BCS
National Championship Weekend
I had not been back to LA to go out since my 35th Birthday weekend last year and when
you read my post you can see how memorable it was to me. I have a feeling
that this year was going to be no different. Eva wanted to go to LA for my
birthday and I opted to wait until the BCS championship game at the
Rose Bowl and get a two for one plus see two of my best friends!
Ryan
and Silva were flying in from Houston, Migs and crew were coming in from
Michigan and about 150,000 others to descend upon Pasadena and the
Rose Bowl for the BCS Championship game between Florida State and Auburn.
We tried to rent a house on Airbnb.com in Pasadena and after a few failed
attempts we opted to rent a house in Hollywood and just head up to Pasadena on
Monday for the game and the pre-game festivities. The house we were staying in is titled Hollywood Whitley Retreat Epic https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/169580 and
seemed to be in the perfect location for our long weekend in LA.
 |
| Me, Ryan, Silva & Migs |
Saturday
Night
Dinner
Reservations at the Red O http://www.redorestaurant.com/ we went
last year for dinner one night and it was the perfect set up for us and we
decided to go back to get our weekend started on Melrose. We had a group
of 10 and decided to head to The Abbey http://abbeyfoodandbar.com/ for some
drinks and dancing afterword. We headed back to the house around midnight
and had a nightcap and called it a day. Looking back at the pictures I
think everyone had a great time. Silva and I were hungry when we arrived
back to the house and headed down to Hollywood Blvd. (a few blocks from the
house) for some street food off one of the local vendors. We were
starving and it seemed like we ate almost anything we could get our hands
on!
 |
| Me, Ryan & Silva |
 |
| Intersection of Hollywood and Highland |
Sunday we headed up to Pasadena for brunch at The Langham Huntington in
Pasadena http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com/index.html we
were in for brunch by 10:45 and were able to sit outside on the terrace ahead of the brunch
rush. I highly recommend the place; the food was amazing and the service was just
as good! Ryan and Silva had not been to the Santa Monica Pier before and I
knew the traffic was going to be terrible but we headed out of Pasadena and
went to check out anyway. The amazing people watching (couples yoga, tight
rope walkers, gymnasts on rings, etc.) that surrounds the icon of
Santa Monica is priceless.
We tried to find a place to eat a late lunch in the
area and after a being stuck in traffic we decided to head back
to Hollywood and grab a burger at the Roosevelt Hotel at 25
degrees http://25degreesrestaurant.com/wp-content/themes/25degrees/ie.php We
were hitting some of our spots from last year's trip but there is
something to be said about knowing what you want and knowing what you're
going to get. When you're hungry the unknown can be worse than heading back to the same place and we opted for 25 degrees burgers.
After our late lunch we went back and relaxed before heading over to studio
city where some of Ryan's fraternity brothers from FSU had rented a
house. The house was great with a pool and plenty of room but I think our
location was much better. Alison met up with us and we went for a late
snack at the Pink Taco http://www.pinktaco.com/ it's a great
place for tacos and the atmosphere is amazing so if you need some good eats late check it out. The Pink Taco located in West Hollywood is next door to the Chateau Marmot in the heart of Sunset Strip. We had a big day coming up on Monday
with the BCS game so nothing to late for us.
Monday
BCS title game Florida State vs. Auburn
Wow we were so hyped up on
Monday we at breakfast in Hollywood and myself; Silva and Ryan took an Uber to
the Rose Bowl. Eva opted to stay back in the neighborhood and do some shopping,
work on the computer and relax. It was going to be a long day for us
and we were going to meet up with Migs and his brother-in-law around the
stadium for some pre game activities. I have been to FSU football games
before in Tallahassee and nothing compared to what was going on at the
stadium. It was part zoo, part circus and all college football
madness! ESPN Game Day had a stage front and center of the stadium, which
was completely, engulfed with circus style event tents on all quadrants.
