Because I said so…

Time with a Treasured Friend

2011-03-18T08:09:00.003-04:00

Having moved to Florida 23 years ago from my home state of New York, I am always thrilled when an old friend or family member comes to vacation in Florida. Recently, my college sorority sister, Marla, and her lovely daughter Livia (who I had only seen on Facebook), and I rendezvoused at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples.

The beach was beautiful and the skies were sunny and bright blue. We sat for hours, talking and reconnecting while Liv played in the Gulf and collected shell after shell. I came to learn that Marla’s parents (Massachusetts snowbirds) are regulars to this state park. In fact, her dad had a camera the size of a beach ball!

While we spent the day catching up, her parents were up the way at Wiggins Pass, photographing the birds, wildlife and fisherman. His images can be seen on his Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelshots/

I cherish the time I spent with my friend, and the fact that Florida has so many treasured parks to share with the world.

Footnote: I am a Board Member of Friends of Florida State Parks, a non profit citizen support organization formed to support the state park system in Florida. To share your own state park story and show your support for Florida State Parks, go to www.lovemystateparks.com and share!

Tailgating Done Right

2011-03-18T08:03:00.001-04:00

This is what tailgating looks like in Gainesville. Orange and Blue and red cup craziness starting most weekends at 8am! Lucky for the Cushings, my friends the Spiros have been loyal tailgaters for more years than they probably care to admit. With a longtime reserved "spot" and a gang of fellow Gators, they are die hard fans. Have game will travel. Thanks Chris and Rach for making our first season memorable. Who is it that's in college, our kids or us? ;)

Beyond Gator Nation

2010-10-28T07:05:00.004-04:00

Is there anything beyond Gator Nation, you might ask? It’s hard to see past the orange and blue of the University of Florida, but if you dare, you will find a charming, hip, cultural and natural Florida town. After more than a half dozen trips to the 352 since my daughter has become a Gator, I have ventured to explore this enduring city. Upon some research, I learned that Gainesville has survived more than its share of tragedies. Struck in 1851 by a fire, 1903 by a cyclone, and 1936 by a tornado, this thriving college town has sustenance.

Hosted by Visit Gainesville, the County’s official tourism organization, this year’s FACVB Annual Meeting (Florida Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus) was a downtown treat. With our meetings held at the Hampton Inn & Suites on First Street, the pavered playground of restaurants, nightclubs, boutiques, government buildings and historical architecture was a delight. The first night of my arrival for the welcome reception at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille was met with the weekly Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market in the town plaza. From there, lunch at Ti Amo! and dinner at Mark’s Prime Steakhouse caused the group to venture out beyond the conference room walls.

Inspired by this resurgent downtown, I further visited Dragonfly for some amazing sushi, a few of the boutiques and the historic Hippodrome Theater, the 1909 classical revival building originating as Gainesville’s Post Office. During my stay the downtown culture came alive, hosting the Gay Pride Festival in the city’s Bo Diddley Community Plaza. All in all, I find this city to be a mix of old Florida history meets high intelligence meets hip culturalism. Honestly, I love college towns!

Katie Koo Ties the Knot

2010-08-04T07:15:00.008-04:00

I remember talking a walk with my little cousin Katie Beth around her block like it was yesterday. She held my hand and looked up at me with those precious dimples and deep set smile. Everytime I look into her little Bryana's face, I see Katie as she was back then. Today, Katie still dons those dimples and her smile will still light up a room, but she is a grown woman with 2 beautiful daughters and a great hubby named Bryan, whom she recently wed.

Memorial Day girls trip turned out to be such a great time. Katie got married at Arbor Ridge, which used to be the Knollwood Motor Inn. Back in the day, it was more of a rent by the hour kinda motel ;). Nowadays it's a popular reception site with a new banquet hall sitting adjacent to the completely restored inn. I didn't even recognize it, with its facade of graceful columns.

Cousin Katie is my first cousin Cheryl's half sistah, daughter of my uncle and his wife Paula. Their family is a big, diverse melting pot of kids, including Cheryl and Denise (my first cousins), Katie, her sisters Amanda and Michelle, and brothers Bret and Richie. Don't ask me to explain it, just go with it. When this crew gets together, it's gonna be a wild and crazy ride!

My sister Karen came up from Jersey and Cheryl's bff Annie came from Manhattan, and we all bunked up at the inn. After the agonizing shoe shopping experience with my other cousin, Sue, we polished ourselves up and headed to St Mary's in Fishkill. A flashback to my Catholic upbringing and our childhood church. I cringed a bit as we entered the parking lot, flooded with memories of CCD and vicious nuns (just kidding).

It didn't take long for the Happy Hour to get happy... the cosmo's were aflowin and the dancing was never ending. You can see in the pictures that Cheryl and Annie had a splendid time. I think Annie has a total intolerance for alcohol. She must not be a Pilla. ;)

Everyone looked gorgeous and the pasta was yummy too. Katie and Bryan are the cutest couple. Oh, and the gal in the pink shoes? We don't know her, but LOVED her shoes.

Class of 2010

2010-07-25T08:05:00.010-04:00

This Spring has been centrally focused on our awesome daughter, Taryn. It has been a bittersweet time in our household as her high school graduation approached and passed, and the countdown to our empty nest has ensued. As I've watched other parents this year going through the same emotions, I've noticed a slightly more intense variety in those of us with an only child. There are no more children to follow, so the feeling of finality looms over us. We are happy yet anxious. Proud yet worried. Excited yet cautious. Relieved yet saddened.

The last couple months have been filled with good times and special celebrations. Senior Prom. Senior Inspiration Celebration. Graduation. Graduation parties. A new job. College preview. Apartment shopping. Our dearest friends and family have come to join and celebrate with us. There have been many "lasts" and just as many "firsts". The last prom, the last exams, the last day of school, the last grad party. The first job (outside of being supported by her Aunt and Uncle 30acre ;), the first apartment, the first college schedule, the first college ID, the first roommate, and the first... umm, tattoo.

We are at 19 days and counting until we move Taryn into her apartment in Gainesville, Florida. Flashbacks to my days at Syracuse are now commonplace. Many parallels, from the orange and blue to the 4 hour drive. I will admit, Taryn's roommate's mother and I have fantasized of the two of us going to live in their place and leaving them here. Gene and I have preplanned Fall football games and weekends as Gators.

College is such a promising time, full of hope and change and new experiences and fear and trepidation. I cannot think of a time, aside from perhaps my pregnancy, when I had such emotions. I am beyond excited for Taryn and all that her life can become. I have a feeling, as I'm sure many of you are thinking as well, that I am not going to handle this well. Taryn and I are connected. Really connected. And I will miss the heck out of her. I wish her joy and happiness and fun times... but...parting is such sweet sorrow. :'(

My Husband Turned 50!

2010-06-14T21:43:00.013-04:00

My husband is now a full-fledged member of AARP. These are the times you appreciate marrying a much older man. And, he appreciates having a young, creative wife to plan the best of surprises.

Our DC/Loudoun trip was Gene's actual "gift", so he wasn't expecting his 3 best friends from high school to show up at Hooter's the night of his actual birthday. So unexpected it was, that he had no clue the "drag queen" who approached him in a "Shooters" costume was his buddy Dan from Boston. The 2 men that followed in mullets and fake teeth were wrestlers Nick and Rob from NY. At that point, I was a little concerned about his arrhythmia, since he was barely breathing and his face was bright red.

It's not easy to surprise your husband of 22 years. We tend to know each other very well and can usually smell a surprise a mile away. But I think I got him this time. After the wings and beer night, my daughter and I took off on Saturday to cousin Cheryl's to give them some guy time. They golfed and hung out and grilled the live lobsters he got as a gift.

And, on Sunday, we converged for a lovely breakfast at the house followed by a grueling and fierce middle aged volleyball match in my backyard. Noone got too hurt, noone was rushed to the hospital, lots of laughs were had, and we vowed to have a rematch at 60.

Happy 2nd Birthday To My Blog!

2010-05-28T11:45:00.006-04:00

May 20th marked the 2nd birthday of my blog! In its second year, "Because I Said So" had over 3,800 visits (23% increase) and 2,734 visitors (70% increase) from 50 countries and all but one of the United States (gonna have to work on that, Montana!). My Top 3 Countries: U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. Top 3 U.S. States: Florida, New York and Virginia (VA is new to the top 3, thanks Loudoun!).

Another new blogging development this year is the addition of a new blog, Our Island Culture, that I write along with my business partner, Kimberly, for the destination of Anna Maria Island & Longboat Key. Check it out if you get a chance, I write under the name of Island Girl.

Thanks to all who take the time to read about my antics, and a very special thanks to those who comment on the blog. I read your comments and I appreciate the love.

In honor of the Birthday Blog, here is a look back at my first post from 2 years ago: Charleston, SC.

Lemon Pound Cake, Anyone?

2010-05-20T07:01:00.014-04:00

Maybe back in the days of Newhart I might have fantasized about owning a bed & breakfast once or twice. I do recall thinking during those fleeting moments about having strangers in my house, having to clean it and doing lots of cooking. If you know me at all, you know that is not my forte. Add to that the knowledge I've gained in the resort industry of ADR's, occupancy, operating expenses, etc and I would have said not a chance. That is, until I met JoAnn and her lemon pound cake.

JoAnn and Kevin Hazard hailed from suburban Virginia, where they raised their family and lived normal lives with normal jobs. Until a few years ago, when they decided to pursue their dream of living in the place they loved to vacation, Middleburg. Middleburg is a quaint, historic and upscale village in rural Loudoun County, Northern Virginia. Loudoun is in DC's backyard, known for its Civil War history, rolling hills, and boutique wineries.

Our stay at the Middleburg Country Inn was prompted by a research trip I made last summer. The impression JoAnn made on me with her soft-spoken hospitality was enough to bring me back. I shared this visit with my husband (50th birthday), Mike and Christine (50th birthday), and Billy and Karen (20th anniversary). In fact, the arrival of my sister Karen and brother-in-law Billy from New Jersey was a surprise for Gene. The inn is at the entry of the village, situated on a large green lawn with multiple sun porches. From the third floor balcony I could see an old brick house to the right, a tiny red barn to the left, and an 18th century cemetery across the lane.

