I got to Prospect Park a wee bit early on Thursday - so rather than sit in the cinema for an hour, I went to find The Pie Shop for a little smackeral.
Abi and I had seen the Pie Shop aaaaages ago when we went down to Prospect Park last summer, but we didn't go in. I think the shop was set up by some Australians - and Australian's know their pies, so I was expecting good things... I was not disappointed!
I had the most delicious litte Thai Chicken pie... it was just like the pies you get at home, like the ones from the fish and chip shop (but fresh!). They have a few different flavours, some proper pie flavors like steak and mushroom, and some fancier ones like thai chicken and chicken korma. They also had sausage rolls!!!
So I took my pie (and little sausage roll), all wrapped in foil and walked round the corner to Prospect Park. The park was looking lovely in the evening sunlight, the blossom was starting to come through on the trees and the park was full activity.
People were walking their dogs, riding their bikes, jogging, playing baseball, or just strolling through the park... it was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and enjoying the evening.
It was incredibly relaxing to take some time and just sit and people watch. It was a lovely way to start the evening... and that pie. Ooooooh, that pie!
The other week, for one night only, there was a special screening of the new Foo Fighters documentary Back & Forth, which was to be followed by a LIVE 3D concert, broadcast from Studio 606 (the Foo's own recording/practice studio). Unfortunately, despite managing to get hold of some tickets, I couldn't go because I had to go to Arkansas instead.
Luckily for me (not so much the people who went to see the film), there were some technical difficulties and there was no sound being broadcast during the concert section. So, yesterday evening the documentary and the 3D performance were rebroadcast and everyone who had tickets the first time round could apply for a free ticket to last nights showing.
So I went along to the Pavillion cinema in Brooklyn to go and watch the documentary on the big screen and watch them play their 3D set.
The cinema was a bit ropey - the seatas were in a bit of a state and it felt a bit like a deserted cinema, or one that was just about to go out of business, but it all added to the atmosphere I suppose.
The documentary was reeeeeeally interesting - it went through the history of the band, from Dave drumming in Nirvana, to the making of their new album. Here's the little teaser trailer...
The 3D concert afterwards was good too - although it was a bit strange hearing them play their songs and not hearing people clap afterwards. But the 3D bit was incredible effective - it was filmed in 3D rather than filmed normally and then mde 3D, so things really felt like they were coming out of the screen.
The great thing was the backdrop during the performance - it was made up of all the old backdrops that they've used at the festivals over the passed 16 years. I recognised a few of them from when Tom and I have sen them play at V and Leeds Festival.
It's been a bit of a Footastic week, with the gig, the album coming out and this film and concert... I might have Foo withdrawal symptoms this weekend!?!
Once again, if you fancy watching the performance (in non 3D) - click here!
To mark the release of their 7th studio album (seventh!) the Foos played a gig at the Ed Sullivan theatre, which was recorded and aired live online for the David Letterman show. The tickets were FREE and could be won through entering a little lottery. It seemed that someone was looking down on me and know how much I wanted to see the Foos play in New York.
So at lunch time Abi and I went uptown, in the rain, to the CBS Broadcasting building to pick up our tickets - we were a little eager, we were the 4th and 5th people there. I was little excited to say the least...
Then we just had to ride out the rest of the afternoon at work before making our way up to the Ed Sullivan theatre. I am very lucky that Abi's such an understanding girlfriend, we were told to arrive at the venue at 7.30pm, but I ensisted we got there for 6.30pm - and we did, and it was wet and cold and there was about 6 other people there waiting patiently too.
After what felt like a day, we finally got into the theatre, only to watch the queue of people on the guest list grow and grow, they were to be let in and seated before us, so despite getting their silly early, we still weren't the first people in... anyway, none of that mattered because we got great seats on the floor section of the small theatre and we could see EVERYTHING.
It was fantastic to walk into the theatre and see the stage all set up, with Taylor's drumkit sitting on a pedestal. The whole stage was an homage to the Beatles stage when they made their American televisual debut on the Ed Sullivan show (coincidentally, Foo Fighters made their American televisual debut in the same venue, but on the David Letterman show!). The homage didn't stop there though, because the Foos came out all dressed in suits, wearing ties and shiny black Beatles boots and they all had their guitars up high. Nate (the bassist) was even playing a Paul McCartney bass for the first couple of songs...
