I'll be there, as usual, barring any unforeseen circumstances. All three "events." Looking forward to another fun-filled weekend. Always a pleasure!
Carol

Count us in, as we now pack and head out the door for Argentina tonight.

Let's see if we can get some interesting folks to the GTG this time . . .
: )

Robert (Tengohamber) we are holding you to this!!! Clam chowder saturday at lunch!!

I think I'll do this. I'm reasonably "interesting" (so my friends tell me) and will bring something from my travels for Show and Tell. Is there a prize for the best presentation?? Should we have a little song prepared?? Or a dance?? Best costume??

The Panda will be present. There will be a prize for the Fodorite that best ridicules Bob. I will not be eligible. Look forward to seeing everyone.

Indiana- you will be allowed to do whatever you want. Be prepared for the gong though.

In the past, prizes have included squares of recycled astroturf, Boston telephone directories, and wrinkled 1000 Lira bills. Don't spend too much on your costume!

I'll be able to show as long as one of these two conditions are in place:

1) I have a paying job by the time of the GTG or
2) I have an appt. at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute the Friday of the GTG.

Thanks for the invitation,
BC

no prizes....just recognition as inventive...this promises to be one of our better GTG's and they are famous, right up there with david's LA and guenmai's pasadena and even the bkk GTG's....

a glittering array of the less than famous: gpanda, lcuy, tengombre, boston harbor, rhkkmk, hawaiiantraveller?, simpsonc510 plus some of your favorites from the europe board....

Oh I tried but the commonwealth of Massachusetts would not give me a visa! Something to do with being a registered Republican?

Check again, Sir Hanuman. As of January, we have gone over to the dark side and elected a republican senator. Or, at least some of "us" did while others of us much preferred the opposition.

Yes, Hanuman. Republicans are not allowed visas in MA. They are too tight with their money, so Visa can't make any profit on them. Try Mastercard or American Express.

Sigh....would love to come but just not possible for us in October. Will read the dynamic duos reports with interest.....

who would imagine... a GTG thread turning political...

I do intend to come, albeit without my better half. Jeane unfortunately will be working that Saturday so that she can get away with me on the following Tuesday to spend a week celebrating our 20th on Kauai.

I will be sure to bring my MasterCard.

Craig-what's more important? Getting together with your Fodors friends or reminding Jeane that she's been stuck with you for twenty years? We need Jeane. She was the star last year.

She's always the star. If only I could do the cherry-stem knot trick...

Ohaiyo gozaimasu from Tokyo! Yes the HT's are planning for the invasion of Boston. Since Bob's front yard is off limits, we have booked into the Hyatt Summerfield Suites. We can't wait to meet up with old and new friends. I have to warn you all of my shyness and that speaking in front of crowds makes me very nervous so that is why I am bringing Mrs HT to do all the public speaking,lol

Aloha!

note to attendees----all must speak as this is a true democratic state

Looking forward to it, HT. How long are you in Tokyo/Japan this time?

Kon-nichiwa, HT-san. Nice time to be in the Big Fugu.

See you all in beautiful New England in Oct.

(Re politics: It's perfectly ok to vote Republican in Mass. It's only against the law to register as a Republican.)

another piece of the GTG weekend had fallen into place.... the Friday nite dinner will be in the upstairs private room at the Papa-Razzi Trattoria at the foot of the hill just down from the Summerfield Suites in Burlington. The menu will be an Italian Buffet with something for everyone. 2 Wall Street, Burlington, MA..

we are looking for maximum participation for this event as we need to guarantee 20 people....

20 people? That would be a disappointingly small crowd compared to other years!!

HT, is Mrs HT going to do some Flamenco this year? or is that saved only for the west coast GTGs?

Carol, just a short 11 day trip this time to see the cherry blossoms. We will be back in late Nov to S Korea and Japan, maybe Okinawa.....

lcuy, The flamenco is a West Coast phenomenon. For Boston Mrs HT has taken a few belly dancing lessons. It is the two person version of the dance so she says she will pick Bob as her partner. This alone should be worth the price of admission,lol. She is out to win the Panda's prize(with a little encouragement from me of course). Practice moving those hips Bob!

Sayonara!

Ahhh now that's a vision, isn't it? The lovely Mrs HT and Bob, belly dancing! Can't wait to see it.

Bob, the Friday night GTG location sounds great! Mark me as a "yes" on that one. Do we still do the wine tasting before hand?

Wine tasting ???...Absolutely location yet to be determined. We can do it after also...

Hi Karen,
I'm sure Bob mentioned a wine tasting at the hotel, prior to dinner on Friday night. Maybe it was in an email?

ht, you got a blooming report for us dreamers?

Ken, are you coming to BOS this year?

Uh-oh. Wine tasting before, wine tasting after. I'm local but maybe it's time to think about a room at the Summerfield Suites!

Sharona, I would HIGHLY recommend it. Each room in the hotel is a suite. Full kitchen. "Separate" bedroom, with a door. Laundry room available onsite at the hotel. Ample parking. Decent breakfast buffet. We paid $79 per night. I thought it well worth every penny.

BC

i will not shake my hips, but my belly always shakes... will there be a prize for the biggest belly...

btw, i will not be wearing a speedo!!

please note: wine tasting requires you to bring a chair and a glass plus your fav wine... we will provide the small space..

lcuy...20 is friday nite, we rarely have 20 for that... so bring everyone you know

All right, I've booked a room at $129 at the Summerfield Suites. Those of you who are monitoring the pricing, please let me know if you see the expected drop - I will check from time to time and do the same.

I got mine for the "seniors" rate of $116. But I'll keep watching. Maybe it will drop by Oct.

BYOW and BYOC... bring your own wine/bring your own chair...

Got it!

Carol, last year the rate dropped a couple of times. It seems that they no longer have the AARP rate - I don't yet qualify for the "seniors" rate.

and bring your own glass - BYOG

BYOS - Bring your own speedo!

Craig...

Doesn't look like I'll be able to make it...

Craig, I think I got the $79 as a AAA member rate. It was, BTW "cancel-able". And age-wise, I'm in the same boat you're in.

BC

we need you femi!!!

rates will drop, they have each time in the past....i'm looking for $99 or even $89...

last year one of our group did priceline and ended up with the marriott right across the highway...

carol, the boston gtg is high on my wish list.

bob, if one stays at the marriott, could one walk back to the hotel after the friday night wine tasting??

it is possible but not a good idea because the road connecting them is a very busy road....

could you personally do it??? no.... you drink too much and insist on having those nuts along with your drinks...

Bob - which nuts are you referring to?

Craig, like you really need to ask????

BC

Ken, don't you like the Hyatt? It's really nice!

Hi. mt name is Andy and I'm a GTG attendeee. I first starting wearing a speedo when I was a teenager. Things seemed fine and then I couldn't stop. Dinner parties, little league games and movies. Eventually, my family and friends did an intervention and I got help.

HA! The help didn't take, Panda, and you're still Speedo-obsessed. That's my professional opinion. That'll be $450, please, payable within the next 30 days; rates of 1.5% daily will apply after that.

BC

Gpanda don't forget the bikini wax before you wear the Speedo.

you know those round hawaiian nuts from trees...

Speaking of bikini wax, why did the nurses always smile when they were removing my bandages and some hair would come off?

Perhaps it reminded them of the time they were having a bikini wax?

Nope. I'm pretty sure there was a vibrant market in panda fur.

Thailand lost 0 - 50 to Portugal in the Rugby 7! Glad I did not go.

hanuman, are you coming to BOS?

I'm afraid not Carol but I think Boston is coming to us here in Thailand. In Nov. they will all be here and Bob has promised that he will bring over live lobster.

Are you coming to HNL then?

Ken ...if you come and need a ride to the Marriott someone will take you up the street...It IS downhill maybe we can fix you up with a wheelbarrow????

downhill? just my speed.lol

Carol,

Not going to the HNL GTG as well. Next US trip will be next year!

so we should plan a GTG around a hanuman arrival.... maybe we could get barry to come...

I'm in..ie, if I win the lottery! Or some inheritance.
Can travel on points but financial...NO for now.

So..keep me posted..you never know!

weekend is shapping up nice with a friday wine fete at rizutto's house, followed by a buffet at papa razzi, GTG at hotel Indigo, followed by a thai dinner at similans...

lots of interest being created by e mails....come meet the wild and famous

...more like lifestyles of the kitsch and blameless....

BC

bookchick: +1

And as Bob mentions, all are invited and welcome to my dilapidary for whine & jeez before dinner on Friday.

Rizzuto is going to interface with the authorities ao we can easily enter Billerica without going through the usual metal detectors and body search. We will all have to wear badges and surrender any sharp objects.

That's correct. No sharp objects are found among Billerica's populace.

For those of you who are on the fence because you heard that my better half was not going to attend, you have no excuse now - Jeane and I will be attending both the Saturday GTG and the dinner at the Thai restaurant in Cambridge. As for the Friday night activities, my regrets go out to Don (Rizzuto) - we hope to see you some time on Saturday.

And for those of you that are baseball fans, apparently the season opens tonight in Beantown...

