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Travel Week 12-9-09

FORGET THE SNOW with our travel tips and looks in Travel Week!

10 ski resorts with diversions for the rest of us
NEW YORK (AP) — Skiers want nothing but to be on the slopes this time of year. But what if they bring friends or family along who don’t ski?
Shermans Travel — http://www.shermanstravel.com — a publisher of travel deals and destination advice, has come up with a list of 10 of the best ski resorts in the world for nonskiers, from the Alps to New England to the West. They are:
—Austria’s Bad Gastein, home to 18 natural hot springs in addition to challenging snow bowls and high-altitude views. Shermans Travel recommendation for value lodging: Haus Hirt Hotel & Spa.
—Megeve, France, where no one hits the slopes before 11 a.m. and lunch can take hours. Local Michelin-rated eateries include Flocons de Sel, La Ferme de Mon Pere, and the hidden Domaine de la Sasse, reached by a 20-minute hike on snowshoes.
—Mont Tremblant, in Quebec, Canada, where skiers love the wide runs and nonskiers love the pedestrian-friendly village with good food and great apres-ski. Value lodging recommendation from Shermans: Chateau Beauvallon.
—Park City, Utah, which has terrain for every skier, and attractions for nonskiers like the Kimball Art Center, shows at the Egyptian Theatre, and the annual film festival at Sundance each January.
—Sierra Nevada — no, not the mountain range in California and Nevada — the one in Spain. Yes, skiing is possible in a sunny, Mediterranean country. For activities off the slope, head to Grenada, an hour from the Pradollano ski village.
—Stowe, Vt., offers New England charm for skiers and nonskiers alike, including 50 restaurants, a half-dozen wellness centers and spas, and for those who are shy of the slopes but don’t mind cross-country, the Nordic Center at Trapp Family Lodge, with 90 scenic miles of trails.
—Sun Valley, Idaho, which offers sunny slopes on Mount Baldy for skiers and the Western charm of Ketchum for nonskiers. Pay your respects at the grave of Ernest Hemingway or spend the afternoon at galleries, spas, and boutiques.
—Taos, N.M., with sun and steep slopes for skiers, plus 80 galleries, seven museums, A-list restaurants like Joseph’s Table for everyone else. Shermans Travel value recommendation for lodging is the Historic Taos Inn.
—Whistler Blackcomb, where the Peak 2 Peak gondola will take you between the summits of Whistler and Blackcomb whether you’re skiing or just sightseeing. Shermans says the village is also known for its rowdy nightlife.
—Zermatt, Switzerland, a fantasyland in the shadow of the Matterhorn, where the streets are lined with glitzy shops and glam clubs but are otherwise quiet, thanks to the ban on gas-powered cars.

Christmastime in Minneapolis means Holidazzle
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Christmastime in Minneapolis means the return of the Target Holidazzle parade.
The event, now in its 18th season, takes place every Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 20, starting at 6:30 p.m., with thousands of people gathering along Nicollet Mall between Fourth and 12th streets to watch.
Floats feature holiday and storybook characters in costume, and grand marshals include Andrew Zimmern, host of “Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World,” Bullseye the Target mascot, and Minnesota Vikings players Pat Williams and Ray Edwards, along with the team’s defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.
The parade is free, but if you want to stay warm, for $9 a ticket, you can buy enclosed, heated grandstand seats, which come with complimentary hot cocoa and cider.
Details at http://www.holidazzle.com.

SkiResorts.com advice for celebrating Christmas on a ski trip
NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a new Web site for skiers, and it offers a lot more than deals.
SkiResorts.com also has features on all aspects of the ski experience. Readers can check out profiles of resorts like Loon, N.H., or learn nicknames for various types of snow, from fluffy champagne powder to that heavy sticky stuff also known as concrete.
SkiResorts.com is also offering a couple of checklists for skiers who plan to spend the holidays away from home, with tips for decorating your hotel room and gift-giving on the slopes.
One recommendation: Ship a small faux Christmas tree ahead to your destination, unless you have confirmed and reserved a live tree in the town where you’ll be staying. SkiResorts.com says most resort towns run out of trees fast if they have them at all.
You’ll also want to ship some cheap ornaments — nothing breakable — or think of creative ways to decorate with simple items, like popcorn and cranberry strands that are easy to make.
SkiResorts.com points out that the local hardware store may be your best resource for inexpensive holiday items like garlands. You can even hang your ornaments on a garland instead of a tree. But bring or ship stockings, along with tape to hang them.
The Web site says some rental companies provide decorating as a special concierge service; some will even set up and decorate a tree, but it will cost you.
SkiResorts.com also suggests shopping before you leave home and either shipping the gifts ahead or taking them with you. Shopping for gifts after you arrive can be expensive in a resort town, and there may not be the kind of selection you have at home. Plus, do you want to spend your ski vacation waiting on lines in stores? Just remember: Wrapped packages will be opened by security at the airport if you’re bringing them as carryon, so either pack them unwrapped, or put them in checked bags.
Another option: Send them ahead, but be aware of the risks of theft and loss. Get insurance, and get the name of someone at the lodging who can arrange to have any packages that arrive for you placed safely inside your accommodations.
If you are ordering gifts online to be sent to your destination, be certain that they’ll arrive in time, and again, make arrangements for them to be held safely until you arrive.
Finally, SkiResorts.com says, pack a collapsible bag so that you have a way to lug all your goodies home when your trip is over.

