The Homan's

Wednesday Night at Madison Square Garden....

2008-11-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

Um....Yeah....we went.......

From the New York Daily News:

AC/DC shakes up Madison Square Garden with sold-out show

What year is this?

At AC/DC's concert Wednesday at the Garden, it wasn't always easy to tell. The thrashing sound that came barreling from the stage could just as easily have been produced by this band in 1978.

Or '88.

Or '98.

Or, at this rate, 2018.

It's the same screechy yowl AC/DC pledged allegiance to 33 years ago, which they haven't wavered from in a single riff since.

Why should they?

That sucker-punch style helped them quickly sell out Wednesday night's show, as well as one at the Garden tonight, along with racking up the No. 1 album in the country for the last two weeks, ("Black Ice").

Eight long years may have passed since these aging bad "boys" last toured here, but they picked up right where they left off with the first brash chords of "Rock 'N Roll Train.

"That's a new song but it might as well be old. It has the kick of the classics.But it wasn't just the force and girth of that sound that brought on the fist pumps. It was the staggered beat that gives those chords swing, and the choruses that make them singable - or at least screamable.

That last bit provides some of the band's camp, as does the cat-in-the-microwave screeches of lead "singer" Brian Johnson.

For further amusement, there's the goofy 10-gun salute in "For Those About to Rock," the endless run of forced sexual innuendos, and, of course, Angus Young's velvet-encrusted schoolboy outfit, which just about fits his 53-year-old body.

At least his riffs showed no flab.

The crowd itself showed some age. It spanned two male generations, suggesting a kind of father/son night. But, then, what better band to bond over than one that got it so right the first time, it never need change a thing?

Fall in Central Park

2008-11-10T08:25:00.001-08:00

Central Park is amazing this time of year! Here are some picutres from this weekend.

Trip to Cold Spring, NY

2008-11-05T16:30:00.001-08:00

Well I (Matt) am back in NY for a few weeks and it has been quite a while again since my last post....as always. Saturday we decided to take the Metro North train up the Hudson River to check out some of the fall foliage. I think we both underestimated how impressive the fall colors are in this part of the country....and the trip along the Hudson was quite exciting as well.

We got off of the train in a small town called Cold Spring about an hour and and a half north of the City. Very old, neat town that reminds you of a small ski town in Colorado. It only has a population of about 2,000 and the downtown villageis on the National Register of Historic Places. We had lunch and just walked around downtown checking out some of what seemed like 100 antique shops!

West Point Military Academy.....

Steve Visits for Yankees vs. Rays

2008-10-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Recently our good friend Steve Luther made the trip to the big city to catch one of the final games at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees ended up getting beat pretty good we still had a great time and hope he can make it back up in April for the opening of the new Yankees Stadium!

We also headed over to Brooklyn to hang out Saturday afternoon. Afterwards we spent the evening at Bar 515 with all of the Auburn fans to see the Tigers dominate Mississippi State 3-2!!

Kelly Break & Labor Day Vacation

2008-09-06T10:42:00.000-07:00

Kelly has had a nice semester break and was in Birmingham for a few weeks, so it was great to have her home for a while. She just finished up her third semester at Columbia.....only two more to go! While we were both in Birmingham, we decided to take a nice long vacation to her parent's house on Dataw Island, SC. We spent the week basically doing nothing and it was great! Did a little fishing and welcome the start of football season with the traditional opening Saturday pot of chili (still a little warm outside for chili but tradition is tradition).

We're back in NY and have our friend Steve (aka Bull) coming up today for a Yankees game tomorrow.....stay tuned.

Jay and Ashley Visit For Some Baseball......

2008-07-29T17:25:00.000-07:00

Our friends Jay and Ashley came to visit last week and, once again, we headed to the Bronx to check out the Yankees take on the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. The game was tight until Bobby Abreu hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning and ultimately drove in three runs, leading the Yankees past theTwins 8-2. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano also contributed with two RBI each. This was by far the most exciting game I have witnessed in the final season of Yankee Stadium.

More Pics From Mel and Chad's Visit....

2008-07-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here are just some more random picures of us out and about in the city while Mel and Chad were here.

Out in Soho....

In line to see Rent......that rain cam out of nowhere

Harlem Gospel Choir.......AWESOME. Hangin' out in Brooklyn... Mel and Chad in Central Park...

Yankees vs. Red Sox - July 4th

2008-07-26T07:05:00.001-07:00

Yankees vs. Red Sox is one of the oldest, most bitter rivalries in professional sports. For over 100 years these teams have duked it out on the diamond close to 2,000 times. However, my Yankees have a slight edge, having won 26 world championships, and the Red Sox a mere 7.

