99on9 Wind Down Wednesday Launch at the 9th Note in New Haven CT

The first Wind Down Wednesday in New Haven's historic 9th Square was so much fun! And it certainly fit the bill. I was able to meet up with friends Greg and Wendy from CT Lifestyles Magazine and enjoy a few hours catching up over cocktails and winding down!

WindDown Wednesday Launch at the 9th Note
#99on9 #WindDownWednesday

New Haven's 9th Square is experiencing a wonderful revitalization Shops are busy, the streets are bustling, restaurants are crowded, and people are loving it! The 9th Square recently launched their 99 Days of Summer, which features a great event, restaurant, or shop every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day!

People, New Haven is where it's at!

The popular Bridgeport-based Connecticut twitter-er Julie, aka "CTGirlAboutTown" recently posted her feelings about New Haven, and I couldn't agree more! Julie states, "New Haven is magical. There's something going on here that's indelibly special."

Note: Follow CTGirlAboutTown at https://twitter.com/CTGirlAboutTown
or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CTGirlAboutTown

You can experience the magic of New Haven too!

Come to the 9th Square and enjoy the magic by celebrating the 99 Days of Summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Join in on the fun with Wind Down Wednesdays, which feature promotional drink specials, including $5 cocktails, $4 wine and $3 beers. These fun happy hour festivities continue throughout the summer and will include half off appetizers from the happy hour menu. Don't you just love Wednesdays?

Participating bars and restaurant include: 

116 Crown, 116 Crown Street    

Bentara, 76 Orange Street 

Café Nine, 250 State Street 

Nini’s House of Tappas, 40 Orange Street 

O’Tooles Irish Pub, 157 Orange Street 

Thali, 4 Orange Street 

The 9th Note, 56 Orange Street

Participating restaurants are all a short walk from one another - meaning you can visit more than one each Wednesday! Come join the fun and remember to drink and celebrate summer responsibly!

For more info on the 9th Square and the 99 Days of Summer Events visit their website at http://www.on9newhaven.com/2014/05/99-on9/

Come join the magic in New Haven's 9th Square!

Sample the Taste of the Sun at the Mohegan Sun Casino

The first ever TASTE OF THE SUN is being held on June 7 & 8 at the Mohegan Sun Casino!

And you can be in on the fun in the sun!

Be one of the first to sample a variety of sumptuous summer menu items when Mohegan Sun hosts its first Taste of the Sun event on June 7th & 8th. Stroll through and visit some or the most renowned dining venues including BALLO Italian Restaurant, Todd English’s Tuscany and The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House to experience a tasting of each restaurant's delicious dish.

Tickets are $30.00 and are available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and Ticketmaster

Redeem your Taste of the Sun ticket at the gazebo located in The Shops Concourse to receive your button and wristband. You can taste ten samples by stopping by any participating restaurant and giving your server one tab from your wristband for each sample you try.
Make your summer a tasty one at Mohegan Sun!

