Toga Classic

Big fun last weekend, kids!  It all started out with a big bang on Friday night with the toga party at the Surf’s Out.  On the way over the ferry was full of folks in all kinds of greco-roman attire and thanks to our many white bedsheets, getting the whole crew geared up was no problem.  Of course the Out doesn’t get kicking until around 11:00 – 12:00 so Cat started us off putting gas in the tank by hand frying tortillas for a delicous meal of chewy nachos that got completely wiped out by the gang.

At the bar

The toga party ran late into the night with shares getting back to wind down at all hours.  Steve cut the rug so hard at the Surf’s out that the tiles were melting under the floor!  At the end of the night, we even had a very sweet and horribly lost dude walk out onto the balcony thinking he was at Brown Sugar until he closed the door to the deck behind him.  Spencer was kind enough to give Teddy a big red cup full of water and send him in the direction of his house.

Lauren's yoga class

On Saturday, Lauren helped the shares realign their alcohol soaked bodies and minds with a relaxing morning yoga session in the studio.  Ben finished up with the outdoor speakers so we now have stereo sound out on the upper deck and by about 11:30, Steve had transformed the studio into a relaxing massage room.  About 6 of us got a full massage and most of us that did needed a quick nap thereafter to fully enjoy the loosness.  When we woke up, Spencer helped us revive with Gouda-smothered hotdogs, one of the most delicous things ever.

Cocktail party

That evening, some of our friends in town came over for an impromtu cocktail party that turned out to be a lot of fun.  The Polaroid camera donated by Paul (C weekends) was a big hit and we took tons of fun snapshots for the bulliten board.  Tammy Lee, of Chance, made extra efforts to win the affection of Prozac, which (not surpisingly) were well recieved.  Steve and Joe made sure that martinis with a lemon twist were readily availible and Seven Seas loaned out beach umbreallas so that party-goers could make it home dry since it started to rain while we were all hanging out.

Karen shows her chops

Once the crown subsided, Karen was quick to start handing out her mushroom crostinis and searing the honey glazed porkchops.  The dinner was fantastic and the porkchops were sweet and tender.  For dessert, sweetened peaches in red wine were served as the share helped clear up the dishes.  Spencer and Kate got the medal of honor Saturday night for valliance in cleaning, knuckling down and leaving the kitchen completely spotless – 100% clean for the next morning.  Ben and Steve pounded the drumheads for a while to fiery music and by the end of it., the team was ready to hit the bars again.

Sunday Scrabble

Sunday was a recovery day for the most part.  Hearing of Seven Seas legendary Scrabble players, John Blesso headed over to challenge Spencer and Kat in a threeway duel that ended very closely in a victory for Spencer Beggs.  With this victory, it seems that Spencer now has top billing over Blesso and O’Leary and is the one to beat for bragging rights.

After the 8:00 boat, only Gabe and Steve were left at the house and Lauren reported a clean kitchen on her arrival on Monday so way to go Gabe and Steve!  Thanks for heloing her out!  Cat’s Birthday party is coming up next weekend so get ready for the Big Kahuna!  See you all next week in Kismet!

BBQ w/ special sauce

The 2009 summer season has arrived at Seven Seas Sharehouse in Kismet, Fire Island.  From grilling on the deck to hitting the dance floor at the Kismet “Surf’s Out”, it was a weekend chock full of good times and good food.  As members flowed in all the way until the last boat on Friday, we followed a wine and cheese plate with  a late meal of tasty barbecued chicken on the grill (with special sauce, expertly applied by David).  Cat’s system for placing the asparagus on the upper rack of the grill also worked out great- it had a delicious lemony-smoky taste when served.  The oil dripping off the asparagus on top made the flames pop up and sear the chicken (pictured right).  Lauren capped off the evening by serenading us on her guitar.

Laying out

Saturday morning we had pancakes and the morning sunshine in the deck was a great start.   Folks sweated it out to Cat’s weekly 10:30 Pilates class in the studio, and by noon, we were ready for to hit the beach.  Out on the sand there was plenty of space for members playing kadema, throwing the Frisbee and laying out getting a tan.  Our little Crate and Barrel beach table has proved invaluable, and we’ll be picking up a few more before next weekend for more drinks, books, games and lunch both at the house and the beach.

Matching drink and dress

Saturday afternoon, we hosted a cocktail party for a couple of houses in town.  Lauren took it to the next level by creating a drink with Judah to match her outfit all the way down to the shoes.  The house filled up with probably about 40 people all told.  Cat was thrilled to host, as she likes it when people go on about how clean the house is compared to before Seven Seas managed it.  Right in the middle of all this praise about cleanliness, Prozac saw fit to drop a fresh one right on the deck, luckily, it was detected quickly and no one brought in a one-shoe surprise.

mmm...clam sauce

That night, Ben served up shrimp linguine with a white wine clam sauce (mmm…clam sauce).  After dinner, we headed to the Inn and Surf’s Out for drinks.  Cat’s romaine, gorgonzola, blue cheese, and almond salad was so delicious, Ian had to take some “to go”… in his hair.  The Inn had a band playing and The Out was bumpin’ with bachelorettes like it always is.  It was great to see the amazing outdoor space at the Surf’s Out.  We all can’t wait for when the summer tent parties start out there because it’s comfortable, cool, and chic all at the same time.  The Inn remains the Kismet standby, and the place to run in to most of your friends from other houses.  Good news- it seems the restrictions on taking drinks from one bar to the other are loosening a bit, with the Inn offering to allow you to pour your roadie into a cup upon entry.

Enjoying the beach

On Sunday, Lauren both prepared her signature homemade granola with fresh raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (YUM!) for breakfast and taught an amazing 10:30 yoga class as well.  Well done!  While waiting for the cloud cover to burn off, there was a round of Celebrity in which Team Awesome emerged victorious, though a special shout out goes to Mark’s animated charades portrayal of Monica Lewinsky.  In line with the forecast, the clouds parted promptly at 12:00 and it turned into a fantastic day.  After hanging on the deck for a while goofing off, we cooked up a batch of burgers and dogs and then took it back to the beach for round 2!  Even warmer than Saturday, the afternoon was very pleasant.  After a weekend of trash talking, Judah finally led the charge into the water before a spirited bocce game.

On the ferry home

Most of the crew caught the 5:50, which worked out great because the wind picked up just as the sun started to get too low in the sky.  The four of us who remained decided to have a quick reprise of Saturday’s dinner before hitting the 8:05 just in time for a beautiful sunset and lovely finish to a fantastic and relaxing weekend.  The crew on B weekend was so amazing, full of chill individuals, all very relaxed and down to earth.  Next B weekend is Cat’s 30th birthday party Luau, and Krista (taking the lead on party planning)  has promised to pull no punches in bringing home the authentic experience so next time you pack to come out, bring your party pants–ideally, bring your party grass skirt, I guess…

Guests coming soon!

How do you really feel?

Lauren's musical stylings

Kadema on the beach

Goofing off

Chillin

Prozac had a big day

Drinking sangria

More cocktail party

Chatting at the bar

Guests at the party

Cheers!

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!