Southen Comfort

Posted by Kerstin

I was in Virginia this past weekend, and a few exits away from the Southern Kitchen (raved about by many food writers as a superb roadside destination).

Although it’s dangerously close to bathing-suit season, I decided this was too tempting to pass up.

Located in the small town of New Market, Virginia, the large vintage sign outside says it all. No trendy food fads have tainted the down-home menu.

House specialties include peanut soup and the friend chicken platter (served with choice of two sides, ranging from the smart (house salad) to the sinful (buttered corn, fried potatoes).

I chose stewed tomatoes, forgetting that most true southern cooks put a half cup of sugar into any vegetable dish. Thankfully, it turned out to be a nice balance to the savory chicken.

I don’t know how they did it, but the fried chicken was the crispiest and most flavorful I have tasted, yet it had no greasy side effect. Note: only one napkin was needed.

And the meat inside, well, let’s just say it was juicy and tender enough to leave the plate clean. (You did see the plate above, right?) About the only unauthentic things? Our charming waitress (from New Jersey) and some of the taxidermy on the walls.

Although the atmosphere and service was no worse the wear because of it.

Sweet Surrender

Posted by Regan

Having recently moved from San Francisco to New York, I still toggle the coasts pretty regularly. A trip out West seems to always include a visit to Miette in Hayes Valley, a candy store that's equal parts Parisian confiserie and five-and-dime, with a dash of dressing-room girlishness that's irresistible.

Finding Inspiration Everywhere

  Posted by Lena

It was during my second "real" job as a junior designer for Calvin Klein that I learned to see inspiration in everything around me. It's something that is so much a part of me now. I had always been really observant, but I learned to store memories of textures, pattern, colors, etc. for future design projects.

Last month, I went on vacation to the Caribbean with my husband's family. Coming from the barren winter in New York, it was so nice to see lush plants and flowers again! There is a lot of glitz and glamour on St.
Barths, but I was drawn more to the simple beauty -- both man-made and natural.

Here are a few inspiring things I saw on my trip:

Looking up at beams, that remind me of Scandinavian woodwork

Decorative trim and bold color choices

Seeing future textile patterns everywhere...

Austin Picks

    Posted by Regan

If you are in town for SXSW, check out my picks for everything from coffee and dinner, to shopping and sightseeing.

Late Night eats or Hung-Over Brunch

Kerbey Lane

2700 South Lamar Blvd

For round-the-clock breakfast (try the special pancakes), great migas, and can't-miss queso dip.

Lamberts

Fancy-ish Dinner

Lamberts Downtown Barbecue

401 W 2nd Street

Lambert's serves "modern Texan cuisine" (that's BBQ with a high-class twist). Go there for high-quality smoked meats, innovative sides, and great homemade desserts.

 

Meet for Drinks

Hotel San Jose

1361 South Congress

There's no way you'll be scoring a room at this cool bungalow-style hotel, but you can still stop by for happy hour. Sip micheladas in the outdoor lounge area, chat with cute local hipsters, and maybe even catch a glimpse of David Byrne.

The Long Goodbye

    Posted by Sarah

Well, it has been three months since Blueprint magazine shuttered its doors. And after watching the dust settle around me and going through the five stages of grief, like, six times, I'm at last moving on.

Rather than weigh down my last Bluelines post with sappiness and soupiness, I figured I'd instead leave you with an inspiring story about turning lemons into lemonade, finding the silver lining in a cloud, seeing the glass as half full (insert every other cliche about making the best of an unfortunate situation).

If you suddenly find yourself the editor of a magazine that no longer exists, I highly recommend a trip to South Africa. Lord knows you've been too busy to take a real vacation in more than two years, and, once you suck up the steep airfare, the rest of the trip is actually pretty reasonable.

Begin your trip in Cape Town and stay at the Cape Cadogan boutique hotel.

Splurge on the Owner's Villa -- replete with a cheese-stocked refrigerator and your own personal plunge pool -- because, hey, you deserve it.

While in Cape Town, alternate fresh air and glorious views with gluttonous meals. After a morning spent hiking Table Mountain, which rises steeply over the city…

Brand New Blue

Posted by Bluelines

As promised, Bluelines has undergone a facelift (the fun kind). It might seem subtle but we've made some big additions. Here's a rundown of what's new.

