In 2019, we are telling the story of a romance over the course of 9 months and 13 chapters. Each chapter will feature some combination of art, ice cream, cocktails, baked goods, and music. Each participant has been tasked with creating an element of the story inspired by the corresponding chapter. Thank you for checking out chapter one. The participants this month are:
Jordan McCusker/Proof Somerville
Stevie Matthews
Kit Collins
Nate Marsden
Erica Goldstein/Blank Canvas Co
Kelly Ryan/Lick Indy
Sarah Jacobs/Sweetteeth Baking Company
Josh LaFayette
Gareth Hughes
Years later, the thing he’d always remember about the first time he saw her was her outrageous red scarf. It must have been cold, because her cheeks were pink, steam showing off her breath. She didn’t look like anyone he’d seen before. The scarf was bandana red and long enough for four necks at least, five if they were skinny. He only saw it once, that first day he saw her, and always wondered about it. Later, after they’d gone on a couple dates, he asked one time about the scarf and she didn’t know which one he meant. So that was weird, but he knew he’d seen the bright red scarf too long for one person when he saw her the first time.
Months later, during the early part of their relationship, he’d lie in bed before getting up in the morning and think on her. He’d always believed in love at first sight, even if she didn’t, but when he thought about it, it hadn’t felt like a movie scene. He hadn’t thought to himself, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry.” He hadn’t thought, “I need her. I need to kiss her.” When he saw her the first time, with her red scarf, it wasn't love at first sight, but he had felt a certain magnetism as he wondered, “Who is that and where’s she from?”
Stevie Matthews, New York, www.mynameissteviematthews.com, @animated_stevie
Nate Marsden, Lowell, MA, www.neatmarsden.com, @neat_marsden
“Shagbark and Bacon Brittle” Kelly Ryan, Indianapolis, IN, IG: @Lickindy, Facebook: Lickicecreamindy, Twitter: @LickLocal, www.lickicecream.tumblr.com
Erica Goldstein, Boston, MA, The Blank Canvas Company, www.theblankcanvascompany.com, @theblankcanvasco
“Grapefruit and spice cake, with grapefruit curd filling and five-spice buttercream”
Sarah Jacobs, Allston, MA, Sweetteeth Baking Co., www.sweetteethbakingco.com, @sweetteethbakingco
“Thinkin’ Real Hard”
Josh LaFayette, Atlanta, GA, www.joshlafayette.com, @joshlafayette
Kit Collins, Medford, MA, www.kitschcollins.com, @kitschcollins
Jordan McCusker, Somerville, MA, Proof, www.proofsomerville.com, @jordanmccuskerr
Make it at home! 1.5 ounces of rye whiskey .75 ounces of ginger simple syrup, .5 ounces of fresh lime juice .5 ounces of oloroso sherry, Shake with ice, Strain over fresh ice, Top with 1.5 ounces of ipa style beer, Garnish with a lime wheel
“Rosemary and Spicy Honey”
Gracie’s Ice Cream, Somerville, MA, www.icecreamgracies.com, @icecreamgracies