Normally my domestic trips I don’t do weekends, as to not annoy my business partner in the wine shop. Made an exception to see Pucci. His schedule is freer on the weekends as he teaches most afternoon/evenings during the week.
Got the rare upgrade to first on the Seattle-Boston run – rare because Seattle is the major Alaska hub with LOTS of 75K fliers who spend way more for their ticket than I ever do. A rare upgrade, but a lovely one:
I love going to visit Pucci – he LOVES to cook (and I brought wine).
We had a lovely Garzon Albarino from Uruguay to go with the chicken.
The next afternoon found us at MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) for a Dutch Masters exhibit that ends in a couple of days:
And a couple of Gaugin’s in another wing – including one from his Japanese phase (just at Van Gogh had):
Not bad – as was the blue cheese burger with tater tots:
And Fernando got the chicken pot pie which looked great as well.
Total forgotten what Fernado’s husband, Steve had – he was a bit camera-shy.
Suddenly, this post is all about food, because for Tuesday’s lunch, we (Pucci and I) met up with Jill at the Red House for Manhattans and oysters:
The first dozen was $6, the second (and beyond), $12. Still an expensive lunch considering we each had two dozen (and a couple of cocktails for me), and I was still hungry in an hour or so – which meant I hit up Pucci’s Noodles from lunch the other day:
Here is the recipe:
Delicious hot, or just from the fridge.
The Tuesday night adventure was for a recital at the Winchester Community Music School with one of Pucci’s groups – the Mo-Town group. This was during the sound check:
It was great to see him play – though piano isn’t his best instrument – that would be the Bass. Would love to see him in a “gig” environment (a.k.a. bar).
My final day in Boston I was greeted with snow:
But Pucci had a student move his lesson so he gave me a ride to the “T”:
And after one transfer, I was in the Admirals Club lounge having a little lunch:
That was just the starter – fresh house-made guacamole – several rounds of soup followed. And then it was on to the plane, sadly, in back, but at least I was in the free booze section:
And soon, I was home…for twelve hours before the next adventure.
They ask, I visit – when I can. This trip started with a random text three or four weeks ago. The questions was: “When are you coming back through?” My answer was, probably winter, but let me look at fares. And the fare was $237 round-trip Seattle to Boston. Off to the Lounge go I:
And it nicely started with an upgrade!
At least it’s an aisle near the front for the long red-eye flight.
And I learned something new on the Alaska First Class Menu:
The unit of measure called an IBU which stands for International Bitterness Unit (though it also is a medical abbreviation for Ibuprofen). People who like really hoppy IPA (India Pale Ale) want a higher score. Check out the Wikipedia article HERE.
It’s a redeye, so the food is going to be minimal, but it starts with a little berry smoothie….
And then usually, it’s veggies and hummus….but this was a small hot sandwich thing, which I was grateful for:
The problem with red eye flights is that they are red eye flights – my arrival in Boston was around 6am, and with checked luggage I couldn’t even go sleep it off in the lounge one terminal over, so it was:
Baggage claim
Silver Line to South Station (Free)
Red Line to Alewife (Free)
Uber to Pucci’s place ($15)
As also is my way when getting into Boston (actually Belmont) is to head straight to bed for a nap – which is what I did in my lovely guest bedroom:
After my nap, we were out the door to Total Wine & Beverage (which isn’t close, but it’s cheap), and then back to the house for a lovely Pucci lunch. Plans to get together with Jill were thwarted by UPS deliveries at her place. Sadly, I didn’t get a pic, so you’ll have to take it from me, it was a stunning lunch.
When I visit midweek, I basically get to see Pucci around his teaching/performing schedule, so it’s catch as catch can. Left me time to wander up the street to The Spirited Gourmet to grab a sandwich for dinner – and to check out the wine selection and look for a favorite Gin of Pucci’s.
I got back just in time to miss the rain storm dumping!
While Pucci was off teaching – I ACTUALLY tuned to TV to watch the first game of the World Series:
Much cocktails and conversation at the end of the game when he returned from teaching and watched them win. Almost felt like I was with Dad watching football!
The following day’s lunch was at The Red House in Cambridge where during the day they feature ½ price oysters for the first dozen – I decided to tag mine with a couple of Maine Crab Cake sliders (and a Manhattan!)
I should have had our server get a picture of all four of us – Jill, Norma (Jill’s mother and wonderful woman), Pucci and I. Seems like I’m missing a lot of “photo ops” on this trip.
Pucci had the entire day off – he rearranged his schedule to move students to Friday and Saturday. THANKS!
This is actually the back of the building – had to borrow a shot of the front from their site:
Pucci had never been, and I hadn’t either – and they gave up a grizzled mobility challenged docent who was a font of knowledge about not only the equipment in the museum, but the whole Boston area water system. I was glad Pucci was there with his knowledge of some of the public reservoirs. Amazing old pumping equipment in the building, that was only shut down in 1974.
Serious “Steam Pump” at this place.
