Sheri Rodman 10/30/19 Sheri Rodman 10/30/19

Ice Cream & Donuts in North Carolina

Good friends of ours hosted their post-wedding friends weekend celebration in Asheville and we were ecstatic to finally visit the hipster town that has been on the list for years.

Day 1: Charlotte

Asheville isn’t the easiest to get to and because it was going to be my first time in North Carolina we decided to fly into Charlotte and spend a day roaming around the other Queen City — Buffalo, my hometown is also known at the Queen City.

We started the day with one of our favorite things to do when visiting a new place: a walking tour. We opted for the Center City Walking Tour and, perhaps because it was a Thursday morning in mid October, we wound up getting a private tour. We started near The Square (the intersection of Trade and Tryon), saw an old church, Old Settlers’ Cemetery, and fancy Southern houses, learned why the basketball team is called the Hornets, and saw artist Ben Long’s dome mural, “Continuum”, in the Transamerica Square building.

Tour guide showing us “Continuum”… Not the best angle for a photo

After our tour we had a late breakfast at Famous Toastery, one of the highest rated spots in town. It was empty — again, perhaps because it was late morning on a Thursday, but considering that breakfast is my favorite meal to eat at a restaurant, the Toastery may be famous, it was just okay.

Feeling a big underwhelmed by breakfast, we sought out a post-breakfast pick-me-up and boy, was it worth it. I know Jeni’s has locations all over the South and Midwest, but this was my first visit and it didn’t disappoint. It was a hard decision with contenders like Wildberry Lavender, Sweet Cream Biscuits & Peach Jam, and Skillet Cinnamon Roll, but I opted for Brambleberry Crisp and was quite pleased. The waffle cone wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, they’re better at our local Jenny’s, but the ice cream was near the top of the list of best. ice. creams. ever.

With full bellies we buckled into our rental car and headed west to the mountains.

Day 2: Biscuit Head, Hiking, and Wedding Dinner

Our friends rented a big house in Burnsville, about 30 minutes outside of downtown Asheville. On Friday morning my husband and I trekked into the city in search of biscuits and — rather than waiting in the long line — opted for take out from Biscuit Head. Biscuits are one of those things that I always think I’m going to love but they frequently leave me wanting more. These were good, but I’m glad we didn’t wait in the line in the rain. When traveling I always in search for locally made jams that I save until the next Purim holiday and use to bake hamantaschen. I was excited that Biscuit Head sold their jam, but unfortunately it was confiscated at the airport.

On the drive back to the house in Burnsville we saw a bear! I screamed. It was exciting. In the afternoon we hiked Roaring Fork Falls — it was a descent 1.4 mile out and back trail with beautiful foliage in October.

In the evening we got fancy to celebrate the happy couple with a group dinner at Golden Fleece (permanently closed). The best was the “spread trio” — the only dish we ate that isn’t pictured. Guess we gobbled it down too fast!

Day 3: Eating, Drinking & Playing in Downtown Asheville

On Saturday we roamed around downtown. We started at the Pinball Museum which was entertaining for a few minutes, grabbed lunch at an unmemorable Irish pub, threw back a couple brewskies at Wicked Weed Brewery, had a delicious dinner at White Duck Taco and an equally delicious dessert at Sunshine Sammies.

Day 4: Brunch and Donuts Downtown

Having not quite had my fill just yet, we ventured back into town for Sunday brunch at Rhubarb. Having minimooned at the amazing Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, I was excited to try chef John Fleer’s Asheville restaurant (see here). Having a bit of déjà vu from Day 1 — brunch was good, not great — we found a to-die-for post-brunch dessert spot.

Whole grain and GG mursaki sweet potato hash, and fries

The fried-to-order donuts at Hole were some of the best we’ve ever had. If you’re in Asheville, a visit to Hole is a must.

All in all, North Carolina didn’t disappoint. Especially with their ice cream and donuts.

On the list for next time:

More time in downtown Asheville. Staying 30 minutes outside of town and the rainy weather weren’t ideal. Next time we hope to spend more time exploring the shops, restaurants, and winding streets of the city.
Our favorite: a walking tour!
The Biltmore
The view from Pisgah Inn
Fried chicken at Moose Cafe

Sheri Rodman 1/24/19 Sheri Rodman 1/24/19

Birthdays and Shenanigans in Vegas

I’ve been to Las Vegas three times: each trip was in the month of January to celebrate a birthday. In 2011 to celebrate my grandma’s, and in 2014 and 2019 to celebrate my husband’s — yes, I’ll take the best wife ever award, thanks!

2011

Considering that I’m writing this nearly ten years later, I don’t remember much from this trip. I do remember that my cousin hooked us up with a killer table and dinner at Tao and that we traveled to the top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel. It was a bit gimmicky, but a good memory for my grandma to experience with her daughters and granddaughters.

2014

On a cold Thursday night in January 2014 I gave my magic- and poker-loving husband a birthday card and a homemade crossword puzzle to solve that gave him clues about his birthday present. He figured out that we were going to Vegas — he had never been — the next day!

Stay

We stayed at the MGM and were happy with our room, but the hotel is at one end of the strip and it may have been more convenience to stay somewhere closer to the middle.

Play

We did so much playing on this trip! We wanted to check out the sites and hotels (like the flamingos at the Flamingo) so walked from the MGM all the way to the Strat at the opposite end of the strip — nearly 10 minutes there and back! Our feet (mostly mine) were so sore that night so we gave them an ice bath in our bathroom sink.

