What better way for us to kick off our #WPbaseball Bucket List than visiting one of the great new American ballparks located at 12001 Roosevelt Ave in Flushing, NY with a few close compadres who just happen to run some of the top lifestyle and sports destinations on the web.
When you ask a Mets fan about Citi Field their response usually entails a good story about how “this is the year” (if it’s spring training) or “it’s a rebuilding year” (if it’s after July). Low blows aside Mets fans will also pridefully tell you that every seat in the park has a great view of the action on the field. As you’ll see from the videos and photos from our first stop, Citi Field had charm and plenty of great baseball bucket list items to keep us busy. The stadium is only a few years old but has quickly added an arsenal of food, attractions and interesting superfans. Basically everything you need to avoid watching The Mets.
June 23 – NY Yankees vs NY Mets @ Citi Field
Meet Chica The Pipe Dog
If there was ever a baseball attraction that draws unique and unrivaled attention Chica the panhandling Pipe Dog is it. Chica and her owner (also Chica. We Think) sit outside the Citi Field subway stop and everyone who walks by gets a kick out of the dog’s crazy wardrobe. Over the years there have been a few news stories and Facebook pages springing up that call this display a form of animal cruelty but Chica seemed the be perfectly happy and healthy and loved all the attention she was getting from the hundreds and hundreds of people passing by before the game. She has to be the most obedient, chilled dog in sports. So chilled out that one might second guess the contents of that pipe.
Meet Vernon the Koooler
“Vernon the Coooler” is a Mets superfan who comes to every home game in wacky Mets apparel and a firefighter helmet. He posts up in the standing room section in right field and fans call him the answer to the Jets, Fireman Ed.
Eat Shake Shack
Shake Shack is the staple signature food of Citi Field and maybe all of New York. If you don’t decided to go with the traditional Shack Burger and Black & White Shake the BBQ Pull Pork is another fine option. We met up with our friends who won tickets to the game at the Bucket List kickoff event at the Microsoft store at Bridgewater Commons Mall. If you could stick America between two perfectly toasted buns it would be a Shake Shack burger.
Sit In A MLB Dugout
One of the top general bucket list items and one that we assumed would be the hardest was sit in a MLB dugout. Something about having to run past security and get onto the field seemed like a challenge, but it helps having a good friend work for the Mets. So what if she couldn’t grant us access to press the big red home run apple button. No, really the dugout was great, so much room for activities in that dugout. So much better than pushing a big red button in a glass case.
Steal A Base
Just as our dreams of playing major league baseball were crushed after 8th grade so went our dreams of stealing a major league base. Or did they? We saw an opportunity to steal an official MLB base and we took it. Ethical? no. Terrible play on words? Yes.
Run The Original Shea Stadium Bases
The ghosts of old Shea Stadium still have a presence at new Citi Field. In parking lot B you can run the bases of the old stadium if you get to the game real early, before cars arrive and park or if you stop by on an off day. We reenacted the Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner scene right where it happened.
Shea Stadium Apple
If you thought the Pipe Dog was a can’t miss you literally can not avoid the old home run apple if you tried coming down from the subway platform. It sits directly at the entrance of the stadium and is a popular place to snap photos before the game.
