Yankee Doubleheader on Memorial Day!

PNC Field in Scranton-Wilkes Barre

After spenting the weekend in New England, the King & I spent Memorial Day watching Yankee baseball day & night.

We were in the Bronx in the afternoon where we saw the Yankees beat up the Cleveland Indians, 11-2! A-Rod hit a Grand Slam that broke open a 2-1 game in the 7th inning as the Yankees proceeded to cruise to an easy victory.

After the game, we drove 128 miles to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to see the Triple A Yankees play.

They wound up losing 9-1 to the Durham Bulls who are the Tampa Bay Rays farm team
at PNC Field formerly Lackawanna County Stadium
.
More importantly, we got to meet up with Alvin Pachter and his father, Howard. In addition, they were joined by Philip Cutler who we've met a few times in the recent past.

As for Alvin and his father, we met them a number of years ago from going to see the Red Barons who played there when they were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alvin and his father do road trips as well on a smaller scale.

They normally take a long car ride around the country during the summer.

They usually come to NYC a few times a year as well to pay us a visit.

They made the trip today worth our while.

It's always fun to see people that we've met on road trips so we can catch up and share our unique adventures.

McCoy Stadium - Home of the Pawsox!

McCoy Stadium

After visiting Fenway Park Sunday afternoon, Royalty made a pit stop on the way home to Pawtucket, Rhode Island which is 50 miles from Boston.

We went to see a minor league game between the Norfolk Tides the Triple A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and the Pawtucket Red Sox aka the Pawsox.

The Pawsox wound up winning the game, 5-4!

As for the ballpark, it's a very nice place to watch a game.

Around 5 years ago the ballpark under went some renovations to get it up to Triple A standards.

The original backstop and seating area remain intact.

They expanded the seating area and they added additional seats include lawn seating in the outfield which is very popular in the minor leagues.

If you happen to be passing through Rhode Island you may want to get off in Pawtucket which is right outside of Providence.

The Royals & Royalty go to Fenway Park!

Just a few weeks ago Royalty visited Wrigley Field, this past weekend we spent at Fenway Park.

In this day and age of modernization, it's always great to take a step back and go back in time.

That's exactly what Royalty did over Memorial Day weekend.

In addition to remembering those who have lost their lives defending our freedom and our way of life we decided to remember how baseball used to be played in a real ballpark.

We saw the hometown Red Sox beat up the Royals 1-0 and 8-1!

Fenway Park is quite a structure. It's very small and compact.

More importantly it gives you that cozy feel. The majority of the seats are on the first level.

Over the years, they've added seats and an upper level.

A few years ago they even put seats above the legendary Green Monster.

The Green Monster is the 37 foot wall in left field as you can see in the picture.

As a whole, Fenway Park is a must see regardless of what team you root for.

If you call yourself a baseball fan then you have to get there at least once.

If you need assistance in doing just that, please feel free to consult me to help you make it happen.

Royalty has plenty of experience going to Fenway Park. We know all the ins and outs to make your visit even more memorable and affordable.

Shake Shack

Shake Shack

Burger and Fries

One of the most popular eateries at Citi Field is the Shake Shack.

It's located out in centerfield and there's always a long line.

People always rave about it.

I couldn't understand why in this health conscious society we live in.

The King & I never have time when we're at Citi Field so we did the next best thing.

Since they have a handful of locations in Manhattan with a few more scheduled to open in the near future we made some time and we decided to see for ourselves.

Needless to say, we weren't disappointed.

Now I know why so many people think it's worth their while to a get a Shake Shack burger and fries as you can see in the picture above.

In addition, they serve hot dogs too. Next time I'll have to try one along with a shake.

I did have a lemonade which tasted really good.

Next time you go to Citi Field to see the Mets you should allow some extra time to grab a bite at the Shake Shack.

After all, royalty recommends it.

Phillies go scoreless at Citi Field!

Outside Citi Field

The King & I were on hand to witness some history.