During our stay, we had chance to share a glass of wine on the patio one evening with our innkeepers. Kevin, who reminds me of a much taller Gene, is a great guy. He was a wrestler in school like my hubby and he commutes to DC working as a general contractor. All the while we chatted, JoAnn held her rooster shaped timer on her lap to keep a watchful eye on the never empty bowl of chocolate chip cookies that resided in the entry. I can't tell you how many times I had to turn a blind eye on that bowl during our stay! (I confess to ONE cookie on the last night. Don't think the remainder of the clan can say the same.)

In comparison to a B&B I stayed at in Charleston, SC, Middleburg Country Inn is much more a home than a hotel. The couple live at the inn, and you can tell. While JoAnn cooks the breakfast (I witnessed her early rise to cook the bacon), Kevin serves it. They know everyone in town, and a simple question will get you hooked up with reservations or coupons to a local wine tasting.

Curious George (I mean Mike) picked JoAnn's brain about the life of an innkeeper. And the fantasy crept back in. I did offer to inn-sit for them so they could vacay, like the girl in Nights of Rodanthe. JoAnn told me to be careful what I wish for. I'm secretly hoping that phone will ring anyday now.

Historic Waterford Village – A Step Back in Time

2010-05-18T09:56:00.009-04:00

It was a drizzly day in mid April, the final full day of our DC/Virginia trip, when our friendly Middleburg Country Inn innkeeper, Kevin, handed my clan a walking tour of the Village of Waterford, Virginia. For some reason, the slight chill in the air provided a sort of timeless setting for poking around this surreal town.

The tour started at the Corner Store of the 1733 village, founded by Amos Janney, a Quaker from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and led us down Main Street past the Jail, the Post Office (still functioning), the Bank, the Sugar Shack and ending at the Mill. The dwellings in between ranged from row houses to stone cottages to Victorians to log cabins. As we read from our modern-day print out, we learned of each building’s history. The 19th century structures that used to house a general store, carriage painting business, shoemakers shop, watch making and jewelry store, a school, and a tannery now exist as residential homes. In fact, while passing by the Goodwin-Sappington House (former shoemakers shop) a young man holding a little girl exited the home. Since we were admiring the gardens to the left of the home, he informed us the house now belongs to his mother whom he was visiting. He was heading into Leesburg to get take out, since there are no dining establishments in the village.

Before the Civil War, Waterford had grown to the second largest town in Loudoun County. Today, it remains much the same size as it was then, with only 90 buildings. In 1970, the Secretary of the Interior determined that Waterford possessed such national significance that it was designated a National Historic Landmark. This is the highest designation of historic significance possible in the United States.

It occurred to us that living in a 250+ year-old village with little or no commercial amenities is a rare experience that could be very, very cool… or very, very challenging. We concluded that it really depends on where you are in your life and what you’re looking for. Regardless, the six of us middle agers (hubby Gene, sister Karen and Billy, and bff’s Christine and Mike) decided it was well worth our time to stroll the narrow streets and imagine living life in this quiet, quaint and amazing village.

An Egg Hunt for All Ages

2010-04-05T16:49:00.003-04:00

The weather this Easter was absolutely perfect in Florida. In the morning, we lingered over eggs and coffee, made by our resident junior chef, Taryn. At noon, Gene, Taryn and I headed out for a scenic 10-mile bike ride. The wind made it a bit challenging at times, but overall a great ride together. Dinner this year was a break from tradition, since my cousin Cheryl took off to Southern Cali for Spring Break instead of slaving over dinner for us (the nerve). And my mother, the newly retired half back, also ditched me for the mountains of North Cakalaki.

So we headed across the Caloosahatchee to our oldest and dearest friends and substitute family, the Bolebruch's. Christine's sister Pam made us hold an Easter egg hunt, even though our children range from 15 to 24. Surprisingly, the kids took well to it and even got a little competitive looking for the trading cards we hid along with the eggs. Next year, they want more eggs we were told.

It was a beautiful evening, Mike made a lovely ham and Gene smoked a turkey. I always feel at home with my buddies in the Cape, they are just like family. We did miss Forrest, however, but his dog Jenny made us feel like he was there. I still have one unanswered question though... why is there a tri-pod in your bedroom Chris?

5 Months and Counting

2010-03-12T09:17:00.002-05:00

We have a winner for Taryn's first college apartment. And, now Mom and Dad are faced with the mixed emotions of being empty-nesters. Excited for our daughter we are, but scared, anxious, and sad are among the other feelings gripping us on a daily basis. In August, we will pack up most of her belongings, along with sacrificed dishes, towels, small appliances and furniture from around our house and drive her 4 hours away. Where we will unpack her, set her place up, and load her up with groceries before we drive the long, agonizing trip home. Alone. Just the two of us. Nuff said.

Gator Family

2010-03-01T07:29:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's true. My daughter got accepted to University of Florida for pre-med. The Gators. Chomp chomp. And out from the closet comes all my old orange and blue! A few parallels to my alma mater (Syracuse). Orange and blue and 3.5 hours from home. Minus the snow of course.

This weekend is our first road trip to the campus to hunt for housing. A dorm girl, she is not. Although we are signing up for the dorms as a back up, we are apartment hunting. My baby girl will be leaving me in a few short months, and she's taking my granddoggy with her. Where's the justice?

On this weekend's agenda, the following apartment complexes for those who want to follow along - or vote for your pic. The goal is to stay near campus and sorority row (BIG campus) to give her as much of the college experience as possible. You can get alot more bang for your buck off the opposite side of campus, however, it's a few miles away and she would bus to classes. Maybe for her 2nd year.

Looking Glass Apartments - close to library the "The Swamp" restaurant. A little worried about the neighborhood and the condition of the place. Multiple 2 bedrooms to choose from and affordable. Says only takes cats so we have to see if they consider our large hamster acceptable.

Margaret Manor - 3 blocks to my favorite sorority. Only 4 two-bedroom apartments in the building. No amenities, but nice looking place. Worried about safety as it seems a little off the beaten path. Will take the peanut.

Campus View Place - Owned by a friend, brand new. Only one parking spot and pretty high on the price list. Will do a partial year lease, but daughter will use the place 2nd year.

Wildflower Apartments - Looks like a great location and great amenities. Problem being price, can only afford possibly the 3 bedroom but only have 2 girls so far.

Windsor Hall - Off campus dorm concept. Dog is a no go, but this is a back up if the roommate or the apartment thing doesn't work out. Benefits are you are guaranteed your room choice, and singles are an option. Plus full kitchen in the building and kitchenette's in the rooms. Good location.

If none of these work out, we move to the opposite side of town, where I've heard there are many great places...Canopy, Woodlands, Museum Walk, etc. That would be trip number 2.

Look forward to your votes!

Liz, my other daughter

2010-02-16T08:23:00.009-05:00

When you have a daughter, you will know what I mean when I tell you that there are other people's daughters that become yours as well. Liz is one of those girls who has taken her place in the Cushing family. Taryn met Liz during their competitive cheerleading years at an all star gym. Liz amused us with her laughing eyes and her country girl personality. Liz introduced us to the ways of the Florida redneck, and we introduced Liz to "fancy food" (in her words). Taryn and she were inseparable.

In high school, Taryn and Liz went to different schools, and all star cheerleading came to an end (Taryn-knee surgeries, Liz-high school team). Our visits with Liz became fewer, but distance cannot end a true friendship. On Dec 21st, 2008, Taryn received the news that Liz had been thrown 40 feet from a motorcycle and was in critical condition. The boy driving had died. The next 17 days were a nightmare. Liz's brain swelling had put her in a coma, and Taryn began the daily ritual of bedside vigils at the hospital. Eventually, Liz was sent to a neurological rehab center in central Florida, where she would await her fate. Weekends were spent driving to the rehab, and when Liz awoke, the miracle began. Her memory was intact, and she made rapid and miraculous progress.

This past December, we celebrated a year since Liz's accident. While Liz carries with her some physical handicaps, her spirit is more alive than ever. Taryn and she are forever connected in a bond not many will ever experience. Liz has been a source of inspiration for my daughter, and Taryn wrote about Liz in her college application essays. We had Liz and her parents over for a special dinner to celebrate, and Taryn bought Liz the same Swarovski cross necklace that she had worn to the rehab. While Liz's parents are Missy and Jerry, this child is mine as well. And Taryn will always have a place in their family.

These are the blessings of motherhood.

A Valentine's Post

2010-02-12T14:25:00.007-05:00

This Sunday will be my 27th Valentine's Day spent with the same guy. And as of yet, the only thing we have planned is to play tennis with some friends.

Not that we aren't a romantic couple, but tonight we are going to the Ale House with the family, and tomorrow we have a bar mitzvah. So we'll probably be tired by then. I'm sure I will get roses and a card from Publix, since that will give my husband an excuse to stop at the grocery store again this week (his favorite place in the world besides his bed).

Just so that you don't think we are a washed up old married couple, I thought I'd share a post from the destination blog that I write for. With a teen in the house and a busy social life, we have to plan our romance. This post is about an evening we spent ALONE on Anna Maria Island. To read it, Click here.

Happy Valentine's Day. Tell your honey you love him or her. And eat chocolate!

Taryn's 18th Birthday in NYC - Day Three

2010-02-09T14:19:00.014-05:00

Sunday morning there was another surprise in store for Taryn. It was the day of her actual birthday, and we were scheduled to have dinner with my sister Karen and her family. Her son CJ and Taryn are 2 days apart, so dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant, Angelo's on Mulberry, had been reserved. This Taryn knew. What she didn't know was that her father wasn't going to miss his daughter's 18th birthday dinner.

There we were, standing in Toys R Us in Times Square looking at the people on the ferris wheel. A little tap on her shoulder and Daddy stood behind her. I think if we keep this up, we may give the little girl a heart attack. Sadly, Aunt Cheryl never made it, but Gene in NYC was a major deal. He is not a huge fan of the city crowds. After some hugs and tears, we dropped his bag and headed off in the rain to see the tree. $5 street umbrellas saved the day. As did a really nice lady at the ticket booth at Radio City Music Hall, who gave the birthday girl some great last-minute discount orchestra seats for the Christmas Spectacular.

