The Musings of Ron Kapon

RETURN TO THE CATSKILLS

I grew up in the Catskills. As a teenager, I went to basketball camp at Kutcher's. My Dad took me with him to the Concord many times for liquor industry conventions. The same for Grossinger's (My late friend Tania Grossinger wrote Growing Up at Grossinger's). I remember in the early 1970's staying over at the Concord with my now ex-wife for a Melba Moore concert. Jane Fonda was in our party along with her ex Tom Hayden. About 10 years ago I had dinner with Sally Jessy Raphael & her husband Karl at Monticello Raceway (opened in 1958) with its slot machine casino. That was the last time I was in the Catskills until late February when I was the guest at Resorts World Catskills Casino Resort for a tour and overnight stay. 

It just a month before, I took the MTA subway to Queens near JFK airport to spend a few hours at Resorts World Casino Queens. My article appeared in several of my outlets and resulted in the Catskill invitation. The Malaysian based operation will open a resort in Las Vegas in 2020 and presently has an operation in Bimini in the Bahamas. 

I bought a round-trip senior ticket at Port Authority bus terminal ($57) and my Short Line/Coach USA bus was nonstop to their Monticello terminal in around 2 hours. Note- I was told the company would begin direct service to the casino this April from Port Authority. Presently, there is non-stop service to the casino from Chinatown. Talya Shlang, the public relations manager, picked me up & spent a few hours showing the property.  

Resorts World Catskills Casino Resort opened in February 2018 with more than 100,000 square feet of Las-Vegas style gaming including 2,150 slot machines and more than 150 live table games, including a 19-table poker room. The resort has 10 bars and restaurants including a sports/entertainment stage and two casino bar stages. The hotel has 332 all-suite rooms on 18 floors. I stayed in a corner room on the 12th floor that was 625 square feet. It included a  comfortable king bed plus a pull out sofa bed that would be great for kids. The bathroom is huge with separate shower & toilet facilities. There is a very large TV next to the working desk. Pricing varies depending on the season and whether it’s mid-week or weekend. There was a winter mid-week special for $129 a night that included a $30 food credit. Summer weekend rates average $399 a night. The RW Epicenter has a capacity of 2,500 seats for both meetings and entertainment. There are seven meeting rooms as well as eight conventions/event rooms. Most of the guests are drawn from the NY Metro, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the Hudson Valley areas. In a few months, the resort will add a Rees Jones redesigned golf course and Kartrite Resort New York's biggest indoor waterpark plus 324 suites. I have been to their Camelback facility in the Pocono Mountains. Get ready for fun. There is free parking for over 2,800 cars both in the garage and in outdoor lots. Valet parking is also available.

The adjacent hotel- The Alder features 101 rooms at a lower price point. It contains a Cantina-style eatery with classic Mexican fare. There is also a full-service bar- Dos Gatos with more than 120 brands of Tequila as well as Margaritas on tap. The lobby contains Ping-Pong and pool tables as well as NY's only Topgolf Swing Suite. Guests can use all the facilities of the main casino. There  is  a Crystal Life Spa, two fitness centers and a business center. I spent an hour in the hotel pool and hot tub. Next door to the pool is a private pool meant for high rollers staying in the 27 premium accommodations consisting of garden suites, penthouse suites, and two-story villas. The Palace High Limit Gaming Area is for top-tier players and features private gaming salons and a VIP lounge. I noticed that the signs are in both English and Chinese. In a few months, they will open a Sports Book operation pending regulation by New York State.

I had an excellent hamburger for lunch and a fabulous omelet for breakfast the next morning at 24/7 Bistro. There is also a Food Hall and Good Friends Market for fast-casual Asian dining. Lotus has a Hong Kong-trained chef with high-end Asian dining. My dinner was at Cellaio, an Italian-inspired steak house conceived by Chef Scott Conant. The head chef Mark Pollard was off when I dined but I had a chance to meet the Sous Chef Anthony. 

Michael  Beford , VP of Food and Beverage, joined me for a short while before I dined on boned sirloin steak and creamed spinach with gelato for dessert. Prior to joining the casino resort in 2016,  Beford  worked for restaurant and nightlife developer The TAO GROUP, where he managed hospitality offerings for the Dream Hotel brand in New York City. He began overseeing numerous boutique restaurants in Charleston, S.C. There are over 500 wines on the list with many iconic Italian varietals as well as a large wine by the glass selection. There  is  a bar and lounge area where I waited before being seated in the very large dining room (seats 120) featuring roomy crescent-shaped booths as well as a communal seating area. What I particularly liked was the spacing between tables. I never heard my neighbor’s conversations. Too many NYC restaurants make it impossible to even hear what the people sitting at your own table are saying. 

There were many guests who brought their children (casino entrance limited to those over 21) and that is not something I see at other casinos. Overall, I was impressed with every aspect of the operation and look forward to returning. 

A Slice of Brooklyn Chocolate Tour

   

Let’s start with the best part of this tour. Paula Berkenstadt was our guide and is the cousin of the owner of the company. Gonzalez our driver got us there and back and thru some very narrow streets in his 55-passenger bus without incident. There were 12 people on this tour (2 people were no shows). Ireland, Japan & the Upper West Side of Manhattan were represented. I also live on the UWS but did not know the couple. I had taken the companies Pizza Tour as well as their Brooklyn Neighborhood Tour several years ago (comped on all the tours). I did also partake in two Brooklyn tours from a competitor: Christmas Lights Tour of Dyker Heights as well as a Brooklyn Brownstone Neighborhood Eats Tour.

