A Whirlwind Trip to NYC

How weird is it to wake up on Thursday in Chicago and have lunch in New York? About as weird as waking up on Friday in New York and having lunch in Chicago. It was that kind of trip.

I woke up at 5 in Chicago to take two trains to O'hare. By noon I had landed at La Guardia and by one I was checking in to the W hotel in Manhattan (Union Square location).

But one of the best parts of the trip was flying in. I thought that I had heard in some 9/11 coverage that planes aren't allowed anywhere near Manhattan...well, we didn't fly over it per se, but we fly along side of it, traveling north over the Hudson River. And the first sign that I knew that I was looking at Manhattan was seeing Ground Zero. It's a lot bigger than I thought it was, and was shocking to see from above.

But before I had time to dwell on it, I was passing Madison Square Garden. And then the Empire State Building. And then Central Park and then Yankee Stadium. The whole island was beautiful and I was glad that I was seated on the right side window, so I could take advantage of the eastern view.

I checked into the W and the rate was 409. Per night. With taxes and everything it was 475. Are you kidding me? I'm glad I wasn't paying for it.

After checking in I went straight to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. (Full review here.)

And then I checked out the alli experience, the reason I was there. 

It was cool to see some of my headlines out in the wild. 

Now it was 2pm and I was stuffed. The only thing I had really researched was restaurants, so I wasn't sure what to do. I decided that even though it was really far, I should start walking towards Ground Zero. I had the time.

So I made my way down to the Financial District, via NYU's campus/Washington Square Park. 

And it didn't feel like it was that far getting down there. (Turns out it's 2.1 miles from the hotel.) And when I finally got there, I was expecting some big emotions. But all it is...is a construction site. 

There's no way to feel what happened. If you didn't know, you just wouldn't know. The whole thing just felt empty. And that's what was the most depressing--that there weren't any emotions to feel.

So I took some pictures and made my way back north taking Broadway this time. It felt a lot farther coming back. But I made it and was back in my room by 5:30.

Later on, I met up with some coworkers for drinks in the hotel bar. I ordered a Whisky Sour. The 4 drinks came to a total of, wait for it, $47. Um...yeah.

So we went out for dinner at 10pm to a Cuban restaurant, Havana Alma de Cuba. I ordered the roasted suckling pig and had unlimited Sangria. Again I'm glad that I wasn't paying for it, between the 15 people at the table, the appetizers, entrees, desserts, and pitchers of mojitos that were going down, the bill was probably close to $1000.

Anyways, I ended up back in the hotel around 2am, just in time to wake up at 7 for my flight. So yeah. New York.

Review: Mesa Grill, New York City

After watching Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America and Throwdown, I've been looking forward to the day when I could visit one of his restaurants. So as soon as I got to Manhattan, I was headed for lunch at Mesa Grill on 5th Avenue. I'll be using the Iron Chef judging scale (10 for taste, 5 for plating, 5 for originality)



I started with an appetizer: Goat Cheese "Queso Fundido" with rajas and blue corn tortilla strips. (10.50)


My first impression was that it seemed small, but it was surprisingly filling. The cheese was incredible, and the dish was deep enough that I felt like there was more than enough cheese.

Taste: 10
Plating: 5
Originality: 5

The appetizer was perfect and beautifully set. Also, goat cheese in a southwestern dip? Very original. A perfect 20 out of 20.



For my main course, I ordered the Mesa Burger with Southwestern Fries. The burger comes standard with double cheddar, grilled vidalia onion, and horseradish mustard. (14.50)


I ordered the burger medium, and it was cooked perfectly. Great tasting beef and again top quality cheese. The bun didn't fit the burger and was too stiff. The bun starting falling apart right away.

The fries were heavily seasoned, almost too much, but not quite. And there was fresh cilantro chopped on the fries, giving them a special taste. But the fries were not very crispy.

Taste: 9
Plating: 5
Originality: 4

All the flavors were wonderful but with mushy fries and a stiff bun, I couldn't give him a perfect score on taste. The presentation was again wonderful with the use of a cast iron crock for the fries, matching the cheese dip. The cilantro was a unique touch on the fries, but there was nothing out of the ordinary on the burger. 18 out of 20.

Which brings the total score to 38 out of 40.

