Shrimp - bim -bap

Shrimp, rice, green onions, bean sprouts, poached egg, and a little Korean red pepper paste. Almost like a bibimbap, I guess. Since my wife and I invented it, we'll call it A&Ebimbap. Or Shrimpbimbap. Absolutely delicious. The rice is made with stock and coconut milk for richness.

Institute for American Indian Studies

 

Stopped by the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, CT the other day. Once it was a center of research, though these days it is more focused on education.



 

The museum is great - not as big or impressive as the one at Mashantucket Pequot, of course, but a great stop on the western Connecticut tourist trail

I found a lot of interesting information that I'll use while teaching Connecticut history this fall at UB.

But as I say in the Insiders' Guide, you should visit when they have an event, like a dance or a workshop. That is when the IAIS really shines. Maybe I'll see you there!

 

Alexander Calder Sculpture, Roxbury, Connecticut

Driving through Roxbury the other day...and by the side of the road at the local library is an imitation Calder sculpture. Except it isn't an imitation. Calder's studio was in Roxbury and this is the real deal. Just another of the wonderful surprises you'll come across here in our state.

Roxbury is/was the home of various other celebrities, writers, and artists. But I won't rat all of them out just yet.

Pizza on the Grill

Pizza on the grill is my new thing. It is surprisingly easy, with only a flip of the dough and then application of sauce and cheese after half the time has elapsed. It seems to work better with a thicker crust pizza, though, and less so with a New Haven style thin crust. Alas!

Lucifer Falls, New York

Check out my wife Amy's poem Lucifer Falls, New York in the latest issue of JMWW. In addition, she has a blog entry at JMWW about the poem and about our time in the Finger Lakes. Enjoy!

The Station Agent

The Station Agent starring Peter Dinklage is one of my wife's favorite films, and so after a little bit of research I found where the most important locations from the movie were. We took a little day trip to New Jersey and I surprised her.

The train station in which Finn lives is just off Route 23 in Newfoundland, on Green Pond Road, where it crosses the railroad tracks. A really nice couple is restoring and renting it out. Help them out if you can!

The other two locations are in Rockaway. If you continue south on Green Pond Road (Route 513) you will reach Rockaway in about 10 miles. You'll cross under Route 80 (this is exit 37), and then go straight on Halsey Avenue where 513 splits to the right. This will take you right up to the beautiful spot above, where Joe and Finn watch for trains to pass, along Jackson Avenue by the river.

The Mill Lane Tavern, their watering hole, is right around the corner at 8 Mill Lane. Continue west on Jackson Avenue (Right), and then left on Main Street. Cross the train tracks and take a quick left onto Mill Lane (you'll see the tavern right there.)

I hope you enjoy it as much as my wife did!

Appearance at Funky Monkey



Come to chat this Thursday from 6-8 at the Funky Monkey Café and Gallery in Cheshire. We'll have some wine or coffee and chat about Connecticut.

Fette Sau

 

While in Brooklyn, I stood in line for two hours to eat the fantastic barbecue of Fette Sau.

 

 

The sausage was good, the brisket was amazing, and the pork cheek was fantastic.

Also tried their duck, which was very good, though I still think the one my wife and I make is better.

 

Would I spend two hours again? I don't think so. There are other barbecue/smokehouse places in Connecticut that are nearly as good, and with certain items are just as good. I mean, Uncle Willie's comes to mind immediately. Maybe the brisket at Fette Sau was better, but the ribs at Willie's are unearthly, and I don't have to wait two hours. So, I'm glad I went, but let me tell you New Yorkers, you don't know what you are missing as far as barbecue. And I'm very sure there are better ones around the United States, but Fette Sau's location in the center of the universe (according to some) gives it an advantage that put it higher on the list than it should be.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Had a great time hanging out in Williamsburg the other day. Especially the oysters and Chablis and visiting the local biergarten.

 

We enjoyed the hipsters, especially since I had just read Joe Mande's  Look at that F@#$$% Hipster.

 
I thought that the mannequin with the horse head was a particularly nice touch.