Eisteddfod NY 2006

Subject: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 12:21 PM

Sponsored by the Folk Music Society of New York, Inc.
New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club

Saves these dates!

Eisteddfod New York
Festival of Traditional Music
Friday to Sunday • November 17 to 19, 2006
to be held at the Renaissance Charter School
35-59 81st Street (near 37th Avenue)
Jackson Heights, Queens, NY
USA

As details become available they will be posted to: http://www.eisteddfod-ny.org/

Questions? Please e-mail: [e-mail]

If necessary, please phone [phone].

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST, NOMADman
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 08:43 PM

Thanks Steve! Glad the Eisteddfod is back. I like the location. I'm much more comfortable going to Jackson Heights from here in Connecticut. The Metro Center in Brooklyn was a bit of a problem for me. I hope the new location results in increased attendance.

You will be following our festival (NOMAD, in New Haven) by just two weeks. We are scheduled for Nov. 3-5. It's great to have a couple of fall festivals now.

Regards,
John

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Dave Ruch
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 08:50 AM

Great news! I hope to be able to make it this year.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 05:25 PM

Does this location have parking?

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Alan Friend
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 05:42 PM

WOW! Last year's Eistedfod was wonderful. I'm looking forward to another great festival in 2006.
Alan

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 06:42 PM

Greetings:

Dick Greenhaus asks a good question. He may remember that on-street parking in the neighborhood surrounding the Renaissance Charter School is difficult to find, and many of the legal spaces require that you come back and feed the meter every hour.

Fortunately an off-street parking garage opened a few years ago one short block from the school. The entrance is on 82nd Street just north of the intersection with 37th Avenue.

You will also find excellent public transportation. The Q32 bus from Penn Station stops directly in from of the school. The Q33 from LaGuardia Airport stops one short block away. The #7 (Flushing Line) elevated railway train stops two blocks (one short + one long) from the school.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Heather Wood
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 05:30 PM

We've updated the website with the names of some performers. more to come!

www.eisteddfod-ny.org

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 06:46 PM

Greetings:

If you are having trouble logging onto the Eisteddfod New York website on by using that URL, try this one instead:

http://www.folkmusicny.org/eisteddfod/

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 08:12 AM

Exciting lineup so far! I've got the dates etched on my calendar, and hope to be able to make it.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 08:59 PM

I'm also hoping that I can make it this year...
though November in Ithaca can be a busy time with performers
*finally* making it out our way. We'll see what the future holds.
Sure looks like a great line-up at an event with a fabulous reputation.

Cheers, Pamela

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: John Hernandez
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 09:38 AM

For two years running the Eisteddfod was held at Metrotech Center in Brooklyn. The music was exceptionally good, and the people were friendly enough. The physical environment looked fine, but the inside temperature was unbearable. One year the main auditorium was freezing cold because the air conditioning was set full blast and there was no one present who could turn it down. The following year it was stifling hot because the air conditioning was shut off completely and there was no one who knew how to turn it on. Hedy West, in her last public performance before she passed away, remarked, "Now you know how it feels like working in a cotton mill." Let's hope the building engineers at the new location know how to keep the temperature within a comfortable range.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Heather Wood
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 01:02 AM

We're all too aware of the deficiencies of our last venue, and promise this one will be better (People's Music Network used it for their gathering, and loved it). We also hope the change of date from mid-August to November will make it easier for people to come.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 10:22 AM

For me, although I haven't been able to make the last two (2003 & 2004), the lineup has been just unbelievable. All of the singers & musicians I like most in the world of traditional song seemed to be there.

