Premier Soccer

I've always wanted to see a EPL game live.  I mean, who wouldn't?  The best players, the most famous teams, the passionate crowd...there's only one problem.  It's all the way in dreary England.  I don't know about you, but I don't find myself often on the other side of the Pond.   But hey since most Americans can't go to the EPL, why not bring the EPL to America?  Man City v. Chelsea in Yankee stadium.  Surreal?  Very much so.  Fun?  Amazing.  Even a rainy, cold 50 degree day (Spring?  What Spring) couldn't ruin the event.



Now there have been many times that EPL clubs have visited the states.  But I've never had the chance to go, so it was really exciting for me to see players I make the trek to the local Irish Pub for every Saturday morning.  Torres, Hart, Nasri and Ramirez...these are the faces that dominate Fox Soccer every weekend.  And seeing them in person?  Wow.  That's all I can say.  The skill was so insane.  Even though it was a friendly, the two teams went at it  (possibly because City now has some skin in the game in having Americans like soccer with their new partnership in a bringing a second MLS team to NYC, and hey if City is going to try you know Chelsea will as no way do they want to get embarrassed).  True, there was absolutely no defense (5-3), but that just added to the level of entertainment.  Best goal of the day was a free kick that curled beautifully into the upper 90 as the goalie helplessly looked on.

The craziest thing to me was the amount of people in the stadium.  I mean Yankee stadium was full!  I don't think that would have happened 5 years ago.  And these people knew there soccer.  As someone who is just waiting for soccer to reach the level they have been predicting it would in the US for years, it was a really cool site to see that the sport has picked up more steam than I had realized.  

So if you ever have the chance to see an EPL game, make sure to do it.  You'll get to see why the rest of the world loves soccer.

Beer Pong Bar Rankings

One thing I love about NYC is the amount of Beer Pong bars there are in the city.  Even hipster bars in East Village usually have a table or two!  But the level of skill displayed?  Definitely certain bars skew towards good players...while other skew towards one game an hour.  As someone who finds herself often trash talking at a beer pong table often on a Saturday night, I feel I've observed enough games in the city to see what type of player plays where.  So, without further ado, a short blurb about the bars and the skills of the people who frequent them.

Bourbon Street: Old People Trying to Be Cool
This bar is easily one of my favorite places to people watch ever!  The playlist is great, there are tons of TV's and the crowd is hilarious.  Tons of older groups frequent this joint and let me tell you they are ready to get down.  9pm on a Friday?  For sure they will be found grinding to the music.  But the beirut playing?  Not so good.  If you have more than one game in front of you, get yourself a couple of pitchers as its going to be a long wait.  But what they lack in skill, they make up for in enthusiasm.  Want to see a 40-yr old woman scream shrilly at the top of her longs after every made shot?  You've found your place!


Gin Mill: We're a Little Bit Too Cool For This Game
Gin Mill is one of those hip spots on the Upper West that is seemingly always packed and has three tables...but no one seems to be using them!  And then those who do play are doing it in that way of we really don't care about the game at all.  No yells and excitement here.  So while the skill level is higher as the audience skews younger...the level of fun involved in beirut is much lower.

Three Sheets: Feels Like College
Every recent grad in the city can be found here, so it's the perfect blend of high skill and competitiveness.  Sure I feel bit like a grandma when I walk in there, especially on a Saturday night, but once I start dominating the kiddies on the table I fit right in.  So if you want an actual competitive game, find out where the fresh off from college kids go and follow...they know where the games are to be had.

In The Middle of the City...But you Feel All Alone

Where is everyone? O right...still in bed.  Score for me!

Don't get me wrong.  I'm a city girl through-and-through.  I love the chaos, distractions and great bars that come with living in a place like NYC.  But every now and then I just feel like I have to escape...but unfortunately for me, my job doesn't let me take off the beach every time I get that itch.  So I've had a to find a way to escape the city...without actually leaving the city.  A conundrum if there ever was one.    But luckily, I've discovered how to solve this seemingly unsolvable problem!  Run in the early morning!

I've always been someone to workout early in the past...but for whatever reason, this last year I've mainly been a afternoon workout warrior.  But for the last few weeks I've been getting up early to get my run/elliptical in and I can say that I am again in love with the dawn workout.  Not only does it give me a burst of energy for the rest of the day and make me feel good about myself in that I've already burned calories, so it doesn't matter that I spend the next 8-10 hours not moving from my seat in front of my computer/excel sheet (right...I mean I'm good right?)...but NYC feels like a completely different world prior to 7:30am. 

