Final planning stuff for Boston weekend

[rox63]

Ok, we need a place here in the JK Forum for last-minute planning stuff for the much-anticipated Boston weekend. So it might as well be this thread.

First thing I need to know is when and where are we meeting up on Saturday and Sunday? There has been talk between a few of us that it will be at the Park Plaza, but at what time, and where in the hotel?

I'll be picking up Jennifer (Island Blue) at the Manchester, NH airport on Saturday morning around 10:15 AM. I suspect that we'll drop off her luggage at my place in Lowell, since she'll be staying there on Saturday night. Then we could head into town, if anyone will be around to meet up with us.

I know that there are 2 or 3 Kerrycrats arriving on Friday night, and staying at the Park Plaza all weekend.

I know that GV and MH1 are arriving at the airport in Boston around 2:30-ish. Last I had heard, they were going to take a cab (or some other form of transit) over to the Park Plaza. They are actually staying in Lowell Saturday night. But we figured it would be easier for me to bring them back to their hotel in Lowell when IB and I head back there Saturday night. So if they do that, they'll need a place to stash their luggage while we all toodle around Boston on Saturday. One possibility is in the trunk of my car, wherever I park it. Which is another issue. Where does it make sense for me to park for the day during said toodling-around? Does anyone know if the Plaza has a parking garage? For Saturday, I could always park at Alewife in Cambridge (or some other T stop with a parking lot or garage), then take the subway into town. But on Sunday, it would probably make sense to park at or near the Plaza, since that's where we'll all end up later.

Do we have reservations to see the Jimmy Tingle show on Saturday night? If so, who in our group is going? Are the folks I'm transporting that evening going? If not, are there some other things people might like to do?

Sunday - What time are we meeting up, and what is the plan for that day? A bunch of us will need to check into the Plaza and change before the par-tay at 6:00 PM. When does it make sense to do that? Also, we'll all need to stash our bags somewhere while we are touring around.

Ok, I know I'm a native of the area, so maybe I shouldn't have so many questions. But I don't spend a whole lot of time in Boston on a regular basis. So maybe if I can put my head together with the other MA natives who will be there, we can figure all this stuff out.

Rox

[whometense]

1. I didn't make reservations

for Jimmy Tingle. I couldn't get any kind of a head count and I didn't sense any giant wave of enthusiasm, so it seemed like too much of a pain, and I don't want people to feel like they're being herded. It's occurred to me that we may want to break up into different groups on Saturday night - different ages, interests, etc.

I have no idea what we're up to on Saturday morning, at this point. It depends mostly on when the kids (WEL and GRLMGC) get going Saturday morning, which is largely a function of how late their Friday night turns out to be. ;-)

[WildEyedLiberal]

2. I can function on 6 hours of sleep

It's rather a necessity of college ;) Fewer than that and I'll start dragging, though (like today :hangover: )

As far as what I'd like to do... perhaps go out Friday night. I definitely want to see some historic sites, but whether that's Saturday or Sunday doesn't matter much, only that we'll be pressed for time on Sunday more so than on Saturday. Saturday night, yeah, if different people want to do different things, that's cool. I still think the Irish pub sounds like a good idea :D but if other people have better options in mind I am certainly open. So I arrive Friday night, and my only specific desires are a) historic siteseeing and b) Irish pub. Maybe some cute, New England-centric Christmas shopping, if we have time (hey, I've never been).

I imagine it will sort itself out better once we're all there. But then again, I'm a sort of plan-as-you-go kinda gal :P

[whometense]

4. We can actually combine

the sightseeing and shopping.

It all depends on who wants to go where when, but Beacon Hill is the best place for cute, New England-centric Christmas shopping (classy, though. The super-touristy stuff is over at Faneuil Hall, where JK's cookie shop is located.). You don't want to go to Beacon Hill on Sunday because a lot of the shops are usually closed (though maybe not at Christmas time) - so Beacon Hill is one place suited for Saturday. It's very Dickensian there in December.

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. That sounds good

I would much prefer classy regional charm to touristy "My ___ went to Boston and all I got was this damn t-shirt" type of fare. If there are some cute shops on the way as we tour the sites, that sounds about perfect.

[rox63]

21. Can we see the holiday lights on the common after dark?

Pretty please????

