Klarinet Archive - Posting 000001.txt from 2003/03

From: MVinquist@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Things to Do in NYC
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 11:05:09 -0500

For Sue Raycraft -

New York City has everything you could ever want and everything you could
ever not want. You pick and choose. Kelly lives here, and he alone is worth
the trip.

For Dan Arsenault -

A quick follow-up to Kelly's excellent list.

Put the Metropolitan Museum's musical instrument collection near the top of
your list. It's endlessly fascinating, with clarinets and other things that
will make your eyes pop out.

I wouldn't go to Weiner, even if it were easier to get to. It's a full-day
jaunt. The store is dark and claustrophobic, and, in my experience, the
people couldn't be less interested. They won't show you anything unless you
point it out in the catalog, and there's no browsing allowed (even of the
music or CDs). I'm sure they're fine for mail orders. For visits,
fageddaboudit.

Patelson's (note spelling) is great and very convenient. They have nearly
everything in sheet music and books, with a fair amount of used stuff.

Roberto's (2 stores, on 46th St. and 48th St.) is tiny, but they have almost
every piece of equipment you could want, and the repairman at 46th St. is as
good as you'll find.

Alex (enter on 47th St.) has some unusual instruments, and he's nice to talk
to.

As Kelly says, 48th Street has little to offer. Sam Ash has a decent
selection of instruments and a large stock of equipment, but few
knowledgeable salespeople.

The one 48th Street place you should go (with your pockets sewed shut) is
International (a/k/a Rod Baltimore), which is the sole remaining cluttered,
old-fashioned, no-more-honest-than-they-have-to-be store. He has display
cases filled with interesting used instruments, most in barely playable
shape, but the people know the business, even if they're obnoxious.

Contact me if you have time free for dinner while you're here.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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