By Hairee Lee

Sunset from Dorchester Heights Monument

When I think Southie, I think of Matt Damon’s character in Good Will Hunting, abused and scared and brilliant, I think of The Town with Ben Affleck back in Southie, but smarter and rougher than his character in the former film. I think of Mystic River, which makes me think of Clint Eastwood, which makes me think of Dirty Harry. The whole romance surrounding South Boston or Southie is that it’s rough, redolent of a violent history.

Melissa‘s been trying to get us to head over to her hood for a picnic since summer. Something about a great view and a pretty park.

Summer flew by and it’s fall. Finally, we make it over to South Boston where Melissa lives and we see for ourselves the great view and the very pretty park full of happy canines romping on the lushest grass since my sister’s backyard’s. Continue Reading

By Hairee Lee.

And In Second Place…

With two more weeks of summer left after our Cocktail #10: Aviation, we thought, now what? The answer was obvious: End-of-Summer cocktails. So obvious.

A Facebook poll was set up listing 8 End-of-Summer cocktails from an Esquire magazine article. And people voted. Thanks voters!

After 2 weeks of voting, in second place was Paul King’s Porch Swing (which I was happy about because I voted for this one.)

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By Hairee Lee.

“Lovely Weather We’re Having!”

Some comment about the weather is usually the way to start a conversation in England. And to pretty much continue it from what I remember form my years living there. But no matter because little goes better with lovely weather than a Pimm’s cup. That much I was in complete agreement with respect to Brit culture.

The first time I had a Pimm’s cup was at a fellow teacher’s garden party while I was teaching near London. For the life of me I can’t recall her name. I do remember all her clothes were from Boden, a J.Crew, Banana Republic type catalogue clothing company in UK. By this I mean no hemlines above the knee, modest scoop necks, demure earrings, hideous flower pattern coats and dresses that only look good on skinny blond models because anything looks good on skinny blond models. She was nice enough but not memorable enough for me to recall her name.

She did, however, make a great punch bowl of Pimm’s packed full of fruit.

Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liquor made in England from dry gin, liqueur, fruit juices and spices. It was created in 1859 by the English oyster bar owner James Pimm. The recipe is still a secret, and only six persons know exactly how it is made.

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