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A new year means new reading goals! Once again, this year I set my goodreads book goal for 52 books. Reading one book a week seems doable. This month, started out well with five books read and most of them were four star reads! Here are my January reads of 2023:
3 stars:
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman (Thriller/Mystery, September 2022) Harriet is engaged to Edward, who is heir to his family’s fortune. Robert, Edward’s father gives Harriet a tape, in which he makes a startling confession. She is then put to the test when she becomes a participant in the family’s Christmas game. This book was suspenseful, but I found it so unrealistic on so many levels.
4 stars:
The Block Party by Jamie Day (Thriller, July 2023) ARC c/o NetGalley – It’s the Alton Road annual Memorial Day Block Party. But this year, someone ends up murdered. Interspersed through the story is gossip and speculation via the Meadowbrook community Facebook group. As we find out more about the families of Alton Road, we learn that there are many secrets being kept. The story had me guessing and was intriguing enough to keep me interested.
Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Historical Fiction, March 2022) It’s the 1960’s and Elizabeth Zott is trying to make her mark as a chemist in the male-dominated field. While working at Hastings Research Institute, she meets Nobel-prize nominated Calvin Evans and the two hit it off. Several years later, Zott is a single mom who ends up with a television show called Supper at Six, where she empowers women to take charge of their lives. I knew nothing about this book before reading it. I really enjoyed Zott’s character as a strong, independent woman, when women weren’t treated as equals to men.
Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship by Kim Fay (Historical Fiction, February 2022) 1960’s America and Joan and Imogen become pen pals. The book is told through their letters as they bond over their love of food and reveal details of their personal lives. This was a short and enjoyable read.
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Happy Friday and Happy February! January flew by way too fast. I’m not excited that according to Punxsutawney Phil we are in for six more weeks of winter. However, I am hoping for some snow….or at least a snow day! It’s unbelievable how warm this winter has been. Our weekends are getting filled up with all of the kids various activities and commitments….including this weekend! Here are five from this week.
1.Weekend Brunch -Sunday morning, my husband and I went to brunch at The Brunch House in Mahopac. With the word brunch right in the name, you know it’s going to be good! It was our first time dining there. We shared these Huevos Rancheros and City in the Suburbs Omelet which has goat cheese and mushrooms and topped with avocado.
2. Eating – I’m not sure if I’ve posted about Trader Joe’s Vegan Beefless Bulgogi before. This is one of my faves for a quick and easy dinner. I serve it with rice, Trader Joe’s scallion pancakes and dumplings.
We also enjoyed these Crumbs cupcakes. Years ago they used to have shops in NYC. They ended up closing but recently started selling them at local Shoprite stores near me. They are very good!
3. Reading – This week I finished reading an ARC, courtesy of NetGalley, of The Block Party by Jamie Day. It will be published in July. It’s about, as the title notes, a block party that doesn’t end well. As far as suspense/thriller books go I actually enjoyed this one!
5. College Night – Our high school had an information college night for parents of high school juniors this week. It’s so surreal that we are at this stage of life with our daughter! Now I’m trying to plan out college tours, but it’s very difficult, since, as I mentioned earlier, our kids are very busy on the weekends!
6. Watching – I’ve watched the entire season of Street Food USA (Netflix) this week. I just want to travel around the country exploring and eating my way through the different states!
ICYMI this week on the blog:
Tuesday I posted about the February Events taking place in Westchester County.
Happy February! Plan a date night out and some family fun this month! There are lots of February events in Westchester County and the surrounding area.
