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“Eating Citi Field”

Occasion:	Cuisine:	Area:	Cost:	Rating:
Lunch/Takeout	New American	Queens	Cheap Eats	Great

rt, a firm synonymous with baseball design; they’ve renovated and designed 13 of the 30 major league ballparks in use today, and seven of the last eight to open in Major League Baseball, including PNC Park, Heinz Field and the new Yankee Stadium. They were tasked with creating an homage to Ebbett’s Field, but in practice it is a living tribute to Jackie Robinson, with the palatial main rotunda hung with black and white photos of Jackie and Branch Rickey, and inscribed with the nine of Jackie’s ideals as articulated by his daughter Sharon Robinson: Courage, Excellence, Justice, Teamwork, Commitment, Citizenship, Determination, Perseverance, and Integrity. At the pinnacle of the rotunda are Robinson’s own words: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others.” The man had a point.

But the stadium is not just about remembering Robinson’s moment in history. It’s about taking the ideals of his life and looking forward to the future. The Mets and Citi have pledged to help create the Jackie Robinson Foundation Museum and Education Center in lower Manhattan, which will educate children about Jackie Robinson's pioneering spirit and leading role in social change. This partnership will support new programs for the Jackie Robinson Foundation, including leadership development and scholarships for students who exemplify Jackie's humanitarian ideals. I know this has nothing to do with food, but I think that’s pretty cool.

So, back to the field. After a visit in the rotunda, you’ll head up to your seats. We had great seats in the third row beyond the left field fence, near the foul pole, close to Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, the Taqueria and a Beer Garden (with about a dozen local and imported beers from Staropramen to Goose Island), which are located in the food court between left field and center field. You’ll also find a wealth of entertainment options for your young Mets fans. There’s the Hershey’s Dunk Booth, where kids (or you) have the chance to dunk a Citi Field employee wearing the opposing team’s jersey.

There are softball batting cages for practicing those homers, and a kiddie version of Citi Field where aspiring toddlers can hit a wiffle ball and run the bases like the big boys. On a nice day, with all the outdoor seating for picnicking, it’s really great family fun.
But we were not there for the family fun (yet). ... [more, click below]

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Posted: May 1, 2009

Other restaurants in Queens :
+ Christos Steakhouse   + Bohemian Beer Hall   + Eating Citi Field   

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