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All posts for the month July, 2018

Central Coast Wines

Posted by golfkat on July 20, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

While I certainly will not use the movie, Sideways, as a template for wine tasting, we will visit a winery or two.  One of our favorites, Laetitia, just south of Arroyo Grande, has a nice shaded outdoor picnic area that is perfect for a picnic lunch with Lexi.  But obviously, there is more to the area.  It is a real shame that it took a movie like that to bring attention to this area!

The Central Coast is the location of the Central Coast American Viticultural Area.  This area extends from the Santa Barbara area in the south, all the way to the San Francisco Bay Area.  The central coast wineries includes portions of six counties.  Over 100,000 acres of are planted in wine grapes, with Chardonnay making up over half that total.  Why not take advantage of the cooling breezes of the Pacific Ocean?

The region contains 40 AVAs, including the Paso Robles area where we are visiting.  And no, it does not have the cache’ of Napa or Sonoma, but nevertheless, has some really fine wines and great wineries to visit.  But, after many visits, I have found the area to have its own style and character.  And we like it!!!!

One big advantage to entering the Paso Robles area is arriving on Highway 46 from the San Joaquin Valley.  The wineries line the highway on both sides, the first one being Tobin James Cellars, my sister in law’s favorite.  In general the area is known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah wines. But many other old world wines are showing up, along with the ubiquitous Cabernet sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Merlot, along with Viognier, Grenache, and Sauvignon blanc.

Everyone has their favorites, but here are ten to try if you have not been to the area before.  In no particular order:  Justin Vineyards, Firestone Vineyards, Tobin James Cellars, Herman Story Winery, J. Lohr Vineyards, Robert Hall Winery, Calcareous Vineyard, Edna Valley Vineyard, Laetitia Vineyards and Winery, and Sunstone Winery.

Last year’s Mid State Fair revealed these wines as some of the best of the region.  Best in Show, as well as Best Red Wine went to Broken Earth Winery’s 2015 Grenache.  Best in White Wine went to Eberle Winery’s 2016 Muscat Canelli. Best Pink Wine went to Kita Wines 2016 Grenache Rose’.  As I would expect, Best Sparkling Wine went to Laetitia Vineyard and Winery’s 2014 Brut cuvee. They also claimed a Gold Medal, and Best in Class for the Méthode Champenoise category.  And Best Dessert Wine went to Glunz Family Winery’s Mission Angelica.

Winners for 2018 are as follows:  Best in Show went to Alara Cellars 2017 Grenache Blanc, a first for this varietal.  Fast forward to best sparkling, my fav Laetitia won for Best Sparkling Wine for their 2015 Brut rose’.  Other winners were:  Best Pink Wine to Opolo Vineyards 2017 Rose’.  Best Red Wine went to Cass Vineyard and Winery’s 2017 Mourvedre’.  And Best Dessert Wine went again to Glunz for their Mission Angelica.

As you can see, or taste, this area offers a wide variety of wines, some of which are excellent.  Many surpass the wines of Napa and Sonoma.  The area is not as crowded, traffic is manageable, and tasting fees are lower.  And they have some decent bike lanes, especially along Highway 1.  Let’s go!

 

Respite from the Heat

Posted by golfkat on July 20, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

Not only has the weather been hot for several weeks now, but just to make matters worse, our almost new (less than three years old) refrigerator decided to take a break, or just break.  The technician said the Sears Kenmore refrigerator is made by LG.  And LG compressors have been failing at an alarming rate.  We are thankful for the extended warranty.  But I wonder who is going to take over Sears Home Services when Sears finally declares bankruptcy?

Anyway, we decided, since we are going out for most of our meals, to take a road trip over to the Central Coast, and stay a few nights in Pismo Beach.  And, of course, we are taking Lexi with us.  Last year, on her first trip to the beach, I thought she was going to dig to the other side of the world.  She loved it!!!

So, while we may not do much wine tasting, I will take my bicycle, and we will enjoy some al fresco dining with her when we can.  Also, someone told us there is a nice dog park in Avila Beach.  A short stop or lunch at the Firestone Brewery could also be on the agenda.

California’s central coast is considered to be 350 miles of coastline, from the Monterey region to the Ventura region.  Pismo Beach is considered part of the San Luis Obispo region.  This region has 16 cities and towns, and includes Hearst Castle in Cambria, as well as Cal Poly, aka California Polytechnic University, where many of our friends and relatives attended.  One of our favorite restaurants is located in Arroyo Grande, Ember, an award winning restaurant with food as good as any place in the Bay Area or LA.

