Somewhere to the east, a little man laughs and laughs with glee.

That is totally insane, I don't know how you guys deal with this every year. The biggest misnomer living in NYC is that because it's in NY we get a lot of snow -- the opposite is true. We had a bizarrely huge snowstorm right before Christmas last month, about 10 inches or so; however, sometimes we go through an entire winter in NYC with no appreciable snowfall. The outer boroughs obviously get a lot though not Nebraska-like. Though if I recall, when I was a kid, I loved the snow and the snow days so your kid must be psyched. It just sucks as an adult.

I have never been but everyone raves about this place. If I am not mistaken, the last coal oven in the City:

http://www.grimaldis.com/2/Index.htm

Mcap- the Grimaldi's on Fulton Street is a long walk from where I live, and I've passed it many times. Every time I've seen it the line is a hundred people deep and stretches for a block. If you want to sit down and have a pie there it's like a 1-2 hour wait. It's a joke.

This is as bad as I can ever remember. We don't normally have more than one or two big snowfall events in any given Winter. We also had the coldest Summer in my lifetime...I was wearing a freaking jacket on the 4th of July and it was too cold to get into the lake. I must have made it out to about 15 minor league games and don't remember a single one where I didn't have to bring a jacket...normally I never would unless it's in May.

As far as the snow days go my kid was definitely psyched about them, but now he has to make one up already and the school system has opted to extend the school day by 36 minutes for 10 days....not quite as fun now. :D

That's okay, Karma will get Barry in the end. :D

How do we get Rob D to show up for the NYC dinner?

I would like to break bread with Rob...
but more importantly -
considering the current 'yes' list, Rob's presence would make for an awesome evening.

Tell him you're having challah and Manishevitz wine. :D

Joe,

Us white trash from Ohio would feel too intimidated travlin' to the BIG CITY for some eats. Wouldn't even know which fork to use for the greens and such.

If I am going to wait an hour to two for pizza, it better come with a Cobb Salad.

(Horrible) pun intended.

Just use the fork Bruce is lunging at you with.

Bruce is very mild mannered in person. He just gets a little wound up when he's at the computer.

Rob -

if it helps, I will pick up your share of the tab.
especially if you let me pick who you sit next to.

(I like dinner theater)

Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Thrust!

If it's early February, I'm in almost any night. And, though I'm not from "The Rock", I'm a big fan of a couple of Staten Island German places, and I can vouch that the Spanish place is good, even though a one-stop train ride from NYC gets you to Newark and the Ironbound section with some great Portuguese spots - and yes, it's safe there.

Is it safe to say - no NYC dinner on Thursday?

Doesn't look good for this Thursday, as the head count is currently at zero.

Anybody is free to resuscitate this thread, I just felt I wasn't getting anything accomplished.

I'm in. Joe D is in. Barry, you're in?

That's three.

I can make it Thursday, but where are we eating?

>>>> POST 100! <<<<<

I can make it Thursday.

Anywhere is good.

Joe- it will take another hundred posts to pick a restaurant.

Anyone want to meet in downtown Brooklyn (that should go over well)?

Joe, what say Sparks on Thursday night?

Sparks sounds good to me.

A little pricey for me guys.:(

i'm in...c'mon Barry- let's go!

Jeff- wanna make the res? i'm good to go anytime after 6pm

Sparks is an overpriced touristy place. Michael, you can find a better place for us to eat.

barry- i'm easygoing, if jeff & joe wanna goto Sparks, then i'm game, i've actually never been there. and besides, it is no more expensive then our usual meals (lugers, brazilian, morton's, etc)...same price point. and since we only have about 2 of these dinners a year these days, i don't mind the price tag.

c'mon Barry..... its not like we go out every week.

I'll even throw in a free ride home. :D

Sparks 7 pm Thursday night.

Right now the reservation is for three. Barry, sell some of those big pennies and get your ass into Manhattan!