Yes, but I have the same question about Billerica that I had about Needham: do I need to have vaccinations to enter? Will my passport be stamped by the authorities? Do I need to obtain a special passport? And despite a degree in linguistics, I must ask where can I learn to speak Billerican? How should I dress so the natives won't realize I'm a tourist?

Yay, Craig & Jeanne!

BC

Orange jumpsuits will be the costume. Forget passports, a hall pass will be necessary. By the time the GTG rolls around Billerica will have been fully evacuated, so no one will be left that actually speaks Billerican. It's certainly not a written language. You'll be able to pass with a mild Boston accent. Wiucked Pisser should appear every fourth paragraph.

don't forget the tight jeans and the teased hair

<<don't forget the tight jeans and the teased hair>>

So it's like Queen, NY, except further east, slightly different accent?

BC

Whine and jeez in Bellerica sounds lovely. Can that teased hair be pink, by any chance? I'll go visit my colorist right before my arrival.

Craig... good news. I'm glad Jeane gets to join us.

We midwesterners do NOT have any accent what-so-ever. We are the true English language. I'm not going to cause my delicate tongue any stress by trying to speak Bellerican.

Should be a good time.

(hello from Zurich... just arrived about 3 hours ago)

Carol

The Mid-West where they butcher vowel sounds into submission. The consonants are safe, but a-e-i-o-u are terrified to go into those corn states. They always get flatened. Squished. Plus, Mid-westernerd suffer from the delusion that they have no accent. Absurd.

Well it beats believing the word "idea" is pronounced with an "r" at the end of it. Talk about truly delusional...

BC

My husband's cousin from NH keeps telling me I have a midwestern accent. I tell her no, she has a New England accent.

Pandas have no accent. We speak the Queen's English as intended. No extra "R's", no flat "A's", just a smooth and melodious tone.

<<just a smooth and melodious tone>>

Yes, barking out orders for more eucalyptus to be brought to you on a tray, that's as smooth and melodious as a U.S. Senate session on healthcare reform.

BC

so after all this talk, what new folks are planning to join us this year???

<<Well it beats believing the word "idea" is pronounced with an "r" at the end of it.>> Or what about President Obam-er!

Bob, we promise not to scare off any newbies to the GTG. The more the merrier. We're all just a big happy and diverse group of travellers.

For the budget-conscious (or unconscious) who are looking for decent yet convenient accommodations, the Courtyard by Marriott in Billerica is offering a fully-cancelable rate of $79/nite ($75 if you're a AAA or AARP member) for Friday and Saturday. The hotel is just off Route 3, and it's convenient to all GTG venues. Web site: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosbb-courtyard-boston-billerica/

Oh, gpanda, we're going to have to have an elocution lesson when I get to "Bahstun."

Rizzuto, what about the semi-conscious? Folks always cover each "end" of the spectrum and never the middle!

BC

Indianapearl-First of all LSB (long-suffering Beth) is from Indiana, so I'm wise to the ways of Hoosiers.

Second of all, I'm sorry to report that I have no accent. I grew up in lots of places and was not subjected to a constant assault of butchered English.

Third of all, taking directions from a resident of Billerica may not be a brilliant idea.

There is no fourth of all.

bookchick, I often have trouble covering the middle: the shirts aren't long enough for the amount of territory that they're asked to cover.

gpanda: Do you think LSB has an accent? Does she think you have an accent?

And who's from Billerica? I must have been asleep when that was mentioned.

Beth has the slightest hint of a midwest jargon, but no accent. Every now and then she says "Get out". She does not think that I have an accent and she is correct.

Rizzuto is from Billerica. he grew up in newton, a perfectly nice place. It is a shing example of downward mobility.

My maternal grandfather used to say, "Get out." He was from south St. Louis. I'm also from St. Louis, but don't say, "Get out."

Oh, you lucky, lucky, lucky Bostonians!

Guess what? My hematology-oncology doctor would like to see me in 6 months! So of course I have scheduled the appt for the Friday of the Boston GTG on October 8th!! So once again, I will grace The Bay State with my presence. Thanks in advance for having me.


BC

BC--sorry we missed you but will see you in oct!!!

Great, BC. Looking forward to it!

OK, UA prices finally dropped a couple of hundred today so I pulled the trigger and we are all set. There better be some fall colors Bob, conjure up something or what ever you do in your neck of the woods,lol

kuranosuke, did you get your wish?

Aloha!

wow ht, mahalo for posting. great fare. only, i messed up on my dates. i thought i was returning from japan on 10/3, so i could easily go to bos. but, the wise one told me to ck the iti again, because she thought we would be back on 10/6. well she was right. we leave singapore on 10/3, not japan, so i can't make the bos gtg. too bad. should be alot of fun and great times. don't forget, if its not fresh, it ain't legals.

Hey, ht, glad to see that you and Linda will be coming. If you want to see color, take the time to drive north out of Boston up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. You'll see color there! I've been spending time up there around the time of the BOS GTG for s few years now. That and coastal Maine, although not a lot of color along the coast at that time.

Carol

Friday dinner in Burlington? That's almost in my backyard.

Pencil me in Bob. Thanks.

Ken, meant to say 'we will miss you!'

HT make sure you get your reservation at the Hyatt Summerfield where we will 'all' be staying (for the most part). Nice place!

Hi Carol, We are in the Hyatt Summerfield from 10/7 - 10/10
Thanks for the White Mountains suggestion. I will have to check it out. Will talk to you more about it in Honolulu! When do you arrive in BOS? Is Brad coming?

Aloha!

Hi Peter,
I arrive in BOS on the 8th and will head north on the 10th. I've just booked a Marriott property in Gilford NH, which is close to Lake Winnipisaukee (sp... I've probably butchered it) for two nights and then back towards BOS for flight home on the 13th. Brad is most likely not coming. He has only been to one BOS GTG and that was the very first one I wanted to attend. He did not think I should be heading to BOS to meet up with internet strangers... lol!! It turned out just fine, thank you!

HNL is booked. Brad does not yet have a ticket, but that's OK. He can decide later. He is not sure of his schedule as he has two projects to be publishing in Bangkok sometime in July/Aug/Sept and right now the dates he needs to be in BKK are uncertain. Anyway, I arrive HNL on the 5th and head home the 12th. I'm booked at PK, but should really try to book a Marriott property instead. Recommendations? I don't have to be on the beach.
Carol

HT - Jeane and I look forward to seeing you and your wife in October.

HT just changed from PK to Courtyard, which I believe is down by the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel, yes? Should be fine. I don't need the view, and I don't need the more 'luxe' Waikiki Beach Resort either. I don't spend much time in the room... too busy shopping/driving/exploring! See you in Sept.

Carol, if its the Courtyard I'm thinking about its back along Kuhio Ave away from the beach on Royal Hawaiian Ave. Never been in there. Tell Brad UA prices just lowered from ORD/HNL if he can get away.
FYI here is the new luxe rave place to stay in Waikiki, kuranosuke's new home away from home,lol http://www.trumpwaikikihotel.com/

Craig, Ditto, Linda and I look forward to seeing you again and finally meeting Jeane.

Aloha!

i was going to pull this up so glad you did it for us.....

can never guarantee 'color', but we will do our best....maybe settle on colored water??

ah yes! me and the donald are okole puka buddies.

i didn't know there were two marriotts in waikiki. where on royal hawn ave?

hi carol, tell brad he needs to get his okole over here, the babes are waiting.

Brad was talking about it today, but he isn't ready to commit yet. I understand his situation. He'll certainly come if he can.

That Marriott Courtyard is maybe by Royal Hawaiian? Not sure. Anyway, it'll be fine. Like I said, don't need 'luxe' as I spend very little time in the room.

Back to BOS. I'm flying into BOS this time. I HATE doing that, as I think the traffic patterns and trying to drive around in BOS is crazy!! (remember, I'm from cornfield country... but I have driven in most of the large cities in the USA with very few problems... just BOS)

No fear, Carol, we'll give you the straight dope on how to get to/from Logan with no pain. Using Logan also saves you 20-30 minutes each way traveling to/from Burlington (MA).

Those who are planning a day trip to view the foliage might also consider the Monadnock region in south-central New Hampshire. There are some really pleasant roads and towns in the region, and the foliage is unmatched. Compared to a White Mountains trip, you'd be spending much more time on smaller roads. There are even some decent hikes available for any exercise freaks.

western MA is also an alternative.....just a ride west on the Mass Pike, rt 90, can be pleasant and painless...

of course there is also billerica

Billerica is in a developmental stage for foliage viewing. Although we do not have any actual trees in the town, we have appealed to other towns in Massachusetts to send us their excess leaves.

i will tell my gardner to dropp all our raked leaves in your front yard....burn them and put potatoes in the burn and you get smokey baked pots.... it's a NE thing... in cambridge they outsource all burning to lesser communities

It's ok to burn certain items in Cambridge -- cigars & fatties. (No, not those fatties, Bob. Neither you nor I are in danger of being set alight.)

Re-looking at my HNL res's again. I think a 2-day visit to the big island is in order on this trip, so maybe first 3 nites at Marriott Resort Waikiki, then 2 nites BI, then 2 nites at Courtyard (location isn't close to Royal Hawaiian, it's just ON Royal Hawaiian, in from the beach about 4 blks maybe? I guess I don't really want to be THERE for 7 nites. Valet parking only, $22/day. But I've got plenty of time to sort this out.

