bustin’ out of quarantine

June 23, 2020

My first escape out of quarantine was a quick trip to Newport, Rhode Island. It felt really great to see something besides the inside of my house and my neighborhood for a change!

One of the things I love about where I live in Connecticut is how accessible it is to so many great places. Deciding to do a ‘first weekend of summer’ trip to Newport, Rhode Island was a great way to gain a little perspective. And a visit to Mystic, Connecticut as well as Watch Hill, Rhode Island was easy to include in the trip!

Breakfast at Sift in Mystic is always a requirement when in the area. I am a fan of Chef Adam Young and love to see what the current offerings are at his fabulous bakery!

I stayed at the Newport Marriott – a hotel you have seen me post before. The coastal décor is really fun and it is always a great place to stay – right in the hub of Newport.

Trying to make this a healthful trip, my daughter and I included the Cliff Walk on our schedule. Only 3.5 miles – it is an easy 7-mile round trip walk. When I was a kid, I would be amazed at all the magnificent mansions. These days, the flowers, ocean view and architectural details appeal to me most.

If you have never been to Newport, The Cliff Walk runs along the eastern shore and is world famous as a public access walk that combines the natural beauty of the Newport shoreline with the architectural history of Newport’s gilded age. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District.

Eating out in Newport is usually at one of the ‘old standby’ restaurants or pubs, but this trip we decided to try a newer restaurant. Only in business for about a year, we found Bar ’Cino to be a great place and we were so happy we gave it a try!

Visiting a great coffee place in the morning is always a must and we got a super recommendation from a friend. I decided on a lavender latte – fabulous!

We added more miles to our tally by walking around Watch Hill before heading home. Watch Hill is one of a number of small villages that make up Westerly, Rhode Island – an affluent coastal village located at the most southwestern part of the state.

I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of my first trip out of quarantine – a quick view of three coastal New England towns. Where is your first ‘bustin’ out’ location?

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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starbucks reserve

March 31, 2020

Have you been to a Starbucks Reserve?

I recently visited (seems so long ago now ☹ that walking around NYC was okay) the one in the meatpacking district in New York City that opened a little over a year ago.

Though not a big Starbucks fan myself (I get my joe at Dunkin’ thank you very much!), I found my visit to Starbucks Reserve fascinating! It brings something surprising and multi-sensory to the coffeehouse experience.

On my visit, I ordered breakfast and coffee. Although I usually drink my coffee black, I could not resist trying something different at this exciting location and decided on a cardamom latte. It was a great choice! Enjoying my coffee and breakfast so thoroughly, I even ordered an additional coffee – iced (with lavender) as take-out!

It is an amazing space! Covering 23,000 square feet, it brews coffee in seven different ways, has an expanded range of Reserve-exclusive coffee drinks, elevates the coffee aroma through in-house roasting, and serves artisanal food baked on premise. In addition, on its second floor, is a full-service bar – a fun way to extend the Starbucks’ experience into the evening!

There are several Starbucks Reserve locations globally; one of the largest bars, Starbucks Reserve SODO, is located on the ground floor of the Starbucks global headquarters in Seattle. Check and see if there is a location near you or in a country you may vacationing in – it is worth a visit!

Thanks for stopping by! Please stay well and safe.

Remember, now more than ever, to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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coquina

March 20, 2020

Coquina is a new oceanfront restaurant set to a backdrop of the ocean breezes of Amelia Island, Florida. While staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Coquina is a great place to order up local seafood and coastal dishes inspired by the island’s Spanish heritage.

This al fresco restaurant serves dinner under some beautiful coastal lighting (click here to see more) overlooking the resort’s dune-lined beaches. Coquina’s menu includes ceviche made from freshly caught fish and shareable tapas. A full-bar overlooking the ocean is a great spot to order a signature cocktail. (See some signature drinks by clicking here.)

One of the first to sit in this beautiful new spot with friends, I happened to be staying at the Ritz at the time Coquina opened, just this March.

I hope you enjoyed these few photos of the new restaurant Coquina on today’s Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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return to the giraffes!

March 13, 2020

I was very fortunate to be able to revisit White Oak Conservation in Northwest Florida. If you remember my post, the giraffes were my favorite animals at White Oak and I was so excited to have the opportunity to visit them once again!

