Boston 2011

We made a quick in and out trip to Boston this past weekend to catch 2 Red Sox games at Fenway. Last year we decided that rather than taking several trips to Boston for Red Sox games we should try and get a couple back to back games to maximize our baseball and save ourselves some driving back and forth. We got some good tickets to the Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels, and made the best of what turned out to be a surprisingly warm first weekend in may. First stop was the “new” Boston Garden where we visited the Boston Sports Museum. Lots of neat stuff in there, plus the employees were getting the rink ready for Wednesday night’s Semi-Conference finals game against the Philadelphia Flyers so we saw them checking out all the displays, score board, and sound the goal horn. It was really cool, and really empty.

Boston Garden
Boston Garden
Champions
Champions
obstructed view
obstructed view

Monday night was the first game at Fenway Park since the anti-terrorist raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, and the Red Sox organization went all out to honor our country. We had a couple Celtics and Bruins joined by a war veteran throw out the first pitches. Had members of the military come out for a moment of silence before the game and national anthem. And, the Red Sox unfurled their huge American flag over the Green Monster, which is usually only reserved for opening/patriots day games. So that was really cool to see. Plus the Red Sox won the game! Hooray!

Fenway Flag
Fenway Flag
NESN
NESN

Tuesday we went to the Boston Museum of Art and saw a really great Chihuly glass exhibit as well as some of the ancient art from Egypt, Greece, and Rome. We enjoyed the Japanese Garden outside in the courtyard of the museum. Afterwards we went to the New England Aquarium for a while and visited the new Shark and Ray Touch Tank where we got to touch the many rays that swam by. We saw the penguins too. Afterwards it was on to fenway for our second game. The Red Sox won this game too, and we saw David Ortiz hit another home run (his third of the season was Monday, and fourth was Tuesday).

Boston
Boston
Chihuly Glass Art
Chihuly Glass Art
Chihuly Glass Art
Chihuly Glass Art
Chihuly Glass Art
Chihuly Glass Art

All in all a really great, if not really quick trip.

Syracuse Basketball

On Wednesday February 9th I went to the Syracuse Orangemen basketball game against the Georgetown Hoyas. It was a really great game and I had a really fun time. There was always something going on, something to cheer about, or chant about, or harass the Hoyas. Left Rochester around 4:40pm and I got stuck in Syracuse traffic a 6:05pm. After going around 200 feet in 20 minutes I broke out of line and meandered through the city streets until I found parking. Caught a bus to the arena and just missed the start of the game. Traffic was insane. The game was great, except the Orange got in foul trouble in the second half, missed some critical shots, and lost. Got out of the stadium quick, hopped a bus back to the parking lot, and made it home by 11:20pm. All in all a good trip, but pretty short game, I spent a lot more time in the car than watching basketball, so I doubt I would do it again.

Syracuse Basketball
Syracuse Basketball