Stroke of Genius Dinner at PSOA - April 29 - May 2, 2004 in Boston
 

I'm curious if anyone from the Forum is planning to attend this show. I normally organize a dinner for all the SOG members and that is also open to any Forum members.

I'll be there, and would love to attend an SOG get-together. ;) :sunnysmil

Linda,

My husband has been moving computers around. He gave me his old crappy one and won't let me near his new one. I sent you a meesage a while ago, it got lost in cyberspace.

I wish I could be there with all of you but I am going to be in the Berkshires that weekend.

If you guys need a fabulous place (reasonable) to eat, let me recommend Betty's Wok and Noodle on 250 Huntington Av. It is up the street from the museum and across the street from the symphony. The hot steaming bowls of soup with the shanghai noodles are to die for. It has a 50's decor and passes muster with my Chinese friend. The place is reasonable and fun, go with a gang.

Also, don't miss the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It is my favorite place in Boston. It is build like a Venetian Palazzo with a flowering enclosed courtyard in the middle. A real treat in the winter.

Have a ball! If you need any more info on Boston, let me know, I went to school there and go often.

HI Sharon

I'm sad that I won't see you there!... but the Berkshires is a GREAT place to be .

I will definitely be making a point to get to the Gardner Museum, and thanks for the recommendation on the food.

While at the Berkshires, I hope you get a chance to stop by the Clark Museum if you haven't already been there. I was blown away by the Sargents and other great pieces there.

Thanks for letting me know that I'm miss you at the show. Say hi to your hubby for me. The Lucy is great. I made some modifications to it and am very happy with the choice to make the road trip.

By the way my email address is [email protected] - I had it incorrectly typed on my profile here, and just learned of that a few days ago, so I"m sorry if I've missed messages.

Take care,
Linda

Sharon,

I too am very disappointed. I was really hoping to finally get to meet you, face to face. And I believed Richard Thompson when he sang, "She said it was destiny!"

Destiny?
 

Marvin,

I am truly touched!
Can you and Linda (or any other Soggers) do Betty's Wok maybe on Thursday the 29th or maybe lunch on the 30th.

Let me know. I have to be in the Berkshires for the first of May.

I would love to meet you!

Sincerely,

Soggers! That's a first. :)

Sharon,

Isn't Thursday night the SOG dinner? Can you come to the hotel?

Cynthia,

Maybe we can do the dinner at Betty's Wok?

I have been known to go to hotels. Sure!

I must remind you, Betty's is not tres elegant, funky fifties maybe and fun for a group. I recommended for two reasons, I have never had a lousy meal there and since many Soggers will be there for days, they probably need reasonable places to eat.

Cool Sharon - See you there then!

Linda

... and really looking forward to meet you Marvin. I was just flipping through the pages of my 1983 "Illustrators 25" book, which I bought for myself so long ago now.... and here's your name! Great Work dude.

Yes, Thursday night is the night. I've already committed to McCormick & Schmick's in the hotel. I feel that there are some who would not be able or willing to attend if if were elsewhere. There are some who are driving or flying in at the last minute and are already going to be on their last bit of energy - and they really want to attend the dinner. I'd hate to make it less convenient for them.

For example, Rochelle Cheever is flying in from Italy and at the time she arrives, she'll just be able to make the dinner. But, can you imagine after a flight like that - she'll be beat.

Jonathan Linton is flying home to NJ at 3:30pm, plans to be out the door to drive to Boston by 4:30pm and will make the dinner, but if traffic is bad, he might be a bit late. I don't want him to have to go hunting by himself for a restaurant outside the hotel.

Where and When?
 

Linda, when and where is this assignation?

Marvin,
Should we both bring our Illustrator Annuals and show them our old etchings?

Cynthia, I'd figured you had committed but Sharon made it sound so warm and fuzzy.

Linda, Thanks for the compliment. I'm looking forward to meeting you too.

Sharon, Let's let sleeping dogs lie. Behind every illustration is the memory of what went into it. 'Nuff said!

Sharon,

Did I miss something? Are you coming to Boston on April 29th to have dinner with us? If so, let me know so I can add you to the reservations. We'll be at McCormick and Schmick's in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel starting at 8:15pm.

I was not planning to go the whole affair, but I can make the dinner.
I did not know that I could go to tne SOG dinner without being a participant in the festival. Include me in. I will let you know if my husband will be coming along as well.

The major thing I remember, and none to fondly, are the allnighters.
It's OK with me. However, I am always surprised at the Email I get regarding, shall I say, my past life.