White Oak is one of the world’s premiere wildlife breeding, education, and training facilities. This wildlife conservation facility spans 13,000 acres of pine and hardwood forest and wetlands. Its mission is to save endangered wildlife and habitats through sustainable conservation breeding, education, and responsible land stewardship.

Meet Jigsaw and some of the other giraffes I was able to meet!

Did I scare you? I threw a photo of this cassowary in here since you may have never seen one. This one at White Oak is the first one I’ve ever seen! Scary looking, isn’t it? Considered one of the most dangerous birds in the world! The cassowary can sprint as fast as 31 miles per hour and can kill a human being with slashing blows of its feet! Huge contrast to the sweet, gentle giraffes!

Click here for ‘giraffe love’ – more on White Oak from my first trip!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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cheers to the weekend!

March 6, 2020

Yes, it’s FriYAY! I don’t know why I get excited, based on the fact that I am working Saturday and Sunday! It just seems everyone is happier on a Friday afternoon – and it puts me in a better mood as well – work or no work!

For today’s Friday field trip, I am taking you to a brand-new restaurant – I just happened to be there for work on the day it opened. I didn’t eat anything at this restaurant – I only sampled a couple beverages.

And, since it was a new restaurant, I wanted to try a new drink! After looking over the drink menu, I had my eye on two different drinks that sounded unique and fun to try.

The first one I tried was called Violeta Magica. The reason for the ‘Magica’ was that the drink changed color! Yup! After pouring in a little added test tube of yellow liquid into the glass, the blue drink turned violet. Interesting since blue and yellow make green! But the change in acidity seemed to be the reason it made the color change. The drink tasted sweet and had a light rum base. Tasty and interesting!

Click here for Violeta Magica!

The first day the restaurant was opened, the drink was served with rocks and the next day, when some friends ordered it, the same drink was served in a more elegant glass with a floral garnish…I guess being new the restaurant was still experimenting! (The color transformation video of the drink in the rocks glass is posted on the pleasure in simple things Facebook page.)

The second drink I tried was the S’more on the Shore: Ron Zacapa 23/Dry Sack Sherry/Graham Cracker Infused Syrup/Chocolate Bitters/Roasted Marshmallow. Loved the chocolate bitters!

I hope I have inspired you to try a new drink this weekend! Whether with alcohol or without, whether you make it yourself or order something out – try something new!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. The new restaurant is Coquina in Amelia Island, Florida. I will show you more of this beach-side beauty in an upcoming post!

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half-pound cookies!

February 28, 2020

Trips to New York City always include some great eating stops – there are so many to choose from!

One great dessert place to visit is Citycakes. The unassuming storefront of this bakery is easy to miss – it is located on the basement level of 251 West 18^th Street in Manhattan.

Because it is only a few blocks from the High Line, Citycakes is a fun stop after an invigorating High Line walk! The menu here includes cakes and cupcakes, but for my daughter and I, the true hero of the shop is the signature line of cookies – weighing in at half a pound each!

Here is my pick this trip:

Though this shop may not have the finesse of a New York City bakery like a Dominique Ansel Bakery, there is definitely something to be said for a huge, delicious cookie!

As a Food Network junkie, I have seen Chef Benny Rivera from Citycakes compete on many different programs – making the shop all that much more attractive to me!

If in the neighborhood while in Manhattan, it is worth a stop to pick up some cookies! They are definitely a fun gift to bring home to someone!

(For comparison – one cookie is half a pound or 8 oz. – an entire box of Girl Scout Toffee-tastic cookies is under 7 oz. and cost $6. I used a Girl Scout cookie to compare because everyone knows it! Of course, a boxed cookie is not freshly baked!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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the vessel nyc

February 21, 2020

It has been almost a year since the official opening of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, New York City.

What fascinates me most about the area is the soaring new landmark built as part of the project that is the extraordinary centerpiece of Hudson Yards. I am talking about the Vessel.

An interactive artwork that is meant to be climbed, the work was designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick. Comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs made up of almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings, it is a spiral staircase that offers climbers a way to see some remarkable views of the city, the river, and beyond by witnessing perspectives of the city from different heights, angles, and vantage points.

