A moral dilemma

Back in college, I spent a fair number of evenings at the legendary Eliot Lounge. It was a somewhat divey bar at the corner of Mass Ave. and Commonwealth Ave. in Boston. It was known for two things: post-Marathon parties with many of the top runners, and as the favorite Boston bar of Sox lefty Bill "Spaceman" Lee.

The Eliot closed in 1996. It was replaced by a high-end restaurant called Clio. I walked by Clio on the way to work one morning just after it opened, and through the window it looked like a classy place. In other words, the exact opposite of the Eliot. I vowed on the spot never to eat there.

So, here comes the dilemma. My boss's boss invited several of us and our spouses to dinner. I find out today that dinner is going to be at (where else?) Clio.

So what to do? Well, I'm going to have to go. It wouldn't be a good thing for me not to, and the people who are going to dinner are a good group, so it should be fun. I'll have to drink a toast to the Eliot while I'm there.