Jill was back at the house for dinner (after Pucci and I had afternoon naps!), and what a dinner it was, Beef Tenderloin, green beans, sautéed mushrooms, mashed potatoes – what a meal!
And I can’t forget the special guest, Jill’s dog, Murphy (aka, Murphy, The Wonder Dog):
It was a wonderful quick trip.
The return trip was as cruel, timing-wise, and the incoming – a 7am flight (basically getting on the same plane that brought me here). I was out of the house, in an Uber (under $30) to the airport at 5am.
Another week, another flight, another breakfast in the Alaska Lounge…
This picture is for my sister…while that plane is at my gate, it’s the departure before mine:
Got the upgrade to first days ago, so that means lots of pictures of the new Alaska First Class menu that they are rolling out, starting with the hot sweaty nuts:
Continuing with the salad (that would be Murder on the Orient Express in the background):
Onto the Cod in Miso:
Followed by what may be the best gelato I’ve had in years!
My flight arrived a little early, grabbed my luggage, struggled with surge pricing on Uber before abandoning Uber to grab the last train to Alewife – free as opposed to $50-60 door to door. I have time, I’ve been drinking and on holiday. Who cares if I don’t get to Pucci’s until 2am – he left the door open, and he sleeps soundly. Grabbed an Uber from Alewife that was $10. Much more reasonable!
When I visit Pucci, we have a system. He gets up in the morning and goes to the gym, I sleep in until eleven or so, then get up for my breakfast/his lunch:
Crab and arugula omelets. Yum. Pucci has students today, though not as many as usual since half are on break, so after a liquor store run, Jill picks me up and we are off to check out Pucci’s favorite local wine store, The Spirited Gourmet:
Well over twice the size of my shop, it includes a deli counter for sandwiches, sliced cheeses and meats, imported food goods. We probably have the same size wine collection.
Next up is the Red House, which is turning into a ritual. They have 2 for $1 oysters from 12-5pm. Yep, that’s $6 a dozen, so Jill and I both got a dozen:
And then we added the mussels and frites ($9) before we headed out.
Pucci taught until 7PM (usually 9PM), so we had a nice rack of lamb off the grill for our dinner:
The following day, it was Pucci’s Homemade Chili, with a lovely Garzon Pinot Noir Rosé (also from Uruguay):
Before we headed to the Red House for cocktails (me) and oysters for dessert. Yes, oysters almost immediately after chili.
The last supper, sadly, I was having too much fun and forgot photos…here’s the appetizer spread:
With this amazing Greek Caviar Spread:
No pictures of the guests (Pucci, Jill, Netta, Joel, Susan), but I did get one of Murphy the Wonder Dog patiently waiting for something to hit the floor.
I was up at 6am the next morning so Pucci could run me to Alewife before his run to the gym.
An hour+ later I was at the airport, settled into the Admirals Club, one terminal over from mine:
And soon I was on the plane home – I’d gotten a 1am notice that I’d been upgraded…NICE.
Today’s menu was a beef in mole which was “interesting” – like they were trying too hard, unlike the flight attendant who on a 6-hour flight, served it all at once, rather than in courses (well, the nuts and gelato came out separately).
I returned to my house to find a riot of color in my front yard. What a nice welcome:
Another week, another trip – wonder where next week will be?
It’s going to be a quick trip, but a friend is about to turn 60…on Thanksgiving Day. I can’t be there for the holiday (I open the shop on Thanksgiving Day from 11-3), or for the party on Saturday (also working), so I thought I’d pop out for a couple of nights to hand deliver a birthday present (which I’d show you a picture of, but he might be one of those stealth blog readers and it would ruin the surprise).
I’d gotten upgraded for the return leg, but a few hours after I checked in for the outbound I got an upgrade notice for the flight to Boston. Woohoo! Rarely happens on the Boston/Seattle run since there are lots of business travelers on the route – maybe that 75K Gold status is paying dividends. The flight, booked just two weeks in advance, was $320 – and I had a $300 future flight coupon that I cashed in, so $20 for First Class roundtrip across the country.
Sadly, it’s a red-eye to Boston and an early morning flight home. Headed to the airport early to have a little dinner before the flight since I’m guessing it will just be a snack even up front.
The Alaska Lounge now has their pancake machine turned on all day – and some people are fascinated by how it works:
I’m not much of a pancake guy, so this was my meal in D concourse lounge:
Followed by a different soup in the new C concourse lounge:
Seat 1A on the way out…
And the aforementioned snack…
Can’t overdrink on the plane because I’m picking up a rental car in Boston. Sad, I know. In retrospect, I would have done this differently.
Got to Pucci’s place about 8am, and promptly went back to bed to get more than the couple of hours of sleep I got on the plane.
By the time I got up, it was time for lunch…
There was one convenience of having a car…a run to the liquor store for supplies. Pucci wants me to teach him my mother’s recipe for Manhattans. I brought orange bitters, decent cherries, vermouth, and some of my hooch, but mom always liked rye in hers if she was making them fancy.
