Boston DUers: Suggest some places for a Tuesday Evening Happy Hour

[Skinner]

After putting off the decision for too long, we've decided that we're going to try to host a DU happy hour on Tuesday evening, July 27, in Boston.

We're looking for a place where Boston DUers, and DUers in town for the convention can get together and hang out.

We can't afford to buy drinks for everyone, but we could pay a little to rent a room somewhere, and maybe some finger food. We're hoping for a casual bar type place: Beers, Margaritas, maybe a big-screen TV if people want to watch the convention.

We're thinking it would start around 6PM-ish, and last as late as people want to stick around. We're also hoping that some folks in town for the convention would want to stop by for a bit before going to the Fleet Center for the evening.

Any suggestions for possible places?

[jus_the_facts]

1. Keep rubbin' it IN why don'tcha......

.....some o'us can't be there at all...all these threads 'bout how much FUN you'll be havin'......are DISRUPTIONS! *ALERT* x(

[DarkPhenyx]

2. Where ever it is...

...make sure they know your name.

[Zolok]

3. Is the "Bell in Hand" still open behind city hall?

if so that would be my vote it is but a short walk to Senator Kerry's apoetheois...
:)

[curse10]

4. it is

but I imagine it's going to be wicked crowded

[Kathy in Cambridge]

5. You are beoming such a Bostonian: "wicked"!

:D

[curse10]

18. LoL

I didn't even realize. It almost comes naturally! Wicked cool!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. The Rattlesnake has a roof deck for smokers

and pretty good margaritas. The food is typical bar food (nachos and fried stuff). There are TVs and a pool table. It is right near the Green Line Arlington T stop.


J.J. Foleys is right in Downtown Crossing (Kingston St, behind Macy's) and accessible to all subway lines. It is a great neighborhood bar, with pretty good food.


Closer to the Fleet Center and Fanueil Hall, there's The Point. It used to be a dive, but is no longer. http://boston.citysearch.com/profile/11439131?cslink=se...

Silvertone is also downtown and has great inexpensive bar food and drinks. They have a BIG back room which you can rent or just take over, I believe. The phone number is [phone]

Paddy Burke's is right near the Fleet Center and Kerry HQ, but I doubt we'd be able to fit in there with all the Irish Dems in Boston!

i posted this in the Mass forum too!

[Skinner]

8. I just called the Rattlesnake. That sounds pretty good.

From what I understand, they've got a large Bar area, and a roof deck. Whether we get 10 people or 50 people, we could just grab a corner and hang out. They guy said that we could just order a bunch of munchies off the menu.

Plus, it's right by the Green line, 5 stops away from the FleetCenter, so if people want to stop by and visit us before going to the convention they can do so.

I think it sounds like a good fit for us. Anyone care to comment?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. If the Rattlesnake is too crowded, there are lots of other area bars

so I think it's a good central location to meet. Parking is, however, a nightmare and lots are expensive. The subway is the best bet.

[curse10]

19. Silvertone is cool too

one of my favorite places

[WilliamPitt]

7. Depends on the crowd size

If you're expecting more than a few people, they have function rooms at Boston Billiards down by Fenway Park. I had my 30th birthday party there; pool tables, finbger foods, beer, TVs and good space. Offset the fee by asking for a few bucks from every DUer who comes, and have people buy their own drinks. If you call the place, you can talk to someone who can lay it all out for you.

There are also several bars along Boylston Street - Cactus Club, The Pour House, Dillons - which could accomodate us. A smaller place where I am very well known by the bartenders is Bukowski's right off Boylston. It isn't big, but they have great food and 107 beers on the menu.

Skinner, if you need someone to make phone calls and collect data, it's all local calls for me.

[Skinner]

9. Unfortunately, I have no clue how many people to expect.

Once we pick a place, we're going to put a big banner on the homepage to let people know. But honestly, I have no clue if we'd get 10 people or 50 people.

I kinda feel like it would make the most sense to go somewhere where we can kinda blend into the bar. If we don't get many people, we don't want to be sitting in an empty room. But if we get lots of people, we want to be able to spread out.

[WilliamPitt]

10. Then look to the places on Boylston I mentioned

Cactus Club, Dillons and Pour House leap to mind. Bukowski's is right around the corner, so if we are small, we can go there.