Naturally, food and wine are a big attraction here.  The wine region, made even more famous by the movie, Sideways, has been attracting big crowds, and winning many awards.  And the food, with so many nearby farms, provides the quintessential farm to table dining experience in many places.  Of course, seafood is a big draw for us as well.

Pismo was once known as the clam capital of the world.  In my youth, I recall our relatives going to Pismo to dig clams and abalone.  They even have a clam festival every October.  The clams routinely can be as large as 7 inches!  And the old Splash Cafe in downtown Pismo serves over 30,000 gallons of clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls annually.  A rather tacky place, but good for a quick snack.

But mostly, it is the seaside vibe, the California relaxing lifestyle that draws us and keeps us coming back.  Life just seems to move at a different pace. Everyone is on vacation, even the people who live and work there!  The area reminds me of how Santa Cruz was back in the 50s and 60s.

As far as our break from the heat, the average temperatures here are 71 and 53.  A couple of dear friends went to Pismo last week and actually encountered a temp of 101!!!! Shocking.  But this is perfect cycling weather!  And sunset on or near the pier is a big draw.  Lexi and I will be there around that time each evening.

So, if you can find us, we might be taking a nap poolside, taking Lexi for a walk on the beach, or tasting some wine at a few wineries in the area.  But mostly, we will be doing next to nothing!

805sbeach ridecc sparklingburn

Overlooked American Classics

Posted by golfkat on July 20, 2018
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. 1 Comment

Having traversed our great country numerous times, along with some of you, I wonder how many of us really appreciate some of the more iconic but overlooked American attractions.  I know we all like to avoid tourist traps and big crowds.  But I recently went to the big Boston Pops 4th of July Fireworks and Concert at the Esplanade in Boston.  I was probably joined by about 300,000 fellow lovers of music and fireworks.  And it was quite manageable, even enjoyable for the most part.  I am so glad I went, much like we did for the Capitol Fourth in Washington, DC.

But what about some other overlooked classics?

Locally, our Golden Gate Bridge is taken for granted.  I know we have all seen it or driven across numerous times.  But how many of you have walked across, or even better, ridden your bicycle across to Sausalito?  And if you are in the area, how about a nice boat ride and tour of Alcatraz Island, home of former prisons and Native American invasions?

Another California icon is the Getty Center, sitting high above the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles.  We have driven by numerous times, but did not stop until out of town relatives insisted that we go.  Not only did we see some great art, we were treated to one of the best views of Los Angeles, on a clear and cool day.

Moving to the other coast, while in Boston, how many of you have walked the Freedom Trail?  It is only 2.5 miles long, but contains more history than most of our childhood history books.  And it passes by other great places, like the Union Oyster House!  Experts call the walk similar to being in a time machine, and I agree.

There is only one monument to a great entertainer and singer, and it is not Sinatra or the Beatles.  It is Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley, just outside of Memphis.  Foreigners love this place!!  And I found it surprisingly interesting as well.  Memphis itself has many attractions, like Beale Street, and Stax Records.  And you will love the food in this great, overlooked city.

With so many monuments and museums in Washington, DC, it is easy to overlook the Lincoln Memorial.  Experts say it makes Lincoln come alive for most of us.  That said, any of the museums and monuments make a great excursion.  On our last trip to DC, we enjoyed peak bloom day for the cherry blossoms at the Jefferson Memorial.

Everyone feels a little different when going to a place where so many have died.  Going to Pearl Harbor was quite sad for me, since it marked the beginning of the war for the US, and the start of relocating all of my family and relatives to prison camps in the interior of the country.  Add to that, all of the young men and women who died back on December 7, 1941.  I think you have to decide for yourself whether to go or not.  Likewise, I could not bring myself to visit Auschwitz last year when I was in Poland.

Any tour of Chicago should include an architectural cruise on the Chicago River.  Skyscrapers were invented here, so why not see them for yourself.  The top architects in the world are represented here, and the iconic Sears and Hancock Towers are uniquely American. Of course, you can always enjoy the deep dish pizza, Chicago dogs, and Chicago beef.  And Wrigley Field for a Cubs game, and Second City, if you want to laugh.

Having been to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, I have been asked if I have been to Niagara Falls.  My answer is always, not yet!  But I plan to get there one day soon, and also hit the Baseball Hall of Fame in upstate Cooperstown, NY.  I could call it two for the price of one!

Many of you have been to colonial Williamsburg.  While not on any of my lists, I can certainly see why it might have been on yours.  Where can you possibly go and experience a historic moment in time?  Maybe perform an re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party in Boston Harbor?  Or pan for golf at Sutter’s Mil outside of Sacramento?

