Sunday, October 14, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Going to Florida this Winter? Consider the Auto Train.
If you are planning a trip to sunny Florida this winter from the snowy Northeast, you might want to consider taking Amtrak's Auto Train. The Auto Train runs on the CSX Transportation line tracks from Lorton, Virginia (just outside Washington, D.C.) to Sanford, Florida (just outside Orlando). www.amtrak.com/autotrain
My wife and I recently were traveling to Southern Florida for a short visit. We had previously driven to Florida and found it to be a long almost three day trip.Neither of us had traveled long distances on a train, so we looked into the Auto Train. As the name implies, the Auto Train takes you and your vehicle, automobile or motorcycle, on a train. You travel on a large, very modern railroad car and your vehicle travels separately in a railroad car with other vehicles. It is said that when fully occupied, the Auto Train is approximately one quarter mile long, making it one of the longest passenger trains in the world!
There are several levels of accommodations from a coach seat up to a family bedroom sleeping two adults and two children. We opted for the standard bedroom which consisted of a chair and two sleeping berths, bunk-bed style. For the two of us and our car, the cost was about $640. While this seems pricey, consider that driving takes two to three days from the Northeast, requiring hotels, meals, gas, etc. The Auto Train price includes everything, including two meals.
The station at Lorton is quite large with a newstand and small cafe where we had lunch. The Amtrak personnelwe met at the station and on the train were very courteous and efficient.
We were advised to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled departure time of 4 pm. When we did arrive, it appeared quite a few of the 600 or so people who were riding the train were already there.
Upon arrival, you are greeted by the parking crew, who slap a number on the side of your car, film it ( we think for insurance purposes) and you are given a few minutes to retrieve your luggagefrom the trunk and go into the station itself. There you present your ID and are given your tickets while waiting for the boarding call. Boarding was very orderly despite the large number of people.
Our room was small, but comfortable. In addition to the seats, which the porter would turn into the bunks while we were at dinner, there is a small toilet/shower combination, which for a tall man like me was too small, and a sink with mirror. We were on the upper level of the two decker car, which gave us an excellent view of the countryside as we rolled through Virginia, North and South Carolina, as well as Georgia on into Florida.
The train left on time (actually a little early) and arrived in Florida about an hour early, at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. All in all, it is about an 17 to 18 hour overnight trip. While on board, we had a wine and cheese party upon departure and dinner in the dining car at one of three sittings, beginning at 5 pm and ending at 9 pm. Dinner was served on fine china and consisted of a choice of entrees ( I had the salmon with lobster sauce, which was quite good) and my wife had the flank steak.Dinner came with dessert and plenty of red wine (white is also available).
After dinner a movie was shown in the lounge car. We returned to our room and were able to sleep intermittently. My wife was generous enough to sleep in the upper bunk. In the morning we arrived at the Sanford station and immediately before that we were served a continental breakfast of cereal, corn muffins, coffee or tea.
After we disembarked, we went into the station and waited as the numbers of the cars were called. They seemed to be in no particular order but ours was about the middle of the pack and we picked up our car in the parking lot and were off for Southern Florida.
All in all it was a very interesting experience. The train also runs between Sanford and Lorton going North. We would definitely consider taking it again.
My wife and I recently were traveling to Southern Florida for a short visit. We had previously driven to Florida and found it to be a long almost three day trip.Neither of us had traveled long distances on a train, so we looked into the Auto Train. As the name implies, the Auto Train takes you and your vehicle, automobile or motorcycle, on a train. You travel on a large, very modern railroad car and your vehicle travels separately in a railroad car with other vehicles. It is said that when fully occupied, the Auto Train is approximately one quarter mile long, making it one of the longest passenger trains in the world!
There are several levels of accommodations from a coach seat up to a family bedroom sleeping two adults and two children. We opted for the standard bedroom which consisted of a chair and two sleeping berths, bunk-bed style. For the two of us and our car, the cost was about $640. While this seems pricey, consider that driving takes two to three days from the Northeast, requiring hotels, meals, gas, etc. The Auto Train price includes everything, including two meals.
