Tag Archives: cocktails

Strange products are back.

May 22, 2020 Rivergirl 17 Comments

Unless it’s in a rent by the hour hot sheet motel? I don’t think anyone needs their bed to vibrate.

Just…. no.

If I’m not willing to eat kale? ( and I think we’ve established I’d rather have my toenails ripped off by a hungry wombat ) I doubt I’ll be spreading it on my face any time soon.

Well this is ridiculous.

Leftover chocolate. What’s that?

Proof positive there are a limitless number of kitchen gadgets waiting to collect dust in your cabinet.

Move over avocado hugger and ice cream ball. Spaetzle maker is in da house.

I have no idea if this works or not, but may I just say?

Eww.

When I first saw this I thought… nope, I’ll pass on the motivational self help crap.

Until I realized it could be filled with G&T’s or margaritas.

1:00pm took on a whole new meaning then.

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I think I might have to buy these.

May 21, 2020 Rivergirl 18 Comments

Because really….

It’s like they made them with me in mind.

Think how handy they’d be if you’d had one too many.

Instead of stumbling over that seven syllable cocktail name you could just throw your foot up on the bar and point.

Yes.

I could totally rock those kicks.

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Farnsworth Part 2…..

April 14, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

Continuing our stroll around the museum, we found abstract landscapes…

A necklace challenged woman…

And a large amount of love.

The husband still had that ~~what the hell am I looking at~~ puzzled look on his face… and read all the detailed descriptions in hopes of enlightenment.

And speaking of light….

While I’m generally not a fan of realism, the play of light and shadows in this piece were spectacular.

And now?

Behold….

I found a rock!

As well as a nude on a mushroom.

Bet you’ve never seen that before.

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Upstairs we found the Maine gallery.

Which welcomed us with bloody fish guts.

I’d have preferred an apple martini, but whatever.

There were Maine scenes.

Including this melancholy piece of women waiting for their men to return from the sea.

There was an extremely long panoramic of Main Street, Rockland in the 1800’s.

Did you know it’s known as the Lobster Capitol of the World?

You do now.

There was a model ship, which after those amazing examples we’d seen in Virginia…. looked like a 4 year old had built it.

Btw… did you know it’s bad luck to say the word pig on a lobster boat? I’ve known fisherman who won’t even bring a ham sandwich on board…. though no one could ever tell me where that started.

What does this have to do with Maine? Other than the fact it’s made with seashells, I have no idea.

I’ve certainly never seen a lobsterman wear one.

COSTA CLEVELAND

I’ve also never seen one wear that.

For which I am quite thankful…..

Done with the museum, I picked a restaurant on the Camden waterfront.

It had a nice view.

And a tasty Maine sipper.

But the husband wasn’t satisfied with the small lunch menu, so we just had clam chowder….

And wondered when that eagle was going to swoop down and snag a piece of fish.

Though I suggested a few other places to eat, the husband opted for Chinese take out…

Which was disappointing, again. It seems no matter how many places we try, they’re always awful.

My shrimp lo mien? Tasted like soap.

The beef and broccoli? Like they used Alpo for sauce.

Blech!

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Hey bartender….

April 5, 2020 Rivergirl 28 Comments

*Disclaimer – This blog was written before the viral pandemic shut everything down.*

The following are subtle clues that let you know you might be spending a little too much time at your local pub.

1. They greet you by name when you walk in, like they did with Norm at Cheers.

2. They discourage people from sitting in your favorite corner spot at the bar.

3. They hang a bell to ring when you give a good tip or buy a round.

But the least subtle clue of all?

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When the bartender is about to place an order with a new small batch craft distillery…

And asks you which rum you’d prefer.

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I fear I’ll never catch up…

March 28, 2020 Rivergirl 31 Comments

Which is why I’m posting about Valentines Day at the end of March.

It started with a nice bouquet of roses….

