As faithful readers will recall, there was a time when the Men of Quincy were trying to come up with a signature house cocktail.
Some time ago a Quincyite was in a bar, wanting to order some Jim Beam on the rocks with a splash of bitters. Though not a particularly complicated order, he regretted having to use so much verbiage to describe it. And then, in a flash of brilliance, two problems were solved and the "Quincy" was born. It has been growing steadily in popularity ever since.
Last weekend I was on Long Island for a wedding. I was pleased to observe that a variety of guests at the reception were ordering Quincies from the bartenders. (And, for the sake of full disclosure, let me clarify: neither I nor JT, the other housemate present, led this rush of orders.)
So next time you need a some cheap bourbon over ice, with the pleasure of bitters, save yourself some breath and simply ask for a Quincy.
In light of the theme for the next Quincy coffee house, some might be asking: Who was Jeremiah Cunningham? An excellent question.
According to the prestigious and reputable Wikipedia, Jeremiah Cunningham (1756-1845) came from a colonial family of some means and attended the College of William & Mary. In the summer of 1781 he settled in what would become the District of Columbia, building the first Quincy House (though the house would not receive the name until 1796).
Though a professed Anglican, Cunningham was a friend of both the Catholic and Anglican bishops of Maryland, and there were rumors that - like his second cousin, Edmund Burke - he may have been a crypto-Catholic. In any case, we know he was a man of letters and a distiller of scotch whiskey. What about that is not worth celebrating?
I regret the absence of a picture, but I have not yet been able to find one of our esteemed founder.
There has been talk of late about creating a mixed drink that is uniquely Quincy: a signature cocktail that would be the Quincy House in a glass.
What, you ask, would such a drink entail? An excellent question, and one we've been asking ourselves. At this point the Quincy cocktail is still in the concept stage, but previous discussions have suggested that it be strong, bitter, and complex.
Suggestions for ingredients? A name? Please, share!
So I am feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the projects that myself and other housemates are working on at the moment, so I thought I would take a break from the craziness and enumerate them.
Here are the first round of coffee house videos from the Lenten Coffee House! There will be more coming soon. (Sorry for the poor lighting, we are still new to this video thing...)
If you've ever been at Quincy late at night, when most of the guests have gone home, the drink is flowing freely and maybe a competitive game of cards is being played, you know that what Paul calls "taboo speech" sometimes comes out. For those who have never heard the Quincy men swear, it sounds something like this:
(To see a larger version, simply click the image.)
After last night's rockin' Mike Mangione concert at Quincy (which, btw, make the official list of tour stops), I figured I should post this amazing music video.
This time of year, many writers are putting together a “best films of 2007” list. I would like to get in on the action, but it would be a little impractical for me to try to list the best films that have come out, since I have seen so few of them. Instead, this is the “best films Aaron has seen in 2007.” Thanks in no small part to the Quincy Movie Nights, there have been plenty of good films to consider. After much thought, I have chosen a trifecta of winners to share the title.
The first of these films, Juno, is still playing in theaters. Jason Reitman’s story of a pregnant high school student - a sort of wise fool surrounded by adults who do not always get it - began as a limited release, but quickly moved to theaters everywhere. And it is easy to see why. The audience with which I saw it was laughing out loud and clearly enjoying the humorous moments; but when the film got serious, you could have heard a pin drop. The story is well written, with several neat turns and reversals; it is well acted, with a first rate performance by Ellen Page in the title role; it is beautifully shot; and it has a quality musical score. Finally, the film is grounded on solid philosophical and moral principles. It does not bill itself as “pro-life” or “family-friendly” and does not assault its viewer with kitch messages. Indeed, the film is very much a creature of the modern age, frankly acknowledging the reality of family life in 21st century America. But it is also a film that understands and speaks to the fundamental importance of human dignity, the value of parenting and the importance of committed relationships.
