Normally, I'd cover this stadium gathering the Sunday after so many of gathered in many rows at The Porch presented by Hijole at Citi Field.  A memorial service covered last week pushed back this report on watching the Mets defeat the Yankees on June 26 a week.  Apologies to those who expected the account then.  My wife Shelly and I and our friend Gary arrived early and dined in a revamped "Caesars Sportsbook at the Metropolitan Market." It offers nice views of the field (and though I did not make use of those "looks," the Manhattan skyline, and the World’s Fair Marina).  My brother Rob and wife, Jen Coleman, caught up with us shortly thereafter.  Rob Intelisano's dad came by to say hello (he knows me from my prior life in government when he was chief of staff to retired justice, then State Senator, Jeremy Weinstein (with whom I share a barber, Frank Loccisano, at Ideal Barbers in Glen Oaks); I chatted with Rob on the way to our seats.

There were only some 200 of us this year.  For the previous few years we reached 250.  Not sure if it was the time of year, or confusion with some others on which game I planned for our two groups, Gotham and my FDR Lodge.  In one case a Gothamite made his own grouping elsewhere in the stadium; in another case another Pythian event "required" the attendance of some others.  Still a nice crowd across three sections.

It was also a bit of a Bearak family outing as brother Richy eventually made it from his office near City Hall. Earlier his son, Doug, also connected with us at Caesar's. Below a pic of the three brothers Doug took and posted to Facebook.

The game outcome favored my team but Friday's blogger (Pictured with me below.) was made happy by seeing his current fave, #99, blast one out.

What perhaps distinguished this game more than any others involved the rain delay. The Mets early posted on the scoreboards and the many television screens advisories to leave our seats for the cover of the concourse (and various restaurants.)

It was more a deluge (See below.).

Fred "caught" Justin Napolitano taking a few videos of same.  

Many of us were able to shelter in place courtesy of the overhang that covered several of our rows.  I found the experience surreal.  Others faced getting drenched and soaked if they remained in their seats.  We got to sit in watch.  My wife and daughter texted from the Piazza Club where they were before the skies opened up and all of a sudden that space got filled up and some.

As is the case where Gotham is involved, some used the rain delay to chat business.  Arthur Goldstein found my brother Richy and were in deep discussion about something.  I suspect similar chats occurred in and around other rows (To some extent the seating aimed to facilitate such discussions.  For example, I sat Dr. Joel Weinberger who I met in People4Peace next to my Cisco Ortiz, recently re-elected vice president of my client union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056; Joel, whose wife, Dr. Debbie Heiser (pictured with me below), runs The Mentor Project, got to discuss a compelling transit issue with Cisco. 

I also want to thank Steve Horn and Vincent Russo who each took many colleagues, co-workers, friends and clients to "our" gathering.

On a final note, both Gotham and FDR are looking for another to take on the mantle of coordinating this gathering going forward.