This past weekend was fun -- Dave, Mark and I went to New York City again. Shortly after arriving -- Mark and I went out to the Eagle and got completely shit-faced. I don't remember much after 1:15am. We apparently "walked" home around 5am. Dave was NOT happy. We went to the orchid show at The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx on Saturday morning. It was a very pretty exhibit, full of colour and facts about these amazing plants!

After the flower show, we headed to Houston Street for some Yonah Schimmel Knishes! A New York knish is traditionally made of mashed potato in a pastry case, but at this lower East Side institution (it’s been going since 1910), named after a Romanian rabbi, a variety of knishes are available, including spinach, mushroom and sweet potato. The décor still has that old world feel to it. A real blast from the past. It's located at 137 East Houston Street, Between 1st and 2nd on the lower east side.

We took a disco nap and headed to the Village for a slice and some nightlife! The first stop was The Dugout for some suds and a couple of games of billiards, then it was up to The Monster (which I haven't been to in many years) for some dancing -- around midnight, we headed up to The Eagle. I wasn't in a mood to get drunk, as I did the prior night, so we called it an evening around 1:30 and walked back to the hostel. Oh yeah -- this was one of the best hostels I've ever stayed in! The Manhattan Inn Hostel was recently remodelled and is safe, clean and comfortable! They run the place like a regular hotel! All the rooms have their own bathrooms, television sets and phones -- even the dormitory style rooms! We'll be back!

Sunday we picked up our obligatory "official" New York City bagels, this time at one of my favourite haunts: Bagel Maven Cafe at 370 7th Ave; stowed our belongings in a locker at the hostel and headed to The American Museum of Natural History on the upper west side. Following about four hours of the AMNH, including the Darwin Exhibit, I met up with Gary Popkin, the producer of the television show "Hardfire" to follow up with an episode of his show aimed at "routine infant circumcision - a parent's choice or not?" in where he wants me to debate against a doctor that is pro-RIC. More on this as it develops.

I've once again updated "Where's Chaz" -- and am currently looking for something to do the weekend of April 1st & 2nd. I'm open to reasonable suggestions.