Monday, July 26, 2004

Southie did good!
Posted by tzannos@bostonworks.com">Svetlana Husseini at 4:00 PM -

Emily, I feel your pain.  I worked the Media Party on Saturday night in 4 inch heels. Its Monday and my feet are still burning.  I felt my arches fall around midnight.  Not good.  It will be flip-flops for me for the rest of the week.

Like Emily, our delegation welcoming party was phenomenal.  Southie did it right.  They showed NY that we are a party town and can take a theme to all levels.

Our mermaid wasn't actually swimming in a fish tank like the ones at Coral Room in Manhatten's Chelsea area but Haley Paster of Swampscott flapped her tail, waved and smiled unwaveringly for hours.  Michael Peluso was perched atop his lifeguard post waiting to save any New Yorker - Yankee fan or not.  And all the servers were wearing "I Love NY" t-shirts.  They smiled, welcomed all the delegates, and were the best examples of Boston's great spirit ( other than the Beantown Buddies, of course).

Besides the great food, good music, and excellent vibe, the Southie residents were sure to let the delegates know they were welcome.  They lined the streets and draped flags to welcome the delegates that at one point didn't have many nice things to say about the history of their neighborhood.   It didn't matter.  People cheered, held up signs, and were sincerely excited to have NY see their neighborhood.

When we arrived, a warm welcome awaited the delegates as they entered the hallowed Bathhouse, a Boston landmark.  My Grandmother told me stories of how she and her 10 brothers and sisters would spend their summer days on that beach.  It was one of the few areas that their mother could take them and let them be kids without getting into too much trouble.  Not having much money growing up, the sand and surf also gave them hours of fun at low cost. 

I was sure to tell everyone about all the islands, the JFK Library, my grandmother's stories, and Sully's.  Those seem like little things but if you love your city and you tell people all the cool little things that make it special, then they too will love it.  Enthusiasm is infectious.  The goal of the party was to set the tone for the week. Southie residents showed New Yorkers, that Bostonians are fun, friendly, and full of charm.

 

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