We saw three (!!!) shows in one long weekend. On the first night we went to see David Copperfield, I had purchased the tickets ahead of time as part of the birthday present. On the second night we stopped by one of the discount ticket booths (there are several of them along the strip) and we bought tickets to Jersey Boys (where I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the cast sing ‘Sherry’). And on the third night we were given free* tickets to a Vegasy-type show with topless dancers, acrobats, and other acts. We really enjoyed all three. Unless you’re set on seeing something that’s really popular and likely to sell out, the same-day discount tickets are a great option.

After one of the shows, we thought we should experience the Vegas nightlife so we went to a club. We stayed for about ten minutes and then realized that it wasn’t quite our scene.

*We scored the “free” tickets by agreeing to sit through a timeshare sales pitch. Beware of salesmen who approach eager looking tourists promising free show tickets. They came in hard with the pitch and wound up eating up about 3 hours of our Sunday morning. Depending on how much time you have, may or may not be worth it for the tickets.

We weren’t allowed to take pictures of the show

We also found time to trek to the Vegas sign and my husband enjoyed his first poker tournament.

The sign (FYI there is usually a line to take a photo)

Eat

We didn’t put too much effort into our meals on this trip — I guess our foodiness has developed more since this trip. We did feel obliged to check out one of the famous Vegas buffets. Unless you’re starving and/or craving various cuisines, I’d skip the buffet. I also wanted to go out for an official birthday dinner which we did at Spago by Wolfgang Puck.

2019

I was able to surprise my husband again, this time with a friends trip to Vegas! Maybe by his 40th he’ll catch on…

Stay

We wanted to share space with friends while avoiding the $1,000+/night hotel suites so we landed at a two bedroom room at Polo Tower Suites. The hotel was conveniently located in the middle of the strip and the price was right (about $250/night for the suite!) but it didn’t have the bells and whistles and luxuriousness like the fancy Vegas hotels. If it’s your first time visiting Vegas, I’d opt for one of the more well-known places to stay, but if, like us, you’ve been there before and are looking for a good, affordable spot to share with friends this was a solid option.

Play

Like on our trip in 2014, we did a lot of walking this time, too. The first night we walked along the strip and stopped to watch the Bellagio Water Show and the next day we took the bus to Fremont Street to experience “old Vegas.”

One night we snagged a table at Harrah’s Piano Bar (highly recommend), a friend and I tried out one of the oxygen bars (interesting to try once, not sure I’d do it again), my husband found another poker tournament to enter, and on the last night we bought discount tickets to Opium — I had no idea what to expect, but it was excellent.

Eat

Remembering such a good experience at Tao for my grandma’s 84th, I decided to host my Asian food loving husband’s official birthday dinner there. Unfortunately this time it was underwhelming and disappointment (do not recommend). Our friends enjoyed their sake flights, but aside from those, the food was just okay and the service was poor. I’m not one to write poor restaurant reviews, but after this dinner I did. We felt extremely rushed — the server literally brought out the birthday cake while our dinner plates were still on the table and a few of us were eating. In order to rectify the situation, we had breakfast at Egg Slut two days in a row. “The slut” (coddled egg, smooth potato purée, gray salt, chives, slices of baguette) is literally to die for. Hungover or not (we weren’t!) it’s the best breakfast on the strip. We also had a tasty lunch at Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips (the Biscoff shake was one of the best milkshakes I’ve ever had), and the crepes inside the Paris hotel are almost as good at the real ones in France.

Dinner at Tao — minutes before they brought the cake and starting singing “happy birthday”!

Fun entertainment while in line at Fish & Chips

On the List for Next Time

I’m not sure when we’ll be in Vegas next, but here are some things we’d like to do:

Day trip to the Hoover Dam
Spend some time off the strip and see the actual town of Vegas… Where do the locals hang out?
Stay at the Cosmopolitan (this hotel has the best vibe, and it’s where Egg Slut is!)
Visit in the summer and check out the pool scene
Splurge and get treatments at one of the fancy day spas

Sheri Rodman 6/5/18 Sheri Rodman 6/5/18

Surviving on Wine, Beer, and BBQ on the Bourbon Trail

The rolling hills, mouth-watering barbecue and plethora of adult beverages can make for an enjoyable few days along the Bourbon Trail, even for someone who doesn’t love whiskey. A long weekend was the perfect amount of time to get a taste of that unbridled spirit of Kentucky. And don’t fret! – Below you’ll find recommendations for distilleries along with others for restaurants, activities, breweries and a winery.

Day 1: Arrival in Louisville

We arrived in Louisville on a Friday afternoon, just in time for our first distillery tour and dinner. We picked Copper & Kings, an alternative choice because their focus is brandy, not bourbon. They also make absinthe. Turns out that like bourbon, I’m also not a fan of brandy, but Copper & Kings had a fun vibe – ping pong and giant Jenga in their courtyard and a fancy tasting room upstairs. The one-hour tour was $15 and included three tastings.

The cellar at Copper & Kings. They play music to their aging barrels.

Feeling a little tipsy, we went searching for food. We heard good things about nearby Butchertown Grocery, but we opted for the less fancy and also nearby Feast BBQ. After about a 20-minute wait to order at the counter (when we looked discouraged others in line reassured us that it was worth the wait) and some tough decisions on what to order our meal came quickly and didn’t disappoint.

Overnight: Airbnb in Louisville.

Day 2: Exploring Louisville and Embarking on the Trail

On Saturday morning, we joined a walking tour – one of my favorite things to do when traveling. We picked Louisville Historic Tours and loved walking around and learning about the city. The tour was $20 per person and we really enjoyed David Domine, the guide; he was knowledgable and friendly.

