After we fought Friday traffic out of the city, we arrived in Long Island to celebrate Phil and Eileen’s nuptials. The rehearsal dinner Friday night was at a nearby restaurant where food and alcohol were provided in abundant supply. The toasts were my favorite part, especially father of the groom, who gave his toast in Russian while Phil translated.
The next morning Alan and I drove out to Great Neck to visit his paternal grandmother, Elsie, and his uncle Mickey and Sharon and their son Jonathan. I was obsessed with the collection of mid-century modern furniture in Elsie’s house. we had a great conversation over some tasty bagels, and we also enjoyed the family photos she had on display.
::I’m Ron Burgundy?::
::my handsome father in law::
::how cute! alan and kenny::
Back at the hotel we quickly got ready and hopped onto the shuttle to the wedding. This was my first Russian wedding, and boy was it Russian. Rumor has it they chose this location because it was the only county within driving distance from Boston that lets you put a bottle of vodka out on each table. And a bottle of vodka there was, in addition to cognac, wine and a full bar, not to mention the vodka martini bar that literally dropped from the ceiling amid dry ice during the cocktail hour, and the most impressive spread of edible offerings I have every seen at a wedding. My favorite part was that every time someone says “Gorka! Gorka!” the bride and groom have to kiss (and I think everyone is supposed to take a vodka shot). Given the ample supply of vodka its no surprise the party lasted past 5am.
::just a glimpse of the food situation::
The ride out of Long Island the next day was the worst. I’m not naming names, but someone whose name rhymes with Schmalan may or may not have booted in the car, and I may or may not have had to stick my head out of the window to avoid vomiting myself on account of the smell.
P.S. Anyone know why there are no tolls on the west coast, but they’re all over the east? Also, when did they get so expensive?! The Illinois toll was $7.90 and then Ohio was $9.75… and then the Verrazano Bridge toll was $15! (I was happy to see tolls of 70 cents upon entering Virginia).
I lived in New York for over six years, which is like 12 years elsewhere since New York moves twice the speed of any other place in America. I am always happy to return. My employed visits entailed non-stop meetings and business meals. This time, I took more of a tourist approach and slowed it down a bit.
October 14-20, 2013 (Monday-Sunday)
We arrived to Jack’s place in the East Village and had dinner with John and Ellie (Jenni’s friends from Cornell) at Café Mogador on St. Marks Place. It is a cozy, subterranean spot with good food.
OK, I am having a hard time writing at this moment but feel compelled to catch up more so please excuse me as I do this post in bullet format…
Bagels, lots of them…tasty sable sandwich at Russ and Daughters
I love the energy of New York…it is not an exaggeration to say that in a five block radius one can find an assortment of restaurants, bars, shops and ethnicities to rival most mid-sized cities in America…actually, said blocks would easily surpass in the ethnicity category
The electronic walk signs count down the seconds remaining until the light changes, and when I cross an avenue I like gazing at the synchronized wall of vehicles approaching a few blocks away since all the lights are timed…and unlike in Los Angeles, you might get a ticket for not jay-walking
I had my first experience at a TKTS booth…we walked from the East Village down to the South Street Seaport location and got two tickets to Jersey Boys for $177, not a small sum but a substantially discounted price for very good seats dead center in orchestra Row T. The show was very good and a nice cultural injection since we so rarely see plays or musicals
After the show we had drinks with John at Annie Moore’s Bar, and while I figured this Irish pub next to Grand Central would slant towards men, I did not expect that Jenni would be the only woman in the establishment
For the first time I saw strollers with neat skateboard like attachments so the toddler can ride along and keep up with the adults pushing the infant
The Maine style lobster roll I got from the Red Hook Lobster Pound booth at Madison Eats rivaled anything I got in Maine…it might have been the best of the trip, with a dusting of paprika and perfectly buttery, toasted split top roll
Roberta’s pizza at Mad Eats
Eataly is pretty impressive with its huge selection of Italian food and beverage and rooftop restaurant
While watching Project X briefly before dinner at Redhead with Emily, Mike and Jayme, Jenni said “I bet this makes everyone in the world nostalgic for college. Except Jack, because I bet it makes him nostalgic for last Tuesday night.”
For old time’s sake, I got my haircut at the legendary Astor Place
Despite unemployment, we paid the full freight $50 for two tickets to the Met…if you don’t know, ticket prices are merely a suggestion and you can enter free, but I decided to atone for some past transgressions. The roof top affords some of the best views in Manhattan
We had a fun, Tufts group dinner at DBGB (solid burger) where I ran into Eduardo who is the sommelier and was an acquaintance in Los Angeles…so, Doug, I misspoke and there were at least three chance encounters on the road trip
Before meeting Ross for drinks at the swank top floor bar of the James Hotel, Jenni and I popped into The Dutch for a snack. We were not dressed terribly well and struggled to understand the extraordinary treatment we received. Sitting at the crowded bar, we did not even order alcoholic beverages and along with our lattes and two small dishes we ordered came cornbread, an extra oyster sandwich, broccoli gougeres and a piece of key lime pie with coconut sorbet. Did they recognize alisnotlost and butitsonmylist?!