If they're not already drawn there immediately, direct your eyes upward and you'll see six cool new banners by the incredibly talented artist Keith Shore. (More about him later.) We'll be rotating the artist behind our banners every month so if you'd like to be considered or want to suggest someone, please email us.

We've got a new list of contributors who'll be blogging about what inspires them, makes them laugh, and generally makes them weak in the knees. There are a few familiar faces, and a couple of new ones sprinkled in. We hope you come to like them all.

On the top left, we've tweaked our navigation, so play around with it and discover the archived treasures that lie within. Here, you'll find all of the previous Bluelines posts archived.

Navigation button No. 10 deserves a paragraph of its own. We've created a source book full of our favorite websites, blogs, artists, and resources. Here you'll also find all of Blueprint's beloved 100 Reasons To...  -- which contain a bevy of links, facts, and inspiration. We'll be adding to that list constantly, so check back often.

You'll also notice that we've created home tours of our favorite Blueprint features. Take a virtual tour of Suzanna Bierwith's Chicago row house, and watch as Sarah Humphreys's tiny Manhattan apartment goes from claustrophobic to chic. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they are also rife with great decorating tips and ideas to steal. And, of course, we'll be adding more of them.

New ideas, a new look, and new contributors -- we hope that's what you've been hankering for.

Just some of what's to come

Best Of Bluelines

Posted by Blueprint

While we're looking forward to our retooled blog, we've also been looking back at the posts over the past year. Here are just a few of our favorite posts:

120 Days Later

Too Much Of A Cute Thing

A Madman In The Heath

Creative Currents

The Writing's On The Wall

How Swede It Is

Go Ahead Jump

Making My Case

Ottoman Empire

Studio Tour: Binth

Family Trees

The Art Of Reduction

Do you have any favorite posts?

Blueprint's Legacy

Posted by Blueprint

We're so glad to see that you're excited about the new additions to the blog come March. And now we have another announcement: As of Friday February 29th, the Blueprint main page on MarthaStewart.com will cease to exist. It sounds intense, but here's what it means: If you come to Bluelines via blueprintmag.com, or through the Blueprint channel on MarthaStewart.com, please bookmark the blog's main page so you can come back. You can also still get to Bluelines via our Community and Blogs pages. (And all of those nice people's blogs who've linked to us.)

We know it's a little bit rough, so before anyone freaks out, please rest assured that all of your beloved Blueprint content will still be available online -- in fact, we've listed all the ways to find it below.

Home & Decorating

Take a peek at home ideas -- great and small with a Blueprint twist.

Also don't miss our Organizing Tip of the Day

Crafts

You'll find great DIY jewelry (a la Katie),  Page's flat-screen tv cozy, and our Craft of the Day (which includes many Blueprint ideas)

Entertaining

Find all of the Blueprint party menus, to-do lists, playlists and prep stuff here

Food

Blueprint recipes -- from soup to well nuts (...like Blueprint's roasted almonds)

roasted almonds

soup recipes

Health

Need ideas for a healthy & quick breakfast?  Want to take up jogging? Need a new makeup palette? Look no further.

and lastly...

Simply type "Blueprint" in our SEARCH box on MarthaStewart.com or any page to be directed to those great blue ideas in the sky.

*But most importantly, come here for your daily "blue" content.

L.A. Looks

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

As a teenager I associated Los Angeles with shiny sports cars, Luke Perry (plus the rest of the 90210 gang), and a brand of hair gel. Over the years, I've found much less superficial things to love -- namely the sunny weather, access to unspoiled natural beauty, and fresh produce. (And by fresh I mean, straight from a tree: I have the luxury of plucking blood oranges from my friend's yard to create fresh-squeezed mimosas.) Possibly the best thing is that with each return trip I discover something new to like. On a recent restorative weekend visit (courtesy of accumulated airline miles), I found two places to add to the list of L.A.-musts.

Musso & Frank's, the oldest eatery in Hollywood

For Your Peru-sal

 

   Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

In order to keep myself from doing the blog equivalent of boring all my friends to tears with an hour-by-hour account of my September trip to Peru, I've decided to post only a handful of photos from the adventure -- strictly limited to design- and architecture-related sights* -- and to keep the commentary to a minimum. Mostly, I want to show a little of the breathtaking range of beautiful buildings you can see in Peru (as in many other Central and South American countries).

We'll start with the surprisingly modern new construction in Lima's Miraflores district...

A high-rise that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Love this pairing of dark glass and wood.

