tonight i am going on an adventure to sleepy hollow where i will take the haunted hayride tour that follows the last footsteps of ichabod crane! this hayride goes through washington irving's tale as well as henry hudson's trek to find a northeast passage along the river. i will be meeting up with some friends to take this tour and then hopefully grab a bite to eat at our favorite haunt (pun intended) lefteris gyro in tarrytown. read about the full adventure tomorrow as i recap all things scary!!! have a happy halloween eve.
this is beth signing off.
mission will be accomplished tonight....or not!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
mission: enjoying the fall weather
fall in new york city is one of my favorite times of the year. the trees are bursting forth with color, the temperature is brisk, and i can't get enough of the seasonal flavors of pumpkin, apple, and yummy spices! so after being stuck inside for the past few days, due to the rain (lots and lots of rain), i saw the sun begin to shine again. i just had to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of the day, and so i took one of the kids i babysit (the other was in school) to find our adventure. we walked along riverside park on the west side and ended up at a little playground on 105th street. there was no one else there, and i saw that many leaves had fallen from the trees. while my little guy was playing on the playground equipment, i was gathering up a pile of leaves for him. he finally noticed what i was doing and immediately started picking up the leaves and tossing them in the air. then he was jumping in the pile, rolling around, laughing and getting so dirty! this is the best part of fall. being a kid, jumping in those leaves, throwing them up in the air and not caring that other people are looking at what you are doing. so, take a moment out of your week to just let loose and roll around in the leaves because before you know it winter will be here.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
Monday, October 26, 2009
mission: jack-o-lantern
last night, after a long (and emotional) day, i needed to relax! one of my favorite things to do during the fall season is to carve a pumpkin. i know that it is way cooler to get one of those pumpkin carving kits where you end up with obama's face on the side of your pumpkin. however, i like to kick it old school by sketching my own jack-o-lantern, which makes it more personal. so patrick and i geared up with newspaper, knives, and a spoon to begin our project. what ends up happening, as it has in years past, is patrick cuts out the top and we together begin to scoop out the seeds and stringy pumpkin pieces. then, i draw on the face, and shortly after patrick tells me i made the face too small. i remind him that he can cut around the lines i have made even though i think it will be ok. then i begin to carve a part of the face that is really too difficult for me. then patrick swoops in and says, "let me do it. i'll do it." i look at him with some disdain and reluctantly hand over the knife (even though secretly i am glad he wants to take over). after patrick has pretty much done all the hard work (hahaha) i place the candle in the pumpkin and look upon the it with pride. it is truly a good time for some marital bonding and i felt much more at peace with myself after this project. i think our pumpkin needs a good name. throw me some suggestions in your comments!
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
mission: bedell winery part 1
this is an adventure wine lovers, or anyone who needs a relaxing weekend, should take! the bedell winery is owned by michael lynn, a big name in the film industry, with kelly urbanik over-seeing the wine-making process at the present. bedell is situated on 78 acres of vineyards that i, along with patrick and my friends adam davie and laura jacobs, had the pleasure of strolling through and tasting some of the fruits of the harvest. we were able to do this because adam was once an intern at this beautiful winery, and so he gave us access to our behind-the-scenes tour.we first checked out the merlot grapes that were waiting to reach their peak flavor. the vines grow in a way in which the grapes hang freely and are completely exposed to the sun. i will post a video in the coming days to further explain this process. so stay tuned because it is fascinating.
next we went to the chardonnay grapes. these were my favorite because they were a little sweeter than the merlot grapes. however, the skins of these grapes are more bitter than the merlot and the texture was slightly squishier. still it was wonderful to pick a grape here and there, sampling them before they turned into wine.after walking through the vineyard, the four of us headed back to the cellar where kelly and her crew make the wine. this warehouse type facility has a permanent wine aroma and makes you want to drink a glass right then and there. adam showed us where they sort the grapes (the berries) from everything else like leaves and stems and eventually seeds. we also got to see how they remove sediment like dirt or other elements that happen to cling to the grapes, called lees, from the wine. lees is eventually placed back into the wine to add character. we saw some barrels where wine was fermenting, and other barrels where the wine was sitting and flavorizing to get the desired oak flavor that makes this wine special.
