Always Something, NYC

I classify events into two groups:  

1) Events that are so huge, awesome or odd that you make a conscious plan to attend them.

2) Random stuff you happen upon of varying degrees of coolitude and awesomification.

For example, when living in San Antonio I would make plans weeks or months in advance to see an especially good indie band (even drive to Austin for the occasion), but likewise I could be delighted to happen upon the 51st annual According festival on my way out for breakfast tacos.

What I've found in New York is that the two types have become less distinct.  In other words, the things I plan on are not dramatically cooler than those I happen upon, or even less so in fact.  Some examples from my 2 months thus far in New York:

* Central Park free concert w/ Battles (highly recommended by indie-savant Jelly-D).  Upon arrival, I found out the opening band was actually Gang Gang Dance, and was MUCH more impressed with them than the headliners.

* A casual trip to Brooklyn for Shelley's work resulted in not only the discovery of the Brooklyn Brewery, but also the thriving heart of Brooklyn's trendy vintage retail and hipster community.

* the Daily Show, sold out for months, suddenly opens up 4 days of tickets and Shelley snags us some (free) on less than 1 week notice, which is essentially unheard of.

* I stumble into a concert poster for jazz drummer Lewis Nash (playing with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and pianist Renee Rosnes) taking place the next night on Columbia campus, which means I get to purchase $7 tickets to a mid-tier jazz concert (crazy talk!)

There are other examples, but the gist of it is this:  There is always something cool happening in New York, and while I haven't yet found a reliable method to track these happenings (with the New York Times, Village Voice and the Onion all helpful, but woefully incomplete).  As a result, I am the Titanic to the unique experience Icebergs of this city, and while I don't expect to split in two or kill Leonardo Decaprio, I will continue full steam ahead with the assumption that I can bump into whatever I like to my own benefit.

But just for the record, Decaprio better watch his back.

Weber

::(lame) Texpatriot