"Laughter is America's most important export" //Walt Disney
Memorial Day Weekend is one of my most favorite weekends of the year. It is a time to pay tribute and remembrance to all of those who serve or have served for the United States of America. I wouldn't be able to do half the things I do if it wasn't for the freedoms we have in this country, and I am so grateful and thankful to all of our military and service members past present and future.
MDW is also the unofficial kick-off and start to the summer. Even though summer doesn't technically start for another four weeks, it's the first time where I really feel the light at the end of Winters tunnel. It is always nice to have the three day weekend to take time to relax and recharge with friends and family, and this year certainly didn't disappoint.
(Sidenote: Photos in the post are half iPhone, and half Nikon D300)
Friday night started off the weekend right with the Boston Calling Music Festival. We shot up to Boston right after work and were able to get up there in great time without too much traffic. We stopped into a bar called Hennessy's across from the City Hall Plaza for a couple drinks before the show. I was REALLY excited to see Jack Johnson, as he is one of my absolute favorites and I had never before seen him in concert! We had had the tickets for a couple months and he was headlining the Friday Night show, the first of a three-day festival. As an added bonus, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros opened! Jack ended up being so good, and I also forgot how HANDSOME he is, I was swooning! He put on a really good show, and the crowd had a great vibe despite the absolute freezing cold. I was honestly feeling hypothermic again! He played all of my favorite tunes and I was so glad to check him off my list of artists I have wanted to see.
I didin't end up doing too much on Saturday besides start getting stuff cleaned and ready for my Brothers party that would be happening the following weekend, and then a nice dinner with the fam. I went to bed early in order to be nice and rested for Sunday and Monday. Last summer, one of my best friends at work moved to San Francisco with her then-fiance-now-husband for a great job opportunity for him. I went to her wedding in Austin, TX this past March and she had let me know that she would be back in CT for a wedding over Memorial Day Weekend. She was able to organize a brunch Sunday morning with a great group of my coworkers who are all pretty close. We met at Mikro in Hamden at the recommendation of my coworker Greg and it did not disappoint! We got there right as they opened because it really fills up quick and there isn't too many tables. The food was really unique and really good! It was so hard for us to all decide what to order! Surprisingly almost everyone got something different so we got to see/taste a bunch of different things. They also had an amazing brunch beverage selection including a "beer-mosa" that I got, and a Bacon Bloody Mary that a few others tried. Both were really yummy. For Brunch I got the French toast dish, and it was delish! I forget the fancy name for it but it was really good. I also HAD to get a side of bacon because, well.... Bacon.
It was a really great morning with a great group of coworkers-turned-friends! It's really nice and makes all the difference when you work with people you like! Such a fun group. I hope to get out to San Francisco soon to visit her as well! Napa Valley is calling my name.
The rest of Sunday was pretty low-key, my Brother so generously asked me to "Stop-by" my own house for a backyard BBQ! Imagine that. So fortunate for the invite, I don't know what I would have done instead... A few friends came over and we grilled some shish kabobs and played some beer pong for old times sake. It was such a nice day and finally hot out!
Here is the bro and I getting ready to take off!
So most of us already know how amazing Pinterest is, but last weekend it's amazingness got taken up a whole other level when my cousin found a recipe for a new take on the classic Mimosa. Those of you who know me know I LOVE me a mimosa. Instead of using OJ though, we used Orange sherbert. SO GOOD. Dare you to try it.
I always love the whale's tail the boat makes in the water. Nothing better than being out on the ocean with the salty breeze in your hair.
Linds and her sister all bundled up! It was like 15 degrees cooler out on the water and on Block, you definitely needed a blanket or a sweatshirt.
Arrival at Block Island
Somehow I was the only one to make it off the boat when the water shuttle first came, but it gave me a good chance to get some pics of the "Happy Ours" while it swung around again.
The water shuttle is so cute! Driven by a 10 year old boy who has been learning to drive it since he was 6. Gotta love the Vineyard Vines plug too! America!
Can't get much cuter or preppy than a golden retriever lying on the dock sunbathing.
We tied the boat off on a town mooring in Great Salt Pond, and then most all of us got off to go into town for a bit.
The Oar is the ocean front restaurant right at the marina overlooking the salt pond. It's definitely a Block Island staple and a tradition almost every time we go. They have great seafood and sushi and tons of tables on the lawn. They even have corn hole sets for people to play.
The whole interior is decorated with, wait for it.... OARS! They are all hand designed by customers and friends who have slowly hung them up over the years. The entire place is covered in them now and they are so cool to look at and read. I could stare for hours! We definitely need to make one sometime soon- it's added to the To-Do list for summer!
The town center is really cute as well, tons of shops and restaurants all within walking distance. Ballards is the big time hang out spot in the summer, but can get really crowded. It was surprisingly not crowded over MDW so we took our time strolling the stores. Most of us had to buy sweatshirts because it was so much cooler than we had expected.
Then we headed back to The Oar for lunch with everyone. My cousin and I!
Not a bad lunch time view...
One of the owners had recently created all new drinks- and the one I got was amazing. I forget what it was called but it was Absolut Ruby Red, lemonade, Cranberry and a Shandy topper. Yum! The perfect summer drink.
This is the awesome yard where they have outdoor table and chairs, as well as multiple corn hole sets for everyone to use. We played a couple games, but the Block Island wind makes it a challenge! Somehow us girls were throwing into the wind... but my Brother and I still kicked butt!
My nautical heart loved these Buoys all lined up!
Time to say farewell BI!
Back on the Rover to take us back out to the boat. I love this group shot! Some of my most favorite people.
Some candids from the ride home
Do we look alike?!
Me and my brother with my God Mother/Auntie. Love this Lady!! She is the best and I am so lucky to have her in my life. Another one of the most generous and caring people I know. My Mom chose well when she picked her best friend! We all have the family we are given, but she is family we choose.
Trying to catch the sun rays!
Connecticut Coastline.... Home
Love this pics of Linds' head sticking out in a sea of blankets!
My Dad spent a night out there in high school.
The cure for everything is salt water. Sweat, tears or the sea.
Nice to sea you, Mr. Gatsby
Back at the marina!
Captain Cuadras.
Then we headed back to the PB house for a MDW cookout. I've stared at this view for 25 years, and I hope to stare at it the rest of my life! Never gets old.
The new house! Should be done in a few months... looks so good!
The neighbors who we love, also like family. And the smaller yellow house to the left is my Mom's beach house from growing up. So much history on this cove!
That All-American family joint!
Until next time....
Can't leave PB without a stop at the best DQ in the state. They are not stingy like the rest of em, totally load your blizzard with goodies!
All in all I had a great MDW with my most favorite people- from Boston to Block Island, I couldn't have asked for a better time. So thankful!
God Bless the USA!
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