Katie and Adam's Wedding!

Welcome!

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Hello, and welcome to the official website for the marriage of Katie Carlson and Adam Hunt! We've assembled a great deal of information for you to peruse; poke around the links, leave a comment, practice pronouncing "Newfoundland" correctly, or sign the Guestbook. (You can leave comments and sign the guestbook by choosing "Anonymous," but don't forget to include your name somewhere in there!)

Our Registries

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We are currently registered at Target, Macy's, and Vanberia. Please consider taking the time to consult these registries, as they will deliver here to our apartment in New York. (Trucking/shipping gifts from Newfoundland and Iowa would be undesirable in the extreme!)

Target: http://www.target.com/registry/wedding/36ETJOC7P6XBQ

Macy's: http://www1.macys.com/registry/wedding/guest/?registryId=3971

Vanberia: http://www.vanberiadecorah.com/registries/carlsonhunt.html

Newfoundland as Highly-Defensible Bastion of Civilization

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zombie apocalypse How it's all right

How to Say "Newfoundland"

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As Newfoundlanders, we tend to collectively gripe a fair bit. The weather in Newfoundland is typically "not good." Other topics that receive a similar qualifier are the economy, the government, our place in Canada, and the prevalence of "Newfie jokes."

But one legitimate gripe we have is with the (admittedly innocent) mangling of our island's name. Labrador escapes this fate, being named after a lovely Portuguese explorer and pronounced exactly like it is spelled. Newfoundland, possessing a name formed from three perfectly common words, is nonetheless subject to constant mispronunciation. Most Newfoundlanders patiently bear it, usually only correcting those with whom they are on close terms, lest they come off as arrogant.

This page is dedicated to educating, impartially and without judgment, those CFAs (Come From Aways) who will be visiting the island for the upcoming event in order that they might impress the Newfies with their flawless enunciation of a place name consisting of a common adjective, a past-tense verb, and a noun.

Mispronunciations generally fall prey to two problems: the last two syllables. Almost everyone can say "new" correctly. Let us first deal with the "land," as this is the most common error that causes the vocalization of the place name to fail.

Say "land." It rhymes with "hand" and "band," yes? That is how it must be pronounced in the word Newfoundland. Not as a "lind" or "lund", but "land." (A common trick that some Newfoundlanders employ when trying to teach this is that the island's name should rhyme with "understand," forming the almost-mnemonics "Newfoundland, understand?" and "Understand: Newfoundland!") If you can successfully sound out the vowel in "land," then your pronunciation will be good enough that most Newfies will never bring it up.

Advanced speakers will want, however, to perfect their naming skills by mastering the subtlety of the tricky middle syllable: "found." As opposed to "land," "found" should not be pronounced as the past tense of "find." Nor should it be pronounced as "fund" or "find" (which is common in attempts labeled by Islanders as "quite good enough"). Remember that the final syllable carries the stress of the word, so the vowel sound in "found" is practically nonexistent, rendering something like: "noo-fnd-LAND." In practical use, the d-sound of "found" is barely audible as well (although it is there), so one can safely say "noo-fn-LAND" and impress all the Newfoundlanders one meets with one's worldliness.

The demonym "Newfoundlander" is formed exactly the same way, by killing the vowel sound in the "found" and stressing "land." (And is almost universally preferable to the term "Newfie," which is regarded by many - but by no means all - Newfoundlanders as pejorative and vaguely insulting.)

Congratulations! You are now ready to visit NoofndLAND!

Guestbook

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Please sign the guestbook! (i.e.: Leave a comment below. It's sort of inelegant, but it works.)

Don't forget to sign your name if you're signing in as "Anonymous"!

All About Newfoundland!

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Newfoundland's history is long and fascinating. Newfoundland is a land of contrasts. Newfoundland is full of people who did things throughout history. Newfoundland, like most islands, is surrounded by water on all sides. Newfoundland has various types of flora and fauna. The Newfoundland economy is based on the goods and services its people can provide, as well as those which occur naturally. Newfoundland has abundant water, land, and air. The soil of Newfoundland is poorly suited to growing corn, or as the Indians called it, maize. The population of Newfoundland is exactly the same as the number of people living there. Newfoundland joined Canada at some point in the past. Newfoundland has a flag, which represents some quality or qualities of Newfoundland or its people. Also, Newfoundland was discovered by Europeans, also at some point in the past, possibly quite a long time ago. In conclusion, Newfoundland is a land of contrasts.

For more in-depth discussions of these and other valid points regarding Newfoundland, please read these Wikipedia articles in their entirety. There will likely be a test for all those not born on the island.

