The lucky few who arrived early on Friday got their first taste of beach weather (and a little bit of sun burn). That evening, Spencer treated us all to a great meal of Surf ‘n’ Turf Kebabs, featuring marinated lamb, swordfish and fresh grilled vegetables served on a bed of pearl couscous. Champagne flutes of moscat made for a light dessert.

Karen with a martini

After digesting and enjoying drinks from the bar and frosty beers from the kegerator, we headed over to the Surf’s Out and saw it in action for the first time as a nightlife venue, rather than just a restaurant. Everyone in town was out tearing up the dance floor, and Ben had a dance off with glow-stick laden Johnny Thunder. Hard to tell who “out-wormed” who, but Seven Seas cheered loudest for our Ben.

Saturday the beach was windy, so it was a great day to go sit by the pool (GORGEOUS!) and take a dip.  Folks filed down to the studio in the afternoon for a quick core-killer Pilates session with Cat in “preparation for” the MONSTER ribs feast.  Before dinner the crew headed over to the Chance House for a season’s greetings cocktail party. The event proved to be a great little networking event and did its work to get people in to the small-town, friendly-beach-goer mindset that embodies Kismet, Fire Island.

Ribs on the smoker

After the party, Spencer stepped it up again with smoked pork ribs made with love and a few tips from the experts at Fette Sau in Williamsburg.  If that wasn’t enough, the main event was followed up by Chance House’s Marla’s decadent peanut butter pie and coffee.  When the meal was over, we commenced a lively jam session in the living room with Ben and John B. on the guitars, guest star singer Caroline, and Gabe hitting up the harmonica. It turned out to be a night to hit the bars again for a late night dance marathon.

On Sunday, the clouds burned off by noon and the beach was splendid.  It was so hot and summery that by late afternoon, a big contingency at the house broke out with a game of celebrity that had lots of twists and turns.  That night we ate tilapia fillets and summer salad with “Sex Rice,” rice so good, you want to have… with it.

Beach Jam

Memorial Day itself boasted the best weather of the weekend, and most of the day was spent out on the beach.  Kat O’Leary reigned supreme on the Scrabble board and Michael R took the prize for boldest cold water swimmer.  We finished off the weekend with a family style pasta meal prepared by Paul and Karen before the remainder of the sun-soaked Seven Seas gang headed off on the sunset ferry home.  All in all – the best of all possible weekends for the start to an amazing season of sunbathing, beach games, music, friends and food in sunny Kismet, Fire Island.  Long Live Seven Seas!

Karen with a martini

Paul, Ben, and Karen

Seven Seas in Bloom!

Jamie, Cat and Prozac

Surf n' Turf Kebobs

Cat teaching Pilates

The bar is loaded now!

Beach Jam