Tickets? V.I.P. Transportation? S.O.L.

So here's the quandary I find myself in two days before Thanksgiving:

I was able to score a pair of V.I.P. tickets to Friday's edition of NBC's "Today" show, which includes a performance by my favorite solo artist of all-time, the incomparable Barry Manilow. For those not in the know (or who didn't read this earlier post from more than a month ago), Barry just released a new CD of '80s songs — mostly ballads — that he's beeen promoting heavily.

The tickets were not easy to come by, making me want to go even more. The problem?

Living here in Dutchess County, some 82 miles north of the Big Apple, I'm pretty much reliant on Metro North to get to the city for the show. But ... the first MTA train into NYC Friday gets in at 6:25 a.m., 25 minutes after the mandated deadline for us fans to arrive at "Today."

So, what's a fan to do? Drive? Carpool with other Manilow fans? I suppose only time will tell, so stay tuned...