I play chess at a NYC cafe in the Vilage. There I have met William Lombardy, an ex-priest who was Bobby Fischer's second when he played Spassky in Iceland in 1972, Bobby Fischer vs. Russian Machine Culture. Also have met,the best rapid player only to Nakamura, Mr. Yaacov Novowitz. He is on youtube beating several Grandmasters. I play online every day vs. players from Russia, Germany and the Asian nations.
It is THE best game to combat the "dumbing down" of our country. There are also many high schools which treach chess to after school minority students and they are really good players.