On the road and at home, it's always about food and fun!
[ad_1] The US is a great place to be when summer hits. You’ve got the hiking trails in national parks like Acadia National Park and Rocky Mountains National Park. There are the west coast beaches and major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. And that’s all without considering the delicious cuisine of […]
27 Best Places To Visit In Summer In The USA (2024 Vacation Ideas For Everyone)
Blog Post Courtesy of Kathy Tretter, President, Editor/Co-publisher · Dubois-Spencer Counties Publishing Co., Inc.
This article originally appeared in Spencer County Online.
This article could actually fill an entire book, although a book will not fit into the pages of this newspaper. So readers (and this writer) must settle for a more manageable rendering of what took place last week. It’s a slice of Spencer County history that must be preserved.
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A few more than 200 years ago — just as Indiana was gaining statehood in 1816 — a family of four packed their belongings and moved from Kentucky to a small settlement in the new 19th state known as Little Pigeon Creek.
The husband and father was a talented furniture maker with a magnificent set of tools to ply his trade. He was also artistic and particular in his craft.
Sadly, history has not remembered him fondly, which likely can be laid down to a marketing ploy designed to get his son elected president, making the claim the father was a shiftless, illiterate ne’er-do-well and the son was entirely a self made man who came from nothing.
The son, as readers will already have guessed, was Abraham Lincoln and the father was Thomas Lincoln.
Flash forward a couple hundred years.
Steve Haaff, of Patronville, became fascinated with Federal style furniture many years ago. The former educator decided to educate himself on the furniture Thomas Lincoln crafted by hand. He educated himself to the point of replicating Thomas Lincoln’s tools and recreating certain pieces of furniture. He made patterns from the designs and became so knowledgeable that Haaff — a Spencer County native — is considered the world’s foremost authority on Thomas Lincoln furniture. He has been contacted by people the world over, including those fine folks at Antiques Roadshow, to authenticate (or debunk) a claim of a Thomas Lincoln-made item.
A couple years ago he received a call from a family in Kansas who had a dresser that family legend claimed was made by Thomas Lincoln.
Without going into the details of Haaff’s investigation (lacking an entire book to write), he was able to confirm the four drawer dresser or bureau had been crafted by Mr. Lincoln. In fact, it was a piece Haaff had been looking for over many years. Noted southern Indiana author and Lincoln historian Bess Ehrmann had written about it after a visit to the home of Squire William Wood over 100 years ago, although she claimed it was crafted from mahogany, which was incorrect.
However, Haaff was not surprised at the misidentification. While the dresser is actually walnut and poplar (the latter for pieces that would not be seen) with an 1/8th inch thick cherry veneer gracing the arched front — time, linseed oil and smoke from the fireplace would have darkened the finish over time, rendering the finish with a mahogany-hued patina.
Thomas had built this dresser for Wm. Wood, whose family came to Spencer County before there was such a thing, and even before there was a state of Indiana in 1809.
Wood was a close neighbor of the Lincolns and later told William Herndon, Abraham Lincoln’s law partner in Springfield who interviewed many neighbors after Abraham was assassinated, that in fact Thomas Lincoln, “built my house, he built my furniture and the run up the stairs in my house.”
Thomas and Squire Woods were good friends and according to Steve, the latter even spent a night with Nancy Hanks Lincoln as she lay dying from the Milk Sickness.
One thing Steve Haaff wants the world to know, beyond the fact that Thomas Lincoln was a talented and meticulous craftsman, is that the people of this new state were not all backwoods hillbillies, but folks who appreciated and desired the finer things, including beautiful cabinets and other fine furniture.
One thing this writer wanted to know was how the bureau ended up in Kansas. The question was answered and will be revealed, just not quite yet.
Following many conversations, the current owner wanted the bureau displayed and while she thought the Lincoln Museum in Springfield should be the recipient, Steve convinced her the Indiana State Museum would provide a better showcase, since Thomas crafted the piece in Indiana for a Hoosier family.