I rode public transportation more in a few days in New York than eight years in Los Angeles
Over drinks at The Wren I concluded that the pickleback has gone mainstream…someone even told me of a bar that offers several flavors of pickle juice. This is a good development
We had lunch with cousins Nina and Jonathan at the Breslin and then saw Jonathan again the next day at my grandma Elsie’s house along with Mickey and Sharon. Elsie just turned 97 years old!! I always considered her house décor less than attractive, but Jenni was enthralled by the mid-century modern…and some outstanding photos of me and my family from days past!
Ron Leavitt or Burgundy?!
Handsome lad
My policy is to be sparse when discussing friends’ weddings, but I have to say a few things about Phil and Eileen’s nuptial bash, in addition to the supreme Guinness served at the Viana…
Did this spark the 4-game win streak?
At the rehearsal dinner, Phil’s father spoke in Russian and Phil translated…it was pretty neat to see Phil talking about himself through his father’s voice
At the wedding itself, there was a pre-cocktail nearly hour with drinks, then a cocktail hour+, then a reception that lasted until about 2 am…with a bottle of cognac and Russian standard vodka on each table…then an after-party…I went to bed around 6:30 am
Jenni had to drive the next day down to Seth and Jill’s house in Maryland, and Jenni had gone to bed not that much earlier…she was a tad displeased
Seven and a half hours of driving took us into the city for some good eats and friend time. We stayed with our friend Jack in the East Village.
Our first night in town we headed over to Café Mogador on St. Marks for some Moroccan food and a great time catching up with two of my Cornell friends, Ellie and John.
The next morning we stopped for our first bagels of the visit. Russ and Daughters’ bagels were tasty, but more than $15!? What?? Granted Alan ordered sable, which is apparently fancy bagel ish, but honestly. It’s a damn bagel. Then I ordered a small latte at a coffee shop nearby which cost more than $5. New York, you were not nice to the budget.
::I do love the street art in NYC::
We wandered all the way down to South Street Seaport to get discounted tickets to a Broadway show from TKTS. We ended up choosing a Jersey Boys matinee the next day (though I was really bummed they didn’t have tickets for the Glass Menagerie or times that worked for us to see First Date). Afterwards we met Jack for lunch at Mad Square Eats, which was a collection of tented food and drink stands from popular New York eateries out for a limited time near Madison Square. I opted for some fabulous thin crust pizza and Alan got a lobster roll. Jack gave us a quick tour through Eataly – which is super cool; I could totally spend a lot of time in there (and eat a lot). The roof deck is equally amazing, and perfect on a sunny day like the one we were experiencing.
Later, we caught up a bit at Jack’s condo as he regaled us with stories of his fast paced and sleepless New York life. We had on Project X in the background (we’d all already seen the movie, which is awesome by the way) and I said that this movie makes everyone in the world nostalgic for college, except Jack because it probably makes him nostalgic for Tuesday night.
We got dinner at one of Jack’s favorite spots – the Redhead – with my friend Emily and her boyfriend Mike. The fried chicken Jack had raved about did not disappoint, and it was as always super fun hanging out and catching up with Emily.
On Wednesday we again got bagels, this time from David’s and they were much less expensive. We did a little bit of work in the am before grabbing a slice at Vinnie Vincenza and heading up to the August Wilson theater for the Jersey Boys show, which was really good despite the fact that people were singing along in the audience. Am I the only person who finds that annoying? I came to hear the talented actors and singers perform, not the audience.
After the show we met up for drinks with Alan’s friend John whom I’d never met (and was lovely), then ran over to our friends Mili and Sharath’s to catch up and meet their uber-adorable little boy. We hurried next over to Ippudo to meet our friends Morgan and Conrad for dinner (always hurrying in New York). I unfortunately found out about Beyaz’s passing right before the meal. I managed to keep in most of my tears to enjoy dinner with them, but let’s just say the rest of my evening was quite unpleasant.
The next day we went to the Met, and in between crying fits I saw the Balthus cats and girls exhibit and an Arab section we liked a lot, with tiles and carpets and various implements. The views from the roof were spectacular on that again sunny day.
::view from the met::
In need of a snack, we stopped at the Dutch in SoHo. I think we may have been confused for food reviewers, because we were given a second oyster sandwich, appetizer, cornbread and pie for free, all this while sitting at the bar and not even ordering a cocktail. Maybe it was the “you look like you lost your best friend” consolation prize. Or with swollen eyes I look like someone famous? Who knows. It was quite baffling as nobody around us seemed to get all the extra treats on the house.
