February 27, 2008   no responses

“The Best of Times” occurred at a fantastic party on Sunday February 17, 2008 as Gary and I celebrated our 25th anniversary. Sixty of our dearest friends and family trekked to the Bronx for a gala afternoon.

The guests gathered at Trattoria Zero Otto Nove on Arthur Avenue for home made Pizza Margarita baked in an authentic brick pizza oven by a pizzaiolo direct from Naples. All this was washed down by a very special red sparkling wine called Gragnano from Salenero.  Forty-five minutes into cocktails, a eight-piece band from the Feast of the Giglio in Brooklyn marched into the restaurant and invited the group to parade down Arthur Avenue to Roberto’s Restaurant for dinner.

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What a sight this was! An Italian street band leading our family and friends laded down with gifts laughing and clapping in a festive mood all the way around the corner. Pedestrians gawked, patrons stuck their heads out of various ristorante, and cars honked their horns as we strolled down the mean streets of Belmont. My cousin, an avid movie buff, commented that it reminded him of the Sicilian wedding scene from “The Godfather.” He guessed one of my inspirations; the other was the final scene from Fellini’s “8 ½.”

Roberto’s, one of the best restaurants in New York City, was the scene for nine-course Sunday supper and very special presentation. My second inspiration for this part of the evening was the Broadway Revues of the 1950’s that commented on the social scene of the day.  Gary and I welcomed our intimate gathering explaining that the evening program of music of Broadway Show Tunes would reflect aspects of our relationship and comment on our lives together for the past twenty-five years.  The surprise hit of the evening was our opening rendition wish custom lyrics of I Remember It Well from the movie, “Gigi.” There was not a dry eye in the house.

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Four song segments punctuated the many course Italian dinner of hot/cold appetizers, two pastas, risotto, veal and lamb, and desserts. Three Broadway performers sang music by the great composers of Broadway: e.g. Rodger’s Some Enchanted Evening; Styne’s Just in Time; Porter’s Always True to You Darlin’ in My Fashion; Gershwin’s They All Laughed and Kern’s Don’t Ever Leave Me..

The finale ended in a toast to us with a sing-along to the Jerry Herman tune, The Best of Times from “La Cage aux Folles”. This erupted into dancing to the Disco Classics from the 1970’s.  Prosecco and Limoncello and “La Comedia e finita”.  All of our guests received a CD of the Show Tunes perfomed along with traditional Italian Wedding “Confetti.”

The warmth and love from our family and friends still fills our hearts.

Gary:      We met at nine

Tony:      We met at eight

Gary:      I was on time

Tony:      No, you were late

Gary:      Ah, yes, I remember it well

               You cruised me dear

Tony:      No you cruised me

Gary:      I sat alone

Tony:      You sat next to me

Gary:      Ah, yes, I remember it well

That dazzling April moon!

Tony:      There was none that night

And the month was June

Gary:      That’s right. That’s right.

Tony:      It warms my heart to know that you

Remember still the way you do

Gary:      Ah, yes, I remember it well

How often I’ve thought of that Friday-

Tony:              Monday

Gary:      Night when we had our first rendezvous

And somehow I foolishly wondered if you might

By some chance be thinking of it too?

That taxi ride

Tony:      I walked you home

Gary:      We went upstairs

Tony:      No, you sent me home

Gary:      Ah, yes, I remember it well

We had some rain

Tony:      No, it was fair

Gary:      Those Donna Summer songs!

Tony:      Sung by Cher?

Gary:      Ah, yes I remember it well.

You wore Jeans of Levi blue

Tony:      Chino’s LL Bean

Gary:      Am I getting old?

Tony:      Oh, no, not you

How cute you were

How young and gay

A disco queen

In every way

Gary:   Ah, yes, I remember it well.

Both:      Ah, yes, we remember it well