New resort in British Columbia for skiers: Revelstoke
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Ski.com has added Revelstoke Mountain Resort, a new ski destination in British Columbia, to its top 100 list.
Revelstoke, described by Ski.com as the newest resort in North America, also claims the continent’s biggest vertical, up to 720 inches of snow annually, 3,000 acres of lift-serviced terrain, and an additional half-million acres of helicopter and snowcat skiing.
It’s located in the Monashee and Selkirk mountains in southeastern British Columbia, with a 5,620-foot vertical rise and the longest ski run in North America, which goes for 9.5 miles. Revelstoke also offers ski-in, ski-out accommodations at Nelsen Lodge at the base of Mount Mackenzie.
Ski.com’s deals include five nights at Nelsen in a two-bedroom and four-day lift tickets, from $890 per person on quadruple occupancy, available Jan. 5-23 (package code 10252). In town, Ski.com is offering accommodations at the Sandman Inn, Jan. 24-March 28, four nights in a hotel room and three-day lift tickets from $349 per person based on double occupancy (package code 10255).
Visit http://revelstoke.ski.com for more information about the resort and call 800-916-9463 to book through Ski.com.

Pacific War Museum in Texas expands gallery named for Bush
FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (AP) — The National Museum of the Pacific War has expanded its George H.W. Bush Gallery with new multimedia exhibits, testimonials and artifacts about the conflict in Asia during World War II.
In-depth exhibits include a look at the impact and destruction of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Among the artifacts on display is an HA-19, one of five Japanese two-man submarines that took part in the attack.
The opening of the new space was timed to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks on Dec. 7. The dedication was attended by the former president for whom the gallery is named. Bush, who lives in Houston, is a World War II naval aviator who survived being shot down by the Japanese over the Pacific. About 4,000 people attended the ceremony.
The museum is managed by the Nimitz Foundation, named for Fredericksburg native Adm. Chester Nimitz. He commanded American naval forces in the Pacific during the war.
The $15.5 million museum expansion had been planned for about a decade.
Details at http://www.nimitz-museum.org/. Fredericksburg is about 70 miles west of Austin, Texas.

Bon Appetit:Food specialty shops now offering in-store dining
NEW YORK (AP) — Food markets and specialty stores are no longer just places to buy supplies for making meals at home. Many now offer dining on the premises as well, according to Bon Appetit magazine’s December issue.
That’s good news for tourists, who may enjoy strolling through a famous food market but have no way to prepare or enjoy fresh produce or raw ingredients if they’re staying in a hotel.
Here are some of what Bon Appetit calls the best dining spots in stores around the U.S.:
—Surfas, in Culver City, Calif., a restaurant supply store with an adjacent cafe.
—Oxbow Public Market, in Napa, Calif., which has five restaurants, plus a micro-winery, culinary bookstore, and specialty tea store.
—Il Cane Rosso, an eatery in San Francisco’s Ferry Building Marketplace in the Embarcadero, where you’ll also find retailers like Sur La Table and Culinaire antiques.
—B&G Oysters and The Butcher Shop, eateries that are among four foodie places in Boston, all at the intersection of Waltham and Tremont streets. The others are Stir, which offers cookbooks and a demonstration kitchen, and Plum Produce, a shop for specialty foods.
—Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis, which offers more than 40 locally owned shops under one roof, including Taqueria Los Ocampo.
—Despana, in New York City, a boutique in Soho specializing in the foods of Spain. But there’s also a hidden lunch counter serving tapas, sandwiches and small-plate appetizers.
—Bolsa in Dallas, which hosts a farmer’s market and a cafe with wine and local products like chocolate, cookies and coffee.

Capitol Visitor Center sees 2.3 million visitors in first year
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Capitol Visitor Center has hosted 2.3 million people since opening a year ago on Dec. 2, 2008.
That’s twice the number of people who visited the Capitol in the year before the visitor center existed. In the past, before the center’s Exhibition Hall and Restaurant existed, people who visited the Capitol typically waited on line outside — sometimes for hours — for a tour. Now, visitors can make a reservation ahead of time for a tour, or they can even walk in and get on the next available tour.
The visitor center includes a 13-minute film about Congress and the building of the Capitol, and the 16,500-square-foot Exhibition Hall offers unusual artifacts and documents related to Congress and the Capitol.
The center premises include a 500-seat restaurant, gift shops and restrooms.
In December, the center introduced a new attraction: On Wednesdays at noon, curators, historians and educators from the Capitol, National Archives, and the Library of Congress are giving 15-minute talks about Congress and the Capitol. Lectures are free; no reservations required. The center plans to continue the 15-minute talks in 2010.
Also new is an audio tour of the visitor center’s exhibition hall, available by using a cell phone, beginning at the plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, located directly in front of the entrance to the hall.
Details at http://www.visitthecapitol.gov.

