August 31, 2011

NYC: Rice to Riches; restaurant review

Rice to Riches 

37 Spring St./Mott & Mulberry, in Nolita, 212-274-0008. Daily 11-11; 8 oz. solo $6.75.

counter at Rice to Riches in NYC
counter at Rice to Riches in NYC


Sleek, sweet Rice to Riches makes both traditional and frou frou versions of rice pudding--with good use of fruit.



More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 29, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Berlin Wall Memorial; things to do

Bernauer Strasse 111/119, +49 (0)30 467 98 66 66. Apr-Oct, Tu-Sun 9:30am–7pm; Nov-Mar, Tu-Sun 9:30am–6pm. Free.

The Berlin Wall Memorial is the main memorial site for the wall, which was built in one night on August 13 in 1961. It features an open-air exhibition along the former border strip, and the grounds show the original wall construction that was actually two walls with a death strip in between. A Visitor Center and Documentation Center provide a viewing platform and exhibition about the building of the wall.




August 26, 2011

Portland, Oregon: Sandwichworks; restaurant review

Sandwichworks 

2376 NW Thurman, 503-954-1737.

Reuben slider at Sandwichworks in Porland, Oregon
Reuben slider at Sandwichworks in Porland, Oregon


Wait in line to order at Sandwichworks, then grab a chair at one of the mostly communal picnic tables in the open industrial-style dining room featuring rustic wood walls, concrete floors, and big windows looking out to the sidewalk. Deli sandwiches include a meatball hero, a French dip, and Reuben sliders (one satisfies an average appetite). A hot dog, burger, and soups and salads are also options. Everything seems to be uniformly delicious, but do note that potato salad can be disappointingly undercooked.




More things to do in Portland. 

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 24, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; things to do

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe   

Cora-Berliner Straße 1, between the tiergarten and Potsdamer Platz, +49 (0)30 2639 4336. Outside open 24 hrs. Free.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in Berlin, Germany


This quiet spot is a memorial to the 6 million Jewish victims of WWII’s Holocaust. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe consists of 2,711 rectangular grey concrete blocks representing funeral pillars (or stelae). They are in varying heights on an open plaza that takes up an entire square block. A subterranean Information Center gets more personal, with the names and images of Jews and their history during the Third Reich (1933-45). Opened in 2005.




image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 22, 2011

Port Orford, Oregon: WildSpring Guest Habitat; hotel review

WildSpring Guest Habitat  

92978 Cemetery Loop, (866) 333-WILD (9453), (541) 332-0977. 5 cabins. A one-person party must be at least 25 yrs old; unsuitable for children under 13. No phones. Hot tub. Full buffet breakfast. $198-$306; pull-out bed +$20-$40. No pets; no smoking.

ocean view from grounds of WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford, Oregon
ocean view from grounds of WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford, Oregon


How charming are directions that indicate this covey of cabins is “five miles north of Humbug Mountain”? Guests park in a woodsy lot, and check in at WildSpring Guest Habitat by picking up their key from a row of rustic mailboxes in an open-air shelter. Then they can either load their bags into an easy-to-maneuver contemporary wheelbarrow or contact the office via intercom for assistance.

The contemporary two-room cabins are scattered within a 5-acre private forest of 100-foot-tall second-growth Douglas Firs. Ferns dot the forest floor, and trails padded by a bed of pine needles lead to each cabin. “We’re very proud that during construction we only had to cut down two trees,” says co-owner Michelle Duarte.

Cabins feature light hardwood floors, and pocket-door dividers provide privacy when someone uses the sitting room’s twin hide-a-bed. Furnishings are an interesting eclectic mix of antiques and exotic imports rescued from Hollywood Hills garage sales. A fluffy feather comforter make the generally cool coastal nights warmer.