But first, Steve had another task to complete. The current owner, 91 year-old Mildred “Millie” Moore’s father had replaced the federal style brass pulls with crystal knobs. Steve knew exactly what type of drawer pulls would have been used and the museum staff wanted them restored, but wanted the most knowledgeable person in this generation to handle the job.
Last Wednesday, January 24, Steve drove to Indianapolis and set to work. While he was making the transition he pointed out significant details and explained how Thomas would have crafted the bowed front, affixing the cherry to the walnut and carving the arch. He pointed to two stars etched into the legs, saying stars were a particular signature on Thomas Lincoln works, noted original nails and a plethora of other details the average person would not necessarily notice.
At some point the linseed oil had been removed with a tongue oil finish. There was some damage, which he attributed to mice, including a partially missing decorative apron along the bottom. The conservators at the museum listened raptly to every word, soaking up knowledge as Haaff imparted it.
Haaff said every cabinetmaker had his own idiosyncrasies, which helps him with identification. He believed Thomas learned from Jesse Heade, a noted cabinetmaker in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, who was know to use apprentices and who, in fact, had performed the wedding ceremony uniting Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.
While history has left the impression that Abraham Lincoln came from poverty, that truly wasn’t the case. His grandfather, also Abraham Lincoln, owned 5,000 acres and was well-to-do, but was massacred by Native Americans when Thomas was just a child. The rule of the day, known as primogeniture, meant his older brother, Mordecai, inherited everything so it’s likely why Thomas became an apprentice.
“His work was an extension of himself,” Haaff asserted, “a labor of love.”
He crafted in the Federal style and that never changed, although in the 1830s Duncan Phyfe came into vogue.
As to the original shiny polished brass drawer pulls, Thomas would have purchased those and they were most likely imported.
Other than the time it took to cut down the trees and season the wood, the actual building of the cabinet would take about 40 days and if Squire Wood paid in cash, Thomas likely earned $40, although he could have been paid in goods as the barter system thrived during that period. Elizabeth Crawford once traded a quilt for a Thomas Lincoln corner cabinet.
Haaff reported it was said about his creations that “Thomas Lincoln was as good a cabinet maker as any of them and better than most.”
Also that he had the best set of tools around, composed of hundreds of pieces, some he made himself so he was also for all intents and purposes a blacksmith as well as a furniture maker.
After several hours of work the dresser was ready for display. A ceremony was planned for the following day during which (hopefully) answers to all questions would be revealed.
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Day Two
In addition to corner cabinets, chests of drawers, tables and other furniture, Thomas Lincoln built his own house and others, as well as Little Pigeon Church.
This, Steve Haaff told the assembly on the second floor of the Indiana State Museum who had gathered for the unveiling.
Haaff explained his process for identification and documentation and said the Federal style of furniture was popular from around 1780 to 1820 (give or take, depending where one lived).
Listening in fascination was the bureau’s owner, Mildred Moore, of Kansas City, Kansas, along with her daughter, Julie McIntire, also from Kansas City, Millie’s niece, Shirley (Fouse) and her husband, Dan Bishop of Topeka Kansas, another niece, Karen Yudnich of Denver, Colorado, Debora Wood, widow of Tim Wood from Louisville, Kentucky, and Mike, Bud and Ken Schaaf from Spencer County.
Millie said the dresser had always been in her home. As a child she placed her rag dolls in the drawers. Her father changed the knobs because her mother had very tiny, arthritic hands and the crystal knobs made it easier to manipulate the pulls.
She, being the youngest of three sisters, didn’t get to pick first when her parents passed away. Oldest sister Esther (Shirley’s mom) got first choice — a necklace watch. Middle sister Dorothy (Karen’s mom) chose some oak furniture. Millie felt like she ended up with the dresser by default.
But how did it end get to Kansas?
For that matter how did Squire Wood and his family (he and his wife had five children) end up in Spencer County?
