Boston Restaurant to host Kenyans Fans after Marathon Race
Brand Kenya CEO, Mary W. Kimonye (center in Kenyan colors), together with Mrs. Aoko Odembo, wife to Kenyan Ambassador to the US, H.E Elkanah Odembo (right),and other dignitaries during the 'Run with Kenyans' celebrations event last Friday attended by Kenyan Prime Minister, Hon. Raila Odinga in honor of Kenyan Boston Marathon runners. The dignitaries are expected to join Kenyan fans at the race finishing line on Boylston st at Copley Square, and thereafter a luncheon at the Vlora Mediterranean Restaurant, a few blocks away. Pic by H.Maina/Ajabu Media
By Harrison Maina, Ajabu Africa News, posted April 18, 2011
BOSTON, Mass.Vlora Mediterranean Restaurant, a top rated restaurant located a few blocks away from the Boston Marathon finishing line on 545 Boylston st, have agreed to reserve space for Kenyans where fans can congregate to have lunch and refreshments and digest on their expected win as soon as the Boston Marathon is over.
Top guests, including the Kenyan Ambassador to the US, H.E. Elkanah Odembo, the CEO of Brand Kenya, Mary Kimonye and a battery of the Kenyan Embassy staff are expected to mingle with Kenyans at the restaurant.
Honoring a request made by Ajabu Media, a top Kenyan media company in USA that has also been accredited to officially cover the 2011 Boston marathon, Vlora restaurant management said they are happy to host Kenyans expected to flock Boston in large numbers to cheer their perennially victorious runners.
“We will reserve our 50 seat private dining room for Kenyan fans and their guests between 1.30pm and 4.30 pm so they can celebrate the expected win”, said Tonya Laryukhina, a manager at Vlora.
“If more than that number comes in, we can open the larger dining room,” she added.
The restaurant will be preparing a special 3 course meal for Kenyans that include Mediterranean Beef and Chicken Kebabs, popularly known as Mshikaki back in Kenya, among other mouth watering dishes with a Mediterranean taste.
"The whole 3 course meal will go for $32.25 a person including taxes", said Laryukhina.
Several Kenyan fans including guests in town found the arrangement to be conducive and unique.
“This is great. If it is right next to where the marathon ends, then it is very convenient for most people who will be celebrating,” said Mary Kimonye, CEO of Brand Kenya , a Kenyan government arm charged with the mission of improving the Kenyan image in the West so as to attract more investors and tourists.
“This is the way to create a good image of Kenya here.We will be there,” she added, during a visit to the Ajabu Media offices in Lowell, soon after attending the Kenyan marathon prayers and Easter holiday celebrations at the Saint Stephens church .
Traditionally, a growing number of Kenyan fans have over recent years appeared at the finishing line to cheer their runners; they have never been disappointed, since at least either a Kenyan man or woman usually takes the top position.
During today's race, 10 Kenyan men and 8 women will be in action aganist runners from the traditionally hard charging arch rivals, Ethiopia.
However after the marathon is over, many Kenyans usually end up high and dry wondering where to congregate to digest the victory.
The annual event usually starts at around 10.00 am in Hopkinton, about 26.5 miles from Downtown Boston, after which the top winners traditionally close the finishing line at around 12.00 noon to 12.30.
Other Kenyans in the entire team as well as local Diaspora Kenyans who take part in the event usually finish the race 10 to 30 minutes later.
Runners are then firmly in the hands of their sports agents and medical personnel to help them recuperate from the punishing run.
They are then expected to attend the official Boston Marathon Awards ceremony at the Fairmont Copley Hotel, a few blocks away form the finishing line, usually at 6pm.
Doors to the Fairmont Copley Hotel open for public access from 5pm.
As a result Kenyan fans have over the years had to go back to their homes and only a few are able to come back to Boston for the actual awards ceremony at the Fairmont Copley Hotel.
Therefore the hosting extended by Vlora Mediterranean Restaurant is a welcome relief for fans who will have an opportunity to sit and relax as they wait for the Awards ceremony at 5pm.
For the most convenient way to attend the Boston Marathon, fans are advised to use the subway trains into Boston then take the Green line train and alight at the Boylston station.
From there, the Copley Square finish line on Boylston st is about 10 minutes walk away.
