Recently in Red Sox Category

I checked out Shea Stadium last night, for me the first & only time (unless I come back in the summer which I would say is fairly unlikely due to work load). I can see why the Mets want a new park, though I will observe that there were next to no concession lines, and the team store was stocked full of goodies. Lerners, please take note.

Tonight was Yankees versus Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. I knew I was entering hostile territory, but I did not recognize just how much every stereotype Yankees fans have are true. They are obnoxious, rude, self-important, and needlessly petty. The Mets fans I met at Shea were polite, funny, knowledgeable about baseball, and very good spirited. Sure they made comments about my Nats jersey, but they were kind-hearted. The Yankees fans, on the other hand, were just rude and crass. While it may be true there is not the same level of rivalry between the two teams, I legitimately felt threatened by the Yankees fans for where my Sox jersey while I felt welcome at Shea Stadium. Add in the fact that Yankee Stadium itself is old, and the lines were atrocious - and while it was still an enjoyable evening, it was far less relaxing. Without a doubt, should I ever move to New York - the Mets will be my team. In fact, I will cheer for them gladly should they be playing teams that aren't the Red Sox or the Nationals. I would have pictures, but Flickr is being temperamental.

On the non baseball front, I had lunch today with an old friend from the Kerry campaign - which was absolutely delightful. We then went up to the MoMA, which was quite fun. My favorite modern art museum remains the Tate Modern in London, but the MoMA has a great selection of Rothkos, Duschamps, Picassos, and Pollocks - how can one argue with that?

I also finally went to the Empire State Building - what I thought would be a quick trip up to the top. Sadly, they have you wind through line after line. The observation deck itself was lovely, with great views of NYC. But it was hardly work the headache involved with getting there. Do I REALLY have to go through the damn gift shop just to get to the exit elevators?

I do love the fact that I have been asked for directions while I'm here - I blend in fairly well with the locals, it would seem. And I feel that I have mastered the New York City Subway - a much more difficult task than mastering the Washington Metro. But the Metro is definitely grander, and cleaner. But would I trade that for some Express tracks? Without a doubt.

There's a HBO store on 6th Avenue in Midtown. I dropped in, and sure enough - they had John Adams merch. After my triumphant 5 second performance in the film, I felt I had to pick up a mug. I almost bought a Frak/Battlestar Galactica mug at the NBC store - but I thought that was sillier.

I know, I know - I haven't been updating much. Leaving all ten of you readers vaguely missing something...

I'm heading up to New York for a short vacation - needed to get away to do something relaxing. So I figure that I'd go to Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium while I still had a chance, and both the Nationals and the Red Sox are in the city. Tonight is Mets versus Nationals - should be a fun game. I'm sure I'll be one of the few wearing a Nationals jersey while I'm there. Tomorrow is the Sox game - hopefully I won't get beat up for wearing my Red Sox jersey.

This is my first try at the inter-city buses - thus far I'm fairly impressed - it's comfortable, and we seem to be making decent time. And there's electrical outlets and wifi (obviously). Now if Amtrak could just begin offering interwub on their trains...

I'll try to remember to post some more from the city.

Awesome.  Just plain awesome.

Though I wish I could've been back at Stetsons (or in Boston) for the clinch, I'll take what I got.  12:30 AM text messages to all my Sox-fan friends saying "LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER!  WOOOOO!!!!!"  Responses from, "If only I had bought furniture at Jordans!" to "Yahtzee!" to "Boston you're my home!!!!" 

In completely unrelated matters, I voted today.  There is a competitive house race in my district, so I voted against the Republican trying to take the seat from the Independent.  The Senate race had an unopposed Republican incumbent.  So whom do I vote for?

Unfortunately, the write-in box would only let me enter a name of 20 characters or less.  So Julius Weinstein Sager had to be shortened to Julius Sager.  C'est la vie.  State Senator Julius Sager will vote in favor of canine outreach programs, and dog-park legislation.  He also may chase any squirrels that choose to reside in Capitol Square.

Last night I watched Game 3 of the World Series at the notorious Democratic and Red Sox hangout, Stetsons.  Stetsons has long been a Washington favorite of mine - good beer, fun atmosphere, and cheap food. 

After a long day of apartment hunting, I had a few hours to kill before the game (all the apartment offices were closed at this point).  I thought about going back out to VA, but it seemed silly to go out of the city just to return an hour later.  So I stopped off at the National Museum of American Art and National Portrait Gallery.  Aside from the preamble written in license plates to the right, the highlight of the museum for me was a video display that including Brian Williams describing the absurdity of Burt the Turtle and Duck and Cover.

I was also amazed to find
an art installation using Vari*Lites!   For those of you don't know, I used to work in stage production.  VLs (as they are known) are my favorite kind of moving light - they're graceful and bright.  See below the grainy shot of the VL5s hanging in the museum (I didn't see where their Smart Repeater was...)


Following that brief sojourn, it was off to Stetsons!  As soon as I walked into the bar, I knew I was in the right place as I got cheers and applause for walking in wearing a Sox hat.  Suddenly, I regretted not bringing my jersey with me.  As we got closer to the game, more and more Sox fans poured into the place giving it an absolutely Fenway-like atmosphere.  People would walk in, see everyone with Boston gear on, and turn around and walk out.  The place roared at every Sox hit.  Pandemonium took over when Daisuke Matsuzaka got his first major league hit, a 2 RBI single!  And the bar grew quiet during the Rockies 6th inning rally, only to grow loud again when the Sox brought the score back up. 

I found myself in a conversation with the people who were sitting next to me - turns out they too work in the political realm, and we quickly discovered we had many mutual friends.  It was a bit of the ol' Jewish Geography, Workplace Geography, and since it was a Sox game - Newton Mass geography (Waban??  No way!).  I even got into a conversation over whether or not the Star Market in Fenway was now a Shaws.  This disturbs me, as I have not actually lived in Boston - rather my parents did & grandparents did.  And yet, I can talk about local grocery stores.