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I’m ending the month with a wrap up of some of our October Favorites! We are talking food, entertainment, family fun and more. I even quizzed the kids about their favorites this month to share with you!
Food:
Is it fall without eating cider donuts?!
Dana’s favorite, besides the donuts, were the pierogies we enjoyed for lunch from Helena’s Specialty Foods. Homemade, with different fillings, like jalapeno bacon and Farmer’s cheese.
Earlier this month we had gone to lunch down in the city with Dana’s family. We went to a Vietnamese restaurant and I got to enjoy this Chicken Vermicelli, which is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes.
And I can’t forget about this chicken sandwich I had from the Phoenicia Diner. I love a good crispy chicken sandwich and this one didn’t disappoint. It was topped with spinach, Swiss cheese, smoked tomato jam and a chipotle aioli.
Travel/Family Fun:
We didn’t go apple picking this fall, but we finally did not one corn maze, but two at Kelder’s Farm!
We also visited the Catskills. We were hosted by the Emerson Resort & Spa and had such a nice fall weekend away.
We tried the Catskills Rail Explorers for the first time too, which was a lot of fun. I am all about new experiences for the family.
We hiked Giant Ledge, which I believe is the tallest hike that we’ve done so far. And we got to enjoy this amazing view! Fall foliage wasn’t at its peak, but we still felt like we were on top of the world!
Date Night:
Date nights are few and far between…..something we need to work on. However, this month, we enjoyed seeing An American in Paris at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Before kids, we used to see Broadway shows in NYC all the time. Now, we don’t get down to the city very often. Neither of us had seen this show before, so it was a fun night out.
Entertainment:
Books: I didn’t read as many books as I usually do this month. But, out of the four books that I did finish, three of them were four star reads! This month, I recommend, After The End, Three Amazing Things About You and Someone We Know. I’ll be writing full book reviews in my October Reads post on November 12. Dana’s been listening to ALL the audio books on his commute to work. His favorite this month was The Science of Motivation by Brian Tracy.
Movies: We didn’t watch too many movies this month but both my husband and I really enjoyed Rocketman.
Television: I have been watching the second season of Working Moms (Netflix). I’ve also started watching for the first time, Fleabag (Amazon Prime) and Schitt’s Creek (Netflix). My husband and I have watched two of the four episodes of David Chang’s new show on Netflix Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Beauty: For the past four months or so, Dana’s been sporting a mustache and beard. It took awhile for me to get used to it, since I’ve never been a fan of facial hair on him. But it really suits him and it’s grown on me. His favorite this month has been Bedhead For Men Fuel Around beard oil. He uses it every morning after getting out of the shower.
The Kids October Favorites:
Abby (13):
TV – She’s been binge watching Friends and Breaking Bad (Netflix). This was the first I’ve heard of her watching Breaking Bad! #Badparent
Book – Her favorite book this month was The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It’s been sitting on my to read bookshelf for years. She’s beaten me to reading it.
Food – One of her favorite meals this month was Egg Roll in a Bowl, which I have posted on the blog.
Clothing – She’s been living in her hoodie sweatshirts. She doesn’t have a particular favorite. She just likes them oversized.
Makeup – My daughter wears more makeup than I do….basically because I wear none. Even though she’s been blessed with long, beautiful eye lashes, she makes them stand out even more with L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara, which is her favorite.
Connor (11):
Video Games – He’s been playing Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 on the Xbox nonstop. He also recently started playing Overwatch again because of the special Halloween event.
TV – When he’s not playing video games, he’s watching Naruto on Netflix.
Book – His favorite book this month is actually the manga series One Piece. Do you see the theme here? (He’s obsessed with all things Japanese.)
Clothing – Not sure if it qualifies as “clothing” but he’s been loving his Halloween costume. He’s been wearing his Akatsuki cloak and headband ALL the time.
Food – His favorite dinner was blueberry pancakes. If this kid could eat breakfast for every meal he would!
