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 fragrant nuttiness by adding almond paste to the batter. Use a variety of tart and slightly sweet apples, but wait to slice them until it is time to add them to the cake, otherwise, the apple's flesh will oxidize and discolor. When it comes time [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Did you know... the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, started in 1982, is the largest and longest continually-running vintage sports car race in the United States? Ten days of events ranging from parades, galas, country cruising tours, and specialized car shows culminate into a competitive road race on the challenging, serpentine roads through Schenley Park. Sunday spectators are treated to 150 [...]
During my last trip to Seattle, the Executive Director of the Seattle Architectural Foundation hooked me up with a private walking tour around downtown. I had the pleasure of spending two hours with Eva Weaver, one of SAF's deeply knowledgeable tour guides. The customized tour focused on Art Deco skyscrapers in the Northwest style, built in the late 1920s [...]