Maybe you should run a pinned poll in the forums to get a sense of who might come to this thing. It's going to be really hard to plan appropriately without knowing how many are coming.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

11. There are also some local dives not that far away

so Boylston is a primo location! And I don't think we'd be able to get anywhere near the Fleet Center.

[Skinner]

13. How close are these places to the T?

And which stop? I'm thinking we should try to get a place that is close to the T, so people can easily get to the FleetCenter if they are so inclined.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Cactus Club, Dillon's, and Pour House are near Hynes Auditorium stop

and the #1 bus that runs from Cambridge.

[Skinner]

15. Do you think those would be better than the places you suggested?

I really have no clue here. What do you Boston DUers think would be our best bet? What does your gut tell you?

I'm thinking that the most important criteria would be:

1. Easy accesibility by Subway.
2. Ability to host either a small or large group.
3. Reasonably priced drinks.
4. A TV if people want to stick around and watch the convention.
5. Reasonably priced finger food/munchies, in case DU wants to buy snacks for all of you.

What's our best option.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

16. Rattlesnake is probably as good as any of those places

there are so many bars in Back Bay that it's hard to choose! :D

On edit: it's closer to the Fleet Center as well.

[WilliamPitt]

21. The Rattlesnake is kind of a craphole

Not my favorite place.

[curse10]

22. LoL

I'm not a fan either. I get a wierd vibe when I go in there. Although Alex and his work crew hang out there all the time, but they do work right next door. It's all about convenience.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

23. I'm no fan of the Rattlesnake-I was thinking of the smokers

none of those bars are my favorite, but we all can't fit in 29 Newbury or Saint, which are places I prefer but are generally pretty crowded and expensive.

[curse10]

25. I've been to the Saint on Mondays

they have free drinks I think. I'm not totally sure about that- I was really drunk

[WilliamPitt]

20. They are close

to the Hynes Green Line T stop, and relatively close to the Mass Ave Orange line stop.

[Kevin Spidel]

53. sign me up

let me know if this gets set up Will. I am there.

[sniffa]

54. pour house is cramped

and most LikeLy a shitty pLace for any number of guests approaching doubLe figures.

i second the rattLesnake if onLy for the smoking roof.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

55. I don't particularly like the Rattlesnake, but it can accommodate crowds

I don't like the Pour House either. Can you think of any other places in the area?

[curse10]

17. What do ya'll think of Clery's?

it's on the orange line, which I find to be much more reliable than the Green which is where the Rattlesnake is.

Although Rattlesnake has the roof bar, it's often too crowded. And Clery's takes out the windows. So smokers do have easy access to the sidewalk. And, I think the beers are cheaper there.

[trof]

24. Matt's house?

Just thought I'd offer.
;-)

[gpandas]

26. i'm from ohio...

but since it is my 60th birthday, ill hoist a few to you boston duers

[DS1]

27. Heh, my new place.

:beer: :7

No T access, 15 miles out of Boston. Oh well.

[Amaya]

28. What's T access?

Is that the subway?

[DS1]

29. Yeah, it's the main train system for commuters and

it turns into a subway system once you get in the city.

[Amaya]

30. Great...

That's how I wanted to come into the city. Guess not.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

31. If you can get to Cambridge, we can ride the "T" together

The only night I can party next week is Tuesday-I am in NYC the rest of the week for work! :-(

[Amaya]

32. Tuesday is great.

DS1, said the "T" isn't coming into the city? Ok, now I'm confused

[sir_captain]

33. The T goes to Cambridge as well

it's a decently sized system

[Kathy in Cambridge]

37. Are you coming to Boston from NY for the DNC?

:hi:

[sir_captain]

38. Unfortunately not

:-(

Work and lab obligations are going to keep me here, sadly.

I'll be there in spirit, though! :-)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

39. I hope to be in NYC for the RNC

I'm trying to set up customer visits that week so the company will pay for my stay! }(

[sir_captain]

40. Heh

that would be great.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

34. You can get into the city by commuter rail, and once in the city

take the subway. I live in the city.

[Amaya]

35. Cool...

:)

[GCP]

36. Wanna travel together?

There's a Green Line station at 128. Parking's about $3, I'll drive if you like.