This is what his descendants shared.
While not a Catholic, Squire moved to Bardstown, Kentucky with the influx of Catholics, then relocated to Daviess County, Kentucky. As with others, including Thomas Lincoln, he had trouble getting a clear title to his land, which was why he moved on in 1809 to what would become Indiana in 1816 and Spencer County in 1818.
One son, Robert, eventually moved to Terre Haute.
Robert’s son, Newton, decided to seek even greener pastures and he homesteaded in Kansas.
Newton paid a visit to Spencer County and was given a list of four local girls. He was told he needed a wife and had to pick one. He picked Mary Schaaf (hence the Schaaf connection).
They were wed April 26, 1894 and would take the train to Larned, Kansas, where they would debark and walk to Truesdale and the farm Newton had homesteaded.
Robert, Newton’s father, gifted the newlyweds with the dresser. He had likely been a playmate of Abraham and Sarah Lincoln in his youth.
Newton and Mary had four children before she passed away from Typhoid Fever on September 9, 1901 — their oldest child age six and the youngest a baby.
Newton never remarried and his maiden Aunt Jenny would move from Terre Haute to Kansas every summer, taking along a bunch of hard boiled eggs to eat along the way.
The other maiden aunt was Dr. Anna Wood, a physician practicing holistic medicine in Terre Haute.
Debora’s husband, Tim came through another branch of the family.
Lunch following the ceremonial unveiling of the bureau, or dresser, was rife with tales of Wood, Schaaf and other families that shall be saved for another day (or maybe that book that likely will never be written). But space is getting a bit tight, so it’s definitely time to reach a conclusion.
And a conclusion for readers? If you haven’t been to the Indiana State Museum lately, or even if you have, it’s a good time to slot it on your bucket list. The treasures found within are innumerable! A corner cabinet also built by Thomas Lincoln stands to the right of the dresser and a more utilitarian, open shelf cabinet, also his creation to the left. Steve explained Thomas built every piece to order and the intricacy and detail was largely dependent on what the customer was willing to pay (or barter).
Of course there are many other jewels in the State Museum’s collection with revolving exhibits that are sure to please every taste.
The museum is located at White River State Park at 650 West Washington Street in Indianapolis, in a complex that includes the NCAA Hall of Champions, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, White River Gardens, Indianapolis Zoo and more.
Photos by Kathy Tretter.
Group photo 1: Cousins, some who may not have met before, gathered for a snapshot at the Indiana State Museum. Pictured from left: Mike Schaaf, Shirley Fouse, Julie McIntire, Mildred Moore, Bud Schaaf, Ken Schaaf and Karen Yudnich, with Steve Haaff, who was responsible for authenticating the dresser as a Thomas Lincoln-crafted piece and for amking repairs to restore it to its former glory.
Group photo 2: Julie McIntire and her mother, Mildred Moore, discuss the family’s Lincoln connection with Haaff and Indiana State Museum Chief Curator and Research Officer Susannah K. Koerber.
Chicago Restaurant Week, which ends February 3rd, features over 350 participating restaurants offering unbeatable prix fixe menus for a set price of just $25 for brunch/lunch and $42 or $59 for dinner.
Additionally, there are dozens of acclaimed Michelin- and James Beard Award-winning spots on the list this year, an affordable way to experience more of Chicago’s creative, fine-dining scene: https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/dining/fine-dining-chicago-restaurant-week/Search the Participating Restaurants Guide to reserve your place; the website enables you to search via cuisine or neighborhood, indicate dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan), and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
There are dozens of acclaimed Michelin- and James Beard Award-winning spots on the list this year, an affordable way to experience more of Chicago’s creative, fine-dining scene.
For more information, https://www.choosechicago.com/blog/dining/fine-dining-chicago-restaurant-week/Search the Participating Restaurants Guide to reserve your place; the website enables you to search via cuisine or neighborhood, indicate dietary preferences (gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan), and support women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
For more information, visit Choose Chicago.
