Fun Fourth - Boston Style

Every locale has its own unique approach to celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In Boston it's all about baseball, the Boston Pops and fireworks. 

First stop Fenway - a perfect evening with bright blue skies, not-too-hot temperature and just the slightest breeze. To Steve, Fenway brings a lifetime of memories. Like many Bostonians, it comes close to being hallowed ground. 

Like nearly 40,000 others, we were there to chear on the Red Sox. But in truth, this is David Ortiz's year.  Number 34 has announced this is his last year and it's turning out to be one his best, breaking his own records and passing the long standing home run record of another Sox of fame, Ted Williams. At 40 (and most believe he's 40++), the designated hitter is about to join his 10th All-Star game. The city can't imagine the Boston without their BigPapi - likely the last Sox to ever wear #34. 

 The Fourth was a beautiful day. Living along the Charles River, our deck is perfectly poised to watch thousands drift into the grassy Esplanade. Early arrivals go a few blocks away to find a spot at the Hatch Shell to listen to the Boston Pops and various contemporary guests. 

The balance stake their claim to enjoy the fireworks - or they come to our deck, within a couple of hundred yards of the launching barge. This year, fireworks were also launched from the Harvard Bridge, on Mass Ave, crossing the river to MIT, just a handful of blocks away. The result was incredible! Photos never do justice to this light show, so maybe next year you should give us a shout. If we're around, stop on by.  

Drive-In Movie at Fenway

You have to be of a certain age to recall the joys of going to a drive-in movie. Well if Boston's boys aren't doing particularly well, why not rally the troops and invite them to Fenway for movie night 

There we were on Thursday night with about 10,000 of Red Sox Nation's own watching - well what else - Fever Pitch. 

Super fan Jimmy Falon (before he was Jimmy  Falon) plays across from super achiever Drew Barrymore. Obsession & practicality find love with humor best understood by the fans. (I can remember playing hookie from work and  getting "the look" from Steve when bringing my blackberry to Sox games), Fenway  food, popcorn and singing along to our Boston's iconographic eight inning stretch - "Sweet Caroline."  Certainly takes the sting out of not making it into the off season. Ok - some of the sting. 

Drive in movies on Useppa boast golf carts and have their own tradition,  but Fenway - definetly  worth a go! 

Three Sure Fire Ways To Tell That Spring Has Arrived in Boston

1. The Kaufmans go with the Lassiters to a Sox-Yankee game at Fenway.

                         

2. Trees that were budless and bulbs that had barely broken ground simultaneously explode - transforming Winter into Spring for about three weeks before we slam into Summer.

                           

3. Hundreds of  lilacs bushes bloom in Audubon Park for the 40,000 Mothers' Day visitors. (Some of us cheat and show up a day early to escape a crowd that is larger than a sold out Fenway stadium.)

                              

Welcome to Boston. We wait a long time for Spring, but when it arrives, there's nothing better!

     

      

    

Re2pect

It's a little more than a week since Derek Jeeter made his last Fenway appearance as a Yankee. 

Number 2 has had a multi decade career with the Yankees, always playing the same position. No matter what you think of him, (remember we ARE Sox fans), you have to congratulate him on his professionalism and a scandal-less career. And EVERYONE at Fenway did. September 28 was Jeeter Day. Although about a third if the stadium had likely come from NYC, everyone stood, cheered and gave this player the Re2pect he deserved and few others have earned. 

Through the eyes of a Dane

Anders is one of Karen's most longtime friends. When he asked to come from Denmark to visit the US for the first time, naturally the answer was "of course", but how to decide what to do in less than two weeks? 

Landing in NYC, the whirlwind included Times Square, the Met, Guggenheim, Grand Central Station and the 9/11 Memorial. Then wandering along Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty was about all we had time for before visiting Karen's mom and brother Chris.   (Touring NYC with Karen is a fast paced affair, guaranteed to cure jet lag!)

A sailor and educator  about life in the 1800's made stops in boat building Mystic Connecticut and whaling Nantucket mandatory. They didn't disappoint. 

Not to be missed - Sturbridge Village. It reminded them both of where they'd met in Denmark and the years Karen had spent at Lejre, working as an 1800's weaver while illustrating books for the center. 

And while in the neighborhood, why not try out the local "hipster" BBQ joint. Sorry, no open faced sandwiches and liverpostej here!

Finally, here in Boston and it's Steve's turn. So where might you guess we headed? After a visit to Harvard Museum's  glass flowers - it's off to Fenway. 

Remarkably, not only did our Danish friend learn the essential  rules under Steve's tutelage, he insisted on watching games on TV during the week. Steve felt validated!

Then we were off to Maine. Lighthouses, rugged coasts, lobsters, sunsets, warm

days and cool nights. You know the drill. There's nothing like it - particularly for a Dane with the sea in his DNA. 

Back in Boston, there's whale watching, Walden Pond, Concord,  the MFA, Freedom Trail, Italian delights from the north end  and just hanging out watching the boats sail the Charles. Oh, and a traditional diner for a dose of comfort food. With huge omlettes, home fries, people sitting at the counter with chatty waitresses, well this certainly isn't Denmark! 

It may not have been the most balanced view of the US, but it's a big country and you have to start somewhere. We're certain our Dane has thousands of images dancing in his head and may still be catching up on the rest he didn't get while here on his vacation. PS - the request has already come in to inquire about renting a sailboat in Maine for a month - one of these days!