Our meeting point was in the Union Square area of the east side. Across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge to Jacques Torres Chocolate in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Cobblestone streets and converted warehouses that now contain upscale boutiques, restaurants, cafes and residences. I have been in the Torres store on the Upper West Side and this was my least favorite stop. On the positive side they did give me lots of samples that did not contain nuts (allergy). The best part of this stop was the view under the Brooklyn Bridge.

Our second stop was in Cobble Hill at The Chocolate Room opened in 2005 where co-owner Jon Payson (wife Naomi) took us thru the evolution of his yummy chocolate cake that was featured on the cover of Oprah magazine and made them famous. There is a second location in Park Slope.

We walked a few blocks to the end of Valentino Pier in Red Hook that was the former Fort Defiance and a great view of the Statue of Liberty. I was told it is a great summer hangout for couples.

Raaka Chocolate in Red Hook was stop three. The company was started in 2010 in the founder’s apartment (Nathan Hodge & Ryan Cheney) and in 2015 they moved to this location. We were able to watch chocolate being made from raw bean to chocolate bar by hand. Lots of samples offered. I especially enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon bar. It was 68% cacao (I am told Hershey’s is 11%). They steam fruity Peruvian cacao over a California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Li-Lac Chocolate in Industry City (Sunset Park) was our last stop. It started in the 1920s and was the oldest chocolate shop in Manhattan (there are 4 locations in Manhattan). There are 16 historic manufacturing buildings with over 30 food vendors including a Japanese food hall and market. I am determined to get back to Industry City in warmer weather for a longer visit as well as for an outdoor concert. This was also an opportunity to purchase a slice of pizza or a hamburger in one of the shops.

I am afraid I was unable to eat any more chocolate at this point. Here is what I did learn about the benefits of chocolate. It lowers cholesterol levels, prevents cognitive decline and reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems. I was told not to refrigerate chocolate because moisture can condense on its surface.

Back over the Manhattan Bridge to our pickup point. www.asliceofbrooklyn.com

(212) 913-9917. $55 adults & $45 for children under 12.

 

 

 

 

 

STAYCATION

During the 6-week winter break from teaching my wine course at The International School of Tourism & Hospitality Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, I started dreaming of warm climates. Some of my family lives in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Palm Desert. This time I choose to stay in NYC & do a staycation. "A vacation one spends at home and involving day trips to local attractions." This is that story.

Volunteer at Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal's Holiday Party

Christmas with part of my family in The Hampton's

Manhattan Jewish Community Center semi-annual free day

Overnight at Springhill Suites Newark Airport & dinner with the Tripodi's at Fornos of Spain Newark.

Physical Therapy with Jeremy

Columbia basketball game- Harlem Marching Cobras

Sunday night lobster dinner at Cesca

The Prom Musical on Broadway

Knicks-Phili at MSG courtesy of Kevin Clark

Thai Spa Treatment courtesy of Hamza & Chelsea

Big Apple Circus

Columbia Chat With Basketball Coaches

Visit the Intrepid Air & Space Museum- https://www.intrepidmuseum.org

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is dedicated to the exhibition and interpretation of history, science, and service as related to its home aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can view original artifacts, historic video footage and explore interactive exhibits. There is a 12-minute film dealing with the Intrepid's service. The museum was founded in 1982 as a non-profit and welcomes over 1 million visitors annually.

The Flight Deck contains the aircraft collection, including the space shuttle. The Gallery Deck shows visitors where crew members slept and worked. On the Hanger Deck, younger visitors can use interactive displays (extra charge) while the other exhibits show the ship's history. The Third Deck is where crew members prepared meals and dined.

Launched in 1943, the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid fought in World War II, surviving five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike. The ship later served in the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Intrepid also served as a NASA recovery vessel in the 1960s. It was decommissioned in 1974, and today is berthed at Pier 86 at 46th Street & the Hudson River. The 42nd St crosstown bus drops you off at the Circle Line on 42nd & the river. Admission is $33 for adults; $31 seniors & $24 children. Groupon has a deal price. A private guide is $15 & $12 for seniors. My guide Ron was fabulous.
The Space Shuttle Pavilion showcases the space shuttle Enterprise, the NASA orbiter that paved the way for America ’s space shuttle program. Seventeen exhibit zones feature original artifacts, photographs, audio, and films that immerse visitors in the science and history of Enterprise and the space shuttle era.

The submarine Growler joined the Intrepid Museum in 1989 and is the only American guided missile submarine open to the public. It offers visitors a firsthand look at life aboard a submarine and a close-up inspection of the missile command center.  

The Concorde plane made the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing on February 7, 1996- 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds. The Concorde Alpha Delta G-BOAD is exhibited on the main deck.

Plan on at least 3 hours to see the museum. Hours are- 10AM-5PM with closing at 6 PM weekends & holidays from April 1-October 31st.

Visit Resorts World Casino Queens- http://www.rwnewyork.com

I do not gamble but did want to visit the Resorts World Casino since I listen to their radio commercials every morning. I also wanted to travel there by public transportation.

Michelle Stoddart, director of public relations and community development was my host and sent me directions by subway. At 59th street change to the A Train headed downtown (Brooklyn bound). Make sure it is the A train to Aqueduct-N. Conduit via JFK airport. After exiting the train at Aqueduct go downstairs & take the shuttle 1 minute to the casino entrance. On the way home I walked the covered roadway & entered the train station directly.

