Holidays in Hampden

Next stop on the cruise, Hampden to check out Miracle on 34th Street and do some window shopping.  While most people who hear Miracle on 34th Street will think of the 1947 classic, any good Baltimore resident will think of over the top Christmas decorations.  Some highlights of the street included:

A manger made out of records

A Christmas tree made of hubcaps and snowmen made out of bicycle rims

Just a few streets north we strolled along the main drag in Hampden.  All the shops were decked for the holidays, including my favorite store Trohv.  Throughout the year they have some amazing window displays and the newest ones did not disappoint.  If you look closely you will see there are all kinds of materials being used: packing peanuts, pretzels, copper mugs and collapsed cardboard boxes.  

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season is among us.
Hopefully I will be able to find several more festive activities over the next few weeks. 

Sailors Tell Stories ... Pyrates Make Legends

As the official cruise ship director of the Mazurak Family vacation, today's big adventure was to head just a few miles south of Baltimore to the Heavy Seas Brewery.  Erica and I have had this on our radar for a while so the fact we were both in Baltimore over the weekend made it the perfect time. 

After the tour we headed back to the tap room to try the staples of their collection, as well as some of the seasonal ones.  Mom made sure to get a picture with the pirate.  

The fabulous Meghan joined us as well and thankfully we were able to swipe some pirate eye patches (not stolen from the children) and snag a quick picture.  While this might have been the shortest SUS reunion in history, I was at least able to prove that she was not stuck under multiple medical textbooks. 

The one take away from the tour was to always drink your beer from a glass and NOT from the bottle.  By pouring the beer into a glass you use two of your senses - taste and smell. 

What Do You Call A Sad Cranberry?

A blueberry.  

There is no better way to kick off your Thanksgiving than with some Dad jokes.  We had a pretty late start to the morning, but finally by 1330 the bird was in the oven.  Although we were able to have pancakes for breakfast, the downfall was we had several hours until the turkey was finished.  There was, however, plenty of time to peruse the internet for Thanksgiving related articles and I came across two favorites.  The first was an art installment of how Thanksgiving dinners might be painted by famous artists and the second was the most Googled recipe for each state.  Although Maryland was apparently digging on Sauerkraut and Applies, neither hit our family table.   

Although I was in charge of basting the turkey this year, 

Elise and Dad quickly jumped in to take all the photo credit.  

As things were cooking in the oven the whole family piled onto the futon and we watched the first Huger Games.  The irony was not lost on any of us as lunch was pushed back several hours due to a dispute in turkey cooking time and/or an oven which was not as hot as it was supposed to be.  My vote was for the former and Mom's was for the later.  When all was sad and done we finally could chow down, but first had to take an #ussie with the turkey.  The only picture of the stupid bird we took all day.

While we were digesting our very large linner (aka late lunch/dinner) we watched the second Hunger Games and awaited the all important pie hour.  It was not too late of an evening as I needed to be up and bright and early for Black Friday shopping work.  

A Trip to the Not So Sunny Sunshine State

The itinerary was set long before the wheels of my plane touched down and night one consisted of a cocktail party with a number of tennis players from the club.   

It rained for most of the weekend so we spend the day indoors 

watching movies, reading and catching up on sleep. 

 

Sundays are reserved for brunch.  Seriously when you visit my grandparents, you drive into West Palm Beach to Taboo.  All was going well, but as we were driving down the road several peopel pointed out we had a VERY LOW front tire.  After pulling into a gas station we saw just how low things were.  Of course no one brought any cast and there was not a quarter to be found in the car.  Thankfully, the gentleman vacuuming his car next to us not only gave us a dollar, but put air in our tire.  We decided to go with the pump and pray method and thankfully it got us to brunch in one piece. 

The last four hours of the trip were sunny, but not enough to give me any kind of a tan.  

Maybe next time!

Friendsgiving 2.0

Another year, another successful friendsgiving.  Dinner was a smashing success thanks thanks to a post on The Kitchen for an Italian Polenta Supper Party.  I will not even lie, I stole every item off this post and had NO REGRETS!!!  One tricky thing about hosting dinners is being stuck in the kitchen trying to pull all the last minute details together.  Everything could be made well before everyone arrived.  Braises are perfect fall weather and are better if left over night and putting polenta in a slow cooker keeps it soft and creamy for hours.

Now this is no where near a food blog and as such I almost never remember to take pictures of things I make; today was no exception.  I did get this one of some apps including some homemade salsa before people arrived; lots of color as everyone eats with their eyes.

Let the holiday season begin!