...then cut to Cuzco and old Lima's colonial treasures...

It feels almost like a classical music composition -- so much order and repetition, but with flourishes and a distinct mood, thanks to the color.

So many angles and lines.

The Convent of Santo Domingo, built (like much of Cuzco) atop existing Inca walls and façades .

Spanish wooden balconies overlook the courtyard of Cuzco's Hotel Marqueses.

...and then to Machu Picchu's really old treasures...

*The adorable exception: Chinchillas in the Mist. (Please don't correct me if this is not, in fact, a wild chinchilla, because when would I ever get to write "chinchillas in the mist" again?)

...and a shot of the new and the old butting right up against each other.

A Miraflores juxtaposition.

A few haute-rustic eco-friendly gems round out the mix...

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel in Aguas Calientes.

...and charming design ideas and details abound.

 

Colorful traditional blankets at the Inkaterra.

Bookshelves that double as art, also at the Inkaterra.

 

I love the inventive use of materials here. The shelves look like oven racks, and the books are all tied up with twine. (Not so practical for those who actually read.)

The rooms are designed to put the view front and center.

A pretty and practical candle display at the Inka Grill in Cuzco.

A beautifully muted, earthy color palette.

Not a decorative element per se, but the local alpacas and llamas inspire so many designers, I feel like this guy should count.

What are your favorite architectural cities to visit?

Pop It Like It’s Hot

Posted by Shira, Editorial Assistant, Art

When I wake up, most of the Eastern Seaboard is still sound asleep in their cozy beds. So when I'm ready to ship out and start my two-hour commute, I don't want to think about, well, anything. I used to worry that the lid of my coffee container (holding precious Tazo Chai with vanilla creamer) would flip off and leave me either scalded or stained, but I’ve discovered a spill-proof holder for my bevy: OXO Good Grips LiquiSeal Travel Mug. One click of a button and my coffee is suctioned shut; another click and I'm tossing back my java. I can fill up this bad boy, toss it in my bag, and not worry about which way it lands. I do miss having a handle and the option of cleaning the mug in the dishwasher, but I think it’s a small price to pay since I’m no longer nursing minor burns or washing out my bag. Plus, it comes in an array of great colors.

 

Shira-tested, we're not sure if it's mother-approved

Tried & True

Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

There's little that's more gratifying than hearing about how people pull ideas from Blueprint and adapt them to fit their own homes, lifestyles, and dinner tables. (Well, there's also payday, but still, sometimes this is better.) Here are a few outstanding examples of our readers' creative reuse.

The first comes to us from Maria at Port2Port Press. She took inspiration from the beaker-turned-water-decanter in "Company Perks," our office-organizing story from the September/October 2007 issue, and set up her own stylish rehydration station in her letterpress studio.

 

Maria and her new Erlenmeyer flask for water

(Maria happily reports that all her workday dry spells have subsequently been doused.)

Then we heard from Lori Cannava of New York City: "I wanted to thank Blueprint for the awesome "100 Reasons to Hit the Road" July/August suggestion for staying at the Shady Dell in Bisbee, AZ. I went on a cross-country trip from Orlando, FL, to Los Angeles, CA, and made a detour to stay at the Shady Dell, and I could not have been happier! The owner is lovely, the site is precious, and the town of Bisbee could not have been cuter. My friend and I had way too much fun taking pictures in front of our tiny 1952 Airstream trailer."

 

"Other places that we found and love: The Austin Motel is a vintage motel with themed rooms and a great pool. Hotel Brunswick, in Kingman, AZ, off Route 66, offers a $35 cowgirl room that has no frills, but is a major deal on a legendary road. Supposedly, the restaurant inside the hotel is terrific -- it's just not open on Saturdays! However, Mr. D's diner is open, and only one block away. It's a classic throwback with Elvis and Marilyn strewn over every surface. They serve great eggs and even whip up a mean chocolate shake at 9 in the morning."

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, Anne Ditmeyer went back to our Fall 2006 wine-tasting party story for ideas on throwing her own. She dished about the bash on her blog, Pret A Voyager: "Last year Blueprint magazine had a great article on throwing your own wine-tasting party -- it's really much easier than it looks. The article had lots of great suggestions (like using a craft paper tablecloth and making wine-stain place markers) and provided wonderful inspiration for my very own wine tasting -- with a twist. I'm a travel nut, so my well-traveled guests were assigned to bring a bottle from a country or region they had visited, instead of a particular type of wine. And besides the hodgepodge of thrift store glassware, most of the other dishes I used had been picked up on various travels. We found that it's possible to travel vicariously through wine."