Comedy:
Levity Live (Palisade Center – West Nyack) Enjoy a comedy show at Levity Live in January. Upcoming shows include Krystyna Hutchinson (Feb. 2-4), Leanne Morgan (Feb. 9-11), Laughentine’s Day with Gianmarco Soresi (Feb. 14), D.J. Demers (Feb. 17-19), Kevin James Thornton (Feb. 23). *Check the site for the full lineup
Yonkers Comedy Club (Yonkers) Enjoy a comedy show at the Yonkers Comedy Club. Upcoming shows include Guy Torry (Feb. 2-4), Harris Stanton (Feb. 9-11), Don Jamieson, Geno Bisconte and Kevin Dombroski (Feb. 14), Aaron Berg (Feb. 16-18) and Mark Viera (Feb. 23-25). *Check the site for the full lineup
February 11 (Poughkeepsie) Valentine’s Comedy Gala at Mahoney’s Irish Pub. Featuring comedy from Ryan Denisco, Patty Rosborough and Molly Kornfeld. Doors open at 6:30 PM, buffet starts at 7 PM, show begins at 8 PM. $75/person includes tax and gratuity. Glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to end the evening.
February 18 (Mamaroneck) Ladies of Laughter at the Emelin Theatre. 8 PM. “Ladies of Laughter is back! Grab your friends and spend a raucous evening with some of the funniest women doing stand-up today.” Featuring Leighann Lord, Marion Grodin and Kim Berns.Tickets: $37-$47
February 23 (Tarrytown) Bored Teachers Comedy Tour at Tarrytown Music Hall. “Featuring the funniest teacher-comedians in the world! Their hilarious skits have amassed HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of views on the internet and they’re all joining comic forces on the stage to bring you a night of laughter you DO NOT want to miss…..” 8 PM, Tickets: $34-$49. Add-on VIP Meet & Greet $20.
February 24 (Peekskill) Irish Comedy Tour at Paramount Hudson Valley. 8 PM. “The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans.” Ticket: $24-$35
February 5 (Peekskill) Galentine’s Craft & Draft at Peekskill Brewery. 12 PM – 3 PM, Learn to crochet a purse with Get Cozy. Enjoy a plated brunch and receive a complimentary beverage upon arrival. $55/ticket + tax and fees.
February 13 (Yonkers) Galentine’s Day on the Hill at Ridge Hill. 6 PM – 8 PM. “Dedicated to ladies celebrating ladies, gals are invited to Ridge Hill for an early Valentine’s Day soiree. Grab your girl gang and enjoy retailer and restaurant specials, entertainment, and more.“
February 25 (Nyack) 1950’s Murder Mystery Dinner, Wine, and Evening of Glamour & Glitz presented by Joey G & Hotel Nyack. 5:30 PM. Ages 21+ to drink. Tickets: $150/person
Eat & Drink:
February 2 (Pleasantville) Raclette Night at Second Mouse Cheese Shop. “The original social meal – gather round the table for a plate of crispy potatoes, cured beef, cornichons and other pickled veg and loads and loads of hot Raclette cheese, melted before your eyes. A glass or two of wine, beer or cider are naturally part of the fun.” 7 PM – 8:30 PM. $60/person
February 7 (Dobbs Ferry) 2nd Annual Huntsman’s Feast at Hudson Social. Enjoy a 5 course Huntsman’s Feast (menu) hosted by Chef Matt Kay and Chef Mike Cifone. 6 PM – 10 PM. Cocktail hour is from 6 PM -7 PM and includes a signature cocktail, mixed wild game sausages and local cheeses. $110/person (plus tax and gratuity). Beer and wine included.
February 10 (Sleepy Hollow) Raclette Night at HV Writers Center – 7 PM. Enjoy a guided tasting of Alpine cheeses by Jessica Galen of Bloomy Dobbs. Then enjoy a Raclette party with melted cheese, veggies and meats prepared by Kate Sonders Solomon. There will also be wine, chocolate, French music and a fire. Tickets: $140/person
Family Fun:
February 4 (Tarrytown) Llama Llama Red Pajama Live presented by Bay Area Children’s Theatre at the Tarrytown Music Hall. 2 PM. A musical inspired by the children’s picture books by the late Anna Dewdney. Tickets: $30/adults, $25/kids (12 and under)
February 4 (Croton-on-Hudson) Teatown Hudson River Eaglefest at Croton Point Park. 9 AM – 4 PM. The program includes thrilling live bird shows spotlighting birds of prey, bird walks where you can view eagles through spotting scopes, heated tents filled with educational displays and exhibits, crafts and games for children, food trucks, and more! Tickets: $25/Adult members $30/Adult non-members, $15/Children members (ages 3-11), $17/Children non-members (ages 3-11). Day of pricing: $35/adults, $18/children. Snow Date, February 5.