In this final season of Yankee Stadium, what great game to be able to take Mel and Chad to during their visit. The first game played at Yankee Stadium was in April 1923 against, you guessed it, the Boston Red Sox. It was in this first game that Babe Ruth christened the new stadium with a three-run home run to seal a 4-1 victory against what would become such an intense rivalry.

We weren't so lucky on July 4th. Not only did it begin to pour in the 7th inning, but the Yankees also lost 6-4, which was pretty much sealed by a Mike Lowell three-run homer in the 5th. Despite the loss, we still had a great time and honestly, the rain made it even better.

Peter Luger's Steakhouse....

2008-07-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, ever since we made it to the City, many people have said something along the lines of "Dude, you have to go to Brooklyn and check out Peter Luger's!"

Peter Luger's is a steakhouse established in Brooklyn in 1887. It has changed ownership over the years but it still remains in the same location near the Williamsburg Bridge. The only dinner items on the menu are Porterhouse, Lamb, and Salmon. Needless to say it is a classic New York City Steakhouse. Not to mention it has been ranked by Zagat Survey as the top New York City Steakhouse for 24 years in a row......

This has been on my New York agenda for quite some time. With Chad being as big a red meat fan as I am, I decided to make the reservation while he and Mel were up for a visit. I must concur that everyone that recommended it to me was exactly right.... This place was nothing like I had ever experienced. And to top it off, Kelly, who is by no means a red meat fan, put aside her red meat phobia for an hour or so and helped me partake in a Porterhouse for two.....the thing was huge. Only the second time Kelly has ordered a steak since I have met her.......and I was proud.

Slacking on the Blog Front Lately......

2008-07-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

First post in almost a month. One must really commit to this blog thing in order to make it interesting!! Obviously it has been anything but that in July, but there really have been exciting things going on in New York this month!!

I'll start with Mel and Chad's visit over 4th of july weekend. We were really excited for their first visit since we started this whole adventure. Mel and Chad are always ready to get an early start and not stop until the day is done!! We like that....

Our first major outing was to the South Street Seaport. We have been wanting to do this for a while and what a great opportunity to do so with Mel and Chad.

A little history:

South Street Seaport is located on the East River in lower Manhattan, near the Financial District. It is surrounded by some of the oldest architecture in the city, some dating back to the early 19th Century. Also docked at the seaport is the largest concentration of historic ships anywhere in the country. No too long ago, it was transformed into a modern tourist attraction featuring restaurants and nightlife.

PEARL JAM ROCKS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

2008-06-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam was one of mine and Kelly's favorite bands growing up (still is actually!) We were fortunate to get really good seats to Wednesday night's show at Madison Square Garden. This was a real treat, considering we have not seen them live in a very long time. Great show.....not an empty seat in the Garden! They put on a very good show and the crowd was phenomenal!! Can't wait for more shows at MSG!!!!

From the NY Post:

PEARL Jam is old-school classic in its road warrior work ethic - and classy in attitude. Without the monetary motivation of a new album, the band is touring this summer just to sate their fans' hunger for its music. At Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the first of a two-show series, the Seattle band dished up a whopping 30-song feast that ranked as one of the best rock shows of the year. Even if you were deaf and blind, the force of the show could be judged by the vibration of the crowd dancing. It literally made the concrete floors of the Garden bounce to the beat. The lighting was basic, the set was nonexistent, and the only special effect was Vedder's magnetism. You'd be right to expect a song such as the PJ classic "Even Flow" from the dusty 1991 breakthrough disc "Ten" to be huge, but where the band totally claimed the Garden was when the boys tossed in a cover of The Who's "Love, Reign O'er Me." Vedder was born to sing epic arena rock, and Pete Townshend's classic fit his wail perfectly. When he finished that one, Vedder wiped the sweat off his brow, pushed his long hair back in one swipe and gave up a toothy grin. He knew he hit the mark and was pleased that the crowd recognized the triumph. After years of struggling with his celebrity, Vedder has become comfortable as a rock star and seems to really enjoy himself. Vedder sipped at a bottle of wine, danced to his band's music when he was (and wasn't) singing, smoked a few cigarettes, and in the end seemed as if he'd have been as happy to be at this show as a member of the audience as he was as the star.

More Pictures From Family Visit......

2008-06-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Kelly's sister Donna recently sent some of her pictures from their visit last month.....too good not to share.

I'm headed back to New York soon for a couple of weeks. Big plans during that time so check back!!!