Anne's picture-perfect party spread.

Next, Adelaide Fives of New York's In Good Company used a trick from our May/June cover story, "It Takes 2", in her office. She says: "My partner and I recently launched a flexible workspace for women business owners in New York. We had never decorated an office before, but knew how important the décor and feel of the space would be for our clients. We really wanted to have an open work space, but also give people some sense of privacy. We looked forever and hated every cube/traditional desk that we saw. Then you published the issue of Blueprint with the white desks and plexiglas divider, and my partner and I instantly thought, 'That's it!'"

The desks in situ at In Good Company

"Everyone who comes through the space asks who our interior designer was and tells us how gorgeous it all looks! The plexiglas is turning out to be the perfect look and solution," Fives says.

Also in New York, Gabrielle at DesignMom took on an extensive porch makeover inspired by our May/June version, and the results are breathtaking.

The porch, before

The porch, after

With the help of her husband, Ben, she -- deep breath! -- removed the screen; painted the door green and the handle and knocker silver; replaced the overgrown shrubs with plants from other parts of the yard that needed more room to breathe; swapped the old porch light for a modern fixture from Ikea ("It hangs lower and adds more welcoming light as you approach the house," she says); bought a shiny, red Swedish mailbox to add a little more pop; installed a new doorbell and house numbers; and added some terra cotta pots with warm, colorful flowers. Nice work, Gabrielle!

Finally, we picked our favorite submission from the "What's the most inventive thing you've ever framed?" contest, and here's the winner:

Caroline Duke of Oklahoma City used a wire in her frame to clip up some images, and rested other objects on the frame's ledge. She says: "I've got a tendency to snatch up old frames from my grandma's garage but never know quite what to do with them. I figured this was a nice alternative to a bulletin board and a pretty way to display the things that inspire me. I just tacked some wire to the back and used alligator clips to hang the pretty stuff."

Caroline's frame

Thanks, Caroline! And thanks to all the others who sent in beautiful framing ideas!

If you've been inspired by Blueprint, don't be shy! Please share your tips, travels, and projects by e-mailing us. 

Beds and Breakfasts

Posted by Scott, Contributing Style Editor

One of the perks of a French boyfriend is having a talking French-English dictionary with you when traveling through his native country. On a recent month long trip to France, my boyfriend, Christophe, and I zigzagged all over the country. We started up north in Lille, where Christophe is from. That's where I saw this amazing cow -- a true cover girl! Could the setting be any more perfect?

La vache qui ne rit jamais

Then we went south for a week, bon vivant-ing our way through the Côte d'Azur. We stopped in Roquefort les Pins, a tiny village located in the foothills of Nice, where an unspoiled beach was less than a half hour away. We laid our heads at Mas Shabanou, a quaint bed-and-breakfast owned by a Dutch couple.

Like van Gogh and Cézanne before me, I was inspired by the beauty of Provence, where we were for a week. In Saint-Rémy de Provence, we stayed at Mas Shamrock, another quaint B and B, this one owned by an Irish couple. 

Here is my bed ...

... and this is where we ate breakfast. 

Lavender, roses, and olive trees grew in the yard and neighboring fields. I continue to ask myself why my life isn't like this every day.

We dropped in at Versailles (which I called 'Versillies') on our way to Paris. It was practically deserted the day we went, which made the visit even more surreal. It's hard to imagine that this vast palace was once an actual home; it's so magnificent, well-groomed, and magical!

Versailles to myself

Vélib, Paris's recently instituted free bike-rental program, was by far the most amazing part of my trip to France. You can't ask for a better way to explore and discover Paris than on a bike. You can pick one up and drop one off every few blocks, just by putting down a 1 euro deposit. I can't say enough about this system: We need it in New York!

The Vélibs even come with baskets!

So many Vélibs!

Everyone looks better on a bicycle

 

Autumn Adventure

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

When confronted with the mayhem of the Port Authority last Friday night, my vision of a weekend in Albany -- actually thrifty thrift stores, diner grub, and possibly illegal bonfires -- faded fast. After drowning my autumnal fantasy in beer on Friday night, I woke up Saturday and hatched a new plan: I invited a bunch of friends (including one with a car) to explore upstate New York -- just not as UPstate as Albany.

