Back From France


More soon, but I'm back from two weeks in France - revisiting some old places from our honeymoon in Paris, and seeing lots of Normandy and the Loire Valley. Had a great time of course.

Lobster Shack, Branford


Stopped by the Lobster Shack in Branford on their opening day yesterday, furthering my quest to ascertain the best lobster roll in the state. (Hot Lobster Roll, of course - or I should state correctly and fully, "Connecticut Hot Lobster Roll")


Despite misspelling "Hooray" I was impressed with their authenticity and location on the inlet in Branford. The boats in front of the old factory was quintessential Connecticut.


As for the roll itself, well, they used a grinder roll, which I am more and more convinced is the right way to go. They did not use too much butter, and added more lemon than usual, something my wife was very appreciative of. Alas, the meat itself was a bit on the rubbery side. So, a very good lobster roll, but not the best. That title still goes to Lobster Landing in Clinton.


Mattabesett Trail


Took a lovely hike along the Mattabesett Trail over Mount Pisgah, past Pyramid Rock (above), and up the Mica Ledges to the corner marker of Guilford, Durham, and North Branford (see below).



Some great views, but there's a lot of development below, especially off the Mica Ledges. Really disgusting McMansions with no trees around them - like a wasteland - I can't believe that those are even permitted in Connecticut. We have some of the nicest suburbs in the country, all because of the trees. I'm sure its harder to leave them up, or put them in, when making a new development, but the box-like prefab houses and lack of trees just indicate the cheapest, most poorly thought out construction.


Luckily, such thoughts were far away as we watched red-tailed hawks from the ledges and ate a lunch of p and j sandwiches, gouda cheese, and apples.


Two Roads Brewing


Finally got around to stopping in Stratford at Two Roads Brewing. I had tried the beer before, and although it was good I wrongly assumed that it was a small operation. Boy, was I wrong.


Right off the I-95 exit, Two Roads fills an old factory, and has over a dozen large tanks. 14? 16? It is a huge operation for Connecticut, and the layout inside was very impressive. They spent a lot of money on the start-up, and you can tell.


Of course, I like the Robert Frost quote inside (from where the brewery gets its name), and the idea of Igor Sikorsky Russian Stout beer (being a Connecticut booster).


Amy and I tried all 11 beers currently on tap, and though I am not a fan of bourbon beer (though I like either alone), I enjoyed everything else. I was particularly taken with the Maibock.


Amy like the IPAs. We will go back, of course, because this place is a destination, not just a brewery. It is larger than any of the wineries currently operating in the state already, and its product is consistent and good. Thanks for being one of Connecticut's newest and best attractions, guys!



Kumo, Hamden


Kumo in Hamden is one of the most reliable traditional sushi restaurants around. Of course, if I want something new and crazy I will go to Miya's Sushi in New Haven. But for rolls and sushi of the 'traditional' or rather the 20th century variety, I will go to Kumo every time, despite having a dozen or more sushi options in Hamden alone. It is interesting that we have so much Japanese food here in Connecticut, and so little Chinese (relatively). Does anyone know the reason for this switch of the usual ratio?

Future Authors of America


Here are some of the future novelists and poets of America - some of our creative writing majors at the University of Bridgeport. We have dozens more, and we're growing all the time.


Left to right - Michelle Calero, Michael Doran, and James Novoa.


At the annual poetry slam and literary journal release party - James Novoa giving one of his excellent readings of his long poems, which don't seem long at all when he reads them out loud...

Becoming Tom Thumb wins its First Award

Becoming Tom Thumb has won its first award, the 2014 Henry Russell Hitchcock Prize from the Victorian Society in America.

They write:

“Deeply humane and splendidly researched, we believe that Becoming Tom Thumb is the first to do justice to Charles Stratton...It shows him to be a charming and dynamic entrepreneur who shrewdly exploited his international celebrity, by no means a hapless victim, and it does so with great insight and sympathy.”

         —The Victorian Society in America, awarding the 2014 Henry Russell Hitchcock Award

Zeno's, State College


Stopped by my old haunt of Zeno's, in State College, Pennsylvania. It was fun to take my wife back to this legendary graduate school pub.


I'm afraid I don't have the tolerance for alcohol I did back in grad school, when I could drink two pitchers of beer myself. But I still had a great time visiting this English department mainstay.


In related news, I have an elegant solution to Zeno's paradox. But I'll keep that to myself for now.