The station at Lorton is quite large with a newstand and small cafe where we had lunch. The Amtrak personnelwe met at the station and on the train were very courteous and efficient.
We were advised to arrive at least two hours before the scheduled departure time of 4 pm. When we did arrive, it appeared quite a few of the 600 or so people who were riding the train were already there.
Upon arrival, you are greeted by the parking crew, who slap a number on the side of your car, film it ( we think for insurance purposes) and you are given a few minutes to retrieve your luggagefrom the trunk and go into the station itself. There you present your ID and are given your tickets while waiting for the boarding call. Boarding was very orderly despite the large number of people.
Our room was small, but comfortable. In addition to the seats, which the porter would turn into the bunks while we were at dinner, there is a small toilet/shower combination, which for a tall man like me was too small, and a sink with mirror. We were on the upper level of the two decker car, which gave us an excellent view of the countryside as we rolled through Virginia, North and South Carolina, as well as Georgia on into Florida.
The train left on time (actually a little early) and arrived in Florida about an hour early, at 8:30 a.m. the next morning. All in all, it is about an 17 to 18 hour overnight trip. While on board, we had a wine and cheese party upon departure and dinner in the dining car at one of three sittings, beginning at 5 pm and ending at 9 pm. Dinner was served on fine china and consisted of a choice of entrees ( I had the salmon with lobster sauce, which was quite good) and my wife had the flank steak.Dinner came with dessert and plenty of red wine (white is also available).
After dinner a movie was shown in the lounge car. We returned to our room and were able to sleep intermittently. My wife was generous enough to sleep in the upper bunk. In the morning we arrived at the Sanford station and immediately before that we were served a continental breakfast of cereal, corn muffins, coffee or tea.
After we disembarked, we went into the station and waited as the numbers of the cars were called. They seemed to be in no particular order but ours was about the middle of the pack and we picked up our car in the parking lot and were off for Southern Florida.
All in all it was a very interesting experience. The train also runs between Sanford and Lorton going North. We would definitely consider taking it again.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Gramercy Tavern
Gramercy Tavern, in New York City is a landmark New York restaurant where we dined recently while visiting our son for his birthday.. Located at 42 E. 20th Street, near Park Avenue, Gramercy Tavern was just awarded one star by the prestigious Michelin guide. That recognition just confirms our conclusion that the restaurant is one of the best restaurants in New York.
Gramercy Tavern is in reality two separate restaurants. In front of the restaurant is the bar area with a number of tables fairly close together. No reservations are taken for the bar. The rooms behind the bar are the main attraction. This was were we had our dinner. There, reservations (well in advance usually) are required. 212-477-0777. The tables in the formal dining room are farther apart and there is little noise.
The menu is what has been called "nouveau American." In the formal dining room, the menu consists of two prix fixe choices, one 3 course dinner for $88 and a six course dinner for $116 per person. A vegan menu is also offered at $88 Unfortunately, everyone in the party must agree to either the 3 or 6 course dinner. No mixing of the menus is permitted. This was the only somewhat sour note on an otherwise wonderful evening on a rainy night.
We opted for the 3 course menu and a fairly priced Tyler Pinot Noir wine. The first course was carpaccio. The thinly sliced beef just melted in my mouth. The second course was the red snapper, which appeared to be poached, and was superbly prepared. For dessert, I had the apple tart with butter pecan ice cream. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
As with the Del Posto restaurant that I recently wrote about, Gramercy Tavern is quite expensive and probably is best visited for special occasions. Those occasions, however, will be all the more special as a result of your visit.
Gramercy Tavern is in reality two separate restaurants. In front of the restaurant is the bar area with a number of tables fairly close together. No reservations are taken for the bar. The rooms behind the bar are the main attraction. This was were we had our dinner. There, reservations (well in advance usually) are required. 212-477-0777. The tables in the formal dining room are farther apart and there is little noise.