February 4-5 & Feb. 11-12 (Katonah) Tap-a-Tree at Muscoot Farm. 1 PM – 3 PM. Help us get ready to make syrup by tapping the trees! In this private group tour, participants will learn about the initial process of maple sugaring and the history of sap collection, all while using antique tools hands-on! Sessions will take place every half hour, limited to one group for each timeslot. Groups will meet at Muscoot’s Sugar Shack; $25 per group of 6.
February 5 (Mamaroneck) Doktor Kaboom and the Wheel of Scienceat the Emelin Theatre– So much science, so little time. . “Doktor Kaboom is having trouble picking his favorite science demonstrations! Unfortunately, there are way too many to do them all. The solution: The Wheel of Science! At least a dozen fantastic STEAM demonstrations ready to go. Wherever the wheel stops, that’s what’s next! Will we turn a water bottle into a rocket or catapult bananas across the stage? Electrocute a pickle or create artificial gravity? Who knows? So, step right up, and let’s spin that wheel!“
Shows at 11 AM and 2 PM. Recommended for ages 8-13. Show runs approximately 1 hour. Tickets: $24/adults, $19/kids (under 12)
February 11 (Katonah) Animal Encounters at Muscoot Farm. “Join us for the opportunity to enter one of our enclosures where you will see, touch, and learn more about an animal of the farmer’s choice! Due to the nature of this program, pre-registration is required, with tickets being $25 per person, and is only available to those 8+.” This event is also taking place on March 11.
February 11 (Ossining) Valentines or Wildlife at Teatown. “Has a Tiger Salamander stolen your heart? Does a Barred Owl make your heart beat faster? Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making valentines for wildlife. Environmental Art Educator Caroline Erb will introduce some of Teatown’s favorite heartthrobs and lead card making.” Program offered at 10am & 2pm. $10/family for members, $15/family for nonmembers. Limited to five families per time slot. No more than five family members per family.
February 12 (Ossining) Darwin Day at Teatown. “Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin! Celebrate the father of biodiversity with Environmental Educator Elissa Schilmeister. Learn why biodiversity is so important and meet the diverse members of Teatown’s live collection.” $3/members, $8/nonmembers. Limited to 30 participants.
February 18-19 (Katonah) Maple Munchies at Muscoot Farm. 12 PM – 1 PM “Syrup isn’t just for pancakes! Come learn about all the ways to use maple syrup in the kitchen while cooking up a maple-themed culinary treat! This cooking class will be offered in Muscoot’s Activity Building for $15 per person, ages 6+. Treats may range from sweet to savory, so bring your appetite with you!” Also offered on March 4 and March 18.
February 25-26 (Katonah) Sugar Shack Chats at Muscoot Farm. 12 PM – 3 PM “Stop by Muscoot’s Sugar Shack anytime from 12pm-3pm to learn about how we make maple syrup!”
Live Music & Performances:
The Capitol Theatre: (Port Chester) February’s lineup includes: Lake Street Dive (Feb. 3-4), Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros (Feb. 7-8, 10-11), Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo (Feb. 9) and Brandi Carlisle (Feb. 17). *Check the site for the full lineup
Emelin Theatre: (Mamaroneck) This month’s lineup includes Richard Thompson (Feb. 2).*Check the site for the full lineup
Paramount Hudson Valley: (Peekskill) February’s lineup includes: Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses (Feb. 11), Los Lobos (Feb. 17), Broadway Perspectives: A Concert Celebrating Diversity (Feb. 25) *Check the site for the full lineup
Tarrytown Music Hall: (Tarrytown) February’s lineup includes: Mandy Patinkin (Feb.11), Countess Cabaret starring Luann de Lesseps (2/25), Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn & Sarah Jarosz: Together in Concert (2/26). *Check the site for the full lineup
February 25 (Bedford) Medium Thomas John at the Bedford Playhouse. 7 PM. “Back by popular demand! Internationally-regarded psychic medium Thomas John performs an insightful and lively evening of readings. Witness John remarkably channel and deliver messages from spirits from the other side. While there is no guarantee that a specific person will come through, John is typically able to channel the people that are most meaningful to you and give you a message that is just what you need to hear. His readings are known for their incredible accuracy with specific details, providing unequivocal evidence of the existence of consciousness. VIP tickets include a more intimate 1-hour session with Thomas after the conclusion of the main show (space is limited).” Tickets: $85/regular, $260/premium seat with VIP Experience.
