The Nevis Triathlon and Old Manor House

The more I read about Nevis, the more I get jazzed about heading there. One fun fact uncovered is that Alexander Hamilton, better known as the guy on a ten dollar US bill was born there. My lodging for the trip is the Old Manor House, dating from the 17th century and was once a sugar plantation. Part of my coverage will be the Nevis Triathlon as well as snorkeling, hiking and horseback riding. Nevis is said to be the Caribbean of years ago but in the good way, amenities but still a place that maintains its style. The itinerary laid out looks fantastic and should allow me to really explore and write about what I see, the bottom line for the trip.


http://www.nevisisland.com/
http://www.oldmanornevis.com/
http://www.neviscycleclub.com/triathlon.htm

Hotel Providence gets Top in Rhode Island from Zagat

The shuffle of seasons is perhaps the hardest part of writing about a destination in the northeast. Things need to be timed with the adventures that the writer experienced and a piece about a late spring visit just does not fit in with snow falling. I got some news about one of the finest places I’ve ever hung my head in, The Hotel Providence in Providence RI. The Hotel Providence was recently recognized as the top hotel in the state by Zagat and I can testify that it deserves the accolades. A story about my visit will be coming out in May.

Visiting the GoNOMAD Compound

I headed up to Deerfield, today to get a glimpse of the new GoNOMAD offices and expanded GoNOMAD Café. It was wonderful to see growth happening and to walk into a busy place. Nothing but growth has taken place over the years and that is a wonderful feeling. It seems like eons ago when I was living in Scottsdale and got a call asking if I would like to join the GoNOMAD team. Max when he took over amped it up and it has grown steadily ever since.

Over lunch at Giorgio’s next door I had a chance to catch up with Max and Steve and share some laughs. I also picked up some copies of the Valley Advocate with my Marrakech story and some new long-sleeved GoNOMAD tees. On March 2 some of our team is heading out to new destinations, Max to New Zealand, Paul Shoul to St. Kitts and I to Nevis. Life doesn’t get much better.

Nevis, and the Killer Bee

I received my press kit for Nevis today and I must say Margie Benziger is one thorough Senior Account Executive. In everyway the Cheryl Andrews PR Firm has been spot on with updates and planning. On March 2 I head down to a new place for some new discoveries. One place that I am really looking forward to seeing is Sunshine’s Beach Bar; it is listed in this Feb. Conde Nast Travelers as one of the top 24 coolest beachfront restaurants. Soon I will have my hands wrapped around the signature cocktail, the Killer Bee, all in a days work.

Destino Restaurant, Say it ain't so Justin Timberlake

Very rarely do I succumb to restaurant hype from magazines, especially when tied to celebrities. I got suckered last night when I ate at Destino in NYC. After reading a piece in Gotham Magazine that stated, “A refreshing change from the cities overabundance of fusion fare,” I got on www.opentable.com and made a reservation. Truthfully the fact that Justin Timberlake owned a piece of the place wasn’t a factor. The tipping point was learning that the kitchen was run by former Rao chef Mario Curko. Rao is a red sauce dining super star. The best part of the meal was the meatball appetizers, though at $14 for two they damn well should be great. The food spiraled downhill from there. The chicken parm was covered with tasteless cheese and Lil’s chicken plain awful. Its no wonder that the owner’s page on the restaurant’s site is blank, If Timberlake is a part owner he should make sure the page stays that way. The only good thing that came out of the choice was using Open Table, they get five stars.

http://www.destinony.com/

http://www.gotham-magazine.com/

Cozumel and the Boas, Not a Good Thing!

Before heading to the NY Times travel show today I watched a show on the National Geographic Channel about snakes. I am terrified but fascinated by them. This story was just amazing though and I sat glued to the tube. Apparently the island of Cozumel is jam packed with boas! The snake hunting crew literally find then everywhere when driving the roads at night. Chicken are disappearing from their coops and the indigenous mammals and birds have no way of coping with the predator. The boas can hide deep within the coral deposits of the island and it is impossible to physically remove them.

