Saw the surgeon last week to talk about what’s next for my toes. Essentially, my muscle tone can get so strong that it’s bending and curving my toes on my right foot. I had surgery for both of my big toes about 6 years ago for this. The plan is to have a surgery where I’ll end up with a cast for 6 weeks. The first surgery may be an overnight in the hospital followed by another sedated procedure 3 weeks later to check incisions and recast, and another at 6 weeks to remove the pins and cast. Because of my movement and muscle tone, I need to be sedated for recasting and removing pins.

The best part of the refrain from the Interrupters cover of Sorrow is the part where “there will be sorrow no more.” I’m hoping that my right foot is in a much better place in time for me to see the Interrupters, one of my all-time favorite bands in mid-October. I should hear about the surgery dates next week.

There will be sorrow

Yeah, there will be sorrow

And there will be sorrow no more

Written by Greg Graffin & Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion

Armory Accessibility Report Part 3: Disappointing

You may remember the first time I went to the Armory to see Maggie Rogers. Great show and terrible venue for people who need ADA seating. After COVID, we went to another show there and just decided to get there super early and see if we could find another safer place up closer to the stage. That time, there was actually space set aside on the side, towards the front of the bar level just above the main floor. That spot was awesome! I could see the stage really well and it was a gated off space so I wasn’t getting jostled by the crowd. I went to several more shows over the past year or two where I was able to sit in that same spot.

Then, I went to see the National and the Beths a couple weeks ago. This time, when I went up to the spot I had sat at for the past several years, security said they needed to check with the supervisor. Well, that supervisor came back and said, that no, the ADA seating is on the 2^nd floor all the way at the way, way back of the Armory. We went to the other side of the stage on that bar level just above the floor and were told the same thing and they couldn’t allow wheelchair users in the space that I’d sat for shows over the past year and a half

We tried to get next to the empty gated off area so that I could see a little better and figured my mom would be able to stand on one side and my dad on the other. Remember that I have super long arms and with uncontrolled movement can accidentally hit someone and beers will go flying. My dad proceeded to talk to 4 more layers of managers who all maintained that they’ve never allowed ADA seating in those areas and that it’s a safety issue. While my dad was talking his way through managers, a paramedic guy came and told me and my mom that there’s ADA seating in the back on the 2^nd floor. We stayed where we were, towards the front, next to the large empty space that one security guy stood in periodically for 3 songs by the Beths. My mom had to ask a couple who came and stood right in front of me if they could please move – they did move when they realized that they had stood right in front of me blocking my view. Anyway, with the frustration along with the pain in my foot, I wanted to just leave. I know this was supposed to be a great show from all the reviews, but my review is of the venue and I think they can do better.

Anyway, I’m not going back to the Armory until they figure out a way to have additional ADA seating closer to the stage. Paying full price for a ticket for me and a ticket for a caregiver and then having to sit at the very back of the venue caused me a bit of sorrow. This experience did not feel fair, equitable, or inclusive. Just because something meets the requirements of ADA does NOT mean that it’s a good experience where I feel valued.

The pictures above are of where I sat for the show. Previously I would have been able to sit in the cordoned off empty area to the side of the crowd with a good view of the stage. The photo on the right is from where the ADA seating is on the 2nd level in the back looking towards the stage which is probably a half block away.

Here are some of my posts about my various experiences at the Armory and for the managers who said they have never allowed or haven’t allowed ADA seating up front in the spots that I sat in in the past 2 years, you’re wrong:

• Maggie Rogers at the Armory: Accessibility Check post My first time at the Armory in 2019 with ideas for improvement
• Talking Accessibility at the Current interview with Mary Lucia in 2019 about accessibility at local music venues
• Time for some music Update to my first Armory experience and the up in front spots I had for HAIM and Flogging Molly shows in 2022

Here are some of my pics from shows where I was able to sit closer to the front at the Armory for HAIM, Dropkick Murphy’s, and Weezer.