My pals (slightly more high-minded than I) wanted to squeeze in some culture, and I wanted to commune with nature, so we compromised and headed first to the modern art museum, Dia:Beacon, in Beacon, NY, and then to an apple orchard. While there's a Metro-North station adjacent to the museum for easy access, no fall escapade would be complete without a scenic drive. And rambling along the tree-lined Palisades Parkway is just the thing to put you in an upstate frame of mind. (Singing along loudly to Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" also helps.)

Although I had been eager to go straight to the apple-picking leg of our journey, I was pleasantly surprised by the Dia:Beacon. Housed in a former Nabisco factory, the space maintains its industrial feel but gains airiness from its renovations. Expansive views of the Hudson River and surrounding trees -- afforded by walls of alternately opaque and transparent windows -- create an interesting backdrop for the often physically intimidating works of Donald Judd and Joseph Beuys. The natural light also recast certain pieces for me: Richard Serra's torqued steel monoliths, which were recently on view at MoMA, became warm and inviting thanks to patches of light streaming in from the windows. Without the glare of fluorescents, the beautiful striations of color in the rust became more interesting than the imposing structures themselves.

Also inspiring were the Sol Lewitt wall drawings, on view through September 2008. They were essentially squares of supersize graph paper transferred in graphite and colored pencils directly onto the white walls (most likely by a squad of meticulous assistants). The giant proportions created a cool, spirograph effect, and if I ever have an apartment with twenty-foot ceilings and learn how to make a straight line, I'll re-create them on my own walls.

Finally, we headed to Weed Orchards, about 20 minutes away in Marlboro, NY to pick apples. While this orchard was pretty much overpicked, for city-dwellers with tiny kitchens it was just fine. Besides, they had the most amazing cider doughnuts I've ever tasted. I sampled a half-dozen for investigative purposes and am proud to report that they were consistently oven-fresh and delicious.

On Sunday, I started to freak out about how many apples I'd brought home and tried to incorporate them into every meal: oatmeal with apples for breakfast; grilled apple and cheddar sandwich for lunch; and salmon, apples, and mushrooms for dinner (it was, um, interesting). For dessert, I took it up a notch by making a Cranberry, Apple, and Maple Phyllo. Phyllo, I learned, is a temperamental dough, and could have been substituted for chocolate in that infamous 'I Love Lucy' skit. My first attempt was charred beyond recognition and I ripped most of the paperlike rest, but the end result was not as crude as I thought it would be -- and tasted delicious with a dollop of yogurt.

Trouble is, I'm still buried in apples.  Any suggestions?

 

Small Wonders

Posted by Sarah, Associate Fashion Editor

Traveling for work is a nice break from the fluorescent light bulbs in the office but it can be a terror on my skin and hair. Does anyone come back raving about the soap or conditioner from a Holiday Inn?

So before Katie and I recently headed to Las Vegas to attend a fashion trade show, I decided to BMOT (Bring My Own Toiletries) -- preferably the gentle, great-smelling kind that make me forget I am in a "who knows who's been in here" shower.

My first stop? The West Village travel store, Flight 001. There, I scooped up a Malin + Goetz 1oz. Essentials Travel Kit.

 

I've always loved Malin + Goetz for its minimalist packaging and natural ingredients, so I was excited to get a set with six products, including a few that were new to me.

I loved the gentle Grapefruit Face Cleanser and was thrilled that my super sensitive-skin had no reaction. And I depleted the entire bottle of Vitamin b5 Body Moisturizer as the desert air sucked moisture out of my skin!

I highly recommend the $30 set for anyone who travels a lot or simply wants to shake up the daily morning routine.

Another perk? The bottles are small enough to comply with FAA regulations and leave ample room in your suitcase for more important things…say, an extra pair of shoes.

Bon voyage!

The Sheltered Life

Posted by Kerstin, Online Editor

As promised back on August 22, I have more tales to tell from my recent getaway to Shelter Island.

We booked rooms at Sunset Beach, a hotel equally famous for its killer sunsets and over-the-top guests. I am happy to report that it lived up to both reputations -- especially on Sunday afternoons, when the bar/cafe is in full Fellini-esque swing. I wanted to post photos of some of the more flamboyant guests, but decided to protect the not-so-innocent. (Let's just say that one scene involved a girl passed out on the beach, her head propped on a champagne bucket.)