as adam was explaining each step of the way to us, i began to gain an appreciation for how much care and time the crew at bedell puts into making the perfect bottle of wine. those working there can put in around 75-100 hours a week during peak harvest. this is to ensure that a precise level of care is given to the grapes to produce a product that is the highest quality. and it is quite amazing if you ask me. the wines we tasted were so smooth and delicious. try the white taste '08 if you want an earthy yet light wine that pairs very nicely with brie and crostadas (available at the tasting bar). we also sampled the '07 chardonnay, '06 musee (a red blend that is very pleasing to the palate). but! if you want a wine that will knock your socks off, you must have the '07 reserve chardonnay. it is my favorite-buttery, oaky, with hints of citrus. it is smooth as rose petals falling from the sky like in american beauty says patrick. i say it is like drinking a glassful of perfection. for more information about the wines that i have mentioned or the others that bedell cellars creates go to www.bedellcellars.com. plan a trip today or make a weekend out of it. i recommend staying at the bartlett house b&b located in greenport, which is only a couple of miles away. while in greenport you can check out the frisky oyster for a delicious meal, have tea and scones at the greenport tea company, walk the charming streets of the downtown area, or take a ferry ride to shelter island. fall is an ideal time to visit because the foliage is spectacular and the harvest is in process. on the way home check out one of the local farmer's stands where you can purchase the last fruits of the season.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished october 25th.
special thanks to kelly urbanik, adam davie, and the bedell staff
Friday, October 23, 2009
mission: where the wild things are
what can i say? this beloved classic now turned into a feature film will captivate your heart. this movie was more emotional than i thought it would have been, but it was still fun loving and completely child-like. it brought me back to my days when i rolled down hills, played in leaves, built forts, climbed trees...oh wait! i still do those things.
maurice sendak's book was beautifully portrayed, and enhanced by the added dialogue (the book only has 10 sentences) and the whimsical soundtrack. i do not want to give too much away, but trust me, and the critics, when i say that it is worth seeing. you will fall in love with all things wild and you might shed a tear or two as you empathize with max and his monsterly subjects. so let the wild rumpus begin and go see this heart warming film.
if you live in the nyc area and want to grab a bite after your movie, my pick for the week is pio pio. there are a handful of these peruvian gems in the city, each unique in their own way. try the chicken pio and dip it into their famous green sauce. wash it down with the best sangria around. the pio pio i visited tonight is located on 10th avenue between 43rd and 44th. i felt like i was walking into the "wild things" fort! i frequent this restaurant and am never let down by the deliciousness of the food.
tomorrow i am off to the bedell winery located on the north fork of long island. i will be taking a back stage tour, thanks to my friend adam davie, to see how the wine is made and do some tasting right down in the cellars. i am excited to go back to this winery, which is my pick for the best on the whole northfork wine trail.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
maurice sendak's book was beautifully portrayed, and enhanced by the added dialogue (the book only has 10 sentences) and the whimsical soundtrack. i do not want to give too much away, but trust me, and the critics, when i say that it is worth seeing. you will fall in love with all things wild and you might shed a tear or two as you empathize with max and his monsterly subjects. so let the wild rumpus begin and go see this heart warming film.
if you live in the nyc area and want to grab a bite after your movie, my pick for the week is pio pio. there are a handful of these peruvian gems in the city, each unique in their own way. try the chicken pio and dip it into their famous green sauce. wash it down with the best sangria around. the pio pio i visited tonight is located on 10th avenue between 43rd and 44th. i felt like i was walking into the "wild things" fort! i frequent this restaurant and am never let down by the deliciousness of the food.
tomorrow i am off to the bedell winery located on the north fork of long island. i will be taking a back stage tour, thanks to my friend adam davie, to see how the wine is made and do some tasting right down in the cellars. i am excited to go back to this winery, which is my pick for the best on the whole northfork wine trail.
this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
mission: denver/colorado springs
this past weekend, i ventured to denver on the tails of patrick's business trip. i had never been out to colorado, and so i was super excited to visit a new state. we made plans to visit friends of ours from college who currently live in colorado springs, and then decided to spend at least one night together in denver at the westin hotel. whenever i stay in a westin, it is a comforting experience. every westin smells the same, and i can always count on them providing fruited water to refresh my dry palate. anyway, i digress.
after spending the first leg of my trip in first class, i flew into denver in coach. looking out the window, i was dazed and confused thinking to myself, "where are the mountains? i thought denver had mountains." of course i was facing east which is completely flat! so i turned my head and strained to find a view facing...mountains! they do exsist! they were snow capped and glorious. denver didn't let me down after all.
feeling excited about my quick tour of colorado, i met up with patrick in our terminal and then picked up our rental car for saturday and sunday (thanks tori, my darling sister who is an amazing travel agent that took care of our travel plans...she works for liberty travel and will totally hook you up on an amazing trip!) and we were off to colorado springs. for those of you who have never been to this part of the country...go!!!! it is definitely on my top 10 fave places to visit in the u.s.a. and there is so much to see and do. when in colorado springs check out the following things to do:
1. garden of the gods- it is an amazing rock formation. and nearby is a sheep preservation on a sloping hill. it is really cool and provides great pictures. you can just drive along or stop and hike the formations. look for the kissing camels and the balancing rock.
