GREAT DAY WITH BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

Looks like you all had a great time!!!!

Dina and Alex,

 

Thank you for hosting a great party at your house for all of us! It was a  pleasure in meeting so many of you legends in person, rather than the forum!

 

I wish I could have stayed longer, but my GranDaughter's Jolene's 1st Birthday Party was a rescheduled party that conflicted with me trying to listen in and learn from the Masters!

 

I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the Home Peanut Butter Fudge I made for the event, and that Dina shared it with you! LOL she had threatened that she was going to keep it all for herself! 

 

Thanks again and hope to see some of you again in a few weeks at Lionel's Open House on the 17th!

 

PS I think we need to have more current pictures as the Avatar's on the OGR Forums for some people! (Marty and John as an example because I walked in looking for Marty being maybe a 30yr old and John maybe late 40's) <GRIN>

Looks like fun was had by all!  

Thank's so much Alex and Dina!!! Had a great time. Dina, the food was incredible.

 

Looks like a great time, wish we lived closer to visit this great layout.

 

Glad everyone had a great time with a great host. I hope to make the next one.

Alex and Dina,

 

Thank you so much for hosting the open house and letting us view your super layout.  The food was great!!  We didn't need to stop for food on the ride back to Maine.  We got back to South Portland at 9pm.   Hey Alex,  Don't forget about that Moxie soda in back of your fridge!!    It's a wicked awesome drink!!  That's why Ben didn't to share it with you.  He wanted you to have it all for yourself!!(LOL)  You'll either love it or hate it.  Thanks again for having us into your home.  It was great to meet you and all the other forum members.  Hope to see you at Brian's Open House in Sept. 

 

Here's some pictures I took today.

 

 

 

 

Wish I could've been there, looks like a great time as usual when Forum Members get together.

 

Instead, I was sitting through 12 innings of losing baseball!

 

(Quick question.  Was anyone arrested?)   

Alex and Dina thank you so much for your hospitality!!!!

Words could not express what it means to us knowing special people like you guys!

We had a great time. The layout is awesome!!

The Mario Bros.

And the finest bunch of free loaders you will ever see.  Only wish I could have been one of them. What fun. Hope Jim Barrett's pictures show up in OGR magazine. Don

Hey I think I recognize those two signs, lol! Glad to see them being enjoyed above your great layout and at a meeting of forum stars 

 

Hey guy's you all had a great time I can see that from the pictures.

 

So sorry I couldn't make it there.

 

Alex, looks like it was a terrific success.

 

Mike R 

Alex and Dina....

 

Even though LaKeeta and I didn't make it....and as you know we had planned on being there, we want to thank both of you for hosting this great event!  Folks will remember this and be talking about it for years!  I can tell that all of you had a great time and the pictures are wonderful.  If you get a chance, it would be great if the names of folks in the pictures could be posted.  I know many already from the forum and the Mid America 3-Railers but there were a few I didn't know....like that big guy from Lionel...who the heck was he???

 

I tip my hat to you both....and everyone that attended!

Alan

 

Alex and Dina

 

"Thank You" so much for such a Wonderful day. Greg is right Words can't express how wonderful it is to have such special people in our lives. Your home,layout and Family are amazing.

 

Thanks Again

Chris and Theresa

Mario Bros

Hi Dina

Thanks for having us over   We had a great time and your food was delicious.  The stuffed breads were awesome.

Alex

That is the widest rice I have ever seen.  It was fun spray painting those two signs

What a fabulous event!!!! Alex and Dina are superb hosts. The layout, the food (Ben, I agree, those stuffed breads were terrific), and the hospitality could not be beat.

 

We talked the whole trip back about how nice it was to meet Alex and Dina and what a memorable event this was. To have the opportunity to greet those Forum members I already have had the pleasure of meeting and those I met for the first time, this was wonderful.

 

Many thanks, Alex & Dina.

 

And Skip, this pictures you showed me of your NYC famous buildings you are adding to your layout, are over-the-top. We have corresponded many times, but it was great to meet you in person!

What a great day, it was a blast meeting so many forum members, many for the first time.   Alex and Dina really put on a feast, I think they could have fed three times as many people!   Loved the layout, what a nice job Alex has done, lots of things to see.

 

Many thanks for the hospitality and even the "surprise" guest, the big guy.

A short video showing part of Alex's layout.

 

 

Thank you, Alex and Dina, for opening your home to so many and for your hospitality.  Even though Rebecca and I did not get there til  close to 5:00, we still had wonderful time  saying hello to old and new faces, as well as enjoying the great food.  To all the attendees who had to hit the road earlier in the day, sorry we missed you.  Hope to run into you at York, or maybe next year's Trainstock!

 

- Mike

Hello everyone,

 

  Thank you all so much for the awesome get together yesterday, so many of you traveled so far for this. I think this is going to be a yearly event, we had a huge turnout and next year will shoot for more. Beautiful people, awesome food, running trains, and a ton of laughs. That's what so great about this hobby.

 

Thanks again,

Alex & Dina

Alex & Dina, Thank you for hosting such an awesome day. Dina, the food was great and Alex, what a beautiful train layout. Hope you can make it up here to Rhode Island soon.

