Utica 7/27/2019 - 7/29/2019

Saturday 7/27/2019 - Arrival

We were eager to visit Tyson and David again this summer. We had last visited their house in 2017.

We packed up the car with a case of Moxie and a carved wooden Guatemalan dog and headed for Utica. Moxie is a New England soft drink which is difficult for Tyson to get in New York, so we make it a point to bring some when we visit. It is an acquired taste...and one that I have not yet acquired.

The Guatemalan dog is a story unto itself. Tyson traveled to Guatemala with us last year. We saw a carved wooden dog in a shop, and Tyson decided later that he wanted to buy it. However, we could never locate the store again.

When Craig and I were in Guatemala last month, we managed to find the store. They didn't have the exact dog we had seen last year, but they did have a similar one. I had sent Tyson a photo and got his approval to purchase it for him.

On our previous drive to Utica, we had listened to Patti Smith's Just Kids audiobook. This time, we continued the tradition by listening to the follow-up, M Train.

When we arrived at the house, we presented Tyson with the dog, the culmination of a year-long quest. David was currently at work at Michael T's, the restaurant owned by his family.

We were happy to see boxer Roxy again, and to meet Spooky the kitty. Both of them are quite friendly and cuddly. Normally we would go to Michael T's for dinner (it is a phenomenal restaurant), but being Saturday night, they would be packed.



So instead we went to the Black Cat Restaurant, where we had their signature tenderloin steak sandwich with fries. We also couldn't resist the Toll house pie for dessert.

We went back to the house and listened to music. David came home from work and we enjoyed chatting.

Sunday 7/28/2019 - Herb Ritts Exhibit, A Cookout

Today David was off from work. After a breakfast of homemade berry muffins, we drove to the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown to see their Herb Ritts: The Rock Portraits photography exhibit. We met Steve and his wife Mary Carol there.

Craig had known the name Herb Ritts, but hadn't known who he was. I was familiar with his work from a lot of iconic photos from Rolling Stone magazine from the 1980's and 1990's, as well as album cover photos for the likes of Madonna. Once Craig saw the photos, he instantly recognized them.



We had a lot of fun examining the iconic (largely black and white) portraits of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Sinead O'Connor, B.B. King, Madonna, Elton John, Mick Jagger, and many others. There were also contact sheets from the same photo shoots on display...the ones that didn't make the cut for that magazine or album cover. It was interesting to see the different shots, and to speculate as to how they determined which one to use.

The exhibit culminated in a seaside backdrop in front of which you could recreate Madonna's "Cherish" video (which Ritts directed). I remember this video fondly from my adolescence. Tyson and I enjoyed striking a pose.



At the Fenimore Cafe, we bought sandwiches, chips, and drinks and ate them outside on a lovely covered patio.

We drove back to the house and Steve and Mary Carol came by for dinner. It is always a treat to have one of Tyson's home-made dinners. He is a phenomenal cook. We enjoyed refreshig Pimms cocktails outside (even if there was minimal ice) while Tyson cooked on the grill. Roxy sat outside with us, while Spooky looked outside longingly (or was it reproachfully?) at us from an upstairs window.

When dinner was ready, we went inside to the dining room. It was a lovely dinner: ribs, chicken, asparagus, greens, stuffed long hots, and mashed parsnips! It was all incredibly delicious and we ate our fill.

Mary Carol brought half moon cookies, a local Utica staple. But we were all so full from the incredible meal that we didn't break into them (nor the dessert that Tyson had made). They insisted that we bring the half moons home to Massachusetts with us, and we were happy to oblige.

We had lots of laughs and good conversation.

Monday 7/29/2019 - Departure

Tyson had made a delicious dessert for last night's dinner, but everyone had been too full to eat it. So he served it for breakfast this morning. It was a fresh fruit galette, and it begged to be served with vanilla ice cream, even at breakfast. It was absolutely divine!

Thanks so much, Tyson, David, Steve, and Mary Carol for your hospitality. It was a lovely weekend visiting you all!

On the drive back home, we were behind a Tyson Chicken 18-wheeler for a while. Interesting coincidence.
On the road to Utica

On the road to Utica

Tyson and the much sought-after wooden dog

Tyson and the much sought-after wooden dog

Dinner at the Black Cat Restaurant

Dinner at the Black Cat Restaurant

Tyson, David, Steve, Mary Carol, and Craig eating at the Fenimore Cafe

Tyson, David, Steve, Mary Carol, and Craig eating at the Fenimore Cafe

Mary Carol, Steph, Craig, Tyson, and David eating at the Fenimore Cafe

Mary Carol, Steph, Craig, Tyson, and David eating at the Fenimore Cafe

Craig, David, Tyson, Steph (in mirror), Mary Carol, and Steve

Craig, David, Tyson, Steph (in mirror), Mary Carol, and Steve

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