Boston, February 2015

After spending a full eight days being housebound by blizzards and a cold - and don't get me wrong, I loved every hunkered down minute - I finally made my break for the mainland on Saturday the 21st. This was a pre-planned, ferry-reservations-locked-in get away, but I had multiple reasons for possibly backing out of the plan (not 100% back on my game, too many things to do - the usual list of Island lethargy excuses). I'm glad I forced myself out the door because my four days in Boston were a success in every possible way.

My agenda was Mass, music, friends, voice lesson, and errands - all of which were accomplished handily prior to my return on Tuesday night. Oh, and let's throw in a delicious supper of Yueng Yang Spicy Beef with Green Beans from Peking Palace - to go, eaten on the ferry and augmented by a cold Harpoon - for good measure.




An Icy Vineyard Haven Harbor


On a school vacation week Saturday it seems the only place to be is aboard the noon ferry. What a party. It would have been worth it, maybe, to have made a few trips back and forth just for the entertainment and catching up with old friends.


Saturday at The Littlest; the Bowlings, three: Meghan, Patrick, and Tomas.


Pat, Tom, and Tom.


Pat, Tom, Tom, Mike, Diane, Sean, Dan.


Mike, Diane, Sean, Dan, Augusto.





Dan


Meghan


Mike and Diane


Elias


There's lots of snow in Boston right now. For the most part, it was no bother. And the only time it was potentially a problem - a narrow little street in JP with three cars trying to maneuver - all three of us bent over backwards to cooperate. That's another thing I love about snow - the way it brings out the best in people: emergency mode.


Broad Street,Boston.


Sunday morning Mass at St. Agatha's with the Henry family; Noel's 20th anniversary Mass. Beautiful Mass, beautiful family.


Breakfast at Hennessey's.


Hennessey's Sunday seisiun.





Augusto


Bugsy and Sean


Dan


Bugsy and Sean


David





Rosanne


My new boyfriend, Cormac.


Noon mass, Monday, St. Mary's, Brookline. A haven and heaven.


Greenbriar, Brighton: Jim, Maureen, Sean, Dan (hmmm...where have I seen these people before?).


Maureen


Elise and Adam, the new kids on the block, and savage fiddlers as it turned out.


Jim and Maureen


Bugsy and Elias


Mom, Elias, Dad.


Moira, Elise, and Adam.


Elise, Adam, Levi.


Mike


Moira


Jim, Maureen, Sean, Dan.


Levi, Sara (by Mike).


Tuesday Noon Mass at St. Paul's, Harvard Square. When I was here in December the choir boys were on vacation but today they were back on duty. St.Paul's Choir School is world renowned. I had never heard a boys' choir live and in person before and it was an amazing experience to hear them sing the Mass. The boys were a tad late in arriving on this day so I had the pleasure of having them pass - in formation - directly in front of my pew, choir robes rustling and little feet padding by quietly. Lovely.

Jig Set, Littlest Bar, January 14, 2012

Rather than drive everyone crazy with my camera, which stayed right in my bag, I decided to simply accompany a bit of audio from last night with this shot of the Custom House, grabbed quickly when walking back to my car.

Great night, great music - thanks, everyone!

If anyone knows the names of these tunes, please do tell. I should know them, but I do not.

Old Friends

It turned out that the stranger I met last week at Tommy Doyle's, Walter, who also turned up at the Littlest a few nights later, is an old friend of Brendan's from Chicago. They hadn't seen each other for a couple of years so it was very cool to see and hear them playing together again. Maybe I've said this before, but I just love the way this music transcends time and geography. I also love how every single session is totally unique, depending on the configuration of players who show up. All great stuff!






Walter and Brendan






Alex

Mad for Trad

A few from Saturday night. I've been on a bit of a shooting spree lately, so tried to lie low, photographically, that is. I didn't even take my real camera with me, thinking I wouldn't photograph anything at all, but I found that idea impossible, so yeah, between my cell phone and my G12, I did grab a few - couldn't help it - love these guys! The fact that I can play even one note and share the same air in the room - never mind being allowed to sit in with these top-of-the-line musicians - just blows my mind.













































This lass had the courage to belly up to what would have been - to any other beginning musician - a rather formidable group of grown-ups and play her accordion. Well done! (this last one taken with my Droid)

I just love the family aspect of this music.