For the first time since 1988 the Mets have shut out an opponent 3 straight games.

This time was very sweet since they did it against their division rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies hadn't been shut out 3 straight times since 1983.

The Mets won the series by a cumulative score of 16-0 over the 3 games.

They got some quality starting pitching from R.A. Dickey, Hisanori Takahashi and Mike Pelfrey in the process.

The bullpen did the rest as the Mets kept the Phillies bats silent after the Red Sox almost no hit them on Saturday night behind Dice K.

In addition, Sunday afternoon Tim Wakefield of the Red Sox shut them down for 8 innings before Ramon Ramirez was roughed up for 3 runs in the ninth inning.

It should be noted the King & I and our friend Bryan Gilligan saw that game as well.

Royalty returns to Fenway Park this weekend!

Fenway Park

It's the unofficial start to summer this weekend.

To celebrate Royalty is heading back to fabled Fenway Park in Boston to see the Kansas City Royals take on the Red Sox.

In addition, we'll be taking a ride to Pawtucket, Rhode Island Sunday night as well to see the Paw Sox, the Triple A affiliate of the Red Sox.

Check back for the Royalty Road Report.

Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.

Manual Scoreboard at Wrigley Field!

Wrigley Field

Unlike the majority of the ballparks today, Wrigley Field has unique distinctions.

It doesn't have a diamond vision so you can't see a replay of what just happened.

In addition, out in centerfield above the bleachers it has a manual scoreboard as you can see in the picture.

It's a great way to relive the good old days before technology took over the world.

That's how life was back in the late 19th and the majority of the 20th Century.

If you want to go back in time, I strongly suggest you take a trip to Wrigley Field.

If you need assistance in doing so, please feel free to consult Royalty to help make it happen.

Royalty attracts company at Wrigley!

Me, Andrew Van Cleve, Jim Lowry & the King

Here we have a picture of the young and the old.

From left to right, you have the Prince yours truly, next to me is Andrew Van Cleve, followed by Jim Lowry and the King.

Jim Lowry is our buddy from Philadelphia who flew with us from NY to Milwaukee to make his first visit to Wrigley Field.

He is 65 years young.

Let it be known, earlier in the week, Andrew Van Cleve who I met through my blog, became a Daddy for the first time on Mother's Day.

Andrew and his wife Nicole had a son named Dylan Salvatore Van Cleve.

Just barely 3 days later, Dylan was present in their arms attending a Cub game in Wrigley Field.

Unofficially we like to think Dylan is the youngest person ever to attend a live sporting event.

Andrew needs to investigate to find out for sure.

As for Andrew, he lives a stone's throw from Wrigley Field.

He lives up the block from Murphy's Bleachers, a neighborhood bar which is located right out in centerfield across the street from Wrigley.

In addition, I strongly suggest that you look into his tremendous website and blog.

Here's the link:
http://www.anygame-anywhere.com/

You can also go right to my blog list which also has a link to it.

Royalty specializes in North America.

Andrew, on the other hand, covers the world hence he refers to himself as the "Ultimate Sports Fan".

He has seen live sporting events in many different places spanning the globe.

Nicole, the Ultimate Sports Fan's wife, has an impressive resume of world travel as well.

If you're in the mood to add some adventure to your life, I suggest you contact the Van Cleve family.

I look forward to seeing him again down the road.

After all, road tripping is a "Way of life" just like Cub baseball.

Old Time Vendor at Wrigley Field!

Familar Face

Here is a vendor I've seen when I've gone to Wrigley Field over the years.

I don't know his name but I always hope to see him working so I know he's still ticking.

In years past, he used to walk around the park selling hot dogs.

Here he's selling programs right outside the home plate entrance.

In addition, I've seen him working on the South Side at U.S. Cellular Field as well in the past.

I hope to see him again next year.

God bless him.

Country House in Geneva, Illinois

Country House

After seeing the Cubs play on Saturday afternoon, we took a ride to Geneva which located in West Chicago just 48 miles from Wrigley Field.