Mid-afternoon we headed to Angels Envy, a recommended distillery in the city. When we arrived we learned that they do tours by reservation only and were sold out for the day. Tip: We didn’t want to to feel rushed by having to stick to a schedule and were concerned about not knowing how long we would want to spend at each stop. But if you have “must-visit” distilleries on your list, make a reservation for the tour. After roaming around their gift shop, we grabbed a bite to eat and a beer flight across the street at Against the Grain Brewery. The brussels sprouts were good, the beer just okay – even though we were ecstatic to receive it after a long wait.

After some nosh we hit the road leaving Louisville, heading east on the trail. Tip: we debated trying to see a horse race at Churchill Downs, but the timing didn’t work well with our morning tour. I felt this was a bit of a missed opportunity and wished we would’ve squeezed this in.

Our first stop on the trail was Jeptha Creed Distillery. We skipped the tour ($10 and 45 minutes – 1 hour) and had a drink at their bar and browsed in their gift shop. I bought a jar of apple pie moonshine butter to put in this year’s hamantaschen (filled-pocket triangular cookies for the Jewish holiday of Purim).

From there we stumbled upon the Talon Winery Tasting Room and purchased a $5 tasting. Having been fortunate to travel to France and having a sister who lives minutes from Napa, I tempered my expectations for the Kentucky wine, but wound up being pleasantly surprised. The bartenders were generous pourers and friendly, and I bought a bottle of the Bluegrass Blush.

Again feeling tipsy, we went in search of something sweet to eat. After many online searches for the best – ice cream, pie, dessert – you name it, we landed on Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen, which is actually a chain in the greater Louisville area. My husband had trail mix ice cream and I ordered the banana pudding. It. was. delicious. Sweet tip: If you have a sweet tooth, go there. My taste buds and mind were so consumed with its deliciousness that I forgot to take a picture.

We grabbed some more barbecue, this time from Bootleg Bar-B-Q, a bit off of the trail, and called it a day.

Overnight: Airbnb in a small town east of Louisville.

Day 3: The East Half of the Trail and Lexington

We picked Three Boys Farm Distillery for our morning whiskey fix. We were the only ones visiting this beautiful, quaint mom-and-pop shop. In hindsight, it was nice to start the day like this before heading to the jam-packed, very popular establishments later on. We bought a couple bottles of whiskey – Whiskey Thief Rye Whiskey for my husband and Pecan Pie Foggy Dog moonshine for me – in anticipation of serving it at Friendsgiving.

My favorite distillery tour was, by far, at Buffalo Trace. First, the name – being a proud Buffalonian, I was immediately drawn to this place. Second, the tour was free and included tastings of vodka, bourbon cream, and bourbon truffles! Third, the tour, starting with a movie and ending with a visit to the shop where workers handwrite bottle labels, was informative and interesting. Tip: Highly recommend Buffalo Trace.

Our last distillery stop was to Woodford Reserve. After our experience the previous day at Angels Envy, and knowing we wanted to stop at Woodford, we called them that morning to make a reservation. We were told it wasn’t necessary and to just show up. When we did, later that afternoon, the tours were sold out for the rest of the day. Feeling a tad bitter, we still enjoyed a bourbon cocktail on their lovely patio and got a glimpse of their beautiful grounds. Tip: Make reservations.

We spent the evening hanging out in a cute, perhaps up-and-coming, hipster neighborhood north of Lexington with several breweries, distilleries, and restaurants. We got another beer flight, this one from Ethereal Brewing – definitely worth trying. And after having our fill of BBQ, we opted for pizza from nearby Goodfellas Pizzeria. It was really good.

Overnight: Airbnb in Lexington.

All in all, we enjoyed our time eating and drinking our way through Kentucky and were able to check another state off the list.

A friend passed along the below recommendations for Louisville but we weren’t able to check them out ourselves:

Sheri Rodman 3/6/18 Sheri Rodman 3/6/18

Trapped in Iceland

I binge-watched Trapped the week before Daniel and I left for a long weekend in Iceland. I liked it because (1) I’m a sucker for murder mystery suspense series, and (2) the sweeping views and Icelandic rhetoric got me hyped for our trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavik and Drive to Air BnB

We took an overnight flight from Toronto that was comfortable and easy, but left us with about 2 hours of sleep and a long Thursday ahead. After landing at Keflavík International Airport (not to be confused with the Reykjavik Domestic Airport) we picked up the rental car and drove to Reykjavik to meet our friends. The 45 minute (50 km) drive turned into two hours because we hit rush hour traffic going into the city. Tip: Avoid driving to/from Reykjavik during rush hour. We watched the sunrise along the way, at around 9:30 a.m.

After collecting our friends and heading out of Reykjavik, we made two stops along the way: first to the Secret Lagoon and second, for lunch, at a greenhouse restaurant, Friðheimar.

The Secret Lagoon was pricier than expected – about $30 to enter into the natural hot spring and use the locker room. It was extra for a towel; tip: bring your own. But the noodles were fun and the water was hot and relaxing.

Lunch at Friðheimar was delicious. We tried the bottomless tomato soup and home baked bread, fresh ravioli with home made pasta sauce and pesto, and grilled tortillas (pizza) with tomato, basil and mozzarella. My friend ordered the Healthy Mary beverage; my one sip left me wishing I had ordered my own. Tip: order one.

Our Air BnB was in. The. Middle. Of. Nowhere.

