I think our trip was planned since January. There were 12 adults flying in total, 2 driving in from another state for 1 night - ages ranging from mid 30s to late 40s. We flew southwest out of Manchester, NH direct to Baltimore on time with no problems. I swear the entire plane was decked out in Red Sox attire! I was a little surprised.
We didn't check luggage but some friends did - theirs were the 1st bags off so we only waited a few minutes. Our friends were staying at the Radisson, Tremont Plaza, and Renaissance - all in the inner harbor area. We had reservations at the Brookshire suites and shared a cab with our friends going to the Renaissance as they are only a block apart. We arrived at the hotel around 12:30pm. Even though check in was 4pm, they had a room ready for us. Our friends at the Renaissance also could check in. The front desk staff at our hotel were very informative & friendly. The bell hop was also great!
No sooner had we unpacked when our cell phones started ringing. 2 couples staying at the Radisson could not check in till 4pm. They were already at Tir Na Nog (inner harbor bar) waiting impatiently for us. We went about a 1/2 block to CVS (SO convenient having it so close by) for a few things, stopped back in the room, then met our friends.
We had several drinks and some appetizers. The crab dip was good, not superb but good. Our other friends joined us later at various different times.
At 4pm some went to check in to their hotel and the rest of us stopped at Houlihans - it was pretty empty. We then moved on to the James Joyce pub. We all met there before the Red Sox game which was starting at 7pm. Some of our friends had come in from Logan with a layover and had a much longer travel day. We had some appetizers (dinner time now....) and they were good. I think I only had a few chicken fingers.
We waited till around 640 to leave. We should have left earlier. We took a cab but traffic was aweful. We told our driver to do whatever he could - after that he drove like a crazy man! He dodged in & out of traffic like a pro. Had I been completely sober I probably would have been scared - but after a few drinks I was happy with his performance:) We arrived in one piece.
A couple who went ahead of us lost their tickets.
They opted not to go to the game, instead they met up with another couple who was just there for the 1 night and didn't have tickets. Tickets were easily available had they opted to go. So 10 of us attended the game that night and we all had a great time. The stadium was beautiful - reminded me of seats at Gillete stadium as opposed to Fenway. There was never a long line for the ladies room. There were SO many Red Sox fans it almost felt like a home game.
I felt guilty - almost. The game went long...we only made it to the 9th inning. We all left & planned on going to another bar - but on the walk back my husband and I decided we were done. It had been a LONG day already! We had been up since 630am.
Slept through the night no problem. In the morning I kept waking up off & on - 1/2 due to not feeling so hot from too many drinks, 1/2 from street noise.
We drank the 2 free bottles of water in the room.
Went up to floor 9 club in my boxers & T shirt for free hot breakfast. Everyone else up there was showered & dressed...I felt like a loser. We ate as quickly as I could - picked at scrambled eggs & pancakes (good). As soon as we got up to get coffee some random people moved our plates & took our seats! Good thing I was finished anyway - but they didn't know that as there was still food on our plates. I was too tired to point out this rudeness so got some coffee to go & headed back to the room. Read the free paper. Napped...and then the calls started. Granted it was after noon time - but am I the only one who can't bounce right back anymore? I felt old and I was one of the youngest. Anyway - dragged myself into the shower finally and we headed to J pauls to meet our friends who had apparently already been there a while!
It started pouring rain. Had a few drinks there but we started getting wet even with the outside covering. Our friends wife was drunk so they got in a fight and she wouldn't come with us when we decided to go somewhere dry with food. Even after several calls, countless txt messeges, she wouldn't budge. Chalk it up to the drinks, we've all had our moments. We started searching but EVERYWHERE was packed! Must've been the rain driving everyone inside. There was 1.5 hr wait everywhere...we didn't want to wait so kept trying various places till we ended up back at the James Joyce - 45 minute wait. But then we found some seats at the bar and as more near us opened up the rest of our group took those too. Had some crab cakes there - they were good. We were there for a few hours. Finally the sun came out and we moved outside. Started heading back around 6ish with a detour into ESPN zone - debating on whether to attend Sat nights game too. We opted not to. Several friends went though and were lucky enough to see Manny's HR.
We rested up in the room for a while which had been made up. Ended up going over to M & S grille late for a couple of drinks & an appetizer. The spinach artichoke crab dip in a bread bowl I thought was really really good. Favorite thing I ate all weekend. It was a mellow night. Got a good night of sleep in. Checkout was easy & the bill was correct.
Our last day we didn't have time to do much. The 8 of us going to Manchester decided to head to the airport early and hang out there till our flight. We got a table at a restaurant there for lunch & drinks - we had time to kill. Several bloody marys later & we were on our way home. Uneventful flight.
Friends of ours reported they had seen Varitek and some other players in the Renaissance bar Sat night -briefly. They also said there were lots of people camped out there waiting around for them. Part of the floor they were staying on was off limits as it was occupied by some of the team or staff.
We really had a good time & love the inner harbor area and outdoor bars. We all definitely would return. It may sound like we're a bunch of drunks but in our real lives we're not. This was a rare free all adult weekend for the group of us and we made the most of it! I found the locals to be very friendly and helpful and hope to return some day.
Thank you Baltimore! Anyone with questions feel free to PM me:)