1960’s. Train from Springfield, Massachusetts to Penn Station. Dining car with formal tablecloths, waiters, silver, china. Or. A TWA prop to Idlewild Airport (now JFK) from Bradley Field.

Lunch at Toots Shor watching an already drunk Jack Lescoulie, Dave Garroway’s sidekick on the Today show, at the bar. During our day at the Sperry Rand Building at 1290 Avenue of the Americas. Buying for Dad’s New England retail men’s clothing stores. Knew all the guys at Hart Schaffner Marx. And such.

Maybe Sardi’s for dinner, then Jilly’s singing around the piano bar with Nancy Wilson into the wee hours. Copa Cabana to see Sammy Davis, Jerry Vale, lots of Italian singers named Frankie or Johnny or Tony.

Or other nights for dinner at Il Vagabondo with its indoor bocce court. Burgers at P.J. Clarke’s where Alec Guinness would be nursing a beer at the bar. Dad sneaked me in to see the enormous urinals with one huge block of ice in each. Elaine’s where he knew the large proprietress who’d be chatting on her stool in the corner. Fancier Sign of the Dove with its pink & green wallpaper, and Le Pavillon where even Jackie O. was not allowed to wear slacks.

Sometimes lunch at La Grenouille. Or Longchamp’s in the Empire State Building where Arthur Goldberg would be holding court. Usually stayed at City Squire Motor Inn with its Red Coach Grill near the Winter Garden.

Remember Chelsea Place? A tiny antique shop across from the original Barney’s. It had a mirrored armoire in the back which secretly opened to a piano bar, then through another door, down a few steps opened to a large atrium-esque lush garden restaurant with a random totem pole and duck pond. Cool.

Memories with Dad & Me. Priceless. Happy Birthday.