In America (2003) is the story of a modern Irish family moving to New York City and struggling along with financial and family issues. Normally a film with that description would not pique my interest; it sounds like it would either be pathetically cheesy or terribly depressing. But as Nathan (not exactly the house optimist) explained, “this is a feel-good movie I can get behind.” Unlike most films of the feel-good genre, In America is neither predictable nor poorly acted; instead, it is a highly believable story. (This is probably due, in large part, to the fact that the script was written by a real family, based on their actual experience.) In addition, the story is artfully constructed, with several thoughtful sub-themes weaving through the story of the family’s struggles.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) can be a confusing film. But fear not; the confusion is artfully handled, complementing the story, instead of leaving the viewer woefully confused. Michel Gondry’s story of love, loss and memory, like Juno and In America, avoids the formulaic, with several enjoyable plot turns and a nice interweaving of the main plot line and a subplot. Though I have only seen the film once, I have little doubt that a second viewing would reveal a wealth of carefully thought out details. But in addition to its narrative qualities (which are many), Eternal Sunshine is a beautiful piece of art. Much of the story is set in the world of memory and Gondry has done an excellent job of imaging what that might look like. (Thankfully, this does not include massive amounts of computer animation that tax the viewer’s suspended disbelief.)
There were any number of honorable mentions, but their ranks are far too many to actually mention them. Perhaps another blog post...
You may notice a small change to the upper right hand corner of this website, which you have come to rely on for all of your quincy related information. No your eyes are not playing tricks on you. We are getting a new house mate, and I have finally had time to sit down and put together a proper image. I'm sure that you will all give him a warm welcome when he finally gets himself out to the east coast.
Last night we at the quincy house were blessed to host a concert by musician Mike Mangione and his band. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the concert such a success.
At Quincy we had a successful first movie on the lawn last night. We were able to hang an 8ft screen from the back porch, and in spite the blistering humidity the movie was quite enjoyable. We watched Little Miss Sunshine, the penultimate film in the Quincy Summer Movie and Discussion series. Thanks to everyone who came and participated. The discussion was very lively, and I for one feel like I have a much better grasp of the film.
Thanks again to everyone who came out to Quincy on Ice, the first ever Summer Coffee House. It was such a success that we don't want to try and rival it with a coffee house this month. So sadly there will be a gap in your schedule and your hearts this month, but stay tuned there may be other options...
Last night we had the second movie screening in our summer movie series. We watched Winter Light(Nattvardsgästerna) by Ingmar Bergman. I think that it is my favorite Bergman movie, and one of perhaps my all-time favorites.
The starkness of the cinematography brings to the forefront the intense struggle which is happening within the characters.
I was reminded of a quote from Ratzinger's book Introduction to Christianity that floored me the first time I read it.
Fastened to the cross - with the cross fastened to nothing, drifting over the abyss. The situation for the contemporary believer could hardly have been more accurately and impressivley described. Only a loose plank bobbing over the void seems to hold him up, and it looks as if he must eventually sink. Only a loose plank connects him to God, though certainly it connects him inescapably, and in the last analysis he knows that this wood is stronger than the void that seethes beneath him and remains nevertheless the really threatening force in his day-to-day life. (p44)
I think that this movie really captures the heart of this modern difficulty. While it may not end up on the side of belief in the end, its beauty and honesty make Bergman's film a must see.
For those interested and in town, next week we will be taking a break from the subtitles and watching Rushmore. It is something a little lighter but still great and worthy of discussion.
Well we had another great coffee house last night. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a good time. There were some good performances and a lot of good fellowship and way too much iced coffee (I think that I am still shaking a little.)
Stay tuned for the rest of the pictures and recordings on the website.
Last night we had a great kickoff to the Quincy Summer Movie evenings. We watched a fascinating documentary entitled Danielson: A Family Movie. The documentary has a slightly campy feel to it and at times it does feel like watching the home movies of a large family that could have lived down the street from you. At the same time it really raised some great questions and discussion about Christianity and art.
The overarching impression was from the discussion seemed to be that even though Daniel Smith may have a less than well developed theology, his honest quest for the truth in his art makes him really stand out.
While not everyone maybe ready to rush out and buy Danielson CD's, this movie gives me a lot of hope. It reminds me that there are authentic Christian artists out there, in spite of all the charlatans who make Christianity and authenticity seem incompatible. there are men and women out there working for the glory of God and being recognized by the culture. Perhaps they are not being recognized in a big flashy way, but none the less the truth of their hope shines through the work and those seeking after the good recognize it.
Stay tuned next week for Nattvardsgästerna (Winter Light) by Ingmar Bergman. It is a great film. Make it even better by showing up and sharing your thoughts with us.
Quincy House is a house of Catholic men in the DC area, dedicated to the forwarding of authentic Catholic culture, thought and art (at least on our good days).
As faithful readers will recall, there was a time when the Men of Quincy were trying to come up with a signature house cocktail.