The Island of Newfoundland
The Province of Newfoundland & Labrador
The City of St. John's
The Flag of Newfoundland

The Honeymoon

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We are currently planning on postponing our honeymoon until next summer, when we plan to take a trip to Europe. Any hints, tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated!

The Reception (St. John's)

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Immediately following the ceremony, the reception will consist of a sit-down dinner in the bungalow, catered by Red Oak Catering. Following the dinner, a general dance and party are planned.

The Reception (Decorah)

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A second reception is planned for Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon at the Dug Road Inn in Decorah, Iowa, for those unable to reach Newfoundland for the wedding ceremony and reception.

The Ceremony

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The ceremony is planned for the afternoon of Friday, August 20, 2010. The venue is the beautiful bungalow grounds in the centre of Bowring Park, in St. John's, Newfoundland.

The wedding party is to be very small, consisting of Katie, Adam, Katie's Matron of Honor (Abigail Halder), and Adam's Best Meg (Meghan Hodych).

The music for the ceremony will be performed by the Pachelbel Trio, and the ceremony itself will be officiated by Dr. Michelle Sullivan. Photography will be handled by Mr. Darrell Sharpe. Selected photos from our Engagement Session with Darrell can be seen here on his website.

Getting There and Away!

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Newfoundland, being an island, is only accessible by either air or sea.

The hilarious land/sea route from, say, our apartment in New York City to my dad's house in Newfoundland is at the end of this link.

Needless to say, we presume that most of our out-of-province guests will be flying into St. John's International Airport (IATA code "YYT").

The most important thing to focus on when searching for flights is to REMAIN CALM. Having lived in Toronto, Taiwan, and New York, I (Adam) understand how alarming it is to look for flights to YYT and find that the cheapest option is more than $900. (There was one point at which the cheapest flight I could find from Toronto to St. John's was about $1500!) It's vital to remember two facts: 1) you don't need to book your flight today, and 2) flight prices fluctuate. This page will be updated and e-mails will be sent if I find any good deals, which are bound to show up given time.

The most practical option for many of our American friends and relatives who plan on attending is to fly out of Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA code "EWR"). Continental operates the only direct flight from the United States to St. John's out of Newark, and the fares are generally cheaper than flights with stopovers in Montreal, Toronto, or Halifax. So, ostensibly, if you could wiggle a cheap flight from say, Minneapolis to Newark (which is right next to us in Manhattan), then the cost can come down significantly.

We're aware that Newfoundland is a rock jutting from the cold North Atlantic Ocean, and that airline prices may be prohibitively high, but we are also optimistic that we can work together to find solutions if we want to! Give it time, keep an eye out for deals, and keep in touch, either by e-mail or via the comment system below, and we can all work together to make this happen!

To start, below is a collection of links to various airlines and travel websites to give us some focus!

Continental (operates the only direct flight from the U.S. to St John's)
Air Canada (hold a near-monopoly on the Canadian air travel industry, and it shows)
WestJet (an alternative to Air Canada)
CanJet (another alternative to Air Canada)
Porter Airlines (a small airline that I've never heard of)
Expedia (good for canvassing lots of options)
FareCompare (a meta-search site that accesses lots of other travel sites)
Priceline (if it's good enough for William Shatner, then it's good enough for me)

The Couple

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Adam and Katie met in Taiwan, where he was working as Director of the Rainbow Time Program at Cornel Language School. Katie, a new ESL teacher, quickly became close friends with Adam, who had been in Taiwan for two years previously.

Soon the friendship blossomed into something more, and Adam and Katie found a level of companionship and teamwork neither expected to find so far from home.

The duo eventually settled on New York as their destination in North America, where they happily reside in the north Manhattan neighbourhood of Inwood.

The Bride

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Katie Carlson is Adam's favourite person.

Born and raised in Decorah, Iowa, Katie possesses two bachelor's degrees, one in Psychology and another in Education. She is certified to teach in Iowa and New York State. Katie has lived in the U.S., Australia and Taiwan. She is a fan and collector of all things Hello Kitty, and surprises no one when she affirms that she one day wants a West Highland White Terrier (the only dog breed that can be fairly said to look like Hello Kitty).

Katie currently teaches at the Metropolitan Montessori School on Manhattan's Upper West Side. She is currently completing her Montessori certification training.

The Groom

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Adam Hunt is Katie's favorite person.

Born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, Adam possesses a bachelor's honours degree and a master's degree, both in English Language & Literature. He is an editor and writer by trade. Adam has lived in Canada, Taiwan, and the United States. An avid video gamer and voracious reader, Adam proudly displays a collection of well-used action figures from his childhood to anyone who will stand still long enough.

Adam is currently employed as a development editor and project manager with a small educational publisher in Brooklyn.

