Dec 27, 2011

Kate and I went up the Turnpike in the AM after the other two folks who were going to join us decided not to go. We went to Penn Station and into New York, heading for Jamba Juice immediately.

I formed a plan, but most of it was outdoors and it started to rain. I didn't have any backup ideas so we went to Strawberry Fields first and then ducked into a Starbucks to try to come up with something else to do.

We found a bar called Fontana's that only had one other patron and plenty of good beer to choose from. Kate forgot her ID so she could only try mine.

The Peak Organic IPA was amazing. The Fire Island Lighthouse Ale was also a really good beer from nearby. We stayed there for quite some time talking until we were hungry.

We made our way down the street to The Meatball Shop and had to stand, dripping, in the corner until at table opened for us. Even the few blocks' walk had us completely soaked. Dinner was amazing though. I got chicken meatballs over a plate of veggies with parmesan cream sauce. So good.

Another walk through the rain took us to Rice to Riches and we got a couple of flavors, including Eggnog. They were both great but very rich. We got the medium size, which was too much. We finished eating it on the train once we got back to Penn Station.

The drive home was long, but the day was a lot of fun despite the rainy weather. Kate didn't get to see the tree this time, but there's always next year.

Feb 20, 2011

Alex and I were ready pretty close to when we hoped to leave for New York. We drove up to the train station in Newark and took the train over and went right to B & H Photo. We browsed things for a while and then I went to the counter to make my purchase. I ordered the Canon 60D. It's so pretty. It's much cheaper if I get it shipped to myself though so I did that.

Nathan met up with us and, after looking at some more things at B & H, we walked toward the Chelsea galleries to a place Jenn suggested to us. We found it well-marked.

When we got inside, we were surprised to find a large trade show instead of an art gallery. We came in anyway and looked around. We got necklaces that allowed us to visit all the floors of the show. Alex was having a great time checking out all the new fashion that the vendors were trying to sell to retailers.. not to mention getting all the free business cards, brochures and catalogs that anyone would give her.

I wasn't really into the clothes, but there were quite a few really awesome jewelers there. I really like unique jewelry, like these rings made from old metal type. There were a lot of really great things there that I would like to have but they weren't for sale to individual buyers.

We checked out the next two floors up, which were exactly the same as the first one with more vendors and then we headed out. I got stuck behind a girl in precariously high heels who was texting while walking down the stairs after I took this pictures. It took a while.

We looked around for more galleries and ended up in this place, which looks really creepy now that I look back. It was another clothing store with a really strange layout and interesting clothing and people. We obviously did not belong there so we made a lap and then swiftly exited.

We found the entrance to High Line Park, which is on an old elevated train platform and is now used as a walkway/park. It will be nicer when it's warm and the plants are alive. It is a nice view of the city from up there though.

We made our way to The Meatball Shop and decided to dine outside to avoid waiting an hour to be seated. It wasn't that bad out there. You use a dry erase marker to mark your order on the menu. It was a cool little place.

I got a veggie meatball sandwich with Parmesan sauce. It was really amazing. Nate's and Alex's food looked really good as well. I'm glad we decided to eat there.

Since we weren't too far away, we decided to go over to Rice to Riches and get some rice pudding. I got almond and some chocolatey chocolate one. Alex and I split this big one, but it was still too huge to finish. Should have gotten the small one. At least Alex knows she like rice pudding now!

Since it was pretty cold and we didn't have anything else specific to do we headed back to the subway to go home. I took an obligatory photo of the skyline before we descended.

Before leaving Newark, we went to Pizzatown, Alex's family's pizza shop. Her dad made us a couple of slices to try out. It was really good, especially the Sicilian. We hung out there for a while and her mom showed up. After hanging out talking for a while we headed back to the Turnpike.

We got home much faster than Alex's mom thought we would. It was a tiring day so I was ready to get to sleep when I got back.

Oct 25, 2009

I needed to take some photos for my assignment in the morning so I lit some candles and put them on my pumpkin pie. I was going for the idea of remembering birthdays but only having a fuzzy view of what happened since you were focused on the cake, blowing out the candles so you could open your presents.

I met Katie and Chuck at Kawa for sushi lunch. Their rolls are really big and really good. Nicely presented also. Sushi is always a good choice.

After lunch, Chuck and I left, picked up Joanna at Rowan and made our way to the PATH station in Jersey City. I took the wrong exit so I had to try to find a new way and then ended up getting back on the Turnpike to take the right exit after all. We got there and hopped aboard a train. Actually we had to wait and it seemed even longer because I had to use the bathroom.

When we got to Manhattan, we found the nearest restrooms and then debated subway options only to walk all the way to the Bowery Ballroom anyway. It wasn't really that far. Once we knew where we were going, we walked down the road and Joanna chose a street to walk down that turned out to be the best. We ate at Gatsby's, a bar/restaurant with the best veggie burger I've ever had. It was made in-house with couscous and other secret ingredients. Delicious.

We saw this place on the way down the street and knew we had to save room for it.

It's a brilliant idea, it's all rice pudding, all the time. It's like Cold Stone with rice pudding. They had about twenty different flavors. The design of the place was great too, very modern with really funny quotes all over the place, like the one pictured above the bowls: "Eat all you want, you're already fat!"

We went cost-effective and split the "double" size with two flavors. The season pumpkin and almond. The pumpkin tasted just like pumpkin pie filling. The almond was amazingly good. I want more.

We hung out in there for a while, making Chuck wonder how long it could take two people to finish some rice pudding. Maybe it was because of the pictures... Sorry, Chuckles.

We went back to the Bowery Ballroom after eating and found our way through the maze and up to the main stage area. It was a really nice looking place. We found a "private" area upstairs. It was a little room with seats around the outside with a curtain as a door.

We hung out there for the first band, it was pretty comfortable. I took some photos out the window to hopefully use for class. Omari and his friend, Tim, showed up and hung out in there with us for a while as well.

Soon, it was time for Far. Their first tour since they got back together. They played a good set and I was surprised at how much I knew. It was really awesome to see Jonah playing some loud, angry music. I love his acoustic stuff as well but it was just a cool change.

Geoff came out to sing with them during "Mother Mary." They all looked like they were having a lot of fun and everyone in the crowd loved it as well.

It wasn't long before Thursday took the stage opening with their intro from Full Collapse and right into "Understanding.." to start off the full-album show. I was right up front for the first couple of songs but then I resumed my position a little farther back.

They played through the entire album, some songs that they hadn't played in many years according to them. And it turns out they hate the song "Wind Up." Everyone else loved it though and even Geoff said that it was fun to play.

After they left the stage once the album was over they came back out to play an encore of six songs. They played some newer songs and Jet Black New Year, of course.

They closed with "War All The Time", which I haven't heard them play in a really long time. I wish I saw that full album show. Maybe they'll do it again some time.

We walked back to the train and looked at the pictures I got. It was a pretty quick drive back home and then time for sleep and not taking a job for the morning.