Jersey Shore for winter visitors: Not like the MTV show
RED BANK, N.J. (AP) — It’s not summertime and it’s nothing like the MTV reality show.
But the Jersey Shore does offer plenty to do for visitors this time of year: Main Street shopping, outlet malls and holiday activities.
Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls and Jackson Premium Outlets in Jackson both have bus departures from Manhattan’s Port Authority and NJ Transit stops. For Main Street shopping, check out Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park and the downtowns of Ocean Grove, Toms River, Spring Lake, and Red Bank. For antiques, hit Point Pleasant Beach for the Antique Emporium, Fond Memories Antiques and Canvas House Antiques.
To make a weekend out of it, boutique hotels include Blue Bay Inn in Atlantic Highlands, the Victorian style Majestic B&B in Ocean Grove, and the Oyster Point and Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank. The outlet malls also have shop and stay deals with over two dozen area hotels; details at http://www.premiumoutlets.com. Hotels Unlimited is offering special holiday rates for corporate, military and leisure travelers at the Ramada of Toms River and The Holiday Inn of Toms River.
While you’re in the area, check out the Red Bank Gingerbread Walk, through Dec. 23, with gingerbread creations on display at 14 local businesses. The PNC Bank Arts Center Holiday Light Spectacular is a drive-through show with 225 displays. In Asbury Park, on Dec. 23, participating restaurants offer a 6:30 p.m. prix fixe dinner with a ticket to catch a showing of “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Paramount, or just come to the show and pay $5 at the door.
For more details, go to http://www.visitthejerseyshore.com.

Feds recommend more cave restrictions to stem bat disease
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Federal wildlife officials hoping to check the spread of a disease killing hibernating bats in Eastern states are recommending steps that states farther west should take if “white-nose syndrome” strikes.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Dec. 4 sent recommendations to state and federal land management agencies in Ohio and several other states outlining precautions for hibernation caves or mines hit by white-nose. They recommend closing affected caves, with a possible exception for researchers. They also recommend research-only access for caves within 75 miles of an affected site.
White-nose is estimated to have killed more than a million bats in nine states since it was first noticed in New York in 2006. The syndrome is named for the sugary smudges of fungus on the noses and wings of affected bats.

Nov. 23rd – Holiday Cookies!

It’s time to think about the “12 DAYS of Cookies” in this week’s Westfield Evening News Food Day section. (Monday, November 23, 2009)

HOLIDAY COOKIES

Between kindly neighbors, generous officemates and your own seasonal baking lust, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by cookies during the holidays. What to do with all the cookies that don’t get gobbled up right away? Kate Merker, associate food editor at Real Simple magazine, suggests morphing cookies into a different kind of dessert treat. Or simply storing them in the freezer to preserve freshness until you’ve once again regained a craving for gingerbread. By Victoria Brett.

HEALTHY-MOLASSES COOKIES

�€” If the thought of holiday cookies already has you planning your weight loss resolutions, take a deep breath and remember that a cookie on its own is a relatively minor dietary sin (small and already portion controlled). That’s assuming, of course, that you eat just one or two. But if you’re setting out to bake a batch of cookies, says Jessie Price, food editor at EatingWell magazine, there are a few ways to make your favorites a little healthier.

RUM BALLS

�€” If you can’t stand waiting for cookies to cool, speed up your sugar rush by sticking with no-bake cookies. These easy holiday classics are exceptionally versatile. They can be made from any variety of rum, including spiced, dark and even coconut. Also, vanilla and chocolate wafers work equally well.

SPENDTHRIFT-DOCTORED COOKIES

�€” If you already have most of the ingredients on hand, baking cookies can be an inexpensive treat. But if you need to buy whole packages of flour, baking powder, baking soda and vanilla extract, the cost of baking from scratch can add up quickly. For infrequent bakers on a budget, sometimes refrigerated sugar cookie dough from the grocer’s dairy case is a better bet. It can cost as little as $2.50 a pound, which makes more than a dozen large cookies.

START WITH-HOLIDAY COOKIES UNDATED

�€” Between kindly neighbors, generous officemates and your own seasonal baking lust, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by cookies during the holidays. What to do with all the cookies that don’t get gobbled up right away? Kate Merker, associate food editor at Real Simple magazine, suggests morphing cookies into a different kind of dessert treat. Or simply storing them in the freezer to preserve freshness until you’ve once again regained a craving for gingerbread.

For a more recipes and food click here! http://wenpub2.com/blog/?page_id=5858

Chili Cook-off Winners

MIDDLEFIELD - Cooks participating in the Massachusetts State CCO held at the Middlefield Fair in Middlefield, Mass were greeted by fantastic weather and beautiful surroundings; the warm, friendly people at the event made the cooks feel welcome as they tried samples of their chili and talked of recipes and adventures in the chili world.
Current champion Susan Dean was treated as a bona fide celebrity as she and Mr. Susan cooked under the awning of fellow Texan Janita Hinds of Del Rio. At the end of the day, the consensus among the competitors and fair-goers alike was that the cook-off made a fantastic addition to the fair, which is celebrating its 154th year. Local competitors loved the idea of being able to test their recipes against those from Texas. In fact, two of our first time CASI participants were so delighted in what they experienced that they became CASI members.
A very special thanks goes out to Jim Basile, promoter and organizer of the event, whose diligence in making this cook-off a success has guaranteed its place on the CASI schedule of events for years to come. Thanks also go out to the Deans and Janita for traveling all the way from Texas to compete in Massachusetts�€™ first CASI State Championship and first ever CASI cook-off. We couldn�€™t have done it with out you!!
The Winners:
1. Susan Dean Johnson City, TX (won by 9 pts!!)
2. Alan Dean Johnson City, TX
3. Tim Lawler Arnold, MD (won tie breaker)
4. Jen Windsor Severna Park, MD
5. Jack Windsor Severna Park, MD
6. Janita Hinds Del Rio, TX
7. Mark Pigeon Springfield, MA
8. Skip Dean Becket, MA
9. Jim Basile Springfield, MA
10. Steve Stark Agawam, MA
People�€™s Choice Award went to: Lisa Pac of Huntington, MA.

