Archive for November, 2010

November 26th, 2010

Why Visit the Berkshires?

by Joanna Eng

I lived in Massachusetts for 20 years and never knew the beauty of the Berkshires until I went on a travel writing assignment for Trazzler this past week. It had never occurred to me to visit the area before, but I loved it. Here’s why.

Spirit of cooperation. There is a dearth of chain stores and a plethora of small, independent businesses. Almost everywhere I went I noticed that the small businesses—inns, shops, restaurants, farms, galleries—actively promoted each other and sold local products. It’s a sustainable, friendly model that I would be glad to support as a tourist or resident.

Seasonal, local food. An innkeeper told me that the farm-to-table dining movement originated in the Berkshires. And beyond restaurants, there are plenty of opportunities to visit farms and see directly where your food comes from.

Outdoor activities. Hiking trails, scenic views, and natural wonders abound.

Olivia's Overlook. Photo by Joanna Eng.

Creative culture. My trip was filled with an eclectic mix of galleries, museums, public art, and live music. Even when I wasn’t looking for art, I found it everywhere, including town recycling bins.

Brain food. At every stop, there was something to learn: how my beer was brewed, why this area of woods has fewer trees, the political history behind the song they’re about to sing, the origin of the marble in that fireplace.

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November 18th, 2010

5 Ideas for Winter Staycations

by Joanna Eng

There are millions of things to do in New York, even in the cold weather. If you want to save jet fuel and money this winter, but you still hate the biting wind and dirty slush, here are some ideas:

1. Check out a museum that you’ve never been to. In New York, that shouldn’t be hard. You probably haven’t been to the Skyscraper Museum, the Ukrainian Museum, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Museum of Chinese in America, the City Reliquary, and the New York Transit Museum. Am I right?

2. Peruse an indoor market. Want to feel like you’re at an open-air market, minus the numb fingers? Head to the Brooklyn Flea (indoors on Sundays), Astoria Market, GreenFlea (has an indoor space), Limelight Marketplace, Essex Street Market, or Chelsea Market. Or catch one of the seasonal craft fairs like the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade, Bust Magazine Craftacular, Brooklyn Friends School’s Winter Festival, Eat Pie & Shop, or 3rd Ward Handmade Holiday Craft Fair.

3. Get your fill of warm beverages. Scour the city for hot chocolate, apple cider, mulled wine, and soup. Don’t miss the annual Hot Chocolate Festival at City Bakery, where there’s a different flavor every day for a whole month!

Photo by thegourmetro

4. Don’t even leave your apartment. OK, you might have to leave your apartment just once, for a big run to the library and the grocery store. Stock up on all those books you’ve been meaning to read and all the ingredients for those complex dishes you never had the time or patience for before. (Or if you’re like me, you can just invite your brother to stay with you for a few days so he can make you delicious things like pumpkin ravioli.) For seasonal recipes from local bloggers, see Not Eating Out in New York, Sustainable Pantry, and Big Girls Small Kitchen.

5. Get active. Maybe you actually don’t want to sit around all day, every day, and you’re up for a little adventure. Try an indoor rock climbing gym like Brooklyn Boulders, an indoor ice skating rink like City Ice Pavilion, or indoor batting cages at The Baseball Center.

Any other suggestions?

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November 15th, 2010

A Guide to Green Hotels

by Joanna Eng

Jessica Blair over at Green Globetrotter published a Guide to LEED Lodging that you can download for free. It lists 49 eco-friendly hotels around the United States. If you’re not familiar with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), see this intro on the U.S. Green Building Council site.

The list includes a mix of accommodations: chain hotels and boutique hotels, luxury resorts and rustic lodges. And I was happy to see that there are plenty that aren’t too expensive.

It’s already commonplace for hotels not to wash towels and sheets every day unless guests request the service. So what else are hotels doing to help their guests reduce their carbon footprints?

Here are some examples of what makes these hotels green:

  • Pillows, carpets, and tiles made from recycled materials
  • Linens made from organic fibers
  • Low-flow shower heads and toilets
  • Reduced use of harmful chemicals in adhesives, paints, and carpets
  • Rooftop solar panels
  • Use of natural lighting
  • Composting systems for food scraps
  • Locally sourced building materials
  • Diverting construction waste from landfills
  • Bicycles provided for guests

Wall art made from old books at the Bardessono in Napa Valley. Photo by Hugger Industries.

Click here to get the guide.

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November 11th, 2010

Ordinary Objects, Extraordinary Art

by Joanna Eng

Today marks the kick-off of two exciting public art projects.

