Don't let the ocean view fool you. With Larry Bird memorabilia lining the walls, the Celtics game on the TVs, and the best New England clam chowder you'll get outside of the Northeast, Boston's on the Beach is intrinsically linked to its namesake city. More than 1,400 miles away, this joint experienced the Boston Marathon tragedy alongside its Bostonian brethren, scared and shocked at the senseless horror of that day.
It's been more than two months since the Boston Marathon bombings, and through the tales of triumph and comeback, there are at least 200 people in need of assistance as they recover. Lending a helping hand, Boston's on the Beach will be holding a fundraiser to benefit The One Fund, which has raised more than $50 million for victims and their families thus far, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 26.
Mark DeAtley is general manager of Boston's. He lived in Boston, and his wife is from Boston too. DeAtley remembers watching the marathon with others who popped their heads into the restaurant that day.
"Everyone there had a connection, either running the marathon or watching it on the sidelines," he remembers. "We were all in throes of disbelief about it."
Dripping in the same New England spirit, DeAtley has spearheaded this event to rally support for those who need it.
"Boston might not be 1A in the papers anymore, but whether a month or six months later, there are people who still have medical bills and other lifelong expenses that need our help," he says.
The night will include a bevy of live music performances, each band doing a 45-minute set. There will also be celebrity bartenders whipping up some vibrant concoctions along with live auctions and giveaways. Everyone involved has donated their time.
Also present are various running groups from the area, showing that whether they run along the Palm Beach sand or in the Boston fog, they all are joined by the same enthusiasm to get up and run. Bob Anderson, who trains people through his running group Palm Beach Marathon Training, was running in the Boston Marathon and was just four and half miles from the finish line when the bombs were detonated. His son was waiting for him there.
"My main concern was, 'Where is my son? Was he OK?'" Anderson remembers. "I had run 21 and a half miles. I was tired, sore, but it was a big relief to be reunited with him."
Anderson has run in 14 marathons and has already run a marathon in Green Bay, Wisconsin, since his experience in Boston. As Anderson continues running, expect to see him back in Boston in 2014 to run the marathon again, this time crossing the finish line.
"This reminds us that life is very fragile, that we don't know what is going to happen," Anderson said. "The Boston Marathon is a tremendous tradition, and all the spectators, runners, and volunteers have medical expenses. I want to let them know that we appreciated their support then, and I hope that by donating a few bucks on Wednesday, they'll be able to feel ours."
Regardless of your running ability or your connection to Boston, the One Fund fundraiser intends to show that support for Boston extends past the municipal city lines.
There is a suggested donation of $10 at the door. The event will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Boston's on the Beach, located at 40 S. Ocean Blvd. in Delray Beach. Call 561-278-3364, or visit bostonsonthebeach.com.
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