Family Fun – The top on his list was the corn maze!
Welcome to Weekend Reading! I’ll be sharing links to some articles or fun things I’ve read or seen throughout the week. Grab your cup of coffee and a comfy blanket and enjoy!
1.November 1st is World Vegan Day and Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating by giving away a free scoop of their non-dairy ice cream to customers between the hours of 4 – 8 PM! They have 10 flavors to choose from!
2. After your kids go trick-or-treating next week, check out some ideas on what to do with all the leftover candy!
4. Crazy, but the countdown to Christmas 2019 has already begun!
5. I’m not a huge alcohol drinker. I’m thinking about making mocktails and may start with this one!
6. I feel like the next couple of months are always stressful. Besides our regular busy schedules we have ALL the holidays coming! These stress busters will come in handy!
How is it already the last weekend of October?! This month has just flown by. We had a busy weekend, which you’ll read more about below. But the rest of this week has been pretty uneventful, minus regular mom duty a.k.a chauffeuring the kids around to their activities, cooking dinner, laundry, cleaning, etc.! My daughter has one more week of field hockey left in the season. Her team has improved so much from last year and currently are undefeated, with one tie. It’s so fun to watch her and her team play. Our weekend plans are still up in the air at the moment, so we will see what adventures it brings! Here are five from this week:
Reading – I am finishing up Three Amazing Things About You by Jill Mansell. This is a chick lit/contemporary romance book that I’m really enjoying! It’s my first book by this author but I will be checking more of her books out.
Celebrating – The Peekskill Brewery celebrated their 11th anniversary this past weekend with a block party. We stopped by and my husband enjoyed “Peaceful Border.” This Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout was a collaboration of the Peekskill Brewery and Peaceful Provisions, the amazing vegan doughnut shop that I’ve raved about in a past Five on Friday. Well, we got a surprise when we discovered that the first 48 people who purchased “Peaceful Border” got a complimentary Mexican Hot Chocolate Doughnut! Win, win! And yes, it was delicious. (And please ignore the horrible nail polish job! My nail polish had chipped horribly, but was so difficult to take off! ……Thus the half on/half off color in this pick! LOL!)
Date Night – Sunday evening, my husband and I enjoyed a night at the dinner theatre. The Westchester Broadway Theatre hosted us to see their newest production, An American in Paris. We love seeing Broadway shows and I had never seen this musical.
Baking – I haven’t done much baking recently. So Saturday, I made some Cinnamon Apple Muffins. I didn’t even add the cinnamon, sugar, butter topping and they were tasty. I ended up freezing most of them and they’ll be great for quick breakfasts.
The Westchester Broadway Theatre’s newest production, An American in Paris is playing through November 24. The original production had its Broadway debut in April 2015, winning four Tony awards. Although the show ended in October 2016, audiences can now see it performed locally at the Westchester Broadway Theatre.
Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT
I must admit, prior to seeing An American in Paris, I didn’t really know much about it. The only song that was familiar to me was “I’ve Got Rhythm.” This musical is based on the 1951 film starring Gene Kelly, which ultimately was inspired by George Gershwin’s 1928 composition of the same name.
Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT
In a nutshell, An American in Paris tells the story of Jerry Mulligan, a young WWII veteran who decides to stay in Paris after its liberation, to pursue his passion for painting. He befriends Henri Baurel and Adam Hochberg and they unite like the Three Musketeers. It is in this city that he also meets a ballerina, Lise, and falls in love. But, unfortunately, he’s not her only suitor.
Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT
I was surprised at how much dancing (ballet, tap and jazz!) was in the show. The cast was super talented; having to act, sing and dance! And I lost count at the number of costume changes they did! Deanna Doyle, who plays Lise, had the role perfected, as she played Lise on the National Tour. Although Brandon Haagenson has plenty of other performances under his belt, he makes his Westchester Broadway Theatre debut with his role as Jerry.