I was tempted to go to the Mexican Tourism booth to inquire about the problem but didn’t want to cause an international scene. Hey I like heading south of the border! More amazing is just how the boas came to be on Cozumel. I found a link and pasted some of the story below:

Devil Snake of Cozumel
Cozumel is a beautiful island in the Caribbean close to the Mexican shore. On top of its touristic value it has an amazing diversity of endemic animals that do not occur anywhere else. Or it had!!. Back in the seventies a film crew came to Cozumel to make a film where they used the beautiful beaches of the island to represent the scene where a galleon has sunk and the film was about their survivors and their life after the wreck. As extras in the film the included some boa constrictors that were used basically for the purpose of showing that it was a jungle with jungle-like dangers. However, there was not boas originally in the island. The production crew brought a few from the main land and used them as the needed (for five seconds in the whole film) but when the film was finished, the turned them lose. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/credits/index_S.html
http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/tv.htm

The Times Travel Show is Cooking

New at the NY Times Travel Show this year is “Taste of the World.” Chefs from around the world are giving cooking demonstrations and booklets are available with recipes. Dishes from France, India, Mexico and Greece are some of the offerings. A US entrée is the “Best Hot Dog in America.” They are in simple terms dogs with a Creole sauce, complete with green peppers and diced tomatoes.

Last night I shocked Lil by skipping my usual Italian choice for dinner and went French. Le Bateau Ivre was great and priced far better than one would think in NYC and had a very authentic bistro atmosphere. http://www.lebateauivrenyc.com/

Jordan, Gisele and the NY Times Travel Show

The 2007 NY Times Travel Show opened today and it was good to get back into the fray. As luck would have it I ran into one of my favorite people that represent one of my favorite places, Jordan. As I entered the Javits Convention Center the very first person I ran into was Gisele, a powerful proponent to Jordan’s growing tourism. Her smile never fails to give me one. Let the networking begin!
http://www.visitjordan.com/

Dr Chartock, WAMC and the other George W

Last night I got to meet someone whose voice I have heard for a very long time, especially during fund raising time for WAMC. Dr Alan Chartock is the president and CEO of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network as well as columnist for several newspapers. The occasion was the 84th Annual George Washington Dinner sponsored by the Men’s Club of the Old Dutch Church here in Kingston NY. It had been years since I have attended the event and it was great to run into people I haven’t seen in many years.

Kingston Mayor Jimmie Sottile’s opening remarks displayed his great sense of humor and easy style, not easy when addressing local politicos from both sides. Dr. Chartock’s address was also very interesting and informational; he really has a feel for politics. My favorite line of the evening, “The beauty of Elliot Spitzer,” alluding to other wealthy past governors, is that he is honest, he is so rich. They don’t have to steal because their fathers stole before them.” Dr. Chartock speaks with a good mix of humor and seriousness.
http://www.wamc.org/ http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/kingston/k10.htm

The guy's name is Sam and I met him in Tahiti this past fall. Sam has a thing for rays as you can see. All day every day Sam cares for the strangest looking sea creatures around. Rays have no teeth and as a matter of fact Sam didn't have many either.

Royal Gala in Lake Charles Louisiana

Since Jan. 6th on what is called Twelfth Night, Lake Charles Louisiana has been gearing up for Mardi Gras. Lake Charles has the second largest Mardi gras celebration in the state and is paced with events and parties. My favorite event was the Royal Gala where the Krewes unveil their themes and costumes that they have worked on all year. The Krewes are organizations or social groups with their own charities and activities. There are 42 Krewes in Lake Charles and all have a sense of exclusivity, you must be asked to join. The picture is from behind the stage and as you can see the costumes are serious stuff.

(cityoflakecharles.com/festivals/mardi_gras.asp)

Fat Tuesday and the Elton LA Chicken Run

A few years ago I went to southwestern LA. for Mardi gras, one far removed from the huge Big Easy celebration. I was looking for authentic and real and found more than I could have hoped for. As I pulled into a field in Elton LA the swirling mist soon melted and a huge crowd of men dressed in some mighty colorful costumes was unveiled. It was the annual chicken run getting started and what a day it was. Via horseback these revelers pounded beers and chased chickens to put in the huge gumbo pot planned for the evening. A wagon filled with refreshments and a local band tagged along. On this Fat Tuesday I will think of one of my best American travel experiences, my chicken for the gumbo pot will be bought from a supermarket today. I would love to run with the guys one more time. Here is the story on http://www.gonomad.com/features/0508/swlouisiana.html

Heading to Nevis, Soft Adventure and Great Time Ahead

Ya gotta love it when you get an email about an up coming trip and are asked what activities you would like to do. Got an email from Margie with a list of activities open to the five of us going to Nevis on March 2. The varied list had so many adventure choices and all sounded great. Sailing, snorkeling, and kayaking topped my choices, after all the clear Caribbean water is unbelievable. To balance out the H2O favorites I opted for horseback riding through the rainforest and along the beach. I hope to see plenty of the Green Vervet Monkeys that inhabit the small, “Queen of the Caribees”.

