Details on Going Away Gathering: Dec. 7, 8/7c

Folks,

I trust you've all penciled Dec. 7 in on your Blackberries, now here are the details:

As you know, I'm leaving Long Island to pursue a dream of journalistic joy and frozen fingertips in the mountains of Northeast Pennsylvania, particularly Wilkes-Barre.

Before I go, we're planning a get together for some drinks and laughs and other fun stuff. There have been lots of great suggestions on where this gathering should be held (the cheesy working title of which is, "Eat, Drink and Be Barre"). There were thoughts of a trek to the city (convenient for those who live there), or a neighborhood bar (until we heard Friday's can be tortously loud there) or even renting out the greatest ball park in the world for a night — RFK Stadium in D.C. (until we realized it's a dump).

So... We've settled on CHARLIE BROWN'S IN COMMACK (directions and link to Google Map below), with kickoff scheduled for 8:07 p.m. Eastern/7:07 p.m. Central. This locale might be a crushing blow for all the city dwellers and Nassau folks, but Commack is a great place to get together. Commack, the hometown of Bob Costas and Rosie O'Donnell, the confluence of Jericho Turnpike and Vets Highway, of Huntington and Smithtown, famed for its Motor Inn and its Multiplex; the first home of professional hockey on Long Island and a former home of the New York/New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets.

It's also the place I've called home for the last 23 years. Unlike the beloved Mr. Costas, I won't turn my back on Commack when I'm gone (no thank you, St. Louis). Unlike Ms. O'Donnell, I won't turn into a lesbian either.

That said, please join us on Friday, 8 p.m. Eastern at Charlie Browns in Commack!

DIRECTIONS:

FROM LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY:

1 - Exit 53 to Sunken Meadow State Parkway (North)
2 - Proceed on Sunken Meadow to Exit exit SM2 Harned Road
3 - Left onto Harned Road, follow signs for RT-454 Veterans Memorial Highway
4 - At intersection, turn left onto Veterans Memorial Highway
5 - Charlie Brown's is located in shopping center on left, less than
1/4 mile ahead (be sure to move into turn lane quickly).

Other stores in shopping center: King Kullen, Ulta, Borders Books, Babies R Us, Linens and Things.


FROM NORTHERN PARKWAY:

1 - Exit 45 to merge onto Sunken Meadow Parkway
(follow steps 2-5 from above)


FROM POINTS NORTH AND EAST:

1 - Call me and we'll figure something out.

Google Map and Generic Directions from Hempstead, N.Y.

Hope to see y'all there.

Sincerely,
Mike Sisak