TRIPPING IN NASSAU COUNTY ON LONG ISLAND

Long Island Day Trip

Friday, November 20, 2015

Merle and I took a short trip to a few places near Garden City, Long Island.  I still don't like to go anywhere without my GPS who decided that we needed to travel through the campus of Nassau Community College to our first stop.... Long Island Children's Museum.   www.licm.org

The museums exhibits and galleries are designed for children from 2 to 12 and is a hands on experience.  There are several programs available including the Theater, workshops, early Childhood Programs,  and Group visits.  There is also an Outreach Program that goes out to classes, libraries, community centers, etc.

On our trip we were accompanied by a staff member, as adults are not allowed to tour the Museum without a child.  Merle had her rubber chickens but that didn't count.

Children can build, make bubbles, construct, climb, create, and generally explore the different areas for hours on end.  They won't be looking at their I-pads or phones, so as a parent, you shouldn't either.  Spend the time watching your kids explore and learn and maybe you can learn something too.

Taking a lunch break we go to the...Garden City Hotel    www.gardencityhotel.com

not without difficulty from my dear GPS.  It certainly would have been easier just looking at a map, which I did.  

Lunch is at the newly renovated Garden City Hotel in the Polo Lounge for the Business Lunch.  For $32 you can choose from a selected appetizer, main course and any side.  Guaranteed within 30 minutes, for the business people with limited time.  There is also a raw bar and seafood available for an extra charge.

At first I thought I was at the wrong table having been seated with some rubber chickens.....they were escorted to another table.

 

I start off with the Lobster Bisque which is a large bowl.  The bisque is not too thick and the taste is not over powering as some bisque can be.

I started off with a salad and then get the Maine Lobster Roll as the entree.  It was a large portion on a New England style Brioche roll.  A little too much dressing for my taste, but over-all very good.  

The side of Brussel sprouts with bacon and brown sugar is exceptional.  

Not a surprise,  for dessert, the Vanilla crème brulee which is just the right texture and consistency.  After out "Get your our spoon....get your own damn spoon" adventure, Merle rarely gets the creme brulee but did so.

 

A full lunch and dinner is also available at the Polo Steak House, right next to the lounge, in addition to a Saturday afternoon Tea and a Sunday Brunch.

I don't know what was up with Clarissa as she started to talk in German or some language of that sort.  We were just going back to an address that was so near the Children's Museum....we made it to...  Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center.   www.ncfiremuseum.org

Located right next to the Aviation Museum in Garden City on Museum Row.

Starting with the collection of memorabilia of  a fire service academy instructor, Frank Pendl and a Nassau County fire marshal, Andy Stienmuller, who wanted to have a public education center, and the 71 fire departments of Nassau County,  the Museum finally found its home at its current location.

The Museum now houses exhibits of historic and contemporary “firematic” memorabilia and equipment from small patches, to huge fire trucks.  A major goal of the Education Center is to inform the public, particularly children, about fire safety and prevention.  

The Museum is currently raising funds for a 5,000 square feet expansion.

Chief John Murray showed Merle and me around the Museum, including areas designated for interactive education for children and school groups. 

It's a fascinating place and a great learning experience for any one of any age.

 

READING PA, SEPTEMBER 2015

IMPORTANT:  BEFORE YOU READ MY BLOG, READ MERLE'S

www.merleswhirls.blogspot.com

Some of the photos that I took may also appear on her blog.

Wow – It's been one year since the last press trip with Merle!!!  There was the horrible winter of 2014 and then Merle was out of commission for a bit so we were both looking forward to our trip to the Reading PA area.   Merle is still getting around with either a cane or a “Rollator” and will be writing about her experiences with handicapped accessible accommodations and attractions.

Saturday September 26

I pick up Merle in Woodhaven and we get on the road around 8:45.  “Clarise”, my GPS sends us through the Holland Tunnel to I-80 to I-81 toward Ashland.  Our first stop is the Mineshaft Cafe right in the center of Ashland. The cafe has several small dining areas and a large bar area.  They have a collection of local historical pictures and memorabilia on the walls including a picture of the statue in town of the “monument to mothers” which is a large statue reproducing Whistler's Mother.  

Our waitress, Cheyane, presents us with a rather extensive menu.  I opt for Creamy Parmesan Wings, a small salad and Maryland Crab soup. All very good and served hot. (except the salad of course)  There are special events going on all the time.  www.mineshaftcafe.com

For some reason the GPS is not working and I begin to freak out.  I definitely have become  too reliable on technological devices but on a road trip like this, it really is essential.  I assume I lost the CD card somehow and search all over to no avail.  Off we go without Clarise.

