If you're in NY enjoying the drop in hotel rates...

[Guest StuCotts]

...and if you share any of my museum rat inclinations, there are two great shows at the Met. One is wildly eclectic and covers a small fraction of acquisitions during Philippe de Montebello's tenure. The second is Art and Love in Renaissance Italy, which combines serious with definitely frivolous. The Dickhead Dish is fun. One fact I'll retain always is that among dildo fans of the time, glass ones from Murano were much in demand by those who could afford them. Who knew?

Then at the Palitz Gallery on East 61st, there's a small and quirky show of Michelangelo-related items, all of them brought in from Florence. It may not be to everybody's taste, but I liked it.

Whatever brings you to our fair city, have a good time and spend money. Please!

[TampaYankee]

I was watching ABC news last night about the closing of so many shows on Broadway. I have attended several in the last fifteen or twenty years. Alway enjoyed them even though I thought $85 for the good seats was a bit stiff on my last visit. I heard last night the now empty seats have been going for $285 per... wow!! No wonder they are empty.

Apparently now that the Pound Sterling has fallen, the Brits are less willing to come over and buy up the Broadway seats and hotels. Also seems there has been a backlash among Americans because of the pricing of Broadway for the tourists. NO WONDER!!!

Businesses have to get their heads on straight if they are going to survive in the current conditions. This goes for Broadway, hotels, and even escorts. When will sanity return. The High Times are over. Mindsets better adapt or prepare for a brutally awakening change?

[Guest StuCotts]

Broadway shows are indeed closing in wholesale lots. Audiences are dwindling. The rush of tourists from overseas was a flash in the pan. New Yorkers, except for the now essentially defunct expense account crowd, abandoned Broadway some time ago, mainly because of the quality of the offerings. The shows have come to depend on the organized tours from out of town, which don't pay full price. Individual theatergoers have learned patience on the TKTS line or signed up to such sites as theatermania.com and broadwaybox.com. The upshot is that the theaters are filling fewer seats, and them at reduced prices. That situation will only get worse.

Personally, I count myself as an ex-theatergoer likely to remain so. My situation is typical. I find nothing worth seeing, my investments are largely down the drain, all the necessities are increasing in cost and we're threatened with crushing new taxes to prop up the wrecked finances of New York City and State.

I can't disagree with your point about escorts, but I'm not aware of any movement toward more reasonable fees. Others may be.

[caeron]

I like NYC, but it sure isn't my weekend away spot because prices are so nuts. I've never understood by its escort prices where always so much higher than the rest of the country.

[BigK]

I use priceline frequently, and I find that rates are off about 10%. Sort of surprised that they're not even lower given the economy tanking.

[Guest Conway]

I like NYC, but it sure isn't my weekend away spot because prices are so nuts. I've never understood by its escort prices where always so much higher than the rest of the country.

I'm certain that it is directly correlated to the $2500 a month Manhattan studio apartment.