From there we went to the James Hotel to grab drinks with another one of Alan’s fraternity brothers whom I hadn’t yet met. Then it was off to DBGB to get dinner with lots of Tufts alum, most of which were in the city for Phil and Eileen’s wedding on Long Island that weekend.
Before heading out to Long Island the next day we grabbed lunch with two of Alan’s cousins – Nina and Jonathan at Breslin.
OK, granted my dog died and I was in a terrible mood for much of my time in New York (grieving while on the road – and especially while trying to connect with friends and family left and right – is no fun. And this was worse than when my cat died and I took three days off of school to grieve), but here are some general thoughts. I’ve never been a huge fan of New York. I think my blind faith in all things Boston and my love for the Red Sox may have played a role in this growing up. But I also think it’s just too much for me. New York City is a city of excess. One never feels the proper amount of any sensation – too cold, too humid, cramped, loud… I gave it a shot, especially given Alan’s love and respect for the city, but the over-stimulation that New York provides on a constant basis is just not my cup of tea.
We drove back up to Massachusetts after the wedding, this time headed towards Western Mass to see Alan’s mom for a few days. It poured rain that day, which was perfect because we had no intentions of doing anything productive. Alan and his mom watched some football games while I finished my book – The Marriage Plot. It’s written by the guy who wrote Middlesex, which I read a few years back and absolutely loved. This one picked up slow, but the second half of the book was fantastic. There was one simile that I so enjoyed. Eugenides describes a scene in which the manic-depressive character faces an emotional event, its effects thwarted by the lithium he was taking. The way he explains it is just magic: “[He] stood rooted to the floor. His eyes were filling, but if he kept blinking fast enough, no tears fell. As much as he hated his lithium, here it was his friend. [He] could feel the huge tide of sadness waiting to rush over him. But there was an invisible barrier keeping the full reality of it from touching him. It was like squeezing a baggie full of water and feeling all the properties of the liquid without getting wet. So there was at least that to be grateful for. The life that was ruined wasn’t entirely his.”
We spent our days in Longmeadow catching up on some much needed exercise, looking into visas for our international trip, and other fun and riveting errands like obtaining flu shots and dozens of passport photos.
In more exciting news, we met Alan’s grandparents, Frieda and David, for dinner and I saw their new home in Longmeadow for the first time. As always, they were wonderful company, and Alan and I came by again for lunch with just them the next day. Afterwards we visited the Longmeadow farmer’s market where Ronnie sets up a stand selling her jewelry. I bought a beautiful vintage piece from her to give to my mother as a gift. Since Ronnie had plans in the evening Alan and I went out to dinner at a new spot in his hometown – Max’s. It’s primarily a burger spot, and Alan enjoyed his Alfred burger, covered with Comté cheese, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli, though I went with the seared scallop salad, which was less impressive.
I headed back to Maine the next day to squeeze in a couple more nights of mom and dad time while Alan bonded with his mother. It was great seeing them (and Bey) again and I of course ate some more lobster and drank some more wine. My last night there we checked out a new restaurant in Kennebunk called the Village Tavern, which was impressive! We went super early and were surprised to have a substantial wait. The pan seared shrimp, sea scallop and lobster stew with truffle oil drizzle was phenommmmmmenal. The fried clam appetizer we shared was also divine. Highly recommend this spot.
That Friday I, Alan, his mother and Rich, aunt, grandparents, brother and cousin, each set out to New Hampshire for a weekend celebrating Frieda’s 90th birthday and her and David’s 70th wedding anniversary. The journey there was crazy for almost all. While I think Kenny, Leslie and Sam made it in relatively with ease, I heard from Alan that after getting a delayed start to have all four tires on their car replaced last minute, the five of them headed out on the highway only to have one of the brand new tires blow out while going 75mph. Yikes. Glad Alan was driving and safely handled the situation. Meanwhile, I was driving from Maine by myself on a route for which no highways existed, meaning a million turns on residential streets. This was absolutely beautiful and idyllic with the incredible foliage except for the fact that the cell coverage was in and out and my sense of direction is lacking even with my iPhone telling me where to turn. I made it there with no directional mishaps, though my own trip was delayed by the strangest stop I’ve ever had. I made a turn onto a one-lane road where I was soon stuck in a line of incredibly slow moving traffic. It was then that I noticed helicopters flying above, and cop cars up ahead. Then I looked closer and saw lots of black SUVs and men wearing jackets that said “FBI” on them. This is when I started panicking. I tend to expect the worst (often of people and definitely situations), and this is when I pictured a shooter on the loose and me stuck in my car with nowhere to turn. Well, it turns out, as usual, my imagination is unnecessarily panic inducing, and my life was not the one at risk. The FBI were searching for and stopping everyone to see if they had any information on a young girl who had gone missing the day before, as well as take note of everyone’s license plate numbers and ask them where they’re going, whether they’ve seen this girl, etc. This was my first ever encounter with the FBI and they must get some really good training, because I felt like the agent could see into my soul. My heart still racing, even after I understood why I’d been stopped, I had to ask him if it was safe to continue driving the way I was headed. His response? “I have no reason to believe it isn’t safe, ma’am.” The bellhop eyed me strangely as I was checking into a fancy hotel with a missing girl flyer in my hand. [As far as I know this girl is still missing. My heart goes out to her family and friends].
