April 8
We all awake and do work - it is Monday after all. Plus, the finals do not start until 20:20 local time, thus we will still have all day to enjoy the festivities.
13:12 - Uber downton. Country music blaring from the Uber. Definitely not what we expected from this driver.
13:16 - We notice that this Uber driver is driving us through every neighborhood in town. Sinickal looks at the map on the driver's telephone and says, "Yeah, this is the route the other Uber driver says was useless.
13:29 - :Land at the Host Bar - Runyon's. Order lunch.
13:55 - Wings are delivered and Dr. Pepper notes, "Properly sauced". Tony looks at him and says, "You or the wings?"
14:29 - After hearing glass break for the second time of the day, we remark that this has happened every time we have been at Runyon's. We ask our waitress if "Things just jump off ledges and shit". Waitress responds that "We don't like cleaning dishes!"
14:37 - Also remarking about the improper staffing levels at most of the establishments around town, Sinickal asks our waitress if the owner can read a calendar. She remarks after noting they had the same problem during the Super Bowl, "I don't know if he can."
15:20 - We pay the tab as we are finishing our drinks, and Sally the redhead waitress at Runyon's comes in to start her shift. You may recall Sally as the waitress that refers to us as her bodyguards because we kept clearing the aisle for her to maneuver on Saturday, comes up to us, says hello, and asks, "What, no Jameson's today?"
15:23 - First round of Jameson's.
15:58 - Leave Runyon's to head to Nicollet Mall. Nicollet Mall is not a shopping mall, but rather a boulevard that has been shut down for the tournament. It houses ESPN and CBS Sports, concerts and all types of games, etc. The establishments along the boulevard love this, I am sure as they have all been packed.
16:23 - While walking along Nicollet Mall, Sinickal wonders if Texas Tech wins tonight, then Lubbock might turn into a shit show. Tony and Dr. Pepper state simultaneously, "It already is!"
16:27 - Texas Tech cheerleader parade, excuse the pom team. "Guns Up!"
16:40 - Pop into 8th Street Grill. Get into a discussion with the security guy as we sit on the porch, asking about possible late night locations to eat after the game. He explains to us all of the issues with Minneapolis regarding staffing and food, as well as the differences between Super Bowl week and this weekend. We find out he is a former cop. Without knowing anything about him personally or why he is no longer a cop, we conclude based upon our interaction and conversation with him that he is exactly the type of person who we - as a public - still needs to be in law enforcement.
17:23 - First time the sun has been out all day. We are all remiss that we did not bring our sunglasses. Nah - won't need them in about 5 more minutes.
17:26 - Pop into Brit's Pub. Apparently patterned pants are in.
17:45 - Christian, Pepster's friend from North Palm Beach arrives with his boys for a drop in. Christian and his peeps are UVA alumni, so they head over to the free UVA party. We don't blame them.
18:35 - Alan - Tony and Dr. Pepper's friend from Providence whose birthday dinner was last night - joins us.
18:44 - See the news report about Nike possibly paying Zion's mom. Pepster remarks that it is a shame, "He might have to go pro now!"
19:37 - Table next to us - obviously sisters - starts comparing pictures of dogs with us. We note that one picture of both her dogs standing facing away from the camera. The other sister responds, "She likes ass!"
19:38 - After celebratory Jameson's with Alan, Dr. Pepper yells, "We ain't going to the game!"
19:43 - Brit's manager while changing the televisions to CBS asks if we were watching the current channel (we weren't). Tony asks, "Do you have Skinemax?" Sinickal remarks, "He said that out loud!"
19:44 - CBS is showing a repeat of the Katy Perry concert from the night before. Alan asks if that "Is Ivan Drago's wife?"
20:05 - Head to the stadium.
20:20 - Dr. Pepper, Tony and Alan and talking about an old acquaintance from Providence, Dr. Pepper tells us "That is the smallest racist in the state!"
20:31 - Hit our "seats", which we have once again just chosen a railing on the concourse as it is lower than our seats, has good sight-line, and is closer to the rest room and concessions. Mostly the same people around us as on Saturday. We are a bit late. Score is 3-2.