It was a great spot for anyone looking for a remote, quiet getaway. I’m guessing it would be beautiful in the summer, too, with rolling green hills for miles and miles.

Day 2: Road Trip to Vik

On Friday, we got back in the car and headed to Vik. The ride was pretty and the views at Dyrhólaey, our final destination, were breathtaking. Black sand beach, snow capped volcanic rock, the waves crashing into the cliff, the sun shining through. My friend Mary mentioned that she could’ve stayed there for hours just staring out into the landscape and reflecting on what an incredible and glorious world we live in. I agree. Tip: if you visit in warmer weather, consider packing a lunch and making a picnic to take in the views.

On the way back we stopped at two waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss, and the Geysir. I hate to be a waterfall snob, but when you live 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, all of the other falls in the world seem to just be… eh. Perhaps it was the freezing cold temperatures that only allowed us to run out of the car for a few minutes to catch a glimpse; I bet the all of the falls would be more fun in the summer when you can hike nearby and walk behind them.

The Geysir was my favorite stop on the whole trip. Maybe because I’ve never seen Old Faithful, or any other geyser for that matter, or because I shouted from surprise when it erupted, but I was a bit in awe by the mechanics of Earth and its natural beauty.

Day 3: Blue Lagoon and Half Day in Reykjavik

On Saturday, we woke up to a fresh foot of snow and were a tad nervous about making the drive from our Air BnB, in the-middle-of-nowhere, back to the Blue Lagoon and then Reykjavik. Needless to say, the driving wasn’t the best. Tip: if you visit during the winter, consider renting a SUV and/or getting a shovel.

We did eventually make it to the Blue Lagoon, but we didn’t buy tickets ahead of time and they were booked! Tip: make a reservation. It was disappointing, but we still got to walk around, see the lagoon, and snap a few pictures.

Later that afternoon we went to a packed yoga class at Sólir, which is one of my favorite things to do when traveling abroad. Something about not understanding a word the instructor is saying, but feeling united by a common language – a mix of Sanskrit and body language and movement – makes me feel connected to humans across the globe, or everywhere they practice yoga. Sólir had kombucha on tap, really neat swings in the waiting area, and a cold bath for yogis to cool down after class.

After checking into the Eyja Guldsmeden Hotel, which was lovely – we had a four post bed like the one advertised! – we made it to our dinner reservation at Food Cellar. Our candlelit table for two was romantic and the dinner was tasty. We ordered the Discover Iceland set menu, the baked cauliflower appetizer, and the Langoustine. The cauliflower was nothing special, but each of the courses in the Discover Iceland were incredible, especially the lamb. We swapped the dessert for the cinnamon bun cake with Toblerone ice cream, and it was possibly one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. Sweet tip: Order it. The bill came in an envelope labeled “the damage”, which was quite accurate, but arguably worth it for a gourmet meal at one of the best restaurants in town.

Day 4: Walking Tour in Reykjavik and Canceled Flight (And, a surprise!)

On Sunday morning, we joined a free walking tour in Reykjavik – one of my other favorite things to do when traveling. It was freezing outside, but the tour guide adjusted by adding indoor pit stops along the way. I learned that the ground in many of the streets and public parks and squares in Reykjavik is heated by a geothermal system that melts the snow as it falls and prevents ice accumulation and slippery conditions. Wish we had some geothermal activity in Buffalo! I also learned that some of the original settlers on the island cut down 60-80% of Iceland’s trees and… they never grew back. That’s one of the reasons why the island is so darn windy.

After the tour we headed back to the airport to return our rental car and catch our flight home only to learn that because of the incoming storm all of the flights in and out of Iceland were canceled. The airport was swarming with people, there was nowhere to sit, the line at the one food kiosk was a mile long, and all I could think was (first) I am too old to sleep on the floor of the airport, (second) we really are trapped in Iceland, and (third) does this mean that we can make a reservation at the Blue Lagoon?

Thankfully, we were able to re-rent our car, book another Air BnB close by, and… wait for it… make a reservation at the Blue Lagoon!

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my husband and I to swim around in the Blue Lagoon together at dusk. We loved exploring all of the nooks and crannies, it was much larger than the Secret Lagoon, and finding the hot spots – since it was still freezing outside.

All in all, Iceland was good and refreshing. It tested our driving and passengering skills, we tried new foods – Puffin (I know! Don’t hate me), dried fish chips (they were gross), and lava cheese (it was good). I bought some stellar new gloves from 66 Degrees North because (1) the name reminded me of 43 North and, (2) they must be high-quality because they’re made in Iceland, right? I may recommend visiting in the warmer months so you can spend more time outdoors – hiking, exploring, etc., but we’re happy we went, it was a memorable time with the best of friends.

Sheri Rodman 9/7/17 Sheri Rodman 9/7/17

Je t'aime, Québec

On the way to meet friends in Québec City for a long weekend, we of course had to spend the night in Montréal.

Montréal

Stay

We stayed at the Château Versailles Hotel — it was fine, nothing special, very European, good breakfast.

Play

We usually opt for the walking tour, but in Montréal we decided to be more adventurous and register for a bike tour of the city. The Fitz & Follwell “south” bike tour was excellent — highly recommend. We also enjoyed boutique shopping in the Mile End — I bought a killer LBD with a map of the city on it and pockets (!) from Onze, strolling through the McGill campus, and exploring the Jewish Quarter. Our favorite spot was the Jean-Talon Farmers Market… purple bell peppers, anyone?