The downside of the timing of my visit is that it’s just two nights (Monday and Tuesday) because I had company coming into town starting Wednesday, at least I did when I booked the trip. Both Monday and Tuesday are days that Pucci teaches from 3-9pm so we’ll just get lunches and drinks after work this trip.
And drink, we did, staying up to 3am Monday night. The damage:
Oh, and the one on the left is a liter bottle. Needless to say, Pucci didn’t make it to the gym in the morning. We barely had time to go out for Mexican food at Jose’s, and we were so hungry, I didn’t even get a photo of the “before”, just the “after”:
My dinner plans tonight are with Dan and Lisa from Denver. Dan works from home for a Boston-based company, and happens to be in town for a couple of weeks for work, and to see his Grandmother who evacuated Florida during the hurricane. The plan was:
There was a mix up in times, and for me to be on-time (actually, 15 minutes early), I just took Uber all the way to the restaurant.
Half the time, and only $17.25! Guess how I got home.
Dinner is at Hojoko, located it The Verb Hotel. I started off with a cocktail and some edamame…
That would be the Relaxing Time Highball – a nod to Lost in Translation that I watched on my return flight from Montevideo.
Nice restaurant – with a view of the hotel pool:
We were a party of six, including one six-year-old or so…
At this point, I’d switched to the Lil’ Ume, there take on a Manhattan…
No, we didn’t get into any of the “drink buckets”…
And then the food started coming…
Above, halibut collar, below, Brains on Crack (calf sweetbreads).
Plus, lots of sashimi, tempura mushrooms, some sort of roll, and more. We did not go hungry.
We started so early that I was home via Uber before Pucci got back from teaching!
More cocktails this evening, but there was a conscious decision on both our parts to wrap it up by midnight since I have to get up at 4am to get the barely used rental car back to the airport and get checked in.
Grabbed a Croisantwich on the way to the gate – sometime to tide be over until a real breakfast on the plane…this time in seat 1F.
And said breakfast:
Not sure about the one piece of asparagus and the grilled Roma tomato, but ate the rest of it.
Got home around 1pm, and you guessed it, went back to bed for a nap.
Maybe it’s the weather that makes me sleep in on the East Coast. By the time I got up at 10:30, Jill was getting ready to shove off to visit friends and friends children leaving me with the late morning and early afternoon “at leisure” as they say in the travel brochures. Plenty of time to reprogram my spare MP3 player for Jill’s return trip (she forgot her Zune), figure out how to finally get my phone to sync with my Exchange server contacts/calendar, strip and remake the guest bed, put away the clean dishes, add the dirty ones, and get all the soiled linens into the laundry basket.
Pucci showed up at 3:30, just after Jill returned to the apartment – and off we went to Whole Paycheck and Cambridge Wine and Spirts. The 12-year-old Macallan was on sale for $39.95 which was all I was planning on buying, but then a bottle of Germain-Robin brandy caught my eye… damn, there goes another $23.99 (down from $29.99).
Cocktails at 5:30 with Pucci, his GF, me… before dinner at Netta’s place in Arlington. Lamb shanks over couscous, which was supposed to go with a Caesar salad – except Pucci forgot to make that in all the excitement over the lamb.
The large Le Creuset pot on the right side of the stove used to belong to Julia Child – sent from the company to Julia as a promotional item. Netta used to work as her archivist and found it in the basement of her house. Julia’s comment… “you want it, take it, the damn thing weighs a ton.” That French Oven held 10 lamb shanks and all the fennel and garbanzo beans, rosemary, the works.
What a meal, even without the salad. So much for greens today.
Pucci grabbed all the bones to make a lamb stock for tomorrows pork dinner which will include a whiskey reduction sauce.
Swinging into a routine around here… Pucci goes to the gym, I sleep in, get up, shower, and get a little work done before he returns.
Today’s adventure is thethe MFA (Museum of Fine Art) to see a little art, have a little knosh, see a little more art, hit the bargain book rack in th store and finish shopping for tonights meal.
Then a swing by the Sargents form the regular collection on our way to grab a little lunch. Cobb Salad for me, Lentil Salad for Pucci. Damn there food is good. Then it was back to the art.
Nov 21, 2009– Jul 3, 2010 Harry Callahan: American Photographer
Pucci was hot to see this exhibition, it left me a little cold. I don’t think he was as impressed as he hoped he would be either.
Nov 21, 2009– Jul 3, 2010 Albrecht Dürer: Virtuoso Printmaker
This exhibit knocks my socks off. The intricate lines that this guy could pull off using a woodblock are amazing. One of the night “educational” items in the exhibit was a side by side (actually top/bottom) display of two prints from the same plate, one very early and one much later — you could actually see how the image became more muted over time.
Oct 18, 2009– May 16, 2010 The Secrets of Tomb 10A:
Egypt 2000 BC
More interesting that I thought it would be — growing up the the Nelson-Atkins extensive Egypt collection I thought I was done with it. The highlight of this exhibit for me was all the miniature boats for the after-world, must have been a hundred of them.