Heather, I'd love to help in any way I can to get the word out. I wonder if you've talked to the folks at Old Songs at all about using their mailing list, advertising in their festival program, etc? It seems to me that they have a very large and steady audience that comes from the same general geographic region, and perhaps there's a way to let all of those folks know about Eisteddfod. While the scope of the Old Songs Festival is certainly a bit broader, with some singer-songwriters, etc, I think most of the crowd there appreciates the truly traditional songs.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Heather Wood
Date: 21 Mar 06 - 11:47 AM

Dave - thanks for the suggestions. We're certainly considering Old Songs. Also looking for "supporting organizations" whose members will receive the early-bird discounted price in exchange for publicizing the event - interested parties should contact me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Marla
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 11:58 AM

There seems to be a mix of highly respected and little known artists appearing at Eisteddfod-NY. In 2004 some of the little known artists were dynamite, hoping this year's will be as outstanding.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Jerry Epstein
Date: 30 Mar 06 - 11:15 PM

I believe ticket ordering info is now on the web site for Eisteddfod-2006.
.
I thought I might provide a bit more information on two of the groups whose names may be unknown to list readers.

Zie Mwea play music from a particular tribe in northern Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, and parts of Berkina Faso (how do you spell that?). . They play on a traditional marimba like instrument known is the ghyll (pronounced "zheel"). Bernard Woma is perhaps the acknowledged greatest master of the instrument. The vocals are quite stunning, of a call-and-response type typical of west Africa. I heard them at a concert in New York at El Taller Latino Americano (even though their music is not Latin at all) and was quite blown away. Bernard has a residency in the US for a year and that made it possible to get them. . . Really not to be missed.

Serre L'Ecoute I heard at Mystic Seaport festival last June, where they simply brought the house down. For those who were not there, they do French Canadian traditional stuff, with Gabrielle Bouthillier the lead singer. She has a voice that can knock you over and a style that is quite thrilling. Ask anyone who was at Mystic. They have also collected extensively material from Brittany, so it is also terrific that we have managed to book them. . . (Anyone else looking to put them on during November? -- please email me at [e-mail] if you are).
Jerry Epstein (festival director)

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Carl W.
Date: 12 Apr 06 - 02:49 PM

New York Eisteddfod 2006 ticket ordering information is now available on the festival website: www.eisteddfod-ny.org

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Apr 06 - 05:19 PM

The line up is fantastic, reminds me of Eisteddfod's eary years. I'm not good at getting out to festivals but this one merits trying like hell to make it. Just about everybody on the performers list, that I'm familar with, is to die for to hear. Shelia Kay Adams, I've never heard but from what I know of her I'd walk there to hear, same with Enock Kent.
Hi Jerry, I didn't catch Serre L'Ecoute at Mystic Seaport last year preforming but I did catch them late in the evening at a small song session on the grounds & Gabrielle Bouthillier was something to hear, couldn't understand her, but I was frozen stiff by her singing & their back up.
Does anyone know if there's any accomadations on or off site, near by & cheap (NYC, cheap should I be laughting?)??
Barry

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 12 Apr 06 - 05:24 PM

Sorry, should've asked above. I haven't been to this Eisteddford since it was held in southern Mass, probably at least 15 years back, when the kids were little, probably started going 10 yrs prior to that. Is there alot of jamming & informal singing there?
Thanks again
Barry

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 12 Apr 06 - 07:14 PM

Barry,

Jerry Epstein is temporarily out of the country, so let me try to answer your questions.

The New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club will ask its members if they can house people who are attending the Eisteddfod, but first priority will go to the performing staff. So there may be some complimentary housing available for the general public, but you shouldn't count on it.

There are, however, a number of relatively inexpensive hotels in Queens that are easily accessible from the festival site. Figure to pay approximately $100 per night plus tax for a room which can accommodate up to four people (in two double beds). You may be able to get 10% off if you belong to AAA or AARP, and you may even get a greater discount if you book through an on-line service such as Orbitz.com or Hotels.com.

Here are a few choices. Proximity to public transportation (No. 7 subway/elevated train, Q32 bus from Penn Station, or Q33 bus from LaGuardia Airport) is noted, as is proximity to major highways.

