just got the news....

I will be at Friends tomorrow. Did not expect this, but very glad that it is happening. Creates a focus for cityboy that is not normally there. It will be nice to see both staff and students as well. So now my vision is very pointed towards tomorrow. After I leave the library, might go to Old Navy to buy a new pair of jeans for the occasion.
Last night: well, a little different. "A Town is a Lonely Town", the song from the Bernstein musical On the Town goes. Did cityboy explore this "lonely town" last night? Here is what happened.
Cityboy decided to have dinner at La Flaca, the bar-restaurant owned by his friend Bob, where he is always welcome. Nice time, stayed there for about an hour and a half---actually met my friend Harlo on the subway on the way there. But it was 8:30 and cityboy feared that is he simply returned home, if he fell asleep immediately, he would get up at around 12:00 and get that restless feeling. So, how to extend the evening without paying for anything? While at La Flaca,the thought came to him: what about Smith Street in Carroll Gardens?  Cityboy had not been there for a while---a nice walk between subway stations might be very interesting. So that is what he did: jumped on the F, got off at Bergen, and began his walk towards the numbered streets. Smith street was relatively quiet last night---many bars and restaurants, somewhat moderately filled. Cityboy was not particularly hungry or wanting a beer, so he did not enter in any of the bars that he passed. Also some streets, at one point, walking east on President street towards Hoyt Street---very quiet, only a few people on the streets, beautiful brownstones in front of him. Hoyt Street, for the one block that he traveled, seemed pretty mellow--is this the beginning of Gowanus? The architecture on Hoyt is slightly different than on President Street---the homes seem a little more "simpler". Remember when Hoyt near Carroll was a real "no man's land"? Not any more. At any rate, by second place, cityboy rejoined the F, this time taking it to the 4th avenue elevated stop. And then cityboy decided not to switch to the R and return to Manhattan, rather to walk up the newly gentrified 4th avenue until the Union, or possibly even the Pacific Street stop. So the walk began, cityboy had been on that avenue recently, but until last night did not really how many new luxury buildings lined the avenue. Amazing, and most of them seemed filled; lots of lights in the window. Bloomberg up zoned this avenue during his term, and this is the result. Even after first street, where a slew of those buildings seems to end, there are still a few more. Not many people on the streets, the few bars cityboy passed before the three bar strip near Bergen Street were pretty empty. The Sackett, a bar that cityboy had heard was pretty mellow, was empty---might try it at some point. Finally, cityboy, somewhat sweaty, reached the Pacific Street stop, and admitted to himself that it was time to return to Manhattan. The rest was silence.
Tonight, in this heat, may head to Cobra and see if my friend Lindsay is hanging out there---it might be nice to touch base with her and compare notes. That is one idea; the heat is dominant--will report soon.