20:34 - The University of Virginia student section is a bit less than half filled. Sinickal remarks, their must be tests on campus.
20:35 - Mostly radio silence during the game.
22:30 - Free basketball. Overtime!
22:47 - University of Virginia wins. Note from twitter, "Finally a Cavaliers championship that did not involve Draymond Green being suspended!" Twitter is awesome.
22:50 - Head down for a better view of the championship trophy presentations and the cutting down of the net. Who are we kidding, a better spot for One Shining Moment!
22:52 - Alan takes leave. Before One Shining Moment - ridiculous!
23:14 - Sinickal is worried that Syracuse will not have a presence in One Shining Moment!
23:17 - ONE SHINING MOMENT!!! [Ed. Note - The Syracuse Orange was in the opening montage].
23:22 - Sinickal notes that everything is better with Luther. Pepster concurs - but especially with Big Luther. Not Little Luther, Big Luther.
23:23 - Leave the stadium. We need to find somewhere to wait for the ride share prices to fall.
23:39 - Enter the AC Marriott bar. We can do the above, and they have clean facilities. Perfect.
23:55 - We say goodbye to Dr. Pepper. He has an early flight in the morning so that he can make the home opener/championship presentation for the Red Sox. The rest of us will not be waking up to see him off.
00:05 - Pop into Runyon's to led the ride share surge pricing dissipate further. For the first time we sit at a bar and not a table. Sally tells the bartender, these are my Jameson's guys. Not tonight we aren't.
00:10 - We are informed the kitchen is closed, which we knew based upon the fact that we are in Minneapolis. We get into a discussion of things, and we find out the kitchen and bar closed early Saturday evening because somebody threw a chair through one of the front glass windows. Glad we weren't there for that one.
00:46 - Uber home. No use galavanting around to find a last meal in this town. Even the 24 hour diners are not 24 hours Sunday through Thursday. There will always be breakfast tomorrow.
Time Unknown - Arrive back at the house.
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Final Four Chronicles - The Arrival
Friday, April 5
Yes, another travel entry. Yes, your boys from WeMakeItRain are in for another fun-filled adventure at the Final Four. Travelling with us are 3/4 of the usual suspects, Keyser Soze, Verbal Kint .... oh wait, wrong group. Its Pepster, Sinickal and Tony. We are without Hopps this year, and Allison and Racecar also decided to sit this one out. We are not sure if Allison and Racecar just didn't find Minneapolis appealing, or if its us. Probably both. Joining us is Tony's friend Dr. Pepper from Providence by way of Boston. Oh no, we have two people from Providence with us; there is no way that doesn't go wrong. We will also have some guest appearances from friends and acquaintances, and likely new friends and acquaintances as well - as we are wont to do. Unfortunately for you - the reader - the first full moon after the vernal equinox occurs late this year - so no really good puns about that. As usual, all times are local.
April 4
20:32 - In Uber to airport, driver engages Pepster in conversation about where he is going. When he says he is going to Minneapolis for the Final Four, she asks him if that is anything like the basketball league started by Ice Cube. And then she follows with ... "I didn't really know much about him. My mom listens to Ice Cube. Yeah, apparently we are old.
21:59 Pepster wheels up to Minneapolis. Only 2 obvious Final Four fans on the plane - one Michigan State and one Virginia - and they are sitting next to each other exactly one row behind Pepster. This is going to be fun.
00:46 - Pepster arrives.
April 5
7:35 - Sinickal is in Denver awaiting his flight. Woman restocking Miller Lite in the Sky Club drops a six pack and breaks several bottles. A guy walks over looking like he is going to help, picks a bottle off the floor that didn't break and starts drinking.
07:55 - Older Chatty Kathy sits next to Sinickal. It's her first Final Four. She asks Sinickal if he is a player, then a coach, then if he is going to the Final Four. She figures out that this is not Sinickal's first Final Four. Sinickal tells her, "This isn't even my first Final Four .... in Minneapolis."
