Boston Post #2

[da]

So far our trip has been a super reminder for me of why Boston's a great city to visit & see friends, but I'm glad to not live here.

Friday, we saw Carolyn, Jesse, and their 8-month-old son, spent a while catching up on the three years since we last saw them (at their wedding, services by The Hav, the egalitarian reformed-Jewish center in Somerville... which incidentally was brought up by lovecraftienne at her party last week, in context of a friend of hers (Cait- can you remind me who please?). And the small-world connections continue; Carolyn is in pekmez's new-mother group, too.)

We went for fried pickles and good beer at Boston Beerworks, which is a place I've meant to go to since when I lived here and hung out with the Boston Perl Mongers, who apparently go there somewhat frequently. Anyhow: their spiced pumpkinhead beer is super.

Then dan caught up with us as we came back to our hotel, where we hung out for another hour and a bit. Photos (largely of their 8-mo-old, who's cute, and mobile) are forthcoming. I'd post 'em now but I forgot my camera cable.

Dinner Friday was with dan at Eastern Standard, the restaurant as part of our hotel. I had a really yummy salad niçoise with nearly-raw tuna, and d. had roast chicken. Overate, which is what one does when one is on vacation, is it not? Then, we crashed, early.

Today: lunch with dpolicar and earthling177, also at... Boston Beer Works, no beer this time around. As previously mentioned, we spent the afternoon gabbing and driving and walking and laying around getting our faces licked by their very friendly german shepard.

Then, d. and I took the T down to inspect what used to be the Green Monster, which is no less trafficky at street level, but at least the cityscape isn't dominated by ugly overpasses. We walked in North End and picked up pastries, a sort of tradition for us, then took the green line back to the hotel.

By this point, I suppose I was sort of tired and cranky, but the T experience was... not super. There was the belligerent drunk woman on the train, those terribly squeaky corners I had blocked out of my memory (should've brought my ear plugs) and it was pokey. Which isn't to say driving in Boston's much easier. So, yeah. I'm not maudlin about not having to navigate Boston any more. The reverse is true- I still occasionally expect it to take 30-40 minutes to get anywhere at home, even though in truth it takes half that or less. Boston's certainly a great place to visit, though.

D. took me to Brasserie Jo's for dinner, which was tasty but not as fun a dinner as last night's. I got chicken, gnocchi and a yummy mushroom sauce; d. had confit. We walked back through the edge of the Fens, stopping by a Whole Foods where I was shocked at the $5/lb. heirloom tomatoes and amused that their definition of local produce included all of New England.

Now, a relaxing bit in our hotel room. Tomorrow's plan is: Quaker Meeting in Cambridge, seeing whoever we see there; and seeing Malia & Amy afterward. Not sure what we're doing for dinner, then catching a 9pm flight back.

I miss roverthedog. :)

And even though I'm not in love with the city though it does have its high points, I wish we could stay another day to fit in more people to see. :/

Comments

[sulle-stelle.livejournal.com]

I like them already, whoever they are! :-)

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

...fine. be that way. :)

You'd like Dave & Paulo, I think.