g a r y w o n g . o r g

It’s Labor Day again and with it comes the unofficial end of summer. Coincidentally, this week is going to be warmer than most weeks we had in August. The only true disappointment this summer was not availing myself of all the free outdoor concerts throughout the city. I can make up for it next summer but it won’t be at McCarren Park as that venue is no more.

May and June was spent just spending time outside in the sun before it would get too humid in July.

• I started my summer of right by seeing the Mets win in walk-off fashion against the Marlins just a few days after Memorial Day. The highlight of the game was Endy Chavez’ first career pinch-hit home run to tie the game in the ninth before Fernando Tatis sent the fans home happy with a two-run double in the twelth.
• Justin and Jon came down from Boston for the Big Apple BBQ Block Party and we managed to sneak in some time at the Blind Tiger and at Spuyten-Duyvil’s Brett Fest.
• The day after the Big Apple BBQ Block Party, I had an early flight for San Francisco so I could attend this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.
• While out in San Francisco for WWDC, I went to another Oakland Athletics game where they absolutely killed the Yankees. Surprisingly enough (note the sarcasm), there are a lot of Yankees fans in Oakland. I also took in a game at AT&T Park where the Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants to take the first game of the Bay Bridge Series. As far as interleague rivalries go, this one is pretty lame. I took a morning off from WWDC to further explore the absolutely gorgeous AT&T Park.
• The week wasn’t all WWDC and baseball. I managed to hit up the annual Haight-Ashbury Street Fair which has got to be the largest celebration of all things hippie in the continental United States. There were also parties - Ars Technica and Gizmodo combined to throw one early in the week and Apple had their annual bash to close out WWDC. They key to both parties? The open bar, of course! Finally, I ended my week in San Francisco with a tour of local brewery Speakeasy Ales & Lagers.
• I can’t even begin to describe how awful the flight was from SFO to JFK. All you need to know is that I never made it to JFK. Also, a six hour flight somehow turned into a twelve hour adventure that saw me get home just before 5am. I’d have a serious hate-on for JetBlue if they hadn’t compensated me the way they did. Let’s just call it even.
• Hours after getting home, I somehow managed to get to Shea Stadium to see the Mets and Rangers clash. I should have just stayed home and bagged some more shut-eye.
• The next weekend was the American Craft Beer Fest in Boston.
• I can say that I saw the first grand slam by an American League pitcher since the implementation of the designated hitter. What a way for Jerry Manuel to start his managerial stint at Shea.
• Kenny and I saw the Cold War Kids in Prospect Park - this was our seventh time seeing them in less than two years. You could say we’re fans of their work.
• Two days later, Dave and I went to see The Hold Steady at McCarren Park Pool - this was my seventh time seeing them is less than two years. Do you see a theme developing here?

July was an interesting month - the highs and lows of that month would rival that of a person with manic depression.

• I made my first trip ever down to Philadelphia to see the Mets beats the Phillies in comeback fashion. That’s how you start the month off right.
• Days later, I’d hit a very deep low as I suffered a setback at work. Lots of drinking and bitching occurred.
• I went up with the rest of the Yips to visit Ki and Aaron, who were having a barbecue at their home. I love grilled rib eye steaks.
• The next night was the most satisfying Mets game of the season as Mike Pelfrey dominated and a Mets win was never in doubt. Their 8-0 win over the Rockies extended their winning streak to nine as they went into the All-Star break.
• A little less than a week after its debut, I caved in and bought an Apple iPhone 3G. The decision was pretty easy once I figured I wouldn’t have my work Treo for much longer.
• Hunka Hunka was the next weekend - all of the next weekend. Lots of good food, good beer, and good friends. What more do you want out of life, right?
• Oh, we started off the Hunka Hunka weekend with a screening of The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience. Easily the best movie of the year so far.
• After the bullpen blew a ninth inning lead against the Phillies the night before - this would become a central theme to the Mets’ season - we saw them bounce back into a tie for first place.
• Andy and I saw Johan Santana absolutely dominate the Cardinals for the Mets’ first complete game of the season. Hearing the syncopated chants of “JO-HAN! clap clap JO-HAN!” was an absolute thrill.

Amazingly, August was a relatively mild, dry month. Not many days saw the thermometer hit 90 and it was never really all that sticky. We’re totally gonna pay for that in September.

• The first weekend in August was spent in Boston, seeing the Futures at Fenway minor league doubleheader. It may not have been the Red Sox playing but it’s always worth the price of admission to see a game in Fenway.
• Mid-August - and early September, it seems - is a long birthday extravaganza for myself. I’ll need this in two years when I turn 30. Thanks to everyone for celebrating with me!
• On back to back nights, I saw the Mets beat the Braves. The first night was a comeback affair with the Mets scoring five runs in the eighth for a 7-3 win. The second was a complete game effort from Mike Pelfrey that took him only 108 pitches and finished in just over two hours.
• The first time was a success so why not another one? Dave and I made another trip to Philly to see the Mets play and, lo and behold, they came back again in the eighth to take the 6-3 win.
• Labor Day weekend was spent in Maine and Boston. The original plan was to camp overnight in Maine next to Ebener’s Pub but Justin and I met encountered some really nice folks from Boston who had an extra room in their rental house and offered it to us. Thank again, Mark and Talisa!

So that’s it for summer. It may have looked busy and it certainly was busy but not nearly as much as it looks. I’m looking forward to a fall of October baseball for the Mets and watching the Giants begin the defense of their Super Bowl title. I’ve got another trip to Boston coming up and a trip to Denver a little bit afterwards.