Category Archives: Travel

NYC: Boss Tweed.

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This past weekend I was in New York to hang out with the legendary Jim Wallis and for the Steelers – Jets game. As one would expect my flight was delayed and it was well over 10pm before I caught up with Jim in Hoboken to head into the city. After checking out Iggy’s Keltic Lounge and The Johnson’s and finding them both way too packed we moved on to Boss Tweed’s Saloon. We managed to grab a table and besides the indoor pool smell from the rec team next to us it was a good setup. We settled into a series of pitchers of Bass and the next thing I know Jim is in some kind of argument with this girl that had the thickest Jersey accent I’ve ever heard. And of course her shirt read “New York Fucking City”.

Below is photographic documentation of the dispute.

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Game #3: Penn State at Indiana.

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Julie and I added to the list of Big Ten stadiums I’ve visited on Saturday by seeing the Indiana – Penn State game this weekend in Bloomington. For it being Indiana Football the game was a rather competitive. Indiana made a late rally but still came up short 36-31. Nearly all of the points in the game were scored in the opposite side of the stadium where our seats were. That side of the stadium is a construction zone (literally there’s a bulldozer and re-bar everywhere) and there is no net for behind the goal posts. So everytime a field goal or an extra point is scored the ball just sails into a dirt and then some kid goes and gets it. Classic Indiana.

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Five reasons I now know Indiana is known as the Land of Mellencamp:

  1. The IU band insisted on playing Mellencamp’s greatest hits between plays.
  2. Memorial Stadium is just a stones throw from John Mellencamp Pavilion training facility.
  3. I actually heard Jack & Diane on the radio while in Indiana.
  4. The open end of the stadium is literally a dirt pile.
  5. When I tried to call a cab in downtown Bloomington the operator asked “What town are you in?”

Sucking on a chili dog indeed.

Google Maps: Big Ten Stadiums:


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So far, so good. I only have Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota left on my list. Bloomington was about 4 hours from Chicago (compared to the 2 hours it takes to get to West Lafayette) so we made it into an overnight trip.

Game #2: Ohio State at Purdue.

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Yesterday Rob & Erin and I traveled down to West Lafayette for the Ohio State – Purdue game. I got to check off another Big Ten stadium from my list. Ohio State ended up destroying Purdue 23-7 in what was a routine outing by the defense.

I’ve never been to Purdue so I can’t say this definitely but the town of West Lafayette just plainly smelled bad. I’m not sure if there was some kind of gas leak or not but the entire stadium smelled rank. We only sat in our seats for the first 5 minutes of the game because it was unbearable. Rob managed to score a field pass so we took turns watching the game from the Purdue sideline near the 10 yard line. Needless to say it was awesome.

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Google Maps: Big Ten Stadiums:


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I’m moving right along with my goal of visiting all the Big Ten Stadiums. West Lafayette was only a 2 hour drive from Chicago making it an easy trip especially for a night game.