::beautiful foliage driving in::
::setting up for a wedding on the property::
::impressive pumpkin carving::
After everyone finally made it safely to the hotel we were able to relax and enjoy a weekend celebrating a very special woman and their inspiring marriage. There was lots of tennis played, and I was blown away by David’s skills on the court at age 91. We also played a handful of games. Leslie introduced us to a new game called Anomia, which I believe she said was created by an Oberlin grad. Really fun – I would definitely recommend checking it out (http://www.amazon.com/Everest-Toys-0001-Anomia/dp/B00363B5FC). I also learned how to play “Patterns,” which I guess is a family tradition where the group comes up with a pattern of answering questions when one person walks away from the table. When he or she returns, they ask everyone else questions and try to guess the pattern they are using to answer them. We definitely enjoyed a few rounds. I am always down for a good game.
::grandpa wowing everyone with his tennis skills::
::grandsons being gentlemen::
On Saturday night we had “the” celebration and Frieda opened her gifts. The gift giving ended with a “rap” written and performed by her three grandsons, which was witty, funny and touching. Alan also donned his tuxedo for the occasion knowing his regal grandmother would approve. We had a lovely dinner (among several other great meals on the property that weekend). The boys, Leslie and I checked out the hotel bar “late” night and we were wowed by Leslie’s dance moves.
::one year of marriage : seventy years of marriage::
It was great spending this QT with the Lawrence side of the family, and to celebrate a woman and a couple whom both Alan and I very much admire.
I spent some time in Longmeadow (Jenni went back to Maine for some of this time) where I grew up. My grandparents moved there from Queens at the beginning of the year, so in addition to my Mom and Rich I also spent time with David and Frieda. Then we all drove up together to Bretton Wodds, New Hampshire to celebrate Frieda’s 90th birthday (my fourth grandparent to have a 90th birthday!!) and her and David’s 70th wedding anniversary (my second set of grandparents to have a 70th anniversary!!!!). I have some massive shoes to fill in terms of life and marital longevity 🙂
Omni Mount Washington
October 6-14, 2013 (Sunday-Monday)
The masochist in me asked my Mom to tape the Giants vs. Eagles game so I could watch yet another defeat as soon as I got home. Followed by a heartbreaker vs. the Bears on Thursday night. Since Kenny is at Kellogg, we seriously considered attending that game at Solider Field. I am very thankful we did not.
Time in Longmeadow included meals at Glenmeadow (the retirement community where David and Frieda live), working out at JCC, visiting the travel clinic at Mercy Medical Center (Jen was super helpful and kind and it cost $25 vs. the $95 I pay in LA), sending out personalized Samburu splash bash letters, getting large quantities of passport photos for visas etc. (we “borrowed” the white screen at CVS for background to use with iPhoto passport pic software), catching up on Boardwalk Empire and Bill Maher, a little tennis at the Field Club, MLB playoffs, and more.
The famous Sharks hat
Look at that mop
I am elated to see how well my grandparents have settled into their new homes. They really are extraordinary. They pretty much never complain. I may have already written this elsewhere, but if you ask how the Springfield Symphony is they never say anything like “it’s OK but doesn’t compare to the NY Philharmonic”. They just say “it’s fabulous.” You would be hard-pressed to find a pair who goes emotionally to that nostalgic sad place less frequently. I also love how much my grandpa disdains white meat chicken. If there is a menu option that includes chicken, as soon as the waitress says white meat he shuts down the conversation.
Burger quality was high in Western Mass. Jenni and I visited Max Burger in the middle of Longmeadow. This is a pretty hip spot where I had the half-pound Alfred burger with Comte, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli plus I added bacon. I chose a Young’s Double Chocolate Stout from many draught options. A couple days later I completed a solo mission to White Hut on my way to the travel clinic. White Hut is legendary in this area.
“cheeseburg fried”
It has been around since 1939. While it is much the same it has always been, there were actually noticeable changes since I was last there. They added a big menu sign, soft serve ice cream and shakes, raised the prices a bit and now accept credit cards. It used to be cash only and they would always give half-dollar coins as change, if possible. Most remarkable, there is now an Amherst location! At the original, the flat top, metal stools with red tops and fridge full of Stewart’s remain the same. As do both the perfect tasting thin and greasy cheeseburger with fried onions and the hot dog.
