I got some free time on the 31st in the afternoon and am wondering if anyone wants to meet for lunch.

Maybe we can have a semi-impromptu mini outsports meet&greet?

I'm even willing to travel to the outer boroughs (to a degree) if need be. but would rather meet in Manhattan.

Anyone wanna get together and beat each other up over politics in person instead of on line? wink

Sure ung... count me in!
Let me know when/where you're thinking.
I can recommend a few places to grab a beer, but being as how it's New Year's Eve, folks may not want to start the "party" too early...

I'd like to meet up with some of y'alls, but a)I'm in Queens (Astoria); and it looks like I'll be celebrating the new year in...Trenton (eek!). A buddy is picking up his pseudo-girlfriend at Logan Airport during the afternoon of the 31st and wants to pick me up on his way home.

New Year's Eve in Jersey - what am I gonna do there???

hey, you can count me in if we're in Manhattan, but out of Times Square. Maybe the East Village? I don't know anyplaces there, anyone else?

I might be able to go if it's early enough in the afternoon. Anywhere in the city is fine by me.

I dig the East Village.
shore - you have recommendations?
Please, no Starbucks!!!

I forgot to give FeverDog grief:
1) Astoria is soooo not that far, especially if we meet on the East...
2) I'm in Jersey now (part-time), so I'm officially required to shout back at you with some Jersey pride...

OK, ung, shore, and others - let's pick a spot.

Is this for a just a beer (a bar) or lunch, as originally proposed by Ung?

Is it going to be the East Village for sure or have Chelsea and the West Village been ruled out?

If it's in the afternoon, I'm definitely in.

Okay, not the East Village, but how about the Viceroy at 8th Ave and 18th at 2 o'clock?

[ December 30, 2003, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: shore ]

The East Village (my neighborhood) is a dead spot weekday lunch time. Don't expect it will be any different because it's NYE. A number of the better places don't open for lunch. And the gay bars are also not open until the evening.

You may want to try the West Village or something around Union Square instead.

Union Square is easy for everyone to get to. Coffee Shop (cheap, no reservation needed) and Blue Water Grill (make a reservation) are my favorites in Union Square.

But the West Village and Chelsea will be more of gay central for the out-of-towners.

The Corner Bistro in the West Village has cheap burgers and beer. It's on the corner of Jane and West 4th St.

(B-Man, I will be at JFK when you guys do this do--hope you have a blast!)

[ December 30, 2003, 09:00 AM: Message edited by: TomFord ]

So funny, I was just thinking that Corner Bistro or Viceroy would be good! If the group keeps growing, we'll probably have to do Viceroy because it can accommodate a large group easier. Corner Bistro just has so much atmosphere and such great burgers.

My purgatorial workplace does the "we'll close early but you'll have to work through lunch" thing on the 31st, so I can't say if I'll make it. If I get lucky, look for a Bush Warlord T-shirt or some such...

TomFord, defender of the America First faith, lives in the East Village? eek! It IS a new millennium!

I do, and I love it! But I'm not one of the hygienically challenged bar-crawling types (who are mostly not from the neighborhood). Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[ December 30, 2003, 11:42 AM: Message edited by: TomFord ]

Where is Gaga4Gaby? And hey, ung, do you have any other input? B Man?

I'd pick Corner Bistro over Viceroy any day, truth be told, BUT... seems like most folks here are rather keen on Viceroy, which I actually do like. Just hollah back with time, and I'll be there. someone should bring a camera

TomFord, I'm bummed you won't be able to make it. I'd insert a frowny-face emoticon here if I were into that, thing...but I'm not. I *am* bummed you won't be coming, though. Bummed you can't make it, either, Bill W. Damn...

But, hey, if Gaga4Gaby comes, there will be a density of Outsports tennis fans present! What a hoot that could be... Let it be known that anyone and everyone can jump the L train back to Williamsburg, Brooklyn with me if they so desire, and I can show peoples cool brew-ha-ha places in my neck o' the woods, too.

Hmmmm..........wish I were in my town, but I'm soaking up some sun this week. Viceroy and Corner Bistro are both in my neck of the woods. Both have good points, but I think the atmosphere at Viceroy is probably a bit more conducive to sitting around and chatting. Wish I could join you all.......... frown

Don't bother with the Corner Bistro--the wait is too long, and it will kill those who can only meet for a limited time. We were out earlier tonight, jumped in a cab to go there for dinner, and gave up as soon as we saw the huge line outside. Nice place, but it's essentially a tourist trap now. Too well known, too small, and not good for hard-charging, impatient types. It will only be an option for your Outsports lunch if someone can vouch that it won't be crowded at lunch tomorrow.

