A walk around the lake

"perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake"   Wallace Stevens.

Why is it that we are drawn to water? Something about it that you can't quite describe. Peaceful and relaxing are words that come to mind and then I think of the ocean during a storm or a raging river. The shear power seems immeasurable. Did we humans settle near the water because of efficient transportation? Does it go back farther than that? To survival? After all without a gun I imagine catching a fish is easier than killing a deer. Maybe we came from the water and in our typical human fashion we were just to lazy to leave.

In any case I have always lived near a body of water and I have truly appreciated the benefits of "a walk around the lake" Sometimes with friends and family, other times on my own.

Very often lately it's been for exercise, running, biking, or walking around the lake to try and stay fit. Read "not get old". Yet for as long as I can remember I have gone to the water for other things. And those thing always seem to be there for me. Relaxation, inspiration, perspective, and, well, truth.

The truth is there. Sometimes you find it, sometimes it finds you. If you haven't seen the truth lately, give it a go. It is far to easy to get caught up in the day to day and forget to live. Take your kids, or your friend or your mom. Or leave them all home and get a little alone time with the truth. You deserve it.

And when you're done, swing by the Restaurant you will probably be hungry.

Finding a voice

OK, so believe it or not, I've always considered myself to be a bit shy. Ask my wife, my friends, they will tell you. They have all been pre-approved or suggested by another pre-approved friend. And this started long before the FB days. I don't tend to search out things, people, ideas. I wait for them to come to me. So why blog? Why put myself out there? I have always been a creative soul, more interested in the visual than the verbal. I have also always had a creative outlet. Art and photography in high school, and then, cooking. But, the cooking was always for someone else and the pressure was completly different than running my own restaurant. I could put all of my energy into one dish and let that dish sing. When Tracey and I opened the restaurant the different menus just flowed and evolved.It took me a while to find my voice. Customers would ask for things like foie gras and oysters that I wasn't sure I could offer in our little store front in Newton. By the way, I have always maintained that what is on the menu is less important than the quality of the ingredients, and I guess that is why my voice gets heard. As the restaurant has evolved I find a shift in that creative balance and now I am writing a menu of the people, instead of for the people. Don't get me wrong, I still love what I do but the pure creative outlet is coated in plaque. I know that sounds so negative, but it makes the point.
Which brings us back to why I'm here. Finding my voice. This blogging thing has been pre-approved by a dear friend and a superbly talented photographer.The intention is that he and I have a place to let the juices flow, to let it all hang out.The intent is to provide a regular stream of thoughts and inspirations with an occaisional recipe thrown in to keep your attention. Please remember your comments are appreciated, but this is about us, and finding our voices and letting them sing.

First Post 1/22

Big Photos. Big Ideas. Lot of Attitude.