Archive for the ‘New York’ Category

Nathan’s Famous July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island

Posted by Val on July 7th, 2011 at 11:34 am | Permalink | 2 Comments » |

My around the world adventure officially started on Sunday in New York! Until I return to the US, whenever that may be, I’ll be blogging both archived U.S. roadside attractions and whatever weird things I find while I travel abroad! But first, here’s how I spent my time in New York!

It’s become a tradition for me, to spend the Fourth of July baking in the sun of Coney Island, defending against the crowds and thunder sticks to watch the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Championship.

Once you experience such a thing live it’s hard to go back to watching it on TV. So, ever since my first time in 2008, I’ve returned every summer.

There’s always a variety of acts to bide the time. Everything from performances by competitive eater/rapper Badlands Booker to high-flying trampolinists.

It’s best to get to the contest site by 9am. That insures that you’ll get a good view. This year I was running a little late and was further back than I normally was. I still could see the contest fine but they were further away than I like for photos.

I was, however, right next to where the honorary grill master of the day, actor Nick Cannon (best known in my mind for the movie Drumline…or maybe being married to one Miss Mariah Carey.)

This year the contest was different then in years past. Instead of one contest there were two, with separate divisions for men and women.

The women’s contest was up first, and it was just as fast paced as the men’s. It was close for a while between first, second, and third place, but in the end Sonya Thomas won with 40 dogs, Juliet Lee came in second with 29.5 and newcomer Stephanie Torres came in third with an impressive 28.5.

And then the attention turned to the men.

The contest was off and for 10 minutes the men ate quickly and ferociously. Although reigning champion Joey Chestnut had a lead from the start, Patrick Bertoletti was close behind for much of the contest.

But Joey Chestnut easily secured his fifth straight win, demolishing 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Pat Bertoletti took home second with 53. And Tim “Eater X” Janus ate 45 for third.

So the day was hot and I came home with a horrendous sunburn on my shoulders and a heat-induced, lack-of-caffeine-because-I-didn’t-want-to-drink-coffee-because-there-was-no-where-to-pee induced headache. But I can’t wait to return. Because, really, there is no more American way to spend the Fourth of July than watching a table full of people stuff their mouths with hot dogs.

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Nathan’s Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest

Posted by Val on July 9th, 2010 at 9:59 am | Permalink | No Comments » |

This was my third year in a row heading out to Coney for on the Fourth of July to watch the annual hot dog eating contest. It’s become a tradition for me, one I am not willing to give up any time soon. One of those things that once you see live it’s hard to go back to watching on TV.

Countdown clock to the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

We got up ridiculously early and took a subway to Coney getting there at just before 8:45am. It was hot. Too hot. Honestly none of us were really all that excited until the train approached. Looking out over the roller coasters and ferris wheels and seeing a crowd gathering around the stage gave us the kick we needed. We ran from the train, getting to the stage just as George Shea was rehearsing and Badlands Booker was preparing to sing frere jacque. We eventually found a spot right up near the stage and stood through the intense heat and opening acts we couldn’t see.

Frankster at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

If you saw the broadcast or any media we were right next to the dudes in the facepaint who were all over the photos and videos. Never mind, media people, that right next to them were four un-facepainted ladies that happened to be the number one fans of competitive eating. But whatever.

Red white and blue face painted fans at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

There was still a little buzz over whether or not Kobayashi would be there…especially to me since they usually do a practice run of the intros and they didn’t do it this year…little did we know though, standing at the opposite end that Kobayashi was there. In the crowd. We had no idea.

The broadcast began and the eaters were introduced.

Rich Shea announces the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Tim Gravy Brown as a zombie at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Tim Eater X Janus at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

And then they were off, eating.

Eater X eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Pat Bertoletti eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Joey Chestnut eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

We couldn’t see a thing from where we were so we moved a bit and then could sort of see some stuff. There is no good place to watch live. I have determined that. You could think you have the best spot ever and then the judges come out and you can’t see a thing. I often hope that someday I can stand in the press box, but even then I’d be able to see wonderfully but not be able to get the photos I like to take. Not that I could get those photos anyways.

Joey Chestnut eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Crazy Legs Conti eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

The contest seemed more subdued this year. With Kobayashi not a threat to Joey Chestnut he got in a comfortable lead and didn’t come close to his record (although, really, 54 hot dogs in ten minutes is nothing to sneeze at) and the crowd wasn’t as loud, weren’t all pushing towards the stage. Weren’t…as into it.

Joey Chestnut eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Oh, and Gravy kind of looked like he was going to reverse…and we really kind of wished he had because it would have made the show. But alas he kept it all in. :-(

Tim Gravy Brown eats at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

And it was over with little doubt that Chestnut had won. He grabbed his Pepto Bismol and his trophy and his American Flag.

Joey CHestnut wins the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti ended up in third place with 37 and Tim “Eater X” Janus in second with 45.

Pat Bertoletti comes in third at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Tim Eater X Janus comes in second at the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

And, apparently, Kobayashi rushed the stage…which me and my friends were totally oblivious to and we watched it on a handheld video camera in a bar afterwards and then YouTubed in back at the hotel. It was all rather odd. And I don’t even know what to think of it. Because a contract is a contract and you either choose to sign it or don’t. I mean even I have to sign an agreement that I won’t do any work that is a conflict of interest with the company I work for so I can understand the want to not have the eaters compete in outside contests or push products that compete with those of sanctioned contests. But at the same time I get a salary and guaranteed paycheck.