The Tuesday afternoon Forest Park farmer’s market was a welcome surprise. My Mom had a u-shaped table set-up with lots of jewelry she makes. The rest of the market was small but efficient. Instead of several different types of each vendor, there was only one or two but the offerings still included lots of vegetables, meat, fresh eggs, seafood, dog food, jams and syrups, kettle corn etc. Mom is kind of the mayor…everywhere she knows lots of people and is perhaps the most gregarious person you will encounter.
I’d direct you to her website, but…
There is a Somali family that moved to Springfield years ago and my Mom has been very involved in their lives to help ease the transition. Wednesday night we grabbed a couple pies from Pizza Works and had dinner together. The parents were out, so it was just us and the TEN kids. This family of 12 lives in a small apartment with ONE bathroom. I helped Teta (sp?) with his math homework and then we bounced. From my limited interaction, I suspect if these kids had the same educational opportunities and parental involvement that most of us had, they would be just as likely to succeed.
On Friday we set off for a long weekend in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. I noticed my grandpa’s tire was very low so we stopped at a service station in Longmeadow where they convinced us to replace all four tires lest we have a blowout doing 75 on the highway. This delayed us a couple hours but hey, better safe than sorry. So we head up, stop in Brattleboro at exit 2 on I-91 in Vermont for the amazing Vermont Country Deli and then continue. And as I am driving 75 in the left lane, wouldn’t ya know it: TIRE BLOWOUT. WTF?!?!?! I guess they gave us some defective tires. We called AAA but in the interim a true good Samaritan pulled over and backed up to help us change the tire. He told us he was the youngest of 13 children and was raised right. My grandpa tried to give him $20 but almost got run over as the man pulled away.
With that little mishap behind us, we exited the highway for Route 302 and drove through charming towns like Wells River, Littleton and Bethlehem before arriving at 4 pm to the impressive Omni Mount Washington Resort. That night we had a very solid dinner at Stickney’s which is a pub, steakhouse and more. The cheddar and ale dip was great, as were the ribeye and NY strip that Kenny and I split.
My Mom had a great quote about my Dad, something to the effect of “they always said at Brown if you want to go out at night find Leavitt, but don’t ask him to cut class.” I am not sure they really said that, but if you know Ronnie it was pretty hilarious. Which reminds me of an even better quote that you will appreciate if you know Ronnie. Last time we were all at Peter Luger in Great Neck talking about travel to developing countries. And she said “that’s what I love about it, no privacy.”
91, I said
Time at the resort included fun tennis games on red clay (shout out to David, looking mighty fine at 91 YEARS OLD!); live music and bar shuffleboard at the Cave (Kenny and I beat this couple 16-0, even though you only play to 15); mailing our taxes from the on-site post office; seeing the room in which the agreement establishing the IMF was signed in 1944; great lunches at the Golf Shed; walks on the paths by/through the golf course; playing a fun new game called Anomia; playing patterns, a family special that Leslie brought to us many moons ago; hot tub; and more.
The property is gorgeous. The lobby is a long room with white columns and hardwood floors. I believe it would not be out of place in SoHo, except for the moose head above the fire place. Breakfast was a good buffet spread with many options. The service is definitely lacking. The effort is there but the execution needs work.
The time with family was fantastic, as always. The three grandkids (Kenny, Sam and I) live in Chicago, New Orleans and Los Angeles but we all made it to this out-of-the-way destination.
The main event was Saturday night when we gathered pre-dinner for champagne and gifts. I wore my tuxedo for the special occasion. David and Frieda said what they are most proud of in life is their family and how well we all get along and come together.
Sorry to belabor the point, but I cannot stress enough how much I love and admire them. My grandpa had his own animal hospital in Queens and did well, but the key is that they always spent on experiences and not goods. They lived in the same modest house in Queens for over 60 years but traveled all over the world and spent generously on countless family trips and vacations and education for all of us.
It has become a tradition for the grandkids to write a poem/rap to David or Frieda (and my mom for her 65th) for these major birthday events. I have pasted below what we wrote, for your reading pleasure. The night and whole weekend were a great success!
Impressive pumpkin carving
For Frieda’s 90th birthday:
Once upon a time back in ‘23
The world’s greatest grandma came to be
Born in Borough Park, she was such a gem
Yes, a Diamond, and the youngest of them
Jennie and Phillip made a proper Jewish home
But when college came, it was time to roam
Cornell was the call, Balch was the hall
Grandpa was lucky, cutest gal at the ball
With flawless Regents she was a natural grammarian
And for her love of reading, became a librarian
From Alcott to Hampl, she knows good books
That perfect combo of brains and good looks
Frequents the symphony, she’s so cosmopolitan
Been to Burma, and each exhibit at the Metropolitan
Does crossword puzzles and quite the film critic
Packs a mean matzo ball even though she’s arthritic
Noodle kugel, potato pie and apple cake
Oh sugar, the lady can bake!
