It has become somewhat of an annual pilgrimage up to Sleepy Hollow Cemetery on Halloween. And just 25 miles north of the city, it’s an easy morning or afternoon activity. Also, since New Yorker’s love Halloween, you can make this trip and still be back into the city by the evening for ghoulish (i.e drunken debaucherous) pursuits.
Wanting to escape city living, at least for a couple hours on the weekend can be pretty straightforward in New York.
Case in point, Croton Gorge Park is 40 miles north of Manhattan (if you have a car) or you can take the Metro North Train to the Croton on Hudson stop. Note: if you take the train you will then need to take a car service for the remaining 2.5 miles to the park (and remember this because I will revisit it later.)
Marc Zappulla has just catapulted us back to a lifestyle very few of us are privy to with his new release “The Last Longshoreman”. Not since Marlon Brando’s marquee performance with “On The Waterfront” has there been anyone to bring us into the life of a longshoreman. Marc who has three other novels under his belt felt that re-inviting the public to this shadowy world would be a worthy subject to write about. Also his father worked on the waterfront as well.
A hearty fall soup that is quick to make and perfect for busy NYC residents.
As I sat there in the spacious loft of the renovated Brooklyn firehouse, I was blown away by the sounds that emanated from the seven-piece band in front of me. They took me on a nostalgic ride to the time when words and music meant something. As one of the lead singers, Dante DeLemos, belted out the lyrics to their single “A Revelations Gonna Come” it catapulted me to the sounds of The Eagles and a bit of Bob Dylan. The band has been officially together for a fairly short time, but some of them have played together for many years in other projects.
It’s mid October and the air has begun its inevitable plummet into the cold of winter. However, first we get to experience the beauty of fall when nature dawns her gown of golds, oranges, yellows, reds and browns. As she dances through the chilling days she paints the trees with a picturesque luster to steal your breath. Being locked in the city, however, can leave you separated from this unfolding glory. And yet, a short 30 minute drive can deliver you to Raccoon State Park. I can think of no better time of the year to enjoy this state park than the fall season
Fall is in the air with Halloween and Thanksgiving right around the corner. Most bodegas in the city sell pumpkins (in addition to the many grocery stores and farmers markets.) You can also head out to the Queens County Farm which is a real working farm in the borough and pick out a few which is a nice weekend date or activity with friends.
I bought a few pumpkins and put together a little appetizer that would be perfect before Thanksgiving dinner.
There are so many varieties of squash in season right now. I am most familiar with a handful such as Butternut, Acorn and Delicata. However, there are many other’s I always look at but then walk right past. I decided to make a squash soup using different squash I don’t normally buy and the end result was great.
These three squash; Kabocha, Calabaza and Amber cup work really well together. There is a natural mild sweetness in this soup which I really enjoyed.
Fall squash are some of my favorite ingredients to work with. Spanning from soups to stew, roasted to mashed, there is no shortage of preparations. So one afternoon, I was looking at a few delicata squash on my counter and asked a very simple question. Why not fried?
My general philosophy (one of many) in life is: fried = good and beer battered + fried = better.
Full of fall flavors, be sure to make this salad at your next dinner party.
