Reading and Roaming

Carolina Capers: Trailblazer & Food

March 31, 2024March 31, 2024 JWF 1 Comment

I’m still enthusing about spring here and reveling in the beauty of droopy, fragrant Chinese wisteria (header photo), early azaleas, and the lovely slim branches of the redbud trees.

A SINGULAR WOMAN

Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray

If you spend any appreciable time in mid-coast Maine, you are likely to become aware of Frances Perkins, first Secretary of Labor and first female U.S. cabinet secretary. She was originally from Newcastle, Maine, and served for 12 years in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s cabinet. Her homestead is now a designated historic site and open to the public certain times of year. The Chief Penguin and I learned about this site and a few years ago briefly met her grandson Tomlin Coggeshall who was instrumental in establishing the Frances Perkins Center.

Up to now, I only thought of Miss Perkins, as she was known professionally throughout her life, as a devoted and dedicated unmarried public servant. Stephanie Dray’s historical novel presents a much more rounded, fuller portrait of this woman while also detailing her critical, essential role in creating, advocating for to Congress, and implementing the Social Security program. Many of us benefit from this program today.

A reserved New Englander, Perkins was ambitious, smart, and an astute judge of people. Her initial encounters with FDR were off-putting as she found him shallow and too full of himself. She was friends with Sinclair Lewis before his success, got to know Eleanor Roosevelt a bit, and ultimately married Paul Wilson, a wealthy economist. Theirs was a love affair later disrupted and strained by his mental breakdowns.

Frances kept her personal life extremely private and shielded her daughter Susanna as best she could from the worst of her father’s illness. Her later encounters with FDR were more fruitful as Frances began to work with him in the New York State government and then during his presidency. It was a partnership that benefited both.

There are several biographies of Frances Perkins, most of them written 15 years ago or more. What Dray does so very well here is capture what this woman was like outside the office. Relying on documents and letters, the novel is written from Frances’ perspective. But being very thorough, Dray provides an in-depth afterword stating where she has deviated from the historical record and made novelistic assumptions. I found this a totally engrossing depiction of a trail-blazing woman and heartily recommend it!

Related Works

Earlier I enjoyed very much both Dray’s The Women of Chateau Lafayette about a historic castle in France and My Dear Hamilton. She makes history and these individuals come off the page.

As a footnote, I was somewhat amused to read this week in the Boothbay Register that a Maine woman, Ruth Monsell, has written a new biography, Frances Perkins: Champion of America’s Workers, that will be released mid-April. It will be interesting to see if this work covers new ground. (~JWFarrington)

ADVENTUROUS EATING

Bosphorus

Earlier this week, we joined a group for lunch at Turkish restaurant in downtown Cary. In existence since 2006, Bosphorus is a welcoming small restaurant. Service was friendly, and the Chief Penguin and I ordered the lamb shish kebab and the chicken shish kebab, respectively. Each came on a bed of bulghur pilaf with a house salad of lettuce, cucumber slices, and cherry tomatoes plus a cucumber dip. The portions are generous and tasty. Turkish tea was offered for dessert along with baklava.

The menu also includes a selection of appetizers (hummus, tabouli, stuffed grape leaves et al ), wraps, salads, and Turkish pizzas. The dinner menu is similar to that at lunch. A casual place with good food.

Note: Header photo and redbud tree ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Carolina Capers: A Novel & More

March 23, 2024March 23, 2024 JWF Leave a comment

THE BIG MOVE

After a decade of retirement living on the west coast of Florida, the Chief Penguin and I moved to eastern North Carolina! We spent two days on the road with a night in Brunswick, Georgia, before arriving in our new state. Move-in day was just a week ago, but we’ve made great progress toward getting settled.

We have a spacious, light-filled apartment in a retirement community. The daily calendar offers a raft of activities and events plus a complete range of exercise and fitness classes—if you’re bored, it’s your own fault! Among the several dining venues, we have become fans of the small plates and tapas in one area. In another venue, stations for salads and sandwiches, wok offerings, pizza, and soups provide additional tempting fare. With so much good food and all the choices, there’s the risk of adding a “freshman fifteen.” Not part of our plan!