We saw the Kane County Cougars who are the Single A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in the Midwest League.

After the game, we went just up the road from the ballpark to have a post game dinner.

The restaurant is called the Country House. It is known for having the #1 rated Burger in Chicagoland.

Their address is 2095 S. Kirk Rd.

The King and I and our friend Jim Lowry can vouch for that.

This time the King had Pork Chops and I had Barbeque Glazed Salmon.

Jim was new to the Country House and he decided to take the test.

Needless to say, he was a satisfied customer.

If you happen to be in Geneva for a Kane County Cougar game, I strongly suggest that you have a meal here as well so you can see for yourself. They have 2 other locations as well.

Here's the link to their website so you can get a preview and wet your appetitte in the meantime.

http://www.burgerone.com/

If you need further assistance please free to consult Royalty.

Artemio's Bakery near Wrigley Field

Artemio's Bakery

Once we got to the vicinity of Wrigley Field, we parked the car in the neighborhood.

We proceeded to walk to Wrigley but we decided to make a pitstop.

We went into Artemio's Bakery which is conveniently located right across from the Sheridan stop on the train.

The address is 3919 N. Sheridan Road which is only a few blocks from Wrigley Field.

If and when you go to Wrigley Field and you're in the mood to have something sweet you know exactly where to go.

They serve cookies, donuts and other pastries as well as water, soda and juice.

In addition, they sell bananas to help offset the sweet tooth craving.

Royalty knows how to cover all the bases.

Go and see for yourself.

The King makes it to the century mark at Wrigley!

The King's 100th Game Attended at Wrigley Field 

Friday, May 14th was a historical day for the King.

That day marked the 100th game he has seen a major league baseball game in Wrigley Field.

Hail to the King!

That's a major accomplishment considering he's lived his whole life in New York City.

He does consider the second city a second home.

In reality, Wrigley Field is second to none.

For that matter, when it comes to attending baseball games nobody comes close and that includes members of the media.

The King has seen 230 or more baseball games 14 straight years.

Needless to say, he's well on his way to another 230 plus this year.

The majority of the games he attends are major league.

Living in the Northeast is the main reason he can possibly see so many games.

In reality, you can only play the cards you're dealt. The schedule gets harder and harder each year.

If you love baseball like the King contact me so I can arrange to accomodate your needs & wants.

Royalty & Co. visit Wrigley Field!

Wrigley Field

For the King & I it's been a tradition together to see at least one game in the greatest baseball park on earth since 1988.

This time was extra special.

We had the privilege & honor of taking our buddy, Jim Lowry, who you may recall from a few other trips he took with us and from a few previous posts.

To refresh your memory, we met Jim at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia where he works the elevator by section 119 on the first base side. He's on the one the left. If you happen to go there feel free to stop by to say hi and tell him you know us.

As Jim loves to say and I quote "I'm having a blast".

Needless to say, he saw firsthand what royal treatment is all about.

This was his very first visit to Wrigley. Mind you he's 65 years young.

Royalty entertains and accomodates people of all ages.

Jim was amazed how well planned and organized the trip was.

Please stay tuned for more installments from this memorable weekend.

The Point Pancake House in Gurnee, Illinois

Pork Chops, Eggs, Fruit & Pancakes

The Point Pancake House









                                                             

Upon arrival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I rented a car from Alamo.

We started heading towards Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Since we had some spare time, we decided to take a scenic route which enabled us to come across a nice local place to eat.

We were driving along on US 41 & Illinois 21 aka Milwaukee Ave and we noticed a restaurant on the side of the road.

The exact address is 1952 Skokie Highway in Gurnee, Illinois.

It's not far from the Illinois/Wisconsin border.

The King and our friend Jim Lowry were hungry and they wanted to have a hearty breakfast.

So I pulled into the parking lot and we went inside to eat to satify their needs and wants.

Needless to say, we weren't disappointed.

