zombies R us

It's coming...you know it's coming... the apocalypse will be here before you know it, but will you be prepared? With zombies trolling the earth looking for brains will you survive or will you be bait?

The better you are prepared today, the easier tomorrow will be. With all this yammering about the end of days, Mayan calendar stuff, the apocalypse is hurtling towards us this December! Team VFH's attitude though is typical, we don't really believe it, but hedging, one can never be too sure. So, what better way to prepare than to take a Zombie Survival Course.  

uh oh

Offered at $179 a day or $450 for a more comprehensive weekend training camp at the Zombie Survival Course in South Jersey, one can gain the skills needed to survive when everyone else is no longer here. And, there are plenty of things to know! Weapons like guns and crossbows and clubs (affectionately known as melee weapons) are used. Survival training like finding shelter and food, first aid, as well learning how to hot wire a car are part of the festivities. They'll teach you how surviving the first 48 hours of the apocalypse is extremely important to your future.

Though this all sounds extreme, the good people at the ZSC base camp don't really think the world is ending in December either. Their website shows available courses starting in March 2013 and claims this is not physically demanding and appropriate for anyone at least 15 years old and ZSC will cater to private groups as well as bachelor and bachelotte parties or for a corporate team building exercise. (Not to quip here, but do you really want your CEO covering your ass when you run out of ammo?)

Fully insured and offering trained professionals, ZSC can be a way to learn something while having fun as you bond with your kids. The Zombie Survival Course is held somewhere in South Jersey. If you're interested in living while the rest of your neighborhood is devoured contact them!  zombie survival course

Of course, coming up is the other side of the hilarity. On October 6th in Asbury Park, NJ the 5th annual Zombie walk will be held. This is your chance to mingle with the undead. Participants get "made up" (they're not really dead) and shuffle along the boardwalk. Evidently it is the largest "walk" in the world and recognized by the people at Guinness as such. In 2010 over 4,000 walking corpses ambled by the sea in Asbury Park. For particulars on how to see this free event and join in the revelery visit their website: THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING

Hopefully ZSC doesn't decide to visit Asbury Park October 6th to take in some Indian Summer sunshine! 

Arrrrrrts and Leisure

There is a pressing matter being held tomorrow. It is the 10th annual INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY. September 19th is the world wide event where everyone can yammer away like they've escaped from a swashbuckler movie, threaten to keel haul your kids if they don't take out the garbage and utter the words 'avast' incessantly and still be considered normal. It's your day to dress up like a pirate. Go ahead get out that dead parrot and staple him to your shoulder. On September 19th it'll be the norm.

avast

As for the norm, in the Conch Republic of Key West, Florida there is also pub crawl attached to the revelry of the day. You may ask why is this different than any other day in Key West and that's a good question. The hilarity of this wayward city runs unabated 365 days and nights and mornings a year. Much rum will invariably get your "inner pirate" churned up. Tomorrow in Key West if you're wearing pirate apparel you are eligible for a "Pirate Drink and Shot Special" in several bars. A quick search on Facebook shows where the debauchery will churn along Duval. Check out other events worldwide at:  http://www.talklikeapirate.com/   Yes, tomorrow you can dress up like Keith Richards and ask everyone what is a pirate's favorite section of the Sunday New York Times....

Why... it's the "Arrrrrts and Leisure" section.

Need to practice? Watch some of these movies? PIRATE MOVIES   Or, just drink a lot of rum....

Make sure you sure you start the day off right with a ....hearrrrrty breakfast.

 

Beers of the world

The Yankees have won 27 Major League Baseball World Series Championships. Some of the most famous names in the game have played for the Bronx Bombers; Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Jeter, Clark. The long standing success of the team is either a source of pride for fans or abject jealousy by followers of other teams. Regardless of whether you are an avid fan or devout hater though it is impossible to dismiss the legacy of the New York Yankees. During our recent trip to Yankees stadium the full impact of the history of the Yankees was on display as we made the effort to visit Monument Park. This was something I had always wanted to do, but for whatever reason never got there. On display at this open air museum of Yankees history are plaques, monuments and retired numbers of Yankees. There are a lot of them. Monument Park is free, but it closes 45 minutes before first pitch and sometimes the lines get long. The first time we visited the new stadium we lingered too long at Stan's on River Street, the destination bar before the game and missed the time cut off. This day we made the effort to make it to this inner sanctum of the Yankees illustrious past.