And then it was onto shopping. Pucci got one book (a Tachen edition on Album Covers), and I ended up getting five books (lucky he’s a member so I got the 10% discount), two fiction, three non-fiction. Looks like I’m checking my bag on the way home since that just added 10 pounds to it.
The rain greeted us with more intensity on the way from the museum to the car — maybe we should have grabbed umbrellas.
Next stop Wholefoods and Cambridge Spirits — mussels for tonight’s dinner, and scotch to pack back to Seattle since the Maccallan is on sale for $40.99 rather than the $54 at home.
Stunning meal of muscles, portuguese sausage, tomatoes, onions over a bed of linguini with spinach on the side… and a lovely Languedoc to wash it all down.
All the flights were early — early leaving, early arriving. And empty. I mean REALLY empty. Seats in First Class available (at least half a dozen on each flight). People back in coach could have an entire 6 seat row to themselves. I haven’t seen flights this empty since October 2001 (that would be a month after “that incident”).
My plane was supposed to land at 5:35am — by 5:35am I was at the hotel, checked-in, and waiting for the breakfast bar to open. So few people staying here that a normal 3pm check-in wasn’t required. To me, it’s like getting an extra day free since I went to bed after breakfast and woke up at noon.
More after dinner with friends.
And this would be the birthday boy. A surprise 50th birthday party in Boston at the Summer Shack. All the references over the last week to heading to the East Coast specifically didn’t mention Boston in case Pucci was reading the blog.
Pucci’s mother flew in from Omaha, his friend Lia flew in from San Francisco, and flew in from Seattle to make this a memorable birthday for our boy.
GREAT food at the Shack. I had a half dozen mixed oysters from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — followed by the local albacore tuna in a lobster mole sauce. Stunningly good — as was every other thing I sampled off everyone else’s plates. there were eleven of us all together — quite a party.
After the party is was off to Pucci’s duplex which neither Lia or his mother had yet seen — and a nightcap or two for Pucci and I.
We shoved off about 1am with Lia taking mom and me back to the Hamption Inn Airport for what feels like my second night in Boston, even though it’s only my first.
My East Coast contingent has been begging for a visit so off I go (it doesn’t take much convincing, just a decent fare and hopefully an upgrade or two).
Paid more than I’d like (close to $500), but I was able to use my last two MVP Gold Upgrades for a guaranteed First Class on the Monday night red-eye to Boston, coming back through Portland on the dinner flight.
Uber’d to the airport since who knows what state I’ll be in on my return.
One of the things I really like about Alaska Airlines is their on-time rate (and best in the US for fuel efficiency):
That would be (clockwise): green leaf salad with ranch and cheese cubes, molasses cookies (which I packed away for later – actually had a spare zip-lock bag courtesy of the TSA), chili, Yankee pot roast soup, whiskey/diet. On the red-eye, it’s always a crap shoot of what you will get served on-board, definitely not a full meal.
And no, that isn’t a potato, that’s a dark roll to go with the Caesar Salad.
For the first couple of hours the service up front was great, even with just one attendant working the section, but as three quarters of the cabin went to sleep – service quality died. Snack basket make a quick trip down the aisle missing me (had to go ask – and I’m in the first row aisle with the light on. Forget more drinks without asking even though there were several of us waiting TV. It seemed that the Fall Fashion issue of Elle was more important than customer service. And yes, I know flight attendant’s main duty is to protect our safety.
That said, I did log on and leave comments after I returned home about the flights going and coming, and the STARK difference in service levels in the same cabin. I’m used to the crew at American, United, Delta on the red-eyes and long international flights being happier sitting there with their reading material, but not on Alaska (usually). The return crew were all 20 year plus at Alaska and were fantastic on the dinner run from Boston to Portland. In less than 24 hours after my comments were submitted (on a weekend!) I got this response back:
Good Morning Mr. Souder,
Thank you for completing our survey regarding your flight. As a valued passenger, I sincerely apologize that you didn’t receive customer service that met or exceeded your expectations while seated in first class. Being unhelpful or unfriendly, even if it is on a “Red Eye”, is certainly not our norm or something we condone at Alaska Airlines. We strive to provide exemplary service on each and every flight to all of our passengers and it sounds like we fell short.
By taking the time to contact us and giving us your feedback, you have not only given me the opportunity to hear your concerns, but also an opportunity to be proactive in preventing a similar situation from occurring again. I would like to offer you the following compensation of a $50.00 e-certificate which you should expect via email within the next 10 business days.
I am confident that on a future flight you will enjoy the high level of service that Alaska Airlines is known for and that you deserve.
Saint Jill picked me up at the airport in Boston on my very early arrival – hence the name, “Saint Jill“.
After a long nap it was out for “loooobsterrrr”….Belle Isle Seafood here we come. Not cheap, but a ton of lobster (could have used just a tiny bit more mayo):
Then toss in spinach and cheese for a one skillet meal:
Served over spaghetti… not a bad meal, all and all:
Hooked up with Pucci after he got off work – staying there because Saint Jill’s place is small, I snore, and Murphy sheds. Aisling is out of town so it’s a long night of drinking and catching up.
