While I never thought I could afford to stay at the Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, I spent many evenings in the windowless Café Carlyle enjoying the music of famed cabaret singer-pianist, Bobby Short. In fact I was there so often over the years, that we actually became first-name basis friends.
When Bobby died of leukemia in March of 2005 at 71, it became apparent to me that those who entertained small houses of live audiences, night after night, were vanishing and there were few, if any, replacing them. A tragedy in the making.
Bobby Short was to the Café Carlyle what Sylvia Sims was to the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel. And she's gone, too.
And while Michael Feinstein has his spot at Lowe's Regency, he is rarely there tp perform, preferring instead to tour and play for large theater audiences.
BUT THERE IS A BRIEF BREATH OF FRESH AIR! Through December 5th, Houston singer-stylist-gone-national, Steve Tyrell will be performing in Café Carlyle. If 
you can be in the city then, it would be a great addition to your trip if you would stop in and experience this almost lost style of entertainment. Steve will do a fabulous job!
And while you're there, have a quiet toast at your table for Bobby, too, and know that I'd sure like to be at the table next to yours.
Bill, It's certainly very sad; all of these places fading out of existence.....just like the old waterside dance halls that used to bring guests in by the boatload. I think I was born in the wrong era.
It must be hard on you to see all of these people and traditions disappearing....if I was in Houston, I'd certainly attend!
((-:
Jo