BTW, I haven't had a chance to check back on this thread since I started it this afternoon. Work got busy after I posted. Then I had promised to take my Mom and brother out to see the Harry Potter movie after work. So I just got home a little bit ago. Sounds like plans are perking right along. I will be foolhardy and drive into Boston on both days. How far is the Boston Common garage from the Park Plaza? And is it any less expensive than the Plaza's garage?

[TayTay]

23. Yes, of course.

Considering it gets dark around 4:15, how could we not see the Common Christmas or Holiday or Yule or Kwanzaa or Hannakah lights? (Or just the solstice lights or Seasonal Affection Disorder lights, if you are an atheist.)

The Park Plaza is an easy walk from the Common Garage.


From the North
Take Rte. I-93 South into city. Exit at Storrow Drive #26. Follow Storrow Drive and take the Back Bay/Copley exit on left. At traffic lights take a left then a quick right onto Arlington St. The Hotel is the second building on the left after the park.

Not to make this more complicated, but St. James Ave also has a parking facility. Probably priced about the same as the Common. (I have no idea if this will be busier because of Christmas shopping or not.)

[whometense]

24. It's not far at all.

When I drive into town and can't scrounge a space on the street that's where I always park. The Common Garage is always cheaper, I think.

[Firespirit]

42. Count me out for any Friday night events after midnight.

I will have a long and probably unpleasant drive to the airport that morning, plus the flights... I just don't think I'll be in any kind of shape by Sunday night unless I get a decent night's sleep Friday.

[sandnsea]

3. A non-goer request

I know you will all take tons of pictures Sunday night. But don't forget both the getting ready pictures AND Christmasy pictures of Boston too. So if you go into one of those New Englandy Christmasy shops or an Irish Pub, as silly as it sounds, I wanna see pictures! And even pictures of signs (TayTay!).

Mkay?

[Island Blue]

6. I plan to take tons of photos

and not just of JK birthday bash so once I get back home and figure out how to post them (first time using this digital camera) I'll post. I like taking pictures of odd, random things (as well as regular stuff) so who knows what you'll see. :)

[Island Blue]

5. Why don't we all meet in Boston on Saturday for lunch

(late lunch, snack, early dinner or whatever). That way we can all sort of get to know each other at least a little bit, and then decide from there what we want to do Saturday evening. (If we all want to stick together, split up, etc.) Maybe we can get a little bit of touring in on Saturday too. I don't know - I know it gets dark early. That's sort of one of the same suggestions that's been batted around out there before, and to me, it seems like a good one.

[whometense]

7. I think

that's a great idea. A late lunch/early dinner would work best anyhow, as we so far don't have any reservations anywhere. We probably should, though.

Union Oyster House?? It's not cheap, and I'm not sure how tight peoples' budgets are. But we are a lot of people for one restaurant, and we ought to let them know we're coming. How does 4:30 or 5 pm sound? Earlier?

Here's their lunch menu: http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/Pages/lunch.html

There's also Durgin Park, which is a real Old Boston experience - I haven't eaten there in years, so I'm not sure what it's like now. It used to be famous for its New England cuisine, its cornbread, and its outrageously rude waitresses. http://www.durgin-park.com/

Another possibility is Italian food in the North End, which is in the same area as Faneuil Hall and the Oyster House.

Here's a little bit about the North End: http://www.boston.com/travel/boston/neighborhoods/north_end_index/

[WildEyedLiberal]

9. Seafood sounds good to me

Price isn't really an issue for me at least on the trip. BTW: how much will I owe for the hotel Sunday night, do you know?

[whometense]

10. Ask Tay -

I think you're staying in her room? She should know.

Ok, one vote for seafood.

[TayTay]

11. I like Durgin Park (Established before you were born)

But the waitresses and waitors aren't nearly as rude as they used to be. No standards anymore, sigh! (But, there are some who know how to keep up old traditions. The good ones still fling the linen and silverware at you and tell you to distribute it. They still have the long, long tables and the best, ahm, baked beans in town. Hey, I like baked beans.) http://www.durgin-park.com/

I was hoping to get everyone to meet at the Park Plaza on Sat afternoon. I plan to get there around noonish or so. There is a nice lobby, Vektor, Fire and Vek's friend Jill will be there, it's easy to find and so forth. (And anyone arriving early can go inside and get warm.) We can wait for everyone to arrive and talk and have some pastry from the lobby buffet and stuff. We all have cell phones, so I can call Rox and say, I'm here. She can call me and say, I've got IB and am heading in. And so forth. What do people think of this? This is a nice way to get to know everyone as well and talk. And we aren't on a schedule that demands we all get somewhere at the same time. We can relax and wait. (I am taking the T into Boston. I hate driving in Boston and the subway is just convenient. for me.)

