I (Still) Believe In Summer.
Capital P "Plans" and suggestions to better enjoy the season.
Well, the solstice has come and gone. Summer is officially here ya'll. I used to kick off the season by making a playlist that would serve as a reminder to enjoy the time while it lasted. I’d always title it “I Believe In Summer” and eventually that became something I’d repeat to myself when things weren’t exactly going so well. You can’t recapture the magic of any particular summer, what you can do is put yourself in a position to build on those past experiences.
To begin with, I hope you were able to make the most of the longest day of the year and ended the week with a glimpse of last night's dramatic "Strawberry Moon" as well to definitively mark the start of the season. Megan and I took a drive out into the countryside to soak in the balmy evening and were quickly reminded why we moved to Nashville. The shift from urban to rural is quick, but not harsh. It’s as if people’s better nature took over and they decided against continuing to push the sprawl. In reality it’s probably just zoning laws. Either way the quick access to the pastoral is among the many benefits of Nashville being a big town rather than a little city. Developments gradually fade and before you know it the smell of freshly hayed fields wafts in the car windows. And don't get me started on the sunsets out here, they look photoshopped. It’s all well worth the heat and humidity, I’ll let you know if I still feel the same way at the end of July.
There's a lot of summer left, 90 days to be exact, and I could spend the majority of them doing what I did last night, essentially driving aimlessly and listening to music. I could do that, but I won't because there are of course capital P, "Plans". Thankfully they're somewhat flexible, it's always nice to have a little wiggle room if possible, but for the most part I've got the rest of the summer mapped out. Now this is a relatively new concept to me. I used to pride myself on specifically not making any sort of plan for summer and just seeing what came up. Sure, I'd throw a concert or two on the calendar, but even then I'd wait to see what tickets were available at the last minute.
The freedom to opt in or out of things as they draw closer can be comforting, but more often than not it leads to decision paralysis. Indecision is just as bad, if not worse, than making the wrong decision because at least you learn something from making a choice, even if it doesn't turn out to be the best one. With that in mind, I'm very glad to share some choices I've made in the past that I believe will enhance your enjoyment of the next 90 days. As always, your experience may vary, but I've found these people, places and things to be reliably consistent in their high level of quality and well suited to summer.
If you have questions on any of the following, please leave a comment below or shoot me a message. The linked Google Map that you’ll find under the “Places” category is an example of what premium subscribers will get access to when paid subscriptions are turned on next month. For those of you that are paying, nothing will change, thank you for your continued support!
Places:
Vermont-
Okay, obviously I’m a bit biased being a native, but there are few places better than just about anywhere in the Green Mountain State during the summer. I happen to know the western side of the state the best, from the Northshire Region where I grew up, to the Champlain Valley and beyond. My favorite drive is up the western border with New York State, switching between routes 30, 22A and 7. As I get further north I’ll typically incorporate some local roads that bring me closer to Lake Champlain and really bring the grandeur of the region into sharp focus.
Martha’s Vineyard, MA-
Edgartown, Harbor View Inn, Chillmark Tavern, Aquinnah Cliffs, Myoti Japanese Garden, Morning Glory Farm, Rosewater Market, Behind The Bookstore.
Lake Tahoe, CA-
Truckee, Cornerstone Bakery, Sunnyside Lodge, Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Emerald Bay State Park, Rubicon Point Light.
Innsbruck, AT- Hotel Motel One, Restaurant Sitzwohl, Innsbrucker Hofgarten, Cafe Toscana, Liquid Diary, Stadtturm, Tirol Panorama Museum, Ambras Castle.
Antibes, FR- Hotel Belle Rives, Eden Roc, Plage Keller, Musee d’Archeologie, Boulangerie Veziano, Le Comptoir de La Tourraque, Musee Picasso
People:
@robwilsonwork- Illustrator extraordinaire
@MVspeakeasy- Cocktail expert
@chriswallace4- Male travel guru
@monicamendi- Female travel guru
@aaronplevine- Fashion guru
@frankprisinzano- Food guru
@fruit_bats- Anywhere anytime music
@adrienbrody- One of the greatest to ever do it.
Things:
Wimbeldon- Grass > Clay.
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion- A moving car museum.
Amaro- The book that’s key to understanding the beverage.
Buck Mason Avalon Knit Polo- Currently rotating between 3 of these and enjoying humid weather much more because of them.
Stetson Open Road Vented Straw Hat- Summer is for hats and this variation on Stetson’s icon is my go-to for when a baseball cap isn’t appropriate.
G.H. Bass Venetian Weave Weejuns- The institutional American brand has been on a hot streak of late and these just add more fuel to the fire.
South Side Canned Cocktail- “Gin with a hint of lemon & mint” in a can.
Ghia N/A Canned Cocktail- For when you’re off the sauce, but on a good one.
Business & Pleasure Co.- Premium umbrellas, chairs, tents, furniture and coolers.