Breakfast/Lunch at Strip T’s – I opted for the Turkey Rubin with Pucci opting for the buttermilk fried chicken:
GREAT pickles – but a seriously non-OSHA bathroom in the basement, labeled with a sign saying, “Use Extreme Caution Using This Restroom” – certainly worthy of a picture:
Yep – the toilet is up several steps.
Pucci needed to go back to work so he dropped me off in Harvard Square where Jill was to meet me for a little culture. Kind of fun hanging out on Harvard Square – under the watchful eyes of Dewey, Cheetham, & Howe right about the Curious George store:
Lovely fall day…
Turns out Netta was also floating around after a doctor’s appointment (same thing as Jill was doing) so we all met up at Starbucks…
Great to hang out and catch up, but soon Jill and I were walking across the quad to the museum:
The Harvard Art Museum was having a showing of a pop artist that Jill likes. Name is Corita Kent…no photos of the exhibition (forbidden) but one of the inside:
All that culture made us want a little snack at The Russell House….
After culture and cuisine, it was time to walk over to Jill’s Mom’s place for cocktails and dinner…forgot to take a shot of her view of The Charles from her 3-bedroom condo, but I did get some food shots!
By the third bottle we finally found an old white that wasn’t off…
Amazingly it was the oldest (2000 Cheverny) that was OK, while the 2004 Pouilly Fume and the 2001 Latour Pouilly Fuse were both off but in different ways. The Cheverny went quite nicely with the Oysters (yes, more oysters) on the half shell:
Followed by some appetizers (grave lox, salamis):
Followed by the salad course (greens, pears, beets, Blue Cheese dressing):
Then the main: (swordfish, roasted potatoes, asparagus):
Back to Pucci’s after dinner – and in the morning Jill swung by to take me lunch and then to the airport – lunch Greek at Demos. This would be the lamb shish kebab salad.
Yes, I drank be, 4 different 4 ounce samples. Then it was off to the airport.
Contrary to rumors, terminal C for Alaska isn’t too great – they are off in a little wing with its own TSA checkpoint and little in the way of food/drink:
I had to walk to Terminal B to use the American Admirals Club – which is huge and the food good:
But, it’s a 15 minute walk in each direction. Oh well, walking is good for me. And there was also good food on the dinner flight home starting with a nice salad:
Then the main course:
And ending with dessert:
Not a direct flight home – I connected in Portland. Good thing I took a cab home!
This afternoon I met up with Pucci at the new Institute of Contemporary Arts. First order of business was lunch – a wonderful roast beef wrap from the Wolfgang Puck café located on the first floor. I also scored a free admission by picking up someone’s dropped entrance tag. This may be a new way to avoid museum admissions – go the café and look on the floor for lost entrance tags – at the MFA the other day with Pucci’s mother, I found two tags (but we didn’t have the time to see the exhibits).
Since Pucci drove – we piled in his car and headed to Belmont for a fine meal of Caesar Salad, roasted yukon gold potatoes and a loin of lamb. Add a 1991 Domaine Chante-PerdrixChateauneuf Du Papeand you have a well rounded meal.
Early evening, I was back at the hotel before 10pm – enough time to have a night cap (or two) in the hotel bar oddly called “Two Doors Down”.For some reason the blog seems to be down – so I’m mailing in my entries. Too bad I can put the pictures in (yet).
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tags –
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(but we
didn’t have the time to see the =
exhibits).
Since Pucci drove – we piled in his car and =
headed to Belmont for a fine meal of Caesar Salad, roasted =
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potatoes,
and a loin of lamb. Add a 1991 Domaine
Chante-PerdrixChateauneuf
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Early evening, I was back at the hotel before 10pm =
–
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For some reason the blog seems to be down – so =
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mailing in my entries. Too bad I can put the pictures in =
(yet).
Another long day for Pucci. Luckily he moved one student around and came home to take me to the “T” saving me from a five block walk in the rain. In the Boston vernacular, it was pissing (as opposed to spitting, the other one, which is pissing, but coming at you at 30mph).
Made it from Pucci’s to the Delta Crown Room with cocktail in hand in 1:15. I was pretty amazed as that was:
Pucci Shuttle to Harvard Square
Red Line to Government
Green Line to Park
Blue Line to Airport Shuttle
Shuttle to Airport
Security
I celebrated my good fortune by purchasing a cup of Clam Chowder for waiting around the gate, and a Lobster Roll for the flight. No upgrade, yet again I was number 11 on the list.
On the down side, I got a call from Fluffernutter that Swanda had been hospitalized. That is never good.
Decent flight, puts me 25% of the way to MVP for 2013.
Sea-Tac to the apartment took a little longer this trip. Two fools decided to crash into each other… ON the light rail tracks. Finally got home around 11. I probably shouldn’t have stayed up till 3:30am.
Tuesday found me at the airport again, back to Boston for the second trip this month. At least this time I’m spending the night.
In the Board Room before my flight… it’s a mid-morning flight so it wasn’t too ugly to get up and out this morning.
