Built Vanderbilt

It’s a gray, gray day here. Pouring down rain. A little Christmastime snow would have been more festive!

But luckily our traveler’s agenda included some indoor touring of The Marble House, summer cottage of Alva and William K. Vanderbilt.

I felt very tied to this building because of my experience with the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, being a North Carolinian and all, and because Alva was very involved with the women’s suffrage movement (I wrote my Davidson history thesis on women’s rights in the 1860s).

I am not a huge fan of museums, but I absolutely love touring homes! We took the self guided tour through the estate, and it was really well done. Of course the home was dressed elaborately. We were only allowed to photograph in one room -

A lot of the décor reminded me of my parent’s and grandparent’s houses, as they both love antiques and oriental rugs.

You could have said on the tour: “Here is the hard and scratchy rug where Katherine and Laura used to play as toddlers”

At the conclusion of the tour we smelled a curious smell a’floating….

And stumbled upon eggnog and Christmas cookies!!!!!!!!! SPIKED egg nog at that. I don’t like it quite as much without a touch of brandy and rum : )

We shared – sips and bites of both. It was a great lunch appetizer!

In the gift shop I bought a ‘Votes For Women’ mug and tea towel!!

We would have loved to tour the grounds, walk the cliff walk, see the ocean sites, but the weather was just blah and super windy

So we headed to lunch

The Ocean Breeze Café comes highly recommended by Tina and Mal. Tina raves about their muffins, and it appears the muffins have won many awards!

We were a bit late for breakfast, but the lunch menu was long and impressive as well.

Everyone got soups to warm up. Chicken Escarole with oyster crackers!

But the sandwiches were out of this world!!

I ordered the Hot Vegetarian – which came with mushrooms, olives, tomatoes, spinach and havarti on a soft, doughy roll. It was so good!!

The pickle, kale garnish (!!) and pile-O-Ruffles were also just what I was craving. Ruffles remind me of my Grandmother Younger!

The boys have been on a corned beef / pastrami kick up here in New England. I’ve had a few bites – it sure pleases the palate!

Of course we couldn’t go to Ocean Breeze without trying their muffins. We bought an Apple Cinnamon to save for tomorrow’s breakfast and got the Blueberry Corn grilled for a bite of dessert.

The muffin was great, but it was even greater drizzled with warm butter and maple syrup!

We’re now back in Boston, after an hour and a half rainy highway. Thankfully there was no traffic this time!

Shout out to any Bostonians who want to venture out in the rain: We’re planning to meet at the Espresso Royale Coffee Shop at 44 Gainsborough at 8PM for a warm nightcap coffee. Let me know if you’re coming please!