Shopping:
February 1 (Harrison) Valentine’s Day Event in support of Pediatric Cancer Foundation at Harrison Meadows Country Club. 11 AM – 4 PM. Shop from over 30+ vendors.
February 5 & February 19 (Yorktown Heights at the Jefferson Valley Mall) Winter Farmers Marketat the Jefferson Valley Mall. 11 AM – 3 PM. Located in the common area outside Auntie Liana’s. Find fresh baked focaccia pickles, olives, tomato sauce and more. Also taking place on 3/5, 3/19 and 4/2.
February 7 (Mohegan Lake) Galentine’s Permanent Jewelry Pop-Up at Augie’s Prime Cut with The Lounge House. 4 PM. Bracelets, anklets and more will be welded on site. There will also be other goods from The Lounge House. Food and drink specials from Augie’s will be available from 3-6 PM.
February 11 (Jefferson Valley) Cupid’s Sip & Shop at the Jefferson Valley Mall. 11 AM – 3 PM. Network, sip and shop at this event.
February 12 (Peekskill) Valentine’s Vegan Pop-up at Lile Boutique Spa. 1 PM – 5 PM. Shop for skincare products, accessories, plants and more. Purchase doughnuts, empanadas, baked goods and more.
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Hooray for Friday – my favorite weekday! My husband was away at a work conference Monday and Tuesday so I had to do the single parent thing for two days. It really made me appreciate how much of a team we usually are in doing the house stuff and taking care of the kids. Wednesday, we finally got some snow and had an early dismissal from school/work. Thursday, I had a dentist appointment to get a new crown made. I had an old one that I’ve had recemented three times in the past couple of months and this past weekend, it came off and I ended up swallowing it! It’s Here are five from this week.
1.Date Night – Saturday night my husband and I went to Mahoney’s Irish Pub in Poughkeepsie for a murder mystery dinner. It was presented by ACME Mystery Co. I had been wanting to go to one of these for a while! It was a different and fun night out.
2. Eating – Sunday for lunch we ordered takeout from a local pizzeria. I was craving eggplant parm and did not want to make it, so this really hit the spot.
3. Reading – This week I finished reading Love & Saffron by Kim Fay. It was a quick, short, easy read about food and friendship written in letters between two friends.
5. Puzzle – I finally finished the 3,000 piece Nickelodeon puzzle! Unfortunately, there are two pieces missing, thanks to my cats, who enjoyed jumping on the table and knocking the pieces off. I’m hoping they turn up.
6. Watching – It took me awhile, but I finally finished watching Wednesday (Netflix) this week. I’m surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did, kind of like with Stranger Things. Not my usual genre of television, but it had me intrigued. I heard it was renewed for another season, so there will be more to come.
Valentine’s Day will be here soon. Many restaurants throughout Westchester County are serving their regular dinner menus. However, check out our Westchester County Valentine’s Day Dining Guide to see some of the area restaurants that are offering special Valentine’s Day menus. Regardless of where you decide to eat, be sure to make reservations now!
Please check the restaurant’s website or call for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, please note that prices listed below do not include tax and gratuities.
3 Westerly has a three course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day for $90/person. There is a champagne toast and live music as well. Guests can add a wine pairing for $40/person or a cocktail pairing for $45/person.
City Limits Diner (White Plains/American) 200 Central Avenue White Plains, NY 10606
The City Limits Diner is serving its special Valentine’s Day menu from 4 PM to closing.
