The Shadow comes to NYC
 

And what a great excuse for me to go out for steak with another great Flyertalk buddy.

On top of that: Ling is doing a mileage run so she's coming thru NYC!

The Place: Sparks Restaurant, East 46th street (I have taken Onefreeman, Raeban, geo1004, Boomer, Njflyer, doc and others here!)

The Date: Tuesday, August 22nd (we could do it on the 23rd if there's great availability.

The shadow feasters (so far http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Catman
Shadow
Ling

OK flyers come on up and let's fest our buddy shadow.

Catman:

How I hate to pass up a sirlion at sparks,
but alas, I'll be in St Louis that week.

Bring your appetite if you are going to Sparks! Steak, steak, and more steak!

And I too, barring a big change, will also, very sadly, be out of town! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Doubt if I'll make it up that day, but will see you Aug 26 for steak in SLC.

Well Dr Burkey, I finally get back to your side of the world, and you're busy.. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
SLC on the 26th? I might need to make a short mileage run.

And for doc and Boomer, I guess we'll have to wait for another time.

Ling, we finally get to meet. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

C'mon folks, there's gotta be a few people in NYC that week. Call for Phillip Morr...oops, excuse me, call for RichG & NJDavid. Boy, am I 'dating' myself...

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 07-25-2000).]

Shameless self-promotion... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Bringing this back to the top so it doesn't get buried.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Meeting the new oral surgeon (FINALLY) on 8/21 so it doesn't look promising right now. Can't wait till I get this mouth jewelry off so I can REALLY enjoy a man's steak at a true bovine establishment (although the Hereford House in MIA was awesome, I paid for that meal for days!!!)

I'm not making any promises, but I get my schedule tomorrow, so I could be a possible.

C'mon folks...there have to be more of you that will be in & around NYC on Aug 22nd. There might even be another get-together on the 23rd, but I'm committed for that night.

So far it's just Catman, Ling & me, with a possible from burkey. We're going to celebrate Ling's birthday at Sparks Steak House, and need a few more revelers. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I'd love to attend but it looks like my timing is off by a week. I'll be flying in from PDX the following Sunday night and will be in NYC from August 28 through September 1 http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I'd love to for all the obvious reasons but it's mid-week.

We'd love to attend, but Sondra and I will be on a mileage run (ALB to SEA) and won't get back till late on the 22nd. Enjoy.

I'll be down I-95 near DCA those two days! (sorry we missed in Chicago, shadow!).

I've been in-computi-cado for about a week, but jumping back in and finding this is a pleasant surprise! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The 22nd fits in right between two trips, and I have to admit I've never been to Sparks, so I'll have to see if they still have that steak Big Paul never finished.

See you all there. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

------------------
I'm only in it for the mileage

Well, with RichG, E (Evan) and Dsimon coming aboard we have a steak party.

So reservation for SIX all set for SPARKS, East 46th Street at 7 pm, Tuesday August 22nd, 2000

If anyone else can make it up I can add on.

The Guest List:

CATMAN
SHADOW
LING
RICHG
E/EVAN
DSIMON

See yall then and bring your appetite! MileKing is correct, the STEAKS ARE BIG! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Could a newbie come? I'd love to meet some of you and have a client in NY I could probably justify seeing!

You're certainly welcome as far as I'm concerned...as long as you behave well! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I'm sure with Catmans connections, he can make the reservation flexible for any late joiners.

As for my expected travel plans...I am certainly IN on this gathering!

CATMAN...let's coordinate our Grand Central Station meeting time and place (offline) so you, DSIMON and I can get there on time and in one piece. I'll be coming down from Stamford, CT that evening.

Looking forward to it, gang!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I am looking forward to this FT dinner. E and Catman, go ahead and coordinate your time and place. I should not have too much of a problem getting to Grand Central by 6:15 or 6:30, depending on how the trains are running. As Evan mentioned, we can discuss the logistics offline. As for the rest, I am looking forward to meeting you as well.

E and Dsimon, you have an e-mail coming with the logistics...

If you both ahve a better idea, please let me know. Let's work together on this.

svpii: If you are interested in coming please let me know so I can adjust reservation.

See you all in a few weeks.

Catman,

It's 8/09 and I still have not received your "logistics" email...did you send it yet?

Just moving this up in case there's anyone else who might be interested.

Need to know by Monday, 6p NYC time so I can let sparks now.

Looking forward to it! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I've been monitoring my flights for the past two weeks, and I've come to a very sad decision...I won't be able to attend my own birthday celebration.

My heart just hurts, but EUG hasn't been known for on-time performance. For example, today: 5596 is 166 minutes late arriving in DEN, and 430 is 171 minutes late arriving in EWR. Flight 907 has included an extra stop (ABQ?)to arrive in DEN 254 minutes late. Flight 1295 has changed its departing time to accommodate 907's extra stop, so it's arriving 121 minutes late. And it sounds like this almost every day.

So, not meaning to be a party pooper, I know there will be other meetings. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
Everyone have a great time!

Linda

LING! I"m sssooooo dissappointed! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif (copyright R. Martel 2000)

You will certianly be missed but we'll toast you and AusTxHiker on your birthdays!!

Shadow, Rich G, E/Evan and David simon: I'll see you at sparks Tuesday night, 7pm sharp! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

FYI: We have ONE more spot if anyone else is interested.

I just had dinner & far too much alcohol with auh2o, who's working in NYC this week, but he's got reservations at Tavern On The Green tomorrow night.