We’ve been out and about on foot to the new downtown park and then on to the noteworthy La Farm Bakery. The bakery stop was a must for the Chief Penguin, and it passes muster. Just a few miles down the road by car are both CVS and Walgreens and a Harris Teeter supermarket. Thus far, we are most pleased with this new adventure!

NOVEL OF THE WEEK

Leaving by Roxana Robinson

Leaving is Roxana Robinson’s latest novel. I thoroughly enjoyed several of her earlier works including the highly praised Cost. This book too stayed with me. Sarah, a museum curator, is divorced, lives in Manhattan, and has two grown children. Warren, an architect, is from Boston, married, but unhappily so, and has an adult daughter. Theirs was a college romance which Sarah broke off without seeming to give him a reason. When they meet again thirty years later, they reconnect and have an affair.

Emotions can be messy and when they become entangled and entwined with an existing family, the fallout can be disastrous. How much sway should adult children hold over the actions of their parents? How obligated is a spouse who wants a divorce to heed the wishes of an adult daughter? What are the consequences and conflicts of being the other woman?

Sarah and Warren are depicted as decent people, individuals with a conscience. Sarah knows she’s involved in an adulterous affair but rationalizes that she’s continuing a relationship that began long ago. Warren is a man of honor with a strong moral code.

The events of the novel unfold over several decades with a twist at the end; it may surprise some, but I thought it was in keeping with these characters. Recommended! (~JWFarrington)

SHOUT OUT TO ARTS & CENTRAL

This is for my Florida friends. Arts & Central is a hot new dining venue in Sarasota’s Rosemary District. We dined here with friends just before leaving the area. It’s an expansive space with great patio seating, a large interior with scattered tables, and a long bar with plenty of seating for walk-ins. Lots of wood and some metal make for a casual slightly industrial vibe.

There are fish, beef, and other entrees, but we mostly stuck to the small plates for sharing. The lamb sliders, piquillo peppers with goat cheese, and sticky ribs were all excellent. We also sampled the Brussels sprouts and the green goddess shrimp salad. Only real disappointment was the tater tots. Only open for 3 weeks, the place was full! We wouldn’t hesitate to return, so make a reservation if you’re tempted.

Note: Unattributed photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved.)

Tidy Tidbits: A Book & Dining Out Options

March 10, 2024March 10, 2024 JWF Leave a comment

BOOK OF THE WEEK

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley

In a time of family illness and subsequent loss, Patrick Bringley found a job and solace in a place he first visited as a child with his mother. Mired in grief over his older brother’s death and only 26, he began working as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum. He loved the quiet, almost uninterrupted, stretches of time it provided, and he took in the art in a studied way.

His book is both an account of the inner workings of the museum’s security force: the various gallery assignments and the rotations that happen in each workday, and a portrait of some of his fellow guards and the friendships he made. He also provides detailed discussions of some of the paintings, sculptures, and objects he particularly likes or was struck by. Some of these works are illustrated by delicate black and white sketches.

Bringley was a museum guard for ten years. During that time, the reader experiences his growing maturity, his marrying and becoming a father, and when he reaches the point he felt ready to leave the Met’s cloistered world.

Having read this, I doubt I will ever view museum guards the same way, and I will appreciate the Metropolitan a bit differently on my next visit. I would recommend this to art lovers in general, but particularly to anyone who already has some familiarity with this museum. Thanks to my friend Gale for sharing it. (~JWFarrington)

EATING OUT—BRADENTON-SARASOTA FAVORITES

As I get ready to leave Florida, I thought I’d share a list of some of the restaurants the Chief Penguin (my favorite dining companion) and I have enjoyed over our years here.

BRADENTON & CORTEZ

Bonefish Grill—close by at 75th Street, a chain restaurant, but consistently very good! We love the sinful Bang Bang Shrimp and I, their shrimp and scallop combo with two sides.

Chateau 13—in our opinion the best fine dining restaurant and the most sophisticated in the greater Sarasota-Bradenton area! Small plates as well as full-size entrees. I loved the stuffed piquillo peppers and the French salad. Menu changes seasonally.

Cremesh—Over in restaurant row on Manatee by Publix and Staples, this Austro-German restaurant serves delicious hearty fare. Think schnitzels, beef goulash over noodles or mashed potatoes, or a salmon picatta. Simple décor and friendly wait staff.