Goosefeather (Tarrytown/modern Chinese) 49 E. Sunnyside Lane Tarrytown, NY 10591
Goosefeather is serving a three course modern Cantonese prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $130/person (gratuity included). There is also a wine pairing available for $35/person. This menu will also be available onFriday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11.
The Greekish – Harrison (Harrison/Greek) 273 Halstead Avenue Harrison, NY 10528 reservations: (914) 732-3333
The Greekish is having a special 4-course menu for $85 person. The menu includes a glass of bubbly and a rose. It will be served from 4 PM – 9 PM.
Half Moon (Dobbs Ferry/New American) 1 High Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 reservations: (914) 693-4130
Half Moon is offering a special 3 course prix-fixe dinner for $85/person, which includes one miniature signature dessert cocktail. They are also serving a 5 course prix-fixe for $105/person, which includes starter tapas and one signature dessert cocktail. Dinner hours are 4PM – 9 PM. Reservations are required and require a $50 deposit. The 3 course prix-fixe dinner is also available on Friday, February 10th, Saturday, February 11th, Monday, February 13th, and Wednesday, February 15th-Sunday, February 19th all day.
Harvest-on-Hudson (Hastings/Italian) 1 River Street Hastings, NY 10706 reservations: (914) 478-2800 or online
Harvest-on-Hudson is offering a special three course tasting for $90/person or a five course tasting for $125/person. (menu)
The Inn at Pound Ridge (Pound Ridge/farm-to-table American) 258 Westchester Avenue Pound Ridge, NY 10576 reservations: (914) 764-1400
The Inn at Pound Ridge is offering a special Valentine’s Day four course menu for $148/person. (menu) They will also have a selection of à la carte menu items available.
L’Inizio will be offering a special Valentine’s Day four course menu for $85/person. The menu is available February 14th through February 16th and will also be offered a la carte. (menu) A bottle of wine from their special menu can be added to the meal for $10. The menu is available as a to-go option, but needs to be pre-ordered.
Moderne Barn (Armonk/New American) 430 Bedford Ave. Armonk, NY 10504 reservations: (914) 730-0001 or online
Moderne Barn is offering a 3 course prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $85/person and a $42.50/person two-course menu for children under 12. The regular dinner menu will not be available on Valentine’s Day.
Red Hat on the River (Irvington/French-American) One Bridge Street Irvington, NY 10533 (914) 591-5888
Red Hat on the River is serving Valentine’s Day three course prix fixe dinner for $98/person (menu). They have a “From the Sea” course for two available for an additional $28 and a NY Strip that can be added for an additional $10.
Savannah & Company (Cortlandt Manor/Southern) 3901 Crompond Rd. Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 reservations: (914) 736-1203
Savannah & Company is serving their regular menu but will also have some Valentine’s Day specials available February 10th through February 14th.
Town House (New Rochelle/New American) 559 Main Street New Rochelle, NY 10801 (914) 278-9278
Town House will be serving a special menu on Valentine’s Day (menu).
Underhills Crossing special three course prix-fixe will be offered February 12th and February 14th. It costs $85/person (plus tax and gratuities). A wine pairing can be added for $40/person. Includes a rose for the ladies and a glass of champagne if visiting on Sunday.
Rockland County:
The Greekish Nyack (Nyack/Greek) 8 North Broadway Nyack, NY 10960 reservations: (845) 353-1200
The Greekish is having a special 4-course menu for $85 person. The menu includes a glass of bubbly and a rose and will be served from 4 PM – 9 PM.
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Happy Friday! I’m so looking forward to the weekend! We have a fun date night planned for Saturday night. Otherwise, not too much else is going on, as of now, besides the weekend chores and cleaning. Here are five from this week.
1.Weekend Getaway – Over the three day weekend my husband and I were able to get away for a long overdue night away. We booked a last minute stay at our favorite New York motel – The Roxbury. This time we stayed at their newer property, The Roxbury at Stratton Falls.
