A Yorkie in New York

[Harvey2]

My eldest son just got back from his first visit to New York and shock, horror - he found the people there to be mostly, Very Nice! He saw lots of live music including Low at Radio City (which he though was a bit expensive) and some great Jazz at some late nite club. He loved Greenwich Village where he seems to have purchased the entire stock of several record shops ;-) Loved the MOMA, saw some weird film called Super, which he liked but doesn't think it will get past our censors. The only place he didn't feel comfortable whilst walking about was Harlem despite wearing his favourite NWA tee shirt! He made me laugh when explaining that he had seen stereotypes that he never thought existed except in TV shows or Films such as a very pale skinned "Black" woman threatening to "Bust some white motherf**kers ass" who had asked her to lower her voice on the underground" or some young woman who joined their group in a bar and proceeded to talk about herself for the entire evening. Now my son is back and busy marking school work ready for his return to the classroom on Monday although, I expect the Jet Lag will hit him tomorrow. On the musical front, my lads will have their new CD available from next week, "Failed States". Check out their Facebook site - fivemileisland

[Arlene]

My eldest son just got back from his first visit to New York and shock, horror - he found the people there to be mostly, Very Nice!

Obviously, he didn't look ME up :) Seriously, I DO think the general stereotype of us is unfair. It's not for everybody but I've lived in the Manhattan for my entire adult life-- over 30 years-- and I don't think I'll ever choose to move.

[Mike Rogers]

Well, just for the two of you, courtesy of Rodgers & Hart, a song I've always loved for its outrageous and witty rhymes;

Summer journeys
To Niag'ra
And to other places
Aggravate all our cares.
We'll save our fares.
I've a cozy little flat
In what is known as old Manhattan.
We'll settle down
Right here in town.

We'll have Manhattan,
The Bronx and Staten
Island too.
It's lovely going through
The zoo.
It's very fancy
On old Delancey
Street, you know.
The subway charms us so
When balmy breezes blow
To and fro.
And tell me what street
Compares with Mott Street
In July?
Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by.
The great big city's a wondrous toy
Just made for a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Greenwich,
Where modern men itch
To be free;
And Bowling Green you'll see
With me.
We'll bathe at Brighton
The fish you'll frighten
When you're in.
Your bathing suit so thin
Will make the shellfish grin
Fin to fin.
I'd like to take a
Sail on Jamaica
Bay with you.
And fair Canarsie's lake
We'll view.
The city's bustle cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll go to Yonkers
Where true love conquers
In the wilds.
And starve together, dear,
In Childs'.
We'll go to Coney
And eat baloney
On a roll.
In Central Park we'll stroll,
Where our first kiss we stole,
Soul to soul.
Our future babies
We'll take to "Abie's
Irish Rose."
I hope they'll live to see
It close.
The city's clamor can never spoil
The dreams of a boy and goil.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy.

We'll have Manhattan,
The Bronx and Staten
Island too.
We'll try to cross'
Fifth Avenue.
As black as onyx
We'll find the Bronnix
Park Express.
Our Flatbush flat, I guess,
Will be a great success,
More or less.
A short vacation
On Inspiration Point
We'll spend,
And in the station house we'll end,
But Civic Virtue cannot destroy
The dreams of a girl and boy.
We'll turn Manhattan
Into an isle of joy!