Just wanted to say that even though I haven't been posting here too much, Eric and I will be attending all of the events, if you will have us. Really glad that Jeane can come Craig, we would miss her. So so happy HT and Linda will be there! Ken, we will miss seeing you. Maybe we can all meet up in Japan again one of these days.

That's great, Laurie. Looking forward to seeing the two of you at, yet, another BOS GTG.

Laurie, yes it will be great to see you and Eric again! The last time I saw you guys we were walking(stumbling)together up a steep and narrow street in Tokyo one fine evening,lol

Aloha!

laurie, going to miss seeing you and eric again too, as well as the rest of the gang. going to a wedding in kuala lumpur, so travel dates were not too flexible this year.

maybe tokyo again, with ht and lucy and her wild husband. lol.

Funeral Pyres are not a large part of the Cambridge landscape. Bob and Don are safe in that regard. Certain tobacco-like products are burned in great quantity. "Tune in, turn on and drop out" was first popularized by a Harvard Professor.

"Tune in, turn on and drop out"

Will this be the theme for this years GTG?

Welcome back Andy. Did you leave any money in Vegas for us?

Aloha!

not a bad theme really

> Tune in, turn on and drop out

For your typical Fodorite today, "tune in, turn on and drop out" are all functions related to our hearing aids.

...rizzuto... lol
Bob, I wondered why you said it wasn't a bad theme. Now I see why.

I am a proud child of the 60's. TI, TO and DO were our passwords. Do you remember the feeling that anything was possible? Do you remember hitchhiking? What better theme could we have?

I'll bet there are pictures of Rizutto with hair down to his shoulders. Now, he's got neither.

word, as the young'uns say.

(...pssttt... Andy, there is a discussion of speedos going on in the lounge....)

I may not make it this year after all. I have no job, and thanks to our legislators, there's no extension on unemployment benefits, and mine are going to run out in August, I think. (There's a chance there may be an extenson available through the state, since the unemployment rate here has been so high, but I'll find out more about that next week.) I'll be using a voucher to fly out for my appt at Dana-Farber, but may very well be flying home the same day. If I get a job between now and the GTG, then of course I'll be able to stay overnight a couple of nights, but if not, it looks like I'll take an early-morning flight into BOS and an early evening flight out on the same day.

BC

Bookchick...I am going to cross my fingers (and toes) that a job will come up SOON. I'm looking forward to seeing you, and my sister is too!

I'm crossing my fingers too! We want you at the GTG, bc!

maybe we can pair you up with someone for a night's lodging....as i told you you are alsways welcome at our house except the bed is occupied this year by our english friends...

Me, you can stay with me!! I'll change my king to a dbl, no problem.

Now, now, come on now, if I can't afford to pay my way in terms of a place to stay, it's fine. I appreciate the fact you'd otherwise put me up, Bob & Karen, and I understand. You guys will be fine without me if I'm unable to make it. I'll keep you apprised of things as they unfold, but wanted you to be aware of the possibility I won't make it. (Andy and I had a little private e-mail exchange, so he knows it's not his jokes keeping me away, LOL!) I was reluctant to say anything. Please no sympathy, no pity. It's just a reflection of a less-than-perfect economy right now. And if I miss this year, I'm sure things will look better in '11. Carol, it's generous and kind of you to want to share, but I'd still be incurring some expenses that, without a job, I'd really better not incur. As stated, I'll let Fodorville know what to expect a bit later. (Our legislature could help me out, but seem to view me as part of the problem with the economy instead of part of the solution. oh well...)

BC

Clearly you people are '60s poseurs. You have to TURN ON, before you can tune in. You've got it backwards. I met Mr. Leary at a party. He said he liked my nose.

i met Leary at A Party and hew liked my graass

perfect...you can come then, stay with carol and not eat!!!

I met Mr. [sic] Leary at a party. He said he liked my nose.

LAleslie, did the Good Doctor think that you were a bottle of Pouilly Fuissé?

Sorry, will have to miss it again! On Saturday October 9, 2010, Mr Usernameistaken and I will be on our way from Vienna to Prague, clutching our tickets to the Boston Bruins Season Opener at 02 Arena, Praha, which begins at 6 PM that night.

I will be thinking about the Similans, though ..... YUM.

usernameistaken, shucks, we were looking forward to meeting you. Maybe next time around.

Aloha!

I WILL HAVE ANOTHER GENERAL MAILING IN ABOUT A MONTH ABOUT WHO WILL ATTEND FOR SURE...

100 days until the GTG weekend.

The good scans suggest that I will be in full panda mode for the GTG. Muscle trick, speedo and scintillating discussions. Of course, I will have to travel to Billerica and Newton, both of which are far from the normal panda path. I can assure visitors that while Needham is darkest, Billerica is quite dim.

ttt

ttt for Sue P

Rizzuto, I do not call anyone Dr. unless they have a medical degree. Mr. Leary did not. No [sic].
And in his wackiness he may well have thunk I was a wine bottle, tho he seemed weirdly fixated on my petite schnoz.

Rizzuto, I do not call anyone Dr. unless they have a medical degree.

LAleslie, I have sent an urgent telegram to the University of California demanding that they change the name of their PhD degree to a Misterate. That will clear things up.

laurieco just got her summerfields suite res.....who will be next??

lcuy came here yesterday for lunch....we had a fun mini-GTG....she will be back in oct. for the big GTG, this time with her famous "lounge lizzard" sister "Pickle"... lcuy will be fresh from a trip to turkey so it will be fun to hear all about that....

I hope that turkey and pickles go well together. It does not sound especially appetizing, though.

don, maybe that would be a good sampling for your house before the friday nite dinner??

Excellent idea, Bob, thanks.

Snacks in Billerica? Baloney, cheez whiz and stale peanuts. I can sense a Hickory Farms order being placed.

when cantabridgians (that's cambridgeites) go upscale they move to billerica...

I just popped in to see what I may be missing, and now I get nauseated. Well, the upside is I'll be going down a dress size.

BC

BC, is it true you are moving to billerica?

Untrue. The loss of a dress size comes from the fact that in 90+ days of thinking of turkey served with pickle, it'll induce adequate nausea to lose that much weight.

At this point in time, however, I'm thinking that if I moved to Billerica my chances of finding a job would be substantially higher than they would staying in Michigan. Unfortunately I don't think my bro could tolerate being uprooted and I'd rather not try to put the house on the market and either not have it sell or get a fraction of its worth, which, while not a fortune is still a bit of money.

BC

The eternal Michigan v. Billerica problem can never be solved. There are an infinte number of negatives on each side. Impossible to compute. It's a shame that it has to raise its ugly head on this thread.

Lots of reasons to live in Billerica. Need a new tattoo? 22 tattoo shops in the Big B. And if you get hungry for a Slim Jim while getting inked, 37 convenience stores grace our fair town, all with beer license (except for the 3 who lost theird this year for sales to minors). And for you culture hounds, the "Billerica Ballet" (a/k/a/ Mac's Lounge) offers exotic dancers (All College Girls!) 7 days a week 'til 1am.

what more could one ask for...

do the street walkers wear speedos?

Don's description of B is entirely accurate. It's why Cambridge has no seedy side. The ones seeking these services can drive to Billerica,

now lets get serious and see who will be planning on joining us for the GTG

You lucky, lucky people!! I am pleased to announce I received a chunk of my inheritance, and I will be attending!!!

Thanks to each of you who offered alternatives/shared room suggestions.

BC

Bookchick is on board. She goes from idyllic Ann Arbor to the mean streets of Billerica. Who could pass that up?

btw, have you ever, mr gpanda, been to billerica? or spent any time there?

Excellent, excellent news, chickster. Glad to hear that one of your relatives moved on to the next life, or whatever.

You would feel right at home in Billerica, where most of the area's bookies reside (either in their own hovels or as guests of the Commonwealth).

??? Guests of the Commonwealth??? Is this a jail or prison scenario in Billerica?? (Mental note to self: do not pack orange clothing, do not pack black and white striped clothing.) Yes, Rizzuto, I do expect to see the documentation you have to ascertain you were at the Summit Series in Montreal.

BC

A good percentage of the residents of Billerica are not there voluntarily. There's a big correctional facility located there. What else would you do with the land?

The "Billerica Ballet"? That's hysterical.

Sounds like the Blue Moon (or some similar name) I used to drive by on 3A at the Hudson/Tyngsborough line on my way to work in the great city of Lowell. I always thought is was amazing that hidden inside that rundown wooden place one could find "exotic" dancers on weekend nights!

Someone once told me they were graduates of the Revere Finishing School.

Revere Finishing School? Finishing what, exactly? (Feel free not to reply, as discretion may indeed be the better part of valour.)

BC

revere is one of the local mafia hang-out towns.... lots of teased hair.... and tight slacks and pants.... italian is the primary language.. guns are not for decoration...

they often spend their summers in billerica

Good thing I'm fluent in Italian!

BC

you are not a revere girl!! among other things you have to have a very loud voice, and its not for opera

So can you tell us what it is for, Bob?

Lcuy, my advice is to tread carefully here.