After the show, we found our way to Le Parker Meridian Hotel, which I've heard houses the "Burger Joint", a hole-in-the-wall, cash-only place that serves 2 things... greasy burgers and fries. Oh, and beer. Behind a big red curtain off the lobby, this place was everything I'd heard. Hard to believe it's inside a 4-star hotel. The gingerbread houses in the lobby were a delight to look at while we digested the wrongness of that lunch.

Some rainy day shopping worked off a bit of the calories (yeah right), and we headed back to the room to prepare for dinner in Little Italy. So we get to Angelo's, and note to self: do not let Billy order! He is an Angelo's regular and the guy likes to order food. Parmesan and olives, calamari, stuffed clams, shrimp, mozzarella spedini, calamari salad. Followed by bowls of pasta, filet, chicken parmigiana, and more. Three bottles of Classic Chianti later we had laughed and ate and laughed some more. I love my sister's family, and I loved that the kids spent their birthdays together even though they live so far apart.

The night was still young, and we spent another hour next door at the 100+ year old bakery Ferrara, ordering pastries and espresso. Then, we went to the tree (again), watched the skaters in Rock Center, lit candles for our father at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and then wandered through Times Square. The best memory of the evening had to be the stop off at Charmin's public restrooms, which turned out to be a playground for all ages themed with all things potty. Who knew bathrooms could be so fun! We even took our turns at powering the 2010 sign for New Year's Eve in the Duracell room. Kudos to Charmin and Duracell for great marketing.

After our good-byes with the Jersey Tavernise's, Gene retired to the room and Chris, Taryn and I headed to the rink. Taryn's one wish for the trip... to skate in Rockefeller Center on her birthday. What a blast we had, and miraculously, we all stayed vertical.

Thanks New York, for another wonderful memory with my daughter.

Taryn's 18th Birthday in NYC - Day Two

2010-01-27T07:05:00.009-05:00

On Saturday morning, Taryn and I were in our hotel room getting ready for the day when someone knocked on the door. Now mind you, I had remained in my jeans and bra just so that when this occurred, I would have cause to make Tar answer it. Now to give you a bit of history, Taryn had been spying on a couple across the street, who were on an apartment or hotel (couldn't tell) balcony having what looked to be a lover's quarrel. When the knock came, the look of terror on my daughter's face was undeniable. She thought they had seen her and came to confront her. LOL! I'm sorry, that's funny - I don't care WHO you are!

OMG! It's Aunt Christine! What are you doing here??? I'm here to shop 5th Ave with you! And so Day 2 began. Before heading to 5th Ave, we checked out the new pedestrian area in Times Square and had breakfast at Junior's Diner. On our way to 5th, we strolled by the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center and braved the pre-holiday streets. Whoa! Christmas shopping in NYC a couple weeks before the holiday is nuts! I felt like I was in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year parade. That didn't stop the trio.

We decided we love the little grocery market next door to our hotel, and picked up a couple snacks in the afternoon after an exhausting day (hey, spending money is hard work!). We refreshed and dressed for Saturday night's reunion with my sorority sisters. Melanie had flown in from Cali, and Gwen was coming in from Jersey. Andrea was bunking at Karen's house. We met at Blu Chili, our favorite sushi and martini bar. My sisters were happy to see Christine again, and they even made her an honorary Chi Omega. They didn't do so for Taryn, since she will be a full-fledged sister by next year. Wink wink.

We couldn't leave the city without the obligatory visit to our favorite gay piano bar on the upper east side, Brandy's. And, we even found a sofa on the street for Annie. Some things are funny, year after year. Again, someone was missing (Cheryl).

Taryn's 18th Bday in NYC - Day One

2010-01-22T07:42:00.011-05:00

Since 2005, we have given Taryn a choice for her birthday... a party with your friends or a weekend in NYC with Mommy and her friends. Yup, you guessed it. I raised the girl to travel. This year was Taryn's 18th, so I had to do it big. She skipped school on Friday and we splurged on a third night versus our customary 2 nights. Unfortunately, our usual cohorts, Aunt Chris and Aunt Cheryl, couldn't make it this year. Or so she thought.

The early flight got us into NYC at 10am on Friday, and it was bitter cold. Our first order of business, after we dropped the bags at The Muse, was shopping and lunch at Katz Deli. I had inadvertently printed a very old internet article about a number of little known fashion warehouses, where you could get designer digs for a fraction. Subway riders we are, and we hopped on and off a number of times, only to find each warehouse long since closed. Ugh! We happened upon a consignment boutique, where we found a couples treasures each. I got a sweater for $8 (which btw taryn is is wearing in the pictures at dinner) and Taryn got the cutest dress for $20. I passed on the Versace coat for $1,600. But, it was tempting ;). I enjoyed our walk through Little Italy, where the Christmas decorations on the charming restaurants and shops were heart warming.

Katz Deli is a wayyyyys east, and again, it was freezing. But worth the long walk. Long lines, packed tables and walls lined with signed autographs dating back to the deli's historic beginnings. Even though we opted for a lean roast beef of rye and a side salad (we were saving ourselves for the indulgences to come), we tasted the famous pastrami at the counter and OMG!

Our first evening we met up with the delicious Annie Bananie Mendelson, resident of the upper east side, and Katie Boo Bashant, my scrumptious cousin. Katie picked a Thai place we hadn't been to, and we had a fabulous time. Although someone was missing for certain (Aunt Cheryl).

We were pleasantly surprised to find that my buddy had upgraded us to a larger room with 2 beds at the hotel. The relief for me was that I knew some other people were showing up, so one bed for 4 people was going to be interesting. Then again, this crew in NYC is always interesting, to say the least.

Stay tuned for Day 2.

An Untraditional Christmas

2010-01-10T11:04:00.009-05:00

For nearly 20 years, the Cushings have hosted a Christmas Eve dinner at our home. What started as a sit down dinner for 8, grew to a staggering bash for 116. Yes, in our home. And we do all the cooking, preparation, decoration, set up and clean up. It's our gift to our friends and family. We start cooking on Thanksgiving weekend and don't stop till Christmas Eve. Last year, however, on Christmas Day, we were at our friend Pam's house for dinner and nearly fell asleep in our food. We hit a wall. We thought... we need a year off. And that's what we did. So this Christmas Eve, we trimmed it wayyyyyy down, and did an intimate dinner for 15. Piece of cake for us.

The upside - no borrowing tables, chairs, professional heaters. No rearranging of furniture and setting up of dining areas inside and outside. Limited decorations, and not even any outside lights. And, we actually spent one-on-one time with the people who were here instead of cooking, cleaning and hosting. The downside - we didn't share our holiday with dozens of friends and family, some of whom we only see at Christmastime, and there weren't hoards of children running around my house. The worst part - my mother moved to North Carolina on Dec 22nd and I didn't see her for Christmas :(.

Enter Christmas Day. We loaded up the SUV with ourselves, our daughter, her boyfriend and 3 of the doggies and set off for a truly untraditional Christmas. Three nights on Anna Maria Island in a cottage by the beach. We arrived in time for sunset, and took a moment to enjoy it before heading to Banana Cabanas, a little Caribbean joint in Bradenton Beach. For Christmas dinner, we had everything from a burger and fries (Gene...borrrrring!) to jerk chicken and ribs to seafood paella to crabmeat stuffed macadamia nut grouper.

For the next 3 days, we rode bikes around the island, played tennis, and played pool at a local pizza joint with the kids. We watched movies and napped, and took morning and evening walks on the beach and on old wooden piers. The doggies were happy, the kids were happy, and we were happy and relaxed.

Will the Cushings ever cook for the masses again? Certainly. But we may have a few new traditions as well.

2010 Blog Promises

2010-01-08T13:08:00.002-05:00

I have been a very baaaaaad blogger. Good thing there isn't a Santa Blogger, or my blog stocking would be full of coal this year. I have made trips I haven't posted about, pictures waiting to upload in my iphoto, and dozens of get togethers worthy of the written word. I'm sorry readers! I've slacked, and for that I am sorry.

2010 is the year. I will post more than any previous year. I promise. Girl Scout promise.

Stay tuned for my best year yet!

Tips on Finding Travel Deals

2009-10-23T09:50:00.008-04:00

I travel quite a bit. Not a tremendous amount, like say, my FB friends Johnny Jet or Chris Elliott. And, I have not (yet) become a famous travel blogger who is hosted in all kinds of exotic destinations so I can write about them. Someday maybe, with any luck ;).

Meanwhile, I often hear from friends... "I'm going to (fill in the blank city) and I know you've been there. Where should I stay and how do I get a good deal?" If I've been there, I'm happy to give specific information. If not, here's my standard method for finding a good deal.

Airfare:
First step - I go to www.sidestep.com. What I like about Sidestep is that, unlike Orbitz or Expedia, it is not a booking engine. It is merely a price comparison. It shows you more airlines than the 2 afore mentioned and it tells you where to get the deal (i.e. on the airlines' site, or cheapoair, or orbitz, etc).

Second step - once I find a flight combo and price I like, I go to the airlines' individual sites and search there - as well as other booking sites, to see if other times or web only fares are listed. On both Sidestep and the individual sites, I search both round trip and one-way flights... since sometimes it's cheaper to book one-ways on 2 different sites than a round trip with one airline.

For instance, I prefer JetBlue to NYC, but sometimes I need to give up the TV and fly only one way with JB and the other with say, Continental. I also will fly into JFK and outta Newark, or vice versa, if it's cheaper and if the times work better for me. Not a big difference in cab fare. And, in certain markets, I find that you have to figure out who the best carriers are for your connection and shop those (for example, United and US Air are the 2 best choices for me, with regards to price and non-stops/directs, from Fort Myers to Reagan National in DC).

Side bar: I'm not a fan of flying through certain airports, Atlanta and Philly, to name two. They are huge and you've gotta be careful that the flight connection you have booked is not less than an hour in these airports. Atlanta/Delta is notorious for flight delays, cancellations and gate changes and you will find yourself runnnnnning like crazy to catch your connection. Trust me on this one, avoid connections under an hour there.

