July 2015 Final Web

A Summer Day By The Sea
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
After seeing a coupon on the Albemarle Tradewinds page, my
wife and I decided to give the Circle II Restaurant another try. I had
heard that new owners had taken over, and that they were whipping
the place back into shape. We were really surprised to walk in and
see Nathan behind the counter. He has worked in a few well known
local restaurants as the cook, so I knew that this trip was going to be
worthwhile. After a quick chat with Nathan, we ordered the Circle
II burger platter, some cheese sticks, and chicken fingers; nothing
fancy, just some quick food. After the disappointment we experienced
last week at one of the local big chain restaurants with their
greasy burger and soggy fries, I was really hoping for something better.
To clarify, this was not a fast food restaurant, either. It seems as
though food in Elizabeth City has become bland as of late. We were
shocked at how good the food was. The burger actually tasted like a
proper hamburger for a change, the fries were great, and the chicken
fingers were the best I have had in a long time. Everything was fresh
and tasted great. My wife even commented on how clean the place
looks compared to some of the other places in town. We are already
looking forward to going back next week and trying something new.
They have blackboard specials, and if you like buffet food, I took a
peak over there and it also looked good. The waitress that checked
us out was very pleasant and professional. There are a couple places
in town with semi-famous chefs that serve cold food after you have
to wait for about an hour. Of course, they are the places to see and
be seen. The new Circle II may not be famous yet, but if they keep
fixing up great food like they do now, it will quickly become where
all the locals flock to get a great meal.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807
– March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator
whose works include “Paul Revere’s Ride”, The Song of
Hiawatha, and Evangeline. He was also the first American
to translate Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy,
and was one of the five Fireside Poets.
The sun is set; and in his latest beams
Yon little cloud of ashen gray and gold,
Slowly upon the amber air unrolled,
The falling mantle of the Prophet seems.
From the dim headlands many a lighthouse gleams,
The street-lamps of the ocean; and behold,
O’erhead the banners of the night unfold;
The day hath passed into the land of dreams.
O summer day beside the joyous sea!
O summer day so wonderful and white,
So full of gladness and so full of pain!
Forever and forever shalt thou be
To some the gravestone of a dead delight,
To some the landmark of a new domain.
Picture and Biography Sources: Wikipedia
“Longfellow-by Ernest Longfellow” Engraving
by F. F. Stuart made after a protrait by
Longfellow’s son Ernest Longfellow
Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine, which was
then a part of Massachusetts. He studied at Bowdoin
College. After spending time in Europe he became a
professor at Bowdoin and, later, at Harvard College. His
first major poetry collections were Voices of the Night
(1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841). Longfellow
retired from teaching in 1854, to focus on his
writing, living the remainder of his life in Cambridge,
Massachusetts, in a former headquarters of George
Washington. He died in 1882.
Longfellow wrote many lyric poems known for their
musicality and often presenting stories of mythology
and legend. He became the most popular American
poet of his day and also had success overseas.
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