DCR reopens Quabbin to boats

BOSTON �€” The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is reopening the Quabbin Reservoir to private recreational boats after a successful pilot program at the Special Olympics fishing competition held at the Reservoir last weekend.
DCR Commissioner Rick Sullivan and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Board of Directors have agreed to reopen all three Quabbin Reservoir fishing areas on Monday, August 17, at 6 a.m. for private boats that have gone through the approved decontamination process and have intact seals. Boats without intact seals will not be allowed to launch.
�€œWe appreciate the cooperation and patience shown by the Quabbin�€™s boaters and fishermen as this protocol was developed,�€� said Sullivan. �€œDCR has always respected the public�€™s right to access while recognizing the importance of protecting the public water supply. This new process is a good first step in developing a long-term plan to allow the continued use of private boats on the Quabbin.�€�
The DRC closed the Quabbin Reservoir in mid-July, and had been closed to private boats which are thought to be possible carriers of invasive zebra mussels. During the closure, DCR used dive teams to inspect and test the water and the MWRA infrastructure for presence of the mussels.
The discovery of zebra mussels in the Quabbin had previously been deemed unlikely due to the water quality, particularly its low calcium levels. However, the closure and testing were undertaken as an extreme, precautionary measure. As expected, no zebra mussels have been found.
The boat decontamination program will take place in Belchertown and in Orange.
To schedule a boat for decontamination: Boat owners should call the Quabbin Visitors Center toll-free number (888-550-0048, ext.102) daily, starting Saturday, August 15, between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Boat owners must make the reservation by phone and should have their boat registration available.
Walk-in appointments for cleaning will not be available.
Reservations will be taken for August 17 through August 29.
The program will be free until opening day of the season in April 2010.
Excessively dirty boats, with gas or oil leaks or evidence of aquatic invasive species, will not pass inspection.
Created in the 1930s as the municipal water system for the Greater Boston area, the Quabbin Reservoir holds 412 billion gallons of water and, through the MWRA, supplies water to more than 2.5 million people. Additionally, the reservoir is a popular boating and fishing area. Each year, about 9,000 boat launchings are recorded at the Quabbin.

FOOD: LABOR DAY ENTERTAINING for Wed. Aug. 19, 2009

BUDGET TAPAS
WASHINGTON �€” Are your big dinner party plans clashing with your small budget? Consider keeping your plates small, too. Spanish-style tapas are by definition budget-friendly, since they are small plates of food. Most can be prepared using inexpensive ingredients, allowing you to serve a varied and flavorful menu without spending much. And you don’t need to be limited to Spanish cuisine. Most Mediterranean cultures have their own versions of tapas, such as Italian bruschetta and crostini and Greek meze. By Mary Clare Jalonick.

SPENDTHRIFT-DRUMSTICKS
There’s a lot to love about chicken drumsticks, including the price. Drumsticks, especially when purchased in bulk, can cost less than 70 cents a pound, which is about as inexpensive as any poultry or meat gets. These zesty, honey-mustard chicken drumsticks cost about 65 cents per serving to prepare and take just 45 minutes to make. By Jim Romanoff.

Recipe for Honey-mustard Chicken Drumsticks

HEALTHY-CASSEROLE
UNDATED �€” The peak of the backyard gardening season makes it easy to eat lots of fresh produce, but the onslaught of an abundant harvest can also lead to culinary fatigue. If you’re not into canning or don’t have the extra freezer space, you’ll need some creative ideas to keep all that food from going to waste. The first step is to look for new dishes and times (such as breakfast) to add vegetables to the menu. By Jim Romanoff.
Recipe for Egg-topped Summer Vegetable Casserole

WINE GLASSES DEBATE:
JAR CHIC GLASSWARE
Wine snobs love to obsess over glassware, a fussy and pretentious habit that has bred an industry of designer glasses intended to enhance the drinking of one grape varietal or another. If you’re drinking $200 bottles and want to be persnickety about the inward or outward curve of your glass and what that does to the bouquet of your wine, have at it. Since I gravitate more to $10 bottles, that seems like a lot of wasted worry. A decent daily drinking wine can be sloshed into and slurped out of just about any glass container, so why not have some fun and save some cash when stocking up on glassware? By AP Food Editor J.M. Hirsch.

SIP-GLASS CONFLICT
OAKVILLE, Calif. �€” Can a fancier glass add class to your wine? Stemware manufacturers certainly think so, offering varietal-specific designs that supposedly enhance whatever you care to quaff. To Maximilian Riedel (rhymes with needle), CEO of Riedel Crystal, a glass is the “messenger” that shapes and delivers wine in a nuanced manner influenced by slight changes in the design, such as a bigger bowl or narrower rim. “There is no one glass that can showcase every wine,” he said. By Michelle Locke.