Looking forward to meeting you in Boston, sans etchings.

Sharon,

Absolutely you can come to the dinner. The Stroke of Genius dinner is not an official part of the PSOA event. I am putting you down - let me know about your husband. Here is the email I sent out to everyone this afternoon:

Date: Thursday, April 29

Time: 8:15pm

Location: McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel I will have the reservations in the name "A Stroke of Genius."

Menu: The menu is mostly seafood. However, if you are not a seafood person, there are a few non-seafood selections - Chicken, NY Strip, Filet Mignon, Pork Chop

Price Range: Appetizers start around $8.00; the least expensive entree was a cheeseburger for $6.80 and a blackened chicken sandwich for $9.70; regular dinners from around $15 up to $24.

Handling of checks: We will be ordering off the normal menu rather than a limited menu with a set price.

The restaurant preferred to give a single check for the group. However, I feel this would be awkward and potentially a nightmare to figure what everyone owes and then try to collect it. So, the restaurant has, with much reticence, agreed to do separate checks. But I have a suggestion for making it easier for them. If most of you would pair up with a person next to you on a check, it should be relatively easy for two people to figure out how much each of you owes. This would reduce the number of checks in about half and thereby reduce the stress on the restaurant. If you are with a spouse or significant other and two of you are already on one check, this is not necessary.

Attendees: 25 confirmed

Baumgaertner, Peggy
Bittinger, Ned (finalist in portrait competition - congratulations, Ned!)
Chambers, Bill
Cheever, Rochelle
Cohen, Jill & Ron
Davies, Lynn
Martinez, Juan
de la Vega, John
Ellingwood, Annette
Erickson, Connie
Fournier, Lisa & guest
Linton, Jonathan
Mattelson, Marvin
Neal, Michael Shane
Nelson, Linda & guest
Paules, Dean & JoAnn
Reilly, Mary
Riley, Jim
Rose, Nancy
Spinks, Johanna

Attendees still unsure:
Brown, Glenda
Wells, Karin

May stop by:
Dave Kassan (member of the SOG Portrait Artist Forum and a finalist in the competition - congratulations Dave!)

Cynthia,

Ditto! I also will not be attending the Conference, but the opportunity to meet all of you is well worth the trip for dinner. Is there still space at the table(s)?

Thanks.

Tim and Garth,

Sure there's room. Great! Pretty soon, we'll qualify for that private room I passed up. :) That's ok though - dinner is cheaper this way.

Please be sure to note what I wrote above - try to team up on a check with someone next to you to save stress on the restaurant personnel.

What to see in Boston before dinner?
 

Hi All,

Does anyone have great suggestions about must-see exhibitions or galleries in Boston on April 29th? I will not be at the Conference, but would love to view some important works before we all gather for the dinner we so eagerly anticipate. I have some friends showing at the Vose Galleries until the 30th.

If anyone would be interested in joining with me at a museum, etc., or sharing a ride up to Boston (I'm starting from Philadelphia, and passing by N.Y.C., New Haven, etc.), please let me know.

Thanks.

Hi,

There is a portrait exhibit, that (ahem) I and other local worthies are participating at at the Copley Society, 158 Newbury St., just up from the Voses.

The Voses are a class act, I partcipated in a show there last year. They have some beautiful stuff there including a Benson portrait to die for. Who's showing there now? I'd like to see it.

Go to the Gardner Museum on the Fenway, near the Boston Museum. Tres beautiful. It has Degas, Van Dykes, too many to mention.

One block over from Newbury St. is Commonwealth Ave.. The center strip is a sculpture garden with many neat and interesting pieces along the way. The Boston Public Garden sports the fabulous St. Gaudens memorial to the Civil War. All are within a relatively easy stroll of each other.

Reasonable good eats at Betty's Wok and Noodle on Huntington Ave, across from the symphony.

Have fun!

Hi, Cynthia.

I would like to attend the dinner if it's not too late. I might be a late arrival since I'll be getting in Boston late in the afternoon. See you all there...

Would love to have you - no, it's not too late. See you there!

Cynthia, I'll be bringing a guest.

Marvin,

Got it. Please send me name of your guest.


Everyone,

Please remember to team up with at least one other person for your check to ease the stress on the servers. At this point we have 35 coming to dinner and even teaming up with 2 people would be better.

We're up to 35 attendees! This is our largest group ever and it's bound to be a wonderful event.