I learned only 3% of the customers use the train. The casino is attached to Aqueduct Race Track (season is November-May) and is only a few minutes from JFK airport. Opened in 2011 it is owned by the Genting Group headquartered in Malaysia. They also owns casinos in the Catskills, Bahamas, UK, Philippines & Singapore as well as 3 cruise lines. This is the only casino in NYC and has drawn 10 million guests. There are 6,050 electronic table games and video lottery terminals. The 3 casinos are named- Times Square, Fifth Ave, and Central Park. I was impressed with the 50,000 square foot event space as they were setting up for a trade show. Past shows have included National Supermarket Association and Winter Con Comic Book show.  We had lunch at one of the 8 food and beverage outlets. If I had been there later in the day I could have watched a show from Bar 360. Michelle took me by the construction site of the 400 room hotel being built on the property.

If I was flying in or out of JFK and had a layover or delayed flight and I was a gambler Resorts World Casino would be my first choice.

 

A DAY IN ASOLO

Located in Veneto, in northeastern Italy, Asolo Prosecco is one of the 2 DOCG Prosecco wine regions, the other being Conegliano Valdobbiadene. Both regions are located on the hills, where temperature variation and constant breezes help to develop the aromatic richness of the Glera grapes, the main variety used for Prosecco. This results in a product with a much more intense nose and palate with respect to the broader Prosecco DOC, whose grapes grow on the flatlands. The name of the Prosecco grape is legally protected and may now only be used within the Prosecco zone.  Asolo's finest vineyard sites lie on the sunny south-facing slopes whose gentle gradient and loose soils offer excellent drainage. Asolo is at the western edge of the Colli Asolani Ridge at the foot of the Venetian Alps, 30 miles south of the city of Venice. Asolo Montello will have produced about 13 million bottles by the end of 2018. Together with the other DOCG, Conegliano Valdobbiadene, they account for about 100 million bottles, whereas the broader DOC produces about 450 million bottles.  www.asolomontello.it www.asolo.it

After my 6 days in the Chiaretto/Bardolino area, I was transported, along with another NYC based journalist two hours to Asolo and our overnight hotel- Villa Serena- https://www.villaserena.eu. It was there that we had an introduction of Asolo Montello appellation wines with Armando Serena, the chairman of the Asolo Prosecco Consorzio. We tasted Asolo Prosecco Superiore Docg Extra Brut (produced so far only by the Asolo appellation), Brut, Extra Dry, and Dry wines. We then moved to a light lunch at Da Celeste. www.ristorantedaceleste.com

The rest of the day was spent at Giusti winery with Valentino Radaelli, the junior export manager. They have 175 acres of vines and are building a new winery. They produce 320,000 bottles of which 200,000 are Prosecco, the rest being table wines. www.giustiwine.com. Valentino drove us around the area and we spent an hour at the magnificent site- Nervesa della Battaglia in Treviso at the Abbey of Saint Eustace. In February, 1358 Nervesa was the scene of a battle in which the Republic of Venice was defeated by the forces of King Louis I of Hungary. The remains of the Abbey of Sant'Eustachio was abandoned in 1865 and heavily damaged during World War I, whose main battle took place only 656 feet away from the Abbey, along river Piave. https://www.comune.nervesa.tv.it/ Valentino took us to dinner at Osteria “Ai T’Osti” di Montebelluna. They don’t have a website but are on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/tosti001/\

The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel, we were driven to Verona airport where I caught a flight to Zurich and transferred to my flight home to Newark Airport. Everything was perfect on this trip thanks to Irene and all our hosts.

 

 

Chiaretto The Italian Dry Rose

 

Chiaretto? I must admit I knew very little about the wine before being invited by the Consorzio Tutelavino Bardolino DOC for a 6-day press trip. My host was Irene Graziotto, the international press officer for Studio Associato in Verona.  www.studiocru.com

Chiaretto (key-ar-et-toh) derives from the Italian term “chiaro” meaning light or pale, a pale pink wine made primarily from the red grape Corvina (plus Rondinella and a bit of Sangiovese), which is also found in Amarone, Valpolicella, and Bardolino. With only a small amount of skin contact, the juice retains this pale pink color that gave it its name. The grapes are grown near the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, located in the northern part of Italy, a 30-minute drive from Verona. Its fragrances range from flowers to herbaceous tones; from citrus fruits to apricots and wild berries; all accompanied by hints of spice, like cinnamon, cloves or vanilla. On the palate, Chiaretto offers youthful, mouth-watering freshness. It is made from red wine grapes using white winemaking practices. Rosé is a type of wine that incorporates some of the color from red grape skins but is not colored enough to be called a red wine. An additional feature of rosés is that they tend to be low in tannins. In 1968 Bardolino Chiaretto was amongst the first appellations in Italy to be awarded the DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata).

There are around 100 producers of Chiaretto and Bardolino and 6,700 acres of vineyards. In 2007 less than 375,000 cases were produced. The whole appellation (including both Bardolino and Chiaretto) used to be around 2,500,000 cases, 330,000 cases of these were Bardolino. Nowadays total production is 26 million bottles (yields per hectare has been reduced) which means 2,160,000 cases. 1,000,000 of these cases will be Chiaretto.  www.chiaretto.pink

Chiaretto goes with everything: It is perfect as an aperitif, for informal lunches or barbecues as well as for elegant dinners. Chiaretto pairs wonderfully with appetizers and finger food. It also goes perfectly with Italian pasta or rice dishes, ravioli and pizza. It is excellent with saltwater and freshwater fish that is grilled, baked, cooked in salt, boiled or even raw. It’s a fantastic wine for Asian food (even the spiciest) and is superb with sushi. It retails in the $12-18 range making it affordable. 

