This is last years thread. edit 23 January 2010.


2009 dhammer53 Brooklyn Reality Tour - Sat. June 13, 2009


Announcing the 9th annual dhammer53 Brooklyn Reality Tour.


The first 8 Brooklyn Tours were sellouts. BRT 4 - 7 I rented an airport type shuttle van. Last year we had a 50 passenger coach bus. We split the cost. The cost will be about $42. per person based on a full van of 25 passengers, and or a busload of 50. Once again, the tour will include a limited edition tee shirt. If anyone has an image they'd like me to consider for the 2009 shirt, feel free to post a link to your photo from a past tour. The winner will receive a free shirt.

Paypal details to be announced at a later date.


Pick up 10:00 Saturday morning in the Grand Central Station neighborhood. Drop-off at 10:00pm.

Besides touring Brooklyn (my home town), we eat, and eat, and eat. Can you say 'real' Brooklyn pizza? Can you say 'delicious' bakery goodies? Just ask any of the folks who have been on this tour. We drive. We tour. We eat.

If you're new to Flyertalk, the tour is a great way to make new friends.
At the end of the BRT tours 2 - 7, we went for dinner. We went to an authentic Italian place in an authentic Italian neighborhood. Lots of jewelry showing.

Figure about $25- $30 a person. This is less than what you would pay in Manhattan; and twice the portion. The show is better than the food. If we do lunch, the cost will be $15 - $20.

Please note, last year I switched lunch and dinner. The sit down was lunch. 2009 plans will depend on how many riders come along.

The lunch/dinner will be open to everyone. If you're not on the Tour, you'll have to take the subway to the restaurant. It's about 40 minutes and $2 one way. Three years ago, we had a few hitch-hikers on the van back to Manhattan.

Start planning now. Springtime in New York is beautiful. Consider yourself invited.

If you've been on the tour before and want to go again, please sign up, and consider yourself waitlisted. If you're from New York, you're waitlisted too. Thinking about bringing a friend or relative? They have no status; so we'll have to wait and see if they clear the DM list. All of the above lists will clear by May 15. Don't wait to decide.

Past tour highlights include:

2001...poor AnnaS having a cold.
2002...Lisamcgu making us stop for White castle hamburgers.
2003...mjm insisting on a Starbucks break. After I stopped laughing at him for thinking that Brooklyn would even have a Starbucks... we found one.
2004...gorging on food at marysunshine's house...and this was a snack!
2005...cawhite knocking on the door of my childhood home; while I ducked for cover. It was a priceless moment. Details towards the last page of the 2005 thread. Also, a Tony Soprano type sitting at the bar added some extra flavor to our experience.
2006...Our van squeezing past a doubleparked car on a side street. You can just imagine the typical Brooklyn swearing. Also, the tour getting its 15 minutes of fame on Cable television News 12 Brooklyn. Check it out http://news12.com/BK/topstories/article?id=175940# use name: dhammer53ft, password: flyertalk (may not work).
2007... When cawhites 'friend' Larry (the guy who always sits at the bar), checked us out!
2008... "I had no intention of stopping at my childhood home. As we approached, I told the driver to slow down, then stop. Seems the front door was wide open. I took this as a sign from above. I stopped the bus.
A couple of years back, cawhite knocked on the door. I ducked for cover. This year I was apprehensive as I approached. When I told the woman that she bought the house from my Mom, she said in typical Brooklyn fashion whats her name? When I responded, she had a big smile for me.
This may have been the moment on BRT 8. Every year, there's always one moment that's noteworthy".

Note:

We rotate seats on the bus. Seat 1A is reserved for a couple of long time attendees (yes, that means you).
We make plenty of stops.
New Yorkers are 'standby' for the tour. Preference goes to out-of-towners.

No talking miles and points when I'm (ahem) lecturing on Brooklyn.
If you want to talk miles and points, visit Chat.


mjm will post and host a website for the tour attendees, and the dinner attendees.
Details to follow (eventually).

It takes a certain type of person to put up with other Flyertalkers for an entire day. If you're looking for an excuse to visit NY (Brooklyn) in June, the dhammer53 Brooklyn Reality Tour is it.

Please post below if you're interested. I've met a few of you along the road this past year and you have 'dibs' if you're interested in joining us for a fun day in Brooklyn.


If you're interested in coming along, I need you to pm me your:

Flyertalk handle and real name.
Hotel you're staying at, when available.
Cell #

The 2007 thread here... http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...light=brooklyn

2008 Trip Report here... http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=839107

The 2006 thread here http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...light=brooklyn
It's good background info for any first timers; or, anyone feeling nostalgic.


Let the fun begin.

dhammer53 +1
cawhite * paid
KathyWdrf * paid
UCBeau * paid
MikeMpls +1 paid
SS255 * paid
holmedown +1 * paid
iluv2fly *
sy7 paid
rhino_uk paid
cfischer * paid
work2fly + 1.5 paid
N334AA paid
Dovster +1 paid
Chemist661 +1 paid
Mikew99 +1 paid
braefoot paid
ElmhurstNick paid
jb831 paid
mnmag paid
Watchful +1 paid
Bonk - all set
bobovespa +1 paid
puppysara +1 paid
socrates paid
Getiton * paid
gfowler + 1 paid
harpodamann <<< doesn't respond to PM's
secretsea18 paid
Benny8444 paid
tom911 all set
sbm12 paid
gbryan84 paid

49 passenger bus

43 so far. * = Repeat riders.

6 seats left

plus 3 documentary
plus 2 guide