- Matt

Columbia University

Central Park

Downtown

Back To Birmingham

2008-05-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well it's back home to Birmingham for both of us this week after a a great time with the family in New York last weekend! Fun times were had by all as we spent even more time touring the Big Apple, shoppinng, Broadway plays, and going out to really good restaurants. Here are more pics from the folks' trip with more to come!

Little Italy...

The guys at the Subway Series.....

The girls in front of Kelly's building at Columbia....

The Black Keys at Terminal 5....

Mamma Mia!!!.....

Carnegie Deli 5-14-08

2008-05-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Biggest and baddest "sandwich" I've ever had.......THAT IS ALL.....

Family Visits New York

2008-05-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well this past weekend and throughout this week and next weekend, we will have family visiting us in New York. This weekend we had my mom Winn, sister Donna, and our neice Aubrey. While here for their visit, they stayed at the Waldorf Astoria on the East side of town:
They arrived in town Friday night after a slight delay due to nasty weather in New York. Saturday was spent seeing the Columbia University campus, touring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, lunch in Little Italy, and an afternoon of shopping in SoHo. The day was all capped off with dinner at Bobby Flay's (Food Network) restaurant Bar Americain, followed by the Broadway Play Wicked:

Sunday we took a stroll through Central Park (Bethesda Terrace, The Mall, The Boathouse, Sheep Meadow), and finished up with Mother's Day lunch at Tavern on the Green. Afterwards, headed to Dylan's Candy Bar on 3rd Avenue, followed by yet another day of shopping on 5th Avenue. The night was complete with drinks and apetizers at the Russian Tea Room and off to Broadway again to see Chicago:

Matt's parents, Dan & Sylva, as well as my dad Charles will be arriving on Thursday and we have many more fun things planned. So, check back later this week for more updates!!

Spring has arrived in the Big Apple!!

2008-05-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

Arrived back in New York on Sunday for a couple of weeks and was welcomed to sunny skies and a temperature of about 75 degrees. It's about time, considering us two Southern folks had to deal with our first New York winter, which was considered mild but we definitely thought otherwise at times. Our Sunday was spent eating lunch in Battery Park, overlooking the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty. Afterwards, it was on to Central Park to bask in the afternoon sun with a few tasty beverages! Much to come over the next few weeks so stay tuned.....

Yankees vs. Rays

2008-04-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

Having gotten rained out on Opening Day, the weather on Saturday was perfect, and turned out to be an awesome day to head up to Yankee stadium for an afternoon of baseball! Unfortunately, the Yankees lost 6-3, but that didn't take away from taking in the scenery and enjoying a couple of hotdogs and tasty beverages!

This weekend turned out to be one of the best since the whole New York experience began. It is starting to warm up in the Big City so we're looking forward to a great Summer!

Saturday Night Live!!!

2008-04-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

Our friend Brian made it up to visit again this weekend and to catch another taping of Saturday Night Live. This time around he was able to get us in to watch the rehearsals on Friday afternoon. We had the opportunity to meet his cousin Casey Wilson, the newest member of the cast. We also ran into many of the other cast members, including Seth Myers, Kristen Wiig, and Keenan Thompson. We have been huge fans of the show for a long time, so this was definitely a real treat! I had to sneak few photo ops with my cel phone, since they aren't too welcoming to cameras inside the Studio 8H, so this one is about the best I was able to get!

Opening Day Monsoon!

2008-03-31T15:38:00.001-07:00

Well we had plans to head up to 161st St. in the Bronx around noon today to check out the final Opening Day game at Yankee Stadium.....ever. Then the rains came. The Yanks first game of the season was postponed until tomorrow night. Hopefully we'll get to head up there tomorrow night to take in some of the festivities to kick off the 84th and final season at the "House That Ruth Built". Luckily, we have tickets for Saturday's game vs. Tampa Bay so hopefully the rain will stay away!

Been a while.....

2008-03-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we've had several people ask lately, "You need to update your blog.....". I know, I know, it's been about a month since our last post.....lazy I guess! Probably need to start posting everything that goes down, not just have a "New York Experience" blog???

So, today is my first day back in New York after about a month in Birmingham, two weeks of which was Kelly's Spring Break. It was nice to have her home for close to two weeks. The highlight while she was home was a trip to Savannah for the wedding of our good friends Josh and Erica Thomas. Below are some pictures from that trip....