I actually think the splitting up idea on Sat night is a good one. It gives people a chance (well people who aren't college age anyway) to not cram too much in and get all exhausted for Sunday. We can see Beacon Hill in the late afternoon and it should still be pretty from the snowfall. (Bring boots. Cobblestones and ice, pretty and ahm, bring good boots.)

[Island Blue]

12. Didn't JK eat at the Union Oyster House

after he cast his vote for himself last year? (Or am I making that memory up?) If he did, I think it should definitely be a stop on the Tour de John Kerry. Price is kinda sorta an issue with me, but the prices don't look that bad. (Assuming we made it there for the lunch menu - I imagine dinner would be a lot more expensive.) I guess when would depend on when MH1 and GV get in and stash their gear somewhere. Maybe if we do something early enough, Tay Tay can join us before having to go back up north. Or maybe not - I really don't have a very good concept of Massachusetts distances.


On edit: Or what Tay Tay said.

[TayTay]

14. Union Oyster House.

When I was brushing up my history this week I reread that this restuarant is a JK favorite. (This is the oldest continuously functioning restaurant in America, btw. It opened it's doors in 1826.) It's kind of historical. JFK used to eat here all the time. (His seat is marked with a plaque. It's upstairs, by the bar, of course.)

(Ahm, we have a goodish share of 'first in America' things here. But don't worry, they all still work and stuff.) http://www.unionoysterhouse.com/Pages/newmenu.html

BTW, we are getting a pretty good snow storm in the daytime on Friday. (It's unclear right now how much, but two TV stations said 6 inches for Boston.) Those of you coming into Logan before 6:00 pm, might have some delays. The storm is supposed to leave somewhere around evening rush hour, so the effect on later flights shouldn't be too bad. (She said with fingers crossed.) The rest of the weekend looks clear and cold. Temps will be around 35 degress in the daytime and 25 degress or so at night.) Saturday flights should be normal.

[WildEyedLiberal]

15. I think we definitely have to eat at this Oyster House then.

Anything seafood that JK likes is great by me.

[TayTay]

16. He eats there every election day.

I think he's slightly superstitious. He has one of those plates of oystahs and I don't know, clam chowda or something. Hmmm, make it lunch, the place is pricey at night. (Hey, we could always get dessert in the North End.)

We will need some reservations. We can make them Sat morning after we know who is coming.

[WildEyedLiberal]

17. What do oysters taste like?

I am nervous.

I looked at the menu whome posted and so far find the fried/broiled fish the most appealing.

[GRLMGC]

18. fried anything is good

I'm just saying is all...

[TayTay]

19. Ahm, I don't know

Ahm, I never eat seafood. (Except for tuna and chowda.) My friend love oystahs. She gets the oystahs and a dish of melted butter and just slides 'em on down.

Note to diners: This is raw seafood. Althougn the Union Oyster House is a great place and must be doing something right to have been in business all this time, be careful with raw seafood. If you are not used to it you can get sick. Just saying is all. And the fried fish is usually really good.

[JanusAscending]

38. Hi Tay and all!!

You're all making me so JEALOUS!! Just my two cents as to the seafood........There is nothing more delicious than fried "oystas!!" As long as they are fried well (not undercooked) I wasn't sure I'd like them the first time. I only eat fried clam strips 'cause I don't like the "grit" in the belly clams, but if you like fried scallops you'll LOVE fried oysters!! I really hope you all ENJOY your whole weekend, and can't wait to hear all about it! Love, DC

[rox63]

20. I don't like oysters, raw or cooked

In fact, the only seafood I'll eat is cooked. Sushi is not my friend.
But I've been thinking baked or broiled scallops would be mighty tasty. Yum. :9

[whometense]

25. I believe

JK always has the chowdah.

[TayTay]

27. Well, how can you come to Bawston and not have chowda?

It's that or the baked beans. (Or both. I have Beano, by the way.)

Honestly, ya gotta try the chowda, it's great! True Bostonians get insulted if you put tomatoes in it, btw, that's so New York.

