Archive for ‘Going Out’

December 22, 2011

Aspen: Finnbar’s

When you’re abroad, as an American, about the first thing you look for is the Irish pub. It’s where you’ll find all the other American tourists … but also the friendliest locals. Finally, Aspen has its own Irish pub in the newly-opened Finbarr’s Irish Pub & Kitchen. With lots of strategically-placed big screens, plenty of beers (and cider!) on tap, and tasty food, Finbarr’s is one new Aspen restaurant that’s likely to be around for a long time.

My first visit, I ate mainly off the appetizer menu. My second, the bar menu. My third and fourth, just drinks. Overall the portions aren’t huge, but they aren’t expensive either, so I’m ok with it. Maybe it’s not the best place for post-pickup-basketball grub, but for snacks or a girls’ night, the food is tasty and creative.

beer cheese fondue

Can't go wrong with Guinness cheese fondue and pretzel bread ($10)

kale art dip finbarrs aspen

Kale (instead of spinach) artichoke dip ... not my favorite app ($?)

mussels

Mussels were delicious: fresh and tasty, but not standout ($11)

I also had the french onion soup ($6 and delish) and the braised greens ($5 and not so delish). The bangers and mash got rave reviews from my companions, the burger not as much, though more for its size than flavor. Every time I’ve been in Finbarr’s, it has been packed with locals and tourists—which is exactly what you want in a real Irish pub.

December 5, 2011

Austin: Skate It Up

Austin’s lakes and ponds will probably never freeze in order to get that whole wintery skating thing going on (in contrast to Aspen, where it is TEN degrees as I type this), so we have to build rinks specifically for that purpose. The downtown Whole Foods started the trend a few years ago (and has updated it for 2011, read on), but the famous Oasis Restaurant with its brand new Oasis Texas village is upping the ante with a 1,760 square foot ice skating rink against the sunsets and Lake Travis views for which it is famous.

oasis skating rink

Oasis Texas now consists of five restaurants, four retail shops, entertainment, and office space. The rink is open through January 1. Admission to the rink is $10, which includes skate rental. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Marine Foundation’s Toys for Tots annual holiday campaign and get $1 off skate ticket. Oasis Texas is located at 6550 Comanche Trail. For more info: oasistx.com

Skating rink hours: Monday through Thursday 4-10p; Friday and Saturday 11a-11p; Sunday 11a-8p.
Christmas Eve: 11a-7p; Christmas Day: 1-10p; New Year’s Eve: 11a-10p; New Year’s Day: 11a-10p

Meanwhile, Whole Foods is introducing Disco Karaoke on Ice! Wednesday Nights Through January 15th from 7-9p . Disco Karaoke on Ice will include free hot chocolate, courtesy of Capital One Bank, to the first 50 guests. Plus, all karaoke guests will be entered into a chance to win a $250 gift card. Admission: $10/hour includes skates.

November 25, 2011

Aspen: Winternational Red Bulletin Dine Around Weekend

And just like that, off-season is more or less over in Aspen. Sure, the next few weeks will be slow-ish, but this weekend is JAM-PACKED with events like any other summer or winter weekend, thanks to the 2011 Nature Valley Aspen Winternational Audi FIS Alpine World Cup.

Basically, the fastest women in the world (downhill ski racers) are racing Saturday & Sunday November 26-27 down Ruthie’s, with spectators and a village at the base of Aspen Mountain at Lift 1A. There’s a big screen TV for action you can’t see, and prime viewing of the finish line from the grandstands. It’s an awesome experience, even if you just stop by for one racer, you need to go.

Saturday, make sure you plan to attend the launch of the Red Bulletin, where Lindsey Vonn will be signing autographs and beer flows like … well, you know, it’s an open bar.

Red Bulletin Launch Party

RSVP to Helen.Roche@theskyhotel.com

Then take your autographed self over to the Gondola plaza for the  first Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert Series of the season featuring Cowboy Mouth.

