Inspiration – The Culture Mom http://www.theculturemom.com Adventures of a culture & travel enthusiast Sat, 09 Apr 2016 11:02:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.4.2 /wp-content/uploads/2015/10/icon.jpg Inspiration – The Culture Mom http://www.theculturemom.com 32 32 What International Women’s Day 2016 Means to Me #IWD2016 /international-womens-day-2016-means/ /international-womens-day-2016-means/#respond Tue, 08 Mar 2016 18:04:24 +0000 /?p=7261   Happy International Women’s Day! Today we are celebrating all women and girls around the world who have either helped create where we are today, or will be a part in our future efforts to get us where we want and need to be. As the mother of a young tween girl, I see all my […]

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 iwd2016

Happy International Women’s Day! Today we are celebrating all women and girls around the world who have either helped create where we are today, or will be a part in our future efforts to get us where we want and need to be. As the mother of a young tween girl, I see all my hopes and aspirations and the many opportunities, and pitfalls, she has in her future. It’s exciting but it’s also frightening. We are so much further than we were 10-20 years ago but we still have so much progress to make. As a feminist, I see the battle continuing in violence against women, the right to control our bodies, poverty, racism, gender equality, sexism, inequality in the workplace, climate control and the continuous battle of body weight and self image.

For me, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate our achievements but also our setbacks. May my daughter wear her pride on her sleeve every day of her life and never be told she is incapable of doing anything.  May she become a leader in whatever industry she chooses to work on and use her work to inspire younger women to create change and make a difference. May she be able to do anything she wants without being undermined or under-represented. May she continue to glow and feel as though as the world is at her fingertips.

As someone who works in the social good/non-profit space, I see injustices occurring around the world daily. I hope that this day inspires you as much as it inspires you, as well as others, to make the world a better place.

All the best to all of you, women and men, on this important global day. Head to Twitter and shout your loudest using hash tag #IDW2016.

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Review: iDropped, Fixes iPhones and Child’s Hearts /idropped/ /idropped/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2016 22:56:06 +0000 /?p=7243 When my son’s brand new IPhone 6s appeared with a cracked screen, it not only broke (sorry for the pun) his heart but also presented us with the problem of getting it repaired. After all, it’s the most modern, advanced version of the iPhone and also his favorite belonging in the world, so we needed to remedy […]

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idropped

When my son’s brand new IPhone 6s appeared with a cracked screen, it not only broke (sorry for the pun) his heart but also presented us with the problem of getting it repaired. After all, it’s the most modern, advanced version of the iPhone and also his favorite belonging in the world, so we needed to remedy the situation at our soonest..without a delay or wait. He wasn’t sure exactly how the phone had broken, after owning it for a mere six hours, but we carefully stressed the need to be patient and understand that these things happen to everyone.

We did get him insurance, but we didn’t want to pay Apple a couple hundred dollars for a replacement iPhone. Thankfully, there are other options, and we investigated what was available to us in the NYC area.

Step in iDropped, a mobile device repair service, which just opened in Brooklyn at the end of 2015. Unlike many wireless retailers that require customers to go days without their phones while being repaired, iDropped strives to mend phones in an hour and other electronic devices within24 hours. Each device goes through a rigorous pre-repair and post-repair checkpoint to ensure complete functionality before it is returned to the customer. They use the highest-quality parts and supplies and supports each repair with a one-year warranty, repairing androids, iPads, mini iPhones, and, of course, iPhones.

We dropped in early on a Sunday morning around 11am. Raheem, the store manager, happily took my son’s phone off his hands and immediately got to work. From start to finish, the screen change probably took no longer than 30 minutes. I was surprised at not only how complicated and intricate the process was, but also how incredibly patient Raheem was whilst changing out all the screws that keep the phone together and working. My son, who happens to be a future technical engineer, was very intrigued by the process and delighted to be given an opportunity to share his love of technology and everything Apple with Raheem and Roberto, his colleague.

iDropped is an interesting business model, repairing iPhones in a flash, with an ultra-pleasant staff, and at reasonable prices to boot. It’s a service I’d definitely recommend.

The location we visited is located at 611 Flatbush Ave. in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. To learn more about iDropped in Brooklyn and/or find out about their locations, please visit their site or call 866-611-1456.