It is a short walk to the far end of the property (by the Guest Hall) to use the very special oversize slate hot tub overlooking the ocean. The Guest Hall is where everyone gathers for snacks and breakfast, and to play games, borrow DVDs and books, and enjoy the ocean view. Guests are encouraged to get reconnected with nature. Facilities include a walking labyrinth, a sculpture garden, and several trails, and a rocking chair or hammock makes the perfect place to listen to the wind blowing through the pines. Birders will find a huge bird population, and from October through May a drumming circle is conducted when at least six people express interest. Co-owner Dean Duarte informs that Port Orford is a “dark skies initiative city. Hoods are placed over street lights to direct glow down, not up, so we can see the stars.”



More things to do on the Oregon coast.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 19, 2011

Introduction to Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico

Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico 

30 min. N of San Miguel de Allende. Mexico’s independence from Spain was fought out here in Dolores Hidalgo in1810. Today the town is known for its ice cream and beautiful handmade talavera pottery. Ice cream vendors have carts at the four corners of the central square, and the flavors are unusual—shrimp, tequila, mole, avocado. The town is also known for great carnitas. It is one of the premier places in Mexico to buy Talavera pottery at a fraction of the prices in the United States or even nearby San Miguel. Artists are seen at work painting in shops.

talavera pottery made in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico
talavera pottery made in Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico


Our Lady of Sorrows church 

is a carved from rose-colored quarry stone and a gorgeous example of churrigueresque architecture.


More things to do in Mexico.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 17, 2011

San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico: The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos; things to do

The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos  

In the state of Jalisco, 2 hours/76 km NE of Guadalajara.

The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico
The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico


Founded in the 1600s, San Juan de los Lagos is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in Mexico. The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos is the second most visited religious site in Mexico, only after the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. For more than 3 centuries, millions of pilgrims have visited the Virgin here. The story begins in 1542, when a Spanish priest brought a statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception to the village. In 1623, the sick daughter of a local Indians recovered after her parents prayed for her. Following this miracle, the statue began to be visited by pilgrims who walk on their knees to the Virgin’s altar. I found the alcove to the right of the altar especially interesting--it is where pilgrims place letters and objects that thank the Virgin for their personal miracles.


More things to do in Mexico.

More pilgrimage sites.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 15, 2011

Guanajuato, Mexico: Jardin de la Union/Union Garden; things to do

Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico  

The spectacular square and garden known as Jardin de la Union/Union Garden dates back to the colonial times, when it was the center of street markets and traditional festivities were held here. It is lined with a neatly trimmed canopy of Indian laurel that is so dense it looks as if it is just one tree. Cafes, restaurants, and shops surround the garden, and mariachi bands entertain.

Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico
Jardin de la Union/Union Garden in Guanajuato, Mexico



August 12, 2011

NYC: Ferrara; restaurant review

Ferrara 

195 Grand St./Mulberry St., 212-226-6150.

cannoli at Ferrara in NYC
cannoli at Ferrara in NYC


It is fitting that Ferrara is on Grand Street, because it has that shiny grand appearance of a fancy coffee shop and is especially bright, sparkling, and cheery in the evening. You can select your pastry and sit down to munch it with coffee, or just do a walk-away. Choose from an array of Italian pastries, including baby Sicilian cannoli (Italian grandmas once shaped these pastries around broom sticks when they made them at home) in a variety of flavors and deliciously chewy soft pignoli cookies smothered in pine nuts.



More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 10, 2011

NYC: Socorrat Paella Bar; restaurant review

284 Mulberry St, (btw. Houston & Prince St), in Nolita, 212-219-0101. D daily, Sat-SunBr; $$$. Reservations advised.

The specialty at Socorrat Paella Bar is the namesake socorrat—the delicious crusty rice that forms on the bottom of a paella pan (disappointingly, the veggie version lacks this crust). Tapas are tasty—try the garlic shrimp and patatas bravas—and the sangria goes down easily.










August 8, 2011

San Juan Cosala, Mexico: Monte Coxala; hotel review

Monte Coxala  

Rafael Osuna 300, 5 km. W of Ajijic along Carratera Chapala, 387-76-101-11. 11 rooms.

