JLaff's big freakin' New York photo recap
by JLaff
on Jul 22, 2008 10:39 PM PDT
9 comments
This will be long and full of pictures. Please check it out and let me know what you think. I went to New York last weekend to see Yankee and Shea stadiums and basically just play tourist around the city. It was hot as hell (seriously), but I had an absolute blast. This will be mainly about baseball, but will also have other parts of my NYC trip mixed in.
if you have Facebook, you can look me up and see the whole gallery.
FRIDAY:
Red-eye flights look good on paper, not so much in practice. When I booked the flight back in February, I figured that by traveling cross-country at night, I'd save time and have all day to explore the city. What ended up happening was I left class early Thursday, flew from San Jose to San Diego (scheduling a new flight was cheaper than changing the original itinerary) to Denver (where, because of a lack of sleep, I felt a little paranoid) to Laguardia, getting maybe 2 1/2 hours sleep in the process. Luckily, I got an energy boost from the city that never sleeps
As soon as I dropped my stuff off at my friend's and got a quick cursory lesson in NYC transportation, I decided to head to the Statue of Liberty. I realized that 10 a.m. was far too late to arrive and didn't want to spend an hour or so of my trip waiting in line. I went Sunday instead. I left in search of Ground Zero, but not before snapping a picture of this guy.
As I was walking around Ground Zero and Wall Street, I noticed the All-Star Game statues. I was surprised they were still up:
I thought it was funny that while most of the statues were outside, the Red Sox one was tucked away between two ATMs in the corner of an overpriced sports museum.
Later that day, after walking around Union Square and having a huge slice of New York pizza, I headed to Yankee Stadium. It was cramped as hell, but I didn't care. I just wanted to be there for the experience. I wasn't expecting the beauty of AT&T Park or the prices of the Coliseum, I just wanted to see what it was like.
Scoreboard, when it still looked nice.
Monument Park:
There was a hole in the fence separating Monument Park from the visitors bullpen, so I got a couple shots. Here's Santiago Casilla.
I was surprised with the kindess of Yankee fans. They could see that I was from out-of-town and were really nice, offering to take my picture in front of some of the monuments, asking how my vacation is, etc. The native NY fans were far and away nicer than the bandwagoners that go to the Coliseum. A lot more knowledgeable and passionate too. They seemed to know that being a Yankee fan isn't just blind hatred for the Red Sox and letting everyone know that your team is better than theirs. Well, most of them, anyway.
I didn't really suffer any ribbing (though BOSTON SUCKS chants were started at the two games I attended), aside from what little joking I started, and the fans were great to talk to.
Ziggy looks enthused.
I thought the lineup intros were cool. Here's Derek Jesu, er, Jeter. In NY, same difference.
My view (Tier 30). I had a better seat on Saturday.
Sweeney going into the stands for a great catch.
There wasn't much to say about this game except that Brett Gardner, the Yankee left fielder comes to the plate with the intro to "Hot for Teacher." That gained instant brownie points from me. You guys can have your fancy statistics. I have my own criteria for player evaluation.
I was also sitting behind a young lady who had smug, snarky t-shirt that read (on the back): "If it's called the World Series, then why is it always played in the Bronx?"
Go Tampa Bay.
SATURDAY:
I finally found, then took an awkward picture with, the A's statue.
The view from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, a huge tourist trap. As soon as I stepped out of the cab, someone tried to sell me on this "NYC Skyline" virtual reality thing. For $45. Yeah, right. i just wanted to go to the top, which at $19, was pushing it already. I don't need to pay more money to see a freaking virtual reality tour.
After I left the Empire State Building, I headed once again for Yankee Stadium, knowing my seats were much better this time (Main Reserved MVP). Having already done Monument Park, i was able to do a little more exploring of the stadium on my own.
This bakery store had cookies with pictures of Yankees on them. I wanted to buy one to take home, but was scared that it would break at some point:
They also had yummy-looking Yankee cupcakes. If only Blanton had been traded to the Bronx, Billy could've saved money on airfare, and this bakery could've combined ideas!
Some BP photos... Blevins and Devine.
Casey Chavez, who's spending more time on the field than his brother.
This is Freddy, one of the most awesome fans in all of sport (more info). He was born in 1925, two years after the stadium was built! I had to get a picture with him. Later in the game, he walked around and let fans bang on his pan, a time-honored tradition at Yankee Stadium.
Some actual game shots:
Joba Chamberlain and NY/NJ Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch, then fined Joba for throwing the actual first pitch one minute late.
More pics:
Juuuust a bit inside.
Later in the game, they showed HS kids drawings of Yankee players when it was their turn to bat:
Abreu - A-Rod - Giambi (mustachioed) - Cano - Cabrera
Ziggy pitching to Rodriguez in the 8th
Rivera coming in to pitch
Huston then did a nice copycat of Rivera's performance. Nothing noteworthy happened after that. Nope.
New Yankee Stadium
That night, I had dinner at the restaurant from Seinfeld. I was fairly disappointed when I realized the interior of this restaurant looked nothing like the one on the show. But still, good food.
SUNDAY:
After seeing the Statue of Liberty up close, I saw a cool little street show in Battery Park, where I got a couple cool pictures:
I had lunch at a nice little Irish pub on 55th st. I was actually trying to find Tuscany restaurant, based on a suggestion from a friend, but they were closed. The waitress I had was from Ireland and really cute. I really need to go there sometime.
