here and there

The goal of last night was to hit two CMJ shows and catch up with some friends. The first destination was Union Hall in Park Slope. One of my friends books this place, and I was finally able to check it out.

When you enter upstairs, don't be frightened by all the aggro-yuppies with wool sweaters on the indoor bocce courts. Just head directly downstairs to the venue, where you'll be greeted by the Slope brand of cute indie boys. And, if you can believe this, one of them actually smiled and asked my name! While this neighborhood is known for SUV strollers, lesbian couples and just couples in general, it seems that if you can find where the guys are hiding, you'll be rewarded by actual manners.

After this, I boarded the F train to Arlene's Grocery on the Lower East Side for the next show. This is one of those places not on my radar untill CMJ season rolls around. The crowd? Although it was a specific cross section of industry out-of-towners and the "blatantly trying too hard old-school rock style" kind of Manhattanite, I think it's still fair to conclude that the dudes here on a given night are going to be kind of yuckola.