On to the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train.  We are running late now because of the GPS fiasco so we opt to do only the train and not the mine tour.  It is a small steam engine with open cars for viewing.  The train runs backwards for a short distance to an open area to view the Mahanoy Mountains where one of the trainmen gives the history of the train, the area, and the coal mining, including the story of the fire under the town of Centralia.  The ride is very bumpy along the narrow gauge rail.  At least the ride back to the depot is going forward!  www.pioneertunnel.com

Reading RR Heritage Museum in Hamburg was next on the itinerary but there is no time.  We also have to miss the hawks along Hawk Mountain Road and Rt 61.  Off we go to try to find our way to the bed and breakfast in Barto.   Between some worthless map app on my phone and calling the B&B several times we finally arrive at the Landhaven Bed and Breakfast  to the warm welcome of Donna and Ed Land .  Ed helps us get to our rooms and then we have to rush off as we are now late for dinner in Reading.  Ed gives us a short cut into Reading and we find our address with no problem.

Dinner is at Judy's on Cherry.  Because we are late, Merle can not get to speak with chef-owner Judy Henry, but she will be speaking on Merle's on-line radio show so be sure to see Merle's blog site for details.  The restaurant is not handicapped accessible but Merle negotiates the stairs and we were seated near the open kitchen where Judy is busy preparing the meals.  Our waitress, Sarah, is  knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant.  The menu consists of many seasonal items.  We start off with fresh baked Facoccia bread and olive oil.  The bread is thinner than normal Facoccia bread, more like a pita, which I enjoy more then the thicker bread.

We shared a few of the menu items. Two that I requested were: “Cowboy Ciao Salad.”   It  is a beautiful presentation of arugula, smoked salmon, bruschetta tomatoes, couscous, toasted corn, nuts & dried fruit with a pesto buttermilk dressing.  Really light but tasty and filling. 

For dessert I have the vanilla bean crème brulee which is also exceptional. Merle laughs every time I order creme brulee as it had become not just a running joke, but a running story that Merle loves to share.  www.judysoncherry.com

Back to the Landhaven B&B.  We are lucky.  Tonight is one of the many musical events that Donna and Ed do at Landhaven.  A band called Frog Holler.  They have a big following and the center room is packed and the acoustics are amazing.  We catch the last forty minutes or so of the show and really enjoy it.  The B&B is fully occupied tonight so I am in a bedroom on the third floor which is usually part of the residence of Ed and Donna.  The room is cozy and comfortable and has its own bathroom.  Donna and Ed moved up to another room to accommodate me.  Merle is on the first floor in a room made to be handicapped accessible.

Sunday, September 27

The best part of  of staying at a B&B is breakfast in the morning with the other people and hearing stories.  And of course, the food.  Breakfast is “Blintz Brunch Bake”  which is basically a broken down cheese blintz with toppings like apples, nuts, sour cream and syrup.  A hearty way to start the day. The history of the building is very interesting and Ed can tell you just about everything, from its  origin as a General Store built in the center of the small town of Huffs Church in 1871, to their purchasing and restoration of the building in 1997.  Each of the five rooms are named after the original General Store proprietors.  The room we heard the concert in was added in 1910 and also houses Landhaven Antiques.  The concerts are very popular and bring in fans from all over the area. 

I was thinking about the GPS all night and really could not remember it having an external CD card so this morning I tried it again with an older car charger thinking maybe the battery had just gone and YIPPEE – she's aworkin!!! I never thought I'd be so glad to hear Clarice's voice, as she sometimes can seem really sarcastic and angry.  So – back on the road again as they say.

Our first stop is the National Center for Padre Pio.    The Center promotes the life, virtues and teachings of Padre Pio.  Padre Pio was an Italian priest who became famous for his stigmata, miracles, and supernatural insights.  

  

We head to the Homewood Suites by Hilton in Wyomissing, a small town on the outskirts of Reading.  Pronounced something more like “Why I'm missing?” more than the state of Wyoming.  The suites are huge with a nice sized kitchen area with full size fridge, large seating area, bedroom and bathroom.  I real good way to save money on eating out if you are staying a few days.

