Little Chapel on the River

Mike Koutsourades, who runs The Hudson River Shop , writes: "The Tugboat Roundup is September 5-7 at Waterford, NY. It's one of the largest tugboat gatherings in the Northeast. This year they are expecting over 30 tugs. What may be interesting to your readers is a lot of the tugs will be making their way up the Hudson the week of Sept. 1st. This is really a great event with historic boats, music, food and fireworks on the Erie Canal. Also, check out some great shots of tug parade." Thanks to Mike for this tip. I watched the promotional video above and in addition to tugboats (which you can ride) and fireworks, there is apparently a "line-throwing" contest. Presumably, this is the maritime equivalent of hitting the bell with a mallet at the state fair.

Garrison's own Uncle Wade band will play the fabulous Turning Point Cafe on Sept. 14th. If you haven't heard Uncle Wade before, this is a great venue to get your feet/ears wet as a listener. Details and to reserve tickets: Turning Point Cafe Piermont, N.Y. Sunday, Sept. 14th 7 p.m. Cost: $20 (845) 359-1089

Peter Collins of New Jersey is the winner of 4 tickets to see the Giants play the Patriots tomorrow night. His winning bid of $200 will go to Team Guinan . Many thanks to Peter -- and especially to Ed Ashton who donated these tickets for the 2nd year in a row to benefit our team and Braking the Cycle . Peter writes: "...We should probably leave out that I am a rabid-season-ticket-holding Pats fan who is married to a rabid won't-go-to-a-game-anymore-because-she-gets-too-stressed-out Giants fan and that we are trying to determine where the kids' alliances now lay football-wise...." Go Giants! (Sorry Peter)

UPDATE II: Bids will now close midnight Tuesday to give time to ship tickets. UPDATE: The highest bid is now at $200. Thanks to all! Here's your chance to support Team Guinan on our 2008 Ride in honor of John Guinan AND WIN 4 TICKETS TO SEE THE GIANTS PLAY THE PATRIOTS NEXT WEEK. Bidding starts at $150; that's a steal. It's a package valued at $390 -- thanks to the generosity of Ed Ashton -- and the game is between the teams that squared off in the last Super Bowl . Here are game details: NY Giants vs. Patriots August 28th 7 p.m. Game played in New York @ Giants Stadium Click Here to View the Actual Tickets and Seats. To place your bid, please email it to: email@gwendolynbounds.com. I'll let you know where bids stand at that point and you can raise if you like. New deadline for bids is midnight, Tuesday, August 26th. [changed from Wed.] Please be generous -- we're only a month away from the ride. THANK YOU!!!!

"I'm hitchin a ride to redemption On this dark, hot July night The quarter moon's three nickels short The neon's not much light Townes and Zevon feed the engine Newbury's driving this old train I find myself smilin a bit As the sky begins to rain It seems the rails end up ahead But Mickey only smiles He's made this trip many a time His soul's walked evry mile So many times I needed an ace But only drew a seven Tonight's the night I win the pot Headin for the last bar in Heaven At the last bar in Heaven The shows they never end At the last bar in Heaven You can always find a friend At the last bar in Heaven There's no one getting stoned At the last bar in Heaven It always feels like home Seems the old friends always find me When the darkness fills my soul It doesn't take but a song or two And I'm feeling almost whole Forgiveness and redemption's What my old heart needs tonight This train I'm on will carry me From the darkness to the l...

The deadline has passed for proposals to start a new store/public venue at the old Guinan's spot. Many of you around the country who read Little Chapel have emailed asking about the status of Mary Ellen Yannitelli's bid to reopen a cafe in this historic space. Thanks for your continued interest. She says she has turned in her business plan and is hopeful the board of directors of Garrison Station Plaza will be receptive. (She's calling it Lou-Lou's Café after the chapel's most loyal 4-legged parishioner, pictured above.) Here are a few snippets: "...My café is in keeping with the Garrison’s Landing Association’s founder’s original mission of '…making Garrison a better place to live.' The cafe increases our community’s self-reliance, local empowerment and a continuation of the Landing’s original use as Garrison’s traditional commercial district, therefore the most visible indicator of our community pride, along with its economic and social health. It wil...