What a great time I had meeting forum members that we have all met over the years on line. It was a pleasure to finally meet Mike Regan as well.

 

Thanks again for a wonderful day.

 

I also want to send out a big THANK YOU to Marty Fitzhenry, for helping me coordinate

this great day.

 

          THANKS MARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Alex

Alex and Dina,

Thank you for having me. The food, the guests and the trains were wonderful.

Alex, it was nice to meet your Dad and talk with him.

 

Alan Graziano

Marty and I also have to say this was one of the best train days ever. Great people, great food, and lots of it (thank you Dina, you are a great lady). Trains downstairs, train talk upstairs, and real trains going by the back of the house at regular intervals; what more could you want? These are some of the better photos I took. I tried to find ones that aren't the same as other photos posted here.

"To infinity and beyond!"

Jim Rawlings, Ben Fioriello, Jim Barrett, Marty Fitzhenry, Alex Malliae

 

 

 

This is an accessory Alan Graziano made for Alex. Alan brought it to the open house; great "layout warming" gift.

Locolawyer (Erol Gurcan) and Mikado (Mike Reagan)

???!!! "Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler" ??!!! Where did Ben get THAT title?

Steve Breneisen, Mike Reagan, Jim Rawlings and Marty Fitzhenry talking shop.

The end of a great day - saying goodby with Steve, Erol, Mike, Alex, Marty and Jim

I had a great time.   It was a fantastic gathering.  Please thank Dina for me for the great food.  I’m sure she worked harder then you!  I was considering not going to York this year but after meeting all these great folks (some of which I had already met and some of which I hadn’t) I decided I’d be crazy not to go and I registered this morning. 

 

Thanks for trusting me with running your layout.  I had a blast doing that. 

 

See you soon and thanks again.

Looks like I missed a great event. Thanks for the invite Alex!

Most of us have been to a few train shows in our time and a few open houses to see a fellow members layout.  Yesterday, Dotty and I traveled to Staten Island to visit an open house put on by Alex and Dina Malliae.  Aside from a fantastic layout and great food, Alex had some great people travel a few miles to share the day with him.  As always, it was great to see Jim and Karen Barrett who drove in from Ohio.  How lucky we are to have Jim as a friend.   Mike Reagan was good enough to come to New York to spend the day with friends.  Other friends who were present were Locolawyer (AKA Erol Gurcan), Steve Breneisen the owner of Ross switches, Jim Rawlings, Brian Vaill and Elizabeth (AKA Passenger Train Collector), Gunrunner John, Alan Graziano, Ben Fioriello, Vinny Riccio (AKA the worlds best cook), Captain John Xenides, Lionel Bill and many others. 

 

I can state without a doubt this was one of the best times I have had in the hobby.  Great people, great food, great trains and lots of fun.  Chris Lord was the trainmaster for the day and everything ran perfect all day.

 

For those who have never seen the layout Alex and Dina have, find a way to get an invite.  It is fantastic.   

 

 

 

 

Here's some more photo's from the other post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With that beautiful Staten Island S2 on the layout all I see is Santa Fe and NYC in these pics 

He ya go my buddy Ben!!!!!!! You're total correct this should be photographed

 

Alex, it looks like you threw a great party, sorry I had to miss it.  Hopefully I can make it next time.  I'll be in touch.

 

Doug

When good friends meet, often a handshake simply won't do and a big hug is in order.  Such was the greeting I received when Alex saw me walk through his front door.  The outpouring of warmth from Alex and his lovely wife Dina is a humbling experience as both went completely out of their way to make sure that each and every one of us felt comfortable in their gorgeous home.

 

The layout is over the top and an example of what a master craftsman can do with his talent and his hands.  If any of you formites are fortunate enough to receive an invite to visit; DO NOT pass it up!

 

Alex and Dina, a thank you is not enough. There are no words sufficient to express what the two of you imparted to each of your guests.  You are truly beautiful people...

 

Best,
Dave

Hi Dave,

 

     I thank you very much for your wonderful words, it means a lot to us.

We will do it again next year !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks, Alex & Dina

Alex and Dina,

 

Thank you very much for a great day with great friends. I enjoyed myself.

 

Alex, your layout is impressive.

 

Erol Gurcan

Alex-

 

The station platform is more amazing then the picture. It is going to look terrific on my layout. I know I only know you for like 5 minutes.... and still being invited to what was obviously an INCREDIBILE day at your home was so generous of you.I am sorry I couldn't make it..... I look forward to attending next year. Thanks again!

 

Steve 

Alex,

 

  Looks like a great time was had by all. Your layout looks great! Are you going to make it to Lionel's Open House in August?

 

Jeff

Thanks, Erol, Steve, and Jeff for your very kind words. I appreciate it very much.

 

Thanks,

Alex & Dina

 

Guys and Gals,

 

you make a convincing argument for joining in the fun ........ Hope that you all enjoyed yourselves.....I catch you next time. Miss you!

 

Mike Maurice

 

 

I had it run thru the sounds also since the Mario Bros. did some of the voices on the SI S2. Yea 5-1-9