Monday, July 28, 2008

MY NEWPORT EXPERIENCE.....(long post)

This weekend was a rarity for yours truly because he actually got to spend a weekend away from the safe confines of Murray Hill. Because of a wedding of one of the members of the Sunday Brew Crew, I found myself leaving New York City and making my way to the picturesque oceanfront town of Newport, Rhode Island, a three-hour trek by train.

While en route to Newport via Amtrak (which I loathe to take, by the way), I couldn't help but to notice how scenic the trek was; very tranquil. If you aren't into waterfront scenery then this wouldn't be for you. However, if you do enjoy natural wonders affiliated with the water, then you will certainly like this place. Between the nautical wonders of the town, the majestic homes of "Mansion Mile", the famous church where JFK and Jackie O' got married, and the great restaurants on the waterfront, Newport, Rhode Island certainly has what it takes for a relaxing getaway. While this gave me much to think about for future vacation treks, the main purpose of this particular visit was the nuptials of one NAPOLEON DYNAMITE.

NAPOLEON and I go back almost ten years, so to have him not only invite me to his wedding, but also ask me to take part in the ceremony was an honor indeed. And since I'm friends with both he and his fiancee, SMURFETTE, it was something to look forward to indeed.

I arrived in Kingston, R.I. (the closest train stop to Newport) and was picked up by the groom himself; the next few hours was a whirlwind of activity pertaining to the wedding; errands had to be run; then there was the wedding rehearsal itself at a venue called BELLE MER, a beautiful location just off the waterfront of Narragansett Bay. Afterwards, I had just enough time to check into my hotel and then back to the Hyatt Regency in time for the Rehearsal Party/NAPOLEON's Birthday Bash.

The party itself started out as a laid-back, low-key affair. Situated on the outdoor deck of the hotel, booze was flowing freely, lots of self-serve seafood-related stations dotted the deck. Throughout the night we were entertained with great music, testimonial speeches and at one point, a cute video displayed on the large outdoor wall of the bride and groom's lives in pictures. The night itself presented plenty of opportunity to network, catch up with old friends and make new ones and yours truly did not shy away from that opportunity. I have to say that the family and friends of both NAPOLEON and SMURFETTE were very, very nice and welcoming and a blast to hang out with.

After the party, everyone went out to one of the local bars (some place called LOCA), a Mexican-themed joint that gave me that "Jimmy Buffet in Cancun" vibe. The only downfall with this place (or any other place that served alcohol for that matter) was that the bar shut down at 1am. 1-A-M!!!! That did not bode well for anyone not from Rhode Island. It really sucked ass for me because it was difficult to find a cab back to my hotel at that point because when all of the bars shut down at the same time, that means that everyone is out fighting for the same cabs. And call me crazy, but Newport doesn't have the same vast fleet of available cabs as NYC.

The wedding day produced perfect weather: warm with a slight hint of a breeze near the water. Since the ceremony didn't take place until 6:30pm, I more or less had most of the day to do whatever I wanted. So I, along with ANGEL, SILENT BOB and his wife BETTY BOOP met up at one of the restaurants near the waterfront for a pre-game of finger foods and cocktails. I had to pace myself because I needed to be ready for the wedding (since I was going to be first reader). The other members of the group apparently picked up where I left off because by the time the ceremony came and left, someone in particular was feeling NO PAIN whatsoever! Whatev. They definitely had a great time.

In any case, the ceremony went off without a hitch (though there were some hilariously funny moments); One in particular involved a member of the groom's party. Right after the bridesmaids and groomsmen made their way down the aisle and up to where they were supposed to stand, one of the groomsmen decided that right before the bride and her father were to make their way down the aisle, would be the perfect moment to rip a fart.

Yes, he ripped a big one.

I was sitting in the second row and of course I could hear it loud and clear. I whipped my head up to see who it was and there were a couple of guys doing all they could to not laugh out loud. Of course, when I see that, I did all that I could to keep from laughing myself. I looked away and almost choked from trying not to laugh. Aside from that (and a couple of flubs from my reading), I thought the ceremony went well. It was nice..... and quick. The groom only cried three times during the ceremony, which was pretty good for him (the over/under was four).

The reception itself was AWESOME! Again, the booze flowed freely, the band on hand was great (and I don't usually like live bands at weddings), and the guests were some of the liveliest at a reception that I've seen since THE DON's wedding a few years back. Everyone had a great time, myself included. I think many folks were surprised to see me get up and dance, let alone have fun. I have to admit, it's been quite awhile since I let my hair down and went with the flow. But I have to say again, it was one hell of a time.

Pre-Wedding Photos

Post-Wedding Cocktail Hour...

I think I can get used to this...

Seriously...

Scenes from "The Reception"

I could post pictures until the cows come home, but as you can see from this small sampling, the wedding was a blast. Now a day later, as I traveled back home from a whirlwind weekend, I leave Newport with great memories, sore feet and thoughts on another trip out of town. The wedding weekend was indeed a success and now it's time to get back to work. The Abbott and McShane families sure know how to throw a party! And a special shoutout to the TUTTLE AGENCY crew- I'll hang with them anytime!

TONIGHT: "MUG NIGHT MADNESS" with $2.00 mugs, all Domestic Drafts and $1.00 Bud/Bud Light mugs ALL NIGHT LONG! MLB Extra Innings with Yankees, Mets and ALL MLB games, anytime! And best of all, NEVER A COVER CHARGE!


Thanks for reading! More updates to come.


Nuff Said