St Lucia Sunset

Between the famous Pitons is Ladera resort - where you can stay for a luxurious suite in the mountains with open rooms facing the west...or just go for a cocktail, gorgeous sunset and delicious dinner.  It's pretty much paradise and if I could be anywhere right now on this dreary Monday morning in Manhattan, it would be drinking a coffee on the porch of the Ladera resort in St Lucia!

Simon Pearce in Quechee, Vermont

If you like pottery and blown glass, Simon Pearce is your store.  Brides, as Simon Pearce is known for their quality, I highly recommend to register there for their wine glasses, pottery, pitchers, vases and my favorite, their lamps. I have visited the store  in NYC and Greenwich, CT but my favorite is going to their store, workshop and restaurant at The Mill in Quechee, Vermont.  You can watch them at work with glass blowing and pottery workshops in the lower level!  Then on the 2nd floor of the store are "seconds" which are pieces made that aren't exactly to the standards to retail for full price so they are for a large discount...when regular people would many times, never see the difference. The restaurant at Simon Pearce is also excellent with local seasonal ingredients - so you must make this visit to the Mill at Quechee around lunch or dinner! History of Simon Pearce

The Mill at Quechee

Simon Pearce Retail Store

1760 Quechee Main Street
Quechee, VT 05059
802-295-2711

Happy Saturday at Friend of a Farmer!

Photo from New York Magazine by Carmen Lopez and AJ Williams

Brunch in New York City is what I look forward to the most every weekend! I am moving out of Gramercy Park at the end of May and will miss my favorite brunch spot, Friend of a Farmer, on Irving Place, but will be sure to return often! It's the only menu in New York City that calls oatmeal - Porridge - and it truly is your grandmother's porridge!  I also love the Apple Butter that they serve here with the bread, it reminds me of being in Vermont or New England and certainly tricks me into thinking that I'm away from New York City - or at least for an hour or 2.  What does remind me that I'm in NYC is the huge line to get in starting at about 11:15am Saturdays and Sundays so the trick is to get there by 10:45am and you should beat the NYC brunch crowd.  Once you are through the doors, the ambiance transports you upstate.  It feels like a shabby (and not chic) old country farmhouse - its even built so tall people can hardly fit through narrow hall and small private dining room upstairs.  But the wooden beams, farmtables, fireplace and wallpaper really takes you out of the rush of New York City.  For brunch, I love that the omelettes are cooked and served in individual iron cast pans (my go-to fav is the cheddar cheese, bacon & tomato omelette).  And the Eggs Bennie, Cinnamon Raisin French Toast and Blueberry Pancakes well are all just delicious.  My only complaint is that they charge you for extra maple syrup - so for that moment I remember I'm in NYC again. For dinner, Friend of the farmer is a good, low-key spot to get a "home-cooked meal" with comfort food taking your thoughts away to the Countryside.  Just don't ask for more maple syrup!

Friend of a Farmer
77 Irving Place (18th & 19th St) 212-477-2188

A Different View of California Wine Country

Take a break from wine tasting and take a World War II Bi-Plane tour of the beautiful Sonoma and Napa Valleys. After a few glasses of sparkly at Gloria Ferrer Vineyards in Sonoma, my friends who are afraid of flying saw the plane in the air and became curious!  We went across the street to Vintage Aircraft and before we knew it the 2 girls were off...while the other 3 of us cheered them on!  It was the highlight of our trip! Sonoma Airport is just north of where Route 171 and 37 intersect which is where Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley cross.


Vintage Aircraft Company
23982 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476
707-938-2444
www.vintageaircraft.com

Amy Carlstead Photography

My friend, Amy Carlstead, loves to travel and she is also an amazing photographer!  Please check out her work on her website.  You can even purchase her photographs from here blown up to various sizes. http://amycarlstead.zenfolio.com

Deer Valley Vacation

I LOVED the Lodges at Deer Valley for our ski trip this year during Sundance.  It is set up like a hotel for convenience but the 1 bedrooms are HUGE and have 2 full bathrooms. There is a Huge Kitchen opening to a livingroom and big diningroom table. It's all wooden Western Furniture, Flat Screen TVs, Huge Fireplace and Big Windows - you want to move out West after staying here! It's not right on the mountain, but to save $400 a night, it's quite worth it!  My biggest concern is convenience especially with skiing and there is always a personal hotel shuttle available to take you to the mountain and pick you up - and to take your skis from you.  They really pamper you here at Lodges at Deer Valley!  You can even rent your skis and boots in the hotel. I highly recommend you go with a few  friends to make a big dinner at the diningroom table after a long day of skiing!

Join NY Magazine Bridals and Kate Spade!

Brides...you should go!
Wednesday April 13
6p-8p
Kate Spade Flagship Store
454 Broome Street
RSVP to events@nymag.com

Pucci Purse!

I just love this Pucci Bag!  Such a classic take on Pucci and LOVE Navy and White!  I found it on ly.st which is such a cool site you can sign up for with so many designer's inspirations!

FARMHOUSE LOOK

I am decorating a new apartment and I just LOVE the farmhouse look. Sundance has some great pieces!  Sundance West Country Sideboard I just love. It isn't as bulky as some farmhouse styles because of the blue and natural wood color as well as the clear windowed doors.  

2011 & 2012 Brides, Check out New York Magazine's upcoming Weddings Event in March!

http://nymag.com/weddingsevent/?mid=372050&rid=122580576&mboxSession=122580576