Bob, I've been to Revere Beach before...Kelly's is located there, after all, but in the blazing hot summer of '88, they would not serve chowder because it was so hot the dairy component of the soup was curdling!!

BC

ONe goes to Kelly's for the fried clams, not the chowda. By the end of any meal from Kelly's, your hands are supposed to ne dripping with grease.

Don't forget the roast beef sandwiches and the fries. I got a painful sunburn at Revere Beach on the one exposed part of my body on which I'd neglected to put any sunblock---the side of my neck!

BC

you are correct it is the roast beef sandwiches, not the clams....so much for a cambridge interpertation

They are both excellent reasons to visit Kelly's (and, not long thereafter, one or more medical specialists -- cardio, GI, psych).

Rizzuto, cardio & GI references I understand, but psych???

Hey, I already come out to Boston to see one specialist anyway, so what would two more be in effort on my part?

Bob, my last name is so plebeian, I'd certainly not expect Gpanda to understand the wares my relatives sell.....

BC

psych: because you would have to be crazy to eat that chazzerai.

Rizzuto, my distant relatives (presuming they are, as we share a surname) are not purveyors of pig slop!

BC

The definition of chazzerai that you found seems a bit severe to me. The thing about Yiddish expressions is that even seemingly pejorative ones can be used affectionately. But we have digressed.

If we hadn't digressed, how would I know I'm on the right thread????

BC

BC,

Glad to hear you'll now be attending! That's great news.

First of all, every single yiddish expression has become perjorative. If there isn't a slight element of judgement intended, it's not uttered.

Great news BC. Looking forward to seeing you again! Looking forward to seeing all of you!!!!!

Just invited Evelyne from Montreal to the BOS GTG, and her husband, as we were just now eating breakfast together at the Marriott Resort on the river in Bangkok. Evelyne gives her regrets, however, as there is a family gathering the same time. Maybe another time?

Carol (I'll still be there)

Oh, Carol, that's Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. (Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on what is the USA's Columbus Day.)

It's a shame she can't make it, it would have been nice to meet her.

And...you'd better be there, young lady!

BC

dedline for reservations is september 25....please let me know now if possible if you will attend....its tons of fun and interesting as well...


rhkonthailand@msn.com

s/b ...'deadline for res is 9/25'

There's a dedham, why shouldn't there be a dedline?

Yes, Gpanda, but would you accurately say "in darkest dedham", or is that only used to describe Needham?

BC

I am so sorry my I'll be out of the country that weekend. Well, not actually sorry that I'm out of the country, but sorry I'll be missing all of you. : (

I'll toast all of you from Tuscany : )

BH, say it ain't so. How did this happen? It's always on the same weekend.

BH, we'll miss you! But have a great time on your trip... you didn't say where you are going to be. Hope it's exciting and exotic.

getting up to our cut-off point for reservations....would love to have more participants

Hopefully everyone coming from out of town has already made their reservation at the Hyatt Summerfield Suites in Burlington as their website showed them being sold out when I was checking today to see if the price had dropped...

If you haven't made reservations, don't despair. Both the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington and The Courtyard by Marriott in Billerica are both still available for the weekend, and they're both $110/night before any discount that you might have. Both places are within easy reach of Friday and Saturday venues.

There's a Courtyard by Marriott in Billerica??!?!?!?! I never would have guessed. Somehow I thought if Billerica had any establishments for lodging, they'd involve a check-in desk where the personnel staff the place behind a bullet-proof partition!

BC

It's right next door to the Billerica Ballet.

The Courtyard is in Billerica's Silk Stocking District.

I thought all of Billerica was in a Fishnet Stocking District.

BC, confused in Michigan (par for the course)

Please pronounce Billerica! Is it Bill/Erika? Or I think I've heard Bell Rick-uh.

bill-RICK-uh is the correct pronunciation. bill-uh-RICK-uh is acceptable.

Though it sounds like it could be a Native American name, it's actually named for the English town of Billericay.

I'll ignore the rude comments from the Ann Arborite, whose is no doubt still walking on air after the Wolfereens' gallant 5-pt victory over Mighty UMass.

Thanks, rizzuto. Somehow I thought it was spelled with bell at the beginning...
See you soon. I want nice weather. See what you can do! ha

why are these out of New Englanders insulting our towns?

> why are these out of New Englanders insulting our towns?

Scenic envy?

Mimi... you guys talk funny and you leave out syllabols when you pronounce names like Worchester!
See you soon. I love to hear that Boston accent. (we Illinoisans speak more purely...

Scenic envy? Don, you should see all the cornfields around me. YES, I have scenic envy!

I'm #200... who would have thought that a GTG thread could generate so much interest/responses!!

Ahem...a win is a win is a win. Whether it's by 5 points or 50, it's still a win. Still, I wonder if it's a prudent move...my hem/onc guy is a graduate of the UMass Medical School, although he is now a professor of medicine at Hah-vahd.

No scenic envy out here, either, as it's gorgeous, weather's cooperating, cider mill is open...

I think non-New Englanders may be insulting the towns because...they're there? (Purely conjecture on my part, of course.)

BC

and there are still openings, especially for the friday night dinner and the delish time at Don's, just up the road from the nut house and the pen---no that is not the pig pen, but the jail...

there are about 30 people for the GTG and we need 20 for friday night and we are still a few short....help??

Friday night's are great at the GTGs. We get to catch up on all the happenings since last year and even Bob displays a modicum of warmth. By Saturday lunch, he is back to his grumpy self.

i'm working on being friendly this year as we can't count on certain other people to hold up their part of the bargain...

currently we are about 30 participants for the saturday luncheon... it should be fun as usual...

DON'T FORGET TO BRING A SHOW AND TELL FROM YOUR TRAVELS...

Looks like friendly weather ahead for BOS!! Yippee!

Hi, I'm Andy and I've brought all my dirty laundry from my recent trip to Hong Kong. That ought to wow them.

lol... any speedos in that laundry?

I have to get my souvenir from Brad! Hope I don't forget.

Show and tell from travels? My husband's from India, does that count?

Fall Foliage!

Anyone coming from out of town to see the fall foliage? Looks like a perfect time, with sunny weather forecast for Thurs afternoon and Friday. Here's a route that I can suggest for a good drive, using mostly local roads instead of highways. The drive goes from the GTG hotel to Peterborough NH, in the Monadnock Mountains (they're really hills), and back. The Monadnocks should be at peak colors for the GTG weekend. At a leisurely pace, this drive will take about 2 hours to get from the Summerfield Suites to Peterborough, and about 1:30 to return:

- From the Summerfield Suites, take Rt 95/128 southbound for 1 exit to Route 3 northbound.

- Take 3 northbound, and follow it to Exit 33 - Route 40. Turn right on Rt 40 at the bottom of the exit ramp, and follow Route 40 westbound as it meanders its way to Groton (about 9 miles). Once you're on Route 40, you should get some really nice scenery. It will get better and better for the next 90 minutes.

- At Groton, take Rt 119 north. Follow 119 north to West Townsend (about 10 miles), and then turn right on Rt 124.

- Follow 124 about 17 miles until you reach Jaffrey (NH), in the middle of the Monadnocks. In Jaffrey, turn right on Rt 202 and follow it about 7 miles until you reach the center of Peterborough. In Peterborough, you'll find some nice places to stop for lunch/coffee etc.

To return, the easiest route is to follow Route 101 east from Peterborough for about 20 miles to Route 101A -- the signs will say 101A - Nashua. Follow 101A through many traffic lights and strip malls until you reach Route 3. Take 3 south to the end, which is 128/95. Take 128/95 north 1 exit to the Summerfield Suites exit. (Many other return routes are available -- consult a map or GPS.)

Glad to hear that the color is nice about now. I'll be doing fall color right after the GTGs for several days.

Peterborough is a terrific, quaint New England charm kind of town. It's an artsy town with galleries and great restaurants. Bring your camera. The drive to and from is equally lovely.

we are in central maine this weekend and the foliage seems to be quite delayed...i would say like at 20% or less..

Maine has only pine trees. The leaves on pine trees don't change color.

Cental Maine only because Alcatraz was unavailable. I have my muse while Bob has his moose. Fitting, don't you think?

ok, we are sitting here with drinks with the bright sun dancing off the lake ... what is it like in cambridge and billerica?

Oh my, you are dancing on the lake? It's a miracle!

To answer your question, the ambiance in Billerica is best described as perpetual gloom.

Jaya: My husband's first cousin, a refugee from Conn., lives in Peterborough. We visit with him each year when we go to Francestown to visit with undergraduate friends of my spouse. As a cornpone from the midwest, I find it all like an anthropological experiment.

Check out New Boston, Goffstown, and Francestown while touring the area.

Rizutto-how cruel to use a word such as "ambiance" when communicating with His Bobness. You might as well throw in some differential calculus.

In Cambridge, it's cold and clammy, so that it will be wonderful by the time the GTG rolls around at the end of the week. Aren't Cold and Clammy two of the residents of Billerica who are guests of the Commonwealth?

My father used to work with a guy named Lou Klamberg. I've met a lot of people with ridiculous names, but Lou Klamberg tops the list.

i-p: My BFF lives in Francestown. I still can't believe that she moved to that outpost. Nice place to live, except if you need anything, and except from November through April. The Francestown Turnpike is also the world's best bike (bicycle) cruising road -- 8 or 10 miles of flat, traffic-free road with gorgeous scenery.