Photo by John Vecchiolla, courtesy of WBT
My husband and I really enjoyed seeing An American in Paris at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. For this show, we were seated at table 281, the second to last row in the center of the theater. However, every seat in the house has a great view of the stage.
The cost of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are not included in your ticket price. Since the show is set in France, my husband started dinner with a “French 75” martini.
But of course, WBT is a dinner theatre. Guests enjoy a full dinner prior to the show. Dinner begins with a garden salad. For an additional cost, other appetizers are available and include shrimp cocktail, French onion soup, smoked salmon and semolina dusted calamari.
Dinner options for this show include Eggplant Parmigiana, Fillet of Sole “Meuniere” (classic French preparation, where fish is dusted in flour before sauteing), Roast Loin of Pork, Sauteed Breast of Chicken with a Marsala sauce and Roast Prime Rib of Beef. I opted for the Eggplant Parm this time and enjoyed it. But I would have liked a little more pasta on the side.
My husband enjoyed the Prime Rib again. He ordered it medium rare and it came out cooked a perfect medium. If you’re not sure what to order, the Prime Rib is always a good bet.
Dessert is always the classic peach melba, but other desserts (Lemon Tart with raspberry sauce, Cheesecake with raspberry sauce, Chocolate lava cake and Chocolate fudge sundae) are available at an additional cost and served later during the intermission.
Although An American in Paris is a family-friendly show, my husband and I enjoyed a fun date night out. While we enjoyed the performance, we’re not so sure our 11 and 13 year-old would have felt the same way.
(We were hosted by the Westchester Broadway Theatre. However, as always, all opinions are our own.)
The Details: An American In Paris Westchester Broadway Theatre 1 Broadway Plaza Elmsford, NY 10523 (914) 592-2222
Tickets: (price includes dinner and the show) $61-$91 plus tax, beverages and gratuities, discounts available for children, students and senior citizens at select performances
Performances: October 3 – November 24, 2019
Show Times: (The show runs approximately 2 1/2 hours, with a 30-minute intermission between acts) Wednesday, Thursday and some Friday Matinees: 11:30 AM lunch, 1 PM show Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: 6:30 PM dinner, 8 PM show Sunday Matinee: 12 PM lunch, 1:30 PM show Sunday Evening: 5:30 PM dinner, 7 PM show
Tips: *Photos are not allowed during the show
*Check out the website for special offers
*An American in Paris is family-friendly show, but after seeing it we do not recommend it for children. The story line, music and dancing will likely not interest most kids.
*There is a convenience fee for purchasing tickets online. There is no fee for purchasing tickets in-person or via phone.
*Up to 4 tickets can be purchased online.
* AAA members, AARP members, and military discounts are only given for phone or in-person ticket purchases.|
*All seat locations are the same price. The earlier you order, the better the seats.
(This post contains affiliate links. Please read our Disclosure Policy for more info.) I’m so happy the weekend is almost here! Even though we all had Monday off from school/work for Columbus Day, this has felt like a really long week! This weekend we all seem to be busy, but not doing much together! My daughter is at a friend’s birthday party tonight which includes a sleepover. Tomorrow my son is at a Boy Scout event all day and then camping out. I’m a little worried since the temps are expected to hit a low of 38 degrees! Better him than me! Sunday, I am going out for brunch with some mom friends – much needed time out! Then my husband and I are going out to the local dinner theatre. Lots going on! Here are five from this week:
1.Reading – I am currently reading After the End by Clare Mackintosh. This is a tough read, just due to the subject matter. It’s well written and has me wanting to read more. I’m hoping to finish it this weekend.
2. Watching – This past weekend we had a family movie night and watched The Secret Life of Pets 2. It was a cute movie, but one we were glad we waited to watch on DVD. My husband and I also watched Rocketman this weekend. All I knew was that it was about Elton John’s life. I enjoy his music and was surprised at how much I liked the movie. It gave insight into some of his songs, which I found interesting.