The Engagement

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A lovely trip home to Newfoundland set the stage for our adorable tale. Adam had laid the plans months before, enlisting the help of his father and step-mother in canvassing the local St. John's diamond merchants for suitable rings. When the couple were in Newfoundland for a long-overdue summer visit, Adam and his family were busily whispering plans whenever Katie was out of the room. A trip to a restaurant at the Avalon Mall masked Adam's trip to the diamond store to decide on the perfect ring.

Adam and Katie had previously discussed holding their wedding at Bowring Park in St. John's, so he took her to see the park and the bungalow with his sister Jessica and Jessica's boyfriend, Vincent. Originally, Adam had planned to propose to Katie upon their return to New York, but his patience proved too weak, and he resolved to do it in the park itself, returning with his father and step-mother on the pretext of "Dad needing to take pictures of the park with his new camera." Maneuvering Katie below the park's "Weeping Willow" (which Katie ardently denied as being a proper willow), Adam turned to her and said, "Would you like to know a secret?" Katie responded, "Yes." Adam said, "In five seconds I'm going to ask you to marry me." Katie responded, "No way."

Adam responded by bending the knee and giving her the ring he had chosen. He still isn't quite sure that he even got the whole question out. It was sort of, "Will you ma-" before Katie said, "YES!"

She was very happy. And so was he.

And they all lived happily together ever after.

Places to Eat in St. John's!

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Newfoundland tends to be kind of peculiar in a lot of things, and our food is no exception. Our Midwestern American friends will be happy to know that in Newfoundland, deep-frying is the rule, not the exception, and that most of our traditional dishes are heavy on the butter, flour, and sugar, not unlike those of our Nordic cousins.

Having a very close cultural relationship with England, Ireland, and Scotland, arguably our most famous dish is "fish 'n' chips" (fried fish and french fries). Such famed St. John's eateries as Ches's and The Big R are typical destinations for this local favourite, as well as having a plethora of other foods for those disinclined to partake of the bounty of the oceans. Picky diners, like Adam, can enjoy other Newfoundland favourites, such as hot turkey sandwiches, fried chicken, fries-dressing-and-gravy, or the inimitable poutine (Katie's 'dirty feed' of choice).

Pizza is a perennial favourite of many Newfoundlanders, but it may not be immediately familiar to many of the Come-From-Aways. Not limp and half-cooked like New York pizza, not thick and doughy like Chicago pizza, not thin and crispy like Mabe's Pizza, pizza in St. John's tends to be thick, but not too doughy, loaded to the brim with toppings, cheese and sauce, and carrying about 500 calories in a slice. The best-known and oldest pizza shop (now a province-wide chain) is Peter's Pizza, the original store being on Patrick Street (just up the road from where Adam was baptized). However, relative newcomers such as Stoggers', Pizza Supreme, Pizza Pros (Adam's preference during high school), and George-Street-convenient Sal's Pizza are all fantastic options as well. Several pizzerias also offer the apparently-unique-to-Eastern-Canada donair, meat with a sweet sauce, tomatoes, and onions wrapped in a flatbread. Guaranteed to hurt your heart.

Newfoundland has its share of regional oddities, to be sure, but never let it be said that we lack in Canada-wide franchises. The most famous of these, which many of you have heard Adam lament for while in Taiwan or New York, is Tim Horton's. Forget Dunkin Donuts. Forget Starbucks. Forget (the atrociously-spelled) Krispy Kreme. Forget it all. Tim Horton's is the king of decently-priced coffee and donuts.

For those of us who prefer beer to coffee, another Canadian icon, Don Cherry, has established two branches of his self-titled pub/restaurant in St. John's and neighbouring Mount Pearl. Standard pub fare, burgers, wings, etc. Similar family-style restaurants include Jungle Jim's and Fog City.

Of course, no one could write a "where to eat in St. John's" article without mentioning what is affectionately known to Townies as "the dirty bird." We speak, of course, of fried chicken. Most Americans (and Canadians, for that matter) will immediately think of Kentucky Fried Chicken (or KFC, for those for whom economy of language is paramount - heaven knows we don't want to waste time on those three extra syllables). But you are about to learn of a new way. ~~A better way.~~ (That's ridiculous, sorry. It's still fried chicken, and it's awful for you.) We present, Mary Brown's. (We can only assume the preponderance of apostrophes in business-naming comes from the fact that our very city possesses a possessive.) The chicken is chicken. The taters are excellent. (Special bonus for the curious: Adam worked at the Mary Brown's in the Avalon Mall, and has delightful stories, if only you were to ask him.)

