sunday, happy sunday

Ah, Sundays.

Since inquiring minds (mainly surly lumps) have asked how my Sunday was, I will recount my casual outing with Campbell in good ol’ Jersey and (mostly) Brooklyn. I arrived in Jersey later than expected, getting lost in a confusion of road signs in and around Reading (and not having a Crider to talk to, as she was probably frolicking…as Crider does…and distracted by Appalachian land animals, out in the wilderness somewhere). But upon arrival, I was greeted by the Cam Fam, dog and all, but minus sister. Post-Cam Fam meet ‘n greet, this became our (often impromptu) itinerary:

Jersey Diner I Can’t Remember The Name Of, Somewhere In Orange: Campbell satiated his hankering for processed meat creations hailing from Jersey. I believe this is how I saw it….

Campbell + Taylor Ham Sandwich = Happy Jersey Breakfast Campbell

Much like….

Campbell + Grilled Corn = Happy Corn(y) Campbell
Campbell + Brooklyn Brewery = Happy Drink-filled Campbell
Campbell + Sunglasses = Happy Fashionable Campbell
Campbell + Tripe and Doting Restaurant Waitress = Happy Tripe-filled Campbell
Campbell + Tapas Bar = Happy Wine-filled Campbell
Campbell + Top 40, Pop Radio = Happy Dancing Campbell

(All to be discussed soon. Don’t worry!)

I had the ham steak with eggs over easy, rye toast, and hash browns (the cubed, not shredded, crispy kind…I prefer shredded and crispy). It was the Jersey experience: diner food, coffee, Campbell. And if anyone would ever doubt that Campbell is part of the Jersey experience, I would point you to his (state) pride tattoo.

Bar I Can’t Rember The Name Of, With An Interesting Window Display (Motorbike Body & Stuffed Crocodile…Maybe Alligator): The place had an awesome quirky decor, excellent outdoor seating, and high density of accent-laden waitstaff. We wait for Dolan with conversation and beer.

Red Hook Ballfield Food Carts: OMGY! Picked up Dolan, drove to Red Hook, and this is everything we tried from various food carts: empanada, chicken tamale (gia-normous ones!), grilled corn, pupusa, chicken taco, melon mango frescas, and horchatas. All delicious. All reasonably priced.

Cambaloney enjoys his (corn) stick.

Dolan is a house and probably wants wine...bitches!

Baked Cupcakes At Baked, A (Walkable) Couple Blocks From Red Hook Ballfields: Cupcakes, per Dolan’s recommendation, at this place really are delish. I had the pistachio cupcake, while Campbell and Dolan seemed to enjoy their red velvet cupcakes. The best part’s the icing. Not too sweet, but just sweet enough.

Brooklyn Brewery, And The Moment I Realized It Doesn’t Take Much To Convince Campbell To Have Another Stout: Missed the last walking beer tour, so we did the next best (better) thing…Shelley & Campbell’s ingested beer tour. 6 tokens/$20. Campbell started with a coffee stout that was dark enough to put hair on his chest. I had the EIPA, which was to be extra-IPA-y. Extra special beers, Brooklyn Local #1 & #2 are both 3 tokens, but either one gets you a fancy take home glass. Last call, and Campbell ordered one of the Locals. I picked up extra tokens, (ever so lightly) twisted Campbell’s arm to try more, and we sampled four others.

Shopping At Beacon’s Closet, A Stonesthrow Away From Brooklyn Brewery: After an hour at Beacon’s Closet with Campbell, I acquired one pair of ridiculous pink sunglasses and an appreciation for lezbros who like to shop. It…was…fun! Since they wouldn’t let us use the restrooms at Beacon’s Closet, we walked to find an establishment with facilities open to the public…it ended up being the closest bar. Um, go figure?

Some Bar, Somewhere In Williamsburg: Wheat beer and conversation, as we wait out the pouring rain. Specific topics of conversation, I can’t remember, but I could guess: food, more food, cold beverages and cocktails, mutual friends who also enjoy food and cold beverages and cocktails, dogs named Mr. Jiggs, and City Which I Would Like To Live In Most And Why. The rain eventually stops, and we venture forth!

Big Wong King Chinese Restaurant, Somewhere In Chinatown: Do you trust a restaurant called Big Wong King…king of the big Wong’s apparently? I reply with these counter questions: Do you trust good? Fast? And cheap? Keep in mind we’re talking about about Cantonese cuisine and not the brothel house, but I’d imagine the answer to all these questions, in both venues, would be YES! Here we had congee with giblets, tripe noodle soup, and beef with Chinese broccoli. Excellent food for having just come out of the rain. Our waitress delevoped a small to medium-sized crush on Campbell, for his adventurous taste buds. I wonder if that’s how he gets all the ladies. Well, Campbell?

In Search Of The BGICT: Prior to this trip, Campbell and I had discussed adventuring forth into the city in search of the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. Mainly, for our surly and lump-like friend Val, who’s aspiration currently includes selling some food-based product out of a traveling, converted Uhaul (Help her make it happen Brendan!). The plan was to photo-document the occasion, and possibly film a short interview with the BGICT driver.

I had these questions in mind….

• What makes the ice cream truck big and gay? Is it the rainbow sprinkles?
• Do big gay ice cream trucks sell big gay ice cream? Or just ice cream? I think the latter is better.
• What advice can you give my friend Val about starting her own traveling, ice cream-selling, Uhaul business?

You can only imagine our excitement at the possibility of this impending visit and interview. The only problem was, the BGICT never showed. Scared away by the rain, I suspect. Campbell did, however, ask a passing stranger if she knew where the BGICT was, but she only responded with a quizzical look and directions to the location of a regular ice truck.

No, no, no. You see…we wanted the big gay one.

Tapas Bar En Route To The Car Parked In Chinatown: A glass of white wine, ordered by budding sommelier Campbell. Feeling like an expatriate in Europe, sharing the bar with chatty Frenchman.

The Journey Back To Jersey: Campbell likes to dance to Top 40s tunes. Good thing I do too. It makes the drive faster.

The Journey Home: Home at 3 AM, but totally worth it.

The results of this trip are in. Apparently, I gave Campbell a food hangover.