Pan American Hotel
79-00 Queens Boulevard
Elmhurst, NY 11373
718-446-7676
800-937-7374 for reservations only
Website: http://www.panamhotelnewyork.com/
Just over 1 mile from the Renaissance Charter School. Less than 1 mile from I-278/BQE (Queens Blvd. exit). A somewhat long walk to the subway, and that would be to the G and R lines. You would then have to change at Roosevelt Avenue for the No. 7 train or the Q32 bus. This is a better hotel for people with cars than for those using public transportation.

Howard Johnson Express Inn
65-09 Queens Boulevard
Woodside, NY 11377
718-426-6200
Less than 2 miles from the Renaissance Charter School. Just at I-278/BQE (Queens Boulevard exit). About a 10 minute walk to the No. 7 train station at 61st Street-Woodside or the Q32 bus along Roosevelt Avenue. Since this is so close to the highway, this is a good choice for people driving into New York from out-of-town.

Clarion Hotel at LaGuardia Airport
94-00 Ditmars Boulevard
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
718-335-1200
800-CLARION for reservations only
Website: http://www.clarionlaguardia.com/
About 2 miles from the Renaissance Charter School. Close to the Grand Central Parkway (94th Street exit). The Q33 bus stops in front of hotel and also 1 or 2 blocks from the Renaissance Charter School. There are also several other hotels in the LaGuardia area, but this is the most convenient if you are using the bus.

La Quinta Inn
37-18 Queens Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-729-8775
Less than 3 miles from the Renaissance Charter School. The Q32 bus stops in front of the hotel and directly in front of the Renaissance Charter School, and the 40th-Lowery Street subway (elevated) station for the No. 7 train is only 3 blocks away. This is probably the most convenient hotel for people using public transportation.

Comfort Inn
42-24 Crescent Street
Long Island City, NY 11101
718-303-3700
About 3 miles from the Renaissance Charter School. Near the Queens side of the Queensborough (59th Street) Bridge. This is a congested area for driving, but it's only 1 block from Queens Boulevard and the Queensbrough Plaza subway (elevated) station. From there you can get the No. 7 train to the or the Q32 bus.

We can tell you about other hotels if you wish, but they are either much farther away or are disreputable "hot sheets" joints.

And finally, yes, the festival program committee has set aside both time and space for informal singing and jamming. There may also be an open stage.

--- Steve Suffet (member of Eisteddfod-NY management committee)

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 10:29 PM

Greetings:

Although one or two people may still be added, there is now a fairly complete list of performers for the 2006 Eisteddfod New York. They are:

Ralph Bodington is a truly superb low-key banjo player and ballad singer in the real old mountain style. He is a returning guest from last year.

John Cohen is one of the great contributors to the knowledge and practice of old-time music in the last 50 years. He is a fine banjo player, guitarist, ballad singer, and an important collector and filmmaker.

Jeff Davis is a great singer of material from the mountains, from the coast, from Canada, very much in the old styles, and a master instrumentalist on everything that has strings.

Julia Friend is a terrific young ballad singer, banjo player, and proof positive that the tradition is not dead.

Paul Geremia is one of the truly great exponents of the old style country blues, a great singer in an idiom not easy to master, and a brilliant guitarist.

The Johnson Girls (Joy Bennett, Maggie Bye, Alison Kelley, Bonny Milner, Deirdre Murtha) are a powerhouse women's sea music group, doing material from the Caribbean to the Pacific, and from to the Maritimes to Britain.

Norman Kennedy is as good as it gets in the unaccompanied Scottish tradition in both English and Gaelic.

Enoch Kent is the gravelly voiced veteran of 50 years of Scottish and English, song, covering it all from the old ballads to the street songs to the songs of struggle for justice.

Mick Moloney is one of the great propagators and teachers of Irish traditional tunes and songs, and a world-class expert on Irish music in America.

The NYU Ballad Singers are a group of students at New York University who have been working on discovering, learning, and singing the traditional ballads of America, Britain, and Ireland, under the guidance of faculty member Evelyn Vitz.

Barry O'Neill is the most laid-back, unassuming singer ever to fascinate an audience with his very unusual repertoire of songs from the streets of New York, to Eastern Canada, to the Victorian parlor.

