Keeping the birthday golf tradition alive on the gorgeous and highly challenging Old Course at The Omni Bedford Springs Resort. The beautiful Allegheny Mountains surround the historic course (c. 1895) while a babbling trout stream criss-crosses through it. Our room overlooked the golf course, allowing us to watch the blazing autumn sunsets. We both really [...]
We excel at spa-ing. It might be Dan's and my favorite thing to do together, besides golfing, cooking, gardening, and many other things... but knowing that a fabulous spa day is approaching, I tend to get a little giddy. As a longtime patron of Omni Hotels, the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, has been on [...]
I have been on an Afternoon Tea odyssey for years. There is something genteel and charming about the formality of it all. Tea cups with roses. Tiny sandwiches. Tiers of miniature sweets. We accepted a gracious invitation to enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Driskill Hotel, Austin's classic Grand Dame located downtown on Brazos and 6th. [...]
Old Course at The Omni Homestead Resort I love a good history lesson! While researching the two golf courses at The Homestead- The Old Course (1892) and The Cascades (1924) - I learned the Old Course has the nation's oldest first tee in continuous use. It was a little geek-out golf moment to think we [...]
As a longtime patron of Omni Hotels, the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, has been on my to-go list since they acquired the property in 2013. I appreciate the hotel group's custodianship of beautiful resorts often on the National Trust for Historic Preservation and recognized by the Historic Hotels of America, both of which [...]
This classic German apple cake is given a hint of warm, fragrant nuttiness by adding almond paste to the batter. Use a tart variety of apples and do not slice them into fans until it is time to add them to the cake, otherwise the flesh will oxidize and discolor. This cake becomes very golden [...]
DISCOVER CAPE COD BOOK SIGNING Celebrate Local at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio is hosting a local author book signing on Friday, October 18 as part of their eighth anniversary celebration. Author Shawnie Kelley will be signing copies of her book, Discover Cape Cod from 5:30-7:30pm. Come see us if you are in the [...]
September 26 – 6-8 pm $50 Provençal Cooking with Herbs REGISTER HERE Giant Eagle Demonstration Kitchen, 3061 Kingsdale Center, Upper Arlington Contact Shawnie with questions: shawniekelley@gmail.com Celebrate late summer’s bounty of herbs with four different sweet and savory recipes from southern France. We learn to cook with herbs using different techniques. [...]
I have been on a bit of an Afternoon Tea odyssey lately. There is something genteel and charming about the formality of it all. Tea cups with roses. Tiny sandwiches. Tiers of minature sweets. While living and working in England for a few years, friends and I sat sipping darjeeling with pinky's out at the [...]
I haven't spent much time in Texas (like, zero). So, it was exciting when an opportunity arose to visit San Antonio, of which I've heard all sorts of wonderful things. My typical M.O. is to sniff out a historic inn or smaller, locally owned boutique hotels, but the J.W. Marriott Texas Hill Country caught my [...]
The Grand Hotel experience begins even before stepping foot onto northern Michigan's Mackinac Island. First glimpse of the stately white columns and billowing flags of the hotel unfurling along the hillside hints at the timeless luxury that awaits across across the bay. The fifteen-minute ferry ride (we used Shepler's Ferry out of Mackinaw City) is just a teaser as the boat [...]
In an effort to research some of America's great hotels for my book America's Grande Dames, I discovered this majestic beacon perched on a hill overlooking the island of New Castle, just near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth-by-the Sea has an aristocratic ring to it. It was in fact built by a local ale tycoon in 1874 and [...]