Please take notice of the picture of the pair of thick charbroiled pork chops, 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and fruit that I enjoyed during our visit to give you an idea of what it was like.

If and when we're in that area again I know exactly where to go for breakfast or lunch since they're only opened 6AM-3PM 7 days a week.

Feel free to follow the royalty recommendation.

Manning Bowl 2 & more in the Midwest!

Here's a game plan for football fans to consider:

It's as follows:

Saturday, September 18th

Ball State at Purdue TBA which is in West Lafayette, Indiana only 67 miles from Indianapolis.

Akron at Kentucky TBA in Lexington, Kentucky which is only 195 miles from Indianapolis going through Cincinnati.

Sunday, September 19th

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals 1PM

AFC Central Division Rivalry Game

NY Giants at Indianapolis Colts 8:20PM

Manning Bowl 2 Eli vs. Peyton in prime time

It's an easy 110 mile drive from Cincinnati to Indianapolis.

I've done it on a few occasions so I know from experience.

If you want to make this adventurous football journey please feel free to consult me so I can make it happen for you.

9/11 Remembrance Weekend in NYC

This September 11th will be the nine year anniversary of that tragic day.

You can pay respects to those who innocently lost their lives that day, if you live in NYC or plan to visit that weekend.

You can take a ride over to Ground Zero.

In addition, you can also take in some sporting events as well.

Here are some options for you:

9/10 Phillies at Mets 7:10PM

9/11 Phillies at Mets 4:10PM

9/12 Panthers at Giants 1PM First official game at New Meadowlands Stadium which is in the picture above.

Phillies at Mets 1:10PM

9/13 Ravens at Jets 7PM First regular season Jet game in prime time on Monday Night Football.

Pirates at Mets 7:10PM that night as well at Citi Field.

If you want to come to NYC that weekend, please feel free to consult me for advice on getting around.

9/11 Remembrance Weekend Getaway to Washington D.C.

This year marks the nine year anniversary of that horrible day in September 2001.

That day falls on a Saturday which means that you can reflect on that day by getting away.

Here's a game plan I've put together in case people are interested.

If you like American History as well as sports then this is a perfect trip opportunity for you.

Saturday, September 11th

Georgia Southern at Navy 3:30PM College Football in Annapolis, Maryland which is only 29 miles from Washington D.C.

Morgan State at Maryland TBA College Football in College Park, Maryland which is only 9 miles from Washington D.C.

You can take your pick. With your spare time, you can can go sightseeing around our Nation's Capitol if history is your thing.

Sunday, September 12th

Marlins at Nationals 1:35PM at Nationals Park

Cowboys at Redskins 8:20PM at FedEx Field which is in Landover, Maryland just 9 miles from Nationals Park.

If you're interested in doing some kind of variation of this trip please feel free to consult me so I can help set it up for you.

That way you can get a sample of what royalty is all about.

Stay tuned for other opportunities that will involve other NFL, college and additional sporting event getaways.

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

Here we have arguably the best of the new modern Major League baseball stadiums.

The ballpark opened up in April 2004.

It's the home of the 2008 World Champion and 2009 National Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

It's conveniently located right off the Walt Whitman Bridge as well as I-95.

If you don't drive and have to resort to taking public transportation, the subway stop is the last one on the orange line which is Pattison Avenue.

The experience here is rather unique.

They have the best mascot in all of sports not just baseball.

Their mascot is known as the Phillie Phanatic.

He's quite a character who entertains fans of all ages.

The ballpark itself has very spacious concourses which allows fans to wander around without missing the game action.

With the recent success, the ballpark has been jammed packed every game.

They do sell standing room tickets which allows you to stand where ever you see a space.

They also have tables set up with a ledge where you can put your food down and/or your scorebook if you like to score the game right behind the seating on 100 & 300 levels.

On the first base side, they have a glass cage with two elevators that take you to all the different levels in the ballpark.

Out in centerfield, they have what is called Ashburn Alley named after former Phillie the late Richie Ashburn.