They filmed the first part of the show in black and white too, so it really felt like a 60's music show, but just with much heavier guitars and a bit more screaming (from Dave!).
They played the entirity of their new album, beginning to end, no gaps! It sounded amazing. Although the album only came out yesterday, you've been able to listen to it on their site for the past couple of weeks, so I was listening to it A LOT in Arkansas - I didn't realise quite how much until I ended up knowing most of the words to the new songs!
Then after they finished the album they went into some of their big gig songs, the songs that Tom and I jump around to and sing along with at the gigs, like at Wembley Stadium! The filming burst into colour and the lights all came on and the crowd went bonkers...
It was amazing seeing them so close, and although everyone had seats, we all stood up and jumped around, so it felt like a proper gig (just with a load of cameras going round the place)...
They played all our favourites, including Abi's favourite Times Like These and one of my favourites My Hero...
They just kept going and going...
In the end they played for 2 HOURS! For free!
It was an absolutely amazing experience, and the whole Beatles connection made it even more special - my two favourite bands linked in the city I love! It was an incredible gig and an incredible way to mark the 15th time of seeing them. No matter how many times I see them, they're always different, always exciting and I always want to see the whole gig all over again.
I hope the link below works - it's the show that they broadcast on the internet- I have a horrible feeling it's for US only, but I thought Tom might like to watch it as he's my Foos buddy.
I haven't watched the whole thing back yet, but you might be able to see Abi and I singing along in the back somewhere, we were on the left side (if you were standing on the stage looking at the audience) about halfway down. (If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll just delete it from the post)
You wouldn't think it looking out the window today (it's grey and sticky and miserable), but spring is here in New York. The weather this Saturday was absolutely beautiful and the blossom in McCarren Park look rahter lovely...
Hopefully the weather will pick up again and we'll be able to get to Central Park (or maybe further-a-field) to see lots of blossom.
I know I've posted pictures of this view before - but I never get tired of it.
It's the view of the Empire State Building when walking through McCarren Park in Brooklyn. It was lovely walking through the park late this afternoon, the sun was shining and it was quite mild, it felt like Spring was just about here - people were playing baseball and volleyball, people were walking their dogs and riding their bikes, people were sitting playing guitars and snoozing on the benches (not all of them were homeless!), there was even one person practicing tightrope walking!
You see all sorts walking around New York. I love it.
While I was waiting for my t-shirts to wash at the laundrette, I went for a wander around the streets nearby and came across this marvellous machine. Abi and I have seen the owner of the bike riding around, sitting high about all the other cyclists (and most of the cars!) and it always amazes us, and completely puzzles us... What does he do when he needs to stop at the traffic lights? How does he stop? There aren't any breaks! How does he get off?
It's funny, the gate and fence in the picture make the bike look quite small, but just look at the other bike chained up in the background, then you'll get some reference to just how high this bike is!
After two flights (both of which I was sitting next to extrememly large passangers who took up about 1/3 of my seat as well as their own, so I was in a state of squishedness for the whole flight), we made it back to New York at about midnight last night.
The clouds above the Empire State Building glowed red in a very unusual and dramatic way. I love the journey back from the airport (apart from when the taxi driver gets lost, like he did last night!), the skyline always looks so impressive.
Last night, as a celebratory(ish) final night meal - Ben, Kelly and I went to Mister B's Steakhouse. In the 2 and a half years since my last Mr. B's steak, nothing has compared to it, they are the most delicious, tender, tasty steaks I've ever eaten.
The restaurant doesn't really look like a restaurant from the outside, it doesn't even look open - it's a bit dark and set off from the road and just looks like someone's house with an awning over the front door. But inside awaits Steak HEAVEN!
When we were look at the menu the waiter told us that the tenderloin was the best steak on the menu, and that you could cut it with a spoon... He was right! Ben actually cut his steak with his spoon to test it.