Bummed to be missing the gtg, but Rizzuto, thanks for the foliage suggestion - I think I'll check out the route on Monday.

LOL - I live adjacent to both Goffstown and New Boston! Francestown IS an outpost. The Monadnock Region is really postcard pretty, but you're not near anything like a mall or have easy access to civilization via routes 3 or 93.

Rizzuto... I've got a much sillier name for you (IMO). A friend and I were in Nashville TN and wanted a good hamburger, so we were checking the white pages of the phone book for Fuddruckers (which we had 'discovered' on that same trip to the southeast). While looking for Fuddruckers, I noted (and this was in the phone book for real!) a person named Elmer Fuddpucker. Say that one fast three times... The friend and I still get a chuckle when we recall Elmer!

Hmmm... thrumpk thrumpk thrumpk (twiddling fingers on my desk)
I just did a google search for Elmer... seems there is a drink named after him, and he is on facebook!? Back in the late 1980s/early 90s when the friend and I were on our spring break trip, we wondered if Elmer Fuddpucker was maybe a code name for a 'famous' Nashville music star!

OK, sitting at work finishing off what I have to do. See that our first class upgrades have cleared

Thanks rizzuto for the koyo...errrr fall foliage paths to follow. Looking forward to seeing you all!!

Just about ready to leave but still can't find where I put that darn souvenir........

Aloha!

The pineapple trees are especially beautiful this time of year here, HT.

Hawaiian traveller-When we were in Hawaii my husband bought a t-shirt with a big hang loose logo on the front. I do not allow him to wear in public in our local environs as I am afraid that some locals might not know what the sign is and mistake it for something else (Use your imagination. This is quite a provincial town in some respects). Anyway, I was thinking it might be appropriat attire for the GTG as most sophisticated Fodorites (not an oxymoron) would know what it is.

You get apples on your pine trees? Mine just grow brown cones with sticky sap. Must be the soil!

If you want to talk about ridiculous names, long ago, my sister's BFF had a blind date with a guy named Dick Bone. It doesn't get any worse than that.

Hey, ht... three cheers for the upgrades clearing! You gotta love flyin' in style.

I'm beginning to sort and pack. Will spend Thursday night at an airport hotel, and then fly out on Friday. Looking forward to seeing everyone once again.

Re: the souvenir... it's supposed to be something from one's travels, and not something from one's own home area, right?

Laurieco, wanna bet? I once worked for a guy named Dennis Hertz. He had a brother named Peter. True story.

BC

That's good Bookie, but I'm afraid Dick Bone wins.

In all honesty, I have no idea how the surname is spelled, I've only heard it pronounced. It could be Bown for all I know but when you say it...well, you get the idea.

See what you are missing by not coming next weekend?

Well, I'm tentatively slated to dine on Friday the 15th with a few of "the usual suspects" who're Boston Fodorites, so I'll have to rely upon them (God help me!) for the less-than-instant replay.

BC

Just to confirm, Papa Razzi's is THIS Friday the 8th?

Yes, Jaya. It's this Friday night! I just re-confirmed the latest schedule. Hey, if it ISN'T this weekend, then HT from Honolulu (and Linda) and nanabee and lots of others, including myself, will be in Boston with 'nothing to do'... lol

If anyone gets lost, my cell phone number is:

508-328-1776

See you soon.

If I get lost I'll go shopping at the Burlington Mall!

Bob & Andy,
Get the dog and pony show ready, get rid of the rain, bring out the sun and don't forget to have the trees all painted with those red, orange and yellow colors real pretty like we like. We are taking off in the canoe at sunrise so will see you all soon at the Hyatt if the current is flowing the right way and Linda paddles extra hard

Aloha!

P.S. Rizuuto, I thought of bringing those apples from the pine tree but couldn't dig them out of the ground in the dark this morning so another dose of Peter NH's advice will have to suffice,lol

Carol,
Even if it wasn't this weekend, with all the names you mentioned being in town I don't think "nothing to do" would be in the running. Wait, Linda's launching the canoe without me..............

Aloha!

Whatever body of water was close to Bob when he was posting must have been warmer than any in Michigan. It's just about freezing here, but is about to thaw as the sun is shining. And I think "Indian summer" is going to arrive here this weekend, as Saturday and Sunday the high is supposed to be in the 70's.

BC

Pine trees don't have apples, they have acorns. Apples come from apple trees, and pineapples come from pineapple trees. There's a grove in my yard, on the lowest 40.

I'm off to Albany tomorrow and Eric and I will be making our way to Boston on Friday. Psst...Eric doesn't know this yet but we will be making a detour to the Prime Outlets in Lee Mass. on the way over. Coach is calling me...

See y'all Friday!!

I'm leaving for the airport in 4.5 hours. Will I be packed? Hope so...

If you're coming fro Albany, have you ever shopped the Woodbury Premium Outlets? Now THAT'S a outlet shopping!

Jaya, Woodbury is actually closer to NYC than to Albany. I've never gone there because I always take Amtrak to Albany, unless I have my cat with me and I wouldn't leave her unattended in the car. I'll get there one day though!

Laurie, if I recall correctly, you had a new Coach bag last year at the GTG, didn't you? Sweet of Eric to make the stop (or allow YOU to make the stop). See you Friday night. I need to look up Lee Mass on a map!

Lucy... what airport? I think you were/are in Turkey for a vacation. What part of the world are you in right now? Or are you on the west coast with your sister, who will be joining you (us) in Bos?

Carol

How well does your cat travel? I have two kitties, but haven't tried to take them anywhere although I'd love to have them along for the trip. Leaving them behind is hard, well truth is we haven't left them behind because we haven't taken any trips longer than a few hours since we got them last year!

I think they own us more than we own them!

I came home from Turkey last week. Leaving tonight on CO!$, and the upgrade chances don't look good.

I did get upgraded from EWR to BOS though. woo hoo....

BTW, Carol, my daughter is in BKK already. We're meeting at the
Adelphi Suites in a week. I hope you don't mind I dropped your name in order for her to be able to leave a bag there! I also told her to stop by Pickled Liver and say hi to Maeng, but she thinks the crowd may be too old for her..

I'll spend Thursday night with my daughter outside Boston, then see you all at the SF Suites on Friday!

Hi Lucy,
Glad to know that you made it home from Turkey. Hope the trip was fantastic.

The crowd at PL may be too old?? lol (maybe...) But it's really a great variety of folks of all ages. As I've said before, the PL is much like a Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name (once you become a 'regular' of course). I hope your daughter (and you) will give it a try. Quiz night (Thursdays) is a blast! You can form yet another 'fodorites' team!

I hope you enjoy Adelphi as much as we do. Can't wait to get back there in December for the holidays! The staff is really great. I am quite sure that a number of people have used my name there.. The big problem will be when I can't get a room because all my friends have filled up the place! lol

See you in BOS. I'm leaving home tonight, staying by the airport before flying out tomorrow! I'll be at SF around 4:30ish, depending on traffic.

Carol

Rain's long gone, nothing but sun and 65-70 degrees for the next few days. Looks like another fantastic Boston GTG.

(I trust that you're all coming for pre-dinner wine & hors!)

OMG, I was wondering how long it would be before mention was made again of the hors.

BC

BC, you need to be in BOS tomorrow, rather than a week from tomorrow!

Sorry we'll miss the Friday "hors" and dinner. However, Jeane and I look forward to seeing everyone at the two events on Saturday.

Carol, I wish that were possible. Unfortunately, it's not.

BC

we offer no special greetings for people unless they arrive by concorde....

but the sun did come out and we look for a good day friday and saturday too...

33+ people at the GTG we expect...

Concorde is a nice little towne and pleasant to visit
(Lexington, too!).

One if by land, two if by sea


William Dawes chose not to worn the residents of Billerica for obvious reasons. No good would come from a jailbreak.

Concorde must be doing well financially if they can afford to put a new letter onto the end of their name!

Gpanda, good point, that famous ride was before the Billerica ballet, so we know other than the jail, there wasn't much going on there in those days.

BC

Jaya: I leave my cats frequently, either with live-in pet sitters (trustworthy students) or with professional pet-sitters who come into my house every day or two to feed them, water them, clean the litter, and generally maintain them. We've been gone for four to five weeks at a time with no problems. With the internet, we can check on matters at home easily.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend with the Asia board folks!

Anmd from what I gather here, the residents of Billerica are very worn.

I was about to post the samething. Rizzuto is worn out
Hey Riz, when I was in early Hi-schoo I would go rollar skating there. Does it still exist? Maybe not, No one seems to skate anymore.

I can report that Boston is the place to be this weekend. We had a wonderful lively dinner at Papparazzi (almost within walking distance of the Hyatt Summerfield in Burlington Ma... if one doesn't have tooo many glasses of wine

Hors and wine at Don's were a wonderful way to start the evening. Don's directions to his house were spot on. The wine much needed after trying to maneuver Boston traffic!!! AAARRRGGGHHHH... I was swearing to myself, under my breath of course, that I will never NEVEFR fly into Logan again. If I had done my usual and flown into Manchester NH, I'd have been at the hotel much quicker than the 1 hour 20 minutes it took to get there from Logan.