I actually had an anxiety dream the other night about this trip. I was touring something with people and I opened my mouth to speak and no one understood what I was saying. I kept talking faster and it got worse. So, Whome, can you be my translater in case no one can understand what I'm saying? (Vektor too. She understands fluent Boston-speak and can translate for English speakers.) Of all the damn things to be nervous about, I have an accent dream. Duh! Must be your basic Boston inferiority complex showing through.

[rox63]

28. Several of us speak fluent Bawston

So I don't there's anything to worry about. Breathe, Tay. Inhale, exhale, repeat...

[TayTay]

30. If that's all I'm nervous about, then this is great!

Cuz that's pretty small potatoes. (And pretty funny at the same time.)

And thank you for volunteering your services as translator. I feel much better. Now, where was it that Ho Chi Minh worked when he lived in Boston?

[whometense]

31. You'll be just fine.

You really aren't that hard to understand. ;-)

No, really, like Rox says, take deep breaths. I'm a little overwhelmed too, schedule - wise. I'll drop the girls at the Park Plaza Sunday morning, but at some point I'm going to have to go home on Sunday to change. No touring the city in dressup clothes. Even in somewhat dressup clothes.

[TayTay]

34. If you want, you can leave clothes with me at the Park Plaza

and change in one of the rooms. (Mine or someone will offer.) I understand if you would rather go home though. I mean it is all of what, a couple of subway stops away? (Just teasing. Besides, you live here. My no doubt memorable and strange tour of Boston can be repeated at will for ya. And Rox just volunteered to translate. I am all over it now.)

Whatever works for ya. I was planning on getting back to the Park Plaza relatively early. I wanted to give people lots of time to get dressed and not feel a time-crunch. This is for the Big Event, so it shouldn't feel rushed. (Back at the Park Plaza around 3:30 or so. You can take off from Faneuil Hall and go home from there any time.)

[whometense]

35. That works.

I'm about a half hour away by the T on average (what with all the BU stops and all). If my daughter doesn't need my car I may drive back in and park in the Common Garage. So I can hang out till later and not worry about the T.

On edit - thanks for the offer. It'll be less stressful to go home and change, though. I might forget to pack my premium spackle. :D

[Island Blue]

43. I live very close to the ocean, but I'm not a huge seafood fan

(Go figure). I do like Grouper and Trigger Fish, but those aren't on the menu. Shrimp is one of my favorite foods, but I don't know where their's comes from. Just this once though, I won't be picky about that. I've never tried oysters, but I know a lot of people who LOVE them.

I'm guessing they don't serve hushpuppies. Nothing better in the world than a good hushpuppy. :-)

[TayTay]

44. Depending on where we go, you can try fish-cakes

Ahm, either you like 'em or you don't. Staple of my childhood, we had homemade fishcakes every Friday night with macaroni and cheese. (Or we had homemade clam chowda.) Saturday nights were for beans. Yes, honest-to-goodness Boston baked beans. My Mom had a great recipe and made them every Fri-Sat and we had them with various other veggies and meats. (I really am just a common-as-dirt New Englander. Sigh! And boy has our local cuisine improved since I was a kid. Do you know that you don't have to boil the hell out of everything in order to get a decent meal? Wow!)

Anyway, fishcakes are breaded local cathces that are pretty good. Or you can get some broiled or baked fish. Just remember to ask the wwaiter/server what's fressh and if *they* tried the fish today.

[blm]

50. Think of it this way - Would TERESA eat anywhere the seafood was suspect?

Have fun guys.

[TayTay]

51. Ooh, true. True.

It really is a great place to eat. (Hey, it's a classy joint.) They serve good food, good beer and have neat stuff to gawk at. What's not to like?

[Island Blue]

52. I didn't mean to imply that I thought the seafood was suspect.

Not at all. All I meant was I prefer not to eat shrimp that's been farmed in Asia because their farming methods are very bad for the environment. (You can't take a liberal tree-hugger anywhere, can you?) Wild shrimp are of course the best, but those farmed in the US are okay because there are more regulations in the US than in Asia when it comes to shrimp farming. Most of the shrimp you get in restaurants, etc. is farmed shrimp not wild, especially in the middle of the winter. That's probably more than you ever wanted to know about the virtues of tiny wild pink crustations. :)

[rox63]

55. Their seafood is generally very fresh

So I doubt that it's come all the way from Asia.