The steaks weren't too big, they were 8oz, so we felt full but not too full afterwards - although I think I could have sat there all night eating them, they were so tasty. The steaks are cut in the kitchen and cooked only in butter. If there are any off cuts of meat, Mr. B minces them up and makes his burgers with them, so I imagine the burgers taste amazing too. Next time.
I'm hoping that it won't be another couple of years before my next Mr. B's steak, but the memory will be there forever! Ha ha.
Yesterday afternoon we briefly visited Oklahoma (veeeery briefly - we drove over the border, turned around in a carpark and then drove back again), on the way back to the hotel there was yet another beautiful Arkansas sunset.
The sky in Arkansas feels HUGE, vast and open and the sunsets these passed couple of nights have been stunning. It's such a contrast from New York, I'm starting to think that I could quite happily live here for a little while (I just couldn't deal with where I'd have to be working!)... failing that, it's definitely inspired me to travel through America in a big old pick-up track.
This is Bentonville Town Square, and that's Walton's 5-and-Dime, the first ever Walmart shop!
I love Bentonville Town Square, it feels just like something out of Back to the Future, but it's real life. It's a lovely, calm, sleepy little area around here.
Well, it's the end of our first day back in Arkansas. It's been a busy day, but good busy and we've seen some interesting stuff.
We had an early lunch with Wayne (someone who's been working alongside Elmwood for the past 3-4 years), we went across the road from the offices to a place called Jimmy Johns. Jimmy Johns do the most deliciously massive sandwiches, and offer something for free...
Then in the afternoon we had a meeting down at the sign shop. We went a long to see some of the signs we've been designing over the passed few weeks - it was great seeing them in the flesh, but it was brilliant seeing loads of HUGE letters lying around the warehouse, with concept signs on the walls and completed signs all packed up and ready to go.
There were also some of the old signs all stacked up in the car park - I wish I could have taken one of the stars home...
After visiting the sign shop we went for a little drive around Bentonville, driving through the old town square...
The Walmart museum's currently being renovated and expanded, so they've moved Sam Walton's old Ford pickup truck out to the front of his first store.
This old car wash is right by the offices - I have a feeling that at one point it looked modern, then they never bothered to change the look, and now it looks fantastically retro.
After finishing up at work we went to this place for a little BBQ food...
Well, I say a little BBQ, when the reality was this...
Brisket, Ribs and Chicken - with coleslaw and corn and the most delicious warm bread I've ever tasted. Don't worry, I didn't finish the plate, infact I didn't really make much of a dent in it. Kelly's puppy is going to be spoilt rotten - the doggy bag she took back with her was huge!
Then finally, with VERY full tummies we headed back to the hotel, passing a very modest church...
Now I'm heading to bed, full of BBQ food and feeling very tired. It's great to be back and it's a nice change from the full-on hustle of New York, and everyone here is so friendly and polite.
I have a feeling that today was a bit of a one off, I can't imagine that we'll see quite as much as we have today, but then again - it could be an eventful week...
Typical. As soon as I leave New York, someone really famous just happens to stroll out of the pub opposite work! Abi spotted the one and only Billy Connolly coming out of Lillies during her lunch break today...
Hopefully we'll bump into him again when I'm back in town!
I'm back. After nearly 2.5 years, I landed into North West Arkansas airport at midnight last night. Although it was pitch black, I still recognised the journey from the airport... it's nice to be back. I'm here until Friday night, so hopefully I'll be able to take some photos during the week so you can see a bit of where I used to be before New York.
It's a bit of an early start this morning, but I've been told that the hotel does good breakfasts, so I'm off to get an omlette!
On Saturday afternoon Ben and I went over to New Jersey to the Red Bull Arena to watch the New York Red Bulls play the Houston Dynamo...
A few months ago, when I was on the way to Ikea on the train I saw what I thought looked like a space station in the middle of field surrounded by barns... well, that space station turns out to be the Red Bull Arena!
It seemed like a nice new stadium, but it felt like it was completely in the middle of no where. Ben was saying it couldn't have been more different walking to the Red Bull Arena than walking to Elland Road in Leeds. The were lots of families with young children making their way to the stadium, rather than big crowds of angry drunk people... it was all far more civilised, the way it should be!
