Tag Archives: Travel

Road Trip

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Road Trip
In my opinion, there really is nothing better than hitting the open road with the wind in your hair. Last week, I made a much needed escape from my little island and headed south to then head north and thus fulfilled another item on my Fall Bucket List. My first destination was Riverton, New Jersey, better known as the new hometown to my sweet little H and her wonderful family. On the drive down, I decided to make a quick detour to have lunch at Terrain in Westport, CT. Terrain is just one of those places where everything in life seems to be right. After devouring a delicious fall salad of quinoa and farro and sipping on a blood orange spritzer, I decided to do a little browsing for Christmas gift inspiration. But instead, I was more inspired by their kitchen displays. Isn’t this just breathtaking?
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My time in Riverton, a mere 20 minutes from Philly was exactly what my soul needed. My girlfriend Sharla is just one of those people in my life who truly gets me. Sitting on her porch looking out at the golf course with the sun on my face, I realized that I am so blessed. We spent a great deal of time talking about what’s next for me. An excellent question indeed. I won’t get into this too much at this time but will just say, I think I am getting closer and closer, which excites me!

I always love exploring a city through its food and Sharla always knows exactly where to take me. The first stop was a breathtaking coffee shop/gourmet food store (right up my alley) called Talula’s. For our last lunch together, we ventured over to the Navy Shipyard to the Urban Outfitters world headquarters. A fun little fact, there is a beautiful cafe there that is open to the public and serves the most delicious food. We enjoyed a vegetarian chili served on a slice of grilled polenta, potato leek soup and a chocolate chip cookie. Yummy! And the coolest part, we were surrounded by all these creative and hip types who work for one of the coolest companies, in my book. Made me realize I want to be part of something grand. I mean, wouldn’t you want to come to work here everyday!
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Having to end my visit a bit too soon to head north to Maine, I decided to make a lunch stop at a place that has been on my bucket list for years, Blue Farm at Stone Barn. And how happy am I that I did. Have you heard of this place? Simply breathtaking. An agricultural center with a working farm, a renowned restaurant, a killer cafe and a gift shop that is the most beautiful collection of gifts I have seen in quite some time. For lunch, I decided on the tomato soup (there was a bit of a chill in the air) and their newly released beet yogurt. Yes, you read that right. Beet yogurt. And let me tell you, delicious!
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With a quick visit to my home state of good old Massachusetts for the final World Series Game (Go Sox) I headed up to one of my favorite, Portland Maine for my big brother’s wedding. I will share all my Portland picks in a later post but let me just say, what a road trip it was. Until next time, stay warm!

Moments

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Hydra Greece
I was transported back to one of the greatest days of my life while indulging in the latest edition of Lonny Magazine over the weekend. Lonny is my go-to source for design, fashion and gift giving inspiration. This month, I was beyond excited to read their feature on photographer Mirabelle Marden, whose family home is not only stunning but is in one of the most magical places I have been blessed to visit.

I spent a day on the island of Hydra, Greece last November with a dear friend. We hadn’t planned on visiting any of the Greek islands but with a day to spare, we thought, why not. We boarded a fast ferry, something this island girl is quite familiar with, and were off.

Although it was November, we decided to pack our swimsuits just in-case. After exploring the shops and speaking with a few locals, we made our way to a restaurant about a 20 minute walk from the center of town but boasting fantastic views. Twenty minutes into our walk with no restaurant in site, we discovered a little beach and decided to take the plunge. Although the beach itself was quite rocky, the water was breathtaking. Below is one of my favorite photos from the day.
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We never did find the restaurant so we decided to head back to town to make sure we made our ferry, The Flying Dolphin, back to Athens. With little time to spare, we grabbed a spot at an outdoor bar and enjoyed a late bite. And while my mythos beer and greek pizza were satisfying, my favorite part of the dining experience was the brief statement on the menu:

We are lovers of the beautiful, yet we remain simple in our tastes, and we cultivate the mind without being lazy. Poverty is no disgrace for us; the true disgrace is in doing nothing to avoid it. We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not only as indifferent but as a useless character. We alone do good to others not upon a calculation of interest, but in the confidence of freedom and in a generous spirit.

A great outlook on life if you ask me. Hydra… can’t wait to be back in your beauty again!

Escape

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One of the best parts of living on an island is the ever so needed escape. I remember when I was a little girl, the first stop after disembarking from the slow boat, no matter the time, was always McDonald’s. Fortunately, my taste buds have matured (Pain D’Avignon is my new guilty pleasure) but that sheer excitement of entering “America” as we locals like to say, is a feeling I have enjoyed experiencing again.

This past weekend, I made a much needed escape to Boston. Saturday night, I ventured to Washington Square and the newly opened Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant. Even though I lived in Boston for over a decade, I resided in only three neighborhoods and Washington Square will always have a place in my heart as my first ‘hood. Plus, my dinner companion traveled with me to Barcelona, Spain last spring, where I solidified the ever so big decision to return to my native roots. Two important places coming together in an evening… funny how fate brings things together for us. I digress…

From the moment I saw the packed patio and booming bar, I knew I was in for a treat. The space is chic, rustic and eludes an oh-so sexy vibe. And the food, simply divine. We started with sangria, of course. I opted for the sangria flora, featuring rose, St. Germain, and fresh fruit, which might just be my new summer cocktail! We then moved onto a tasting of jamon serrano, manchego and valdeon, the most amazing blue cheese I think I have ever tasted. And then the real fun started… plate after plate of little delicacies… spicy eggplant caponata, beef empanadas with a red pepper sauce, mussels al diablo and grilled broccolini. A sinful amount of food, perhaps but well worth the fast I will need to do this week.

