Piano World Home Page Forums Fun Stuff! - Parties, Tours, Projects & More... Forum Members Parties, Tours, Cruises, & Meetings new york city in october

pique,

It was an excellent idea to post the thread in the Piano Forum.

Once we firm up a date, I would be glad to call any of the dealers, although I do not have a relationship with any - except some people I know who work at the Steinway factory in Astoria.

I guess we're not putting PianoPiano on the list.

Some of this is duplicated from my posting in Piano Forums.

I am awaiting a call-back from Faust/Harrison, as I am trying to set up our visit there. Strange, no one picked up the phone today; I left a message...maybe they're extremely busy.

We should note that Faust/Harrison and Klavierhaus are not large showrooms. You even have to be buzzed into the front door. Beethoven's, with its 2 floors, is somewhat larger than those two. Steinway & Sons is large, Altenberg's in NJ (with their auxiliary building) is large.

Maybe we should stagger our arrivals, or just divide ourselves into Group A and Group B so we don't all descend on one place at once.

Also we might consider A&C Piano Craft, a few streets away. Again, not a large store, and I think it's rebuilts only. I've seen some nice work from them.

I always did have a funny feeling about PianoPiano. Instruments out of tune and so jammed together you can't walk around in there. I've met some nice sales staff, but perhaps that's as far as it goes.

the sense i am getting is that the best date for the majority is saturday, october 18th. this includes a couple of emails i've received, as well as what has been posted here.

if anyone thinks i've misperceived that, please speak up.

otherwise, i make the motion that we set the date for october 18th. all in favor? opposed?

if anyone finds out that that date won't work for the showrooms, please report back here.

i like the idea of visiting pianocraft as i've heard good things about it, but have never been there. where is it?

i think if we just play one at a time, it shouldn't matter if we all go to the showroom at once. i'd hate to miss out hearing someone play because we were in two groups.

I'm willing to make my first choice The Beaux Arts Trio on Sat. the 18th. I can always see Alicia on my own if I so desire.

I second the motion. Also, I agree that it would be a shame not to hear someone because we split up the group.

I am willing to commit to Saturday, October 18th. While in my heart of hearts, I would most like to hear Alicia de Larrocha, I would also enjoy the Beaux Arts Trio. If the trio would be a better choice for the majority, count me in as favoring it.

I'll be at Klavierhaus on Saturday and will speak with them in person regarding a Piano Forum visit from 1PM - 2PM on 10/18. Will post back with their response on Monday.

I also vote for remaining together as one group. I think we are still a manageable size at this point.

i love how this is turning into a collective effort, with everyone making one sort of contribution or another.

might i suggest that if it turns out we have a majority for beaux arts trio, that alicia de larrocha is playing other (three?) nights that month, and possibly could still be heard by those who want to hear her? (of course, i'm sure that's not the only night the beaux arts trio is playing all year, either).

thanks everyone for handling the contacts at the showrooms. i'll be back in a week or so. i look forward to seeing how things have developed and possibly been finalized by then.

here's more excellent advice on approaching dealers from klavier bauer (copied from his posting in the piano forum). please check over there on occasion to see if any other dealers have contributed. the thread is called "to all dealers...." or something like that.

I'm down for a crawl and dinner, but i'm gonna have to pull out of the show

Sorry guys.

:p

Hi Guys,

I bought a piano from FH, and occasionally, I correspond with Sara. Let me know if I can be of any help. I think Sara is one of the best people I've ever had the pleasure to deal with.

How about an hour to protest in front of PianoPiano!

WE ARE CONFIRMED at Faust Harrison Pianos for October 18th at 3 PM. I just spoke to Michael Harrison and he is happy to accommodate us.

There is no concert that date at F/H. There is one the previous evening, Oct. 17 -- Chris Chalfont, jazz piano with quartet.

I just tried calling K-haus to see if they have any concerts on that weekend...left a message.

By the way, A&C Pianocraft is at 333 W. 52nd between 8th and 9th Aves. So, about six blocks toward downtown if you are at 8th Ave. and 58th. If there's interest, I'll call them.

Cheers,

WOO HOO! thank you, realplayer!!! that's terrific!

just taking a peek at how things are going. i'm experiencing some delays in getting out of town (always, the usual).

how about a revised schedule that would look like this:

1 pm klavier haus
2 pm beethoven's
3 pm faust-harrison
4:30 pm a &c pianocraft (sounds more interesting to me than steinway hall)

which leaves us in the heart of cheap, good, ethnic food country. we can all cram into an afghani restaurant for chicken tandoor, or head back up to 56th and 9th for the gentility of bella's (and a confirmed reservation to smooth our way).

then, a new idea, since it seems that several participants are passing on the concert....

are people interested in having a parallel option, of simply continuing on after dinner with drinks/coffee/dessert somewhere? is going to a concert a more or a less important part of the evening for people?

or are those who are passing on the concert doing so because they really need to make an early evening of it?

i'd encourage the development of a parallel, non-concert option, if there is interest.

'bye again. i doubt i'll be able to do any more checking in for a while.

I would be just as happy without the concert. It might, after all, cause us to feel rushed. Going on to coffee & dessert or drinks would be fine with me.

i'm going to have to turn off that "notify by email" function or i'll never get out of here!

however it comes out, count me in with the majority, bernard. if a substantial body of people would prefer to simply continue on without the pressure of having to make an 8 pm curtain (and possibly be able to spend time at more piano showrooms or more time at one), then i'll do that.

if most people really want to go see the beaux arts trio at 8 at the met museum, please, whoever annoints themselves the ticket buyer, get me a ticket.

thanks!

Hi, gang.

I just got in touch with Alex (Kostakis) at A&C PianoCraft, and he would be happy to have us over on October 18.

His normal Saturday hours are 8 to 2, but he is willing to work with us on a time. The 4:30 time suggested a few posts ago would be OK with him, but I do think something earlier would suit him a bit better.

Since we have Faust at 3 PM, what about earlier? Linda, did you get in touch with Klavierhaus? I don't know who's working on Beethoven's.

Once we know what we want to do, I'll call back A&C.

---------------

Over on the Piano Forum, Pianoloverus mentioned Maximiliaan's for art-case pianos (Kl-haus usually has a few of those too, but Max. is exclusively art-case). My impression of the art-case pianos is, they're more fun to look at than to actually play. But if someone wants to go, it will probably be extra-curricular as it's not near Piano Row -- it's on Lexington and E. 32nd St. My suggestion is, anyone who really wants to do that should go there before we all meet on Piano Row.

--------------

I'll be away for a few days. I have computer access, but I don't know whether I'll be permitted to log onto PianoWorld from a remote computer. Just letting you all know.

Realplayer,

Why don't we do A&C Pianocraft at 1 or 2, since both those slots are available, and he is open at those times?