Fire and Ice at Saybrook Point for 2017

Fire & Ice at Saybrook Point 

for some Cool Winter Fun

Saybrook Point is celebrating the charm and character of winter with its fourth annual Fire & Ice Festival on Saturday, January 14, 2017 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

Guests will marvel at two fully sculpted Ice Bars created exclusively for the event, and revel at such seasonal activities as a spectacular wood and ice carving showcase, delightful sushi samplings, and charming horse-drawn carriage rides along the picturesque Connecticut River.

Two uniquely designed Ice Bars will warm the soul with creative winter themed libations, and lend a handsome contrast to Fresh Salt’s beloved signature Fire Bar. Guests will also enjoy drink specials and tastings at the Marina Bar with special guest vendors, as well as savor delectable food samplings by Fresh Salt’s award-winning chefs, including chili, chowder, salmon sliders, fried ice cream, and more.

The Fire & Ice Festival at the Saybrook Point is free and open to all ages. Tickets will be sold for select food and beverage items at a cost of $5.

For young attendees, the event will feature children’s movies and face painting inside the Inn’s Grand Ballroom and a strolling magician will be enchanting guests throughout the property.

In addition, the event will feature exciting live entertainment with the electrifying sounds of “Java Groove.”

For more information about the third annual Fire & Ice Festival at Saybrook Point, or to make a room reservation, guests may call 800.243.0212 or visit www.saybrook.com.

Saybrook Point Inn & Spa

2 Bridge Street
Old Saybrook, CT  06475
800.243.0212
www.saybrook.com.

 About Saybrook Point 

Situated along the picturesque shores of historic Old Saybrook, Connecticut, Saybrook Point features a collection of 100 elegantly-appointed guestrooms, a rejuvenating full-service SANNO spa, and casual fine dining restaurant Fresh Salt, as well as a unique waterfront Lighthouse Suite. In addition, the historic Three Stories and Tall Tales luxury guesthouses offer exquisite rooms that convey the story of famous local residents. The pristine Saybrook Point Marina, a landmark boating destination conveniently located at the mouth of the Connecticut River, serves as a focal point for the Inn. More information is available at www.saybrook.com.

New London CT Historic Church Tour

It's a Holiday Church Tour in New London, CT 

with New London Landmarks!

Visit three historic churches in New London for a holiday tour with live music at each location on Saturday, January 7th 2017 starting at 1:00pm!  New London Landmarks hosts this family-friendly walking tour that will be held rain or shine!

• First Stop and Check In: St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church, 200 Hempstead Street. The Sistine Chapel of New London will include St. Sophia's Choir singing Christmas hymns in Orthodox faith tradition.
• Second Stop:  St. James Episcopal Church, 76 Federal Street. See several original Tiffany windows in this 1850 Richard Upjohn masterpiece with performance by Kia A. Baird, Soprano accompanied by Sue Caplet, piano.
• Third Stop: St. Mary's Star of the Sea, 10 Huntington Street. Decorated for Christmas, enjoy sounds of magnificent organ in this 1876 Gothic Revival Church.
• Final Stop and Refreshments:   Reception at New London Landmarks, 49 Washington Street. Enjoy coffee and treats at the historic David Bishop House.

(approximately 1 mile walk round trip)

The walking tour starts at Sophia’s Church at 200 Hempstead Street in New London on Saturday, January 7^th at 1:00p.m.  

See magnificent architecture, learn history of building and listen to live music.  $15 admission / $10 members.  

Tickets can be purchased by credit card up to one day before event online or by cash or check at the door.  For more information call 860-442-0003 or visit www.newlondonlandmarks.org

Meet at St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Church at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017.

200 Hempstead Street, New London. Parking available on street and in lot behind church.

# # #

New London Landmarks is a non-profit corporation to promote the preservation and development of the urban environment of New London, Connecticut, including significant individual structures, streetscapes, neighborhoods, and open spaces. They are actively working to preserve New London’s historic resources through educational programs, house tours, and collaborations with other historic organizations in the city.

Engaged in CT - Bridal Open House at Saybrook Point

Free Bridal Open House at Saybrook Point 

Are you newly engaged this year?