The activity had slowed down considerably by Tuesday morning, though -- in fact, the island seemed like a different place. After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the now-desolate beach, we discovered "the nap room," just off the main dining area. If I ever own a home larger than 600 square feet, I am definitely copying this idea. The indoor porch was lined with big, fluffy daybeds atop built-in bookshelves (lined with volumes ranging from Valley of the Dolls to Voltaire).

 

My friend Sonya enjoying a quick book break.

The namesake nightly sunsets, viewed from the comfort of our room's front deck, provided another opportunity for living it up in low-key fashion.

The rest of our stay was filled with bike rides around the island, a quick ferry trip to Sag Harbor for an afternoon, and excursions to scope out local antiques shops and restaurants -- a necessity, because while the food and drink at Sunset were aesthetically pleasing (see below), the prices left us gasping (e.g., $16 mojitos).

Sunset Beach crudités.

The worth-a-mint mojito.

On the advice of many of the locals, we headed to Commander Cody's, a nearly impossible-to-find place that is basically a trailer in the backyard of the owner and chef (yep, you guessed it, Cody). The menu promised, "If you want it 'hooked' up right, let the Commander do it." The only things he couldn't hook us up with were drinks, so we picked up a bottle of rosé and one of Sancerre to sip with our fried shrimp, macaroni and cheese, and clam chowder. The fried shrimp was something to be savored; the view of the Commander's crab pots and dry dock vessel -- not so much. There are less adventurous culinary experiences to be found on the island; check out some here.

In the end, we decided that the best place to wolf down the Commander's paper-plate specials would be on our Sunset Beach deck with a mojito. Maybe next year, we'll have it delivered.

Any memorable summer getaways (or misadventures) you want share?

Signs Of The Times

Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

As a city dweller with no access to a car (and, really, no desire to drive one in unfamiliar territory), a basic knowledge of the nearest public-transit-accessible beaches is indispensable in the summer. Having not yet acquired this knowledge, I started to panic one recent Friday when I realized I had to get out of the city for the weekend but had no idea where to go. Fortunately, my intrepid and spontaneous travel partner hopped on the computer around 10:30 p. m. and found a suitable beach getaway that we could reach with a combination of subway, New Jersey Transit bus, and feet: Wildwood, New Jersey.

A resort town that experienced a boom of Doo-Wop architecture in the '50s and '60s, Wildwood has made the decision to remain stuck in the past. About 200 motels in the Doo-Wop style still exist, and they make up the majority of the waterfront development in the area. Each one has a theme, but almost all feature the same fake palm trees by their pools, and usually a sign in sun-bleached colors. Here are some examples:

The plastic palms, with a pirate in the distance.

The W, not to be confused with the luxury hotel chain.

I half expected Greg Brady to come running out of this one, toting his cursed tiki.

The pastel-perfect Bristol, with the ever popular "lava rock" walls.

The dramatically lit Crusader.

There are also some non-hotel architectural gems, like this mid-century church:

Wildwood also has a massive boardwalk and three amusement piers with roller coasters, arcade games, and even waterslides. Some of the rides are really beautiful, and it took the equivalent of wild horses (read: a two-mile walk back to the hotel to drop off my bag) to keep me off the "lazy river."

(Note: Coney Island this is not. You won’t find any beer vendors or daiquiri machines along the boardwalk -- which may explain why it seemed so clean. Venture just off the boardwalk across the street from the convention center to the Barefoot Bar in the Oceanic Hotel if you need to wet your whistle. Skip the divey front room and head around back to the swim-up pool and jacuzzi. It's free for hotel guests and a $5 cover for walk-ins. And after a long, hot day on the dry boardwalk, it’s worth it.)

An unexpected bonus on this trip: Discovering that the local convention center screens movies on the beach nightly throughout the summer -- first-run movies. For $8 each, we hauled our blanket out to the huge stretch of sand between the waves and the boardwalk and watched a 10 p. m. showing of Superbad. Score. You can also see movies in this adorable single-screen theater:

The Sea Theater.

And if all else fails, hit one of the half-dozen mini-golf courses scattered throughout Wildwood and shoot for a hole in one. I certainly got one on my trip! (Sorry.)

