monsoonmartin

After an unseasonably warm weekend, temperatures are going to take a steady nosedive over the next couple of weeks, leading perhaps to our first snowstorm!  Temperatures overnight tonight will get into the mid 30s.

Below the WeatherTable and narrative is my Winter Weather Outlook for 2009-2010.  Enjoy!  Comments and counter-predictions are welcome.

The weather:

Weather narrative: Cooler this week with highs in the mid to upper 50s.  Mainly dry with showers and drizzle possible late Thursday and throughout the day Friday.  The weekend looks nice: highs in the mid 50s and autumnally crisp.

We’ll begin next week with a bit of rain, after which temperatures will begin to dip – highs will be in the upper 40s to about 50.

The following weekend is looking potentially interesting (note the four-letter word in the WeatherTable) and much colder. 

Beyond the forecast: The cold trend will continue into December as highs stay in the mid to upper 30s and lows will continue to dip well into the 20s.

Winter Weather Outlook: And, as promised, here is the official Monsoon Martin Winter Weather Outlook® for 2009-2010.  I’ve examined the data, I’ve crunched the numbers, I’ve consulted the models, and I’ve mulled my hunches.  Here’s what I came up with…

Over all, I expect that the upcoming winter will be a bit colder than normal, and we’ll have a bit more snowfall than normal.  (Snowfall totals for Berks and Lancaster Counties usually average in the range of upper 28” to 34”.  Philadelphia and suburbs are usually in the low to mid 20s.  This forecast is for Berks and Lancaster Counties only.)

December will begin with colder than normal temperatures and some wet snow by the 2^nd week of the month.  I think we could also see a small Nor’easter by mid-month.  Things dry out for a couple of weeks, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day may be snowy.                                  Predicted snowfall: 6”

January will begin with mild and rainy weather, followed by a period of relative pleasantness.  By mid-month we’ll see some snowstorms (or ice storms), and they’ll make an appearance at the frigid end of the month too.  Predicted snowfall: 12”

February looks bitterly cold, especially the first two weeks.  I see a couple of Nor’easter storms this month, either of which could bring blizzard-like conditions and dump in excess of a foot of snow in the region.  The month ends, and March begins, with moderating temperatures and rainy weather.  Predicted snowfall: 18”

March will bring another smaller storm, and then we’ll see a warm-up by mid-month.  This rapid thaw could bring significant flooding in some areas.  Predicted snowfall: 4”

The Recap: An active winter lies ahead: temperatures will be a bit below normal with some bitterly cold periods; snowfall will be above normal.  Look for snow totals in the vicinity of 40” by the end of the season.  I’m predicting 3-4 school cancellations and 5-6 delays this season.  Get those scrapers, shovels, and snow-blowers ready!

Monsoon

Saying there’s a great seafood restaurant to be found in Lancaster County is a bit like suggesting that it’s feasible to get an authentic cheesesteak in Mississippi, or that a white person can look good with dreadlocks.  Well, Topher, let your natty dreads fly and get your cracker ass down to Biloxi to order “one, widout,” because there is a great seafood restaurant in Lancaster County.

It’s called Kyma Seafood Grill (pronounced KEY-muh, from the Greek word for wave), and it opened on June 30^th, 2009.  Locale is 1640 North Reading Road (Route 272) in Denver at the former site of the Silk City Diner, in the same building as Johnny’s Steakhouse, which is located downstairs and is accessed at the rear of the building.

Brothers Nick and George Barakos, who own both Johnny’s and Kyma, basically gutted both the drab, pedestrian interior and the mediocre, family-restaurant menu of the Silk City Diner, leaving only the footprint of the former eatery.  The result is a sleek, modern décor with upscale touches: neon blue and red strip lights lining the top edge of the main dining room, wave murals and a dynamic, wave-inspired logo, and lots of dark wood.  The brightly-lit bar area is contrasted by more moderately lighted seating areas—booths and tables—accommodating about 160 patrons.

