"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

New York Minute

For years Woody played his clarinet every Monday night at Michael’s. Missed the Academy Awards when “Annie Hall” won Best Picture because he was there instead.

How I pined to go when I was a teenager. But I never made it.  It was such a New York thing.

Anyone ever see him play there?

[Picture by François-Marie Banier]

5 comments

1 Yankee Mama   ~  May 23, 2011 4:01 pm

Monday nights, like clockwork. I went a bunch of times in the '80s. Jolly good fun. A very NY experience.

Does he still play there?

2 Alex Belth   ~  May 23, 2011 4:19 pm

Is Michael's even around anymore? Hey, you see Elaine's is closing this week?

3 Sliced Bread   ~  May 23, 2011 4:54 pm

never saw Woody at Michael's, but I used to go to Elaine's in the mid-90's when I lived and worked on the Upper East.
It was a fascinating place for a NY kid in his late 20s. A couple of older Runyon-esque gents that I rolled with back then were acquaintances of Elaine's, and I sat at her table more than a couple late nights, watching her hold court, devouring a large plate of scrambled eggs and stack of rye toast. She was fun. A real NY character.
I felt like a big shot, sipping gin & tonics at her place. Smoking cigars outside. Met a few celebs and big shots. We sat with Dabney Coleman a couple times. Listening to him was a riot. It was a great people-watching, and eavesdropping joint.

4 Alex Belth   ~  May 23, 2011 5:21 pm

3) Sweet memory. I've always heard Dabney was a dickhead. Nice to hear a good story about him.

5 Sliced Bread   ~  May 23, 2011 5:58 pm

3) I imagine he has an intense side, but he was pretty chilled the few times I sat with him. He definitley had the gift of gabney. Adept at late-night saloon bullshitting. I don't remember any of his specific stories, but he was genuinely funny. Polite and engaging with people who wanted to talk about 9 to 5, too. A lot of people came up to him wanting to hear about that movie set.

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