"Eat Out" Weekend in Dutchess County

This weekend I visited with my daughters and started a weekend of eating out. On Friday evening, we went to Frank's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Wappingers Falls, NY. It was hard to find parking, but it was worth the effort. I hadn't been there in years. The atmosphere was very pleasant and the waitress and other workers were very nice. I ordered Lasagna, which was okay, but one of my daughters had Eggplant Parmesan. I took a taste and I was sold. The eggplant was sliced very thinly and the dish was delicious. I would definitely order that next time. Then we shared the Chocolate Lava cake, which was served with ice cream. Wonderful!

Then, the next day, I went shopping with my sister and stopped at Twist Burger in Hopewell Junction. I enjoyed a cheeseburger with guacamole and an order of onion rings. My sister ordered a regular hamburger with lettuce and tomato. She chose french fries, which she offered to share with me. I tried a few and they were great. The portions were generous and more than I am used to eating.

On Sunday, my LaGrange daughter took me to Babycakes Cafe in Poughkeepsie, across from Vassar College. She ordered the quiche. When it came, it was accompanied with a very appetizing salad. She mentioned to me that as much as she enjoyed it, it was too bad that the quiche was mostly spinach and only two tablespoons of eggs. I, on the other hand, ordered pancakes with bananas. The pancakes were light and I was delighted that I ordered them. The presentation of both meals was very inviting. I would go there again. My daughter told me that they also had great desserts. Maybe we could work it in when we visit the photographic exhibit at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Already scheduled to return to Queens, it wasn't possible today, but I'm looking forward to it.

And then that evening, on the way to Jackson Heights with my Queens daughter, we stopped at Five Guys in Whitestone NY. My daughter and her husband really enjoyed their hamburgers and fries. I could barely fit in a kosher hot dog.

Of course, I could have said, "No thanks." What a weekend!

Weathering the New York Cold

Yesterday, I was in Beacon, NY. The weather was -11 degrees when I woke up. My grandchildren went off to school like hardy souls. I cowered under the covers in a warm family room.

Closer to noon, I braved this cold, cold air and went to the Yankee Clipper Diner in Beacon to prepare for my trip to New York City. After a hearty breakfast meal (even though it was now afternoon), I proceeded to the Metro North station long the Hudson River. Fortified by a good meal, I was beginning to adapt to the cold air and before long the warm train came. I spent the time doing a few crossword puzzles and about an hour and twenty minutes later, arrived at Grand Central Station in New York City. When I got off the train, I stopped by Starbucks for a tall Cafe Mocha to fortify myself against the cold air. Remember, I live in San Diego, CA, where the weather is much nicer.

Then, came the trek to Jackson Heights in Queens, just about a twenty-minute ride on the No. 7 subway (mostly above ground). It gave me a view of the neighborhoods and I was pleased to see that some of the high mounds of snow had lessened. Just in time for some snow showers which fell today, followed by another snow storm coming on Wednesday. Thankfully, I'll be gleefully staying indoors for a few days, playing with my granddaughter.

By the way, did I mention that the words "cold" and "snow" enough?

Snow, Snow, and a Cold

A week ago, I arrived at Queens NY to spend time with my youngest grandchild, almost three months old. The very next day, I attacked by symptoms of a cold. I was fine when I left San Diego. I love New York, but not the snow and ice. Queens was still enshrouded with the stuff. On Sunday, I took the "7" to Grand Central to get a Metro North train, which took me up to Dutchess County. I enjoyed visiting the family while they watched the Golden Globes. Little by little the sniffles encroached on my life.

Last night, I returned to Dutchess County before the latest snow arrived. I was told that it was the fourth in two weeks....not my cup of tea. Also, the snow storm gave me the opportunity to win out over the attack of the "HEAD COLD." I'm attaching a picture taken from inside the house.

Tonight, the family went to a new restaurant, Twist Burger, run by my son-in-law's brother. Since I wasn't going out of the house, they brought home a cheeseburger and onion rings for me. Delish!!!! Twist Burger is located on Route 376 in Fishkill Plains, NY. Worth a visit.

Beautiful Snow-capped Mountains

During the first week in January, I made two trips to Corona, CA near Riverside (about 50 miles west of Los Angeles). I was so taken with the snow-capped San Bernardino Mountains, I had to take some photos. I just couldn't get a great one. The best views were always while driving where there wasn't a place to legally pull over to the side of the road.

On New Year's Day, we traveled to the Los Angeles area. My son and daughter-in-law took us to a Korean BBQ restaurant, Shilla, in Gardena, CA. I enjoyed the experience. The barbecue was within the table near the end. The waitress came every so often to turn the meat. My daughter-in-law chose the dishes for us. Along with the beef and pork, we enjoyed soup, salad, rice, and some small side dishes. Since this was the first time for me, I sampled a little from each dish. I don't remember the names, except the kelp and sardines. The sardines were too dry for me, but I did like the kelp. Also, as my granddaughter nimbly used her chopsticks, I made a concerted yet feeble attempt....maybe next time. The meal was leisurely, and as I said before, was enjoyable.

Yesterday, we joined them again for dinner at Benihana's in Torrence, CA to celebrate my daughter-in-law's birthday. We all enjoyed watching the chef perform some tricks as he deftly prepared our meal, which was delicious. Again, I had the opportunity to use chopsticks. The restaurant supplied specially constructed chopsticks for children. So, my daughter-in-law requested extra ones for adult guests who needed them. I managed to eat the fried rice without dropping too much as well as dip the shrimp and chicken in the sauces. I enjoyed the chicken and shrimp and had a taste of the green tea ice cream. It was interesting, but my old favorite, chocolate, was my choice. It was so nice to join the family in their celebration.