Participating Restaurants

• BALLO Italian Restaurant - Meatball Bar: Homemade Meatballs with Calabro Family Whipped Ricotta, House Pomodoro and Fresh Basil
• Ben & Jerry's - Salted Caramel Blondie, Turtle Cheesecake, Hazed & Confused and Cotton Candy
• Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana - New Haven Slices of Cheese and Pepperoni Pizza
• Geno's Pub - Choose one of the following:
  Roasted Beet Tournado: Goat Cheese, Crispy Smoked Pork Lardoons, Poached Grape Tomatoes & Balsamic Orange Reduction
  Watermelon & Feta: Baby Arugula, Pickled Onions & Aged Sherry Vinegar
  Housemade Ricotta Gnocchi: Arugula Pesto, Figs & Spiced Pistachios
  Lobster & Chive Fritters: Grilled Corn Relish & Roasted Red Pepper Aioli
  Philly Steak Spring Rolls: Housemade Steak Sauce
• Hash House A Go Go - Bacon Mashed Potato Sliders and a Kiwi Watermelon Lemonade
• Jasper White's Summer Shack - Guiseppe's Chilled Squid Salad
• Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - Maryland-Style Crab Cake Slider: Topped with Crispy Shredded Lettuce and Jalapeño Tartar Sauce
  Gulf Coast Panini: Sliced Ham, Grilled Sliced Andouille Sausage, Monterey Jack Cheese, Pickle and Creole Mustard
  Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalaya: Cajun Rice loaded with Shrimp, Chicken and Andouille Sausage simmered in Spicy Broth
  Drunken Shrimp Skillet: Sautéed with Tequila Key Lime Butter, Roasted Garlic, Onions and Peppers, with Mini Baguette for dipping
• The Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House - Hand Rolled Corned Beef & Cabbage Spring Roll: Fresh Shaved Corned Beef, Sautéed Cabbage & Carrots with Melted Swiss Cheese. Served with a side of Russian Dipping Sauce.
• The Original SoupMan - Corned Beef Reuben: Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut and Russian Dressing on Rye Bread with a side of Mac n Cheese
• SolToro Tequila Grill - Flauta: BBQ Pulled Pork, Chipotle Aioli, Sour Cream, Pico De Gallo on a Flour Tortilla
• Todd English's Tuscany - Country Style Sausage Ragu, Herbed Polenta and Garlic Toast
• Virgil's Real Barbecue - Sliders: Choices of Carolina Pulled Pork, Smoked Pulled Chicken or Texas Brisket

Parallel Post 2014 Farm to Trumbull Dinner Events

Parallel Post is proud to announce their 2^nd annual four-part culinary dining series, Farm-To-Trumbull events!

The first event of this season's series launched in April and was a wonderful success! Don't worry! There's more to come - with the next to follow taking place Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.  Inspired by the season, last year’s inaugural event was designed to provide an intimate experience for 30 guests led by James Beard-nominated Chef, Dean James Max; Executive Chef, Chris Molyneux; and Chef de Cuisine, Ali Goss of Parallel Post. 

This year promises to do the same!

For $75 per person (tax and 18 percent gratuity not included), guests can warm the palate with a welcome cocktail and sampling of small bites, followed by a family-style dinner ripe with the season’s finest local ingredients, wine pairings presented by Parallel Post’s resident mixologist, Greg Genias aka “Bootleg Greg,” and an all-you-can-indulge dessert bar.

The menus for the series - much like Parallel Post’s weekly-changing restaurant menu – focuses on localism and follows the philosophy that natural and sustainable products, and responsible farming, are the key components in ingredient selection.  The menu will be inspired by the farms’ fresh offerings of the day and as such, patrons will be invited to embrace their adventurous side with the Farm-to-Trumbull menu being revealed that evening. 

Parallel Post believes in strengthening the farming community and engages local purveyors for a majority of its ingredients – seafood from Norm Bloom & Sons in Norwalk, Conn. and Foley Fish in Boston, Mass.; meats from Ox Hollow Farm in Roxbury, Conn.; organic cheeses, milk and ice cream from The Farmer’s Cow in Lebanon, Conn.; and greens from Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens in Westport, Conn.

Additional scheduled dates for Parallel Post’s Farm-to-Trumbull 30-person dinner series include Sunday, August 10 and Wednesday, October 8.  Tickets to the Farm-to-Trumbull dinners are available for advance purchase at $75++ per person. To RSVP for the June 4 dinner, please e-mail farmtotrumbull@gmail.com.

ABOUT PARALLEL POST

Chef Dean James Max returns to his farm-raised roots in his latest venture, Parallel Post at the Trumbull Marriott Merritt Parkway. Offering a bold and flavorful menu featuring modern American cuisine with Northeastern regional flair, Parallel Post brings an unseen level of quality and creativity to the culinary landscape of Trumbull, Connecticut. The intimate, yet casual eatery uses seasonal, local ingredients prepared with contemporary, healthy techniques. The menu is comprised of a wide array of options from snacks to small plates, large entree, and a multi-course tasting menu. Parallel Post serves breakfast Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 11:00 a.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and dinner daily from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. Parallel Post is located at 180 Hawley Lane, Trumbull, Conn. For more information please visit www.ParallelPostRestaurant.com or call 203.380.6380.

