winging it in... Boston

Let’s play ball…

So it is back! Baseball season is here and the Red Sox are back at home for the first time this season- not only are they back but they opened at Fenway Park against the Yankees! Given the abysmal form of the Red Sox so far this season- they have played six games, and they have managed to lose… six games, I was interested in the spectacle rather than the game. This time however, the support of the crowd and the atmosphere of being back in Fenway Park obviously helped, and they pulled their first victory of the season out of the bag. True to form they lost again today. I now have my tickets ordered for when the Twins are in town… and I may yet upgrade to a package, just so I can see the Cubs.

The weather this weekend has continued on the same theme as last week, and it has been a great temperature for being outside, being out and about and generally wandering around. So I have been making the most of it and I have used it as an excuse to head to the shops, well I had to walk there… and once there it would have been rude to buy anything… I am now the proud owner of a fantastic new Coach bag! I absolutely love it. So much so, that it may fall into the same category as my laptop- no one is allowed to touch it, breathe on it, and I’m not over keen on people looking at it. Unfortunately, in the case of my bag, this means that I need another bag to put it in before I can take it out. I am beginning to see a few minor issues with this policy.

It is not only me who has been out and about enjoying the weather. The Red Sox being at home and the milder days has suddenly made Fenway seem busy, bustling and more alive than it has in recent months. Give me a few weeks and I’m sure I will be back to complaining about all the people who pack the streets, spill out of the bars and forget that people live here. But for now, I have enjoyed the crowds, the noise from the ballpark, the duck tours quacking and trolley tours waving as they pass you in the street. It does remind me why I love the city so much. I so love being surrounded by people, people watching and seeing life unfold. I am still anti-social, and I don’t actually want to interact with these people, I can create enough drama and excitement in my own life to keep me amused. I just like to know that there is activity around me. It is the same reason I love apartments- it is my own space and identity but interconnected, however tentatively with something bigger.

Saturday night was theater time! I do usually quite enjoy a musical and Rent was playing so I head off to see a show. I should say in advance that Rent is not my favorite show. Whilst I do usually enjoy musicals this one really does stretch the genre to its limits. It has no real place for songs to fit, and tends to be dialogue sung rather than spoken. Given the rather heavy subject matter too, I’m not quite sure it works as a musical, but then who am I to argue with a Tony Award? Based on Puccini’s Opera La Boheme- which is a prominent catch phrase- it is the story of artists fighting capitalist growth, development and HIV/AIDS. It was the end of the 80s and these were the big news stories- or at least it is what comes to my mind when asked to sum up that decade, or part of the impressions I have of it, without ever having really been part of it. I guess from this point of view using art and music to being this to the attention of the public is the perfect way to go, although in originally opening just off Broadway, they may have been attracting the capitalist market they were criticizing. Generally tho, this was an interesting performance and enjoyable. One or two of the actresses may have been a little screechy for my ears, and for a rock musical there were one or two characters that didn’t look quite like they belonged… but I did enjoy seeing the throw back cell phones, the leg warmers and the neon colors- that being much more my experience of the 80s.

Winging it in... Boston

We'll get some purple French tail-lights and thirty-inch fins, oh yeah

Much as I hate to start with the weather, this week it has to be done! It has been hot, it has been cold, it has been up, it has been down… I am convinced the snow on Friday was just some big April fool’s joke. Thursday may have been slightly overcast but it was generally warm and sunny, only to be followed by snow showers, hail and a good 2/3” of snow fall on Friday. I wondered what had happened as I started the day clearing the snow from my car. This wasn’t just a quick flick of the glove either. It was proper hard-core ploughs and gritters out on the roads snow.

Imagine my surprise then, when Saturday dawned bright and sunny and averaging about 52F. It did take a huge amount of motivation to drag myself out of bed to go for a run, but I was pleasantly surprised that I had put the effort in. It was a gorgeous spring day. The ducks were on the pond, the trees were in bud, there was a slight wind blowing, but it wasn’t cold. What is more it continued into Sunday. Unfortunately my enthusiasm for running didn’t and Sunday’s run was really tough going.

Some of that could be down to the “Diner Dinner” I managed to put away on Saturday. Having spotted a 1950s diner a few weeks ago I was more than happy to head back there for lunch. I had nothing much else to do all day- I really was being very lazy, and lunch out seemed like a good plan. I was, maybe a touch, over enthusiastic at the prospect of a Chocolate milkshake. I was a bit disappoint that it wasn’t as good as 59 Dinner in Houston TX, but then, that is a long way to go for a chocolate shake. I was more perplexed that it arrived in two glasses, with two servings of whipped cream, two cherries and two straws… I hadn’t asked for two… I mentioned this to the waitress, only to be told that this was how it was served. I understand one glass and a the mixing tumbler arriving at the table, I even understand one glass and the extra arriving at the table; but surely two glasses and two of everything makes two milkshakes? Why not just use half the measures, half the cream, half the cherries, half the straws and then half the price, and call it one milkshake?

Sunday saw me cruising down the freeway toward Hartford CT, all in the name of Carmax. For a retailer who claims to be the largest used car dealer in the US their stores in the North Eastern states are very thin on the ground. Then again, I guess if people are willing to drive 90 miles to see you why build another one. It was with a heavy heart that I asked for an appraisal on my car. I really do love my car, and the thought of selling it is not a happy one.