But it’s the fresh, masterfully prepared food at Kyma that will make us go back for more.  Kyma’s single-page, oversized menu includes both cold and hot appetizers, all in the $10 price range, as well as a variety of salads (in the $10-$15 range).  Kyma offers specialty drinks as well as more traditional fare, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.  (Mrs. Monsoon recommends the Fallen Mermaid martini—and making sure you have a ride home.)  Most impressive to me is the fact that they use Pepsi fountain products; most restaurants, to their detriment, use Coca-Cola or concoct their own, vaguely cola-like travesties.

The entrées include seafood and steaks—most of which are in the $15-$20 range, with some $25 or a bit more, depending on market price.  Check the menu for details, but entrée offerings include ahi tuna, halibut, tilapia, steak & lobster tail, and various shrimp and crab dishes.  Kyma is particularly known for its Colossal Crab Cake, if online reviews are to be believed.  The steaks are the same that are served at Johnny’s Steakhouse downstairs, so the quality and preparation are outstanding.  In addition, entrées come with choice of soup or salad and one side; sides include fries, roasted garlic mashed potato, steam veggies, rice pilaf, and more.

We visited Kyma on Saturday night, arriving at about 5:15.  We were greeted immediately and seated in a small side room that offered privacy but did not leave us feeling “cut off” from the rest of the patrons.  (We did not have to wait, but the place got crowded pretty quickly.  On our way out, we noticed several parties waiting to be seated.)  Our waitress, Madeline, was exceptional, offering drink and entrée ideas, answering questions, and chatting amiably about her own background and preferences.  The timing of salad and soup, then entrée, was exquisite.  She was also snappy with a Pepsi refill, bringing a replacement before I even had to ask.  The ambiance and professionalism of the staff left the impression of a popular dining spot in the city rather than a restaurant along a mostly industrial stretch of 272.

After the obligatory bread and butter, Mrs. Monsoon and I settled in and made our choices: I would have the Snow Crab Legs (1 ½ lbs. steamed, with butter, $22), with a cup of the Chesapeake Crab soup and a side of fries; she would have the Chilean Sea Bass ($25) with the roasted garlic mashed potato and a side salad.

Friends, yum.  The house vinaigrette on the side salad was very good; the thick-cut sea bass was grilled lightly and cooked to perfection.  The crab soup had a bit of “bite” to it, but I have a lightweight palate for hot n’ spicy fare, and I was just fine. 

The crab legs were freaking delicious.  They’d been “scored” and steamed flawlessly, so the shells cracked easily and yielded large chunks of succulent meat.  There was a little side of melted butter, too, but the sweet crab scarcely needed it.  The fries were out of this world—batter-dipped, crispy, and flavorful.

The food at Kyma is prepared just the way the menu indicates, with no unnecessary ingredients or culinary-school flourishes.  It is not fussy or pretentious, and the cook had not smeared old bay seasoning over everything.  Those who know me can vouch for my persnickety-hood, and have probably seen a minor hissy-fit or two when an otherwise palatable food is unexpectedly slathered with a Hollandaise mushroom gravy.  No such histrionics were needed at Kyma.

The food is well worth the money, but prices at Kyma are not cheap, so it’s not a place we’ll be able to afford on a regular basis.  (A couple should expect a check in the $60-$70 range, before gratuity.)  But I would highly recommend a visit for its delectable seafood and excellent service.

Kyma is open Tuesday through Tuesday from 4 to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10:30pm; and Sunday from 4 to 9pm; it is closed Mondays.  Reservations are only accepted during the week and may be made by calling 717-335-3833.

Directions can be MapQuested from their website, but here are the basics…

From Reading, take 222 South to the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Denver exit.  Make a right at the light at the end of the ramp.  At the next light, turn left onto 272 South.  Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.

From Lancaster, take 222 North to the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Denver exit.  Make a left at the light at the end of the ramp.  At the second light, turn left onto 272 South.  Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.

From Philadelphia and suburban points, take the Pennsylvania Turnpike west to exit 286.  After the toll plaza, continue straight for about a mile to the third traffic light.  Turn left onto 272 South.  Kyma will be on your right after about a mile.