Disclosure: I partnered with iDropped on this review, however all opinions are my own.

 

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Please Remove Me From Your List /please-remove-me-from-your-list/ /please-remove-me-from-your-list/#respond Tue, 09 Feb 2016 13:35:11 +0000 /?p=7234 Lately there are six words I seem to be writing at least twenty times a day, making them more news-worthy in my world than any others. They are not the kindest words, nor do I enjoy using them several times an hour, however these six simple words are PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST. Yep, […]

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pleaseremovemefromlist

Lately there are six words I seem to be writing at least twenty times a day, making them more news-worthy in my world than any others. They are not the kindest words, nor do I enjoy using them several times an hour, however these six simple words are PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST. Yep, that’s six more words than I’d like to use at any given time.

The emails I am getting are usually requests for editorial coverage here on this blog that don’t pertain to my niche whatsoever, and they typically leave me dumbfounded. In the past month, I have been asked to review toffee, a yoga and tutus event, Kosher swim ware and other miscellaneous things that are irrelevant to the world I write about.

Have I mentioned that all my of these pitches are basically asking for free exposure? They are sending me the info with the expectation of me jumping for joy and blogging about them, tweeting about them and shouting out everywhere about how fabulous they are.

There there also authors asking me if they can make editorial contributions.  Typically, these are requests for a link to their business. I probably get more of these types of emails than anything.

Let’s take a look at my “About Us” section, which hasn’t changed much over the years:

The Culture Mom’s mission is to enliven readers by showing how accessible and fun cultural and travel experiences, in New York City and beyond, can be in everyday life.  The Culture Mom is a gallant, worldly irreverent, urban explorer with broad cultural interests.  We’re passionate about travel, film, TV, reading, music, art and new experiences, both for us and our children. We also love the idea of social good, using our online voice to make a difference.

Let’s look at a few of my recent posts – I recently wrote about a ski trip to Mont Tremblant, Netflix, the NY Botanical Garden, a trip to Woodloch Resort, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and how devastated I was by the death of David Bowie. I do have a niche, if it’s hard to figure out, look at my freelance writing. I typically write about travel, culture and social good. I don’t venture into faraway territories.

Why am I writing this post? I am grateful for any attention, I assure you, and I don’t want to sound like I’m not. All I am asking is that you look at my blog before emailing me and treat me like a professional. Yes, I do have the word “mom” in my URL, and I do understand that puts me in a specific category of bloggers, but please treat me with respect.

I actually just found an old post with a few requests for all of you out there pitching me, and I’m going to repost things to avoid in the future:

– The Culture Mom is not a listing. While I do attend many cultural events, I really write about the ones I cover. Inviting me is fine, but please don’t ask me to run a listing when you don’t one here.

– My niche is fairly obvious – I cover travel, culture and advocacy. I write about these topics here and elsewhere. I don’t post recipes. I don’t review baby products. I don’t write about yogurt.

– Please don’t ask me to repost press releases. My blog is experiential. I make recommendations. I won’t recommend or promote something I know little about, particularly if it doesn’t fit my niche.

– I have a rate card. I’m a professional. Major brands should not ask for free advertising so please don’t.

– I don’t feature guest posts unless they are in line with my content. Sponsored posts? I do, but rarely, only because many of your requests don’t seem legitimate and the topics are too off first base.

– Please don’t pitch me with a subject line like this one: Every Mom Deserves a Bit of Pampering. I don’t really respond to a topic that not only pigeon holes me but talks down to me.

– And please don’t call me a “mommy blogger” in your pitch. I will most likely delete your email without responding at all.

 

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Where I’ve Been /where-ive-been-4/ /where-ive-been-4/#respond Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:29:42 +0000 /?p=7226 Forgive the silence once again, but life has been busy. With a home renovation, a full client list and kid obligations THROUGH THE ROOF, there has been little time to do many of the things I love. I look forward to moving back home so I can once again sustain my heavy appetite of culture […]

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Where I’ve Been

Forgive the silence once again, but life has been busy. With a home renovation, a full client list and kid obligations THROUGH THE ROOF, there has been little time to do many of the things I love. I look forward to moving back home so I can once again sustain my heavy appetite of culture and travel wanderlust.