Lodgings will be at the Old Manor Plantation situated on ten acres, an old sugar plantation granted to the Croney Family in 1690 by the King of England. A Killer Bee cocktail at the infamous Sunshine’s Beach Bar and Grill should top off another day at the office. Hope to fit in a little liming time also. Liming is chilling.

Jet Blue has a Bad Case of the Blues

I have never flown them but Jet Blue is getting creamed in the NY papers. To stem the flow they tried to minimize damage by canceling flights sparingly this past Thursday and Friday, on Thursday they had 52 planes in JFK instead of the usual 19. Apparently the move backfired due to pilots and the FAA’s regulations about time on duty. Complaints galore at www.jetbluesucks.net

Do Not Disturb

Long weekends are for resting. I have often wished that Do Not Disturb signs in hotel could be more original.

Paraty Brazil, Ilha do Catimbau

It is one of the smallest islands off Paraty, Brazil and is also one of the coolest restaurants I’ve ever eaten in. Perhaps on fits better? The Ilha do Catimbau is about an acre in size and literally your fish may be caught from the ocean after you order. In fact your jumping into the water is encouraged. A perfect way to clean up after a platter of local grilled shrimp slathered with butter and garlic.

Maison de la France and this Francophile

I go to a lot of press events in the course of a year but last night Maison de la France put on a fabulous event. The Tribeca Grill was closed to the public and filled with writers, editors and PR people. Serving stations with delicious regional food from Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne combined with wines served at the bar kept the large crowd very happy.

Just as nice was putting faces to emails and phone conversations as well as meeting new people whose names you have heard for years. Networking is a necessary part of this business; Maison de la France just made it a whole lot of fun. I am now officially a Francophile. Video of the Wine Roads of Alsace, Burgundy and Champagne

Maison de la France and the Tribeca Grill

Tonight is the Maison de la France event at the Tribeca Grill in NYC. Thanks to the invite from the wonderful Katherine Johnstone I will be tasting some fine wines from Alsace, Burgundy and Champange-Ardenne regions. My only regret is that Max was busy moving GoNOMAD's offices in to a larger complex, it has been a very good year, to attend. It seems like we have attended a great many shows together. Fortunately he will be sipping Champange in Champange soon, not a bad trade off.

London Hotel and NY Post's Page Six

Last weekend Lil and I passed the London Hotel in NYC and I mentioned that I really knew nothing about the place. Today on the NY Post’s popular Page Six column I found out something I didn’t want to know about the London. There is great skepticism about a rave review posted on Tripadviser.com. It seems planted is the charge, feelings expressed by Hotelchatter.com, according to the piece. The best way to judge a hotel is to stay in it I think.

Ulster County Tourism and its Draw

I attended my first meeting of the Ulster County Tourism Board and Advisory Council tonight and found it fascinating. It was a glimpse into the side of the business of travel that I was not very familiar with, county budgets and their effects. I have long wondered why a place so filled with natural beauty, history and cultural events hasn’t reached its potential. I met a lot of concerned folks both from the private and county government sector. I also realized that as well as I though I knew Ulster County, there is so much more to learn. Tonight I spoke with Sherri Brittain about her experiences in Ulster County, she wears several hats. One is the Annual Music Festival at the Mohonk Mountain House that will be held on June 12-16 2007.

"Classics on the Mountain provides a unique opportunity to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of the Hudson Valley by day and music from the world's finest concert halls, in an intimate setting with spectacular views." said Festival Director Sherri Brittain.

That is just one example of what can be experienced in Ulster County; I hope to share many more in the coming year. It was strange though to be at a meeting in a room named for your dad, complete with portrait.

Nevis Island Bound

Next up for discovery is the Island of Nevis, a sombrero-shaped paradise 200 miles south of Puerto Rico and just west of Antigua. The island is approximately 7 miles long and five wide. From the little bit I have read so far Nevis is green and serene, filled with flora and fauna as well green vervet monkeys. The top of the island is the 3,232 Nevis Peak and the island is known as the “Queen of the Caribees”. It all sounds perfectly enticing, especially for the beginning of March.

Jacob Riis, the Reformer

I head back home today with the pictures of Jacob A Riis in my head. Riis was an immigrant from Denmark who became a police reporter in NYC for the New York Tribune and the Associated Press in the mid nineteenth century. His beat was the Lower East Side Slums and the area around Mulberry Street. He turned into a social reformer and his pictures vividly record the plight of the poor in NYC. His book How the Other Half Live is still a powerful piece of visual and written work, I now have a copy for my home library.

