The scenery for my morning walk over Beacon Hill and through the Boston Common and the Public Garden looks a bit different every day. The intensity and the angle of the light change daily and bring out different features; or perhaps I might notice something new like an historic plaque previously hidden by leaves, or the interesting façade of a building I’d never paid attention to before. This morning, however, everything seemed dramatically different. This was because the sun rose an hour early, or at least it seemed so due to our conceit that we can control time. The slanted, golden light was once again hitting the treetops and it highlighted the changes that have occurred as the trees head towards their long winter’s nap. There are those trees that are valiantly trying to hang on to the green of their leaves. Then there are others who have given up and given their leaves over to the yellows, the ochres, the burnt umbers, and the coppers. The fall colors appear more muted this year, apparently due to the warmth of the past months’ weather (except, of course, for our early, but short-lived snow storm). But, while muted, there is enough of a range of color to catch the eye and please the soul. If, that is, you’re willing to pause a moment and take it all in.
Winthrop Massachusetts is a peninsula that juts out into Boston Harbor and it has the look of a typical New England seaside town. It’s known for beaches, a multitude of piers where fishing and pleasure boats dock, and for being the tightly-packed home for a middle/working class populace. But it’s not known for wine. However, a local merchant and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce are trying to change that. On Friday evening the annual A Sip of Winthrop was held at the Cottage Park Yacht Club with the proceeds benefitting a business district beautification program.
Paul Lucerto (shown in the photo with his family), owner of Swett’s Liquors in Winthrop Center, enlisted the distributors he does business with and invited other food businesses to donate and showcase their products. While a jazz quartet entertained the well-dressed crowd, representatives from eight beer and wine distributors offered tastings of their wares. I had already met a number of the distributor reps at the regular Friday evening tastings that Paul offers throughout the year at his store. Here are a few of my favorites:
Brian Hammond represents Genuine Wine Selections, which specializes in small-production wines from artisan wine makers. My favorite of his wines was Lūmos Pinot Noir, a surprisingly smoky red from Oregon. When I asked about this smokiness, Brian said it was the result of the terroir of the Temperance Hill winery - very intriguing. For those who are unfamiliar with the term “terroir,” it denotes how the geography, geology and climate of a specific place affect the flavors of what is grown there.
Brian Regan from Martignetti Companies introduced me to Laguna Ranch Chardonnay. His description in the program explains the wine has “notes of apple, pears, quince, and tangerine, framed by sweet undertones of Asian spice.” I’m always in the market for a good chardonnay.
Then there were Adam Senesi and Chad Whitman from Horizon Beverage. Adam showed me their Renwood Amador Ice Wine, a 2009 Ice Zinfandel, another great dessert wine. While Chad had me taste Tait Ball Buster, a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Australia – an amusingly named, big flavored import.
Also featured were passed hors d'oeuvres, bruschetta from Letterie's Italian Market and ginger snap cookies from my friend Laraine Mitchell who, with her husband Grant, owns Crusty Crumpet Bakery.
At each tasting I learn a bit more about wines and spirits and I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s event.
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| Our starlet and her Nana |
On Saturday night I went to see my niece in Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School's production of Urinetown. Now with a name like that, I just wasn't sure what to expect. However, this show which was originally produced on Broadway and won three Tony Awards, is a fun and sassy musical about a future faced with deprivation. In this imagined time there has been a 20-year drought and a corrupt corporation has stepped in to control water and it charges fees for people to pee. I realize it doesn't sound too enticing, but it ends up being the story of an elite minority controlling resouces and finances while leaving the majority to barely eke out an existence - sound familiar? And this tale is told with lots of humor and mischievous breaking of the fourth wall. This was the most energetic show I'd seen in years and was delighted by the level of talent of the cast. So, if you ever see a production of Urinetown advertised in your town, my advice is: GO!
The scenery for my morning walk over Beacon Hill and through the Boston Common and the Public Garden looks a bit different every day. The intensity and the angle of the light change daily and bring out different features; or perhaps I might notice something new like an historic plaque previously hidden by leaves, or the interesting façade of a building I’d never paid attention to before. This morning, however, everything seemed dramatically different. This was because the sun rose an hour early, or at least it seemed so due to our conceit that we can control time. The slanted, golden light was once again hitting the treetops and it highlighted the changes that have occurred as the trees head towards their long winter’s nap. There are those trees that are valiantly trying to hang on to the green of their leaves. Then there are others who have given up and given their leaves over to the yellows, the ochres, the burnt umbers, and the coppers. The fall colors appear more muted this year, apparently due to the warmth of the past months’ weather (except, of course, for our early, but short-lived snow storm). But, while muted, there is enough of a range of color to catch the eye and please the soul. If, that is, you’re willing to pause a moment and take it all in.
