in Hamden at half the speed of public transport, which it did admirably. Bed by 1.30am, train would have been at least 3. Fantastic couple of days.
I am a wannabe Brooklyn hipster. There is no doubt about it. It knocks the socks off Manhattan any day.