Rosé is hot. It is the fastest growing wine category in the US. In 2017, the consumption of rosé wines in the US grew by roughly 50%. By comparison, the overall consumption of wine grew by 4%. The rate of growth for rosé consumption is even more pronounced during the summer months—a period where rosé consumption typically peaks. Four countries produce more than 75% of the world’s rosé. France with 30%, (think Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, Rose d Anjou, Tavel, Champagne Rose). Spain (20%), the US, with lots of white Zinfandel (15%) and Italy (10%). I grew up with Lancer & Mateus Rose from Portugal.

On the eastern, Veneto, side of the lake rosé is known as Chiaretto di Bardolino. These are light, refreshing wines with very little color. Chiaretto di Bardolino is typically made from a blend of Rondinella and Corvina. These wines feature notes of fresh citrus, grapefruit pith, orange and tangerine, along with red fruit notes of raspberry and strawberry as well as flavors of apple and pear. They feature well-rounded acidity with a creamy quality and a refreshing, slightly bitter note on the finish.

Chiaretto can be produced in any one of 16 villages along the eastern shore of Lake Garda. The soils here are primarily glacial moraines of sand and gravel. The western side of Lake Garda is in Lombardy and was historically known as the Valtènesi. The Rosé wines from this area are also called Chiaretto. Since 2015, a specific DOC for Chiaretto has been designated: Riviera del Garda Classico Chiaretto. There are 10 villages in this DOC that can produce Chiaretto. Many producers use both the Valtènesi and Riviera del Garda names on their labels to avoid confusion. The Rosé wines from this area are made with Gropello grapes or with blends of Gropello, Marzemino, Barbera or Sangiovese. Gropello must be at least 30% of any blend. Small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Carmenere, and Merlot can also be used. This region is less known than its Veneto cousins across the lake.

I was one of 20 journalists from the US, Canada & the UK to learn more and write about the Rose wines called Chiaretto. I will not rate the wines but simply tell the story of our visit, day by day.  Picked up at the airport in Venice and driven 1 ½ hour to the village of Bardolino and my home for 6 nights- Hotel Caesius- www.hotelcaesiusterme.com. After unpacking it was exploration time. I used one of the three outside pools (it was around 70 degrees) as well as the large indoor thermal pool. The next day I tried the smaller indoors-thermal baths inside the spa. I met most of the other journalists (a few were coming a bit later) in the lobby and we were off for a tour of the southern shore of Lake Garda and dinner with many of the producers at Menapace Restaurant pairing freshwater fish and Chiaretto. www.hotelmenapac

Sunday was an all-day affair in Verona. The breakfast buffet was overwhelming with enough choices for lunch and dinner. I learned my lesson and did a better job of limiting my intake after that. We had a vertical tasting of Bardolino, followed by a light lunch and a stand-up tasting of Bardolino and Beaujolais with the producers. I did not really understand the Beaujolais connection. The producers never came in to the sit down tasting part (a mistake). There was a break before the sit-down tasting of Bardolino wines awarded the Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri (3 Glasses or The Best in Italy) followed by the aforementioned Beaujolais Cru tasting. During the break, I toured the downtown area including the Arena di Verona and Piazza delle Erbe as well as a local wine shop. Dinner was at Sapore Downtown pairing Pizza and Chiaretto. www.boscorenato.it

 

 

Monday it was off to taste at Albino Piona and Monte Zovo (lunch). Then a few hours break at the hotel (thank you Irene) before a tasting at Santi winery where we had dinner. www.albinopiona.it www.montezovo.com www.cantinasanti.it

Tuesday our morning tastings were at Monte del Fra and Tinazzi Tenuta Valleselle (lunch). Another rest break and we were off to Vigneti Villabella and dinner at their Michelin Star restaurant Osaleta. The long walk up to the top of the vineyards for a sunset view was made easy since they had a golf cart for me. www.montedelfra.it www.tinazzi.it www.vignetivillabella.com

 

Wednesday we tasted at Cantina di Custoza and Tenuta La Presa (lunch) and rest time. Dinner was at Domini Veneti.  www.cantinadicustoza.com, www.tenutalapresa.it, www.dominiveneti.it 

 

   Our last day we had our morning tastings at Villa Calicantus and Guerrieri Rizzardi (lunch). After our rest time our final dinner was at Forte di Pastrengo where we had two Masterclass tastings- A vertical tasting of Chiaretto from 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. This was followed by Italian rose wines from native varieties. Many of the producers joined us for dinner.  www.villacalicantus.it www.guerrieri-rizzardi.it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT IS MORE THAN CHOCOLATE MY VISIT TO HERSHEY/HARRISBURG

When Rick Dunlap, Public Relations Director for the Visit Hershey & Harrisburg CVB, invited me I wondered what would I do in four days except eat chocolate. I have never been more wrong in my thinking. This is a diary, with photos of one of the most intriguing and interesting press trips ever.

