The Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is on my “To Visit” list. I keep hearing radio announcements and buzz about the upcoming “Bounty of the Hudson” wine festival this weekend, Aug 1. & Aug. 2 from 12-5:00 pm. Wine lovers will be able to taste from over 15 different Hudson Valley wineries. Tickets are $25. For more info visit the Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, website, http://millbrookwine.com/index.php. Cheers!
Archive for July, 2009
Lunch at Oriole 9 in Woodstock, NY: Tasty Tofu Wrap or Hearty Breakfast
July 23, 2009
The Dieter vs. The Hungry Man at Oriole 9
Last weekend I had a house guest from France visiting. Oriole 9 is a great place to take someone out to breakfast or have a breakfast meeting. I would eat here every day if I could! Considering the quality of the food and the fancy presentation of the dishes, the breakfast and lunch menu is really reasonably priced. I decided to be adventurous and try a dish from the Lunch menu for a change. I had the marinated tofu wrap with avacado and wasabi yogurt. It was delicious, but very spicy. Thomas had the Oriole 9 Breakfast–2 eggs your way, with thick slabs of toast, potato, and sausage. The restaurant also is also a WiFi hotspot so plenty of diners take their laptops out to dine too. Oriole 9. http://www.oriole9.com
Belleayre Beach at Pine Hill Lake: A Slice of Heaven in the Hudson Valley
July 23, 2009
Belleayre Beach at Pine Hill Lake
Kids can take a break from the water at the Playground.
Last weekend, I went to one of my favorite summer spots, Belleayre Beach at Pine Hill. It’s a great place to take the kids swimming. The water is calm and shallow. (The shallow area is well cordoned off with a rope). There is a diving dock further out where you can dive from, if you are adventurous. (I’m not!) There is a small kiosk that sells drinks, ice creams, and chips. You can also rent a pedal boat, kayak, or row boat. Parking is only $8 for the day. The entry fee is $2 for walk-in folks. There is also a play ground on the grounds, and as the setting is so scenic, it’s the perfect photo-op setting! For more info, visit http://www.belleayre.com/summer/lake.htm.
Anybody out there have other favorite Hudson Valley beaches?
Ayla’s Pizza–Arkville, NY–Kid friendly Italian restaurant
July 21, 2009
Dining room at Ayla's Pizza
I brake for Pizza!
The kids were really hungry after the beach so we decided to stop somewhere before heading out for dinner. I was also worried that the Colonial Inn buffet wouldn’t have any kid food. (I was wrong. The buffet did have spaghetti, meatballs, and fried chicken). Anyway, a pizza stop turned out to be a great call. I didn’t realize that Ayla’s had a dinning room as well, until I asked to use the restroom. We sat at the small eating area by the counter. The slices were very tasty, and I had to restrain myself from ruining my appetite for the big buffet dinner in Pine Hill. There is also a small play area with toys for kids–which is always a plus for families! Ayla’s Pizza, Route 28, Arkville, NY. (845) 586-3333.
Saturday Night Grand Buffet–Colonial Inn–Pine Hill, NY–Loosen your belt!
July 20, 2009
Lots of delicous home cooked dishes at Colonial Inn.
Hunting inspired decor in the lobby of Colonial Inn.
I was so looking forward to enjoying the Grand Buffet at the Colonial Inn in Pine Hill tonight. We had a guest from France staying with us for a couple nights, who had only experienced NYC. He had never seen America’s country side so it felt beffiting to take him to sleepy Pine Hill for a huge Hudson Valley buffet. The Grand Buffet opens up at 5:30 every Saturday night. We got there a little early because we were all famished from our day at Belleayre Beach. There was a small salad bar, and the hot entrees were all delicious and cooked like your aunt’s favorite pot luck dish. There was eggplant parmesan, 2 different kinds of meatballs, mashed potatoes, vegetables, corned beef, roast beef, pasta dishes, shrimp, and a couple fish dishes. The desserts were so good. I had 2 servings of the banana cream pie. (Diet starts in earnest on Monday!) I could tell there were quite a few repeat buffet customers here. If you have a party of 6 or more, call ahead and let them know. Otherwise, reservations aren’t needed. At $13.50 per person, you can loosen your belt without loosening your wallet. What are other great buffets in the area? I’ve been to Al’s Seafood in Phoenicia before for their Monday night seafood buffet. Are there others out there I should know about? I just love buffets! Children get a discount on the buffet. For more info, visit http://www.colonialinn.com/buffet.htm.
Colonial Inn, Pine Hill, NY
Date Night: The Early Bird Special at The Reservoir Inn
July 15, 2009
Where the local foodies go!
We were the super early birds!
Broiled Bay Scallops were light and yummy
I blogged about The Reservoir Inn in February, but we ended up here again last night. Wednesday is a quirky night to go on a Date Night, but most babysitters have dates of their own on weekends so we are not choosy about the night. An added bonus about going to The Resevoir Inn during the week is the Early Bird Special, served between 5:00-6:30 pm Monday-Thursday. ( On Fridays & Saturdays the Early Bird window is 5:00-6:00, Sundays 1:00-5:00 pm). We got the chance to enjoy some fine dining at diner prices. There were about a dozen entrees to choose from. I was in the mood for something light so I picked the Broiled Bay Scallops with wild rice ($13.50). My husband chose the Cordon Blue with mash potatoes.
All the early-bird specials come with salad, soup, dessert, and coffee. For dessert, we could choose ice cream or bread pudding. I don’t like bread pudding, but figured it was going to be more exciting than ice cream. It was different bread pudding, 2 slices of bread soaked in sweet pudding with a raspberry sauce. I liked it, but I was too stuffed to finish it. The total bill came out to $38, which included a glass of wine, sodas, and a bottled Saratoga Springs water. I overheard the kids at the table next to ours gush about the “huge” portions of their kid meals. (The kid ravioli looked really good from where I was sitting). Even-though the restaurant has a kid’s menu and a high chair available, I wouldn’t bring a loud baby or wild toddler here because there is no place for kids to run around, and most diners are couples on dates or families with well-behaved older kids.
http://www.thereservoirinn.com . The Reservoir Inn, 157 Basin Road, West Hurley, NY. (845) 331-9806.
Pineview Bakery–Shokan, NY–Big & Tasty Low Budget Breakfast
July 14, 2009
Strawberry and Banana Shortcake French Toast
Pineview Bakery & Cafe, Route 28, Shokan
Homemade pastries @ Pineview Bakery
I am feeling stuffed right now. I hadn’t been to the Pine View Bakery in Shokan on Route 28 in ages. Today we had an errand to run in Boiceville so it was the perfect excuse to stop. They make homemade cookies, danishes, cakes, and muffins. (They also make birthday and wedding cakes). There is outdoor and indoor seating. I had the breakfast special, which was strawberry and banana shortcake French toast, which included a large coffee for $7. This was the most expensive thing on the breakfast menu. The prices are very reasonable. My husband had the sausage and cheese omelet with home fries, which he devoured. The French toast was really good. I finished my plate. The bakery has a loyal local crowd and weekenders. I even saw a couple cops eating here. I have a friend who says, “If cops eat there, you know it’s good!”–I haven’t tried the lunch here yet, but if the breakfast is any indication, it’s probably delicious. Pineview Bakery & Cafe, Route 28, Shokan, NY. (845) 657-8925. Open Tuesday thru Sunday: 6 am – 4pm.
Shakti Yoga in Woodstock: Pigeon Pose in the Country
July 10, 2009
Shakti Yoga in Woodstock
I’m feeling very relaxed and mellow as I write this post today. I finally made it over to Shakti Yoga studios to attend Corrinne’s class. (I used to go to her class semi-regularly when she taught at Bliss Yoga). Shakti Yoga studio has a bit more of a rural country vibe than Bliss Yoga Center does. The windows in the bright studio were open and I could see the trees and here the birds tweeting while I worked through the poses. Corrinne likes to focus on strengthening the abdomen quite a bit, which I appreciate because my abs always need that due to my Summer ice cream project. Shakti Yoga also offers a Poolside Yoga class on Tuesday mornings at 9am, and on Saturdays at 10:30 am., weather permitting. I definitely want to check this out sometime as I’ve always wanted to take an outdoor yoga class. Drop-in class is $15. http://www.shaktiyogawoodstock.com
Self-Promotion: Fodor’s Guide to NY State 2nd Edition is out today!
July 7, 2009
Fodor's Guide New York State (2nd Edition)
The Fodor’s Guide Book that I contributed to is out today. I updated the Long Island chapter. For anybody who thinks working on travel guidebooks is a glamourous and well-paying gig, let me tell you it was a labor of love, a fun project to work on, but lots of work. I haven’t seen the book yet, but I feel that all my efforts were worth it. Check it out at your local book store or at Amazon. http://amzn.com/1400008972
Where to Wi-Fi in the Hudson Valley: Laptops & Lattes
July 7, 2009
Wi-Fi writers welcome
This is one of my pet blog projects. I’m trying to find the best Wi-Fi hot spots in the Hudson Valley. So far, if I’m looking for tasty food and reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, I go to Panera Bread on Ulster Avenue in Kingston. The place is usually packed during the lunch hour, but I’ve always been lucky in finding a spot. There about 10 different spots at Panera that have outlets that you can use to plug in your laptop. You can also eat and work on your laptop outside (weather permitting, of course). Another good place is Muddy Cup in Saugerties at 66 Partition Street. (Muddy Cup also has locations in Albany, Beacon, Kingston & New Paltz). I haven’t tried the food or coffee here yet, but I can tell you that it gets an A for quiet bookish writer-friendly ambiance. They also feature local artists, singers, musicians, open-mic nights. Check out http://www.muddycup.comfor more info. I’ll add more Hudson Valley Wi-Fi spots as I uncover them. Do you know of any good ones?
Hudson Valley Good Stuff 