Best Damn Dumplings in NYC

I wish I could take credit for finding the best damn dumplings in NYC but the NY Times, Village Voice and Time Out have beaten me to it. At 118 A Eldridge St. this tiny little hole in the wall has amazing Chinese eats. It is plain and very simple with just a few stools but it makes any top list for great NYC ethnic dining. Better yet are the prices, five perfect dumplings filled with chives and pork for just a buck! The sesame pancake with beef is their other standout, amazing. As I snaped this picture a Chinese woman told me it was her favorite, true praise.

Asking the Rabbi

Walking around the Lower East Side I came across this sign. When I got back to the room I logged on, get answers about anything pertaining to Judaism. www.asktherabbi.com

Tenement Museum and Immigration

Lil and I had a great day in a part of NYC that we haven't been to in a long while, the L.E.S. area better known as the Lower East Side. The area has always been known as an immigrant area, Jews, Italians, Irish and many other people became Americans from there.

We went to the Tenement Museum at 90 Orchard Street, a fascinating look into the hard life of those who came, "where the streets are paved with gold".

Mardi Gras in Kingston NY

Hey I have to spread the word about my beloved home area so here is something that I think is well worth checking out. Here is the email I got about the event:

Make a Date (or Three) for the Mardi Crawl Pub Crawl, Win a Crown, Dance Away the Winter Doldrums: the Rondout Business Association Offers a Full Roster of Events at Kingston’s First Annual Mardi Gras, February 16-20

Contact: B.C. Gee at 845-339-6925

Kingston, N.Y.—In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is celebrated with parades, masked and costumed party-goers tossing beads and trinkets to the cheering crowds, and parties into the night with distinctive “N'awlins” music as well as Cajun and Creole foods. In the spirit of this tradition, the Rondout Business Association and several Rondout restaurants and business are throwing Kingston's First Annual Mardi Gras, a festive multi-day celebration running from Friday, February 16 through "Fat Tuesday", February 20.

The festivities will begin with a Mardi Gras Pub Crawl on Friday, February 16. The Pub Crawl continues on Saturday, takes a rest on Sunday and Monday, and finishes up on Tuesday. Each night will boast a big Mardi Gras party at all six participating restaurants, complete with masks and bead necklaces. It’s $10 entry per person each night or $20 for all three nights. Restaurants include the Bridgewater Bar & Grill, Downtown Café, El Coqui, Mariner’s Harbor, Rosita’s Mexican Restaurant and Ship to Shore. These restaurants will feature New Orleans specialties on their menus for this event as well as serving a specific “street food” item on Saturday, February 17. Look for gumbo at Bridgewater Bar & Grill, an oysters and clams raw bar at Mariner’s Harbor. Mezzanine Cafe will offer beignets and coffee. Other N'Awlins foods will include po-boys, muffulettas (sandwiches), lucky dogs, red beans and rice …and of course the traditional jambalaya.

And what’s a party without music? The bands Blue Coyote, The Bronx Express, Tragic Magic, The Hit Men, Common Ground, Plan B, Spent and Saints of Swing, covering music styles from Cajun, blues & rock, rock & roll, country, easy listening, jazz and swing are scheduled to perform at the six restaurants during the Mardi Gras Pub Crawl.

Olympics in Lake Placid

Lake Placid isn’t just another pretty little town in the mountains; it hosted the Olympic Winter Games twice, in 1932 and 1980. In 1980 the single biggest victory at the games was the young USA team beating Russia in Hockey. To find the highlights of the 1932 games click http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0300758.html.

Interlaken Inn and Chef Richard Brosseau

After a day on the slopes I headed to the Interlaken Inn and was given a tour of the place by a very friendly chap named Mark. Tonight I bed down on 300-thread count Frette linens and wrap up in a Frette bathrobe.

The Inn also has one of Lake Placid's best restaurants run by the well-known chef Richard Brosseau. I was down in the impressive wine cellar and must confess I wish I was going to be eating here tonight. When I mentioned today to a fellow skier where I was staying, she ranted about the great food. Next time!

Whiteface Gondolas

Thank God for gondolas, its a long way to the top of Whiteface. The snow was great and well groomed.

Saranac Lake and the Festival

I spent the night in Saranac Lake at the Hotel Saranac, part of the Historical Hotels of America Group. For over 75 years this brick hotel has been the center life in this quaint town. Currently the Winter Festival is going on and is in its 110th year. With the wireless down I consoled with some good Italian food at a place called Corvo, convinently just across the street. Then walked to the Ice Castle built for the festival through the blowing snow. I stood watching the wind whipping across the lake and listened to the strange sound it made.

Chilling Out in the Adirondacks

It is a wee bit chilly up here in the Adirondacks today. Passed this on my drive from the North Way to Lake Placid, fits about right!