Serre L'Écoute (Robert Bouthillier, Liette Remon, Gabrielle Bouthillier) electrified the Mystic Seaport festival last year with dynamite version of sea and inland water songs from Quebec and Brittany.

Pete Shepherd, Tom Spiers, and Arthur Watson will be coming directly from Scotland with a terrific set of Scottish traditional songs and tunes, either unaccompanied or with fiddle, melodeon, and whistle.

Dick Swain also has a very unusual repertoire of songs, largely from the Eastern US, from songs of inland water, to parlor ballads, to life on the farm, with lots of great chorus songs.

Zie Mwea (Bernard Woma, Valeria Naranjo, Barry Olsen) bring us the extraordinary tradition of northern Ghana and Côte D'Ivoire, featuring aremarkable marimba-like instrument known as the gyil. The vocals are in a West-African call and response style, and the impact of what they produce is tremendous.

In addition to the foregoing performers, a fine bunch of local folk luminaries will be performing as well. Among them will be Mike Agranoff, Joe Elias, Jerry Epstein, Toby Fagenson, Alan Friend, David Jones, The NexTradition (Ken Schatz and Alison Kelley), Anne Price, Lousie Sherman, Steve Suffet, and Heather Wood.

For further information, please visit the Eisteddfod New York website: http://www.eisteddfod-ny.org/

Be there!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 10:28 AM

Wow! This just keeps getting better and better.
I've got to figure out how to make sure I can be there.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:27 PM

I lived exactly 1 1/2 blocks from there for 25 years. I move away and a festival happens. Damn! I will be just recovering from the Getaway and post-Getaway festivities. Maybe next year.

Subject: Eisteddfod 2006 -- Zie Mwea, and Serre L'Ecoute
From: GUEST,Jerry Epstein
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:43 PM

Just adding a comment that these two groups who will be at this year's Eisteddfod are quite extraordinary. Zie Mwea I heard at a concert in New York for El Taller Latino Americano (though the group is not Latin at all). They play a northern Ghana instrument know as the Gyil, a kind of Marimba with gourd resonators, and sing in a West African call and response style. Bernard Woma, the old master, as in America for only one year on a residency and it is a unique chance to hear something quite stunning. Valerie Naranjo has an amazing story: The Gyil is sacred in this tribal area, and women were not allowed to play it. She sat down in the town square and began to play. People gathered around including the chief. The chief began to dance, which meant that he had something important to decree. He decreed that henceforth women would not only be allowed to play the gyil, they would be encouraged to do so. Quite a revolution. I think it's a fantastic story.

Serre L'Ecoute I heard at Mystic Seaport last year. It is French Canadian sea and inland water material, with a powerhouse young singer, Gabrielle Bouthillier. Her father Robert, also in the group, also has collcted a bunch of great stuff in Brittany. I don't think they have played in NEw York before, and they sure brought down the house at Mystic.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod Parking
From: GUEST,Jerry Epstein
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:47 PM

Actually there is quite a bit of on-street parking that does not require feeding meters. All the cross streets and the avenues north of the festival site -- i.e. within three blocks or so. You may have to look around a bit, but you'll find it. If you have to search a bit, go towards the higher numbered streets. When you go down into the 70's, you run into Indian weekend shopping which tends to be a madhouse (great food though!).

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY Accommodations
From: GUEST,Jerry Epstein
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:56 PM

Responding to a query from Barry Finn from a couple of months back.
Yes, we will atempt to get accommodation with friends and families from the school for people attending the festival. We cannot guarantee this of course, but we will make the attempt, and obviously it depends on numbers. If you know you are coming, I would urge that you register and let us know you need accommodations.

The last two festivals were held at Polytechnic University where we had use of dorm rooms. We were of course out of term (August). I do not know if there would be dorm rooms available this year. If there were they would be about $70 per night for a double. We would have to add on cost of hiring a van to transport people to the festival in the evening and back in the morning. If there are a significant group of people who would want this, we will look into it to see what is possible. If you want less expensive rooms in the dorm (quite clean and comfortable), PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [e-mail]. . .