I should start a NY restaurants thread because it's always good to find out what's out there. We went to Little Frankie's instead, which is on 1st and 1st. Nice little place, but not good for a crowd. Good food, esp. the roast chicken, awesome Nutella and strawberry desert, shitty beer selection.

B-Man, just noticed your post. I'd love to be there, but I won't spend NYE here again. NYE in NYC....not good for me anymore, as the temptation is to spend it being shitfaced on a dancefloor. And I'm a respectable man now!

[ December 30, 2003, 08:36 PM: Message edited by: TomFord ]

Viceroy at 2? See you there.

ok. let's settle on a place. or have we?
I don't care where. would prefer midtown or upperwest side (close to my apt) but I can go downtown if need be. But I'll be rushing back from the outer boroughs for lunch (or coffee whichever)

sorry I couldn't input sooner. But I was in transit from Kentucky.

I think it's cool that so many responded. Wow!!!

anyway, no one seems to object to Viceroy at 2PM on 18th and 8th. That works for everyone? Let's do that then. ok?

[ December 30, 2003, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: ung ]

alrighty then... let's assume that's the plan, If any of you wanna change something or confirm or whatever, call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx

I know. I know. it's a long distance. But I figure you guys have mobiles. so it doesn't matter. anyway, it's the only phone I got on me while I'm out of manhatten.

[ December 31, 2003, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: ung ]

Viceroy at 2pm it is--maybe we should ask the host to seat us with the other Outsporters? In the front at the bar area as opposed to the back dining area? I would tell you what I'll be wearing so you could identify me, but, really, it's 8:30 am and there's no way of knowing what I'll want to wear this afternoon.

I'll be wearing a beige, long-sleeved henley(?) shirt and jeans. I would wear a Yankee shirt, but I don't want to scare Bill W away.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish up here at work and see you guys there. Actually, I was thinking they might seat us in that back corner. Which has enough room to accommodate a large, raucous party!

This is being dick-tated to me by UNG on the phone:

"I will have on a striped scarf, black CNN ski hat, gray sweater."

I hope you guys had a good time. I wish SF Bay Area Outsporters did things like that!

Well, I had a great time. It was nice to put faces with screenames.

THANKS Ung for being the instigator. I had a great time, too. Who knew we could talk tennis for soooooo long (well, I did, but...)

Next time, Cyd, Gaga, BillW, TomFord, and everyone else in the area BETTER JOIN US!

(p.s. lunch alumni - I got "the scoop"! send me a private message for details...)

[ December 31, 2003, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: The B Man ]

Did he wear pants?

Hope everyone had fun. Cyd wants people to get together to watch the NFL playoffs. Go see this link and set up something!

God! The Howard Dean model is beiong imitated everywhere. (NFL home parties being networked)

anywho.....I had a blast. and as you guys may know, I was very animated. I was psyched.

sorry I had to leave so soon. But it was a day with a lot on the "to do" list.

Hope it's not the last time I see you guys

and to all.... HAPY NEW YEAR!!!!

[ December 31, 2003, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: ung ]

It's great to see all you NYC guys getting together for a "lunchtime quickie" like this! "Outsports: The Great Unifier."

Wow, scottie, those new cell phones can do that? I hope you had it set to "vibrate" at the time! And do tell, does it like to cuddle afterwards? wink

Hey guys, I had a great time yesterday as well. Nice seeing B-Man and Ung again, and meeting shore and jaydeenyc. Hopefully we can get together soon again, and have more people.

And thanks for the message Scottie. I didn't realize you were such a good dick-tator.

nice seeing you too Pat! I've seen you in two places now Philly and NYC. where next?

Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve. I had fun at Central Park. But the police presence was a bit much. Like 20 policemen on every damn intersection. I didn't know if I was in NYC or East Berlin!!!

But you know what? There's a silver lining to every cloud.... Did anyone else notice how many HUNKY HUNKY NYC policemen there are? eek!

I'll show you next time I see you....

It's so nice that you guys missed me! I'm touched and will definitely do my best to make it to the next NYC get-together.

I was spending two weeks in the middle of the Georgia woods to celebrate the holidays with some old fashioned fundamentalist Christianity, bats in the house (eeew), and no internet access. But it was good to see the family nonetheless.

Hope someone took some pictures!!

I will be in the city for the Jan. 30 Rangers/Sabres game. If any of you guys plan anything for that weekend, please let me know. My roommate is going with me, who is very cute (but does have a boyfriend).

