TOUR DIARY #2

*note, when I get home, I am going to add pictures to this probably.

WHOA

THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN CRAZY! So, I'm going to try and recap it all!

Sunday 12/16:
We left Seamonster's house early and headed to Philadelphia. The drive was easy and we got in town around 5 or so. We met Chrissy and her friend Nora and ate candied squash and stew in their apartment, before heading out to do a couple touristy things. They both reminded me a lot of Athens. In fact, Philadelphia was a lot like Athens except bigger, and the houses were all connected! I walked into that apartment and it felt like I'd walked into a friend's house on Church street, or something!

Anyway, bro and I walked around downtown Philly and checked out the liberty bell, ate at a Burger King, and headed back to the show. UNFORTUNATELY, the address had been changed! We didn't figure this out until only hours before and were unable to make the necessary changes online to get the word out. The result: some of you missed the show. I'm so sorry about this. I swear I'll be back in Philadelphia and it won't happen again. Anyway, the show got switched to the ATM house. We basically played straight acoustic in a living room for a bunch of friends. It was a great atmosphere and we made some friends and heard some really nice music. We also reunited with our friend Darren Deicide, who we met this summer on our mini-tour up the midwest.

At 11:00 we got back in the car and headed to Guilford, CT, where we arrived at my friend Morgan's house at 3am after almost running out of gas and/or falling asleep at the wheel. We were greeted with warm couches and blankets and pillows, and awoke in the morning to coffee and eggs with cheese.

Monday 12/17:
Morgan's mom drove us to the train station in New Haven, where we boarded and headed into New York City! Neither of us had been here before, so it was quite an incredible trip. I can't possibly go through all the details, so here's a list of everything that happened that day:

- Got off the train and met up with our friend Joy
- Headed to Joy's apartment at Pratt
- Dropped off our stuff
- Headed back out with guitars to play at the Port Authority
- Met up with the wonderful Rosie Siman and her friend Sarah
- Set up and played our subway show at 4:00pm
- Ditched our guitars at Rosie's friend Marissa's place
- Went back to Joy's to put on our night clothes
- Met up with Rosie
- Ate dinner at S'Mac (specializes in mac n cheese)
- Went over to Terra, a blues bar Joy's friend Gabriel owns
- Got a free round of drinks
- Spilled a cosmo on my cell phone
- Interviewed some random New Yorkers
- Took a cab home
- Fell asleep like lightning

The show at The Port Authority was really fun. We were amplified, so it was kind of like we were playing a show for a million New Yorkers (KIND OF....) True, many of them were old semi-homeless guys who probably just wanted to do me...but we made some gas money which was nice! Dinner was delicious, S'Mac has the best Macaroni and Cheese you'll ever eat. And hanging out at Terra was the best. I kind of felt like Holden Caulfield. Getting home was great too. It was a long day and it was nice to sleep.

Tuesday 12/18:
- Woke up
- Ate breakfast at Mike's near Pratt
- Headed into Times Square, marveled at the millions of Starbucks
- Got a Chai Latte in a real New York Starbucks
- Met up with Rosie, checked out the company she works for, Translation, while AJ and Joy went skating in the park
- Joy went to work
- Took the train/walked to Chelsea to check out the Banksy exhibit
- Went back to Times Square, bought some touristy stuff
- Chilled with some of Rosie's coworkers O'Lunney's
- Left and went out for a sushi dinner at Azuki
- High-tailed it back to Marissa's apartment to grab our guitars
- Walked as fast as we could to Arlene's Grocery
- Played the show, met some friends
- Went to Union Square to try and meet up with Joy
- She got off late, so we busked (played for money) in Union Square
- Made 10 bucks for gas money in a half our. Score!
- Warmed up in a pizza place, ate a "regular slice"
- Watched Rosie yell at a homeless dude who tried to get our money
- Met up with Joy
- Took a cab home
- Fell asleep like lightning

The highlights of my day were definitely the show at Arlene's and seeing Translation. I don't know if you guys know this, but I have two passions in life: music and graphic design. If music doesn't work out, I'd like to work in an ad firm in the city. Seeing Translation made me more excited about that side of my life. I really hope I get to work somewhere like that someday. You know, if I'm not a rock star! Haha. Big dreams, big dreams...really though - either of those career directions would make me the happiest person on the planet.

Arlene's Grocery was great. I kind of felt like I was a character in Guitar Hero. Picture a grungy club in the city with a great sound system and a tough crowd. I loved it. By the end of the day though, I was pretty tired and almost losing my voice. But, someone told me I should keep singing too much 'cause they like the raspiness. Good to hear.

Wednesday 12/19
We woke up a little late, ate breakfast at the Pratt Coffee Shop, and boarded a train back to New Haven. We got here at 2pm, tired and a little cranky, and realized we'd forgotten our GPS in the city. It was a catastrophe, I cried and felt like a complete screw up. We had to MapQuest our way to The Space in Hamden. It told us to turn onto a one way street. We got lost. But hey! We eventually made it, and The Space was awesome. My sadness wore off as I got acclimated to the environment. Plus, Joy called and told me she found the GPS in her lingerie drawer and would overnight it to Boston so we'd have it for the rest of the tour. All hope was not lost! We played the show really well, and made a ton of new friends! I even met some people who went to the Savannah College of Art & Design in GA. Everyone is connected. Overall the turnout was awesome, and I love The Space! I sure hope I get to play there again. Happy Birthday Kevin Devine.

After the show we went to a real diner with Morgan and her friend Sarah - The Parthenon in Branford, CT. Eggs benedict. Tell me what you think about THAT. I fell asleep on the ride home, we saw a ton of deer, and I can't really type anymore because I should probably be sleeping. But the tour just keeps getting better and better. Tomorrow we head out to Boston!