Stan's on River Street

Monument Park began when Yankees manager Miller Huggins, who guided the infamous "Murderer's Row" which won 3 World Series and 6 AL pennants during the 20's, died suddenly in 1929 and in his honor the Yankees placed a bronze plaque with his image on a red granite slab that resembled a headstone. This was then put in the field of play next to the flagpole in deep center field, which was very very deep...approx 450 ft. Later, monuments to Lou Gehrig and Base Ruth were similarly placed and they remained in the field of play until 1974 when the original Yankees stadium was renovated and the center field fence was shortened.  Later DiMaggio and Mantle were similiarly honored by the organization after they died. The park finally became fan accessible in 1985, but I had never made it to this storied place in the original Yankees Stadium. When the new Yankees Stadium was erected a few years ago, Monument Park was recreated, and because of Janet's love of the game, the spirit was rekindled in me. We were disappointed we missed the opportunity the last time and resolved to make it to the museum. We got to the stadium early and were one of the first through the gates and hightailed it directly to Monument Park.

The entrance is narrow and tomb-like; you need to walk down stairs and make a couple of turns in the close confines before emerging into great expanse of the stadium. It is glorious, the sun-splashed center field is right there, with netting covering the Park to prevent an errant batting practice ball from clattering amongst the faithful. Monument Park is situated between the two bullpens and the all-time Yankees great closer, Mariano Rivera, asked when the new stadium was built to have a door from the bullpen that opened into the Park so he could walk through it to begin his day's chores.

Me and Lou

enjoying the view

Our seats for this game were near the upper edge of the stadium, so it was a thrill to be close to the field. I was just able to peak my head over the wall to see the players patrolling the grass. There are two rows of retired numbers, brilliant white baseballs marking each retireee, and along the recessed wall are plaques honoring notable Yankees as well as commemorative plaques marking Papal masses that have been held at Yankees Stadium. At the center are the original "headstone" plaques of Huggins, Gehrig and Ruth and the later additions of DiMaggio and Mantle.

some of the numbers retired
by the Yankees

They don't hurry you along at Monument Park and you are able to linger for a long time, but out of revered respect people shuffle through and pause when others take their photos. It is a unique experience. The long standing success of this team forces people to make a decision to either love the Yankees or root against them. Regardless of whether you are an avid fan or devout hater a visit to this Monument Park is a must.

it's just not the same

The history of baseball is rich and lengthy and nearly every team has similar displays honoring their past, but none really comes close to Monument Park. Team VFH has been to several parks this season, including PNC Park with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Camden Yards with the Baltimore Orioles and Citizen's Bank Park with the Philadelphia Phillies. In Pittsburgh and Baltimore we did not have an opportunity to seek out similar homages to the past, but in Philadelphia they have Asburn Alley, named after the Phillies Hall of Fame centerfielder and longtime broadcaster Richie Ashburn. This monument park opens 2 1/2 hours before first pitch and one can soak in the Phillies history. On display are several plaques of the "Centennial Team" comprised of past Phillies players. It is worth a visit to Asburn Alley alone, but they offer so much more than Memorial Park. New York doesn't even come close. Readers of this blog know that Philadelphia is a great beer town. There are a lot of independent craft brewers in the area and a lot of them can be purchased at the CBP in Philly. One can saunter through Asburn's Alley with a Yards or Dogfish or Victory and revel in the Phillies history and then taunt the opposing team's pitchers warming up in the open bullpen. At Yankees Stadium there are no drinks allowed while in Monument Park and when the thirst hits you have to go to the kiosk called "Beers of the World". It is a sorry affair and they offer nothing really of worth. There are suspect beers like Hoegaarden, Heineken and Stella Artois, but we went with the staple, Yuengling. It's just not the same.

Relevancy

For a long long long time my favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, was irrelevant. Despite the rich history of the team they were pitiful. I endured the losing seasons graciously though and still hated the Boston Red Sox because I knew they weren't going anywhere either. As a fan of a mediocre team solace was gained in the knowledge that though the Yankees drought stretched a decade, Boston's was getting close to that four score and seven years ago mind numbing count. 