Since we have tickets for a 2:00 show, we will not be able to get to the  Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown, which was on the original itinerary.  So I'm in Reading PA, and unless I get to play a game of Monopoly, I won't get to see railroad stuff.  I'll have to return for another trip to see all the things we missed.

The show is “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris”  at the Steel River Playhouse in Pottstown.  Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer/songwriter and actor who died in 1978.    The revue is performed by a cast of seven, and includes twenty-four songs, some of which became very popular as sung by other singers, including “Seasons in the Sun”, “If You Go Away” , “Marieke” and “Carousel”.   The original show was performed Off-Broadway as a musical revue and is performed that way most times.  This performance added a storyline, which is set in a basement nightclub in London during the war, where the six characters and a piano player take refuge and tell their stories through the songs. Not having ever seen a performance, I really liked the idea.  Read Merle's blog for her take on it, as she has actually performed some of Jacques Brel.   www.steelriver.org.

We headed back to Homewood Suites to chill out before dinner in Reading.

Dinner is at Anthony's Trattoria in Reading.  Another chef/owner, William Salvatore greets us and seats us and Merle arranges for a selection of tastings.  Our waitress, Mellissa has an exceptional knowledge of the menu, which is no easy task.  The specials alone, which are on a separate sheet from the regular menu, has over 25 selections of appetizers, salads, entrees and other specials.  Mellissa gave us details and answered any questions we had, while making arrangements with the chef for the tastings.  There are heart healthy Mediterranean diet dishes, dishes created with the chefs own selections from his two gardens, and a variety of interesting selections.  Where to begin?  I guess by saying that this is one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at with Merle on any of our trips.  If you read the other blogs from my other trips, you will note that I always mention the passion that the people we meet have for their craft and, like Chef Judy, Chef Bill is no exception.  We had the opportunity to talk to him after the meal and you will be able to hear him on Merle's radio show as well.  It turns out that Chef Judy from Judy's on Cherry eats at the restaurant a few times a week and was actually at the bar when we came in.

Merle describes the meal on her blog.  Note: the Risotto al Patate e Ragu di Funghi had a wild chanterelle mushroom ragu. It was so incredible that I ate the mushrooms in the ragu. ·  

The chef had instructed Melissa to pair several dishes with wine, but neither Merle nor are are big drinkers, so we stopped after two.  Every dish was flavorful, fresh, with an appealing presentation. I could not tell you which my favorite is because one was better then the next.   www.anthonystrattoriareading.com

I could not even think of dessert but Bill had Mellissa bring out the home made Chocolate cake and Canolli for Merle  to sample. (she has to do it as that is her job.) We spend some more time talking to Melissa about school and career and then head back to the hotel.

Monday September 28

Breakfast is at Homewood Suites as they serve a nice array of selections every morning.  I opted for some oatmeal, and one of those fresh made waffles.  For those of you that have used those individual waffle grills, you will agree that it is one of the best inventions ever.  PA doesn't have the same real maple syrup as New England, but it was still good.  Other selections included eggs, breakfast potatoes, sausage, cold cereal, fruit and bread and muffins.

Off to Take2Alpacas in Mohnton.  Thank goodness Clarice was up and running again.  I had no idea where we were or where we were going.   Len  Smith greeted us and showed us around the farm.  They have 14 females and 6 male alpacas that they care for and sheer and make and sell products.  Alpacas are in the Camelid family and are related to Llamas and camels.  Once imported from South  America, the majority of animals in the country now were born here.  Contrary to what most people think, they will not generally spit at you unless they are really pissed off or afraid.  Some of the dying and weaving are done on the premises and they sell other alpaca products as well which come from Peru.  One of the newest products being sold are the one of a kind scarves and shawls that are woven by Dylan, the youngest son.  He also serves as an all around ranch hand helping around the farm.  He also happens to be autistic, but that doesn't stop him from learning new things around the farm.  He  took up the weaving just last year and is already producing incredible scarves.  For anyone who has ever seen a weaving loom, you know it is no simple task.   Oh yes, he also told us that “with the combination of patterns, and colors and designs, that there are literally a million different scarves that can be made.”  Seeing how prolific Dylan is with his new talent, I think he may be trying to set a record. You have to check out the website www.take2alpacas.com  and Facebook pages (Google hand woven scarves by Dylan) to see some of Dylan's incredible work and find out more about Take2Alpacas.         

Next.is Goggle Works.  (yes, that's goggle, not Google.)  The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts derives its name from the original structure, the former Willson Goggle Factory.  

