Normally I could just catch the 4 Train form Borough Hall to Yankee Stadium but, because it is a week-end, that train doesn’t run here no more. Instead I had to start out taking the 2 Train to Times Square.
I love how the MTA, or whomever, can spend whatever it takes to install works of art in the subway stations yet not find the money to keep them clean and in good working order.
The MTA must also make a pretty penny encouraging drinking on the trains.
One good thing about the filth on the tracks is that the scurrying of the rats gives you a heads up on when the train is approaching.
From Times Square we grabbed the shuttle over to Grand Central.
We stopped to admire more artwork on our way to catch the 4 Train to where we were headed.
A bit of a hike and we were ready to catch our train.
Yet another dramatic shot of a train entering the station.
A relatively short ride later and we were standing on the platform overlooking Yankee Stadium.
A somewhat more important view from the platform was the one looking the other way, towards where I was meeting my friends.
We were all meeting at Yankee Tavern, a reliable watering hole about a block away from Yankee Stadium.
We got there a bit before noon so we were able to belly up to the bar and pre-order our beers. Then headed over to catch the game.
Once there a stop was made to replenish our supply of beer.
We had great seats on a hot day, up high but under an overhang so we were in the shade and caught a all to rare breeze when it blew. Lovely view of the neighboring skyline as well.
The fellow taking the picture is Allen and behind him you can see Bernie and my friend Bob. I think the women were off powdering their respective noses or something.
After the game the Mysterious Chinese Woman and I stopped by the Ball Park Lanes for a quick drink before catching the subway home.
We each had a delicious Hot Sausage on a bun. That was my first for the day but someone had already wolfed down two hotdogs at the game. Who that might have been I cannot imagine.
And there is no justice in the world because she never puts on any weight. Of course, as she reminded me, she didn’t have three beers (just one).
It was a quicker shot back home because I picked up the D Train so there were no transfers involved.
Even better, the D Train dropped me off a mere block from my favorite Dive Honky Tonk bar in Brooklyn, the infamous Hank’s Saloon.
The friendly bartender Jeanne was on duty and gave me a friendly greeting.
I learned that what I had suspected was, indeed, going to happen. The new owners who, originally said they were just going to add a second floor to the place, are going to tear it down and rebuild it. I figured this would be the case because I don’t think this building really could be saved, let alone added to.
They have promised to keep the existing atmosphere, but that will be hard to do. Places like this have to evolve, they can’t really be created.
After a quick Gin and Tonic to cool down I headed home but decided to stop into the Brazen Head for one of their specialties, a real ale on draft.
The bartender, Jill, pulled me a nice Six Point Double IPA from one of their casks.
This place always has one or two real ales available (the other one today was Victory Storm King Stout) and also hosts an annual real ale cask festival every year. Well worth taking in. You can find out more about them by going to their website:
I was just leaving when I ran into an old friend, Frantz, who I hadn’t seen for the longest time.
We repaired to the backyard garden area for another beer and he caught me up on his activities. He is an artist and had been over in Europe, working and putting on some shows. He is back now and if you get a chance check out his work. He is quite talented and sometimes you can see his work hanging on the walls of the Brazenhead.
No comments:
Post a Comment