Saturday: Got an Archive of Our Own account for encouragement in writing fanfic (today's awe-inspiring AO3 discovery: Oregon Trail fanfic!), got lovely orange roses from my husband, ate baked beans on toast, discovered that a member of the British Fantasy Society nominated Thoughtcrime Experiments for Best Anthology of 2009, talked with Mel, and took an out-of-town friend to Home On 8th and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind for dinner and a show. Hmm, written out like that, it sounds pretty good (ignoring my failure to exercise, write more of my GNOME Journal article, or write conference proposals, or follow up on myriad errands).

Ah yes! I wanted to post a short list of some favorite NYC experiences I like to share with visitors. The Circle Line tour is great, the Met and MoMa and the main library and whatnot are good, but here's some more idiosyncratic stuff.

• While visiting Queens: Sac's Place pizza, near the Broadway stop on the N/W, here in Astoria
• Friday or Saturday night light theater: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, 10:30pm, East Village (Belgian frites place a few blocks north on 2nd Ave). For other times or nights of the week, check Upright Citizens Brigade and People's Improv (also includes sketch comedy).
• Other theater: Kevin Geeks Out (monthly), anything by Mike Daisey (irregular)
• Bleh weather near NYU: The Tea Spot, just southwest of Washington Square Park, a cozy tea shop/cafe
• Manhattan brunch: Home, near the West 4th St stop
• Oh no, you need dinner near Penn Station/midtown: Home On 8th for veg-friendly Asian fusion just southwest of Penn Station, or Waldy's Pizza near 6th Ave and 28th St, just south of Herald Square
• An adequate place to get a seat and grab a drink, maybe a meal, in midtown: O'Reilly's, 35th St just west of 5th Ave. Mediocre but they always have room, even at happy-hour times. Hmm, maybe that "but" should be "therefore."
• Nice day in Manhattan: walking the bit of Central Park with the Shakespeare Garden, which is where Leonard & I got married - west side of the park, around 79th/80th St
• A full day with good weather and someone who likes walking and cities: NYC Transit museum, Brooklyn Bridge, tram to Roosevelt Island. And if they still like hanging out with you: walk the length of Manhattan, north-to-south.

There's more that I can't cudgel out of my melon at the moment, but that's the current braindump.