I love October and this year is no exception! What do I love about October? Well, in addition to the glorious foliage and crisp weather, October means the annual Columbus Day trip to Mount Desert Island!
Columbus Day in Maine is one of my favorite times of the year, and this year was no exception. We basked in stunning scenery and ate some delicious food – two of my favorite things.
We stayed in Southwest Harbor this year (at the Moorings Inn – wonderful!), and checked out a few of the local eateries – XYZ Restaurant serves delicious authentic Mexican complete with one of the best margaritas I’ve ever had – rumor has it that they go through tons of limes a season, sour mix is verboten; Fiddler’s Green serves creative local fare (and offers cheeses on the dessert menu – the local blue that I had was amazing!) and Eat-a-Pita had some of the tastiest homemade pitas I’ve ever had (what else would you expect), and a killer breakfast to boot.
We also hit up the 14th Annual Acadia Oktoberfest – the event featured 23 Maine brewmasters, local wineries and wine cellars (for the non-beer drinkers), local food, and local crafts. I had a wonderful time sampling all sorts of local brews including Peak Organic IPA; Penobscot Bay Brewery’s Whig Street Blonde Ale; Oak Pond Brewing Company’s White Fox Ale; Allagash Brewing Company’s Curieux, a Belgian-style Tripel; my beloved Allagash White; The Liberal Cup’s Alewife Ale; Geary’s Autumn Ale; Gritty McDuff’s Best Bitter; Marshall Wharf’s Deep Purple Ale; and Atlantic Brewing Company’s Blueberry Ale. PHEW!
There are more Maine pictures on Flickr, if you’re interested.
Do you know what else I love about October? Right after Columbus Day weekend comes Rhinebeck weekend!
Gorgeous yarn, delicious food, local brews, good friends, adorable animals – YAY! Look forward to a gushing recap sometime next week!
This particular October is also bringing two new things to Lowell. One is Dharma Buns, the new sandwich/frites/Belgian beer restaurant that is scheduled to open on the 15th. They are located on the ground floor of the building where I work and I have been eagerly anticipating their opening.
The other new thing? BistroBroad.com, Kathleen Pierce’s new site chock full of restaurant reviews and foodie tips. If you’re local and looking for food news, Bistro Broad is the site to check first – I am eagerly anticipating her review of Dharma Buns – they had a pre-opening sneak peak and I think she may have been there!
The only sort of sad thing that October brings? The end of my CSA. Today is our last pick up and my last day volunteering at the farm. Being the site host has been such a great experience – I have really enjoyed meeting the farmers and all of my fellow CSA shareholders. Getting to spend so much time at the farm, 15 out of 18 weeks, and seeing everything grow, get harvested and die has been amazing. Today is a cold, rainy, windy, and raw day which makes for not the best weather to spend an afternoon outside but it is quite fitting for this season – Summer 2009 was one of the coldest and rainiest that I can remember!
Art is the Handmaid of Human Good 
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 8:17 pm
What gorgeous photos. I looks like you had a fantastic time, and the October fun is just beginning! Have a fabulous time at Rhinebeck. I have to go one of these years!