Cavalock and The Failed Gen Con Expedition

So me and the guys were supposed to be on a flight to the US this week to attend the world's biggest boadrgame convention GenCon but obviously that ain't happening. It would had been me third time attaining the event (2014 and 2016) and this year was gonna really cool cos our old gamer friends who have never been before would be joining us. Oh well, c'est la vie. At least SQ has started the refund process for our tickets. Unfortunately the same can't be said for our domestic flights to Indianapolis.

I thought I'd share a little boardgame that just arrived from local Amazon last week. Read some good reviews about it and it was on sale so why not. Abomination, the Heir of Frankenstein is a worker placement, resource management game with a unique and slightly morbid theme. Set several years after the events in the classic novel Frankenstein, the creature is now in Paris and forcing scientists (the players) to build another creature. Players will then place their scientist and assistants tokens at locations around a map of Paris. Many places to go including the Morgue to acquire bodies or University to give lectures (gain money) or even commit murder in a dark alley for fresh body parts (lost humanity).

It ain't that easy cos you will need to build the individual body parts first. For instance, a Leg will need a certain number of Organs, Muscles, Bones and Blood. These four resources are only available in limited quantities in the random bodies you find. That body you just stole from the Hospital might provide you with only a few Organs and no Blood. Even after getting all the body parts you need, you will need to deliver an electric charge to them to give them LIFE!!!! It's not a short game and the resource management part can be a real brain burner. Then you still have keep an eye out on your Humanity, Reputation and Expertise levels. You'll lose Humanity depending on how you source your cadavers and losing Humanity means losing points at the end of the game, while you need to increase your Expertise cos that means you get smarter and you need to be smart enough to build different body parts like the Head of the creature. So everything's connected and you got to balance them all. If anyone wants to play, let me know. A very challenging yet fun game and I hope to try the solo rules version soon.

Now here's an unexpected find at Marks & Spencer. Ravoili is usually my go-to dish at Italian joints, followed by tortellini and gnocchi, so when we saw this made-in-Italy ricotta and spinach ravioli, we figured why not? Turned out great, blindfold me and I'll probably think I'm in a restaurant! Will very likely grab another pack next time we are there. 

Oh, and you know it's the new normal when after over a decade, the Wash-Pole Patriot suddenly changes his act. Hah!  

Cavalock and The Famers' Market Foray

A Farmers' Market in the middle of Rockefeller Center in New York City! As early as 8am, they were already setting up All right, I know the photos could've been a lot better with close-ups and all but I was absolutely enthralled by the fruits, veggies and home-baked goods. My only regret is after buying all them board games from Gen Con, I had no luggage space left for any of the fresh fruits and I don't trust myself or anyone else with hand carrying anything as fragile as a peach.

Well, I did managed to grab a small can of homemade maple syrup from the farmer's market for the baker-at-home. We haven't had a chance to try it yet so we'll see. 

So yah, my hotel was just across the road from Rockefeller Center. Great location with an equally impressive view right in the heart of it all. Came with a nice little balcony too but it might be ...er ... kinda pretentious to be out there. The photos below might appear claustrophobic, with the buildings so close to each other but it doesn't. In fact there's this closed vibrancy or vibe that just makes the city come alive, know what I'm saying?

Heh, a couple of other things I like about my room. In bed with a special visitor and they got a water cooler with empty bottles outside the room just for guests.

Cavalock and The New York State of Mind

There I was, sitting by the fountain by myself in the park, enjoying a Nathan's hotdog, just opposite the Apple store in Fifth Avenue when an extended family of Indian tourists descended upon me and unceremoniously evicted me from my spot. About a dozen of them just swarmed around me, as if I was invisible, absolutely no regard for personal space while I was having my lunch and started posing, snapping pix right in my face. Hey, this is New York, I could be some crazy homeless dude packing some heat! Believe it or not, that was the only (man-made) negative experience I had during my entire two-week long U.S. trip. There was a major technical Delta flight glitch that affected thousands of travellers but that's a story for another day. But seriously, with hordes of unruly China and Indian tourists overrunning landmarks across the globe, I just don't know what to say. Well, I actually do but I shouldn't say such things online. 

Anyway, this solo trip to New York was invigorating on so many levels. It is simply amazing when you get to just chill by yourself, no plans at all, relax and do whatever you feel like in the middle of New York. So naturally I made my way from Fifth Avenue to Times Square to finally visit that famous New York geek tourist attraction called Midtown Comics. Heard and read about the place for the longest time, glad I finally got to visit this incredible comic book shop. Urgh! The day I was leaving NYC, Batman writer Scott Snyder was supposed to visit the store that evening for an autograph session.

On my walk back to my hotel, I sneaked into Lady M Cake Boutique along 40th Street for an afternoon break. Is it just me or does it look a lot greener than the one we have back home? Not bad but was a little too chewy, was kinda expecting it to be softer. What was interesting was me seated between a Russian couple on my left and a Japanese couple on my right. Not tourists but judging from their conversations and opened laptop, I'm guessing they live and work in the Big Apple.