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Eileen Pentel
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 12:29 PM

The Eisteddfod is an amazing festival. Very high quality and lots of fun.

This year it will be held in The Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights--a wonderful school (my son graduated from it). In case you haven't heard about Jackson Heights, it is a very diverse community with lots of excellent ethnic restuarants. You name it, we probably have it--Thai, Indian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Argentinean, American, the list goes on. The food is terrific. Also we have our health food stores and grocery stores for the basics!

The last 2 times I arranged trips to libery island/ellis island. It was summer and some people could come earlier and see some of NY. If you are interested in doing something before or after the festival, let me know and I will try and either get you the info and/or maybe even--if there is enough interest--try and arrange a trip to any of the Museums, theaters, 42nd street main library which is amazing and also has exhibits, etc. [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 02:03 PM

Greetings:

Mary (SINSULL), Jerry, and Eileen can all tell you about Jackson Heights, a truly fascinating community where layers upon layers of architecture can be found housing layers upon layers of immigrants. But let me also put in a good word for the surrounding communities: Woodside to the west, East Elmhurst to the north, Corona to the east, and Elmhurst to the south. Each has a fascinating past and an equally fascinating future, and each has its own groups of recent and not-so-recent immigrants. And very much like Jackson Heights, each has its complex array of enclaves and sub-neighborhoods within the greater whole.

Corona, by the way, is the Realm of Queen Rosie in Paul Simon's Me and Julio. In real life, it was for many years the home of the late Louis Armstrong. Paul Simon grew up in much tonier Forest Hills, to the south of Corona.

When you come to the Eisteddfod, please devote some time exploring Jackson Heights and these four other neighboroods.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 03:26 PM

Thanks for the update Jerry
Barry

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jun 06 - 04:18 PM

The Eisteddfod website says Sheila Kay Adams had to cancel along with two others. The list of performers is still impressive, but I'm disappointed because I was looking forward to hearing her. I hope she's all right.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 12:32 PM

Sheila had to cancel because of family obligations (birth of a new grandchild). She is alright. They are looking to replace her with a similar type performer.
                                             SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 05:06 PM

Thanks Rabbi Sol. It's good to hear that Sheila Kay Adams is okay. With all the bad news in the folk song community in the last couple of years I was beginning to worry.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 10:36 PM

Greetings:

It's time to revive this thread and remind everyone of this truly wonderful festival. The first registrations have started to come in, and I'm not even counting the ones from members of the Eisteddfod-NY committee!

Sponsored by the Folk Music Society of New York, Inc.
New York Pinewoods Folk Music Club

Eisteddfod New York
Festival of Traditional Music
Friday to Sunday • November 17 to 19, 2006
to be held at the Renaissance Charter School
35-59 81st Street (near 37th Avenue)
Jackson Heights, Queens, New York
USA

For details please visit the festival website.

Questions? Please click and e-mail, or please phone [phone].

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 10:42 AM

Can't wait, Steve. With any luck in the babysitting department, my wife & I will make a weekend of it, travelling 6.5 hours from Buffalo for this great lineup!

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Jerry-E
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 12:41 AM

There was a comment earlier on a replacement for SHEILA Adams. . We have been able to get John Cohen (for Sunday). We have quite an array of banjo/ballad personnel this year. . . If that is your thing, you will find a high density of high quality. . . .And Zie Mwea who do this amazing stuff from Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire are alone worth a trip, as the lead Gyil player and singer, Bernard Woma, is only in the country this year. . .