Literary landmarks generally don’t appeal much to me.  Such was a visit to the home of Fyodor Dostoyevsky in St. Petersburg.  But Sleepy Hollow, in New York is the setting of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” with the Headless Horseman.  And why not enjoy the Hudson River, and maybe a trip to West Point while you are there?

So, there you have it.  Ten overlooked American icons.  I can guess there are about two or three of you who have been to all of them.  Let me know who you are, and you can join the Overlooked Icon Hall of Fame!!gg bridgelincoln memniagaracherry bs

Rudest Cities

Posted by golfkat on July 20, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. 2 Comments
Car that runs on wind energy
Indian air passengers wait on benches at the domestic terminal of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport in Kolkata, on March 13, 2008 during the second day of a nationwide call to cease work by airlines workers. Water taps began running dry in some airports, litter was visible and baggage trolleys were scarce, travellers said, but airport officials said flights were still operating on schedule as airline workers observed the second day of a “non-cooperation” drive to protest the opening of two private airports. AFP PHOTO/Deshakalyan CHOWDHURY (Photo credit should read DESHAKALYAN CHOWDHURY/AFP/Getty Images)

New and Old Giants Fans

Posted by golfkat on July 10, 2018
Posted in: Sports, Travel. Leave a comment

Tuesday (July 10, 2018)crabbiecubs gamehoudiniATT seatsbelt bros, my brother and I are headed up to ATT Park for a Giants and Cubs baseball game.  We are taking his two grandsons, who are big sports fans.  I reminds me of our childhood, when our Dad took us to old Candlestick Park in San Francisco, or to Dodger Stadium down in LA.  What great memories!

As I recall, it was a big deal, though we rarely stayed overnight.  Generally, we went to Sunday day games, and drove each way from our home.  We often stopped for a nice dinner on the way home.  In particular, we enjoyed stopping at Fisherman’s Wharf in the City.  The weather was always cooler than the Valley, and we were always excited to go somewhere with our Dad.

I tried to carry on the tradition with my children, mostly my son, who was an excellent baseball player, though golf became his primary sport in high school.  We went to Giants and A’s games all summer long.  We even went to Spring Training in Arizona about half a dozen times as well.

Growing up here in the Valley, baseball was a big deal.  We all loved the Giants, and the greatest player of all time, Willie Mays.  We listened to the games on the radio every day.  It was part of our childhood, as much as swimming, working on our Uncle’s farm, and playing Little League baseball.

Fast forward to Tuesday, and the Giants game in the City.  We get to sit in perhaps the best ballpark in baseball, in cool weather, and watch the local heroes play the Cubs.  Our favorite players are Buster Posey, and Madison Bumgarner.  And we will have a crab sandwich or “Cha Cha Bowl” before the game.  And it will remind us of some great times in our childhood thanks to our Dad.

Weird Boston

Posted by golfkat on July 8, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Travel. Leave a comment

As one of America’s oldest cities, Boston has become known as a predictable, and comfortable place to visit.  But it does have some quirks, and unusual sights.

Boston is actually named for a town in England.

The streets in Back Bay are in alphabetical order:  Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth and so on.  So are the ones in my hometown:  Sierra, Tulare, Union, Ventura, Winter, and who knows?  I am told they were English lords.

Many Beacon Hill streets are named after trees.  Jacaranda?  Maybe Chestnut, Grove, Myrtle, Cedar, I am not good on tree names.

Many Wellesley streets are named after poets: Frost, Avon, Longfellow, Tennyson.  Truth be known, I don’t recognize many poets these days.  I am not good on poet names either.

Urban legend has it that Boston’s difficult-to-navigate streets are paved cow paths. While some streets are paved over cow paths, most of the streets follow the original coastline of Boston Proper before the city expanded over 1,000 acres during the landfill projects in the 19th century, giving them their seemingly strange pattern.

In the 19th century, the hilltops of Boston, Pemberton, Beacon, and Mt. Vernon were reduced 60 feet or more for a landfill project. From 1830 to 1890, workers carted land from the hills adding it to bays and along the coastline to expand Boston by 1,121 acres in order to accommodate the ever growing population.  Imagine if they did that to San Francisco or Seattle?

The Boston Pilgrims won the first World Series over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1903.  No wonder it was a long drought between championships!

Boston’s subway, known as the “T,” carries 1.3 million passengers per day on average. The “T” is short for MBTA, or the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.  No wonder Charlie got confused and needed a nickel!

