The summer whirlwind continues. We’re home from NYC and we had a great time. We had a lot of fun with our friends – Donna and George. We saw a couple of baseball games, we did a little touring, and we did a little eating.

First, our friends: It’s been a few years since we last visited, so it was a combination reunion and get-together. I think they may have flipped a coin to see who got stuck with us, but I digress. George officially had us for baseball and Donna had us for the off-day and dinners. Though we talk regularly, it is still special to see them in person. There is always something to talk and laugh about.

We flew to NYC on JetBlue. The price was right and they really do have the best legroom in economy class – comfortable enough for an hour’s worth of flying without having to pay premiums.

Our hotel was in Brooklyn and only a block and a half from their house, so it was easy to take a stroll to meet up to go out. The Nu Hotel was nice and it only took a night to get used to the city sounds at bedtime. There were sirens and car horns as compared to the occasional squirrel dropping acorns and running across the roof at home.

The baseball games were fun. We would have preferred to see two wins, but it’s Yankee Stadium and we hit .500. We had great seats for both games, got to see some of our favorite players and even saw some former Yankees in the Old-Timers Festivities. I even got to learn a few new words that I hadn’t associated with baseball prior to going – just have to love those Yankee fans!

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On our first evening, we ate dinner near the hotel at French Louie. It’s a nice little place a half block from the hotel and as the weather was nice, we were able to sit outside on the patio. The food is French leaning and we had a wonderful meal. We started with Gougères and a glass of Sancerre wine that appropriately whet our appetites. For our meals, Sue had roasted chicken, while I had the steak frites. We enjoyed a nice bottle of Bourgogne Rouge with our meals. Sue passed on dessert, while I had to try the Bananas Foster Profiteroles with a glass of sauternes – they were very good! It was a great way to start off the trip.

Thursday, the Yankees played the Cleveland Indians… sorry…Cleveland Guardians. It was a warm day with bright sunshine. Even with sunscreen, we were cooked to a reddish hue. However, a good game and cool water made for a great day.

After the baseball game, we hopped an Uber and went to dinner in the Bronx. We took the long way, thanks to our driver Jalal and tour docent George. We started up the Grand Concourse, eventually making it over to Arthur Avenue. Arthur Avenue is the heart of “Little Italy” in the Bronx and is lined with Italian restaurants, markets, bakeries and shops.

We ate at F&J’s Pine Restaurant on Bronxdale Avenue and had a wonderful and filling meal. The mere thought of cannoli and “Boom”… I would have exploded. No red sauce from a jar there. Afterward, we took an Uber back to Brooklyn to digest and rest after a long day. The ride back to the hotel was magical. The nighttime sparkling lights of Manhattan and Queens reflected in the river. NYC at it’s beautiful best.

Friday was our “off day”. No baseball game; just a little relaxation. With a sore back, walking around wasn’t going to be in the works. So we took a little walk to grab some lunch, but pretty much just chilled during the day.

Friday evening all four of us went to dinner at Piccola Cucina Casa. It’s not far from where we were staying and is a newer Sicilian Restaurant. The food was delicious, as was the conversation. Lots of good belly laughs.

Saturday was old timers day at the ball park. That has nothing to do with our ages, but rather the former Yankee players that come to town to be recognized by the fans. This was the 76th Old Timers Day and they were recognizing the 2009 World Series Championship team, plus there were a few honored guests that were invited, including the wives of former Yankees Billy Martin, Thurmon Munson and Bobby Murcer.

If you are a baseball fan, you’ll recognize names such as Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, AJ Burnett, Alex Rodriguez, Nick Swisher, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Derek Jeter. Among the invitees were Bucky Dent, Paul O’Neill, John Flaherty, David Cone, Willie Randolph, CC Sabathia, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, “El Duque” and Lou Piniella.

Michael Kay did the introductions, and then Suzyn Waldman and Joe Girardi led the Q&A session. The guys were all hyped to participate and the fans loved getting a chance to see some of their favorites from years gone by. It really was quite special to take a stroll down memory lane.

Once the old timers festivities finished up, the day’s game began. The Yankees played the Colorado Rockies and it did not go well. On the bright side, we still got to see the Yankees in person and enjoyed each other’s company on a beautiful day.

For our final evening in Brooklyn, we went easy at a small neighborhood restaurant called the Mile End Deli. It was a fun way to wrap things up without overeating. We had some excellent smoked meats, matzo ball soup and pierogis between us and I had my first Dr. Brown’s Creme Soda in ages!

And then, in the blink of an eye, it was time to head home.

We had great flights, great meals, watched live baseball and enjoyed the company of great friends. I’d call that a “great getaway”.