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 12:57 AM

Greetings:

Welcome to Jerry-E, the newest member of the Mudcat familiy!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 01:03 PM

A question: is Eisteddfod mostly performances? I'm interested mostly in jam sessions, workshops, and dancing, though a few performances would be ok.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Addy
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 03:51 PM

Lots of wokshops, some of which are performances, lots of jamming, no dancing

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Rosalie
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 03:54 PM

I had a ball at the Folk Music Society of NY's picnic at Jean Ritchie's house in August. I'm hoping to see lots of you at Eisteddfod, plus all the people who could not make it to the picnic. If some of the same singers/musicians are there, the jamming should be VERY good.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 16 Oct 06 - 07:15 PM

Time to refresh this thread again!

The preliminary 2006 festival schedule grid is now available on the Eisteddfod New York website. This can and probably will change, but it gives you a good idea of what events are being planned.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 01:42 PM

I can't wait!!!

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,booklynrose
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 03:05 PM

Wow,
All those performers plus Dave Ruch whose NYC concert was cancelled last year. Dave, will you be doing some singing/jamming?

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Dave Ruch
Date: 18 Oct 06 - 05:03 PM

Well, gosh booklynrose, how nice of you to remember and ask. I will mostly be soaking it all in on Saturday with my wife, on a rare weekend visit to the big city w/o our two young boys. Will you be there?

I do have some NY-area dates coming up earlier in Nov, but don't want to redirect this thread, so check my website here
if you're interested.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 06 - 09:55 PM

I plan to be at Eisteddfod, and I will check your website for your performances.
It is nice to have time without the kids, but for those who want it both ways, I understand that during the workshops there will be child care for a fee if one registers in advance.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Jerry
Date: 23 Oct 06 - 11:12 PM

Actually on street parking is pretty readily available if one goes a bit north of the school. . .towards 35th avenue or 34th avenue on any of the cross streets. On weekends if you go down towards 74th - 76th streets, you run into Indian shopping madness, so parking is harder, but on the cross streets in the 80s, it is always available if you look around for a few minutes. At least I have never had a serious problem with it, and I have lived in the neighborhood for 34 years.

For this kind of music, it is worth looking around a bit.

JE

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 24 Oct 06 - 09:23 AM

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO THE 2006 EISTEDDFOD NEW YORK

Welcome to the New York driving experience! The Eisteddfod will take place at the Renaissance Charter School (TRCS) in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City. TRCS is close the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway or BQE. The BQE is an old highway that was incorporated into I-278. Just to make things confusing, the BQE runs north-south while I-278 runs east-west. Taking the BQE north is the same as taking I-278 east. Taking the BQE south is the same as taking I-278 west. When driving follow the signs for I-278, but when asking direction ask for the BQE.

To add to the confusion. Both Brooklyn and Queens are physically located on Long Island, but are boroughs of New York City. However, when people say "Long Island" they usually mean just the suburbs, Nassau and Suffolk Counties. And when they say "New York City" they sometimes mean just Manhattan. If asking directions, be sure to specify Queens.

Getting to the BQE from out of town. Note: These are the simplest directions to follow, but other routes are possible! From the north. Take the Triborough Bridge to Queens (or Long Island). When you get off the bridge go straight ahead onto the highway and follow the signs for the BQE south or I-278 west towards Brooklyn. From the south or west. Take the Goethals Bridge into Staten Island. When you get off the bridge, go onto the Staten Island Expressway, which happens to be I-278 east. Take I-278 through Staten Island and across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into Brooklyn. Follow the signs for the BQE north or I-278 east towards Queens. The toll-free Kosciuszko Bridge on the BQE separates the two boroughs. On the south (west) side of the bridge you are in Brooklyn; on the north (east) side of the bridge you are in Queens;

To the Renaissance Charter School. The school is located at 35-59 81st Street, between 35th and 37th Avenues. There is no 36th Avenue in that part of Queens. Take the BQE/I-278 to the Northern Boulevard exit in Queens. Once on Northern Boulevard, go east (away from Manhattan, towards the higher number streets) a little over 1/2 mile to 82nd Street. Turn right onto 82nd Street and go 3 long blocks to 37th Avenue. Turn right on 37th Avenue and go 1 short block to 81st Street. Turn right on 81st Street. The school will be the first building on your right. It has red doors. Look for parking. If you can't find any, there is a commercial parking garage (82nd Street Park) one block east on 82nd Street just before 37th Avenue. Circle around the block to your right to get to it. The entrance will be on your left just before 37th Avenue. If you get your ticket validated (stamped) at the Eisteddfod registration desk, you will get a $2 discount when you retrieve your car.

