Paula & Tim Miller
The Carriage House Inn
Friday nights in Chatham beginning towards the end of June until the first weekend in September brings the Chatham Band concerts to the gazebo in Kate Gould Park at 8:00PM on Main Street in downtown, Chatham, the event is approximately 1 mile from the Carriage House Inn. Started in the 1930’s, the band concert is free and brings people of all ages from miles around to enjoy a slice of small town America.
This very popular event attracts upwards of several hundred to a thousand people (many stake a claim early in the day with a blanket or beach chair). The band plays some songs that you would not think of a brass band playing such as The Simpsons Theme, James Bond Theme and Mama Mia! They also do quite a bit of sing along with the audience.
Legend has it that in the 1950’s a patron got up in the middle of the concert and stated that the current gazebo was too small for the 40 piece band. He immediately took up a collection from the other concert goers and got enough donations in that one night to build the bigger bandstand that stands to this day.
My favorite part of this occasion is the relaxed family atmosphere and the people watching: little kids trying to maneuver around a big ice cream cone or try out their first dance moves while attached to a big balloon or glow stick and older folks getting some fresh air waxing nostalgic about times gone by. This whole scene I would describe as wonderfully corny and yet peaceful & familiar. It is a connection to our past before the advent of hi tech everything. A slower paced life to sit back and reflect, enjoy and daydream.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Chatham Pier Fish Market the Quest for the Best Lobster Roll Continues!
Paula & Tim Miller
The Carriage House Inn
Last week a girlfriend of mine from Charleston, SC drove into town and neither one of us felt like eating at a restaurant (as we were both in shorts and play clothes) so we threw some beach chairs in the trunk of her car and drove the ½ mile from the Inn to the
Kay (my friend) ordered the lobster roll, which is served with French fries and a small side of cole slaw and I had the fish and chips. While waiting you can watch the fisherman bring in their catch of the day, unload their boats, and view seals playing near the fish pier. After a short 8-10 minutes, the take out window server called our names and we took our dinner down the road another 1/4 mile to the beach at the end of Claflin Landing on the public town beach just south of Chatham Bars Inn. We spread out some beach towels and dropped into our beach chairs and proceeded to eat our fare. I was delighted at the portion size of the fish and chips that I ordered but then I tasted the fish and the taste was wonderful light, crispy all white fish no bones and served with a quarter of lemon, truly perfectly prepared. Kay told me that her lobster roll was good too, but it would be another week until I would try one myself. The evening was perfect we watched the sun go down, chatted and enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze.
A few days later, neither Tim nor I felt like cooking dinner (truthfully I never feel like cooking, Tim is the gourmet chef in the family) as it has been hot and muggy. So I headed back to the Chatham Fish and Lobster, thinking that tonight was my turn to try the lobster roll and a cup of lobster bisque. After a short wait, I took home our dinner, and was really shocked at how much better the lobster rolls are than what I remember. The chunks of meat were large and there was a lot of meat in the roll, the roll was a nicely grilled hot dog roll. My only complaint and I am being picky was that the roll had a bit too much celery for me, I guess I am a purist I want just lobster and not much else. But to date I would rate their lobster roll 4 starfish (out of 5) and one of the best roll I have had since coming to Cape Cod, and better yet, I can pick one up 7 days a week (Memorial Day – Columbus Day), just minutes from the Carriage House Inn’s front door.
The Carriage House Inn
Last week a girlfriend of mine from Charleston, SC drove into town and neither one of us felt like eating at a restaurant (as we were both in shorts and play clothes) so we threw some beach chairs in the trunk of her car and drove the ½ mile from the Inn to the
Chatham Pier Fish Markettake out stand and seafood market. The joint has new owners this year, so I had not sampled much beyond the lobster bisque which was quite good!
Kay (my friend) ordered the lobster roll, which is served with French fries and a small side of cole slaw and I had the fish and chips. While waiting you can watch the fisherman bring in their catch of the day, unload their boats, and view seals playing near the fish pier. After a short 8-10 minutes, the take out window server called our names and we took our dinner down the road another 1/4 mile to the beach at the end of Claflin Landing on the public town beach just south of Chatham Bars Inn. We spread out some beach towels and dropped into our beach chairs and proceeded to eat our fare. I was delighted at the portion size of the fish and chips that I ordered but then I tasted the fish and the taste was wonderful light, crispy all white fish no bones and served with a quarter of lemon, truly perfectly prepared. Kay told me that her lobster roll was good too, but it would be another week until I would try one myself. The evening was perfect we watched the sun go down, chatted and enjoyed the fresh ocean breeze.
A few days later, neither Tim nor I felt like cooking dinner (truthfully I never feel like cooking, Tim is the gourmet chef in the family) as it has been hot and muggy. So I headed back to the Chatham Fish and Lobster, thinking that tonight was my turn to try the lobster roll and a cup of lobster bisque. After a short wait, I took home our dinner, and was really shocked at how much better the lobster rolls are than what I remember. The chunks of meat were large and there was a lot of meat in the roll, the roll was a nicely grilled hot dog roll. My only complaint and I am being picky was that the roll had a bit too much celery for me, I guess I am a purist I want just lobster and not much else. But to date I would rate their lobster roll 4 starfish (out of 5) and one of the best roll I have had since coming to Cape Cod, and better yet, I can pick one up 7 days a week (Memorial Day – Columbus Day), just minutes from the Carriage House Inn’s front door.
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