New Jersey - New York

Direct from our visit to K&L in Virginia, PJ and I moved onto New Jersey/New York:

Thursday 12 October
Uber to DC's Union Station and Acela Express to Newark.  Found our way to the "quiet car".  The train is billed as topping out at 140 mph but I'm confident we never approached it.  Still - quick, easy, and rather unusual for us.  Dave Kollar picks us up at the Newark station and we go directly to his/Sonny's house in Newark metro area - nice! - we don't know this area of the world at all, never quite got used to the Manhattan skyline views that would jump out unexpectedly, whether from a window in their house, or just when touring around area streets.  Initial chatting and snacking, then I go back to the airport with Dave to pick up Dan & Cricket.  This get-together has been oft-discussed, hard to believe it actually happened.

Initial rounds of appetizers (many fine choices but Sonny's dumplings really stood out) and we tried Dave's Manhattan(s); then a pretty wonderful dinner with kabobs 'n sides, tiramisu, wine, espresso and other goodies I'm forgetting.  Dave & Sonny outdid themselves for sure.  Lots of chattering, including planning for the rest of the weekend.

Friday 13 October
The day's agenda:  hang out in Manhattan.  Starting with public transportation (several segments, this alone is rather fascinating to automobile-only folks like us) into the station at the new World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.  We wander the area; Dave has lined up tickets to the 9/11 memorial - kind of amazing - we've not been in NYC for quite some time and the 9/11 references are widespread.

Subway to Greenwich Village area where we stop for some small-shop pizza - it sure looked and tasted NYC-authentic to us, a treat.  Dave's brother (Ron) ended up out of the country during our visit (which was a disappointment though his excuse seemed legit) - but we used his Greenwich Village apartment as a stopping point - neat all around - we rest there a bit.  Then start walking around the Village, eventually wandering for quite a while along the Highline Trail - impressive, especially the landscaping.  Walk back to Ron's place; change; walk to Minetta Tavern - a classic NYC restaurant experience; some of us had better luck with our orders than others, but the experience was exactly what we were looking for.  By coincidence Nicole was in town getting together with some of her friends; they were in roughly the same area and we missed by minutes.  After Minetta we walk back to Ron's place, then reverse our public transportation route back to Newark.  With a stop for views of the city looking across the Hudson - lovely, new to us.  Back at Dave/Sonny place and we do some planning for the next day.  This one was fun.

Saturday 14 October
Some go to pick up rental minivan and Dunkin coffee.  After this we drive up to Ron's place in Rhinebeck - our first opportunity to look over the Hudson River valley north of the city.  Easy trip up, no traffic issues, we arrive and check out the house.  Wander through a few shops and settle into a little place (Gigi) for lunch - fought off some annoying-but-not-stinging bees and moved inside - fun lunch.  The town, the area, the fall color (OK not yet hitting in full force due to warm weather or whatever, but very noticeable) - all this really struck our fancy.

"historic" post office; Poet's Walk; Bard College . . . 

Wander into some shops; we visit the Beekman Arms (hotel) - open since the 1760s - I kind of got obsessed with their old-school low-ceiling tavern area.  Back to the house; all 'cept Sonny head out then to a farmer's market and then to the "Poet's Walk" - lovely low-key hiking taking us to the Hudson.  Dave then drives us around the area - we see Bard College, one of the local mansions (Wilderstein); lovely late-afternoon sunshine, this was really pretty.  We pick up Sonny and walk back into town, where I finally get my stopover at the Beekman Arms.  Eventually we get back to the house and settle in; Sonny converts some leftovers plus this-and-that into a pretty tremendous supper; Manhattan(s); we talk and talk and then it's bedtime.  Full day.

Sunday 15 October
Breakfast at a local Rhinebeck restaurant; then we pretty much get organized for the return trip, which is easy/smooth.  On the way back we make a stop at a Korean superstore of some kind; Dave and I have a chance to chat while waiting in the car, but it sounds like checking out the store would have been fine also.  We then pull into one of the developed/trailhead areas in the Meadowlands for a look-see - had no idea of the nice development that has taken place here - very close to Dave/Sonny house, a nice amenity.  Back to the house and we get organized for the airport.