When we got into the arena we got ourselves a quick bite to eat, two hotdogs, two portions of chips and two pints, all for the reasonable price of $40!!! I couldn't believe it... they obviously make a LOT of money from the concession stands.
It was a little bit quiet when we first arrived, and only filled up a little bit when the game actually started, but there was still a good atmosphere in the arena...
There was one section, just behind the goal that was ram-packed with a group of fans called the Viking Army, that had flags from all over the world and they were chanting through-out the whole game. Considering how relatively empty the arena was, they made it sound like there were far more fans watching...
It was very funny when the announcer was introducing the teams, when the Houston Dynamo's came onto the field, they Empirial March theme from Star Wars was playing and the annoucner didn't put much effort in to the names at all, but then when the Red Bulls came out it was a different story...
Llllllllllllaadies and Gentllllllllllemen! Pllllllleeeeeeeeeeease welcome your Neeew Yooooork Reeeeeeed Buuuuuullllls!!!
I had never heard of any of the players, apart from the captain - Thierry Henry!
It was a bit of a boring first half, there were a few close calls but nothing that exciting happened (although you'd think it was the most exciting game in the world listening to the Viking Army!)
During half time Ben and I went to the 'beer garden' for another expensive drink ($11 for one pint!!!). The term 'beer garden' has never been used so loosely, it was more or less a penned off area by the car park that had a few tables to stand at, the beer stations at three of the corners of the 'garden' and a couple of 'garden games'... I imagine that during the summer it'll be lovely and really popular, but on Saturday night it was freezing cold and there weren't many fans around so the been garden was a bit of a lonely place. So we decided to head back to our seats.
Just as we were walking through the arena we heard a lot of screaming and managed to get into a spot where we could see the pitch just in time to see the first Red Bulls goal!
Smoke machines went off and there were confetti canons and the crowd (all 13,000 out of 40,000 of them) went bonkers. It wasn't long after we'd got back to our seats that the Houston Dynamo had equalised. The second half was faaaaar more exciting that the first, they must have been given a right talking to in the changing rooms!
We were both amazed how well organised everything was after the match, despite the 13,000 people leaving the arena at the same time, there were no crushes, no queues, and we somehow managed to walk to the tiny train station and walk straight onto the small Path train that took us back to Manhattan. If only leaving a UK arena could be that smooth.
It was a great experience, and another New York sports team to chalk up - maybe Basketball's next?! Who knows...
Yesterday evening, after work Abi and I went for a Friday stroll. we left work, walked down University Place to W10th street (one of my favourite little streets, all the town houses are so beautiful and different from each other), and then walked passed Gay Street, through Greenwich Square and across into the village. It was a very similar walk to the one Mops, Pops and I did in the autumn.
Despite the drizzly weather, it was lovely to be walking around, not having to be anywhere for anything, and just enjoy another little corner of New York. Whilst meandering we found the Lomography shop...
The shop was fantastic, the walls were wallpapered with Holga style photos, and down the middle of the shop was a long table full of all the different Lomo cameras you can buy. I had no idea there were so many different types, from Holga cameras to Fisheye, from Pinhole cameras to polaroid cameras!
Abi bought a very lovely white and silver Fisheye camera, which she can't wait to start experimenting with, and I've got my eye on a 360 degree 'Spinner' camera.
When we got home we were playing with the fisheye view finder on Abi's new toy and realised that you can take it off, and then we thought about seeing if we could take photos using our phone through the view finder. We could...
We also found out the they run workshops at the Lomo shop in April, so we might try and go along to one and learn a bit more about take photos with our Lomo cameras. So hopefully there'll be some interesting photos to show you all in the next couple of months.
Abi and I had seen the Pie Shop aaaaages ago when we went down to Prospect Park last summer, but we didn't go in. I think the shop was set up by some Australians - and Australian's know their pies, so I was expecting good things... I was not disappointed!
So I took my pie (and little sausage roll), all wrapped in foil and walked round the corner to Prospect Park. The park was looking lovely in the evening sunlight, the blossom was starting to come through on the trees and the park was full activity.
It was incredibly relaxing to take some time and just sit and people watch. It was a lovely way to start the evening... and that pie. Ooooooh, that pie!