The number one fan of the New York great Knicks
After the roast chicken I be giving my plate licks
She’s so charmin’ it’s almost alarmin’
Always globe trottin’ with the Harmons
Aboard the QE2 it almost got legal
Accused of impersonating the Queen, but she’s just that regal
Silk shirt and pearls, parasol for the sun
Wears a lot of black and white, but she ain’t no nun
Newport, Rhode Island here we come! This was my first time in Newport, an absolutely beautiful city, and I was there to celebrate my best friend’s wedding – talk about a LOVEly weekend! We left early on Friday to try and fit in some more touristy activities in Newport before the bridal festivities began. After checking into the Viking Hotel (which is a beautiful historic brick building where the wedding was held), we went down to Easton Beach and started the cliff walk, which offers views of some of the most famous and beautiful Newport mansions, including Jaimie’s favorite – Rose Cliff. We were surprised to see that part of the walk along the coast was still closed off due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.
We grabbed a quick lunch across the street from the hotel at Le Petit Gourmet – sharing a delicious salad and caprese bruschetta. I rushed off to begin my maid of honor duties before walking over to the rehearsal dinner where I drank a lotta pinot grigio and had a fantastic time catching up with Jaimie, Matt, Kait and Sean, as well as Jaimie’s family and friends. While the boys took Matt out to party quite hardy Jaimie, Kait and I took a pedi-cab back to the hotel for some vino and girl talk in the bridal suite. Our poor guy had to sweat through a huge hill with the three of us in back so we sang the Rocky theme song at the top of our lungs to motivate him. Passerbys approved.
::supplies for the room::
::making sure the groom doesn’t see the gown!::
I was up early with the bride and other ladies for a great morning of hair, makeup and lots of mimosas at the salon (meanwhile Alan was crushed and spent the day in bed, just barely making the ceremony). And Jaimie was just the most breathtakingly stunning bride. She could not have looked more perfect! The ceremony was sweet, elevating, a little funny (perfect and fitting for such a funny couple), and to the point.
::getting the bride even prettier::
::getting pretty::
I met up with Alan and my parents at the cocktail hour, and drank some more pinot grigio to settle my nerves for my first ever wedding toast. Add fear of public speaking to my list, put it up high on there. Though pinot grigio helps boatloads. I hope Jaimie liked it! The party took off from there, and it was of course, a PAR-tay.
::too pretty!!!::
::me and kaitrin::
Both of us crushed the next morning we barely made it out of the room in time for check out. We got to say a quick goodbye to the happy couple though we had missed brunch at the hotel restaurant. Instead we headed for the drive-through and ordered chicken nuggets for “breakfast” in honor of my nugget loving bff.
I wish I had more and better pictures to share but I was too busy having fun to snap photos. Plus, I leave that to the professionals.
We spent a lovely weekend in Newport celebrating the marriage of our dear friends Matt and Jaimie. Camera issues seem to have arisen as I can only find one photo of the weekend that is not the ladies getting ready.
October 4-6, 2013 (Friday-Sunday)
Jenni was (co) maid of honor so we knew Friday afternoon was likely our only time for a tourist activity in Newport. We parked at Easton’s Beach for the Cliff Walk which runs along the ocean and past some of the magnificent estates for which Newport is famous. Tours are available for several of the homes (Breakers is probably the most well-known) but we had limited time so we just walked and gawked.
This is a beautiful area, but I did experience another bout of shame for government to coincide with the federal shutdown. A long stretch of the walk remains closed due to damage from Hurricane Sandy. Of course it was a devastating and tragic storm, but this was a year later. And the website for the Cliff Walk as I write this says it will be closed until June 2014. Seriously?! We are not talking about an astounding marvel of engineering here. It is a sidewalk that runs along the water, and it is a major tourist attraction. I was stunned this could not be repaired promptly. OK, done venting.
Cliff Walk
Anyway, there were meters where we parked and it was nice to do the whole walk but I think you could park closer to the big mansions near Narragansett Ave which may also be free. Oh, we jumped the fence and walked the closed part, too.
We stayed at the Hotel Viking which was very nice and had a great location on Bellevue Ave, a main street just up the hill from the waterfront. For you tennis fans, the hall of fame with grass courts is just up the road. Across the street from the Viking was a nice spot for a late lunch called Le Petit Gourmet.
The welcome party was at the Newport Harbor Hotel and afterwards a big group went to the Rhino Bar for drinks and general debauchery. We partied with the pirates there (true) before walking back to the hotel late at night. The block where the hotel sits looks like a small town in England or Ireland (I am imagining this as have only been to London) which makes it pretty neat to sit on the brick patio and absorb the surroundings.
The next day I was hurt and did not do much other than Boardwalk Empire and some college football. On my way to the ceremony at the chapel around the corner, I had just my second exciting chance encounter of the trip. I saw Dana, one of my favorite law school compatriots who I had not seen in several years.