Photo credits:
After photos: Michael Muser
Avec photos: Karla Villegas Pineda
Publican Quality Meats interior/exterior photos: One Off Hospitality
THE FLAVOR THESAURUS: More Flavors: Plant-Led Pairings, Recipes, and Ideas for Cooks by Niki Segnit, the plant-focused follow-up to the global 2010 bestseller and beloved cookbook/ cooking guide THE FLAVOR THESAURUS: A Compendium of Pairings, Recipes, and Ideas for Creative Cooks.
THE FLAVOR THESAURUS: More Flavors just received a great review from Booklist which said, “This follow-up to Segnit’s The Flavor Thesaurus will please all foodies who want to nerd out on the tiniest details of nature’s edible delights and their pairing potential. The prose hums with poetic cadence in descriptions such as caramel roasted, flower and meadow, creamy fruity, zesty woody, nutty milky, and animalic, making it a whimsical read for those who simply want to be delighted by a discussion of food … Clever, unusual, and overwhelmingly intriguing, part two of The Flavor Thesaurus adds pizzazz to cookbook collections with its offbeat, choose-your-own-adventure look at the possibility of flavor pairings today.”
Since its release in 2010, THE FLAVOR THESAURUS has become a favorite guide for culinary students, something of a “secret weapon” for chefs, including Yotam Ottelenghi, Samin Nosrat, Rukmini Iyer, Great British Bake Off finalists and winners John Waite, Frances Quinn, Ruby Tandoh, and more (see list below) and a handy tool for bartenders and serious home cooks for its hundreds of flavor combination pairings and inspired ingredients, as well as Segnit’s brilliant sense of humor and entertaining writing style.
Segnit returns with anew treasury of pairings – this time with plant-led ingredients. More Flavors explores the character and tasting notes of chickpea, fennel, pomegranate, kale, lentil, miso, mustard, rye, pine nut, pistachio, poppy seed, sesame, turmeric, and wild rice, as well as offering new takes on favorites like almond, avocado, garlic, lemon, and parsley from the original, then expertly teaches readers how to pair them with ingredients that complement. With her celebrated blend of science, history, expertise, anecdotes, pop culture, and signature humor, Niki Segnit’s More Flavors is a modern classic of food writing, and a useful, engaging reference book for every cook’s kitchen.
The book is divided into flavour themes including Meaty, Cheesy, Woodland and Floral Fruity. Within these sections it follows the form of Roget’s Thesaurus, listing 99 popular ingredients alphabetically, and for each one suggesting flavour matchings that range from the classic to the bizarre. You can expect to find traditional pairings such as pork & apple, lamb & apricot, and cucumber & dill; contemporary favourites like chocolate & chilli, and goat’s cheese & beetroot; and interesting but unlikely-sounding couples including black pudding & chocolate, lemon & beef, blueberry & mushroom, and watermelon & oyster.
There are nearly a thousand entries in all, with 200 recipes and suggestions embedded in the text. Beautifully packaged, The Flavour Thesaurus is a fascinating, highly useful, and covetable, reference book for cooking –
Segnit covers tried and true, yet creative pairings. A few sample combinations and excerpts that showcase the uniqueness of the book include:
‘The book will inspire a new generation of home cooks, chefs and writers alike’ RUKMINI IYER
‘Matching ingredients isn’t a trivial matter and Niki Segnit is definitely the reigning champion’ YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
Niki Segnit is the author of Lateral Cooking and The Flavor Thesaurus, which won the André Simon Award for best food book, the Guild of Food Writers Award for best first book and was shortlisted for the Galaxy National Book Awards. It has been translated into fifteen languages. Her columns, features, and reviews have appeared in the Guardian, the Observer, the Times, the Times Literary Supplement, and the Sunday Times. She lives in London with her husband and two children.
