Chunky’s is a small chain of movie theater restaurants. We visited Chunky’s in Nashua, NH a couple months back. The chairs are made from old Lincoln Town Car seats. The tickets are inexpensive and the atmosphere is fun. We split a bottle of wine and an appetizer combo. It is a fun spot to see a film and grab a bite and a drink. What I did not like was the staff coming by to check on things during the movie. Also there was only one, ONE, mozzarella stick in the whole entire combo. It has an odd setup that could be done better. I recommend going there at least once if you want a meal or glass of wine with your movie. Also we saw the new Ninja Turtles Movie. I’d rate Chunk’s a B and the new Teenage Ninja Turtles movie a B+. Sorry for the long break. More content coming soon…
After enjoying some of Halifax’s local brews at the Split Crow, we wandered down Barrington Street to discover this gem. The Middle Spoon offers some amazing desserts and equally delicious cocktails. I had the special cocktail of the night (of which I regretfully forget the name) and we split the Pumpkin Spice Mocha Cake and she got the suggested cocktail pairing. The dessert was light and sweet, not too heavy. It was just right in every way. The suggested pairing, called “Put a ring on it,” was light and complimented the sweetness perfectly. My cocktail was a mix of pomegranate juice, white rum, basil, and other tasty ingredients. Each sip had layers: sour, sweet, basil. None overpowered the other. Going to the Middle Spoon was a great way to end our first night in Halifax.
I really enjoyed our half-day on Mount Desert Island: it was such a beautiful place! We bought a car pass to Acadia National Park at the Visitor Center, and were excited to learn that it lasts for 7 days, so we can use it again on our return trip.
If you’re driving in the area and don’t have much time, the view from Beaver Point was stunning, even from the car. Imagine golden rays of late afternoon sunlight illuminating the spray from waves smashing against granite cliffs…
I’ve heard that Cadillac Mountain is a must-see for its views of the island. (It is the highest point on the Atlantic Coast!) Today, it was enveloped in clouds, so as we walked around were completely isolated from the rest of the world. I think the mountain is a must see on a cloudy day just for that experience.
Sur de Mont hosts both a spring and a garden that showcases all the different types of plants that live in the park. I learned that the tiny Harebell flowers are in season.
The Zen Garden within the Azalea Garden.
Asticou Azalea Garden is a Japanese style garden on the island, and is a very peaceful spot.
Finally, I want to want to mention 86 This, a burrito place in Ellsworth which would be a perfect place to stop on your way there or back. Try the Yam I Am.
The Lowell Folk Festival is a free 3-day International Music Festival that takes over downtown Lowell for a weekend every summer, and if you are in the area I strongly encourage you to check it out!
The music plays on 5 stages, and we saw and heard Taiko drumming, Egyptian music and dancing, and Moroccan trance music, Bachata, go-go, bluegrass, and Irish Folk. They have much more. One of the stages is a dedicated dance pavilion. The streets downtown are closed to cars, and everyone is out walking around. Lots of businesses have special offers, there are free giveaways and coupons from different companies, and there are beer tents for those who are inclined.
Saturday schedule for the Dance Pavilion
If you are like me, you’re wondering about the food at the festival, and there’s good news: There is a huge amount of delicious ethnic food available throughout the festival, which different nonprofits use as a fundraiser- check out our reviews in a separate post.
Logistics:
If you are driving, there are a number of city lots near the festival with parking, or you can arrive early and grab street parking, or take advantage of the public transit and take the bus. I saw some people with bikes and skateboads, but the crowd can be hard to navigate through.
There’s seating at most of the stages but if you want to be sure, bring your own. Blankets work at some of the stages and low lawn chairs would work at all of them. I spotted someone with a tiny folding stool, which looked awesome for this event.
Bring cash for food, CDs, and parking. Wear sunscreen, and a hat if you need more sun protection. Your shoes need to be comfortable enough for some serious walking, and dancing if the music strikes you. If you choose to donate to the festival, they’ll give you a set of beads.
This event caters to families and pet owners. There’s face painting and crafts in addition to the music fun.
Stages:
Dutton St Dance Pavilion is my favorite location for the festival, and if I could resist wandering around and trying to see everything, it is where I would stake out. Everything is under a huge tent, so you have some protection from the sun. They also pick bands that play danceable music; the crowd is filled with energy and even if you don’t want to dance the music will get your toes tapping! Finally, the people watching is fun.
St. Anne’s churchyard and Market St stage are both smaller grassy areas.
I love corn. In my travels, I’ve been lucky enough to find street vendors that sell cobs, and lots of dishes that make use of whole or ground kernels. I think that my absolute favorite way to eat corn on the cob is grilled. Here’s how I do it at home:
Grill the corn until quite a number of the kernels are toasty medium brown, and starting to get soft. Then put them in a foil pouch with a bit of butter on top, and let them steam for a while (~15 minutes) in the bag. To finish it off for serving, butter the rest of the corn and then drizzle honey on top.
The corn ends up taking on some of the grill flavor, is soft enough to comfortably munch through but has a firmer texture than boiled or steamed corn, and the honey brings the dish to perfection. Let me know if you try it, and what you think!
the mint tea drinkers society 