David K. Leff, Essayist, Poet, Lecturer

Stars Above, Stars on the Screen: A Night at the Drive-In

The Pleasant Valley Drive-In in the tiny Connecticut hamlet of the same name is a rustic affair, with its large screen of white painted plywood.  On gently sloping grassy ground, it’s a cozy rectangle walled by large dark trees.  Surrounding the screen are statuesque white pines towering over everything.  As evening falls they provide a dark background making the screen more vivid.

As dusk was settling, Bette and I pulled the pickup into a parking space marked by a steel post.  Old wires sprouting from the top induced a wave of nostalgia, recalling visits to drive-ins with my parents in the 1960s when speakers were hung on car windows.  Today you merely tune your radio to the soundtrack.

Mouthfuls of Ears, a Corny Way of Eating

You can feel the playful, mock tension of buddy versus buddy, girlfriend against boyfriend, neighbor besting neighbor as the corn eating contest gets underway at the Four Town Fair held in Somers, Connecticut.  A small crowd gathers at two long tables where contestants line up in front of paper plates, each with two freshly cooked ears of glistening kernels.  John boasts about his prowess.  He’s grown up eating corn from a family farm, he brags.  Another contestant says he’s been in training since corn began appearing at farm stands in midsummer.  A family member rolls her eyes.  “Messy and certainly not pretty to watch,” she observes.

Contestants argue over spiral or typewriter technique for clearing the ears.  “You just have to bite and chew, bite and chew,” asserts a slender young woman.  “When to swallow is a strategic decision.”  A dark haired youngster claims white corn is easier and belittles the typewriter technique because it requires taking your mouth off the ears.

Collaborating with Nature by Creating Lakes and Ponds

Hartford Courant, September 12, 2010

Glancing at a map or driving along highways and back roads, it quickly becomes obvious that Connecticut is bejeweled with lakes and ponds.  Glistening in the sun or mirroring a cloudy sky, they infuse urban and wooded areas alike with space and light.  They beckon to us for a swim, paddle, or simple relaxation and  
contemplation from the shore.  No doubt they are one of the state’s most valued natural resources.  “A lake,” as Thoreau remarked, “is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature.  It is earth’s eye.”

A Place for Tacos that are Out of this World

No interplanetary travel is needed to find tacos that are out of this world.  If you’re near the old mill village of Collinsville, Connecticut where “Husk—New American Tacos” recently opened in a small turn-of- the-twentieth-century storefront, a delicious south-of-the-border sandwich is within easy reach whenever the craving strikes.  From further away it’s still worth the trip, even if you need a spaceship to get there.

Husk’s menu of tacos, empanadas, nachos and a salad is ready for take-out or can be eaten in a cheerful and funky atmosphere which includes wooden counters and tables fitted with old-time tractor style seating.