2. pike's peak- even though we did not get to go up this famous mountain of the west, i am pretty sure i will get back there to do so. you can drive up the precarious roads, hike it, or take a relaxing gondola ride up to the top. the locals suggest either or all ways to experience the mountain.
3. the broadmoor hotel- this is an old hotel with many nooks and crannies to explore. go to the golden bee, a reconstructed 1800's english pub. a ragtime singer/ piano player sings well known tunes every night and the patrons are encouraged to sing along with him. the beer is aflowing and the fish and chips are delish! you even get a little bee sticker to remember your visit.
4. taste the natural springs- if you love perrier or peligrino you might like the taste of these springs. i did not! but i tried it and the taste of iron flooded my mouth, but i was warned. it is called iron srpings so i got what i supposed to get! there are other springs in the mountains and are naturally fortified with the nutrients you need.
5. josh and jon's ice cream parlor- yum! i heart ice cream and this is the best of have ever had! i ordered the oatmeal cookie and it was bursting with flavor! it is a local favorite and we caught up with some fellow asburians (that's where i went to college...asbury in wilmore, kentucky). you can sample any of the flavors and, you will fall in love.
there are many other things to do in colorado springs, but these are the ones that made a lasting impression on me. of course spending time with our dear friends, josh and jenn whiteman, made our experience so great. we are looking forward to spending more time with them out there.
after leaving the whiteman's on sunday afternoon, patrick drove us back up to denver. i didn't get to stay there very long, but what i did see, i loved. here are some fun things to do and see in downtown denver:
1. larimer street- this street has many restaurants to tempt you. it is a lovely street to stroll down while strands of lights sway romantically above your head.
2. the keg- we went to this restaurant located on 19th street. try the goat cheese appetizer! it is so creamy and delicious, and it is not too filling. paired with crunchy pieces of garlic toast and a tomato basil salsa, it was the perfect way to begin dinner. for your entree, get the filet mignon, it is what they are known for! they also have keg sized wine glasses, which is 9 oz, and a good size if you don't want that full second glass of wine. the atmosphere is industrial, rustic, and has a large fireplace to add a homey feeling to the restaurant. the service was also great...we had an amazing waitress named autumn.
3. the coors brewery- take a tour and inhale the beer throughout your visit. i didn't get to go, but i hear it is a fun time if you like beer.
4. 16th street mall- this is an outdoor pedestrian mall to satisfy avid shoppers. i almost turned my car down that street, but quickly realized that was not allowed. the westin is located next to this mall. i love westin!
so that is a quick overview of what to do and see. i loved my trip and i hope to get out there again soon.
that is all for now, this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished on october 19th
after spending the first leg of my trip in first class, i flew into denver in coach. looking out the window, i was dazed and confused thinking to myself, "where are the mountains? i thought denver had mountains." of course i was facing east which is completely flat! so i turned my head and strained to find a view facing...mountains! they do exsist! they were snow capped and glorious. denver didn't let me down after all.
feeling excited about my quick tour of colorado, i met up with patrick in our terminal and then picked up our rental car for saturday and sunday (thanks tori, my darling sister who is an amazing travel agent that took care of our travel plans...she works for liberty travel and will totally hook you up on an amazing trip!) and we were off to colorado springs. for those of you who have never been to this part of the country...go!!!! it is definitely on my top 10 fave places to visit in the u.s.a. and there is so much to see and do. when in colorado springs check out the following things to do:
1. garden of the gods- it is an amazing rock formation. and nearby is a sheep preservation on a sloping hill. it is really cool and provides great pictures. you can just drive along or stop and hike the formations. look for the kissing camels and the balancing rock.
2. pike's peak- even though we did not get to go up this famous mountain of the west, i am pretty sure i will get back there to do so. you can drive up the precarious roads, hike it, or take a relaxing gondola ride up to the top. the locals suggest either or all ways to experience the mountain.
3. the broadmoor hotel- this is an old hotel with many nooks and crannies to explore. go to the golden bee, a reconstructed 1800's english pub. a ragtime singer/ piano player sings well known tunes every night and the patrons are encouraged to sing along with him. the beer is aflowing and the fish and chips are delish! you even get a little bee sticker to remember your visit.
