Happy 4th of July!!!!

HAPPY 4th of July!!!!

I spent the majority of the holiday digging out a portion of the backyard to build the new rose bed. But there is also time to stop and celebrate! I joined friends for dinner at Brewer's Art in Mount Vernon (Baltimore City) for a fabulous dining experience. Upon entering Brewer's Art, you immediately take notice of the Art on the walls which changes periodically. Tonight, the paintings were fantastic! There is a certain ambiance created by the converted house and hardwood floors that gives you an "Old World" feel. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly, the food was absolutely fantastic.

We split the artichoke ravioli, which was in a melt in your mouth, rich and creamy lemon butter sauce with a hint of mint and basil, sprinkled with fresh shaved Parmesan. Yum! We had to get some Resurrection (best beer ever) which is named because During the fermentation of the first batch of this Abbey-style ale, the yeast died and was resurrected by the brewer. I also *highly* recommend the Ozzy beer. For the main course, I got the Ozzy-Brined Giannone Chicken which turned out to be not a breast of chicken but half a chicken. It was delicious! As well as the hash of caramelized fennel and fingerling potatoes. I sampled my friends Grilled Lamb Loin and it was so good I can't wait go back and order it myself! After all that I couldn't believe it, but I ordered dessert! And of course delicious coffee....mmmmm.... but seriously the tort filled with caramel and topped with walnuts and chocolate was out of this world!

Did I mention I can't wait to go back? Well in the interim I have to say that I am extremely excited that many of their beers are now available in a can. You can get carryout from the bar in the basement.

Asking for Roses

Asking for Roses


A house that lacks, seemingly, mistress and master,
With doors that none but the wind ever closes,
Its floor all littered with glass and with plaster;
It stands in a garden of old-fashioned roses.


I pass by that way in the gloaming with Mary;
'I wonder,' I say, 'who the owner of those is.'
'Oh, no one you know,' she answers me airy,
'But one we must ask if we want any roses.'


So we must join hands in the dew coming coldly
There in the hush of the wood that reposes,
And turn and go up to the open door boldly,
And knock to the echoes as beggars for roses.


'Pray, are you within there, Mistress Who-were-you?'
'Tis Mary that speaks and our errand discloses.
'Pray, are you within there? Bestir you, bestir you! '
Tis summer again; there's two come for roses.


'A word with you, that of the singer recalling--
Old Herrick: a saying that every maid knows is
A flower unplucked is but left to the falling,
And nothing is gained by not gathering roses.'


We do not loosen our hands' intertwining
(Not caring so very much what she supposes),
There when she comes on us mistily shining
And grants us by silence the boon of her roses.


~Robert Frost