Tale of the T.P.
Ladies and gents: New York baseball has gone totally bougie.
I had the privilege of visiting BOTH the Mets' new Citi Field Stadium in Queens and the new Yankees Stadium in the Bronx for their opening day exhibition games tonight, with the daunting assignment of sampling the swanky new food offerings at each, not to mention comparing the overall ambiance of the extravagant (and intimidating) new structures.
That's a lot for one person to cover (by subway), especially one distracted by a family emergency, but I put on my game face and wore my loose jeans. Not quite pie pants, but good enough. I had to consider my apparel, after all, as I was to be on camera. Stuffing my face. Which is just want the Pulitzer panel is looking for.
I'm about to pass out now from a food-induced coma, but just want to say that the food options are remarkable and disturbing. Most of the fans I spoke with agreed that the New York ball parks were often behind the curve when it came to the snacks and food service. Seattle has HAD sushi. Milwaukee offers bratwurst. But the Yanks and Mets (esp the Yanks) just whipped up the same-old, same-old b/c they had no trouble drawing fans into their stadiums.
Did they overcompensate? You be the judge.
Now, I'm a fan of variety. Why wouldn't you nosh on a pair of chicken mole pipian taquitos at a Mets game, or a piping hot Boars Head pastrami on rye while watching the Yanks? Both seem to suit stadium seating.
But the Mets Stadium's $17 lobster roll? Delicious, but is it ball park? Or the Yankees' "premium" sushi rolls for $15?? Not to mention the fact that both boast swanky restaurants and clubs that you have to have high-end tickets to enter. Why do you have to divvy the masses like that, especially during a recession that's already hurting everyone enough?
Granted, the little guys and bleacher creatures DO have more vendors and concessions stands than ever on every level of both stadiums (which means much, much shorter lines!) hawking fan favorites (peanuts and cracker jacks still DO exist, plus hot dogs, burgers, hot pretzels, ice cream, pop corn, candied apples, and cold cold beer) but why make the class divide ever-more obvious with so many exclusive areas?
Overlong (ineloquent) story short -- the new food options at both ball parks are very exciting, but the Danny Meyer roundup (Blue Smoke, The Shake Shack and Box Frites,etc.) at the Mets spanks the Yankees Food Court -- though the Yanks can also boast their own Hard Rock Cafe, Johnny Rockets and Brother Jimmy's BBQ.
But the Yankees bathroom attendants have *much* snazzier uniforms. We're talking pin stripes, bow ties and vests, oh my! And their sinks and soap dispensers are automatic.
Although the Mets toilets have an automatic flush function. Just in case your lobster doesn't agree with you.
I had the privilege of visiting BOTH the Mets' new Citi Field Stadium in Queens and the new Yankees Stadium in the Bronx for their opening day exhibition games tonight, with the daunting assignment of sampling the swanky new food offerings at each, not to mention comparing the overall ambiance of the extravagant (and intimidating) new structures.
That's a lot for one person to cover (by subway), especially one distracted by a family emergency, but I put on my game face and wore my loose jeans. Not quite pie pants, but good enough. I had to consider my apparel, after all, as I was to be on camera. Stuffing my face. Which is just want the Pulitzer panel is looking for.
I'm about to pass out now from a food-induced coma, but just want to say that the food options are remarkable and disturbing. Most of the fans I spoke with agreed that the New York ball parks were often behind the curve when it came to the snacks and food service. Seattle has HAD sushi. Milwaukee offers bratwurst. But the Yanks and Mets (esp the Yanks) just whipped up the same-old, same-old b/c they had no trouble drawing fans into their stadiums.
Did they overcompensate? You be the judge.
Now, I'm a fan of variety. Why wouldn't you nosh on a pair of chicken mole pipian taquitos at a Mets game, or a piping hot Boars Head pastrami on rye while watching the Yanks? Both seem to suit stadium seating.
But the Mets Stadium's $17 lobster roll? Delicious, but is it ball park? Or the Yankees' "premium" sushi rolls for $15?? Not to mention the fact that both boast swanky restaurants and clubs that you have to have high-end tickets to enter. Why do you have to divvy the masses like that, especially during a recession that's already hurting everyone enough?
Granted, the little guys and bleacher creatures DO have more vendors and concessions stands than ever on every level of both stadiums (which means much, much shorter lines!) hawking fan favorites (peanuts and cracker jacks still DO exist, plus hot dogs, burgers, hot pretzels, ice cream, pop corn, candied apples, and cold cold beer) but why make the class divide ever-more obvious with so many exclusive areas?
Overlong (ineloquent) story short -- the new food options at both ball parks are very exciting, but the Danny Meyer roundup (Blue Smoke, The Shake Shack and Box Frites,etc.) at the Mets spanks the Yankees Food Court -- though the Yanks can also boast their own Hard Rock Cafe, Johnny Rockets and Brother Jimmy's BBQ.
But the Yankees bathroom attendants have *much* snazzier uniforms. We're talking pin stripes, bow ties and vests, oh my! And their sinks and soap dispensers are automatic.
Although the Mets toilets have an automatic flush function. Just in case your lobster doesn't agree with you.
posted by Nicole Pesce | 4/03/2009 11:15:00 PM
1 Comments:
yo yo! this is eric. the chinese dude from the blasted union deli.
i read your article this morning about names and jobs. i've never paid attention to an author's name before, but glad i did this morning!
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