The wedding was a blast and they had a great DJ who played lots of 80s and 90s music and especially hip-hop. I was impressed how many guests knew all the lyrics, both guys and gals. My optional tuxedo was very well-received, and that made me happy. It ended up being a late night between the after-party at the bar, the after-after party in their suite and the after-after-after party out on the patio. I was schooled in the way of McGillicuddy’s and Irish exits. Kait’s fiancé Sean told me about this car show in the UK that sounds fun, I am not certain but think it is the Goodwood Revival Car Show.
The next morning we said goodbye before hitting Wendy’s drive-thru and some back roads to Longmeadow, where I grew up. I really enjoyed getting to know Matt and Jaimie’s families and friends. It was a great group and a wonderful celebration!
We headed back “home” to Massachusetts and specifically to Concord (where Jenni grew up post-Arlington), Westford (where Devin lives), Cambridge and Tufts University (where I went to undergrad).
October 2-4, 2013 (Wednesday-Friday)
This was my first time in Westford, Massachusetts, and it is a charming New England town. And I highly recommend Meat Again which is a butcher and deli. We got some great marinated meats and sausages that Devin grilled (perfectly) that night and I had my first ever buffalo chicken salad sandwich. It was on a large, oblong sesame bun and was delicious. That afternoon we went around the corner from Devin’s house to Burges Pond for a nice woodsy loop hike with the dogs.
It is also the site of the East Boston Camps. The weather was unseasonably warm in the 80s. At night, Jenni’s parents and then Devin’s friends from Ithaca joined us for dinner. I hit the hay after a Samburu board call to focus on the Splash Bash.
Devin made pancakes and continued his run as a superb host. That reminds me I forgot to mention in the Chicago post but both Kenny and Devin forfeited their comfy beds for me and Jenni…dems some good bros. We went into Boston where I saw more Big Belly Solar trash compactors. Then we parked in Harvard Square for lunch at Mr. Bartley’s, which is something of a burger institution. There is a vast selection of combinations, including the Obamacare which is described as “NOBODY KNOWS WHAT’S IN IT!…ask the liberal sitting next to you” and the cost is listed as “$ Trillions.” Out front was a chalkboard proclaiming “Order an Obamacare and we’ll shut down the grill and go home!” I got the Gabriel Gomez burger and it was better than I remembered.
Harvard Square is a fun place to walk around. I bought some Eagle Creek packing cubes at EMS and we scoped this public piano, which is pretty neat. We saw more in New Orleans and I will write a touch more on the movement there.
We took Mass Ave to distance ourselves from this cauldron of ignorance and explore the truly fine bastion of brilliance known as Tufts University. The view of downtown from the library roof is still nice, and a police officer waived to me as though he remembered me. The DTD house has been restored to, and far beyond, its former glory.
It was so nice and clean that we had no choice but to question the partying credentials of current brothers.
But not this guy
After recounting to Jenni and Devin the three stories I can remember, we squeezed in a nice Frisbee sesh on the academic quad.
I was relieved to confirm that Espresso Pizza is very much open for business, despite malignant rumors to the contrary. After stopping in Concord to see Jenni’s parents and the deck construction progress, we went back to Devin’s and watched The Internship which was very funny.
The next morning we took off for Newport, Rhode Island and Matt and Jaimie’s wedding!
After Maine we went down to Massachusetts for some more time with my family. We stopped by my parents’ house in Concord for a bit, though stayed with my brother Devin in Westford both because Alan is allergic to our cats and because Devin is awesome. He took us to his local sandwich and meat shop called Meat Again, which had an impressive selection of marinated pork, chicken and beef. We picked up sandwiches for lunch and meats to grill up for dinner. If you’re near Westford I highly recommend checking it out, and get the Hawaiian flavored steak tips!
::pups getting some ice cream::
::whatchya doin?::
We took the dogs for a walk around Burgess Pond where the foliage was beautiful and the dogs went for a muddy swim in the pond. We had incredible weather – 80’s in October! Later, my parents came over to Devin’s with dessert and wine while Devin cooked up the meats on the grill. Devin’s friends from college joined us afterwards and it was so nice getting to know them, and reminiscing about Ithaca (Devin went to Ithaca College – and we overlapped in the town for a few years).
::handsome boy::
Devin, hosting with the mosting, woke up and made us pancakes for breakfast. We drove into Harvard Square and walked around, stopped for lunch at Bartley’s, which is famous for their burgers named after other famed people. They had an “Obamacare” on the menu. Under the description of toppings it read, “nobody knows what’s in it.” The cost: trillions. A sign out front read, “order an Obamacare and we’ll shut down the grill and go home.”
::how beautiful is this boy??::
::i luff him::
::cuddling with my boys::
::again, Ryder tuckers me out::
We headed over to Medford and Alan gave us a tour of his alma mater, Tufts. We checked out his fraternity – DTD – where I questioned if they were really the “cool party frat” given the cleanliness of the living room. We were comforted to see a red headed stoner in Alan’s former bedroom. Devin and Alan got in a game of Frisbee on campus as well, which I know brought Alan great pleasure.
