Newport

[magid]

This weekend I was in Newport to celebrate my dad's birthday (slightly early): he's turning 80 this year, and my mom put together a family gathering.

++ Time with 100% of my extant aunts, 50% of uncles, 60% of first cousins, and 43% of spouses of first cousins (also 100% of my siblings and siblings-in-law).
++ Hearing family stories I've never heard before, sometimes from more than one perspective.
+ Seeing my dad through so many other people's eyes.
+ Staying at a kosher B&B.
+ Touring the Breakers.
+ Davening in the oldest shul in the US, the Touro Synagogue, including mincha lead by a Navy chaplain in dress whites under his tallit (weird to look down on the white hat of the uniform, rather than a kippah).
+ Hearing amusing anecdotes from the rabbi/mashgiach (plus his compliments were unstinting, which surprised me).
+ Walking along the Cliff Walk (the paved parts, anyway).
+ Going on a boat tour of the harbor (seeing two "summer White Houses" next to each other, Kennedy's and Eisenhower's).
+ Recovering from some fairly annoying back pain.
- Not doing as many activities as I'd hoped (always a challenge when there's a large group).
- The caterer of Shabbat dinner providing somewhat unpleasant food (salmon should not be white!).
+ The caterer of Sunday brunch (the actual 'party') providing excellent food (this being the RI-based caterer friends used for their wedding a couple of years ago; thanks again for the contact information).
- More humidity than is usual for Newport.
- Realizing yet again that the older generation is getting to be actually old, and their aches and pains unfortunately increasing.
- Realizing that my generation is not so young either (we're the tail end of the cousins on both sides, so I have first cousins who are 20 years older than me, and some of them have kids who are out of college already), regretting the sporadic contact I have with so many of them.
+ There's the chance to change that, even with the far-away ones (Oklahoma?! I still don't see the appeal.)
+ Helping my mom some through something that was frazzling for her to organize.
+ Walking around the city, which is full of historic houses and interesting details.
+ A Don Drumm necklace in honor of Israel's 60th.

Comments

[queue.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a very nice weekend overall. Happy Birthday to your dad.

[magid.livejournal.com]

It was pretty fun.

I'll try to remember to pass on your good wishes :-)

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I've visited the Touro Synagogue twice, but never davened there.

[magid.livejournal.com]

From the Hebrew school trip I took years ago, I remember the Touro Synagogue being a slate blue and white, but now it's a sage green and white inside.

I was really amused by the chair that can ascend the curving staircase to the women's balcony, because the sign near it said "maximum capacity: one person." I don't know why it was so funny, but it was.

I didn't get to have an official tour, though.

[gingicat]

Also 100% of nephews and nieces. :)

[magid.livejournal.com]

Many well-behaved redheads (so many people commented on it :-).

[gilana]

That B&B is kosher? Wow, it looks really nice. Wonder if I could convince my parents to come for a visit.

[magid.livejournal.com]

It is pretty nice. I was in the smallest room on the second floor (read: just a shower, only one window, no fridge, no fancy stenciling on the walls, etc.), and it was still rather decent (the room ACs made such a difference!). Of the three rooms I saw, one had a double bed, while the others had a double and a twin.

Possibly useful info:
The rabbi comes in most mornings to turn on the stove/oven, and he is the one who certifies their kashrut.
Breakfast was good, but not over the top (fruit, cereal, eggs, pancakes, toast, stuff like that, though nicely made).
The proprietor does not allow small children to stay.
The proprietor has candles to light for Shabbat on the main floor.
The proprietor allows the dining room to be used for Shabbat meals.
It is within the Newport eruv, though at one end of it (the eruv is not large; I'm guessing it was designed to include only where locals live, not necessarily tourist walking areas).
There are some guest rooms on the first floor, but the house isn't accessible to someone who can't navigate stairs.

[gilana]

Thanks for the details! Will definitely pass along the info.

[tapuz.livejournal.com]

happy (early) birthday!

sounds like a lovely celebration!

[magid.livejournal.com]

It was a lot of fun. I think it would've been even better had everyone been in the same hotel/B&B/what-have-you (plus more time, of course), but this came out pretty well.

:-)

[(Anonymous)]

It is such a wonderful thing that your family is able to do this.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad so many people were able to make it.

[breedingimperf.livejournal.com]

glad it went so well! Too bad about the no small children rule, though.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Not sure where the cutoff is for kid age. Something to keep in mind for later...