NYC FlyerTalk Party Report
 

Writing to you from Punki's fabulous place in NYC, here is a review of the great NYC get together.

FIrst: think PIP!

So far, so good for this great weekend get together. I will post in detail what has happened but here are the highlights:

*The first shock of the weekend: NO CYNDY! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif just this guy who looked very familiar. I was speechless that it was just old Premex! I was sssssoooo disappointed (NOT that he showed up but CYNDY did not! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif
*I had the pleasure of meeting the beautiful and talented essxjay and have converted her to loving the official donut of Flyertalk: Krispy Kreames.
*The Talkies were a great success. There were some surprises and Boomer did a great job putting it together and introducing some great catagories. I will have HIM provide the details.
*Wishing you well Scott the Flyer and I hope to see you soon.
*DOC: You are missing such a great time! So SORRY you could not come.
*After some sightseeing with Burkey and AnnaS, we are enjoying deli lunch at Punki's with Andrea and Premex (when he comes)
*It's great weather, which makes me relieved. That's all I need is for pouring rain while we're going around.

This afternoon: probably lower Manhattan then drinks at the Marriott Marquis and dinner at West Bank with SCL Flyer and husband and flyme2 and his wife.

I'll post more Sunday afternoon.

Wingless: Good job keeping the mice & sheep off! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks for the kind words, I'm really bummed that I didn't make it. I am feeling a lot better today Thanks for the concern, I hope everyone has a great time. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Cheers Scott

OK< here's the UNCENSORED but G rated version of the NYC FLyertalk weekend!

22 October: It started with me seeing this vision of beauty walking through the lobby of the Marriott World Trade Center. It was essxjay and we talked and laughed about cats and the news business and stuff. I said "OH I hope CYNDY doesn't mind being around all of these Flyertalkers!"
Then "CYNDY" walks in in a men's polo shirt and slacks. It was PremEx. I asked what he was doing there and he said "I'm CYNDY!" Then the cat got my tongue.
Boomer then joined us a few minutes later and we all headed to Krispy Kreame to introduce essxjay to the "unofficial donut of Flyertalkers" (like Sam Adams is the unofficial beer and PEPSI THE OFFICIAL COLA OF F-T!" We talked of miles and travel and customer service and ate donuts and felt good.
Some sightseeing on tap: nice walk to the Woolworth building, along b-way, we wanted to go to the top of WTC but I had my Chuck Taylors on and they refused to let us in. RATS!
After walking the lovely essxjay to Chinatown where she picked up a subway to her next stop , the boys and "CYNDY" went to Tennesee mountain. Burkey got out of anesthesia early so he joined us at 6p. Then RichG appeared and we all went upstairs for awesome ribs and beer and laughs and other stuff.
Boomer: You are a fine host and good luck on the Talkies.He gave us the rundowna nd some interesting results and analysis!
Punki and her associate Andrea joined us where they had healthy food. Nice to have more beautiful women gracing our presence.

It was late and while Boomer went off with "CYNDY" and RIchG had to get home... Punki, Andrea, Burkey and I went to the Sheraton NY's bar where I did a classic job of ordering a martini, Quiet Lion style (ROAR! You got me hooked on them good friend!) It was late, and We all retired for frequent sleeping points!

The Saturday adventures on another post. (HEY! I'm almost at 4K! I must get there!)

The Saturday chronicles!

23 October: After commuting back and forth NYC-JC to check on the mess my contractors made to my apartment (and WHAT A MESS, but that's too OMNI for here) met up with Burkey and ANNAS who surprised me wtih nice chocolates and a book about one of my favorite attractions, the COWS on Parade in Chicago (The Flyertalk cow is on the cover!)


We did some walking around ROckefeller Center to the rink to Fifth Avenue to the overpriced 57th Street, then went to PUnki's place at the Manhattan Club to see the lovely hostless and the fun Andrea. (PremEx had business and would join us at dinner!)

Lunch was a fine cornacopia of deli sandwiches, cheese and cucumbers, perhaps one of teh best white wines I ever had (from Washington state) and PEPSI for me. there were mroe laughs and flyertalk talk and myself trying to work on Punki's nice lavender colored laptop!
We decided to take the bus down to South Ferry and see the Statue of Liberty. Well the bus stops at Macy's and Punki and Anna go off cosmetics shopping. Burkey and I stay in the background but then I show Andrea the souvenier shop downstairs. Punki and Anna don't show so I as host go hunting for them. About 10 minutes later we all meet up, avoding my asking security to page "two missing members of the Secret Society of Flyertalk women!"

