Friday, January 9, 2009

Westchester Alumni Association's First Social of 2009!

MARFRELESS Saturday, April 18th 3 PM - 6 PM

This quaint bar is located at 2006 Peden (77019) and has been in existence for over 37 years. It is known by many as "The Blue Door" as there is NO signage…; Just a mysterious blue door that you enter through, under a stairwell, behind River Oaks Theatre.

"Back-in-the-day" some of our classmates may have explored the bar as it was known for years as "the make-out bar" due to the 2nd floor filled with over 20 couches, dim lighting and classical music.

Six years ago, alumni Emily Eckermann Clay, class of 1984, her husband, Robert, and their business partner, Michael Wells, took over and did a complete restoration. They purchased new couches, new carpet, built out the beautiful back bar with a granite bar top, and swapped out the clusters of scattered art for a collection of black & whites taken by Emily, all photographed locally and featuring different angles and perspectives. Marfreless is also now a non-smoking bar.
There is still no sign for Marfreless. They still play classical music. And while they changed nothing, they upgraded everything!

Marfreless has won awards for their outstanding martinis, they have over 20 premium wines by the glass, and they feature an extensive beer menu.

Stop by this Westchester networking opportunity to meet with former classmates and make new acquaintances from classes of 1968-1985 with our common bond of Westchester. Also, rediscover "our Westchester" as it reopened as Westchester Academy of International Studies in 1999 and meet alumni and scholarship winners!

Our goal with WAA is to financially support our alma mater by fundraising for scholarships. We also support our alumni with volunteerism and attendance at graduation and other functions at the school. Our social opportunities are a fun way to network socially and professionally at the same time as support our beloved school!

There is NO charge to attend our social; however, in order to continue this effort, we would love for you to consider membership to the WAA and/ or scholarship contributions. Please go to www.westchesterwildcats.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can be an active part!

Meanwhile, come by, kick back, and join us for some fun! =2 0Drink prices are reduced and, in addition, Marfreless will contribute $1 for every wine/ beer/ cocktail to the WAA fund! If you have a few extra bucks, participate in a raffle where Marfreless will be preparing some fun gift baskets with proceeds benefitting WAA! Marfreless also is providing generous, heavy appetizers free of charge to our alumni! Thank you, thank you!!

Our party will be private, but at 6 PM the bar will open to the public. Feel free to carry on a
while longer at Marfreless, or consider continuing with dinner at Mockingbird Bistro owned by '77 classmate John Sheely. John hosted our very successful Spring event last year! http://www.mockingbirdbistro.com/ John has a gorgeous, intimate restaurant less than a mile away from Marfreless. Reservations at Mockingbird are highly recommended! (By the way, remember "Sonny Looks" restaurant? Notice the light fixtures dangling from the ceiling at Mockingbird. They came from Sonny's!)

We thank Marfreless and classmate Emily Eckerman Clay for hosting our APRIL 18th social! We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lauri White Ramsey ('77) at wildcats_1977@yahoo.com

**Directions to Marfreless ~ travel East on I-10. Take the Durham exit. Durham will turn into Shepherd. Take a left onto West Gray. Pass the River Oaks Theatre and take an immediate right onto McDuffie. Notice the stairwell and blue door on your right… (Peden Street is a side street of the bar)