4. taste the natural springs- if you love perrier or peligrino you might like the taste of these springs. i did not! but i tried it and the taste of iron flooded my mouth, but i was warned. it is called iron srpings so i got what i supposed to get! there are other springs in the mountains and are naturally fortified with the nutrients you need.
5. josh and jon's ice cream parlor- yum! i heart ice cream and this is the best of have ever had! i ordered the oatmeal cookie and it was bursting with flavor! it is a local favorite and we caught up with some fellow asburians (that's where i went to college...asbury in wilmore, kentucky). you can sample any of the flavors and, you will fall in love.
there are many other things to do in colorado springs, but these are the ones that made a lasting impression on me. of course spending time with our dear friends, josh and jenn whiteman, made our experience so great. we are looking forward to spending more time with them out there.
after leaving the whiteman's on sunday afternoon, patrick drove us back up to denver. i didn't get to stay there very long, but what i did see, i loved. here are some fun things to do and see in downtown denver:
1. larimer street- this street has many restaurants to tempt you. it is a lovely street to stroll down while strands of lights sway romantically above your head.
2. the keg- we went to this restaurant located on 19th street. try the goat cheese appetizer! it is so creamy and delicious, and it is not too filling. paired with crunchy pieces of garlic toast and a tomato basil salsa, it was the perfect way to begin dinner. for your entree, get the filet mignon, it is what they are known for! they also have keg sized wine glasses, which is 9 oz, and a good size if you don't want that full second glass of wine. the atmosphere is industrial, rustic, and has a large fireplace to add a homey feeling to the restaurant. the service was also great...we had an amazing waitress named autumn.
3. the coors brewery- take a tour and inhale the beer throughout your visit. i didn't get to go, but i hear it is a fun time if you like beer.
4. 16th street mall- this is an outdoor pedestrian mall to satisfy avid shoppers. i almost turned my car down that street, but quickly realized that was not allowed. the westin is located next to this mall. i love westin!
so that is a quick overview of what to do and see. i loved my trip and i hope to get out there again soon.
that is all for now, this is beth signing off.
mission accomplished on october 19th
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
mission: first post
so here it is! my very own blog. i was inspired to begin a blog while i was on one of my travels in santa monica, ca. during my stay, my husband, patrick, was busy working while i had the freedom to explore los angeles. after wandering along the santa monica pier and checking out the 3rd street promenade, which has amazing shops and live entertainment, i was done perusing the streets by myself. not yet ready to return to downtown l.a. i decided to go see a movie. that movie, julie & julia, sent a spark in my soul! i wanted to blog about my experiences in life just like julie did as she cooked her way through julia child's the art of french cooking. i want to offer advice, share a silly story, or just relate to others who share my passions in life!
after the movie was over, i began to brainstorm about my blog some more. this past summer patrick, and i traveled a lot. it is a big part of our lives, and so i will be sharing the many adventures i will take in the future. i also wanted to share my passion for good food. wherever we go, patrick and i make sure we research our food options. we love food...correction. we love good food. living here in nyc helps with this particular subject, and so i will be sharing some great spots that i find here in the city and beyond. finally, i wanted to just tell stories about my life. currently, i am working as a nanny on the upper west side in manhattan. there are many things i encounter throughout my week, and poor patrick has to listen to all my crazy stories at the end of the day. usually, he just wants to take a nap on our subway ride home, and i, being such a typical woman, have to share every living detail of my day. this blog may serve as a good buffer for this issue.
and, so i leave you good night. i will be posting pics and occasional videos to enhance my daily missions. i hope that should you follow my blog, you will offer up your own stories and experiences with me.
this is beth signing out.
mission accomplished.
after the movie was over, i began to brainstorm about my blog some more. this past summer patrick, and i traveled a lot. it is a big part of our lives, and so i will be sharing the many adventures i will take in the future. i also wanted to share my passion for good food. wherever we go, patrick and i make sure we research our food options. we love food...correction. we love good food. living here in nyc helps with this particular subject, and so i will be sharing some great spots that i find here in the city and beyond. finally, i wanted to just tell stories about my life. currently, i am working as a nanny on the upper west side in manhattan. there are many things i encounter throughout my week, and poor patrick has to listen to all my crazy stories at the end of the day. usually, he just wants to take a nap on our subway ride home, and i, being such a typical woman, have to share every living detail of my day. this blog may serve as a good buffer for this issue.
and, so i leave you good night. i will be posting pics and occasional videos to enhance my daily missions. i hope that should you follow my blog, you will offer up your own stories and experiences with me.
this is beth signing out.
mission accomplished.
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