Then, because I wanted to get it out of the way, I went to see Shea Stadium and was surprised to find out they didn't give tours. Anyway, I went into the team store, bought a Mr. Met doll so I could have something from Shea to take back, and took pictures around the stadiums.
It wasn't as bad as John Rocker said it was, but it was sketchier than Manhattan-based trains.
Shea Stadium:
Shea Stadium next to Citi Field:
After Shea, I went to Serendipity on the recommendation of BobbyCrosbysGirl. The frozen hot chocolate (I had the peanut butter chocolate kind) was to die for. Easily one of the tastiest desserts I've ever had, and I've had a few. Made better by the fact that it was about 300 degrees outside (thanks to the humidity). If you go to New York City, you've got to try it.
That's about it. Sunday night was spent seeing The Dark Knight (AWESOME flick, even if you aren't really into Batman, which I wasn't) and walking around East Village.
If you haven't gone to NYC, go sometime. It's a very expensive city, but once you get past the touristy stuff, you start to really fall in love with it. I can't wait to go back someday.
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Nice stuff
Liked seeing some of the non-baseball shots too.
Too bad the A’s couldn’t get a win for you, but I haven’t had much luck seeing them win when I’ve been out of town either: swept in Seattle (3 games, but they’d clinched the division already), 2 losses in St. Louis, lost 2 of 3 in Wrigley, and lost 2 of 3 in San Diego and I couldn’t stick around for the entire game they won (think it went 15 and I left around the 10th after 4 PM because I had to get home in time for work the next day and I didn’t want to be entirely dead).
I never did get out to Yankee or Shea Stadium even when I lived in New Jersey for a few years in the 90s.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on
Jul 22, 2008 10:56 PM PDT
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Very nice! Thanks and rec'd.
You prefer a magic trick, instead? Watch me make this pencil disappear.
by Swooney's Left Foot on
Jul 22, 2008 11:15 PM PDT
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The fact that they're so everything and so
unique in a manner that transcends them trying to be unique makes me so…angry. I hate the Yankees. Nice blog, though. They are great. It’s incredible. Screw them.
I think we should throw (Barton) head first, into a pool with no water, screaming, "You like THAT? Huh, kid, do you like THAT?" Maybe that’s just the Marine in me, though. -Nico
For the record, I’ve never had a Marine in me. -Swooney's Left Foot
by Leopold Bloom on
Jul 22, 2008 11:34 PM PDT
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I suppose it's a function of being the premier team
of the national sport in the premier city of the world. They would be unique even if they didn’t crave it.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on
Jul 23, 2008 12:02 AM PDT
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Going to the stadium made me hate the Yankee fans less.
They sit through that Gawdawful heat with smiles in their faces watching the team they love. We bitch and moan at the Coli whenever the weather takes a turn. Kudos to the fans of the Yankees .
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 23, 2008 10:08 AM PDT
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Great diary!
Sounds like you got to see a lot in a short time :)
There's no textbook for how to treat a geriatric tapir.
by Poppy on
Jul 23, 2008 10:01 AM PDT
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We went to New York for the games too.
The Yankee fans seemed friendly and polite. Some of the young men sitting in our tier told me they only hassle REdSox fans. There were a few commnets made but there are a few jerks in every crowd. We get them at the Coli too.
Friday’s game was hard for me to focus on. We had been waiting for 2 hours to see monument park(which they decided arbitrarily to hold upon our line and so we were not able to get in) So we were all kinda dehydrated and it was the kind of game that you just wanted to forget anyway.
Saturday was much better and yet the result was a downer. When Street came in I just knew he’d blow it. We met up that day with some online friends from around the country and I was so hoping the A’s would win. I tried talking about rebuilding and they kept saying things like “You guys have been rebuilding for years” So all of my jeering came from my own friends. Good Nautred jeering of course.
I had a great time in NY though, 3 of the nights we closed up the bars. The bars close at 4 AM and for me that’s a feat.
We saw a lot of touristy things in NY. We went to the Met, the Tenament museum, Central Park, Harlem(Langston Hughes House,The Apollo, Marcus Garvery Park etc),Top of the Rock, Empire State building, Radio City Music Hall, and two Broadway musicals. (Young Frankenstein,and a Chorus Line). Busy week!
by IM4Oakgal on
Jul 23, 2008 10:01 AM PDT
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I went there last year
and was absolutely floored by the kindness of the Yankee fans and the Yankee Stadium workers. I waited in a huge line to get in only to get to the gate and realize that I couldn’t bring in a backpack. I had to go down the street and check it in. Then when I went back to the line, the workers remembered me and let me go to the front of the line.
The fans are NOTHING like the Yankees fans that go to Oakland.
Also the “roll call” in the first inning is a great baseball tradition in my opinion.
Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless
by Travis Buck Nuckin on
Jul 23, 2008 9:02 PM PDT
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NYC is pretty cool
And we New Yorkers (I guess I count myself as one now after 17 years) are generally pretty nice and helpful. Maybe because most of us aren’t from here. Where did you get your pizza? Wished you could have been up at the Greatest Bar on Earth, in the WTC. That view was amazing. And on a windy day, you could feel the building sway.
The 7 train to Shea doesn’t have a lot going for it save the diversity of languages spoken on it. But the people can’t understand each other, so it morphs into a mild chaos of communication.
I went to the game Sunday, and was happy to see a good number of us sporting the green and gold. The sweep sucked.
Did you know that the Yankees have won 21 out of their 26 World Championships under Democratic Presidential administrations?
by brothersky on
Jul 24, 2008 10:27 AM PDT
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