Yeah, Central Park is going to happen, more than once if I can manage it. I've wanted to see it for years. As for the Statue, we'll be passing by it on the ferry a lot, which is enough for me. Beholding such things with my eyes is enough--then I want to get something to eat and drink. So yes, food, bars, music all desirable. We're looking into comedy clubs too, like the Comic Strip. I've got a friend in NYC who's going to try to get me into some hole-in-the-wall, Prohibitionesque speakseasy that you can't get into unless you know somebody. You know, "real" New York.

Okay, forget Nightingale. I just Googled and they seem to have renovated it into the Nightingale "Lounge" with thrown pillows and "plush sofas" for God's sake. The bar I remember had a pool table in the back with Hell's Angels usually gathered around it, and once a night someone threw up in the disgusting, stamp-sized bathroom.

But Dan Lynch seems to be open again! Unless the web page I found is on crack. Which could be the case. Kenny's Castaways, which is on Bleecker if I recall correctly, also has good music.

There's a great restaurant in the 30s called Artisenal, which is All. About. Cheese. It's not cheap (but not wildly expensive) and it is so fucking good. Fondue, more fondue, cheese biscuits and lots of bread, and really good country-style French stuff. Delicious.

And Cafe Espanol, which has more than one location (although one is on Carmine Street in the Village) is a good little Spanish place -- not Mexican, Spanish, so paella, seafood, etc. Not expensive.

There's a great restaurant in the 30s called Artisenal, which is All. About. Cheese.

It has a cheese cave! AND a maitre du fromage, who is the dude in charge of the cheese, like the sommelier with the wine. (And maitre du fromage translates literally to CHEESEMASTER! I AM THE MASTER OF THE CHEESE! TREMBLE BEFORE ME!!!!)

{{{Cindy}}} I hope your neck feels better soon.

{{{Anne}}} Relocation ~ma.

No luck looking at apartments again today. I don't want to have to do this, and know that I have to isn't helping.

{{sj}} Easy-apartment-finding~ma. Yeah, it sucks. But sometimes you get better deals this time of year. Particularly in college areas where landlords may be desparate to rent out the last couple of units for the school year.

I AM THE MASTER OF THE CHEESE! TREMBLE BEFORE ME!!!!

You know, I think he actually said that when he came to our table.

Not that I would have noticed, what with the drooling and the panting.

Re NYC: what ever happened to La Nouvelle Justine? The sadomasochist themed restaurant? They had great, uhm, cheesecake.

AmyLiz, I've been meaning to compliment you on your tag. I adore Little Women, and re-read it at least once a year.

I adore Little Women, and re-read it at least once a year.

Oh, me too. It's one of my reading comfort foods. That and A Little Princess. It's time to change it, though. Christmas, sadly, is over.

I've been trying to figure out where your tag is from, too, because I'm sure I've heard it...

Little Women readers--do you read the unabridged or an abridged version? I tried the unabridged and kept tripping on the preachy parts.