Eat

The first night we had a sushi dinner date at Sho-Dan, it was pretty good. And the next day we ate our way through the city. We had a smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz’s, croissants at Christian Faure Meilleurs, bagels at Fairmount, and coffee and sandwiches for the road on our way out of town at a little, less touristy, boulangerie — La Boulangerie de Froment et de Sève.

We had a long list of other restaurant recommendations that we didn’t get to:

Replika (coffee)
Café Humble Lion (coffee)
Le Moineau (coffee)
Café Parvis
St. Viatear (bagels)

Québec City

Stay

In effort to maximize our hangout time with the friends we were traveling with, we chose to rent an Airbnb. The two bedroom rental was between Saint-Sauver and Saint-Roch and worked out well for our three-night stay. It allowed us to get some exercise as we walked between the apartment and Old Québec (about 1.5 miles each way) while also letting us explore some of the more local, less touristy spots nearby.

Play

Lucky for us, our friends are also into the walking tours! We headed out on our first morning attempting to do a self-guided tour as we walked from the apartment to Old Québec, but opted for the real tour experience later in the weekend.

All smiles inside the walls of the old city

We spent a couple days roaming around Old Québec. We toured Citadelle de Québec, watched a magic show near Dufferin Terrace, we browsed (and bought — I snagged a single flower vase from Morin Choinière Montréal Inc. that I absolutely love) some art on Rue du Trésor, strolled along Quartier Petit Champlain, and took a pit stop inside Château Frontenac.

Picturesque streets in Quartier Petit Champlain

We also ventured outside of town to visit Montmorency Falls and spent the afternoon driving around and eating (see below) our way across Île d'Orléans. The waterfall was lovely, but living 20 minutes away from Niagara Falls usually leaves me feeling underwhelmed when visiting other waterfalls around the world. The island, however, is a must!
On our last night in Québec we explored the Old Port, stumbled upon a wine festival, and bought last-minute tickets to an outdoor, cirque du soleil-esque show. Cirque du soleil actually started in Québec in the 1980s so it was an apropos thing to do while in town.

Eat

Old Québec

Generally I think going to the same restaurant twice while traveling is a big faux pas, but we wound up at Le Chic Shack twice on this long weekend. Their vegetarian madras poutine — basically Indian food + poutine was to die for, though I’m not sure it’s still on their menu. They also have milkshakes and scratch-made sodas, it’s a win-win-win.
Côtes à Côtes Resto-Grill — decent lunch spot while shopping in Quartier Petit Champlain.
La Fudgerie — sweet spot for a snack or pick-me-up while trekking through the city.
Chocolato — Same.
Mary’s Popcorn — Savory spot for a snack or pick-me-up while trekking through the city.
Le Café du Monde — not as exciting as the one in New Orleans, but a nice little spot in the port.

Friends devouring their ice cream dip at the chocolaterie

Île d'Orléans

La Confiturerie Tigidou — perfect for brunch, lunch or snack on the island and I was stoked to buy some locally made jam to save for the next Purim holiday to use to bake hamantaschen.
Chocolaterie de l'Île d'Orléans — I’m not a huge fan of the soft serve dip, but the one at the chocolaterie was the best I’ve ever had. It was so good.
La Nougaterie Québec — sweet tooth pit stop while cruising around the island.

Around Town

Boulangerie Pâtisserie Le Croquembouche — nice, local spot. Good pastries.
Le Hobbit — this was our fancy dinner night. It was pretty good, but in hindsight, I usually prefer the more casual hole-in-the-walls.

Recommendations We Didn’t Get To

Le Billig (crêpes)
La Pizzaio (unique, thin-crust pizza)
Paillard (bakery, sandwiches)

Sheri Rodman 10/14/16 Sheri Rodman 10/14/16

I Love You So Much, Austin

Living a Texas-virgin for most of my life, I traveled to Houston, Austin and Dallas within a two year period. Austin was, by far, the best and she greatly outshined her Lone Start State sisters. Perhaps it’s because my Austin trip was with friends and Houston and Dallas were work-related, but more likely it was because the eating, shopping, music, and weather in Austin couldn’t be beat.

Stay

We stayed at an Airbnb in Hyde Park, a northern suburb. While it was nice to have some extra space, rather than crowd three of us into a hotel room, next time I’d opt to stay somewhere more central with more in walking distance.

Play

While I couldn’t convince my friends to do a walking tour of the city — one of my favorite activities when visiting somewhere new — we did do a free guided tour of the Capitol building.

One of the coolest, and perhaps nerve-racking, things I’ve ever experienced was waiting for dusk on the Congress Avenue Bridge. We got a good spot as people started to gather and, channeling my inner Katie Holmes, tried to enjoy the million+ bats flying overhead.

Another unique Austin treasure is the Graffiti Park at Castle Hills. Ever dream of spray painting your tag on city property? Well, here’s your chance. Can you spot my art?

We found some great shopping along South Congress (SOCO), known for its funky stores and boutiques and “i love you so much” mural.

Like Nashville, Austin is known for its live music and my friends decided that we’d either go big or go home, so we bought tickets to Austin City Limits. I’m not the biggest fan of music festivals, I tend to get claustrophobic and tired of standing, but it was awesome to see VIPs like Matthew McConaughey on stage, and legends like Willie Nelson and current big names like Mumford and Sons perform, all in one night.

Eat

My favorite meal is Austin was brunch at Elizabeth Street Cafe. If you like Vietnamese food and French baked goods, it’s a win-win. It’s a cute, trendy spot and easy to pair with SOCO shopping.