8:12 - A lot of Texas Tech on Sinickal's flight out of Denver.
09:35 - Dr. Pepper at Logan, drinking coffee and watching the parade of yoga pants at the airport. Tony notes that yoga pants are the greatest invention since, well ever.
09:46 - Dr. Pepper while still at Logan - and whom Pepster and Sinickal and have never met - texts the group about his arrival at 2. "I'll be headed to the W Foshay. Introductory drinks on me at 3?"
11:15 - Sinickal now in Minneapolis. Walks to meet Pepster at the Intercontinental Hotel attached to the airport.
11:37 - We have a quorum. Sinickal and Pepster sit down for lunch.
11:40 - Young woman sits near us at the bar wearing a UVA shirt. Sinickal and Pepster congratulate her on the bounce back year after the biggest, well really 2 biggest, basketball upsets of all time. She immediately questions her choice of seats, restaurants, and maybe even cities. Then she begins at least pretending to do work so she can ignore us for the rest of lunch. [Ed. Note - she was doing work. Turns out she is a Professor at the University of Richmond]
11:45 - Dr Pepper wheels up to Minneapolis.
11:42 - Bartender Leah recommends a local craft beer for Pepster. Sinickal notes that he shouldn't start drinking yet, so he has a Bud Light.
13:25 - Sinickal receives notice from Mike and Pete, the proprietors of the Best Dive Bar in America - The Elliott Street Pub in Downtown Atlanta - that they are painting beer cans for the EASTER BEER HUNT!!! Sinickal remarks - despite Tony's previous assertion - this might be the greatest invention of all time. Pepster is now mad that every other bar hasn't done this.
13:27 - We decide the the UVA young lady has done enough work, and Sinickal re-engages her in conversation by showing her the post of the painted beer cans. She might just forgive our previous transgression - if only we could refrain from other UVA upset comments.
13:31 - Sinickal asks her if she was prepared for Virginia to underperform.
13:35 - She pretends to ignore us again.
13:37 - Pepster asks her if she follows UMBC on Twitter.
13:38 - She decides to actually join the conversation. We introduce ourselves. Her name is Lauren, she graduated from UVA and is waiting for her father to arrive - he is a UVA alumnus.
13:39 - Rest of the bar decides to join in our conversation. Older guy who is in town for the Final Four because he thought North Carolina was going to be here - they aren't. Other kid rooting for Auburn. That's it. We are now running this bar.
13:48 - Leah, who lives downtown, gives us the run of her recommendations for food and drink downtown. We are going to eat and drink like locals.
14:00 - Dr. Pepper joins the group at the Intercontinental at the airport - so much for the plans to meet at the W Foshay.
14:12 - Lauren - after hours of discussion about our respective alma maters and about 2 hours after Pepster pontificates about how Harvard would be in the Sweet Sixteen next year - and they will - decides to join our conversation on great college rivalries - casually throws out that she has a Masters and a Ph.D. from Yale. Sinickal erupts ... "You just got GOT". Dr. Pepper almost falls out of his chair. Others in the bar laughing hysterically. Pepster could only applaud and gave her a hug.
14:17 - Lauren "Thanks for the Beer."
16:11 - Auburn guy - apparently embracing his Southern roots - talks about how he lived in a trailer park at Auburn, and that all the students do.
16:32 - Lauren - now fully engaged in the trash talk - mentions that we all went to amazing schools. Turns to Auburn guy - "except for yours!"
16:30 - Lauren now talking more trash that the rest of us turns to Auburn guy - "Is it like a shit show on weekends?"
16:35 - Turns out Lauren is going to the UVA party tonight at Mansion - which we are also. We tell her we will see her and hope to meet her dad.
16:45 - Uber to the house.
16:54 - Dr. Pepper, on the phone with his friend taking roll call, "He's three dollars away from two dollars!"
17:30 - Cleaning up to go out for the night. We feel it is a Southwestern Central type of night. Stick 'em Scorpions.
