I was such a casual traveler, I took no pictures! Sorry!
Day 1. New York City.
Wandered Soho with Anne, drank many vodka tonics (and was dazzled by the outrageous bathrooms) at Bar 89 with Anne, Heidi, and Kenneth. Cabbed it to Brooklyn (under the Williamsburg Bridge) to dine at Peter Luger's Steak House. Managed to make it in wearing shorts, since I had forgotten to bring any long pants along. Stayed at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (West Broadway and Chambers), in the lovely Loft Room (main room about eight feet wide, with a very treacherous staircase leading up to a sleeping loft).
Day 2. New York City.
Brunch with Kenneth (in the meat packing district--what a lovely area!). The day's highlight: finding out my car had been broken into! Completely my fault--left a bag in the back seat when we were heading into the hotel. Rear passenger window was smashed. Moved the car to a garage, then went off to the World Trade Center observation deck and then back to the meat-packing district for dinner (more steak!). Spent the rest of the night on the phone with Allstate.
Day 3. New York/Coney Island/Long Island/Montauk.
First stop: Safelite Auto Glass at 23rd and 11th. Wandered around Chelsea Piers waiting for my window to be replaced. On the road by 11:30. Ate Nathan's Original hot dogs at Coney Island, and marveled at how grungy the whole place is. Didn't go on any rides. Took a swing through Brighton Beach, and had an enjoyable Bonfire of the Vanities trek through outer Brooklyn until we met up with SR27. Eventually got on the LIE, then off it for the slooooooow drive through the Hamptons to Montauk. Disappointed by Montauk (hotel was on a lake, not the ocean), but was too relieved to have gotten the car fixed to care much.
Day 4. Montauk/Long Island/Jersey Shore/Point Pleasant Beach/Seaside Heights.
Drive, drive, drive. Made a surprisingly quick escape from the eastern tip of Long Island (marveling at the traffic jam heading into the Hamptons), and after a stop at a gross diner not too far from JFK, we made the Verrazano Narrows crossing and headed to Jersey. Crossed over to the shore at Asbury Park (no sign of Bruce), and slowly made our way down to Seaside Heights. Cool boardwalk (although it was about 1,000 degrees), but there was no action at the MTV On the Beach house. Spent the night at Point Pleasant after wandering its boardwalk. Rode the Scrambler and the mini-roller coaster.
Day 5. Atlantic City.
With the temperature now hovering at 1,500 degrees, we ditched a planned outing to Six Flags to head straight for the casinos. Bivouaced at the Tropicana, and started losing money almost immediately. Made Bill's trip by having dinner at Hooter's.
Day 6. Atlantic City.
Continued to avoid as much contact with daylight as possible, but did manage to poke our heads into every casino on the boardwalk. Lost lots and lots of money. Earned more bonus points by allowing a second night of dinner at Hooter's. A late night run at video poker netted us four 4-of-a-kind jackpots, but by the time we finally pulled away we had only $100 in quarters to show for our spoils. Oops.
Day 7. Home.
Managed to exit Atlantic City (with the cry, "Never Again!") still owning the shirts on our backs (and little else). Made good time back to DC, but were stalled at JD's parents house because of news coverage of Capitol Buidling shootings as well as felines reluctant to come down from the basement rafters.
