New York City in April…

May 2nd, 2008

A few weekends ago, Joe and I went down to New York City to the New York Comic Con, and an adventure was had… or something that we’d like to call an adventure.

We were very lucky to have a friend of Joe’s offer his apartment for us to use, so we actually headed down early (escaping the flu plague at my house in the meantime, another story for another time…). Leaving my house at 6:30ish we started the drive to Greenwich, CT. The last stop in CT for the Metro North line into Grand Central. The drive took us a bit longer than thought, as Joe and I “debated” the entire ride down whether or not Geeenwich was actually on the New York border (yours truly won that battle).

Upon arriving to the Train stop we encountered our first lovely customer service experience as Joe simply asked where to park, and was told where he cannot park - not where he could, just that we’d be towed if parked here… Yeah, big help.

After finding the lot, and second guessing ourselves (and parking my truck next to a shiny corvette - hey they’d ignore my truck for sure!), we stroll on to the tracks to just miss the train. We waited for an hour for the next train, all the while admiring the drunken stupor of the other random folks at the station, seems they were all at a party, and we were definitely not invited.

The train ride itself was uneventful, minus the cops with the hands on the butts off thier guns, it was just like a ride on the “T” to Boston. Sorta.

Arriving at Grand Central was very cool for me, I’d never been there. The main hall is really beautiful, and I was not expecting it to be so cathedral like. Really looking forward to seeing Kristen’s face as we walk through there in September. Joe also pointed something out, why is it that all train stations smell the same? How is it that North Station smells exactly like Grand Central? Must be the combination of axle grease, sweat, and hot dogs.

Then came our first cab ride.

OK, I’d like to take a second here, I am ranting I know, but bear with me.

Cabbies in New York are insane. Plain and simple. Insane. Skip the easy joke about ethnicity. These guys are totally crazy. In fact I’d go out on a limb and say that in Jeff Gordan and Tony Stewart were in the same cab as Joe and I,they’d probably be strapping in and praying that they were elsewhere. At one point, no joke, i could have steered the cab next to me by placing my arm in the open window next to me - and we were easily doing 45 on a side street. These cabs hit (I looked so this is fact) 55 mph or more, on all occasions. I’ve never been so scared in car, in my life. I guess if they all travel that fast, there must be no speed limit in the city. Imagine my Bostonian friends, doing 55 down beacon or causeway streets… yeah, buckle up! And pedestrians, get out of the way!! because these guys don’t care, cross against the light and you’ll lose a few toes.

The jokes are not jokes folks - cabbies in New York are Crazy.

End rant.

Back to the show, Joe and I cruised the the Comic Con, and really it’s a sight everyone should see at one point or another. My friends call me a dork because I read comics (I work in theindustry is my usual response, but it rarely works.), but Joe, after seeing the throngs of Stormtroopers, Anime kids, and overall customed freaks - no longer calls me geek. I am fodder compared to the hardcore. (although my Warcraft habit tosses me right back into that crowd.)

I met up with some familiar faces and met a few new good people, and collected my freebies. And off we went back into New York to catch some sights. Times Square is immense and is just breath taking in ti’s unabashed glamor, washed in advertising.

The 4 story Toys ‘R Us would make Abby’s head spin, the concept of a Ferris wheel inside a toy store still eludes her.

And of course we had to do the obligatory trip to the top of the Empire State Building. Like to star crossed lovers, we headed to the top of the Bog Apple at midnight… and pined our love for — our wives…

That was it, the next morning we had breakfast and headed back to Greenwich (only one Transit cop made a snide comment about my Red Sox hat, I was shocked it was not more), where we gladly found my truck right next to the corvette. Safe and sound.

I have to tell you though, nothing felt better than driving myself home - after the rides we had with the Crazy Taxi cast, going 50 on the highway was relaxing.

(oh yeah, the pope was in NYC as well while we were there… that explains the barricades and “free zones”)

Entry Filed under: Comics, Events