Lunch

After doing her laundry Abby got ready to meet Samantha for lunch at the Carnegie Deli. When Abby got there was Samantha waiting for her. The waitress seated them. Samantha said you've got to try the Barry Manilow. What's that said Abby. Samantha said it's a sandwich with marbled rye corn beef, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. OH you mean Barry Manilow has a sandwich named after him. Yes said Samantha he has a sandwich named after him. Sounds delicious said Abby. So that's what she ordered. Samantha ordered the  Bette Midler which was pumpernickel, turkey, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard. As they were eating Samantha noticed these guys walking in. OMG  said Samantha. Turn around slowly. Which Abby did. In walked Barry Manilow and another guy. Barry saw Abby and walked towards her table. Hi Abby said Barry. Hi Barry said Abby. OH Samantha this is Barry Manilow. Barry this is my BFF Samantha Griffin. Samantha Griffin said Barry. Your not by any chance related to Darin Griffin are you? Yes Darin is my husband. I know your husband Darin said Barry. Darin produced the Harmony Broadway cast album back in 2014. Darin said he'll be glad to produce your next Broadway cast album said Samantha. Darin loved working with you on the Harmony cast album. Oh am I forgetful said Barry. This is my manager Marc Hulett. Marc this Abigail Stern the girl I was telling you about. Oh hi Abigail said Marc. Hi said Abby back. This is Samantha Griffin my BFF said Abby. I'll have to get another copy of my latest coffee table book for Marc and it will also be autographed.  Well we need to go to our table said Marc. Nice to meet you ladies he said. Damn said Samantha he's cute. I mean gorgeous. And you've got a date with him next week Abby? Yes said Abby I have a date with him next week. I'd hang on to him if I were you said Samantha.  Samantha he's not my boyfriend said Abby. Well he should be she said. What are you trying to do fix me up with him. Um you do need someone in your life beside your dog Charlie. We'll see said Abby. What do say we go shopping. I know you need some new shoes for next week said Samantha. So off they went to do some shoe shopping. Marc said Abigail is very beautiful. You know you need someone else in your life beside Maggie and Max your labs. Marc are you trying to get me to date Abby. Um maybe I am said Marc. You know it's lonely being by yourself. All you do is eat, sleep and drink music. You need something or someone else in your life. Think about it said Marc. I guess said Barry as he took a bite of his sandwich. Just then who walks in but Brain Murphy and his manager Jon Carson. Marc said don't look now but Brian Murphy just walked in. Man does he dress tacky. He's even worse than Elton John was back in the seventies.

Man Is He Hot!

Man is he hot thought Abby. He must be at least six feet tall. Light brown hair, eyes are blue and he's got a nice build.  As she was walking towards the bus stop Abby said. I got a date with Barry Manilow for the premier of his movie musical Harmony next week. I have the perfect little black  dress I can wear said Abby It's a sleeveless shift type of dress. What I do need are some new black heels. The ones I have are scuffed up really bad. My hair also needs a trim. Which I can get next week Abby thought. Barry continued on towards the Virgin Mega store in Times Square. Barry wanted a copy of Paradise Lounge by Kevin Brackett. Kevin is one of Barry's favorite jazz artists. Barry made it to the Virgin Mega store to pick up his copy of the album. Barry couldn't believe that they had both the LP and Cd versions of the album. So Barry picked up both and an extra copy of the Cd for Abby. Ah yes Abigail Stern his date for next weeks Harmony movie premier. Boy was she cute. Strike that. Abigail was beautiful. Not to tall, brown hair, blue eyes and a curvy figure. Barry made one extra pit stop at this floral shop where he had a bouquet of red roses sent to Abigail's apartment in SOHO. On the card Barry put "Can't wait till our date next week. Hugs, Barry." Barry then stopped at the Carnegie Deli. You know they named a sandwich after him. Corn beef on marbled rye with Swiss, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. So he ordered his name sake sandwich the Barry Manilow. It also came with chips and a pickle. He had ice with that as well. Then his cell phone rang. Barry answered it. It was Marty Panzer his book writer for Here at The Mayflower. Marty said that he talked to Adrienne about the song Freddie Said. Barry told Marty he found a date for next weeks Harmony movie premier. Her name is Abigail Stern. She's a travel photographer said Barry Abigail goes all over the world to photograph interesting places for coffee table books. Marty said she sounds like a real special girl. I can't wait to meet her next week when I come out for the Harmony premier. I talked to Enoch and we're on the same flight to JFK on Monday. That's great said Barry. Adrienne called me last night and said she and Neil were coming in on Sunday afternoon. So I can't wait to see you all next week said Barry. When Abby got home she called her BFF Samantha and told her the news about going to the Harmony movie musical premier with songwriter Barry Manilow. Samantha told Abby about what she heard on the news about B.A. Murphy. You mean he did what? said Abby. You heard me said Samantha. He went on Oprah's OWN show and came directly out of the closet. B.A. Murphy who's full name is Brian Alan Murphy. Said he was relieved to come out of the closet as a gay man. He also introduced his manager Jon Carson as his life partner. I wonder if he'll loose a lot of his female fans or not said Abby. Who knows said Samantha. Well I've got to start supper  for Daniel said Samantha. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch said Abby. Yeah see you tomorrow said Samantha.

