Americana food and games

Apparently, brunch is the new thing in America and the restaurants are full. The air is nippy but it is Spring so we opt to sit outside in the fresh air. We are frequenting a diner in the very cool Ghent district, Little Dog Diner. Inside it looks and sounds like the 60’s – rock ‘n roll music, shiny stools with red leather tops at the bar and a checkerboard floor complete with neon signage.

I get an introduction to that southern delicacy, the fried green tomato and a breakfast dish with locally available blue Crab meat. Washed down with a Bloody Mary, yes this is permitted at brunch time. This bloody mary can also come infused with shrimp or pork, a local spin to an international favourite. I think I’ll pass thanks.

Late afternoon we head to a local park for a picnic with Paul and Lind’s church friends. There is too much food to describe but I will tell you that ice cream cake is all it is made out to be. We have a Carvel’s cake, creamy and smooth with a crumbly crunchy surprise somewhere between the beginning and the end.

Everyone participates in some games. I observed cornhole yesterday but today I am a player. The object of the game is to get the beanbag into the hole on a wooden board. Played in teams of two, hole in one scores 2 points, landing on the board equates 1. You play until the first team reaches 21.

Then there is Kickball.  Basically it is baseball but the batsman uses their feet to kick and the pitcher rolls the ball toward the batsman. The rest of the rules are the same and the fielders can pick the ball up and throw it.

One last little walk around the neighbourhood, a few more Tommy Bahama chairs, laughter from houses, people having sundowners on their porches, kids playing basketball in their driveway or even in the road and students playing cornhole on their front lawn. Society is much more open here, not hidden behind gates. The more I observe it, the more I like it.