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Jan 2009
Really Getting My Goat
31/01/09 14:27 Filed in: England
Green, Mossy...and Goaty
Last Week: Wwoofing and Goofing Around
STORY
VIDEO
Week 1: Diary of a Lone Wwoofer-
STORY
VIDEO
Also, check out my companion video to week 3:
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I Spy Pie
27/01/09 13:17 Filed in: USA
I am currently in Rockland, Maine gorging myself on pastry at the annual PIES ON PARADE INN TO INN TOUR.
Traditionally a cake person, (I mean, have you ever heard anyone say “let them eat pie?”), I cast aside my prejudices and tucked into a life-threatening number of wedges on Sunday. Evidence of my dessert debauchery will eventually be broadcast on my YouTube Channel, but for now I’ll give you a little taste of Rockland and the event. 
Hosted by The Historic Inns of Rockland, the event consists of scurrying around this freezing, coastal town, and trying to consume as many pies as possible within the 3-hour time frame. Some of the pie-points are restaurants, but several are super cute old inns such as The Berry Manor Inn, a grape-hued Victorian B&B, and Captain Lindsey House, which features a man-pleasing nautical theme.
However, the highlight of the weekend was a one-on-one pie making lesson with Janet LaPosta, a certified “Pie Mom” at The Berry Manor Inn. Janet was adorable - even during a flour fight with yours truly - and is happy to share her pie skills with the world! Click “read more” for Janet’s Raspberry Pie Recipe.
Read More...
Hosted by The Historic Inns of Rockland, the event consists of scurrying around this freezing, coastal town, and trying to consume as many pies as possible within the 3-hour time frame. Some of the pie-points are restaurants, but several are super cute old inns such as The Berry Manor Inn, a grape-hued Victorian B&B, and Captain Lindsey House, which features a man-pleasing nautical theme.
However, the highlight of the weekend was a one-on-one pie making lesson with Janet LaPosta, a certified “Pie Mom” at The Berry Manor Inn. Janet was adorable - even during a flour fight with yours truly - and is happy to share her pie skills with the world! Click “read more” for Janet’s Raspberry Pie Recipe.
Read More...
Most. Insane. Menu. Ever.
Where: Rockland, Maine, USA
What: The anti-Denny’s menu. Long, text-heavy, and just plain nuts. Should not be approached without a puffy armchair and reading glasses. Will take at least an hour to decipher, at which time you’ll be full of bread anyway .
Menu Highlights: A salad with fries in it. “Aggablagga” (owner blanked when it came to a name). Meatloaf, curry and everything in between. In other words, literally everything.
www.cafemiranda.com
Sheep Shaggin' Boots
24/01/09 09:51 Filed in: England
Wwoofing and goofing around
Last Week: Diary of a Lone Wwoofer-
STORY
VIDEO
Jan. 31: Getting my goat in the Lake District
Also, check out my companion video to week 2:
The T5 Vibe
23/01/09 14:54 Filed in: Airports
While on my roundabout journey from Toronto to Maine via Chicago and New York (last minute booking idiocy, don’t ask), I find myself loitering around JFK’s uber modern new Terminal 5.
Home to el-cheapo jetBlue airline, the terminal just opened in October 2008 and, though small, it’s a cornucopia of airport delights.
First of all: FREE WIRELESS, as should be the global standard these days. I mean, I love stalking exes on Facebook just as much as the next person (looking at the guy beside me - yep, he’s doing it), but when I’m paying Boingo something like $19.99/second to creep around, it’s a bit much. Also, I don’t want to be the inspiration for the campaign for Facebook restraining orders.
But when it’s free, well...then it’s justified.
At T5, seating areas designed for the geeky computer set like me (blog, blog, blog) feature comfy, glute-moulded stools and some of those elusive power outlets. Plus, each station is adorned with a futuristic touchscreen upon which you can summon food and beverages, including beer. I’m not sure where it comes from or who delivers it - I’m imagining the robot from Buck Rogers.
All of the food court kiosks seem to operate this way. Instead of the burger jockey asking if you want to upgrade to a “Type Two Diabetes-Sized” Coke, you press the button and seal the deal yourself. So long jobs, mortality is obsolete!
Other points of interest:
-An iPod vending machine (see left)
-Muji, a Japanese chain that sells odd (and presumably insta-breakable) travel products like cardboard speakers
-A collection of beautifully decorated, standalone restaurants including La Vie, which looks like a tiny bistro in Paris
-An open-concept seating area with cushions where people can crash and publicly drool
-An AMAZING deli-style buffet where people can drool some more. But not into the food. That’s not cool.
Home to el-cheapo jetBlue airline, the terminal just opened in October 2008 and, though small, it’s a cornucopia of airport delights.
But when it’s free, well...then it’s justified.
At T5, seating areas designed for the geeky computer set like me (blog, blog, blog) feature comfy, glute-moulded stools and some of those elusive power outlets. Plus, each station is adorned with a futuristic touchscreen upon which you can summon food and beverages, including beer. I’m not sure where it comes from or who delivers it - I’m imagining the robot from Buck Rogers.
All of the food court kiosks seem to operate this way. Instead of the burger jockey asking if you want to upgrade to a “Type Two Diabetes-Sized” Coke, you press the button and seal the deal yourself. So long jobs, mortality is obsolete!
-An iPod vending machine (see left)
-A collection of beautifully decorated, standalone restaurants including La Vie, which looks like a tiny bistro in Paris
-An open-concept seating area with cushions where people can crash and publicly drool
-An AMAZING deli-style buffet where people can drool some more. But not into the food. That’s not cool.
Jumbo Hostel
21/01/09 21:55 Filed in: Sleeping Around
Dorm: $53/night
Three bed room: $204/night
Cockpit suite: $500/night
www.jumbohostel.com
WWOOF, WWOOF!
17/01/09 12:36 Filed in: England
WWHAT IN THE WWORLD IS WWOOFING?
DIARY OF A LONE WWOOFER: WEEK 1, OLD HALL
Next week: Seeking Wwoofing Justice in Nottingham
Jan. 31: Getting my goat in the Lake District
Also, check out my companion video to week 1:
Glo-Kayaking
By Reb Stevenson
FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO–Kayaking in the pitch black seems counterintuitive – idiotic, even.
Apart from the weak green strobe effect coming from the safety lights on our lifejackets, we are as blind as the bats that occasionally dart overhead.
And we keep crashing into the mangroves.
A group of 20, we glide in single file down the narrow canal.
READ MORE HERE
A Taste of ... Morocco
What is it? A bowl full of snails
Where is it? Morocco
Describe it? As the sun sets over Marrakech, the main square (Djemma el Fna) springs to life as an outdoor food court. Smoke dominates the air, vendors sing their praises of their stalls and many stomach-challenging delicacies are on offer. One of the cheapest is a big steaming bowl full of snails in a spicy broth. Wielding a toothpick, you extract the slimy creatures from their shells, try to avoid gazing into their sad little faces and give your mandible a workout – oh yes, they’re chewy little suckers.
How much? Pocket change.
From my food and drink column in
Firing the Canon Again
05/01/09 02:10 Filed in: Personal
In any case, I thought I’d post a few samples.
Read More...
Wino Forever
04/01/09 16:56 Filed in: Gear
From $9.85 to $14.85 US at www.magellans.com
From my weekly travel gear column in