Sunday,
December 22, 1985
After lunch
at 13:15, we started driving to Essex, CT, arriving at 14:45 and checked into
the Griswold Inn. Simple, nice old furniture and a bathroom with a shower.
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| Room at the Griswold Inn |
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| Kent at the Griswold Inn |
We
turned down the piped in music and went out to explore Main Street with all the
little shops and boutiques. We read the Essex historical marker, then returned
to our room. At 18:45 we heard Jan & Kirby coming up the stairs. There was
a large yellow tabby cat snoozing on the narrow steps. We greeted J&K, then
we all changed into evening wear and headed downstairs for our 19:00 dinner
reservation.
The main dining room was crowded and very noisy. Service was slow
because they were so busy. A fire was blazing in the hearth and the decoration
was nautical and Christmas-y. Kent and Kirby got an apéritif of champagne with
a raspberry liqueur. For an appetizer I had clam chowder with a celery taste,
and Jan had the Boss’ Favorite, a vegetable soup. Kirby had the country pâté
and Kent had smoked salmon. We noticed that other tables had crackers and
condiments, and had the busboy bring us ours. There was a corn relish, cottage
cheese with chives, and a garlic spread for the crackers and breadsticks. Then
warm rolls arrived, and salads with the dressing on the side. Kent had fried
oysters and I had the Carpetbagger special of a butterflied filet mignon and
fried oysters with a Béarnaise sauce. Jan had broiled bay scallops and Kirby
had roast beef, a sizable chunk. We each also had a baked potato and sautéed
zucchini. Later the others had coffee, and we shared a piece of chocolate
buttercream pie that was like a fine chocolate mousse pie. The bill with tip
came to $140, which also included a bottle of red wine, and a half bottle of
white wine.
There was a
German woman who was going around seeing what people had for dinner, and
generally wandering. Later she complained to the maître d' that the waitress
was treating her like an enemy, and that she ordered moose, but was given
something else. (They had venison, rabbit, moose, goose, pheasant, and quail on
the Christmas menu.) And this had caused a rift between her and her husband…
We went to
our room to exchange gifts with J&K and talk until midnight.
Monday,
December 23, 1985
It had snowed during the night, creating a New
England winter wonderland. We met Jan and Kirby in the library at 9:30 for
breakfast. It was self-serve with tomato juice, coffee, and a variety of teas.
Plus English muffins, oranges and cantaloupe. After breakfast we checked out
and took a walk down Main Street. |
| Griswold Inn sihn |
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| Griswold Inn |
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| Main Street door with boxwood tree |
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| Main Street house |
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| Main Street houses |
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