Ellen's Stardust Diner and the TKTS Line

 

by Pa Rock

Line Member

Anything worth doing is worth standing in line to do, or some such horseshit.

The streets of New York are loud, and crowded, and almost totally out-of-control.  Some traffic does get through, but mostly it is just snarls of vehicles blowing their horns, with the occasional emergency vehicles inching by  blaring their sirens - and all the while people crossing against the lights, jaywalking, and zipping by on mopeds, electric bicycles, and motorized skateboards.  If you are old and frail and trip over trash on the sidewalk, or a beggar, you are likely to be ground into a grease spot by the herds of pedestrians who are searching for their hotel, or a place to eat, or just the meaning of life.

And lines!  God Almighty, there are lines everywhere!

Last night we stood in line at Ellen's Stardust Diner for about an hour waiting to relive old memories with a meal in  in fun atmosphere served by the singing waitstaff. The last time I had been there was fifteen years ago and it was really a memorable experience - but last night, not so much.     The place was more crowded and less appealing than my memories had led me to expect, and loud, golly damn was it loud!  The food was less than memorable this time around, and so was the entertainment.  But a meal's a meal.

We also stood in line on the sidewalk to get into "Our Town" yesterday, and that was worth the wait.  Today I sat in line for two hours on a marble bench at the infamous TKTS stand in order to get discount tickets for shows this afternoon and tonight.  The good news was I got there early and was first in line.  The bad news was that as the booths were ready to open, suddenly there was a fast-pass line that opened next to me and I had to wait for the special people to go through.

Standing in lines is part of the price you pay for certain rewards in life, I understand that.  But lines should be fair.  

After finally getting served in the TKTS line, I came away with tickets for "The Great Gatsby" this afternoon, and "Once Upon a Mattress" tonight.  Anxious to see both.

Tomorrow morning is Tim's production/workshop of a portion of the new musical version of "The Brass Teapot," the purpose of my trip to New York City.  That will be the highlight of the trip.  Go, Tim!

More later.