We stayed in Room 30 in the mansion, The Mill of the Frozen Falls. From their website, “Inspired by what the original 1790’s grist mill that was once at the falls must have looked like when it was encased in the magnificent ice formations that Stratton Falls becomes in the winter.” Everything in the room was white and sparkly! It was so nice to get away, even for a night and we love the Roxbury (you can read my post about the Roxbury here)!
2. Eating – While we were in the Catskills we enjoyed dinner at Peekamoose Restaurant & Tap Room. This wood grilled octopus appetizer was a fave.
As was this homemade brioche donut with homemade vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t look that special, but it was so good!
On the way home from the Catskills we had lunch at Seoul Sizzle, a Korean restaurant in Middletown. This Dubu Salad was so good! We shared this salad (mixed greens with fried tofu cubes and a homemade sesame dressing) and a vegetable bibimbap.
3. Reading – This week I finished reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. This won the Goodreads award for Best Debut Novel and was a nominee for Best Historical Fiction. I read this without knowing anything about it. It was a really enjoyable read!
5. Waterfalls – While we were in Roxbury, we were able to visit two waterfalls! I am a waterfall lover so I was in my glory! The first was this one on the property of the Roxbury at Stratton Falls. They have their own hiking path and waterfall for hotel guests only.
This second one is Mine Kill Falls in Mine Kill State Park. This is at the overlook – it was actually very cold out so we didn’t do a hike!
6. LEGO BotanicalCollection – I just saw the newest additions to the LEGO Botanicals collection for 2023 and I am loving them! One is a wildflower bouquet, the other is a dried flower centerpiece. They are available for preorder now and I think would make a great Valentine’s Day present for any LEGO fans.
7. Winter Concert – My kids had their winter band concert this week. I always am amazed at how good their concerts are, considering they go to a fairly small school and the bands are small. They are both in jazz band, an after school club, so it was so fun to see them up on stage together performing (pictured above). They then played in two separate bands for the main concert.
Sri Lanka is an island nation located in South Asia. While its dishes share similarities to other Asian countries, it has its own unique flavors and recipes. Sri Lankan food includes lots of spices and herbs, curries and rice. As an island nation, fish and seafood play a significant role in the Sri Lankan diet. I love trying new cuisines and had never eaten Sri Lankan food prior to our recent visit to the Red Pepper Diner.
Just recently I discovered a Sri Lankan restaurant in the Hudson Valley. While new to me, this family run restaurant, owned by Chef Saman Munaweera has been operating for years in Wappingers Falls. You have likely driven by the Red Pepper Diner’s location on Rt. 9 but didn’t realize, based on the restaurant’s name and appearance, that it’s a Sri Lankan restaurant. The unassuming faded, yellow building does not hint at the deliciousness that can be found inside.
My husband and I recently visited on a Sunday for lunch. It was pretty quiet, with only one larger party already seated. Although the restaurant has several tables adorned in bright and colorful tablecloths, we were seated at one of the few booths.
We started with the appetizer sampler which included 2 samosas, 2 fish cutlets and 2 vegetable spring rolls for $6.95. The “cutlets” are round fish croquettes that have a crunchy exterior and a spiced, fish mixture interior. The samosas were bite-sized and much smaller in size than the Indian samosas that we are familiar with. The vegetable spring rolls were similar in size and taste to other veggie spring rolls that we’ve eaten in other restaurants.
For our main dishes we shared a Kothu Roti: a “roadside specialty that is prepared by shredding flat breads that are stir-fried with an assortment of vegetables, spices, onion, eggs and finished with a curry sauce.” This is a popular street food in Sri Lanka.
We also ordered a vegetarian rice and curry: “Served at lunch or dinner in Sri Lanka, this dish includes a meat curry, two vegetarian dishes with pickle. Traditional curries are made with a special house blend of spices and coconut milk and served with white or Chef’s special fried rice.” Rice and curry is a Sri Lankan staple, however, there are lots of different curry varieties.
All of the main dishes can be made with chicken, beef, pork, goat or shrimp (currently priced at $16.99). Main dishes can also be made vegetarian/vegan for $13.99, which is the option that we chose for both the rice and curry and the Kothu roti.
