"The Last Talk With Lola Faye"

Thomas Cook’s latest novel “The Last Talk with Lola Faye” is a fantastic mystery novel, but not necessarily in the traditional sense.  

It is the story of Luke, a not so successful writer, who finds himself face to face with Lola Faye, the woman he believes responsible for the murder of his father.  He agrees to have a drink with her in order to find out why she has come to see him, but the evening doesn’t turn out the way he expected.   As the truth comes out you will discover things are not always what they seem.  Mr. Cook does a wonderful job of leading you down one path and then leaving you off somewhere completely unexpected.  I loved every minute of this book.  An absolute page turner.  If you want a great book to take with you on vacation, this one should be on the top of your list.

Guest Blogger! Mom talks cameras

One of the best parts of traveling is making and keeping memories.  Here, the first of my mom's series on cameras and photography.

I was cleaning my office this week, and in the process came across some pictures of my daughters that I hadn't seen in years. Oh, the memories! My brain started squeezing out long-forgotten experiences--times and places and actions that I thought would be stored forever in perfect detail, never far from my conscious mind! But the human brain isn't designed to recall detail, as much as overall impressions and emotional atmosphere. I know that because I just read an article last week about how memories are stored. It rang true--all those wonderful firsts, for example--when exactly did Skye speak her first sentence, or Kyle laugh out loud? I always thought I would remember such times to the minute, but I don't.
 

My father was the family photographer, and it became kind of a joke--there are hundreds of Polaroids of the grandchildren, which at the time we viewed as excessive. He and my mother would return from trips with rolls and rolls of film, which were turned into thousands of slides, over the years. My attitude was benevolent, but not fully appreciative. Now I understand.

        By now the point of this is obvious--our casual snapshots can become the protectors of priceless memories that might otherwise be lost. Trips are over in a flash, new experiences crammed into a few days or weeks, but they can be extended almost indefinitely by the pictures that record them.

        So, is there a best way to preserve your impressions? Probably, but it's different for everyone. The only common denominator is the camera--obviously, you have to have one of those! But it doesn't have to be any particular brand or type. If you have something already that suits you, my advice is, "Use it!" If not, here are some suggestions for getting started with travel photography.

        Before your enthusiasm gets the better of you, and you are tempted to rush off to the nearest camera store or Best Buy, and throw your photographic fate into the hands of a salesperson, take some time to think about your personal style as a photographer. Do you prefer to be able to stick a tiny digital in your pocket, or would you see a fancy pro model with lenses for every situation appealing? How much time and effort do you want to spend on taking pictures during your travels? Would you enjoy patiently setting up your camera on a tripod to get just the perfect shot of that sunset, or is it ok if the photo of the sunset is just streaks of color, as long as you remember the fun you had taking it? Do you want a piece of equipment that is state-of-the-art, or one that you won't mourn if it falls into a canal in Venice? Most travelers are somewhere in between. So, first, take your photographic temperature, and decide where you want to start.

     
     

Shopping in Charlotte

There's a great little area in Charlotte called NoDa (North Davidson Street). This little arts district, the SoHo of Charlotte,  has all kinds of boutique shops as well as adorable bars and cafes. 

Known for hand made jewelry, hats, clothing, as well as earthly home decor and gifts, NoDa is the perfect destination for all your gift giving needs... and chances are you'll end up with a little something for yourself as well. The eclectic food options range from gourmet crepes to fish tacos to classic cajun and creole cooking.  Warm up with a gingerbread latte at the Smelly Cat Coffehouse, which is probably worth going to for the name alone.  Pick up a "C'mon Get Smelly" t-shirt...  you can pretty much guarantee no one back home will have one like it!

NoDa hosts a free Gallery Crawl every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. You can browse the neighborhood's swanky galleries while enjoying smooth music played by local street musicians. 

Visit the popular watering holes, meander through the fine collection of galleries, shop in the boutiques or bring your pets to the doggie bar (where humans are welcome as well)!  If you are looking for a marketplace for fun, beautiful and unique items,  NoDa is a great destination.

Good Eats: Charlotte, NC

Charlotte has many great restaurants... something for pretty much any taste.  Before dinner on Saturday, we went to a new Scottish bar called Molly MacPhersons in uptown Charlotte.

A beautiful bar which feels cozy despite it's size, Molly MacPhersons has a menu with traditional pub fare as well as some fun Scottish additions such as neeps and tatties and scotch eggs. The highlight for me was the very impressive scotch list and beer menu, which had a over 20 Scottish beers as well as dozens of other interesting imports.  After a highland scotch or two, we walked around the block to an excellent steak and seafood place called LaVecchia’s.  The food was great, and the oceanic decor was really fun.

If you are into something more casual,  Dandelion Market might be the place for you.  Kyle claims they have "ridiculously good grilled cheese sandwiches" and the bartenders remind her of nice “local” NYC bartenders (i.e., if they like you, they will let you know what days they work and remember your drink order).  They also have a great craft beer list.

For fine dining, the multiple award-winning and highly acclaimed  Zebra restaurant boasts organic, free range, local and sustainable fare.  We didn't make it there on this trip, but it's definitely at the top of the list for the next time I'm in Charlotte.

All in all, when it comes to food, Charlotte has something for almost every taste and occasion. Have you been?  Send me your recommendations and I'll be sure to check it out next time I'm there!

Apple Picking!

Apple Picking!
Visiting my sister Kyle in Charlotte was awesome for many reasons (see yesterday's post) but another great thing about getting out of the city is that you can do fun country stuff... like apple picking!  On
Saturday, Kyle and Jamie (her husband) and I went over the border to York, SC to the Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill apple festival.

It was really fun.  Besides the apples and pumpkins, there was also hay rides, a bbq stand shaped like a gun, apple butter and cider making demonstrations, and a blacksmith.  Jamie and I headed straight for the hard cider (yum!).  I bought a handmade iron candlestick from the blacksmith. We all shared a pulled pork sammie and listened to some banjo music from a live band. And of course, we picked apples.  We bought hard cider and apples to take home....but the highlight?  WASSAIL!!!  While Kyle and I were cooking dinner (and dessert, more on that in a minute) we heated the wassail on the stove. Jamie and I drank it with spiced rum. OMG.

For the record, wassail is a spiced cider meant to be consumed hot. If you don't have the good fortune of having an apple orchard nearby, there is a recipe (and brief wassail history) at Kate Hopkins charming blog, Accidental Hedonist.

When we got home, we had to figure out what to do with 10 lbs of apples.  So one thing we did was make a very tasty apple crumble pie (recipe at the end of the post).

We didn't have time to make our own crust, so we just got the pre-made refrigerated kind, which worked out great.  Two crusts come in the package, and we just needed one for the pie, so we used a small cookie cutter and cut pieces of the other crust to put on the top for decoration.  Isn't it pretty?

This is the season to enjoy apple orchards, pumpkins, cooking yummy autumnal food, and drinking wassail... you may be lucky enough to not even have to travel to do this!

Recipe

• 1 (9 inch) pie shell
• 6 cups thinly sliced apples
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice if desired. In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated.  Spoon mixture into crust.
3. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Cover top loosely with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Weekend Trips: Charlotte, NC

Of course we would love to dash off abroad at every opportunity, but it's just not always practical... and besides, you might find you have some very good reasons to travel within the good old USA.  Like visiting family! Last weekend I went to Charlotte, NC to see my sister who is six months pregnant.  We got up to all kinds of hijinks, which I'll get to later this week.  But the #1 travel tip I learned from last weekend? Go visit your family! I hadn't seen my sister since she moved from NYC to Charlotte in March, and not to be all mushy here, but family is important, and, especially if you live in a city like I do, six months goes by in the blink of an eye.  Other great things about visiting your pregnant sister in Charlotte:
1. It's less than a 2 hour flight from NYC.
2. Someone actually picks you up at the airport
3. Free place to stay (dog included)
4. Fun activities like apple picking and outlet shopping
5. You don't really have to pack because you can just wear the clothes she can't fit into anymore

Charlotte
Charlotte is a great city, and there are several reasonably priced flight to and from New York daily.  A long weekend would be ideal, but (if you have a day job like me) you can leave after work on Friday, come back on an early flight Monday and still have two full days there without missing work.   Charlotte, believe it or not, is actually the 18th largest city in the US (based on population), and besides it's rich historical past, it has some great restaurants and is home to a number of notable universities.  Apparently the Charlottians were quite plucky during the revolutionary war. The city earned it's nickname "The Hornet's Nest" when residents drove out British commander General Cornwallis (who had occupied the city).  He wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," and the name stuck.  See all the crazy things you learn when you travel?  Even more reason to go visit your family, no matter where they live, you are bound to learn something cool.

If you can't stand your family, go visit a friend instead! The fact is, we never take enough time to travel and see the people who are important to us. Trust me, going across the river to New Jersey or Connecticut is like a outrageous expedition for us Manhattanites.  So the thought of taking an entire weekend and getting on a plane to somewhere where people actually have drivers licenses and supermarkets is like a ridiculous proposition.  But just do it. Go. You will be glad you did.

Nhow Milan

If you are looking for a fun, modern and colorful hotel to stay in while in Milan, then Nhow is your perfect match.  It feels like something that is right out of "The Jetson's".  The lobby is enclosed in glass with plastic furniture and artwork from local designers that is extremely hip. (apparently it is all rotating, so you might never see the same stuff).  The upper floors are very cool.  The walls look like one big Jackson Pollack painting, and the door to your room is simply part of it.  

The rooms themselves are modern and shiek with a brown and orange décor and lighting that would be appropriate for even the hippest downtown scene.  Although be careful not to hit the button that shuts off all the lights or your friend (Skye) might just end up taking a luxurious shower in the dark and yelling for you to turn the lights back on while you remain dry, in bed and in fits of laughter.  (I thought it was funnier than she did). 

After our dinner at Il Nodo we went and had drinks at the bar and had a lovely dessert.  I wasn’t sure from the pictures on line if we were going to get a bed in the shape of lips or a cloud, or if it would be cool or cheesy, but I risked and came out a winner with Nhow.   It was a fun change from all our other accommodations in Italy and it seemed rather appropriate for Milan.