Road Trip Part II (St. Louis, Chicago, Cincinnati) / Week in New York
Hello my friends. I write from the kitchen of our Oxnard home. The last three days have consisted mostly of bingeing Reply 1988 in an Advil PM fueled haze. But now I feel as if I must rouse myself and get back to some sort of routine.
The last few weeks have been jam packed with traveling and it’s kind of nice to be back in a stable location.
Looking back I’ve really been all over the map this past month.
DC
Harrisburg
NY
Seattle
Cross country road trip
Nice!
Anyways, here’s what I’ve been up to. Filling in on the last few weeks since I’ve missed a post here and there.
Road Trip Part II
St. Louis
We left off in the last post in Kansas City. After Kansas City, Harry and I made our way to St. Louis.
St. Louis passed by in a blur to me. All I really remember is popping out of work for a quick break and heading over to the arch.
Blazing hot. There was a river. Some people lounging around on a lawn. Really not much beyond that.
I remember being impressed at how huge the arch is. In hindsight, it’s obvious that an arch of this renown would be big but wow. I guess I don’t have much experience with arches… The arch in Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza—perhaps the arch I am most familiar with—beautiful though it may be—is not very big.
Other memories from St. Louis include eating a St Paul Sandwich, a uniquely Chinese American invention that involves placing egg foo young between two bread slices with mayo and other meats. Would definitely eat again. Cheap, delicious, filling. One of those regional dishes where you wonder why it isn’t more widespread.
Not sure if I’ll find myself in St. Louis again. Didn’t seem like there was that much to do. Also read up on some crime statistics and (according to the rankings) it seems like a pretty dangerous city.
Chicago
After St. Louis we made our way to Chicago. A truly beautiful city.
I waved but not a single person waved back >:(
Worked out of the Chicago office. Got deep dish with Harry at Lou Malnati’s. I may just not be a deep dish guy. The crust was great. The rest of it was meh.
Afterwards we watched F9 at an AMC. I think at this part of the trip we’d been traveling to a new city every single day and were feeling a little tired. It would have been nice to see a little more of Chicago… next time.
Greyhound
That night after we got into Chicago we made our way to the Greyhound station headed towards Cincinnati. One of the most uncomfortable rides I’ve been on.
Greyhound people are rowdy. Far rowdier than the Amtrak crowd, which is kinda weird considering they’re pretty similar prices.
Example: a baby started crying a little after we boarded the bus. Not only did the driver tell the mom to shut the baby up but other passengers started chiming in too… That shit would NEVER fly on an Amtrak.
Another difference: you’re more confined so you end up involuntarily eavesdropping.
Dude across the aisle spent roughly twenty minutes talking about his uncle who raises raccoons. Apparently you can train them to pick up trash
The same mother whose baby started wailing at the start of the trip would not stop talking about her life. It’s 4AM and the majority of the bus is trying to sleep but this woman goes on and on about her personal life. Talking about her husband, how they met… they went to a mutual friend’s party. He’s a bit of a shy guy and wasn’t too straightforward about liking her. Towards the end of the party as everyone was leaving, the group was trying to decide what to do next. At that point she knew that she liked him so she declared to the group that she was going to ride in his car to the next destination and from there they started to get closer.
Honestly if it were daytime and I weren’t trying to sleep the story would have been great but I was pretty pissed at that point.
We had a layover that lasted a couple hours. Kind of interesting to see how collectively annoyed the crowd became. This was well past midnight.
Cincinnati
After the terrible Greyhound we finally arrived in Cincinnati. Cincinnati was a special detour for us. The only reason we ended up taking that Greyhound out of Chicago instead of going directly to New York.
We lived in Cincinnati from ‘98 - ‘08. It had been more than a decade since Harry and I had visited.
We did the main things to do in Cincinnati:
Got chili from skyline
Passed by a Graeter’s
We got ice cream from United Dairy Farmer’s instead. The good old spot we’d go after a day of hanging with Mom at the library
Tried to get pizza from Dewey’s pizza
Went to Bob Evans
I don’t think I was a big fan back in the day but Bob Evans is all over that midwest region. We saw a bunch driving into Pennsylvania as well.
Ate a buckeye (peanut butter/chocolate candy)
We also swung by the old school
The old Taekwondo studio
And the old neighborhood.
We also went through downtown Cincinnati, a place we hadn’t experienced as children (we stayed almost exclusively in the suburbs). A bit of a surprise to discover, as adults, that Cincinnati is a proper city. Bars, restaurants, skyscrapers… pretty much everything.
Going into this part of the trip I think there was an expectation that I’d feel a deep nostalgia. Did not feel that. Maybe it was that we spent just a night in Cincinnati. Or maybe the fact that almost everyone we were close with has left. Or maybe because we hadn’t come with the entire family.
For whatever reason, I didn’t feel too nostalgic. Cincinnati was a long time ago.
We left Cincinnati and did the ten hour drive into Manhattan. I really enjoyed that ride. Hours on hours of podcasts. Caught up on Asian Enough, Comedy Bang Bang, and Fun with Dumb.
New York
We ended the road trip in New York. Harry left after one night to go back to California and prep for his new job. I stayed the week.
Some quick highlights:
Pocha 32 with Kelvin, Will W, and CJ
Jollibee’s
Chicken was pretty damn good. Spaghetti was a surprise hit too. I kind of get why it’s so recommended now
Soba with CJ at Soba Noodle Azuma
Decent soba. Pretty good gyudon (really feeling this dish these days). Great portions. Would go again. Maybe order some extra dipping sauce.
Renting piano practice rooms at Michiko Studios and 244 Studios
I think this is the move when I head back to New York. It’s amazing to have a space where I can be as loud as I want without bothering the neighbors. Therapeutic to bang out my feelings on the keys. Also used the room to get some vocal practice in.
Catching up with Will T at Junior’s over cheesecake and milkshake
Hanging out with Frank at Dokodemo
Karoke at Karoake City with Kelvin and Annika
Asian fusion at The Tyger with Kelvin, Annika, Sunmi and another dude who’s name I forget… sorrybud. If I ever meet you again I will not forget your name, I promise.
Eating a black and white cookie
Biking into the office in 90 degree weather, back soaked and feeling like a sweaty pariah
And that’s about it. Squeezed in a lot for that short amount of time.
I realized that I want to do more once I’m back in New York. I think it’s important to have regular things outside of work to meet people and stay active.
My current plan is:
One art related activity
Joining a choir most likely
One physical activity
Playing volleyball
One social activity
Harry suggested a book club which I’m slowly warming up to
I am excited for my return.
Music Update
Still taking lessons with Michelle. Got a good amount of practice in during my New York trip. When I went to karaoke with Kelvin and Annika I felt a bit of an improvement with my singing. In the past I’d strain my voice hitting the high notes. Not this time around.
Also think I was able to use my diaphragm more and rely on my mixed voice (although I cannot claim I am that familiar with my mixed voice yet).
I feel more in control with my voice, which is exactly what I’m looking for right now.
I miss producing though. I haven’t sat at my DAW for a few weeks at this point.
When I’m back in New York I’m going to go HAM on performing.