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Thursday, January 13, 2011

Date Night


Dinner and a Movie
is still my favorite date night.
Whether as a teenager or a mature ( hum 51 yr. old) woman I still get
excited about going out.
A Golden Globe nominated movie with an actress I love like Natalie Portman
(who I’ve admired since her performance in  “ The Professional”)
add to that  dinner at a new French bistro,
throw in a visit to a book store
and it’s the perfect evening!


This is not just an ordinary theater at the multiplex….this is the
that features many of the movies you wouldn’t get to
see in the usual theaters like foreign and small independent films.
This movie is getting wide acclaim so this movie Black Swan will be seen nationwide but
I still love the ambiance of this small town movie palace in Madison, Ct.
So many old theatres like these have closed up and have been inched out by the
Mega theaters with their 12+ movies playing at all times.
It’s sad really.
Do you still have a small independent theater near you?
The movie was incredible,  dark and mysterious. Maybe too dark
for some but I well worth seeing in the theater.
sign of bar b
Our next stop was to be Bar Bouchon but our reservations were an hour after the movie ended
so we headed to
rj julia sign
another “independently owned” store.
Rare in the land of Barnes and Nobles, Borders
and Amazon.
Kind of like the “Little Shop around the Corner”  in “You’ve got Mail
with big bad Fox Books lurking around the corner.
remember
F
O
X
Love that line.
Can’t  believe I finally got to use it  :)
Thank goodness there is no “FOX” bookstore coming around the corner but
when a large garden center closed down the next town over there were rumors of a
large book chain setting up.
Turned out to be just rumors…..good thing!
Madison prides itself on supporting it’s small shops and entrepreneurs.
It’s what makes Madison so special and why so many want to live here.
room
Which by the way attracts its own bit of celebrities for book signings.
photos of writers
I only took a few pics of them on their walls.
There were tons all over the store.

cake bosschelsea
One of my favorites shows is Cake Boss…..love Buddy.
……and Hubbies favorite Chelsea Handler from Chelsea Lately.
I know, I don’t get it either.
joanne
That’s our friend Joanne (who is a writer herself) …she’d probably kill me for showing you this picture
but she doesn’t read my blog…. so it’s OK.
(I think I’m safe)
I’ll admit I don’t read novels that much…..or at least not
for a long time. I know that’s bad ( not very cultured of me) but I just can’t find the time.
So I headed for the coffee table books.
bunnys book
You may have heard of the famous Bunny Williams.
I had heard of her name but not as much as recently.
(then again how do you not remember a name like BUNNY?)
She also owns 2 stores in NY city
specializing in garden furniture and antiques.
Just the other day I caught her house and gardens on CPTV.
All I can say is WOW WOW WOW.
(aren’t you impressed with my vocabulary?
…..a writer
…… I am NOT)
No wonder she’s famous, but not at all pretentious like you might think.
Makes mistakes like all the rest of us.
That was good to know.

   old say house
This was a book called “NICE HOUSE” …..that’s all I remember.
Didn’t get the authors name…..(bad bad bad!)
oh wait found it….. Samuel G. White and you can buy it HERE.
I thought this would be fun to show you because it had a photo of a house in Old Saybrook.
It’s not over the top like some of the others in the book.
It’s in South Cove so I may have to do a drive by sometime.
It only showed that one photo and no interior shots…..DARN!!!!

