Meet Frank Morale. Frank and his son, Anthony, run Anthony John’s Pizzeria in North Branford, Connecticut. Frank started making pizza when at the ripe age of 13 in Brooklyn, New York and has made every single pizza pie at Anthony John’s since opening in May of 2010. No joke; this is some of the best pizza in Connecticut. Hands down. All you pizza connoisseurs are invited to take a trip to 5 Foxon Road in North Branford and try it for yourself.

On May 5th, Anthony John’s Pizzeria competed alongside five local flavors at the North Branford Senior Center’s third annual Pizza Wars competition. Drawing in more than 400 blind taste testers, Anthony John’s came in with a close second, losing first place to only 8 votes. Nevertheless, pretty damn good for a first year entrant and first year in business.

Check out my video introducing all the competing pizzerias that aired the day of the tasting:

A couple of hours after catching up with Chris in San Diego, we perambulated Balboa Park absorbing a multitude of incredibly pristine detail every which way we turned. As any place with such grandeur, a long-lasting history endures.

Balboa Park was once known as City Park, a dedicated public park with 1,400 acres of “scrub-filled mesa.” The lackluster landscape started to bloom in 1892 when the Mother of Balboa Park, Kate Sessions, agreed to plant 100 trees every year in exchange for 32 acres to be devoted to a commercial nursery. Yet the vitality of the Spanish-Renaissance architectural style that prevails is attributed to the First World’s Fair: the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition.

The Cabrillo Bridge, a historic 1,500 foot-long viaduct adorned with globe lights, follows the El Prado walkway to the San Diego Museum of Man, two of the three permanent structures originally constructed for the exposition, establishing the area’s arts & culture mecca. All other existing buildings have been reconstructed as they began as wood and plaster structures.

An odd marriage between old and new was the Bell Tower of the Museum of Man with visible foghorns that rang out its bell sounds. It was the only thing that troubled and reminded me of a similar feeling I had about an image I took in Portugal (I wished for a man to be ringing the bells!). Though the further we walked, the more I relaxed into the tranquility of the El Prado walkway, and it was soon forgotten until it was time to post to this blog.

Approaching the Bea Evenson Fountain was the blissful finale on this particular stroll as we people-watched and took in the final rays at sunset. Soon after returning to our charming bed & breakfast, I proceeded to sleep for ten hours – the best medicine to cure time change.

At Left Bank Gallery’s third annual Valentine’s Day workshop, close girlfriends do what we all did best at that age: create. Create anything. Create to our heart’s content. It’s no secret Valentine’s Day is known for breaking out the crafts. Maybe you remember an inkling of that special, precious feeling at this time in your life. How sublime to be carefree! What was especially wonderful about this workshop is how it brought together a wide variety of individuals – children, parents, wives, daughters, husbands – to make something completely unique for their valentine. It’s nothing less than heartwarming.

For those of you who will embrace the spirit of the consumer holiday, or have a cuddle bunny to, for no reason at all, celebrate your love, may you have a lovely Valentine’s Day.

A picture story unveiled from the archives: The annual Lobster Clambake, a fundraiser headed by the Branford Chamber of Commerce, is one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the Summer. Maine-imported lobsters met their fate with a dinner plate as patrons handed in their “ticky” for their “dinny.”

What’s interesting about these ground dwellers is that the original settlers considered them to be the “cockroaches of the sea,” handing off their meat as feed to the imprisoned. Now you’ll find New Englanders dining on this crustacean regularly and in any form, most famously in lobster rolls.

It’s probable I had as much fun photographing these sled masters as they did sailing down the steep slopes at The Pit in East Haven. When I look at these particular frames, I hear an instrumental, operatic tune in my head. I cannot think of the title for the life of me, so much so it’s delayed this post, but I submit. What, if anything, do you hear? My phonetic translation is likely to get me nowhere because even I was confused after typing it out. Oh, bother!

Whatever is not permitted is forbidden. And what the hell are “office” games and how can they be prevented? Dang-it! I guess that cuss word would get me thrown off the rink. I suppose the flask in my knapsack has to stay in the car. And with all that cash spent on shielding, why can’t I stand along the glass? Granted, I’m not going to punch anyone in the face because they’re rooting for the other team, but I still don’t need you to tell me that, rule maker. Regulations prohibiting fun are pretty much everywhere and in all walks of life. It’s become more commonplace for someone else to tell you how to act and what to do. I can take care of myself, Mr. Authority Figure; I don’t need no nanny!

I don’t actually carry a flask.

A “close-knit” knitting group meets once a month at the Hagaman Memorial Library. Miss lady above started observing, but couldn’t resist from trying it out herself. It’s a good skill to know how to knit; something I should relearn one day soon. I still have the knitting needles. I even have some yarn lying around. I’ll see to it I attend the next gathering!

It’s a New Year today and with that comes a new chapter. I’m not big into resolutions, but it’s always good to start a new year on the right foot – with motivation, determination, vigilance, mending the holes in your clothes and, of course, a nice, hot cup of coffee.

Put your best foot forward and trudge on friends; you will reach your dreams.

Santa paid a visit to the little kiddies at the Essex Library to read a couple of stories and conduct an elf orchestra comprised of traditional Christmas songs. Also, he sees you, apparently all the time, so hopefully you were all very nice this year! ;D

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
“Throw cares away.”
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev’rywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O’er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev’ry home

Ding, dong, ding, dong.

Kina Mama, the Westbrook High School Club of students with a passion for singing, performed as carolers at the Westbrook town green tree lighting. One of their traditional selections, “Carol of the Bells,” was performed with such vigor and voices that were nothing short of euphonious.