Adirondack Mts. Bound

A while back I headed to the Adirondacks during an unusually warm fall when the leaves had turned but it was about 65 degrees, tomorrow I head back up to some chilling weather to check out the area in winter, bone chilling in fact! Before I hit the slopes at Whiteface Mt. I am going to the Winter Festival in Saranac Lake and staying at the Saranac Lake Hotel. This old hotel has been owned and operated from 1961 to 2007 by Paul Smith’s College and acts as a training ground for college students in the Hospitality, Resort and Culinary Management programs. I am looking forward to sitting by a fire and filling you in. http://www.hotelsaranac.com/

A Zephyr Blows Through Hunter Mountain

The email from my nephew Drew told me the basics, “snow boarding is so much more fun, but make a massage appointment for after. A guy your age will need it”. It was obvious from the racks today that boarding is booming. There was a time when the racks would be overwhelmingly stacked with far more skis than boards, not any more.

I headed up to Hunter Mountain early today to check out Zephyr Adventure Snow Boarding Camp, I have secretly wanted to join the boarders for quite awhile. I was told many times before, that long time skiers have problems making the switch that new comers don’t. I got to pose that question to instructor Rich Roses while he was waiting for the eleven camp attendees. “Not with the way this class is designed”, he assured me.

Soon the class was assembled and putting on their gear. I managed to ask one woman who looked about my age why she came to camp. She told me that she went to Zephyr’s rollerblading camp in the Carolinas and loved it. She was also tired of hearing her niece rib her about old fashioned skis, peer pressure in the extreme.

Travel Radio and Being a Guest on Travel Planners

It seems strange sometimes to be looking out my office window and talking about a faraway destination over the phone knowing that it is getting heard in many places. I love doing travel radio shows and doing them with Kevin and Sue Mc McCarthy on Travel Planners is always fun. They are upbeat and ask the best questions. Best yet they are avid travelers themselves.

Today my segment was about Marrakech and Fes Morocco and was heard by their affiliates in Florida, Illinois, Missouri and even the Netherlands. Max met the McCarthys on a trip to Malaysia and turned me on to the show. In turn I introduced Max to the Around the World Radio folks so we both get to ride the radio airways frequently. It just amazes me that from a small hamlet like Cottekill NY or a town like Deerfield Mass our views on destinations from the other side of the world are heard. Then again GoNOMAD’s readers are from every corner of the world.

Discover America Partnership and the Power of Travel

During this week of networking such as my attendance at the European Travel Commission bash, my thoughts turned again to the fact that America doesn’t do much to attract visitors, no national strategy in play and none planned. Here in the red, white and blue states have their own CVB and tourism boards, many are great. It still doesn’t come close to the efforts that governments around the world use to attract dollars, yen or pounds. There is a reason that so many countries have national tourism boards, it is an economical wind fall. People make money from visitors a fact that escapes us here.

I am a big fan of Discover America’s tackling the problem by stepping in and realizing the financial benefit of drawing foreign visitors not to mention the benefits of people from other places learning more about us in the US of A. I frequently go to their website to check out their progress. Here is one quote, “Foreign travelers are in agreement: the U.S. entry process is unpredictable and unfriendly to foreign visitors, it is hurting America’s image abroad and deterring many from visiting the U.S.”. http://www.poweroftravel.org/about.aspx

Snow Board Camp with Zephyr Adventures

Growing up at the base of the Catskill Mountains many of us were strapped to wooden skis complete with cable bindings. As time passed ski equipment evolved into release bindings and buckled boots, no more lacing up stiff leather boots. Just when skiers had it all together along comes Snow Boarding. It hurts to become to be a dinosaur, so I am heading up to Hunter Mt. to checkout Zephyr Snow Board camp. Click at http://www.zephyrcampsnowboard.com/pdp.htm for info and for dates and places. Curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it made the cat smarter.

Liquor and Literature in New York City

Liquor and literature fit like shoes and socks in the Big Apple, every tavern tells a story. Years ago I trod the boards bartending in Manhattan and every night ended with stories that still circle in my mind.

Some of the better know watering holes in NYC:

Greenwich Village’s White Horse Tavern was frequented by Allen Ginsberg, Norman Mailer and the lush poet Dylan Thomas, where his ghost is said to appear from time to time.

Pete’s Tavern is where O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi over quite a few.

Chumley’s was a favorite from Kerouac to Bogart and was once a speakeasy.

To balance it out for non imbibers the first AA meeting was at Bill Wilson’s house on Clinton Street in Brooklyn and can be visited. For some fascinating information on the history of lit and liquor in NYC click here.