Our server was making hoppers for another party and served us one with our Roti. The menu describes hoppers as “crispy bowl-shaped pancakes made with rice flour. These often come in different varieties and can be sweet or savory. A variation of the hopper has an egg added in the middle while cooking. A hopper meal includes 3 plain hoppers and 1 egg hopper with a choice of onion sambal and curry.” The Red Pepper Diner serves hoppers only on Fridays and Sundays. The hopper had crispy edges but a soft bottom. It was delicious and now we know it’s a must-order item.
There are only two desserts on the restaurant’s menu: Watalappan and Kiri Pani. Kiri Pani translates to curds and treacle. In Sri Lanka, traditionally the kiri is made from buffalo’s milk and the treacle (syrup) from the fishtail palm. Watalappan is another traditional Sri Lankan dessert that is a spiced custard similar in texture to a flan. Unfortunately, we were too stuffed to sample either of these. However, it just gives us another reason to go back!
Red Pepper Diner 1458 Route 9D Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Facebook page
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Happy Friday! It’s been a week and I am excited for the long weekend! Here are five from this week:
1.Eating – Sumo Citrus – I wrote about these mandarins for Guilty Eats. I got a delivery this week to try them and they are really good! They are only available for a limited time, so if you see these in the store, I highly recommend them!
For lunch this week I’ve been bringing this Mango Mandarin Sesame Shrimp Salad. Instead of the homemade dressing that the recipe included, I used Panera Asian Sesame Vinaigrette. I’ve made this salad before and it’s still as good as I remember!
2. Reading – This week I finished reading The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. I found the whole plot line to be pretty unbelievable, so it wasn’t a fave.
Grace Van Patten and Jackson White in ‘Tell Me Lies.’ JOSH STRINGER/HULU
4. Watching – This week I finished Tell Me Lies (Hulu). I haven’t read the book by Carola Lovering and after seeing the show, don’t really have any desire to. I just read that season 2 will likely premiere sometime next fall which I’ll likely end up watching to see where it goes.
5. Puzzle – New Year’s Eve day I started this 3,000 Nickelodeon puzzle that I got for Christmas. Previously, the largest puzzle I’d ever completed was 1,500 pieces. This puzzle is so large and challenging!! I’ve been trying to work on it a little each day and hope to finish it soon.
Time Mission recently opened at the Palisades Center mall and you’re going to want to make a visit! Although it’s still in its soft opening phase, from what we’ve experienced we can tell you that it’s already a lot of fun!
What is Time Mission?
Time Mission calls themselves, “an indoor adventure game.” This attraction is not an escape room; you’re not locked in. There are, in fact, 32 different rooms. At the time of our visit only 16 out of the 32 total rooms were open, but they anticipate all of the rooms being open by the end of January.
One of the hallways of rooms at Time Mission.
Each room is a “portal” to a different year and has a specific mission for players to complete in the allotted time. This time ranges between 2-5 minutes, depending on the room. These challenges use a combination of brains, strength, coordination and speed.
I don’t want to give away any of the fun surprises, so I’m not posting pictures of the challenges. Outside each room there’s a sign that gives a short description of the challenge. It also shows how much of each skill (brain, strength, coordination and speed) is needed. We discovered that there is a learning curve to some of these challenges. The good thing is that, as long as no other groups are waiting to enter the room, you can replay the mission as many times as you want.
The sign outside the room will alert you if a portal is occupied, as seen in the image above. You are able to see what team is inside the room, what their current score is and how much time they have left in the room. The time countdown was useful in helping us determine if we wanted to wait to complete a room we hadn’t entered yet or move on to a different room.
Ultimately, the goal of Time Mission is to try to earn as many points as you can within your allotted time. When you sign up you can choose between 60, 90 or 120 minutes. The maximum number of points you can earn in each room is 100 points. There were some rooms that were so challenging that even after several attempts, we left with 0 points! There were other rooms that were just a lot of fun that we wanted to play them multiple times to earn more points.