The East coast gets up late.  As a Cali girl, the idea that the office isn't really active till around 9:30 am is just weird...but in terms of working out, it's great.  It means that I only have to wake up at 6:30am to get the same level of un-inhabited loveliness that I used to get at 5:30am on the west coast.  There's fewer cars...fewer people...and now that the weather is starting to warm up you can really appreciate the beauty that places like Central Park and the West Side Highway have to offer.  There's tons of islands of green in NYC...but with all the city noise you don't really notice them.  Now that I'm beating the crazy-people-filled-ambiance that dominates NYC most of the time...I'm starting to notice them.  And it really does feel like I'm escaping the city.

So next time you feel extremely stressed and you need to get away from the grind/rat race that is living in a major city...don't blow you hard earned pay check on a quick trip to the lame local beach.  Just roll out of bed at an earlier hour...and you'll see the place you live in a whole new way. 

Disguised Sports Watching

A Country Jamboree to go with you mimosa

Apparently some people don't consider watching sports to be the perfect date night out.  Weird, I know, but I've discovered this to be the case.  There you are, hoping to watch the early baseball/soccer/basketball games...but your significant other isn't pumped about that at all.  No, they want a real morning out.  One that involves a nice brunch and a good deal on cocktails.  Don't worry.  In NYC there are places where both of you can get your wish.  And Southern Hospitality is one such place.

Southern Hospitality does have a bar, but the food and heavy-handed pours on $12 unlimited mimosas/bellini special will be enough to distract the non-sports watcher.   The full menu is available, but my recommendation is to go with the brunch menu.  I'm partial to the smoke pit huevos rancheros or the southern benedict, but from my experience you can't go wrong with any choice.

The key is to get a table near the bar, but have your significant other sitting such that he/she's back are to the TV's.  That way, he/she won't catch you oggling the amazing diving catch that Derek Jeter just made.  No, they'll think you are fixated on them...especially after a few cocktails, you're wondering eye won't be noticed at all.  That $12 unlimited refill will pay you back big time, so trust me and make that investment as soon as sit down, prior to even reading the menu. 

Southern Hospitality: A Sports (though not really a sports bar but as there are TV's with the game on, its close enough) Bar Even A Non Sports Fan Will Enjoy. 

Classing it Up

We weren't the only ones excited for the Derby!

If you are anything like me, then you are always up for a good theme.  And darling, the Kentucky Derby is like the best theme party ever!  I love having an excuse to dress up.  So of course I used this sporting event as a chance to get dolled up and wear crazy hats.  And the best part is, I convinced others to do it with me!

Let's give you a timeline of the day:

1:30pm: Brunch!  Put three girls, one boy, four snazzy outfits and a couple of cool hats at one table and what do you have?  Well a derby brunch of course!  And a slightly boozy derby brunch at that. 

2:30pm:  Still at table.  Still drinking.

3:30pm:  Yep, still here.  Mimosas are sliding down gently.  Hats are starting to feel a bit less foolish.

4:00pm: Starbucks run.  I mean, isn't there some horse race thing?  At this point I can't think clearly.  Hopefully some coffee will clear the haze a little bit.

4:45pm: In Mo's apartment.  Wait...is there champagne in my Starbucks cup?  When did that happen.  Weird.

5:00pm: Look up horses names.  Have to at least appear slightly knowledgeable to defend outfits.

5:15pm: Intense discussion about who to root for: Charming Kitten and Itsmyluckyday frontrunners in our hearts if not in Vegas'

6:00pm: AHH! We only have 24 minutes till the race! We have to go!  Where's the nearest Irish bar?

6:01pm: Irish bar right next door...we are saved. 

6:05:  See! I'm not the only one who was excited about the race!  And, we are far from the only people to dress up.  If I didn't know any better, I'd have sworn we were in Kentucky, not downtown Manhattan. 

6:24:  Scream.  Scream some more. 

6:26:  Yeah!  Wait...that was it?  Huh.  Ok.  Time for the next bar.  Wait who won again?  Orb something or other...

Sometimes, the actual sporting event is the least important part of the day.  The Derby is one of those days for me.  But that doesn't make it any less fun.  Hope to see you next year rocking your best southern belle outfit!