Better than Fenway

Chants of "Let's Go Red Sox," blended with screams of excitement as Sox fans rooted for the hometown team in the World Series.
"The atmosphere is charged," said Christine Gleason, 43, of Abington.
But Gleason was not at Fenway Park. She was 20 miles south in her neighbor's Abington driveway huddled around a fire eating chili and watching the games on a large screen television. "It's a lot of fun," said Jim Tangherlini, 46, who hosted the party with his girlfriend. "We camp out in the driveway for every game of the Series."
While he does not specifically invite strangers, those who wander by "are welcomed to come in," Tangherlini said.
On weekends, the party can draw up to 70 people, he said. "It's just like going to a game in that you never know who you'll meet each night," said Bill Keneally of Braintree
And that game-like atmosphere is exactly what Tangherlini was hoping for when he started the parties for the 2004 World Series. "We couldn't get tickets to the game so we decided to make do with what we did have," he said.
Keneally's friend, Matt Stevens of Weymouth, said it is "absolutely wonderful."
"We had so much fun in 2004 that we had to come again," Stevens said. "Besides the Sox couldn't have written a better script this year."
Party-goers watch the games on a 65 inch television Tangherlini rents for the month for $250.
"It's great," he said. "I can watch football games on it when the Series isn't on."
Even cold or rainy weather will not stop these hearty fans.
"In 2004 it was really cold," he said. "People were out with hats and mittens on so hopefully it will be warmer this year." Robbie Lindo, another party-goer from Abington, said rain will not dampen his spirits.
"You just don't get to do anything like this any other time of year," he said.
Brian Benson may be reached at bbenson@ledger.com.

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