October 5, 2008

Journey to Jersey Ends on an Alarming Note!

October 5th, 2008

Following the sensational Jersey Boys matinee performance and stage door time with the cast, the Tech Half and I were invited to our friend and Four Seasons’ historian’s family’s house in New Jersey for a wonderful evening of family, friends, some marvelous food, and some amazing rare Seasons’ recordings!

David and his kids, Crist and Ella, picked us up right at the August Wilson Theatre stage door and we began our adventure. So, we focused on the old Four Seasons’ haunts. We were driving all over the map like a cockroach–Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Belleville–all the places you dream about visiting–as you’re listening to 4 Seasons’ 45′s as a kid!

Here are a few of the highlights: Turns out, many decades ago, David’s mom lived next to Frank Sinatra in Hoboken! In Belleville, we had the opportunity to see Tommy DeVito’s childhood home, in addition to the Belmont Tavern! Then, we had a marvelous evening dinner celebration with David and his wife Lynette and their kids, that included listening to some amazingly rare Four Seasons’ recordings from over 40 years ago!

Following the action-packed day and evening, it was about 1AM in our 11th floor hotel room as we were getting ready to hit the sack. Then, the piercing fire alarms began! By this time, I was already in my sweats and my favorite Jersey Boys T-shirt, telling the Tech-Half that “we’re all gonna die and we gotta get the hell outta here!”

The calm, always practical, never overly-frantic Tech-Half said, “Hey, don’t worry, it’s gonna be a false alarm.” He figured the blaring alarms would just go away, even though I was telling him to “chop chop!” He systematically grabbed his wallet, camera, and phone to take with him, and started putting on his socks for the trip downstairs.

I said, “What are you going to do now, rinse out your socks?” and added, “OMG, We’re all gonna die here! YOU DON’T NEED SOCKS!”

Turns out, after zipping down 11 flights of stairs, seeing big, big firemen in their four big trucks–all was fine with the hotel. The problem? An overheated light fixture.

Now, the Tech-Half never goes to bed without his socks!

6 Comments »

  1. Susie, how did you and the Tech Half make it past David’s security clearance to gain access to the Four Seasons’ room? I’ve also had the honor of being a guest in David and Lynette’s abode, and initially had to pass a security clearance twice as thorough as McCain gave Palin.

    After clearance, we had to get through the alarm system; I’m guessing the Tech Half was able to break the code easily, something I couldn’t do. And while I was waiting for David to turn off the alarm, I was subject to the growls of David’s dog, A Sundae Kind o’ Love (“Sundae” for short), who weighs twice as much as I do.

    I too loved all David’s memorabilia about Frankie, Tommy, Nicky, and Bob “performing was never my thing” Gaudio, especially his Hall of Fame induction stuff.

    You visited the Belmont Tavern besides, Susie? So, is the rumor true that you and the Tech Half are buying the Belmont as a permanent venue for all future Jersey Boys fans’ reunions and brunches?

    Comment by Howard Tucker — October 5, 2008 @ 11:29 pm

  2. Wow – I wonder what some of those old rare recordings were…?

    “Now, the Tech-Half never goes to bed without his socks!”

    Good for him. Practicing safe socks is a good thing.

    Comment by stubbleyou — October 6, 2008 @ 5:50 am

  3. Susie and Dale,
    Imagine that you, without whom none of this would have happened,
    were visiting the historic places of the Four Seasons, without whom none of this would have happened, guided by a Four Season historian and his lovely wife, who made sure that all of which did happen is known by all of us who love this wonderful story and show.

    Thank you David and Lynette Cace, Susie and Dale Skarl! IE

    Comment by irene eizen — October 6, 2008 @ 6:41 am

  4. Great memories Susie & Dale; sounds like you both had a wonderful time! And for me…thankfully I spotted David & Lynette walking over to B. Smith’s last Sunday before the Brunch ended…or I never would have found the place! Good times & good people; you can’t top that in the old neighborhood!

    Comment by NewJerseyLasagna — October 6, 2008 @ 8:02 am

  5. Sounds like you all had an exciting time…in more ways than one!!! Just think of the all the memories that lie in the walls of those homes you got to see. Wow. What a wonderful time it must have been for all of you. I am sooooooooooo jealous!!!!!

    Comment by Lenora Antunes — October 6, 2008 @ 5:16 pm

  6. Sounds like a wonderful time, except for the fire “drill”. I’ve been in that situation on the 26th floor with my husband and 3 kids – not fun!! Thank you for always sharing!

    Comment by Catherine — October 7, 2008 @ 3:19 pm

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