Tagged: "Lobster Bake", cape cod, lobster
Posted on August 10th, 2010
4 Responses so far, add your own comment!
We just returned from a long weekend in Cape Cod. I’m already missing the break in humidity, the cool nights, the sea breeze, and the fresh seafood. While visiting a friend in Eastham, we unexpectedly attended a lobster and clam bake. The affair was relaxed and friendly: old friends caught up with each other; kids played on the jungle gym; there was a well-meaning DJ giving out door prizes.
Apparently, the town eagerly anticipates next year’s bake as soon this year’s is over. Each time the cooks checked on the food’s progress, the crowd rose from the picnic tables and excitedly rushed over to the long table. All of the food bakes in wooden crates, deep inside a fire pit. The crates are wrapped together in thick plastic and the food–lobsters, mussels, clams, corn, potatoes, onions–bakes for as long as it takes.
After the food was read, it was proudly carried over and laid out on the long table. Then, you just pick up a plastic tray, load it up with everything you want, and dig in. Just don’t forget your bib…or the butter!
Tagged: cafe grumpy, Cafe Grumpy plush bean, coffee, Third Wave of Coffee
Posted on July 28th, 2010
2 Responses so far, add your own comment!
Cafe Grumpy has two locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan. Their theming and color scheme is genius: a so- -grumpy-he’s-cute coffee bean and vivid orange mugs and saucers. In lieu of a sign, the three locations simply have their grumpy bean’s face hanging outside.
Cafe Grumpy roasts their beans at the Greenpoint location, using a restored vintage Probat. These beans are then brewed and served at their three stores.
Like so many other coffee establishments in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Cafe Grumpy is part of a movement known as the Third Wave of Coffee. This current wave focuses on understanding, improving, and respecting coffee on every level–from growth to sourcing to roasting to brewing. Coffee shops like Cafe Grumpy foster direct trade relationships with coffee growers and traders, methodically research roasting methods, and help customers understand the flavor subtlety and growing region of the cup they’re about to drink.
If you’re interested in learning more about the roasting process, Cafe Grumpy encourages you to arrange a time to meet the roaster and watch.
Realizing the draw of their expressive, cranky bean, Cafe Grumpy recently collaborated with a plush artist to bring this bean to ‘life’. Each plush grumpy coffee bean is handmade and comes in a hand sewn and screened jute bag.
Now when I need some extra motivation in the morning, I can give Mr. Grumpy a quick squeeze, while sipping Cafe Grumpy’s coffee.
Tagged: Hudson Highlands, sculpture, Storm King Art Center
Posted on July 22nd, 2010
Add your own comment!
Justin and I spent an idyllic weekend in the Hudson Valley, including a ‘died-and-gone-to-heaven’ meal at Blue Hill at Stone Barns (more on that in a later post). We used Saturday to wander Stone Barns property and Tarrytown.
After dragging ourselves out of bed bright and early on Sunday morning (*actually, 11ish, as dinner went until 2 in the morning the night before!), Justin and I headed to the Storm King Art Center, per a friend’s recommendation. Storm King is a sculpture park, but very different from the static (albeit, good) sculpture parks I’ve been to at various museums and gardens. Storm King’s 100 plus sculptures are positioned in direct harmony with the rolling hills, plains, meadows, and woodlands of the Hudson Highlands.
Getting there took much longer than expected; our drive was stalled by random road work and closed roads. One detour became an unexpected delight. The road hugged the mountains and opened up to sheer stone cliffs and boat-filled harbors. These views seemed like something out of Switzerland, not my perception of New York State.
Unfortunately our late start and the detours meant that we only had an hour and a half to explore Storm King’s property. The center is 500 acres–even I, with a reputation for being a bit of speed-walker, couldn’t possibly see everything in such a short amount of time. We consulted the friendly guys at the cafe, who recommended using our time to wander Museum Hill. They said the hill would give us close-up views of many impressive sculptures and put us in a position for distant viewing of others.
I’ve grown to appreciate large, often abstract, sculpture much more (than ever before). I’m not sure what the catalyst for this has been; maybe the Henry Moore exhibit in Denver? Maybe the way New York City is constantly reviving their outdoor spaces with temporary sculpture art?
Storm King felt like a renewal. Climbing Museum Hill and looking out onto the vast meadow and sculpture field cleared my active mind and all I wanted to do was take in the scene for as long as possible.
We’re already planning our return visit, with a picnic and a good book in tow.
Tagged: coast, Croatia, Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik, Hvar, shore
Posted on July 15th, 2010
One Response so far, add your own comment!
Merriam Webster defines shore as “land as distinguished from the sea”.
Dubrovnik
The Dalmatia Coast hugs the Adriatic, encapsulating the land between Split and Dubrovnik, including all of the islands in between (biggest=Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Mljet). Our travels along this coast allowed for exploration of rocky, sandy, and pebbly shores, none of which resembled the Mid-Atlantic coastline to which we’re accustomed.
Hvar Town
Beach going felt adventurous. While the locals rock-bathed on yoga-like mats or wandered the beach, massaging their feet on the smooth stones, our tender, shoe-wearing feet only allowed us to take a few tentative steps before carefully tip-toeing back to put on our shoes.