Cavalock and The JFK Shake Shack Connection

If there's ever a go-to meal in New York for me, it's got to be this, Shake Shack at JFK Terminal 4. I don't bother looking for it in the city anymore. Met my friend at the airport as we waited for our connecting flight to Indianapolis, we made a natural beeline to the Shake Shack there and I guess we were so hungry that we forgot what a Shroom Burger was. Yes, it's a mushroom burger but it's also a MUSHROOM burger. A huge crisp-fried cheesy portobello mushroom instead of any beef patty. We forgot what it was but it still tasted absolutely great especially after flying halfway across the world.

And on my way back home, a delicious SmokeShack to end my 2-week gaming odyssey in the US. Now part of me would like to have them open an outlet here but if they do, that's like one less thing to look forward to if I'm ever back there.

Well, if anyone's interested, you can read a little about my Gen Con experience over at HereBeGeeks website. In the meantime, here's my haul of new board games from Indianapolis. Now, I'm not even showing the ton of gaming accessories and expansions to existing games that I bought. So why would I buy them there and carry them all the way back home? Cos the shops here in Singapore would often jerk up the price ridiculously high, like a USD20 game would cost around SGD50.

Cavalock Returns To Indianapolis & New York

Hey, I'm back after two weeks in Indianapolis and New York, not that anyone misses me I'm sure. Just like two years ago in August, I was attending Gen Con 2016 in Indianapolis, the biggest boardgame convention in the free world. If you read some of my older posts, you'll know that I'm a huge analog gamer. I have over 50 boardgames and a gazillion cards and miniatures games in my tiny apartment. Gen Con was a blast and I had so much fun, playing and buying the latest boardgames.

I must admit I was kinda apprehensive bout traveling to the U.S. after reading and watching Trump's rise to power. For awhile, I told myself this is not unlike Jesse Owens going to compete in Nazi Germany during the Berlin Olympics. Hey, Indy's Governor is Trump's running mate right? So you never can tell how the locals are going to react to four Asian guys suddenly showing up in their midst.

Fortunately there were no ugly or racist encounters and almost everyone I met was extremely generous and friendly. Alright, more on those games in a future post. And now I ask the question I always ask when I'm back from an overseas trip. Why can't we have this dish/meal here?!? Delicious pulled pork sandwiches. Had it the last time I was in Indy and I was really looking forward to this. It's just pulled pork meat in a naked bun. Nothing fancy, no weird dressings or toppings, just a simple pork sandwich. That glorious tender meat in a soft bun, why can't we have it here? I know preparing the meat takes time plus you need a proper BBQ smoker and all that but come on, other more "complicated" food joints with crazier, bigger kitchenware have opened up here.

Now since everyone's talking about it and playing the game, I thought I'll just share my experience on playing Pokemon Go overseas. My friend helped install the app in my iPhone while we were in the U.S. a few days before it was (finally) available in Singapore, so I had a tiny head start in catching a handful of Pokemon. Wow, J.W. Marriott is Drowzee central. Caught almost a hundred of them while staying there. I also managed to bag the exclusive North America Pokemon, Tauros right in my hotel room.

Then I was alone in New York where I trekked across midtown. That's the layout of Central Park down there. Best experience was the ride back to JFK Airport. Afternoon traffic was bad and that meant slowing down at every intersection, giving me time to catch half a dozen Pokemons in the back of of ride as well as winning one gym fight! Total different Pokemons caught in the U.S. = 75, levelled up to 15 before coming home.

Cavalock and The Neverending Quest for Greens in Indy

After my last Dickens-inspired, narcotic-laced non-food post, it's time for a final look back at my Indianapolis food trail.  I know it wasn't a very comprehensive one on what that fine state has to offer but it was a memorable and most importantly, an enjoyable experience for me. Now I did mention that we stayed just across the street from several interesting food joints including our regular breakfast bagel place here. But for a couple mornings, the place was just too packed with fellow Gen Con gamers rushing for their morning bagels and coffee too. So we headed next door to Soupremacy which specialises in what else, but soups! Regrettably they don't serve soups for breakfast. I had a bowl of 'steel cut Irish oatmeal' instead with my choice of fruit toppings, and the all-essential cuppa coffee and slice of coffee cake. When I was a wee-little kid, me late mom prepared Quaker oats for breakfast every morning, so I gotta admit I was sorta hoping to recapture a bit of that culinary nostalgia there. Well, unlike my late mom's hot oats, this was served cold and much thicker. Not bad but I miss my bagels!

I also did something I would never do back home and that's having breakfast at Starbucks. Hmmm ... we kinda noticed too that folks there like drinking iced coffee in the morning. Most unusual I thought, perhaps cos it's summer. A breakfast bugbear over there is that it's also my only opportunity to consume any fresh fruits, like bananas at the bagel joint, berries in my oats or a cup of fruit salad at Starbucks. Maybe if I'm ever back there, I ought to pack some multi-vitamins or something.

