Pawtuxet Throws Out the First Pitch

Natural News reminds us that the Pawtuxet Farmers’ Market offcially kicks off the farmers’ market “pre-season” in Cranston today. You might be able to pick up some flowers for mom from Blue Skys Flower Farm (That’s right, Mom’s Day is tomorrow – not that we needed Hallmark to force the issue). Part of my summer routine involves the Saturday ritual of a fresh nimh chow lunch. To get more details on the market’s participants, check out the excellent Farm Fresh Rhode Island.
Other markets around Cranston will open as the season progresses. The inaugural farmers’ market at the Whole Foods at 151 Sockanosset opens at 3 PM Tuesday, June 3rd, and the market at the Pastore Center opens at 10 AM Friday, July 25th.

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The trees are leafing out in shades of electric green, the asparagus is shooting, and the plastic banners have unfurled across streets throughout the region. In a ritual that runs counter to the reputation of New England’s icy demeanor, churches and social clubs will open their doors for breakfast this week.

Traditionally, Rhode Island’s two chief Spring exports are raw, ocean-cooled, southerly breezes, and May Breakfasts. We can blame South County for the cold wind, but the May Breakfast originates from Oaklawn. The idea is attributed to Robey S. Wilbur, who coordinated the first effort at Friends’ Meeting House in 1867.

The intention of the original May Breakfast is not entirely clear. Today the May Breakfast is a fundraiser, a reunion of family and friends, and a community meeting place. There’s no doubt that a key ingredient of the May Breakfast is the celebration of the arrival of the new season. So grab some eggs, clam cakes, apple pie and coffee, and dance on the grave of Winter.

May 1, 2008
May Breakfast, Oaklawn
6:00am–11:00am. Oaklawn Community Baptist Church, 229 Wilbur Avenue. Home of the original May Breakfast. Traditional fare of eggs, ham, cornbread, clam cakes, beverage, and homemade apple pie, served family style. Adults $6.50; children 10 and under $3.50. Call (401) 944-0864 for more information.

May 3, 2008
May Breakfast, Pawtuxet
7:00am–11:00am. Pawtuxet Baptist Church, 2157 Broad Street. Featuring ham, eggs, jonnycakes, beans, muffins, apple pie, pastries, juice, coffee, tea. Adults $6, children 12 and younger $3. Call (401) 461-3635, or visit the Pawtuxet Baptist Church website for more information.

Crabapple photo from Wikipedia.org

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A homeowner’s preference for either neatly manicured shrubs or wildly arching branches is never more evident than when the forsythias are in bloom. Taking an informal poll in Eden Park and Garden City, I found that freeform forsythias outnumber pruned powder-puffs. However, the final results have not been tallied, so beware of superdelegates bearing power hedge trimmers.

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The Cranston accent holds a special place in the pantheon of eastern US accents. To someone outside the state, it might be difficult to appreciate the subtle differences between the Cranston and standard Rhode Island accent. Here is the first working version of an English to Cranston translator. It will Cranstonize any word or phrase. Some famous texts, including the Gettysburg Address, are included as examples. It obviously still needs some work, but at least it's starting to formulate the nuances of Cranstonese.

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Congratulations, Rhode Island, you made it through another winter. The Spring Peepers are awake. Those ear-piercing peeps emanating from your local pond, marsh or flooded drainage ditch are coming from these guys. You can hear them up to a half mile away, and not just in the sticks of Western Cranston. The fringes of Blackamore Pond, the reedy areas on the south end of Magnolia Street in Auburn, the flooded flats of the Pawtuxet – right next door.

More Info – from the URI Vernal Ponds Project

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Stick with an old favorite? Or try something new from the menu? This is the dilemma that even this picky eater faces at Minh Hai, a Vietnamese restaurant on Park Avenue near the Stadium. My typical order is goi cuon (similar to nimh chow at Galaxie) as an appetizer with an entree of either the “special rice” with marinated grilled meat and salad or a mix of vegetables in a light tomato sauce. Yet many other menu items—in particular the chicken and vegetables cooked in a clay pot—also beckon.

Add to this the friendly and attentive service of co-owner Minh and the reasonable prices, and I continue to wonder why Minh Hai remains such a well kept secret.

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