10E2651: Bow Tie...

A few years back now... Barman says to me, "You tie that yourself?" Long pour of Jameson and ginger ale follows. (The debate over which Irish whiskies are Catholic or Protestant may be BS but there was no Bushmills in sight...)

"I only wear bow ties" he says. "One day I was working late, almost alseep, and in comes Tom Johnson [Bruins coach and player, Hall of Famer 1970- ed.] and says 'I bet no one in this bar can tie a bow tie!' - So my friends wake me up sayin 'He can do it'.  I step forward and cross the ends over, longer end up - and he says 'You can stop there, I can tell you know how'. Then Tom comes in the next week and gives me a whole bag o' silk ties. Made by a lady in the North End. That was 1979."

The tv in the corner was playing the Penguins and Islanders game.

Photo: Dan Goshtigian for the Boston Globe

Tom Johnson served the Bruins as a player, coach and front office executive 

for over 30 years until his retirement in 1998.

10E2650: Waaa...Wachusett

EVEN THOUGH it is currently 65degrees out Boston... there is 3feet of base is all over Wachusett and lots of snow to be had. It was not quite as quiet as I make out in these pics, but weekday skiing or riding means easy parking and deals on tickets. Somervillens - WaWa is just 55 minutes on the nail from Davis Square by car...  Exit 25 off route 2.  

This mid-mountainside stop is new to me.  Bullock Lodge. Woodstove inside as well as cider donuts / coffee etc.  The Crowley family are longtime operators of the mountain, as well as part-owner of Polar Beverages, so all you NOW FIZZING members can go nuts tracking down glass bottled Polar here as well as Polar seltzer fountain drinks.  Count me in....  

Yard Sale!!! Off the lift. Iced in. See those in the spring.

I counted 3 fireplaces. Bark down...

Have to mention - the lunches are beyond reasonable.  Not just less expensive than lodge food in other ski areas... less expensive than resto-city places. Chicken and fries for $7.99 or soup and big sandwich for $10... just add a seltzer and you are set!!

Must add, Wachusett Mountain have extended a tool for our local Friends of the Acton Libraries to help you save on lift tickets while also donating funds. LINK.   $10 to the Friends each time the code DON-FAL is used online. How it works: Anyone using our code DON-FAL while purchasing lift tickets online will be tagged. Each use will result in $10 towards your organization. Ordering lift tickets online always gets you a discount - guaranteed a minimum of $5 off.  Be sure to click Update Cart so the use is tracked. Thank you!