This weekend I spent my days in a place where everyone was happy. Happy to share their food, their drink and space on the lawn, happy to be right there, on that summer day, under the sun listening to great music at the Green River Festival. One of the performers, […]
Last night I felt like I was in the right place at just the right time. Driving up to Greenfield with two old friends, our first stop was Hope and Olive, where the friendly maitre’d Jim as usual made us feel welcome. Greenfield had an energy last night, a confidence […]
I am a sucker for a good French movie. And how can I resist a title like “The French Gigolo?” In this 2008 movie, a very attractive fifty-something woman television producer decides that to take the path of least resistance…and hires gigolos every month or so. We meet Patrick, (who […]
This is an exciting week in the Valley, because the best musical event of the year happens on Saturday and Sunday. You may already have your tickets to the two-day Green River Festival, if not, I highly recommend you put this community extravaganza on your calendar. The festival began 25 […]
With seagulls as alarm clocks and the sea all around us, it’s damn hard to stay in bed here in Camp Ellis. Yesterday morning I thought for sure it was 7 and it was just 5:30 am. Time to get out to the porch and check out the sea. We […]
We’ve arrived, and are officially on vacation. As per my custom, I only really feel that I’m on vacation after I’ve spent a little time on the beach and taken a shower. Emerging at 6:53 pm with the sweet summer light reflecting off a distant rock jetty, yeah, now I’m […]
Last night I picked up a new iPhone 4. What a change from the olden days. I actually have had a cellular telephone since 1992. I bought the first one from a guy in Hadley, and it came in a little plastic basket, and had a corded handset. I remember […]
I read a story in the International Herald Tribune at the airport that described a smart idea…using cellphones to unlock doors at hotels and vacation rentals. With the amount of time people spend looking at their phones, it seems to make a lot of sense. In Stockholm the Clarion Hotel […]
From Bordeaux After 30 hours of transport, nothing feels better than hitting the pillow of one’s own and very familiar bed. Even though it took another hour to fall asleep, I came home to a new housemate living in our house. A dog, adopted from my sister, who is named […]
I often try to get at least a short ride in wherever I visit. So this morning after breakfast in the kitchen, I borrowed a one-speed and pedaled off down the road. As I was advised, I took the quick left and the road soon became quite narrow, passing by […]
We drove out into the countryside today to meet two people who are very involved with the local gastronomy. This is a big part of the appeal of France, that there are so many people who love food and live lives that are involved with producing great food. Our first […]
Tonight at the Chateau La Thuiliere, dinner was served table d’hote. Which means, all of the guests assembled in a grand banquet room to dine at one big table. There was a couple from Japan, reticent and on the far end, a French couple from Toulouse making their first foray […]