     cover
Then suddenly I saw a name that looked vaguely familiar.
How do I know that name????
Then it came to me
of course this is THE
    big cover
Filled with the most scrumptious, romantic photographs of the south of France,
her home, gardens and her life.
          inside cover
You can find it
             tentinside
             garden photo
           table
I could have spent even more time in there but everyone else was ready to go.
So we made our purchases and off we went to….
paying for books
Bar Bouchon_46and Madison
The atmosphere inside was just so French bistro
and even better then I imagined it would be.
It was crowded… but isn’t every good restaurant? and it added to the ambience.
menu
I had  Mussel for an appetizer and the Seafood Bouillabaisse for an entrée.
Don’t even remember what everyone else ordered……I was more interested in
what I HAD!!!!
The best meal I’ve had in a long time.
It’s no wonder you need to make reservations weeks in advance.
in restaurant
We were having so much fun that I didn’t take that many pictures.
One thing we certainly do with these friends is
Laugh
Laugh
Laugh
better color
          smaller joBar Bouchon_60and Madison
Joanne playfully showing off her prize in her Gateau de Roi.
Tradition in France calls for a trinket to be placed in the cake….sometimes a small plastic baby
but seeing as that wouldn’t go over well in this country ( lawsuits about swallowing plastic toy)
they opted for the next best thing…..an almond.
She’s wearing her crown but you can’t really see it.
She made the perfect Queen for the evening.
Great food and drink, book shopping,
excellent movie and laughs with fun company.
It doesn’t get much better then that.

I hope the start of 2011 is going well for all of you!

24 comments:

Chemin des Muguets said...

Carole,

That's a perfect date night. In Monterey they have a small art cinema named Osio. I love going there, their little cafe always has yummy homemade cookies, and I can get a cup of Earl Grey to sip during the film.

Marjorie
P.S. Did you enjoy the film?

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

It certainly sounds like it was a charmed evening! I am glad you got out to relax and enjoy with good friends! How was Natalie Portman and the movie?
:)

Rust: Vintage Inspired Design said...

What a wonderful way to spend a cold January evening.
Hugs,
xojanis

oldgreymare said...

You outdid yourself with this one. I felt like a wee mouse hidden in your pocket getting to enjoy this lovely evening with the four of you. I could spend days in that book store, I'll bet they have an excellent children's section also, which I am drawn to like a moth to the flame. The illustrations enchant me.

I am so happy to hear of you enjoying this post holiday and high season time. So well deserved... : D

xx

z

erin's art and gardens said...

sounds like a fun night out...i don't see any snow? we have an old cinema in downtown franklin right on main street, that is slowly raising funds for a remodel. i love mom and pop operations much more than big chains.
have a good weekend,
erin

Kathleen said...

I have been to Madison!! We met an older couple on our honeymoon cruise and they lived near the beach in Madison. We lost touch with them after the husb died. I wonder if she is still alive.
You got out in all this snow? We are snowed in, lost power for 20 hours. BRRR

Sandy said...

Sounds like a perfect evening to me. Movie...shopping...FOOOOOOD.... DRINKS.... and great company. What a lovely time. Thanks for giving Black Swan thumbs up... can't wait to see it.
Your new friend...please come visit and follow me.

xoso Sandy

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hey Carole
This post is fabulous.. two of my favourite things.. books and movies!!! wow I would have enjoyed that date night!! and you made me laugh with F O X ... haha.. I do remember that line and yes... I miss the small personal bookshops where one can browse and get lost in the atmosphere.. and feel a sense of community.. You know I have that book of Vicki's... just absolutely glorious.. pages and pages of delight and dreams... 'sigh'... and Carla's fab photography.

I loved that movie also 'The Professional' that is the one with Jean Reno.. right? It was that movie I first fell in love with both these actors... Gee need to see it again... and also need to see this one.. I think it has just come out here also..

Well Carole.. your shots are great as always.. love the one with the John Grisham book and rug... beautiful treatment of it... seems like a fairytale with a child looking up and wishing for her favourite book for christmas.. sweet!!

So.. all that's left to talk about is the food!! haha.. yummo.. seafood.. making me hungry... better go eat...

Have a lovely weekend.. ciao xxx Julie

Julie@beingRUBY said...

oooh... forgot to say
I had a dream for years of opening a bookshop that served coffee... where you could lull for hours... wouldn't it be great? just dreaming!! haha

Bleudelavande said...

Wow Carole all sounds as a perfect evening and I so glad for you!!!!! I hope that really your friend doesn't read this post (hi hi hi), but she is so beautiful!!!! Tank you for sharing with us this lovely evening.
I wish you a nice nice new year!!!!
Big big hugs

Dorthe said...