Hotels:
Travelzoo is my favorite for hotel deals and is always my starting point. I receive their weekly Top 20 Deals list and it prompts me to browse my fave cities. Sometimes I create a trip based on a deal, versus picking a date then finding a deal. I like Travelzoo because there are some independent properties and small hotel groups that I have found I can rely on for periodic Travelzoo exclusive deals. Like for instance, one of my fave hotel groups, Kimpton, will post Travelzoo deals. To date I've stayed at 4 of their properties in NYC, San Fran and DC....all with Travelzoo deals. When I had the Hawk's Cay Resort account, we did Travelzoo promotions as well. You have to check back regularly on Travelzoo, because the deals come and go and book quickly... kinda like shopping at Costco or Homegoods.

I will shop hotels.com, because they sometimes have a sale on certain hotels. BUT, I only book hotels I am familiar with or have read reviews on TripAdvisor. I think that sometimes their 3 star or 4 star hotels are more like 2's in my book. Prime example, The Paramount in NYC. Not horrible, but not great and the rooms are the size of a walk in closet.

I also like to follow Budget Travel's magazine and website for deals and recommendations. They often write about hotels you would never find on any major booking site like hotels.com. Mostly hotels with a large inventory on rooms will appear on hotels.com, esp in major markets... so check out places like budgettravelonline.com for smaller boutique reviews and deals. I have had some success with Marriott's website, and I also receive their members e-mail with last minute specials.

My best tip on hotel bookings, if you find a deal, check the cancellation policy and the rez requirements. If you can cancel up to a day or two prior and they only do a credit card hold, then by all means, book the deal and then keep shopping for a better one!

Car rentals:
I don't do these very often, but one great tip I learned this summer from a good friend... if you are booking a car for a long period of time (esp one way), try shopping it with shorter rentals. My family went on a cross country for 3 weeks this summer, and instead of renting a car from Kansas City to San Francisco for 3 weeks, we did 3 one-week rentals (Kansas City to Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole to Vegas, Vegas to San Fran) and saved over $1,000 dollars. With the same company! I kid you not!

Travel news:
I like "This Just In" by Budget Travel and receive their RSS feed.

I'm open to any great deal finding techniques you have... please share!

Mi familia

2009-09-02T06:31:00.016-04:00

When it comes to meaningful events, I didn't think I could top the cross country trip this summer. The first weekend in August though, I took a quick weekend jaunt to my hometown in New York for an old fashioned Italian family reunion. It was the first time our extended family had come together like this in probably 20 years or more. Why now? Cathi D'Errico Schultz.

By looking at her, you'd never know my cousin Cathi was Italian. Tall and statuesque, our blonde darling was the youngest, and sweetest, of my clan. She carried with her a cheshire grin and a infectious laugh. How this vibrant 37 year old woman could pass away at such a young age, and why, is just beyond me. It will be one of the first questions I ask at the pearly gates.

At Cathi's funeral, 2nd and 3rd cousins I haven't seen since childhood vowed to have a reunion in Cathi's honor. And, did we. On August 2nd, over a hundred of us gathered on Cathi's parents front lawn, holding hands, crying and praying together as a family. It's times like these, you are proud to have the family you do. You are proud of your heritage. And you long for the old days of pasta, rowdiness and a few extra cocktails. ;)

On this day, I met my cousin's kids for the first time, and they met my daughter. Taryn got a look into my upbringing in a way she hadn't before. Almost all were there, the local NY crew, the Yonkers crew, the Connecticut crew and the Florida crew. The 2 remaining elders, my grandmother and my great aunt, watched us dance from the front porch.

We got the generational photos... the first generation (Nan and Aunt Madeline), the second generation (my mom and her first cousins), the 3rd generation (us, the "kids") and the 4th (the kids' kids). Cousin Johnny and the lovely Renee sang to us in the rain. The cameras were a-snapping... especially the "fall" (you know what I mean). There was lots of laughter and lots of tears... it was an unforgettable day.

We vowed to keep in touch, and since have plastered Facebook with dozens of flattering, and not so flattering, photos. This family will never be the same since we lost Cathi - both in a seriously bad way, but also in a very, very good way. Thanks, Cuz.

Lovely Ladies In DC

2009-08-13T07:14:00.011-04:00

My "Philly in a Day" trip was followed immediately with a drive to Old Town Alexandria, where I had more business to conduct. Another opportunity to explore a town I've never been to, and to hook up with another Chi Omega Sorority sister or two. So, my handy assistant and I (my daughter Taryn) traveled with Walter and Claire Klages, the research team for our mutual client, Northern Virginia's, Loudoun County. I am so glad the Focus Group for that night was in Old Town Alexandria, because it was a charming old walking city a stone's throw from DC. It also gave me another VA town to compare Loudoun's quaint towns and villages to. The Morrison House, another Kimpton hotel, was delightful... and again I had a better room than Walter (wink wink). The only surprise was the fact that VA doesn't allow alcohol to be given away, so the free wine hour in the lobby that is Kimpton's signature, was not permitted. :(

This girl is not dull, so the day after my work assignment, I stayed for an extra day to rendezvous with my dear friend Patty Fitzsimmons. She is a beauty of a lady, always has been - and it was so great to see her after 20 years. How do we let time escape us like that? I will never forget the beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace she sang at my wedding.

Patty played tour guide (see a pattern? if not, refer back to Philly in a Day post) for us, and whisked us off to DC, where we met sorority sister Chris Pellerin and her adorable daughter Emily at the Old Ebbit Grill. Chris is an influential lobbyist, with offices basically across the street from the White House. I was so thankful she took a few hours out of her work day to lunch with us and show us her office digs. Between these two DC experts, we were able to get a great overview of the city, and a few inside stories as well.

Unfortunately, our one day visit did not afford us time to go into some of the famous landmarks, like the Washington Monument and the Capitol, but believe me, we will plan another visit to this impressive city. It is really hard to describe how awesome it is to see all these monumental buildings side-by-side - from the Treasury, to the National Library, to the Pentagon. Just wow.

We went for a walk through the grand Willard Hotel, where Reverend Martin Luther King Jr wrote his speech "I Have a Dream", and Julia Ward Howe penned the "Battle Hymn of the Republic." We imbibed in a delicious Mojito at the hotel's illustrious Round Robin Bar, where Confederate spies were said to conspire against the Union.

I'm going to have to say, little Emily stole the show that day for me with this little interaction between she and my daughter in front of the White House:

Taryn: "You see that house there, Emily. Do you know whose house it is?"

Emily: "No, whose?"

Taryn: "President Obama's."

Emily looks perplexed.

Taryn: "He lives in there."

Emily: "No he doesn't."

Taryn: "He does, that's his house."

Emily: "Nuh uh, he lives inside the TV."

Philly in a Day

2009-08-09T16:21:00.008-04:00

Shortly after our cross country trip (3 days in fact), I once again boarded a plane. With 3 focus groups planned in 3 cities over 3 days, there was no rest for the weary. I took my daughter along, who turned out to be our official assistant during the business trip. It also was a great way to expose her to a couple cities we haven't yet been to.

After our first FG in Jersey, we took the couple hour drive to Philly for FG #2. Since these research events take place in the evenings, I had an opportunity for a quick visit with my college roomie Jennifer Waite Hawes. She graciously toured Taryn and I through historic downtown Philly.

In case you ever wondered what you can see in 3 hours in Philly, it goes like this...

We parked under the new National Constitution Center, which houses the U.S. Constitution and 160,000 sq ft of exhibits surrounding the historical 4 page document. We did not enter the museum, but I heard there is a hall of life-size bronze figures of the constitution's signers. Next, we wandered through the adjacent Independence Visitors Center and received some tips on a quick tour of Old City.

We strolled on down to the Liberty Bell. Even though it measures 14' in diameter, for some reason I expected it to be bigger. Regardless, it is housed in a lovely new building that is light and airy with great photos and historical documents displayed throughout. It also happens to be free to enter the exhibit, which can be a quick pass through or you can linger a little longer.

On the far end of Independence Mall stands Independence Hall, the infamous location where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the U.S. Constitution was penned. Manned by National Park Rangers, we wandered the grounds and found our way to Ben Franklin's former home site and print shop. Here, I purchased a printed scroll for the husband-and-wife business friends I was traveling with. It said, "Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut after."

There is so much more to see in Philly that we didn't have time for, but I was able to get a sense of the spirit of our Nation's founders in this original American city.

Jen was such a good sport whisking us around Philly on a toasty summer day, and we toasted to old times and good friends at a sidewalk cafe. The special of the house, a fruity vodka cocktail, was a refreshing end to a lovely afternoon. Thanks, Jen!

Californ-Eye-Ay!!! Road Trip Week 2

2009-07-24T13:10:00.057-04:00

You know it's a good trip when it takes me two weeks to recover enough to write the post for it! After our National Park Week, we were parked and canyoned out - and ready to get back to civilization. Good 'ole Cali was the perfect answer to those prayers. From LA to San Fran, we weaved our way up the coast and celebrated our grand finale in Napa and Sonoma Valleys. I have to say, I really like California!

Our drive from Vegas on July 5th over to Los Angeles saw a huge change in temperature - peaking at 116 in Death Valley and landing at a pleasant 65 degrees when we arrived at the Marriott in Marina del Rey, a beautiful hotel only a few blocks to Venice Beach. I have to say, it was a far cry from our "rustic" accommodations in Yellowstone only a week prior. We valeted the car ($26 a night -ugh), checked into our lovely room and quickly headed out the door to see the Pacific Ocean. There, we met my college sorority sister Marla Kornfeld Rothfarb and her family and enjoyed a delightful evening at C&O Trattoria on Venice Beach. The atmosphere was right up my Italian alley, with an outdoor courtyard lit up with strings of lights and an occasional group rendition of "When the Moon Hits Your Eye..."

