I happened to come across a suggestion in another thread, I believe offered by Lilylady, proposing to gather at a restaurant following the tour for a chance to have a bit more time for casual chit chat especially since your tour schedule is limited for personal conversation.

Since Larry Buck has a very "cool" piano tech shop in Lowell located in one of the old mill buildings (10 minutes down the road from Haverhill... ok, maybe 15 mins with traffic)I thought it would make for a great chance to gather and enjoy meeting those of you taking the tour and an opportunity for local members to meet up with everyone.

I'll make a couple of lasagna's, we can sip some vino and enjoy a chance to chat "live"!!

I should also mention that a Petrof III (6'4") will be available for playing in the performance area of Larry's shop.

In between playing the piano, eating and chatting, there would be an opportunity to view and discuss some of Larry's projects which he so willingly enjoys sharing and dicussing with anyone who is interested.

So, what say ye, visitors and local members???!!!!

Oh, BTW, Larry, it's ok to invite everyone, right???!!!

It would be a pleasure to have everyone "over".

Larry

Thanks for the great idea Terry and for Larry's generosity to provide a location. Sheryl and I would love to join the group. We will be staying at the Best Western Tuesday and Wednesday and going to the Piano Museum on Thursday.
Tony

Count me in!

A great invitation!

We have had a few get togethers at Larry's. All wonderful.

Think --- an old industrial brick building setting. Several floors high. Larry on one of the top floors I think. Big old elevator. Performance room. Several tech rooms. Entrance hall. Office.

I had already asked Larry to come in time for the lunch party get together at MH so you could meet him / vice versa, and he said yes! So maybe we could have an auto parade to his place!

;-)

Hey Larry, got cots? should we bring sleeping bags?

You never know how long these piano parties can last... And we know the party extends to the Fredericks Museum the next day!


LL

Sounds like fun!

I found some pictures from a previous party at Larry's place...

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/1/12118.html

Those pic's are a hoot!!


I would hope that Cecil, Bruce, the Burgett's and anyone else from M&H who is interested, would consider joining us.

They are most welcome of course, but they are usually busy prepping for their big dealer's meeting the day after our tour.

Maybe they could sneak away for a little while to join us in a glass of wine though :-)
I'll let them know about the party.

Heck, it's only up the street a little (isn't it?).

actually, it's "down" the street (495S)

26.3 mi to be exact!

Right, down the street.
Maybe I'd better get directions :-)

One of the dealers attending the dealer meetings at M&H (day after our tour) asked if he could attend the party. I said sure, by all means.

...looks pretty straight forward from the factory to Larry Bucks place...

I've gotten lost twice using a voice prompt GPS unit. Someone go first and leave me bread crumbs to follow.

thanks for the chuckle Frank...does your GPS unit have a male or female voice?? I keep telling my wife...'see, she doesn't yell at me!!' lol jk

Rental cars, female voices.

And yes, they do yell at you if you mess up.
My adventures...

- Right Turn in 1/2 mile
- Right Turn in 1/4 mile
- Prepare to make right turn
- Make right turn
- MAKE RIGHT TURN!
- Turn Missed, please wait, recalculating route! (I could hear her muttering s-t-u-p-i-d under her breath).

In San Diego I punched in for directions to airport parking. Now admittedly I'd had a couple of cocktails with dinner:-)

I was already running late, of course.

Followed the directions given, when she said ..
"You have arrived" I looked around, all I could see were truck terminals. Pulled up to a gate and asked the woman in the booth, she said you are in the "off airport" parking area (who knew?).

I missed my plane :-(


In Canada, I punched in my hotel destination.
She said "Right turn in 23 kilometers"

23 kilometers?? What the heck is that?
Does that mean like, 500' or 72 miles?

When I finally got in the area near my hotel, she said "You have arrived at your destination" (I was still driving down the street).
Oh ya, there's my hotel receding in my rearview mirror.
"Re-Computing!"

To top it off, I'd turned on the rear window wiper and seat warmer by mistake, and couldn't figure out how to turn them off. It was a warm sunny day.

Dumb tourist riding in circles around Toronto with my rear window wiper flaling away (and hot cross buns).

Like I said, maybe I'll follow somebody to Larry's place.

ROFLMAO....too good Frank, maybe you should just ride with us or take a cab...

It's a good thing I will be riding with my husband! HE has a wonderful sense of direction- one of those people with an inbuilt compass. I, otoh, can get lost in my own back yard! Geographically challenged, yes, I am!

Frank... Great stories!

I'll print up directions to Larry's shop and have them available at the tour for anyone who is interested in attending.

BTW, I had a brief conversation with our renowned host, Larry Buck, and was informed the Petrof III has arrived in the performance room at his Lowell shop.

I'd like to encourage others to come forward and at least give a hint as to whether you plan to attend. Otherwise, it appears one lasagna or one small casserole is all that will be necessary!

Or, how about this; Members who RSVP in this thread will be served first!! :p

We're in...

Deb and Les

Terry:

I think we will follow you to Larry's place from M&H so we don't get lost.
Tony

Count us, too!

I would like to attend if I may. Does anyone know about what time festivities will begin at Larry's?

JMT... great to see you are planning to join us!!

I figured the tour group shd be heading down to Lowell by 4-4:30...??? I told Larry I thought 5pm would be an approximate time for people to begin arriving.

Thank you.

Should we bring anything?

Oooo, can I come!? I will have to miss the tour but would love to meet up with all members, new and old!

Terry, what can I bring? What time do you suppose you will all be descending on Larry's?

If I am a bit early, I can always get a car wash while I wait.

Have fun everyone. I can't make it. I'm accompanying a chorus for a concert the next day and have rehearsal during the day Wednesday. Plus, my golf league is on Wednesday.

Enjoy!!! Hard to believe it has already been 6 months since the Cape Cod Piano Fest...

woodfab and bee... glad you are planning to join us!!

Bee.. if you are able to arrive early, plan on some "private" playing time at the Petrof!

I'm still debating on menu options.


I'll handle the main course and anyone who would like to do cheese/crackers, fruit, a beverage, etc, is more than welcome.

And we can probably open the arrival time to 4pm if that works better for some of you.

Eric, sweetie :3hearts: ... nice of you to post! We will certainly miss not having your presence at this gathering. I know you'll be a huge factor in the success of the concert!
I hope the CC group will be up to CC Piano Fest II in Sept/Oct!!

Fillet Mignon
Green Beans Almondene
Chocolate Mousse'
Shrimp Cocktail

....

Is this any help?

what!!! no lobsta'