Today is my Birthday.....

June 10th! Today is my birthday!

I like to celebrate my birthday, with a nice meal, run on the beach and of course cake.

What I miss most on my birthday are the people who made me feel special on this day growing up.
Most of them are gone, but I guess that is the fate of growing older. My parents always made a fuss and surprised me with a party or an outing.

Because my birthday is in June, it always started the summer season, which is my favorite time of the year. June signaled the end of the school year, and all the things that I liked most: sun, beach, vacation and adventure.....All things are possible in the endless summer. Or so it seemed as a child. 

I started the day with a nice long run on the beach, followed by a 90 minute deep tissue massage by Ron Bergeron at the Massage Studio of Ogunquit.

My sister Cheryl, and her husband came up from Massachusetts for a visit. We  meandered on the Marginal Way, and lunched at the Lobster Shack in Perkins Cove. The Lobster Shack is great little restaurant; it's at the end of the busy cove and it was originally a lobsterman's shack. The Lobster Shack offers gluten free home made clam chowder. Owner/operator Jason Evans stated that it is a family recipe, and he does not use any flour or soup bases to make this fine chowder. The chowder was accompanied with fresh lobster meat on a lettuce with tomato-perfect for lunch by the sea!

Our neighbor Tobias hosted a cookout and grilled some summer time fare. The evening ended with Michael's famous Gluten Free Cheesecake!

The end of a perfect day, and hopefully more birthdays to come.....

Today is My Birthday

It takes a long time to grow young.

                  -Pablo Picasso

June 1961

 June 2011

Today is my birthday. It is bittersweet to say the least. Many of the people that were on this earth, the day I was born are no longer here. My grandparents, parents, favorite aunt and uncle etc. But, I do believe you have to celebrate life, and enjoy the people that are in your life!

As a child, I learned to celebrate my birthday. We celebrated with a party with ice cream and cake; and sometimes an occasional trip to an amusement park or beach.  I really didn't like amusement  rides back then, and don't like rides now. So now I treat my self to the beach and a nice massage.

Like many of my birthdays in the past 50 years, I will spend it on the beach, enjoying a nice meal, and then a small party with loved ones!

Blogger/Innkeeper/swimmer/runner Gorio enjoys his birthday on Ogunquit beach on this June 10th morning

My Birthday 2010 ~ Ogunquit Style

Getting old ain't for sissies.

                                                                                              - Bette Davis

Birthdays are important, if we didn't have them, we wouldn't be here. In the past 5 years, I have really started to enjoy my birthday. I celebrate health and happiness. Isn't that what birthdays are all about??

Our friend, Mark flew up from Florida to spend my birthday with me. We went to one of Ogunquit's favorite restaurants, MC Perkins Cove. MC Perkins is the recipient of the James Beard Award. This restaurant is situated on the Atlantic side of Perkins Cove near the "Island House" were Bette Davis once lived.

Bette Davis was the first female lifeguard for Ogunquit Beach. The above picture was taken in 1930, and shows Bette Davis in the centre around the other lifeguards.  During her long acting career, Ms Davis also performed in the famed Ogunquit Playhouse.

The bistro is owned by Mark Gaier & Clark Frasier, who also own  Arrows in Ogunquit. MC Perkins Cove is known for its innovative American cuisine, with an incredible view of the rocky Atlantic.   USA Today, rates MC Perkins as on of the "Top Ten places in the world with a view."

We were seated on the second floor, in a room with three other tables. I started the meal with  crispy calamari with chick peas and cumin yogurt. I enjoyed the unique combination of spices and dipping sauces.

Many reviews and awards have been written about MC Perkins and their flagship restaurant Arrows. What I like is the fusion of flavors that Chef Mark and Chef Clark combine with the local fish, foul and meat. My main course was the swordfish, served on a bed of mashed chick peas with extra virgin olive oil. The fish was topped with a "relish" of pine nuts, raisins, capers and shallots. The combination of the ingredients was innovative and delicious.

No meal is complete without dessert. We got the molten lava cake. Decadent yet delicious!

And, birthdays are not complete without birthday cake! My favorite is Dairy Queen Ice cream cake!

My Birthday is complete!

Blogger Greg lives and works in Ogunquit Maine, and co-owns Ogunquit Beach Inn.