Monsoon

I would like to take a moment to share with you fine people just how gosh-darned proud I am of my wife.  You see, not only is she an outstanding teacher and fantastic spouse, she is also—as many of you already know—a world-class artist.  If you’re not familiar, follow one of the links in this post and prepare to have your aesthetic world rocked.

This weekend, she will be showing at the 14^th annual Art on the Farm, which is held in a lovely, rustic 19^th century barn in Manheim, PA.  Today she was featured in an article on the Handmade in PA online journal, replete with a stunning picture of one of her pieces.

Back in the summer, she was included in the juried exhibition “From Raw to Refined: The Creative Path of Master Craftsmen of the Pennsylvania Guild” at the Reading Public Museum, and later this month (November 21^st and 22^nd) she was invited to participate in the 7^th annual Art of the Craft show, also at the museum.

She’s frickin’ awesome, people, and I just had to bring it to your attention.

Monsoon

Well.  30s and rainy last Thursday for the Renaissance Faire trip; 70s and sunny tomorrow.  Last week I was shivering in the Shire, and today the ladybugs were desperately flinging themselves against my window by the hundreds.  Could we have some “average” fall weather (highs in the low 60s and upper 50s; lows in the upper 30s or low 40s, with moderate precipitation)?  The answer is yes, by the weekend.  Here’s a quick update.

Thursday 10/22: pleasant and unseasonably warm with plenty of sunshine.  High 74, low 48.

Friday 10/23: overcast and a bit cooler with showers developing by late afternoon, continuing and becoming heavy at times overnight.                     High 62, low 54.

Saturday 10/24: cloudy and windy with a shower or thunderstorm early, then clearing, remaining breezy, and cooling off.  High 64, low 45.

Sunday 10/25: partly cloudy, seasonably cool and breezy.                           High 57, low 39.

Monday 10/26: partly cloudy and autumnally appropriate.                         High 60, low 41.

Tuesday 10/27: more clouds than sun; a few showers.  High 62, low 48.

Wednesday 10/28 & Thursday 10/29: partly to mostly cloudy and a bit warmer with some showers possible late Thursday.  Highs in the mid to upper 60s; lows in the upper 40s.

Friday 10/30 and Halloween weekend: cloudy, turning colder and perhaps a little rainy on Friday night (high 58, low 36).  Clear and colder on Saturday and Sunday, with highs in the mid to upper 40s, and lows in the low 30s.

The first week of November: More of the same.  Those of us who haven’t yet seen the first frost will see it this week.  As temperatures could dip into the upper 20s at night and there is at least one interesting system moving through, we could see some…no.  I dare not speak its name yet.

Monsoon

P.S. Major weather outlets have released (or are preparing to release) their 2009-2010 winter weather outlooks.  I am preparing such a package of prognostication and will release it by month’s end.

Happy Columbus Day!!

Not.  I hate him.

Well, before long folks will be grumbling about the weather skipping autumn altogether and heading right into winter…and if you take a look at the forecast below, you’ll see the grumblers may actually have a point.  Average highs for mid-October round here are in the mid 60s; average lows are in the low 40s.  Check out what we’re in for…

The weather:

Weather narrative: The weather feels more like late fall than early fall, with temperatures well below normal.  A bit of rain is possible every day from Wednesday through Sunday, but I’m seeing a lot of showers and drizzle rather than downpours and washouts, so outdoor plans for those days are still feasible.  (The Renaissance Faire trip for students on 10/15 is looking cloudy and cold right now, but should not be spoilt by an abundance of rain.)  There have even been some models producing a rain-snow solution for Friday night 10/16 in some outlying areas, but I think that’s highly unlikely to come to fruition.

By the latter part of next weekend, expect clearing and dry conditions with some warming toward seasonable levels by midweek. 

Beyond the forecast: The trend for the last week in October is for seasonable conditions (highs in the low 60s, lows in the upper 30s to low 40s) and some more precipitation.  I do think the first frost will hold off until the first or second week in November.

Monsoon