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July 6, 2006

Summertime Blues? Shake them away at Stratford spots

By MIKE WOOD

"I think the sun is a flower,
That blooms for just one hour"

Anyone familiar with Ray Bradbury's wonderful short story "All Summer in a Day" should recognize the above quote as the poem written by Margot to express her feelings at not having seen the sun in five years.

It's something those of you who have not read the story can still relate to, thanks to the recent rash of rainy weather. Haven't we had enough rain? Remember the old joke about April showers bringing May flowers and Mayflower's bringing Pilgrims? Well, since the April showers never stopped, we should probably forget about the Mayflower and start thinking about Noah's Ark.

Instead of the dog days of summer, we've had the frog days. June should be warm and sunny with blue sky and green grass. Actually, thanks to all the rain the grass is looking pretty green, but the only thing blue around here lately is our moods. Fortunately, Eddie Cochran was wrong; there is a cure for the summertime blues. It's called the sun. And on the last day of the wettest June on record, it finally decided to show its face. Not knowing if it would be the first (and last) nice day if the summer, my wife and I decided to hit not one, but two of Stratford's best waterfront restaurants that night. Our first stop was Tommy O'Connor's Off the Wall (14 Beach Drive, Stratford, 375-8805), a new restaurant along Lordship's scenic sea wall. As we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed only one table left on the patio, so we put off our walk on the beach until after dinner. We ordered some rum drinks and steamers and sat back to enjoy the sweeping view of the Sound. The atmosphere was informal and friendly, encouraging strangers to comfortably start up conversations.

But while the setting was casual, the food was prepared and plated to fine dining standards. Even the steamers (typically plopped in a pile) were artistically arranged and perfectly prepared. Our entres also were carefully created, with drizzled oils and swirled sauces surrounding my seared scallops and risotto and my wife's steak with sour cream mashed potatoes. The rest of the menu was heavy on the seafood, as one would expect, but also had some surprises, such as macaroni and cheese. Dinner reservations are recommended, but outdoor tables can not be reserved.

We, however, had no reservations about extending our evening, so, after a walk on the beach, we drove to nearby Outriggers (foot of Broad Street, 377-8815) for some drinks and live music on the deck along the Housatonic River.

The restaurant is located in Brewer's Marina, a busy boatyard that offers views (inside and out) of the river dotted with boats and colorful sails.

Entertainment is offered Friday through Sunday, with upcoming performances by Bob Morrill on July 16 and Keltic Kick on July 28. Keltic Kick's Billy Donaldson happened to be playing the night we were there, departing from his usual set of Irish music in favor of the sounds and songs of summer, a more suitable soundtrack for such a beautiful evening. The deck was crowded with diners and drinkers and, since we had already eaten, we joined the latter at the tiki-style bar, where we met a group of regulars more colorful than the Hawaiian shirts sported by the staff. The crowd around the bar was so friendly and talkative we assumed they had known each other for years. As it turned out, they had all just met that night, brought together by the efforts and influence of Vic ("I'm not a regular, I just come here frequently") and his buddy, John, two guys who decided long ago to stop looking for good times and start making them happen. Through them we also got acquainted with the staff and servers (who freely shared everything with us, from their bug spray to embarrassing moments, such as the waitress who sang and served a birthday cake to the wrong table). I know it's a clich, but everyone was just so pleasant we felt right at home. I'm not sure if nights like this can be duplicated, but I'm sure going to give it a try. And even if the weather doesn't improve and it turns out I did live all summer in a day, I'm glad I spent it at Off the Wall and Outriggers. How often do you Get Out? If you've got an idea or story you'd like to share, contact us at getout@ctpost.com.

Posted by getout on July 6, 2006 8:10 AM