Posting pre-Memorial Day because I’ll be off Monday, kayaking in one of Maine’s many coves, getting as far away from the delete button as possible.
Check your Rhody cred
In the May 18th edition of Time magazine, Joel Stein writes about new books that celebrate America’s culinary heritage. While his article doesn’t mention the Ocean State, the piece is illustrated by a map of America highlighting such regional eats as fried beaver tail (Montana), peanut soup (Virginia), lamb fries (Nebraska), hot guts (Texas), sopaipilla (New Mexico) hoppel poppel (Wisconsin), cherry bounce (Arkansas) and shrimp pilau (eastern Florida). New England is represented graphically by whoopie pie (Maine) and what the magazine describes as “JONNY CAKES” (Rhode Island). But there’s nothing remotely jonny or cake about the picture, which shows about a dozen mud-colored flapjacks drenched in maple syrup and decorated with what appear to be blueberries or cherries. Um, no. As every Rhode Islander knows, true jonnycakes are made from Rhode Island white flint corn, scooped onto the griddle and are rarely accompanied by anything more than a little butter. So, please, no bicycle tire-sized stacks. No slathering in syrup. And no fruit toppings. They’re jonnycakes, something you’ll find at a grange hall or church May breakfast, not at a roadside IHOP, Denny’s or Waffle House.
Moonstone memories
Memorial Day Weekend is the beginning of beach season in Rhode Island, when natives, transplants and out-of-staters alike flock to their favorite sandy haven. Despite its crowds, the former Narragansett Pier (now Narragansett Town Beach) has been my paradise of choice for the past three decades, mostly because of its surf, sea wall and scenery. Lately though, I’ve been thinking about how an entire generation has grown up without knowing about Moonstone, the South Kingstown beach now federally protected for the piping plover and least tern. Back in the day, Moonstone was one of the most popular nude beaches in the Northeast, drawing regulars from New England and beyond to hang out sans couture on its pristine stretch of sand. Moonstone celebrated the subversive, counterculture, rebellious spirit of Rhode Island and, given its location in laid-back South County, it became a magnet for followers of a mellower lifestyle, interrupted by the occasional exhibitionist. Moonstone was aptly named as well, given the two activities most commonly associated with the beach. As I recall, most of the nudists preferred to be called naturists (nudists can be very particular about semantics, as long as they don’t have to wear them). But Moonstone had its own vibe. The beach was always clean. The clothing was always optional. People were friendly. Privacy was respected. And a Moonstone sunburn was unlike any other, because you’ve never really had sunburn until you’ve had sunburn everywhere.
What is your Rhode Island beach of choice, and why?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Rhody Universe: Miss Rhode Island-isms
Kramer: If the U.S. was on the brink of a nuclear war and the only way the conflict could be averted was if you agreed to sleep with the enemy’s leader, what would you do?
Miss Rhode Island: Kramer, are these questions really that important?
Kramer: Yes!! If you stumble, if you hesitate, you can kiss the crown goodbye. Now if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, poise counts! Swimsuit, evening wear, talent, POISE!
- From “Seinfeld,” episode 87, “The Chaperone,” Sept. 12, 1994
Greta Van Susteren, Fox News Host: When you competed did the pageant people know that those photos were out there of you?
Miss Rhode Island (Alysha Castonguay): Yes. I contacted the Miss Rhode Island staff, and I submitted the photos because they were published, and I knew that somebody could get their hands on them. And to eliminate a catastrophe from happening. I sent them to the Miss Rhode Island staff, and they sent them to Miss Universe, and that left me with three weeks to prepare for Miss Rhode Island USA. I was waiting on a response from the Miss Universe organization on whether or not they cleared the pictures, and they did.
- Fox News, “On the Record” with Greta Van Susteren, May 11, 2009
Jerry: I’m going out with one of the Miss America contestants. You want to go?
Kramer: What state?
Jerry: Rhode Island.
Kramer: They’re never in contention.
- “Seinfeld”
Van Susteren: What do you do now? What is the job of Miss Rhode Island now that the Miss USA Pageant’s over? What’s your obligation.
Miss Rhode Island: We have appearances in Rhode Island. My state isn’t really as big as many of the other states. But I travel around Rhode Island doing different things, different events. There are a lot of parades coming up for Memorial Day. And I just did a charity event the other day. There’s a lot of different things that come up. You just make appearances, anything.
- “On the Record”
Jerry (while watching Miss Rhode Island sing): It’s like watching an animal get tortured.
- “Seinfeld”
Van Susteren: Alysha, thank you very much, and you do a great job representing Rhode Island, I suspect. I think you probably do a really good job. Thank you.
Miss Rhode Island: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
- “On the Record”
This week’s question: What question would you like to ask Miss Rhode Island?
Miss Rhode Island: Kramer, are these questions really that important?
Kramer: Yes!! If you stumble, if you hesitate, you can kiss the crown goodbye. Now if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, poise counts! Swimsuit, evening wear, talent, POISE!
- From “Seinfeld,” episode 87, “The Chaperone,” Sept. 12, 1994
Greta Van Susteren, Fox News Host: When you competed did the pageant people know that those photos were out there of you?
Miss Rhode Island (Alysha Castonguay): Yes. I contacted the Miss Rhode Island staff, and I submitted the photos because they were published, and I knew that somebody could get their hands on them. And to eliminate a catastrophe from happening. I sent them to the Miss Rhode Island staff, and they sent them to Miss Universe, and that left me with three weeks to prepare for Miss Rhode Island USA. I was waiting on a response from the Miss Universe organization on whether or not they cleared the pictures, and they did.
- Fox News, “On the Record” with Greta Van Susteren, May 11, 2009
Jerry: I’m going out with one of the Miss America contestants. You want to go?
Kramer: What state?
Jerry: Rhode Island.
Kramer: They’re never in contention.
- “Seinfeld”
Van Susteren: What do you do now? What is the job of Miss Rhode Island now that the Miss USA Pageant’s over? What’s your obligation.
Miss Rhode Island: We have appearances in Rhode Island. My state isn’t really as big as many of the other states. But I travel around Rhode Island doing different things, different events. There are a lot of parades coming up for Memorial Day. And I just did a charity event the other day. There’s a lot of different things that come up. You just make appearances, anything.
- “On the Record”
Jerry (while watching Miss Rhode Island sing): It’s like watching an animal get tortured.
- “Seinfeld”
Van Susteren: Alysha, thank you very much, and you do a great job representing Rhode Island, I suspect. I think you probably do a really good job. Thank you.
Miss Rhode Island: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
- “On the Record”
This week’s question: What question would you like to ask Miss Rhode Island?
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