We have a crib list (things to do before babies) that is quite extensive (sorry Mom) and The US OPEN tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York is on that list! Also on that list was to visit Justin (brother-in-law) who is living in the heart of Washington D.C. While we were at it we added Josh's Dad's side of the family, who live in Baltimore, Maryland into the equation and we had ourselves an East Coast extravaganza!
The details are as follows:
We arrived at JFK Airport at midnight on Friday, September 2nd. We navigated our way through the subway and to our hotel in the heart of Manhattan.
Saturday, September 3rd:
Josh had bought tickets to a NY Yankees Baseball game (which I was not too thrilled about, growing up a Braves fan), but I got on the Subway and we headed to the gorgeous new stadium. It ended up being a great time! There is something about being in the heart of New York that you can't help but root for the Yankees. After the game we met up with my Dad, who was able to sneak away from his volunteer duties at the Deutsch Bank Golf Tournament and join us for a day in NYC! We had a night out on the town with him. We started at The "W" bar in Times Square, headed to The Gingerman (a beer bar with over 60 beers on tap, Josh's choice of course) and finished the late night with a snack at the famous Stage Deli! It was a night to be remembered.
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| EPIC Yankee History |
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| To be experienced in person (and I don't even like the Yankees!) |
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Take US out to the Ball Game
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| The Gingerman |
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| Me and my Dad at the "W" |
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| My Brewmeister |
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| Late night snacks YUM YUM YUM |
Sunday, September 4th:
We woke up bright and early and headed to Flushing Meadows via the subway. We passed by 111th Street where my relative Cecile lived for her entire life. She is no longer with us, but it was fun to pass by her old fixed rent apartment in Queens, NY and honor her memory. We were so lucky to be able to get free grounds passes from our good friend/neighbor Andy. So, we grabbed our tickets and found some incredible seats in Louis Armstrong Stadium and settled in for what would be a sweltering, muggy New York day of amazing tennis. The first match was two women, Panetta (26) vs. Peng (13). I was ready to be bored to tears, but WOW! These women played their guts out literally. The next match was Del Potro (18) vs. Simon (12). We also caught a glimpse of Donald Young vs. Chela (24) making US tennis history. We caught the subway back "home" wandered Times Square and collapsed into our beds ready for another day of sunbaked tennis.
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| Dad and Josh |
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| It SURE IS |
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| View from our seats in Louis Armstrong |
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| It must be love... |
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| Dad and Me |
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| The three of us |
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| Can't believe we finally made it! |
Monday, September 5th:
We headed back to Louis Armstrong for what was the most anticipated day of tennis we would have. We were waiting patiently to see the NUMBER ONE in the world, Novack Djokovic play Dolgopolov (22). It was worth the wait. We started the day off with Tipsarevic (20) vs. Ferrero which was a great match as well. We left again, exhausted and sunbaked, but had to hop in the car and make the 4 hour drive to Baltimore, Maryland where we had arranged to visit with Josh's Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob. We didn't arrive until 11:30pm in an East Coast downpour from remnants of Hurricane Irene.
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| Day 2 US OPEN oh and GO DUCKS! ; ) |
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| Djokovic |
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| NUMBER 1 in the world |
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| Doing what he does best |
Tuesday, September 6th:
We woke up in Baltimore and met Josh's cousin Jeff for lunch. It was a rainy, wet, humid day so we decided an indoor activity at the Baltimore Aquarium was needed. We enjoyed ourselves very much. That evening we met up at Jeff and Erin's house to meet their three adorable little girls. We shared dinner together and shared long lost family stories. Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob joined us as well. The love and hospitality was wonderful. THANK YOU ALL!
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| Katie, Jeff, Me, Josh, Madie, Erin, Brynne |
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| The Turner Clan |
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| Watch out!! |
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| At the Aquarium |
Wednesday, September 7th:
We were scheduled to hit the road to Justin's (my brother-in-law) in Washington D.C. Before our short drive South, we couldn't leave without the famous Maryland Crab Cakes. Uncle Bob and Aunt Sue treated us to an amazing lunch full of crab. Aunt Sue gave me a lesson on how to "take care of" the crab meat out of a full crab. It was a great time.