::my hubstah in college.. he’s changed a touch::
We didn’t do much of Boston proper on this trip, but don’t worry Boston you’re still my home.
Jenni’s parents have a house in Biddeford, Maine, which means I now have the good fortune of lounging with family, great views and copious lobster.
September 27 – October 2 (Friday-Wednesday) – It was another milestone day as we reached the Atlantic Ocean! And what a warm welcome, it was: a couple bottles of Sancerre, a lobster roll, the hot tub with great stars, then some late night snacking on chunks of lobster straight to the dome.
Beyaz and us humans were joined Saturday morning by Devin and his two dogs: Louie the huge bull mastiff and Ryder the adorable Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Watching these two play together warms the heart.
After another lobster roll, Alper, Devin and I played some tennis at their club’s Har-Tru court around the corner. 75 and sunny, tennis, a pond to one side and the ocean to the other. Life is good. Then it got even better with MORE LOBSTER at night, this time in the shell. Jenni’s parents bought one lobster for each grown-up and two for each kid, and they were phenomenal. My wife attacked these crustaceans with a ferocity that was almost alarming, yet I who nearly drank my plate of greenish salt water with lobster slime butter should not judge. A great Chablis Premier Cru, some fireworks Devin had brought and This is the End (transferred from his computer to a USB stick inserted into the TV, yes this novice is always amazed by technology) capped the evening.
Days in Maine are filled with tennis, wine, cheese, lobster, hot tub, reading and more. On the court I made solid contact on a ‘tweener but it landed long. I finished Investment Biker in Vermont and have been reading Delivering Happiness. As the Giants got whooped yet again, I could focus more on my book. Much of what Tony Hsieh writes resonates with me and mirrors some of my notions in embarking on this journey. He was always hard-working and intellectually curious, deeply values his personal relationships and lives by the philosophy that experiences are much more important than material items. He believes that you can change anything if you make a conscious and deliberate effort to overcome inertia. I think it was in this book I came across the Kierkegaard quote: “To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.”
I made fires in the evenings and Alper dubbed me Bodaway, a Native American name for fire maker. He did so during a brief interlude between sessions espousing the merits of passive solar. Maine is definitely Jenni’s happy place. She really likes to converse with the dogs and interpret what they would say in various situations. She also loves to speak in accents and sing with all her might LeAnn Rimes’ cover of I Will Always Love You.
One day Jenni and I took a long walk on the beach down to the nunnery and then to their friend’s house where we debated the relative merits of being on the beach vs. set back on the hill with more of a view (like her parent’s home). I believe they call such dilemmas “1% problems.”
The day I drove back and forth to Portland twice, once for a software update at the Apple store at the mall and once to the Volvo dealership after we had to jump-start Sven yet again…well, that was not a highlight. At least we had more lobster rolls from Pool Street Market (fka Mike’s) which we enjoyed despite the swarming mosquitoes near the house. The Portland Volvo dealership was very friendly and helpful. Their best guess as to Sven’s ailment was some gobbledygook about an RDAR software update to prevent the satellite radio tuner from staying on even after the ignition was switched off. This, despite that we do not have even satellite radio activated. While it is not clear we have left Sven parked long enough to cause the battery drain since that day, we have not had any more problems. It is disappointing that the dealers in Chicago and Vermont never addressed this software update.
Our last night in Maine it was just me and Jenni. We had dinner at Cape Pier Chowder House in Kennebunkport. We split a bowl of clam chowder that was really thick. Which reminds me that Jenni is now officially addicted to the phrase “that’s what she said.” I admit it is a fun game, and called for remarkably often. Anyway, the chowder was great and the lobster rolls were good. These are a more traditional version, with a good amount of meat on a buttered, toasted hot dog bun. My gripe is the mayo and seasoning were too light. She washed it down with a glass of sauvignon blanc and I with a Shipyard (Portland microbrew) Export draught. The setting is the quintessential Maine harbor with a lighthouse and many fishing and lobster boats.
Cape Porpoise
Truth
By the way, today the US government shut down. I had my fifth and sixth rounds of lobster, so I was not too sick to my stomach to eat. And I did feel fortunate that none of our national park visits were affected, yet deeply ashamed of my country. Imagine if you were a European tourist visiting the US to see our national parks and were turned away at the entrance due to shenanigans in Washington, D.C. That most certainly is more characteristic of a developing country than a global leader.
On our way out of Maine we stopped at the Cape Porpoise Kitchen which is a deli and gourmet market. I had a good breakfast sandwich that was like an upscale version of the McDonald’s sausage McMuffin with egg. More important, they offer a Maine crab and dill havarti sandwich that sounds so good, and they sell Elki bacon and blue cheese whipped mustard. We continued to have amazing weather on this trip and it was a perfect time to be here. Still warm enough, beautiful foliage and no crowds.
champagne&backpacks 