Last night I made an expedition to Fort Greene to see Carolann Solebello, Paul Sachs, and Karyn Oliver. It’s part of a new series that Carolann and Devlin (I write devil first every time) Miles are running at the Putnam’s Pub and Cooker; it’s called Live From the Vault Songwriter’s Sessions. As a bonus I change trains at the stop for the Mile End Deli, the best poutine in New York City. This promised to be a great night and it lived up to the promise.
If I’m going to Brooklyn and I have time I stop at the Mile End. No matter how many times I go I am always delighted. All poutine is good and theirs is the best, that means it’s a bit of heaven. After eating the divine combination of French fries, cheese curds, and meat gravy I didn’t change trains, I walked the rest of the way to Putnam’s. The weather was perfect and I’m getting back into the habit of walking as much as I can. There’s a reason I can regularly eat poutine and still have low cholesterol and good cardiovascular health, genetics. But the walking helps too. It certainly makes me feel better.
What didn’t make me feel better was getting lost. I somehow made a wrong turn and had to check Google Maps to get back on track. I could have found my way without help but my route would be indirect and would have been late.
When I arrived I found that this was going to be a home game. In addition to the performers I had a room full of friends there; Katherine, Fred, David & Terrie, Kathryn, Coco & Bruce, Jeff & Carol, and Brianna. The real surprise arrived after me, Allison T. She lives near Philly; I haven’t seen her in ages. She used to live in civilization, Astoria and I’d see her all the time. Carolann, Karyn, Katherine, and Allison are all Chicks with Dip. Am I being a terrible person and forgetting one? I sat with Katherine and Allison so they are easy to remember. The layout of the place was odd so I couldn’t see most of the people during the show.
What makes the layout odd is that the space is a converted coal cellar. Coco and her crowd sat in an old coal vault, thus the name the vault. I had no idea they were called vaults but it does look like the vaults at Gringotts, not like a regular bank vault. There are no doors.
The three performers sang in the round. There was a lot of low end; my theory is that Carolann asked Paul to join them so they’d sound like sopranos in contrast. They are all good friends and Budgiedome alumni. The order was Carolann, Paul, then Karyn. Paul’s second song was Hank Williams’s Guitar; Katherine said, “Carolann should play her Hank Williams Song,” and she did her next song. I tried to request a triple shot but didn’t get my requests in at the right time. My request was just, “Jesus.” Carolann has Jesus Played Guitar and Paul, Jesus Candle. Karyn could then follow with Magdalene to finish the trifecta. I’m a Jewish atheist so I find requesting “Jesus” amusing.
Even though it’s a long trip home I couldn’t make a quick getaway. I needed more time to talk to friends. I haven’t seen Brianna since she started college. It’s been years since I’ve talked to Allison. And I always have plenty to say to the rest. The Chicks, Paul, and Devlin (I wrote Devil again) all stayed for dinner but I had already eaten. If I knew there’s be after show dining I might have even forgone the poutine. Putnam’s is a gastropub. I’m sure it would have cost more but I’d have found something I enjoyed. But as I had eaten I headed home.
My plan was to take another walk to Atlantic Terminal, about 20 minutes away. That plan changed as soon as I went outside, it was raining, and I was an idiot and forgot my umbrella. I knew there was a 30% chance of rain. So I walked just 9 minutes to the G train. That meant changing trains twice, from Atlantic I’d take the D the whole way. Thanks to Paul Krugman I missed my stop on the G. I was at Hoyt-Schermerhorn and new the next stop was mine, Jay Street. I was reading Krugman’s excellent piece praising Elizabeth Warren’s policy wonkery, until we pulled into the next station. Too bad it was Bergen Street. I was totally oblivious when we stopped at Jay Street. Fortunately at Bergen I can pick up the F which connects with the D so I didn’t have to back track and it still meant taking three trains.
Today’s plan is therapy that the Mets. I’m getting a bonus. Last night’s game was suspended because of the rain in the 9th inning with the score tied 4 – 4. They will pick up that game before the game planned for tonight. The timing for the early start is perfect, just about when I’d get there going straight from therapy.
Wise Madness 