3. Weekend Fun – For the first time in forever, we skipped apple picking this year. I really wanted the family to do a corn maze together. So, I found a new-to-us farm upstate and we went Sunday. They had two corn mazes!! Plus, mini golf, a petting farm, apple cannons and more (you can check out all the fun in my Instagram stories highlights “Exploring NY.”) The weather was perfect and it was a great family day out.
4. iPhone Hack – So, this may be old news for everyone else, but I just learned a new to me iPhone hack. Did you know that you can search your photos by word? I never noticed the search icon before. But, for example, I can type in “waterfall” and every waterfall picture in my camera roll appears!
Imagine you and your family are gliding through the forest along railroad tracks. As you advance, you can see and hear the Esopus Creek rushing by. You may spot birds and wildlife among the trees that border the track. Well, you don’t have to imagine this, you can actually enjoy this experience up in the Catskills!
The Catskills Rail Explorers is located in Phoenicia, NY, in Ulster County. It shares its parking lot with the Empire State Railway Museum, which was unfortunately closed the day of our visit.
When you book a ride with Rail Explorers you can choose a tandem explorer, for two people or a quad, which seats up to four riders. They make this a family friendly experience and children of all ages are able to enjoy riding. However, everyone needs a seat. The seats are adjustable and are able to be moved closer to the pedals.
When you arrive you must first check in. Waivers must be signed and here you can purchase water, clothing and souvenirs. The explorers are preassigned and labeled with name cards, so there’s no need to rush to get a certain explorer.
The Catskill ride is 8 miles round trip and travels along the Esopus Creek and through the woods of the Catskill Mountains. The explorers come with electric motor assistance, so you are not pedaling entirely on your own! This is especially helpful for families with young children!
Each explorer rides independently and travels at their own pace. It’s really beautiful to see the mountain views and ride along the Esopus Creek.
The only time that all explorers are connected is when crossing Route 28. It is super safe, as railroad crossing barriers come down across all lanes. Plus, a Rail Explorer guide stands in the street with flags until everyone has crossed. Tandem and quad explorers can be connected for the entire ride if you have a large party and want to ride together.
Safety, as I mentioned, is taken seriously by Rail Explorers. Besides the main Route 28 crossing, there are a couple of side streets that the railway crosses. A guide stands in the intersection and will direct traffic for the explorers to safely cross. These crossings may also involve high fives with your guide as you pass!
At the end of the 4.1 mile trail, there is an approximately 15-20 minute break while the guides turn the explorers around for the trip back. It’s fun to watch them do this while you stretch your legs. There is also seating available where you can relax and take a snack break.
Be sure to take the Rail Explorer guide up on the offer for a family pic before heading out for your ride!
The first leg of the trip was much easier for us than the return. After the explorers were turned around and we were headed back it started to rain. Fortunately, there are umbrellas in each explorer. However, during the ride our pedal assistance motor stopped working. We had to pedal the entire trip back on our own….which was slow and a lot of work! But we did it and got a great workout!
A visit to the Catskills isn’t complete without a ride on the Rail Explorers! It’s such a unique and fun experience that is great for all ages. Check out our short video:
(Thank you Catskills Rail Explorers for hosting us. As always, all opinions are our own.)
The Details: Catskills Rail Explorers 70 Lower High Street Phoenicia, NY 12464 1(877) 833-8588
Hours of Operation: Thursday – Sunday, now through November 3
Parking: Plenty of free parking is available in their lot.
Price: $85 for a tandem explorer (2 riders, $42.50/person), $150 for a quad explorer (up to 4 riders, $37.50/person)
*They ask that you arrive 15-30 minutes before your scheduled tour. A waiver needs to be signed and they want to ensure that all parties have arrived.
*Dress accordingly! We visited at the end of September and it was very chilly! Be sure to bring sweatshirts and jackets, depending on when you visit.
*The rail explorers go out rain or shine. They have two large umbrellas on the quad if needed. However, you may want to wear or pack rain gear if there is rain in the forecast.