With time ticking away we decided to subway it down to South Ferry. it's windy and we spent a little time walking about before heading back uptown to change for dinner.

Here's where I almost had a stroke from worry (have to say I wanted this weekend to be ppurrfect!) It's 6:05 and only PremEx is by what I thought I told everyone was the meeting place: bank of elevators in lobby of Marriot Marquis. Premex called me and said he was at the lobby: on the 8th floor! YIKES!
Go back up and down twice to find the rest of the guests. Burkey finds Premex and after 20 minutes we go to the revolving bar on the 8th floor.

Problem is: I did not realize there are TWO revolving bars. Flyme2 went to the top bar then came and found Burkey and us. (sorry you could not join us SCLGAL and your husband, maybe next time!)

Then Anna, Andrea and Punki joined us, they too went to the 8th floor. I was so upset!!! But I buried my stress in a Martini!

Off to the West Bank Grill. Took a while for a table but once we got it there was good fine, wine, laughs, good times and my relief when everyone appalded me.

Nice walk to the Plaza Oak room for a nightcap. Then It was about 1am when I hit the sack for a 4:30am wakeup for work on Sunday! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

But thank you, everyone for coming. Special thanks to my doctorate professor Punki for assisting me with things to do in NYC. I hope I made the grade and will get my P-H-P (Philosopher in Happy Partying!)

I guess I"m ready for the PIP!!! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Think PIP!!!

As noted, I was only able to attend the Friday festivities, but I want to commend Catman for his arrangements, and Boomer for a nice job with the Talkies, which do, as will become clear, include some surprising results.

"I am soooooooooooooo jealous!" http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

sooooooooooooo is © Rudi http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Sam Adams is the unofficial beer ... and the official one is .... Beck's http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

OMNI for Rudi... Actually and now i've discoverd this from an old entry in my diary...

BECKS is also the Cat's OFFICIAL BEER on U-A flights!

Excellent brew!!! And it's named for one of the most dashing and fun loving Flyertalkers!

Well I definitely think the Cat deserves his P.H.D. (Party Hosting Doctorate) for the wonderful time he showed us all here in NYC. It was a fabulous opportunity to see my old friends, Catman and Anna, and meet the new, PremEx, Boomer, RichG (who in case you haven't noticed has a wonderful quirky sense of humor), Burkey (whose real name isn't David) and Flyme2. Sadly I did not get to meet essxjay, though we spoke on the phone and discovered that our Portland offices are quite near to one another so I may see her next week, nor did I get to meet SCLGal whose office is no where near mine, so I will have to make a special trip to go visit her.

Dinner Friday was very fun, as was sitting at a window seat at the Sheraton drinking martinis and watching New York walk by. Catman has his martini order neatly printed on a card to read to the waitress. Is it another FlyerTalk Cat's business card? http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Saturday began, for us, at lunch my place where the extremely smart Anna hooked up my new lavendar computer (which exactly matches the lavendar Fembot Matt Mobile) so Catman could post to Webflyer. We then proceeded to Columbus Circle to buy fun passes and wandered around New York. Catman did panic briefly when Anna and I got temporarily misplaced in the Potions and Unguents Department at Macy's but since the Cat is a male and a native, he was probably unaware of an obscure City Ordinance that requires all gorgeous female visitors to the city to spend at least 30 minutes lusting over the secret beauty treatments uniquely available only in Paris and New York. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I am sure essexjay knows these things.

I am actually quite certain that the mix-up at the Marriott visa vis the rotating bars was a clever Cat Plan to allow us the view of Manhattan from two slightly different perspectives. We certainly enjoyed them both.

Dinner at the West Bank was great. The most generous PremEx treated us to some very nice red wine, which I just tasted because as a weird vegetarian, I have special wine rules--white wine 'til Halloween and then red wine 'til Easter (unless of course you are on a trip to somewhere warm like the PIP). It is very strange but it works.

The walk to the Plaza was wonderful, as is any walk through New York on a beautiful evening with wonderful friends. And, of course, the Plaza is the Plaza. Andrea and I did dance.

