Have you ever been to ...

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA?

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Gettin' your kicks on Route 66?  Don't skip by Flagstaff.

If the time is right, you can't miss the annual, majestic aspens show.  Autumn is ablaze with the cheerful yellow sequin-like leaves, flickering their final salutation to the bluebird sky.

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Then, set your destination for downtown and stroll by Heritage Square. Get crafty at The Armadilla Wax Works Candle Factory with olfactory inspiration and a perhaps a little lesson in candle dipping.

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Forget kitschy native crafts, find your souvenirs at the Rainbow's End where truly unique clothes, kicks, jewelry, and accessories from around the world will really remind you of this fun and funky town.  

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Then take a break at Flagstaff Brew just next door or hop across the tracks (look out for the Sante Fe), and get your lunch at the Lumberyard Brewing Co.  Their draught selection, made right there, will keep you busy for a few rounds, but their food is worth the visit too.

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Save room for a treat and top off your travel mug with a gourmet delight from Macys.   

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Flagstaff has an awesome music scene with venues like the Orpheum and The Green Room hosting talent both famous and infamous.  There is always something good to see, great specials, and hey- Free Tacos on Tuesdays!

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There's a enough to fill a few days in Flag, so why not get a celebrity-inspired room at the historic Hotel Monte Vista.  Celebrating pasts guests such as Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, and Clark Gable, among others, you might even land the bright pink Debbie Reynolds room. 

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Looking for a more organic experience?  The Abineau Lodge in the Mountainaire neighborhood of south Flagstaff offers on-site wine tasting and access to miles of casual trails.  Stop at "the tavy" (tavern) on your way back in for a refreshing PBR with a few locals.

  

My favorite thing about Flag: The People! Genuine, conscious, and ever-ready for a good time, these folks make a stay in town something to remember (with parts I forget).  Thanks, gang!

Congratulations Eric & Amanda!

In Season... ABUNDANT APPLES !

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Celebrate the season this Sunday at Warwick, NY's famous APPLEFEST! 

There's still time to get to the orchard and grab up those Grannies, Galas and Goldens, Cortlands, Crispins and Cameos.  They're a totally versatile, long-lasting staple for a well-stock pantry.

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Got a little zealous on your last apple-picking tour?  There's so much more than pie to make with your bushel...

Caramelized Onion & Apple Omelette with Smoked Gouda

On low heat, slowly saute about 1/4 of a small white onion, diced finely, and 1/2 of one apple, peeled and diced, until soft and caramelized, about 10 min.  Add a pinch of brown sugar if you please.

Toss in a tad of your still-lingering garden herbs such as thyme, chives, parsley.

Beat 3 egg whites and carefully incorporate the apple-onion mix.

Pour back into the pan and cook, turning once, about 5 min.  

Layer smoked gouda on half of the omelette, fold and top with a little bit more.

Mmmm!

Apple & Brie Bites

Top crackers with a sliver of apple and a generous cut of brie.  Drizzzzzle with a little honey.  Use Kame rice crackers (wasabi style is delish) for a gluten-free party snack.  

Impress your friends with these apple fun facts

Have you ever eaten...

Cicchetti ?

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Well you haven't until you've been to San Carlo Cicchetti.  Their newest location in London's Piccadilly launched just weeks ago, and the energy - and provisions - are second to none.

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Starting with a warm welcome from Carlo himself, my senses were flooded with an array of fresh ingredients, the chic market-inspired décor, the aromas of a fiery pizza hearth, and the lively buzz of friends sharing abundant "small" plates that explode with flavour and colour.

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Greeted next by a plentiful assortment of breads, olives and dripping oil, I relaxed at the cool marble bar and excitedly took in the scenery.  Cecchetti, by the way, are a typical Venetian fare - small snacks for mixing and sharing any time of day.  That inspiring atmosphere resonates here at Carlo's.

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Saying nothing more than "anything," "small," and "vegetariana," my wildest food fantasies were set in motion.  Generous servings of grilled veggies, sun-dried tomatoes, and creamy, carb-a-licous pastas quickly arrived.  My bowl was made of parmesan cheese.  Need I say more?? 

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That warm buzz of energy never subsided though eventually the lunchtime crowd did and I could chat a little more with the gracious staff.  And to think all I was hoping for from my 4 hours in London was a beer buzz and some fish & chips.  I was happily converted.

Mangia!  

In season... SANGRIA!

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If you haven't been celebrating the fruits of summer yet, it's high time to fill your glass with juicy bits of peach, pear and plum - or whatever you have on hand - shake it up with fluids of your choice and sip in the bright flavors of this bountiful season.

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So how DO you make sangria?  Well, don't be afraid to experiment; there's really no wrong answer.

In a carafe, toss together:

- a diced medley of whatever ripe fruit you please: apple, apricot, berry, even banana if you dare, kiwi, melon, citrus... 

- wine: red or white.  Choose an unoaked red with punchy fruit, like a malbec or zinfandel, or a pinot noir for a lighter body.  For whites, think crisp and fruity with low acid, like pinot gris or for a bit more body, an unoaked chardonnay.

- fortify your potion with a higher-proof spirit: triplesec or brandy for rich flavor, rum or vodka for a bigger buzz

- pump up the fruit with a splash of juice - a cranberry blend or a white grape work well
- add some bubbles with seltzer or Sprite  
- Soak in the summer vibe!  

And if that's just too much to handle, hop on your Harley and head to Rhodes North Tavern in Sloatsburg, NY, where a refreshing mason jar of sangria awaits.  Grab a dozen oysters and a chair on the sand.

- There's still fun for the virgins.  Try Vandalia Wine for a N.A. version that's refreshing as well. 

Have you ever been to ...

LAKE PLACID, NY  ?

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Whether you're running the Iron Man, playing lacrosse, or leisurely launching kayaks, there are hundreds of reasons to visit this Olympic town.  The first week in August, the Lake Placid Lacrosse Classic stirs up the town bringing generations of stick-twisting fans to flank the shores of Mirror Lake and nurse wounds in the shadow of the 1980 Olympic torch.

Congratulations to the the Ladies Masters Division for its 2nd year at the Classic, and cheers to the Dirty Dragons, Hound Dawgs & the Dutch Masters for a great weekend on and off the field

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A great place to start is the Lake Placid pub & brewery, with tasty, creative dishes - like Josh's Fire Fish - to pair with your Ubu Ale.

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Save a little cash by camping at Meadowbrook Campground and grab a few more brews to-go.  Relax by a campfire, or bring your bevs afloat for a scenic cruise from Lake Placid Marina & Boat Tours.

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When your beer buzz wears off, drop into Goose Watch Winery's tasting room on Main Street.  Their offerings reflect typical NY varietals like a cool-climate Gewurtz, but their Lemberger was a nice, spicy alternative, similar to a Washington pinot noir.  To expand your cellar even further, visit the Smoking Cork a few paces away, and while you're there, pick up a bottle of P3 Placid Vodka - smooth and delicious.  Peek next door at Vision of Tibet for a unique array of artisan wares.

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At last, an awesome BBQ joint this pescatarian can enjoy.  And enjoy, I did!  Grab some buddies and take a short drive out towards Saranac Lake.  You can't miss Tail O' The Pup, tikis ablaze, with live music cranking on weekends and a buzzing family crowd meandering about the picnic tables, ice cream stand, sandbox and game tables.  The apple crisp rounded out the night as perfectly as the weekend rounded out my belly.  No regrets.

My brother, Anthony & I were each recovering our sports-related ailments but we still made a great time of the weekend in Lake Placid.  Anytime of year, this destination has a lot to offer.  

What do you like best about Lake Placid?