Introduction: A Reason For Leaving Home

Lucky me, I had a chance to go. The events all lined up...pro wrestling in Brooklyn, AfroPunk in Brooklyn, friends allowing me a place to stay...and money to spend. So after small deliberation, and consideration of the risks and danger--forget that, I booked the tickets and planned the weekend. Pay in cash, download maps, and make tracks to NYC.

DAY 1: Hello Brooklyn, how you doin'?!The bags are packed. The devices are charged. The tickets are printed. Dad drove me to the train station. We get there. I part and tell him I'll see ya later...2 days later.

I get on a quiet empty train heading to Park Street, my departure point that will get me to South Station, from there, I'm stepping on a bus and rolling to NYC. After a wild work period and insane load of work, I was ready to see an old friend, Zach Adams, and ready to see a few old favorites, Candiria, Suicidal Tendancies, and someone else, and of course WWE NXT Takeover.

Traveling from Boston to NYC was something that was in the works for a long time. Longer than previously mentioned.

Approx 2 years ago, I was planning a trip to Brooklyn for a show with my friends in Helicopria. The gameplan was simple, go to the release show, take pictures, and conduct interviews with the band for a special to run on Jones Rocktography.

And then my bank account had something to say about that. Foiled.

I always knew I wanted to leave the state of MA for NY and I was fortunate I chose a weekend like that.

So riding around on the bus was a decent experience, just a man, a notebook, a backpack, snacks, and two game systems, with bad wi-fi to give me the illusion I could watch Cowboy Bebop on my way there...nope.

We finally arrive in NYC, get off the bus and it's time to explore the city...while waiting for Zach to meet me up. I'm new here, just like Gil-Scott Heron.

One problem: Zach is asleep. And I'm calling him over and over and over...at that point, the first of many risks were taken: I braved NYC's subway system. With no experience and just a maps app telling me what line I need to take to get to Marcy, son, just thought I'd remind y'all.

(I'm sorry. I'll be doing this a lot)

So after a brief experience of losing money to the MTA I got my act together and finally took the right train to my friend's place. A bit too close to call but I had a lot of fun rolling into the area. From there, I finally meet up with Zach, set my stuff down, get a grasp of the surroundings and chill until it's time to make my way into the city for the events of the day.

One of the things I love about NYC is how easy it is to get anywhere on public transit because they have every tool to help you succeed in getting to your destination. no problem at all all. Interactive maps, destination notifications, maps all over, smartphone apps, it's all there. 

Anyway enough of that, let's kick it to another point: How I nearly got scammed.

SUMMERSCAM 1/AFROPUNK

In the days leading up to the events, I had made plans to buy SummerSlam tickets from a seller in NYC. But there was one catch...I needed to meet up with him. So I went to the spot we agreed on, waited, waited, waited, and then realized they were a no-show.

I was kinda steamed. Moreso because I was potentially missing out on Candiria playing live.
So I jetted back on the train and tried to get there, got lost walking to the park, stuck in line checks, and missed them by 5 minutes. I dealt with it, and then of all the things to happen, the lead singer walks by me.

Too much of a geek on the street to know, I just observed. And I was in amazement.

Of course, that was off stage, on stage, a band called letlive. was playing and I caught some of their stuff. It was intriguing music I never heard of before and I made a note to check it out when I got back home.

After 2 hours there, I made my way to the Barclays Center for NXT Takeover. Of course I was needing to conserve money for the train home so I came up with the idea of WALKING to the place.

DERP.

NXT TAKEOVER

I made it. I was exhausted. But this was the epicenter of a night I won't soon forget. We can start with how friggin' nice Barclays Center is, or how awesome my section was (the certified G section) and how much fun we all had that night with in-jokes, comedy, commentary, cheers, smiles, and various events.

Best parts of the night:
-Enzo and Cass making their entrance.
-Everyone in my section saying "Hold #1 ARM-BAR!" in unison.
-Everyone in my section throwing up the Too Sweet handsign when Hall and Nash appeared on TV.
-Blue Pants.
-Somewhere a Sgt. Slaughter joke was made when he appeared on screen, prompted by me to say "I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!"
-Also: the unannounced appearance of KANA from Japan's indie scene. Driving me into a "OH MY GOD IS THAT...NO WAY!"
-Bayley vs Sasha Banks - OK, let me preface this by saying I love women's wrestling, because it's cool and the stuff in Japan is insanely impressive. WWE made a mockery of it over the years, off-set by a few talented performers breaking through, only to fall back down or be held down by a terrible supporting cast that looks pretty but cannot lock up.

The NXT Women's division was a step in a new direction. Every performance was a step forward, and with every show, the cast began to flesh itself out. The shocking thing was that...the matches were great. Check that, they were stealing the damn show at every live event. But no one expected that we'd get a match that good.

We did. From the video package, to the entrances (Sasha came out in a friggin' HUMMER) to the match itself. On the edges of our seats, we were. All match long. Especially when Bayley busted out the rarely seen "Poisoned Frankensteiner" which is essentially a move where someone flips another person over and the opponent lands on their head. It's the coda to a wonderfully written moment in time, eclipised only by the ending where the division's leading stars all hug and embrace each other, closing the chapter on the rise of the division.

-Owens/Balor Ladder Match: wait...there was more to this show? Oh. Well then...it was good. Too safe but enjoyable. A good ending.

Made my way back to my friend's place late at night and trust me that is no problem in the city that never sleeps. Even if I botched the train route home and almost got lost in NYC's subways haha. I end my night by buying something from a Middle Eastern convenience store across the street from where I was staying and I nearly saw a car accident go down. I knock on the door, walk in to the apartment, talk about the show and the PPV and the fun I had and fell asleep...with a smile on my face.

DAY 2: Sights, sounds and SummerScam II
The day begins with me on the floor of an apartment in Brooklyn. My hosts are awake, I wake up, my phone is charging, I am happier than I've ever been in a month's time. I realized I lived my mission. To not wake up in my bedroom, to wake to an unfamiliar ceiling. To prove my escape from ordinary is possible. I felt refreshed, a little worried I  couldn't get SummerSlam tickets,and intrigued about rolling back into the city for some exploration. And one more shot at SummerSlam tickets.


But first, breakfast. I got my meal on at the good old IHOP down the street. Good thing so many things are a short walk from the train, makes my day easier.

I eat up, the usual, a drink and French toast. Meanwhile, I try to negotiate a ticket sale for SummerSlam. I get another guy selling his, a place to meet, the money, a contact number, and we're off.

I'm going cross city for this, riding the trains all day to get to the spot, and he...doesn't show.

WTF.

At that point I swear off it entirely. I was totally fine with watching the event LIVE...from my friend's apartment on Xbox One. Good thing I have WWE Network, for  $9.99/month!

So instead, I just bought a big ass order from Dominos and spent my cash on hand on a bunch of food. Good good times.

What's missing in this is how I loved walking around Brooklyn and exploring, being someone who was a stranger again, seeing new things, and learning how to survive, learning that you need to stand up on your own two, shed fear and self-doubt. That and I saw a woman walk by me with no top on.

That was...something.

Anyways, my time wrapped up in Brooklyn and I was starry-eyed. I loved being there. I loved how the city fit my lifestyle of 24/7 living, everything was accessible, and it was just so much fun...

In the early hours, I packed my bags and made my way to the train...to the bus station, to conclude my weekend. And it was there...where I waited for 3 hours to board a bus and got jipped but finally got home...hours later. Exhausted.

And happy. Isn't that the point?

(also I'm planning to go back next year. bank on it)