Those looking for more exotic fare than fried chicken, pizza, and chips will find the going rather rough in St. John's. The primary source of Indian food is India Gate. [We can't believe they have a website!] Thai food is represented by Taste of Thai. Sushi-lovers have more options, such as Sun Sushi and Basho. Of course, there's plenty of Chinese take-out available, courtesy of Loong Wah, Magic Wok, and Lucky's Restaurant, to name but a few, and you might even get a chance to try Chicken Balls! Nomnomnom!

Breakfast is the meal of preference for many Newfoundlanders, and you'll find out why during your stay. Toutons (pronounced 'tow-tins,' with an "ow" like "flower"), pancakes with butter and molasses (none of this girly, Katie-favoured maple syrup for us), frying ham ("Canadian bacon"? Seriously?), and fish and brewis (Sarah's favourite, gack) will provide an adequate education on Newfoundland's culinary heritage. While many argue that the best breakfast is a home-cooked one, delicious variations on these themes can be found at the Bagel Cafe, Classic Cafe, and the imported-from-Quebec Cora's (which focuses more on healthy breakfasts, loaded with fruit; not terribly Newfoundlandy, but delicious nonetheless).

Rounding out the list of edibles in the city are the higher-end restaurants, mostly to be found downtown, some of which specialize in gourmet takes on traditional Newfoundland fare, while others are pure French or Italian cuisine. We're not very familiar with most of these places, having not lived in St. John's for the better part of a decade, but names commonly tossed around as being "worth it" are Bianca's, Oliver's, Portobello's, Magnum & Stein's (again, the apostrophes!), Blue on Water, and Aqua.

A handy set of reviews can be found at the website of one of Newfoundland's foremost food critics (and former CBC weatherman), Karl Wells. Also, the ever-useful TripAdvisor has a great commenting system, too. (And India Gate shows up as the #1 restaurant in the city! Yay!)

Come hungry!

(Did I miss anything? Comments go in the comments box!)

Things to Do in St. John's!

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While certainly no New York, St. John's and its environs have a number of fascinating and fun things to see and do while visiting the island.

No trip to St. John's can be said to be complete without the obligatory trip to Signal Hill. The hike from downtown can be arduous for those unused to strenuous activity, but the view of the city on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other will take your breath away regardless!

Likewise, the second stop for most visitors will be Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America. Here you can see a fine example of Newfoundland's rugged terrain, with majestic waves crashing dramatically on the rocks a hundred feet below your feet. (If you're lucky, as Katie and Adam were on their last trip there, you might even see whales in the ocean just offshore!)

A third must-see that Adam grew up with is now, sadly, a no-see: Fort Amherst. This site, built in the 1700s and refurbished as a gun battery during the Second World War, has fallen into disrepair and is currently off-limits to the public. (Well, you can still walk out as far as the lighthouse, but the actual fort itself has crumbled to terrifyingly-dangerous dust and rebar.)

Of course, all our guests will join us at Bowring Park for the wedding ceremony and reception, but the park is large enough to warrant a second look, with such highlights as the duck pond, the Peter Pan Statue, the Caribou Statue commemorating Newfoundland's war dead, the Fighting Newfoundlander, and numerous flowerbeds and gorgeous photo-op locations.

For those who like a little culture in their vacations, St. John's, the oldest English-founded settlement in North America, does not disappoint. The provincial museum was moved in 2005 from its longtime home on Duckworth Street to The Rooms, a controversial building placed near another local masterpiece, the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (or simply "The Basilica" to locals). A more modern museum can be found halfway up Signal Hill, at the Johnson Geo Centre, which celebrates the fascinating geography and geology of the island.

Downtown St. John's is the oldest part of the city, and is full of quaint shops, interesting memorials, and old buildings, but when most people say "Downtown," they're usually referring to George Street and its surroundings, which is renowned as having the "most bars per square foot" of any street on the continent. A walking tour of downtown is sure to be on everyone's itinerary, both during the day and (for the more adventurous) at night.

There are also plenty of opportunities to get out of the city and away, whether it's for a bird- or whale-watching boat tour, a trip on the Scademia, or a quick jaunt out to Middle Cove for a fire.

You will love visiting St. John's, we promise.

Places to Stay in St. John's!

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St. John's is home to a wide array of lodging options for visitors.

Those seeking a typical metropolitan hotel will find themselves very much at home in the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland (formerly the Fairmont Newfoundland, formerly the Hotel Newfoundland). Also popular among business travelers are the Delta St. John's and that Newfoundland oddity, The Battery.

A search on TripAdvisor reveals also that the highest-rated hotel in the city is the Courtyard by Marriot, a brand-new hotel located on Duckworth Street in the heart of the downtown area.

Of course, no discussion of lodging in St. John's is complete without considering the plethora of adorable and widely-praised Bed-and-Breakfasts throughout the city.

It's hard to go wrong with so many options!