Anyway, the weekend is off to a wonderful start!! Looking forward to lunch and dinner tomorrow. There were probably 20 of us at dinner tonight... Bob would know exactly how many we had. I got to meet Nanabee and Lucy's very lovely daughter, as well as Jaya... and lots of familiar faces too. Peter and Linda made the long journey from Honolulu (as did Lucy). Ken.... where are YOU!!!???

I'm sure others will give their own reports. Right now I need to pop down to Bob and Karen's room!!! (and then, hopefully some sleep)

Carol

looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, simpson.

Just got home after a most WONDERFUL get together at Papa Razzi's in Burlington, MA. What a treat it was to meet everyone for the first time!

It was a lovely dinner and so nice to reconnect with people from last year and to meet new people. Thanks to Lucy for the package of macadamia chocolate coffee! Looking forward to lunch tomorrow.

And thanks to Rizzuto, Bob, and Andy as the hosts/organizers.

Carol is right--traffic was terrible tonight. But we all made it.

This is the first GTG I've missed since I was initially invited all those years ago (in the winter!).

But I'm pleased to read everyone who attended last night's dinner had a good time and that the hors at Rizzuto's went well, too.

My sole consolation is that I'll be able to watch the Michigan-Michigan State game, but you know if my alma mater loses, I'll be ticked off.

BC

It was delightful to meet new friends and remeet old ones. Very old ones.

Papa Razzis was a good choice for a dinner venue for a crowd of this size. The logistics were simple (buffet, no ordering off a menu), the food edible enough, and lots of room to roam around and mingle.

Lots of revelations, once people had a few drinks to loosen their lips. Lucy admitted that she enjoys traveling, even more than does her husband. Eric smiled and almost, but not quite, rolled his eyes when asked how much he enjoyed shopping at the Lee outlet stores. Even this typist wistfully waxed melancholic for his days of wedded bliss when the Former Beloved would do at least some of the work in managing the hors event. (Fortunately, this reverie paid dividends, as Karen organized a crew to clean up the joint before everyone left: a Big Thank You to all of you, as well as to those who brought enough booze, cheese, incredibly delicious Irish bread, and general good cheer to keep me well-stocked for a while.)

It was best of all to see Andy and his sense of humor -- such as it ever was -- back in form, intermingled with his usual preposterous discussions of 6th Century Khmer royalty and kvetches about Beth not wanting to go somewhere or other.

Bob & Karen brought along two of their neighbors from Needham who called themselves "John" and (oops, I forget -- "Linda" maybe?), and these two tried to pass themselves off as English by using some ridiculously phony accent. No one was fooled.

Looking forward to today's events. I forgot to pick a fight with Peter (hawaiiantraveler) about his bizarre and twisted preference for Shinjuku, but the weekend is young.

We'll all be there with bells on (and souvenirs in hand) for the 'big' luncheon today. Hope to have a chance to chat with more of my fodorite friends. I had such a nice time getting acquainted with nanabee last night! I knew when I first saw her that she must be Lucy's sister.

Anyway, looking forward to the big day today. Weather looks lovely again.

Carol

Carol

many thanks to don for hosting us before dinner... lots of wine and nibbles, plus his japanese toilet...

dinner was decent and lots of fun... pics to follow... looking forward to the gtg today and our first ever awards...watch for details

btw, we even had our own live mascot, basil, the well behaved dog...

It must be told. Once again, Bob pulled a fast one surrounding the check. It's not good enough that he gets the points on his credit card. He claimed there was a shortage and with my calculations ahe added a $2.50 pp surplus charge. I guess he needs the cash.

The GTG's are really fun. Mingling is a hoot. Everybody has a great story or two, even the non-posters.

Sorry I'll be missing the luncheon GTG, but I'm looking forward to meeting everyone at dinner tonight. I hope you won't be GTG'ed out by then.

Shelley

Shelley, you don't know this group. If given the opportunity, they could GTG for 10 days running. If you're at all familiar with the term "bacchanalia", that sums it up succintly.

Andy, am I reading with any accuracy that Bob needs $2.50??? Gee, I'm on the dole, but I can send him what's in my "change jar" which I'm sure exceeds $2.50. And I wouldn't challenge the Kimballs' British pals, as I'm sure they'd be happy to furnish their shiny burgundy passports as proof of their "country of origin".

Okay, all of you, behave! Just because I'm not there to keep you all in line doesn't mean you can "let it all hang out" without me there!! Well, the upside of not being there does mean that my liver gets a year to re-generate.

BC

you were missed, bc: exactly 0 people asked to see my Canada-USSR 1972 Game 1 program.

Don, you really know how to hurt a Canadian dual-national who's stuck in the midwest on this particular weekend!


BC

Oh, BTW, question: Given the venue for last night's meal was Papa Razzi's, is there any truth at all to the rumor that His Bobness and Gpanda dressed up and did a re-enactment of the video of the Lady Gaga song "Paparazzi"????

BC

Sorry BC--what happens in Burlington, stays in Burlington.

Miss you.

Wish we could make it too hope everyone has a great time.
Andy/Bob i am counting on you guys to give me all the details!

So sorry I missed it again this year. I was on a business trip until yesterday so couldn't make it again. Hope everyone has a great time!

lunch was an excellent time - it was great to see old friends and make some new ones. have fun at dinner. thanks to all who helped with the organizing this year!

And on top of everything else, my alma mater is losing to one of their two arch rivals!!!

BC

Bookchick - they must all be parting tonight - no additional comments since lunch!!!!

I hope they're all aware, Jeff, that penalties attach for lack of GTG reporting. Since Gpanda is always very exacting on that point, I plan to be also. After all, what's good for the panda is good for the wolverine!

I'm sure after they finish nursing their hangovers this morning and settle their stomachs enough to chew on some breakfast, there will be general reluctant grunting about coming here to post and show photos. I need to print some of those photos and pin them up in my garage, as we've had mice...those photos will frighten the mice enough to stay away.

BC

This year's GTG was surely the best ever. Many thanks & congratulations to Bob and Andy for being the front men or organizing the thing, and to Karen and Beth for les femmes du force majeure to keep the good ship AndyBob on course.

I'll let someone else yap about lunch if they want, coz it happened more than 6 hours ago so I've forgotten.

Dinner at Similan's was a night to remember, though nothing sank and no one declared himself king o' the world. An overflow crowd took over the back of Similan's, occupying two long tables with 14 and a half people at each one. The organizers took care of ordering, and they did a bang-up job as there was plenty of food and all of it was terrific.

I was at Table 1, and we were the Best Table. A fight broke out when the librarians at Table B told us to shut up coz we were making too much noise. The Table 1-ers all threw food at the Table B stuff-pots, and that seemed to stop their kvetching. The highlight of the night was Andy's birthday celebration, complete with uber-amped reggae "Happy Birthday" sung in Thai, followed by The Great Cherry Stem Trick, and SpoonNose.

The Great Cherry Stem Trick

We'd had a taste of this before, but tonight the pressure was on Jeane, Yankeephile Craig's toothdriller spouse, to tie a proper knot with the stem without ever moving her lips while pronouncing a 'b' or a 'p.' The entire restaurant was hushed, except of course for Jeane who was somehow laughing and crying at the same time. In a Houdini-like performance, Madame Stemwinder finally spit out some sort of mangled red thing from her mouth, claiming it to be a knotted stem. The crowd went wild at the feat (which no one was about to verify), and Andy and Jeane swapped trade secrets as to the best tooth-tongue techniques for world-class knottery.

This was immediately followed by....

SpoonNose

If the Cherry Stem Trick weren't breathtaking enough, what can one say about The Night of the Spoons. Jeane, fully energized by her success with the cherry stem, grabbed a spoon and suspended it from her nose. After a failure or two (including a 5-yard penalty for illegally tilting the head back), the the spoon held fast, and Glory was attained. Like some sort of bizarre gender-based virus, Les Girls of Table 1 all started hanging spoons from their noses. Words cannot describe the scene, as it was some combination of hilarity, horror, other-worldliness, and anticipation of spoons falling into décolletage.

Before any of this went on, I wound up talking to some guy that shellyk schlepped in -- she said his name was 'Jim' and claimed that he was her husband, but who knows at these events? Turns out that 'Jim' and I traveled in some similar circles 55 years ago, with common acquaintances of Eddie C the piano player and of course Bertha Bloom. Jessica was listening in to some of this, and she was pleased to learn that Cleveland Circle was, in fact, a circle.

Everyone was looking ultra-fine. Special mention to jaya wearing a drop-dead-gorgeous outfit from India. Without doubt, we had the best looking table in all of Cambridge (no intention of damning with faint praise here).

We eventually closed the place, with lots of see-you-next-years. A grand, grand night.

[A digression: Some regular posters have been reluctant to say much lately on this board. Without trying to speak for any of them, I get the impression that some have lost their enthusiasm for the board due to certain management decisions. I respect those choices and hope that those people will at some point find conditions more conducive to their participation.]

Good morning! I might be the first one up this morning, at almost 8:45! It was a rather late night (again) and I'm not moving very fast. I'd bet some others are also yawning and scratching their heads and various other body parts this morning, wondering what they did last night!

