#013: U.S. OPEN

Goofy but still lookin good there, Roddick

Woah there, I have been away forever (nobody noticed). 

Well back back..wayyyy back in September, my boyfriend and I went to the U.S. Open. He's a huge tennis fan and was a ball boy in summers past, but this was my very first tennis match viewing experience. I was super excited! The area felt like a nice, enclosed tennis Disneyland of sorts and there was SUCH MUCH FOOD! Not to mention, alcoholic slushies wee!

liquor-ed up slush!

It was Roddick's very last match and I can't say I remember much of it. I think I was still too amazed at it all and got distracted by the courts, the lights, the amazing late summer night weather, the crowd. It was one of the most grown-up leisure activities I had the pleasure in participating in and I hope it won't be the last (polo match, anyone?). 

final snapshot before the match

#012: GOOGAMOOGA

The good but not great GOOGAMOOGA!

I was bummed when I discovered months beforehand that I would not be able to attend EDC thanks to working on Saturdays and having 2 finals following that weekend. So, I poured all my enthusiasm into getting free tickets for GoogaMooga. That didn't happen, but my good buddy Phil was able to score one and didn't need it and thus I inherited his.

Despite all the bitching about how crappy this event was, my friends and I had a good time there. Perhaps it's because we went on the 2nd day (Sunday) after they pretty much got internet tongue lashings from all the attendees who went on the previous day. I am a sucky photo taker (will be more aware of it starting my next post) so I only have one picture.

try and find your friends in that crowd+more with no  phone service. I did! go me.

My only gripe was that it was impossible to find the event. Prospect Park is not shaped logically like man-made Central Park is. It took me 30 minutes from the park entrance to find the event, without any signs or maps pointing to the existence of this event, and of course since phone service was lagging/non-existent, I couldn't Googlemap my way through the park.

Would I go again next year? Maybe. I mean, most of the vendors are places you can easily find at Madison Square eats or at their main storefronts around the city. Most noticeably, places like Baohaus, Russ&Daughters, Dirty Bird To Go, etc but it's a great novelty to find all of these places all in one hard-to-get-to park.

'Til next year!

Eat on,
-becky

#011: BIKING

You never really forget how to ride a bike!

Woah I've been away from this site forever. I'm an old fashioned kind of girl, so it will take me some time to get used to this new format.

Anyway, I'm half cheating with this one. I know how to ride a bike, so this isn't new for me, but I've never rented a bike to ride around the city before. It was such an awesome experience! Despite the LivingSocial deal offering a one hour bike rental and ice cream cone for $7 in Central Park (that's a weird combo..how does one eat ice cream while riding a bike?), I opted for a less touristy location at Bike Shop NY. It's located on West Street, across the street from the West Side Highway. I have to admit, I was really nervous to ride here...it's narrow, there's tons of pedestrians and bikes, and I was rusty (I haven't rode in half a year). But, after just 5 minutes back on the bike, I was a pro! We rode up the WSH until we reached the end of Riverside Drive Park. I felt so relaxed and fit 2.5 hours later! And it was cheap too! Once I passed Midtown, the ride was more scenic, and we discovered little fields here and there that made us feel like we left Manhattan. This is a GREAT way to see the city, exercise, and feel the breeze through your hair.

living on the wild side: taking pictures while riding!

I'm thinking of purchasing a bike now, since I hate jogging and being trapped inside a stinky gym, a bike would be an awesome way to exercise. A Brooklyn kid owning a bike? Typical. But no handlebar mustache here! 

ride on!
-becky