We dropped our car off at Union Square in Washington D.C. and rolled our bags to Justin's work which is in the amazing epicenter of D.C. He has a gorgeous view and oriented us from the rooftop of his building. From there we headed out to dinner and drinks in a great little area within walking distance from Justin's house. We went to Church and State Bar and ordered our drinks through the confessional = ) Good times!!
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| D.C. Here we come!! |
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| Church and State, Josh and Justin choosing theirs Sins (AKA: drinks) |
Thursday, September 8th:
We started our morning off nice and leisurely with coffee and sitting on Justin's great stoop. He is located in the prime part of D.C. He is only a mile and a half from the capital in an amazing three story home. Such a unique way of living. We decided to dedicate this day to The Mall. Josh really wanted to hit the National Gallery and I wanted to see the Holocaust Museum. Both were amazing in their own right. It's incredible how much there is to see and take in. We only made it through the top floor of the Holocaust Museum (there are four floors). It took us two hours, we were both so interested. We make quite the couple with Josh's Jewish background and me being 1/2 German!!! Justin met up with us after he was done working and we hit the Barack's District where we had yet again another AMAZING dinner.
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| National Gallery of Art |
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| We LOVED the Modern side |
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| Picasso |
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| The Mall |
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| Metal Tree |
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| The Monument |
Friday, September 9th:
We rode the public bus to the Hart Building where Justin had graciously arranged for his friend Tommy to take us on a behind the scenes tour of the Capital. Tommy works for The Salt Lake Tribune as the D.C. correspondent so he has all the special press passes and access. This was such an educational and fun up close experience of our government and its history. Tommy was able to get us on the Senate floor in the press gallery where we observed my old Senator, Harry Reid make an appointment. It was pretty awesome! After this wee had lunch at Union Station while Justin finished up some work and then we met up for Guiness' at The Dubliner and set out on an epic monument walk. The FDR monument was my favorite. Josh's favorite was Lincoln and FDR as well. We got to see the new Martin Luther King monument as well. We were all exhausted and ready for the Press Club after our journey. We met up with Tommy and several of Justin's other friends at the National Press Club. Cheap drinks, good people and lots of history as well. We grabbed a bite to eat and headed out for a day/night early celebration of Justin's birthday. However, not before he got a slice of his favorite poppy-seed lemon cake. We went met up with some of Justin's friends at a local "speakeasy" (who knew these really existed) and celebrated Justin's birth.
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| Rainy D.C. |
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| LOVE this guy! |
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| The Onion Newsstand at Union Station = ) |
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| Back Stage underground subway at the Senate |
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| Rotunda |
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| George Washington |
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| My friend Albert Einstein |
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| Josh studying up |
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| Lincoln |
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| New Martin Luther King Jr. Monument |
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| Not sure why they chose to carve him out of white stone??!?! |
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| The gang |
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| So TRUE |
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| Something to think about even today... |
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| Jefferson |
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| The Washington Monument |
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| Press Club |
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| White House |
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| HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN |
Saturday, September 10th:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Justin!! I had been coming down with what would turn out to be a nasty cold for the last 2 days of this trip, so I spent Saturday in bed while the boys went out and explored Eastern Market. I was bummed I missed the famous street crepes. We flew back home this evening and I ended up missing the next week and a half of work. Too much play I suppose = )
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Eastern Market
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Thank you to all the family we were able to visit. The East Coast is a whole different world full of LOTS more people than we are used to out in the west. Josh and I are so grateful for all your love, hospitality and generous time you gave to us. Thank you for opening up your homes and allowing us to be a part of your lives momentarily. We LOVE you all so much and look forward to your visit to our widen open Western Spaces!!!
