It's nice when days take a twist for the better. Friday started out as a chance to finally meet our fine OMNI Award winning writer in residence, JOn Toner. And it turned out to a fun afternoon/early evening with Dr. Burkey coming from Philly for some talks and fun.

Burkey came in on Amtrak at Newark's Penn Station which is only five minutes from my house on the Path train. We headed to the nearby Portuguese community on Ferry Street and this restaurant my accountant and friend Frank introduced me to: Forno's

Excellent service, great food, very elegant setting without being too formal. I had mustard Salmon and Burkey some steak and stuffed chicken dish. The portions here are big, enough for two and the side dishes of rice and salads and fresh cut potato chip fries are big for sharing.

Burkey had the Flam for desert, and I asked for Pinapple sorbet. I expected something in a cup and got the sorbet with pineapple chunks in half a giant pineapple. I was stunned, it was immence and I barely had half. Excellent presentation and I must have this pineapple sorbet again!

So for next year's CATMAN DO TROIS I just may have everyone hop the Path train to Newark, we have lunch at Fornos and then take you to my secret place in Jersey City where I go to think.

After that great dinner took Airlink to EWR. (Airlink is great if you have little if any heavy luggage. 4 bucks and 15 minutes you can connect to the Path to NYC or take it from Penn to EWR.) Then off to gate 94 to meet JON TONER at his gate. It was only 6:40p and we figured we had time.

Check the board and find Jon's plane from Detroit has LANDED!!! So rush to the gate and this very friendly, smiling, warm fellow wearing his little league's hat greets us. We head to the President's Club and had about an hour to get to know each other.

The President Club's (the big one above the terminal) was packed. I followed thru on my promise to shake Jon Toner's hand and tell him he's one of Flyertalk's best writers. He just shrugged off the kudos. Burkey and Jon (like most Flyertalkers) are very modest and unassuming.

Jon is as terrific and colorful and moving a conversationist as a writer. You all must meet him sometime. He has a wonderful life with his wife and children and his trip stories. I suggested he should take his storeis into a small book, with illustrations by his children (I promised no more glowing adjectives to spare myself the wrath of a certain Flyertalker.) I hope to see you again Mr. Toner.

It's always great to see Burkey and cheer him on as he works to finish medical school. He's also one of the nicest friends on F-T. Like Jon Toner, great to hang out with and have a Sam Adams (Jon smartly took Coke, no Pepsi at teh club )

So thanks Burkey and Jon Toner for turning what would have been an average Friday into a very fun and great and relaxing day! THanks brothers! (Yes Jon, you are adopted!)

Catman you should have let me know I was in the next town over (Harrison) from you today.

njflyer: I'm sorry about not posting this. WIth Jon Toner's tight schedule I didn't know if his flight was going to be late or if he was up to meeting a lot of Flyertalkers. Plus Burkey's trip was a last minute thing.

Next time I'll let you know. But whenever YOU have some free time let me know.

A FT get together in Newark sounds...cultural. I have not been to the aforementioned Fornos, but if you are considering Newark, how about the Ironbound section, with a great selection of Spanish and Portuguese restaurants including Iberia, or Don Pepe's where I will be dining tomorrow night after picking my parents up from EWR .

Or, Fornos sounds excellent.

[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 04-15-2000).]

Actually, FORNOS is on the border of Ironbound. It is the Spanish/Portuguese nabe right off penn Station (where in the Walgreen's they speak English, Spanish and Portuguese.)

It is a great restaurant and a great community. Enjoy your dinner with your parents Dgordon.

Thanks for the location directions Catman, I will try to find it tomorrow. Also, it is nice to see the community undergoing a renaissance (or at least the beginning of one); though most of the new construction and renovations appear to only be happening on the west side of Penn Station. With NJPAC, and the proposed move for the Devils, and Nets, Newark may once again be a nice place to spend an evening. We can only hope so.

arturo es sirprized knewerk es giting nise. elso, arturo lik werds lik fornos used hear on thes bored. es awl they doo en knewerk es forno? arturo mus veset knewerk an fornos awl dey.

------------------
loving, caring, honest, intelligent, empathetic, creative, and giving.

Catman next weekend I have the whole weekend open. Email me if you want to hook up.

[This message has been edited by nj_flyer (edited 04-16-2000).]

Jeez, Catman. I appreciate the kind words, but a bit over the top on the praise!

However it was a great treat to meet you and Burkey, and look forward to my next time through EWR (and how often do you hear that?!)

------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."