C-Dog, let us know your plans as the time draws near! I'm sure the NYC Outsports crew will rise to the occassion of hosting a fellow sports fan. If I were a former comic-book geek, I'd say something like, Outsporters Assemble!

But...um. I won't.

Holler if you're interested in brunch (or, if you're happy and you know it)

Bill W - check your private messages!

Thanks. A get together would be nice if it is at all possible for any of you. Sometime this week, I will give Pat125 the specifics of when I am taking the train up and where I am staying. I know it is a Holiday Inn near Times Square, but I made the reservations so long ago that I really don't recall the exact details at this time.

Anyone in NY planning to go to this?

I'm not going on that particular night, but I know the guy who started up Balls, Boards, and Blades and runs those get togethers at XL. They're usually very popular and packed with guys, so people have a good time at them, for what it's worth.

I am usually with family when I go to New York, so I am unable to really check any places out. However, since I am going to be in the City (and not telling any relatives) for the 30th through the 1st, I was wondering if any of you had any ideas of where to hang out? I typically prefer laid back, sweater or shirt and jeans types of places where the clientele and bartenders are not very snotty. The only club that looks okay is "The Dugout" on Christopher St. and Weehawken St. My buddy, Pat 125, has been kind enough to e-mail me some ideas, but he is also in Jersey . Where can I go that is not all "fashion and lights" nor a place that is all "young and "model-types"?. I just want to be able to just grab a beer and hang out with normal people? Any suggestions?

I used to like The Dugout, but no one plays pool there anymore, and it seems like they've tried to make it more like a dance club...

I like The Phoenix, it's in the East Village, they have a pool table, and a pretty good jukebox*, too. It's got some East Village flavor, but not overwhelmingly so.

Are any other lunch alumni going to the Superbowl party???

C-Dog, where will you be staying? There are some cool places in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, if that's not too far.


* good jukebox = very little diva crap

Thanks, B Man, I am definitely going to check out "Phoenix" and possibly, "The Dugout". I will be at a midtown Holiday Inn near Penn Station/MSG. As much as I love Brooklyn (I think most of my entire family tree back to 1910 is from Flatbush), I plan on just staying in Manhattan this time. I've got tickets to the Rangers on Friday night, and will probably get my friend to hang out with me after the game and maybe do a little of the casual bar thing. He is into photography, so most likely he will do his thing and spend Saturday taking great pictures of the City. If possible, it would be nice to meet up with a few of you while I am there. However, with the weather being what it is in NY, and here in DC, for that matter, I definitely understand how my timing may not exactly be great.

The Dugout is dying a slow, painful death from all I've heard. They've been charging cover charges and have been trying to make weekend Hip Hop or Thug Nights. It's not your Sugar Daddy's Dugout anymore!

We draw a very good crowd at Tys, especially on Fri-Sun nights. I'll be working Saturday if you want to pop in and say hey. Never been to The Phoenix so I don't know anything about that.

Are you going back early Sunday? If you are staying, I know a certain Outsporter who is hosting a Super Bowl soiree and I'm sure I could get you in! wink

Hi, Cattledog - I'll be out of town that weekend; otherwise would love to meet you. Maybe next time it'll be baseball season and we can take in a Yankee game.

As far as bars, totally agree about the Phoenix. I also like The Eagle and Therapy (in the next gay ghetto - Midtown!), and I think I'm one of the few people who will admit to still liking The Monster.

I agree that the Dugout has been declining. Why do they close their doors at midnight on Fridays? Who knows.

Tys is always fun. Wound up there for Game 5 of the ALDS last year, just in time to see the A's choke once again. Nice place, good people.

But I usually go to the Phoenix now. Easier to get to from where I live, the jukebox doesn't suck (though they really should add some CDs more people have heard of), and a good mix of people. Plus, you can get a contact high in the bathroom...

I knew you guys would help.
GVF, several of you have recommended Ty's, and I will definitely drop by on Saturday night once I figure out where it is. The Phoenix sounds good, too. I know it is on East 13th St. MM, the Yankees regular season starts in a few months. ...and I never decline an opportunity to see the good guys play. In my latest clubhouse picture, I am all decked out in my hat and jersey at The Stadium from last season. :cool:

I've only been there once, but I thought The Monster was nice. O.W. in East Midtown seemed to be nice, too, in a different way.

Cattledog, you could try the Hangar. It's close to Ty's. Quiet early on, picks up as the evening goes.

Thanks, PennState. If anyone could either post or send me the address to Ty's and the Hangar, I would be most appreciative.