When the team was bad, tickets were always available. I once walked up to the Yankees box office hours before first pitch and scored a ticket 10 rows up from home plate on the aisle. I was able to see the pitcher grimace with every bad call from the umpire. I once went to the storied Fenway Park to watch the Sox play the Indians. I sat just behind the dugout and was struck with how empty that stadium was and though I was wearing a Yankees hat, I was barely hassled.

it's okay to look down

With the resurgence of baseball in general and with the recent success of these two storied franchises;  Boston's 86 year World Series drought ended a few years back; tickets are tougher to come by and tickets can be very pricey. Yankees stadium may be a cathedral for the sport, but it costs a lot of indulgences to enter. (That's a Catholic reference.)  Although I have been a fan of the Yankees since my youth, I had never seen these two teams play a game against one another. This past weekend we went. Tickets were not available through the Yankees website, but they were on StubHub.com. After everything was added in, including the 4.95 download fee so you can print tickets at home, we saw the Yankees lose 4-1 to the rapidly fading Red Sox for approximately $40 per ticket. Of course we were unable to see any facial expressions from our aerie, but we had a great view of the facade. Oh, and by the way, the Yankees have a 4 game lead in the AL East as of today, while Boston is playing .484 ball and are 13 games back... YES!

Leaving my body to science

If you ignore your friends they will go away. The same holds true for your teeth. As a founding member of Team VFH I am well aware of the need to keep both your friends and your teeth. Without teeth you'll not get many invites to parties, because your friends will figure you are more interested in attending a Kenny Rogers concert. Like a brilliant beacon on a stormy sea, sporting an array of neon bright chicklets draws friends close. They'll want you around, they'll open their doors to you. You'll have full access to their refrigerators and their pools. Combined with proper grooming (unless your friends like Rasputin stunt doubles), there's no telling how much you can mooch with an infectious smile.

Now, proper dental work can be expensive. Forget about maintenance like cleanings and cavities, but orthodontics and prosthodontics can be a heavy hit on the wallet... Unfortunately if you weren't blessed with perfectly aligned chompers you will have to go this route. Afraid of the dentist? Tough... Suck it up...think of how much sunlight can glint off your incisors poolside.

At least I have a partial solution to the cost factor involved. Go to a dental school... I know, I know, that's a scary proposition, especially if you consider the sound of a drill frightening, or think it's wrong to have some student perfecting their novocaine needle technique on your gums. Going to a dental school is like leaving your body to science....and experiencing it at the same time.

I can understand if you think I'm nuts, that this is a new low for Team VFH in its money hording 

ways, but truthfully it's not that bad. For years I was dreadfully afraid of dentists and their costs before discovering U.M.D.N.J. in Newark, NJ. It is one of the largest dental schools in the country. The school produces great dentists and specialists and they offer their services at a fraction of the cost. And, at least I know the  young doctors are diligent in their efforts because their every move is checked by faculty members who will probe and poke you before the

leaving your body to science

actual work begins... This means you can sit in a chair for awhile, but at least you're not being churned in quickly by someone trying to make his mortgage payment or a tee time. My scaredy cat ass was comforted by slowly moving dentists who took their time, listened to my fears and explained procedures when necessary.  I've been going to U.M.D.N.J. since 1994 and I have become brave enough, although I still hate those novocaine needles. But! I saved a lot of money and the good student doctors have taken my motley array of crooked teeth and through braces and crowns have transformed me into a science project worth displaying poolside....

Now if I can only get something done about my receeding hair line... 

On a side note... I was born in Newark and raised in Harrison, New Jersey, so the idea of traveling up to this northern Jersey area is all right by me. When I go to the dentist I often reward myself by getting a Cuban sandwich and cafe con leche at a hole in the wall joint on Ferry Street in the Ironbound section of Newark which is a very short drive from the school. It's an area boasting scores of Portuguese and Brazilian restaurants in what is sometimes called "Little Portugal." The name "Ironbound" refers to the many railroad tracks in the area, with Amtrak's Northeast Corridor forming the western boundary. Another area named for tracks was in Brooklyn, New York. The Dodgers once played at Ebbets field and the area was crisscrossed by trolley car tracks, forcing patrons to 'dodge' the rattling trolleys. When my mother lived for awhile in this area of Newark it was called "Down Neck." I remember being driven past the old Ballantine Brewery and Ruppert Stadium where the Newark Bears of the International League, and owned by the New York Yankees, as well as the Negro League Newark Eagles played. Even if you're not going for a filling Ironbound is a place to visit for a filling.
IRONBOUND

