REAL Time Travlr

Mommy & Me Day 1 @ Grape Arbor B&B, North East, Pennsylvania. 

After driving something like 10 hours (we got lost O_o) to redeem our Living Social Escapes deal for Grape Arbor B&B, my mom and I arrived in North East Pennsylvania to have a relaxing girls weekend. Our suite is pretty plush with elegant Americana decor with one bedroom that had a half bath and a smaller bedroom (cause mom snores like a bear) and a full bath down the hall. We had it all to ourselves :)

We started our next day with a FANTASTIC three course breakfast of apple crumb pie, fresh fruit, fresh harvest rolls, and a choice of eggs florentine or french toast with a side of bacon. Filled up and energized we took a walk through town and found some antique shops to satisfy our internal urge to shop. We found some vintage earrings and bracelets, kitchenware, and of course vintage luggage at Marks Coins & Collectibles on Main Street, Olde Times Sake and Ye Olde Vineyard on Lake Street! Tomorrow… mom is thinking about going back for some lamps. 

Here’s a listing of some vendors local to the Erie/North East area of Pennsylvania:  http://www.pavendors.com/antiques/eriecounty.htm

Next while I took a little afternoon siesta, mom got an hour massage back at the B&B. When she was done getting her rub down we had an afternoon wine, cheese & chocolate pairing at South Shore Wine Company. We tried 6 wines made from grapes and fruit made in one of the many rolling vineyards in the area. (Fun Fact: Welch’s Grapes come from here.)

Afterwards, just up the road we soaked up the wine with some comfort food from Freeport, a local family restaurant on Lake road. Behind it we enjoyed the majestic view of the sun filtering through the clouds at Freeport beach. 

Great Times at the EscapeMaker.com Travel & Food Fair! 

It was a beautiful day for a weekend trip upstate this past Saturday, but since I couldn’t make it there- I invited a friend to join me at the Escapemaker.com Food & Travel fair in downtown, Brooklyn. 

We learned about the 300 vineyards surrounding the Finger Lakes and tasted MANY oftheir fine wines, tried a variety of maple syrups from Vermont, and who knew that Cabot Cheese of Vermont had a gluten free Cheddar that tastes PHENOMENAL?! 

Every booth had something to try from their areas and really lovely people ready to tell you about the many B&B deals that us city folk take for granted. FYI: If you’re looking for quiet and don’t want to go far, check out Warwick, NY about 50miles from the city. Greyhound and Amtrak stop in the town’s center and there’s Dorothy the innkeeper that will even pick you up from the station. 

There were panels about green travel and also local spotlights on food and festivals from Brooklyn as well. Like the locally made honey, smoked salmon jerky, Empire State Beer, and cheese made by a beautiful Frenchman named Pierre that you can get on 7th avenue (I think I have a crush on his cheese). 

*sorry about the photos or lack there of.. I was wine tasting ;)

The Museum of Unnatural History.

In the Columbia Heights shopping district, nestled between Pollo Campero and Julia’s Empanadas is The Museum of Unnatural History. Free to enter and well air conditioned, you’ll find such oddities as “Unicorn Burps”, Future Amber (a bottle of tree sap), and an account of the planets that were kicked out of the solar system and why. Compleatly tongue in cheek, the museum is a great place to lighten up a date or bring some kids. Proceeds from anything you purchase goto 826 DC, which provides outing, tutoring, and mentorship to children and teens. 

Location: 

3233 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20010

Columbia Heights Metro Stop

I don’t know if we manifested it or wished really hard, but there it was the coveted Red Hook Lobster Truck parked in front of Trader Joe’s on Atlantic Ave. and Court St. The woman taking orders explained it wasn’t planned for them to be there, but here they were. 

The lobster is fresh caught and transported six hours to New York City from Maine and given to you in a warm roll with two options: a cold salad style Maine sandwich or a hot buttered Connecticut style sandwich. 

We had it Connecticut style for $16, a reasonable splurge considering it’s always someone’s birthday everywhere in the world. Lobster Rolls are how we toast to them.

Happy Birthday! 

Find out where they are today by following them on twitter: @lobstertruckny 

http://redhooklobster.com

Mariaville Lake Bed & Breakfast:

Last week my friend and I were hell bent on getting out of town, away from the noise and the tension that was threatening to explode from within. I remembered I had a Living Social deal I was saving for such an occasion for two nights at Mariaville Lake Bed & Breakfast and a few phone calls, a borrowed car, and a 3 hour drive later we were there. 

Innkeepers Rick & Lorrie were awesome. Rick, a natural born storyteller told us about the time legendary musicians from Phish, and The Grateful Dead that had stayed at the B&B and his wife Lorrie was so lovely, she made the fantastic breakfast daily and didn’t laugh when we said we wanted to go row boating in the cold. 

We ended up in the Colonial Room, which has a homey presidential log cabin feel to it and windows facing the front and sides of the estate. The bed was so comfy and the room so quiet, I fell into what I describe as a much needed comatose state at 9:30pm, way too early for a city slicker like me… but I couldn’t fight it. 

The next day we had breakfast bright and early at 8am which was delicious and fixed with care, complete with coffee, tea, juice, eggs, cakes, fruit, and a side of meat. If you have allergies or dietary restriction you just let Rick or Lorrie know before you arrive and they will make sure to have something equally spectacular to eat. 

My next move after breakfast was to enjoy the fire in the sitting room where I would do some reading and drink alittle more tea. On the second day, we thought it would be fun to go out on the water. 

Rowing a boat  is hard and Mariaville Lake is pretty big, but once we got the hang of it, we went from end to end without any issues. The B&B also has canoes and kayaks for you too choose from, but since I’ve never been in a boat I chose the most stable option. 

The entire experience showed how important it is to step away from the hamster wheel and relax your mind, body, and soul. I’m already planning on going back…. hopefully I’ll see you there!

For more information, visit: http://www.mariavillelakebb.com/ 

Visit us on facebook for additional photos. 

Photos and article by TastyKeish.

FILM REVIEW: KINGS OF PASTRY (Documentary, 2009)

In every profession there is an elite level that only a few have reached. In Lyon, France 16 pastry chefs compete every four years to be known as an M.O.F or Meilleurs Ouvriers de France competition (Best Craftsmen in France).

They train for years and some return after many repeat trials in what essentially is the Pastry Chef’s Olympics. Families are affected and hearts are broken, but it seems to be worth every hardship. 

If you would like a real understanding of why France is home to some of THE BEST pastries in the world, watch “Kings of Pastry”. 

Now streaming on Netflix.