Lombardi's Pizza

2008-02-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Today we headed down to Spring Street to experience a true taste of New York history. Lombardi's Pizza is considered the very first pizzeria to ever open in the United States. An Italian immigrant, Gennaro Lombardi, began selling pizza out of his grocery in Manhattan in 1897. He opened the original restaurant in 1905, and his family continued to operate the original location until circumstances in the neighborhood forced the restaurant to close in 1984. Lombardi's Grandson and a friend reopened the pizzeria at it's current location in 1994, still keeping to the coal-fired oven recipe of the original restaurant. The pizza is still considered some of the best in Manhattan......and I agree!

No Sleep 'Til..........Brooklyn

2008-02-23T14:54:00.000-08:00

Hey folks! Well today we made our first trip into Brooklyn. We decided to hop on the L train over to Bedford Avenue to check out the Brooklyn Brewery.

Our good friend Brian Higdon is in town for a very special occasion. His cousin, Casey Rose Wilson, is the newest cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is in town to see her first show as a member of the cast.

We spent the afternoon touring the brewery and sampling a wide variety of local beers. We also headed over to The Waterfront Ale House, which has one of the best beer selections in the city, not to mention a very good food menu......especially the chili!

My New York Buddies

2008-02-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Here is a photo from Wednesday of some of the girls in my classes at Columbia. We are in the West Village returning from a lecture by one of the city's renowned landscape architects.

From left to right, Kaylin (Oregon), Hynch (Korea), Me, Liz (Russia), Dinorah (Dominican Republic).

William Knox Lane 2-14-08

2008-02-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Our very good friends, Clay and Lenzie Lane welcomed William Knox Lane to the world on Thursday, February 14th.

Congratulations Clay and Lenzie......we wish you guys all the best with your new arrival and look forward to seeing you all very soon!

Our Home Away From Home.....

2008-02-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Not much going on the past couple of weeks other than school (for Kelly!) and work, so I thought I would post a few pictures of our apartment on West 110th St. This is where we spend our days while in Manhattan.

To give you a sense of where we are, it borders West Harlem and the Upper West Side. So, if you're looking at a map of Manhattan, we're pretty much at the top right corner of Central Park. Central Park is right outside the front door of the bulding, which we have enjoyed on many occasions.

Many attractions that Central Park offers are only a short walk away. In addition, the 2 and 3 express trains are right down the sidewalk. Needless to say we are in a great location, and only a short subway ride to any part of Manhattan. We love our spot and look forward to many more adventures over the next year.....stay tuned! Oh yeah....visitors keep coming!

137 West 110th Street

View Into Central Park From Front Of Building

Made It This Time!!!

2008-01-24T12:38:00.000-08:00

After an airline mishap the previous attempt (we won't go into detail), Jeanna and company finally made it to the Big Apple for a visit last weekend. Jeanna, Jill, Shelly, and Ivy braved the weather to partake in some shopping, sight-seeing, and a little New York City dining. Weekend highlights were dancing and singing in the streets of Soho to the tune of Sweet Home Alabama, played on guitar and harmonica by two trendy, aspiring musicians and eating Chinese delivery like true Manhattanites while girl gossiping. Low spot of the weekend was being convinced to see a terrible off broadway production by a cute couple whom we now think worked for the terrible production(that’s new york for you). All in all the weekend was a success and we hope they make the trip again this summer!!

Almost Forgot!!!!

2008-01-11T17:58:00.001-08:00

Check out the picture of Elizabeth Anne, Steve, & Molly Shannon!! They met her in SoHo while in New York!!

(for those of you who don't know, Molly Shannon is a previous Saturday Night Live cast member)

HAPPY 30TH ELIZABETH ANNE!

2008-01-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Elizabeth Anne Luther turned 3o years young on January 4th 2008. We had a multi-day celebration here in New York City. Many of our dear friends made the trip to celebrate with us, including Scott Yerkes, Hayden Patton, Fran Jackson, Sherry Sumners, and Alan & Sarah Heaton.

Below are some picturs of our awesome week of celebration! Happy Birthday Elizabeth Anne!

Tortilla Flats

Tavern On The Green

Cheers to EA at The River Cafe!

Gramercy Tavern

First Post - New Years Eve 2007

2007-12-31T17:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Homan's blog site (Thanks Clay and Lenzie for the idea!)

This is our first post to the site. Kelly is currently attending graduate school at Columbia University in New York City. She moved here in August, meanwhile I am traveling back and forth from birmingham, spending half of my time here as well. So far it has been wonderful! We have experienced so much in the city so far but we have a long way to go to see even a fraction of what's to offer in this massive place! Kelly has just finished up her first semester and she did very well! Only 4 more to go!

That's where we stand at the moment. We look forward to sharing the adventures of our lives with everyone!

This is a picture of me and Kelly in Central Park after the first snow of the year.