And a kitchen selfie before we went out for a late lunch on the water.

The building used to house a garage… and was previously a wonderful restaurant called, are you ready?

La Garage.

Clever… no?

But now it has new owners and a new incarnation as the Water Street Kitchen and Bar.

It sits on the Sheepscot River in Wiscasset and please pardon the reflection of my hands in the window.

We’ve been wanting to try it for a while, and found that’s it’s undergone a major remodel.

The feel is more modern.

And I have to say I was loving the metal works installations. This would be perfect for all my husband’s rusty ~~crap~~ treasures!

But first things first.

A marvelous basil limeade with a view….

The menu was small, but seemed alright.

And just as the waitress brought my (overly salted) charred Brussels sprouts appetizer, the husband saw a friend of his walk in and asked them to join us.

On Valentines Day.

Oh, well.

This called for two Blueberry Mojitos… .because a girl can only take so much romance.

Husband had a butternut squash soup, which you couldn’t pay me to eat.

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And then it was on to a rather dry, garlic-less shrimp scampi for me, and an overcooked paella for the other half.

The meal was redeemed by dessert.

A delightful lemon marscapone cake…

Husband’s friends said their meals were good, and the cocktails were lovely so we might give them another try. We do like the area and supporting small businesses.

And I might have to take another look at the metal works.

They really were quite interesting.

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Celebrating 36 years of not killing each other…..

March 27, 2020 Rivergirl 34 Comments

Yes, there’s that as well.

This was the very first picture of us ever taken ….

Back in 1984, on that awful chair at his mother’s house…… right before we got married. I may look twelve, but no worries. I’d just turned 20. (As for the husband’s hair… I have no idea what was going on there.)

We knew each other for 6 days.

Yes, you read that correctly…. 6 days. And to be honest, 3 of those were the required waiting period for the marriage license.

People thought we were crazy. (We knew we weren’t.)

Me & Fred, boat

People said it would never last. (It’s been 36 years.)

Me & Fred, ballfield

The Grateful Dead had it right…..

What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been!

Me & Fred, Harley Rally 2

But I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

Anyway…. this year on our anniversary?

A seriously beautiful bouquet from my other half….

That got better every day as all the blooms opened up.

The rose colors were gorgeous.

Then it was off to our favorite restaurant in Boothbay Harbor…. before their doors were shut due to the virus. The decor is nothing to write home about, and the menu is smaller in winter….. but the food is still fabulous.

As were the seasonal cocktails.

I started with a Ciderberry.

And moved on to a few Sugar Plums made with this.

OMG!!

If you’ve never payed attention to any of my advice before?

Start now… and buy a bottle.

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It doesn’t matter if you’re not a fig fan. I actually hate the things.

But this was like nothing I’d ever tasted before. A very unique flavor. I read they also make a Golden Apricot ….. and I’ll be looking for that as well.

Can’t remember what they called my appetizer but it was delicious, with just the right amount of spice.

Husband went with his usual French Onion soup and a light main dish of broiled haddock and asparagus.

I, on the other hand….

Dove into the richest, creamiest most delightful Parmesan risotto you’ll find this side of Italy. It’s one of their specialties and I can never resist…. paired here with pan seared scallops, mushrooms, arugula and a citrus balsamic glaze.

I don’t care how many pounds I gained…

It was worth it!

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The last supper….. in Williamsburg.

March 21, 2020 Rivergirl 20 Comments

This is for the food (and drink) people.

An entire post devoted to our final meal in Virginia. (That’s 2 in 3 days so no more complaining!)

(On a side note, it was Bogart day last Sunday and the husband and I did nothing but eat, drink and watch the classics.

The Maltese Falcon. Key Largo. The Caine Mutiny. African Queen. And my all time favorite movie … Casablanca. I cry at the nightclub scene when they drown out the Germans by singing La Marseillaise… every damn time! Good stuff.)

But back to food.