Photo by aloha orangeneko

Canstruction

This is an annual competition in which teams of engineers and architects create sculptures out of (full) cans of food. Afterward, all of the cans will be donated to organizations that combat hunger. Last year, I loved some of the imaginative entries like a changing walk/don’t walk sign, a world map, and a giant slice of pumpkin pie.

In New York, it starts today at the World Financial Center, and the canned works of art are viewable to the public until Thanksgiving. (To see what’s happening in over 100 other cities, see the Canstruction website.) They just ask that you bring a can of food to donate while you’re checking out the exhibition.

I love this project because it’s a creative way to get professionals and the public involved in a nonprofit cause, the sculptures are impressive, and it’s just so much fun. I was happy to learn that artists will be judged on the nutritional value of their work. Last year I remember thinking that I know sardines and tuna are relatively good for you, but just because they’re convenient shapes for construction doesn’t mean that food pantries want to be overflowing with them.

In Plain Site

This project by ArtBridge opens today on 23rd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues) in Manhattan. Contemporary art pieces were selected to be hung in one of the most public spots imaginable: right on the streets of New York City. In a unique partnership, the pieces are pasted to the side of scaffolding used in construction. Scaffolding is such a common sight in the city—why not turn it into a fine art exhibit?

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November 9th, 2010

Vegivore Adventures

by Joanna Eng

“Vegetables Are the New Meat,” declares this week’s New York magazine, describing vegetables as the latest craze in gourmet food. While it’s obvious to me (I’ve been mostly vegetarian for eight years), I’m glad that more professional chefs and influential foodies are acknowledging that a huge hunk of meat doesn’t always make for the most exciting meal.

I’ll take this moment to recount some of my most memorable fruit and veggie traveling experiences:

  • In Beijing, eating corn and pine nuts, a common dish of northern China, opened my eyes to the extreme diversity of food traditions within the country.
  • In Nicaragua, I didn’t get too many vegetables on my plate (which was usually filled with rice, beans, eggs, and tortillas), so when I had some sliced avocado—straight from the tree in the courtyard—I finally learned to love the mushy vegetable/fruit.

Photo by sean dreilinger

  • In Kauai, a few minutes after walking by some taro fields in Hanapepe, I stopped by a taro chips factory that was run out of a dimly-lit kitchen in a run-down house. When I walked in, the owner seemed almost confused to see a customer—and then was elated when he found out that I had come all the way from New York, where it was snowing at the time! I bought a bag, and the chips were a little too oily for my taste, but I’ll never forget that humble little operation.
  • In Cape May, New Jersey, I loved the veggie polenta cakes at the otherwise unexciting Bella Vida Garden Cafe. Perhaps it was because I had been biking all day and waiting crankily outside on a bench until the restaurant opened for its early-bird special, but that was one satisfying meal.

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November 8th, 2010

Car-Free Cape May

by Joanna Eng

This past summer, I was looking for a vacation spot where I could just relax for a week. I didn’t want to have to go to the airport, rent a car, or travel too far from the city. My travel companion and I settled on Cape May, a charming beach town at the southern tip of New Jersey.

Why it worked without a car

NJ Transit works. There are buses down the whole length of New Jersey, and the Cape May bus station is in a pretty convenient location. One day we even took a break from oh-so-lovely Cape May and went by bus to Wildwood, where we got to experience the more stereotypical Jersey Shore vibe.

Photo by InAweofGod'sCreation

It’s a walkable city. The beach, grocery store, restaurants, coffee shop, ice cream shops, historic houses, bus station, and realtor’s office were all within walking distance of the apartment we rented for the week. Even if we had had a car, I don’t think we would have used it much.

Biking is the thing to do. There were several affordable bike rental shops to choose from, and casual bikers were a common sight on the streets. By renting bikes for just 24 hours, we were able to go beyond the city center and explore the rest of Cape May (including a lighthouse, a few other beaches, farms and farm stands, an antique sale, and a tasty restaurant).

We had low-key plans. All we really wanted to do was swim, read books, wander around, and not think about work. We weren’t seeking any major adventures this time, so staying put for the whole week worked out perfectly.

Lessons learned

Old suitcases are heavy, and you never end up needing as many shirts as you think you will. Walking from the Tolz real estate office to our rental apartment wasn’t terrible, but the August sun made me wish I had a more streamlined, easy-to-roll suitcase. I also could have lightened the load a bit by cutting down on outfits.

Local buses are sloooowwww. If you can avoid it, don’t ever get stuck on a non-express bus from Cape May to New  York City. There was a limited schedule on the day we wanted to return home, and the trip took several hours. It was especially painful because I was slammed with the worst cramps of my life that day.

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