Cortez Kitchen—One of the first casual places we tried here. It was the essence of funky with its mix of snowbirds, tourists, and regulars plus live music on the weekends. The food was good, not superb; we liked the coconut shrimp and the mahi sandwich. Cindy with striped hair was our favorite regular waitress. Now Cortez Kitchen has been taken over by the Swordfish Grill owners and gussied up.

New tables and chairs, including some of those awful high tables, but an enlarged seating area and more protection from the elements. The humorous signs are gone (“If you’re here to forget, please pay first” and “Time spent drinking beer is not deducted from your lifespan”), but we had lunch there recently and were delightfully surprised. My mahi sandwich was truly excellent, the Caesar salad very good, and the C.P.’s Cuban sandwich a treat. Worth visiting!

Clam Factory—a roadhouse on Cortez Road serving delectable fried fish, a mean meatloaf special, and, if you’re a fan, fried clams, of course! Additional seating outside.

Mean Deans—The name is misleading. This is a casual place, but the food is better and more interesting than you might expect. Good salads, lovely swordfish, and nightly specials. Watch for New England or New Orleans weeks with an appealing mix of land and sea options.

Modern Chop—Next to Blake Hospital this steak house also serves fish. It’s a step up from Mean Deans in décor and ambiance and is good.

Pesto—Sitting on Cortez Road almost at 86^th St. West, this cozy Italian eatery serves generous portions of pasta and meats. Outside seating on a pleasant evening can be a welcome change from inside.

Swordfish Grill—Since they covered their tiki deck, Swordfish is now more appealing in almost any weather. Fish, of course, calamari, salads, and sandwiches; it’s an extensive menu. Food is good, but in my opinion, not outstanding. Go to be at water’s edge!

Tide Tables—A family favorite of ours. Their grouper and mahi sandwiches and baskets are wonderful with cole slaw or baked beans on the side. Very fresh! As a special treat, the homemade key lime pie is luscious! On the water so you can see boats and walk on the short dock.

Thai Palace—One of several restaurants on Cortez Road we like. Small inside, but attractive, and one of their curries always satisfy my Thai yen.

ANNA MARIA & LONGBOAT KEY

Mar Vista—One of a handful of restaurants where you can enjoy a table on the sand. Other options are inside tables or on the partially covered patio. Fresh fish, great salads, and their trademark tater tots!

Whitney’s—Who would have thought a gas station would have a second life as a casual seafood restaurant! Seasonal fare, a bit more elaborate preparations than the usual (fish with rice entrée, for example) and very tasty! No reservations, so go early, especially during the season.

Shore—A date night, special occasion place just down the road from Whitney’s. A big place with lots of seating, some open air, and often a bit noisy. Food options are varied and with some creative twists.

SARASOTA

Beso—One of Sarasota’s newest eateries offering a wide range of tapas. It’s in the Mark complex and looks to have a lively bar scene as well as dining. We’ve eaten here twice and enjoyed the shrimps in olive oil, patatas brava, and other small plates.

Duval’s—A longtime favorite on Main Street. Duval’s serves lunch and dinner and their fish is some of the freshest around. Décor is traditional to slightly dated, wait staff is friendly and competent, and we’ve enjoyed many good meals here. Wide choice of sandwiches and salads for lunch and entrée portions at dinner.

481 Gourmet—Located in the Rosemary District, 481 is a fine dining venue with both indoor and outdoor seating. Their menu includes pasta, scallops, shrimp scampi, duck, lamb, and of course, beef.

The Rosemary and Thyme—A slightly pricier restaurant, The Rosemary shares a patio with 481. Menu options run the gamut from some intriguing appetizers like escargots and a Chimichurri kebab to halibut, grouper, and steak frites entrees.

Pho Cali—Also on Main Street, Pho Cali is the essence of straightforward Vietnamese cooking. Extremely casual serving super noodle dishes and stir fries. Very popular at lunch time. I occasionally crave my favorite, chicken with broccoli stir fry with rice, to which I add a trace of hot pepper.

El Melvin Cocina Mexicana—Hankering for a good margarita and some guacamole and chips, this place is perfect for lunch at a sidewalk table. Follow that with enchiladas, a quesadilla, or even some tamales and you’ll soon be satisfied.

