2008 BRT info to follow on or about February 21.
Announcing the
7th annual dhammer53 Brooklyn Reality Tour.
Saturday May 19, 2007.
The first 6 Brooklyn Tours were sellouts. The past three years, due to an overwhelming response, I rented an airport type shuttle van. We split the cost. The cost will be about $30. per person based on a full van of 25 passengers. Paypal details to be announced at a later date.
Pick up 10:00 Saturday morning. Probably around Grand Central Station.
Besides touring Brooklyn (my home town), we eat, and eat, and eat. Can you say 'real' Brooklyn pizza? Can you say 'delicious' bakery? Just ask any of the folks who have been on this tour. We drive. We tour. We eat.
Open to ALL Flyertalkers; including all the new folks.
After we finished the tour last year, we went for dinner. We went to an authentic Italian place in an authentic Italian neighborhood. Lots of jewelry showing.
Figure about $25 a person. This is less than what you would pay in Manhattan; and twice the portion. The show is better than the food.
The 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. I'll start a dinner thread soon. Last year 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 March 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
Note:
We rotate seats in the van. 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.
Here it is... http://home.inter.net/mjm/brt07.html
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 the spring, 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 e mail me your:
Flyertalk handle and real name.
Hotel you're staying at, when available.
Cell #
The 2006 thread here
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthrea...t=reality+tour
It's good background info for any first timers; or, anyone feeling nostalgic.
Let the fun begin.