THURSDAY 7/21: Woke up a little scared. I'm a minimalist and live in a jumbo studio/junior 1BD apartment in SF. To be in a bedroom where I have to turn a corner is a little fearsome for me. But I was thrilled to run a gigantic whirlpool bath. Brad did some business in his room while I made it down to the complimentary hotel breakfast to get us coffee and danishes. I love when mini hazelnut Coffeemates are provided!
We drove to NYC to meet my friends Eleonora and Adele, who I first met on a leg of the tour in Europe in summer 2009. First we followed Ele's directions to Bono's apartment building. I took a PHOTO from the car. We were looking for a place to park or pull over but couldn't find one. Brad noticed a couple guys with U2 shirts sitting on a bench across from Bono's apartment building. I thought I recognized the two gals sitting there too as Ele and Adele but figured it wasn't possible since they said they were at the restaurant already. Turns out it was them!
I made us sit outside for lunch in the ridiculous heat at Trattoria Dell'Arte. We shared a bottle of wine, toasting to the four of us meeting up in Italy on the next tour! Then I learned how NY can be as Brad tried to get me to JFK Airport in time. As I entered the airport I turned around and said goodbye to NY. As the sliding door closed, I felt tears come. We checked me in and then all the sudden I had to get in a line and say goodbye to Brad. We gave each other a big hug and promised we'd let each other know as we were home safely. Luckily, I get to visit with him on his business trip to SF on August 4.
WEDNESDAY 7/20: *MY 76th U2 SHOW*
Woke up a little hungover, but nonetheless very excited to get on with the U2 day. We attempted to find my sweater at the hotel and restaurant but to no avail. Then we drove to New Jersey, cranking up some U2 on the car stereo. We checked into one of two rooms (my suite wasn't ready yet) and inquired about the shuttle to the stadium. One had just left and we didn't want to wait. So we decided to drive, which was nice so we could bring our cooler with more beers than if we carried it on the shuttle. We parked in Lot J-18 (remembering 18 for the U218 CD) and looked for the will call. We went to the wrong one at first. Brad ran ahead to the correct one. As I followed, two friends in the GA line spotted me: Eleonora (from Italy) and Ben (from France). Gave them quick hugs and told them I'd visit them later after the tickets and line were squared away.
Brad and I got to the line right about noon when the Red Zone will call was due to open. However, there were already a few people in line. Luckily, there was one Red Zone line for both sides, so Brad and I ended up being the first in line for the Edge side!
Didn't seem that hot at first, perhaps because we had some shade in line in the beginning. But as the day progressed, we were dripping. Was so nice to be with a U2 mate who had and liked to drink cold beers in line! Saw others as they walked (back) to the GA line: Brad Dier, Khelia, Brad Barnhorn. At some point in the afternoon I realized I forgot the sign and poem I printed for Bono. Called the hotel to inquire about a shuttle. Had to walk around the stadium and through the train tunnel. Seemed to take forever, to the point that Brad texted me to come back if the shuttle hadn't gotten me yet. But it just had. When we got to the hotel, I said I'd just run to the room and be right back, making sure the driver would be there. He said he wouldn't be but another would. When I came back down, the driver left for another run. So I had to wait 20 minutes. Not easy when it's after 4 and the gate is due to open at 5. Luckily there was a computer open in the lobby, and I hadn't been online for a full day or two. I wasn't quite finished checking my Facebook notifications, when other concertgoers announced the shuttle arrived. Luckily the shuttle dropped us off so that we didn't have to walk through the train tunnel. I ran around the stadium and found everyone standing in the Red Zone line. I had an "8" on my hand, so I just moved to the front, showing my hand. Then I noticed there were than 8 people in front of me, so I moved ahead of those who did not have numbers on their hands. I suddenly felt very anxious--I was used having my ex-boyfriend/good friend Nick with me and he often was the first one in and would secure a spot if I fell behind. I talked with the gals in front of me about making a deal to save spots. Then I realized that *I* was the first gal in line, which was GREAT yet more pressuring. "This is the Red Zone" I told myself. Minus the scanner not working (like in Pasadena), I was sure to make it to the corner rail like Brad and I wanted. The GA line was let in at 5...it was like 5:20 before they finally opened the gate for the Red Zone. I followed the sign that said "Red Zone 1" although gate security tried to tell us that was where to go for Red Zone 2. People behind me started running the other way, but I asked the lady at the door and she said THIS was it! I screamed, "Then WHY isn't the door open!?" I opened the door and led the way. I ran ahead...what a good feeling, like being backstage. Brad caught up with me. When we made it back outside, we almost went to the left but asked and were motioned to the right. YES, we were the first ones in our line to make it to the Red Zone, Edge side. But then...we spotted a family we didn't recognize in the corner. We ran over and they asked us why the rush. So we told them how we waited in line since noon. The dad said his friend works at the stadium and got his family access and couldn't understand why we'd wait. We told him how we wanted the corner rail but settled for next to the corner rail, which is what I had in Pasadena (due to the scanner not working) but Adam side. PIC
We got beers and pizza and analyzed Interpol opening. I'd seen them at Coachella in 2007--enjoy their albums but they're nothing special live. Finally, it was pre-U2 and I decided to capture a photo of the SCREEN, which I didn't often see from inside the circle. Then Brad got a photo of just me and my buddy THE CLAW. And took one of the Claw upside down. PIC.
