The point of this journal each week, besides realizing Mike is a superior writer, is to give you a behind the scenes perspective of our travels. Well, I had a short week because I went out of town, so this week is about my personal travels. My journey took me up to the Big Apple for the very first time. Yes, I grew up in Buffalo but have never been to New York City, until this past weekend. Hawaii twice, NYC never.

I only had 48-hours before heading back home to the Queen City. With so many things to do and see, I didn’t know if I could fit it all in. But I knew of one thing at the top of my list that believe it or not, came to me at a rock concert this past fall.

Flashback to the opening night of the new Charlotte arena: There I was front and center. The electricity was in the air. The Rolling Stones were brought in to kick off this beautiful building, you know, the one Charlotte voted against. Mick Jagger and the boys, pretty darned cool! So there I am watching a sixty-plus year old man gyrate on stage like he’s still in his twenties. They played all the songs we know and love. Satisfaction, Start Me Up, Brown Sugar, you name it and the Stones delivered.

Then sometime during Honky Tonk Woman something hit me and I felt like the oldest 36-year-old in the world. Twenty thousand fans are screaming for one of the greatest music groups ever when my inner monologue kicks in. “I think I had a better time at the theatre watching the Lion King musical.” Oh boy.

Now I know the lyrics to just about every Stones song out there (except maybe Jumping Jack Flash and Tumbling Dice. I can’t understand what in God’s name Mick is saying). But here I am seeing and hearing them live and I start humming “Hakuna Matata”. That can only mean one thing, I am getting old fast!

So now it’s a few months later and I find myself on a whirlwind tour of the city that never sleeps, visiting my wife who’s been away on a long business trip. We covered the whole island, from a helicopter tour around the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building. Up to Central Park and the John Lennon memorial, down to the somberness of Ground Zero. We fit it all in a 36-hour span.

br>The Swedish Supergroup!<

But then it came time for the highlight of the trip. The one that has me at me computer listening to my ABBA CD and hoping no one sees me getting my groove on. It was off to a Broadway double header! Lion King was sold out so Saturday night was “Phantom of the Opera”. It could have stopped there and I would be singing “Music of the Night” right now, but no, on Sunday I lined up “Mamma Mia!” This is the show set to the music of the aforementioned Swedish super group. My wife loved it. As for me, it was fabulous people! The live theatre is a pretty amazing experience. I figure I can cleanse my masculinity in one month when football season starts.

I really would like to think my changing tastes mean I’m simply becoming more cultured, but I am still the guy who didn’t own a suit up until three years ago and still thinks chicken wings are a meal unto themself, so I guess I have to chalk it up to old age. Passing by the “MTV Store” in Times Square, I couldn’t identify one person in the window display. That’s pretty sad. My hip days are over, although I’m not sure they were ever here.

So until my diversions of the NFL and NHL start back up in a month, feel sorry for your Carolina Traveler Mike Redding as we head out for another story tomorrow. Since I do most of the driving, I control the radio/CD player. “You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life.” Sing it with me Mike! “See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen.”

See you Saturday’s at 7:30!

Andy Benton
Official Carolina Traveler Sidekick