My seat for this trip – no upgrade in either direction is Exit Row window, not my favorite but not the worst. Here is the view as they deice the plane:
I was late getting to the gate so I have no idea how far down the upgrade list I was – I assume at least a half a First Class cabin. This is the down side of the during the normal days flights that Alaska has between Seattle and Boston. If you want to take the crappy red-eye or the early morning return it turns out it’s easy to get an upgrade because none of the guys/gals who fly WAY more than I do hate those flights as much as I do.
Here is a shot of me over what I think is either Minnesota or Wisconsin judging from all the lakes:
Got to Boston a little after 6PM and Fernando came to the airport to meet me. Such a sweetheart.
Off to dinner we go at Christopher’s in Porter Square. A little wait for a table (30 minutes) which we killed in the bar – beer for Fernando, Manhattans for me.
Got to our table – ordered more drinks and an appetizer – a Summer Roll (non-deep-fried Spring Roll) that seemed to have been prepared last night. For dinner, I broke my diet and had the Fish and Chips (good), and Fernando had the chicken, green bean special – it looked good and I’m sure it had a better name. I’m amazed that when I looked at their site today they had their Daily Specials for TODAY. Now THAT is good website management.
By 9:30 Pucci and Aisling joined us for cocktails (Martini for Pucci, Prosecco for Aisling) – lucky we had a four-top! I’m going to their wedding in July in Wicklow (20km south of Dublin), Ireland.
Apparently when Fernando chose Christopher’s he didn’t realize that it was a block from Aisling’s gym and easy for Pucci to park at – god going Fernando!
After a couple of rounds of drinks and good conversation it was time for us to all head back to our mattresses – walking distance for Fernando and I.
Slept in late, late, late, we both did… we didn’t get out of the house until a little after noon – first stop Starbucks for lattes. Which held me over for the one “T” stop until we got to the Russell House for lunch.
Here are shots of the two of us at lunch…
And here is my lovely lunch of the steamed mussels in a fennel heavy (think a jar of seeds) broth that was surprisingly good. I like that the fact that they served bottles of either still or fizzy water – wish I’d gotten the fizzy, but the glass of Bonny Doon Vin Gris Rosè was damn fine with those mussels.
After lunch Fernando and I parted ways – him for the office, me for my office – the Delta Sky Room. I had about three hours to catch up on email, drink cocktails, liberate biscotti, have some snacks, read a bunch of papers before my flight back to Seattle – number 7 on the upgrade list, but at least I’m in 6D… just behind First Class, close enough to smell the freshly baking cookies.
Bought the Rueben Hot Meal ($6), they comped me my second free drink (one free with MVP Gold), bought several more. For airplane food, that Rueben was stuffed with meat and really good. On the way out I passed on the Pulled Pork Sandwich, but the guy next to me had it and it looked good (and smelled divine).
Back at the house by 11 – time to clean out the rollaboard of all the Biscoff I popped from the Delta Sky Room – mostly because they are really good, and Roxy needs more carbs before I can get dinner prepared. I love that the Biscoff have the Delta logo imprinted on them.
Next up, TURKEY.
That trip report might have to be split into:
Istanbul, Turkey (3 nights) Part One
Budapest, Romania (2 nights)
Istanbul, Turkey (2 nights) Part Two
If there was another day, I’d try and squeeze Bulgaria into the trip, but I like to have a “buffer” before I get back for my departing flight.
Worked today, working, tomorrow and Sunday, off early Monday to either Europe or Asia, depending on which side of the Bosporus that I’m on.
Under the topic of modern miracles comes soda pop machines that take credit cards in addition to the dollar bills and traditional coins.
Today is up in the air. Was thinking maybe of the JFK Presidential Museum since I’ve never been there. That would add another presidential museum to the collection of Harry S Truman, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon.
Dinner at Pucci’s duplex today — with god knows who. Guess I should make some calls and find out.
LATE EVENING UPDATE
Did the JFK Museum today. Lovely I.M. Pei building. Did the intro video then went to have a salad at the cafe (not anywhere the quality of the MFA cafe).
I got strangers to snap this picture of me after my tour (when I was waiting for the shuttle that I’d just missed).
Comments on the museum: powerful. Tears were welling up when I got to the section dealing with his assassination. I couldn’t watch all the archival footage. I saw those news reports live. Hell, I even made a scrapbook of clipping about the assassination. It’s a good thing that the glass pavilion was shortly after than section; the light and air of the open hall provided relief.
Took the T to Alewife — which was easy since I was at the other end of the Red Line — no transfers getting to Pucci’s stop. He had a student from 4 to 5 — yet another cutie.
Dinner was with Netta, Joel, Lia (daughter, not friend), Max and Murna (Joel’s cousin who helps with the kids). a six pound (yes, six pound) chicken done to perfection. Add all the trimmings and good wine (not to mention a ton of scotch), and you have a good meal.
Netta and Lia ran me back to the “T” station for the two transfer ride back to the Hampton. It’s kinda fun to be out and about on the subway system on a Saturday night — lots of cute guys out there.