OTHER STORIES:
DEADLINE-GNOCCHI
In my kitchen, versatility trumps all. Because a recipe that isn’t fussy makes it easier for me to cater not only to my tastes, but also to my schedule, lifestyle and budget. This recipe for gnocchi with lobster and peas, for example. The lobster adds a decadent splurge to an easy weekday meal. But if lobster isn’t in your budget, frozen cooked shrimp or canned lump crabmeat are fine, fast and more affordable alternatives. By AP Food Editor J.M. Hirsch.
Recipe for Gnocchi with Lobster and Peas… or Not

BOOKSHELF-LOBEL’S
Anyone who’s ever wondered which cut to put into a pot roast (hint: don’t use filet mignon) will appreciate “Lobel’s Meat Bible,” a recipe-and-reference guide from New York’s Lobel family butchers, that walks cooks from buying meat to getting it on the table in the tastiest, most cost-efficient way. By Michele Kayal.

NYC cupcakes: Bakeries, cafes, a hotel and a truck

BETH J. HARPAZ
AP Travel Editor
NEW YORK (AP) �€” This city is crazy for cupcakes. There are cupcake classes and cupcake tours, lines down the block at cupcake bakeries, a cupcake tea at a five-star hotel, and a cupcake truck with 6,000 followers on Twitter.
Some date the cupcake craze to a “Sex and the City” episode in which Sarah Jessica Parker bit into a pink-frosted cupcake outside Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street. Nine years later, tourists still flock to the place. Current owner Steve Abrams has opened two more Magnolia shops in the past year, with a third to open soon in Grand Central.
“I love ‘Sex and the City’ and I want to eat cupcakes,” said Rika Hashizume as she bought a box of cupcakes at the flagship Magnolia in Greenwich Village with Hanika Nishida, a friend visiting from Kyoto, Japan.
“I don’t know how long it takes for a trend to end and become mainstream, but apparently we’ve established an industry,” said Jennifer Appel, who was one of Magnolia’s original owners and now owns Buttercup Bake Shop on Second Avenue near 51st Street.
“You’d think it would reach its peak but it hasn’t �€” people are still into cupcakes, and I don’t see it slowing down,” said chef Melanie Underwood. Her cupcake classes at Manhattan’s Institute of Culinary Education always sell out, with long waiting lists.
Not only is the cupcake’s small-size portion appealing, but “it’s almost like a comfort food for many people,” Underwood said.
“They bring a smile to people’s faces,” said chef Stephanie Grajales, who created the menu for a $25 cupcake tea at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. “It takes you back to elementary school cupcakes on your birthday when you were 5.”
Underwood leads cupcake walking tours to various bakeries, and she’s noticed that participants have sharply different opinions on which cupcakes are their favorites. “People have such different palates,” she said.
Fortunately, the city has so many cupcake outlets that there’s a cupcake for everyone, from vegans to sugar addicts to gourmets. Here are 11 places around Manhattan to get the cupcake of your dreams.
BABYCAKES NYC: 248 Broome St., between Orchard and Ludlow streets, Lower East Side, http://www.babycakesnyc.com. When you order, be ready to answer: “Gluten-free or spelt?” BabyCakes cupcakes are vegan: dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, and most are sweetened with agave nectar. Customers with wheat allergies take the gluten-free ($3.95 each); the spelt are made from a high-protein grain often used as an alternative to regular wheat ($3.25).
But don’t worry �€” the cupcakes are just as delicious as any made with white flour, sugar, butter and eggs. The lemon is blissful, and the vanilla is so intense and infused with flavor that kids accustomed to bland, mindlessly sweet or artificially flavored vanilla might have to be convinced that this is what vanilla really tastes like.
BAKED BY MELISSA: 529 Broadway, Soho (pick-up window on Spring Street between Mercer and Broadway), http://www.bakedbymelissa.com. The city’s cutest cupcakes, beautiful bite-size confections with a tall cap of fluffy frosting. Don’t be fooled by the pretty rainbow swirls in the tie-dye variety �€” it’s vanilla. Other flavors include cookies & cream, peanut butter cup and cookie dough. At 12 for $10, mix and match a dozen.
BILLY’S: 184 Ninth Ave., between 21st and 22nd streets, Chelsea, and 75 Franklin St., Tribeca, http://www.billysbakerynyc.com. Billy’s is a popular neighborhood spot, with a classic chocolate cupcake with sugary frosting that will remind you of the ones mom made for your third-grade birthday, $2.25. Specialty flavors like the delicious banana are $2.75.
BUTTERCUP BAKE SHOP: 973 Second Ave., between 51st and 52nd streets, and 141 W. 72nd St., http://www.buttercupbakeshop.com. Stand-outs here include cupcakes inspired by classic desserts like German chocolate cake, rich with coconut; and Lady Baltimore, an almond white cake covered with meringue, cookie crumbs, coconut and a cherry; $2 each.
CRUMBS BAKE SHOP: Locations in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and California, with 10 in Manhattan including 43 W. 42nd St., across from Bryant Park, and 1675 Broadway, at 52nd Street, http://www.crumbs.com. Cupcakes here are a blast from your sweets-filled past, with flavors like Twinkie, Devil Dog, Heath Bar, peanut butter cup, caramel chew, Butterfinger and Nestle Crunch, in addition to traditional varieties, $2.50-$3.75.
CUPCAKE CAFE: 18 W. 18th St., and 545 Ninth Ave., between 40th and 41st streets, http://www.cupcakecafe-nyc.com. Open since 1988, Cupcake Cafe was a pioneer in Manhattan’s cupcake craze, and its cupcakes remain the most beautiful of any in the city. The frosting on each cupcake is a tiny work of art, bearing colorful flower blossoms, intricately rendered in buttercream, a reflection of owner Ann Warren’s background as a painter and visual artist.

