This group of couples has dined together monthly for 17 years

In a remarkable testament to the power of food and friendship, a group of Greene County couples has dined together monthly for almost 17 years.

Known as Dinner Party of Eight, or DP8 for short, the group celebrated its 200th consecutive outing a few weeks ago with drinks at Crossroads Brewing followed by dinner at New York Restaurant, both in Catskill.

"We get along so well, and the conversation just flows," says Don Teator, who, with his wife, Debra, is one of the founding couples of DP8. He says, "We have our differences that come up sometimes, but the rewards more than outweigh them."

Not all 200 dinners have been attended by the same eight people. In fact, only two of them — Don Teator and co-founder Tom Karnes — have been to every one. Outside commitments, illness, a founding couple retiring to Florida, another who winters in the Sunshine State: Various factors prompt three substitute couples, who have been to "only" 10 or so dinners apiece, to get invited, or very occasionally the number hasn't been a full eight, but the group remains a monthly fixture. In total, 16 people have membership in DP8, ranging in age from early 60s to early 70s. Absent the emeritus couple who live in Florida, eight go to dinner every month, 14 meet for a cookout at one of their homes once during the summer, and the full membership shows up for their December gathering, always at the Karnes' house.

The group's first dinner, in November 2002, was at Millrock restaurant in Windham, then in it sixth year of business; Millrock is now 23 years old. Between that and their visit to New York Restaurant last month, DP8 has been to about 120 eateries in eight New York counties and one in South Carolina, during a group vacation. According to meticulous records kept by Don Teator, who is the group's historian and also the town historian for...