For local New Yorkers coming from Manhattan. If you don't want to or don't need to take the BQE, here is what you can do. Take the Queensborough (59th Street) Bridge lower level into Queens. Follow the signs for Northern Boulevard. Take Northern Boulevard to 82nd Street, turn right, and follow the directions above.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Marla
Date: 24 Oct 06 - 11:59 AM

Oh my gosh! If there's one lesson I learned coming from suburban Westchester County it's never drive into the city unless you have absolutely no other choice. In this case you have plenty of other choices, including three different bus lines, a subway line, and commuter railroads to get you to the subway or bus.

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 24 Oct 06 - 12:05 PM

I think a lot of people in the suburbs hate taking public transportation AND hate the idea of driving in the city - so they stay home! For some people in NJ, asking them to go to NYC or.. shudder.. Queens is like asking them to set off on a trip across the Sahara without a compass.

Folks, there is nothing to fear! Public transportation is safe and easy. Personally, I plan on driving, and I can tell you that there are no problems.

Don't let perceptions and baseless urban legends stand in your way of missing what promises to be an outstanding weekend. I am really looking forward to it!

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: Suffet
Date: 25 Oct 06 - 07:22 AM

Greetings:

Ron Olesko is right. Folks, there is nothing to fear! And Marla is partly right, because there are four bus lines that stop near the Renaissance Charter School, not just three. They are:

Q32 from Penn Station: Stops directly in front of the school. In the opposite direction it stops one short block away at 82nd Street and 37th Avenue.

Q33 from LaGuardia Airport: Stops one short block away at 82nd Street and 37th Avenue. Going to LaGuardia Airport it stops two short blocks away at 83rd Street and 37th Avenue.

Q19B to or from East Elmhurst: Stops one long and one short block away at 82nd Street and 35th Avenue.

Q29 to or from Glendale: Stops one long and one short block away at 82nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue.

But if you prefer the subway system, then the directions are very simple. Take the No. 7 Flushing Line local train to 82nd Street in Jackson Heights. Make sure you get on the local, not the express, if you are coming from Manhattan on Friday. (On weekends all trains are locals.)

The 82nd Street stop is an elevated railway station. When you get out you will be on 82nd Street just north of the corner Roosevelt Avenue. Keep walking north along 82nd Street one long block to 37th Avenue. Cross the street, turn left and walk one short block to 81st Street. Turn right and walk a few feet to the school entrance (red doors) at 35-59 81st Street.

You can pick up the No. 7 train at Times Square or Grand Central in Manhattan. If arriving by NJ Transit bus at the Port Authority terminal, go down into the subway and follow the long passageway to the Flushing Line train. If arriving by NJ Transit train or Amtrak at Penn Station, you can get the Q32 bus on West 32nd Street just east of 7th Avenue. You can also take the No. 1, 2, or 3 subway train one stop north to Times Square and change for the No. 7. If arriving by Metro-North, take the No. 7 train from Grand Central. And if arriving by LIRR, get off at Woodside. Then either go upstairs to get the No. 7 train at the 61st Street elevated station, or go downstairs and get the Q32 bus to Jackson Heights.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Eisteddfod NY 2006
From: GUEST,Rosalie
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 10:47 PM

Re: safe travel into New York
My friend just had a dramatic experience. Her brother-in-law strongly opposed having his daughter apply to colleges in "sinful dangerous New York City," but he agreed to come visit. After they showed him around, and showed him a recent survey saying that New Yorkers are more courteous & kinder than people in other big cities, he actually took the subway alone with his daughter. What do you know? Every time he looked at his map, someone asked whether he needed help. No one was hostile or unpleasant. He decided NYC was not so bad!