NOT so Musical Tour of New York with Josh Groban

Well my wife thought the idea a bit out there and lame.   I would not say it is so but, it sure can use a change.

Forcing a musician to perform predefined songs in a public place for someone that is paying (with donations going to a special charity) is just well plain a pain.
Think about it.  It would be wonderful to have Josh just break out and sing Starry Starry Night  on the step in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  However, how do  you control the crowd that would form would be another thing.  For a noted musician like Josh would not cause an instant stir though the  Grobanites would sure twit the things to death once they found out what was going on.
Then it would become a mad dash to get to places ahead of the crowd.... at least the charity would still get donation and you' d better hope you already had lunch or dinner before being found out.

In reality it would be more interesting to actually go to the site and hang with the person then just have them perform in front of the venue. Another logistical nightmare.  Imagine the number of autographs that would be asked for.  So when would you ever get his opinion on say a piece of art, or what the Statue of Liberty means to them?

It still would be cool to have the meet up be some type of mystery serenade at say Central Park near a predetermined location.    You'd also have to have the late night serenade to end things.
Being sung Lullaby as you get in the elevator at the hotel to go your room well..... it would make  my daughter she'd simply swoon.

So do you stick to the singing at each location and causing a frenzy or make it more like a celebrity date for Charity?

Now a good twist would be to get the Horse and Carriage ride around Central Park after lunch at the plaza and then a chance to have a personal and private concert or time for a musical exploration in some more intimate location. That could eventually lead to a live album with proceeds going to the selected Charity.

So if your in need of a charity to support take the time to consider the Children's Tumor Foundation http://www.ctf.org
It's Money well spent and indirectly research sponsored by the foundation is helping over 5 million people dealing with Pain, Cancer, and Learning Disabilities on top of all the other complications associated with Neurofibromatosis.

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Musical Tour of New York City with Josh Groban

Well, I'm finding it a bit harder to do this idea then previously thought.
Part of the problem is the number of sights, attractions and things to do in NYC.

The lists I've found on the top ten landmarks in New York vary.  Most if not all have the Empire State Building, Central Park, Statue of Liberty etc.

Some have the Wax Museum, Staten Island Ferry, United Nations Building, various museums and the like.  How to par this down to 10 -places and pair a good song or two with each.

For example a Starry Starry Night works well with the Metropolitan museum of Art.
Galileo from the new album Illuminations works well with the Hayden Planetarium or Rose Center for Earth and science.

Then you enter into a new category of issues with the Holidays. If you do this at Christmas time you could have him sing an array of songs from Noel in front of the Rockefeller Center Tree.


So with all of that how about helping me to become more Illuminated and giving a few of the top places you'd have to say everyone must visit in New York City?  Leave your top 5 in the comments section.  I'll give more details on the whole things as the idea firms up more on paper and in my head.

Boy does this make for a good dilemma if your a Grobanite.  Also put down how much you'd pay for such an adventure.  I'd say it's worth $10,000 if it included all the transportation in NY and lunch at say the Plaza.   You'd have to use the Subway etc to make the experience more authentic......

Buaidh - NO - Bas.

Norse in America

I now have the actual verbiage used in the book mentioned in the last post.

In the epilogue section by Helge Ingstad he writes:
"One question is often asked: Why did the Norsemen not colonize those parts of North America which they discovered, as Columbus did in South America?  The answer is simple enough: Columbus had fire arms, he was absolutely superior to the natives in battle.  Moreover, he was in constant contact with Europe.  The Norsemen on the other hand had, the same kind of weapons as the natives, little more that bows and arrows and spears, and they were greatly outnumbered by the Indians and the Eskimos.  Their contact with Greenland was very slight indeed.  Leif Eirikson discovered America about five hundred years before Columbus and this was too early."
pg 180 The Viking discovery of America Helge Ingstad & Anne Stine Ingstad.


I'll leave the section alone since I already commented on it in detail previously.  It is so well worded and deep it needs no more.


Stay tuned for more interesting fact, and items.

I'm also working on an ultimate charity idea.  A Musical Tour of New York with Josh Groban.
I'm sure some Grobanite would fork over $10,000 for charity to be able to be serenaded at 5-10 key landmarks in NYC with a dinner or lunch to follow.   Stay tuned oh stay tuned.
If needing to consider a charity Please take a moment to check out the Children's Tumor Foundation.  They help fund research among other things for those afflicted with Neurofibromatosis.  It is "NF1 is not a rare disorder, it is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene."  "The Neurofibromatoses are genetically-determined disorders which affect more than 100,000 Americans; this makes NF more prevalent than Cystic Fibrosis, hereditary Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington's Disease and Tay Sachs combined."

Also check out their Racing4research page for all your drivingphiles.  Each year for the past several years they have been able to participate in one of the most prestigious racing events in the world.  The 24 Hours of Daytona.

Buaidh - NO - Bas