There is also good bread in the area. Portuguese rolls, especially from the Teixeira Bakery are amazing. But deeper into Newark is the Italian Bakery Calandra's. I often get a seeded sourdough bastone for home and a baguette for the road. Sometimes I splurge on a chocolate cannoli. I go to the First Street store in Newark, but they have locations in Fairfield and Caldwell. The smells of the freshly baked bread and the sights of all the pastries are overwhelming, so make sure you take a number for service, lest Tony Soprano cuts in front of you.
CALANDRA'S BAKERY

Harrison, NJ boasts its own bakery. I wrote about my hometown in my first novel, "Hi, How Are You?", Xlibris 2000, and leveled the town so the government could erect a huge shopping mall that could be seen from outer space. Harrison is this little insulated town. Newark is across the river and the meadowlands are on the other side. Despite these affronts Harrison was like a little Mayberry RFD, innocent and quiet. But because of its small size, just a mile square, and its longitude and latitude, Harrison either smelled of the dank decay of the meadowlands, or the warm, comforting smell of Pechter's Bakery on Jersey Street. After Sunday Mass I often accompanied my father to pick up dinner rolls for the big Sunday lunch Mom would make. It is where I first learned the term "baker's dozen". I loved those little rolls, but the favorite by far is the black seeded rye bread. Waiting in the line at the little factory store they often bring more loaves out and the air is heavenly with the moist smell of fresh bread. The clerks will slice the bread for you, even if it's warm and when we were kids we'd fight over the union sticker that was attached to one end of the crust. I can eat that bread without butter, savoring first the doughy interior and then the seeded upper crust and then finally the thick chewy bottom crust. Absolutely wonderful. I often buy a couple of loaves and freeze one when I get home, they're that good. Yes, Pechter's Bakery is yet another reason to go to the dentist. 
PECHTER'S BAKERY in Harrison, NJ

BTW ... 16 Washington Street in Harrison is at: 40.746431 N , 74.15277300000002 W
AND, WHERE ARE YOU?

A Friend In Need

The comedian Joe E. Lewis had a great line: "A friend in need....is a pest..."
Another observation he had was that money can't buy happiness, but it certainly calms the nerves.
Words to live by, except when you're Team VFH. We don't have the luxury to ignore our friends, because they offer so much more in return, and our "nerves" we fear, will always constantly be frazzled with the lack of funds. We don't have the ability to flit off to Hawaii or Europe this summer, so, in the pursuit of good karma we are happily tendering all requests from friends and conversely will accept all the invites that invariably come our way.

Can one pursue karma? Gather it up like stocking shelves in a super market? We're not sure, but we certainly have been blessed with good fortune so far this summer. We must be doing something right and the friend in need aspect of the summer has played a part in our karma.
No, we're not Karma Chameleons though I poke fun at just this sort of thing in this blog. We currently are guests of friends at the Delaware shore who needed someone to watch their pooch while they themselves enjoy the company of other friends at a bigger house on the water. Karma must be like energy, it is never used, just transferred... In appreciation of our "watching" their dog, they've left us with a refrigerator filled with beer and their Rubicon Jeep with Delaware Park tags so we can drive onto the beach.

So, if you need a pooch pandered (or your tropical plants watered) we're the team for you. It'll help if you have a pool, or jet skis, or a well-stocked frig...but it's not a necessity, we're glad to help.

"A friend in need .... is a pest"

And, now, quoting Frank Sinatra, quoting Joe E. Lewis, his good friend and of whom he said at his 50th birthday party recorded at the Sands in Las Vegas, "I would have the body of a 22 year old had I not spent all that time drinking with Lewis," "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's post time...."