Meadowlands . . .

This was an easy group to hang around with.  Somehow we packed a lot of stuff into a short time period, without feeling rushed (Manhattan/Greenwich Village; Rhinebeck; Jersey).  The Hudson River valley/Rhinebeck phase was entirely new to us, and a great idea.

And there's something about being around folks that we've known for 40+ years - good stuff!

Virginia visit

PJ and I had a rather ridiculously enjoyable visit to Virginia.  Here's what happened:

Friday 6 October
Easy travels per usual; K picks us up at Reagan airport and we go straight to the house.  This is my first visit to the "new" house so was much anticipating.  The Alexandria brick houses from that era are lovely, but because dating from that era - often need some modernizing - and the previous owners did everything right.  Plus a few tune-ups by K&L.  The effect is quite excellent.  K has a rather unique polo shirt gift for me, plus some goods for PJ.

Cicerone-approved Ballast Point box for toddler.

We get settled and soon are joined by Charlie, Beth, Mike, Ally and Palmer - who went considerably out of their way to work in a (pretty lengthy) trip that fit into our schedules - this was as thoughtful as it was fun.  We had a high-level beer tasting (Mike being a cicerone and all); pizza from Lost Dog; Sequence games in various combinations of teams, with the only common denominator being the consistent fails of the ND alums.  Oh well.  Great night.  After everyone left we watched a bit of the opening NLCS game (D'backs-Dodgers) but it wasn't going well.

It was a "Kiwi" beer - good.

Sequence battles ensued.

Saturday 7 October
The four of us make a breakfast trip to Le Pain; then an extended shopping tour to Target (enjoyed the "Boo-tique") and some nursery where we (rather painstakingly) selected some plants for placement around the house.  Back to the house for delivery of some spiffy furniture items (enhancing the look of our basement lair); then onto the Westover market for 5 Crowns, a couple beers, some pretty amazing nachos - lovely weather if a bit unseasonably hot/humid, just as I like it.  Later we head toward "Le Diplomate" for dinner - but stop enroute for a couple antique-type shops plus a drink at some fine spot (all these basically across the street from the restaurant).  Then to dinner - absolute perfect seating with an open window behind us; K&L bring a couple bottles of wine, nice!; my beef bourguignon is +; also loving the bread basket esp. the cranberry/walnut variety.  Very fun.  We make it home; observe a few minutes of D'backs losing again.

Le Diplomate - great spot.

Sunday 8 October
We wander the local farmers market, mostly in search of stuff for a dinner that we never did quite end up making - too much other action.  Then onto "Eastern" market - which we always enjoy - though the areas is evolving, residential development has chopped into some of the market space.  Then we walk to Belga Cafe, another tried and true spot.  Late afternoon we walk over to the Jackshaw house - very fun to chatter with Carrie & Steve (and Piper), plus their remodel looks great.  Plans for tomorrow dinner (though that doesn't happen as it turns out).

local farmers market . . .

Then Uber out to visit Pedro & Maga at their house; good timing, Luiso was also in town.  So the seven of us had just the loveliest evening.  Lots and lots of talk (including an update on their experiences with the recent hurricane); Maga always does such a nice job with the food; we didn't think it could have been nicer.  Great to see them.

appetizer portion (with Luiso's rum and coke) of a perfect evening

Monday 9 October
Cranberry-walnut bread and farmers market apples for breakfast (with Luis as barista, nice).  The four of us drive out into the Virginia countryside for the day - this was quite an enjoyable outing.  Stop #1 is some farm where they are selling pumpkins and gourds and stuff; also features a "corn maze" - which I've never done before - made for a nice walk in the country - we buy a few items and move onto whatever was the next town, passing through some lovely countryside; had lunch there (all good 'cept the chocolate cake disappoints).

hanging around at the punkin' farm

We then drive onto Leesburg - K&L know of it from prior wanderings - a lovely little town, we walk through some shops, end up at Black Hoof brewery where we find the offerings to be quite nice.

