> Michael Plant wrote:
>> For your future reference, police officers usually,
>> and subway station attendants nearly always, have
>> little books that tell them exactly where an address
>> is located and how to get there. Sorry you didn't
>> make it to TTG, but hope you had a wonderful time
>> in New York City.
>
> Oh, believe me I asked about 4 cops and even at two tea shops... no one
> knew of it. I even got fed up and hailed a cab and the cab driver said
> he didn't know where it was so I gave up. I really wanted to check it
> out, I was a bit bummed out in not finding it.

Sorry you didn't find it, but you would have
needed to know the address or the cross streets
to get there. I thought I had e-mailed the address
to you. Cops would not know this shop, nor
should they be expected to.

[on Teany]
>> We are on the same page. It's a lousy place.
>
> Yeah, Teany was a huge letdown. Moby is actually very into tea and is
> very knowledgable and creative... that is why it is even more of a
> shame.

Perhaps Mr. Moby is more interested in the money
tea can generate than in the tea itself, at least for
the purpose of this exercise.

>> Bubble tea is great. You missed the point, which is this:
>> Draw a "bubble" into the straw, raise the straw, aim at
>> a passing car, and blow hard. You'll find your aim improves
>> with time and practice. Try not to hit anyone. That would
>> spoil the fun.
>
> Damn it! I never even thought of that. Those buggers would be hella fun
> to shoot, and I'd imagine that they would dry hard and be a pain in the
> arse to get off things. I'm slipping, years back that thought would
> have never escaped me.

Yup, growing up is a real bitch. I advise against it.

>> Well, don't worry. The experience you had is the
>> experience that counts
>
> Yes, and we had a good time. I really meant no disrespect, and there
> were some really cool things... it was just that the actual "wow"
> factor wasn't there for me. It was neat and big, and I'm sure there are
> tons of things I didn;t see and places to go... but I did hit a lot in
> four days and like I said I'd probablyhave a blast living there for a
> year but not much more.

Wow factors are different for different people. I know
plenty of places in the world I love to visit, but
prefer not to live in. Sometimes I can't even say
why. You're entitled. Don't sweat it. I will say this,
though: New York is better experienced with locals,
and we are still available for your return trip.
>
>>> The Empire State building failed to really impress me with the view,
>>> Times Square was OK but not that amazing,
>>
>> Oh, man, I've completely lost faith in you!
>
> Really? Maybe it is because I used to work in the USX tower in
> Pittsburgh and it is almost as tall as the observation deck. Times
> Square is big and bright, but Target is Target, and Toys R us is Toys R
> us, and Foot Locker is Foot Locker, and Planet Hollywood is... etc. I
> must be missing something about it, because it did next to nothing for
> me.

In answer to your question, No *not* really.
>
>> Rockefeller Center -- or Plaza or whatever -- was the private
>> domaine of the R family, but it has since been sold, I think,
>> to a Japanese company. Probably now in the hands of the Saudis.
>> Every year for one day they close down the center cross street
>> to maintain their
>
> It was just small, we have an area called Market Square in PGH and
> outside the PPG building they have a big ice rink with a huge Christmas
> tree and it is actually bigger than Rockefeller Center. Like I said,
> the Japanese Book Store Kinoyusha (or something like that) was a
> highlight and much better than the Lacoste store with $90 T-shirts and
> $125 polo's.

Privately owned. Would you like to buy it? You
most likely don't have as many dollars as that
little area would cost in billions. BTW, I read in
the paper this morning that the city, in order to
raise much needed funds, has put the Brooklyn
Bridge up for sale. I think it would look swell
in PGH. Would you like further information
on that?

>> I can certainly understand your feelings on this, east
>> or west home is best, and zu hause ist su hause, but
>> we don't roll out our seedy underside for just anybody,
>> Dominic, and you can be glad we have stuff going on
>> in NYC that you will *not* find on the streets of PGH,
>> praise God. Unfortunately, the Black Fat Pussy Cat is
>> no more.
>
> It actually is not a bias for my "home" I have been to many cities and
> areas across this country and Canada and I have many favorites and
> places I would leave home for in a minute. Bar Harbor, Maine. Toronto,
> Canada. Chincoteague, VA. would be on my short list. It is just that
> truly Pittsburgh has a ton of things to see and do and a huge diverse
> makeup that offers most of the same things as NYC just on a smaller
> scale. I have to also state though, that fancy restaraunts, $10
> cocktails, high-end shops, and designer clothing/names mean very little
> to me... so many of the things that the average tourist fawns over go
> by un-noticed by me. We had some great meals at very nice places, and I
> had some great Peking Duck. I don't know about Black Fat Pussy Cats,
> but an Asian Massage would have been a good time... and yes, we
> definitely have those options here too

Asian massage, eh? Now you're really scaring me.
>
>> Thanks for your candid thoughts and review.
>>
>> Michael
>
> Sure, I really mean no offense.. I was just stating my honest appraisal
> of what we saw and did. It was fun, and an adventure, it just didn't
> really stand out like I thought it would. I'd take the beach for a
> vacation any day, and a good solid Saturday in the Strip District for
> unique and exotic shops and tea, and Wegmanns Grocery Store in Penn
> State for high-end tea.

To each his own, but wouldn't you like to
consider changing the name to something
other than The Strip Joint? It grates against
our NYC sensitivities.
>
> As for the tea, the Jasmine Oolong from Kam Man is a new favorite.
> Great Stuff. I'm still a bit miffed that I couldn't find Gyokuro or
> Oriental Beauty or a shop that had some extensive Pu-Erh or a good
> solid glass gaiwan... but otherwise we had a good time.

Ito En for Gyokuro. The boxed Oriental Beauty from Ten Ren
that you passed up is actually a fine tea, or at least was. Other
than The Tea Gallery, we are not the Pu'erh capital of the world.

Michael