Last Call at Magnolias

A followup to the impending end of Magnolias Southern Cuisine, in Cambridge MA. Here's the e-mail we got this morning:

"Dear friends,

After more than 23 years of cooking every meal- first at The Cajun Yankee, now at Magnolias -it is time to put away my cast iron skillet and hang up my trusty spatula. It is time to retire. On June 14th Magnolias will close our doors. Please come by for one last meal and allow us to show our appreciation for your many years of faithful patronage and to say goodbye.

Thanks for everything,
Chef John Silberman"

A friend of mine just got back from a meal there-his report:

"Magnolias was packed with suicidal diners tonight. They were taking calls for reservations of 10-12 people for the rest of the week, each with a message. "Tell John I'm going to kill him when I get there ..."

Here's John's farewell "Festival" menu:

Crab & Shrimp Festival May 20- June 14

Appetizers

Grilled Shrimp- Skewered with Black Mission Figs presented over Arugula dressed with Black Currant Sauce $ 8.95

Fresh Louisiana lump Crabmeat surrounded by Bloody Mary salsa, Hearts of Palm and Avocado, dressed with Lime Vinaigrette $ 8.95

Crab & Shrimp Combination Plate Maryland steamed Jonah Crab claws, with drawn butter Crispy fried Blue Crab fingers, with Garlic mayo New Orleans - Shrimp Remoulade$ 10.95

Entrees

Famous New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp Sautéed shell-on in aromatic blend of Garlic, Rosemary & homemade Worcestershire sauce. Served with rice & mixed vegetables $19.95

Blackened Rainbow Trout Topped with sautéed fresh Lump Crabmeat and Shrimp$ 18.95

Crab Combination Plate: Crispy-fried Soft Shell Crab, honey-marinated Crab Fingers, Maryland Crab Cakes, steamed Jonah Crab Claws and Crab Imperial$ 23.95

www.magnoliascuisine.com

International Festival of Canoes

Coming to Maui-looks like fun.

http://www.mauiweekly.com/localnews/story6819.aspx

Tomato Road Trip

An annual rite of spring...my heirloom tomato plants from Territorial Seed in Oregon are about ready to begin their cross-country journey to Saddle Hill. TS offers varieties that are unavailable here in New Hampshire, and their nursery is located at exactly 1,000 feet above sea level, the same elevation as my garden. They are shipped UPS 3 Day Select, which means that they will be arriving Friday. In all my years of buying plants from TS, I have only had two die on me.

This year I ordered a much smaller shipment than in years past-only 3 plants. Two of these are my longtime fave "Pineapple", and this year I am also trying a "Russian Black", reputed to be very sweet.

They should be loaded onto a truck on their way to Portland OR airport any time now, and then will journey thru the southern US, before being put on a UPS 18 wheeler for the journey to NH. I will be tracking their progress over the next 3 days...

Here's their website:

http://www.territorialseed.com/

For My Norwegian Relatives...

Ice Flow Alone Explains Why Fjords Are Cut So Deep

http://environment.newscientist.com/article/mg19826565.200-ice-flow-alone-explains-why-fjords-are-cut-so-deep.html

Ground School?

Training for the Mile High Club, no doubt...

"HARRISBURG, Pa. - An airline pilot was found hiding behind a shed wearing only flip-flops and a wristwatch as a nighttime romp in the woods with a flight attendant ended with both under arrest, police said."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080520/ap_on_fe_st/odd_naked_pilot_1;_ylt=Amt7dpiw6HLUQCDTb8zlslME1vAI

Cheap Eats in NY City

The $175 burger. Fries are extra.

"The burger, created by chef and co-owner Kevin O'Connell, seeks to justify its price with a Kobe beef patty, lots of black truffles, seared foie gras, aged Gruyere cheese, wild mushrooms and flecks of gold leaf on a brioche bun."

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN2047220420080520?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

And the Winners Are:

Hawaii Magazine's Derek Paiva picks his choice for the 8 best movies filmed in Hawaii. 5 of the 8 were filmed on Kaua'i, and many of the filming sites for those can be visited by taking the Hawaii Movie Tour.

http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2008/5/19/Indiana_Jones_best_movies_filmed_Hawaii

And here's the link to Hawaii Movie Tours in Kapaa. Nice to see that our 2003 tour guide, Marty Mills (who hails from Lowell, MA no less!) is now
"Senior Narrator".

http://www.hawaiimovietour.com/

Cancer Survivor Pitches No-Hitter

24 year young Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lester, who last fall pitched and won the deciding game of the 2007 World Series, pitched the first complete game of his career last night, and it was a no-hitter. It was the first no-hitter by a Sox lefthand pitcher since Mel Parnell did it in 1956!

Lester talks to the press after the game:

"Words can't describe it right now"

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/05/lesters_postgam.html

The Paradoxes of Paradise

A thoughtful essay by a Canadian college history teacher, on the pros and cons of living in the 50th State:

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/301185

Buying Agricultural Land as an Investment

"As part of the continuing green movement, consumers are showing an increased interest in agriculturally-focused real estate ..."

http://www.businesswire.com/news/google/20080520005506/en

Such a Deal!

Buy a 1 square inch piece of land in any of the 50 states for only $3.95. You can't do anything with it, but you don't have to pay property taxes!

http://www.live-pr.com/en/nyc-company-selling-land-in-florida-r1048193473.htm

Colonizing the World by Boat?

Could be, could be!

http://discovermagazine.com/2008/jun/20-did-humans-colonize-the-world-by-boat

Tuesday Music Digest

Napster starts selling mp3s

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7409865.stm

The hills AREN'T alive with the sound of music

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/19/soundof.music.ap/

Sleepless in Austin:

http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=8ed4948d-8f47-4452-9cbe-6805a414caa1

David Bowie is working on a musical for the stage...

http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=115&csid2=844&fid1=31364

Download a file that says Play_mp3.exe? Don't run it!

http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/952420.html

Music listeners still prefer radio over mp3s and CDs?

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=82928

And in Britain, it's "No Noise Week"

http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Environment&F=1&id=14103

Free 1920s Jazz Dance Picnic

Back to Governors Island...

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=18634

Stayin' Alive

Trying to keep the troubled Honolulu Symphony Orchestra afloat:

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=8342558

This may help:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/arts/16arts-GIFTAIDSSTRU_BRF.html?ref=arts

But apparently not enough-

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080516/NEWS01/805160358/1001/LOCALNEWSFRONT

It AIn't Over 'Til It's Over

As of 6:18 PM EDT it is 42 degrees here on Saddle Hill, which is 500' higher than the station recording the time and temperature on the sidebar.

And Mt. Washington picked up an inch of SNOW today.

UPDATE:

8:45 PM EDT, on the summit of Mt. Washington:

Temperature: 21.4°F
Wind: 59.7 mph
Direction: 283° (W)
Wind Chill: -2.1°F

Surfing in New Hampshire

"This water is nothing more than ice that refuses to solidify"

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080519/OPINION0526/80519001/-1/OPINION

Tahiti Paddler Wins World Championship

Tahitian paddler Lewis Laughlin yesterday successfully defended his title:

http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/05/20/tahiti-paddler-wins-world-championship-again

Boy Genius Returns to Capitol

Brian Wilson is returning to the label where he had his greatest success:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003805206

Caz Destiny

Behind the 4 year journey to make the new Brothers Cazimero album:

http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/19/features/story02.html