Mikey does New York City - big style - this time...
So, I'm very happy and settled in New York. I love the west village with a consummate passion. I simply adore the people I work with at Acronym Media (every single one of them) it's such a great place. My new office on the 55th floor of the Empire State Building is my cosy little haven where I can work and write to my heart's content. And for this, I thank the extraordinarily kind and considerate (and smart) CEO I work with - the one and only Anton Konikoff.
Life is good right now. Very good! (Could only be bettered if Tatiana was with me).
So being here, and being the adventurous little tinker I am, there's always something different happening in my social life. I have made so many new friends and acquaintances, on top of those I already had in NYC, there's never a dull moment.
In fact my social life is so good... It's rapidly becoming a health hazard!
So what else could I get up to in the big city that I hadn't already done before?
Cue the always sophisticated, debonair, totally connected man-about-town... Mr Matt McGowan!
I write this blog for my family and friends. And so many of them commented on how kind it was of Matt to invite me to his parents' beach house for the 4 July weekend.
It was that weekend I met one of the most interesting people you'd ever wish to meet - Mr McGowan senior! (And his gorgeous wife, Brenda).
So where on earth is this blog post going, Grehan? Other than the fact that you seem to have great affection for every living person and creature on the planet and would like to have them all round your place for cocktails...
Well, last weekend, Matt and I were hanging out drinking whisky, smoking cigars and sharing the beautiful Bianca between us like a doobie at a party. Steady on... Read - Bianca never makes me feel like a gooseberry when the three of us are out together, so I get my own fair share of hugs :-)
It was then, that Matt suggested to Bianca... We should have Grehan join us for breakfast with the Mayor of New York on Tuesday.
Well, I ask you...
How the fuck could I refuse?
So, last Tuesday morning, along with Matt and Bianca and Mr and Mrs McGowan Snr., I casually dropped into the Mayor of New York's official residence, Gracie Mansion, for breakfast.
Yup, that's Matt and Bianca looking as though they have breakfast with the Mayor every day. Y'see, Vince McGowan, Matt's pop, happens to be President of the United War Veterans Council of New York and last Tuesday was... Veterans Day 2008.
So there I am with Matt, hanging out on the Mayor's porch at Gracie Mansion, thinking... Fuck, this is unreal (not the first time these words will cross my mind on this day :-)
No more unreal than the moment I found myself standing next to Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York City) having my picture taken by the official photographer (that one comes in the post, so you'll have to wait).
Okay - time to crank it up...
Next thing I know, I'm on a bus heading to the newly opened Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum where the, ever stylish and sophisticated Brenda (Matt's mom) manages to find all of us seats in the VIP area for President Bush's speech.
But really...
Did you know that the Concorde is now resident at Intrepid?
As we were waiting for dubyah to arrive, we were entertained by a bizarre bunch of misfits. The theme was Texan (of course) and some big country singer and TV host by the name of John Rich, was doing a reality type country thing live on stage. How bizarre?
Anyone remember the Godfather of Funk, George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic fame? Can you belive he came out to give us a rendition of The Gambler????
He was then followed by.... Wait for this... Micky Dolenz, former drummer with 60s band The Monkees???
And then, former Miss... Er... Something or other murdering and burying another country classic.
After this totally unnecessary assault on our ears, the real show began... Cue Hilary Rodham Clinton.
Then the president arrives...
He gives his speech.
Now... Get prepared to get totally unreal... Next thing I know... Matt's pop (Vince) is up there giving a speech with Mr President standing to attention!
And then, even more unreal... Vince and Bush sharing a little joke together!!!
By now, I'm looking at Bianca, both of us saying over and over... Is this fucking unreal, or what?
It couldn't get any more unreal - right?
Wrong!
Next, I'm walking up 42nd Street to Fifth Avenue next to Vince, who's casually talking to a four star general. There are 2,500 people marching behind us. I look at Bianca. She looks at me. Is this fucking unreal or what?
Meanwhile, Matt and Brenda stroll alongside each other as if they were going shopping. Just another day for them... I guess :-)
It can't get anymore unreal... Yes it can.
Next thing I know, I'm at the head of this parade, Fifth Avenue is closed. Look.
And now, the incomparable Vince McGowan is directing the traffic and the parade as if he owned 5th Ave!
Meanwhile... Bianca and I look at each other and say... Yeah, you guessed...
I have to tell you. I love Matt McGowan (and Bianca). But I am completely awestruck with Vince McGowan. I've met some people in my life. And I can tell you honestly... This guy is one of a kind!
I think, in my new office, instead of a picture of Obama, I'm going to hang a picture of Vince!
Wait a minute... Are you nuts, Grehan?
Make that a picture of Brenda :-)
Go Matt McGowan!!!
Last Sunday, my great friend Matt McGowan, beautiful Bianca and you-know-who, had brunch together. We were secretly celebrating Matt's promotion to Vice President/Publisher of ClickZ network/Search Engine Watch/Search Engine Strategies Conference series (Yikes! I think that makes him my boss, kind of... :-)
Because we knew the announcement wouldn't be made until Tuesday, we had a celebration brunch at my local bar in the west village, where we secretly told Matt the barman, about Matt's promotion. He in turn told everyone in the pub! Later, we moved on to my favourite Thai restaurant on Christopher Street, where we drank gallons of Strawberry Mojitos... And secretly told the barman we were celebrating Matt's promotion. He in turn told everyone in the restaurant.
And as if that wasn't enough celebrating, we then went on to Hudson Bar and Books. A quaint little smokers bar hidden away on a corner of Hudson Street. Here, we drank gallons of very old and very expensive whisky, smoked big cigars... And secretly told the barmaid we were celebrating Matt's promotion. She in turn told everyone else in the bar.
After that, we went back to my apartment, where I think I drunkenly called everyone we know and secretly told them about Matt's promotion.
When I came downstairs the following morning, the doorman at my apartment mentioned Matt's promotion. The girl in the laundry mentioned it. In fact... I think the driver on the subway train made a special fucking announcement about it when he saw me getting on!
Moral of the story? Get out of your head on Guinness, wine, Mojitos and rare whisky... after the press release goes out :-)
And this is my absolute favourite.
