Gathering History |
| [ Gatherings since 2010 ] |
Chelmsford, MA, 2009 to present (26th and on)My home is now big enough to again host the gathering like in the beginnings in Huntington. Chelmsford Photos (will be hosted on somewhere) Invitation 2009 Lowell, MA, 2004-2008, (4 years, 21st-25th)Back to Lowell. With the 3rd decade, we've started a new tradition by renting the upper floor of a nearby restaurant, hiring some live music, and reserving a small block of rooms at a nearby hotel. What a luxury, as there's now no more slow next day mornings trying to figure out how all those half empty pints got spread all over our house. This is luxury now, with everything catered, and only the fun left to us. The format is also great for alumni from past gatherings who want to rekindle past good times. Carryovers from Long Island, Germany, California, or the Netherlands, who made it to Lowell: Bill Bollas, Tom Lanzisero, Dib Nath, Dan and Carol Cochran, Mike & Teresa Cordes, Glenn & Inge Luchen, Ed & Maria, Ben Muniz. Lowell Photos 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Invitation 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2003, (1 year, 20th)Due to a temporary work assignment the next year's party was held in the Walkup in Utrecht, the Netherlands. We had the first half in our apartment, but no one showed up. As it is with our Germans friends as well, our Dutch friends need plenty of notice for a party, and a week's notice just wasn't enough. Dian and I played cards, worked on our Guinness, and had an occasional shot of Jamison's. Molly, our cat, was also in attendance. The second half of the party was in a local restaurant with Guinness on tap, and 2 couples did show up. So the six of us had a great time. I brought a bottle of Jamison's in with me. We put it to good use. Carryovers from Long Island, Germany, or California, who made it to Utrecht: Kasia Samulak Invitation 2003 Lowell, MA, 2002, (1 year, 19th)It was on to the Millhouse in Lowell, Massachusetts. We had a nice small party in our garage, which was decorated like an Irish pub. The party was small, but the crowd was approving. The Guinness was again the drafts with the widgets. Carryovers from Long Island, Germany, or California who made it to Lowell: Bob and Nancy Urrita. Lowell Photos 2002 Invitation 2002 Campbell, CA, 1997-2001, (5 years, 14th-18th)From there it was on to the Treetop Retreat in Campbell, California. Once again we started small, and while a keg of Guinness would have been too much, they now had the Guinness drafts in cans with the widgets. A great invention, delivering a fine Pint. And the big Beverages and More stores there always had a good special so I could buy them cheaper than normal. Turned out to be a good deal. What was nice about California was you could always count on good weather. Carryovers from Long Island or Germany, who made it to at least one California party: Bill Bollas, John and Loretta Curtin, Guenter and Liz Straube, Uli Walz, Lyle Buroker, Dave and Melanie Bigelow, Dib Nath, Bruce Eng. Invitations 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Neu-Isenburg, Germany, 1991-1996, (6 years, 8th-13th)From there it was on to the Lost Outpost in Neu-Isenburg, Germany. The first year started small again, maybe 10 people, and the smallest keg you'd ever want to see. Running out of beer in Germany isn't an easy thing to fix, since stores close, but there is the friend's house, or odd gas station (Tankstelle) where beer can normally be had late. After the first year, things grew quickly. By 1993 we were in the White Lodge, a much better venue for entertaining. Our Germans friends are of course willing to drink beer for any reason, and they'll drink Guinness, if they're told. In fact, our Germans friends introduced me to the "drinking to death machine", (Saufmachinen), and gave me a homemade (Handgemacht) one. A very effective way to get drunk. Parties grew to have 1 keg of Guinness, and 1 keg of Licher (German, but green label, and excellent Pilsner). Rather than the hand pump that you get in the US, in Germany you can get a refrigerated, CO2 setup, for tapping. Quite nice, but of course Guinness really needs N2, rather than CO2, but better than nothing. The last year in Germany was 1996. Carryovers from Long Island, who made it to at least one German party: Bill Bollas, John and Loretta Curtin, Dib Nath, Bahram Barzideh. Invitations 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 Huntington, NY, 1984-1990, (7 years, 1st-7th)Since 1984 starting at Burger View Estates in Huntington, NY, there's been an O'Brien's Saint Paddy's Day Gathering. It started small with maybe 15 people, and a keg, but it grew into something quite a bit more. By the 2nd year, Erwin accepted the wisdom that he needed to invest in a Guinness tap. In 1990, the last year on Long Island, there was a keg of Guinness, and 2 Harp, and then somehow another 4 kegs were needed. Fortunately, Erwin at the nearby beverage center, knew there might be a need and had the resupplies at the ready. Invitations 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 If anyone has a copy of a lost invitation, please contact us. |
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