Saybrook Point is offering an exclusive open house to give newly engaged couples a chance to embark on a discerning tour of Connecticut’s most luxurious waterfront wedding destination

On Saturday, January 21st, 2017, Saybrook Point Inn & Spa will host a Bridal Open House for newly-engaged couples to visualize their wedding at the luxurious waterfront property in historic Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

From the stunning views of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, to the elegant table settings and decor, future brides and grooms will experience Saybrook Point’s gorgeous ballroom in all its splendor and envision their wedding day at the inviting resort. This event is designed especially for newly-engaged couples; attendance is complimentary – guests are asked to register by calling 860-388-4809.

Photo Source: Saybrook Point Inn Weddings

During the informative Open House, guests will embark on an intimate tour of the property’s picturesque and well-appointed guestrooms including the luxury guest houses - Three Stories and Tall Tales, plus the unique waterside Lighthouse Suite.  In addition, they will experience the panoramic views and incredible amenities offered at the Inn, plus an exquisite champagne tasting and delightful hors d’oeuvres as they meet the professional and knowledgeable wedding team at Saybrook Point.

The Inn offers two outdoor ceremony venues; The Garden Terrace, and Compass Rose.   Guests also have the opportunity to enter to win a free overnight stay in a Luxury Water View Room including breakfast.

Unlike a large Wedding Expo, the Bridal Open House offers one-on-one attention and interaction with the same expert staff and bridal team who will be guiding brides and grooms through their planning process – from the first meeting to the last dance. And brides who book their wedding date during the Bridal Open House will be rewarded with a 10% price reduction off the wedding package (please inquire for full details).

When:

Saturday, January 21, 2017
1:00-4:00 p.m.

 Where:          

Saybrook Point Inn & Spa
The Soundview Ballroom
2 Bridge Street
Old Saybrook, CT  06475
www.saybrook.com

Photo Source: Saybrook Point Inn Weddings

About Saybrook Point Inn:

Situated along the picturesque shores of Old Saybrook, Saybrook Point features a collection of 102 elegantly-appointed rooms, rejuvenating full-service SANNO spa and casual fine dining restaurant Fresh Salt. The historic Three Stories and Tall Tales luxury guesthouses feature unique rooms that each convey the story of a famous local resident.  The pristine Saybrook Point Marina, a landmark boating destination conveniently located at the mouth of the Connecticut River, serves as a focal point for the Inn. More information is available at www.saybrook.com.

Welcome 2017 at Foxwoods Resort Casino!

Foxwoods has some fun planned for New Year's Eve!

Welcome 2017 in - in style!

Reserve Now!

Celebrate a Winter Wonderland of Fun, 

hosted by Ice-T and Coco at Foxwoods Grand Pequot Ballroom, starting at 10pm!

Welcome 2017 and say a hearty farewell to 2016 

at Foxwoods with these deluxe packages and prices that only come once a year.

To make your reservation, Call 1-800-442-1000 and view packages HERE

Make your dinner reservations 

at a wide choice of restaurants!

Link: https://www.foxwoods.com/NYE-Dining/

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Specials

Celebrate the New Year with your family and ours. Enjoy special holiday menus at these locations.

View Menu Reserve Your Table	Visit Cake by Frank for holiday cakes & pies.	View Menu Reserve Your Table
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Cookie Crawl through New Haven #NHVcookies

Social Media Promotion

This month we were able to participate in one of my favorite events courtesy of the folks from @DowntownNHV at ....

New Haven's First Friday!

Through seasonal months, on the first Friday of the month, the downtown New Haven peeps, celebrate all that is wonderful about the Greatest Small City in America (GSCIA) and throw a different "crawl" type event!  Each month has a theme, and December's theme has traditionally been about COOKIES!!!

Yup! In spite of being known mostly for pizza and a certain ivy league college - New Haven also has some pretty terrific bakeries and restaurants that donate cookies to this sweet event! After being called #CookiesOn9 for the past few years, this year they decided to spread out beyond the historic 9th Square into more parts of downtown New Haven. Woot! Woot! That just made it bigger and better than ever - and to incorporate more of the city it's now headlined #NHVcookies!

We checked in and received our cookie totes - and were asked if we were interested in taking part in one of Baobab Tree Studio's latest projects, the  "New Haven Story Project" - this one highlighting holiday cookie stories!

Photo Source: BaoBab Tree Studios Facebook Page

We shared some of our stories about cookie disasters (me) - and who our cookie bakers are (Gayle) and how our baking traditions all were passed down from our grandmother's kitchens (Carol). It was great fun to be in the recording studio and be part of this home grown initiative! (Learn more about the New Haven Story Project HERE)

Then we commenced with the cookie crawl!

