Friday, May 24, 2024

A Date With a Blond at Dodger Stadium


Mon.-Thur., May 20-23, 2024
By far the highlight of the past few days was our date on Tuesday in the greater Los Angeles megalopolis.

Laurie simply LOVES her Los Angeles Dodgers and watches every one of their games on TV and has declared undying loyalty to their jack-of-all-trades superstar, Mookie Betts.

With that as a background, she asked me with fluttering eyelashes in full force if we could go to the Dodgers 7:10 p.m. game on Tuesday which just happened to be "Mookie Betts Bobblehead Doll Night."

How could I resist a mid-week date night?

I couldn't, GAME ON !

The Arizona Diamondbacks
Fourth Place in the National League West
22 Wins - 26 Losses
at

The Los Angeles Dodgers
First Place in the National League West
33 Wins - 17 Losses

Out of curiosity, I opted to keep track of what a date night is like financially, something I never really worry or care about when I'm out on the town with my beloved bride at my side.

We'll start with two Reserve Section tickets along the third base line via StubHub, $107.86.

We decided to head down early as only the first 40,000 people to enter Dodger Stadium would receive a Mookie Betts Bobblehead Doll.

We decided to get a bite to eat before actually entering the Dodger Stadium parking lot.

"Laurie, what would you like to eat?"

"BBQ!"

Max City BBQ in Eagle Rock
was the obvious call

Together we consumed the better part of a savory pig at a cost of $54.92.

The total so far for our night out was $162.78.

It was still too early to go to the stadium as the parking lot would not open until 4:40 p.m., while the entry gates opened at 5:10 p.m.

Only one thing to do, head to Highland Park's eclectic York Blvd.

Highland Park is part mysticism . . .

. . . and part scary in spot

But mostly, it is a great spot to just hang out for a bit.

Tempting York Blvd.
tonsorial parlor

If you have about 30 unused, matching
tiles in the garage, I may have a guy . . .

That about sums up our date

The great BBQ pork was not enough

Two pretty damn good donuts were consumed happily at a cost of $10.90.

The things you do for love often includes money well spent.

Total date night cost was now $173.68.

The Hermosillo Bar is a
Highland Park gem

We found this couple taking
several wedding photos in
the Hermosillo

I asked them why the professional photos in this spot and they happily relayed that during their six+ years of courtship, they had shared many a fun evening in this delightful watering hole.

I get it 100%.

The cost of two frosty adult beverages on tap, $21.68.

Our fun, adventure filled date continued unabated at a total cost now of $195.36.

Finally it was time to drive the final 15 minutes to Blue Heaven on Earth, a.k.a., Dodger Stadium.

Parking cost $35.00 bringing the total tab to $230.36.

Yes, we were among the first to enter the stadium with each bearing a brand spanking new Mookie Betts Bobblehead Doll in hand!

A visit to the Sandy Koufax
statue was a must!

As was one to the
Jackie Robinson statue!

Two Dodger greats to be sure.

While we were in this awesome center field party area, I stopped in the Dodger store to get a new royal blue Dodger cap.

One cap: $30.66

Total expenditures were now $261.32.

It could have been more as the hat that I bought was an adjustable model with a price tag of a mere $28 before taxes. A similar fitted Dodgers cap that I tried on said $50 on its price tag.

A man in front of me in the check out line had six Dodger sensation/phenomenon Shohei Ohtani game jerseys ready for purchase.

The price tag on each of them that screams $190.

I did the math and was happy with our now obvious frugal ways.

We were in our seats early enough
to see most of the Diamondbacks
pre-game batting practice

Laurie was SUPER Happy,
cost: PRICELESS!

We had lots of time to kill, so I opted to get in some much needed steps while Laurie watched our belongings.

"Do you want anything, Laurie?"

"Yes, a churro and a new clear plastic bag if they have any, please."

Her wish was my command.

One churro: $6.56

One clear plastic bag: $10.95

Final Date Night Cost
$278.83

We were so fully sated from our combined Eagle Rock/Highland Park dining experiences that we did not order another thing at the Dodger Stadium snack bars.

Truth be told, we brought in a lot of snacks with us from home in our two old clear plastic bags.

Brooklyn Dodger pitcher
Don Newcombe was the first ever
winner of the Cy Young Award in 1956

Back then, this award was given to just one pitcher for being the best hurler in all of major league baseball.

Now they give out two Cy Young Awards annually, one for the best pitcher in both the National League and American League.

The first pitch, finally

It was not a great night for the Dodgers, we lost 7-3, but really, who cares when you are madly in love.

I thoroughly enjoyed our date night and can't wait to have another one with that little blond girl.

We are both 100% in
favor of these programs

More like my apartment in
Varese, Italy during the pandemic

Reading Is FUNdamental!

This was my seventh book in the
excellent, thought provoking
Maise Dobbs mystery series

Jacqueline Winspear is a fine writer in my opinion.

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