U2 Rocks Giants Stadium

Thursday night, I headed out to Giants Stadium with galpals Sara, Andrea and Leila to see U2.

Our first stop at the Meadowlands -- Inside Sports & Entertainment Group’s fabulous tailgate party. With cold hors d’oevures (mozzarella and tomato, crudite), yummy desserts and wine and beer, the premium ticket provider served a first class spread and spared all of us who attended from greasy, overpriced stadium fare. Thanks, Inside SEG.

Before The Show: Sara, me, Andrea and Leila

A little after 9pm, U2 took to the stage, opening their electrifying two-hour set with “Breathe” and their recent hit, “Get On Your Boots.”

“For a couple of Irish boys, why does this feel like a hometown gig?” Bono asked with a smile.

He and his bandmates had all of us in the capacity crowd cheering as they rocked a perfect mix of old and new tunes. From “Beautiful Day” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (to which everyone sang along) to “”No Line On The Horizon” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” U2’s 23-song set proved why they’re one of rock’s most enduring -- and most beloved -- bands.

U2 rocked it at Giants Stadium

U2’s talents were on full display thanks to a 360 degree set that had the band strutting across various platforms. Along with images of the band performing, massive overhead screens projected colorful words and symbols.

The show was infused with powerful messages about democracy and other social issues. Bono dedicated a moving rendition of “Walk On” to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 80’s classic “One” was more stirring than ever, overlaid in part with video footage of Bishop Desmond Tutu declaring --

“We are all the same, we are one.”

After two rousing encores that included “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “With Or Without You,” Bono once again thanked the audience. With a mischievous grin, he proudly stated that the crowd of 84,000 had broken attendance records at Giants Stadium -- exceeding both the Pope and Bruce Springsteen.

U2 was more than worth the long wait to finally see them in concert. Even with two decades of music behind them, the show proved they've still got plenty of rockin’ to do -- and plenty of fans who want to see them do it.

By The Numbers: SGITC Milestone Edition

A lot can happen in nine months -- as I’ve discovered since launching Single Gal In The City last summer.

I recently passed the 300 post mark, a milestone that finds me feeling a little reflective as I look forward to the many more (SGITC-related and otherwise) yet to come. Here’s a snapshot of what I’ve covered -- By The Numbers:

Number of encounters with old flames: 2
Number of overseas trips: 1
Number of celebrity encounters: 6
Number of concerts: 5
Number (approx.) of diary entries from the 90’s revealed: 35

Opening The Vault has been one of the most enjoyable parts of SGITC for me. And since I’ve only delved into three of my 95 handwritten volumes, there’s plenty more from my romantic past -- 300 roses! Bended knee moments! -- to be revisited. And, of course, more romantic adventures in the here and now to be experienced.

After all, when it comes to being a single gal in the city, it’s not knowing what’s around the corner that keeps things interesting.

A Soulful Double Header At MSG

Last Friday, I saw Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke in a double concert at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The two-hour show was a testimony to music’s healing power -- and to Hudson and Thicke’s status as two of R&B’s top singers.

Thicke kicked off the evening with his energetic single "Magic," singing many other tunes ("Sidestep," "Dreamworld) from his sophomore effort, "Something Else." With his silky smooth falsetto voice, Thicke had the audience eating out of his hand as he performed his unique brand of soul infused with elements of hip-hop and blues.

What A Showman: Thicke tickling the ivories during his set at MSG

On songs like "Loverman" and "You’re My Baby," he invited all the lovebirds in the crowd to get romantic. One guy really took this advice to heart, proposing to his girlfriend when the spotlight shined on them.

Other highlights included a cover of "Let’s Stay Together" and Thicke’s first number one hit, "Lost Without You."

After a brief intermission, the lights went down and everyone stood up, applauding thunderously as the sound of Hudson singing "One Night Only" filled the theater. When the curtain finally came up, a stunning all-black clad Hudson had everyone in the crowd cheering.

Jennifer Hudson: Her big, beautiful voice drew multiple standing ovations

I think everyone was in equal awe of her powerhouse voice and her strength in the face of personal tragedy, a tragedy she alluded to only once--

"Are there any New York fighters here?" Hudson asked the crowd. "I don’t know about you, but I’m going down fighting."

She brought the house down with "You Pulled Me Through," dedicating the showstopping ballad to her fans. Also from her self-titled debut, Hudson sang "Spotlight" and "If This Isn’t Love."

Hudson paid tribute to "the divas who came before," performing covers of En Vogue’s "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and the Whitney Houston classic, "You Give Good Love."

For her encore, Hudson belted out "And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going." Resonating even more than it did her Oscar-winning turn as Effie, the song reiterated the night's theme -- Hudson is here to stay.

Bryan Adams: Acoustically Amazing

Friday night, my good friend Sara and I went to see Bryan Adams in concert at NYC’s legendary Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side.

Sara and I in front of the Beacon Theater right before the concert

We were doubly excited -- to see the Beacon’s newly-renovated interior, and to experience our second Bryan Adams performance together.

