Chautauqua: Festival of the Schreiners

The 4th of July in Marblehead is all about the Festival of the Arts. It's great. Local artists and craftsmen show their work all over town. There are free concerts at Crocker Park, a street festival, a craft show, a writer's workshop, a film festival...there's even a window box competition. And on the 4th of July there are fireworks over the harbor.

This year the Schreiner clan put in their reservations early for the 4th of July. Well, actually, Jim and Jenna said they would visit. So it made sense that Little (big) Dan would come. And then if they were all coming, it made sense for Dan and Barb to come. And if they were coming, then Jon and Kara had to come. So you see, it quickly evolved to Festival of the Schreiners. What fun!

It started out kind of rough for the Schreiners. Dan, Barb, Jim, Jenna, Kara and Jon had all piled in a van with a broken air conditioner. Hours into the trip they hit a traffic jam, and the van overheated. So you can guess what's next...they had to put on the HEAT.

When they arrived limp, sweaty and exhausted, I thought Barb might pass out. We had to get the cold drinks out right away.

Later Dylan played piano and Jim rapped the whole sizzling van story...priceless.

The next day, instead of going to the fireworks in Marblehead, we went right to the big time...Boston - the best fireworks in America.

First stop? The USS Constitution for a full tour. Fascinating and worth the long wait.

Second Stop? Pizzeria Regina...a Boston institution set in the North End.

Now that's a pizza. For me, it's surpassed only by Santarpio's of East Boston.

We didn't eat much though, because we had reservations at Durgin Park another Boston institution set in Quincy Market (otherwise known as Faneuil Hall).

We met up with Dan, Julie, Mike and Matt. Food was OK and the service was rude. But at Durgin Park you feel cheated if the service isn't rude...so it was perfect.

From there, on to the fireworks.

But first - a great pic of all the cousins hanging out in the park near Paul Revere's house and the Old North Church.

Here's how it goes as the sky darkens over the Charles every 4th of July. The Boston Pops play a free live concert that includes the 1812 Overture. The fireworks are fantastic and there are millions of people all gathered at the Hatch Shell and around the Esplanade.

Even if you're not American...even if you're not typically patriotic...you're patriotic when you're in Boston on the 4th of July.

You sing along during the patriotic sing along, even if you typically don't sing along. Then there are even more fireworks all set to a soundtrack. The best one? Dropkick Murphy's, 'natch.

The next day we spent in Marblehead poking around the Festival of the Arts. Some of us tasted the worlds best lobster bisque at The Barnacle (no kidding - we've tried it worldwide and it is the best).

Some of us did some shopping. And some of us...

...took a dive into the hahbah (harbor)...a Marblehead tradition.

And some of us went down to the Marblehead Lobster Company and snagged lobsta for dinner.

My answer for cooking lobster for a crowd? Cook it outside. Er...I mean, have the Dans cook them outside.