But while “the cupcakes are the main claim to fame,” regular customer Daniel Brewbaker says he also comes for excellent coffee and cafe conversation. “This is the place where friends congregate, and that’s what a coffeehouse has always been,” he said. One of Brewbaker’s favorites is the outstanding walnut cupcake with maple frosting; $2.50 or $3.50.
CUPCAKESTOP: http://www.cupcakestop.com. Check the truck’s daily location at http://twitter.com/CupcakeStop.
The cupcake truck’s owner, Lev Ekster, graduated in May from New York Law School. Law firm jobs were hard to come by, but Ekster noticed that the bad economy hadn’t hurt the long lines outside Magnolia and other cupcake shops. He decided to sell cupcakes.
“But it was hard to find a brick-and-mortar location,” he said. “A truck was the most affordable way to go to get the business started.”
And so the CupcakeStop was born, a mobile cupcake truck. Devotees follow Ekster on Twitter to find out where he’ll be; flavors include Key lime and rocky road as well as classics like red velvet, $2.25 (minis, $1).
Ekster says cupcakes are “the ideal mobile food” for 21st-century New Yorkers on the go: cupcake in one hand, and coffee (or maybe an iPhone) in the other.
KYOTOFU: 705 Ninth Ave., between 48th and 49th streets, http://www.kyotofu-nyc.com. Kyotofu’s chocolate souffle cupcake contains miso and tofu, and the frosting is made from white bean paste. But this is a cupcake any dessert-lover can enjoy, so good it won New York Magazine’s best cupcake award in 2007 �€” beating out more conventional cupcakes all over town.
Of course, this is not the place to go for your fix of super-sweet buttercream frosting and dense devil’s food cake. But the cupcakes are light, delicious and flavorful. The green tea is as sublime as the chocolate souffle; $3.25 each.
MAGNOLIA BAKERY: 401 Bleecker St., Greenwich Village; 1240 Sixth Ave. at Rockefeller Center; and 200 Columbus Ave., near 69th, http://www.magnoliabakery.com. These are the city’s most famous cupcakes, thanks to “Sex and the City.”
“If you come to New York one day, and you have a list of things you want to do, we’re on a lot of lists,” said owner Steve Abrams, who bought Magnolia three years ago.
Abrams sells a few million cupcakes a year, “but we bake small batches all day long, and that’s why there’s a wonderful smell in our bakeries.” Cupcakes are $2.50 or $3.
THE RITZ-CARLTON: 50 Central Park South, on 59th Street near Sixth Avenue; http://www.ritzcarlton.com. Maybe you can’t afford to stay in the Ritz-Carlton hotel across from Central Park, but chances are you can afford to sample the hotel’s luxurious ambiance in the form of its unique and delightful cupcake tea, at $25 per person plus tax and tip. No paper napkins here, just linen.
“We wanted to provide a Ritz-Carlton-quality experience but at a more affordable price point,” said hotel spokeswoman Jennifer Oberstein. Why cupcakes? “Cupcakes are happy and fun,” she said.
The experience includes mini-cupcakes in five flavors, plus a choice of tea, hot chocolate, milk or chocolate milk. Chef Stephanie Grajales reached back into classic Americana and her own childhood memories to create the cupcakes: pistachio, which she said was inspired by a Carvel ice cream flavor; Valrhona chocolate, for anybody who loves devil’s food; coconut cream, like the best pie you ever had; a classic red velvet; and her crowning achievement: an utterly perfect strawberry shortcake cupcake topped with whipped cream, stuffed with strawberry preserves �€” just like the cake her mom used to make on her birthday.
The Ritz’s cupcake teas are offered Saturday and Sundays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., through Oct. 31; reservations, 212-521-6125.
SUGAR SWEET SUNSHINE BAKERY: 126 Rivington St., Lower East Side, http://www.sugarsweetsunshine.com. Want some party with your cupcake? Sugar Sweet Sunshine has a fun vibe and an in-your-face attitude, with thrift-store furniture, a huge photo of Jackie Kennedy on the wall, music from the ’60s and ’70s, and a $1.50-per-cupcake price that even hipster artists can afford. The pistachio is sensational, the pumpkin nicely spiced.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

Mass. secretary compiles list of July 4th events

BOSTON (AP) �€” Strained budgets have prompted some Massachusetts communities to cancel or rejigger their fireworks schedule, so Secretary of State William Galvin has compiled a list of activities.
The state’s chief historical officer announced Monday that information about fireworks displays, parades, concerts and other activities can be found at his Web site, www.sec.state.ma.us.

