If you’re driving around on the roads of New England, you might want to lookout for Massachusetts license plate MV 1.
What is it about us in the Bay State, that makes us obsessed with low number license plates? I’ve never had one, but always notice them and wonder about the owners. These plates are prized family heirlooms passed from one generation to the next.
Well, apparently the generation passing didn’t happen for the MV 1 license plate. Because this past Sunday, some lucky person bought it. The Vineyard Gazette reports that it was purchased via live auction for $46,500.00.
Celebrities are no strangers to the Vineyard and Seth Meyers, who was visiting with family, hosted the Zoom event. He joked that the winner of the plate would still need to make a ferry reservation and that motorists should acknowledge them.
Be sure to say thank you — maybe two polite honks. But this is New England . . . so if they cut you off, feel free to give them the middle finger.
Most of the proceeds go to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, so the money raised will do a lot of good, which I had no idea until now. It’s nice to know that these vanity plates benefit people in need.
So if you play the license plate game, you might want to add a twist and focus on low number plates.
From my last few posts, it’s clear that I love holiday sweets. Gingerbread is a holiday staple and eggnog might be my favorite holiday treat. But there’s another one that I haven’t written about — mincemeat pie.
First, let me clarify. Most mincemeat pies do NOT have meat in them. They are made with dried fruits and spices. While we call them mincemeat in New England, apparently in most other places, they’re called mince.
Personally, I’ve never made a mincemeat pie. One of my mom’s sisters, is the pie maker for our holiday meals and we are often blessed with one of her mincemeat pies. After a brief Twitter exchange with someone, I realized that not all families are so blessed! We had one for Thanksgiving and I’m hopeful for Christmas too! Served warm with vanilla ice cream, it’s a carousel of delicious flavorsand textures.
I started wondering if enjoying mincemeat pies is more of a regional thing. The pie does have its roots in England. Growing up in New England may have skewed my views. Although for a period of time, Connecticut banned mincemeat pies. Those Puritans were no joke.
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Mincemeat pie is a holiday treat that has been enjoyed by many for a very long time, according to a recent article on Haiwatha World.
Mincemeat pie finds its roots in the 11th century — the Crusades, to be more precise. Returning crusaders brought back valuable spices — cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg — from the Holy Land, and these three spices were used to season a special “Christmas pie,” to represent the three gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus Christ. Christmas pies were small, and could be eaten in a few bites. These pies were made in an oblong shape to resemble a cradle, and space was left for a Christ child figure to be placed on top. (The figure was removed before eating.) It was considered to be lucky to eat one Christmas pie for each of the twelve days of Christmas, between December 25 and Epiphany, January 6. The mincemeat filling of these pies was indeed almost entirely meat, but cooked with rum and spices, which acted as a preservative, as well as giving it its distinctive flavor.
With my increasing interest in all things mincemeat pie, I decided to do some additional research on the latest news and have assembled a roundup for your (and my) holiday reading pleasure. Enjoy!
It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year already, but Happy Holidays! Next week is Thanksgiving and it’s quite late at that.
I was so happy to learn that Quincy is going to have its own winter market! While I didn’t grow up in Quincy, I’ve lived here for so long that it’s definitely one of my hometowns.
This city is growing and changing in so many ways. Having a winter market where we can easily support small businesses is a welcome addition.
The Quincy Square Winter Market features artisans from the South Shore including, glass, jewelry, local retailers, leather, crafts, gifts, art, nonprofit organizations and more.
Opening day is Friday, November 29, 2019, 4pm – 8:30pm at 1469 Hancock Street. The winter market will be open through December 21, 2019 on select days.
Thursdays and Fridays, 4pm – 8:30pm
Saturdays, 12pm – 5:30pm
Sunday, December 1st and Sunday, December 22nd, 12pm – 5:30pm
There will be live music on Fridays and Saturdays and a Beer Garden by Widowmaker Brewing each day!
Vendors to date: 4103designs
Back on the Rack
Blue Butterfly Wellness
Boston Cannons
Caryn’s Corner / Coffee Break Cafe
Church Street Brewing Co
ColorStreet
Designed by Yuliya
E & T Ceramics
Fusion
Grandasia Bridal, Prom & Fashion
JAT Creations
KandlesbyKenneth
Kathleen Lesko
Katlasoaps
Littlefield Salon
Made with Love Creations
Marji’s Ocean Art
Mercedes Harris Shop
METTA Wellness
Miam Miam Macaronerie
Milton’s Billion Backyard Bee Project, Inc.
MOMO CAFE
My Friends Call Me Martha
Personal Letter Art
Piper Dee Naturals
Smoking Goat Arts LLC
Stella & Dot
The Classic Closet Boutique
The Gifted Heart
The Mad Strapper
The Mutt
The Power of Positivity
Townie Frozen Desserts
Tribute Products
Twisted Knits
Vedic Botanicals
Persy’s Place has become a favorite restaurant. My mom, my brother and I have been there a few times and love the food and the service. Everyone is friendly. The menu is gigantic.
We’ve visited the Middleboro location, right near the rotary, when you’re on your way to the Cape. Persy’s Place has seven other locations in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and East Providence, Rhode Island.
Sunday Brunch is my favorite meal of the week. Because you can get breakfast food and everything else too. Something about it is so comforting. Persy’s is all breakfast and brunch all the time! The portions are very generous and we have all taken leftovers home, because it’s so much to eat! Grab a mug of coffee. Try the cornbread too!
As you might have guessed, I tried the clam chowder. It’s the best chowder that I’ve eaten at a restaurant so far since I started this project. Perfect flavor, amount of clams and potatoes, and consistency. I couldn’t have asked for more. Except for another cup!
I highly recommend Persy’s. Since this weekend is the unofficial start of summer, many of you are probably going to the Cape on a regular basis over the next few months. There are many locations in the area and would be a great place to stop for a meal or five. You’ll enjoy it!
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Persy’s Place ~Clam Chowder Location: 43 Bedford Street, Middleboro, MA
AIDS Action remains the largest AIDS service organization in New England and leads the state’s Getting To Zero Coalition, which seeks to reduce the number of HIV infections to zero. It also operates a needle exchange that serves as an entry point to healthcare services for active substance users.
According to a press release for the event, the average client of AIDS Action has an annual income of less than $10,000. So the organization’s services are vital to keeping many people healthy, who might otherwise go without help.
Walking through the rows and rows of tables giving out samples was a lot to take in at once. We were both a bit overwhelmed by it all. So much good food and where should we start?
By the time we were ready to leave, we were both quite full — and had some new ideas of places to try in the future. I want to go to FoMu and have some more ice cream.
One of my favorite food samples was from Barcelona Wine Bar. It was spring vegetables cooked with potato and I was so busy eating it that I didn’t take a picture. But it was scrumptious and warmed my soul.
Approximately $160,000.00 was raised at the event. And that warms my soul too.