Home (well, hotel) by 10:30. Tomorrow is the ICA (Institute of Contemporary Art) with Pucci — and I think lamb for dinner — though I feel I should take him out since he did dinner tonight.
The things I do for a First Class seat… like getting up at 4am. Did get a nice surprise when checked in… I had reserved First Class using one of the four coupons per year that they (Alaska) give their MVP Gold fliers… but when I went to check in, they had converted it to a complimentary upgrade so I didn’t have to use my coupon. Nice. Who knows, maybe on the way home I’ll be equally as lucky.
Breakfast was a choice of either the sun-dried tomato quiche with turkey sausage (I remember the luke-warm one from last week and pass) or the Northwest Benedict with Smoked Salmon. That would be the main to follow the starter of a fresh fruit plate with scones or rolls. The Benedict could have used more hollandaise, but then, is there ever enough.
Got into Boston on time, took the Silver Line (bus) to the Red Line (subway) to Harvard Square where I called Pucci to come fetch me… could have taken the Blue Line to the Green Line to the Red Line and been on the subway the entire time, but went for what showed up first.
A quick early dinner of chicken piccata before we headed to his gig which he was going to try and sneak me into… Sleep No More, produced by Punchdrunk (British) and the American Repertory Theatre. Alas, seems they had run out of masks so I had to spent all night in the bar that was part of the theatre production (which Pucci was playing in a trio with an occasional singer). The basic idea behind the whole production was “Shakespeare Meets Hitchcock”. I think I was lucky to be marooned in the bar listing to good live music and only paying for one drink in three hours (and having many more than one).
Back home around midnight for a little cheese, crackers, and cocktails.
Up at 5am and out the condo door at 5:30, butt on light rail at 5:48am, and off to the airport.
Considering the crush at security I was surprised at how quickly the lines started moving once they shut down the damn full body scanner. What a boondoggle that is.
I really must have been still asleep… got to the Board Room only to find I was missing my Driver’s License and Board Room card.
Back to security. As I’m close, a TSA guy says, “Mark?” Yes — go see the guy up that set of stairs, the guy on the phone. They were in the process of paging me. I thanked everybody repeatedly and headed back to the club. Had I not needed to check in at the club, I would have been in Boston before I realized. I travel with my Nexus Card and Passport Card so it wouldn’t have been a huge thing trying to get back on the plane in Boston.
Uneventful flight — 14D, the non-reclining exit row. After the long night last night, I probably slept half of the 4.5 hour flight. I did get most of a digital edition of the New Yorker finished on the trip. So much for low-carb with the bagel and cream cheese in the Board Room and the half a slice of French Toast and the cinnamon apples (the eggs and sausage were fine) on the plane. Hitting 205.0 yesterday morning is sort of a milestone since I started back on the low-carb stuff when I’d inched back up to 232 (which is still down from my all-time high of 242).
Flight arrived 20+ minutes early and Fernando was still in meetings when I texted him. The plan was that he’d come to the airport and meet me and we’d go to Harvard Square for dinner and a long business talk about creating a win-win situation with regards to Studio 403 and Libboo. It looks like at the end of a 3 hour plus dinner at Daedalus that Studio 403 is going to be a test case for backlist publishing on the Libboo royalties’ engine. One of the positive outcomes will be all the Sign of the Times individual issues and anthology, along with the Piglettè and Bobo series will be available as eBooks on Libboo and Amazon, possibly Barnes and Noble as well.
As for dinner, I had the steamed mussel appetizer (huge, could have been an entrèe) and the haddock stuffed with crab, Fernando had the soy marinated steak bits over a tomato risotto, which looked good as well. Add a likable bottle of Sangiovese (Italian) which was light enough to go with my fish, but not too light as to be overpowered by risotto. Good food — entrees in the high teens, low 20’s, great service, hot long-haired food runner.
After dinner it was more talk and more cocktails. It was amazing how three and a half hours passed until Pucci was due to show up. It looks like I’m going to be busy for the next couple of weeks prepping materials for Libboo along with redo (once again) the Studio 403 website to reflect getting back into the publishing business. Fernando is a big fan of Sign of the Times and even brought up re-launching the magazine as an eZine using the Libboo engine. Interesting concept. The Libboo engine would solve one of the problems with the old engine, how to track rights and payments (not that it ever made of profit unless you consider a “tax-loss” as a profit).
Pucci showed up at 9:15, but with his best (and most expensive) bass in the car, he wasn’t about to leave it parked on the street to come up for a drink. It was back to his house to settle in for the rest of the night, chatting and drinking whiskey.
Between the lingering cold and the long day I slept in until 10, peed, checked email, and went back to bed until 1. Nothing like having breakfast at 3pm. Guess that means it’s a two meal day.
Work in the afternoon — didn’t leave the flat even though Fernando gave me a 7-day Charlie Card. So sweet. Websites to revise, proposals to submit, blogs to update. No rest for the wicked.
As the sun went down, it is winter, which means early, it was time to think of dinner… raid the fridge/freezer.
