The 3 Grumpy Men of Yarmouthport, MA

Julia’s House,

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day! Randal and I are visiting our friend Julia whom we met years ago when we all belonged to the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club. We went out and about along the Cape and had lots of fun visiting local crafts venues, stopping for lunch at Jack’s Outback II, walking the beach at Sandy Neck in Brewster and then stopping at Momo’s Food Emporium http://www.momosfoodemporium.com/ for coffee and one piece of pecan pie served with 3 forks. From there it was off to Shaw’s / Star Market for dinner provisions. Julia’s pals MJ and Vinney would join us for dinner. It was a wonderful dinner with lots of great conversation. A lovely Birthday Day! And I’ll write about it soon. This email is about yesterday and our visit with the 3 Grumpy Men of Yarmouthport, MA.

Parnassus Books, Jack’s Outback II and Edward Gorey : The 3 Grumpy Old Men of Yarmouthport

Research is amazing and so is serendipity. While researching the three places we stopped while in Yarmouthport, I realized we had encountered the famous “3 Grumpy Old Men of Yarmouthport.” Though none was alive in fact, they were all alive in spirit.

Every visit Randal and I make to the Cape includes a visit to The Parnassus Book Shop. http://www.parnassusbooks.com/ “We’re just a book shop by the side of the road,” Muse said in a Register story on the store’s 50th anniversary in 2007. He never knew how many books were in his shop and didn’t care.” We’d met the owner, and, I think his son-in-law, heard some stories of books that had passed their way, bought some books. This year we met the other family members as Ben Muse died this past summer.

One for the books: Ben Muse, Renaissance man, dies at 85 – – The Register

“Muse was a character, known for his humor and his decency. He and his close friend, the late Jack Braginton-Smith, one of the grumpy old men, had pie-eating competitions at Braginton-Smith’s restaurant, Jack’s Outback. Ben Muse III said, “They kept them going as long as they could. No winner was ever announced.”

Another friend was the late artist and author Edward Gorey, confirmed as the third “grumpy old man” by Muse’s daughter Mary. Gorey would sit for hours on the floor of Muse’s store surrounded by books, according to Rick Jones, director and curator of the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouth Port. Ben is a fictitious character named Boose in one of Gorey’s stories, Jones said.”

According to Ben Muse (From a Feb. 7, 2007, article in The Register about the 50th anniversary of Parnassus Book Service)

On reading to children: “The children don’t understand what you’re reading but they feel the warmth of your body and the music of your voice.”

On paying for books stacked outside the store year-round: “Just leave the money in the door. They’re all honest.”

On why reading was integral to his life: “To me, it’s a great adventure. My mind just gets carried away into the books I like.”

On his customers: “There’s going to be that customer who’s looking for that [hard-to-find] book and he’s going to be happy as a lark.”

On buying books: “I don’t like to buy by the pound. I’m looking for something that will pique my interest http://www.wickedlocal.com/yarmouth/news/x1798690129/PHOTO-GALLERY-One-for-the-books-Ben-Muse-Renaissance-man-dies-at-85#ixzz24OqIpHD3

One of my Parnassus purchases.

I like memoirs, cookbooks, chocolate, and women authors from Massachusetts….all in one book

In Parnassus we asked for lunch suggestions. “Fancy or café food?” we were asked. A resounding, “not fancy,” was our answer. Good choice as the café was Jack’s Outback. A bit tricky to find the first time; but we’ve been there twice now so are “regulars” who know where to turn to find it.

Don’t let the dogs in! But you do have to step over him as he doesn’t move.

Randal reading one of his Parnassus purchases while waiting for his roast beef on whole wheat. I had a BLT with avocado on toasted pumpernickel. Yum!

Women friends talking…..one of life’s absolute essentials!

About Jack’s……

“Along Route 6a in Yarmouthport, hidden behind buildings and a parking lot sits an eerie Cape Cod eatery known to locals as Jack’s Outback II. Several years ago, it was simply called Jack’s Outback.

Jacks back then was a good wake-up call to those with delusions of grandeur who needed a slice of humble pie. Come to think of it, humble pie might have been on their menu.

First off, the place is hard find unless you are a local and if you blink, you might miss it. The restaurant is set in a large white house typically found on the Cape and honestly, the best breakfast food you will ever get. I am talking about food you would eat at grandma’s home on a Sunday morning, and that would fatten you up in a New York minute.

Yet the real appeal for visitors and one not understood by the local diners, is the odd restaurant rules set up by onetime proprietor, Jack Bragington. These rules are so eccentric that an unaware tourist might think they may have somehow stepped into the twilight zone.

Here is what you could expect on any given day; celebratory hooting and hollering by the staff over tips and confused tourists waiting for someone to take their orders, at Jacks you write your own food ticket and place it on the wheel. You also get your own coffee and silverware and if you do not pick up your food fast enough, expect the wrath of Jack. You were also expected to wipe down your own table and pay with cash, no credit cards allowed.

Think Mayberry in New England where everyone has gone crazy and you will have a feel for the place. Honestly, it is all in good fun and no one took Jack seriously.

That was then. Jack has since passed away, God rest his soul. Also gone are the crazy antics of the staff. Visitors now place orders the conventional way. It is a more restrained restaurant but what has not changed is the awesome food.

The lobster omelets are still top notch, as are their famous popovers, home fries; prime rib and delectable pies. I would advise trying everything on the menu. You will not be disappointed and the portions are huge as well.

Therefore, if you are ever on the Cape and looking for a restaurant with a homey feel, try Jack’s Outback II, and bring your appetite.”

Jack’s Outback II

161 Route 6A

Yarmouth Port, MA. 02675

(508) 362-6690 http://thepreppytimes.blogspot.com/2011/06/good-eats-at-jacks-outback-ii.html

From Jack’s we drove down 6a to The Edward Gorey House. Years ago, and I’m talking back when dates started with 199, my friend Martha ( and I think maybe Sarah, but I’m not sure cause we’re talking many years ago) and I went to see Edward Gorey’s House. We were in Yarmouthport to have lunch with a friend of Martha’s parents. Just near the restaurant was Edward Gorey’s home, which at that time was still his home and not a museum. We parked the car and shortly thereafter a man walked out of the house, got into his Volkswagen bug and drove away. It was Edward Gorey.

“A truly prodigious and original artist, Edward St. John Gorey (1925-2000), gave to the world over one hundred works, including The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Doubtful Guest and The Wuggly Ump; prize-winning set and costume designs for innumerable theater productions from Cape Cod to Broadway; a remarkable number of illustrations in publications such as The New Yorker and The New York Times, and in books by a wide array of authors from Charles Dickens to Edward Lear, Samuel Beckett, John Updike, Virginia Woolf, H.G. Wells, Florence Heide and many others. His well-known animated credits for the PBS Mystery series have introduced him to millions of television viewers. Gorey’s masterful pen and ink illustrations and his ironic, offbeat humor have brought him critical acclaim and an avid following throughout the world.” http://www.edwardgoreyhouse.org/

Edward Gorey Museum

If you ever watched Mystery! on PBS you saw Edward Gorey’s illustrations introducing the program.

Vincent Price was the first host and then it was Diana Riggs.

I heard someone say the giant bear was from FAO Schwartz.

“Edward bought the above bear at FAO Schwartz. He’s HUGE. Unfortunately, the bear had to live with Edward’s cousin as Edward was afraid that he would receive too much "love" from his beloved cats.”

http://kellykilmer.blogspot.com/2007/08/guess-where-i-went-today-ill-give-you.html

Edward Gorey loved his cats…….