It was a pleasure eating there and I wouldn't hesitate to go back or try a different one of his restaurants.

Memorial Day 2007: A Trip to Wrigley Field

Last year, Brittany and I went to see the White Sox host the Royals. Well, this year I won tickets to the Memorial Day game between the Cubs and Marlins, and we were sitting a couple rows from the visiting bullpen.



I gotta say, I liked Wrigley a whole lot more than the Cell. It was cool, yet full of historic charm, the scoreboard is fantastic. Too bad they have such crappy fans and crappy players.

actual hobbies

I guess they've been there for a while, but as part of The Renaissance of Dave Fymbo®, I now have legitimate hobbies. I mean, if a year ago someone asked if I had any hobbies, I would have stammered around like an idiot and probably wrote down tv or something stupid.

But now I feel like I have a bunch of things that I enjoy:

writing
music
photography
cooking

I especially enjoy photography of my cooking, but that doesn't meant that I'm going to start writing music. I published a collection of short stories, I'm converting back to CD's from digital music files, I've been cooking new healthy dishes and I've got some photography projects lined up in my head. Hopefully I'll get some good shots in New York.

dave takes manhattan

I'm off--bright and early--tomorrow morning for a 24-hour trip to New York City. It's my first business trip, hopefully everything works out. (I've been hoping that our softball game on Thursday would get rained out since I can't be there, and according to the forecast, it looks like I'll get my wish.)

I also wish I had more time to be there to see the sights, and eat the eats, but it's not up to me. (The last time I was there was the summer of '99)

Anyways, this is what I'm there to see, a pop-up retail that I helped create:

Forty Fucking Pounds

(click on the pictures or graph to enlarge)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

To see how I did it, click here: foodasfuel™, and scroll to the bottom, then read your way up.

Softball 2007: Game Two

I was a little disappointed to see that I would not be the starting pitcher for week two. In order to get playing time for everyone, most people only get to play 3 and 1/2 innings. (I had assumed that I was going to be pitching every inning this year, and was looking forward to the extra at bats, but I might have to share the mound.)

We were the home team, facing the defending champions from the last two years. We knew even with a good team we had our work cut out for us. By the time I entered the game, in the bottom of the fourth, we were losing 10-2.



Batting Stats for Week Two:
1st AB: 1B
2nd AB: 1B

Average: 1.000
Slugging: 1.000
0 runs scored, 0 rbi

Pitching Stats for Week Two:
3 innings pitched
2 earned runs
1 K
0 BB

ERA: 4.66
no decision


Batting Stats on the Season:
3/5: 2 singles, 1 double. 2 runs scored, 0 rbi.
Average: .600
Slugging: .800

Pitching Stats on the Season:
8 innings pitched
8 earned runs
2 K
0 BB

ERA: 7.00
1-0 record


Our opponent has won the league two year straight for a reason, but I was proud of our team. We played hard, and it got a little chippy out there. We had a good rally in the 7th and I think we made them sweat a little out there.

And over the last 3 innings (when I was in the game) we outscored them 4-2. So there's nothing to be upset about.

I'm scheduled to be in New York on business next Thursday, so hopefully it rains so I don't have to miss a game.

Team Record: 1-1

Afternoon Scene: 311

What can I say about 311? They've been my favorite band, my only favorite band, ever since I got into music. For the last 10 years, I've been listening to them, watching them evolve their sound, not improving or getting worse, just staying excellent and making different styles of music.

And they are known for being a stellar live band. I've seen them 3 times and they always play long shows, and stick around for the fans after. And since 2000, every other year on March 11th, they have a special 3-11 day concert that lasts about 5 hours.

The one thing that's kind of funny, is for how much I love their CD's, their videos were always sort of lacking. Sort of weird, whatever. Anyways, they've produced 8 official albums, they've got 5 guys, and they're originally from Omaha.

If you're only going to watch one clip, watch this live video from March 11, 2004 in New Orleans, particularly from 3:17 remaining on.
"Applied Science" (live)


"Prisoner"


"Beyond the Gray Sky"


"Down, Frolic Room, Don't Tread on Me, Solar Flare, and Amber" (live)

Pop Quiz: Who is the Hottest Team in Baseball?

Right now, the morning of May 24th, what team has done the best over the last 10 games?