Leesburg - Black Hoof, shopping . . . 

Next we're driving to Monk's - famed BBQ - we stop into Adroit Theory (allegedly closed for Columbus Day) - but it was open so we try some fine hazy thing they had on tap.  Now to Monk's, where the BBQ lives up to its billing.  K drives us all home.

Adroit Theory

Tuesday 10 October
Repeating the bread/apples/coffee breakfast.  Everyone was working today though I didn't have all that much to do, and K returned in early afternoon (when she and PJ chased down El Pollo Rico!).  In the afternoon our energies were devoted to planting and arranging and stuff in the front of the house.  My project failed even after getting a pick-axe - stump grinder has been scheduled.  Leaving me feeling like a modern-day John Henry, or maybe the opposite.  By contrast, PJ's work turned out great.  Fun to work it together in any event.  We clean up, L joins us, we head to Lyon Hall for a fine evening with a group of K&L's friends (OK we think of them as also our friends at this point).  Such a good group.  Followed by an impromptu 5 Crowns game at Liberty Tavern.  Fun night.

such a nice crew at Lyon Hall . . . 

Wednesday 11 October
K gets off work; the three of us breakfast at Le Pain; then some shopping at various furniture stores; then we head downtown to the Mall.  Native American Museum (not particularly recommended though the Peru exhibit was cool); National Gallery (Dutch drawings and Fragonard exhibit); onto Old Ebbitt Grill where we had a pretty excellent lunch.  All of this hanging out was quite excellent!

wandering on the Mall . . .

Back to the house and L joins us; the four of us walk over to Westover market again for beers/snacks/5 Crowns; the evening advances quite pleasantly; we decide to forego cooking and have pizza and beer at Lost Dog - joined by Steve Jackshaw (Piper had gotten sick which scuttled the larger get-together plan) - this makes for a fine evening.  Back to the house where we hang out late into the night - we had a growler from Black Hoof; more 5 Crowns; but mostly we review all of our too-quickly-passed fun days together.  Say goodbyes to L and eventually get to bed.

wrapping up after Lost Dog . . . 

Thursday 12 October
Goodbyes to K, who is heading to work.  Sorry to be leaving K&L, glad the next get-together is just a month away.  PJ and I get organized; enjoy the bread/apples/coffee regimen one last time; we Uber to the train station for the next leg of our trip.

Couldn't have been nicer.  As with our recent trip to SF - it's just so easy to be around these folks for prolonged periods of time - and the way they treat their guests is beyond thoughtful/generous.  Not that that's surprising, but still - very nice/lucky.

D'backs postseason (two words not expected to be used together this year)

As the years pass, I find that I like baseball more and more.  This despite pace-of-play issues.  Positive changes:  "statcast" information is amazing; the super-slo-motion cameras let us see things previously unseen.

The fun has been much enhanced by POC's connection to the D'backs, and POC & NOC living right by the stadium.  Super-convenient (and cost-effective) for tickets, parking, fun before and after.  Works great.

NOC had a fine pre-game party for us.

2017 expectations for D'backs were low, but the team got off to a fast start, navigated some ups and downs, and eventually clinched a wild-card spot - meaning a one-game playoff with the Colorado Rockies.

most of our crew . . . 

Via POC, a group of us bought tickets for the wild-card game - held October 4, 2017.  Not that I've attended many high-profile sporting events - but I'm quite sure this was the most fun we've ever had a live sporting event.  D'backs won - which was important - but (per line score below) - while they always maintained a lead, they never could quite put away the game.  Long game, exciting throughout.  The single-elimination format certainly puts the pressure on both teams.  Large/lively crowd; our group was fun per usual.

our vantage point . . . full house

Within a couple days we were traveling to visit Kerry & Luis, so we missed the championship series games v. Dodgers; that didn't go so well.  But a fun year.