U2 ER
(Brono #76, Brad #10 but following their albums since the beginning)
I cried for most of the first half of the show. Part of it was the Achtung Baby and Zooropa songs they were playing (and I'd only heard in Oakland), but it was also me eating up my last show on the tour. During the show, I slipped my card to the dad of the family on the rail corner. He was getting some good shots. So far he still hasn't emailed me. But I got this shot after Walk On, and it was my first time seeing (or noticing) the Amnesty International lights. PIC which is the photo above for this entry. I give the show an 8.5. I expected a NY/NJ to be crazier than it was, but it was the LONGEST show on the tour, including an encore of Out of Control after Moment of Surrender!
As Brad and I walked out, we turned and bowed to the Claw. Then we went to the car, planning to post-tailgate. My friend Chris was in town from the Bay Area visiting his twin brother, so they joined us for some beer and smokes and we analyzed the show. Here is a PIC of their view. It was nice to hardly notice the traffic and how long it took concertgoers to exit since we were having our own little party. When we got back to the hotel, I was shocked to have my own suite that is bigger than my SF apartment. A little spooky at night but I was so happy to crash in a king bed(room).
TUESDAY 7/19: Skipped staying up to see Bono & Edge live on Letterman since I had to leave for the airport by 6:30am. Told my mother to watch it for me, and she loved it. Took 8:30am flight to JFK. With the time change I didn't arrive until 5:30pm EST. My friend, Brad Barros (who friended me on MySpace years ago due to my U2-decorated page) picked me up at the airport. He complimented me on my U2 rhinestone shirt I was wearing which I had made on the last tour.
We drove to Greenwich Village and checked into Hotel Gansevoort. My mouth was agape when I exited the elevator. The hallway to my room was dark and romantically lit. My room was the nicest I've ever seen, complete with a stereo, flat-screen TV, and view like the Heartland scene from Rattle & Hum. PIC. And I took this of a funny photo hanging on my hotel room wall. PIC
We agreed we'd shower quickly and meet on the roof for a cocktail before dinner. When I got in the elevator on the 12th floor, he was already in the same elevator from the 4th floor. We shook hands in front of this other couple, pretending we'd just met. When we got to the penthouse, I was learned of how hot it could be in a summer evening in New York. I should not have brought a sweater with me (especially since I ended up losing it). We ordered martinis and sat at a table next to the rail. There was a pool on our hotel roof, and we could look across and see a pool on another hotel roof. I love hotel roof pools!! As the sun set, I had a glimpse of my favorite moment on this trip (outside of the U2 concert of course). Finally, I felt the heartbeat of NY which I didn't really feel my first time in NY in May 2005 to see U2 on the Vertigo Tour. Guess the heat helps.
For dinner, we went across the street to Pastis for Italian food and sat outside. We shared a bottle of white wine and about four dishes. I must've been hungry because we finished everything. This is where the night starts to blur. Of course we ended up back at the penthouse bar for a nightcap before crashing in our hotel rooms.
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