Not only did I go to Boston in 2000, I also went to NY/NJ during my East Coast sojourn. Some notes.

10/21: I arrive in NYC and fall into the waiting arms of Lisa L, hostess extraordinaire. Tonight’s a special night, as it is a Cubby night! San Francisco’s very own Cubby Creatures are holding forth at the Baggott Inn. The Cubby’s brand of music goes over the heads of the Meathead Baseball Fans at the bar, but is enjoyed mightily by the audience, which includes a big old San Francisco contingent. Cubby Joel mystifies the audience by giving them the Gay Bandana Pocket Code Quiz. Find out more about the Cubby at their web site. Support the Cubby Presidential Candidates!

10/22: I meet Rich and Tamar at Sweet Basil for a Jazz Brunch. After some refreshing corned beef hash and bloodies, we wander around the art galleries of the Village. A perfect fall day: Op Art, skywriting, 68 degrees. I nearly wept.

At midnight, I am honored to go on Tamar’s WFMU radio show. I get to play a few songs and plug pretty much everyone I know.

Backstory: You can hear the show on the WFMU archives online!

10/23: I travel to Ellis Island. It was really good; you should go. I looked at the big Wall of Names and did not find Hambox. Curious.

backstory: When I rode the ferry to Ellis Island, I snapped this picture of the WTC (above). I feel just brokenhearted.

I have dinner with Lisa at Shopsins, the best restaurant in the entire world. You should go.

10/24: I spend a large part of the day reading “Wasted”, a memoir of one woman’s struggle with bulimia and anorexia. She gets down to 52 pounds at one point. This makes me hungry , so I go down to the Cuban restaurant and have a sandwich. The Cubans also force coffee on me, when I don’t really want coffee. But I drink it anyway, and my GOD is it good. I meet Rich, Tamar and Lisa at the Telephone Bar and watch the World Series; there is lager and lime to be had. I’m starting to think this is a perfect vacation.

10/25: Traumatized by Times Square during rush hour. Couldn’t score affordable tickets for Rocky Horror Picture Show (starring Joan Jett and Dick Cavett!) so Tamar and I do what we are good at: we shop.

10/26: I shop (Pearl River Imports, Canal Jeans, H&M). I have pizza with Morgan N, Lisa, Tamar, Rich. Tamar and I watch the last moments of the World Series at a sports bar in Jersey City. I couldn’t ask for a more satisfying venue.

10/27: Tamar and I read about an auction in Time Out so we head over to Pier 92. We have stumbled upon heaven: it is a circus memorabilia auction: posters, books, carousel horses, and the entire contents of the Vermont wax museum. Things grow dim; suddenly there’s a paddle in my hand. Tamar and I become the proud owners of Lot 150: Three Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus posters. They’ve got hippos on them! The bear poster is from the catalog. I’ve been telling people that this auction was the best argument so far for getting a higher-paying job.