Patriots' Day Weekend

Happy Patriots' Day Weekend! Many people from outside of New England do not know what this civic Monday holiday is all about. Its a holiday that is celebrated in Maine and Massachusetts.

My earliest memory of Patriots Day was being at my Grandfather's house and watching  the re-enactment of Paul Revere's ride down Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, MA

Patriots' commemorates the battle of Lexington and Concord, and the "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (born in Portland Maine, when it was part of Mass):

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm."

For the rest of this epic poem click here...
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Patriots' Day signifies the start of the season here in Ogunquit Maine. It’s a traditional time when restaurants and business' re-open. MaineStreet Video and Dance traditionally opens the dance floor for the season. Patriots Day is also the running of the Boston Marathon. Ogunquit also has its own Paul Revere's ride, a Fife and Drum concert, and various Chamber of Commerce activities.

One if by land, two if by sea...........

October is Italian-American Heritage Month!

As a child, I grew up in Somerville, MA which, is situated next to Boston and Cambridge. With only slightly over 4 square miles (10 km²) of land, Somerville is the most densely populated city in New England. Italians made up a large minority of the population there. My church was St Anthony's. When I growing up, St Anthony's was a "mission" church focused on the Italian Americans. Masses were in English as well as Italian. Many houses had grape vines, bocce courts and statues of various saints that adorned the small postage stamp size yards. Neighbors would meet at the Dante Club, and Italian-American social club across the street from my Aunt Santa and uncle Joe's house. As an adult I also lived in  other Italian neighborhoods too; East Boston and the fabled North End.

Being of Italian heritage, I always loved the culture and enjoyed the food. When I moved to Maine 13 years ago, I found it a challenge to find good Italian food and groceries. In the mid 1990's at the local Hannaford's Supermarket, the Italian food section was in the "ethnic" aisle next to the "LaChoy" food and "Old El Paso" taco sauce. Italian Restaurants were few and far between. There are not a large number of Italians in Maine, there are small pockets in Portland and Rockland Maine.
However now there are some decent Italian restaurants in Ogunquit: Angelina's   Roberto's and Caffe Prego. Caffe Prego is great! It is at the end of my street and features incredible pastries, coffee and brick oven pizza. This is close as you will get to the North End of Boston or Rome for that matter. Its nice to sit on  Caffe Prego's "piazza" and watch Shore Road and ocean. The coffee is authentic, the music is jazz or opera and the food is "delezioso". The European staff is cute and helpful. I think this has been a nice additon for Ogunquit! Roberto's is Ogunquit's oldest Italian restaurant with handcrafted food. Roberto's always is pleasing!

I am named after my grandfather, Gregory Mario, ( pictured to the left). My father wanted to name me Gennaro Mario, but when I was born, my mother refused!
Here I am, ready to go to church.