Amtrak Keystone goes from Penn Station NYC thru Philadelphia and ends in Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania. It is about a 3½ hour trip. Rick was kind enough to pick me up at the station even though my hotel- Hilton Harrisburg- was only a few blocks away. I had only a few minutes to drop my bag in the room and it was off to Hershey (a 20-minute ride). www.hilton.com/harrisburg

 

 

I was about to experience a chocoholic’s dream- Hershey’s Chocolate World. The following are only a sampling of the brands under the Hershey umbrella: Breath Saver mints, Bubble Yum bubble gum. Ice Breakers gum & mints, Jolly Rancher candy, Lancaster soft crème, Twizzlers candy, Good & Plenty, Hershey’s brownies and cookies, Hershey’s syrup, soy fresh soymilk, cocoa, dark & milk chocolate. I had no interest in Hershey Park with its 14 roller coasters, ZooAmerica the 11-acre, walk through the zoo, nor Hershey Gardens (butterflies) all adjacent to Hershey

Chocolate World. www.hershey.com

The history of the Hershey founding and the good work of Milton Hershey can be found at www.hersheystory.org/milton-hershey-history/

The Milton Hershey School should be an inspiration for anyone who believes in good deeds. The Hersheys had no children hence the founding of the school that invited orphans (no longer a requirement) to a fully paid education and living arrangement. The Milton Hershey School Trust owns the Hershey Food Company and the Hershey Entertainment & Resort Company. www.mhskids.org

Our tour began with a 75-minute trolley ride thru town, past the Milton Hershey School, and both the old and new Hershey chocolate plants. Despite the narrator's bad puns, I learned a lot and returned to many of the locations the next two days.

The Make Your Own Chocolate Bar was interesting but waiting for 15 minutes in the end for my custom bar was a drag. Suggestion- have some type of interactive computers available while waiting. The Chocolate Tasting Experience was a waste of time (my opinion) but maybe a good educational experience for those with younger children or grandchildren who could benefit from learning to appreciate chocolate vs gobbling it in one bite. Editors Note- my host and I were both comped for all the above-mentioned activities.

On the way to dinner, we stopped at Cullari Vineyard & Winery tasting room located on Chocolate Avenue. They are the only winery located in Hershey. 30 different varieties of wines are produced including Coco Nostra Chocolate wine. It is a café style tasting room with tables and chairs. www.cullarivineyards.com

Dinner was at Troegs Brewery in Hershey. The self-guided tour shows the craft brewing process. The food & beer were excellent. www.troegers.com

 

My second day started out with both a bad and a good experience. My king size bed was so comfortable that I slept past my normal wake up time & rushed down to breakfast since I was being picked up once again by Rick Dunlap. I waited 20 minutes for my Belgian waffle with no explanation. My server disappeared. Getting up to leave, I met Restaurant Manager Najib Guerch who solved the problem and became my friend during my four days at the hotel. He is the epitome of the American dream who came here from Morocco speaking no English and started as a dishwasher. The Hilton is lucky to have him there. He conducted my tour of The Hill Society that is a private club that leases space on the main floor. Open Monday-Saturday from 7AM-11PM with its own bar, wine storage facility & cigar humidor, plus tables for meetings both business and personal. www.thehillsociety.com

 

My first two stops are absolute must-sees in Harrisburg. The National Civil War Museum, which sits above the highest point with nearly a 360-degree view of the city and surrounding mountain ranges. They preserve material, culture and are a source of information for the period 1861-1865 as well as its aftermath. It is praised for being one of the only Civil War museums that tells a balanced story from both the northern and southern perspective. There are interactive displays, video interviews, still photos, etc. www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

 

The State Capitol tours are free and definitely a must see. What a magnificent building built between 1902-1906 in the Beaux Arts and Renaissance Revival style. Words cannot do it justice. There are 475 rooms on 4 floors with a grand staircase and a rotunda with paved Moravian tiles. This building always ranks #1 or #2 most beautiful capitals in the country. In 2006 the building became a Historic Landmark. http://www.pacapitol.com

 

When we arrived at the Broad Street Market I was so hyped up that I asked Rick to skip our scheduled lunch next door at the Millworks Restaurant, Artist Studio & Brewery & let me pick out a small sampling from the 40 vendor exhibitors.  Opened in 1860 in the Midtown neighborhood and open Thursday & Friday 7AM-6PM & Saturday 7AM-4PM. The goods are locally grown and organically produced with meats, baked goods, and freshly prepared meals. It is the oldest continuously operated market house in the US. I visited Buddy Boy Winery, Eight Oaks Distillery & Artisan Spirits as well as Urban Churn gourmet ice cream. A bonus was speaking to the Police Chief of Harrisburg, Thomas Carter, who was ordering lunch to take out. www.broadstreetmarket.org

On the corner outside the market sits The Midtown Scholar Bookstore (opened 2001) where I was once again in the right place at the right time & spoke to Mayor Eric Papenfuse who also owns the bookstore. I have visited many of the great independent bookstores in the US, including The Strand & Westside Rare & Used Books (1 block from my apartment) in NYC; Powell Books in Portland & Elliot Bay Book Company in Seattle and Midtown are at the top. Nooks and crannies, up and down stairs, narrow aisles. All worth it. www.midtownscholar.com

 

Our last stop of the day was at Midstate Distillery where I sat with co-owner Brian Myers. The first distillery to open in Harrisburg (2013) since prohibition uses only Pennsylvania grains, water, labor, and bottles. www.midstatedistillery.com

 

I asked Rick to drop me off at the hotel rather than take me to dinner. I had eaten and drank enough for the day. I took a right out of the hotel and walked along Harrisburg’s Restaurant Row. It started to rain and I walked into the next restaurant for a Chinese meal.