The Mets? The Angels? The Padres?

Hmmm....

It must be ... The Kansas City Royals!

On an 8-2 tear, no one is hotter than KC. Watch out!

/sarcasm.

ESPN Has No Idea What The Public Wants

I know it's cliche to complain about ESPN, and I usually find myself defending them...but it's clear that just because they're the only fish in the sea, doesn't mean they make good decisions.

They hired Keyshawn Johnson to replace Michael Irvin. They finally get rid of Irvin and then they go and hire another idiot who no one want to hear talk. Why don't they just come out with ESPN 3: The Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith channel, while they're at it.

The funny thing is that they referred to it as a "substantial offer...a multi-year contract" and that Johnson said at least six teams were interested in him. So it sounds like ESPN went out and recruited him and that influenced his retirement.

To paraphrase from Arrested Development, "him?"

ESPN Motion Can Suck My C***

So watching SportsCenter highlights during Mike & Mike, I saw an interesting clip from a Royals game.

I'm reading the play-by-play now to find out that the situation was 2 outs, 2 guys in scoring position for the Royals, down by 3 in the first. Brown hits a hot grounder down the first-base line and the Indian first baseman makes a diving stop behind the bag to catch it. But his pitcher is not covering first base, so Brown will make it to first, and the run will score. He tries throwing it hard to home, but I think the ball hits Brown as he approaches first.

It was a neat play, and a crucial one, as the Royals would get 2 in that inning, where it could have been zero. So I'd love to really be able to watch it and see what happened...

Then I get to work, load Deadspin, and find out there was a crazy blown rundown in the Orioles-Blue Jays game.

So I thought to myself, I'd love to see both of these plays...why don't I go over to ESPN Motion and watch some highlights.

So what do they have as their baseball videos for today?

• Clemens Makes 2nd Minor League Start
• Clemens Confident After Minors Start
• Pettitte, Yankees Top Red Sox 8-3
• A's Blank White Sox in Chicago
• Mets Shut Out Division Rival Braves
• Tigers Hold On With Solid Offense
• Benches Clear, But No Brawl in L.A.
• Great Defense Not Enough For Cubs
• Is Clemens Ready for the Major League?

So of their 9 videos, 3 of them are covering Clemens, as if the entire baseball population really gives a shit about how Roger is making his way through the minors. Fuck him and fuck ESPN Motion too.

Don't Let Your Kids Become EMO!

Live Blog: UEFA Champions Final

45th Minute: Goal by AC Milan
82nd Minute: Goal by AC Milan
89th Minute: Goal by Liverpool

Afternoon Scene: Brand New

I was almost shocked that I hadn't covered Brand New already, one of my current favorites. They're from Long Island and they have a rivalry with Taking Back Sunday.



This video was made by a fan, and the video retells the origin of the rivalry with TBS. (Red = Brand New, Green = TBS) This is also the song that is the final song in my running routine, and I know when i get to the part with :44 remaining that I've made it. I love that part.

"Seventy Times 7"


"Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades"


"The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows"




Another fan made video, this one kind of sucks. But the last 1:30 of the song is fantastic anyways.
"Okay I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't"

Gut Reaction to Lottery

The funny thing about the Lottery, specifically from say the Celtics perspective...they had less than 50% odds of getting one of the top 2 picks. Even though they had better odds that most of the other individual teams, versus the field, they were expected NOT to get Oden/Durant.

So both top picks are going to sucky, unremarkable teams in the West. Even with some young talent, are the Blazers really going to contend anytime soon with the Spurs, Mavs, Suns, Jazz, Rockets, Warriors, Nuggets, Lakers?

I mean the Wolves have a dominant franchise player, and not much has happenned there. The Rockets have 2 and haven't gotten out of the first round. So why should we believe the Blazers or Sonics will become the cream of the West?

That line of thinking got me thinking about LeBron. Perhaps he hasn't been the next Jordan yet, but he's turned around a franchise, essentially single-handedly. Getting his team to a better record than Kobe's team, Iverson's team, Garnett's team. Is it possible that LeBron is underrated? Perhaps not, just because he's already rated so highly, but it's something to consider.

Also, it's pretty funny that Simmons has made me care so much about the lottery, and it blows up in his face. I can't wait to read some of his columns or hear his next podcast.