The topper would be names of some cities and towns out on the Cape, like Plymouth, Bourne, Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Buzzrds Bay, Harwich, Orleans, Wellfleet, Brewster, Chatham, Thumpertown, Truro, Woods Hole, Sandy Neck, Long Nook, First Encounter, and my favorite, Aptucxet Trading Post.

Boston offers its citizens and visitors over 850 restaurants. Amazingly, only 40 of the 850 serve fast food.  This stat must be old, as there must be a hundred Dunkin Donuts joints in the city.

While the Salem Witch Trials are named after the town of Salem, Massachusetts, the first death sentence of a “witch” occurred in Boston. In 1648, Boston citizens hanged midwife Margaret Jones for using herbal remedies on her patients that were believed to have made them sicker.  However, I strongly suggest a visit to Salem on Halloween day.

Boston Baked Beans helped earn Boston the title of the bean capital of the United States. However, the nickname of Beantown originates from a publicity stunt in 1907 that used stickers that displayed clasped hands over a bean pot. Postcards printed with sayings like, “You don’t know beans until you come to Boston” also helped the name stick.

In 1967, race official Jock Semple attempted to forcefully remove Kathrine Switzer from the Boston Marathon because she was a woman. 5 Years later, women were officially allowed to participate.

Christmas was once banned in Boston. Between 1659-1681, residents of the capital city were prohibited from celebrating Christmas. Early puritan settlers believed it was a corrupt and indulgent holiday, and outlawed any yuletide celebrations.

In 2005, MIT held an actual Time Travelers Convention. On May 5, 10:25 pm, over 300 contemporary people gathered at MIT in the hopes of making contact with time travelers from the future. The convention set up a “landing zone”, complete with milk and cookies. The event was featured on the front page of the New York Times. Though no contact with future time travelers was made, MIT continues to publicize the space time coordinates (i.e. time and location) prominently and indefinitely, so that future time travelers will be aware and have the opportunity to attend.

Brook Farm in West Roxbury operated as a transcendentalist utopian community from 1841 to 1847. Famous figures such as Charles Anderson Dana, Greeley, Margaret Fuller and Nathaniel Hawthorne participated in the experiment.

A massive wave of molasses once devastated Boston’s North End. On January 15, 1919, a storage tank holding more than 2 million gallons of molasses burst and sent more than two million gallons of hot molasses roaring through the streets of Boston. The accident claimed 21 lives and injured hundreds.

Basketball was invented in Springfield in 1891. Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher, came up with the game as a way of keeping his students occupied indoors during the cold winter months. The first game involved throwing a soccer ball into two peach baskets nailed 10 feet above the floor.  Can you imagine Michael Jordan flying through the air towards a peach basket?

Speaking of sports, volleyball was invented in 1895 by William Morgan in Holyoke.

Which famous opera was inspired by Boston’s famous swan boats?**

Most of us do not know that midnight rider, Paul Revere was both a blacksmith and a dentist.  Ouch!!

Boston had a National League baseball team until the 50s.  They became first the Milwaukee Braves, and now the Atlanta Braves.  Can you imagine Hammerin’ Hank Aaron in Boston?

Bruce Springsteen helped inaugurate the famous Leonard P. Zakim/Bunker Hill Bridge.  Why?

Zakim, a well-known civil rights activist, was introduced to Springsteen in the last year of his life. After a concert, one of Springsteen’s managers brought Zakim backstage and introduced him to Bruce by saying, “This is a guy who’s out there on the front lines doing what you sing about, his name’s Lenny Zakim.”

What is the Scooper Bowl?  The Scooper Bowl is a taste-a-thon of leading ice cream makers from across the country. Held every June to benefit cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, attendees pay a small fee to sample a variety of ice cream – from old favorites to new unreleased flavors!

Two of the three women who have served as Secretary of State are graduates of Wellesley College.  Hillary Clinton (1969) and Madeline Albright (1959).

The Berklee College of Music, established in 1970, represents 96 different countries and its alumni have won over 250 Grammys and Latin Grammys.  By contrast, Julliard School in New York City, established in 1905, has only 105 Grammy winners.

A few words about my flight yesterday, why must so many foreigners think it is okay to fart their way across our great country?  Any gasses as to which Asian country?  We need an embargo for farts!!!  And do both the Zuck man and Ed Asner have identical twin brothers?  And I found one “flying papa”, soon to retire after 30 years of service on United.

Still hot and humid here, but I knew that.  But it does not relent at night, like being in Texas.  Give me California anytime.  Homeless are everywhere, streets torn up every direction, but it could be worse.  I could be a house guest at Mar a lago for a week.