There must have been 5 or 6 airplanes at once circling the stadium with banners
and the people watching was amazing! Lucky for us Ryan had a contact that
rented a house as close to the stadium as you could get without being on the
property. I could not believe we knew some guys that found this house…it
was perfect and the location was impeccable. I talked to the owner and he
said the house had been in the family for years and they always put it on Craigslist
and it was a great things for FSU fans because it was as close as you could
get to the stadium without being in the parking lot.
It
was great to have myself; Migs and Ryan back together again! We had not all been together in about two years when the three of us met up in Cabo. There is
just something about having some of the people that know you the best and that you're the
closest with close to you. To me it's like having a family bond or a
brotherhood if you will.
 |
| Beautiful day for football |
After
catching up at the house adjacent to the stadium we made the 5-minute walk to
the festivities in and around the stadium. Migs purchased three of
the tickets online through vividseats.com and they came with wristbands
for a pre-game tailgate party and admission into the hospitality area of the
stadium. Honestly the whole event was one of the coolest things I have
ever been a part of in my life. There were more Auburn fans than FSU fans outside AND inside the stadium but everyone that I saw for the most part was having a great
time. We only had three wristbands for the tailgate for the 5 of us and luckily I was able
to network with someone outside of the entrance and we were able
to pick up a couple more so we could all get inside. The tailgate party
was put on my primesports.com
and it was amazing! They had at least 20 different tents with game paraphernalia,
different food vendors, games, free shots from patron, you name it and it was most likely there to eat, drink or do. In the middle was a covered stage with two DJ's spinning music and keeping the crowd going before the game. We ate lunch
around the stage and Migs and Ryan even played a game of air hockey. The
highlight of the tailgate was two-fold; first Eddie George (former Tennessee
Titan's running back) was spinning beats on one side of the stage and
Marcellus Wiley (retired NFL defensive end) was spinning on the other side of the
stage. The second highlight of the tailgate party was a guest appearance
by Bobby Bowden (long time Florida State Coach) and Warrick Dunn (FSU and NFL
Alumni)
 |
| Patron Samples |
 |
| Dunn and Coach Bowden |
 |
| Eddie George |
We
hung out for a few hours at the tailgate and then made our way into the
game. FSU was on the home side of the field and as we entered
the stadium we showed the hospitality passes Migs received with the
tickets. We were escorted to a secure area under the stands at
the top of the stadium and it was unreal! Everything you could imagine was
there for us to eat and drink and it was all FREE! I could not believe it…there were couches and people walking around with skewers of food, cookies,
snacks and all you wanted to drink until the end of the 4th
quarter. This was truly the VIP of the game and it made all of
our experiences greater! We were able to find Ryan and Silva inside the
stadium and take them a couple of the passes for the hospitality area
while the others waited and we soaked it all in. Wow, I don't think we
realized how good we had it compared to some of the others. Those passes
were golden! I remember walking up to get a cocktail and asking how much
we owed and the gentlemen serving said everything in our section was
complimentary...there was a split second in my mind when I thought...WOW...did
he just say what I think he said? YES! I almost spilled my drink walking
back to the table to spread the news to the others
 |
| I don't see many AU people on this side! |
 |
| Cookies in the hospitality area |
 |
| Osceola and Renegade |
The game
itself was one of the best games I have ever seen...either on TV or in
real life and the way FSU played in the first half we all had some
serious doubts how it was going to end. Lucky for us FSU fans it
worked out in our favor and they were able to win the game! Our
seats were amazing and the atmosphere was electric. I left to
go to the bathroom in the 4th quarter and my phone died...I knew it
was going to happen I just didn't realize it was going to happen so
soon. To my misfortune I ended up losing my boys and ended up in
Pasadena where I found a place I could at least get my phone charged
so I could get an Uber back into the city. Hands down this was one
of the best male bonding trips I have ever been on and hopefully FSU
makes it back again next year! I am so thankful to have true
friends like Ryan and Migs and getting to hang out with some really great
people like Silva.
Thanks again Ryan and Migs for the awesome
weekend! As I have said it's not about the materialistic things its the
memories we get to share along the path of life that makes it worth
living...until the next time...I will put it in the words of Jameis Winston
(FSU Quarterback) If we gonna do it den, we gonna do it big den!
 |
| Brothers in Arms |