I did have a while to contemplate this while sitting in Carmax- and I have to say as far as Carmax goes this one was very nice. The people were very friendly, very helpful and even offered me quite a lot for my car. Which was lucky, as I have found a Tiffany’s App and was busy using it to select all the jewelry I would like to buy. Turns out I will have to sell about 4 cars to afford all the things I’d like. At least it might help me get over the anguish and heartbreak of parting with my car at some point in the not too distant future.

Winging it in... Boston

I`D BUILD A BIG TALL HOUSE, WITH ROOMS BY THE DOZEN

I’ve had a long busy day today, and consequently I am quite late with this week’s entry, so I’ll try and keep it short and quick- if only to please the two people I know who read it.

This time last year I made my first trip to Newport, RI to visit and dream about the life that could have been… the Newport Mansions, or the “summer cottages” of quite possibly some of the wealthiest individuals the East Coast would ever know. On my first trip I purchased a year long membership, and while it has served me well, I have made four trips to Newport, and seen numerous houses, today is the last weekend I could use it. So one final farewell trip was in order.

As it is the beginning of the season only three of the houses are currently open. Personally I prefer to visit at this time of year because I would much rather have personal guided tours than an audiotape one. (Actually showing my age there, as I’m sure they are now all digital and not on actual cassette tapes any more.) Having previously visited “The Breakers”, and “Marble House” today was the turn of “The Elms”. Whilst I do prefer a real live guide I have in the past, been known to correct slightly inaccuracies that may occur in their commentary. (Obviously I am perfect and therefore never make any!) But today, despite a few errors when it came to describing a painting of the Punic Wars, I did let it slide. (Cough 146BC). I think I was distracted by the incredibly glamorous girl who seemed to have inadvertently worn black tights, long navy socks and brown shoes- very incongruous with the rest of her attire and appearance.

The Elms was the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York. The Berwinds made their fortune in the Pennsylvania coal industry. The house was started in 1898 and completed in 1901. It was modeled after the mid-18th century French chateau d’Asnieres, which was located outside Paris; in fact I believe it still is.

I am told that “The Elms” has amazing gardens, and it is in fact known for how beautiful they are, so I have little reason to doubt that this is true. However, due to the time of year there was very little to be seen. The fountains were not yet active, the potted palms were still in hot houses and the windows were still all covered and closed. I would imagine in the summer it would be a glorious view across the gardens and a flowing inside/outside space.

Mrs. Berwind died in 1922, and Mr. Berwind invited his sister, Julia, to become his hostess at his New York and Newport houses. Mr. Berwind died in 1936 and Miss Julia continued to summer at The Elms until her death in 1961, at which time the house and most of its contents were sold at public auction. I find it quite amazing that these great houses were commissioned, built and enjoyed for such a short period of time. They cost millions to build, they house real treasures from all over the globe, and yet within one generation of the family they were being sold off to preservation trusts.

After the house it was time for the train: The Old Colony and Newport Railway. It was a ten mile trip along the bay, with some very pretty views. The Parlor Car is an 1884 private parlor car with individual wicker chairs, all facing the Bay. The parlor car also includes the presence of a full retention toilet, a pot belly stove, the conductor's office, and a food preparation area, all helpfully pointed out by our conductor who was an interesting chap, if a little unsteady on his feet. I did begin to wonder exactly what I had paid for when he announced “the entertainment” but it turns out he was just going to talk about brush wood!

It was a very cute train, and enjoyable 80 mins, so picturesque coastline and a change to see the USS Saratoga- apparently 200ft longer than the Titanic. The conductor did try to share lots more information, but it was about boats and I ha found an Easter Cookie in my bag and my attention was lost.

I arrived home just in time to try a new burger restaurant that has opened in the Prudential Center- 5 Napkin Burger. I have to thank ET and HR for accompanying me here (rare blog mention)- I never would have found it on my own, I have a really bad sense of direction, I have to use GPS to get to my own kitchen. But really the star of the evening was HR’s brand new bag! I was allowed to look at the bag, but on the condition I didn’t get too close, breath on/ near it, or touch it.

So 5NB- it was its opening weekend and I’m not sure if I should cut them some slack for that or not. On one hand it is all new and new things take time to master, or whether they should have been playing their A game to ensure happy customers and return business. The waiter, Steve, tried his best, and was attentive, once we had finally been seated. However, this did take some time. When we arrived we were told it was going to be a 30-minute wait for a table. This, in my experience, usually means more like 20 minutes. In this case it turned out to be 50 minutes and a complaint about how long we had been there before we were seated. I have absolutely no objection to waiting 50 minutes for a table, but I like to know in advance. It is the “tell the customer what they want to hear” attitude that gets me riled very quickly. So, having finally been seated Steve very efficiently took our order. Then we waited, waited, were told it would only be a few more minutes and would we like drink refills, waited, waited a bit more, asked how long it would be, waited and finally…. Some food arrived! My burger was very tasty, not at all what I had order, but nice. I am sure the chef has a much better idea of how a burger should be than me. But why ask me how I want my burger (without the lettuce, tomato and medium/ well) if you are going to serve me what you think I should be eating (with the lettuce, tomato and rare)? I have never had a medium/well burger before in which blood was still evident. Could have been worse, I could have asked for it rare- in which case I can only assume a calf would have appeared at the table. It would also have been nice if the fries had arrived with the burger, and not ten minutes later after we had asked for them- again.

All in all probably worth a revisit, if there is no wait time- if only to make HR run home again- turns out that however cold it is outside you can always measure your steps. ET has very large paces, HR and mine are about the same, but I walk in double quick time, leaving HR to run- even while on the phone. I guess if we were nice we would have slowed down for her…