Monte Coxala resort in San Juan Cosala, Mexico
Monte Coxala resort in San Juan Cosala, Mexico


In addition to enjoying a panoramic lake view, the magnificent hilltop Monte Coxala resort features a prehispanic theme, thermal waters, and a pyramid spa with a steaming mud purification treatment and a sweat lodge.



More things to do in nearby Ajijic.

More ideas for exploring Canada and Mexico.


image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 5, 2011

Berlin, Germany: KaDeWe; restaurant review

KaDeWe  

Tauentzienstrasse 21-24, +49 (0) 30 2121-0. M-Thur 10-8, F 10-9, Sat 9:30-8.

diner at KaDeWe Restaurant Wintergarten cafeteria in Berlin, Germany
diner at KaDeWe Restaurant Wintergarten cafeteria in Berlin, Germany


Said to be continental Europe's largest department store, the gigantic KaDeWe emporium holds an exceptional food hall on The Gourmet Floor (6th floor) that is well worth a visit. Sausage, cold cuts, wines, cheeses, breads, and chocolates galore are displayed, and you can sit down at mini-counters for everything from North Sea shrimp sandwiches to bouillabaisse soup. Head to the top floor (7th floor) to Restaurant Wintergarten cafeteria for a head-swirling selection of salads, entrees, and desserts. Here you simply put on your plate as much as you want, then it is weighed, and you are charged by the ounce.




image c2011 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

August 4, 2011

Berlin, Germany: Hecker’s Hotel Berlin; hotel review

Grolmanstrasse 35, West Berlin, 030/88900. 4 stars. 69 rooms. Restaurant; bar (roof dining in summer). 140€-280€ ($224-$448) double. Breakfast additional. Parking €12-18.

This small, quiet boutique Hecker’s Hotel Berlin is close to public transportation and easy to get to when traveling by train. A bus stops just across the street for a ride to the airport (E2.3); a taxi to Tegel Airport is about E15, or Scoenfield Airport about E35. Located just off busy Kurfürstendamm, where the big department stores are and where most sightseeing buses stop, it is hotel is in a great area for shopping and dining. and also just a few pleasant blocks away from the charming shops and cafes at Savignyplatz and its S-Bahn station.

The original rooms are smaller than the newer ones, but decor is contemporary and bathrooms up to date throughout. Our stylish, very quiet Bauhaus Suite had two narrow balconies, black-and-white-striped curtains and bedcover, light-wood floors, a walk-in closet with sliding barn-style glass doors, and two TVs—one in the white marble bathroom, complete with a remote to use while relaxing in the long, deep tub. A small but top-notch breakfast buffet is available each morning, but unfortunately it isn't included with all bookings.  However, it is worth having at least one day just for the sprinkling of caviar that sometimes appears on the deviled eggs.  Many inexpensive bakery cafes are nearby

Hecker’s Hotel is a member of Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection. Double rooms start at £116. For more information or to book please call +44 (0) 20 7380 3658.




August 1, 2011

NYC: Eataly; restaurant review

Eataly  

200 Fifth Ave./23rd St., Flatiron District, 212-229-2560.

This gargantuan palace of Italian gourmet food pleasures--celebrity chef Mario Batali is behind it—that is Eataly is broken up into many bite-size pieces according to specialty. A stand-up snack bar is an option along with seated fish, pizza, and pasta counters. Fresh panini, focaccia, pizza, pasta, pastries, and gelato are made on site daily and are available to take away.

wine counter at Eataly in NYC
wine counter at Eataly in NYC



 
coffee bar at Eataly in NYC
coffee bar at Eataly in NYC

deli at Eataly in NYC
deli at Eataly in NYC
   

restaurant in Eataly in NYC
restaurant in Eataly in NYC

fresh fruit stand in Eataly in NYC
fresh fruit stand in Eataly in NYC
  

pasta case in Eataly in NYC
pasta case in Eataly in NYC


gelato stand in Eataly in NYC
gelato stand in Eataly in NYC




More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

images c2011 & 2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated July 20, 2015

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