Before You Enter
From our experience at the Palisades Center location, tickets needed to be purchased online. To save time, I recommend purchasing the tickets and completing all of the waivers before you arrive. There was a little bit of a wait when we arrived, as every group that arrived needed to complete their online payment and waivers.
After all of the paperwork is completed, you are ready to check in. Groups pick a team name from a prepopulated list of descriptive animals; we chose the Sporty Lobsters. You’ll each be given a coded wristband that stores all of your team info. Any of your teammates’ wristbands can open the rooms.
What age range is Time Mission good for?
According to the website, the minimum age to enter Time Mission is 6 years. Having personally experienced it, I recommend it for older children. Children 6-13 must be accompanied by an adult. Teens 14+ can enter Time Mission on their own.
How many people can participate at a time?
Time Mission is made for groups of 2-5. I thought our family of four was the perfect number. You can score more points with more people participating.
Final Thoughts
Time Mission was a LOT of fun! As seen from the scoreboard above, we, the Sporty Lobsters, ranked in 3rd place at the time of my photo! We had opted for a 60 minute session since we knew not all of the rooms were open. However, when all 32 rooms are open, I think at least 90 minutes are needed to explore all of the rooms.
Since many teams are playing at one time and rooms are continuously being occupied, we found it a bit difficult to keep track of which rooms we had completed. After our time was finished we discovered that there was at least one room that we hadn’t tried.
This is the type of place that you can visit multiple times. Although you may become familiar with the challenges, you can always work on beating your score. With larger groups, it would be fun to compete as teams against one another to see who can get the higher score.
We are looking forward to returning to Time Mission when all 32 rooms are open!
The Details:
Time Mission website Palisades Center Mall 3532 Palisades Center Drive West Nyack, NY 10994
R1 Indoor Karting 100 Higginson Avenue Lincoln, RI 02865
Other Useful Info: *Free lockers are provided to store purses, jackets, etc.
*Closed toe shoes are required and comfortable clothes are recommended. You will be bending, throwing things and jumping in the more physical challenges.
Happy Friday and Happy New Year! 2023 is going to be a great year! Here are five from this week:
1. New Year’s Eve– We enjoyed our traditional dinner of appetizers. My husband and I started watching Welcome to Wrexham and binged seven episodes. Then I was in bed by 11 PM!
2. First Day Hike – New Year’s Day my husband, daughter and I went on a First Day Hike. These take place at state parks throughout New York State. We went on our first First Day Hike last January 1st at Hudson Highlands State Park. This year we went to FDR State Park. This was an easy quick walk through the woods. You can see the Instagram reel here.
3 . Reading – This week I finished reading the Parenting Compass by Cynthia Clumeck Muchnick and Jenn Curtis. As a parent with two teens, one who is beginning to navigate the college process, I found this book informative.
I used both Goodreads and Storygraph last year. Storygraph had a comprehensive end of year reading summary for me and these were my only 5 star reads of 2022. I guess I was stingy giving out 5 stars! LOL!
4. Cooking – This week’s menu included Trader Joe’s Beefless Bulgogi with rice, dumplings and Trader Joe’s scallion pancakes, Beyond Meatballs with Spaghetti, Roasted Vegetable Ramen, Breakfast Burritos and homemade pizza.
5. Watching – As I mentioned previously, most of my TV watching time has been spent watching Welcome to Wrexham. We’ve watched 10/18 episodes. Before watching this, I didn’t realize that it’s a documentary. It’s kind of a real-life version of Ted Lasso. Although I have no idea what possessed Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to invest in a Welsh football club.
6. Family Fun Day – We all had Monday off from school and work so we enjoyed a family fun day out. It is so rare that we are all free and can spend quality time together. So, this year, we are spending one day a month together doing something fun.
We started with lunch at Kura Sushi in Fort Lee, New Jersey. This is one of the only revolving sushi restaurants that I’m aware of, since East in the Palisades Center Mall closed. It was a lot of fun and I’ll have a full blog post coming soon.
Then we went to the Palisades Center Mall and visited Time Mission. They are in a soft opening phase, but from what we did experience, it was a lot of fun! There will also be a full blog post about this attraction coming soon!
