Tidy Tidbits: Eating Around

FORMAL DINING Back in the day, as they say, both my grandmothers set a formal table.  Particularly for dinner.  Starched white linen tablecloths were the norm along with starched napkins and a napkin ring.  Using the ring meant that the napkin could be identified as yours and re-used several times.  Flatware was real silver and there were silver …

Cultural Cuba: Old Havana

SATURDAY NIGHT, JAN. 26 At 6:30 pm after a detailed briefing from Alfredo, we had a concert by Alberto Faya and a combo of keyboard, bass guitar, and drums.  Senor Faya is a professor, performer and noted Cuban music historian who hosts a weekly radio show and is quite a celebrity.  He gave us an informative narrative of 500 years …

Manhattan Dining: From Low to Haute

DINING OUT IN MANHATTAN We ran the gamut on our recent visit to Manhattan from lunches at diners to meals at moderate and splurge-worthy restaurants. We were initially dismayed to see that the Lenox Grill on Lexington had closed.  While it wasn’t the best diner in the world, it was reliably good, convenient to where …

Maine Time: Pausing in Portland

PORTLAND INTERLUDE As is our wont, our annual trip to Maine included about 36 hours in Portland.  Portland is red brick and squawking gulls (Florida seagulls don’t seem to squawk, at least I haven’t heard them).  It’s also home to a branch of the ubiquitous Sherman’s (books lowercase, gifty items uppercase), the seriously good Longfellow …