[TayTay]

48. You might like this article. It's the high lights

HIS BOSTON; To Trace Kerry's Footsteps, Get a Good Pair of Sneakers
New York Times, Late Edition - Final, Sec. 15, p 2 07-25-2004
By PAM BELLUCK

BOSTON is brimming with politicians who owe their origins to specific neighborhoods and who will perpetually be identified with Dorchester or East Boston or the North End.

But John Kerry is living proof that, even in Boston, all politicians are not local. The senator, who was born in Denver and spent his first year in Groton, Mass., has lived and worked in so many different places in and around Boston that tracing his path requires more than a good pair of walking shoes.

Of course, in one way, the entire city is part of Mr. Kerry's history since his mother descended from the family of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Another maternal ancestor is John Murray Forbes, a 19th century pioneer in trading with China, who helped found the Union Club, a private club formed to rally support for the Union cause during the Civil War. It still exists as a club at 8 Park Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

A few blocks away, Mr. Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, now own a five-story, elevator-equipped 18th century red-brick town house at 19 Louisburg Square, a former Episcopal convent that Mr. Kerry paid $2.2 million for in 1997 and mortgaged in December for $6.4 million to generate cash for his presidential race. Soon after they moved in, Mr. Kerry and his wife ruffled a few neighborhood feathers when he paid to move a fire hydrant to create more parking in front of his home.

In response to questions about important places to him in the Boston area, Mr. Kerry said that at Louisburg Square, "Teresa and I love to spend time in the kitchen there cooking our favorite recipes for each other. My specialty remains chocolate chip cookies." (More on that later.)

But many of the landmarks of Mr. Kerry's upbringing and early professional life are outside the city.

There is 359 Orchard Street in Millis, a suburb about 30 miles southwest of Boston where Mr. Kerry lived for five years as a young boy."Millis is where I learned to walk and talk and my family would tell you I haven't stopped doing either ever since," he said.

There is West Newton, just west of Boston, where 13-year-old John Kerry, whose parents were in Europe because of his father's diplomatic postings, spent a year at the Fessenden School for boys. He made a close friend there, Richard Pershing, grandson of General John Joseph Pershing, and said he recalled himself as "a short, chubby and energetic member of the football team."

Mr. Kerry and his first wife, Julia Thorne, later lived in Newton's leafy Chestnut Hill section at 206 Chestnut Hill Road.

There is Manchester-by-the-Sea, about 30 miles northeast of Boston, where Mr. Kerry's great-aunt, Clara Winthrop, often entertained him at her estate, which included a bowling alley and, the senator said, was the first place he shot a gun. "I still remember the kick-back,'" he said.

And there is 198 Holyrood in Lowell, a working-class town 30 miles northwest of Boston, where Mr. Kerry, after shopping around for a district to run for office from, made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 1972. "Lowell taught me humility," Mr. Kerry said, adding that in nearby Lawrence, he befriended a grocery store owner named Frank Biongorno, who became "my father in Lawrence, and took me in, and used to share dinners with me a couple nights a week."

Mr. Kerry also worked for three years at the Middlesex district attorney's office in Cambridge, which is separated from Boston by the Charles River, the meandering waterway along which Mr. Kerry says he still likes to bike.

In Boston, where Mr. Kerry had a private law practice at 60 State Street, he portrays himself as a bit of a history junkie, listing among his favorite sites Faneuil Hall and the Old North Church. He is sentimental about the swan boats in the Public Garden where he says he used to take his daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa. Besides indulging in sports ranging from windsurfing to golf, Mr. Kerry says he loves going to the FleetCenter so he can "get lost in hockey games."

The place with the saddest meaning for Mr. Kerry must be the Copley Plaza Hotel, where in 1921, Mr. Kerry's grandfather, Frederick, whose shoe business apparently was failing, went into a restroom and shot himself in the head. Mr. Kerry has said he did not know the details or place of his grandfather's death until reporters from The Boston Globe showed him newspaper articles about it last year.

But Boston holds mostly warm memories for the senator. There is McGann's pub at 197 Portland Street, not far from the FleetCenter, where the senator remembers hoisting a pint in 1996 with former Gov. William F. Weld, to "put aside our differences" after Mr. Kerry defeated Mr. Weld in a grueling Senate race.

Mr. Kerry likes to shop at bicycle stores, and his favorite is Wheelworks in Belmont, a suburb that is home to Mitt Romney, Massachusetts' Republican governor and a harsh Kerry critic.

