After my game last night, I had to opportunity to satisfy a craving I'd been having for weeks. Not sure why I waited so long for it, but as soon as I got home I put in my delivery order to Pastazios New York Pizza.
The quality of Pastazios is unmatched in the area and, for the price, it's a no brainer when deciding between them and Dominos. I placed my order for a small jalapeno and pepperoni pizza. Only one type of crust here. Thin, crispy, oven toasted.
When the pizza arrived I could smell the flavors oozing out of the cardboard box. After crushing four slices, I made the smart decision and saved the remaining slices for another day. In fact, I may have to reheat those slices right now...
Check out my Yelp page for my Pastazios review and many more!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Back Outdoors
On Sunday afternoon I played my first outdoor game in what seemed like forever. It showed too. With the wind in full force, it was going to be difficult for anyone to look as though they had any skill whatsoever.
We elected to play into the wind in the first half, which played a pretty big factor. Despite battling the elements, we looked the stronger team and had the most chances (or half-chances might be more accurate). Through the first thirty minutes neither team had a legitimate shot on goal and it wasn't until then that the opposition broke the deadlock.
A ball was whipped into the wind from the right flank and just as I figured it was going to sail by everyone and out of bounds, one of our defenders decided to get in the way. The ball dropped down to the foot of one of their forwards, who didn't think twice before slamming it home. 1-0.
Over the next ten minutes it was more of the same. Failed attack after failed attack. Our best chance came when I chased a ball down to the corner flag. When no defenders came at me right away I took the ball along the goal line. As the first defender approached, I made a nifty little move to beat him to the left. As the ball neared the goal line, I sent a cross into the box hoping it would bang of someone and go in. The ball sailed through untouched and our opportunity was dissolved.
We finally got on the board just a minute from halftime when our left midfielder earned a free kick just outside the eighteen yard box. A teammate decided to loft the ball towards the goal, rather than shoot. I somehow got to the ball before the goalkeeper and headed it past him for the tying score. 1-1.
The second half was a completely different story (kind of). For the entire forty-five minutes we controlled the game. WIth the wind now at our backs we were able to attack with ease and kill their advances early. This resulted in plenty of shots, none of which were on target. I, personally, took several shots the just barely missed the goal. My best chance came when a ball was knocked towards their pudgy defender. Knowing he would take a bad touch, I applied pressure and he gave the ball right up. I took a couple touches to the right and hit a low shot to the near post. The ball pinged off the bar and richocheted across the face of the goal and out of bounds on the other side.
We finally broke the deadlock when one of our forwards made a daring run into the box, finishing the . opportunity he had created. Even though we only went on to win 2-1, we dominated the game and the other team was lucky to not have been beaten by more.
Next game in a week - hopefully the wind won't be such a factor.
We elected to play into the wind in the first half, which played a pretty big factor. Despite battling the elements, we looked the stronger team and had the most chances (or half-chances might be more accurate). Through the first thirty minutes neither team had a legitimate shot on goal and it wasn't until then that the opposition broke the deadlock.
A ball was whipped into the wind from the right flank and just as I figured it was going to sail by everyone and out of bounds, one of our defenders decided to get in the way. The ball dropped down to the foot of one of their forwards, who didn't think twice before slamming it home. 1-0.
Over the next ten minutes it was more of the same. Failed attack after failed attack. Our best chance came when I chased a ball down to the corner flag. When no defenders came at me right away I took the ball along the goal line. As the first defender approached, I made a nifty little move to beat him to the left. As the ball neared the goal line, I sent a cross into the box hoping it would bang of someone and go in. The ball sailed through untouched and our opportunity was dissolved.
We finally got on the board just a minute from halftime when our left midfielder earned a free kick just outside the eighteen yard box. A teammate decided to loft the ball towards the goal, rather than shoot. I somehow got to the ball before the goalkeeper and headed it past him for the tying score. 1-1.
The second half was a completely different story (kind of). For the entire forty-five minutes we controlled the game. WIth the wind now at our backs we were able to attack with ease and kill their advances early. This resulted in plenty of shots, none of which were on target. I, personally, took several shots the just barely missed the goal. My best chance came when a ball was knocked towards their pudgy defender. Knowing he would take a bad touch, I applied pressure and he gave the ball right up. I took a couple touches to the right and hit a low shot to the near post. The ball pinged off the bar and richocheted across the face of the goal and out of bounds on the other side.