For a mid-day sweet-tooth pick-me-up, check out Gourdough’s donuts. You can never go wrong with a donut.

I usually try to avoid chain restaurants, but after a long wait for a table at Snooze and my plate-size breakfast burrito didn’t disappoint.

And, after feeling a bit of BBQ FOMO, I grabbed some Salt Lick at the airport on my way home.

Sheri Rodman 5/3/16 Sheri Rodman 5/3/16

Love in Nashville

While I haven’t had much time to explore and sightsee in Nashville because the first time I was there I was getting married – hence, Love in Nashville – and the second was for work, it is a special place near and dear to my heart.

This post includes tips for things to do, eat and listen to in the city, but – see the beautiful rolling hills in the picture – I bet the Nashville outskirts are worth exploring, too.

To-Do Tips

I’ve heard that most people go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and really like it. I toured the Ryman Auditorium and loved it. The tour was worth the $20 and I enjoyed the opening, informative video.

Walking along Broadway, day or night, is fun – that’s where all of the honky-tonks are and there’s great people watching! A few friends and I had a great time at a Karaoke bar on Broadway, with a quite apropos name of WannaB’s.

Karaoke with America Achieves: March 2016

The next time I’m lucky enough to travel to Nashville, I definitely want to get to the Grand Ole Opry. A few of our wedding guests ventured out and toured nearby plantations (Belle Meade) which they said was interesting.

To-Eat Tips

Monell’s in Germantown, southern food served family-style, is by far my best recommendation. You sit with strangers, you don’t order – they just bring you food, and you may have to wait in line for a table… but it is so worth it. Go hungry! Tip: Monell’s is BYOB so pick up your favorite beverage on the way or stick with their lemonade and sweet tea, both of which were delicious.

My sisters and I had brunch at Husk, which was pretty good, not amazing, on the pricier side. Everyone talks about Hattie B’s for “hot chicken” which is a Nashville thing. I didn’t make it there, but have heard great things, there is more than one location, and you should expect to wait in line. Puckett’s Grocery is pretty popular, too. My husband and his family went for brunch and they said it was okay. My colleagues went to a French restaurant, Margot Cafe, and they said it was excellent. I had a delicious coffee and cookie at Frothy Monkey – a cafe with a cool vibe, hopping with what seemed to be locals. You can also find distilleries and some bourbon tasting places.

To-Listen Tips

During our wedding weekend, I remember walking down the crowded street and seeing dozens of people huddled around the open windows of a bar where someone was performing. After pushing my way to the front – hoping that I would get a glimpse Brad Paisley or Miranda Lambert or someone “big” – I spotted the singer, an unrecognizable girl who must have been in her early teens who had hordes gathered to hear her perform. I assume this is the norm in Music City, USA and you can find live music all day and night on Broadway.

I’m a big fan of the TV show Nashville (RIP) – we actually saw the cast perform live when they came to Buffalo. On the show, they always featured this little spot slightly north of downtown called Bluebird Cafe. My husband and I drove there on the morning of our wedding day, but didn’t find much action on a Sunday morning. They have regular “writers night” and “open mic night” which may be cool to check out.

Tip: I recommend seeing which big names will be in town performing at the Ryman and Opry, and consider getting tickets. The energy at a live show in Nashville must be unreal.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a special shoutout to Congregation Sherith Israel where my incredible cousin is the rabbi. If you’re in Nashville for the weekend and looking for Shabbat services or hoping to connect with the local Jewish community — check them out.

Our amazingly talented photographer gave us a bunch of recommendations, too:

Coffee:
- Barista Parlor
- Crema
- 8th & Roast
Food:
- A fun BBQ place downtown might be Peg Leg Porker
- We really like is The Southern – it’s more of a steak and oyster house but they have really southern foods, and it’s delicious
- For a fun hole in the wall Mexican place (cash only) Mas Tacos
- Mitchells for sandwiches or salad bar
- Edleys or Martins for BBQ
- The Pharmacy for burgers & fun house made sodas
- Marche (great brunch)
Drinks:
- Bar 308
- Pinewood Social
Sweet tip: if you haven’t had Jenis Ice cream – we have 2 locations here and it’s the best ice cream you’ll ever have!

Sheri Rodman 12/1/15 Sheri Rodman 12/1/15

Savannah, In Style

My husband took me on a surprise trip to Savannah to celebrate my 30th birthday. His thoughtful planning, with additional surprises along the way, made for a trip we’ll never forget.

First, he rented us a flashy car to cruise around town.

Second, he made a reservation for my birthday dinner at The Olde Pink House and requested that we be seated in the wine cellar. It was perfect.

Third, he scheduled a ferry to Cumberland Island to soak in some sun and see the wild horses. This time it was only a day trip, but I already have my eye on the Greyfield Inn for the next time we visit.

The rest of the itinerary we figured out together. Highlights included:

Strolling in Wormsloe. It’s pretty remarkable.

Savannah Dan’s walking tour. We love walking tours. We look for them in every new city we visit: Toronto, Louisville, Charleston, Quebec City, Chiang Mai. Savannah Dan is one of the best guides we’ve had yet. Informative, energetic, and fun.

Sweet tooth tip: Leopold’s Ice Cream. Local staple. Delicious. And a lot to look at inside the shop.

The Owens-Thomas House. We did the tour. Similar to other historic home tours in the south, but interesting and enjoyable.

River Street. A bit touristy, but fun to walk along the cobblestone streets and either window-shop, or for-real shop, and snack along the way.