From Traveling…

But my adventures haven’t stopped completely. This past weekend, I was a guest of the Mont Tremblant tourist board and got to thoroughly explore (and ski) this amazing part of Canada. Stay tuned for that coverage here on the blog and elsewhere. I’ve been attending plenty of press events in NYC, including a fab one for See Australia last week with the sexy Chris Hemsworth in attendance. And I’ve been writing. You can find my latest on Yahoo Travel from last month on How to Celebrate the Holidays in New York City; my first published piece on one of my favorite blogs called Live.Do.Grow on Finding Wellness in Ireland; a piece I loved writing on the Best-Kept Secrets of NYC for Families on Minitime; and a latest and greatest updated article on the Best New York Restaurants with Kids on Ciao Bambino. My family and I also recently spent a fun-filled weekend at Woodloch Resort in the Poconos.

To Broadway

My cultural adventures haven’t ceased completely either. I saw Beautiful on Broadway last month and was enraptured by the life and music of Carole King. And I’ve been watching a lot of TV, most recently Difficult People on Hulu and Mozart in the Jungle on Amazon. I’m still obsessed with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Jane the Virgin and Younger and I long for OITNB and Transparent to start new seasons.

To Sundance

And in other news, a film I helped out on in its very early stages not only made it to Sundance but was picked up by Sony. Congrats to the gals at Broadstreet Pictures for their successful debut of EQUITY.

I’ve met some wonderful people in this space and gone to some wonderful places. The truth is in these posts.

Stay tuned to this space for a wrap-up on my Mont Tremblant visit this week.

Cheers.

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Giveaway: 4 Tickets to the @NYBG Orchid Show /nybg-orchid-show/ /nybg-orchid-show/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2016 17:19:08 +0000 /?p=7220 I’m a big fan of the annual Orchid Show at The NY Botanical Garden, and I’m thrilled to be hosting a giveaway to send a family to experience it for themselves. The year 2016 marks the 125th Anniversary of the founding of Garden. Since 1891 NYBG has been a museum of plants dedicated to achieving excellence in horticulture, […]

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I’m a big fan of the annual Orchid Show at The NY Botanical Garden, and I’m thrilled to be hosting a giveaway to send a family to experience it for themselves.
The year 2016 marks the 125th Anniversary of the founding of Garden. Since 1891 NYBG has been a museum of plants dedicated to achieving excellence in horticulture, education, and plant research and conservation. Today it is one of the great cultural institutions in the world, a preeminent center for botanical research, a natural treasure for visitors of all ages, and a leader and national model for plant-based education.
NYBG Orchid Show
This landmark year is filled with exciting events that highlight the many facets of the Garden’s mission. The NYBG Orchid Show opens on February 27 and runs through April 17, 2016. The inspiration for this year’s exhibition is the 19th-century craze sparked by a single orchid bloom, which came to be known as Orchidelirium. Visitors to the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory will be transported on an epic journey that engages all of the senses and underscores the allure and intrigue of these exquisite beauties.

The show is truly a New Yorker’s defining moment, and the experience will just add to the pride that you have in this incredible city that we live in. And now, right here on The Culture Mom, you can enter to win FOUR tickets to @NYBG Orchid Show.

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN TIX TO THE @NYBG Orchid Show:

  • Comment here and let me know how you engage your children in nature.
  • Tweet this message: “Hope I win the @NYBG Annual Orchid Show giveaway from http://bit.ly/1zf1TXV via @hollychronicles”

Contest ends midnight Eastern time, Monday, February 1st.  The four packs need to be used before the show ends on April 17th, 2016. The winner will have 24 hours to accept their prize.

For more information on the NYBG Orchid Show, please visitnybg.org.

Disclosure: These tickets were provided to me complimentary for this giveaway but I was not compensated for this post.

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Our Weekend at Woodloch Resort /our-weekend-at-woodloch-resort/ /our-weekend-at-woodloch-resort/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2016 02:29:44 +0000 /?p=7202 When we were invited to spend some time at Woodloch Resort in the Poconos with my family in tow, I was suitably excited. I had heard so much about it from various friends, many who go back year after year, and I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. Also, after living […]

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Photo source: Woodloch Resort

When we were invited to spend some time at Woodloch Resort in the Poconos with my family in tow, I was suitably excited. I had heard so much about it from various friends, many who go back year after year, and I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. Also, after living in an apartment for the past few months while undergoing massive renovations on our home, we were all eager to get up and out and sleep elsewhere.