The menu is what has been called "nouveau American." In the formal dining room, the menu consists of two prix fixe choices, one 3 course dinner for $88 and a six course dinner for $116 per person. A vegan menu is also offered at $88 Unfortunately, everyone in the party must agree to either the 3 or 6 course dinner. No mixing of the menus is permitted. This was the only somewhat sour note on an otherwise wonderful evening on a rainy night.
We opted for the 3 course menu and a fairly priced Tyler Pinot Noir wine. The first course was carpaccio. The thinly sliced beef just melted in my mouth. The second course was the red snapper, which appeared to be poached, and was superbly prepared. For dessert, I had the apple tart with butter pecan ice cream. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
As with the Del Posto restaurant that I recently wrote about, Gramercy Tavern is quite expensive and probably is best visited for special occasions. Those occasions, however, will be all the more special as a result of your visit.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Del Posto
In one of my recent posts concerning New York City, I promised to review two well-known restaurants in New York, Del Posto and Gramercy Tavern. To do justice to both, I decided to write a separate post on each. This post is about Del Posto.
Del Post, located at 85 10th Avenue in the meatpacking district, is an Italian restaurant with a flair that is unmistakable. Owned by the television chefs, Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich and her son Joe, it reaches for the stars and manages to get there. As you enter the restaurant, it immediately reminds you of a library in a fine men's club, with panelled walls and marble seemingly everywhere. In addition to the main restaurant floor, there is also a balcony and we were told, additional space in the basement. In all, we were advised it can hold over 500 people!
At dinner, Del Posto offers two prix fixe menus, one five course for $115 per person and the other, $145 per person.for seven courses. Obviously, at those prices, it will have to be a very special occasion. Unlike Batali's other New York City restaurant, Babbo, which does not accept reservations, reservations for Del Posto are a must.
We opted for the five course dinner, which involves an antipasto, an entree and a dessert. In addition, the table shares two pasta dishes. I had the vitello tonnato as an antipasto. It was a very interesting combination of veal and tuna. For my entree (or secondi), I opted for the lobster. It was well-prepared with funghi, celerine and balsamic vinegar, among other savory ingredients.
The table shared two pasta dishes, including a superb gaargannelli with a bolognese ragu. It was of the melt in your mouth variety.
For dessert, we each had the tartufo, with cherry vanilla ice cream covered with dark chocolate. I have to say it was even better than the tartufo that I had in the restaurant in Rome in the Piazza Navonna where the dessert was invented.
The wait staff is quite solicitous and knowledgeable about the menu. The head waiter explains what each course contains since it is not always obvious given the tremendous variety of ingredients.
The sommelier was extremely helpful in helping us pick out an inexpensive red wine, which he indicated was one of his favorites, a Bravia Barolo. It was ours also after tasting it.
The restaurant is expensive but given the atmosphere, quality and uniqueness of the food and the helpfulness of the staff, I would recommend it for those special occasions that merit a step up from the ordinary to the extraordinary..
The phone number for Del Posto is 212-497-8090 and their website is www.delposto.com, where you can view the entire menu.
Buon Appetito!
Del Post, located at 85 10th Avenue in the meatpacking district, is an Italian restaurant with a flair that is unmistakable. Owned by the television chefs, Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich and her son Joe, it reaches for the stars and manages to get there. As you enter the restaurant, it immediately reminds you of a library in a fine men's club, with panelled walls and marble seemingly everywhere. In addition to the main restaurant floor, there is also a balcony and we were told, additional space in the basement. In all, we were advised it can hold over 500 people!
At dinner, Del Posto offers two prix fixe menus, one five course for $115 per person and the other, $145 per person.for seven courses. Obviously, at those prices, it will have to be a very special occasion. Unlike Batali's other New York City restaurant, Babbo, which does not accept reservations, reservations for Del Posto are a must.