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Louis Lunch in New Haven CT

Ever since I was a little girl my dad would tell me the story of the famous Louis' Lunch in downtown New Haven CT.

Louis' Lunch, pronounced "Lou-ees", is credited for being the birthplace of the American hamburger. Legend has it that a businessman, hungry, and running late for an appointment, popped into Louis' and asked for something quick to eat. The proprietor scooped up some chopped meat scraps and formed a meat patty and broiled it for the gentlemen, placing the cooked beef  between two slices of toast to make the meat easy to eat on the run.

The American burger was born!

Dad also played the famous a capella Yale Whiffenpoofs' song for me, that contains the lyrics "the place where Louie dwells" referring to this wonderful downtown New Haven establishment's original proprietor. The Whiffenpoof Song contains several references to old New Haven locations such as "Mory's" and "Temple Bar".

The cowboy and I decided to stop at Louis' Lunch while running some errands in New Haven, and for both of us it was our first time there! It's a tiny little place located on Crown Street and as you can see, I was really excited to finally be there!

Louis' Lunch in New Haven CT

The place is teeny-tiny!

While we waited for our burgers to cook we ordered a side of potato salad and some Foxon Park Birch Beer.  We bellied up to the wooden lunch counter filled with over a century of etched sentiments carved into the wood.

Potato Salad and Foxon Park Birch Beer

Legend also has it that Lou was a hamburg snob (chuckle) and would never allow any condiments on his burgers.

And legend holds true today...

If you want ketchup or mustard or mayonnaise on your chopped beef sandwich - there's none to be found here. The only thing allowed on THIS burger is cheese, onion, and tomato.

There's even a sign saying "this is not Burger King - you won't get it cooked your way".

Well, I have to tell you, Louis' Lunch's way is pretty good! The burger was cooked a perfect medium rare on very lightly toasted bread with a thick slice of tomato and some grilled onions. *Note: You can have it cooked a bit longer to a med well or well done by asking. 

Louis Lunch Burger - Medium Rare with Tomato and Grilled Onions

And here's a few candid shots of Louis Lunch interior!

If you want to soak up some historic New Haven atmosphere - make it a point to stop at Louis Lunch and have a burger cooked their way!

Louis' Lunch

261-263 Crown Street

New Haven, CT 06511

(203) 562-5507 

On the Web: http://www.louislunch.com/

Follow them on twitter:  @LouisLunchCT

Like them on facebook: www. facebook.com/LouisLunchCT

Some things to know

• Cash only is accepted
• There is limited on street parking but a paid parking lot is right next door ($2.00 per hour)
• Seating is limited - lunch time is extremely busy but the turnover is quick
• Crown Street is one way
• Hamburgers are the only thing on the menu
• The only sides are chips and potato salad and for dessert homemade pie
• Beverages are limited to soda, ice tea, and water (no alcohol - no coffee)

Save the date 6-14-14 for Connecticut Open House Day!

One of the best days for Connecticut Tourism and Connecticut residents and visitors is quickly coming upon us.

Yes! Connecticut Open House Day! 

And 2014 promises to be better than ever.

If you're not familiar with Connecticut Open House Day - it's an annual event sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Tourism where many of our wonderful state's attractions open their doors for deeply discounted admittance and some are even FREE!

Last year I visited several places in Fairfield county (Read my recap HERE) and this year I hope to head north to CT's historic Hartford county.  But, no matter where you are, there is something going on!

For a list of participating attractions visit the Connecticut State of Tourism's by clicking here: CT Open House Participants

There you'll find hundreds of attractions listed alphabetically. There is something everywhere for everyone!

And you can also follow them on:

           twitter at @CTVisit
           facebook at Facebook/VisitCT

Get Your Grill On for a Sizzle Showdown At A Macy's Near You!

Let the Sizzle Showdown begin!

