Citi Field – A First (OK, Second) Look

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to go to the second of two exhibition games between the Red Sox and the Mets at Citi Field (thanks, Mike!). Though the regulars were all out of the lineup by the fourth inning, I don’t think anyone was really there to watch the game anyway – the real star was the stadium. My photo essay of 9 innings at Citi follows:

Approaching the stadium along the Whitestone Expressway. I can already tell it’s going to be an Amazin’ time:

Approaching from the parking lot! It looks a little better from this side.

I passed time waiting to meet my peeps by reading the fan bricks:

Now we’re talking: it’s game time!

Inside, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, which was too grand for my camera lens to get it in just one shot:

After walking through Caesar’s, which felt like the lobby of some swanky hotel and smelled like a new car…

….We started down a tunnel and caught our first glimpse of the field!

Ta-daaaaaaaaa! First impression: Amazing. Then I remembered where I was, and amended that to: Amazin’.

(Yes, it was a little unnerving sitting right under those little birdies.)

But then, part way through the game, things took a turn for the worse. Yes: trash flurries. Wastepaper and plastic bags swirled through the air. (And no, it was not the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.) Players became garbagemen. I saw David Ortiz, standing on third base, apparently shove some discarded napkins down the back of Alex Cora’s pants. But despite Papi’s efforts, the trash all seemed to blow towards left field anyway:

So I got up and walked around a bit. The orange foul poles were a nice touch:

I was at first terrified to see the calories listed next to the concessions; then I realized I never ordered the popcorn, anyway:

I’m more of an Italian Sausage gal, myself:

Tomorrow: I reveal exclusive (at least as far as I know) pics from inside Alyssa Milano’s touch boutique. Stay tuned!

Update: Photos from my Touch Boutique expedition are now posted!