We opted for the five course dinner, which involves an antipasto, an entree and a dessert. In addition, the table shares two pasta dishes. I had the vitello tonnato as an antipasto. It was a very interesting combination of veal and tuna. For my entree (or secondi), I opted for the lobster. It was well-prepared with funghi, celerine and balsamic vinegar, among other savory ingredients.
The table shared two pasta dishes, including a superb gaargannelli with a bolognese ragu. It was of the melt in your mouth variety.
For dessert, we each had the tartufo, with cherry vanilla ice cream covered with dark chocolate. I have to say it was even better than the tartufo that I had in the restaurant in Rome in the Piazza Navonna where the dessert was invented.
The wait staff is quite solicitous and knowledgeable about the menu. The head waiter explains what each course contains since it is not always obvious given the tremendous variety of ingredients.
The sommelier was extremely helpful in helping us pick out an inexpensive red wine, which he indicated was one of his favorites, a Bravia Barolo. It was ours also after tasting it.
The restaurant is expensive but given the atmosphere, quality and uniqueness of the food and the helpfulness of the staff, I would recommend it for those special occasions that merit a step up from the ordinary to the extraordinary..
The phone number for Del Posto is 212-497-8090 and their website is www.delposto.com, where you can view the entire menu.
Buon Appetito!
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Saturday, September 29, 2012
What is Negotiation? A Boomer's Guide
What is negotiation? People often think of negotiation as a process that only takes place between large corporations over major contracts or between lawyers over the settlement of a lawsuit. What they do not realize is that they are negotiating every day with their spouse, their children, their employer and co-workers as well as many others. People just don't think of those as negotiations. For example, let's say a parent sets a time for a 16 year old to return from a date at 10 o'clock and the child insists on 11. If they compromise at 10:30, that is a negotiation.
How can you best accomplish your goals in any such negotiation? I am in the process of writing a free ebook that I will make available on this blog in the next few weeks. Look for it. Remember, it is FREE!
"The Baby Boomer's Practical Guide to Everyday Negotiations" is now available on this blog. Please see the November 24, 2012 post.
How can you best accomplish your goals in any such negotiation? I am in the process of writing a free ebook that I will make available on this blog in the next few weeks. Look for it. Remember, it is FREE!
"The Baby Boomer's Practical Guide to Everyday Negotiations" is now available on this blog. Please see the November 24, 2012 post.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Blueberries: The Easy Way to Preserve Your Memory
One of the things many boomers fear is the memory decline that is frequently a part of aging. We all want to find ways to avoid that. According to a study of 122,000 registered nurses over a 25 year period, those who ate the most blueberries and strawberries showed the least amount of memory decline or at least delayed its onset by the several years.
The study was conducted by Harvard researchers and reported in the April 26, 2012 issue of "Annals of Neurology." In a report on study, CBS News Medical Correspondent, Dr. Holly Phillips, attributed the beneficial effects to the flavonoids present in the berries as well as in dark chocolate. Those flavonoids have both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities which may offset the factors which are believed to cause memory decline.
While of course, you can eat blueberries by themselves, one special treat my wife makes is blueberry cobbler from scratch. She has agreed to share her recipe with everyone:
Betsy's Blueberry Cobbler
Preheat Oven at 375 degrees
Filling Ingredients:
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup granulated sugar
3 T. all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
1 t. grated lemon peel
1 T. lemon juice
Mix these ingredients in a bowl
Topping Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
4 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
8 T. chilled butter, cubed
12 T. milk
Put fruit filing in bottom of 9" glass pie plate
Combine dry ingredients and stir using pastry blender
Work butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles tiny peas
Slowly add milk and stir
Gather dough together and knead until smooth
Place dough on top blueberry mixture
Dough should cover most of pie
Drizzle 2 T. of melted butter on top, if desired
Bake 35-45 minutes at 375 degrees until lightly browned
Cool on rack
Enjoy!!
