Nadine Krasnow, CRS
Runners are streaming to Falmouth High School today and tomorrow to pick up their numbers, gift bag, and see what’s on display at the Expo. Forecast for the race is for a lower temperature and less humidity than today, which will be a welcome relief.
Yesterday was Bluegrass all afternoon on the lawn at Highfield, and what a twangy day it was! I got there after the music was over, but people were still chillin’, eating scratch-made pizzas from Wolf Pizza, exploring the grounds, and in general having a great Cape Cod day.
Terry Soares and her crew of volunteers are keeping the sunken garden looking fresh and as captivating as ever. Kudos to Nancy Lassalle, mom to my former colleague Phil in Middlebury, and Mary Janney, who honored Mary Lou Smith in this most beautiful and appropriate way.
The Film Festival concluded last night during torrential rain. But the rest of the week was buzzy and fun, going from film to film, and as always, hearing from various of the makers and actors. I don’t know if it was just what I chose, but there were a lot of films about life-and-death struggles of various kinds, all intense. An interesting week in Woods Hole!
Writer/producer/director Noor Gharzeddine of “Are You Glad I’m Here” at the Woods Hole Film Festival Friday evening. Tough movie about an abusive husband in Lebanon, the consequences, a new American friend, and a supportive family. Well done. Interestingly, the (Lebanese) filmmaker went to medical school, as did her sisters, before deciding that filmmaking was more her thing than medicine. Also, the main character’s name is the same as mine, don’t see that much.
After the opening of the photo show at Orleans Camera last night, I decided to indulge a long-time desire to experience ABBA, an Orleans restaurant that’s been showing up on all the “Best” lists for 18 years. What a treat! It’s intimate, thoughtful, and lives up to its reputation. I doubt it’s named for the Scandinavian musicians.
I met the owner/chef, Erez Pinhas, who was as charming as his restaurant. In Hebrew “abba” means dad or father. I should have asked if it’s named for him or his dad, but I was enchanted, and didn’t get to that. But I did find out why he and his wife opened this very sophisticated Mediterranean restaurant in Orleans. He said that they first visited in the summer and thought it was as special as the French Riviera.
Now that Erez and his wife have been here 18 years, raised their family, and become true Cape Codders, he’s acutely aware of all the ways that Orleans isn’t the French Riviera. He’s started leading culinary tours of Israel, where he’s from, in our off-season. Sounds fabulous! Look at abbagotravel.com for more info, and who knows, maybe I’ll be on your trip! Meanwhile, dinner at ABBA is definitely worth the drive down-Cape.