In no particular order, here are some of the places we stopped. Some were cookie stops, and others were beverage stops, and there were also places to go for fun children's activities.

Claire's Cornercopia, known for their vegan menu, was offering up gluten free coconut macaroons and vegan pumpkin cookies.

Claire's Corner Copia 
(pumpkin vegan and gluten-free macaroons)

Capture Salon is one of the prettiest places we stop at as the interior is beautiful and they decorate for the holidays in the most amazing ways! The red and white theme matches their contributing "peppermint" hot chocolate! This year they offered fun holiday gear for photo ops and gifted us with keepsake Capture cups!

Capture Salon 
(Hot Chocolate)

G Cafe was serving up some chocolately good cookies!  YUM!

G Cafe Bakery 
(Flourless Chocolate cookies)

We had a lot of fun at English Building Market (EBM) and owner Carol snapped this picture of our visit and shared it on her IG feed!

Photo Source: EBM New Haven Instagram

And we absolutely adored perusing the aisles at English Building Market and seeing their one of a kind vintage items. And what fun it has been following their 12 days of Christmas spin on Instagram

English Building Market (Peppermint Crunch cookies)

Fletcher Cameron was one of our first stops and we love the sleek lines of their kitchen design decor - and these cookies...yeh, we loved those too!!!

Fletcher Cameron 
(Whole Wheat Ginger Snaps)

Thali was a great place to relax at their bar for a minute in their Zen lounge area!

Thali 
(Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut cookies)

This was my first time at Idiom Boutique - and it certainly had a little something for everyone - jewelry, clothing, and beautiful accessories.

Idiom
(Simply Sugar cookies)

Trinity was dishing out some delicious cookies too! And we just love talking to everyone there and hearing the lilt of an Irish accent!

Trinity Bar
(Toffee Coffee Crunch cookies)

We couldn't help but drool over both the AMAZING dresses at Bridal Trousseau and the cookies! Who wouldn't love to spend a day there trying on those gorgeous bridal designs!

Inspired Bridal
(Chocolate Chunk w/ Flax Seed cookies)

Meat and Co. may be a tiny space but they have an amazing menu! Check out the big flavor of sandwiches at Meat & Co.! And OMG - they have liverwurst on the menu for whenever you have a hankering for some big bold tastes!

Meat & Co.
(Nutella Peanut Butter & Chocolate cookies)

Always one of our favorite shops is visiting Neville and Lauren at Neville's Design Studio on Orange Street! What fun to pick up some cookies and look at some amazing fashions - designed and made right here in New Haven Connecticut!

Neville Wisdom Fashion Design Studio
(Ginger Cookies from Katalina's Bakery)

Another 'first' for us was our stop at Ordinary! What a beautiful place and we can't wait to go back for dinner!

Ordinary
 (Home made Chocolate Chip cookies)

Who loves warm cider?? I do! I do! And this cup of steaming hot cider at INFO New Haven certainly hit the spot with some cinnamon apple goodness on a cold winter's night!

INFO New Haven
 (Hot Cider & Coffee)
Coffee Courtesy of Elm City Games!

Unfortunately we didn't make it to all of the stops - here are some of the ones we missed!

• 101 Art Threads (Vegan Chocolate Chip cookies)
• Duc's Place (Vietnamese Sesame balls)
• Cedarhurst Cafe (White Chocolate Cranberry cookie)
• Artist & Craftsman (Secret Cookie Stop) 
• Vovo Organics (Hot Tea) 
• EcoWorks (Raspberry Sandwich Cookies from Sweet Mary's) Fortune cookie activity. 

We had such a great time visiting with the local merchants and we are already making plans for our next New Haven visit -- Although it's not a "First Friday" event - it's a fun one none the less --

 Next up is Info New Haven's Flights of Fancy Winter 2017 Crawl! 

That's right! This creative and for 21+ only crawl takes place on Thursday, January 26th 2017 and is produced by Town Green District, with support from The Broadway Merchants Association, The Shubert Theatre, and participating merchants!

ONLINE REGISTRATION for Flights of Fancy: www.squadup.com/events/flights/

Hope to see you at an upcoming crawl soon!


