Day 1-2: NYC

We arrived in Newark Airport right on time (11:30PM local time). We gathered up our single checked bag and took a taxi ($76) to our hotel in the Upper East Side. We got in around 12:30AM so decided to go ahead and unpack and call it a night.

We woke up the next morning (7/4, USA! USA!) at around 10AM. Performed the 3 S's, packed lightly for our day and headed out to the 59th street (and Lexington) train stop. Hopped on the 4 train to Yankee Stadium. Apparently the rest of New York was also going to the game because it was shoulder-to-shoulder standing room only. Very exciting.

We wandered around the stadium, took some nice photos and got a feel for the land. Trying to go into the game we were stopped by the 'security' because our camera bag had a shoulder strap qualifying it as a 'backpack'. Fuck. So we had to go check our bag at a nearby bowling alley for $5. better than losing our $100 bag I guess. So we carried in the D40 and extra 200mm lens in a clear plastic bag (gayness). The weather was quite pleasant if overcast. Probably about 83F and slightly humid (65%).

Our seats for the game were slightly to the 3rd base side of right behind home plate, way up in the cheap seats. We actually had a really excellent view of the game and had a really great time...until the skies opened up. We had very steady rain fall right at the end of the 7th inning. The attendees that were not under an overhang scattered like cockroaches when the light comes on, seeking some shelter. Many of us pulled out waterproof jackets/parkas and umbrellas. The game continued during the drizzle and the grounds crew came out after the 7th inning and dropped probably 20 bags of quick-dry. The 8th inning started, but was quickly delayed once Alex Rodriguez made a throwing error from 3rd. CONSPIRACY. The game was on delay so we sorta hung out for a little while. The rain was not letting up so around 5:30PM we finally bailed on the game (it started at 1:05!).

We took the train back to the hotel and freshened up, then headed immediately back out to meet up with our friends in Brooklyn. We met up with them at Brighton Beach on the boardwalk, and grabbed ourselves a table at Tatiana's (Russian restaurant) overlooking the water. Good company and good food followed. From what I can recall, we ate: A house salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce), a Rockefeller salad (spinach, mozzarella, blue cheese, tomatoes), escargot, smoked herring (quite salty) with boiled potatoes, borscht, mozzarella mushrooms, chicken Kiev (with a handle!), baked sole, and Russian crepes. Unbelievable. I'll attach some photos as soon as I have enough time (not now, bitches).

Afterward we went to our friend's place right across from Astroland on Coney Island and hung out for a bit (in the ghetto ;)). Afterward we took a car service the long way back from Brooklyn to the hotel, got in around 1:30AM and in bed shortly thereafter.

Today the plan is to go grab some lovely brunch, go to a museum or two, take a stroll through Central Park and then come back to prepare for our 9PM dinner reservation at STK. Peace.