I forgot to send this from Boston this morning.  I am sitting at SFO, waiting for my connecting flight home.  I just had one of the best tomato bisque soups in a very long time, since Lima, Peru to be exact.  It was actually a little windy and chilly in Boston this morning.  The Red Sox are going great, my Giants are who we thought they were, too bad.  I may be going to the game Tuesday with my brother.

** Wagner’s Lohengrinmtabostonianscheers1scorceseHarvard library

Famous Bostonians

Posted by golfkat on July 7, 2018
Posted in: Entertainment, Music, Travel. Leave a comment

 

Our favorite Bostonian is, of course, the late President, John F. Kennedy.  Forever young, handsome, wealthy, and carried the hope of a new generation, our generation.  But there are some others.  Who can forget Good Will Hunting, with famous Bostonians Matt Damon and Ben Affleck?  The old colonial bunch, like the Adams (John and Abigail), Ben Franklin, John Hancock, James Otis, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and John Quincy Adams.

But there are many more, including some transplants who are claimed by Boston, like the greatest hitter of all time, Ted Williams, originally from San Diego.  How about a rotund fellow from a Baltimore orphanage by the name of Georgie Ruth, otherwise known as Babe Ruth.  Boston sent him off to great fame in New York!

The list is impressive, and I will try to group them together as best I can.

Writers, poets, authors:  Edgar Allan Poe, Kahlil Gibran, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau (why do all the famous writers use three names?), William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Elizabeth Bishop, William Monroe Trotter, Howard Zinn, Margaret Fuller, Robert Frost (my personal favorite), Cotton Mather, Jack Kerouac,  Theodore White, Phyllis Wheatley, William Monroe Trotter, Julia Child, and Sylvia Plath.

Activists, and risk takers:  Prince Hall, James Otis, Anne Hutchinson, Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Lucy Stone, Elie Wiesel, Noam Chomsky, Muriel Snowden, Margaret Fuller, Mel King, Melnea Cass, Julia Ward Howe, Dorothea Dix, Francis Cabot Lowell, Horace Mann, Helen Keller, Clara Barton, W.E.B. DuBois, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Louis Farrakhan, and Malcolm X.

Lawmakers, and judges:  Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Josiah Quincy III, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., John Winthrop, James Michael Curley, Thomas Menino, Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill, Louis Brandeis, Calvin Coolidge, Michael Bloomberg, Margaret Marshall, Daniel Webster, Charles Sumner, Henry Knox, John Kerry, Bobby Kennedy, Elizabeth Warren, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Edward Brooke.

Inventors, designers and innovators:  An Wang, Samuel Morse, Henry Hobson Richardson, Elma Lewis, Henry Higginson, Maurice Starr, Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz, Edwin Land, Winslow Homer, John Harvard, Sumner Redstone, Sidney Farber, Francis Cabot Lowell, John Warren, Mary Baker Eddy, Frederick Law Olmsted, Alexander Graham Bell, William Rosenberg, and Tim Berners-Lee.

Music and the arts:  Yo-Yo Ma, Arthur Fiedler, Leonard Bernstein, Matt Damon, Norman Rockwell, James Taylor, Robert Goulet, Ray Bolger, Jack Lemmon, Bette Davis, Donna Summer, Edgar Allan Poe, Uma Thurman, James Spader, Leonard Nimoy, Ed Ames, Bobby Brown, Roger Miller, John Mayer, Van Morrison, Lee Remick, Steven Van Zandt, Dick Dale, Jane Alexander, Chick Corea, Aerosmith, Boston, Mark Wahlberg, and Julia Ward Howe.

Sports:  Bobby Orr, San Diegan Ted Williams, Oaklander Bill Russell, Red Auerbach, Nancy Kerrigan, Indiana’s Larry Bird, Pedro Martinez, Puerto Rico’s David Ortiz, Tom Brady, Bob Cousy, John L. Sullivan, Howie Long, Carlton Fisk, Joe Cronin, Lefty Grove, Jimmy Foxx, Cy. Young, and Dr. J.

 

Others:  Benjamin Bradlee, Abigail Adams, Steve Carrell, Jay Leno, Fred Allen, Richard Scarry, Krista McAuliffe, the Boston Strangler (Albert DeSalvo), Conan, Fanny Farmer, Peter Lynch, Whitey Bulger, Mike Wallace, and a Man Named Charlie.

You must know of a few too!jfkgood willpopsseigi

Real Boston

Posted by golfkat on July 6, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Music, Sports, Travel. Leave a comment

Boston is one of my favorite American cities, along with Seattle, Denver, San Diego, and Chicago.  There are similarities to San Francisco, both surrounded by water, similar population, a certain sophistication, you know the facts.  But here are some additional facts about Boston.