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land

It was a good day in Philadelphia this past Monday. We ventured into the ever sunny city for a bit of pop history at the National Constitution Center and came away with so much more. I am always pleasantly surprised when I visit this place, especially the Old City District, where much of the history of Colonial America is located. Team VFH could easily devote days to just exploring this area, but we were here for Bruce. 
http://www.oldcitydistrict.org/

Perhaps you have heard of this musician from Freehold, New Jersey? Bruce Springsteen has been giving the world music since the 1970's. Some of his songs are iconic, the poetry is at times powerful, but I would be remiss in trying to belabor with my thoughts on Mr. Springsteen. So much has been written about him and thousands of his adoring fans who pile into his legendary and lengthy shows that each can regale you with their own tales. I would do them all a disservice in adding my own observations, but I have to say that Thunder Road is a phenomenal song and my favorite album is Tunnel Of Love. It is at this album that Bruce first went from the working man on the road, to the man embroiled in the confines of his home and the trappings of marriage. 
Better served in this are several homage websites dedicated to "The Boss".
Here is one: http://www.legendsofspringsteen.com/
Here's another: http://www.springsteenlyrics.com/

In a recent article Springsteen spoke of experiencing depression and the joy and the self preservation of his performing:...
            "...there's a tremendous finding of the self while also an abandonment of the self at the same time.  You are free of yourself for those hours; all the voices in your head are gone."
  

....your favorite song here...

The National Constitution Center has been running an exhibit of Springsteen artifacts and memorabilia. It is called: From Asbury Park to the Promised Land / The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen. If you are a fan or at least mildly interested in the Boss it is well worth the visit. On display are articles of clothing worn during shows, instruments played, lyrics and a motorcycle he rode cross country back in 1989. Music stations offer rare snippets of songs he performed with the first band he was in, The Castilles. There's documentary about the recording of Born To Run, where Bruce obsessed and changed over every word in his songs. It's all fascinating and we really enjoyed our visit. The exhibit runs until September 3.

Also included in the cost of the ticket is access to the National Constitution Center, worth the visit alone. There is a live performance entitled "We The People," that left Team VFH feeling especially patriotic, and a hands on display chronicling American history and the Constitution. 

 http://constitutioncenter.org/exhibits/feature-exhibitions/bruce-springsteen/

But, most wonderfully is the cost. Normally $25 per ticket, Janet was able to go to livingsocial.com and got two tickets for just $24. I had always cast a wary eye toward websites like Living Social or Groupon that offer discounts, but Janet has cured me of this. Anything to save a buck. http://www.livingsocial.com/

After our visit to the Promised Land, we headed towards the promised land of good beer, stopping first to drop a penny on the grave of Benjamin Franklin and to make a wish. The tradition stems perhaps from a line in the thrifty Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac, "A penny saved is a penny earned." His grave is directly across the street from the Philadelphia Mint. As my luck has yet to change though I probably should rephrase Mr. Franklin's line with: "A penny tossed...is lost."

Along the way we stopped to devour cheese steaks at Campo's on Market Street; rated by some in the Top Ten in the city renown for cheese steaks, and the subject of great debate in Philly. See the link below for a listing and endeavor to try them all yourself.  We then went to two taverns to end our visit to Philadelphia.
http://www.visitphilly.com/articles/philadelphia/top-10-spots-for-authentic-philly-cheesesteaks/?gclid=CM3ixuGIwLECFUp76wodkxcAJQ

The first was Khyber Pass on Second Street. We went there because our first choice did not open until 5 p.m. Janet said she used to go to this bar when she was underage and to party....DO NOT tell her Mom!! We were pleasantly surprised at their beer list and we just arrived in time for happy hour where drafts are discounted $2.00. The bar was beautiful carved wood and the place had a friendly feel to it and it was a great temporary fix until our next destination. http://www.khyberpasspub.com/

Can't have it all!

We were really here though for the Eulogy Tavern just around the corner. We have visited this Belgian style tavern several times in the past. Eulogy and the equally outstanding Monk's Cafe on 16th Street each boast an incredible selection of beers from Belgium and around the world. Some reviews give the edge to Monk's, but we prefer Eulogy on Chestnut Street. We drank our first Westmalle Triple Trappist brew at Eulogy when Team VFH did research for the trip to Belgum last year and when we stumble in deciding on our selection, the knowledgeable and friendly staff are good for beer advice. On Monday. when I was unsure of the name of the Quadruppel I wanted from Brugges, the bartender swiftly produced the bottle and waggled it in front of me. When we showed him a picture of a beer we had purchased in Brugges (lifted from Facebook) he said he didn't have that particular one, a Wit Goud from Hof Ten Dormaal, but had two others available. Impressive. At Monk's we were kind of on our own with the daunting task of beer selection, but in the warm confines of Eulogy we get drunk without the angst. http://eulogybar.com/