Anyone willing to climb can do so for free by obtaining a same-day ticket. All time-specific tickets are offered without charge on a first-come, first served basis.

Last time in New York City, I was hoping to climb the Vessel, but no tickets were available! As time goes on, I am sure the free tickets will only get harder and harder to achieve with milder weather arriving to the city soon!

Here I am offering some views of the Vessel from the ground level. I will continue to try to score a ticket on any visit I make into Manhattan – hoping I can soon make the climb!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. I think this coming Thursday’s episode of Project Runway was filmed at the Vessel – check it out!

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valentine’s day 2020

February 14, 2020

This is the first Valentine’s Day in decades (wow…that sounds crazy!) that I have been single. As you can probably tell by the way I started this post, I decided to focus on myself this year. I decided to make Valentine’s Day all about falling in love with taking care of myself and to avoid all the hype of the day that is going on around me. So far, it is working out pretty well!

As a gift to you, I would like to share some sightings that seem appropriate for the day from a recent stroll down the High Line in NYC with one of my favorite galentines. Enjoy…

Enjoy your weekend! Be good to yourself.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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larios on the beach

February 11, 2020

My favorite restaurant stop while in South Beach was to one owned by a famous person from the music industry – Gloria Estefan.

Gloria and Emilio Estefan have been promoting their Cuban Heritage through their restaurants as well as through their music since they opened Larios on the Beach in 1992 in the heart of South Beach.

The restaurant offers guests the opportunity to dine on authentic Cuban cuisine served in an atmosphere that celebrates the spirit of Cuba in its heyday while enjoying the view of famous Ocean Drive.

The instruments that make up this unusual wall hanging include those used by the Miami Sound Machine.

Gloria grew up in the kitchen with her grandmother and developed a love of cooking. Gloria and Emilio opened Larios on the Beach, in honor of both Gloria’s grandmother and their beloved Cuban Heritage.

Larios on the beach became their flagship restaurant as they expanded the vision by opening Bongos Cuban Cafe in Orlando, in Florida’s Downtown Disney in 1996 then Bongos Cuban Cafe at The American Airlines Arena in Miami, Bongos Cuban Cafe at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL and Bongos Cuban Cafe at Miami International Airport.

A fun photograph of Emilio adorns the wall in the dining area at Larios on the Beach.

Estefan Hospitality also grew with the addition of the historic Cardozo Hotel on 1300 Ocean Drive in 1993 and in 2006 Costa D’Este, an award winning 4-Diamond property in Vero Beach. It was named one of the top ten celebrity owned hotels in the world and is in Travel and Leisure’s top 100 list. Its cozy oceanside restaurant, The Wave, was voted Diner’s Choice Winner Best Overall, Best Ambiance and Best Food on OpenTable.

Gloria herself developed the crest that represents the brand. Inspired by the Cuban Crest, it has the sun representing the Gloria Estefan Foundation, which has already donated millions of dollars to many diverse causes, a dolphin and a flamingo both Florida treasures, an American and Cuban flag laying side by side representing their dual patriotic nature and the Bongo man, logo for the Bongos Franchise.

The crest is surrounded by the Hibiscus and the Palm, native to both Florida and Cuba and is crowned with a pineapple, the symbol that sits high atop both Bongos Cuban Cafe Miami and Orlando. The ribbon under the pineapple reads “to serve mankind”, which is something Emilio and Gloria love to do and was chosen by Gloria both for that reason and as an inside joke that they dare anyone to guess. Winner gets a free drink!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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cruisin’ ocean drive

February 7, 2020

My favorite hotel along Miami’s famed Ocean Drive is The Betsy – a chic hotel with a rooftop pool…if I were to plan a future trip to Miami, this would definitely be my hotel of choice.

Walking along ‘the drive,’ there are a couple of super cool features outdoors at The Betsy to check out.

My favorite is an orb-shaped sky bridge, considered a groundbreaking piece of Miami public art. I was so fascinated with this structure!

The other unique feature is a sculptural Poetry Rail honoring local wordsmiths – from Langston Hughes to Muhammad Ali.

Cool, right? And you haven’t even seen the inside of the hotel!

I hope you enjoyed sharing a couple of the interesting features of The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami! Can’t wait to share my favorite restaurant!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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