ADVENTURES OF AN INTROVERT... PART 3!

Come follow along on the rare occurrences I decide to leave my house. These outings will start to decline because summer is basically here, and I hate it. 🙃 

5/20: Slipknot @ The Barclays Center

Every time that curtain drops, and Slipknot begins their set for the night, I am always taken aback by their presence on stage. Their set production is truly unmatched. This was my sixth time seeing them in concert, and The Knot never disappoints. I purposely joined the Knotfest community to get first dibs on ticket selections for future Slipknot shows, and I must say I am very proud of the seats I acquired this time around. This was my first time seeing a show at the Barclays Center, so I didn’t know what to expect. Turns out, our view of the stage was pretty amazing. The seating chart created the illusion that we were situated further away from the stage than it seemed. I’m happy that was not the case.

The last four times I’ve been to Slipknots shows, they were being held at outdoor amphitheaters like PNC Bank Arts Center and the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (formerly known as the Waterfront Music Pavilion like two minutes ago when I bought Rob Zombie tickets and the BB&T Pavilion). These places don’t have pit areas, and extend out to lawn seats. You can’t really view the crowd the way you can at an arena. Although, I myself do not like being in the pit, I loved seeing one for Slipknot finally. The energy of the crowd was electric, and I felt one with my people. It was one of the best Slipknot concerts I’ve been to yet.

Corey Taylor said it was an honor and a privilege to be back in one of their most favorite cities in the world. It was so refreshing to actually be in New York for once, and not Jersey. I really wish major bands had more shows in New York. The experience is vastly superior to having to spend the time and money to travel to a different state. Corey also seemed taken aback and humbled by how amplified the Brooklyn crowd was. He said it was one of the best cities they’ve played thus far. It made me proud because honestly, fuck Jersey. 🤣

Going to these shows is pure happiness for me. We got to hear The Chapeltown Rag for the first time live, and received confirmation from Corey that the new album is coming very soon. They played Snuff for the first time in 10 years. And, I FINALLY got to see Custer live! I also loved how at the end of the last few songs, Corey kept asking if we wanted one more song. Just when first timers though the concert was going to end, The Knot played six more songs. LOL. I’m seriously so excited for all my upcoming concerts in the next few months!

Set List: 

1. Disasterpiece
2. Wait and Bleed
3. Sulfur
4. Before I Forget
5. The Chapeltown Rag
6. Dead Memories
7. Unsainted
8. The Heretic Anthem
9. Psychosocial
10. The Devil in I
11. Solway Firth
12. All Out Life
13. Snuff
14. Vermilion
15. Duality
16. Custer
17. Spit It Out

Encore:
18. People = Shit
19. (sic)
20. Surfacing 

5/29: Dinosaur BBQ & Industry City

Interestingly enough, I randomly discovered Dinosaur BBQ while I was in Google Maps trying to figure out the train route for our day out to Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and the movies. Dinosaurs + BBQ = Danny. I asked him how he didn’t know of this restaurant when it’s located near Atlantic Terminal and right off 4th Avenue in Brooklyn. I’m Aladdin all over again, but now, instead of showing him all the sights to see in Disney, I’m taking him to new places on his home turf. I’m very much a planner, always researching to curate the perfect day of activities in a reasonable window that allows me to come home early, so that I can still relax because I’m in my mid-thirties and can no longer be out past 8 pm. LOL. 

 
I had to take a raincheck on our original Dino date because we were both not feeling well. We decided keep ourselves out of crowds, and rest up for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Our Sunday funday worked out perfectly as it was in the mid-seventies and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. Since Industry City is on the way to the restaurant, I decided I ought to take advantage and visit the floral installation before it is replaced with next season’s theme. I’ve been meaning to go for weeks now, but it never came to fruition. It’s funny because Industry City is right in Danny’s neighborhood, yet I’ve missed both Christmas and Valentine’s Day decor. Danny took the cutest photos of me by the floral arrangement and my favorite pink/white building that we pass by all the time. We visited both St. Mark’s Comics, and the Hifi Provisions record shop as well. Luckily, we saw nothing we liked and saved ourselves money. We already have about seven vinyls that are estimated to ship this month from Waxwork Records anyway. LOL. 

 
Once we got to Dinosaur BBQ, we were seated right away. The restaurant is a lot larger than it appeared to be from my research online. I screamed in delight at the fact that they serve Cherry Pepsi. I’m saying it here and now, Pepsi is better than Coke. I mean, why did Britney do commercials for Pepsi back in the day? It’s the little things that make me happy. Danny ordered a pork Dino slider as an appetizer, and to no one’s surprise, I had to pick off the pickles for him. It’s fine though, more pickles for me. 

We both ordered combo plates that allow you to choose 2-3 meats including two homemade sides and cornbread. I choose the Alabama white pulled chicken and jalapeño cheddar hotlink sausage (or as we say sassage) with Mac & cheese and Harlem potato salad. Danny opted for the pulled pork and St. Louis ribs with mash potatoes (a shock to almost no one) and BBQ beans with pork. Everything was quite delicious, including what I tried from Danny’s plate. The pork & beans have a really nice flavor to them, and now I don’t know what to get next time I visit. I wish you could order three sides. 😅 

I finished the day with a giant pink drink from Starbucks and AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. I wrestled (no pun intended) with the idea of going to Doughnut Plant, but it was warm out and food coma was setting in. Everything tends to look closer on the map than it really is when you’re planning the day out. Danny thinks I’m disgusting for this, but I really want to try their carrot cake donut one these weekends. It was still a perfect ending to a perfect day, despite the PPV going to 1am! Wtf, I’m too old for this. Also, another upset.. CM Punk winning the AEW World Championship! We placed bets within our clan on who was going to win each match, and no one though Adam Page was going to lose the title yet. Needless to say, I didn’t win, but that wasn’t really my undoing lol. I’m not going to bet against Darby Allin… okay? Until next time…