Woodloch is a mere two hours from NYC, so the drive was relatively short and easy until the last 15 minutes or so when we hit local, windy roads. The resort sits on 1,000 acres and is family-run. Its current owner, John Kiesendahl, is very cordial and accessible and very open about the fact that the day-to-day operations are run by the entire family, generation to generation. How do I know this? He actually stopped by my table during dinner one night to find out how we were doing, as he was approaching each guest around the room. This simple display of hospitality made visiting Woodloch something different, I will admit.

Upon checking in at the main lodge, we were given a daily schedule, map and key to our room, which was fortunately located in the same building. The property is massive, as mentioned previously, and it’s cold at this time of the year in the Poconos, so I was glad to stay in one place. Staying in this part of the resort also kept us close to the resort’s nightclub, sports bar, movie room, and dining room. Nearby at the second main hall sits the Inn, hosting additional dining rooms.

WoodlochResort

Where We Stayed

There are over 150 guest rooms scattered throughout the other residence buildings. We were able to walk to pretty much all the activities we wanted to get to, but there is a shuttle for non-walkers. We were given a Lakeview room, which was comfortable and spacious for the four of us. Guest rooms feature flat screen TVs, mini-fridges, a walk-in closet, coffeemakers, cable TVs and easy access to the main dining room. Larger families can rent one of the 56 private cottages or houses scattered around the grounds, which have up to five bedrooms and full kitchen facilities.

What We Did

The resort specializes in family activities with all day offerings and special daily events. From arts & crafts to trivia contests to go-carting to bumper cars to swimming to archery to cooking contests to tubing, there is non-stop activity or you can easily just relax and enjoy the lake side views. We opted for a bit of both – as a family, we played trivia games, rode go-carts and I even let the kids have a go in the shooting gallery (which as an anti-gun activist was really hard!) There are nearby ski resorts but the weather in New York hadn’t quite reached that level of enough snow, so we stayed in. The resort also offers a gym, a spa, yoga classes  and modes of relaxation. You can book a babysitter who will gladly escort your kids to any activity with the exception of the pool. At night, we all enjoyed Broadway-style show and comedian afterwards.

Where We Ate

Set up with an all-inclusive American Plan, we were able to have three meals a day in the dining room. Served by a professional waiting staff, we were given options for a three-course meal, with a choice of entrée, soup, salad, side dishes and dessert.

The Low-Down

Woodloch is a throwback to a time long gone, with endless activities for families. Our visit was an opportunity to remove our kids from their digital addictions for a few days, and for that, I am grateful. Woodloch is like a cruise ship on land and an easy getaway for families, many of who come back year after year.

 

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My Bat Mitzvah Card Snafu /my-bat-mitzvah-card-snafu/ /my-bat-mitzvah-card-snafu/#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2016 14:04:58 +0000 /?p=7212 My tween aged daughter and I have been busy planning all the details for her Bat Mitzvah for the past six months. I’ve sunk my heart and soul into the planning phase of this life-altering event. We’ve been choosing a venue, picking out a DJ, photographer and photo booth vendor, making lists of invitees, picking out dresses and […]

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bat mitzvah card snafu

This is another person’s sad saga of a Bat Mitzvah card gone wrong.

My tween aged daughter and I have been busy planning all the details for her Bat Mitzvah for the past six months. I’ve sunk my heart and soul into the planning phase of this life-altering event. We’ve been choosing a venue, picking out a DJ, photographer and photo booth vendor, making lists of invitees, picking out dresses and of course, she’s been hard at work learning her Torah portion and how to lead the congregation in a service.

From the get go, I made it clear to her that this Bat Mitzvah is hers, not ours, as much as my husband would beg to differ. She has been pivotal in picking out every vendor, every item, every detail. She’s planning on advising the DJ on the music and writing poems for everyone lighting candles at the party.  Even the colors are her choice and I feel confident that the day will define her to a tee.