We had to change plans for my last full day. I was originally going to the Jazz & Wine Fest at Fort Hunter Park that opened at 3 PM. The forecast was for rain and Rick was kind enough to book Darrel Showers, the owner of Lost Pint Tours, to take me around for the day in his tour van.

https://www.thelostpint.com/

 

Darrel was fabulous as I learned about the history of the wine and beer business in the area. We started on City Island with a one-hour Riverboat cruise of the Susquehanna River. The Pride was a stern-driven 30-year-old “authentic” paddlewheel riverboat (no propellers or rudders) that is one of six remaining in the US. The river is quite shallow and truthfully the recorded announcer (only ½ the tour) was not very interesting. Not a must see but it does offer a wonderful view of the capital city skyline. www.harrisburgriverboat.com

 

I did enjoy looking thru the locked gates (season over) of the Harrisburg Senators, an Easter League team & a Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. FNB Field opened in 1987 with a capacity of almost 6,200 fans. www.milb.com/harrisburg

 

Darrel then drove me to four wineries. First was The Vineyard at Grandview in NE Lancaster County. The Kennel family (Larry in photo) produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay among their varietals since 2009. www.grandviewwines.com

 

The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey is both a winery & craft brewery/cidery located on a 150-year-old farm. www.vineyardathershey.com

Waltz Vineyards are part of the Brookside Stables established in 1903. They produce European style wines from the Vitis Vinifera grape varieties in Lancaster County (opened in 2009). I was lucky that co-owner Kimberly Waltz came by to say hello. www.waltzvineyards.com

 

Our last stop was at Cassel Vineyards near Hershey Park. They are part of the 135-acre family farm with 5 acres of vines. www.casselvineyards.com

 

Darrel then drove me to the Wine & Jazz Festival grounds. It was drizzling and I decided just to look rather than walk thru the crowds. He then drove me along the river pointing out many of the buildings and monuments including many of the mansions that are still occupied, often by businesses.

 

 

I decided to eat dinner at the Hilton 1700 Degrees Steak House since it was still raining outside. Great choice. Once again Najib Guerch came by to say hello & even poured me a small amount of a classic wine, in addition to my wine choice. Does the man ever rest? www.1700restaurant.com

 

The hotel was kind enough to drop me at the Amtrak station since the rain was now quite heavy. Easy commute home from a wonderful trip.

Thank you, Rick Dunlap.

For more ideas on how to explore the Hershey & Harrisburg region go to- www.visitHersheyHarrisburg.org

 

 

Brilliant Play

The limited run of Sixteen is over but not the future career of playwright/actor Hamza Zaman. Anything he does turns to gold. My review is below.

Run do not walk to The Theater for the New City- 155 First Av. (9-10 st) to see Sixteen written by Hamza Zaman. There are still performances on Sunday, September 2nd at 2 PM; Monday & Tuesday, September 3 & 4th at 9 PM & Sunday, September 9th at 5 PM. There are 11 people in the cast (huge for an off-off show) & everyone is perfect. $18 is a bargain for a ticket. You are a few blocks from St. Marks Place & are in the fabled East Village. People watch before & after the show. Many excellent restaurants within a few blocks of the theater. GO!!

The play zips along at a mile a minute with nary a moment to catch ones breath. Using a young cast (I think some of them were 16) really helped sell the story. It wasn't a typical play but had all the elements that I love with off Broadway. I have spent over 30 years attending shows at Second Stage and Roundabout Theaters.

 

New ideas, lively feel and the theater even had wine. The story goes that..  

"Sixteen: The Troublemaker Diaries" is when all of life is seemingly a puzzle – the more so when you are arrested. Newly minted Dr. Neil Kalanathi joins the staff of a therapeutic institution specializing in troubled adolescents and led by experienced psychotherapist Dr. Rachel Stevens. As he hears more of their stories - and crimes - he begins to realize his years of training hasn't prepared him for helping "these" kind of kids.  

 

 

Detroit- Bankruptcy To Renaissance

 

In July I was invited, along with 11 other travel writers, (I was the only male) for a 4 night stay in Detroit Michigan. It had been more than 25 years since I was last in Detroit and that visit was for only a day so I could cross over to Windsor Ontario Canada to buy prescripton drugs at less than half the US prices. For journalistic accuracy I must mention the 1967 riots and the July 2013 Chapter 9 bankruptcy that was the largest filing in US history with over $18 1/2 billion debt. November 2014 the city exited bankruptcy. The population dropped from 1.8 million in 1950 to around 700,000 currently. There were abandoned building, vacant lots and a city that looked like a war zone. That ends the negative part of my story. Thanks to many people that includes Quicken Loan founder and Detroit native Dan Gilbert and another Detroiter Little Caesar Pizza founder and Detroit Tiger & Detroit Red Wing owner Mike Illitch Detroit has risen from the dead to a great Rennaissance This is the story of present day Detroit. www.visitdetroit.com

I asked my hosts if I could visit American Jewelry and Loan that was the site of one of my favorite TV shows- Hardcore Pawn. It aired on TruTV from 2010-2015 with 162 episodes. Located on 8 Mile Drive (Eminem the rapper grew up in this area & had a song about 8 Mile Drive) a 4 lane semi-highway that runs east to west and was 12 miles from Detroit Foundation Hotel where I was staying for 3 nights. Co-owner Les Gold was kind enough to spend almost an hour talking to me and showing me his operation. His son Seth Gold (day off) is one of his partners. Daughter Ashley Gold Broad has left for her own on-line jewelry business. Les started working at about the same age as I did- seven. His grandfater (Popsie) had a pawn shop & also employed his father who would not let him call him Dad in public but insisted on L.G. Les does not have a lot of kind things to say about his father. Later on he worked for his dad at Sam's Loans before leaving to open his own operation in 1978. In 1993 they moved to their present 50,000 square foot store. Les is also the author of For What It's Worth- Business Wisdom From A Pawnbroker-  published by Portfolio/Penguin. www.pawndetroit.com