*There are storage baskets in the back of the explorers where you can keep loose items and belongings.
*Bring drinks and snacks. There is a 15-20 minute break where they turn the rail explorers around. This is a great time to hydrate and refuel.
*Check out the website for special tours! They are currently running a stargazing evening tour with hot cider and donuts (Saturday at 7 PM) and a Beer and Pretzels tour (Fridays at 4:30 PM).
*Rail Explorers currently operate in two other locations: Las Vegas and Rhode Island.
The kids are back in school and busy schedules are the new norm. So when the kids had a couple of days off from school, we decided to enjoy some fall family fun at the Emerson Resort & Spa in Mount Tremper, NY. The Emerson is an easy drive from northern Westchester County, less than two hours away.
The Emerson is conveniently situated for visiting the nearby towns of Phoenicia and Woodstock to the East or Belleayre and Hunter Mountain to the West. However, if you’re looking to simply enjoy some rest and relaxation, it’s perfect for that as well!
The History of the Emerson Resort and Spa
The Emerson Resort is located in Ulster County, in the Eastern part of the Catskills, and borders the Esopus Creek. Once you arrive at the resort, you will quickly discover who it was named after. Every room has books of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poems, and quotes from these poems decorate the walls of the Resort.
The Resort sits on what was originally an 1840 dairy farm owned by the Riseley family. Part of the original building was transported onto the current property. Over a century later, it was developed into tourist destination Clinton Corners, which included a variety of shops, a restaurant and the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. After a move and various renovations, it is now the Emerson Resort & Spa as we know it.
The Rooms
There are two different lodging options when visiting the Emerson Resort. You can stay in the Lodge buildings, which are more rustic, Adirondack-style rooms.
The second lodging option is the Inn, which features more contemporary, Catskill chic type accommodations. We stayed in room 502 of the Inn which was perfect for our family of four. This Royal Suite room has two queen beds.
I enjoyed a soak in the large whirlpool tub and we all enjoyed the waterfall shower with adjustable side sprays. Although we did question the window looking into the bedroom! Luckily, the blinds close for privacy.
During the afternoon, our balcony was a perfect place to enjoy some reading time, while listening to the tranquil sounds of the Esopus Creek. And in the morning, my husband and I enjoyed our coffee with a beautiful view!
Fall evenings in the Catskills can get chilly. We enjoyed sitting nearby our room’s gas fireplace in the evening. On the second night, we enjoyed a family game night in front of the fireplace as well. The kids really enjoyed the complimentary snacks (peanut trail mix and granola bars) and water available in the room. The water came in handy on our outings. It’s important to know that there is no cell phone service in the area. Thank goodness the Emerson has complementary wi-fi!
Amenities
The Emerson Resort is very family-friendly . Although it is a resort and spa, we noticed many families with children visiting. For dog owners, the Resort is also pet-friendly! It was fun seeing guests walking the property with their dogs.
The spa at The Emerson Resort is spread over 6,000 square feet and is only for adults. Reservations are recommended prior to arrival if you wish to enjoy a massage, facial or one of the other treatments they offer. All overnight adult guests can enjoy the fitness room, sauna, steam room and outdoor salt water hot tub. The entrance to the spa is one of the few decorative pieces that remains after a major renovation in 2016. The hand-carved imported doorway was too fantastic to change .
The day of our arrival we enjoyed participating in a kaleidoscope making class. While you can purchase the same kits in the gift shop, it was nice to be guided through the process. After making our kaleidoscopes, our instructor, Jonas had us walk around the property to look for objects in nature that we could add to the kaleidoscope. It was fun to see how the different items looked while viewed through our kaleidoscopes. If you aren’t interested in making a kaleidoscope, the Resort also offers watercolor postcard painting or design your own t-shirt classes ($20 per shirt). Check the schedule to see which days the classes are offered.
