Go Salmon!
We woke up on Saturday, and each of us made our way to Piscataway, NJ. Lynch and JGood moved there in the middle of the summer. We planned on watching Herczeg play soccer in Giants Stadium. His soccer team had won a tournament in New Jersey, and they were set to play in the finals at Giants Stadium. The games were to take place after the MetroStars vs. The Revolution. Because we were going to be so close to NYC, we took the train in after the games.
I really like Dave and Jeff's place. They have a lot of space. Lynch was kind enough to provide sandwiches for us all. Rendina was there for the party! He came up to say goodbye. He was moving to San Diego with Perotta on Sunday. After cleaning up Lynch, Rob, Jeff, Rendina and I drove up to G-Stad.
We missed the first half of the game, but I really didn't care. It would have been nice to see some of the goals, but it wasn't that great of a game. We were more excited to see Mark play. The Herczeg's were in attendence as well as Lugi.
When it was finished, the G-Stad staff ushered us all into a few sections. This guy named Larry was on a power trip. He kept yelling at us to get out of the aisle. I was afraid Mark was going to play on the other side of the field, but there was not a thing we could do. Eventually, all the teams came out of the locker room. Mark's team was wearing salmon colored uniforms. How Ugly!
The tournament was sponsored by Budweiser. They really didn't have a choice in uniforms. They did look horrible. Anyway, they played first, and we cheered our hearts out. Unfortunately, they did not play well. Mark did a good job of defending and passing, but his team couldn't pull it together. They didn't move, they didn't pass, and their shots were bad. It was sad to see them eliminated, but we then had a chance to get into the City at a decent time.
The drive from New Brunswick to Newark was dicey. The directions did not match up, but we found our way. We had to wait in traffic to get through some latino festival. It was interesting. We found free lot parking at the station, and soon had tickets to the PATH.
In the back of our minds, we all realized what we were doing. We were taking the PATH from Newark to the World Trade Center on the anniversary of 9-11. Isn't that spooky? Just like any other train ride into the City, our spirits were high. Everyone was joking around. Lugi had a chance to tell me about his Europe jaunt in July and August. Without even realizing it, everyone on the train became silent as we came up from the ground. All around us was Ground Zero. Flowers, wreaths, and other commemorative items had been placed all over the grounds. The entire train was quite and stared out the windows. Not a sound was made until the train doors opened.
I guess this train station has only been open a short time. It was the newest station I have ever seen in person. It was a short walk to the street, and we got a better view of the Twin Towers of Light. It was a powerful sight to behold from so close. I keep on looking back at the lights as we walked east toward the Village.
The walk was pleasent and nerve racking. I didn't mind taking a strole through the city on such a beautiful evening. Everyone stopped for food, but a few became restless. It really makes me nervous when a group of people expect something from you faster then you can deliver. No Matter. We eventually made it the area we desired.
Our first stop was Kenny's Castaways. Some decent bands were on stage, and the upstairs was so comfortable. The balcony was lined with futons and easy chairs. Everyone blew off some steam and enjoyed the atmosphere. We even go directions to our final destination, Off The Wagon.
Everyone really loves this place. Rob said it best, "It's the Bayou in the Village. " They had a special going for $3 pints. Isn't that unheard of in NYC? Plus, the bar was very packed. Last time I was there, it was hard to move around. Everyone had fun talking, meeting new people, and playing foosball. The night did not end there. This was Rendina's last on the East Coast! We hopped some cabs to Avalon for Sandra Collins.
To my dismay, not everyone wanted to go. That was the beauty of parking in Newark. They PATH runs all night! We should go up there when we go into the City in the future. It was still a great time. Lugi, Mark, Rendina, and I arrived in time to hear Sandra get crazy at the peak of her set. They guys couldn't believe how hot and good she was. I always enjoyed her sets down here in DC/Bmore. The club itself was so cool. I had never been to Limelight - now the Avalon. The club is comprised of an old church, and has a few levels with an outside patio. We tired to talk to some people, but many were snooty. I felt bad for Rendina. I don't think he was having a fantastic time.
The turning point was finding the upstairs lounge. The place was jumping with Deep House. Lugi, Mark, and I started dancing like crazy. There must have been 10 or so people clogging the small floor. It was the best part of our time at the club. Even Rendina was bopping his head. The room lost its luster around 530am so, we went back to the main room for the closing. Too bad, Sandra's set was finished. The place was pretty empty by 6am. We decided to grab a cab back to the WTC Station.
After an hour and half of travel and waiting, we found ourselves back in Piscataway. What a fun fun night. I can't believe how much NYC has to offer. One day, one day, we will live there. Then those long mornings/days back home will take 15 minutes! Enough complaining, it was great to spend time with Rendina. I wish I could have seen him more over the past year. He is one of my best friends from school. I wish him and Perotta the best out in Pacific Beach! I have to say thanks to Jeff and Lynch for the great hospitality. We will have to do it again in the coming months.
Comments
Well, aside from the ugly uniforms and my team losing in the first round, I think it turned out to be a pretty good night. Thanks again guys for coming! Now that Lynch and Jeff are so close to the city, we should all make it up there more often. I can get my shoes shined again and Rendina can yell at us for only dating "supermodels". "Hey Robesch, when did you get standards?" Hope nobody forgets their blenders and egg beaters next time!
redina is a 6 year old trapped in an ogre meathead's body. i liked how he was happy when we got to off the wagon then 10 minutes later was pissed because girls weren't talking to him. in a way i wish he would have gotten to the airport on time so lynch could have seen his go through security, and be dragged into an interigation room for questioning about a mysterious blender.