So you get the gist. It’s a very special day – one that costs a considerable amount of money, as well, so everything we have chosen was done with precision. After we checked our main concerns off our list, we zeroed in on our invitations. She quickly found a web site she liked, we got samples in the mail and we were off. I let her control much of the process, but when it came to the proofs, I promptly provided corrections to the design team. At that point, her interest waned.

This is probably where I should add that not only am I sometimes writer but I’m a full-time marketer. Much of my career has been spent drafting copy and proofing this type of collateral. I have never printed anything with an error in my life, and I wasn’t about to start now. My tween became my client and I took extra time with that invite.

Well……not so fast. After a few days of not receiving any RSVPs, I began to wonder what was happening. After all, we are having a bit of a big celebration – we do need people to come! And most of our friends and family live out of the country, so they needed to get their hands no this invite fast to even consider it. Well, it finally hit us last night. We had a typo in the RSVP email so no one was able to RSVP. Of course, no one has mentioned the typo or the bounced back email yet but it was a matter of time.

Yet I felt pure devastation. How could I ruin something so important? How could I miss something so glaringly obvious? Unfortunately, the vendor was not at fault. They made it very clear along the way that changes were my responsibility and that would not be liable for any errors after a certain point. It is only now that I wish I had ordered them at a local printer. Tres sigh.

What would everyone think of me? A typo in my own daughter’s Bat Mitzvah invitation! And it was impossible to miss. I was mortified.

Well, my daughter didn’t even blink. Didn’t even tell me off. She got right to work creating a new email account to capture the RSVPs. She told me not worry about it, that half of her friends can’t spell her names and leave out an “i”. She even went so far to show me a photo of a card her good mate sent her, leaving out the same “i” we left out on our invitation. She also told me we’ll be laughing this off one day. I wasn’t so sure about that…..

My husband, also a forever optimist (how did I turn out like this?), was at first mortified but immediately he came down to earth and told me it’s the actual event that counts. Our daughter is going to become a Bat Mitzvah and lead our friends and family in a Jewish ceremony of prayers. That’s what is important.

My son told me that people will think the correct email was taken, hence we had to leave out a letter in the email we ended up with. I kind of doubted that.

After a night of little to no sleep, I emailed the vendor just to see what they’d say. It was too late to rectify the situation. The invitations have traveled all over the world now with the missing “i” and the RSVPs are hopefully beginning to arrive. They were kind and apologetic but at first only offered words of support. When I asked how much a single copy of the invitation would cost me for safe keeping in my memory book, they offered it at no charge. I just can’t look at it the way it is.

What did I learn? Maybe not to do too many things at once. To review materials more carefully. To somehow not miss the good print.

But most of all..that I have an amazing family who are optimists and see past the nuttiness of the situation. They don’t blame others and they look past small, unintentional mistakes. A Bat Mitzvah is one of the most special days of a young girl’s life, and I can assure you this won’t change that.

Next time I will probably order my invitations at a brick & mortar store up the road, because I’d like to think a local would have sat down with me and reviewed the invitation in depth. But who knows?

 

 

 

 

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A Brooklyn Discovery: Raaka Chocolate /7194-2/ /7194-2/#respond Tue, 29 Dec 2015 14:00:26 +0000 /?p=7194 If you’re looking for something unique to do in Brooklyn with the kids, look no further than Raaka Chocolate. The home of “virgin chocolate,” Raaka a factory where they make 20,000 chocolate bars a month and offer tours, as well as classes, where kids can taste raw cacao from different parts of the world and make […]

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chocolate

If you’re looking for something unique to do in Brooklyn with the kids, look no further than Raaka Chocolate. The home of “virgin chocolate,” Raaka a factory where they make 20,000 chocolate bars a month and offer tours, as well as classes, where kids can taste raw cacao from different parts of the world and make their own creation.

Raaka Chocolate

On a recent Friday night, my family and I ventured to Red Hook, where the Raaka factory is based. Immediately upon walking in, we smelled the fermented cacao beans, imported from small growers in Belize, Bolivia, Madagasar and the Dominican Republic. Owners Ryan Cheney and Nate Hodge process the cacao to a satiny finish and turn it into yummy bars sweetened with honey or maple sugar, or seasoned with tea and sea salt.