18:30 - Tony wheels up to Minneapolis from JFK.
19:13 - While waiting for the Uber, Pepster enjoys the single swing hanging from the tree in the front yard.
19:44 - Dinner and drinks at Runyons, the dive/sports bar recommended by Leah. Wings are good.
21:09 - Tony lands.
21:10 - Heading to Mansion - the UVA party.
21:14 - Meet up with Christian, Pepe's friend from North Palm Beach and a Virginia alumnus who was not going to miss this Final Four and is our host for the UVA party tonight. Turns out this was a GREAT party!
21:27 - Run into Lauren and her father. As her father introduces himself to us, he looks at Pepster and says, "So your the Harvard guy".
22:08 - Not surprisingly, nobody at the UVA party dances to the Wobble.
22:30 - Tony arrives at Mansion - WE ARE WHOLE!
22:58 - Last call at the bar - Christian triples everybody up (he really doubled everyone up but it looked like a lot on the table). Dr. Pepper realizes Christian is a really good due.
00:40 - Uber back to the house - time to call it a night.
Yes, another travel entry. Yes, your boys from WeMakeItRain are in for another fun-filled adventure at the Final Four. Travelling with us are 3/4 of the usual suspects, Keyser Soze, Verbal Kint .... oh wait, wrong group. Its Pepster, Sinickal and Tony. We are without Hopps this year, and Allison and Racecar also decided to sit this one out. We are not sure if Allison and Racecar just didn't find Minneapolis appealing, or if its us. Probably both. Joining us is Tony's friend Dr. Pepper from Providence by way of Boston. Oh no, we have two people from Providence with us; there is no way that doesn't go wrong. We will also have some guest appearances from friends and acquaintances, and likely new friends and acquaintances as well - as we are wont to do. Unfortunately for you - the reader - the first full moon after the vernal equinox occurs late this year - so no really good puns about that. As usual, all times are local.
April 4
20:32 - In Uber to airport, driver engages Pepster in conversation about where he is going. When he says he is going to Minneapolis for the Final Four, she asks him if that is anything like the basketball league started by Ice Cube. And then she follows with ... "I didn't really know much about him. My mom listens to Ice Cube. Yeah, apparently we are old.
21:59 Pepster wheels up to Minneapolis. Only 2 obvious Final Four fans on the plane - one Michigan State and one Virginia - and they are sitting next to each other exactly one row behind Pepster. This is going to be fun.
00:46 - Pepster arrives.
April 5
7:35 - Sinickal is in Denver awaiting his flight. Woman restocking Miller Lite in the Sky Club drops a six pack and breaks several bottles. A guy walks over looking like he is going to help, picks a bottle off the floor that didn't break and starts drinking.
07:55 - Older Chatty Kathy sits next to Sinickal. It's her first Final Four. She asks Sinickal if he is a player, then a coach, then if he is going to the Final Four. She figures out that this is not Sinickal's first Final Four. Sinickal tells her, "This isn't even my first Final Four .... in Minneapolis."
8:12 - A lot of Texas Tech on Sinickal's flight out of Denver.
09:35 - Dr. Pepper at Logan, drinking coffee and watching the parade of yoga pants at the airport. Tony notes that yoga pants are the greatest invention since, well ever.
09:46 - Dr. Pepper while still at Logan - and whom Pepster and Sinickal and have never met - texts the group about his arrival at 2. "I'll be headed to the W Foshay. Introductory drinks on me at 3?"
11:15 - Sinickal now in Minneapolis. Walks to meet Pepster at the Intercontinental Hotel attached to the airport.
11:37 - We have a quorum. Sinickal and Pepster sit down for lunch.
11:40 - Young woman sits near us at the bar wearing a UVA shirt. Sinickal and Pepster congratulate her on the bounce back year after the biggest, well really 2 biggest, basketball upsets of all time. She immediately questions her choice of seats, restaurants, and maybe even cities. Then she begins at least pretending to do work so she can ignore us for the rest of lunch. [Ed. Note - she was doing work. Turns out she is a Professor at the University of Richmond]
11:45 - Dr Pepper wheels up to Minneapolis.
