Christmas in Boston
Hi Mike,
Hope your Christmas was as nice as the rakkity family’s. Between gifting and talking we did a lot of rambling around town. We had dinner at Artu’s in Little Italy. The North End seems to have been mightily revitalized by the Big Dig and the resulting absence of the old network of highways, so now you can easily walk to it from Government Center. Kathy gave us a tour of Beacon Hill and China Town. We also strolled through Cambridge, toured the Coop, lamented the loss of Bailey’s and their scrumptiously sinful sundaes, then passed by John Harvard’s shiny left foot, and trundled in one side of Memorial Hall and out the other side, stopping to look at the stained glass.
Then the big highlights of Cambridge–We had lunch at the Three Aces, which is still alive and cooking great grinders. But most amazing of all, one of the cooks is still there from the ’70’s! He asked me if I had survived the blizzard of ’78, and I said it was one of my best times in Cambridge. After memorable grinders, we hiked over to Somerville and looked at the old homestead, 318 Beacon St, which is much the worse for wear, paint peeling off from every square inch, with a beat up old bike thrown down by the front porch.  And there’s a car semi-abandoned in the back yard with snow drifts blocking it in, much like the old days. I would think if you’re in the market for a Somerville home, the building would be one of the more affordable houses, but you’d have to want a real fix-me-up.
–rakkity
Forgot to mention Old Ironsides. I’ve seen that ship from a great distance many times, and am glad we all finally got over there to go aboard. The weather was cold and blustery, but at least we didn’t have to stand around all day in the chilly drizzle like the Navy guide who showed us around the ship. Sometime I’d like to see it with its sails up, with the masts bent to the wind.
Comment by rakkity — December 31, 2007 @ 1:55 am
A fine collection of holiday and memory lane photographs. I don’t remember 3 Aces…did you ever bring us dinner from that upper crust restaurant? Peter also visited the old neighborhood and snapped the other side (I’d a liked a rear view too) of 318. Lots of memories stored behind all that peeling paint. The owner (We paid Sillari Plumbing as I recall) should have vinyled it back when they did the one next door where Andy and Sue lived. Do you remember threatening not to pay rent until they buttoned up the place?
Comment by michael — December 31, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
Wait, Michael — you’re pushing vinyl siding?
And, I’m finally getting this. You (and/or Peter?) lived on another floor of 318; that’s how you know rakkity?
Comment by jennifer — December 31, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
No. Mike & Diane lived there at 318 and had a spare room due to the departure of someone (I forget who, maybe Peter?). They advertised for a housemate. I saw their ad, responded, and it was all downhill from there!
Comment by rakkity — December 31, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
I hate wood.
Not downhill but uphill.
We’ve lost track of all our roommates but here are the ones I remember: Shirley Smith (technically, I was Diane and Shirley’s roommate because I moved into Ginger’s room as she’d just moved in with my brother), Jim McMahon, Patti Allen, Diana Hays, Carol Wolfson, Jayne Dearth, Kathy Riddal and Ed Schmahl. In Littleton, where we moved in 1978: John McAvoy, John Lewis, and for a short time, smiling Dan. In Acton, John Lewis and smiling Dan.
Rak can pinpoint the year he lived with us because he was nearly killed in front of the house when someone slammed into his Datsun (?) pickup truck.
Comment by michael — December 31, 2007 @ 5:58 pm
Nearly killed? Not close enough to add to my list of near-death experiences. But the car was killed. And Beth had to pick me up for our first date!
Comment by rakkity — December 31, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I meant downhill as in skiing downhill in soft white grok hill powder.
Comment by rakkity — December 31, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
These pictures are gorgeous. The home you were staying in is too. Makes me realize I underutilize Boston during the holidays. I particularly liked the one of Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack in their holiday finery. I’m glad you had a good visit down memory lane.
Comment by Chris — January 2, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
At the risk of sounding like Jennifer, what the hell are you talking about?
Comment by michael — January 2, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
The ducklings from Make Way for Ducklings. Silly Michael.
Comment by La Rad — January 2, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Michael is hereby banned from Boston until he reads MWfD!
Comment by rakkity — January 2, 2008 @ 8:02 pm
Thanks for showing us our own city, Rak, and great seeing you Beth and KT at Mike’s!
Matt, in the Spring you and Joe and co. can make a call on old 318 and offer to paint!
Comment by smiling — January 5, 2008 @ 11:42 am