The study was conducted by Harvard researchers and reported in the April 26, 2012 issue of "Annals of Neurology." In a report on study, CBS News Medical Correspondent, Dr. Holly Phillips, attributed the beneficial effects to the flavonoids present in the berries as well as in dark chocolate. Those flavonoids have both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities which may offset the factors which are believed to cause memory decline.
While of course, you can eat blueberries by themselves, one special treat my wife makes is blueberry cobbler from scratch. She has agreed to share her recipe with everyone:
Betsy's Blueberry Cobbler
Preheat Oven at 375 degrees
Filling Ingredients:
4 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup granulated sugar
3 T. all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
1 t. grated lemon peel
1 T. lemon juice
Mix these ingredients in a bowl
Topping Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
4 T. sugar
1/2 t. salt
4 t. baking powder
8 T. chilled butter, cubed
12 T. milk
Put fruit filing in bottom of 9" glass pie plate
Combine dry ingredients and stir using pastry blender
Work butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles tiny peas
Slowly add milk and stir
Gather dough together and knead until smooth
Place dough on top blueberry mixture
Dough should cover most of pie
Drizzle 2 T. of melted butter on top, if desired
Bake 35-45 minutes at 375 degrees until lightly browned
Cool on rack
Enjoy!!
New York, New York
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"New York, New York, it's a wonderful town. The Bronx is up but the Battery's down."
These lyrics from the musical play, "On the Town," convey only a small part of the excitement that is New York City. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit New York and with our son took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The tour begins in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Battery Park refers to the gun batteries that had once been located there to protect the island. Tickets for the ferry to the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island are sold at a kiosk in the park. Although the two attractions are run by the National Parks Service, the National Parks Senior Pass, unfortunately, is not honored for the tour. When asked, the ticket seller said it was because the ferries are operated by a concessionaire. In any event, a small discount ($3) is offered to seniors from the full price adult ticket price of $17.
There was a rather long line to get on the ferry but because it was a weekday, it went by rather quickly. The ferry was appropriately named "Miss Liberty" and had two decks, one inside and one outside. We opted for the upper deck which was just perfect for the beautiful, sunny day we were on board.
The price of a ticket offers you the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty, then Ellis Island and finally a return trip to Battery Park .Unfortunately, the Statue of Liberty is currently closed for removations. Nonetheless, the ferry ride is well worth the visit as shown by these photos.
What most people (including some New Yorkers) do not know is that there are fabulous views of Manhattan from New York harbor. These are just a few of those views.
In our next post, we will review two fabulous New York restaurants, Gramercy Tavern and Del Posto.
"New York, New York, it's a wonderful town. The Bronx is up but the Battery's down."
These lyrics from the musical play, "On the Town," convey only a small part of the excitement that is New York City. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit New York and with our son took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
The tour begins in Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Battery Park refers to the gun batteries that had once been located there to protect the island. Tickets for the ferry to the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island are sold at a kiosk in the park. Although the two attractions are run by the National Parks Service, the National Parks Senior Pass, unfortunately, is not honored for the tour. When asked, the ticket seller said it was because the ferries are operated by a concessionaire. In any event, a small discount ($3) is offered to seniors from the full price adult ticket price of $17.
There was a rather long line to get on the ferry but because it was a weekday, it went by rather quickly. The ferry was appropriately named "Miss Liberty" and had two decks, one inside and one outside. We opted for the upper deck which was just perfect for the beautiful, sunny day we were on board.
The price of a ticket offers you the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty, then Ellis Island and finally a return trip to Battery Park .Unfortunately, the Statue of Liberty is currently closed for removations. Nonetheless, the ferry ride is well worth the visit as shown by these photos.
What most people (including some New Yorkers) do not know is that there are fabulous views of Manhattan from New York harbor. These are just a few of those views.
In our next post, we will review two fabulous New York restaurants, Gramercy Tavern and Del Posto.
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