We finally broke the deadlock when one of our forwards made a daring run into the box, finishing the . opportunity he had created. Even though we only went on to win 2-1, we dominated the game and the other team was lucky to not have been beaten by more.
Next game in a week - hopefully the wind won't be such a factor.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Same league, New season
Last night, we kicked off the Inwood Soccer Center Spring I season. Just like the last time I checked in, we're still playing Tuesday nights - Division VI. Since my last post, we've probably played 2 or 3 seasons and I think we won a championship during that period. Can't really remember and it doesn't really matter.
Anyways, we started off the season against a much lesser opponent in the 10:30pm matchup last night. We'd only take a few weeks off in between seasons but you'd think it was a few years by the way we played.
I found myself starting on the bench (how did that happen?) and from the opening whistle our play was very flat, to put it nicely. Not one person was able to find his "touch" and passes were either way off mark or coming in at the knees. It was not pretty soccer. When I entered the game a few minutes in, I'd say the play got even worse. My first touch came after our keeper rolled a ball to me smooth as can be. Thinking I'd just give a nice little one-touch pass back to one of our defenders, I popped the ball up and over the wall out of bounds. Whoops.
After about 8 minutes of terrible soccer, we were able to get on the scoreboard when a ball bounced to be about ten yards out. I lined up a right footed volley and put a decent strike on the ball. It would have been caught easily by the keeper had it not taken a last minuted deflection into the net. I'll take it. 1-0.
Like I said earlier, the team we played was much worse than us and in the end we were able to walk away with the W, albeit in embarrassing fashion...
That's all I can bring myself to write about this game. Hopefully the play is a bit better when I make my triumphant return to outdoor soccer at 3pm Sunday!
Anyways, we started off the season against a much lesser opponent in the 10:30pm matchup last night. We'd only take a few weeks off in between seasons but you'd think it was a few years by the way we played.
I found myself starting on the bench (how did that happen?) and from the opening whistle our play was very flat, to put it nicely. Not one person was able to find his "touch" and passes were either way off mark or coming in at the knees. It was not pretty soccer. When I entered the game a few minutes in, I'd say the play got even worse. My first touch came after our keeper rolled a ball to me smooth as can be. Thinking I'd just give a nice little one-touch pass back to one of our defenders, I popped the ball up and over the wall out of bounds. Whoops.
After about 8 minutes of terrible soccer, we were able to get on the scoreboard when a ball bounced to be about ten yards out. I lined up a right footed volley and put a decent strike on the ball. It would have been caught easily by the keeper had it not taken a last minuted deflection into the net. I'll take it. 1-0.
Like I said earlier, the team we played was much worse than us and in the end we were able to walk away with the W, albeit in embarrassing fashion...
That's all I can bring myself to write about this game. Hopefully the play is a bit better when I make my triumphant return to outdoor soccer at 3pm Sunday!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Chicken & Waffles...who knew?
2011 is becoming the year of trying new things and the most enjoyable thus far has been Lemon Bar (in Uptown) brunch. Never having been to Lemon Bar, I can proudly say that I've gone twice in February alone.
Saturday brunch at this trendy spot is something like I haven't seen. It's a restaurant full of 20-somethings who look as though they are recovering from a long night out. With a room full of hangovers, what's more appropriate than bottomless mimosas served in bottomless carafes? Nothing, I tell you..
But let's be serious, I'm not here to talk about orange juice. The real showstopper is the Chicken & Waffles. The brunch menu only consists of about 7 items, but could be easily trimmed down to just one. The chicken is lightly fried and pairs nicely with the fluffy Belgian waffle. You can't eat the entire plate without trying the ultimate bite at least once: Chicken, gravy, waffle, syrup and butter.
The portion size is huge and after eating my entire plate and 2/3 of Courtney's, I was ready for a Saturday afternoon nap.
Saturday brunch at this trendy spot is something like I haven't seen. It's a restaurant full of 20-somethings who look as though they are recovering from a long night out. With a room full of hangovers, what's more appropriate than bottomless mimosas served in bottomless carafes? Nothing, I tell you..
But let's be serious, I'm not here to talk about orange juice. The real showstopper is the Chicken & Waffles. The brunch menu only consists of about 7 items, but could be easily trimmed down to just one. The chicken is lightly fried and pairs nicely with the fluffy Belgian waffle. You can't eat the entire plate without trying the ultimate bite at least once: Chicken, gravy, waffle, syrup and butter.
The portion size is huge and after eating my entire plate and 2/3 of Courtney's, I was ready for a Saturday afternoon nap.
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