Just down the block from my hotel on 31st and 7th Ave., it turns out to be the patron saint of my home town.

Several years ago I ran across a Dixieland-style band playing in Union Square. They were really good. The bass player’s bass got my attention (I used to play a “gut bucket,” or washtub bass, in a high school quartet). It really sounded good. I introduced myself to Peter Ford and he said maybe he could make me one. I pestered him for a couple of years until he finally sent me the pre-cut parts, which I assembled and I’ve been happily playing it a little almost every day along with Sirius radio or CDs (hey, I’m a member of the band!). I take a break from the computer when the music moves me. The bass is fascinating, little-understood. Now I hear the bass notes. It’s like learning a new language.

   After pizza as good as it gets with my friends Ed and JC (Franny’s on Flatbush in Park Slope/Brooklyn) last night, I caught a cab to the Radegast Bierhall in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where Baby Soda was playing. The music and dancing were great and I caught up with Peter.

Check out Baby Soda’s website: https://babysoda.org

So far all the music I’ve seen on this trip ask been vintage ’20s-’30s. I just love it.

“Brothers Adam and Aaron Leu stand on the porch of their “tiny house,” which has been bought by a Kentucky couple and will be transported there. The house, approximately 130 square feet, includes a kitchen, bathroom living room and loft. It took the brothers about 3 1/2 months to build.”

Spoonbill & Sugartown is a unique independent bookstore in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn — everything in the book world that Amazon is not. This was my 15th signing/slideshow event in the last 3 months and it was off to a good start when, before I started, a big guy came up and said he first saw Shelter when he was 8 years old and it had inspired him to become a builder. Plus my good friends from Bolinas, now living in NYC, twin skateboarder/artists Shelter and Ivory Serra showed up.

   I did the slides (11″ MacAir and lightweight Epson digital projector all of which I carry in my backpack) and answered questions, and 2+ hours flew by. Such good vibes.

Collage poster by Rachel Day

  I was pretty wiped out, especially after 4 nights of minimal sleep, and walked down to the Venezuelan restaurant Caracas on Grand and had 2 “Dark & Strong” rum/ginger drinks and a plate of shredded beef w/rice and black beans. Great place, cool personnel, great food and drink (about 25 types of rum). Williamsburg is a great area, just across the river from Manhattan. There’s a peacefulness in the air, even with all the activity and people. Absent is the roar of the Big City.

   Ahh! End of my tour. Now one more half-day at the book expo and then 3 days to scout for adventure in this, the capital of the universe.

Thanks to Bruce Weaver