My planned trip to Ellis Island didn’t come about because of the terrible weather. Decided instead to go shopping. First time I’d done that since I came here. Managed to get all the presents and discovered Macy’s Department Store. This place is like a city in itself. It is unbelievably big. Managed to get totally lost looking for the perfume counter. A rather heavy looking security guard asked me in a suspicious way if I needed any help. I told him I was looking for a bottle of Dior Pure Poison (no, really). After a few seconds when I think he was thinking of throwing me out he told me where the counter was. I think the English accent clinched it. Still took me about half an hour to find it. What a palaver!

Found a new cafe to have breakfast. It’s called Grounded and just up the road. Really nice coffee as the name would suggest. Just as pretentious as where I’m staying but it’s easier to be anonymous. The hotel cafe is full of yuppies who seem to need to tell me how much they hate their jobs. Go and do something useful, what’s wrong with you!? Go and occupy something! Mind you, the only reason they talk to me is because they think I’m a big time film producer, which I’m not but it gives me an aura of glamour I that I probably wouldn’t have if they knew I was a retired teacher.

Went to Caffe Vivaldi Open Mic last night which is on Jones Street. There were some really great performances but I can’t help feeling there is an air of desperation in what they are doing. They all try and direct you to their web sites and brag about their position in the Reverbnation charts and such like. Don’t they realise it’s all crap! Just do it and forget about commercial success! Met a really interesting old school guy there who has written his own New York song in the style of a show tune. Absolutely brilliant, I thought it was a classic I’d never heard before. It wasn’t, it was his! Am meeting up with him to talk about the old days. Fascinating!

Not sure where I’m going tonight but I’ve got a late late gig at the Red Lion with a great player called Niall. Nearly thought of going to Moma today but realised in time that it’s closed on Tuesdays.

After a prolonged period of fantastic weather it is now seriously raining. I’m wet even though I’ve got a waterproof coat and an umbrella. Saturday was a fairly lazy day hanging around Central Park watching the buskers and human statues. Got a few ideas about what to film but am keeping that to myself for now. Also had my first kebab from a street stall. Suprisingly it was very nice and it didn’t make me ill. Result!

Spent the evening in the Village looking around at different venues, Red Lion, Bitter End and a blues club I can’t remember the name of. Have got a gig late night at the Red Lion which is a bit of a noisy place but good fun! Ended up at Path Cafe where there was a very good folk singer performing. Excellent guitarist, suggested I come to his session at a pub called The Brass Monkey on Sunday. Well, I did that and there were some great musicians there but I felt like I’d gatecrashed a band practice. Left quite soon as I was getting fed up with the interminable small talk between tunes. Get on with it!!

Much better was the Sunday bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly’s. Everyone sat round in a circle and took it in turns soloing. The musicianship was top class and I felt a bit nervous. Some of them were veterans of the 60s folk scene. It was a real pleasure and honour to be there. At the end they obviously thought I was OK and invited me back next week. Will definately be there! Ended the night at East Village Tavern with a really nice, friendly bunch of people.