Anyone in the NYC or Westchester NY area (or willing to travel there), we are planning a small PW get-together for April 14. Three of us so far (see going to NY thread). We plan to meet at City Limits Diner in White Plains at 8:30 for breakfast, then take a short tour of the Music Conservatory of Westchester (which is right next to the Diner), then drive down Central Avenue about five minutes to Frank & Camille's, where we can check out a very large inventory of pianos.

This is totally informal, just for fun. No performance anxiety -- let it be known, I can barely play a C scale . Just a nice way to get to know a couple of folks, and have a cup of coffee while talking pianos.

Anyone who wants to join us, PM me...or just show up!

Info:

The Diner:

http://www.citylimitsdiner.com/Location.aspx

The school:

http://www.musicconservatory.org/

The piano store:

http://www.frankcamilles.com/

See you there!

Mark

oh, let's try to keep this thread alive.

Anybody else thinking of hitting the diner on April 14th? Other than Bob, JMark, (maybe) Fingers and me?

-- susi

hi Mark

Just wanted to say, we decided we wanted a relaxing holiday instead of a city break- I suggested The Hamptons to my hubbie (so we could maybe kill 2 birds and vsit NY too) but he didn't fancy the idea. Think he's jealous of my love for Billy Joel so Long Island was out! So, we're going to France instead!

Thanks for all the info you sent me anyway, p'raps we'll make it over there one day! Hope you all have fun with your meet-up, wish I lived closer

Liverpool Poet-- I'd far rather vacation in France than the Hamptons (having done both more than once). Enjoy! If you make it to the NY area, let me know. I'll buy the beer (or coffee or whatever).

Mark

Frankly, I vote that we cancel the breakfast and book a flight to France.

-- susi

I think maybe I'll just order French toast this time.

City Limits Diner is 775 miles from me but I think it's turnpike almost all the way.

Hmmm...

Happy Easter by the way.

We'll save a seat for you, John! And you can crash at my place. Cold beer, old scotch, hot showers. Any time!

Or, if you're into wine, we keep a nice selection. And the surroundings, just an hour north of Manhattan, are downright -- uhmmmm -- parklike? Woodsy?

Aw, heck, the curb appeal stinks, but we got lotsa trees!

-- susi

keeping the thread alive. I want to see a group pic afterwards.

Well, it's two day until our little breakfast gathering. Just wanted to once again extend the invitation to all PW folks to join us. Eggs over easy and piano talk!

Guys, I'll tell the hostess to seat anyone asking for "the piano group." In case that doesn't work, I'll try to think of something distinctive to wear and post it here.

J. Mark, please post some pictures! I already can't wait till the choir trip goes to NYC again.

J. Mark, please post some pictures! I already can't wait till the choir trip goes to NYC again.

Matt

Okay, Matt, I will pack my trusty Power Shot in the luggage -- uhm, purse -- and we'll catch a couple of shots of mystery guests at the Diner. You never know who's gonna show up in White Plains.

Distinctive wear, huh, JMark? Do tell.

- susi

Well, I couldn't think of anything clever. So look for a bald guy with tattoos on his arms (are you scared yet?). I will also have my NC hat (baseball hat with "NC" on it, my mama gave it to me ). The code word is "piano world"...utter that and we will know you are "in".

See you guys in the morning,

Mark

The "Password" is: Alan Luddin.

fingers

Scared? Me? Nah!

I will probably have my blue pashmina scarf wound around me, shroud-style. I am so tired of being cold.

-- susi

Susi(Susan) and J. Mark,

Ben and I had a great time! Thank you for a fun and educational outing. Ben is already working on improving his technique from the great tips Susi gave him. (I learned a few things myself)

A special thanks to Brian at Frank & Camille. He generously let us play his extensive range of pianos and answered all questions. Ben has his eyes and ears on a Clavinova! We might soon be back to your store. I particularly enjoyed a Baldwin concert upright. It was beautifully finished and built like a tank. Moreover, it played like a grand had a bass that growled. There was a large Petrof grand (7'+) that was able to whisper as well as project. Also, some lucky individual just purchased a gorgeous ebony Yamaha C7 grand while we were there.

And thanks to J. Mark for planning the day and introducing us to the Westchester Conservatory.

Regards,
fingers

Thanks, fingers. I must say, after hearing you and Ben tear apart those pianos at Frank & Camille's, I am thinking of changing my screen name to AllThumbs. And I agree with you -- that Baldwin upright grand was something else. And the digital Clavinova even had *me* thinking bad things about money and budgets.

JMark, I will think seriously about the Westchester Conservatory. What a special place. Thanks again for putting together such a special morning.

-- susi

I really enjoyed meeting all three of you. Thank you. It was a very enjoyable morning. I came home and told my wife how nice it was to be able to sit with people I'd never met and comfortably talk about music, studying, learning, pianos and just anything.

I was especially impressed with how talented (should I say "natural ability" ? ) Ben is. Ben (fingers' son) played a lovely version of Scarborough Fair while we were at the Conservatory, on one of their U1's. Nice work!

I always enjoy visiting Frank & Camille's, and thanks Brian for having us and for being so gracious. Every time I go in there I get confused...so many awesome pianos to think about. I played the C7 just before the guy bought it -- wow! Also, there was a Schimmel grand, I'd guess 7 feet, upstairs. Fingers played the Charlie Brown Christmas Song on it, and was great (I told everyone I was learning Christmas songs in April, so he showed me that one).

Let's do it again soon! Others should join us. A nice way to spend a Saturday morning.



Mark

Susi, fingers, Ben,
It was great to meet you all. Mark, always a pleasure to see you again.
I'm glad you had a good time on my section of the morning. Consider this an open invitation!!!I consider you all good luck... it's not every day a C7 walks out the door!!!
As I believe Mark can attest to, our store inventory is ever changing and we always have something new (or old) and exciting to audition. So feel free to come by and have some fun(and maybe an education)
Just to clarify a couple of the instruments you enjoyed. The Petrof is a 7'9" Model II. The Baldwin is a Model 6000E. The Schimmel is a 1995 Model 213 that we took on trade. The C7, was a C7.

Thanks again for coming by, and I hope to see you all soon!!!

Well, I tried to upload the image to the forum, but it's not cooperating. So, with regrets, I must send you to the flickr website if you want to see us at the diner yesterday morning:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7809739@N05/460606072/

We really did have a good time. Does it show?

-- susi

Glad to see everyone had a good time.
Wish I'd been there.