His favorite restaurant is the Union Oyster House, at 41 Union Street near Faneuil Hall, which calls itself the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the country. The oyster house is a longtime Kennedy haunt and, according to Mr. Kerry's spokesman, Michael Meehan, John F. Kennedy ate there on election eve in 1960, and Mr. Kerry has adopted a tradition of lunching there on Election Day. "He sits right there at the oyster bar," Mr. Meehan said.

And there is the Kilvert and Forbes cookie shop, which Mr. Kerry, who says he had "a hankering for a great cookie" one night, opened with a friend, K. Dun Gifford, in 1976 (they named it for their mother's maiden names). Mr. Kerry is no longer an owner of the shop, which is still in Quincy Market behind Faneuil Hall, and, even to him, it seems like a quirky biographical detour.

"I will never be able to explain fully how I ended up in the cookie business," Mr. Kerry said. "I was a lawyer with time on my hands -- and a serious sweet tooth."

[rox63]

49. Nice article

Thanks for posting it! :)

[karynnj]

40. Have safe trips and fun everyone

It really sounds like you are planning a great weekend.

[Firespirit]

41. "Kind of historical."

Built in 1826. ;)

I was very wary of the mentions of this restaurant because I point-blank will not eat shellfish, but I see they also have fish entrees, so it's all okay with me. I might go against my policy and try the chowder; I'm being lobbied to do so by friends. We'll see.

[whometense]

22. He did,

and I was THERE!

In front of the restaurant, along with a hundred or so others. It was an eerie experience, but I won't go into detail because it still makes me sad to think of that day.

I don't know when lunch ends - about 2 or so, I guess. Maybe Sunday?

[TayTay]

13. Some answers

GV & MH1 are actually arriving in Boston closer to 1:00 pm. (The 2:30 was an ETA if they had gone right to their hotel in Lowell.) I think they can get to the Park Plaza by 2:00 or so.

Sat night has become more free form. It might be a good idea to meet in bosotn on Sat, stay long enough to hve dinner and such and then head back to Lowell for plenty of rest for Sunday. You can always stop for coffee or such at the GV & MH hotel, if you want. I know it sounds like an early night, but whatever works for people. (Hey, Rox, you can do the Kerry tour of Lowell. Give everyone rocks and stand outside the Lowell Sun building. Hey, works for me.)

BTW, Vektor has graciously consented to hold GV & MH1's stuff from the time they arrive on Sat until you guys depart for Lowell on Sat night. She will keep items in her room at the Park Plaza.

The Park Plaza will take your luggage or overnight bags and store them for you on Sunday until you check in later on in the day. (Hey, it's a high class joint after all.) I am going to take my stuff and stash it behind the front desk and pick it up after whatever touring we do that day.

Sunday, I plan on parking at the Railroad station in Lowell and taking the commuter train into Boston. DynammicDem and, I hope, GV & MH1 will be with me. It's not a bad way to go into town, the price is about right (I paid $24 for 6 one-way tickets, that's not bad.) It only costs $5.00 to park my car there overnight, as opposed to $30 at the Park Plaza. (Which has a garage attached to it. You can park there without a problem.) Trains on Sunday depart Lowell every two hours. (9:00 am and 11:00 am. and so forth.) It takes 45 minutes or so to get to North Station. Then you leave North Station, go around the corner and can take the subway to Arlington ($1.25 per trip or an all day pass for $11 that includes buses and such.) I like taking the train. You can talk on the train and don't have to worry about traffic. I will only have a light bag, so getting it around will not be difficult. I can help if anyone has more luggage to move around. (So, what time are we meeting in Boston on Sunday? That will be settled on Sat. My best guess is somewhere around 11:00 am or so. That doesn't sound too early or too late. Is that good with you?)

I am awaiting further information on other things for Sunday and will let everyone know when I know. Right now, the plan is to take a walk around Beacon Hill on Sat. Then, people can eat dinner. (I have to go home and attend that other event. Sigh!) Then Sunday, we are going to do as much of the Freedom Trail as we want. If we get really, really cold we can bag everything and hang out at a real Boston institution, Filene's Basement. (Now there's a Boston hang-out!)

What did I miss? I could be persuaded to drive into Boston, I guess for Sunday. It doesn't matter that much to me. I just liked the idea of talking my way into town on the train. I'm flexible.

[whometense]

26. I'm pretty concerned about the Oyster House.

It gets MOBBED - but maybe not so bad in December?? It can be a pretty long wait. What do you think? For Sunday? A reservation? Or hope for the best?

