Sven Celebrates Another Birthday - 47?

It's Restaurant Week on the Outer Cape, in case you didn't know. When I asked Sven where he wanted to dine yesterday for his birthday, he said, "Why, like last year. Winslow's Tavern!" So, that's where we headed. The team at Winslow's really knows how to make special events outstanding. They even brought us both glasses of champagne, on the house. The Restaurant Week menu offered an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert for $27. My choice was the monkfish with fennel and pureed parsnips. Delicious! What a subtle blend of flavors. There was another birthday boy in the room, who introduced himself to Sven as the Congregational Church minister. The two men decided June 6 was a great day to be born. After their conversation, Sven and I returned home where a birthday cake from Cottage Bakery was waiting. My daughter-in-law lit the seven candles, one for each decade, and carried the cake to the table. We sang songs in French, English, and Swedish. Sven got a new hammock and several history books. Tomorrow he is off to Sweden for three weeks vacation. Lucky man!

Happy Independence Day!

Here's Winslow's Tavern, all decked out for the Fourth of July. Today, in Wellfleet, there will be no parade. It will take place on Monday instead. There will be no fireworks either, neither Sunday nor Monday, due to budgetary considerations. Oh, don't moan over that. Provincetown, being more affluent, will celebrate, and their display can be seen from Duck Harbor. I don't like to be a party pooper but fireworks are not good for the environment. They may look cool but having residue from toxic chemicals floating in the air over Wellfleet Harbor is definitely not such a cool idea. Blue fireworks give off dioxin. What's more, the noise disrupts the nesting habits of some terns and piping plovers, according to my friend Tracy Plaut. Instead, check out Winslow's, where musical fireworks are on tap, along with the beer and festive atmosphere.