Cowby Mouth Aspen

All that spectating and partying will likely leave you hungry, so be sure to snag an incredible deal through The Bud Light Dine Around Aspen now through next Thursday, December 1st, from 6-9pm every night. Top restaurants offer special Winternational prix fixe menus that are even better than their off-season deals. Can’t-miss: Matsu’s bento for $30.

Dine Around Aspen Deals:

Ajax Tavern / Distinct American Bistro / $28
BB’s Kitchen / American Classic Fare / $30
Elevation / Modern American Cuisine / $28
Jimmy’s / American Restaurant & Bar / Dining Room: $28 / Bar: $12
L’Hostaria / Italian Cuisine / $30
Matsuhisa / Gourmet Japanese Seafood & Sushi / $30 Lounge Only
The Red Onion / American Southwest / $25
Syzygy / New American Cuisine / $30
Ute City / American Classics with European Flavor / $30
Zocalito / Latin Cuisine / $26

October 31, 2011

Visiting Loudoun County, DC’s Wine Country

I recently took a fabulous trip to Loudoun [pronounce Lough-done] County, Virginia, otherwise known as DC’s Wine Country (teaser was here). Three days of wining and dining made for one very happy traveler! I’ll let the pictures speak for the highlights of the trip.

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Resources:

Lansdowne Resort - Big, lush resort property with nice rooms, lots of amenities, and tons of golf course land. Health club is open to golf members so is more substantial than most resorts, with scheduled group fitness classes and yoga too.

Patowmack Farm - A working farm, wedding destination, and Wednesday-Sunday dinner restaurant with Chef Christopher Edwards at the helm.

Catoctin Creek Distilling - Organic local whiskey and other spirits.

Middleburg Country Inn - A B&B in Middleburg with lots of charm—and four-poster beds in every room!

Home Farm Store - All-happy, all-local butcher shop started by Sandy Lerner, former owner of Urban Decay cosmetics and Cisco Systems.

National Sporting Museum & Library - Devoted entirely to sporting, a non-lending library and really neat museum.

Red Fox Inn – Historic B&B and restaurant with lots of Civil War history.

Boxwood Winery – No winery tours (by appt) but tasting room in Middleburg.

Chrysalis Vineyards - Focused on Norton grapes, very fun tasting experience.

8 Chains North- Fun winery with live music, brother Ben Renshaw makes all the wines. Tried and liked an Otium Dornfelder 2009, the Dornfelder grape is apparently pretty rare so this was unique.

Mom’s Apple Pie - One of the most famous Virginia companies, whose blackberry pie has been named the best in the nation, owner/baker/sister-of-Ben Avis is really open and friendly. Amazing pumpkin muffins.

On The Potomac - One of Landsdowne’s restaurants, eclectic and innovative drinks and food, led by a team of young managers: the GM & bar master is 25 while Chef Wes Rosati is 31.

Tarara Winery - My fave visit featured amazing wines and even more amazing conversation with winemaker Jordan Harris about the realities of an agriculture-based business and how Tarara is experimenting with their grapes to make unusual wines.

The Wine Kitchen - One of Leesburg’s most popular dining spots, the lovely interior is designed to look like a kitchen—down to the walls in the bathroom, which have a bathtub painted to mimic the feeling of being in someone’s home.

Battle of Ball’s Bluff - Relatively unimportant battle in the Civil War that the Confederates won, however 1,000 reenactors and 2,000 spectators came to watch the 150-year reenactment!

Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm - A giant, local’s favorite restaurant that sources many farm-to-table ingredients. The most creative calamari I’ve ever had, and delicious everything else as well.

October 12, 2011

Austin: Put the Rumors to Rest on 219West

We’ve all seen the marquee outside the former Union Park (RIP BoomBoomRoom) announcing that 219West will be moving there sometime, but up until now details have been scarce. Until now. The Warehouse District location closes its doors for good after regular Saturday night service from 5p to 2a October 15.

219West’s new home at 612 W. Sixth St.—despite rumor, it is NOT the same address—will open mid-November.

