Nice presentation!

I had been looking forward to checking out this Indian Restaurant since I saw a “coming soon” sign soon hanging on the door last year. I love Indian food and it is hard to find it up here in the Hudson Valley. There are a couple restaurants in the area, but I haven’t been wowed by them. Today, I was pleasantly wowed with the buffet lunch at Indian Restaurant in Kingston. (The Indian Restaurant in New Paltz is run by the same owner). The place was spotless as you can see in the photos. The buffet starts with a red version of mulligatawny soup which really cleared my husband’s sinus. The tandoori wings, basmati rice and dahl were all very good, though not exceedingly spicy. If you like it super spicy let them know, and they will be happy to make you sweat. The rice pudding dessert was very rich and sweet. For $8.95/per person quite a deal! The host told me that the Saturday night buffet at $12.95 fills both rooms of the restaurant. For more info call (845) 331-3611. Kingston Indian Restaurant, 298 Wall Street, Uptown Kingston, NY. Open 7 days a week, 11:30 am-10:00 pm.(http://www.newpaltzindianrestaurant.com)

Bright & cheery lunch room

Mom's Night Off Special!

Brand New sign at the IGA

I can’t remember who told me about the Boiceville IGA’s Rotisserie chickens a few years ago. I think it was a concerned friend. Every Wednesday night, they have a special called “Mom’s Night Off” which could be deemed sexist because there are plenty of Dads out there who do their share of the cooking. My husband is not one of them unfortunately so I love shopping at the Boiceville IGA on Wednesdays. For $6.99 you get a very tasty chicken, 1 pound of store-made salad, and a 2-liter of Adirondacks soda. While you are at the deli counter there, check out the roast beef. It’s the best I’ve tasted around here. Other excellent rotisserie chickens can be found at Sam’s Club in Kingston, NY (huge and tasty) and also Sunfrost in Woodstock (petite and garlicky). Boiceville Market is located right across from Onteora High School on Route 28. (845) 657-2695.

The Catskill

Maybe it’s because I’ve never really been a pocket-book person, but in general I don’t enjoy shopping for pocket-books and can’t understand the mini-purse craze!  What I end up doing is buying cheap pocket books from Target to get me through the seasons. These pocket books tend to self-destruct after 6 months or so. Since I’m going to be traveling soon I thought I had a perfect excuse to splurge on quality. AmeriBag is a high-quality luggage company based in the Hudson Valley. The boutique is sandwiched between Panera Bread and Barnes & Nobles on Ulster Avenue. They also sell shoes and boots. I came at the perfect time because they were offering mighty fine sales!  If you are looking for a cute laptop bag, they have a few really nice ones that don’t even look like laptop bags. The bag I bought, a Catskill model, has a padded interior to hold a laptop bag, but I plan on using it for a DVD player, snacks, magazines, books, and toys too. Every bag has a life-time warranty. (If anything rips or comes apart they will fix it free of charge). For more information, visit http://www.ameribag.com.

Happy Birthday Blog!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, creative, and busy 2010!

About a year ago I started this blog to share my favorite Hudson Valley haunts with the world, and it has become a Happiness Project of sorts.  This year I’m planning on revamping the design, adding more content, and offering advertising opportunities. I will still only blog about businesses and places that meet the Hudson Valley Good Stuff criteria. Off to work I go!  Happy New Year!

Cotton Candy for dessert!

Healthy Vegetable Napoleon

This was my 2nd dining experience at Circus Cafe in Saratoga Springs.  It’s got a little something for everyone. It’s dark enough for couples, but festive and loud enough for kids.  The menu has a wide variety of American comfort food (Big Top Chicken Pot Pie, Homemade Country Meatloaf) and Italian dishes (Shrimp Marinara and Italian Chicken Pasta), including a Gluten-Free menu for kids and adults. For my main dish I had the Vegetable Napoleon, which was delicious. My husband had the Italian Chicken Pasta. If you dine here with kids, save room for some cotton candy for dessert!  And, save money for the cool t-shirts they sell. “I Tame Lions” is my favorite one!  Circus Cafe, 392 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY. 12866. (518) 583-1106. http://www.circuscafe.com.

Mineral Bath & stool which you will need for your feet unless you are very tall

Roosevelt Baths & Spa at the Gideon Putnam Hotel

Happy New Year!  I just got back from a mini-vacation in Saratoga Springs.  Every year I go to Saratoga Springs for a winter weekend because as chilly as it is up there, it’s the perfect place for a winter weekend getaway.  (It was 10 F our first night there). Part of our weekend ritual is to visit the Roosevelt Baths & Spa inside the Saratoga Springs National Park to experience a mineral bath.  I was very surprised to see that the spa has invested some money in refurbishing the place. The new lounge is so spacious and luxurious compared to the previous lounge, which had a doctor’s waiting room feel. I thought  I only had a mineral bath, which cost $25-$30 depending on if you add aromatherapy essential oil to it. (In the spirit of the New Year, I had the Detox Synergy. It is not a big deal really. The attendant just squirts a little oil in the bath before leaving you to soak for 20 minutes).

Don’t mind the murky water. This is the real McCoy. Even though it looks like chicken bouillon, it feels really nice to just soak in the tub.  I always feel energized and relaxed afterwards. After 20 minutes, you get a knock on the door and a hot towel.  I love this place!  It’s a good place to go for a girls weekend away or for a couple who like to spa. To check out all their services, visit them at http://www.gideonputnam.com/Spa.aspx. Be sure to book in advance during the holidays. They get busy!

My comfy bed at the Doubletree in Tarrytown

Back in the late 1990s during our courtship, my husband and I used to escape to Tarrytown when we needed a break from the city. We stayed at the Tarrytown Hilton, which has recently been remodeled with new ownership and goes by “Doubletree Tarrytown” and let me tell you, it is doubly improved!  I liked the old Hilton, but the food at the restaurant was always bland and stale. The new lobby is very sleek-looking with high ceilings. For the holidays, a Christmas tree stood by a menorah.  The atmosphere was very festive with lots of well-behaved children milling about. We booked a room here so that we would have a place to crash during the blizzard of 2009. The rooms were very comfortable. I love fluffy beds, flat-screen TVs, and we were given 4 warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in. 

The biggest improvement has been in the dining experience. Breakfast buffet was very generous–smoked salmon, hot dishes, yogurt, cereal, etc. The indoor swimming pool is heated and a good size. We had the pool to ourselves at one point. The jacuzzi is gone though, and the gym has been moved to a separate room which makes sense. The only thing I miss are the puffy cushioned lounge chairs that used to be by the pool. The new lounge chairs look expensive, but they are rather spartan and not comfy.  I highly recommend this hotel to anybody who wants to be close to the city, but doesn’t want to pay the big bucks. For a Saturday night, we paid $135 (tax included) for a double room. For more information, go to www.tarrytown.doubletree.com or call (914) 631-5700.

Santa Claus visiting a local firehouse. He ate too many pancakes!

For the past 70 years, Santa Claus has made his grand entrance in Woodstock, NY on Christmas Eve.  His mode of transport is top-secret. Curious? Then join the hundreds of ice pops who will gather around the Village Green around 5:30 pm tomorrow to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.  Be sure to bundle up. He will not disappoint! Here is an article in this week’s Woodstock Times (by Andrea Barrist Stern) about Christmas Eve in Woodstock.

http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=504320

Christmas Lights at Seaman's Park in Saugerties

One of my favorite holiday rituals in the Hudson Valley is to drive around on a really chilly night to check out all the over-the-top Christmas light displays.  It kind of reminds of my days in Astoria when it seems as though neighbors try to out-decorate each other this time of year.  Tonight we decided to check out Saugerties-by-night for a change. Saugerties looks extra cool when it is all lit up, and one turn led us to this Christmas Light jackpot! This display is on the corner of Malen & Finger Street. It is sponsored by Seaman’s Park. That’s all the info I have at the moment. Anybody know anything else about this place? What are a few other not-to-miss holiday displays in the Hudson Valley?

Inside the homey Village Diner in Saugerties NY

If you are looking for an old school neighborhood diner where everybody knows your name, the coffee is really good, and the prices are budget friendly, then stop by the Village Diner in Saugerties. I have been going here for years. It’s a great rainy day breakfast place. Last week I stopped by and had a veggie omelet with cheese, a breakfast special. I was so hungry that I totally forgot about taking a photo. (I had to fast for a blood test and as you can surmise by my love for food, I’m not good at fasting!) It’s a cozy place. They also have dinner specials and week night specials like “Pasta night” sometimes. Saugerties Village Diner, 140 Main Street, Saugerties, NY 12477. (845) 246-7747.