One of the hinge-points of my misspent teenage youth was Arlo Guthrie's song, "ALICE's RESTAURANT". I was teaching myself to play guitar in the 1960s and at one point I knew almost every verse of this 18 minute-long ballad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8DtpdXZi0M

Well, the point is that after all these years, I have never actually been to Alice's Restaurant and I want to go, take some pictures, sing a verse of the song and walk out. . I figure if I do that, they'll think I'm crazy and won't draft me. And if two of us went in, sang a verse (in harmony) and walked out, they'd think we were queer and wouldn't draft either of us. And if three or four or eight of us walked in, sang a verse of Alice's Restaurant and walked out, they'd think it was a movement, and end the war in Vietnam.....

Anyway, Alice's is just 25 miles north of Lime Rock Park raceway, in the tiny village of Stockbridge, Mass. The church Alice lived in still stands in nearby Great Barrington, Mass (abt 6 more miles), and I would like a photo of that, too. The dump the song mentions is no longer operational (heck, it was closed on holidays even back in the 60s) so there would be no need to even search for it.

Arlo's story was true, and these places have become iconic folklore landmarks. Alice Brock is living in P-town on Cape Cod, and I would someday like to meet her in person and have her autograph a photo of her old restaurant.

SO ~ if the weather holds and my Z doesn't break down, I plan to swoop up there and scope these two landmarks out, maybe this weekend or next.

Anyone who remembers this great ballad from the 60s (or has even a little bit of interest in American folk lore) is absolutely free and invited to cruise along with me.

Frank

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1970 240Z

I got the movie, and a good movie it is, but I didn't know it was right in our back yard. I'll someday have to check that out, when I'm not so busy.

how bout this saturday morning? count me in Frank!

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Sounds like a great idea. Stockbridge is a beautiful drive...up Route 7, then veer off on 183 after Great Barrington. I won't be able to make it, as I have to go to a wedding...enjoy!

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Colin F. Gentle
1970 Datsun 240z #11137

i haven't gotten to cruise with you Frank this year. this will be fun!

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Yeah Mike ~ the last time I tried to meet you (and the rest of the guyz) for a Saturday morning (at Steve's breakfast), my Z quit on the highway. Now the ignition switch has been replaced and I trust it for a 200 mile round-trip.

I just want a picture of me and my Z parked at the front door of the restaurant and in front of the church!

I figure the leaves will be turning about now and it would make a great Z cruise.

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1970 240Z

and with someone there it will make it easier to take those pictures. you name a time and a place and i will meet you there Frank.

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

also Frank this will be a good way to celebrate my first year with the club with the man responsible for bringing my baby home.

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

By the way, Mike ~ that's TODAY! Happy First-Year anniversary!

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1970 240Z

thanks Frank!

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

I wasted a month of college learning every word of this song.

I say wasted because I don't remember it all. If I still did, it would have been a month well spent.

That song has become a Thanks Giving Tradition.. So many great lines its hard to pic a favorite.

Well, using Wild Bill's advice I checked Underground Weather for this Saturday, btwn Bridgeport CT and Stockbridge MA.

Temps should hover around 70*, with half cloud cover and a light breeZe. There's a 30% chance of rain in the early morning and late evening. Isaac and I drove thru a lot worse than that on our way to Rochester this summer.

It's just at 100 miles from B'port to Stkbrdg, which should take us a couple hours at best. If we met in Bport @10AM, drove up Super 8 to Rte 7, and Rte44, then back to Rte7 into Stkbrdg, we should arrive at Alice's Restaurant just in time for lunch. (It's not called Alice's anymore, but it has a sign saying it was once, and it's still just a half a mile from the railroad tracks). At Alice's (you can get anything you want there) we could get directions to the church (which is now called the Guthrie Center, and is owned by Arlo himself). We drive 6 more miles, scope the place out and head back home.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stock ... aurant.jpg

http://www.guthriecenter.org/?content=about

How would you modify that plan?

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1970 240Z

Sounds like a fine plan. Where we meeting in Bridgeport?

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Unsure at this point. We'll deviZe some plan later this week, when we know who else might come with us. I would imagine we should shoot for a location just up Rte8, to avoid all the I95 mess. I'm open to suggestions.

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1970 240Z