Boston Esplanade, where I will attend the famous July 4th POPS Spectacular, was just a wasteland before becoming a city park and concert venue. The Boston Fire Department, founded in 1678, is the oldest Fire Department in the U.S.  They were helping the police, park rangers, and military police at the concerts.  Uber works well here if the T is not convenient.

Boston also had the first public beach, Revere Beach, now home to the International Sand Sculpting Festival.

Happy hours have been banned since 1984.  Does that date sound familiar, George?  A drunk driver killed a 20 year old girl.

The Fig Newton is named after a suburb of Boston, Newton, MA.

The first Dunkin Donuts was located in nearby Quincy, a mere 11 miles away from Boston.  Yet Boston’s 850 restaurants include only 40 fast food joints.  And the cops get a free donut with their coffee.  Uncle Larry, aka Barney Fife would indulge in that!

Fenway Green is a patented shade of green, and the color of the famous Green Monster at Fenway Park, the oldest in America (1912).  Can you name the three big Red Sox stars who came from California?

The very first chocolate factory (1765) in the United States was build in the Lower Mills section in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.  Do you know where most of the world’s chocolate comes from?

Massachusetts started issuing driver’s licenses and registration plates in 1903, but didn’t make people take a driving test beforehand. In 1920, Boston began requiring a driving test before issuing someone a license.

America’s first subway, the Tremont Street Subway, was built here in 1897, not in New York City as you might expect.  BTW, I have not seen Charlie yet.  But I did take a bite out of his sandwich!

Contrary to popular opinion, the city’s nickname is Beantown due to the popularity of the baked beans in molasses among it’s early residents.  I intend to try some, lest I keep up with those Chinese national tourists on the plane back home.

The Ted Williams Tunnel is the deepest in North America, running 90 feet below the earth’s surface.  Speaking of Ted, do you know his nickname?

Famous people from Boston include:  Mark Wahlberg, James Spader, Jasmine Guy, Uma Thurman, Chris Evans, Madeline Kahn, Matt Damon, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Donna Summer, Amy Poehler, Eli Whitney, Paul Revere, Susan B. Anthony, John F. Kennedy, Emily Dickinson, Samuel Morse, John Hancock, Connie Britton, Leonard Nimoy, Taylor Schilling, and Barbara Walters.

Three of the Boston Red Sox big stars were from California:  Ted Williams, Dom DiMaggio, and Bobby Doerr.  Theodore was known as the “Splendid Splinter” during his days here in Boston.

Over 15% of Bostonians walk to work!  Nobody seems to wear a suit in this muggy weather.  A bunch of wimps if you ask me.

Cambridge, home to both Harvard (oldest, founded in 1636) and MIT, is only 3 miles from Boston on the Red Line Subway.  Don’t bother looking for Charlie!

It is also home to the well respected Berklee College of Music.  Some notable grads:  John Mayer, Diana Krall, Quincy Jones, Branford Marsalis, Melissa Etheridge, Aimee Mann, Meghan Trainor, Joe Walsh, Keith Jarrett, Joe Satriani, Rhianna, Don Fagen (Steely Dan), Bruce Hornsby, Roy Hargrove, among others.

Some Boston food you must eat include:  Boston cream pie (invented at the Omni Parker House), Sam Adams beer, Boston clam chowder (never order New England style), Fenway Franks, Boston Baked Beans, and of course, lobstah!!!

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Boston in 1621, and lasted THREE days!

Incredibly, the John Hancock Tower houses 13 acres of glass.  The building also displays colored lights that tell the weather.

Fully one third of Boston residents are college students.  That leaves only 600,000 regular residents.

The world’s most famous foot race, the Boston Marathon began in 1897 with only 18 runners.

So, yes, I love Boston.  If you have never visited, I strongly suggest doing so.  If I could have afforded grad school at Harvard back in 1975, I would have gone, somehow.

Let’s hope for some cooler weather today, as I head to Cambridge for a meeting of the minds.  No promises, they don’t seem to like outsiders!!!!

 

A Trip to Old Cape Cod

Posted by golfkat on July 5, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

Most of you are too young to remember this song, including me.  Perhaps I heard it on the radio, waiting for the ballgames to come on the air?