© Home Place 2016

Shop and Nosh - Max Burger Bar and the West Hartford Holiday Stroll

Social Media Promotion

Shop and Nosh at the West Hartford Holiday Stroll

There's nothing quite like finding new places that offer fabulous food that are just steps away from great shopping, right?! Now add a celebratory and festive atmosphere to the mix - and you have the annual West Hartford Holiday Stroll!  When Kat from A Little Bird Told Me PR firm reached out to me about attending this hosted event, I couldn't wait to find out more about what this whole Holiday Stroll was about - and have another opportunity to Shop and Nosh!

West Hartford Holiday Stroll

It turns out that on the first Thursday of December the West Hartford downtown area rolls out an amazing Holiday Stroll. The event is complete with horse drawn carriage rides, local school carolers and street entertainment that included a flashmob style dance! Local merchants throughout the downtown area are open with all sorts of specials - and the atmosphere is fun, festive, and most importantly, family friendly!

We started at Max Burger where our media group was treated to a wide array of small plates and appetizers, and of course, a few cocktails!  Max Burger is located at 124 LaSalle Road, in West Hartford, CT 061073 Phone: 860-232-3300.

Need to pick up few gift cards for those very special foodies in your life? (hint-hint) - Look no further than Max Restaurant Group who own and operate several area eateries throughtout New England and South Florida - and the best thing is your recipient can use this gift card at ANY of the Max locations!

Purchase your Max Gift Cards on site or online at  http://bit.ly/2gd1Dak

Next we moved on to Cook Shop Plus a store that I had visited before and was doubly happy to return to. Here's another great place to visit for the foodie and wannabe chefs in your life. This store has every kitchen gadget and some great ideas for personalized gifts for someone you love!

Want more ideas from Cook Shop Plus? Visit them at 977 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: (860) 461-0667 or online at http://bit.ly/2fDT9gj

I can't begin to tell you how amazing this event is! My most memorable takeaway from the evening was seeing the children truly enjoying all the festivities that were planned for them! From balloon making hats and animals, to the wonderful carolers and local school bands, to the horse drawn carriages taking families up and down the city streets. It truly was a festive time for all!

Next we visited a store I have been hearing such great things about - BK & Company! Really, this beautiful boutique has it going on with frequent fashion shows and shopping specials. So much is packed in this quaint little store from clothing to jewelry to accessories!

And guess which one of these purses is at the top of MY Christmas list???

Stop in to BK & Co.'s new location at 983 Farmington Ave, West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: (860) 232-6225 or visit them online where you can sign up for B&K's email list to get on the SPECIAL mailing list at http://bit.ly/2fE0lsI

Next we stopped and watched a high energy flash mob "ugly sweater" holiday flash dance performed by members of ConnecticDance.

Our next stop was every woman's dream! Lux Bond & Green Jewelers! You simply must visit this store to see all the beautiful crystal decor they have on display and of course, their beautiful jewelry!

Our group had so much fun trying on rings and enjoying just about everything in this store! For more on Lux Bond Green visit them at 45 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT 06107 Phone 860-521-3015 or at their many locations throughout Connecticut (Yay! There's one at Mohegan Sun!) and Massachusetts, or visit them online at http://bit.ly/2fDSImi

Our final stop of the evening was for a nightcap at another of Max Restaurant Group's places, Savoy Pizzeria. and what a way to cap off the night. This fun pizzeria is amazing!

Savoy Pizzeria focuses on the tastes and flavors of Southern Italy's cuisine and specializes in Neapolitan and Craft Pizza. Visit them at 32 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, CT 061073 Phone: 860-969-1000 and online at Savoy Pizzeria - http://bit.ly/2fE04Gd

Here are some of the strollers that we joined for the West Hartford Holiday Stroll!

Here's a condensed list of all the places we visited. Be sure to have your own holiday stroll in West Hartford's downtown shopping district and visit these and other fine places!

• BK & Co - http://bit.ly/2fE0lsI
• Cook Shop Plus - http://bit.ly/2fDT9gj
• Lux Bond and Green - http://bit.ly/2fDSImi
• Max Burger Bar - http://bit.ly/2gKneH9
• Savoy Pizzeria - http://bit.ly/2fE04Gd

And save the first Thursday of December 2017 (December 7th 2017) to experience the magic of the West Hartford Holiday Stroll for yourself!


Disclaimer: I was invited to the West Hartford Holiday Stroll, an event that is free and open to the public, by members of the establishments I visited management and marketing team, however all opinions and views of this event are entirely my own. 