Westfield
Event: 2 Parades
Date and Time: July 4th in the morning and afternoon

Event: Fireworks
Date and Time: July 4th at dusk
Location: Stanley Park
Admission: Free
Information: http://www.cityofwestfield.org/home.html

Southwick
Event: Car Show
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 from 11am to 4:30pm
Location: Babbs
Admission: Free

Event: Cruise Congamond ? Parade of Cars around the Lake
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at 2pm
Location: Babbs
Admission: Free

Event: CRC Concert Series
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at 2pm
Location: Babbs
Admission: Free

Event: Light up the Lake
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at dusk
Location: Babbs
Admission: Free

Event: CRC Boat Parade (Theme TBD)
Date and Time: Saturday, July 4 at 6pm (gather at 5pm)
Location: Saunder?s Marina
Admission: Free
Information: http://www.congamond.org/events.html

This is WEN info…

UPDATE: July 3 �€“ Fireworks at Stanley Park

Friday, July 3 �€“ Fireworks at Stanley Park Parking at Westfield State College Western Avenue to Close �€“ Stanley Park Gates Closed
WESTFIELD �€“ The July 3rd Extravaganza will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Recreation Field with Fireworks to follow. Stanley Parks gates will be closed to vehicle traffic the entire day. All Parking will be in Westfield State College Parking Lots. Western Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from Loring Lane to Overlook Drive from 8:00 p.m. to the completion of the fireworks. There will be no parking on the Park grounds for this event except for handicap parking and those who hold a preferred parking pass. The Tennis Courts/Recreation Gate will open at 4:00 p.m. to allow handicap parking on the premises and the gate on upper Kensington for those who hold a Rose Garden parking pass. All vehicles that park in the Tennis Courts/Recreation parking lot in Stanley Parks will have to exit out the lower Gillette Road gate. No vehicles will be allowed to exit out the Tennis Courts/Recreation Gate. The Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m.
Please bring your lawn chair or blanket.
UPDATE:
Rain date for the fireworks will be SUNDAY, JULY 5th.

UPDATE: July 3 – Fireworks at Stanley Park

July 3 – Fireworks at Stanley Park Parking at Westfield State College Western Avenue to Close – Stanley Park Gates Closed

WESTFIELD – The July 3rd Extravaganza will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Recreation Field with Fireworks to follow. Stanley Parks gates will be closed to vehicle traffic the entire day. All Parking will be in Westfield State College Parking Lots. Western Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic from Loring Lane to Overlook Drive from 8:00 p.m. to the completion of the fireworks. There will be no parking on the Park grounds for this event except for handicap parking and those who hold a preferred parking pass. The Tennis Courts/Recreation Gate will open at 4:00 p.m. to allow handicap parking on the premises and the gate on upper Kensington for those who hold a Rose Garden parking pass. All vehicles that park in the Tennis Courts/Recreation parking lot in Stanley Parks will have to exit out the lower Gillette Road gate. No vehicles will be allowed to exit out the Tennis Courts/Recreation Gate. The Fireworks will begin at 9:15 p.m.
Please bring your lawn chair or blanket.
UPDATE:
Rain date for the fireworks will be SUNDAY, JULY 5th.

