New England Madeira Offline: New York - Connecticut - Massachusetts

[Matt K]

Gauging interest for an offline, in Connecticut in Uncasville by Mohegan Sun or along the shoreline ~New Haven <>New London area. Date is still TBD. Near the casino is an excellent HK/Cantonese style restaurant and my thought is that roast duck + madeira will be a great pairing.

Gary Banker, Marco D and myself are all tentatively in. Some of the tables there easily hold 8-10 people and of course we can always get more tables.

Who is interested?

General thoughts on timing?

[Moses Botbol]

Is this going to be exclusive to Madeira I assume? Closer to MA, the better for me...

[Matt K]

If we can get enough people it would be fun to do that but I'm open to anything - I'd just like to get a group going in the region then maybe we can do something a few times a year.

[Marco D.]

Roast duck and Madeira does sound intriguing...

[Mark L]

I live in LA but am originally from Guilford. My parents still live there, actually. So while I don't currently have a specific plan to be in CT, I need little in the way of motivation to make the trip!

If I happen to make plans to travel to CT, and no date for this event has yet been chosen, I'll let you guys know. In the meantime, I'll let you guys pick a date and I'll just try my best to make it!

Cheers,
Mark

[Roy Hersh]

I've been to Guilford for a Madeira tasting some years ago. Over 20 great bottles tasted, I'll never forget that event. Just made the last late train back to NYC by less than a minute!

[Matt K]

Mark, our plans are pretty tentative at this point..let us know if you're thinking about a specific date range please.

Roy - was that at Coastal? You're welcome to come reprise that with us when we pick a date.

Seriously, both Marco and I basically have to drive past at least one NE corridor train station, I'm sure if anyone wants to take the train from NY or BOS pickup/drop-off could be arranged. :)

[Matt K]

Roy - I've put it all together now re: Guilford...I'm going to send an invite accordingly.

[Miguel Simoes]

Fairly unlikely that i be able to make it but pls keep me posted

[Matt K]

Sure thing Miguel. I'm sure a ride from a train station could be arranged as well. Both Marco and I basically 'have' to drive close by to a train station reachable by Amtrak or Metro North.

[Matt K]

Dates Proposals: (all Saturdays)
May 16th?
June 6th?
June 13th?

The restaurant I've proposed is about a mile from Mohegan Sun so:
-It's about 1/2 way between NY & Boston. The restaurant and casino are ~5 minutes off of 395.
-There are numerous accommodation options at the casino and surrounding areas to match all budgets.
-There are inexpensive buses from both NY and Boston. Also some of us will be coming from the Rt 95 corridor so Amtrak and Metro North train station pickups are very possible.
-You can get a cab/shuttle from the casino to the restaurant - no need to drive. :)

[Marco D.]

All those days are fine, although I have a slight preference for the June 13th date.

[David Co]

Just saws this thread. Although its 3 plus hour drive and I am a porthead versus a madeirahead I would like to meet a few of the people from the boards in person. If you expand to Port I am already there waiting. If you keep it Madeira only chances are I will need to adopt a bottle (the few bottles i have are nothing to right home about). If anyone is traveling for this I will probably stay at the Mare's INN in Ledyard.

[Miguel Simoes]

Fear will have to pass. Boy #3 is due May 30th. Will have my hands v full for a stretch.

Look fwd to a coming gathering of the New England folk.

[Moses Botbol]

I am waiting for a Madeira order from Marty's to come in or I won't have any Madeira worth driving for to show. Port, I have plenty... Marty's is taking their sweet time getting it, but their offer is hard to beat...

[Moses Botbol]

has a date been set?

[Matt K]

Hi guys - sorry for the lack of response - I was on vacation 2 weeks ago then spent last week catching up.

Marco was the only one who expressed a date preference; June 16th so if we can get a decent sized group to commit for that date it will work for me.

Thematically I would like to stick with Madeira but not to the point of excluding people.

I'm also very open to ideas regarding how to theme the Madeira - grape/vintage/decade/value. Any suggestions from some of you with more experience?

Did your order come in Moses?
MY winter/spring store & auction purchases have been arriving in a flood lately.

[Frank Carrano]

Hi--I'm working 12-10 on June 16th but have two feelers out to get that day covered; should hear back in the next day or two. If I can get it covered I will happily make the trip down to CT from Boston.

Frank

Moses--are you talking about orders from Marty's in Newton?

[Jim S.]

I wish I could make it, but mid-week is bad for me (unless the Madeira group meets in NYC).
Also, June 16th is my father's 93rd birthday, so I'll be spending that evening drinking 1922 Boal with dear ol' dad.
Have fun.

[Moses Botbol]

Moses--are you talking about orders from Marty's in Newton?

Yes I am.

I saw some other good Madeira offers I can fall back from if I finish my Marty's Madeira before the event. There's a good chance I may be in Australia for this event . I usually only get about 2-3 day notice before I leave. There's a chance on whatever weekend that is decided, I may have to back out at last moment.