Ready to Get your Grill On?  Macy's is looking for America's Greatest Grilling Guru! (#GrillingGuru)

Don't miss the Sizzle Showdown, where three semi-finalists will compete for the chance to be crowned the Grilling Guru. The celebrity Culinary Council Chef will pick the winner live, who will go on to complete in New York City at the Sizzle Showdown. The Grilling Guru winner receives $10,000 and a trip to the 2015 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks!

You can get in on the Sizzle Showdown Fun! Because the qualifying events are coming to select Macy's Stores across the country! One might be near you!

Yes, that's right! Macy’s Grilling Guru events may be coming to a store near you!

At each location, three semi-finalists will compete and be judged by one of Macy’s Culinary Council celebrity chefs who will pick a winner live. Each winner will go on to the finals in NYC and compete for the title of ‘America’s Greatest Grilling Guru’!

Join the fun because with your purchase of $50 or more* in the Home department, receive a special grilling gift and meet a Culinary Council Chef, and have him/her sign your gift. Don't forget to RSVP!

Here's a list of times and details:

Check in will end promptly 30 minutes prior to event start time to accommodate walk-ins. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Macy’s Town Center Plaza in Leawood, KS
 June 7th, 12:00p  Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Stephanie Izard!


Macy’s Alderwood in Lynnwood, WA
 June 7th, 1:00p  Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Tom Douglas!


Macy’s Southpark in Charlotte, NC
 June 7th, 1:00p Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Cat Cora!


Macy’s Ross Park in Pittsburgh, PA
 June 7th, 1:00p Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Marc Forgione!


Macy’s Holyoke in Springfield, MA
 June 7th, 1:00p Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Nancy Silverton!


Macy’s Old Orchard in Skokie, IL
 June 7th, 12:00p Join Macy's Culinary Council Chef Michelle Bernstein!

And the grand finale!
Macy’s Herald Square in New York, NY
June 28th, 12:00p Johnny Iuzzini & Todd English Judge the Sizzle Showdown Finale!

Also, while there enjoy trivia, prizes and tasty samples from the Culinary Council Chefs!

To learn more about the Macy's Culinary Council and upcoming events, log on to macys.com/culinarycouncil 

Follow them on twitter @culinarycouncil

Follow the Grilling Guru fun on twitter under the hashtag #GrillingGuru
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And there's even more Grilling Guru Twitter Chat with #FoodieChats

Can’t make it to any of the above events, but want to stay in the conversation? Join them for a Grilling Guru edition of the famous #FoodieChats Twitter chat sponsored by @CulinaryCouncil on June 4th at 1pm EST. Macy's Culinary Council chefs, Stephanie Izard (@StephAndTheGoat) and Marc Forgione (@MarcForgione), will be answering your questions live!

Microsoft Summer Camp at the Westfarms Mall in CT

I'm so excited to share a great opportunity for children to have a hands on and creative experience at the Microsoft store at the Westfarms Mall in Farmington / Hartford Connecticut.

That's right! A FREE Youthspark Summer Camp at Microsoft-CT!

Microsoft CT will  have the camps running throughout the summer from the beginning of June to the end of August twice a day – Monday-Thursday.

          Junior Designers Camp is 10AM-12PM and recommended for ages 8-10.

          Designers Camp is 1-3PM and recommended for ages 11-13

The camps are completely free and children will all receive a tee shirt, snacks, some Microsoft “swag”!

Registration fills up quickly so sign your little ones up NOW at www.microsoftstore.com/westfarms. 

You'll be able to see the event calendar and choose the camps you'll like.

Here's a link to a downloadable / printable flyer to share ==> Microsoft Camp Flyer

Rida Kahan Re-Launches Style TV

Rida Khan, the star CEO of Fashion TV leaves to become the President of Style Network Channel.

Khan purchased Style TV for an undisclosed amount and plans to re-launch it in the North American market coming to cable and Dish this October 2014. The result of the programming will be a mix of Style Network programming and Fashion TV programming.