Unfortunately Andrea had to go home early because of an emergency so I was briefly stuck with 2 tickets to Les Miserables and only one me (all the FlyerTalkers had to split before theater time and Catman had to work all night and was almost dead. My friend who lives in the Village, however, is hosting a young Swedish film producer who had not seen the musical so he became my most handsome and charming escort. A truly wonderful production that I am delighted I finally made time for. Wonderful day--a little shopping, great theater, a bite to eat with great company and now I am ready for rest. Two cross country red-eyes in the same week are a bit much for an old lady like me. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Tomorrow I must get up very early and work hard to deserve this fabulous weekend in New York. Thank you very much, my favorite CAT! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 10-24-1999).]

Yes, the Cat has perrrrfected and fine tuned his social director skills and is ready for the PiP (only wish I could have made it there-- next time!) So a big Bravo for the Cat.

As others have said, we had a wonderful time, and had a great host, although Cindy was a little on the masculine side for my taste... http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif and I'm happy to report for *shim* that the hang-nail is healing just fine.

It was great to see those of you who I previsouly met for the second or third times, as well as those of you who it was the first time.

Rudi: If QuietLion uses a different number of "o"'s then there's no copyright violation. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Punki: You are... too kind.
Also: Although I was not with you folks on Saturday, you should also be aware of a very old City Ordinance that prohibits Macy's and Bloomingdales from installing anything of any nature on their ground floor that will occupy in any way the attention of male customers while their female friends shop for potions and unguents. This is a local, but well-known, form of torture which was instituted, I believe, by Susan B. Anthony.


[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 10-24-1999).]

No further statement about my sooooooo-© until I have spoken with my lawyer http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

A grateful thanks to that most genial of hosts, Catman for purrforming his hosting duties with such charm and panache that he will now have surely earned his PHP.
Catman, I salute you and hereby nominate you to join the few who wander the hallowed halls of the Honour Society of FTU. You are in a league of your own!
As has been previously reported, SCLgal, her husband and my wife unfortunately couldn't make the NYC get-together, but on the upside, that meant more of that great wine that Premex so generously provided for the rest of us.
The evening began at the Broadway bar in the Marriott Marquis after a detour at the hotel's other revolving bar (what a great view). I recognized Burkey from a previous meeting and Catman from his photo, but I must say I was taken aback by the startling good looks of the enchanting Cyndy. Such a deep voice with those come-hither looks...sort of like Lauren Bacall, but without the same hair...or face...or hips... or, I guess most parts. But what a great personality!
After drinks and some enjoyable conversation, Punki, Andrea and AnnaS joined us and we were on our way to the West Bank Café.
Upon arrival, we had a short wait for our table and I made good use of it getting another Sam Adams from the bar and bargain shopping and travel tips from Punki. She does know her stuff.
Once seated, the conversations at our table were so lively and engaging that all eyes were us. I don't think any of the other diners had ever witnessed the spectacle of a FT get-together...and they say New Yorkers are jaded!
Premex is one very entertaining fellow, and I'm looking forward to enjoying his company at the PIP. I know he's too modest to admit this, but after a drink or two, get him to tell you how in one fell swoop, he saved Vienna from sinking. I was impressed. I do want to see his picture of Dorian Gray one day. I think he keeps it in his attic.
Burkey is such a nice guy, you wish all doctors could be that way. Earnest, good natured and down to earth.
Punki is...well what isn't she? She's lived a fascinating life and tells a mean story. She is a live wire and her boundless energy is infectious. No flies on Punki. She is a shrewd and savvy traveller.
AnnaS is smart, lively and can speak some French. A perfect candidate for a Montréal FT get-together. Her gregarious nature mimicks that of her mid-west roots. Looking forward to talking with her at the PIP.
Andrea, Punki's work associate, is beautiful and delightful in a manner that bespeaks her Iowa roots. Although not an official FT'er, there was some knudge, knudge, wink, wink between her and Punki that arroused some suspicion. Hhmmm.
A great meeting was had by all, and after photos and applause and cat calls, we all made our way out into the New York evening air, where I had to beg off and part company in preparation for an early morning drive back to Montréal via Jersee.
Once again, KUDOS to Catman for a job well. It was a GREAT pleasure meeting you all, and we'll talk more about an upcoming Montréal get-together at the PIP. See you there!

I believe that there is a special Flyer Talk clause that allows all really good phrases and idioms (even though copy righted) to be used by all full Flyer Talk Members. I believe it is found under "Duplication is the highest form of flattery!" or replication or something like that.

Think PIP! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Rudi: I am soooooooooooooo sorry! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif