Asheville, NC June 2009 - Day 2 1/2 (evening), 6.20

Meeting Luke, the Harley-riding dog, was an after-dinner highlight for both me and Carley

I was so excited to share my finds at Biltmore I forgot to tell you about the rest of our day! After touring America's largest private residence, Carley and scoped out the Lexington Avenue Bizarre Bazaar, which debuted this summer as yet another arts-oriented happening here. It consisted of a collection of local artists specializing in everything from graphic design to handmade clothing all tucked away in a cozy courtyard off of downtown's funkiest shopping corridor, Lexington Avenue. The bazaars were held as a fundraising effort for Arts 2 People's Asheville Mural Project. Although the original art prices were very reasonable, I hadn't budgeted to add to my collection. Instead, I picked up a few small items for friends - a mini-print/fridge magnet from science fiction artist Edward Rowles and a postcard from David and Meegan Cuzick's Circles & Squares. Check out Circles & Squares t-shirts and hoodies, too; they're super cool and come in sizes for small kids to adults. I opted instead to directly support the cause and picked up a great Asheville Mural Project tee.

We completed our day with a delicious meal at Salsa's downtown, where the food was off the charts amazing. I regret not taking note of exactly what I had, but it was the special that night and it involved everything from black beans and plantains to jalepenos and whole garlic cloves. I counted at least 10 different vegetables in the dish, and somehow they all worked together marvelously.

After that, we took in the sights and sounds of downtown, which included the rumble of a Harley approaching along Patton Avenue near Pack Square Park. But something was a bit different about this motorcycle. Perched in his own seat on the back was a yellow Labrador, who we soon learned is named Luke. And of course we took advantage of this photo op. Luke's owner, Lee, told us about how he has trained several dogs to accompany him on his two-wheeled jaunts. I'm told that this isn't exceptionally rare, but we were still amazed by Luke's ability to get on and off the bike by himself on command, cautiously avoiding the hot tailpipe going up and coming down. And he was a really sweet dog! Moving on, we stopped for a glass of wine at Vincenzo's and called it a night.

Great New JCI-Produced Video of Biltmore!

This just in ... While Biltmore has some fabulous videos on their site (referenced in the blog post below), our incredibly talented JCI video team of Mark Forester and Antony Boshier just completed a fabulous video that is now up on visitnc.com. <---- That link will take you to the video launch page, and it's not hard to miss. It's appropriately titled "Biltmore." Check it out!

Asheville, NC June 2009 - Day 2, 6.20

What a beautiful day for Biltmore!

But first, with a couple of hours before my college pal and Boone resident Carley was set to arrive, I had plenty of time to scope out the Asheville City Market. It's one of many options for those seeking fresh vegetables, fruits and meats from local sources. In fact, Asheville owes a large part of its reputation as the world's first Foodtopian Society to the growing roster of tailgate markets, larger farmers markets, CSAs and nearby farms that sell these homegrown delights to locavores and sustainability-minded chefs committed to eating indigenously.

Rollin' (and eatin') with the homies in Asheville ...

The market is held adjacent to Asheville's City Building, which is hard to miss thanks to its distinctive and colorful appearance. Designed by architect Douglas D. Ellington and completed in 1928, the building is considered one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture anywhere.

The striking design and colors atop
Asheville City Building, peeking through the treetops

Look for several other Ellington-designed buildings downtown, including the restored S&W Building, which once housed a cafeteria and now houses the restaurant, Steak & Wine. Clever how they employed such careful adaptive reuse to the structure AND letters in the name, huh?

On my walk, I took the opportunity to see other structures in this part of downtown – two in particular that are great representatives of the city's graceful transition from past to present. Just behind the Renaissance Asheville, construction continues on Pack Square Park, which will be a remarkable new gathering space for residents of a city already known for pulling out all the stops when it comes to celebrations and events. Regardless of whether an official happening is on the calendar – and many will be, thanks to a grand new performance stage – the new park will have plenty of amenities that will be enjoyable every day. At the link above, you can read more about the long history of this central area of the city.

Historical roots also firmly anchor the YMI Cultural Center to downtown Asheville. The building was commissioned in 1892 by George Vanderbilt and was built by the same skilled African-American craftsmen who helped construct Biltmore. It was intended to serve as a center of education, socialization, worship and recreation for the African-American community, and become known as the Young Men's Institute. The structure, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, today serves a similar role in housing the YMI Cultural Center, "the most enduring African-American socio-cultural institution in Western North Carolina," according to the YMI Web site.

A few steps down the hill and I'd arrived at market. The first dozen or so booths featured the works of local artists and craftspeople, with items ranging from original jewelry to beeswax candles in various unusual forms.

Buddha beeswax candle made by
Soulshine Candles of Black Mountain, N.C.

Shoppers peruse booth after booth of fresh veggies,
cheeses, baked goods and crafts.

After an unpleasant experience with a juicer, I am not
really fond of beets, but I hear they are fabulous once peeled, cut, drizzled with olive oil, salt & pepper, then roasted.
(Thanks Kim M. for the recipe!)
Now I want to go back and get these!

I checked out the market's various offerings and paused for a delicious cookie breakfast prepared by Amanda Silverman of Baked Asheville, one of several small businesses that have gotten a leg up from Blue Ridge Food Ventures commercial kitchen facility at the Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College Enka Campus. After about an hour of browsing, Carley arrived, so we immediately set out for lunch to fuel up for our afternoon visit to Biltmore. Still downtown, we didn't have to look far for a solid pick for lunch.

Tagline at Mayfel's: Come to Eat

That we did.

At Mayfel's, we split an order of Fried Green Tomatoes while we looked over the lunch menu. Their version of the appetizer is served with onion relish, goat cheese and roasted red pepper aioli ... mmm. I selected the Grilled Portabella with Provolone, pesto, lettuce, tomato and red onion on a ciabatta bun, and Carley chose the Crab Burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion and remoulade. We both ordered the Sweet Potato Fries, and within no time there was not even a crumb of evidence from their having existed on our plates. Very good, reasonably priced fare. The service was great and I genuinely loved the atmosphere.

Of course I generally am at home anyplace that has a cozy
combination of bright colors, crystal chandeliers
and birds perched along coiled copper wire. I mean it!

That's just my style and admittedly, it was far, far removed from the historic opulence that awaited us at Biltmore. I looked forward most to seeing the four new rooms within the mansion that opened in April 2009, but there is so much ground to cover. Seriously: The entire estate is 8,000 acres!

It was quite the hike out to take a photo of the whole front
of the home. I still couldn't fit it all in.

When I say four "new" rooms, I mean they are newly opened to the public; they were some of the best known and beloved rooms to the Vanderbilt family. One of the rooms was the birthplace of George and Edith Vanderbilt's only daughter, Cornelia, in 1900, then also of her two sons, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, in 1925 and 1928, respectively. Be sure to click the link above to learn more about the painstaking restoration of these rooms and understand their historical significance. There is a wonderful video and an audio tour on that page.

We did the standard, self-guided walking tour through the house. Unfortunately for you (and I can hear your cries as I write this), I cannot further impress you with my phone-camera skills by showing images within the home, as photography is prohibited indoors at Biltmore.

Biltmore taught me how truly low-maintenance I am. Literally. Despite the many priceless antiques and luxurious appointments found within, there were six main things that impressed me most about Biltmore, and half of them were in the basement.

The 6 Things That Make We Want To Live at Biltmore

1. The original fine art throughout the home, which includes works by Renoir, John Singer Sargent, Pellegrini and Boldini. Whenever I am able to see, in person, an original work of art that I studied growing up, it is incredibly comforting and astonishing at the same time. I felt this way when we entered the breakfast room see Renoir's Young Algerian Girl and Child with an Orange on the wall. ... Yes, I said BREAKFAST ROOM. These people meant business. So much for ever wanting a crafty Martha Stewart-style framed block print of apples for the breakfast nook again, right?

2. The library, which contains thousands of volumes of rare books encased within gorgeous floor-to-ceiling shelves (and on the ceiling in this room? Pellegrini The Chariot of Aurora from Venice's Pisani Palace). You'll also find one of Napoleon Bonaparte's old chess sets in this room. My only complaint about the library is that despite its seating area, the couches looked horrifyingly uncomfortable for getting cozy with a good book. I'd probably grab a really old volume of art history, load it onto a handtruck and plunk down with it in the Tapestry Gallery, where the couches looked a lot comfier.

3. The custom billiards tables on the first floor, created for the Vanderbilts in 1895.
In all honesty, if you added a jukebox and a pitchers of locally crafted beer, I might never leave this front room of the house.

4. The bowling alley, in the basement. See description for No. 3.

5. The pool ... in the basement. I'd always wanted to see this indoor, completely tiled pool, and now that I have, I'd pity the team of Scrubbing Bubbles who had to keep that clean. Also see description for No. 3.

6. The Halloween Room .. in the basement. I wasn't expecting this room, and I was positively delighted by it. It features murals painted on the walls by Cornelia Vanderbilt and her guests during a 1920s Halloween party. I can't find many online images of these murals, but something about them says good times were had by all.

Honorable mention: The gymnasium area, also in the basement. I would not, however, use this room for working out. I would go there to remind myself of the long way fitness equipment has come, then go work out elsewhere. You think an elliptical machine is a torture device? Go check out that rowing machine at Biltmore.

I also discovered that I much prefer the home's architecture over many of the styles reflected in its interior furnishings (although I'd hardly hold a yard sale if someone handed over the keys to the front door tomorrow). So I will conclude with several photos taken on the grounds.

Lion near the entrance to the home

Spectacular views from the balcony

Gorgeous gardens

Whimsical ornamental turtle fountain

For more on Biltmore, check out the main Biltmore site, which includes these videos: Biltmore - Videos

Also be sure to visit ashevillevisitorguide.com and exploreasheville.com

Asheville, NC June 2009 - Day 1, 6.19

Always entertaining Asheville . . .

This past weekend, I was thrilled to make a return visit to Asheville, N.C. to meet with our project partner at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, to discuss story ideas for the upcoming edition of Asheville magazine. Since I also am editing the 2010 Asheville Visitor Guide, I decided to maximize my time there and stay through the weekend, with plans to visit Biltmore, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa and of course, as much (within reason) of the delectable delights that the world's first Foodtopian Society undoubtedly would afford. I left at the crack of dawn and enjoyed the drive across Tennessee and through the glorious mountain scenery.

Unfortunately, I had a slight fender bender shortly after arriving in town, which was the first I've ever had (knock on wood that this doesn't happen again). But I go on record (now, for the ninth time) that it was not my fault. Regardless, it did delay making it to my meeting, which was frustrating, but once I made it to the chamber offices located within the Asheville Visitor Center, all was well. We've got a great book in the works for 2010!

After checking out Santé a great spot in the Grove Arcade (soothing atmosphere, excellent service, wonderful company and thought-provoking conversation, really a perfect post-fender bender respite, but you don't need a dramatic event to justify a visit there!), I checked into my hotel, Renaissance Asheville downtown. Due to being about two hours behind on everything thanks to the traffic mishap, I didn't get to pop in and say hello to our friends at the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, despite my earlier tweets exchanged in good faith with @Foodtopia. Bummer! However, I was able to connect with our partner there shortly after I checked in. Although I did miss the Downtown After Five event, I was able to join her, her husband and friends for a late meal. We met up on the corner of Lexington and Woodfin and strode toward the center of the city to make our dinner decision. In making such determinations, I quickly learned that in Asheville, you just let your nose guide you, then allow your brain to process the smells as it hones in on what you want the most. From what I understand, just about anywhere you stop is surely going to deliver the goods. We decided on Bistro 1896, near the soon-to-be-completed Pack Square Park. On our way in, the bustling sidewalks included a variety of the street performers for which downtown Asheville is known, including this interesting character:

I would call her a mime, but she sang a bit of
opera when people gave her tips.
I guess she was more of a singing statue?

We opted to dine outdoors to continue taking in the atmosphere, and we were first serenaded by this duo, who promptly shuffled off to another location to allow another group of musicians to take their spot in the rotation.

I can't remember the last time I heard live accordion music.
Little did I know then, a kazoo awaited the next morning!

Bistro 1896 was excellent. Against the advice of the majority of the party, I didn't go for the Chicken Marsala Pasta (which did look and smell divine, fyi), but tried the Mediterranean Trout on the evening's menu of specials. With olives, feta and creamy orzo complementing the trout, it did not disappoint. Plus, you just couldn't beat the atmosphere. It had been a long day, however, and I had plans to trek over to the Asheville City Market (one of MANY great farmer's and tailgate markets throughout the city, but noted as one of the largest) first thing in the morning. So, I retired to the hotel and drifted to sleep quickly, with visions of fresh fruit and vegetables dancing in my head.

Lexington, KY April 2009 - Day 3, 4.26

Time to put on our thinking caps ...

As we departed the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort for an educational "history day," I was lured to the many racks of spectacular headwear at the Anne Sawyer Fabulous Hats boutique located within the hotel. Seems to me that if you're planning to attend the Kentucky Derby, this is the place to snag the necessary wardrobe topper; Anne Sawyer is the official hat designer of the Kentucky Derby Festival. You can read more about her here. We then headed out for a quick breakfast at Common Grounds Coffee House on E. High, then made our way to Lexington Cemetery.

I know this is going to sound a tad morbid,
but I think I may want to be buried here.

Let me first issue the disclaimer that I haven't visited a lot of cemeteries, but I can't recall ever seeing a sign in one that reminds people that they are in a cemetery, therefore park-like activities such as picnicking are not allowed. No kidding. I could totally see why such signs are necessary. Sixty percent of the cost of a burial site there is dedicated to perpetual care; not sure what that cost is, but I might need to start saving now if I am serious about this final wish. Chartered in 1848, the cemetery's first burial occurred in late 1849. A long list of notable people are interred there, including Confederate Generals John C. Breckenridge and John Hunt Morgan. Perhaps the most visited site within the cemetery is the resting spot of Henry Clay and his wife, Lucretia.

The resting place of Henry Clay,
"The Great Compromiser" (April 12, 1777 – June 29, 1852)
and his wife, Lucretia Hart Clay (March 18, 1781 – April 6, 1864)

From the National Park Service's site on Lexington Cemetery: "Clay served as a United States Senator and Representative from Kentucky during the period of the War of 1812 up to the decade preceding the Civil War. Henry Clay was best known for his attempts to secure a compromise between the states on the issue of slavery. The monument was erected in 1857 after Clay's death in June 1852. The monument was built using native limestone and consists of a 120-foot tall Corinthian column surmounted by a statue of Clay. The remains of Clay and his wife Lucretia rest in two marble sarcophagi on the floor of a vaulted chamber at the base of the monument."

Visitors peer inside the monument's chamber,
where the marble sarcophagi of the Clays are placed.

We aimed to learn more about the Clay family, so we headed over to Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate.

Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate

The house that visitors may tour today at Ashland was actually not the one in which Henry Clay lived, other than the foundation. The original, Federal-style house was built in 1806 with what turned out to be inferior brick, and signs of structural damage were becoming evident as early as 1820. When Henry Clay passed and the estate was sold to his son, James Brown Clay, the younger Clay set about reconstructing the house over a period from 1854-1856, following to its original floor plan and foundation. This is the Italianate-style home you'll see today.
It was not yet open for the day's tours, so we took time to explore the grounds.

Come by car, foot or even a horse (of course!) ...
They're prepared at Ashland.

Rounding the property, the enormous back lawn beckoned my still-angry feet. I kicked off the $5 flip-flops I snagged at Walgreens after my long day of walking miles and miles in ridiculously inappropriate shoes at the Kentucky Horse Park, and plopped down right in the middle of Henry's back yard.

Can you imagine the cook-outs you could have at this place?
Actually ... they still do. They are having one this weekend (June 20)!
Click here to learn more.

To the side of the lawn is a formal garden, designed by Cincinnati landscape architect Henry Fletcher Kenney to enhance the grounds for the estate's opening as a museum in 1950.

Oh yes, I totally thought of Edward Scissorhands ... I admit it.

We also spotted a small tombstone just to the side of the house on the front lawn. Further inspection revealed it to be the resting place of Gypsy, The Cat Who Lived at Ashland (I say "revealed," but all we had to do was read it):

If you broaden the definition it beyond human occupancy,
Gypsy was actually the last "resident" of Ashland.
Read more here.

We enjoyed a nearly one-hour tour of the home, learning not just about Henry Clay, but also about the three additional generations of his family that occupied the home until the death of his great granddaughter, Nannette McDowell Bullock. When she passed, she willed the house, property and most of the family's belongings to The Henry Clay Memorial Foundation.

By then, we'd worked up an appetite, so we set out for the funky Third Street Stuff & Coffee.

These guys welcome you at the side entrance.

It just looks fun, doesn't it?

Wandering inside, we found:

People enjoying good coffee and conversation ...

A delightful ode to spring left behind via wall magnets ...

A quirky boutique full of great gift ideas, jewelry and fun t-shirts ... Lunch, including a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie that was bigger than my open hand ... and funky art, inside and out.

This painting was actually in the restroom.
A friend said it looks something like a goldfish
and a rodent archer ... hmm. Don't know if that was the
artist's intent, but it certainly gives you something to think
about during your visit to the loo.

After a full day and still several hours left on the road, it was time to get going on our way back to Nashvegas. It would be a sin to leave the Bluegrass Region without properly stocking up on our favorite beverages, however. So we stopped by a supermarket on the way out of town to fill the trunk with Ale-8-One. My mom is from Kentucky, and so I grew up on this stuff. As a child, I never even stopped to think that we usually only had them when I was in Kentucky, or in the few weeks that followed those trips. Their distribution is still limited, but you can order them online.

Each little green glass bottle sparkles like an emerald from
the market shelf, and now from my fridge! Half of these were Stacy's, but I personally only have three left. Time for another roadtrip!

That concludes the Lexington visit. Stay tuned for highlights of next week's visit to Asheville, N.C. ... I know you're all on the edge of your seats waiting for my newest blog posts *insert wink, you know I am kidding* but hopefully it won't take me a month or more to update this time!

Lexington, KY April 2009 - Day 2, 4.25

"Coffee, you say? One lump of sugar or two?"

Mistakenly believing that there still would be media parking available later in the day for Cross Country at the Kentucky Rolex Three Day Event, I decided to spend the morning exploring a few places that had come up in conversations with the folks at the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, plus I found a couple of things myself along the way.

First, I stopped by Lexington Coffee & Tea/Coffee Times Coffee House. A friend recommended some tips for the trip, including the name of a coffeehouse. So, I looked up the place in my GPS, and this spot was closest thing I could find. Once I arrived, I suspected a city mix-up. The name wasn't quite right, and my friend had said nothing about the coffee house having a different name from the roasting company. It was shortly after that I discovered she must have thought I was going to Lexington, Va. No worries, though. I needed coffee. This coffee did the trick.

Greeting me in the parking lot was the fella pictured above, which was one of the fiberglass horses done for the first Horsemania public art project in 2000. The project is being revived in preparation for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™. Read more about Horsemania here.

After going to check out the huge variety of artwork available for sale at Artique's location at The Mall at Lexington Green, I finally made my way to Kentucky Horse Park.

These horses came over cavalierly to check out the idiot
hoofing it in 4" wedges instead of flats (me).

The fact that media parking was full, combined with my choice of shoes, was unfortunate. That's the only adjective I can use to describe it without breaking into tears, even a month later. Never have I wanted a golf cart so badly. However, the pain of my trek across the property was tempered by sights such as the one above, and below:

Cross Country during the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event

Plus, I got to check out KHP's new $25 million outdoor stadium, which was used for the first time for the dressage and stadium jumping portions of the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event.

The Kentucky Horse Park Outdoor Stadium features a
statue of Bruce Davidson Sr. tackling
a jump on his horse, Eagle Lion.

Kentucky Horse Park Outdoor Stadium interior

Think this new facility is impressive? Read more about the many capital improvements going on at the park in preparation for the Games here.

As good as the coffee was, the caffeine energy sustained me only so long. I took advantage of the proximity to Georgetown to check out Sam's Truck Stop, a.k.a Sam's Restaurant.

Knowing a Kentucky Hot Brown was on the agenda for dinner, I opted to skip Sam's version and try the fish and chips, recommended by two servers. As promised, the homemade tartar sauce was divine. Also, my primary waitress kept insisting I try their signature banana split pie. She explained that that they don't have it all the time, and when they do, they make two. A local person comes in to buy one whole pie, then a few lucky diners enjoy slices of the other one. She must have known my weak spots for sweets and good stories. Sweets plus a good story? Impossible to resist. 'Twas the only arm twist I needed to agree upon taking a slice to go. And for the record, it sounds much more horribly bad-for-you than it was. Pie is not healthy, no matter how you slice it; I know this. Although undoubtedly not low-cal, it was lighter than many pies I've tried, as it consisted mostly of fruit.

I then met up with Stacy and her step-mom, Aunt Billie, to check out the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea. It is open year round from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is conveniently located off Interstate 75 at Exit 77. Inside, you'll find plenty of visitor info, plus just about every type of Kentucky-made craft, fine art and local specialty food you can imagine, from handcrafted jewelry, pottery and dulcimers to Ruth Hunt Candies.

We then met up with Uncle Don at Ramsey's, which is where the Kentucky Hot Browns happened ...

These, my friends, are Kentucky Hot Browns.
I am 99.9% certain that jockeys and
supermodels do not eat them.

Definition of Kentucky Hot Brown, courtesy of Uncle Don: "It's a piece of toast and then they put ham on it. Then they put turkey or chicken on it. They cover it all with a cheesy sauce. Then (with emphasis, to indicate 'as if that weren't enough'), there's a hard cap of cheese over all that, and they put tomato and bacon on it. Then they bake it. So basically, at that point, you grab a fork and dig (stuff) out of it."

I dig Don's definition, but here's the Hot Brown history and recipe, provided by the place where the dish originated, The Brown Hotel in Louisville.

I won't totally rat out the individual who consumed the real Hot Brown, but here's a hint: Her name rhymes with "filly." I opted for Ramsey's veggie version (in the foreground), but let's just say I was suddenly grateful for the 8+ miles of walking in the heat earlier in the day at KHP.

After that, I took detour near the horse park to watch the sunset.

Barn on Iron Works Road

Lexington sunset, as seen from Iron Works Road

Stacy and I declared Sunday "History Day," with trips planned to Lexington Cemetery and Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate. After eating the veggie hot brown, I also aimed to make those calories history by hitting the hotel's fitness center in the morning. All that, plus the drive home, meant rest would be needed for the full day ahead. Sleep came quickly!

Lexington, KY April 2009 - Day 1, 4.24

Do You Know This Thoroughbred?

Although my blog may indicate that nothing has happened since November, the opposite is true. My lack of posts means plenty to share, including return visits to the northwest to further explore Salem, Ore. and Cowlitz County, Wash., as well as to Washington County, Va. and Blowing Rock/Boone, N.C. Expect some retroactive posts in the near future. Best to start with the most recent: the fabulous Lexington, Ky., host to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™.

I have oodles of family members in Lexington and the Bluegrass Region, which has provided a bit of background knowledge, but since I am editing the 2010 Lexington Visitor Planning Guide, we thought it would be wise for me to go up and experience the city from a visitor's perspective. It was the perfect time to go, with the last day of spring meet at Keeneland, the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event at Kentucky Horse Park and spectacular spring weather that provided optimal conditions for sightseeing and outdoor dining.

My cousin, Stacy, who grew up in nearby Berea, joined me, and her advice and inside knowledge was helpful. We hopped in the car and drove straight to Keeneland. An added perk: her mom, Aunt Angie, works there, so we were able to stop by and say hello! Here are some visuals:

Keeneland Paddock during the last day of spring meet



The jockeys and Thoroughbreds return from the conclusion
of one of the last races of spring meet at Keeneland

By then, we were so hungry our stomachs were talking to us loudly above the babble of the crowd. I was told by co-worker Kim that the track kitchen at Keeneland should be part of the experience, so we strolled down the pathways that wind between the barns toward some of the best down-home cooking I've had in a long time. No offense, mom; I just hadn't been home in a while. The bread pudding: to.die.for. Read the pdf accessible from the link above to get a great sense of the place.

Although the on-track action was exciting, being able to get close to these magnificent creatures in the barn area was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Truly wish I had gotten this horse's full name, only for
the sake of my O.C.D. need-to-know issues.
It was Highland ... something.
Pretty sure it was at Barn 30 where I took this pic
and the one at the start of this post.

So we set off to check in at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa, then set out to explore downtown. On a Friday night, it's full of energy. We stopped twice to gaze at the fabulous dresses in the windows at Miss Priss, a formal wear boutique that is across from Rupp Arena on West Main. Upon further investigation, I found that Miss America 2009 Katie Stam apparently had similar reaction to the shop. Read more here. We then took a tip from colleague Susan and enjoyed an outdoor dining experience at a la Lucie. For a starter, we split the mussels that were steamed with tomatoes and white wine and followed them with Caesar salads. Excellent food, complemented well by great service and a fun and funky atmosphere.

Stacy at a la Lucie : )

Afterward, we witnessed a few folks embracing the recent shift to "warm" temperatures by frolicking in the fountain across the street.

Yes, there are people IN the fountain.
Braver souls than I am, for sure.

So that was Day 1, more to come on Saturday and Sunday's adventures at Kentucky Horse Park; Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea; Lexington Cemetery; Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate; and of course, more tips on great places to shop and dine. We covered a lot of ground!

Charlottesville, VA November 2008

My "stolen" bust of Thomas Jefferson (not really)

When it comes to Charlottesville, it really would be more than enough to let this fellow say it all. The city and surrounding area is infused with the legacy of our nation's third President, Thomas Jefferson. There are the obvious sites, such as his splendid Rotunda and other components of the Academical Village at the heart of the institution of learning he founded, the University of Virginia, and his home, Monticello. Then there are the lesser known manifestations of his influence, such as the area's burgeoning wine industry and an inherent love for books and learning among modern day residents.

On my most recent trip, I learned about even more obscure ways that Jefferson still influences life and even economic development here, such as how great care was taken by State Farm Insurance when it constructed its massive regional headquarters. Company officials worked with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation to create the building and landscaping in a way that would minimize the impact on the view looking down from Jefferson's home. Today, they're even piloting a green roof project that, depending on its success, might serve as a model for locations nationwide.

After having the extremely rare opportunity to tour and shoot video at Monticello one morning before it opened to the public (thank you thank you thank you to Jay Crawford at the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce for setting this up, and to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Liesel Nowak for accommodating the request) I then toured the aforementioned State Farm offices, where approximately 1,500 Charlottesville area residents report to work each day. After interviewing Vice President - Agency Bill Whitney and talking with Public Affairs Specialist Danny Sheppard, I learned many more ways State Farm and its employees are doing positive things within the community. And yes, I even got to go up and see the green roof area. True, it's a test and only a test, as they say, but it is an idea that certainly could grow - pun intended.

Between Monticello and State Farm we had a few moments to spare, so we popped into The General Store at Michie Tavern, a restaurant that dates back to 1784. With no time to dine that particular day, I instead picked up some Tavern Chicken Breader mix used to create the restaurant's signature Colonial Fried Chicken. And out of respect for Mr. Jefferson, I also picked up the small bust that you see at the top of this post. I tried to pass it off to co-workers as a priceless artifact that I had stolen, but I think a combination of my inability to bluff, the statue's resin composition and small size, and last, the perceived unlikelihood of my doing something so ridiculous gave me away on that one. At least I hope no one thinks I would actually do such a thing.

Rest assured, the real sculptures throughout Monticello were something to behold in person ... and much too large and heavy to fit into my purse. The collection at Monticello includes one of the six early plasters of the Jefferson bust created by Jean-Antoine Houdon (upon which my little souvenir is based). Go visit if you ever have the chance; they've recently added a new visitor and education center!

Despite Thomas Jefferson popping up at nearly every turn, there actually are many, many other cool things about Charlottesville, and you can find them at our site, www.imagescharlottesville.com. New content from the new magazine will be up in upcoming months, and be on the lookout for the new Monticello and State Farm videos even sooner.

Vancouver, WA October 2008

Dining on the Columbia River at Beaches Restaurant & Bar

In October, I visited both Vancouver, B.C. and Vancouver, Wash. over the course of a few days, and I have to say this dinner and view at Beaches Restaurant & Bar on the Columbia River was the perfect way to conclude the last evening of the trip. I learned about this restaurant in my research prior to the trip as well as when talking with locals, who told me about their outstanding food, excellent service and unparalleled community involvement and philanthropic efforts. Needless to say, I didn't hesitate to make it my dinner choice.

In my travels, I have been sampling the local flavor and slowly building a mental list of favorites.

Favorite snacks: Wisconsin cheese curds or Cero's toffee from Wichita, depending on the mood.

Favorite appetizer-that-really-is-a-meal: Fried green tomatoes from Rusty's Riverfront Grill in Vicksburg.

Favorite entree: Tuna tostada at Continental Divide (sorry, no site that I could find, but here's a map) in Charlottesville, which as of this past week, I've had the joy of consuming twice.

At Beaches, I found my current favorites for salad and dessert. The restaurant's house salad consists of mixed greens, jicama, candied cashews, chicken, snow peas, sesame seeds & Asian honey mustard dressing. For dessert, I highly recommend the handcrafted almond roca ice cream. The ice cream is produced in batches specifically for Beaches through a contract with Great Northwest Ice Cream Co. (of course it would be something I can not find anywhere else and can't have shipped). It is served in a delicious almond cookie basket and drizzled with Dilettante chocolate sauce and amaretto.

Beaches' Almond Roca Ice Cream

Shamefully, I admit that dessert and the view along the seawall further north in Vancouver, B.C. were about equal in terms of favorite experiences for that trip. Given the stunning views offered by the seawall trail, that's not a comparison to take lightly. I regret not snapping any still photos during that hike, but I did shoot video there. I'll post a link when it's up!

Portland, OR August 2008

View across the Willamette River from
Tom McCall Waterfront Park

When I heard my trip to Eugene would coincide with The Bite of Oregon Festival, I had to extend my stay an extra day for an evening in Portland. I'm a huge fan of Oregon wines, and this festival basically featured every single one of my favorite producers assembled in one spot along the riverfront, along with great food, entertainment and people watching.

Jeremiah Guske of March Fourth Marching Band

At The Bite, I enjoyed a spectacular performance by the March Fourth Marching Band, which included the considerable talents of this guy, Jeremiah Guske, who managed to dance, juggle and toss flaming batons and otherwise maneuver on some serious stilts. Besides the obviously intriguing visuals, the musical performance was solid. Can't say I've seen anything quite like it; glad I did. A tiny part of me might have felt the need to take this photo to simply have proof that the Pinots hadn't gone to my head.