“It will be a mix of high-fashion and life style programming. There will be a lot of reality shows which will focus on the real heroes of the industry like Anna Wintour, Nina Garcia, Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld etc. and their day to day lives. Of course the programming will be very celebrity oriented but we will be dealing with the real Fashion Industry!” Khan said proudly. Like Bravo, Style plans on producing their content in-house, including their shows. “I am surprised no network one has made high fashion and beauty the prime focus in America. During my time at Fashion TV the highest viewers were from the North American Market. We do have some networks that touch it – but that is about all they do.”

Known as “Acid Khan”, this is a major hallmark move for Khan. It certainly will make her number one and the most influential woman in the fashion and beauty industry. Rida Khan founded her company Zee report in 2008 which aimed to provide Fashion Industry news without any subscription costs. It grew rapidly and now provides news coverage in 15 different languages and 50 different countries and has an annual page view of over 30 million. Later in 2009, Khan launched ZeePortal.com which was not only an industry based networking portal, it also had the capability of uploading look books and portfolios and the ability to place orders online. ZeePortal.com was one of the first of its kind and still remains to be the leader in the fashion digital wholesale platform. “We were the first company that started any concept like a virtual tradeshow with actual transaction capability – everyone else is still trying to master it.” Gleamed Khan.

“Being a pioneer in the digital media industry since 2008 has given me a great lead in the fashion industry. I have stayed abreast all new innovations and have heavy plans for the digital distribution of the channel. Most people in their 20s do not pay for cable anymore and are reliant upon digital distribution. The digital landscape is changing rapidly and we will be one of the first networks to dive deep into it.” Khan said.
Stay tuned on more updates and programming info.

The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood for Mother's Day 2014

Here's a great place to spend Mother's Day 2014 in Fairfield County CT

Brunch or Dinner - with a beautiful water view at The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood. 

Call now for your reservation! 

For Reservations Please Call 203.866.4488

The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood | 89 Rowayton Avenue | 

Rowayton, CT | 06853 | 

Phone: (203) 866-4488 | Fax: (203) 866-2580

Brew On 9 - Ninth Square New Haven First Friday Events 2014

On Friday, May 2nd we attended the May First Friday Event sponsored by New Haven's Ninth Square, Brew on 9 (#BrewOn9) that featured a showcase of craft beer samples at many of the 9th Square establishments.

This was the first First Friday event that I was able to attend in 2014, having missed March's #ArtOn9 featuring local artists and art galleries in the Ninth Square, and April's #DesignOn9 which featured Connecticut designer, Neville Wisdon's Spring Fashion Show.

If you're not familiar with New Haven's 9th Square District and their First Friday events, on the First Friday of each month from March through December, the Ninth Square in New Haven holds "open to the public" events featuring merchants in the historic Ninth Square district with a theme that draws them all together.

A list of the upcoming events for 2014 appears at the end of this post.



Friday's Brew On 9 featured mostly CT and New England local breweries served at participating merchants. The event was a hopping [pun intended] success which had as much to do with Mother Nature as it did with the merchants we visited and the brew vendors who contributed! It was probably the first warm night of the spring season in Connecticut. YAY!  Temperatures were in the 60's making for comfortable weather for walking around the eclectic city streets in the 9th Square District and visiting the participating establishments.

The event planners did a great job of making this event user friendly!

First of all, if you're traveling from out of town and don't want to drive, the Ninth Square is a few city blocks from New Haven's Union Train Station. If you're driving and you're not lucky enough to score on street parking (metered) there's also a paid parking lot on the corner of Orange and George Steets ($8.00). I only wish they would ALSO partner up with On9 to offer reduced parking prices on the night of First Friday Events. (hint-hint)

Second of all, the events are affordable! While many of the events are free, some do require purchased tickets, and so far, none have been more than $20.00 per person.

Third of all, the event includes a map to the participating merchants and inside a little history on each of the craft beers that are offered.

Although we didn't stop in all 17 of the establishments that were participating we did hit quite a few! Here are some pictures highlighting the places we visited and the brews we sampled...

We started at O'Toole's Irish Pub where we sampled some Road 2 Ruin Double IPA by Two Roads Brewing. The beer was really good, but O'Toole's was REALLY busy with their usual Happy Hour so many had a wee bit of a wait.