Note: Header photo of courtesy of Toast.

Tidy Tidbits: Medley of Viewing Options

March 3, 2024March 3, 2024 JWF Leave a comment

SERIES ON TELEVISION

MEDICOS IN THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

RFDS: Royal Flying Doctor Service (Prime Video)

If you like medical shows and unusual cases in remote locations, then you might enjoy this Australian series. The main base is in Broken Hill in southeastern New South Wales. Much of the area is desert. In a medical emergency, the most efficient way to reach patients is usually by plane. The Royal Flying Doctor Service is a real organization still in existence today.

This fictional series focuses on the pilots, doctors, and nurses who work in this challenging environment. Chief among them are Dr. Wayne Yates, nurses Pete and Matty, new arrival Dr. Eliza Harrod, and pilots Mira and Graham. Eliza has come from London (her marriage is breaking up) with her teenage son Henry. Wayne and Mira are pretty much of a couple; Pete is single and likes attractive women; Graham is a bit crusty, but caring; Matty embarks on a drag career in his spare time; and ops manager Leonie is super effective. Add in devastating crashes, conflicts and romance, and the result is an engaging, sometimes heart pounding series. There are two seasons of eight episodes each and possibly a third one in the works. Recommended!

HAUTE COUTURE UNDER THE NAZIS

The New Look (Apple TV+)

This dramatic series set in 1940’s Paris focuses on the high fashion industry while France is under Nazi occupation. Designers must decide if they will make dresses for the Nazi wives or if they will quit working and possibly not survive. Coco Chanel closed her studio, but she played both sides in this war and both fraternized with various Nazis and worked to get her nephew Andre released from captivity. She then became a person of interest.

Christian Dior was just coming into his own and designed under the aegis of Lucien Lelong along with others. They did what they did to make a living. Dior is the principal figure in this saga of danger, dresses, and determination. Dior’s sister Catherine was a member of the Resistance and worrying about her fate consumes Dior. At the same time, fashion is changing and a new group of designers, Dior, Balmain, and Cardin challenge Chanel’s precedence.

Juliette Binoche is superb as the fidgety, demanding, yet caring Coco, and Ben Mendelsohn as Christian is hauntingly broody. There will be ten episodes in all, and they are being released weekly on Wednesdays. Highly recommended!

MOVIES: TEACHER & STUDENT

The Holdovers (Prime Video, etc.)

The role of the very strict, no nonsense history teacher, Paul Hunham, is perfectly captured by Paul Giamatti. Left at school during the Christmas holidays as the lone chaperone for prep schoolboys not going home with their parents, Paul is challenged, harassed, and berated by the students. One by one, even the stragglers leave, and Paul is left with just Tully, a smart troublemaker. Tully, Paul, and Mary, the school cook who’s mourning the death of her soldier son in Vietnam, make a for an unlikely set of compatriots.

This is a film that is both funny at points and poignant. The Chief Penguin enjoyed it very much. I thought it was good and did appreciate Giamatti’s performance.

LIVE THEATER: CORSETS AND CLASS IN NYC

Intimate Apparel (Asolo)

Lynn Nottage’s play, Intimate Apparel, encompasses a full spectrum of friendship, romance, prejudice, anger, and forgiveness. In Lower East Side Manhattan in 1905, Black seamstress Esther has made her own way and supported herself making fine underwear for ladies of all types for eighteen years. Strong of character, she has always lived in Mrs. Van Buren’s boarding house and yet wishes for a man of her own, a husband. But Esther is particular and won’t settle for just anyone, so when a laborer in Panama starts writing her letters, she has hopes that become high hopes.

Although she doesn’t really approve of her friend Mayme’s business, the two help each other out. Esther is even an available ear for Mrs. Dickson, her married white upper-class client. What is more challenging is the relationship between Esther and Mr. Marks, the Jewish man from whom she purchases her fabrics. How much can be said with just a silent glance or the barest touch.

The play moves through a series of scenes, much like tableaus, with headings over top echoing the article of clothing key to that scene. The beginning seems long, but the early scenes are essential to developing the characters and providing context for the events to come. It gathers depth and richness as it works to its climax. And I’m still reflecting on it 24 hours later. Highly recommended! It runs through April 18.

Carolina Capers: Trailblazer & Food