Thanks, but I'll eat it here....

The Dead's recent announcement(http://www.dead.net/official-rules) that they're going to play a series of warm up acoustic and electric shows to benefit various charities in NYC on Monday March 30, confirms that this Band not only holds its fans in their highest esteem, but also seem to embrace and respectfully acknowledge their storied past. It was the early summer of '76 when the Dead announced that they would play a series of similar warm up shows in the
early summer prior to their first ever outdoor stadium summer tour- to wit:
Date Venue
06-03-76 Paramount Theater, Portland, Or.
06-04-76 Paramount Theater, Portland, Or.
06-09-76 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Ma.
06-10-76 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Ma.
06-11-76 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Ma.
06-12-76 Boston Music Hall, Boston, Ma.
06-14-76 Beacon Theatre, New York, N.Y.
06-15-76 Beacon Theatre, New York, N.Y.
06-17-76 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, N.J.
06-18-76 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, N.J.
06-19-76 Capitol Theatre, Passaic, N.J.
06-21-76 Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, Pa.
06-22-76 Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, Pa.
06-23-76 Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, Pa.
06-24-76 Tower Theatre, Upper Darby, Pa.
06-26-76b Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Il.
06-27-76 Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Il.
06-28-76 Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Il.
06-29-76 Auditorium Theater, Chicago, Il.
07-12-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
07-13-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
07-14-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
07-16-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
07-17-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
07-18-76 Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, Ca.
These shows, above, were perhaps the beginning of what I believe to be the culmination of the Band's destiny. After a long hiatus, the Dead came out to play what are considered, by todays standards at least, tiny venues with awesome acoustics and ideal sight lines. They proceeded to showcase live their soon to be released magnum opus, Blues for Allah while breaking out old warhorses that had not been performed live in more than 4 years. With a slim and healthy Jerry Garcia at the helm, the Dead were at their creative and professional apogee. Hats off to this grizzled group of Bay Area veterans for putting off whatever personal and professional notions of not going forward with this "40th" Anniversary tour and allowing another generation of music fans to witness why the music business in general, and The Grateful Dead juggernaut and their ilk in particular, are still going strong and making a difference to so many fans. Their line up may be slightly altered but their intentions remain true to form-fans first!
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If you are going to any of these shows on Monday here's a quick heads up where to get a quick and affordable bite before hand:
1.Angel Orensanz
172 Norfolk St
Doors at 3pm
Show at 5pm--Try Apizz- 217 Eldridge St b/t Rivington and Stanton. Great pizzas and a wood burning oven to boot! 212 253 9199 or KATZ deli-205 E Houston St can't go wrong here.
2.Grammercy Theater
127 E 23rd ST
Doors 6pm
Show @ 8pm-Might be crowded but Shake Shack is IT!! or go to Blue Smoke for killer BBQ
3.Roseland Ballroom-239 W 52ST
Box Office @5pm
Doors@8pm
Show@11pm-How about Rice and Beans dirt cheap South American chow 744 9th Ave-or even Island burgers and shakes-766 9th ave
Enjoy the Shows!! Wish I was there....
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For those a little more upscale, you may want to try out the PALM WEST 250 W 50 st-now before you scream and shout get this, they've radically altered they're menu to reflect the slower economic times....a prix fixe lunch costs !!!!$$$22$$$$!!!!!!=appetizer, huge main course and killer desert. The dinner menu has also been somewhat altered to reflect these 'High Times'.

This will be the first of many Blogs covering such significant topics as Culture, Sports and all things great and small.
cheers,
save