O'Toole's Irish Pub
Featuring
Two Roads Brewing Road 2 Ruin Double IPA

Next up was the unique English Market Building - one of my favorite stores in the Ninth Square! They feature antiques and retro collectibles and on this visit I spotted a Polaroid Land Camera! Even the cowboy loved this store and the Penny Weiz Ale we sampled by Hartford Olde Burnside Brewing Company. The peeps at English Market are fun with an amazing eye for good finds. and the cowboy is still mad at me because in spite of all the beautiful girls that work there...I asked him to pose with a mannequin!  Honey, just get over it!

English Building Market
Olde Burnside Brewing Penny Weiz Ale

Next we stopped at Elm City Market who were featuring a wide array of craft beers. Highlight of the trip was meeting a local photographer who jumped right in and helped me with posing some of the beer pours! One of the great things about attending these events is the incredibly helpful and friendly people you get to meet!

Elm City Market
Shebeen Brewing
City Steam Brewery
Olde Burnside Hop't Scot Ale

Next we ambled over to the Grove to sample some of my hometown of Branford's own Thimble Island Brewery's Coffee Stout. This was my first time to the Grove and I was so impressed with the space. For those not familiar with the concept it's a shared co-op business space, artist studio, intelmedia hub, and more!  And I absolutely loved the hearty Coffee Stout!

The Grove
Thimble Island Brewery - Coffee Stout

We also visited Neville Wisdom's Design Studio aka NW Boutique who featured Back East Brewing's Porter, a dark beer that I loved because of its chocolate and caramel notes. It was also great to see both Neville and his assistant Lauren in the design studio and hear about their last two fashion events. I finally got to see Neville's Spring 2014 line in person and of course I loved what I saw! Beautiful pastel colors in classic shapes with a modern twist. Now I can't wait to go back and SHOP!!!  What's more ... I was THRILLED to see that Neville is featuring my interview of him on his inspiration wall, right alongside articles by the New Haven Register, Yale News, and other prominent publications that he is featured in! (see red arrow in picture below). Did I mention I was thrilled!??!! (Thank you Neville and Lauren!)

NW Boutique - Neville Wisdom Design Studio
Back East Brewing - Porter

We had such a great time strolling the 9th Square in New Haven and participating in the #BrewOn9 Event!

See more pictures on our faceook page HERE

And here's a list of the 2014 First Friday Events happening in the Ninth Square! 

2014 First Friday Event Schedule - Ninth Square

click on the link to learn more about the event!

03.07.14		Arts On9	Creative energy flows through the historic 9th Square as artistic enterprises converge to produce a variety of experiences.
04.04.14		Design On9	Celebrate spring with a fashion preview, an On9 signature cocktail contest, and more in the spectacular 45 Church Street space. TICKETED EVENT
05.02.14		Brew On9	Stroll the historic 9th Square while enjoying some of the area’s best craft and home brews. TICKETED EVENT
06.06.14		Create On9	PiazzaOn9 reopens for the summer season (Orange Street is closed between Center and Crown Streets). Enjoy alfresco dining while the Elm Shakespeare Company presents I Am Shakespeare. The neighborhood overflows with live music, gallery openings, and a variety of in-store promotions.
07.04.14		No event
08.01.14		Pie On9	Celebrate CitySeed’s 2nd annual event by baking or tasting pie, all for a good cause.  TICKETED EVENT
09.05.14		Noise On9	Work outs, runways, music and treats, it’s the sounds of 9th Square
10.03.14		Illuminate On9	The prelude to LAMP (light artists making place) and kick-off of Citywide Open Studios.
11.07.14		Wine On9	Stroll through 9th Square while enjoying domestic and international wines selected by The Wine Thief. TICKETED EVENT
12.05.14		Cookies On9	Winter weather can’t keep us from our sweetest event. Join us for an evening guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit as we gather sweet treats from participating merchants. TICKETED EVENT

I hope to see you at one of the upcoming First Friday On 9 Events!