Lunch at Giorgio's Pizza was quick and good too. Step in the cosy diner and Giorgio himself would call out vociferously to you from behind the counter as he shovels whole pizzas into the oven. My friend and I each called two different slices, woofed them down and left. A quick and hearty meal with personalised service at its best.

Our last dinner on Sunday evening was across our hotel at Dick's Bodacious Bar.B.Q.. Like most restaurant meals there, they all came in huge servings. Go on, have a go! Guess which plate was mine.

Yah, it's the above one with green beans! I need my greens! I can't survive on just meat and cheese! The side serving of apple sauce I ordered was a big hit too as it seemed to go nicely with almost all of everyone's meats. And yes, that's my beer but no, I didn't choose it just cos it came with a slice of vitamin C. :P

Now I am aware that my recent writings do reveal a rather distinct lack of worldly travel experiences on my part. My continued candid observations on local food as well as amenities may sound somewhat unsophisticated. The sights that confound me or the dishes that amaze me may possibly be those that already appear mundane to the weary explorer. But these are still my honest annotates and as clumsy as they may be, I can promise you that they are all genuine and a part of who I am. Thanks for dropping by! Next stop, the Big Apple!!!

Cavalock and The New Grub Revelation

I must confess to having a culinary checklist of sorts when I was planning my trip to Indianapolis. Yes, the food truck experience was on it and so was the desire to sample an honest-to-goodness pulled pork sandwich, something one can't find here in Singapore. The fascinating thing was how I stumbled upon it one afternoon.

So after another morning of unrestrained boardgame purchases, it was time for lunch again. My friends wanted to grab a quick bite in the convention center but I was vehemently against the idea, having read numerous articles on how sucky and expensive convention food is. But I finally relented. Joined the shortest queue around and ordered the above pulled pork sandwich as I haven't had one yet. You can imagine my surprise when I took my first bite out of it, geez, definitely my top three best eats in Indianapolis! Can't believe how moist and flavorful the pulled pork shreds were. Even the bun and gherkin were delicious. I wish I could find something similar back home but it's just impossible I think.

Since the only four or three Mexican meals I have ever had in Singapore turned out disgustingly foul, I have stayed the hell away from them. So in Indianapolis, it was with much trepidation that I stepped into a popular Chipotle outlet for the very first time that fateful afternoon. I must have stared at the order board above the counter in a most baffling manner for at least five minutes before deciding on the burrito. I had mine generously stuffed with grilled chicken, black beans and white rice, can't remember now what else went into it. I thought it was a decent meal, at least much better than what I had in Singapore although it was rather massive and I couldn't finish it no matter how hard I tried.

After the last three food posts, let's not forget why I was in Indianapolis in the first place. It's to attend the biggest gaming convention in the world, Gen Con 2014 and I have blogged about it extensively at local geek site Here Be Geeks. I was fortunate to snag some pretty good buys. My friends are much more dedicated gamers than myself and they bought at least two or three times more than my loot below. But then again, you really only need one copy of a boardgame to play in a group.

Er... yah, that is My Little Pony you see there. My friend and I took part in a My Little Pony collectible card game demo and after that, they gave us a couple of freebies like a booster pack which contained a rare foil card and an exclusive My Little Pony Indy Con card. Also, the above boardgame Splendor has turned out to be a huge hit among us and I have been carrying it to all our boardgame sessions since I got back.

Cavalock and The Food Truck Enlightenment

Food trucks! Read about them, salivated over them on TV but never actually seen one in real-life until last month at Gen Con in Indianapolis. With over 56,000 gamers descending upon the convention center, I thought it was a brilliant move by the organisers to have about a dozen food trucks prominently stationed round the building.

We were actually looking forward to our first taste of food truck cuisine but when we saw the extremely long lines during lunch, we figured ... hmmmm... maybe not just yet. Cos we already spent most of the morning queuing for exclusive stuff like limited edition boardgames and accessories, plus our hands were full and we didn't wanna stand and eat by the sidewalk. 

Also, our hotel was just a ten-minute walk away so we decided to dump our morning purchases back in the room, lunch around there, then head right back to the convention center. Makes sense, right? Anyway, the food trucks were offering a lot of quick fried options and sweeeeet desserts that we don't really have the stomach for at the moment.

But... but .... but I did finally had a food truck dinner experience in the end. It's a monstrous turkey leg which I devoured standing by the side of the road. The weather was cooler in the evening making it less of a chore eating while standing out in the open. The meat was gratifying but dry and we didn't have anything to drink. So after that, we headed straight to this little fruit juice shop run by a middle-aged Korean couple in the mall. Far as we know, it's like the only place to get any fresh juice in the area so it became our regular after-dinner stop. And speaking of drinking, something unusual that I noticed was the complete absence of any liquor shop or convenience store selling booze in our area. Oh, you can still order alcohol maybe only in restaurants however I could be wrong. Was kinda thinking of kicking it back in the hotel room with a cheap brewski or two but no such luck.