Sweet tooth tip: Savannah Candy Kitchen may be a no-brainer, but even if you don’t intend to buy anything, stop in for a free sample of their praline or to watch the taffy get made.

We didn’t get to do it, but I recommend that you…

Go to Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for lunch. I literally may plan another trip to Savannah just to eat there. They are only open Monday – Friday.
Consider seeing a show at The Historic Savannah Theater or Luca’s.

Sheri Rodman 10/1/15 Sheri Rodman 10/1/15

Charleston Strong

One of the many perks of working from home is the ability to tag along on my husband’s work trips. 2015 was a big year for us: we got married in Nashville, honeymooned in Thailand, celebrated my birthday in Savannah, and squeezed in this short trip to Charleston.

The less than 48-hour trip was a mix of me strolling around the city solo while my husband was attending his conference and then together identifying the best spots in town for a quick bite together.

Day 1:

We arrived in the late afternoon and were glad we did our research ahead of time and knew to make a reservation at FIG. Good friends who had recently visited Charleston recommended it — when they were there they ran into Anthony Bourdain! As we walked from our hotel to the restaurant we passed by a quidditch game in Marion Square and my husband immediately took notice of the young, attractive South Carolinians (mostly women) roaming around.

Day 2:

I started the day by visiting a historic synagogue, one of my favorite things to do when discovering a city with history. Charleston didn’t disappoint with my semi-private tour of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim that dates back to 1749, claiming to be the oldest synagogue in the south!

I then made my way to the Nathaniel Russel House Museum for a tour. Similar to other house tours in southern cities, I’m always blown away by lavish olden day lifestyles of the wealthy. The tour was worth the $12 fee.

In the afternoon I strolled around The Battery and even caught some dolphins close to shore.

On my way back to the hotel I found a number of adorable and affordable boutiques on King Street.

For dinner we trekked to Xiao Bao Biscuit, a recommendation from our server at FIG, and then my sweet tooth and I dragged my husband back to King Street where I spotted King Street Cookies earlier in the day. That was definitely a good choice.

Day 3:

Another one of my must-dos in any new city is a walking tour — and bonus points if it’s free (this one was)! I thoroughly enjoyed my morning free tour by foot. We started at the corner of Church and Linguard and snaked our way through the city ending at the corner of Broad and Meeting. We saw the French Quarter, Rainbow Row, the Charleston City Market, Dock Street Theater, the Old Exchange Building, and the Old Slave Mart Museum. Many thanks to Scott the tour guide!

My husband’s conference ended shortly after my tour which left us just enough time to grab lunch at Jestine’s Kitchen (permanently closed… so sad!) before heading home. Hands down the best sweet tea I’ve ever had.

Recommendations We Missed:

From a friend:

Dinner at Husk
Lunch at SNOB (stands for Slightly North Of Broad)
Boat to Fort Sumter
Aiken-Rhett House
Seeing a plantation is fun if you have a car, but rather a pain to get to otherwise
Cooking demonstration class at Charleston Cooks

Restaurant recs from our server at FIG:

Sheri Rodman 6/30/15 Sheri Rodman 6/30/15

Sunsets and Honeymoons in Thailand

With a good mix of adventure and relaxation, we had the best of both worlds — and best of three cities — on our honeymoon in Thailand.

Day 1: Strolling and Sweating through Bangkok

After arriving on a long flight and getting good night’s sleep at the Royal Orchid Sheraton, we were refreshed, smiling, sunscreening, accidentally twinning, and ready to get this honeymoon started.

We spent the day temple hopping in Bangkok. We started at Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha), took a detour meandering around Phahurat Market — it was very crowded, if you’re someone who needs personal space then skip this one. We took our first, of many, tuk-tuk rides, successfully negotiated the fare and avoided our first scam — see tips two and three of the Five Tips to Ride a Tuk Tuk in Bangkok. We were impressed with Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), and our favorite was walking up the stairs and ringing the bells at Wat Saket (Temple of the Golden Mount). During the evening we strolled through Chinatown.

Day 2: Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, the mountainous city in northern Thailand, was our favorite of the three spots we visited. It is relaxed — especially compared to Bangkok, attracts outdoorsy people, and is home to my favorite elephant on Earth, Cha-Na, and my husband’s favorite hole-in-the-wall pad thai place, that I don’t know the name of so I can’t send you there. While in Chiang Mai we stayed at the Ratchamankha, and I’d definitely recommend it. We were impressed with the hospitality and the delicious breakfasts at each of the hotels, but the food and the ambiance at Ratchamankha were the best.

We spent most of Day 2 traveling north, but after checking into the hotel we landed at that hole-in-the-wall pad thai place where we sipped on refreshing iced tea, bit into right-out-of-the-fryer, hot, and crispy spring rolls, and, yes, ate delicious pad thai. It was so good that my husband insisted we go there again for lunch the next day. In the afternoon we took a dip in the pool and found an Indian restaurant for dinner.

Day 3: Elephants and Night Bazaar

Chiang Mai has a variety of offerings for tourists to interact with elephants, but it’s questionable about what types of interactions are and are not humane. We decided to visit Patara Elephant Farm and joined their “owner for a day” program. And. It. Was. Amazing. We started by playing with twin baby elephants and watched them interact with their mama. Then we learned about elephants — what they eat and what their poop looks like. My husband volunteered to squeeze the elephant poop. No, I didn’t leave him. Then we fed the elephants, gave them a bath, and they gave us a lift back to where we started.