Located just east of Zacatecas city, Guadalupe’s palm-fringed Jardín Juárez has the special charm found in so many Mexican towns. Here vendors sell the local crafts that this colonial town, founded in 1578, is famous for – including tooled leather belts and soft, pliant jackets along with large carved rustic furniture and wall hangings, newly woven […]
Source: Guadalupe in Zacatecas: masterpieces of colonial art
Tony Burton’s most recent book, Lake Chapala: a postcard history, is an interesting pictorial romp through the Lake Chapala area from just before the twentieth century to about 1960. Over 150 postcards mostly taken from Burton’s private collection give a broad overview of what life was like around the lake from the time when the […]
Leave winter behind this Valentine’s Day with luxury destinations offering the perfect romantic getaways.
Keswick Hall | Charlottesville, Virginia
Treat your sweetheart to an unforgettable getaway at Charlottesville’s most premiere destination, Keswick Hall. The luxury resort will offer a “Virginia is for Lovers” package for those couples seeking a luxurious, romantic escape this season. Along with premium luxury accommodations, couples who book this experience will receive caviar, truffles, and champagne in their room in addition to $100 resort credit to the resort’s signature restaurant by Jean Georges, Marigold.
Marigold will have a special dinner menu for Valentine’s Day as well. The 4-course tasting menu starts at $138 per person and includes dishes such as roasted beef carpaccio, pumpkin and basil pot stickers, peppercorn crusted beef and a champagne mousse for dessert. Link to menu.
Big Cedar Lodge | Ridgedale, MO
Tucked away in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge is the ultimate romantic retreat in the Midwest for Valentine’s Day with picturesque views of Table Rock Lake and a variety of experiences inviting couples to spend precious time together on this special day. Embracing the natural beauty of the great outdoors, the resort offers Private Log Cabins as a classically cozy escape complete with a wood-burning fireplace, luxury tub, private balcony, full kitchen, rustic decor and the charm of the Ozarks.
On Valentine’s Day, couples can celebrate their love over a creative evening at Big Cedar Lodge’s Valentine’s Date Night, where they can decorate candy bars, build a curated charcuterie board and end the night with wood burning a custom design onto a charcuterie board to take home as a keepsake.
Other activities couples can enjoy during their romantic getaway include dining with sunset views at Osage Restaurant, channeling their artistic side with a pottery class, learning mixology to craft artisanal cocktails and much more.
The Lodge & Club | Ponte Vedra, FL
A landmark destination on Northeast Florida’s pristine coastline, guests seeking the ultimate romantic getaway should look no further than The Lodge & Club, where guests can book the Stir the Fire Package to enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience inclusive of accommodations in an exclusive oceanfront fireplace suite, daily beach chairs for two and welcome cocktails for two.
Enhance the experience even further with the new Romance Dining Package—a private in-room dining experience that includes waited service and interactive tableside preparation by Executive Chef Cameron Walton. The three-course menu features a variety of dishes including, Caesar salad or jumbo lump crab cake with piquillo pepper buerre blanc, filet mignon and cold-water lobster or chateaubriand (carved tableside), and warm chocolate raspberry lava cake or bananas foster. The private dining experience is available for $150 per person, inclusive of a choice of Sparkling Wine, Chardonnay or Cabernet.
Each guest room and suite at The Lodge & Club is located on the water featuring oceanfront views for the ultimate romantic winter beach getaway.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club | Ponte Vedra, FL
Located on the pristine beaches of Northeast, Florida, the iconic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has provided an idyllic coastal escape for decades. Special for Valentine’s Day, couples can enjoy a Valentine’s Day dinner with wine pairings or can reserve the private Chef’s Table experience at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s signature fine-dining restaurant, Seahorse Grille, which includes an intimate setting at the heart of the kitchen, where Chef de Cuisine, Erik Osol, will craft a 10-course tasting menu curated for guests’ palates.
