Insider Guide to the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rosebowl

If you are planning to line up to see the Tournament of Roses Parade or have been fortunate enough to snag tickets to it, remember that when viewing the festivities in person, positioning matters.  There are two key tv spots - where the TV personalities are stationed and where the cameras are focused - and all the special parade action (fireworks, dance performances, band numbers, etc) happen there.  There are even some floats that feature their best and most elaborate decorations only on the side facing the cameras.  So if you can, find these spots and make sure that you are located as close to them as possible.  Want more tips for viewing the Tournament of Roses Parade?  Check out these sites:

Official Parade Web Site
Pasadena Star-News - updates on weather, parking, band performances and more
KTLA - videos, float votes, and parade news

Of course, for football fans, the parade is just a prelude to the big game.  The area leading from the parade route to the football stadium is lined with vendors selling all sorts of team paraphernalia - so there is no need to be in a rush to buy: you'll find lots of choices (and a variety of prices) as you walk along.  We're always encouraged by the number of budding entrepreneurs: neighborhood kids selling water bottles, lemonade, and homemade cookies, hoping to profit from the thousands of people walking by.  For more on what to expect at the Rose Bowl game, check out these sites:

Official Rose Bowl Web Site
SB Nation - game prediction and analysis

Philadelphia vs NYC

Over the weekend, Joe Queenan published a column in the Wall Street Journal about possible reasons Cliff Lee spurned the Yankees for the Phillies.  Queenan cites historical facts (Philadelphia's prominent place in the nation's birth), sports stats, cultural status and more.  We assume that when he chose to pit Philadelphia against New York City, it was all in good fun, and most of the comments in response to the article acknowledge that, while wondering, why would Queenan pick such a fight and pick and choose his arguments so indiscriminately (e.g. the Steuben Parade is hardly what NYC is known for, while the Mummers play a major role in Philadelphia's identity).

New York City Steakhouses

At this time of year, when the cold wind blows and snow threatens (witness the flurries in Manhattan today), what many of us want is to settle down in a comfortable spot with a great glass of wine and a well-cooked piece of meat.  New York City is full of such spots.  In particular, we like Sparks, but Smith & Wollensky and the Upper East Side's Parlor Steakhouse are good choices, too.

Update:
Want a bit of boisterousness with your beef?  We like the fun and frivolity of Del Frisco's where there always seems to be a birthday or bachelorette party nearby.