During my 3-night stay at the Foundation Hotel my only complaint was the lousy coffee at breakfast. This 100 room hotel is located just across the street from the Cobo Convention Center. The two parts of the building used to be the old fire department headquarters as well as the Pontchartrain Wine Cellar. Thank goodness for the valet parking attendants who hold open the huge former firehouse doors. The small check-in desk (Detroit Bike & Slow Roll are available as well as local goods for sale right in front of the desk) sits next to the Apparatus Room that has an open kitchen as well as a small private banquet room. All meals are served here. There is a door that led to the rooms as well as a  conference center. I was able to walk to many of the downtown attractions. www.detroitfoundationhotel.com

  Our first meal together as a group was at Town House Detroit a 10 minute walk from our hotel. It featured American comfort food and locally sourced and foraged produce. www.eatattownhouse.com

 

Our day began with breakfast at the Apparatus Room in the hotel as our group loaded into our private van for a tour of the Motown Museum. I am a huge Doo Wop fan and loved seeing the photos and album covers of my favorite singers. "Hitsville U.S.A." is the nickname given to Motown's first headquarters. The building was purchased by founder Berry Gordy in 1959.  It was converted for use as the record label's administrative building and recording studio, which was open 22 hours a day. Following success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gordy moved the label to Los Angeles and established the Hitsville West studio there, as a part of his focus on television and film production as well as music production. We had a chance to walk through the actual recording studio where Motown artists recorded their songs. www.motownmuseum.org

Lunch was downtown at Parc Restaurant in Campus Martius Park. One of the ways the city drew people back to downtown was to hold outdoor concerts as well as add sand and chairs in the park for relaxing. There were also food trucks and stands. www.parcdetroit.com

Our two hour private tour of the city was conducted by City Tour Detroit. The story of the new Detroit can best be told in Pictures. www.citytourdetroit.com

Windsor Ontario Canada

Guardian Building Art Deco Ceiling

The Spirit of Detroit

GM Display- Renaissance Center

Renaissance Center

 

Joe Louis Fist- Hart Plaza

Transending Sculpture- Hart Plaza

When I heard we were going to visit a Detroit winery & taste their wines I was excited. Dr. Claes Farnell & Blake Kownacki are partners in the first winery in the Detroit city area. They are building a winery & have contracted to grow their grapes in local Detroiters back yards. The tasting took place at a popular wine bar in downtown called Vertical Detroit. Four wines are produced & all were quite good. Had not tasted a dry Honey Mead before. The other wines include a dry Riesling,  Chardonnay and a Cabernet Franc Rose.  www.detroitvineyards.com www.verticaldetroit.com

Two Michelin Star chef Thomas Lents prepared a private meal in the Foundation Hotel private room for our group after the wine tasting. It was served family style with 8 dishes and a variety of sides. It was superb.

 

After breakfast at our hotel we were off to visit the Detroit Institute of Art (DIA). The museum ranks among the top 10 museums in the USA and I can see why. There are over 100 galleries and I especially liked the Play Ball and the Star Wars Costume Galleries.www.dia.org

 

 Lunch was at the recently reopened members-only Detroit Club. Established in 1882 it suffered along with the rest of the city and opened the Grille Room to the public. www.thedetroitclub.com

It was off to Grosse Pointe Shores for a visit to the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. www.fordhouse.org

Dinner was at Lumen and is another example of the revitalization of downtown. The restaurant opened a few months ago and was rocking. One of my dearest NYC friends is from Detroit and she insisted I try the cream puff with Sanders hot fudge and vanilla bean ice cream. Lo and behold it was on the dessert menu here. I actually ate the whole thing and then checked the calorie count. It was over 1,000 but it was worth it. www.lumendetroit.com

After breakfast we checked out of the Foundation Hotel and headed to Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills. A  2012 National Historic Landmark it was the home built (1926-1929) by Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automobile pioneer John Dodge and her second husband, lumber broker Alfred Wilson. It is an example of Tudor-revival architecture. In 1957 it was donated to the state of Michigan and is now owned by Oakland University. www.meadowbrookhall.org

Meadow Brook Hall was kind enough to prepare a box lunch for us to eat on the bus as we drove to Birmingham and the Townsend Hotel located about 20 miles from downtown Detroit. The town is quite upscale with a park around the corner from the hotel and the main shopping street only 3 blocks away. Townsend was first opened in 1988 and the new wing was added in 2015 giving it a total of 150 rooms. Many celebrities stay here rather than in downtown Detroit. Some famous people who were born here include actors Christine Lahti, David Spade and former NBA player Shane Battier. Tim Allen lived there as a teenager. Population is around 20,000. www.townsendhotel.com

Several of our group had Tea Time (2-5PM) in the lobby. I chose to walk a few blocks to the Birmingham Museum located on the site of the first brick shoolhouse in town. I marveled at the displays showing the history of the area. www.bhamgov.org/museum. I then strolled around the very walkable downtown store area.