The next day we hit all the hot spots - Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard and saw all the iconic symbols of the entertainment industry - from the Hollywood sign to the Stars on the Walk of Fame. We were witness to a celebrity sighting at Tod's on Rodeo and a crowd of mourners surrounding Michael Jackson's Star on Hollywood Blvd. We had a great lunch with our friend and UCLA student David Chow and his beautiful girlfriend Katherine at Ketchup, a trendy restaurant in Beverly Hills owned by Ashton Kutcher. We did not see Ashton, but enjoyed 5 flavors of ketchup at his digs and a lovely view of the Hills. We totally avoided downtown LA, since rumors were spreading that the massive convergence for MJ's memorial the next day would be God-awful. Did I mention that there's a bit of traffic in and around LA? Still a totally cool place.

Our exodus out of LA began on the second morning of Week Two, where we headed north along the Pacific Coast Highway until we found Patrick's Roadhouse on Santa Monica Beach. The historic diner is a quaint little French inspired landmark, owned by our host and waiter Silvio. We dined outside on a very narrow porch at a rustic but oh so charming wood table. The rusty Mott Street sign behind me made me flash to my favorite Chinatown basement hideaway called WoHops in NYC. I ordered the Governator - as reviewed by Guy from Diners, Drive Inns and Dives. As a favorite of Governor Arnie, I thought it should be called the Terminator, since the scrambled egg concoction was chock full of the ultimate no no's, from bacon to ham to potatoes... everything but the kitchen sink. Gene had an incredible burger and Taryn had her favorite fall back BLT. Highly recommended to stop by and say hi to Silvio, who was kind enough to share with us his favorite places to go in San Francisco.

Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu... the scenery was spectacular with the speckling of hillside houses, the winding roads and the spattering of surfers. Gotta love Southern Cali! As we made it further north, the vistas changed and we spotted fields of grapes, blueberries, strawberries, and cows. The air got chillier, the water got deeper blue and the coast got rockier. A favorite stop was one of many lookouts, where we got surprisingly close to a smelly and loud group of elephant seals. So weird the way they pile on top of each other in rows on the beach. Approaching Monterey, it got crazy steep, crazy winding and crazy incredible with views around every sharp corner. At moments, the cliffy roads took our breath away. The bikers blew our minds, riding on the edge of these roads with no railings and up tremendous inclines. Not quite ready for THAT bike tour!

Monterey CA is home to another college sorority sister, Melanie Darling Scholl and her family, whom we truly enjoyed spending an evening with over some great burgers and a few tall cold ones on our only night in that town. I can see why Mel is hoping for a few more years there before her high ranking husband has to move them again. Beautiful town and a super family.

San Francisco was our final resting place before heading home to the heat of FL in July and we were grateful for the cooler climate. This is a city I could spend some time in. It's like my cherished NYC but with a touch of Boston waterfront. Uniquely though, it has the PACIFIC OCEAN... with stunning beaches and incredible redwood forests! We absolutely loved it -and if they could only move it closer to the east coast, we would probably become regular visitors. The Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams exhibit was great fun at SFMOMA, especially because we were joined by one of my favorite people to attend art museums with... my business partner and one of my BFF's, Kimberly and her family (who surprised us for the last leg of our trip)! I just loved watching my daughter and my 2 Godsons listening to their audio tours while they viewed fine art and photography together. One of those priceless moments when your worlds collide in all the right ways. I can go on and on about SF, from the street cars to the sourdough bread to the seals at the wharf to Alcatraz and even my daughter's insanely claustrophobic shopping escapade at the 3-story Forever 21. And, of course, I haven't yet been disappointed in a Kimpton Hotel - ours was the Serrano, where the complimentary wine hour at 5:30pm became a ritual for watching my daughter beat her father at Wii in the lobby.

Our last day took us over the Golden Gate Bridge in the morning, where we watched the fog roll in. It cleared up upon our arrival at the absolutely gorgeous Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville, Napa Valley. A lovely, and now favorite, client of mine ;) arranged a private tasting and tour with Margaret Short, event planner extraordinaire. Margaret is a long-time resident and business owner in Naples, Florida, and she is spending the summer at Gargiulo planning their summer events. Our co-host and Margaret's beaux happened to be Trent Ryan, an old colleague of mine from BVK. Small world. The winery and vineyard was so beautiful and we loved every minute of our tour of the grounds. What a dream to spend a summer at a vineyard... I was jealous for sure. The wine was outstanding and we left with a couple bottles to head to Sonoma for our last evening of the trip. There, we joined Kimberly at her rented cottage for a sunset dinner. Joined by some SF friends of theirs and our employee and friend Lisa and her family, it was a beautiful evening of laughter, love and music. Kim's friend Dave brought his guitar and the kids played Frisbee in the yard, while we sat in Adirondack chairs and gazed at the wildflowers bordering the yard. Hello, I think I'm never going home!!! Alas, after a delicious meal on the porch by the talented Anthony, and a few glasses of Gargiulo wine, we headed back to the city for our final night of a long and memorable road trip with our daughter.

Simply unforgettable.

National Park Week

2009-07-11T21:24:00.045-04:00

After a week traveling without me from Tulsa to South Dakota, my family picked me up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to begin the second week of the cross country trip (my first week). This trip was inspired by my husband many years ago, who dreamed of taking our daughter to see all the classic American sights before she heads off to college in another year. They picked me up at the Jackson Airport, which is small and rustic, with an elk horn arch greeting us as we deplaned on the tarmac and walked in the back door of the airport. The views of snow covered mountain tops from my window seat got me excited for this once in a lifetime adventure.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming (1 night)
Jackson is a wealthy city, with million dollar ranches built into mountain sides and a downtown filled with western shops, cafes and historic inns. Ours was the Wort Hotel, built in 1941, named one of America’s 54 Great Inns by National Geographic Traveler. A splurge, but worth every penny to kick off this week of spectacular scenery.

While here, we took a 2 hour horseback ride at the Spring Creek Ranch and rode the aerial tram at Teton Village. Ward, the owner of 66 beautiful horses, has been running his stables for 24 years and rode up in his favorite office chair named “Rowdy” to welcome us. Maverick, our guide and a bit of a misfit, took the three of us on an incredible ride on the ranch’s 800 acres, where we saw Jackson from above.

The aerial tram in the village took us up to over 10,000 feet, where Taryn threw snowballs at me for probably her third or fourth time ever. The views were breathtaking from the top. The 2 meals we had in Jackson were both noteworthy: lunch at Sweetwater Restaurant – in a 1915 log cabin; and dinner at Teton Thai – owned by a young American man and his wife, a Thai chef. Teton Thai is a bit of a local secret… and its BYOB, so stop at the package store on your way.

Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (2 nights)
You have to drive through GTNP to get to Yellowstone from the south. Although it’s only an hour or so north of Jackson, I didn’t realize how large Yellowstone really is once you get inside. The are 2 main loops in the Park, and the rangers recommend doing each loop on a different day. This is because it’s about 3 hours around the southern loop, and with all the geysers and falls and trails, it is a full day of driving and stopping. The stops we found worthy were: Old Faithful, Midway Geyser, Firehole Canyon Drive, the Brink of Upper Falls and Artist’s Point. The first three being between Grant Village and Madison on the west side and the second being between Canyon Village and Lake Village on the east side of the loop. The food was cafeteria quality at best, and many restaurants in the park require reservations, so plan ahead. For lunches, we found grabbing some premade sandwiches and fruit at one of the general stores is the best way to stay on the go and see the most sites. P.S. Grant Village Lodge was dorm roomish, we’d suggest trying another park lodge.

Salt Lake City, Utah (drive thru)
With a 9 hour drive from YSNP to Cedar City in Southern Utah, we planned a lunchtime stop in SLC to dine at the Red Iguana, a restaurant featured on Diners, Drive Inns and Dives. This is the second dive my family had tried so far, and we were starting to become true believers in Guy’s ability to judge good tasting food. The Red Iguana was, as expected, not in a great area, but it was out the door with SLC business suits waiting for tables. We knew immediately it would be good. The Killer Nachos were killer and received a rating of 9 from my nacho aficionado husband. The mole verde was very good, albeit different, and the margarita I had packed a punch. Following our truly spiritual experience with our Mexican food, we visited the Mormon Temple and the Cathedral of the Madeleine, the first being rather impressive with its 10 acres of gardens and buildings, and the latter having such pretty stained glass.

Cedar City, Utah (2 nights)
My attempt at booking a lodge inside Bryce Canyon failed, as they were sold out even though I planned our trip months in advance. Cedar City was the closest city I could find, and we went without knowing what to expect. It turned out to be one of our favorite stops, both because Cedar City is a pretty little town and the Hampton Inn was conveniently located next to many restaurants (including Ninja, a Japanese steakhouse we dined at – and Starbucks!). It also wasn’t far from Zion National Park, which we didn’t even plan to visit. Zion-Kolob Canyon was about 30 minutes south, a beautiful 5 miles scenic drive and very much worth the stop on the way to Zion. ZNP was another hours south and around, where we parked and rode the shuttle bus up to the very end trail called Riverwalk. Being a hot day, wading in the river at the end of the hike was soooooo enjoyable. We also drove the few miles to the scenic tunnel, called the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway. A beautiful park, one worth seeing.

Bryce Canyon (drive thru)
About 2 hours east of Cedar City, we spent a few hours at Bryce on the way to Grand Canyon, as a result of the recommendation of my good friend Betty. The red spires, called hoodoos, were incredible to see and to photograph. The Navajo Loop Trail was among my favorites of the week, albeit very steep and strenuous! We did it in a hour and it was only 1.3 miles, but it felt much longer. I would do it again though, it was worth every step.

Grand Canyon (2 nights)
A little park weary, we were grateful to be at the grand finale of our National Park tour. Our daughter was jonesing for a real town and real shopping. She wouldn’t find any of that at Tusayan, Arizona. What she did enjoy (we all did) was the 25 minute helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Priceless, but much too quick! In the afternoon, we did a few trail walks on the Hermit’s Nest shuttle loop, where we experienced a hail storm (yes, in July!) and a beautiful streaky sunset over the canyon. Our walk back to our car was accompanied by 4 humongous elk… a very Northern Exposure experience.

The Grand Hotel was very suitable, would recommend it. For food, we plan to recommend Sophie’s Mexican Kitchen to Guy on Diners, Drive Inns and Dives – which we found on our second day. We returned for dinner. You just can’t beat a $4.95 burrito with rice and beans, homemade guacamole, sour cream and 2 flavors of salsa – especially when it’s authentic and made in front of you by a Mexican cook who had been there all day.

Las Vegas (1 night)
Not exactly a National Park, but it has its share of wildlife (ba dump bump). Vegas was our transition night between our week of National Parks and our week in Coastal California. We were there on July 4th, and the sheer number of people combined with the lights and dazzle of the strip was a culture shock for Taryn, especially after a week in canyons and forests. The Flamingo was a great spot to be in the middle of the action and just across the street from both the Forum Mall (Taryn’s first order of business) and the Bellagio, where we saw Cirque du Soleil’s “O”. Our third row seats made it all the more awesome, since we could see every splash and even hear the performers talk to each other. We really enjoyed the show, and would recommend getting as close as you can. On our way out of town, we lunched at our third dive from Guy, the Four Kegs Pub. The stromboli he featured was great, but warning it is in a really seedy bar. Luckily, the dining room is separated by glass from the very smoky bar, where about a dozen regulars were belly up.

As I type, we are passing through the Mohave Desert on our way to Los Angeles to begin week two. Chow for now.

P.S. If you do a multiple NP trip, be sure to buy the annual pass for $80. It’ll get you into every NP – otherwise, it’s $25 per park.

South Dakota

2009-06-26T10:59:00.016-04:00

Hubby and daughter are getting ready to leave South Dakota this morning to trek across Wyoming in anticipation of my arrival tomorrow in Jackson Hole. I planned them 3 nights in the Badlands/Black Hills region after their stints in Tulsa and Omaha. They stayed at the Fairfield Inn in Rapid City, for which I used up some Marriott points for their stay (pause to pat self on back). They shared some of their experiences and photos with me, which I will share with you as succinctly as possible.

Day One: Drive thru Badlands National Park... gorgeous (most beautiful thing Taryn's ever seen). Visit to Mt. Rushmore... awesome. Time at Crazy Horse Memorial... truly unbelievable (Did you know that the face alone is so big all 4 presidents on Mt Rushmore could fit inside it?). Buffalo burger at Crazy Horse... delicious. The Buffalo drive through Custer State Park... a little disappointing (more sleeping buffalo than walking near car).

Day Two (taken directly from Taryn's Facebook status yesterday): Deadwood... lame. Spearfish... lame. (Interjection: my family aren't gamblers) Devil's Tower... pretty sweet (They took the long hike around it and Gene said it was just incredible). Indian tacos... yummy.

Day Two Grand Finale: The evening lighting of Mount Rushmore program with Smoky the bear and the Park Rangers... spectacular.

As for me who was back at home: Father and daughter bonding during a once-in-a-lifetime trip... priceless.

Traveling Vicariously through the Midwest

2009-06-23T20:55:00.011-04:00

The cross country trip we have been dreaming of taking our daughter on since she was very young has finally arrived. Unfortunately, the first leg of the 3 week trip began without me. On Saturday, Gene and Taryn flew to Kansas City and drove a rental car to Gene's Uncle Jack's in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, Taryn met her great Uncle Jack (her grandmother's brother) for the first time, as well as her dad's 3 first cousins and all of their children. These cousins are the same to Taryn as her cousins Devon and Bryce are here in Florida that she is so close to, so Gene felt it important she finally meet this part of his family. While there, they took a 4-mile walk at a park on the river Gene said was gorgeous, and then enjoyed a Father's Day bbq at Jack and Misty's with the whole fam. Taryn told me the town reminded her of quaint Wellesley Mass.

Next, they were off again back thru KC and onto Omaha, where they again visited family Taryn had never met. This time, the other side of Gene's family - his father's brother Wink and wife Paulette, Gene's first cousin John Paul and his partner. From the ride, they mentioned many fields of corn and wheat, more corn and more wheat. Another object of interest, mostly to Gene, is the fact that the blacktop is pink. Not sure about that one. My family said John Paul's friend was a great cook, and another highlight of their night in Omaha was Taryn finding out they were staying at the same hotel as the Texas Longhorns, who were in town for the College World Series. College boys, oy!

On day 4, they headed north yet again (today). This time, the destination is Rapid City, South Dakota - where they will spend the next 3 nights. It's been a long ride, and I just hung up with them as they were driving through Badlands National Park. Taryn said it was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. Gene called it God's Country. Along the way, they made spontaneous stops at a Corn Mansion and a Prairie Dog Farm. Taryn took a roll of b/w film for her Senior photo class for next school year of the prairie dogs. The farm was attached to a family's home, and just 50 cents got them a bag of peanuts and access to feed the dogs. Their plan for dinner when they get settled in, Buffalo burgers. They want to eat local.

I promise to post more of their pics when I get them, and plan to follow along on the rest of their first week. Check back soon.

Anniversary on Anna Maria

2009-06-12T06:48:00.018-04:00

I started this blog last Spring, just after my 20 year wedding anniversary trip to Charleston. This is blog post number 89, and it's about my 21st anniversary trip to Anna Maria Island. We went with Christine and Mike Bolebruch, our oldest friends in Florida (longest, not actually oldest). We met them shortly after we moved here, we were newlyweds and they were married a year. We have had countless good times with them over the years - both at home and on the road, including Marco Island, New Orleans and Vegas, to name a few.

It was a perfect trip for an anniversary, a quaint island only 7.5 miles long with 3 fishing piers and beautiful white sand beaches with the most Caribbean blue water. We explored the piers, shopped at my favorite Sanddollar and Ginny and Jane E's, swam in the pool and the ocean, and bicycled to Longboat Key. We saw two incredible sunsets and the guys took turns cooking dinners under the pergola next to our cottages. We stayed at Tradewinds Resort, a sister property to my favorite Tortuga. My first time staying there and I loved it. The cottages are adorable and convenient. The pool, which overlooks the bay, was literally 10 steps from our door.

This post wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention food. Gene did steaks on the barbie the first night, and Mike did shrimp, tuna and mussels the second. For lunch, I had my new favorite sandwich at Bridge Tenders on historic Bridge Street, a blackened grouper reuben, and black bean chili at Cha Cha Coconuts in St. Armand's Circle. Overall, the weekend was perfect, just like my marriage.

Ok, you can laugh now.

Happy Birthday To My Blog!

2009-05-26T17:31:00.003-04:00

I just realized it has been a year since my first blog post! What made me think of it was when one of my employees came into my office today and told me that she saw one of my blog posts on a destination website under, "In the news." I thought, wow... I've been published! Second thought... it only took, what? A year? So I looked back, and there it was: last May 20th my little baby blog was born.

Why the blog? Love to travel, love to eat, love to drink, love to spend time with family and friends, love to share about it. Out of curiosity, I checked my google analytics account. This past year, I had over 3,100+ visits, 1,600+ visitors and 5,400+ page views from 50 countries and 48 U.S. states. My Top 3 U.S. states: Florida, New York (shout out!) and Rhode Island (thanks Sue R). My Top 3 Countries: U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. Not bad for a little Italian girl from "Westchesta."

My goal for the blog this year? I would love, love, love to have more of you leave comments (preferably nice ones) on my blog posts. It makes me all warm and fuzzy. And, if I haven't said it before... thanks for reading.

Two Days in the Country

2009-05-23T14:56:00.017-04:00

As I toured Loudoun County, Virginia, I couldn't help but compare it to other parts of the country. Flashing through my mind were memories of Westchester NY, Northern Connecticut, Norwich and Woodstock VT, Dutchess County NY, Old Bridge NJ, and so on. There are bits of all of those places in the Towns & Villages of Loudoun. But this place is uniquely its own.

It's Sonoma in the early days, its Colonial America in the olden days, its suburban DC, its the rolling hills of Virginia. The County itself transitions from meticulously planned neighborhoods and communities to the east to quaint village and rural farm life to the west. Common to the whole County is a sense of heritage, regalness and friendliness.

My whirlwind tour took me to a historic inn, a cheery B&B and a bucolic country resort. I met the most amazing locals and transplants, like JoAnn, Innkeeper of the Middleburg Country Inn, who even shared the recipe of her mom's Lemon Pound Cake she served us with a glass of local wine; and Chef Becky, the trendsetting head chef of the Red Fox Inn, recent graduate of Johnson & Wales. The awesome pastoral scenery at the Goodstone Inn & Estate took hold of me and I found myself frolicking in a field like the Sound of Music.

The flowers were blooming all over the county; magnolias, azaleas, amaryllis, lilacs. With a backdrop of thoroughbred horse farms and sprawling vineyards, Loudoun is a visual dessert. Historically significant, we visited Ball's Bluff Battlefield and Cemetary, where 54 Union casualties of the Civil War lie in rest; and Oatlands House and Gardens, built in 1798 by a descendant of one of Virginia's first families as a wheat plantation.

A visit to Loudoun wouldn't be complete without exploring its bourgeoning food and wine scene. This, as you know, is my favorite topic! With nearly 2 dozen wineries in the Northern County, Loudoun proudly claims its title of DC's Wine Country. In keeping with its welcoming nature, visiting a winery here is a heartwarming experience. The owners are more than hospitable, sharing the histories of their families and their vineyards. At Bluemont Vineyards, Loudoun native Bruce and his wife tend to their vineyards as well as their U-pick farm across the road. They grow grapes, peaches, strawberries, and more. The view from the porch of the tasting room is a spectacular scene of fields, barns, orchards and meadows. Jennifer, owner of Breaux Vineyards, poured us tastings of the wines her vineyard produces, many of which are charmingly named after family members. A second generation vintner, Jennifer and her family live on one side of the 400 acre estate, while her dad lives on the other. As one of the largest producers in the County, they recently took home some impressive accolades for their wine, competing on the international wine scene.

There's a story in every corner of this County, and the gracious residents are ready and willing to share theirs with you. I can't wait to take my family to Loudoun... its the kind of place that beckons you back.

DC's Wine Country

2009-05-19T07:35:00.011-04:00

I'm writing this post on the morning I am to depart again to the same destination. I wanted to get my first impressions down on paper (well, on blog) before my second impression is formed. It's been less than 2 weeks since I went to Loudoun County, Virginia for the first time. The purpose: a presentation to the Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association to pitch the account for a branding agency.

Kimberly, my biz partner, had already been there months ago with our web marketing partner Jennifer. And, I felt partially like I had been there, because I've been working on some creative for Loudoun for Jennifer over the past few months. Not to mention, they have tons of fabulous destination videos on their website, which has helped me to get to know the place (btw, they have been Emmy nominated for their videos). But personal experience is a must for my own understanding.

Aside from the hour long delay in DC (my fault... and partly Jane, the ignorant slut of a GPS), we finally got onto open road for Loudoun. In theory, it's about 45 minutes from Reagan airport - unless of course you are a clueless tourist and your GPS doesn't work in the parking garage. Dulles airport is in the county itself, only we chose Reagan for the nonstop flight. Regardless, coming into Leesburg, the largest city in Loudoun County, I was reminded of my sister Karen's town in Jersey. The suburbs. Sloping roads with communities popping up here and there, and some commercial buildings and strip malls (nice ones, mind you). I did notice a bit of a difference in the wealth of the county. The houses are large and the golf club we passed was massive and stately. More like like a less congested Westchester County in NY.

Leesburg itself is so quaint and historic. Think Vermont meets Charleston. The scattered homes behind the village reminded me of my childhood home off Main Street in Tarrytown, NY. Post presentation, Kimberly and I managed to squeeze in a stop at Mama's Apple Pies (featured on "Road Tasted" - Food Network) and a stroll around downtown Leesburg before resting at the Wine Kitchen. We enjoyed 2 ounce tastings of wine with a cheese and meat board, inside a small but open storefront. Great concept - you can have 6 different wines and only drink 2 total glasses. We even tried 2 of the local wines. An antique shop called The Cottage caught our attention for a bit, and I couldn't help but think my summer traveling buddy Anne Marie would be beside herself in this store.

We were too stuffed to do any serious damage to our meals at the Lightfoot Restaurant, whose logo I just LOVE, but the food was outstanding. My soon-to-be-famous French Onion Soup was amaaaazing. The interior of the building is awesome as well. Our whirlwind trip ended that night at the Lansdowne Resort and I was impressed with the contemporary nature of the decor. I had imagined a more traditional golf theme like Sea Pines in Hilton Head. My favorite was the slate floor of our restroom (strange, I know).

Today, I leave for 2 whole days in Wine Country. The itinerary includes visits to more villages, as well as inns and vineyards. I cannot WAIT to give you my second impression. I think I'm going to like this account!!!

Prom on the Beach

2009-05-16T08:06:00.011-04:00

We live in a beautiful place. The reason we moved here is because we came on our honeymoon, and fell in love. When you move to a vacation destination like Florida, everyone thinks you spend every day at the beach. But in truth, you have to work, shop, run errands, care for your home, and be a parent-just like in any other town. However, I have made travel a priority in my life. It's a big part of my career and my personal time. Recently, I had an opportunity to support a beloved organization (the Southwest Florida Symphony) by bidding on a hotel stay in a silent auction.

The place? Pink Shell Resort on Fort Myers Beach, about 20 miles from home. The weekend we chose? Gene's birthday and Taryn's prom. The plan? Friday night at Hooter's on the beach with our "gang" and Saturday poolside for prom tanning. It was a fabulous escape weekend. Because it was so close to home, friends came and went throughout the weekend (except Chris and Mike, who came and never went ; ). We enjoyed the beautiful room with gorgeous views of the water - even saw a few weddings on the beach. In fact, Chris and I even crashed a wedding at the hotel (travel tip: always pack a little cocktail dress in case there's a wedding at your hotel)!

We took walks on the beach, lounged by the pool, even went for $1 Bloody Mary's at "church" on Sunday. The resort was an incredible setting for prom pictures, and the adults all had a casual dinner after the kids departed for prom. I'll tell you, as a travel marketer, I've been talking about "Staycations" or "Nearcations" on my company blog all year. Think about it... you chose your hometown for a reason. It may not be the beach, but if it has a quaint downtown, or a nearby park, or a riverfront district - consider a quick weekend away from the house but not far. It's affordable and will do wonders to give you a quick replenish!

Two New Blogs

2009-05-05T07:44:00.005-04:00

Just in case you don't catch the added links on my blog roll, there are 2 new blogs I wanted to share with you. The first, I recommend because it's penned by 3 brilliant tourism marketers and it's called: Inside The Bubble. Okay, confession... it's the blog of my ad agency Insight - and its authors are myself, my business partner Kimberly and our Sr. Art Director Paul. Between the three of us, we have been in this business for over 60 years (I was 12 when I started). And yes, it's brilliant, if I do say so myself. It's an insightful look into the brains of our agency - the thinking behind the creative work we produce.

The second blog, I make no claim to. But I still think it's awesome. I came across it on Facebook. Long story short, Justine Bateman (yes, Mallory) posted a link to Debi Mazar's twitter page. From there, I found this blog. It's a delightful food blog called Under The Tuscan Gun, written by Debi and her adorable Italian husband, Gabriele. They have really cute video episodes on it, where Debi stands by to assist and, when necessary, translate for Gabriele when he forgets how to say an ingredient in English. Love it! I just want to know how they can be so skinny!

Old Ladies Gone Wild!

2009-04-28T13:46:00.026-04:00

Those of you who know me well, know I don't have to leave town to find adventure. Take my friend Nicole's birthday last week. What started out as a reserved fine dining experience at the lovely restaurant Angelina's turned into a dancing phenomenon at the wildly fun club, Cin Cin. It was definitely a blog worthy night.

Let's me set the stage for what could have been a disaster for Nicole. Seven of us were meeting at Angelina's Ristorante in Bonita, FL. First drop out was Nicole's daughter, who got called into work. Second was poor Pam, whose car broke down on the way and was rescued by another friend along with the melting cake Pam had made from scratch. Pam never made it to the party. Now enter myself and my daughter. The valet opens my door way too fast and the gift bag of wine falls onto the pavement and breaks. Wow, this is not looking good.

It starts to turn around when the lovely group of "mature" ladies and their hubbies down the bar buy our birthday girl and friends a round of cosmo's and the bartender replaces the broken wine. We are escorted to an outdoor table (another kink, our indoor reservation was accidentally double booked). Luckily, we are blessed with the PERFECT night, in a beautiful outdoor setting, surrounded by blooming flowers. In short, the food was fabulous. My butternut squash ravioli with mascarpone cheese were to die for. Myself, cousin Cheryl, daughter Taryn, and friends Suzie and Nicole shared a complimentary Lemoncello and Tiramisu before heading up the road to Cin Cin in Fort Myers.

CinCin is a restaurant-bar that turns dance club in the evening. Now, don't picture a NYC night club. Picture more a lounge with sultry red sofas and a live singer. Since we (not even counting Taryn) were a good 20 years younger than many of the patrons (who can tear up the floor, mind you), let's just say we were "popular" among the men. If we had WANTED to get seriously intoxicated, we could have, because the drinks never stopped coming. Just check out the table full of unfinished glasses!

So we took down the house, dancing to "It's Raining Men" and "I Will Survive" (our requests). They even threw in Beyonce's "Single Ladies." Nicole never left the dance floor, where her very flowy skirt and long limber body had every pair of eyes in the house mesmorized (she's the one who looks like Pocahontas). We even sacrificed Suzie to a slow dance in exchange for a round of drinks. Lesson to my daughter (when she turns 21 of course), always go dancing with pretty friends... drinks are always free.

Thanks, ladies, for a memorable evening. Let's do it again sometime. And, next time, we'll pick Pam up on the way.

UF versus FSU

2009-04-24T07:21:00.004-04:00

Let me preempt this post to disclaim that it is not written to incite a riot among my friends, so keep the comments nice! : ) Our family spent Easter on the road, touring Taryn's top two college choices... University of Florida and Florida State University. Technically, UF is her number one choice, for the following reasons: 3 hours from home, extremely competitive acceptance rate, and highly regarded medical school. Before our trip, it was her only choice. We insisted on the tours so she could decide on a back up plan. Why, you ask? At the tour, UF admissions reported that 27,000 students applied in 08, and only 10,000 were accepted! UF's new nickname, "Harvard of the South."

Our first tour was FSU, home of the Seminoles and garnet & gold. The downside: 6 hours from home. The upside: the campus is gorgeous and more condensed than UF, with 450+ acres to UF's 2000 acres. Brick buildings, sprawling lawns, beautiful landscaping, rolling hills. Our tour guide, whom we fondly termed "gazelle", sprinted across the entire campus in 1.5 hours, describing every single building and the statistics, history and contents of each. Post campus tour, our visit to the Gamma chapter of Chi Omega (my sorority from Syracuse) was lovely. Our new friends, Shawnti (FSU cheerleader and recruitment chair), Anna and Brittney, chatted it up with Taryn. She even had a few moments of inspiration from a pre-med student, giving her the low down. The trip was complete with dinner and a cold one (for me and Gene) at Po Boys, in downtown Tally, where we enjoyed cajun gumbo and some very loud live music. College town.

Our first night at UF was spent with one of our favorite Gainesville girls, Alyse. This is our second trip to the campus and our second meal with the daughter of my good friend Karen. Alyse took us to a pretty little mall, where we had yummy bar food (nachos, wings, etc) at Gator Something (it'll come to me). It was pouring when we woke, but alas, campus tour guides handed out Gator ponchos. Luckily, the rain paused and we took a wonderfully entertaining tour around a small section of the campus (can't do the whole thing in 1.5 hours). The campus is immense and very beautiful with large shade trees dripping with moss. Our favorite parts: the humor of the 3 college student guides, the relaxed pace of the tour, and the FLATness. Again, we repeated a visit to the Eta Delta chapter of Chi Omega, and spent a long lunch with Susan the house mother. A lovely, vibrant lady who the girls lovingly refer to as, "Mom." This chapter house is a big one, housing 47 girls! We met Tara and a couple other Chi O's as well, and Taryn was sure she would love to be a Chi Omega.

The long and short... a great time was had by all. And, we now have 2 wonderful choices for Taryn's undergraduate education. Which do I like better? It's a toss up. UF reminds me more of a quaint town, like Wellesley Mass, whereas FSU is more college campus, like Syracuse. If I had to choose... it'd be UF. 2 Reasons: 1) Orange & Blue are the same colors I had in college, and 2) Momma only wants to drive 3 hours!

10 Reasons To Plan A Cross Country Trip

2009-03-30T14:18:00.011-04:00

1) To Say You Did It. So many people who have heard we are going cross country this summer have confessed that they, too, have always wanted to do this.

2) To Bond. If we don't kill each other after 3 weeks in the car, 9 states and about 3,500 miles, we WILL be much closer as a family.

3) To Record It. Journaling, blogging, FBing, twittering and of course, many many photos will be involved.

4) To Eat. We have already started watching episodes of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives to find great little eateries. We love to eat local foods.

5) To Stimulate the Economy. If we are going to spend money on a vacation this year, it will be in the U.S. It's our contribution to the nation's recovery.

6) To Meet Family. Two of the stops will be in those uncommon places that relatives live. Ya know, the ones you wouldn't really ever get to if they weren't "on the way." My daughter will meet an uncle, cousins and a great uncle she has never seen.

7) To See Friends. There are at least 4 states on our trip where about a half dozen old friends live that we will get to lunch or dinner with on our trip.

8) To Learn. What better way to know our country, its history, its varied cultures and the unique characters that make it up than to experience these places first hand.

9) To Be Adventurous. This is the trip of a lifetime, the one in which we will do the things we don't normally do - white water raft, ride a donkey down a canyon, and maybe take a helicopter ride. Who knows!

1) To Unplug from Infomania. Sure, we will make sure we have our blackberrys and laptops for necessity, but its the one time of year we look forward to information underload.

Vegas on July 4th

2009-03-13T16:42:00.007-04:00

If I time this just right, my family could end up in Las Vegas for 4th of July this year. Yeaaaahhh baby! But where to stay?

I know they are tons of places, and I know there are even more deals out there... but I'm going to be a bit particular here. I want personal recommendations by you... and they must have been within the past decade! My first (and only) trip to Vegas, we stayed at the Stratosphere at the recommendation of a friend's mother... a travel agent, mind you. And, believe me, I dug the under $50 a night pricing, but the smoke in the lobby casino (and the likes of the people still gambling, smoking and drinking at 9am when we came down for coffee) are not what I'm looking for this time. Plus it was so far down the end of the strip!

Nor am I going to take any suggestions for the great places, like the Wynn, Bellagio, Venetian, Ceasar's, etc. I've been in them and know they are awesome but too far above the budget for this trip. We are staying one night and will have our 17-year-old daughter with us and plan to go to a show. So not much time will be spent in the room. So, bring it on folks - what do you know about the mid-range places... New York New York, Mirage, MGM Grand, Bally's, Flamingo, Tropicana, Monte Carlo, Sahara??? Looking to keep it around $100. How are they... for real?

A Toast to Mr. Cheers

2009-03-12T21:58:00.005-04:00

My daughter told me tonight that the real-life bartender from the tv series Cheers was laid off due to the economy. I'm in shock. Who hasn't visited the Bull & Finch Pub in Boston that inspired the show? She doesn't remember it because she was young, but we spent a good part of a day in the Public Garden across the street from the Cheers bar, watching the swan boats and sitting on the duck statues. It's one of our favorite towns, especially the brick architecture and brownstones, the college and youth culture, the Italian immigrant and Revolutionary history, and the urban and cultural attitude (we're going to keep baseball out of this... Yankee fans).

The bar where everybody knows your name had a real bartender, Eddie Doyle. As the news reported upon his layoff, he wasn't a womanizer like Sam Malone. In fact, he's been married to the same woman he met at the bar in the early 1970's. I don't know why this bothers me so much, after all, he is 66 and has had a good 35 year run at the bar. I guess it's because my high school years were peppered with memories of people shouting "Norm" and that song... The one that rings in my ears as I type. Unforgettable.

I hope Eddie Doyle can rise above this economic crisis and keep his heart smiling. As I hope for all of us.

Hotel Foreclosures Up

2009-03-10T08:49:00.004-04:00

My city of Fort Myers is enduring a heavy hit from the economic recession, having the number one foreclosure rate in the nation. Hundreds of homes are foreclosing weekly, which has resulted in a crazy number of families forced out of their rental homes because their landlords defaulted. It never occurred to me until this morning what impact the declining real estate market may have on hotels.

USA Today reports that 36% of hotels will face foreclosure danger this year, compared to 21% last year. This difference between this and the residential market is that no one will knock on your hotel room door and deliver you an eviction notice instead of the morning paper. Since banks want operations at defaulting hotels to continue, you most likely won't lose your money, BUT, you most certainly will see a decrease in service and available amenities as they cut staff.

Experts recommend booking at hotels that have been around for a while to protect yourself. My theory, look for hotels that just swipe your credit card, but don't charge you a room night deposit. And for that matter, consider outside insurance for cruise lines and tour vacations. Why? Those home renters are finding themselves not only out of a home, but out of their security deposit too.

Oysters and Grouper Cheeks

2009-02-23T07:42:00.007-05:00

Yesterday during our weekly tennis match with the Chow men, my husband started talking about Oysters. Random, yes, but it reminded me of a recent trip to Panama City Beach. The coldest, sweetest, biggest Oysters I have ever had were at the Acme Oyster Bar in New Orleans. But on my last trip to PCB, my client and friend Susan Ester and her husband Alan showed me that Panhandle oysters are as delish.

The village of St. Andrews reminds me of some of the Maine towns I visited last summer. And the restaurant, The Captain's Table, is a snapshot of life on the water. We shared great conversation, cold beers and fresh raw oysters topped with horseradish and cocktail sauce. Then, the talk turned to the main meal, to which Alan decided to be adventurous and try grouper cheeks. This, being a food I have never heard of, I was wary. But then Susan decided to try it too. The pressure, I thought. After a few agonizing moments, I succumbed to the "When in Rome" theory. And so glad I did.

While the thought of eating a grouper's chunky little cheeks makes me uncomfortable, the moist white nuggets are delicious. I tried not to count how many groupers' cheeks I actually ate, because my visual artist side would then picture these fish swimming around the sea without their cheeks. A warped post I realize. But sometimes the truth is a bit off center.

Thanks for a great time, Susan and Alan!

Trip Down Memory Lane

2009-02-14T08:13:00.006-05:00

Fun Fact: Facebook, the number one social networking site with over 150 million users, experienced a 276% rise in its 35-54 year old demographic in the last six months alone. I am part of this revolution in communication. This is a forum where we can find friends, reconnect, keep in touch, and share our personal lives with many at once. What a gift!

I have been blessed to have reconnected with my two longest friends from elementary school, Christine and Carmella. It happened about 5 years ago as a result of one of the first social networking sites, classmates.com. And with much prodding, I recently got them both on Facebook. Now to work on Dawn.

So, Mella, the queen of high school reunions, has started a FB group for the John Jay Class of 1984 (yes, you can do the math on me). This has started the phenomena of finding old photos and posting them. My most recent contribution are these photos from the 20 year reunion a few years ago. As you can see, I am very experimental with my hair color.

This reunion was awesome, because not only did I get to spend time with Chris and Mel and their wonderful husbands, but our childhood group from "the neighborhood" converged (Dutchess Park, that is). And, to top it off, one schoolmate brought her 6th grade class photo, and we realized many of us were in that class together. So the very large picture are the kids from Mr. Safford's 6th grade class at Brinkerhoff Elementary in Fishkill, New York. What a trip!

P.S. Another Fun Fact: Classmates Dawn Rendi and Todd Perri "hooked up" at the reunion and made a return visit a couple years later to the location of the event to tie the knot!

My Favorite City

2009-02-14T07:19:00.006-05:00

This year, my January trip to NYC was faster than usual. I traditionally try to make it last as long as possible, and often bring friends and family to tag along. All the same, it was a blast and I made the 2 days worth my while.

The reason for the trip was to attend the Adrian Awards, an annual award gala presented by the largest international hospitality organization in the world, HSMAI. Everyone who is anyone in the world of hospitality is there, and we spent the evening surrounded by impressive travel companies such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Delta Airlines, and the State of Hawaii. My business partner Kimberly, myself and our client Jessica Grace from the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau accepted five awards for our work on their website, www.FloridasGulfIslands.com, and for our 2008 integrated web marketing program. While our tourism award tally is near 40, this was a record-setting number for our agency and the first time all awards were received in the web category.

Enough boasting and on to the personal highlights of the trip. I have to give credit to Kim for the adventurous tram to subway ride to the hotel (although I made a wrong quick judgement which took us even longer!). Since the E was down, Kim, Alicia and I ended up spending some quality time touring Manhattan via underground subway. Always colorful. Our afternoon was full of reminiscing, first the arrival of Kimberly's college buddy Scott from Connecticut and then my college pal Gwen from Jersey. We all shared a beverage at my favorite Carmine's before Gwen and I went off to have dinner with the ladies of Chi Omega from Syracuse University.

Our soiree included 10 sisters, most of whom I have enjoyed 4 or 5 of these mini-reunions with over the past couple years. I also was happy to see a few of whom I hadn't seen since college. With my newfound love for planning reunions and the ever-awesome Facebook, those moments of reconnection warm my heart (sorry, I know that's corny, but its true).

I also got to see my beloved brother-in-law Billy, who is a big time international money trader downtown in South Street Seaport. We lunched at Mark Joseph on incredible steak and chatted about the kids and such. Always a pleasure.

I was so happy to score a couple of great gifts for my daughter and husband, but unfortunately, did NO shopping for myself this time! All my minutes were spent just being together with friends - the ones I traveled with and the ones I visited with. Without a doubt, not a regret.