Journeys Near and Far

10 Things to Love about the New York Renaissance Faire

The New York Renaissance Faire opened it's gates last weekend to another season of medieval revelry.  This is one of my favorite Renaissance Festivals.  The following are ten reasons why.

 

1.  The Color

Vibrant color leaps out at you as you frolic through this Faire, whether it's the bright silk of a medieval merchant woman's gown, the sparkling pink wings of a fairy, or multihued banners flapping softly in the breeze.  Bring your camera, you'll find plenty of photographic inspiration.

Maypole dance   Image:  Mirna L Falkner

The New York Times Travel Show

Take a spin around the globe this weekend at the New York Times Travel Show

Whether you love to travel or prefer to stay home and dream about travel from your favorite armchair, you're in for a great time if you head over to New York City for the New York Times Travel Show this weekend.  Why?

For starters, there will be about 500 exhibitors representing destinations and tour companies from all over the world. 

A host of travel experts such as travel gurus Rick Steves, Pauline and Arthur Frommer, and National Geographic Adventure TV personality Julia Dimon will be presenting seminars on topics ranging from new types of vacations and destinations to consider to what the top travel picks for 2011 are.

There will be live entertainment throughout the weekend on five cultural stages.  And since this year's show coincides with the 10th anniversary of the  the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the show will feature the talents of the world's most renowned wine and spirits producers as well as top chefs and culinary personalities with one-of-a-kind culinary demonstrations on the Taste of Miami Culinary stage.

The New York Times Travel Show is Here

Take a Trip Around the World - No Passport Needed

This weekend, February 27th and 28th, if you're in the New York City area head over to the Jacob Javits Center for one of the best travel events of the year! 

The New York Times Travel Show is nirvana for anyone who loves to travel.  With nearly 500 exhibitors, a two-day line-up of travel seminars, six stages of worldwide cultural entertainment, international culinary presentations and more, it's a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about all the places in the world you want to visit. 

This year a host of popular travel experts will be giving talks, including travel experts Arthur and Pauline Frommer, the New York Times "Frugal Traveler" columnist Matt Gross, “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” author Patricia Schultz and many more.

I know the New York City/New Jersey area has just been hit by a lot of snow but if you can get there, it's worth it.  I'm still jet-lagged from last weekend's fabulous Travellers' Tales Festival in London, but I'm going to try to make it. 

'Hope to see you there!

Scenic Sunday: A Fairytale Christmas at Lyndhurst

 
A table set for Beauty and the Beast at Lyndhurst, Hudson River Valley, New York

The country villa Lyndhurst, a Gothic Revival mansion in New York's Hudson River Valley, is set amid 67 acres overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York.  Designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, the beautiful park-like estate is especially enchanting to visit during the holidays when a thick blanket of snow covers the grounds.

Each year the mansion is lavishly decorated in a Fairytale theme, with live music and hot mulled cider for visitors to enjoy.  The room pictured above is the Beauty and the Beast Dining room; you'll also find a Drawing Room transformed into Cinderella's tale and a library decorated in the Alice in Wonderland theme, and many more.

You can still see Lyndhurst decked out this year from 3 pm to 6 pm today, and on December 26th from 4 pm to 7 pm and on the 27th from 3 pm to 6 pm.

 

If you liked this article you might also like:

• A Lyndhurst Fairytale Christmas
• Holidays in the Hudson Valley
• Philipsburg Manor

The author visited Lyndhurst while on a press tour of the Hudson River Valley.

 

Chocolate Show New York City: Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

A Weekend of Decadence Savoring Chocolate of Every Kind

I've just learned that the 12th Annual Chocolate show will be returning to New York City from October 30th to November 1st.  What's happens at a chocolate show?  I wasn't sure, so I contacted the folks who are running it to see what it's all about.

If you're one of the many folks who can't get enough of this decadent treat, read on...

Gourmet Chocolate

This event will showcase more than 65 exhibitors including chocolatiers and pastry chefs.  Every 45 minutes a new chef will cook up one of their master chocolate culinary creations in one of the two Viking Culinary Theaters.  You'll learn new cooking techniques from the likes of Matt Gennuso of Chez Pascal, Johnny Iuzzini of Jean Georges, and Maricel Presilla of Gran Cacao. 

Chocolate Cookbooks and More

At the chocolate bookstore (by Barnes and Noble), you'll be able to pick up new chocolate cookbooks or books about the history of chocolate such as Max Brenner's Chocolate:  A Love Story and Francine Segan's Movie Menus.  At least nine authors will be signing throughout the weekend.

KidsZone

Got kids?  For a small donation to Share Our Strength, they can create Chocolate Witches Hats, listen to a reading of the Chocolate Queen and even watch a performance of Charlie and the Golden Ticket.  (Does all this remind anyone of Johnny Depp?)

Beauty Products

I've heard of chocolate massages (the spa at the Hotel Hershey comes to mind) but here, in the Chocolate Beauty Pavilion, trained Beauty Chocolatiers will show visitors an alternate use for this exquisite treat:  extensive lines of chocolate soaps, lotions, scrubs and lip glosses, and yes -- chocolate massages (for a small donation).

Chocolate Fashion

Another alternate use for chocolate -- and this one comes as a surprise to me -- is is to wear it.  Just in time for Halloween, see chocolate Halloween Costumes on display as you enter the show!

The only thing that bothers me about this chocolate show is that I can't be there!  So if you go, please leave a comment about it, I'd love to know what you thought of the experience.

The show will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, Friday, October 30th from noon to 8 pm, Saturday, October 31st  from 10 to 8 pm, and Sunday, November 1st from 10 to 5 pm.  Buy your tickets in advance to be sure you'll get in.

If you're not in New York City, take heart -- here is the international show schedule:

JAPAN: January- February, 2010
Shanghai, CHINA: January15-17, 2010
Madrid, SPAIN: April 9-11, 2010

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.

 Photos courtesy of the Chocolate Show.

Scenic Sunday: Washington Irving's Sunnyside

 Washington Irving's Sunnyside, Tarrytown, New York

I first read Washington Irving's stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle" in the eighth grade, and ever since have loved Irving's description of the "sequestered glen of Sleepy Hollow, whose dreamy influence seems to hang over the land."

Irving bought Tarrytown's Sunnyside in 1835, then enlarged and renovated this beautiful cottage that overlooks the Hudson River.  A prolific author of fiction, history and biography, Irving also held diplomatic posts in Great Britain and Spain.

Nicknamed "The Snuggery", Sunnyside felt warm and inviting.  I visited over Christmas; it's cheerful English-style holiday decorations consisted of decorative green garlands on the mantle but no Christmas tree --  sadly, Irving never got over the death of his sweetheart, Matilde, and mourned her until he died in 1859 at the age of 76.

Today Sunnyside remains much as it was when Irving last saw it:  rolling lawns (snow-covered at the time of my visit) that slope down to the Hudson River, which flows swiftly along to meet the sea at New York Harbor.

If you're interested in the Hudson Valley, you might also like these posts:

• Holidays in the Hudson Valley

• A Lyndhurst Fairytale Christmas

• Philipsburg Manor

Knights to Remember

Three Area Renaissance Faires to Catch before the Season Ends

Hear ye, hear ye -- if you love medieval times, jousting, bawdy stage shows and turkey drumsticks (and steak-on-a-stake, stuffed spuds, spinach pie, baked apple dumpling, "fryed" mushrooms, funnel cake and all sorts of other scrumptious faire-food) get thee to one of these three renaissance festivals as soon as ye can.

The New York Renaissance Faire

The final weekend of the New York Renaissance Faire is here.  This is one of my favorite Ren Faires -- the setting is just beautiful.  It's held in Sterling Forest in Tuxedo Park, New York, in the heart of the Hudson Valley -- think greenery, trees and slight rolling hills.

Just 40 minutes from Manhattan, the streets of this festival teem with brilliantly costumed performers.  There are swashbuckling pirates, haughty queens and kings, Robin Hood and his merry men and of course, knights in shining armor. 

I love the shops, the food, the stage shows -- and everywhere you go, something is going on.  In fact, so much goes on that it can be mind boggling trying to decide what to do when (and this applies to all three Ren Faires that I'm covering here.) 

The festival ends September 20th.  The fairgrounds are open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM. 

Click on the map to see where Tuxedo is.

Experience the Magic of Middle Earth at Radio City Music Hall

A Treat for Tolkien Fans

"One ring to rule them all, one one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them..."

If you loved J.R.R. Tolkien's books, Peter Jackson's moving Lord of the Rings film trilogy and Howard Shore's hauntingly beautiful music score, you're in for a treat.

On October 9th and 10th, New York City's Radio City Music Hall is presenting a once in a lifetime concert experience:  The original Academy Award-winning score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring performed live to the theatrical version of the motion picture.

I just found out about this concert yesterday, and while I normally tend to mull things over before I purchase tickets, I didn't hesitate on this one for a second. 

Performers will be the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, the Collegiate Chorale, the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, and Kaitlyn Lusk, conducted by Maestro Ludwig Wicki. 

Also, actor Billy Boyd -- Pippin himself -- who will be touring the U.S. East Coast October 6th - 11th with his band Beecake, will make a special appearance.

Appearing as well will be composer Howard Shore, who worked with Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Doug Adams, author of The Music of the Lord of the Rings Films.

Hope to see you there?  I don't know how anyone who loves Lord of the Rings and is within traveling distance of New York City could miss this!

For tickets and information visit the concert website.

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Mary Poppins on Broadway

"Wind's in the East, There's a Mist Coming In -- Like Something is Brewing and 'Bout to Begin..."

That's what Bert the Chimney Sweep says, and he has the uncanny ability to sense change in the air -- and the arrival of Mary Poppins. 

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, the story of the magical Nanny we all loved as children is now playing on Broadway, reminding all of us to believe in the power of hope and optimism.  Beliefs, I might add, that are as relevant today as when P. L. Travers published the first Poppins book in 1934.

I saw the show Sunday night, after spending a whirlwind weekend showing my Scottish friend Finlay around New York City.  It was one of the highlights of our trip.  The music, acting, set and story were fabulous (as were our seats, which we booked just a week in advance on Broadway.com). 

The show brought back fond childhood memories of the movie with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, one of my favorites.  The art nouveau style New Amsterdam Theater right on 42nd Street in Times Square is beautiful.  Read more about it here.

In doing research for this blog post, I found an interesting article written by Cameron Mackintosh called P. L. Travers From the Page to the Stage  on Disney's website (click on "The Making Of" under "Backstage" on the left).  As a writer I'm very interested in the process of adapting books to the stage and screen so I enjoyed reading this.

Another fun thing I found on Disney's site was a Mary Poppins show study guide prepared by the Disney Theatrical Group Education Department.  There were a lot of children in the audience and I'm sure they'd all have fun with this.  Check it out even if you don't have kids -- it gives some great background on the story.

If you're in or near New York City or thinking of visiting, I highly recommend this show.  It's an uplifting experience, reminding us that "Anything can happen if we recognize the magic of everyday life."

Photos courtesy of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins.

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The Pod Hotel -- Meet Fellow Hotel Guests before You Arrive

"Dinner and Drinks on the 14th?"

I found this post, from a young lady in Germany, on the Pod Hotel's new site created for Pod Hotel Travelers.  The hotel has launched the site to help Pod Hotel guests meet each other before they arrive.  Clever.

I wrote about New York City's Pod Hotel in a previous post.  Recently, I learned about their new site when I made a reservation there for an upcoming trip to New York City.  After I got my confirmation, I received an invitation with a password to "Experience Pod Culture." 

The posts are organized by month, under four headings.  "Drink with Me", "Eat with Me", "Shop with Me" and "Go Out with Me".  Ideal for solo travelers or those traveling with friends, this site is useful whether you are looking for someone to share a cab ride, have dinner or drinks with, shop with or attend a show.  And it's a great way to meet fellow travelers from all over the world. 

Newcomers to New York City might be interested in taking a look at my First Timers’ New York City guide.  While you’re at it, check out my guides to nearby Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Photos courtesy of The Pod Hotel.