Dinner was fantastic, as was lunch, and the entire afternoon with fodors friends. So many friendly fodorites (Bob can give numbers/names, but at least 30 at both lunch and dinner)... such interesting conversation about travel, of course, but also other fodorites (were your ears burning?)... such exciting contests at dinner. I'll let Jeane and birthday boy Andy explain the cherries and spoons. I'll say no more. (It was really funny though)

I hope everyones' travels are safe and pleasant. I look forward to coming back to the BOS GTG next year! And now the official GTG reporting can begin!

Time for packing and breakfast.

Carol

Thank you Rizzuto and Carol!

I was reduced to dolefully staring at various artifacts from last year's GTG (specifically my panda refrigerator magnet) while wailing and crying over Michigan's loss to State yesterday. The shame of this win (three wins for the Spartans in a row against Michigan) hasn't been felt for 40+ years when I was too young to understand or care about college sports.

BTW, just to roust up a bit more interest in reporting on the festivities, I'll have you folks know there was ANOTHER Fodors GTG yesterday, held in the Washington DC area. Read about it and weep, if you will:
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodorite-lounge/dc-gtg-update.cfm

So...I'm still waiting, with waning patience, for photo evidence of "the best ever" GTG. (Thanks for twisting the knife, Riz, I hope my back tissue was sufficiently soft to get the dagger in at a good angle...)

BC

Rizzuto gave a great play-by-play and Carol's comments were spot-on so I'll just say that I agree that this one might have been the best one yet. Sorry you missed it bookchick. Your absence was often noted and lamented.

Thanks again go to Don for opening up his house on Friday night to this bunch and as always a big thanks to the organizers Andy and Bob and Beth and Karen. And birthday wishes to Andy and Mimi.

See everyone next year!

A big heartfelt "THANK YOU" to Bob and Andy, and all others involved in the planning and perfect execution of this weekend's wonderful Boston GTG events. It was great fun to meet so many Fodorites. Screen-names suddenly were real people!

Even my non-Fodorite, "what do you mean we're having dinner with people you met on a website" DH came ALL THE WAY to Cambridge last night to Similan's (mind you it's only a 45 minute drive from the fields and forests of Cow Hampshire to Metro Boston). But he came, he saw, AND he had a great time - which of course we both did.

***There was a lot of camera activity. Looking forward to the pictures.***

Enjoy the rest of this lovely, long weekend and see you at next year's GTG. Jaya

Last night was fun, somewhat wild and sometimes very loud. I couldn't help feeling sorry for the non GTG couples who came to Similans who expected to have a quiet meal. They did not. Perhaps though they were compensated by the feee entertainment provided by Jeanne and others. It was fun seeing everyone, both old friends and people we had not met before. My DH had a wonderful time reminscing with Rizzuto as well as showing off his "Hang Loose" T shirt (under more formal clothes, of course ) to Hawaiian Traveller. Thanks so much to Bob, Karen, Andy and Beth for organizing a wonderful evening. And thanks to Similan's for providing such excellent food. Now where are the photos.

So this is where you folks are all talking about the party. Had to travel all the way to Asia to find the conversation.

It was lots of fun talking to friends new and old and older. Learned what people do at bars who don't drink. If you don't know, ask Andy. (Apparently it includes, but is not limited to, tying cherry stems in knots with your tongue and balancing hot spoons on various body parts.)

Bookchick was missed and toasted.

Talked for twelve hours or so. Heard some interesting life stories, some but not all of them told by the person whose life was in question.

I understand that some people are on long journeys home today. If I ever get the urge to go from Boston to Hawaii for the weekend, I will know that it has been done in the opposite direction.

And now I know there isn't much traffic between Cambridge and Cape Cod at midnight.

I'm just saying.

It was a fabulous day and night!
I want to thank the Asian board for bringing all those treats.
I have several(thanks to friends who gave me theirs)gold scroll pouches that I think Simpson brought? I'm using them to store my matched undiesTo Lucy for the coffee, the personally created calendar by Mr And Mrs HT. I don't know who brought the bucket candles with the tin crap, but thank you(speak up)
Likewise for the delicious chocolates
A huge thank you to andy and Beth, Bob and Karen
and thanks for my birthday present, an amusing paddle that I got to spank Bob with.

I only made it to Similans so the party was in full swing by then. The company and the food were both excellent and I met a few people that seemed very familiar..

Thanks to Bob & Karen and Andy & Beth for organising 'the event' which defies description but was comprised of a gtg/birthday party/knock out Thai banquet plus hilarious spoon & cherry tricks mixed with deja vu conversations and more!

All in all, it was a great GTG. The food at lunch was solid and dinner was even better. Jeane is the stem champ as well as the spoon champ. Bob was well-behaved and did not bother us at table 1.

Jeane and I thought this was the best GTG ever. As displayed by the stem and spoon tricks, Jeane really enjoyed herself. What really made this event special though was the repeat appearances of Lucy (from Hawaii), Carol (from Illinois) and Laurie/Eric (from New York), the debut of Peter/Linda (from Hawaii) and Joan/John (from the UK) plus newbie nanabee, and of course, all of the local "regulars". I was especially impressed with the Saturday night attendance - 29 of us at Similans and no problems with the tab at either lunch or dinner thanks to Andy's accounting skills (who would have known) and the honesty of the attendees.

Looking forward all ready to next year.

We head for Newark airport on Tuesday for our departure to Kauai on Wednesday - will post a trip report on the US board when we return...

Mimi, I'm glad you have a good use for those bags

Bob and Karen are busy, or I think they would tell you that they brought the buckets you mentioned... um, and the craB things.. lol

Enjoying the fall colors and shopping outlets now until I return to Illinois on Wednesday.

Lucy, have a fabulous trip to Bangkok/Cambodia! I hope you get a last-minute suprise upgrade... all the way there! Craig and Jeane, have a great time in Hawaii (Kauai) and happy anniversary!

Laurie, take care, be well.

Nanabee, sorry I did not get to say goodnight on Saturday, or farewell and bon voyage this morning! I hope your trip home was smooth and uneventful. Hope to see you at another GTG sometime in the future.

And to those who missed the BOS GTG, try to make it here next year! You'll have a fabulous time.

Carol

quick note (BB phones are horrible for typing reports)...
GREAT Gtg!!! Thanks to Bob & Karen, Beth & Andy for organizing and to ALL the participants who shared their tips, tales, and joie de vivre. I feel so fortunate to know you all.

Really, really fun times. I'll savor the memories while on my 27 hour journey to Bangkok tomorrow.

Fine! Fine! Just go on and have fun without me, I don't care! Fine!

(Thank you for toasting me, though.)

Ahem...and Mr. Kimball, WHERE, prey tell, are the photos??? I'm thinking penalty will attach here. And I don't care that you have guests from out of town, having two last year didn't stop you from posting photos in a timely manner. I, uh, know that for a fact.

On a more serious note, I'm so sorry to have missed Carol, Riz, Laurieco and Eric, Jackie, Nikki, Gomiki, AGM_Cape Cod, Jessica, Lcuy (my partner in crime from last year), and so very many others I look forward to seeing every year. Pooh. Some of you I will see in the coming week. Thank God, I'm jonesing in the worst way.

BC, in a self-pitying, but existential mood

Hi Carol - it was so great meeting you. I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye to you Sun morning. I managed to make it to the airport and only missed a couple of turnoffs! But managed to still get to the airport with time to spare.

we are still entertaining some attendees... we are in newport for two days with our english friends.... peter and linda joined us for dinner tonight at scales on thames st.....wait was over an hour so we went to a local bar across the street for the hour.... delicious dinner...

they have just left our room and headed back to the hyatt....

we had a ton of fun this weekend and thank everyone for attending... more later, when i will set the record straight...

pics before the end of the week.... peter has tons also

Let me add our thanks with the chorus to Karen, Beth, Bob and Andy for organising such a wonderful event. Linda and I had a fantastic time meeting with old and new friends in our first Boston GTG. Hope to make it back here soon to see more of this beautiful part of our country.

Still sightseeing today in the NE area but will post our pictures when we return home later this week.

Aloha!

I don't think it is a crap, I don't think it is a crab, I do think it might be a carp.

Nikki... lol, rotflmao... whatever it is is packed away in my suitcase so I can't retrieve it. I was just sure it wasn't 'crap'... haha

Peter, Linda, you early risers... couldn't wait to have b'fast with the big group on Sunday morning. But I'm glad you are having fun in NE. I hope you will plan to come to this GTG again sometime.

BC... next year!

Nanabee, don't work too hard.

Carol

I have to chime in and say that this year's GTG was so much fun. It was great to see old friends as well as making new ones! I loved hearing the various stories people told during dinner on Friday night. It was much fun.

BC & IndyTravels - you both were missed.

Thank you to rhkkmk, simpsconc510, Lcuy, and others for the wonderful goodies.

Nikki - I think you're right - it was a carp ornament in the candle.

Rhkkmk and Gpanda (and Mrs. Gpanda): thank you for organizing such a fun event.

Happy and safe travels to all who are departing soon for lands beyond your home.

