Friday Shorts:
-NYC was awesome, great to be back after a 2 year hiatus, after going 2-3x a year for nearly a decade. I mean, I just worship the place.
-The amount of 'for lease' storefronts and closed businesses was pretty staggering overall...I mean, I saw 2 separate shuttered Starbucks in prime areas that were 'For Lease' -- didn't even know such a thing was possible.
-The Covid-fear spectrum was pretty wide. I'd say 25% were complete psychos about it, 25% couldn't have cared less, and 50% were in the middle & at the minimum abiding "for show". I'm 100% pro-vax, but firmly against mandates (of any kind)...that being said, not having to mask indoors due to said mandates was pretty nice. Flash your card like an ID, and you were good to go.
-Weather was just ridiculous. 60-70 & Sunny basically all 4 days. Actually wished it to have been a little cooler, but hard to complain.
-Spent Saturday watching Breeder's Cup at Mercury Bar. Got washed all day, then hit the All Turf P4, followed by $300 win on Knicks Go for a nice +$1000 over the last 2 races. Straight from there to the UT game at Demsey's...ugh.
-Chicago for Theater Night, preceded by Aria Wine Bar in Hell's Kitchen. Both were great.
-Wolfgang's was the dinner highlight, Monday with WWH & AP.com. Never made the effort to get into Luger, but aside from the History of the place, it's impossible to imagine it being any better. Followed that up w/ some sick Rooftop Bar overlooking the Empire St Building. '230 5th rooftop' or something...great spot.
-Spent Monday down in Tribeca/Soho/Village alternating shopping, cafes, and bars...ended up buying a pair of Jeans from Rupp Arena DJ Warren Peace's brother. #SmallWorld
-I could live off of NYC Bodega/Deli food only, and be perfectly happy. Those suckers are every 50 feet, and pretty much all of them bang, especially for a quick breakfast. My usual one has a Chopped Cheese/BaconEggCheese on roll combo sandwich that's just absolutely ridiculous.
-Tuesday was spent uptown, Central Park, Brunch at Sarabeths...which is always a winner.
-Nothing beats The Garden. Never met a sports fan who's first trip in there didn't leave them speechless. It's really impossible to describe. I know he hates the neutrals overall, but happy SAE 'gets' it now, at least w/ regard to making UK games there a priority, while also having an easy excuse to visit the city along with it. Simply a no-brainer if you can swing it. JMO
^ Fun hanging out w/ SAE, Bellydancer, Tommy, Legal, Harris, Bayens, and others in different capacities over the 4.5 days we were there.
-Far from perfect, but hard to understate how much better the LGA upgrades make the return home. I mean, at least you don't feel like you're legit in some kind of prison.
-The Game? I was livid during, as I always am, but I guess I just don't share all the uber-negative sentiment. I think we're going to be really good. You can appreciate our fight to stay in a game where we just didn't have it, without thinking that's the "new bar" for success at Kentucky, as some of you are suggesting acknowledging that means.
Our star played horribly (in his first game), we didn't shoot it, their stars had A++ games, and we still had a chance to win. If you're making season conclusions after losing to a Top 5 team on Nov 9th, I don't know what to tell you.
...TyTy will be great, I have little-to-no doubt about that. Again, jumping the gun on him is pretty silly - feel free to take a look at some of your Favorite's Champions Classic debuts below.
-Go Cats