I highly suggest adding Barcelona Wine Bar to your list of must’s in Boston. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Island Living – New & Noteworthy

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For a small little New England town, things certainly do change quickly around here. Each season, there is always a lineup of new places to open on the scene, which makes strolling through town oh so fun. Below are just a few places causing a bit of buzz. Check them out and let me know what you think!

– One of the best parts about moving home has been connecting with like-minded folk and Elise Gura could certainly be my soul sister. A former private chef, florist and all-around cool girl, Elise opened an eclectic little shop on Old South Wharf called Space (just love the name). Almost officially a month old, her “space” features an impressive collection of antiques (the boat drawings are mint), amazing pottery from Brooklyn, Sesame Letterpress notebooks and cards (I die for their products), tea towels from StudioPatro, among other amazing finds. If you are looking for that piece you won’t find anywhere else, head on down to Space and say hi to Elise.

– The most anticipated opening of the 2013 season isn’t a restaurant or boutique but rather the new Hummock Pond Road bike path. Learn all about it here. Now you can safely walk or ride your bike to the farm, the brewery and Cisco beach. Well done, town of Nantucket!

– As I may have mentioned in May’s Must Eats, I am a huge fan of American Seasons and therefore am quite excited to report that owners Michael and Orla LaScola will be opening The Proprietors in the former DeMarco’s space at 9 India Street. The name comes from a reference to the first European land-owners on Nantucket, who divided the island up into shares. I walked by this afternoon on my lunch break and it looks like they will be opening their doors any day now. The one big change I could see through the windows was the expansion of the bar. Know where I will be heading for a cocktail soon enough!

– Although this little shop opened in 2010, I think some of you may have missed it as its tucked back in the Centre Street Meeting House. Ambrosia features an impressive selection of organic spices, handmade chocolates, local honey, and unique kitchen items. If I’m looking for a hostess gift or a present for that hard-to-shop-for friend, you will most certainly find something simply fantastic at Ambrosia.

My Year in Review – 2012

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I know, I know… It isn’t January 1st so this post is a few weeks late. Better late than never, right? What a year it was. Big changes, lots of travel and always great food with wonderful friends. Couldn’t ask for more!

January 2012 – Welcomed 2012 at one of my favorite watering holes, The Chicken Box, with my lovely sisters and a terrific friend! NOTE: The photo above was taken on New Year’s eve out in Madaket. Best sunset in the history of all sunsets. I mean it!

February 2012 – Ventured to Washington, D.C. for Super Bowl weekend and explored Old Town, Alexandria. Tasted one of the best coconut cakes I have ever had at Society Fair – a must for your next trip to our nation’s capital.

March 2012 – Ventured to San Diego, CA to visit a dear college friend and her sweet husband. Enjoyed an afternoon in La Jolla soaking up the views at George’s at the Cove followed by an amazing dinner at Searsucker in the Gaslight District. Drove into the desert to enjoy a few days poolside at the Viceroy Palm Springs. Love me a great boutique hotel!

April 2012 – Took a holiday in Spain… Barcelona to be precise. Savored several delicious tapas but my favorite find of all was a charming little café, Caelum on De la Palla. On my first day back to work, I gave my six weeks notice!

May 2012 – Celebrated my 33rd birthday and my farewell to Boston with a group of wonderful friends at Cafeteria on Newbury Street followed by margaritas at Lolita. Attended an Opus One wine tasting at my dear friend’s home for Nantucket Wine Festival. Can’t wait to visit this vineyard on an upcoming trip to Napa. Perhaps my 34th birthday!

June 2012 – Started the new month with my last day at work. Packed up my car on and moved back to my little island 30 miles out to sea. Started a new job as a catering manager and the craziness began.  Was able to sneak in a few movies at the Nantucket Film Festival including Liberal Arts, My Sister’s Sister and the documentary Under African Skies as well as a talk with writer and director Nancy Meyers.

July 2012 – 14 to 18 hour work days… not even sure what happened in July. My tan was off the hook, though!

August 2012 – Swam across the pond to the Cape to celebrate the union of a lovely couple with my island girls. We have known each other for 25+ years. Wow!

September 2012 –Weddings, weddings, weddings.

October 2012 – Moved into my winter rental in Monomoy, where I go to sleep to the sound of the late boat coming in and wake up to the early boat leaving. Island living at its finest!

November 2012 – Best month of my life! Traveled to Sofia, Bucharest, Athens and Istanbul with one of the best friends a girl could ask for. More on this to come in future posts, I promise!

December 2012 – Purchased my very first Christmas tree and enjoyed some quality time in front of my TV recovering from a terrible cold. Thank God for Homeland on my DVR.