That’s The Ticket: A memento from the last time we saw Bryan

Sara and I last saw the Canadian rocker 15 years ago, at Wembley Arena in London during our junior year abroad. This time around, Bryan was accompanied only by a guitar and, on some songs, the talented pianist from his band, Gary Briet.

Though our seats were in the rear balcony section, thanks to the Beacon’s transformative $10 million renovation, we could hear every note of Bryan’s beautifully raw acoustic sounds.

What A Makeover: The Beacon Theater has been majestically restored to its original glory

His energetic two-hour set kicked off with “Run To You” and featured a seamless mix of equally beloved classics with more recent hits. From ballads like “Heaven,” “Let‘s Make A Night To Remember,” and “You’re Still Beautiful To Me,” to rock n roll anthems like “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” and “This Time,” Bryan’s music filled the theater -- and had the audience singing along.

Guitar Hero: Bryan Adams filled the Beacon with his stirring sounds

Remarkably, Bryan managed to indulge all of us in a big karaoke session without losing control of the stage, especially during heartfelt renditions of “Please Forgive Me” and, of course, the timeless “Summer of ‘69.”

The singer really connected with the crowd, revealing a comedic wit and great gift for storytelling. My favorite tales were two about the beauty and bite of the Big Apple.

Prior to one of his Madison Square Garden gigs, Bryan got stuck in the Village, unable to find a cab. He ended up on the subway, only to find himself alongside a bunch of fans heading to the concert. One noticed him -- then discreetly guided Bryan in the right direction when he wasn’t sure how to get to MSG.

During another underground occasion, the singer asked a fellow straphanger for directions to SoHo.

“What, you can’t read?” was his response.

A six-song encore delivered even more of Bryan’s best -- including “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” and “Straight From The Heart.” He closed out the show with the “Three Musketeers“ tune “All For Love.”

More than once during the concert, Bryan spoke with great affection for Gotham, saying--

“I love New York.”

The feeling is more than mutual.

Bryan’s US tour continues through mid-May. For more info, visit his official website.

A Transporting Experience At Aureole

Every once in a while, a restaurant comes along that delivers much more than fine dining. Earlier this week, my friend Cindy and I enjoyed a truly transporting experience at Aureole.

Aureole: This five-star restaurant has a deserved reputation for epitomizing Classic New York

Nestled in a two-story brownstone on NYC’s Upper East Side, Aureole is celebrating its twentieth year as renowned chef Charlie Palmer’s flagship restaurant. The sublime menu -- American and French fusion with rich, unexpected flavors and combinations -- is only part of this elegant venue’s story.

Cindy and I marveled at Aureole’s solicitous staff, elevating food presentation to an art form. Our decadent three-course meal (worth the $100+ per person tab) was served by four people, each of whom described in enticing detail what they were bringing us.

A view of Aureole's inviting two-story space (photo courtesy: Shanna Ravindra/New York Magazine)

After enjoying a slice of seared tuna compliments of the chef, we moved onto appetizers of oxtail broth and Kobe beef carpaccio. For our entrée, we both chose the pan roasted monkfish with lobster and autumn squash risotto and vanilla infusion. Heavenly.

Over dinner, Cindy and I talked about upcoming trips (Brazil for the holidays with her beau, Australia for me on business in January), the concert we most want to see (U2) and shared gratitude for job security in these tough economic times.

Somehow, we managed to find room for our decadent desserts -- warm brownie sundae with spiced chai ice cream and extra dark chocolate sauce, and a trio of apple infused sweets including funnel cake and pie.

Cindy and I were also given individually wrapped mini pumpkin coffee cakes to take home -- a delicious souvenir of an unforgettable evening at one of my new all-time favorite restaurants.

By The Numbers: Front Row Edition

Imagine attending more than 700 concerts in your lifetime. Earlier this week, I learned that’s what my friend Cindy’s boyfriend Jason has done (733, to be exact) – which got me to thinking about my own love affair with live music.

Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing more than 50 concerts, a dozen of which have been my beloved Ricky Martin. Here are some of my most memorable live music moments, enjoyed with and without the opposite sex, By The Numbers:

Number of concerts attended with significant others: 4
Number of Maroon 5 concerts that figured prominently in reconciling with an ex: 1
Number of ‘farewell’ concerts attended of performers who later toured again: 2
Number of times I ended up within the first 20 rows despite having a nosebleed section ticket: 1 (Tina Turner, June 2000)
Number of times I saw Ricky Martin during his 2007 Black and White tour: 4
Number of miles flown to see Ricky perform in Puerto Rico: 3,206

Worth The Trip: Ricky Martin sizzles during his Black and White tour, San Juan, August 2007

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Ricky and some of my other favorite performers (e.g. Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band and Tina Turner) multiple times. The band I most want to see but haven't yet -- U2.

Jason has seen U2 five times. I look forward to catching up with him on that front – and, of course, to whenever Ricky hits the concert circuit again.