11:42 - Bartender Leah recommends a local craft beer for Pepster. Sinickal notes that he shouldn't start drinking yet, so he has a Bud Light.
13:25 - Sinickal receives notice from Mike and Pete, the proprietors of the Best Dive Bar in America - The Elliott Street Pub in Downtown Atlanta - that they are painting beer cans for the EASTER BEER HUNT!!! Sinickal remarks - despite Tony's previous assertion - this might be the greatest invention of all time. Pepster is now mad that every other bar hasn't done this.
13:27 - We decide the the UVA young lady has done enough work, and Sinickal re-engages her in conversation by showing her the post of the painted beer cans. She might just forgive our previous transgression - if only we could refrain from other UVA upset comments.
13:31 - Sinickal asks her if she was prepared for Virginia to underperform.
13:35 - She pretends to ignore us again.
13:37 - Pepster asks her if she follows UMBC on Twitter.
13:38 - She decides to actually join the conversation. We introduce ourselves. Her name is Lauren, she graduated from UVA and is waiting for her father to arrive - he is a UVA alumnus.
13:39 - Rest of the bar decides to join in our conversation. Older guy who is in town for the Final Four because he thought North Carolina was going to be here - they aren't. Other kid rooting for Auburn. That's it. We are now running this bar.
13:48 - Leah, who lives downtown, gives us the run of her recommendations for food and drink downtown. We are going to eat and drink like locals.
14:00 - Dr. Pepper joins the group at the Intercontinental at the airport - so much for the plans to meet at the W Foshay.
14:12 - Lauren - after hours of discussion about our respective alma maters and about 2 hours after Pepster pontificates about how Harvard would be in the Sweet Sixteen next year - and they will - decides to join our conversation on great college rivalries - casually throws out that she has a Masters and a Ph.D. from Yale. Sinickal erupts ... "You just got GOT". Dr. Pepper almost falls out of his chair. Others in the bar laughing hysterically. Pepster could only applaud and gave her a hug.
14:17 - Lauren "Thanks for the Beer."
16:11 - Auburn guy - apparently embracing his Southern roots - talks about how he lived in a trailer park at Auburn, and that all the students do.
16:32 - Lauren - now fully engaged in the trash talk - mentions that we all went to amazing schools. Turns to Auburn guy - "except for yours!"
16:30 - Lauren now talking more trash that the rest of us turns to Auburn guy - "Is it like a shit show on weekends?"
16:35 - Turns out Lauren is going to the UVA party tonight at Mansion - which we are also. We tell her we will see her and hope to meet her dad.
16:45 - Uber to the house.
16:54 - Dr. Pepper, on the phone with his friend taking roll call, "He's three dollars away from two dollars!"
17:30 - Cleaning up to go out for the night. We feel it is a Southwestern Central type of night. Stick 'em Scorpions.
18:30 - Tony wheels up to Minneapolis from JFK.
19:13 - While waiting for the Uber, Pepster enjoys the single swing hanging from the tree in the front yard.
19:44 - Dinner and drinks at Runyons, the dive/sports bar recommended by Leah. Wings are good.
21:09 - Tony lands.
21:10 - Heading to Mansion - the UVA party.
21:14 - Meet up with Christian, Pepe's friend from North Palm Beach and a Virginia alumnus who was not going to miss this Final Four and is our host for the UVA party tonight. Turns out this was a GREAT party!
21:27 - Run into Lauren and her father. As her father introduces himself to us, he looks at Pepster and says, "So your the Harvard guy".
22:08 - Not surprisingly, nobody at the UVA party dances to the Wobble.
22:30 - Tony arrives at Mansion - WE ARE WHOLE!
22:58 - Last call at the bar - Christian triples everybody up (he really doubled everyone up but it looked like a lot on the table). Dr. Pepper realizes Christian is a really good due.
00:40 - Uber back to the house - time to call it a night.
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