At The Spa, couples can re-connect and revitalize in a private room with an array of services designed for two, inclusive of steams, soaks and more within an intimate setting while the spa’s discreet staff caters to couples’ every need. Additionally, couples can book the Bed & Breakfast package featuring luxury accommodations, breakfast for two each morning and a welcome amenity upon arrival.
Hôtel Swexan | Dallas, Texas
Nestled in the heart of Uptown Dallas, Hôtel Swexan is the perfect haven for romance this Valentine’s Day, exuding European elegance and old-world luxury, yet remaining true to its lovable and unwavering Texan spirit. A family-owned, 134-room boutique concept, Hôtel Swexan was meticulously designed by world-renowned Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma, featuring enchanting rooms and suites to set the stage for unforgettable romantic moments.
An enchanting and relaxing vacation experience perfect for Valentine’s Day, Hôtel Swexan offers the pinnacle of romantic luxury with its exclusive Romance Package.
The offer includes two monogrammed Frette bathrobes, a dozen roses, complimentary champagne, chocolate covered strawberries, and macarons upon arrival, daily full, Swexan breakfast at Isabelle’s, Léonie, or in-room dining, one night’s accommodation for two at Hôtel Swexan, and overnight valet parking. The hotel’s crown jewel is its expansive rooftop infinity pool, perched 20 floors high with 180-degree panoramic views of the mesmerizing Dallas skyline, providing a captivating backdrop for intimate yet photo-worthy memories.
The hotel is uniquely playful and inviting, with an afternoon tea service, martini bar, hidden imbibing outpost, a robust lineup of entertainment, art and wellness facilities, so couples can engage and indulge or relax and recuperate, all within the walls of the expansive hotel. Venturing out, couples can explore the vibrant 19-city-block Harwood District, a flourishing walkable neighborhood chock-full of eateries, art, public parks, multi-use spaces and more.
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa | Palm Beach, FL
The Forbes Five-Star oceanfront retreat, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, shines as a crown jewel of Florida’s Gold Coast and offers nothing short of glamour and sophistication at every turn. Special for the month of February, treat that special someone to a deluxe in-room dining experience, “Room with a Veuve,” and receive complimentary chocolate covered strawberries with the purchase of a bottle of champagne.
Enjoy a special 4-course Valentine’s Day menu at Polpo Palm Beach in addition to a la carte menu Angle Valentine’s Day Dinner – Open for A La Carte Dining with a special 4-course prefixed menu, indulge in delicious food while immersing in sounds from Chad Micheals on the Grand Piano (5:30 – 9:30pm) Stir (2/9-2/14) – Go beyond a bit of a bubbly or bottle of wine this Valentine’s Day and enjoy a romantic cocktail menu ‘Drunk on Love’ that you are sure to adore. (4pm – 12am)
The Hermitage Hotel | Nashville, TN
Set in the heart of Downtown Nashville and originally opened in 1910, The Hermitage Hotel has stood as Nashville’s premier luxury property for more than 110 years. For an ultra-luxurious Valentine’s Day, guests can book The Hermitage Hotel’s Ultimate Romance Package (Starting at $15,000) for an opulent stay in the Hermitage Suite and a one-of-a-kind dinner in The Veranda, a historic space that has hosted some of the most charming and intimate weddings in Nashville.
The couple will have the entire Veranda to themselves while a heartfelt song is created exclusively for the couple and performed during dinner for a true Music City experience.
Package is complete with One Dozen Roses, Rose Petal Turndown, Champagne, Chocolates and Strawberries, and Breakfast in Bed or at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Drusie & Darr by Jean-Georges.
Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk | San Antonio, Texas
Couples can book the SuiteHeart Romance Package for a $200 Property Romance Credit to be used at the full-service Thompson San Antonio Spa, dining at signature restaurant Landrace, minibar, or parking. Guests will also arrive to a beautiful rose petal setup and a bath/shower welcome amenity for deserving R&R with their loved one.
