NYC - Day two.

Last night: New Yorkers do NOT live up to their cranky reputation. Had a lovely conversation with a pretty girl who saw my guidebook and asked where I was from.

This was on my way to a bar in the lower east side that apparently plays good local Rock shows. I saw three bands, one not too memorable, one memorably bad, (I was the only guy that wasn't a family member or significant other of the band) and one that was absolutely AMAZING. They were called Endway, and I bought their CD. Awesome band.

Walked around the city in the wee hours of the night, and saw an incredible pots and pans drummer at Times Square station, and ate non-hot dog street meat. They sell everything from street stands here.

Today: Explored Central Park, wandered around a bit more downtown, saw the Naked Cowboy and bought tickets to see the Fantasticks tonight from the half-off stand. The guy behind me in line was a local named Tony who sees a half-off show about once a week. I had a blast talking to him. Another super friendly new yorker. He told me that New York's rep came pre-9-11, and that since the towers fell, everyone's become much, much nicer. With my experience so far, New Yorkers are the friendliest city dwellers I've ever met.

In Central Park:

-A family of 6 busking by singing amazing doo-wop harmonies. I wonder what the family dynamic was like... the kids were very young and looked like they did NOT want to be there.
-Many, many, many runners. Central Park is a joggers paradise.
-And many, many playgrounds with very interesting layouts. Grounders would be incredible here.
-Public art coming out the wazoo.

Tonight, the Fantasticks, and depending on how I feel when it's over, maybe to a pub that features Celtic music.

Tomorrow, the plan is to explore Harlem and check out a church there, then in the evening go to the Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship.