Have you ever been to...

TELLURIDE, COLORADO ?
Ring in festival season!

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Ever hear of those vortexes of the earth from where positive energy - some kind of magnetic field of good karma - radiates?  Welcome to Telluride.  Now toss in a mandolin, and a menagerie of pickers the likes of Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, and endless jams from Yonder Mountain String Band - just to name a few, and you have the king of all summer music festivals: The Telluride Bluegrass Festival.  

Now, to be completely honest, I really hate to spread the word of this tiny festival (tickets sold out in about an hour this year!) Set at the base of a spectacular box canyon in the heart of the San Juan range, Telly can only support a fairly small affair.  If you were lucky enough to land Warner Field tickets this year, stop by "Camp Blow-It-Out" and check out all of their solutions for sustainable celebrating.  http://www.bluegrass.com/telluride/

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June 2011 (these shots were taken a day apart...How cool is that?!)

Not one of the lucky ones? Head to a vortex near you: The Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance in Trumansburg, NY.  Just outside of "gorges" Ithaca, this down-home festival is the real deal.  The atmosphere is super-friendly and the living is easy.  The food offering can't be beat, though I'm a fan of preparing a spread with friends.  Don't forget your favorite noisemaker; jam circles spring up 'round the clock.  Don't miss the velvety voice of Uniit, the hypnotic grooves of Plastic Nebraska, nor the ceaseless celebration put on by Thousands of One. http://www.grassrootsfest.org/festival/

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In Season... STRAWBERRIES

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I admit - I loved Strawberry Shortcake.  And I'm not talking about the delicious cream treat you see above... I had all the dolls - Huckleberry Pie, Lemon Meringue, even wicked ol' Sour Grapes.  I think this early passion was a fitting segue to my love of colorful foods. 


And now, this season, the super sweet and nostalgic aroma of fresh, ripe strawberries abounds.  I picked up 2 lbs. for a few bucks and whipped up these merry-makers in minutes.  

How many of Strawberry Shortcake's friends can you name??  

(Here's a cheatsheet when you're ready...)

Anyone who knows me knows I hate to waste a beloved piece of produce, so what do I do with those super-ripe berries not pretty enough for my shortcake?  Throw 'em the blender of course! This basic, PG smoothie includes about a 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt, and a splash of berry juice, but why not use Bacardi Dragon Berry instead of yogurt for a different kind of sauce.

In Season - HERBS

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Parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme... lavender, cilantro, tarragon, chive... Fragrant, delicate bouquets set the table this season and the possibilities are endless.  I love to snip up a mixed bunch in my salad for a surprise with every bite.  If you're not afraid of flavor, herbs are so fun to experiment with, so try a new combo and let us know what you discover.

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The Garden Gimlet:

Ok, it’s not really a gimlet (gin based), but it is 8 ounces of refreshing paradise, brought to you from Puerta Plata…

-Generous handful of chopped herbs: basil, mint, parsley, watercress

-5oz Brugal Anejo

-2oz freshly squeezed jugo de naranja

-dash of bubbles (soda water), if you so desire

-serve over ice and take in a warm breeze

Cheers!

Have you ever been to...

ALASKA?

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In a stroke of misfortune, I lost my wallet about 2 hours into my week-long trip to Alaska. A serious challenge while traveling alone, but since I was prepared for camping and resourceful by nature, I took the experience in stride. There was plenty of inspiration with 20+ hours of gorgeous soft-box daylight overhead. With my Coleman stove and fair stock of rations I made my veggieful ramen soup, which I sipped on the shore of Resurrection Bay.  This stove rocks: Coleman Exponent Multi-fuel

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In an amazing stroke of good fortune, my wallet was recovered (perfectly intact!). Tired of the dreary wetness of the Kenai Peninsula, I headed 5 hours north to Denali National Park. I camped riverside, and hiked well into the night (11pm!), whistling and singing loudly to alert any unsuspecting wildlife of my approach.  My happiness-factor soared. Further good fortune granted me an uncovered view of Mount McKinley’s snowcapped peak, a rare sight typically shrouded by vapor.

News/Updates - Cancer Awareness

Here's a great story and powerful resource for cancer fighters: How I Found Out I Had Cancer

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I photographed Mailet in NYC. You can also check-out Woman's

World Magazine soon for more of Mailet's story and my photographs.

visit: www.ihadcancer.com to join the community

In Season - ASPARAGUS

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Springing up at a farm stand near you, the asparagus are peeking out their pretty little heads right about now. Try them blanched and drizzled with a little garlic oil and slivered almonds. 


Or, get creative with a cream of asparagus soup:

-2 bunches of asparagus, bottoms trimmed

-1 large onion

-2 cloves garlic

-1 Tbs olive oil

-1 Tbs butter

-1 cup vegetable stock, or water

-1 cup fresh cream

Chop up the onion and saute in the butter until clear and nearly caramelized.  Dice up most of the asparagus, reserving about 6-8 stalks to cut into 2-inch pieces.  Add diced asparagus and diced garlic into onion saute.  Simmer about 5 minutes until asparagus is soft.  Add stock. Stir together until the soup is hot and flavors are incorporated in the broth.  Transfer to blender or food processor and puree mixture to desired consistency.  Return to pot and add reserved asparagus. Heat until asparagus is bright green but tender.  Lower heat and add cream.  Stir and serve.  Top with a little salt & crushed black pepper.  Bon appetit!

Have you ever been to...

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA ?

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Well, it's not really that nice.  But if you've got a few days to make the most of, be sure to get off Washington Road and venture to Downtown Augusta's Broad Street for gallery hopping and cold beer sloshing (sans the Hooter girls).

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The Pizza Joint serves up damn-good NY-style pizza with as many toppings to choose from as microbrews on tap.  The courtyard patio is an oasis off the sidewalk, but take your slice to-go and stroll over to the Savannah Riverfront.  Playgrounds and paths make for an easy place to relax.  On Sundays, admission to the riverside's Morris Museum is F-R-E-E, featuring both permanent and rotating exhibits, while Saturday is a great day to visit Artist's Row's array of galleries and boutiques.

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When the sun goes down, the scene lights up, and downtown Augusta is a music town.  A shrine to the greats, and the James Brown headquarters, hop into Soul Bar for dancy faves, check out Sweetwater for southern-style sounds, or rack 'em up to Metro's hipster hums.  

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And there's still hope when the urban and strip mall scenes finally exhaust you.  Slip out towards Evans to the national forest for a floating picnic.  Gear up at Outspokin' Bicycles (those guys are great and fixed up my sorry tire in a jiffy!)  and try out the single-track biking on Deep Step, or take it easy along the Savannah River Rail Trail.  

Happy Trails!

If you've ever been, I'd love to hear from you.  Let me know what you liked best, and fill me in on what I missed.

See last year's adventures at The Masters

In Season - MUSHROOMS

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April showers brought May mushrooms and there are as many different kinds as there are delicious ways to prepare them. So simple to saute in a bit of herb butter and a bit more extra virgin olive oil then toss over al dente pasta loaded with shaved cheese (I'm partial to a Manchego / Parmesan mix). YUM

Have you ever been to....

MUENCHEN, GERMANY?

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It is, in fact, “5 o'clock somewhere." Under the Glockenspiel, we are reminded of the shameful hour of our morning thirst. We headed to Hofbräuhaus for a quenching without judgement. There is something extremely fun about lifting a liter of beer to the lips, especially in the morning. We soon discovered the locals more often ordered the half stein. Once the novelty wears off, we realize we'd rather have the beer still cold by the time we got to the bottom.

        

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In the homeland of the Bauhaus movement, artful attention to detail abounds. From modern architecture flanked by historic stone work, to detailed murals in quiet laneways; the Germans take time for aesthetics.Taking the same care with their undies, it seemed like shoppes for the unmentionables outnumbered cafes and Brauhausers.Some window displays were modestly expected, but in this artistic city there was always a few that were especially inspired. 

Have you ever been to...

ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND?

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When you are a powder hound, riding on piste that hasn’t had fresh snowfall in over a month is less than exhilarating. Tack on a brutal hangover and you get a grumpy little Meg. Good thing the dinner at Hotel Christiana was outstanding, and by Day Two we were back on the proverbial “horse.” Shooshing and sipping across the border to Cervinia, Italy, the mediocre snow conditions were irrelevant against the exquisite scenery. Snowboarding, geography, and beer! Now we have a happy little Meg. Did I mention the Matterhorn?!

Have you ever been to...

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA?

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By foot is by far the best way to tour, and Melbourne is an outstanding venue for such. The fit Aussies seem to adore the out-of-doors, and spectacular city parks provided hours of pedestrian pleasures. I meandered the Royal Botanic Gardens and captured a surprisingly elevated vista of the downtown city. From St. Kilda, I casually trekked a comfortable 20km of the esplanade, a perfect path along the sea, catching scenic glimpses of the city at my back. 

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When it's snowing back home in New York, I could care less about the absent ozone above Australia.Staying in hostels is an awesome way to connect with other travelers and sometimes get an insider experience.At HabitatHQ in St. Kilda, the staff made this experience happen.We ventured to Melbourne's Chinatown for a festive dim sum delight at the Camy Shanghai Dumpling House where for about $12 buck each, we feasted endlessly and shared our BYOB contributions. The infamous Melbourne rooftop scene is not to be missed, so we hopped to Rooftop Cinema, The Carlton, and Madame Brussels.

Have you ever been to...

MASTERS ?

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I had the good fortune to visit the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club for the first time in 2011.  A perfect commencement to the spring season, the foliage was in spectacular bloom and I shamelessly fried under the unclouded sun.

The slanted evening light filtering through the tall pines and delicate blooms that set the best scenes. And by then, I was countless beers deep and really inspired.

When we spotted Arnold Palmer on the guesthouse balcony at Augusta National, I was disappointed that he wasn’t sipping the refreshing iced tea-lemonade of his namesake.  But I was inspired to mix one up for the camera.

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Classic Arnold Palmer Recipe:
6 oz. lemonade
6 oz. sweet tea
Pour the lemonade first. Gingerly pour the tea on top for a layered concoction.
Garnish with a twist of lemon and a sprig of mint

Meg’s Twist on the Classic:
6 oz. lemonade
6 oz. Firefly Sweet Tea vodka

 Cheers!

See more Augusta stories:

2012