As our days as residents of the nutmeg state become fewer, it was really important to me that we make a trip to my hometown of Washington to say some goodbyes to the people and places that make me love it so.
Now this town is really special. It was the first town in the United States to be named for George Washington because that old chap traveled through here on a few occasions. It was the inspiration for the town of Stars Hollow on the Gilmore Girls (a fabulous tv show). It is the place where my brothers and I spent our formative years. We moved from New Jersey to Connecticut in 1993, when I was 12 and delightfully awkward. And it is the place where Brendan met my family for the first time (they have since moved away), where he proposed, and where we were married. All in all, best town ever.
We started the day in the center of town, known as "the depot" as the train used to run through there and (not surprisingly) there was a train depot. I bought one of the annual town of Washington 4th of July t-shirts in front of the market, and saw about 47 people I knew. This is Washington...stuff like that happens here.
We cut across the main road, past the bookshop...
...to Titus Road.
My mom and dad bought this building vaguely around the time we moved (I was a kid, and kids don't pay attention to details). My mom ran an antiques shop on the first floor until she got too sick. It was called Once Again, and it was cute. Upstairs lived and worked this super cool woman named Banji. She ran a framing shop. My first real job was as an apprentice in her business. She was also certified by the Audubon Society to rehabilitate birds, so there were always baby snowy owls, parrots, rock doves, finches or the like around the shop. My favorite was Hummy, the hummingbird who got stuck in the screen of the building next door. The end of her beak had to be amputated, as did the length of her tongue, so she couldn't be released back into the wild. She lived in Banji's kitchen and was a delight. Many years later, my grandmother moved from New Jersey to Connecticut and lived in that upstairs apartment. It is right behind the Pantry, the next stop on our tour, and I dashed back and forth across this road many times bringing goodies (particularly sticky buns) to my Gram.
The Pantry- another notable landmark in Schrier family history. I worked here during summers, on college holiday breaks, and when I found myself back in Washington after Hurricane Katrina. Many years were spent behind the counter slinging sandwiches, occasionally to celebrities like Conan O'Brien or Harry Connick Jr. This is also the place where my dad and step mom were set up on their first date. My brother Dan worked here for ages too and happy were the times when we were working together. Brendan and I hosted our day after the wedding brunch here as well. There was baked brie. I had a brand new husband. It was a good day.
The menu is written each day on the boards above the counter.
Bread is baked daily, and is out of this world.
And the people? Oh they are the best.
This is Theresa. She's the Pantry superstar. She calls me "Rebby." She's a bundle of fun. When I asked if I could wear a apron in our picture, she gave me the nicest one. That's the kind of person she is.
Here's Michael and Nancy. They own the Pantry, fill it with great food, and keep everyone coming back for more. Nancy also has the biggest, best, most un-subtle laugh ever. You hear it and cannot help but smile.
Chef Martin, creator of edible delights and co-creator of some very cute children.
June, hostess with the mostess, lover of pickles and oversized rhinestone jewelry.
And the food?! We got a few nibbles to have on a picnic later:
Theresa's special sandwich for Brendan- Pantry baked ham, claverolle cheese, lettuce, tomato, and honey mustard on Newfoundland bread (made with molasses so it's a bit dark and sweet).
The vegetarian sandwich- lettuce, tomato, avocado, pickled onions, radishes, cucumbers, havarti cheese, and Pantry cucumber dill dressing on Newfoundland bread, extra saucy.
Cherry pie. There are no words suitable besides YUM. It's an edible miracle, and very appropriate in a town named for George Washington.
We took our vittles, tried to do this one hike above Lake Waramaug, never found it, and ended up enjoying our picnic next to the water.
The lake makes us happy. We got married here. It was the fall and was gorgeous.
See.
After lounging for a delightfully long time, we ended the evening at our friends Cheryl and Scott's house.
It was warm, summery night. I tucked into way too much of Cheryl's heavenly guacamole. We told many of stories and laughed a lot. It was a perfect end to a most perfect day.