If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there
(You’re sure)You’re sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
(Cape Cod, that old Cape Cod)
If you like the taste of a lobster stew
Served by a window with an ocean view
(You’re sure)You’re sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
Winding roads that seem to beckon you
Miles of green beneath a sky of blue
Church bells chimin’ on a Sunday morn
Remind you of the town where you were born
If you spend an evening you’ll want to stay
Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay
You’re sure…

 

The songstress was Patti Page.  It earned a gold record, and published in 1957.  It became the unofficial Cape Cod anthem, and most likely, helped establish Cape Code as a major tourist destination.  Personally, I think it was the Kennedys.

Anyway, I rode the Peter Pan bus out to Cape Cod.  The company was founded by Yellow Cab of all people, and purchased by Peter Picknelly in 1933.  And they still own it today. Each bus is given a number, along with a name of a character from the Peter Pan stories.  They are a long distance/commuter bus service in the northeastern U.S.

This is their CVB:  The Cape Cod Regions, consisting of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, will make you happy; it’s as simple as that. That is, unless amazing mini golf, even more amazing regular golf, beautiful beaches with rolling dunes, legendary seafood, homemade ice cream, countless kid-friendly activities, the world’s most romantic places to stay, pristine conservation land, and fantastic water sports don’t make you happy. But that’d be next to impossible. We said homemade ice cream!

Having spent my entire life living in California, I find it totally foreign to see wide expanses of beach without rocks, trees, or sleepy little seaside villages.

Specifically, what is Cape Cod?  It is a cape that extends into the Atlantic Ocean from the northeastern corner of Massachusetts.  Not only is it a popular vacation destination, it is also a place to retire.  The average age here is the highest in all of New England!

And it extends 65 miles into the Atlantic, and covers more than 560 miles of shoreline. It is one of the largest barrier islands in the world, and shields the coastline from fierce Atlantic storms and waves.  Barnstable is the most populated municipality on Cape Code, and includes infamous Provincetown, out on the tip, where Tony Bourdain became a the bad boy of the culinary world.

To the south are equally well known places like Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.  And many privately owned Elizabeth Islands.  With a climate more moderate than the mainland, summers are not as hot, and winters not as cold.

We all know that the Kennedy Compound at Hyannis Port became the summer White House for President Kennedy.  The family still maintains residences in the compound.  Some other famous residents:  President Grover Cleveland, James Otis, Norman Mailer, Julie Harris, Louis Brandeis, Taylor Swift, the ghost of JFK, Meg Ryan, Samuel L. Jackson, the late Gregory Peck, UNCLE Bob Vaughn, the late Jimmy Cagney (but not Lacey), Harry Connick Jr., Ben Affleck, Dan Akroyd, Michael J. Fox, and Kurt Vonnegut.

Bicycle access is said to be outstanding!  The year around population runs about 220,000.  The tourist season runs roughly between Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Golf is a big deal here, with 27 public courses, and 15 private courses.   Bed and breakfasts are the preferred lodging here.

Besides golf and cycling, sport fishing is a big time activity.  Of course, hiking, boating, kayaking, swimming, and bird watching are also popular.  Cape Cod has its famous Cape Cod baseball league, consisting of nine teams which draw scouts from the major league baseball teams.  Many college and high school players spend the summer here to hone their baseball skills.

Why am I here?  To dine on lobster, of course.  I cannot think of any better reason.  Will it be a clam shack or lobster hut?  What is the difference anyway?  It will probably not be the infamous Lobster Pot that drove Tony Bourdain to bad boy fame and fortune.   Turns out I had my lobster roll at Spanky’s Clam Shack in Hyannis.  I also visited the Hyannis JFK Museum, and a cute little ice cream parlor downtown.  spankys1hyannisice creamJFKspankys Anywho, it is hot and humid, perfect for some bubbly and lobstah, Tony.

Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

Posted by golfkat on July 4, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Music, Travel. Leave a comment

Not only do I finally get to attend this great event, it is held on both July 3 AND July 4!!!!  The poster says:  Conductor Keith Lockhart directs the Boston POPS Orchestra at the Hatch Shell, on the Esplanade, performing the identical concert which will be played on July 4th minus the fireworks display. Seating for this free event is on a first come basis, it will be crowded, but not as much as on the 4th.

This year’s headliner is Rachel Platten, along with The Indigo Girls, Rita Moreno, and Rhiannon Giddens.

Yes, I will miss both John Williams and the famous maestro himself, Arthur Fiedler. This televised program is followed by a spectacular 23-minute fireworks display over the Charles River. The best place for viewing the fireworks is along Memorial Drive on the Cambridge side of the Charles River.