[TayTay]

29. We will be in the neighborhood Sunday

Cuz that's the day we do 'the Freedom Trail' which I was going to stop at Faneuil anyway. (The stuff in the North End might be too far away. Depends on how much people want to go the extra six blocks or so to see Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church.)

Sunday is good at Ye Olde Union Oyster House. Sat. we can do a place in the Back Bay or maybe near Beacon Hill. How's that sounds. We can make a reservation on Sat for it, once we touch base with everyone. Come to think of it, we might be better off doing lunch on Sunday there. Then we can get snacks or something at Quincy Market to go for later on in the evening after the Big Event.

What say you?

Oh and if it gets too crowded, we'll go to Durgin Park.

[whometense]

32. That makes sense.

In Boston you always need a backup plan. I've participated in too many evening treks looking for an uncrowded restaurant. (My husband HATES waiting.)

[_dynamicdems]

53. The train sounds good to me, but let me know if there is a change of

plans. Just let me know what time and where to meet. This is going to be so much fun!

[MH1]

33. Weighing in re: Saturday night

First off, TayTay is correct on GV's and my arrival time and plan to come to Boston via cab or subway (btw what are the estimated transit times and costs for each of those modes?).

For Saturday night - btw I spoke to GV on the phone today and she is a bit backlogged from a biz trip, so I will speak for her here, based on our discussion today -

We're both neutral on Jimmy Tingle. I think it would be fun, but then there are probably a zillion cool things we could do in Boston, so we're staying flexible and willing to follow the crowd.

For myself - I'm just as happy to hang out and visit with all these folks I'll be meeting in person for the first time. Perhaps it is old age or something, but a hotel bar or similar laid back place would be just as fine as anything else. Okay, the hotel bar is not "just as fine" but it would do in a pinch. I've had many pleasant conversations in hotel bars. We could maybe do the Irish Pub for a couple (or several?) hours. As far as anything musical, I like folk music best, but have a wide range of music that I enjoy, so I'm probably up for anything along those lines.

Anyway, I think a relatively early evening would not be a terrible thing. I like the idea of seeing a bit of Boston Sunday before the big event, and it would be good to stay rested, at least until AFTER the main event Sunday night.

So, I like the idea of figuring it out after we get together Saturday, and maybe splitting into two or three groups based on age and/or inclinations.

Last item - I will have time on my hands Monday morning. My flight out of Logan isn't until 3:30 pm. Is anyone else going to be around Monday ? Or should I just plan on sleeping as late as possible anyway due to the expected hangover? ;-)

~~~~~

Okay, now checking the thread before posting this, I see another idea has popped up for Sat night, to ogle fancy holiday lights. That also works for me.

[globalvillage]

54. Thanks, MH

I would be caught up, but things went south this afternoon. Spilled a cup of tea in my laptop, which is now dead. Then found out my planned vacation day tomorrow has been nixed for some 'critical' project. There's always a critical project. Sheesh.
I lost my glasses, too, which is good. These things come in threes, so I'm done now and can enjoy the trip.
I'm good with whatever is decided. I like the Union Oyster House, so if I have to help make any decisions, that'll be it.
Much thank to all the planners. Sorry I'm not much help in that area.
See you all soon.
:hi:

[MH1]

56. Yikes.

Sounds like a rough day. Espec the laptop. I am going to try to bring mine this weekend though. But that doesn't help you much for the work stuff.

Well I got my day off tomorrow but now we are going to have nasty weather so I don't know if I'll get my errands done. Oh well. I am so excited about this weekend I hardly care.

[wisteria]

36. Before the weekend comes upon us and all you lucky people

are gone- I wanted to wish everyone a safe trip and a real good time. Please think of us poor stay behinders, and get us a picture or two.
Thanks!

[JI7]

37. 2nd that

stay safe and have fun.

and give JK a BIGGGGGGGGGGG hug and kiss from me.

i'm going to be busy for most of the weekend and much of monday. i'm hoping when i finally have time to get back on i will have LOTS of stories and pictures to see.

[politicasista]

39. Have great time everyone

Thanks TayTay for signing for me.:hi:

[TayTay]

46. My pleasure my dear.

I only hope I get a chance to explain some of the what is in those cards. I got my fingers crossed for that. (It is very, very special, after all.)

[ProSense]

45. To the lucky few

Safe travels and have a great time!

[seito]

47. Have a safe and memorable weekend n/t