Lunch at The Pergola Des Artistes

On Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 I caught an Acela Bullet Train from Washington, D.C. to New York City and amazingly in what seemed just like a little over two-and-a-half hours I was at Penn Station, ( over two hours early for my 12:15 lunch appointment with the legendary Sam Gross, famed New Yorker cartoonist  ) . . .  just about six blocks from my lunch appointment. . . I arrived early, so I walked around Times Square and  " people-watched " for a while and got three gag ideas in the first hour.

The Pergola Des Artistes is a neat bistro located smack dab in the middle of the theatre district.  Every Tuesday a group of mostly New Yorker cartoonists meet at this restaurant and chit-chat about the business we're in and whatever else pops up.

Sam had invited me, and first I felt uneasy about going, but he said " C'mon " . . so I went.  Sam tells me that you can never tell who or how many will show up . . . usually anywhere from about 10 to 24 is about standard.  On this day, about 10-12 showed up. 

Besides Sam Gross, Sidney Harris and Paul Peter Porges were there and an executive from The Cartoon Bank, Tricia Gesner was also there.  Others I did not know filled the rest of our area.

The food was moderately priced, with an outstanding variety of specials, the staff was professional and friendly and the drinks were great.