We had dinner at Il Pescatore, just across the street from Martel's Grill on 2nd Ave. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Still room for one more on Tuesday night....



[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 08-21-2000).]

I apologize, I did not have a beer at Martel's as I am so confused as to what beer I should drink now and what beer I should support next year. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks Shadow.

I am in NYC for the rest of the week!

Well we had another wonderful dinner at Sparks and it was a first time steak experinece for Shadow, RichG and Dsimon, who celebrated his FIRST OFFICIAL FLYERTALK GATHERING! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Shadow and I partook of the steak flomage (SP) and it was a first time for me for that and I really enjoyed it.

We also toasted a day early Ling and AusTxHiker's b-days (both are on the 23rd) and Newself, who is the 26th. he will only be 26! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

E/Evan: I'm sorry you got stuck at work but I am hoping we'll see you at Larry U's gathering next Wednesday.

Ling: your presence was missed and I hope that we will see each other soon.

Thanks brothers David (dsimon) Shadow and RichG for coming out for steak and fun and good talks.

Sparks is definitely a Flyertalk place!! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It was a very enjoyable evening at Sparks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The Steak Fromage is a wonderfully decadent meal, as well as the Cheesecake for dessert.

As usual, whenever RichG and I get together, we end up standing on the street talking forever. After walking back to Times Square, we said goodbye to Catman & dsimon as they headed to their respective trains, and Rich and I continued our conversation on the corner of 46th & Broadway.

Thanks to Catman for being the NYC Ambassador, and to dsimon for joining us for his first FT dinner. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

To Ling: We really missed you here, but did toast your b'day and made you part of the gathering anyway http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 08-23-2000).]

I just want to extend my thanks to Catman, RichG, and Shadow for a great time last night; my stomach is the heavier for it http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.

In the true spirit of FlyerTalk, here are some more details, for those interested in that kind of thing.: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I got to Sparks about 7:04, having taken a taxi from the West Side. Just inside the doorway I spotted Shadow, who recognized me immediately. (I think we actually only met on one other occasion, and it was almost a year ago.) After about 5 minutes chatting and discussing appropriate uses for the $8000 Magnum bottles of wine stacked conveniently near where we were standing, Shadow suggested we stand outside and look for the others.

After about 5 minutes outside my pocket began to ring, which is always a suprise when I hear it since the Ericsson is not quite loud enough to hear reliably outdoors. Of course, it was Catman, who, when I informed him that we were outside waiting, told me that they were inside, at a table. Apparently, Shadow had arrived just at 7:00 p.m., and Catman must have gotten there seconds earlier, and, somehow, been seated immediately.

Shadow and I dashed back inside, and I looked around and spotted Catman and dsimon, seated at a table for four, which was our indication that a couple more people had cancelled out.

Catman introduced Shadow and me to dsimon, and I then announced my obnoxious news for the evening: that I had to be on a conference call at 8:00 p.m. and felt terrible about having to screw up the flow of the dinner that way. Everyone was very kind and insisted that I order quickly so I would be ready for the call.

Somehow I could tell that the service was going to be efficient, without being rushed, so I never actually told the waiter what my time constraints were. Nevertheless, our drinks came, the appetizers came and went, and the entrees were delivered, all between 7:10 and 7:45, without anyone feeling rushed.

In the meantime, we had fun discussing dsimon's business, Shadow's travels, and past and future FT gatherings in Hawaii, Montreal, Dusseldorf, Seattle, and so forth.

In perusing the menu, I had noticed, and announced, that there was on the menu an item I had never seen before, and declared it to be a great example of "wretched excess": steak fromage. Catman and Shadow announced that they were both seriously considering ordering this cheesy viande, and proceeded to do so. Fortunately, Shadow had come prepared with his digital camera, so there will be an image recorded for posterity of two smiling FlyerTalkers holding two servings of steak topped with roquefort cheese posted somewhere soon for you all to click on.

I greatly enjoyed my beef scallopine, although I would have liked to have eaten it a bit more slowly. As far as I can tell, none of the others followed my lead regarding eating speed, fortunately.

I walked outside and joined my conference call via the cell phone at 8:05, only 5 minutes late, and I still beat two of the other participants. I always think of conference calls as meetings without coffee, where nobody else can see the faces you make. Actually, someone asked if I could get Sparks to deliver coffee to me on the street. I replied that I doubt Sparks had any paper cups, so I would need three hands at least to manipulate a cup, a saucer, and the cell phone at the same time.

There was a chance that this call could have taken as little as 20 minutes, although I knew that was unlikely. As it turned out, it took an hour, but I wasn't unhappy because I had also expected to get beat up over a couple of things and somehow managed to turn them around, and delay a couple of decisions until October. I excused myself from the call at 9:00, after registering my assent on the last topic, and ran back inside to the FT table to find out what I had had for dessert. It was cheesecake, apparently. Along with the virtual cheesecake I had some real coffee, finally, in a real cup, and no saucer!

At the final accounting, Diners Club beat Starwood Amex three to one, and we all walked to Times Square where Shadow was staying. We parted after a very enjoyable evening, and I took the subway home.

From RichG...
Here it is: http://community.webshots.com/user/shadow45

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the photo of this 'wretched excess', then click again to full-size it. We both finished it, too http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 08-27-2000).]

Thanks for the pics!

Wish I could have joined you guys, but work called, and I answered! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif