The Romeo gang met for lunch today at the Pier 4 Restaurant in Boston, MA. You can see restaurant info and menu at the web site ….. http://www.pier4.com/ . It was “Tall Ships” week in Boston and foreign and local sailing ships have come to Boston Harbor to celebrate sailing history. You can see the sailing info at the link …. http://www.sailboston.com/ .Although the lunch was scheduled for 12 noon, I arrived early and walked around the waterfront to see some of the ships up close. Public tours on board most of the boats start on Thursday so I only got a good outside look from the dock, but they were spectacular. The harbor was just alive with activity. Large and small craft were traveling in every direction around the harbor. As I stood on the dock I could hear the speaker from a passing tour boat describing the various sailing ships.
Shortly before noon I headed back to the restaurant and met some of the Romeos as we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. When all hands were on deck we strolled into the restaurant and were seated at a long table in the middle of the dining hall. We were early and the place was pretty empty at this time. The Romeos in attendance were John Tweedie, Joe Balsama, Steve Winter, Jim Terlizzi, Brother Tim Paul, Ed Deshuytner, Mark Ryan, Joe Pignatiello, Joe Loduca, Joe Lapiana and John Regan (a friend of Joe Lapiana). You can see some photos and video of the ships and the dinner at the link below ……. http://picasaweb.google.com/markryan312/Romeo7809
The waiter took drink orders which were a combination of beers, martinis and sodas. He then took are meal orders and returned shortly with bread and butter, Pop Overs, salads, and bowls of chowder. The meals then arrived which ranged from fisherman’s platter, to lobster roll, fried clams, and shrimp scampi. Latter we had coffee and espresso and shared some desserts (Baked Alaska, Blueberry Pie and Bread Pudding). Everything was just delicious but also high priced since this is a primo restaurant attraction.
During and after dinner the conversation bounced around the table. I talked about spending some vacation time in NH with my grandkids (camping, swimming and fishing). Joe P. talked about visiting the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art). He said he would like to take a bike tour around Boston, touring all the Graffiti Paintings done by the famous street artist Shepard Fairey. You can see a related article in the Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/07/street_artist_arrested_on_way_to_event_at_ica/ .
Joe Loduca talked about watching TV this week and finding every station covering the Michael Jackson story. Joe B. said he has a trick to cure that, by watching old “School Committee” TV video tapes. ?????? We all laughed. To each his own.
Brother Tim talked about flying and using a type of circular slide rule called an E6B to make all sorts of aviation calculations. It’s nice that we “Old Educators” still know what a slide rule is. Ed D. said his grandkids saw a slide ruler and wanted to know where you put in the batteries.
John Regan said he was retired from the State Police but we didn’t hold that against him. He said he use to live in Melrose and now lives in Winthrop near the Winthrop Arms. We all then said that that would be a great place to take Mary Corcoran to dinner later this summer of fall.
John T. talked with Joe Lapiana about the JP license and said he was interested in getting one also from Winchester where he lives. Ed D. said his son and wife were looking to buy a condo in Boston area since they love the city life. Joe P’s. son is a general contractor and just sold a property in Somerville which would have been ideal.
Brother Tim talked about retirement and said priest in his order only get a pension of about $17,000 a year. That is quiet small compared to other retirement vocations. Joe Loduca said that a paralegal with two years college can make $80,000 at Millenium Pharmaceuticals. Maybe that’s why drugs are so expensive. And most people complain about teacher salaries ???????
Joe Lapiana and I both shared some info about the Downeaster Train to Portland with Joe P. The Romeos may take trip in the fall on the train. The train takes about 2 1/2 hours to go from North Station to Portland, Maine and cost about $40 round trip.
The time went by quickly and it was 2 o’clock when we broke up. We decided to leave for home early before the rush hour traffic. Ed D. said there were several rain storms on Rte 93 on his way to the restaurant and big accident at Commerce Way so be careful going home. I left the parking lot and went through the tunnel on to Rte 93 and the traffic was very light with no rain. It must be a miracle.
Jim Terlizzi will send an email with more particulars, but the next lunch will probably be in Gloucester on August 12th.
Comments are always welcome. Send email to markryan8@comcast.net.