There’s a lot to like about Raaka. They’re organic, for one thing. For another, they’re made through fair trade channels to ensure that no child slave labor or other corrupt practices were used in their creation. Raaka supports in-country growth and development by giving cocoa farmers around the world an effective 20 percent raise for their beans. The wrapping is also pretty – and recycled paper. And the flavors – from tehini to olive oil to sea salt to coconut to maple, including vegan and gluten-free – they are truly authentic and tasty at that.

While we were there, we toured the factory and the kids learned how to turn raw beans into bars. They loaded  stone grinders with raw ingredients and poured their  bars into molds, ultimately decorating them with sprinkles and assorted toppings. Classes run on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4pm and 5-7pm and cost $50 per person. Tours are 45-minutes and cost $10, running on Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 6pm, Saturdays at 12pm, Sundays at 12pm.

So, if you’re interested in introducing your kids to how chocolate is made, don’t go to Hershey – head to Raaka, where they use humanitarian methods and are socially aware both as a manufacturer and distributor. Teach your kids about how important it is to be a good samaritan and how it can translate to business tactics…and excellent chocolate.

Raaka Chocolate is located at 64 Seabring Street between Richards Street and Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn (855-255-3354, raakachocolate.com).

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to Raaka as guests to experience the factory so I could record about our experience here and elsewhere.

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A Weekend in Scranton, Pennsylvania /a-weekend-in-scranton-pennsylvania-2/ /a-weekend-in-scranton-pennsylvania-2/#respond Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:05:56 +0000 /?p=7196 A few weeks ago, my husband, tween-aged daughter and I headed to Lackawanna County for a bit of exploration. Having never been to that neck of the woods after living in the Northeast for over 20 years, I was looking forward to it. We were also in the midst of home renovations and living in flux, […]

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scranton

A few weeks ago, my husband, tween-aged daughter and I headed to Lackawanna County for a bit of exploration. Having never been to that neck of the woods after living in the Northeast for over 20 years, I was looking forward to it. We were also in the midst of home renovations and living in flux, so it was going to be nice to get away for a few days and do what I love most – traveling, of course.

Our Weekend in Scranton

When I heard Lackawanna County, I immediately looked to Google to find out more about it (have you done that yet?). It’s an area just west of the Poconos, named for the picturesque river, which flows through it. Its largest city is Scranton, which was our destination. The only thing I knew about Scranton was it was the supposed home of the TV show The Office. The area is also known for producing coal at the turn of the century during the growth of steel production. This early industrial heritage gave the county a multi-cultural influence as the industry attracted immigrants from around the world.

Today Scranton has a varied population and diverse economy, which has contributed to a large variety of things to do and places to eat and stay in. It is seemingly a city on the brink of discovery, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time discovering it. The city is a bit sleepy but if you dig beneath the surface, you’ll find an abundance of offerings. Here were some of our favorites including where we stayed, what we did, where we ate.

Where We Stayed

The Hilton Scranton & Conference Center was a great place to rest our heads after a day of sightseeing. It’s conveniently located and a short walk to good restaurants, shopping and the Steamtown National Historic Site. The rooms are comfy and spacious and offer minifridges, flat-screen TVs and free Wifi. Breakfast is right downstairs in the restaurant, offering a full-on buffet. The hotel has a 24/7 gym and indoor pool (which my husband happily used) and a bar on the main level with a lovely bartender who somehow didn’t know what “Prosecco” is, despite being a bartender for 25 years. Tell you something about Scranton? It might just be that simple. But there’s nothing wrong with that.

What We Did

Being there right before the holidays gave us an insight to how Scranton celebrates and they do celebrate in style.

We went on the Steamtown Holiday Train to Santa’s Workshop, which took us from Scranton to the historic Moscow train station. Hosted by the L&WV Historical Society, the ride came with Christmas carolers and a visit with Santa at the station. My tween was slightly old for this ride, but the little kids on the train seemed to love it and it made me melancholy for her younger days. But if you do make it to Scranton, they offer train rides all year long, and you can find more info here.

We also made a trip to Scranton MADE Holiday Market, located at the Mall just a few blocks from our hotel, which is a collection of solid artists, vendors, music and activities, as well as the city’s Holiday Light Spectacular in Nay Aug Park.