Our final dinner was at Merrill 220 located in the "Old Detroit Edison" building. Originally opened in 1979 it was renovated and reopened in 2014. It is certainly the "hippest place in town" but the noise level was such that I could not hear the person sitting next to me. www.220restaurant.com

I had breakfast at the Rugby Grill and wondered why we were given a credit of $32.50. Then I saw the prices and realized I was not getting any change. Before being picked up for the ride to the airport I grabbed a to go bag at The Bakery located near the rear of the building.

Could not forget the beautiful flower display in the lobby.

Relaxing in the Delta Lounge reminiscing about my trip and wondering when I will come back once again to this great city. Bravo Detroit.

 

Union Square Treasure

 

On a very hot very muggy summer day in July, I decided to go to the movies (a rare treat). I picked the Union Square Theater but confused the time of the movie I wanted to see. Realizing I had almost an hour to spare I heard that grumbling in my stomach that said- no buttered popcorn and no chocolate. Walking down the street I spotted Taboonette at 30 East 13^th Street, only a block from the movie theater. What exactly was Middleterranean cuisine? I quickly learned that it was a happy marriage of flavors from both the Middle East and the Mediterranean. As luck would have it both partners Chef Efraim Naon and Danny Hodak were there preparing a presentation for their franchise opportunities. They introduced themselves, suggested several dishes that I should order and then sat with me while I gulped down the dishes. The three dishes I sampled included: Braised Lamb Shawarma pan, Za'atar crusted Salmon Pan with quinoa, Hummus Bowl with Herb and Sweet Potato Falafel. I also had a Lamb Kebab Pita to go that was my dinner.

PS- I did not make it to the movies and never regretted my decision. A story was born.

Israeli native Efraim (Efi) Naon, whose father was Moroccan, graduated from Tel-Aviv’s Tadmor Culinary Institute. He worked at a “sea to table” restaurant in Jaffa as well as Israel’s top-rated restaurant, and in France at a three Michelin-starred establishment. He became the executive chef of Taboon Restaurant when it opened in 2004. I have eaten at their flagship restaurant Taboon at 52^nd & 10^th Ave several times. Taboon is the home of the original wood-fired Middleterranean kitchen. The restaurant received two stars from the New York Times.

Danny Hodak, born and raised in New York, found success as a contractor working with top New York designers and architects, a career that ultimately prepared him for the hospitality industry. In 2003 he conceived and created the taboon open firebrick oven-cooking concept. In 2012 he launched Taboonette.

The partner’s franchise concept is to combine the idea of Taboon with the convenience of fast-casual preparation. They fill pitas, plates, and bowls with Middleterranean creations inspired by the healthy diets of the Middle East and Meditteranean regions. This first store (a second was to open in the West Village soon) sits across from Parson’s New School of Design campus and within walking distance from New York University and Greenwich Village.

The partners are working with Franchise Growth Solutions LLC who is handling the franchising of Taboonette.

www.taboononline.com

www.taboonette.com

www.frangrow.com

We Went To The Same College

Okay, Alexander Hamilton went there for one year in 1773 when it was called Kings College. It was founded in 1754 in lower Manhattan by royal charter of King George II of England. Kings College closed in 1774 when the British occupied NYC. In 1896 it became Columbia University in the City of New York. The College is one of many schools in the university along with the medical, business, law schools etc. Kings College was located in the Madison Ave area from 1857-1896. The campus moved to its present location in Morningside Heights in 1896.

I entered Columbia College in 1952 when Dwight Eisenhower was the university president. He served from 1948 until he became President of the United States in 1953. My classes were held in Hamilton Hall. A statue of Alexander Hamilton still stands in front of his hall.

This is all a lead-in to my being invited by Urban Adventures on their two-hour Hamilton Happy Hour tour- $30 with no food or drink included. https://www.newyorkcityurbanadventures.com/


Our group (4 from Holland and 2 from Australia) met at Trinity Church (Wall Street area) where Hamilton and his family are buried. This was my second tour with Josh Rogol who gets 5 Stars for his knowledge and friendliness. Seeing the hit musical Hamilton before the tour would be very helpful (if you can get tickets). Hamilton was born on Nevis in the British Leeward Islands. He was the Secretary of the Treasury in George Washington’s first cabinet. He died on July 12^th (my birthday) 1804 after being shot by Aaron Burr during their famous duel. As Secretary of the Treasury, he helped create the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall (across the street from the exchange). We were told during our 15-minute stop that Hamilton watched as George Washington was sworn in as our first president. Federal Hall was also the home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and executive branch offices. It now serves as a museum to George Washington with his statue in front.

We had a brief stop at Zuccotti Park made famous after 9/11 as the home of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Other brief stops were at 57 Maiden Lane where Thomas Jefferson lived (there is a plaque out front attesting to that fact). When we passed by 40 Wall Street it brought back memories. As a high school senior in 1952, my father got me a job running an elevator in that building.

At 85 Broad Street, we were shown the remains of the 17^th Century Lovelace Tavern below ground and visible through a glass cover. We stopped at Hanover Square that is a pocket park with the Queen Elizabeth II gardens located there. It was then a walk down Stone Street (no cars allowed) that is a narrow cobblestone Alley that was New York City’s first paved street

We ended our tour at Frances Tavern on Pearl Street, established in 1762. It is New York City’s oldest restaurant where George Washington bid farewell to his troops. There is a museum attached to the tavern. www.francestavern.com It was but a 5-minute walk to South Ferry and my subway ride home. I learned a lot from Josh. Bravo.