As part of the aim to revitalize downtown Reading, with generous support from the community and state government, the renovations were made and the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts created.  Now, many other vacant building are being renovated and new businesses are opening. You can see the changes as you walk or drive around the downtown area.  

           
This arts place spaces are massive. Merle took the artist studios in the main building  and I headed to the glass and ceramic studios that encompass the other 5 buildings. There were two men blowing glass at the time, and the ceramic studio was setting up for a pottery method called “Raku.”  In general, it is characterized by being hand shaped rather than thrown.  In the traditional process, the fired raku piece is removed from the hot kiln and is allowed to cook in the open air.  Most other types of pottery are loaded into a cold kiln where the firing proceeds slowly until the desired temperature is reached.  The kiln is then shut off and allowed to cool enough to allow for the pieces to be removed using light gloves. Today, they were setting up several cooling tables outside behind the studio.  

www.goggleworks.org

I meet up with Merle to head up to The Pagoda.  Entrance to the actual Pagoda itself is only open on weekends, but it is worth the drive up just to see the Pagoda and the views. High atop Mt Penn, the Pagoda overlooks the city and the surrounding area.  It's 7 stories high, 28 feet wide, 50 feet long and 620 feet above see level.  The Pagoda can be rented for various events and has a cafe and gift shop.  Access to the Pagoda itself is not handicapped accessible.  Merle has the 101 on this place.   www.readingpagoda.com

A visit to Pennsylvania would not be complete without a stop at one of the many Philly Pretzel Factory shops to sample the fresh made soft salt pretzels.  We stop in to one close by for an immediate fix and will make another stop again before going home, to stock up on the specially priced pretzels for 15 for $5.  (sidebar writing the blog: hang on a sec – I'll be right back.  I'm back.  Had to go get one of the pretzels I froze.  They reheat really well if you wrap them in aluminum foil and then heat slowly in a toaster oven,  not a microwave.).

We head back to the Homewood Suites to rest up a bit.  They have a “social” this evening which includes complimentary light dinner food.  It varies depending on the night, and tonight is soup and salad which if perfect as we will be heading out to see a show at Albright College at 7:00.

The show is in the Memorial Chapel at the College and features a group called the Kinsey Sicks.  They are a four “man” drag show.  Someone is rolling over somewhere now.  The show is raunchy and funny.  They bring up one of the students from the audience and he is red faced and the  audience is hysterical.  The group are actually all extremely good singers and the performance very professional.  They have been touring together since 1994 with a few changes in the group along the way.  www.kinseysicks.com

Merle has arranged to see the Clare Grill exhibit at the Freedman Gallery.   Merle will be interviewing the artist on her internet radio show.  See Merle' blog for more details. Back to the comfort of the Homewood suites.

Tuesday September 29

Breakfast at the hotel and then off to Reading Public Museum.  The grounds house the museum, an arboretum and the Neag Planetarium. We will skip the planetarium today.  Scott, one of the curators is showing us around the museum and has provided Merle with a wheelchair (and pushing).  The exhibits we see include Italian Futurism, The Funnies, and Art in the Making along with the museums regular collections.   There are several exhibits for children, including “Curious George”, “Be the Dinosaur”, and “Fat Dogs & Coughing Kids.” I found this museum to be the perfect size and diversity for me.  I could spend time and enjoy many of the exhibits and pass through quickly on others.  Scott is a wealth of information.  Next we head outside to tour the Arboretum.    Merle made arrangements for one of the staff to drive us around  in a golf truck type of vehicle.  Merle got the front seat and I got the flat bed in the back.  There is some color and bloom in the gardens, but this is the type of thing you need to come back several times during the seasons to get he full benefit.  The Arboretum is  free and very accessible.  www.readingpublicmuseum.org

Next is lunch with Lisa Haggerty of tourism at Say Cheese.    Very nice cafe style restaurant with specialties of soups, salads, and sandwiches. In addition, the marketplace sells fresh cheeses (obviously) and other specialty items.  I have the Fresh fish with creamy Chipolte sauce and Napa slaw on a toasted onion Brioche roll.  The fish is Bronzini which is  perfectly grilled and delicious.  I share a few other things with Merle and try the beverage of Sipp Mojo berry soda from the Eco Beverage Company in Chester Springs.  It is a perfect compliment to the sandwich.

We do a pretzel pickup before heading home.  The drive back is long and tiring as it is raining on and off and by the time we hit the City, we are in rush hour traffic.  What else is new?