A visit to the Anthracite Heritage Museum gave us an excellent education about the city’s history of coal mining, its related industries and the region’s immigrant culture. We learned about the people who came from Europe to work in the anthracite mining and textile industries and had a role in transforming the city. This museum was my husband’s favorite part of the trip. The museum is very well curated and provided a really good introduction to the history of the town. I’d recommend doing this first on a weekend visit.

The Everhart Museum is an art/history/science museum that features various exhibits throughout the year.

On our last day in Scranton, we went to see the David Wenzel Treehouse in Nay Aug Park, offering a viewpoint 150 feet below into the park’s valley creek and took a short hike through the park.

Where We Ate

We had heaping servings of seafood at Coopers Seafood, a Scranton landmark, where the decor is as eclectic as the restaurant’s exterior. We ventured to Osaka for Hibachi and sushi, just around the corner from the Hilton, which had a really fun atmosphere and great food. At Coney Island Lunch, we indulged in classic hot dogs, french fries and old-fashioned rice pudding. At the end of the weekend, we were thrilled to find Abe’s Kosher Deli, where we indulged in good old matzo ball soup and white fish on a bagel – not exactly like home, but good enough.

To Sum Up

Scranton/Lackawanna County is an interesting weekend away for New Yorkers. It’s just a 2-1/2 hour ride by car or bus, city offers a variety of options for adults and kids of all ages.

 

 

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Only in New York City: THE RIDE NYC /only-in-nyc-the-ride/ /only-in-nyc-the-ride/#respond Sun, 27 Dec 2015 18:22:26 +0000 /?p=7191 On Christmas Eve, my family and I ventured into NYC for a day of holiday sight-seeing. We started at the tree at Rockefeller Center, went by department windows at Sax Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, went shopping at Bryant Park market and idled in the fantastic lobby at the Algonquin Hotel. The Ride NYC But […]

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theride

On Christmas Eve, my family and I ventured into NYC for a day of holiday sight-seeing. We started at the tree at Rockefeller Center, went by department windows at Sax Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor, went shopping at Bryant Park market and idled in the fantastic lobby at the Algonquin Hotel.

The Ride NYC

But we had one thing on our mind: our 4pm reservation on THE RIDE NYC. I had a feeling it would be inclusive of everything I love most in life.

For example, NYC is my oasis. I’ve lived here for years but never tire of the buzz this city radiates. I also love theater and I had a feeling THE RIDE would relish in its role in Times Square life. I love street life. I enjoy karaoke, comedy and everything interactive.

Believe it or not, I know it’s hard to imagine, but THE RIDE encompasses all of this. It takes place on a fancy bus with stadium-like seating with video screens and LED lights set along the sides of the bus. It’s a 75-minute ride that goes about four miles through Times Square from 42nd Street to Columbus Circle and back, rather slowly (with the speed of midtown traffic). There are two hosts on each side, each one trying to be funnier than the other. As the bus crouches through Times Square, the people on the streets are somehow part of the show, both willingly and unwillingly. Each night a crew of more than 60 technical people, street performers and tour-guide actors with improv-comedy experience provide entertainment, and all of a sudden, one of the people being spoken to from the bus breaks out in performance. We were entertained by a rapper, a ballet dancer, a saxophonist and soulful singer, a hip hop dancer and most certainly, our two hosts who were pretty hilarious.

The tour includes bits of NYC history, which as a New Yorker, I found very compelling. At one point, whilst discussing the city’s subway system, the bus somehow turned into an actual subway, speeding down a few blocks, shaking just like an actual train that cruises underground.

The bus that is THE RIDE is no joke. Each vehicle costs upwards of a million dollars and includes 49 seats, transparent windows (so the people on the street actually see you), 3K LED lights which flash in various colors all through the ride and video screens.

The ticket prices verge on the high side, but based on what I’ve described, I fully endorse THE RIDE. It’s literally a portable theater riding through the streets of NYC, showing you the city’s best. Several passengers had purchased their tickets on GroupOn but I don’t think that anyone who pays full price should or would be disappointed.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets to facilitate this review and others but all opinions are my own.

 

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