The Catskills are truly beautiful. The Emerson really wants guests to explore and take in all the beauty of their surroundings. The grounds of the Emerson include 1.2 miles of trails and a small pond. There are several cruiser bicycles available (adults sized only, they do not have children’s bikes) and you can get helmets from the front desk. If you are interested in doing some bird watching around the property, you can also borrow binoculars at the front desk.
Twice a day, guided nature walks depart from the lobby. We enjoyed participating in one of these walks that takes you down to the Esopus Creek and along the property. The creek’s water comes from the mountain and leads to the Ashokan Reservoir. Weather permitting, swimming is allowed in the creek. The Emerson has partnered with the Ashokan Watershed and offers fresh water snorkeling on select dates during the summer! The resort even had its moment of fame as the recent movie The Dead Don’t Die, starring Bill Murray and Adam Driver, was partly filmed on the property!
In the warmer months guests can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. There are outdoor games including volleyball, horseshoes and corn hole. There’s a playground for younger kids and even a dog park for all of the four-legged visitors. And, of course, there’s a pool open during the summer.
All guests are invited to enjoy the Family Room in the Black Bear building at the lodge. We walked over one evening and enjoyed several games of intense and competitive family ping pong. There are also several fire pits throughout the property and s’mores kits are available for purchase at the front desk for guests to enjoy.
The World’s Largest Kaleidoscope
The Emerson Resort is probably most well known for housing the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope. The Kaleidoscope sits in the former silo of the Riseley Farm. It has a 50-foot virtual sphere that can reflect 254 images, which creates an illusion of over 3,000 images! Overnight guests are able to view a complimentary showing of Star Dust, a 10 minute experience that will dazzle your senses. Seating is available, but we all enjoyed laying down on the floor to view the show.
There are a variety of shops in the Emerson, including a toy shop, housewares and souvenir and clothing shops. However, you must take a visit through the Kaleidostore. There are a couple of fun, interactive exhibits to see. But the showstopper is the large collection of kaleidoscopes for sale at the Kaleidobar. Children are asked not to touch these and even I was afraid to touch some (most?) of them. There’s a kaleidoscope that costs $1,850! They are truly works of art!
The Food
The Emerson Resort has two restaurants onsite. Ralph’s Cafe is open from 9 AM to 5 PM (except Sundays when it’s open until 6 PM). Here you can pick up pastries, soup, sandwiches, salads and more. There is seating both inside and out where you can enjoy your food, or you can take it to go.
Woodnotes Grille is the sit down restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. Locally sourced ingredients are used to create delicious meals in what they like to call “Catskill Creative Cooking.”
We enjoyed dinner there one evening and some of the highlight dishes included this Black Angus Beef Brisket with Parmesan Twice Baked Potatoes and Wilted Swiss Chard…
…as well as the Pan Seared Beaverkill Trout with Lyonnaise potatoes and French beans. Most entrees are priced between $22-$26.
We enjoyed breakfast one morning at Woodnotes as well. The restaurant serves everything from Eggs Benedict and House Made Corned Beef Hash to Quinoa Granola and Avocado Toast.
Our second morning, we stopped at Ralph’s Cafe. Overnight guests can enjoy a free cup of coffee or tea each day of their stay. We purchased a variety of breakfast goodies to share before we headed out that morning. Everything is reasonably priced, including breakfast sandwiches.
We had a great stay at the Emerson Resort & Spa. Our weekend had a mix of relaxation, fun and exploration. With an eleven and thirteen year-old, there was enough to see and do during our stay to make it an enjoyable visit for the entire family. If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway to the Catskills, we highly recommend a visit to the Emerson Resort & Spa in Mount Tremper!
The Details: Emerson Resort & Spa 5340 Route 28 Mount Tremper, NY 12457 (845) 688-2828
Room Prices: Rates start at $224/night, depending on date and room type
*Be sure to check out the Emerson website for specials and packages.
*This is a dog friendly resort! You can bring your pet with you!
*There is a full service spa onsite as well as fitness classes (for a fee).
(Thank you to the Emerson Resort & Spa for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)