Defrost two chicken breast pieces, chop up some shallots, green onions, bell peppers, a little coppa salami, get some butter in a pan… lay down a bed of arugula and green onion tops, fry up all the rest, top the salad, add the dressing, pour a glass of the “refrigerator white wine used for cooking”, call it a meal.
Pucci got back early so plans are laid for tomorrow during the day and for dinner tomorrow night.
Lazy days here in Boston. Here is the view from the computer…
Up at 9:30, breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage at 11:30, and lunch at 1 with Jill’s family friend Faith.
And what a lunch it was. Lobster sandwiches from Alive and Kicking in Cambridge along with a dozen Bar Harbour oysters. Yum.
The afternoon was spent facing away from each other (Jill and I), me facing the Charles (a.k.a. The Chuck) at her mother’s desk, she at her father’s desk facing away from the river. Both hard at work on our laptops – she plugged into the Ether, me tethered to my phone.
A little more shopping for dinner… at her favorite Middle Eastern store… Sevan Bakery for traditional string cheese (not your kid’s string cheese, much more salty and complex), hummus, traziki, spices, anchovies for Pucci, fresh pita, and then off to Hi-Rise Bakery for chicken… yes, chicken. After they are done baking the bread for the day, and before they start on tomorrow mornings loaves… they use the ovens to bake chickens, which they sell whole starting in the late afternoon… with onions and fresh gravy if you want it (which you do).
I’m guessing today is FOOD DAY in Boston. Well, actually it is most times I come here.
Dinner tonight with Pucci and his lady friend. Much good wine in addition to the scotch before and after.
Early to bed (not), early to rise (definitely). Up at 5:30 (again — two days’ running).
Champagne and cranberry juice, muffins and cream cheese in the Board Room before the flight. Flight was on time, and the seat next to me was open, in the row behind first class so there was leg room.
The “T” to Alewife to meet Netta for a dinner date with the family, Max, Leah, Joel. A lovely brisket for dinner, nice wine, and Rum on the Rocks before and after.
Pucci shows up at 10:30 for a late supper at Netta’s place, then we are back to Pucci’s new house.
Well, not breakfast, that was a toasted English Muffin before heading out to three stores for various groceries, and two more for booze.
Big Food Stop Number One:
RedBones BBQ on Davis Square. Four different sauces… ask for the sampler of all four sauces. Regular, Hot, Sweet (dark from what looks like molasses), and Vinegar — each good which is hard to find. Both Pucci and I had the pulled pork sandwich plate which comes with beans and slaw (all three HEARTY portions). Sandwich plate is $5.99 at lunch — and if you are seriously hungry, or just want to box up leftovers for dinner, go for the combo, which is whatever ribs they have handy, chicken, sausage, beans, cole slaw and dirty rice. It is a heaping plate of food. Excellend beer selection
Big Food Stop Number Two:
Minado — Japanese Seafood Buffet Restaurant. $29.95 on the weekend evenings for all you can eat (cheaper during the week and at lunch). The picture below doesn’t even show the other two lines (deserts and hot dishes).
I was gobbling down oysters on the half shell, mussels, clams, sushi, sashimi, asparagus wrapped in beef, rare koke beef, dumplings, tempura, octopus salad… and then there were the things I passed on… whole king crab legs (too much work), a hibachi station, soups, desserts, salads… five locations on the East Coast.
Dinner was with Netta and the three kids — oops, I mean Netta, her husband and the two kids, along with two friends of their and their kid. A full table with eight, but the place is huge.
Got a ride home from Netta after she dropped the rest of the family off — even got a little quiet time with a nightcap (scotch for me, rum toddy for her).
And tomorrow the food continues with Pucci making a pot roast. Think I’m coming back to Seattle larger than I left.
Lazy Sunday morning, drinking coffee, hanging out in bed, reading the Sunday paper. Pucci’s at the gym (as usual).
Off to the MFA (Boston Museum of Fine Arts) using Pucci’s membership card while he’s at rehearsal. Started with a lovely lunch of New England Clam Chowder with Apple Smoked Bacon, and the Crab Croissant served with a salad of mixed greens, a a glass of the Wolf whatever Australian Shiraz. Made the art much better.
A nice Leger, some old art, a really nice piece of furniture:
Then you add what I think is a Cezanne — whoever it is it’s the wife in a blond wig, some Russian textiles, and some nice Greek pots.
Stopped in to the member’s desk — got a ticket to the special exhibition “Fashion Show” — it would not have been worth the $23, but free, there was actually one designer that I like — who made stuff out of recycled materials — of course I can’t remember exactly who, might be Maison Martin Margiela. Basically that whole show was a bunch of peoples 2006 runway shows from Paris.
Next up, martinis and the Superbowl. Do we care who wins? No.
Netta is coming over with Lamb Shanks ala Julia Child, who she used to work for as her archivist. Wish me luck. Damn — turns out it’s Todd English’s Lamb Shanks with Fennel. Turns out Todd has too many lamb shank recipes to track down that one.
The wine is a 1998 Domaine Paul Lautard, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Jill, eat your heart out (kidding!).
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