TR

it was CRAP not carp or any other fish... we loved the bright pink color... also it weighs about 2 pounds so great for the luggage...

TravelRibbon, thanks, pal, I missed your smiling face, too!

Rhkkmk, penalties have now attached and I plan to collect before this week ends. The Washington DC GTG folks have posted their photos:
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodorite-lounge/fodor-gtg-dc-2010-photos.cfm

BC

Ahoy, one of the sailors who attended Saturday's lunch showed up on a Billerica doorstep today. Odd.

4am?

Did the sailor have a globe in his hands?

How about a pre and another post GTG posting for those of us who missed it, bur obviously weren't missed

I'm just home from the weekend in Boston (and stop at the house in Albany). As always, Eric and I had a great time. Thanks to Bob, Andy, Karen and Beth once again for a fabulous time. It was great seeing everyone--and super great that Peter and Linda, Joyce (Jaya) and Avalee--hope I spelled that correctly-- (nanabee) came to the festivities. It was also so nice to meet Joan and John, who came all the way from London thinking they were going to spend a nice quiet time with Karen and Bob and got us instead!

I wish we could have made it to Don's house on Friday night for the cocktail hour(s) but that damn Mass. Pike and I-95 traffic killed our plans. At least we made it to Fri. night dinner at Papa Razzi. Even the return of my migraine symptoms couldn't stop me from having a good time (still having them Carol but I've got an appointment with my doc at Mt. Sinai Thursday). I was very proud to win the first ever Boston GTG Globe Award and will treasure it forever! Never mind that I will have to explain to all who see it why it looks so cheesy, I love it and will give it a place of honor in my home.

Lucy, by the time you read this, you will be on the ground in SE Asia. I hope you had a restful and uneventful flight. Have a wonderful time and bring back stories for the next GTG.

Craig and Jean--happy happy anniversary and have a blast in Hawaii We expect stories from you as well (hopefully they will include tales of spoons and cherry stems).

Stacy, it was great to see you and if you decide to make a side trip to Rome, you know where to find me.

Mimi, leggings, jeggings, YOU GO GIRL!!

Bookie, we missed you. You had better be there next year!

Looking forward to next year. Bob, got those dates yet?

Celeste: Aye.

NYwoman, you were missed!!! Yes, you were discussed, as was BC. Did your ears burn? We knew that you were otherwise obligated, so you could not make the trip to BOS. NEXT YEAR!

Laurie, that 'globe award' is very similar to an Academy Award, and it should be standing in a place of honor!

Bob... it WAS crap???? still laughing about that one! I will laugh everytime I look at it, in fact.

And regarding the date for next year, I still like Columbus Day weekend! I am 99% sure it is 'free' pretty much every year.

NH was pretty today, but not spectacular (colorwise)... the outlet shopping, on the other hand, was stupendous. Laurie, you'd LOVE the Coach shop in Tilton. 50% off, plus another 25% off for a donation to breast cancer ($1), and NO sales tax! Needless to say, I'm trying to make room in my (2nd) suitcase for all of my purchases now!

Lucy, looking forward to your comments (especially about the Adelphi Suites in BKK, Sukhumvit soi 8... my home away from home, when in Bangkok).

Don, I'm probably going to do the scenic drive that you suggested, tomorrow. Will also include Newburyport. Looks like another sunny day here in New England.

Carol

My ears are always burning. I just assume it's a kind of "preview of coming attractions" for my destination in the after-life.

BC

The camaradarie was wonderful. Everyone had a great story or two to tell. The good will was palpable. To use a 1960's phrase, "everybody had a buzz on." Somehow each year, there's a comfortable mix of renewing acquaintances and starting new ones. The newbies fit in smoothly. It appears that "shy Fodorite" is an oxymoron.

I want to add my thanks to Bob, Karen, Andy, and Beth for organizing these great events. Thanks also to Lucy for the Hawaiian coffee and to Mr. and Mrs. HT for the lovely calendars. Also to others for the grab bags--great stuff! Fodor's sent new orange bags and a selection of guide books that were raffled off.

The show and tell section at lunch where everyone described a favorite souvenir from travel added to our conversation topics. Prizes were awarded for "most" categories--continents visited, countries visited in 24 hours, number of legs on a trip etc. These were brilliant ideas and got everyone talking, mixing, and laughing.

It was an impressive gathering of Fodorites from near and far (thanks all for traveling here) and a nicer, smarter, group of people would be hard to find. I too am looking forward to next year.

<<...a nicer, smarter, group of people would be hard to find>>


This is actually a typical experience. Whenever I fail to show up, the IQ in the room soars exponentially.

BC

everybody had a buzz on

If only...

Rizz, if you didn't have enough to drink, whose fault is it??
Sounds to me as though you didn't live up to Billerican standards.


BC

IMO - Columbus Day weekend makes good sense - allows for the needed recovery time. I was just thinking that I must go to the dinner (or the whole weekend) next year. I checked our calendar and guess what.... we'll be in Valros, France....I'm blocking 2012 now!

BC,

<<...a nicer, smarter, group of people would be hard to find>>

If you had been there, I would have added "wonderful." Don't tell anyone though.

LOL! Celeste, you are a sweetheart! (LOL again!)


BC

lest fodors gets upset, we did not raffle off their wares, but rather awarded them based on a match up of numbers drawn randomly and the number on one's name tag....

but its a good idea for future GTG's.... sell the items we are given by fodors???????

I will give you input on that when I see you Friday Bob. You may choose to keep my remarks private.

BC

Hey BC:

Want to meet up while you're in Boston this weekend?

TR

Hi TR!
I'm leaving tomorrow morning and flying back on Saturday afternoon. I've got dinner plans for Thursday and Friday nights, but if you've got some free time during the day, drop me a line at thebookchick @ hotmail.com (without the spacing, of course!)

BC

Sorry I missed it. I just returned from Florence/Tuscany yesterday where the weather is great and the Euro is rising (ouch).

Sounds like the usually wonderful time was had by all. See you next October!

I just started unpacking from my BOS trip. My candle bucket DOES have a CRAB in it! lol

Thanks, everyone, for such a great time. HT are you home yet? I want to see the pictures!

finally here are my pics....


share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BauXDJw2aqQxw

Pretty good pix. Looks like some of the people were enjoying themselves. Just 2 comments:

- #47 seems to be mislabeled -- it says "Laurie and her trophy," but I don't see Eric in the photo.

- What is the mysterious circle covering the British guy's mouth in #64?

it just appeared on the pic....did you spit??

Bob
Thanks for the nice pics. Why do you always 'snap' when I'm making a face or have my mouth open! lol

and finally mine also. Did not have time to do a decent edit as was trying to play catch up at work. Thanks again to you all for everything!!!!

http://tinyurl.com/3azdm43

Aloha!

More good pics! Thanks, HT. How was the rest of your trip after the GTG? Glad you are home safe and sound. Did you get any upgrades going home?

Don, you're right, Eric has been to all 6 continents with me so he should have been in the pic. But, on the other hand, if it wasn't for me, Eric would not have been to any of these places. He never even flew until he met me! I schlepped him all over the world so I deserve all the glory

On a more somber note, my arms look seriously fat in all the photos! I either need a diet or long sleeves!

fantastic pics peter.....thanks again for visiting with all of us.... hope you will come back another time real soon

Great photos HT and Bob!
rhkkmk, My husband has a tendency to scowl in photos so I'd appreciate directions on how to hide his face behind a white circle!

Yikes! Photographic evidence!!

Great pictures. Thanks Peter and Bob. A fine looking bunch, one and all.

Carol, no first class upgrades to be had Hawaii bound for lowly premier's
Good new is that I may make Premier Exec this year finally....
We had a beautiful day in Newport RI and dinner with Bob and Co., just excellent. Then we were off to south NH for another day of sightseeing. Next time we will schedule a few more days to really enjoy the Boston area. So lovely this time of year. You must try the Hyatt Harbor side. Fantastic views of the city and waterfront with a great outdoor venue to do the same in mild weather complete with miniature fireplaces at each individual table. We took the water taxi over to Fanueil(sp) Hall and had dinner in the Italian town at a restaurant who's name escapes me now but was fabulous and $$$. I'll send you pics when I get them up on my site of that and some of the beautiful autumn colors we saw.

Thinking already of Korea and Japan next month....

rizz, forgot to thank you for the fantastic time at your place, hospitality extraordinaire! What else would one expect from a Alfred E Neuman and Gahan Wilson fan,lol!

Aloha!

the placement of the hyatt is really nice.....glad you discovered the shuttle...

Thanks Bob and HT for posting the photos. Agree with Sharona--a fine looking bunch.

The Hyatt Harborside has a great view. I walked around there this summer when waiting in the cell phone lot to pick someone up. And the water shuttle couldn't be more convenient. Glad you enjoyed it and the rest of New England.

I had the honour of viewing the photos directly in the Kimballs' home, from Karen's laptop. I'm sorry I missed all the fun. Excellent pics. And obviously everyone had an outstanding time. Again, I must proffer the explanation that my absence enabled people to fully enjoy themselves.

BC

I love the photos! Thanks Bob and Peter for posting the links. I sat at my desk and chuckled out loud (fortunately, not a lot of people in quite yet) at some of them.

TR