219West’s new 8,600-square-foot location (2x the 4th Street location!) has been entirely gutted and refurbished. A new patio has been erected along the front side of the building, the massive rooftop deck is still there, and the inside will feature more private party dining rooms. 219West is perhaps most known for its six award-winning menus of tapas and fresh entrees with booze pairings of cocktails, beer, and wine, and these will remain staples at the new location. The new 219West location will feature a new signature 219Tini cocktail: a combination of cucumber vodka, fresh lime juice, a splash each of sour mix and 7UP or soda, and a dash of simple syrup.

More info: 219West.com

September 22, 2011

Austin: Texas Craft Brewers Festival

The biggest beer fest in the land, Denver’s Great American Beer Fest, is next weekend, but this weekend, Austin plays host to the first annual Texas Craft Brewers Festival on September 24. Texas has some serious craft brewers popping up, and this non-profit outdoor fest (benefiting Austin Sunshine Camps) at Fiesta Gardens will showcase all the Texas-brewed beer and ale (as well as non-alcoholic beverages) you can handle!
Texas Craft Brewers Festival
“The Texas beer scene is on fire!” says Tim Schwartz, Director of Brewery Operations for Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, Texas, and President of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. “New breweries are opening all over the state and established craft breweries are expanding. This is a perfect time for the resurgence of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival. The festival brings all of this variety together in one venue. Come on out and see what Texas brewing has to offer.”

Cooler than that even? Several breweries who haven’t released beer yet are using the festival as their target date to publicly introduce their first beers!

Tix are $8, sampling tokens appear to be $1.50/ea: eventbee.com/v/texascraftbrewersfestival

September 24, 2011, 2 – 8p / Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St. / texascraftbrewersfestival.org

21+ Event ID required at entry / Rain or Shine / NO chairs or coolers or glass or dogs allowed

August 2, 2011

Aspen: Why Ellina is Buzzing

When an occasion came along recently for us to celebrate, my number one choice was Ellina. The Vermonster and I had heard plenty of great things about Ellina, but hadn’t gotten a chance to check it out. It’s three seasons old (that’s a summer, winter, and now a summer) but still growing its buzz with the locals. We said we’d stop in for a drink, but got completely sucked in by the bar menu. We ordered one of everything. Literally.

ELlina patioWe sat on the middle patio, a level down from the Hyman Avenue mall but above the dining room. You can order from the bar menu, lounge on couches, and still be outside. It’s pretty awesome.
Ellina aspen drinksSo is the Vermonster’s face … he’s pretty excited about the drinks. The creative concoctions feature fresh juice.

Ellina aspen artichoke and calamariEllina cevicheEllina saladEllina crabcakeWe really did order one of every app on the bar menu. Calamari (legit), roasted artichoke, ceviche (so fresh), spinach salad, and crab cakes, which were sweet enough to be considered dessert. For three drinks and five apps plus tip, we got away for under $100. That’s a total win in Aspen!

The service was impeccable, the atmosphere just right, and the food outstanding. No wonder there’s such a buzz on Ellina. We’ll be back for more of you.

July 19, 2011

Austin: Day ‘o the Week Breakdown

I love nothing more than a theme party, so you can imagine how excited I was to hear that two Austin standbys, old and new, are hosting themed events every day of the work week throughout the summer! Check out the Day ‘o the Week Breakdown for West Sixth’s Star Bar and South Lamar’s Gibson—almost everything includes FREE food!!

Monday

Gibson: Mustache Mondays—$3 Maker’s special all night for everyone with a mustache. All guests receive a free mustache and prizes are awarded to the most impressive ‘stache.

Star Bar: Crock-Pot Creations—complimentary homemade soups or queso bar, all night happy hour and $4 Makers Mark.

Tuesday

Gibson: Trivia Tuesdays—free pub quiz starting at 8p complete with special prizes and bragging rights.

Star Bar: Texas Tuesdays—complimentary Frito pie, $3 local drafts (Live Oak, Independence and 512 brewing),  $3 Deep Eddy regular and sweet tea vodka served in mason jars.