New York City Rhythm Cover

Who's That Girl?

Yes Who's that girl? Barry wondered as she walked towards him.  She too had one of those fried cinnamon apple donuts and a cup of coffee. She asked if it was ok to sit there. Barry said yes. Barry not wanting to be rude said Hi I'm Barry Manilow. Oh hi I'm Abigail Stern but my friends just call  me Abby for short. Hi Abby it's nice to meet you said Barry. So what do you do? said Barry Abby replied I'm a travel photographer. I go all over the world photographing interesting places. Then I put the photos in coffee table books. My latest book is called The Back Roads Of America. It comes out next month. Give me your address and I'll sign a copy for you. So Barry gave Abby his address. OH so you live over in Brooklyn Barry said Abby. Yes I do said Barry. I live  in SOHO said Abby.   I live in a loft. I have an extra room that I use as my dark room for developing my photos. Now I know what you do said Abby. You're a Broadway songwriter and composer. I've seen everyone of your musical on Broadway. I was even in the audience at Radio City when Copacabana won for Best Musical in 1998. I remember you, Bruce and Jack giving your speeches. Jack saying holy mackerel it's for real. Bruce said man that's heavy and you just saying thank you. So I heard that your musical Harmony is now a movie musical produced by Cameron Macintosh. Yes said Barry the premier is next month here in New York. Then in November my musical Hare At The Mayflower opens at the Richard Rodgers theatre here in New York. Then after the Here At The Mayflower opening night I'll need a vacation somewhere. If it wasn't cold I'd go to Nantucket but it will be in December. So I'll have to go somewhere else. Abby said you ought to go to Key Largo or Key West both of which are in Florida. You can rent a house to live in while you're there said Abby.  What's next for you?  asked Abby after your much needed vacation. I'm not sure said Barry. I was thinking about a musical about a rock star who hides behind this cover. I do have one song already written called "He's A Star." Which is what I might called the musical. That song was written with Enoch Anderson. So the two of us might get together and create that musical. Don't you just love those fried cinnamon apple donuts? said Barry. Yes said Abby they are super. I hear the owner of the truck is getting an actual store in SOHO. You're kidding said Barry. No said Abby The owner wants to branch out and make other kinds of donuts. Like maple pecan, blueberry crumble, pumpkin spice, chocolate walnut and etc. He also said something about bagels and biscuits. Raisin cinnamon is my very favorite said Abby. Oops it's two pm and I need to get home said Abby. Charlie is waiting to go out I'm sure. Charlie  is my two year old beagle. OH you have a dog too said Barry. I have two black Labrador Retrievers named Maggie and Max. It was nice meeting you Abigail said Barry. It was nice meeting you too said Abby. OH one little thing said Barry I need a date for the Harmony movie premier next week. Would you consider going with me as my date asked Barry Yes said Abby I'd love to go with you to the premier.