Must-see fireworks: Vegas to Rushmore to Cape Cod

By BETH J. HARPAZ
AP Travel Editor
NEW YORK (AP) �€” The recession has forced the cancellation of fireworks displays in a number of places around the country like Blue Springs, Mo., and Mesa, Ariz. But many of the biggest and best-known displays will be nearly as spectacular as ever.
�€œSome larger displays have been trimmed a bit but nothing that will have a major impact on the industry,�€� said Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
The timing of the holiday, on a Saturday, has actually �€œhelped the fireworks industry�€� in some places, said M. Philip Butler, spokesman for Grucci, the famous fireworks company. �€œWhenever it�€™s a Saturday Fourth of July, we will have as much as a 50 percent increase in demand.�€�
Grucci shows this year include displays in Dallas, Omaha, Neb., Hawaii and Portland, Maine, along with Station Casinos in Las Vegas and the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Butler said �€œthe most popular shell is still the happy face.�€� And fireworks choreographed to music �€” often patriotic medleys, sometimes performed live �€” also remain popular, usually with radio simulcasts.
Patterns and shapes like stars, fish, hearts and cubes are becoming more prevalent, Heckman said. �€œThe real challenge is making letters appear in the sky,�€� she said. �€œIt�€™s really difficult to get an aerial shell to break so it looks like an M and not a W.�€�
Grucci�€™s fireworks at the Hickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii are scheduled to send up the letters �€œUSA�€� while the national anthem is played.
Heckman issues an annual list of �€œmust-see�€� fireworks shows, but she says your local display may be just as much fun. �€œThe low-level show, which you�€™re not going to see in a big city skyline, can be prettier,�€� she said. �€œAnd a lot of the fun of it is just the community involvement, hanging out and tailgating and waiting for that first burst.�€�
What Heckman calls �€œstar-spangled spectaculars�€� will take place as usual in New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Washington and Boston, which is known for its famous Fourth of July Boston Pops concert, this year featuring Neil Diamond. But here are a dozen more fireworks displays recommended by the American Pyrotechnics Association, including a few scheduled for July 3:
ADDISON, Texas: This Dallas suburb has a population of just 14,000 but tens of thousands of spectators turn out for the Kaboom Town fireworks held here each July 3.
BRANSON, Mo.: Another July 3 event, this display at Branson Landing in Historic Downtown Branson on Lake Taneycomo is surrounded by fountains and choreographed to an outdoor concert.
CHICAGO: Chicago�€™s annual July 3 event on the lakefront is considered �€œone of the boldest, brightest, and biggest patriotic fireworks spectaculars of its kind,�€� Heckman said. The city�€™s Taste of Chicago event, June 26-July 5, is at the same location. Be prepared for massive crowds.
COLUMBUS, Ohio: The event known as �€œRed, White & BOOM!�€� is held July 3 near Veteran�€™s Memorial in downtown Columbus. It�€™s one of the largest in the Midwest after Chicago�€™s, with a parade and 400,000 folks attending.
MOUNT RUSHMORE, S.D.: This national monument hosts a glorious pyrotechnic display on July 3 that attracts 20,000 to 30,000 people. Officials say if you�€™re planning to attend, be prepared to park anywhere from 1 to 3 miles away, and don�€™t be in a hurry to leave as it can take an hour or more to clear roadways after the show.
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga.: This park near Atlanta will host big fireworks shows three nights in a row, July 3, 4 and 5. The display will be combined with a laser light show at the base of the mountain. You have to pay to park your car but the shows are free.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Five Charlotte radio stations will host viewing parties and will simulcast music for Uptown Charlotte�€™s �€œRed, White and Boom�€� display July Fourth, a 20-minute computer-designed �€œpyro-musical.�€�
FALMOUTH, Mass.: July Fourth fireworks on Cape Cod will honor Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates, who was born 150 years ago and wrote the words to �€œAmerica the Beautiful.�€� The song will lead off a musical accompaniment to the pyrotechnics. Twitter updates on the fireworks are planned.
LAS VEGAS: This one-of-a-kind city is the location for a one-of-a-kind Fourth of July celebration, with integrated, simultaneous fireworks at nine Station Casinos, including Green Valley Ranch, Red Rock Resort, and Aliante Station, with a separate fireworks show at Mandalay Bay.
NASHVILLE: This is the 25th year for Nashville�€™s �€œLet Freedom Sing�€� July Fourth fireworks on the riverfront, choreographed to live music by the Nashville Symphony. Pyrotechnics will include shells breaking 800 feet above the river, low-level fireworks from 10 spots along the shore, and fireworks that erupt from the surface of the Cumberland River.
OAHU, Hawaii: Fireworks will light up the skies July Fourth with a tribute to the U.S. military at Hickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Nev.: The �€œLights on the Lake�€� July Fourth fireworks event can be seen from the beach, from boats on the lake and from the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.

See WESTFIELD FIREWORKS here!

Food Day Preview for April, 15, 2009

SMOOTHIES
UNDATED �€” Frosty, dessert-like and packed with delicious, nutritional ingredients, it�€™s no wonder fruit smoothies are so popular. What�€™s particularly nice about smoothies is that they are fast and easy to make, and indulgent without being loaded with fat and calories. Plus, the only equipment you need is a blender.
By Jim Romanoff

TOO MUCH FISH?
It might sound like Jeremy Piven is telling a fish story. The actor known for playing uber-agent Ari on �€œEntourage�€� blamed mercury poisoning from eating lots of fish over a long time for his sudden exit from the Broadway play �€œSpeed-the-Plow�€� in December. Piven is now defending himself against a grievance complaint filed by the play�€™s producers who �€” like some other observers �€” are dubious of the I-ate-too-much-fish claim. But medical researchers say it�€™s possible Piven�€™s claim could hold water. Mercury can indeed pose a serious health threat to people who eat a lot of fish and seafood.
By Michael Hill

WINE E-TASTINGS
BERKELEY, Calif. �€” As the recession continues to pinch budgets, tech- (and cash) savvy wineries are rethinking the tradition of jetting their winemakers around the country for in-person tastings with top critics. Instead, wineries such as California�€™s Kendall-Jackson are embracing low-cost, eco-friendly virtual tastings via the Internet.
By Michelle Locke

RYE
There�€™s a modern day whiskey rebellion brewing. Rye, once the quintessential American whiskey (it even was distilled by George Washington), is pushing back from an obscurity triggered in part by Prohibition, but also by the post-Prohibition rise of its cousin, bourbon.
By Kelly DiNardo

ICED COFFEES
UNDATED �€” Warm weather and a serious caffeine habit can make it hard to resist those fancy iced java jolts from the coffee shop. But shelling out all that cash to suck down all those calories can thin your wallet while plumping your waistline. So I started tinkering with at-home versions, trying to come up with something equally enticing, less expensive and at least a little healthier. And if they were fast and easy, all the better. Here�€™s what I learned.
J.M. Hirsch

LEMONADE
UNDATED �€” A sour economy is the perfect time to follow that old lemonade adage and make the most of life�€™s lemons. Especially if you�€™re looking for something sweet, refreshing and inexpensive to serve this summer. But that doesn�€™t mean you have to stick with the classic blend of lemon juice, sugar and water.
By Jim Romanoff