My husband smelling elephant poop — before he squeezed it

That night we splurged for a fancy dinner at The Service 1921 in the Anantara hotel. I’d give it an A+ for atmosphere but only a C for food. Tip: stick to the street food when in Thailand — it’s cheap and delicious. After dinner we browsed — err, shopped — at the Night Bazaar, a must-see.

Day 4: Talat Walorot and Thai Cooking Class

We started the day with the scrumptious Ratchamankha breakfast and then headed to Talat Walorot Market. We ate lunch — Chiang Mai’s famous Khaw Soi — in the market’s food court and I introduced my husband to lychees to which he took an immediate liking. In the evening we impressed ourselves with our chef skills during our cooking class with Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School.

Day 5: Lazy Last Day in Chiang Mai

We had three and a half days in Chiang Mai which was too few to include an overnight trek in the mountains but perhaps too many to keep ourselves entertained in the city. I have many favorite activities when traveling: taking a free walking tour, attending a yoga class, and — this is the first time I’m writing about this one — going to the grocery store. When traveling abroad, you can learn so much about a culture from their grocery stores. The size and fanciness of the store is an indicator of the wealth of the neighborhood, the food — both prepared food in the hot and cold salad bars as well as the food stocked on the shelves — shows you what locals eat on a lunch break or cook at home, there’s always great people-watching of locals in their authentic environment, and it’s a good reminder about how small the world actually is when you find a favorite American snack — in this case, Goldfish — half way around the world. On our last day in Chiang Mai we went to the grocery store. We also went to a bug museum, walked around a shopping mall and spotted an arcade called Stars War, ate lunch at a noodle place in a more residential part of of the city, and I got a massage*. But the highlight, by far, was the Tops Market — the grocery store — and much more impressive, but perhaps less friendly, than our local Tops.

Day 6: Chiang Mai > Koh Samui

We flew from Chiang Mai to the island Koh Samui and then drove to the northwestern tip of the island and checked into our beautifully decorated room with a just-as-beautiful view at Code Hotel. After checking-in we headed to the beach, grabbed a late lunch at Relax (yummy), got a massage*, watched the sunset on the beach, and had a drink at a Chinese restaurant (nothing special) on the beach.

Days 7 — 9: Relaxing and Cruising around the Island

I was hoping Koh Samui would be the relaxing, sit-by-the-pool-and-sip-cocktails part of our honeymoon — and we did plenty of that.

But we also found time to squeeze in some adventure. We rented a moped from the hotel and spent one evening cruising down the west coast of the island. We watched the sunset — we heard the sunsets were the best watched from the west coast — and had a romantic dinner at The Virgin Coast Restaurant. Ice cream sundae inside a coconut? Yes, please!

The next day we rode along the north shore to the east coast — the more hopping part of the island. We walked along Chuang Beach, spotted an enticing water playground — but we didn’t have our bathing suits, had drinks at The Library, lunch at a nearby pad thai place, and got a massage.* And the next morning before checking out, we enjoyed one last hotel breakfast. Tip: while we loved the view from our hotel pool, we’d recommend staying somewhere closer to town (Northeast region of island) on Koh Samui.

Day 10: Koh Samui > Bangkok

We spent one last day and night in Bangkok before flying home. We stayed at the Oriental Residence Bangkok and we were far more impressed with this hotel and the neighborhood than where we stayed on the first night. Perhaps it was because they gave us a nice upgrade for our honeymoon! Feeling like we had our fill of the tourist sites, we opted to experience local life on our last day by going to the mall and to see a movie.

The mall was large and modern. For the movie, my husband picked Mad Max: Fury Road. Before the movie began we were surprised to see the crowd rise for the royal anthem. And similar to theaters in some European countries, the movie had an intermission.

All in all, we were so happy with our adventurous Thai honeymoon and are grateful to have memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

More tips:

Enjoy the hotel breakfasts. You shouldn’t have to spend a dime (or a Baht) on breakfast while visiting Thailand because the hotels serve magazine-worthy breakfast spreads and the service and hospitality is something we don’t get enough of here in North America.

Eat everything. Before our trip, we were advised to avoid the street food. I cannot convey how glad we were that we ignored that recommendation (though, it’s important to note that we did only drink bottled water and if we ordered a cold beverage from a restaurant we asked for no ice). We ate a lot and the street food and hole-in-the-wall restaurants left us much more satisfied than the nicer ones.

Take advantage of the *massages. If you enjoy massages as much as I do, take advantage of the plethora of massage parlors and inexpensive prices ($5-$10) all over the country. You won’t find a better deal anywhere else in the world.

Hotel superlatives. Royal Orchid Sheraton — most American. It’s a good choice if you want the comforts of home. Ratchamankha — best breakfast. Code Hotel — best view and best pool. Oriental Residence Bangkok — best lobby and nicest room.

Baht tips. Use the meter if you take a taxi and know the rate per kilometer in advance so that you can estimate the fare. Exchange $20 at a time so that you have small denominations on hand. Bay services (taxi, etc.) with exact Baht. If you book a domestic flight (from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, for example) register your baggage online to avoid extra fees at the airport.

Ignore “helpful” locals. It may seem cold-hearted by Thailand is infamous for it’s scams. If you’re approached with an offer to give you a lift to the “best temple” or “best shopping” in town, politely decline.

Take a Tuk Tuk. This unique form of transportation is definitely worth trying, but beware because the Tuk Tuk drivers are some of the most frequent scammers (see above.)

Read a few culture tips ahead of time so you’re more prepared than we were for things like the royal anthem at the movies.