Just Visiting

Aaaand we're back.  April vacation done.  And done.  A little time on Marco Island to visit the Grandparents, watch the sun set, and do things we normally don't do in Brookline.  And then some days in Miami Beach which usually means lots of time in the Atlantic and a lot of time just lally-gaggin' around at our hotel.

We stayed at a very decent family-friendly hotel, with spectacular views, direct access to the beach, four enormo pools, and convenience galore.  Americana gone wild.  My one complaint would be the drone of really bad music that was piped in 24/7.  Not even that groovy chill ambient stuff that actually is pretty nice as background music goes when you're in a place like Florida....no, this was annoying enough that I probably would not go back.

But where I would go back, without the kids, would be this dream of a 'house" Scott and I strolled into on our last night out.....the Soho Beach House, to be exact.

all images | SOHO BEACH HOUSE

There's something decidedly non-Floridian about this hotel.  In fact, I would say it's more Out of Africa or Passage to India, which makes sense since Soho House is a British owned company - hence the heavy-on-colonization-period decor.  I think a stay at this hotel would make it very easy to pretend you were in Goa, the Seychelles, or even Mauritius.  And this change in pace is something I find really striking amidst all the art deco that I think has seen better days.

Out of Office Reply

image | Old Sweet Song

It's April vacation for the school kids, which means we are checking out the Gulf and Southern Atlantic waters for the week.  And what I mean by that is that we are in Marco Island, FL for 4 days and then we jet over to Miami for the next 4 days. And what I mean by that is that it's slow-mo, early bird specials and then it's Latina Fiesta.  It's all citrus, Grouper, and sun, folks.  Water.  Surf.  Sand.  And much a much needed dose of Vitamin D.  And what I mean by that is that one kid is freckled, brick-ish red, and working his Irish skin in the blazing sun-no matter the infinity SPF we lay all over him.  And one kid is brown as a berry.

I'll check back when we're out of the Floridian heat and back to the chill of the New England Spring air.  Cheers!

This soup's cold!

Do you ever crave tomatoes? Maybe it's the lycopene......vitamin A....eating something red. This crave usually comes with warm weather for me.

And while I realize it's still far from tomato season, easy-to-find grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes will offer that same taste-of-summer-sensation. They are perfectly plump, juicy, and containing all that tomatoey goodness that you can only find in August and September in New England.

I had this gazpacho last week while lunching in Miami and it was divine. As an alternative to a salad-that I know I can do to death, allow me to recommend::



G A Z P A C H O, the pureed version.

4 pints grape or cherry tomatoes
8 ounces cucumber (1 cucumber), peeled and cut into chunks
3 ounces green pepper, in large pieces
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
Spanish extra-virgin olive oil
Salt

In a blender, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic and sherry vinegar and blend until the mixture becomes a thick liquid. Taste for acidity; this will vary with the sweetness of the tomatoes. If it's not balanced enough, add a little more vinegar. Add the olive oil, season with salt, and blend again. Strain the gazpacho into a pitcher and refrigerate for at least half an hour - this is essential!!

Funny Sunny Florida

Every April break we head to Florida. Mostly because my in-laws are in Marco Island, with a boat, a pool, and all that comes with warm, tropical weather.

In year's past Scott and I have also made sure we've had our own get-away with a weekend in Miami Beach while Nana and Papa watch the monkeys.

This year we decided to mix it up and we took our monkeys to Miami. This was their first visit to the other coast, first time to South Beach, first time in the warm, Caribbean-like Atlantic.



And boy, did we have fun. The water was amazing, the surf was up, and the sun was out. We had an awesome lunch on Lincoln Road and then high-tailed it to the sand. For a while.


While South Beach isn't exactly known to be family-friendly, it certainly is an exciting alternative to quiet and sedate Marco Island. Next year, maybe more Miami and less Marco?

Consider Florida

Every April Break we spend a week or so in Marco Island, FL. Scott's folks live there, it's an easy flight, the kids dig the scene...so off we go.


So, there are these the beaches, see.....





















where you can often find a variety of shells, including the elusive sand-dollar,













or to the marina, serving icy Cosmos,


that after you drink a few one, you prefer to just simply stare at the sugary sands and cooling surf, or the frolicking dolphin creature....




































and burn your retinas on the daily glowing sunset.


(Disclaimer: Scott and I try to get over to Miami/South Beach for a quick overnight and a taste of solidly good food, sophistication, and culture. Didn't happen this year but what Marco lacks in the former, it more than makes up for in natural beauty, peace, and quiet.)