Fans like to hang out there and watch the pitchers warm up in the bullpens.

They have a wide variety of local eateries such as the famous Philly cheese steaks.

In addition, they have a barbeque ribs stand out in rightfield that's run by former Phillie Greg Luzinski aka "The Bull".

In right centerfield, they have a Liberty Bell which lights up during night games.

When a Phillie hits a home run, it sways back and forth as well.

When you go to Philadelphia you come with "high hopes" as the late great Phillie broadcaster used to sing.

As a whole, regardless if you like the Phillies or not you shouldn't pass the opportunity to see a Phillie game.

Trust me you'll have a memorable experience.

Hard Rock Cafe, NYY Steak & Team Store at Yankee Stadium

Once you get off the subway at 161st Street and River Ave. via the B, D or the number 4 train, you will notice Gate 6, which is out in right field.

In addition, you'll see the Hard Rock Cafe, NYY Steak and the Yankee Team Store which are located right there.

These places are opened all year round not just on game days.

You can stop in on game days and when you come out you'll be in the Great Hall.

Another piece of sound advice is to make sure you bring plenty of money with you unless you just plan to window shop.

Needless to say, a visit to Yankee Stadium can be rather pricey.

Regardless of what you spend there this will enhance the experience for you.

I just state the facts you make the call that best suits your needs and wants.

Elevators at Yankee Stadium

As far as I'm concerned, this is the best part of the new Yankee Stadium.

These freight size elevators are located right in the Great Hall on the ground level.

If you don't have a seat on the field level (100 sections) , this is the best way to get to the Main level (200 sections) and for the Terrace (300 sections) and the Grandstand (400 sections).

The elevator is gigantic and it goes up and down in no time.

If you haven't been to the new Stadium, go there and take the elevator up and I'll see exactly what I mean.

Just another tidbit of sound advice from royalty.

Check back for more tidbits that will only enhance your Yankee Stadium experience.

The Great Hall at Yankee Stadium

Great Hall at Yankee Stadium

Here is a view of the spacious Great Hall when you enter Yankee Stadium by Gate 6.

It's conveniently located near the subway station which is up the block from the Stadium.

In the Great Hall, they have a variety of pictures of a number of legendary players who have worn the pinstripes past and present.

In addition, they have a stand set up where you can get your picture taken that looks like you're part of the particular celebration.

It makes for a great souvenir and memory from your visit to the home of champions.

If and when you make your first or next visit to the Stadium, stop by and see it for yourself.

Thank you for reading and following along.

Yours truly,

Gary Herman

Royalty takes in minor league experience!

On Saturday night, the King and I took a ride to the Allentown/Bethelhem, Pennsylvania area which is known as the Lehigh Valley region.

We went to Coca Cola Park, which is the home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

They are the Triple A affiliate of the National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

In addition, it's the host of the 2010 Triple A All-Star Game which will be played on July 14th.

As for the ballpark itself, it's one of the very best in the minor leagues.

It opened up just 2 years ago.

It's a 2 level venue which makes for a great place for the local people to enjoy some affordable family entertainment.

Saturday night was a perfect example of that.

The game was sold out. They had their largest crowd of the season thus far.

As for the experience, unlike the major leagues here the concession prices are rather reasonable.

It was only $5.50 for a bottle of beer which is a bargain compared to Yankee Stadium where it's $9.00 a pop.

They had an unique stand that sold roasted corn as well.

With that being said, you have added incentive to "pig" out if you decide to go there.

Most importantly, they had a variety of in house promotions which kept the crowd entertained throughout the game.

After the game, the crowd was treated to a fireworks display.

Being from NYC, it was nice to getaway to see how other people in other areas of the country live.

In this case, we only went 100 miles to get a contrasting life style.

If this kind of trip suits your needs and wants or tickles your fancy, please feel free to contact me so I can arrange to give you all the pointers you need to see it for yourself.

Follow the royalty way, make the most of your leisure time.