Desserts »Duck and Bunny: A Snuggery

312 Wickenden St, Providence RI

If you find yourself as I was, craving a cupcake in the middle of the day in Providence, there’s no need to worry. Not only will you find a cupcake at the adorable Duck and Bunny, but you’ll find a great buttermilk honey cupcake with Lavender Icing. Nutella sandwiched between two peanut butter cookies was Jim’s preferred indulgence and the modern wonderland in black and white decorated spot also boasted some pretty good coffee and a relaxing back garden.

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Drinks »Mint Watermelon Lemonade

at The Big Booty Bread Co, 261 West 23rd St

I really don’t think that while I was waddling the streets of Chelsea in the heat that I could have dreamt up anything more appealing than a sign telling me to “cool off” with “Mint Watermelon Lemonade”. It was The Big Booty Bread Co, which I recommended years ago for their sweets, that was offering this lovely refreshing beverage that sounded like the elixir of the gods to me (mint, watermelon and lemonade?? in one drink?? genius!) and it was heavenly. Here’s a recipe over at Smitten Kitchen if you care to make it yourself (just add mint).

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Spend a Couple Hours »Seafood Fest

Charlestown, RI

Fried dough, Olde Timey photos, and bajas? Must be a festival!! Fortunately for us, this one also featured a bevy of Rhode Island seafood, hence the name the Seafood Festival. Located in Charlestown at the Ninigret Park, this modest fest was pleasant and we ate well. At Chowder Kitchen we tried the stuffed Quahogs, at Salty Dags we opted for the Fisherman’s Lobster Roll (warm with butter and the best bite of the bunch), at D&L Lobster Express we got the cold lobster roll (with a touch of mayo and celery) from a cranky lady and washed it all down with the state’s greatest contribution to summer drinking, Del’s frozen lemonade.

We totally got one of the olde timey portraits too.

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Places to Visit »Nettle Meadow Farm

Thurman, NY – Guest Written by Mike Stermer

Hidden away on a rural route in the Adirondacks, Nettle Meadow is an idealist goat farm.  Founded 5 years ago by a couple in the midst of mid life crisis, Nettle Meadow is farming at it’s best.  Not only do each of their 300 goats have names, but Lorraine, one of the co-owners who gave us a free tour, knows each and every one of their names.  The goats, along with their sheep neighbors, all lend their milk to their artisan cheeses made on the farm.  They make several varieties.  The flavored chevres that we tasted were only two days old, fresh from the goats.  They even have 3 varieties of ages cheeses, aged in the 200 year old stone basement of the farm house.  Their “Kunik” is a not to be missed semi-aged cheese with a super creamy texture.

It’s really nice to see a small family owned farm doing things with care, and worrying about quality and not quantity.  The goats are all treated quiet well.  Unlike many other farms they allow their goats to naturally grow their horns out. In the back of the farm they have 7 acres of free range roughage to roam through.  The largest and oldest of the barns they use as a sanctuary for rescue animals including a thoroughbred horse with an injured leg, cow calves, chickens, roosters, ducks and even a peacock. They even use llamas as sheep dogs to help the keep away the wilds.
Of course their cheeses can be found at local restaurants in the Lake George, but they also venture out much future than that.  NYC’s Murray’s cheese as well as many local eateries carry lines of their cheese as well.  So if you can’t make it up there for a Saturday or Sunday free tour at noon, be sure to search out some of their cheese and taste farm food done right.

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Laughs »The World’s Most Action Packed Movie

at Everything is Terrible!

Brought to my attention by friend Luke, and featured on Everything is Terrible! This is indeed the world’s most action packed movie. Which, if you’re curious means lots of gun shots, punching, screaming and a man being beaten with his own severed arm of course.

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Recipes »Shrimp, Chorizo and Chipotle Gravy

From Emeril

While I don’t like the use of the word “gravy” in this context – to me gravy is opaque and thick and brown – I’ll forgive Emeril his choice of words, because this Shrimp, Chorizo and Chipotle Gravy is great. Spicy and filling, it’s meant to go over Mexican rice, but I opted for what I had available, couscous.

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Posted on August 8, 2010

Movies »Amadeus

directed by Milos Forman (1984)

While working at home, it’s hard to decide on a background movie. If it’s foreign or too interesting, it’s a distraction, but if it’s too dull, I’d rather have nothing on. So, I’ve been delving into my very, very favorites and Amadeus has been one since I was a kid. Possibly the film I’ve watched more than any other, I can pretty much watch it with my eyes closed.

Milos Forman’s exquisite take on the legendary composer is based on the Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play. While the historical facts are played with, it’s a sensationally entertaining movie, with a perfect soundtrack and an amazing cast that for the most part was strangely rarely seen from again.

It’s the winner of numerous awards, including an Oscar for Best Picture, is available on instant netflix – there’s no excuse not to see it if you haven’t yet, or, like me, you can watch again for the thousandth time.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Songs »The Wild One

by Suzi Quatro (1974)

I saw The Runaways. Thought it was shot nicely, the costumes were cool, but am I the only person that was totally bored by the end? No matter, it did remind me of the great Suzi Quatro hit abroad, (she rarely made the charts in the USA) The Wild One.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Hunks »Bobby Womack

Soul Singer Songwriter

Soul singing Bobby Womack is mostly remembered for the scandal of marrying Sam Cooke’s widow mere months after his death. But it’s pretty pale stuff compared to some other big name scandals. He was a major songwriter and as you can see quite a handsome man who could hold his own with major side burns.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Style Icons: Male »Christian Berard

Theatrical Artist

Christian Berard seems like the kind of guy I would have loved being friends with. He was a prominent gay artist who with his lover, Boris Koshno was the toast of the fashionable Paris crowd of the 20’s and 30’s. A renowned costume and theatrical scenery designer, Berard’s paintings have a distinct style that found a home in the  fashion world where he painted for magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

He is probably most well known for his considerable contribution to cinema with his dreamlike designs for Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast.

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Posted on August 1, 2010