[hyphenate]

41. I've been out of Boston

for 15 years, but we used to like The Black Rose alot. Is it still around?

Between Hynes and the Library, there are probably quite a few places on Boylston. Since it's between Arlington and Copley, the T is right there, and it's a pleasant walk down Boylston. We're supposed to meet one of the delegates from S. California, and we're hitting Legal Seafoods for dinner, so that's close by for people who are new to the area and want to eat great seafood. (I know, it can be a lot more expensive than Noname or some other places, but it's fast and easy to find)

Harvard Square might be fun, too--I used to love hanging out there as well.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

42. McCormick & Schmicks is where the Legal's used to be

Legals moved around the corner.

You should try the Barking Crab-it's right on the harbor and has great seafood. It's like a clam shack and has indoor and outdoor seating. Jasper's Summer Shack (next to the Back Bay Hilton and by Alewife in Cambridge) are also good for the traditional clam shack atmosphere.

[VoteDemocratic2004]

43. Drinks served in fishbowls check it out plus you get a discount

You can get gift certificates for $25.00 for only $5.00 each.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31411&item=5505418827&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

[VoteDemocratic2004]

44. Check out eBay for Dinner Coupons

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31411&item=5506158126&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V

[TaleWgnDg]

45. I have but one comment to make . . .

and it could be rather vital. Have you considered the availability of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, aka MBTA or the "T?"

The "T" is going to be restricted due to the close proximity of some of the subway lines to and from the Fleet Center, as well as street closings, main highway closings . . . I leave it up to your discretion . . .

Here's a pertinent url (MBTA) that should be somewhat helpful . . . http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/transitupdates.asp#dnc

Good luck, give em hell, and welcome to Boston !!!

:dem:

[Skinner]

49. Oh, Hell.

That just sucks. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Lady President]

46. No suggestions, but a couple questions

I was wondering if anyone had received different or better information from their state party.

1. From what I've heard the train system is going to be closed by 4:00. If that's true, is there going to be transportation (i.e. buses or cabs) around the city? Are the suggested bars close-ish to the hotels?

2. Has anyone heard if we need to arrive with our state delegation? The mail I received definitely suggests it, but is it necessary? It sounded like the buses from the hotels can drive into the Fleet Center and there will be quicker security clearance.

3. What time are we expected to arrive at the Fleet Center?

As you can see by my post count, I'm mainly a lurker, but I'd love to meet a few DUers from around the country.

[Missy Vixen]

47. Okay, I'm a WA DU'er

Here's a suggestion.

Deputize William Pitt and matcom to visit the local state store, or wherever it is one obtains alcohol and mixers in the Boston area. Designate one DU'er with a centrally located hotel room as the official party site.

It will be so difficult for most delegates to move around the Boston area that it may be best either meeting in the Radisson's hotel restaurant (with sky-high drink prices,) or having a do-it-yourselves party in someone's room, IMHO, and splitting the cost for alcohol/mixers/party snacks.

Julie

[GCP]

48. That sounds like a good idea

:D

[ed_vadem]

50. Skinner, I will be hanging out at the Commonwealth Hotel

near Fenway with the VA delegation.

Email me as to where you will be and I will be glad to help out.

I get there on Friday and will be there all week, but am stayng with a cousin in Reading so will be comuting via the Orange line

Ed

[Kathy in Cambridge]

51. Lucky you! That is one swanky place!

;-)

[StopTheMorans]

52. I'm in

but I have to leave early (got in to the party for Breaux at the Aquarium, don't ask me how:) Need any more venue suggestions? Will's suggestions for places on Boylston work; they are far enough away from north station/faneuil hall that they probably won't be too crowded. there are so many places in faneuil hall/downtown crossing that could be cool, but i'm not sure if they'd all be crowded or not? :shrug:

[geniph]

56. You guys do know the convention runs in the evening hours, don't you?

They gavel the convention in at 4:00 p.m. each day, and finish at 10:00 p.m. Those of us that are delegates, alternates, pages, and committee members will be at the Fleet Center between 4 and 10 each day. It's the mornings we have free.

Whenever/wherever you decide to have this, I hope you'll post it as a get-together on the front page so those of us that only have a brief period of time to check the website next week can find you.