After the contest we went to a bar on the boardwalk. That had no power. And did I mention that it was hot? And finally the power and therefore fans came on and we drank some beer and mingled amongst eaters and zombies until it was too hot to handle.

Afterparty for the Nathan's Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

And even though it was way too hot and way too crowded with a more repressed crowd and we couldn’t see and the competition was no competition, I’ve already planned to be there next year. Because it’s awesome. Because it’s worth it. And because it is so much better live than watching it on TV.

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New York: Day Two

Posted by Val on July 8th, 2010 at 9:46 am | Permalink | No Comments » |

Saturday morning I was on my own. Sadie and Jamie and Carrie were off to the Brooklyn Brewery but I a) don’t like beer and b) had a ticket to Broadway.

On my way out I witnessed someone almost getting mugged. It was this teenage guy standing there with one of those backpacks where the straps are just strings and an older man walked by, punched his arm through the straps and yanked really hard. When it didn’t come off the man just kept walking. The kid seemed a little shocked and I am happy he still has his pack.

I wanted to check out some of the sculptures and statues that I had never seen. So my first stop was the giant needle and button in the garment district. And then the Ralph Cramden statue by the port authority…where a woman yelled at me for taking her photo even though I was not taking her photo. Ah, New York.

Giant needle and button in New York

I wandered about a bit more, and fell onto a street fair where I got a cheap lunch of $1 chicken sates and a fruit smoothie and I took them to Bryant Park for some down time.

Carousel at Bryant Park in New York

Street food chicken satay and a smoothie at Bryant Park

And then it was time for Green Day’s American Idiot!

Green Day's American Idiot on Broadway

True story: I was a total theatre geek in high school, so going to Broadway shows still makes me feel giddy. And since, as of late, some of my favorites have been of the Rent/Spring Awakening/Avenue Q variety, I thought I’d check out Green Day’s musical.

The show was good. And, hey, cute boys singing Green Day is never a bad thing. The music translated really well to the stage, but the story was really weak. Weird thing: the guy would deliver his dialogue, walk into the spotlight, and then stand there tuning his guitar a bit before performing…it was odd to say the least and broke up what was going on a bit.

I took a short walk through Central Park until everyone got back and then we headed back to the hotel for some much needed air conditioning.

Central Park

We did dinner at a place called Cancun (I had a sweet crab stuffed plantains covered in cheese) and then walked back to our hotel through Times Square again.

Sweet crab stuffed plantains covered in cheese at Cancun in New York

The HungrySisters in Times Square

We made it another early night though because we had to wake up bright and early to make our way to Coney Island in the morning…

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New York: Day One

Posted by Val on July 7th, 2010 at 12:20 pm | Permalink | No Comments » |

After spending my entire Thursday doing laundry so I’d have something to wear, and not getting enough sleep, and having to wake up way too early for my liking, I hopped a train to O’Hare. I got to my gate about an hour and 15 minutes before takeoff…and believe me, that is probably my record for cutting it close.

And then my flight was delayed. Of course. But we still managed to make our way to New York on time. During the flight though, I got this horribly sharp pain right above my eye. It was awful. I googled it as soon as I landed and found some internet postings that suggested it was a sinus problem. Odd as I’ve never had sinus problems before, but I did just get my wisdom teeth removed and I know that can also be linked to sinus problems…

I landed in NYC and took a cab to the hotel. I checked my bag and texted Jamie, Sadie, and Carrie, AKA the HungrySisters, (who had graciously offered to let me stay with them for the weekend to save us all money). Turns out they weren’t too far away so they headed back to the hotel and checked in a little early. Of course, this led to me giving my baggage check ticket to the guy, who then took it and walked away. After some confusion, the lady at the front desk called him and he came back and found my bag.

We settled into our room and cranked the air conditioning and debated where to go. We decided it would be a good time to hop a Path train to Hoboken with the mission of going to the Bakery featured in the TV show “Cake Boss.” So we headed off to New Jersey!

Unfortunately once we got there the line to get in went down the block, and we just didn’t want to wait. Fail. Number. One.

Line outside the Cake boss bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.

So we walked by and peeked into the window then hit the streets to see what else Hoboken had to offer. We ended up walking down to the waterfront to get a nice view of the Manhattan skyline…and that was about it.

View of the New York skyline

Autumn leaves

Once back in the city we decided on where we wanted to go to dinner and came to the conclusion that we really wanted to go to BAMN! automat. An automat is a “restaurant” that has all the food in little cubicles on the wall and you put your money in and get your food. They are all over places like Amsterdam (hello FEBO!).

We took a Subway over to the East Village and went on a hunt for the place…only to find an empty building. Bamn had closed. Fail. Number. Two.

Bamn automat is closed

At least we were in a nice area with lots going on so after a stroll we decided on Mark, which had a cow on its roof and cheap sliders (and, well, only sliders). And they were delicious (and had a really yummy bbq sauce to go on top).

Painted cow on the roof of Mark in New York.

Sliders from Mark in New York.

And then we headed across the street to Pinkberry: a gem of a frozen yogurt stop I’d been wanting to try for a while. I got a refreshing watermelon yogurt with strawberries and mangos on top… and everyone else got chocolate :-)

Watermelon frozen yogurt with strawberries and mango at Pinkberry in New York.