Wednesday

Gibson: Wine Wednesday & Steak Night— complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop (so hot right now!) with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine beginning at 4p until the plates run out. Half bottle pricing starts at $10 and full bottles start at $15. Luke’s Inside Out also offers a grilled steak paired with two sides for $12 on Wednesdays.

Star Bar: Wine and Cheese Wednesdays–complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine. Plate includes a variety of cheeses, Italian meats, grapes and flatbread. Half bottle pricing starts at $7 and full bottles start at $19.

Thursday

Gibson: Bubbles n Bitches (and Bingo)—Gibson has added Bingo to their popular Bubbles n Bitches night … In addition to complimentary variety plate of chocolates and strawberries with every order of bubbles, free Bingo begins at 8p with host Trevin from 101x and a chance to win great prizes.

Star Bar: Star Barrio(haha!)—happy hour complete with complimentary homemade salsas and an enchilada bar featuring Ranch 616 enchiladas, rice and beans. Drink specials include Palomas and buckets of iced Mini Sols.

Sunday

Gibson: Sinner Sunday– service industry happy hour all night.

Star Bar: Doublewide Sundays—complimentary chicken and waffles, Pop-Tarts and a variety of cereals. All day happy hour and drink specials include vodka Capri Suns, SunnyD Mimosas, Strawberry Quik White Russians, and $2 Lone Stars.

BONUS! Free Smoothie Fridays from McDonald’s: Try the new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie at local participating McDonalds with free samples every Friday in July from 7am – 7pm.

I’m not endorsing your Mickey D’s stops, just letting you know about free stuff. The new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie combines mango and pineapple with low-fat yogurt. It’s all about choices—visit this site for McDonald’s nutritional info.

June 23, 2011

Austin: Cincominder App

Surely you remember CINCO Vodka, the “Austin’s Neighbor”-based, limestone-filtered, “martini-drinker’s” vodka I wrote about here? In one of the most ridiculously awesome ideas ever, CINCO has introduced a Cincominder app for the iphone. What does this app do?

Why, the app reminds fans when it’s five o’clock—the perfect time to enjoy a great martini!—with the signature sound of five shakes from a martini shaker. The app also will provide GPS information to let you know the nearest Cinco provider, whether it’s a bar, restaurant, hotel, nightclub, country club, or liquor store.

Cincominder drinking app

That’s right. The Cincominder app will help you get drunk at precisely 5pm. It also offers vodka enthusiasts a number of original recipes from Cinco’s Director of Cincology, such as the Cincotini, Love Potion #5, Mild Sedative, Yellow Submarine, Shiatzu and Excalibur.

Luckily, Cincominder also offers a “call a taxi” feature designed to assist you in calling the nearest Taxi to your location.

They’ve thought of everything. Download the free app from the iTunes app store immediately.

June 17, 2011

Happy Father’s Day!

My dad is awesome.

dad_nali

This is him with Denali, when she was just a puppy. He is funny.

My family isn’t really a brunching family, except when it comes to people’s birthdays, holidays, or relatives in town … erm, so maybe we are? Dad loves Waterloo Icehouse’s brunch, but then again, he’s never tried TRACE …

Father’s Day Brunch at TRACE Celebrates Dad and Ugly Ties! TRACE at the W Austin is serving Father’s Day brunch from 10:30am to 3:30pm on Sunday, June 19th, 2011. Every Dad that brings or wears an ugly tie to Father’s Day Brunch will be entered to win a VIP W Austin experience, which will include a one-night stay at the W Austin, dinner in TRACE and AWAY spa gift certificate.

Menu: The á la carte menu features everything from Fried Chicken and Waffles to the Lavaca Omelet, Charcuterie Board, and hybrid “breakfast desserts” including the Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding and the Drunken Doughnuts topped with a bourbon dulce leche. For the Hungry Man, a farmer’s breakfast which includes two eggs any style, farm house cheese, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits and slab bacon.

200 Lavaca St. / 512.542.3660 / traceaustin.com

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