LongBeachReport.com | LBReport.com | "Hugh's Bite Nite" Draws Large Crowds @ Three LB Restaurants Donating Portion Of Meal Tabs To Help Seriously Injured Motorcyclist Hugh Boyle & His Family

(July 27, 2010, updated w/ add'l pix) -- Large crowds were visible at "Hugh's Bite Nite," a grassroots organized event at which three LB restaurants agreed to donate a portion of their Monday July 26 evening meal tabs to help seriously injured motorcyclist Hugh Boyle and his family.

We saw a large crowd (wait reported at 45 minutes at one point) at Marri's Pizza & Italian Restaurant in ELB (Stearns St. just east of Palo Verde Ave.); among those visible were retired LBPD Commander Charlie Parks and community advocate John Deats.

Portion of crowd at Marri's Pizza & Italian Restaurant.

Reports from the Shore (two separate sources as well as Facebook dispatches) indicated big turnouts at La Strada on 2nd St. in Belmont Shore as well as Naples Rib Co. on 2nd St. in the Naples area.

Photo by Shelley Brice-Boyle

Dinner orders at La Strada for Hugh's Bite Nite Source: La Strada on Facebook

At Naples Rib. Co. Photo via Shelley Brice-Boyle

Among those spotted at Naples Rib Co. were Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal and former Councilman Evan Braude.

Former Councilman Evan Braude, Ass'ywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, Shelley Brice-Boyle. Photo via Ms. Brice-Boyle

Also present at the Naples Rib Co.: Retired KMPC/710 radio personality Roger Carroll (also announcer on Smothers Bros., Bobby Darin among many national TV shows) with his family and grandchildren.

[We're interested in adding photos and reports from all three venues. Email them to us at mail@LBReport.com. Let us know if you'd like us to use your name as photo source.]

At Marri's Pizza, the owner's daughter, Kathleen Naber, said that although Monday is usually the slowest night of the week, the Monday night crowd for "Hugh's Bite Nite" exceeded that of large weekend crowds.

Outside Marri's Pizza in ELB.

For video from Marri's Pizza, click here or image below.

Wife Shelley Brice-Boyle managed to make it to all three locations.

In photo immediately below, at La Strada:

La Strada owner Lisa Ramelow w/ Ms. Brice-Boyle. Source: La Strada on Facebook

And in photo below, Ms. Brice-Boyle thanked diners at Marri's Pizza.

At Marri's Pizza

The event took place just over a month after a horrific motorcycle accident nearly took the life of Hugh Boyle at Palo Verde/Stearns St. The collision left Mr. Boyle, age 50, in critical condition and in an induced coma for three weeks with multiple broken bones...and pneumonia developed while in the hospital. Mr. Boyle survived...and has now begun a lengthy recovery process.

Ms. Brice-Boyle (who operates a home-based internet business, sidelined since the accident) has been at her husband's side daily he slowly recovers. She has maintained an eloquent daily blog with updates and a donate-button for those who wish to help.

A few hours after "Hugh's Bite Nite," Ms. Boyle wrote:

Hugh's Bite Nite appeared to be a HUGE success! I was and am overwhelmed by the generosity of the public and the graciousness of the owners of La Strada Restaurant, Marri's Pizza, and Naples Rib Company. Not to mention the hundreds of people that showed up to each location. THANK YOU EVERYONE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!
I just can't begin to explain my feelings as how grateful I am. Just know I feel like I am in a dream state and still in shock about how generous and how compassionate people are. WHY ME? Why are we so deserving? As my best friend Melissa reminds me. "When you start feeling entitled, then you are not deserving". I will never ever feel deserving.... just blows me away STILL WHY this outpouring of love and support for us is happening. God bless each and everyone of you. I thank you, my family thanks you, and most importantly....HUGH THANKS YOU.
[She writes publicly to husband Hugh]
Dear Hugh,
Oh sweetheart, if only you could have seen the love, support and generosity of the people tonight! ALL FOR YOU SWEETY! ALL FOR YOU! I am so proud of you, and as I promised you. Here is your picture you were so proud of me to share with everyone.

Photo via Shelley Brice-Boyle

Prior to the "Bite Nite" event, Ms. Brice-Boyle conveyed this message from her husband:

Hugh wants me to share directly from him the following. He says, by what the the community, family and friends are doing is providing a direct lifeline to him by allowing me to be by his side day and night, and thus wanting to survive and continue.
The following is directly from Hugh quote/unquote (I wrote it up at the hospital and copied it here):
"To the community, family and all our friends. These donations, support, love, thoughts and prayers are enabling Shelley to be here day and night when I need her. Without these I don't think I could or can survive without her. If you knew the gratitude I feel, you would only understand how important this is to me. All I can do is lie here and make inadequate thank yous that will never truly cover what this means to me. One thing this has taught me, is to step back to reevaluate my life and what is really important such as family and friends."

The internet has played a major role in what has taken place. Within days of the accident, friends of the family used Facebook to organize a front lawn garage sale to help with expenses. LBReport.com learned of the garage sale and did a live online webcast from the location and has continued to provide updates.

Related LBReport.com coverage:

Hugh Boyle: Even Better News: Doctors Remove Seriously Injured Motorcylist's Breathing Tube...And Wife Shelley Kisses Him

Hugh Boyle: Good News: Seriously Injured Motorcylist Breathes Entire Day On His Own, Says Wife Shelley; Faces Add'l Surgery, Remains in Critical Condition

Hugh Boyle: Injured Motorcyclist Is Still in Critical Condition, Now Has Pneumonia But Fever Easing At Evening's End

LBPD Says No One Cited, PD's Involvement Basically Concluded, Re June 21 Palo Verde/Stearns Motorcycle Accident

Wellwishers Visit In-Person & Online At Garage Sale For Family Of ELB Man Critically Injured In Palo Verde/Stearns Motorcycle Accident