Sheri and I attended a Capitol Fourth in Washington DC several years ago.  The featured performer was none other than Stevie Wonder.  But we encountered over a million people.  It started to rain, lightly at first, but then increased to a typical summer rain.  We left a little early, and watched most of the great fireworks show from DuPont Circle.

This year will be the 44th Spectacular, celebrating 241 years of our country’s independence.  From the Boston Pops website:  Affectionately known as “America’s Orchestra,” the Boston Pops is the most recorded and arguably the most beloved orchestra in the country, beginning with the establishment of the modern-era Pops by Arthur Fiedler and continuing through the innovations introduced by John Williams and the new-millennium Pops spearheaded by Keith Lockhart. Its remarkable history began with its founding in 1885. Fours years earlier, in 1881, Civil War veteran Henry Lee Higginson founded the Boston Symphony Orchestra, calling its establishment “the dream of my life.” From the start he intended to present, in the warmer months, concerts of light classics and the popular music of the day. From a practical perspective, Higginson realized that these “lighter” performances would provide year-round employment for his musicians. In May 1885—a little more than a month before the inaugural “Promenade Concert”—German-born conductor Adolf Neuendorff, under the aegis of the BSO, conducted a series of “Popular Concerts” in the Boston Music Hall, where the audience sat in typical concert seating and no refreshments were served. On July 11, 1885, Neuendorff—who became the first conductor of the Pops, before that name was officially adopted—led the first official “Promenade Concert,” distinguished from “Popular Concerts” by virtue of seating (tables and chairs instead of auditorium-style rows), program format (three parts divided by two intermissions, during which patrons could promenade around the concert hall), and the availability of food and beverages. For the rest of the 19th century, although formally called “Promenade Concerts,” they continued to be referred to informally as “Popular,” which eventually became shortened to “Pops,” the name officially adopted in 1900. The following year the orchestra performed for the first time in its new home, Symphony Hall. Not only is this performance space acoustically outstanding, it was also designed, at Higginson’s insistence, so that the rows of floor seats for Boston Symphony concerts could be replaced by tables and chairs for Pops concerts. To this day, patrons sitting at the cabaret-style tables can enjoy food and drink, along with the kind of musical entertainment only the Boston Pops can provide.

I find it difficult to believe there were SEVENTEEN previous conductors of the Boston Pops before Arthur Fiedler.  Artie was the first American born conductor to lead the orchestra (from 1930 to 1979).  He is credited with moving the orchestra from light classical music into the world of pop culture and music.  He organized the first free concerts on the Charles River Esplanade that led to Boston’s now famous Fourth of July concert.  And the Pops became the most recorded orchestra in history under Fiedler.

Along came John Williams (1980-1993) to succeed Arthur Fielder, and garnered FIFTY Academy Award nominations.  He remains the most nominated living person in Academy history!  Under Williams, the Pops traveled extensively, including their first trips to Japan.

Fast forward to today, Keith Lockhart (1995-present) has led more than 1800 Boston Pops concerts.  He has broadened the orchestra’s reach with 78 televisions shows, 42 national concerts, and four overseas concert tours.  Along with increased touring, Lockhart has earned the orchestra’s first Grammy nominations, and first major network national broadcast of the July 4th Spectacular that we see each year on the Fourth.

The program will be the same both nights, fireworks only on the 4th.  Along with the guest performers, the Pops will pay tribute to Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), as part of a celebration making the centennial of his birth.  Rita Moreno will make a special appearance each night in his honor.  She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in the film adaptation of West Side Story by Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.  Ms. Moreno is one of only TWELVE artists who have won all four major American entertainment awards, an Oscar, a Grammy, a Tony, and an Emmy.

The Tanglewood Festival Chorus will also perform, along with a 20 minute fireworks spectacular on the Charles River.  The program will be broadcast on Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio, and Bloomberg.com.  The host for the evening will be Alix Steel.  Of note, all of the special guests are female performers.  And we have all watched this show on our home TV’s for decades, when Arthur Fiedler first made it a “must see” event.

Often described as one of the best 4th of July celebrations: 

This historic American city’s display is renowned for its accompaniment—live music performed by the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra, which features—yes—real cannon fire. The fireworks are nothing to sneeze at, either—an impressive array of pyrotechnics are shot from barges along the Charles River.

Where to watch: Home base is the DCR Hatch Shell, an outdoor band shell where the Pops perform along the Charles River

 

. You can also get killer views from the Harvard and Longfellow Bridges, or from anywhere along the three-mile Esplanade.

So, look for me on TV.  There will only be half a million people attending each night.  I will be the one wearing red, white and blue!!!  But an adult-long dream comes true, in Boston, I can’t wait!