Trend spotting

I've seen 2 men wearing running shoes with their suits and one guy in a suit and flip flops in the last 2 weeks. What is going on? Are boys catching on to the comfy shoe trend that girls have been observing since the 80s?

Girls somehow make it work, but guys, I don't know.

Thoughts?

Bronx Zoo

As today is Wednesday, let me issue a warning... NEVER go to the Bronx Zoo on a Wednesday! Matt and I went last week after the Yankee tour. We knew that Wednesday was "pay what you want" day, but it never dawned on us (geniuses that we are) that "pay what you want" meant free, in practice. We think it was quite possible that every single NYC parent with a stroller was at the zoo. And, in general, people's behavior left a lot to be desired-- Matt got rammed by a stroller...twice!

Rant done. Now for the positive...the zoo was beautiful, one of the nicest I've ever been to! And I commend the zoo that it opens up to everyone once a week as the $15/person admission would be steep for a whole family. We saw the giraffes, sea lions, bald eagle, bison and zebras.

I will definitely be back to see the tigers and gorillas (line was too long to get into the exhibit)...just not on a Wednesday:-)

Let's Play Ball

We finally made it to the Yankee Stadium tour last week and it was definitely worth it! It was fun seeing the stadium and fun seeing Matt see the stadium:-)



Before you go in, it is made clear that you aren't allowed to walk on the field, pick the grass, smell the grass, lay on the grass...guess we were lucky to be able to see the grass at all. You also aren't allowed to take pictures in the clubhouse or jump against the outfield wall because the whole thing isn't padded. But other than those big rules, it really was a comprehensive and fun tour.

First stop was Monument Park.



Next, we walked around the field sat in the dugout.






The clubhouse was next, but as I said, no pictures allowed!!! But it was still interesting to see who kept their lockers clean, who had boxes of fan mail, and who is famous enough to get two lockers. (I will leave it to Matt to fill in the baseball names and technical details:-))

Finaly stop was the press booth. They have an awesome view! You could also see the Steinbrenner suite from here.



Our tour guide was great too. Not only did he have a killer NY accent, he looked just like "Cousin Timmy" in the double dip the chip episode of Seinfeld. I was just waiting for George to pop out of one of the executive offices! I was also amused that regardless of how obscure a question he asked, most of the tour group shot back the answer like he was asking what day of the week it was.

This is a definite must see for Yankees fans and anyone who likes NY history and culture (yes, it's definitely its own culture!)

IKEA

The Real World sighting was part of a larger visit to Red Hook last weekend. Stop #2 was the relatively new IKEA. Other than excruciatingly slow checkout lines, the crowds weren't too bad and it pretty much reminded me of all other IKEAs I've been too...right down to the lingonberry concentrate at the Swede Shop:-)



The store has done a great job with their part of the water front. Matt reports that these nifty GIANT lounge chairs are unique but not all that comfy.

Real World

The Real World is now taping in Brooklyn, Red Hook to be exact, and Matt and I had our first sighting of the new housemates this afternoon.

How did we know it was them? There were 8 of them. Plus, what other group of young adults is trailed by a camera crew as they walk towards Fairway grocery store? And who else would wear a dress and 4-inch heals for an afternoon stroll in Red Hook?

The group also looked slightly confused when they got to the end of the road. "What, we're at the river? There's no where else to go. What are we going to do now until it's time to make out with one another, fight or have a deep conversation?"


I couldn't get my camera out fast enough to catch the camera crew filming.



Here's where they are living.

Black Box

The "neon lights on Broadway" are not the theatre lights in the city. Shows don't always have elaborate backdrops and don't always live on 42nd Street. Sometimes they take place in black box theaters on 36th street.

Matt and I went to see a comedy performed as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival and were amazed and dazed. The theater reminded me of the stages that Jack from Will and Grace or Kramer and Mickey from Seinfeld performed on. While there was a prop or two, the focus of the play was unquestionably the actors. The importance of the interactions was heightened. An eyebrow raise or funny face meant so much more when there wasn't a backdrop to add to the moment. The play we saw was all the more impressive because there were only 2 actors and they each (a man and a woman) played 2 different rolls.

While I don't know that we are budding theater junkies, we were both tremendously impressed by the acting and felt that we had experienced something very New York!

My trip to Lonnggh Island... "bring a weapon"

A visit to NYC by my cousin Stephanie found me taking the Long Island Railroad to Great Neck last night to meet her for dinner. “What is the LIRR like,” I asked a native New Yorker?

“Bring a weapon,” he told me.

“WHAT?!”

“The crowd is much rougher than the Metro North crowd; they’re from Long Island, what would you expect. The track assignments are posted late. People run over old ladies with walkers. Old ladies hit you with their purses to get a set on the over crowded trains. Be prepared,” he said.

“Holy Cow!”

But I’m pleased to report that none of that came to fruition. With the exception of the 5 year-old boy practicing his armpit farts and Japanese next to me, the ride was uneventful and I had no problem at the station or getting a seat.

Of course it was wonderful to see (the now pregnant) Stephanie! We had a lovely dinner in the lovely town of Great Neck. As we both agreed, Great Neck is like Rochester or Birmingham but with a much higher percentage of funny accents and guidos. And there weren’t even that many guidos…just funny accents:-)

AAARRRRRRRR

While walking to Captain Carnivore's last week, I was drawn to the smell and then the sight of two women eating wings and blue cheese sauce out of a SUV. One was in the driver's seat while the other one was leaning on the window from outside. Matt's funniest food sighting involves people enjoying peel-and-eat shrimp on the subway, so I thought this was a close second in terms of funny food in funny places.

Anyway, the sight of chicken wings distracted me from what was lurking just ahead--4 boys, aged 8-12. I didn't think anything of it until one of them asked me what I thought was "do you have a Blow Pop for me?" Upon further reflection I realized the word "pop" was not in his question. Oh my!! As soon as that comment ended, the next youngest one came running towards me and yelled "AAAARRRRR" in my face. To which I yelled back, "AAAAARRRRRR" (hope I scared him!) As soon as that exchange ended, the smallest kid turned around and threatened to moon me!

They moved on, cracking up down the block, while I walked inside Matt's building with a look of stunned amusement on my face. Did that really happen? Yes it did! I'm still shaking my head in disbelief!