Weekend Addition

Posted by Milano, Editorial Assistant

The approach of Labor Day weekend can be kind of a bummer -- the symbolic time to set summer aside and get serious. But for most of us, there's plenty of warm weather left, and, of course, one last glorious long weekend to make the most of. Here are some ideas cribbed from my own adventures that may spark a little late-season inspiration.

1) Rent a boat.
Over Memorial Day weekend, I chartered a boat off the coast of Maine with a few pals. We cruised in and around this breathtaking archipelago (all considered part of magical Roque Island), and saw seals from afar.

Unfortunately, every time we even thought about getting a closer look, they bolted. If you happen to be in Maine, check out the boat rentals at Mansells and see if you have better luck than we did.

[For those of you who will be in New York City, head straight to Loeb Boathouse in Central Park: It’s amazing to gaze up at skyscrapers while rowing a boat in the middle of a lake (and was my favorite pastime growing up in the Big Apple). When your triceps start trembling, paddle in and treat yourself to a gourmet bite overlooking the lake at the restaurant next door.]

2) Hang out with farm animals.
Roque Island also features an operating farm full of fluffy, muddy, and smelly characters. We city slickers spent quality time with some robust pigs, a whole village of sheep, and handsome horses that would walk right up to the porch for petting sessions.

Look for a family farm near you on the Local Harvest site.

3) Feast on lobster.
Trips to coastal towns seem incomplete without a little shell-cracking, butter-dipping, and lip-licking.

Nowhere near a coast this weekend (or ever)? Not to worry -- many seafood sources, like Trenton Bridge Lobster, ship overnight to anywhere in the U. S. And they do it year-round!

4) Be a beach bum.
Enough said. If you get hot, build a shaded sand hut for secret convos and gatherings.

5) Host a badminton tournament in your backyard.
I participated in one in Westport, Connecticut, a few weeks ago, although ours was a bit of a spoof. Sure, there were birdies, rackets and nets, and some serious players who showed up to win, but most of us just sipped on Pimms' cups and gawked at everyone else's "uniforms." Naturally, there was a costume contest, and the winners got trophies.  (My partner and I ran with Kung Fu Badminton -- can you believe we didn't win?)

What about the rest of you? Any big plans for the holiday weekend? And when do you start packing up your bikinis and flip-flops?

New York Upstate Of Mind

Posted by Shira, Editorial Assistant, Art

In our "100 Reasons to Hit the Road" story, we could only include so many hot spots across the country. Recently, after spending a weekend in upstate New York and revisiting an old haunt (that’d be #88, the Rhinebeck Grille & Cantina -- a.k.a. The Starr Bar) I feel inclined to pay tribute to my wonderful trip by sharing some highlights.

Traces of the Rhinebeck Grille and Cantina’s origins.

The bar’s current exterior.

The actual bar (in the middle of a gorgeously sunny day, thus the empty barstools).

Said weekend involved six of my dearest friends, many of whom I’ve known since the age of eight. We spent our youths together at a summer camp in the Hudson Valley and later instituted a tradition of making a pilgrimage there each summer. This year, we booked rooms at The Grand Dutchess, a bed and breakfast in a Victorian house lovingly restored by its owner, and former Brooklynite, Elizabeth. Located in Red Hook, across from our favorite pizza place (that’d be Salvatore’s -- try the Grandma’s pizza), we’d driven by this boldly painted building for years and finally got to check out its interiors.

The Grand Dutchess features six guest rooms on the second and third floors.

Saturday was spent ambling around Rhinebeck, which (along with many towns in the area) has seen a resurgence over the last decade. All of us fell in love with the Carreras store and its co-owner, Dallas. The colorful wares (candles, soaps, pillows, and glassware by artist Margarita Carreras) popped alongside magnificent orchids and gerberas in corresponding colors. Most of us purchased the votive candle quartet, as we couldn’t decide on a favorite scent (but mango, guava, and plum did rate highest).

Mid-afternoon we squeezed in a Holy Cow trip. The ice cream is scrumptious and you can’t beat the prices (I’m pretty sure we didn’t spend more than $10 as a group). The place has been around for more than two decades and hasn’t changed much, as far as I can tell. They still sell the mouth-watering ice cream cakes we’d get at camp every time a bunkmate turned a year older.

Heaven on earth. Or at least on a sugar cone.

We then hit our culinary go-to spot: Terrapin. This converted church is a dining destination, with a main dining room as well as a more casual café. If I could offer you one piece of advice, it’d be to order the tuna. Or the duck quesadillas. Or the goat cheese wontons. Better yet, go with a large group, order as many different items as possible, and taste them all!