Dear Carole,
You had a beautifull evening with your husbond- I don`t know the movie, but on this little island, we also only have 2 cinemas, so not everything is showed here.
The bbokstore looks wonderfull,- I love going looking for books, too-and like you I have not read a novel for years!!! I prefer cofee table books,and everything -dolls.mixed medias,-like all from Stampington :)
XOX, Dorthe

trash talk said...

The idea of watching in a movie in a real theater is wonderful. Hooray for your little city keeping the past alive in such a fantastic manner.
I just have one question. Did y'all sit in the balcony and smooch...or at least hold hands?
Debbie
P.S. I asked Cat Daddy about Chelsea and he said he "got" it!

mo said...

Wow! For someone who lives in the desert, this was a whimsical, wonderful getaway for me. Thank you. *hugs*

www.MaisonStGermain.com said...

Wow! What a great date night:) I can't believe how many photos you took in the book store:) lol So happy you had such a fun evening! Have a great weekend.
~Debra xxx
Capers of the vintage vixens

Anonymous said...

Oh my. This sounds fantastic, Carole.

LOVE the books. And now you have me thinking about the seafood bouillabaisse I used to order in S.F. in the 80s. I don't miss Cali so much, except for the restaurants. And the muesums. And the incredible gardens. And, and, and, OK - now I really miss California. :)

If'n we were neighbors, I'm sure we'd be the best of buddies! We love the same things!

Happy 2011,
Zuzu

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

Hey Carole,
Oh my, your evening sounds like a dream! My hubby and I haven't been out in such a long time, but you've inspired me to attempt an evening out soon!

I definitely prefer to support the independent business owner whenever I can. I really enjoyed all your photos....great post.

Take care,
Susie

Olive said...

Carole, that is a perfect date I agree. We have a little old theatre in town that serves fast food while you see the movie and the movie is only five dollars. They also have beer and wine which is where they make their money. But it is fun and relaxing. It is called "The Past Time" theatre. I read all the time so I love bookstores, especially indies. Have a terrific weekend. ♥O

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

What a lovely evening!! Thanks for letting us all be a third wheel!

Have a nice weekend!

Rosemary said...

Looked like a fab evening!!
Looking forward to seeing that movie.
Love ballet!! I don't mind the dark part.
Have a great weekend,
Rosemary

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Dear Carole,
It is so lovely to hear that you went out and had a great time with friend's. I think that you have probably wotked your butt off over Christmas, so, it must have been lovely to relax and take time out for a change.
A lovely, independent cinema, gorgeous restaurant, interesting bookshop and wonderful company.....you couldn't ask for more. Here's to many more evenings of the same for you and George !! XXXX

A New England Life said...

Fabulous post Carole! What a lot of work too! But I felt like I was right there with you, almost ; )

Where are the pictures of you and your husband? What I wouldn't give for a night out just like that. Our local, historic movie theater finally shut down for good last year. A lot of people fought to keep it open but it just wasn't happening.

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Good food, visiting a book store and watching a great movie in a small theater sounds like a wonderful evening to me too, Carole! I'm glad you could enjoy yourselves and had a great time with your friends before you get swamped with work again. I love our tiny cinema here in town. It has very comfortable chairs and is never crowded. Unfortunately they not very often show movies that my dear hubby and I are interested in, sniff.
Have a great Sunday, Sweetie!
Big HUGS,
Julia

vanessa said...

Your pictures are always very beautiful. "Gateau des Rois" is rather called "Galette des Rois" and really (but really) easy to make, I can share the receipe with you. My trick is to put a nut instead of an almond:-)
Cheers, V.

Vicki Boster said...

Carole - What a fun and lovely post - you are so ME! That is eactly what we do for date nights - go to a movie, dinner and the local bookstore. I rarely buy novels - I do read them - but usually on my kindle - but I love to look around and hubby always goes straight to the "airplane" magazines - (he love to fly and loves airplanes.)

Love that you are like me - don't have to do anything really fancy to have a great time with your guy~~

Vicki