After spending 8 hours in an antique store that day I was in dire need of a cocktail.

Or eight.

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And when I saw a sign for Eddie Romanelli’s?

I may have squealed.

I didn’t think this was a chain, but there was one in Wilmington, North Carolina we used to make a pilgrimage to every other month when we lived down south. Their Crabmeat Cannelloni in Carolina Shrimp Sauce?

To die for.

We sat at a high top in the bar area because of it’s… ya know.

Proximity to the cocktails.

Prickly pear margarita?

Come to mama….

Sadly the crabmeat wasn’t on the menu, but the fresh baked bread with herbed olive oil was wonderful.

As was the Caesar salad.

And the sparkling Tuscan lemonade. Fresh, crisp and quite delightful.

Husband had a juicy charbroiled steak with garlic sauteed spinach…

While I indulged my inner Italian with some pasta…. drenched in garlic Parmesan cream and loaded with grilled chicken, mushrooms and peas.

Were there more cocktails?

Maybe….

And damn that waitress for not clearing them as fast as I could drink them.

I’m going to blame the cocktail consumption for this last picture I took on the way back to the resort….

Because I have no idea what it is…

Or what it was supposed to be….

But trust me, it was fabulous.

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Sh*t is starting to get real.

March 19, 2020 Rivergirl 19 Comments

The virus.

The pandemic.

The hysteria.

I know, you’ve heard it all before… and entirely too often for your emotional well being.

But now?

It’s hitting home for your favorite chicken and rock loving friend.

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Our beloved local pub… that we support on a weekly basis… has shut it’s doors.

So please, for me –

And all those margaritas that anxiously await my return?

jcyd4

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Dinner on the waterfront.

March 19, 2020 Rivergirl 41 Comments

This is for all the people who scream about food pictures. An entire blog devoted to a meal.

Though I’m not a fan of oysters….

The York River Oyster Company in Gloucester Point, Virginia seemed like a great spot for dinner.

So we strolled around the marina checking out the boats before heading inside.

It was a little too cold for outdoor seating in December.

So we picked a table with a view.

With a pole right in the middle to ruin any pictures I might want to share.

Yay us.

I started with an Orange Crush which seems to be a very popular cocktail lately.

And then cringed at the thought of anyone wanting red wine in their Mule.

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We started with an appetizer order of simply superb steamed shrimp.

They were perfectly cooked and seasoned and just melted in our mouths.

Cocktail number 2?

An Afternoon Delight.

And I dare you not to have that song stuck in your head all day.

Dinner for me was a crab cake and fried shrimp. The most I can say about them is they were decent. The crab cake could have had more crab and the shrimp were a bit overdone. Which was a shame because the flavor was there.

I don’t know what the husband was thinking with this abomination.

A burger topped with bacon and pulled pork…. for those days when your arteries just feel too clear.

He picked it apart and ate everything separately which probably defeats the purpose, but said it was good.

Dessert was a nice tart Key Lime Pie. Don’t give me those sugary sweet versions. When I order Key Lime? I want my lips to pucker.

Yes, like that.

Night descended while we ate.

And while I’d give the restaurant a solid B minus ……

I have to admit they did have a clever slogan.

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Jamestown Re-creation…. the settlement, some rusty tools and a cocktail tease.

March 17, 2020 Rivergirl 9 Comments

The first settlement in America looked something like this.

And I have to admit the buildings were larger than I thought they’d be.

This was the church.

And I swear it’s bigger than the one in my town today.

I loved the thatched roofs on the cottages.

And we enjoyed poking around inside them.

Some of them were simple.

Some a little more grand.

Check out the armor on top of the cupboard.

Nothing like some weaponry over the dining room table to get the gastric juices flowing.

Speaking of that…. there was an armory.

And it doesn’t matter how many times I see these, I still can’t imagine having to wear them into battle. I mean damn, they make my underwire bra look positively comfortable in comparison.