I was a rootless city-dweller

I read a reply from someone recently who commented that while Restaurant Week(s) is a good idea it’s not convincing enough to stop people from leaving the capital city in search of a tranquil refreshing coastal setting during July. What is this “Rest of Rhode Island” of which locals speak?

Summer Coolers: Pimm’s Cup

It’s been a scorcher lately, best to stay in the shade and keep yourself refreshed. I recommend, my favorite Summer Cooler this year: a Pimm’s Cup. Pimm’s is a brand of alcoholic beverages, the most popular being the Pimm’s No. 1 Cup, a gin-based beverage served either on ice or in cocktails. It has a dark tea color, with a reddish tint, and has a slight spice and citrus fruit taste. It was created in 1859 by the English oyster bar owner James Pimm. The recipe is still a secret, and only six people know exactly how it is made!

Pimm’s Cup is most common in England and is one of the staple drinks at Wimbledon and the Henley Royal Regatta, the other one being champagne. Give this recipe a try…
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AguaPyro

Hello Providence! (or metropolis of the damp flame, the AguaPyro, as we are known to many (in fact this classical interpretation of our fair city’s moniker was given to me by a foreigner. One with the proper papers I think!) Having been away for a week, I am basking in the delight of my return to the state of the Red Chicken.  But of course, it hasn’t taken me long to rave and rant.

RAVING:  The magnificent Providence Public Library System will stay open at least another year, thanks to a GIFT from PPL to our Agua Pyro metropolis (At least we’re burning water, and not books YET!).  The Irrational Optimist gave a sigh of relief to learn that the system will continue this year, but she feels a RANT coming on:  that the PPL had to BRIBE our dear city to stay in biz! Indeed, many of us recognize that indeed public libraries are the Universities of the People providing free access to information and ideas (as opposed to our Public Higher Ed system that continues to make the college dream increasingly out of reach..)  Our free book exchange system has a ring of jewels around the city that have opened the doors to learning for hundreds of thousands of AguaPyrans offering exciting adventures for the brain on a regular basis to young and old with the crown jewel of our DownCity branch, unparalleled by any other book depository in our fair land, and the magnificent Elmwood Avenue branch, truly a palace for books.

Here’s hoping, gentle readers, that all will heed the call to support our palaces for the printed word.  Despite the amazing access to information provided by this the All things Autobahn, there’s still nothing quite like a visit to those Mansions for Methodical Musing, the Realm of Research and Rumination. Who out there has the attachment as I to these Incomparable Institutions of Ideas? But ah, I am asphyxiating in alliteration. The Irrational Optimist hopes to hear from you!

Gracie’s High in the Sky

Thanks to Gracie’s for hosting a wonderful event on the private roof deck at the Peerless Lofts on Westminster Street!

Waffle Jones

Sometimes I get to jonsen’ over the silliest things. This week the craving has been for waffles. Please don’t mistake this for a trip to IHOP– I’m talking serious waffles. Dreams of them in savory flavors, not just sweet, have been mixing in my head for days. These waffle fantasies consist of various shapes, thicknesses, ingredients, seasonings and food pairings with dishes they were never meant to meet.

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