Terrapin, with its former church façade.

We’ll start planning next year’s weekend at the beginning of 2008, as some of us fly in and hotels fill up fast. We’re planning on trying out the highly-recommended Mercato and fitting in another round of blueberry picking. If you’re interested in an early-autumn road trip, the sixth annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest is scheduled for September 8th and 9th at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck.

Gimme Shelter

Posted by Kerstin, Online Editor

Some friends and I recently spent a long weekend on Shelter Island

to escape the heat, humidity, and sticky subway cars of New York. We had been told by several reliable sources that although the island was just a short ferry ride from the Hamptons

, it was a more relaxed, chill scene. (More on that claim in an upcoming post.)

To get the ladies in the mood, I whipped up a playlist (you can download the iMix, if you're interested.)

1. "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones
I know it's corny, but I couldn't resist. And it is a great roadtrip song.

2. "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb" by Spoon
From my favorite album of the summer. I defy you to keep your body still or not smile while listening to it.

3. "Who the Cap Fit" by Bob Marley
You can throw out that old college tape of "Legend" now. It's overdone. This is classic Marley.

4. "Nuestras Demadas" by B-Side Players
I love a song that mixes a lollygagging sound with rebellious lyrics that condemn the "financial rats of Babylon."

5. "Misunderstanding" by Electric Soft Parade
The band's out of Brighton, England, so it's no surprise that they know how to make beach-resort-friendly tunes.
6. "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z (featuring UGK)
Not really my style, but it had to be included for any possible yacht-party invites.

7. "Soledad" by Jorge Drexler
Perfect for sipping a mojito on the beach while watching the sun set.

8. "Plasticities" by Andrew Bird
No real reason to include this … other than the fact this guy is so good, it’s scary.

9. "Walk in My Shoes" by Emily King featuring Notorious B.I.G. *
An up-and-coming artist from New York. I like to think of it as a modern girls' "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'."

*This full version (with salty lyrics) is hard to come by, but the radio edit is on iTunes.

10. "Ragoo" by Kings of Leon
There's something so "let's ditch sixth period and drive around" about these guys.

11. "Koop Island Blues" by Koop
This track simply has "relax" written all over it.

12. "Mozambique" by Bob Dylan
This always reminds me of escaping. I also love the disparity between Dylan's craggy, uneven delivery and Emmylou Harris' silky-smooth backup.

13. "Closer" by Travis
Another good one for sunsets.

14. "Oh My God, Whatever, Etc." by Ryan Adams
Say what you will, but Adams has a knack for churning out apparently throwaway, slacker songs that unfold into complex and beautiful classics.

15. "Slit Skirts" by Pete Townsend
It boggles my mind when he is absent from very short lists of amazing songwriter/guitarists/vocalists. A must-have.

16. "Out on the Weekend"  (Neil Young cover) as performed by Girls In Hawaii *
One of my favorites from "Harvest." Plus, it's nice to hear a bunch of young Belgian guys singing a Southern California classic.

* This is unavailable to buy, but you can listen to it from an archived live session here.

 

Tuscan Fun

Posted by Rebecca,  Senior Home Editor

I could blog about all the food and wine I had during my recent trip to Tuscany, but that would be predictable. Instead, I'm excited to share this great (non-edible) discovery: a store called Brico "Fai Da Te," which means "do-it –yourself." That's right -- it's Italy's Home Depot!

Of course, it wasn’t just the usual power tools and 5-gallon containers of paint. My favorite parts were:

* thick felt in tons of colors, along with instructions on how to make your own slippers

* Florentine contact paper

* a whole aisle devoted to wine-making tools! Look at the beautiful packaging for these corks.

* curtain rods in tons of colors (these are just a few)

* fantastic green hampers

So if you someday find yourself in Italy needing to burn off some calories from all the eating and drinking, now you know where to go.

More Swede Things

Posted by Rebecca,  Senior Home Editor

Time for more tips for your upcoming trip to Sweden! Yes, you have to go. And you absolutely must visit Svenskt Tenn. It's filled with Josef Frank’s inspiring designs: furniture, fabric, wallpaper, lighting. I want it all!

Then there is Skansen, one of the largest open-air museums in the world. When I went, it was raining and I was tired, but I forgot all about that as soon as I saw the amazing buildings and interiors.