Hey Michael- I think I will sit this one out. Enjoy, and I will hopefully join you all next time.

sorry to hear that barry- hoping you will reconsider. we all always have a good time at these dinners.

Barry - you will be missed.

I do agree with Michael though..... its really no more expensive than our past spots - - Lugers or that Brazilian place. In the same ball-park price-wise.

Let me think about it. There are so many great restaurants in the city and we are not picking one of the better ones. Judy and I ate at the Palm last month (she got a gift certificate) and it was super expensive and very mediocre. Sparks will likely be the same.

Barry, don't let the secret out: all the so-called great restaurants in NYC really suck. Paris too.

Barry... I agree about the Palm - and have eaten there many times.... and it is not spectacular.

since you said 'likely be the same' for Sparks....
sounds like this would be the first time going to that restaurant for you.

lets give it a shot!

Paul Castellano got rubbed out at Sparks...what if there's a hit on us too?

:)

Well Jeff's reservation is for three anyway, so why don't I take a pass this time. It's no big deal. I do appreciate the invite.

I cannot make this unfortunately but Sparks is without a doubt the best steakhouse I have been to and I have been to a lot of them around the country. I have never made it to Peter Luger's (altho' I must confess I prefer a personal NY strip to porterhouse for 2, 3 or more) which I know is considered the paradigm but my vote goes to Sparks. I've eaten there well over a dozen times and it's consistently great. Not cheap but value for money.

I've eaten at two on Long Island (Teller's and Blackstone) in the past year and they were way overpriced and frankly not all that good. There are plenty of mediocre steakhouses in NYC but Sparks is not one of them.

hi dave- thanks for the info...wish you could've made it...i'm looking forward to this steak!

Gonna try to make one.....
 

Let me know when y'all are planning to have this. It's been a while since I've seen everyone.

Regards,
Scott

hi scott- it's this thursday, 7pm, Sparks. let jeff know asap, so he can increase the res.

hope to see you.

p.s. i owe you a phone call.

Jeff--I will be in the city on Thursday and would love to attend the dinner. Please add one more to the reservation if possible.

Best--Jay

nice.... this is shaping up to be a good time.

See you guys Thursday.

So far it looks like:
Jeff, Michael, Jay, Joe
possibly - Scott

Any others? - please post here so Jeff gets the final head count.

Joe- Dar is coming too...Jeff already knows.

Ok, reservation for 5 for Sparks at 7 pm is set:

Me
Joe D
Michael
Dar
Jay

Please Add One More
 

Hi guys,

I know I've vanished for a while -- even from email. Sorry about that! Please add one more, as I haven't seen you guys in a while.

Thanks!

Robert S

Done. 6 people for 7 pm tomorrow night.

i have a head start for tmw...smoking a Robusto & sipping on Johnny Blue.

looking forward to seeing you guys.

MS

What a great steak - and a great night with friends.

Can't beat those get togethers. Just awesome.

Mike and Joe D say the steak was surprisingly non-mediocre!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/4313932600/" title="JoeDDinner by calvindog65, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4313932600_9aa342dbf0_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="JoeDDinner" /></a>

Did you guys see a lot of tourists?

Other than the guy from Staten Island who was sitting at our table, no tourists at all.

Really great steak, awesome company...fun time as always!

I had a fantastic time--thanks guys!

See any mobsters?

I would like to congratulate you all for making this happen in less than half the number of posts of the previous NYC dinner. Wish I could have joined you.
JimB

Hi Guys,
A few questions.....

1. Did Jay wear a Hawaiian shirt?
2. Did Sarno eat my Steak?
3. Did Joe and Sarno drink my share of Beer?
4. Did Barry go to sleep at the table???
5. Did Lichtman finally pick up the tab....:D

I'm glad you guys had fun... I told Levy I'm going to make a NY Dinner this year somehow....

Be well Brian

PS It's snowing like crazy here... and we are expecting 8-12 inches....:eek: