The Marlton Hotel in NYC
Most people traveling to New York City gravitate to certain neighborhoods because location is everything when it comes to getting around the city. But, the really big decision is where to stay. Chain hotel or boutique? Chain hotels have their perks, especially for guests that have reached gold or platinum levels but where they excel in predictability (which can bring a certain sense of comfort) they often lag in style. Read more 
Vegan Dining in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio – named after General Moses Cleveland in 1796 – on the southern shore of Lake Erie was a melting pot for immigrants who brought their culinary traditions with them. More than 200 years later, those culinary influences are still evident in the restaurant scene in the Cleveland metropolitan area, and specifically in the vegan dining options (in no particular order) listed below: Read more
Paul’s Grains
Paul’s Grains is a hidden gem in a land of few jewels. Most farmers in Iowa grown genetically modified corn and soybeans but Paul’s Grains has been growing a variety of grains (spelt, barley, buckwheat, oats, corn, soybeans, millet, flax seed,quinoa, and more) without chemical fertilizers since 1964.
Going against the grain, Wayne and Betty Paul purchased 160 acres of land in a small town in central Iowa called Laurel. After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in agriculture, Wayne was introduced to chemical-free farming using healthy, natural fertilizers for weed and insect control, which is how it’s been done for 51 years. Read more
Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers’ Market
Many people start thinking about Farmers Markets during the early days of summer but Iowans living in the central part of the state have been patronizing the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market since early May. They haven’t forgotten about meat and potatoes (the market has plenty of these items) but instead celebrate the fresh local harvest of fruits and vegetables every Saturday from May thru October in the capital city on the west bank of the Des Moines River. Read more
Tulip Time Festival 2015
Looking for something fun to do next weekend? If you happen to be in the Des Moines, Iowa area, consider attending the 80th annual Tulip Time Festival which takes May 7-9, 2015 in Pella, Iowa, a beautiful town in central Iowa, about 40 miles southeast of Des Moines. Established in 1847 by a group of 800 Dutch immigrants, Pella is known throughout Iowa for its Dutch heritage, which is celebrated every year in early May. Read more
Top Ten Vegetarian/Vegan Dining Options in the Palm Beaches
Dining out in the Palm Beaches (which is loosely defined as West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens) includes many options for vegetarians and vegans with a wide range of choices: the hole-in-the-wall takeout joint, the casual cafe, the neighborhood eatery and the sit-down white table-clothed restaurant. So, if you’re looking for fresh, organic or just plain delicious food in the Palm Beach area, consider any of the following (in no particular order): Read more
The East Village (in Des Moines)…Really
When most people hear or speak of the East Village, they are referring to the trendy neighborhood in New York City but there is another East Village well worth visiting in Des Moines, Iowa. Known as the Historic East Village, this 6 square block area in downtown Des Moines (on the east side of the Des Moines River) is near the 23-carat gold domed Capital Building (which can be seen for miles).
Originally established as a commerce area more than 150 years ago, the East Village has an abundance of historic buildings that now house a museum, restaurants, cafes, bars, retail stores, an ice skating rink, an outdoor amphitheater and loft-style housing. Read more
Cleveland’s West Side Market
On a recent trip to Oberlin, Ohio which is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmland, and about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland, I suggested to my husband and daughter that we visit West Side Market: one of the largest and oldest European-style markets in America. Read more
Ladurée in Soho
Most people go to Ladurée for the macarons – sweet, meringue-based confections – but the restaurant/tea room has always been the draw for me. Located throughout Paris, the restaurant/tea rooms (as illustrated below) are the perfect place for lunch or a late afternoon pick-me-up but since I don’t live in Paris, my visits have been limited…until recently.
Two years ago, Ladurée opened its first US retail store on Madison Avenue in New York (they’ve since opened up another storefront in Miami Beach) but the long-awaited Ladurée restaurant and tea room (illustrated above) just opened this past February in Soho, and looks like the Parisian salon was moved over from Paris.
Five Specialty Food Stores to Visit
Whenever I travel, I make a point of finding and visiting specialty food stores, farmer’s markets, or independent grocery stores because these stores carry regional and high quality food products that are otherwise unavailable locally. Usually in a downtown area and typically limited to medium to large-sized cities, specialty food stores are like good bookstores: a relaxing place to spend a few hours and take away a special something to enjoy later. The following specialty food stores are worth visiting: Read more
Paddock Post 