© Home Place 2016

Mecha Noodle Bar in New Haven - Time to #EatRamen

Social Media Promotion:  

Slurping Encouraged at Mecha Noodle Bar!

You have to love a restaurant whose tag line is "Slurping Encouraged", right??? So, when Wendy and Greg from Connecticut Lifestyles contacted me about attending a foodie meetup at New Haven's newest restaurant, Mecha Noodle Bar on Crown Street I said, YES, count me in!

Rounding out our food squad were Natasha from Natasha Explores World and Ron from Ron's Food Trips. But I have to be honest and admit that this was my very first time visiting a "noodle" bar so it was a doubly fun experience for me! I loved the interior decor - with some neat ceiling sculptures created by varying lengths of wood planks that cast a beautiful ambient shadow around the room.

We arrived at around 6:00 p.m. on a rainy Tuesday night, and already there was a line to be seated! Seating is on a 'first come-first served' basis and no reservations are accepted so be sure you plan accordingly when you visit. Luckily, a large table opened up within a few minutes and we were seated very quickly. In addition to a large bar area there's also a community table to sit at which looked really fun and seating appeared to turn over quickly. Overall, this is really THE place to meet up with friends or family or a group from work. The best part of meeting with a group? You can share and sample a bunch of items from their menu.

That's my favorite way to visit a restaurant, especially one with a cuisine that I'm not familiar with - because the shared plate ordering gives me the opportunity to try a lot of different things and find out what I like! Lucky for me - I loved just about everything we tried - so it was a win win!

Cocktails were fun at Mecha Noodle Bar with names like Yuzu 2.0, Love Potion No. 9 and Stevie's Wonder! Of course, being a total 60's child I had to go with the Love Potion, and yep! Loved it!

Love Potion No. 9.
Madame Ruth made this batch with mizu shochu, aperol, lychee,
lemongrass, and garnished with a lime

Left: Stevie's Wonder
Right: Love Potion No. 9

And here's something out of the box - or should I say in the box...called Way of the Warrior!

Way of The Warrior
 mizu shochu, bushido sake,
st. germain, velvet falernum

Next we moved on to some appetizers and small bites from their "Snacks" menu, trying the Kale Salad, KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), Saigon Egg Rolls, Red Oil Dumplings, Mushroom Dumplings, and Firecracker Wings.

Red Oil Dumplings
pork, shrimp, sichuan vinegar, cilantro

Kale Salad
 fresh and crispy kale, miso vinaigrette, avocado

Roasted Mushroom Dumplings
brown butter miso, arugula

Saigon Egg Rolls
 ground pork, lettuce wrap, nuoc mam, mint

Firecracker Wings
togarashi, tomarind, sichuan peppercorn

Korean Fried Chicken - KFC
 gochujang, pickled daikon-carrots, kewpie

Favorites? OMG - The dumplings! Both the Red Oil and Mushroom were absolutely delicious. Another favorite believe it or not was the Kale Salad. I usually tire quickly with Kale finding it a bit fibrous...but these were tender and oh soooo good - I would definitely order this salad again!

Next we moved on to the Ramen each ordering a different kind, from the Paitan Chicken, to the Spicy Miso, and the Vegetarian selection. Greg even ordered a "Chef's Choice" - filled with a bit of everything!

Here's a look at my Spicy Misu. It definitely packed a little heat on the palate - but not so hot that it couldn't be enjoyed.

Spicy Misu Ramen
red miso, chashu, mushrooms, chili oil

We ended the night with bubble teas and hot sake - and packed up some leftovers.

Mecha Noodle Bar is a great addition to New Haven dining. It's a fun and casual spot to gather with friends and enjoy some great food and drink and good company. A parking garage is right next door, and you may even be able to find some on street parking!

 Mecha Noodle Bar is close to much of Yale and a few blocks from the 9th Square.

 Best of all - it's easy on the wallet with items ranging from $6.00 to $14.00. Service was fast paced, knowledgeable and friendly and offered up some great recommendations on items to try.

 Be sure you visit them soon! And, remember - slurping is encouraged!

Mecha Noodle Bar

201 Crown Street
New Haven, CT 06511
203.691.9671
Web: https://mechanoodlebar.com/
New Haven Menu: https://mechanoodlebar.com/menus/new-haven-ct


Disclaimer: I was invited to visit Mecha Noodle Bar by members of their marketing and management team, however, all views and opinions are my own.

© Home Place 2016