Not to be missed: cocktails and twinkly city and star views at The Moon’s Daughters, an enchanting indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant and bar floating high above the River Walk that dazzles from its 20th-story perch over the city. Couples can also indulge in the epitome of romantic bliss with the property’s highly sought-after Cabana Cuddle Up, an experience that seamlessly melds ultimate relaxation with unparalleled luxury.
Begin your journey with an opulent 80-minute massage for two in the exquisite couples’ room, where tranquility and connection intertwine. Following the rejuvenating session, continue the enchantment as you and your favorite person nestle into the sumptuous embrace of one of the poolside daybed cabanas. Here, amid the soothing ambiance, revel in the shared joy of sipping on chilled champagne and partaking in a curated picnic, where every bite is a celebration of love and indulgence. Offer Code = SATROM for Booking Dates: 1/4/2024 – 2/14/2024; Stay Dates: 2/9/2024-2/18/2024
Windward, leeward, jib, and jibe. This may all sound like gibberish to non-sailors, but that doesn’t mean a sailing vacation is off the table. Dream Yacht Worldwide (DYW), a leading sea-based vacation and global yacht charter company, is on a mission to make sailing trips accessible and as easy as possible for all. And what better way to jump right in to a sailing vacation than with a winter escape or sharing the gift of a sailing trip?
In addition to the opportunity of chartering a private boat with family and friends, sailing and yacht vacations allow travelers the opportunity to have several experiences in one trip, plus the ability to access smaller ports that larger cruise lines and planes cannot always enter.
Dream Yacht vacations also offer the opportunity for local, immersive experiences; off-shore excursions and new discoveries; watersports and group tours and activities; plus, plenty of days relaxing on the water.
Travelers have the freedom to plan itineraries based on personal preferences and interests. The best part? You only have to unpack your bags once.
For the person who has it all, consider giving the gift of a Dream Yacht Worldwide sailing experience this holiday season. Here are some of the many DYW global sailing options for the traveler who already has it all.
Enjoy the start of 2024 in the Caribbean: Always a popular choice for a winter escape, Dream Yacht is offering several options in the beautiful Caribbean for a truly magical experience. The island-planned celebrations often feature beach parties, lively music, and spectacular fireworks displays that illuminate the night sky over the crystal-clear waters.
With the backdrop of palm-fringed beaches and the soothing sound of the ocean, celebrating New Year’s in the Caribbean is a unique and unforgettable way to welcome the year ahead. While Dream Yacht offers several warm-weather vacation options in the Caribbean, here are 3 of the company’s recommended cruising experiences to ring in the new year: British Virgin Islands ; U.S. Virgin Islands; and St. Martin.
Take advantage of an “Easy Crewed” option: For travelers who have always wanted to try a sailing vacation but lack sailing experience, or even the time to plan, Dream Yacht Worldwide’s Easy Crewed Charter is the ideal option and a great way to celebrate holidays with family and friends. Step on board a private yacht with up to ten family members or friends and experience a fantastic week of sailing from DYW’s bases in Greece, Croatia, the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, Tahiti, or the Seychelles. On board, travelers find comfortable private cabins with ensuite baths, plus spacious areas for dining and lounging.
Travelers have everything they need for the ready-made escape, including an experienced skipper and an optional host/ess with full or half board meals. Skippers whisk guests away to the best hidden coves, islands and seaside villages, while on land travelers can to hire a car or scooter to explore even more.
“opens the door to what American cookery is—the coming together of cultures, identities, flavors, and tastes that celebrate what is probably one of the most diverse cuisines in the world.”
This is the second edition of The Great American Recipe Cookbook, based on the popular eight-part PBS cooking show contest in which home cooks compete using their personal recipes. It’s a diversity culled from international cultures and traditions from around the world brought to America but also native fare. Think Sausage Pierogies with Barbecue Crema, Jerk Alfredo Pasta and Pan-Seared Scallops with a Side Salad, Chicken Hekka with Wontons, and Malasadas Two Ways.
The cookbook, a collection of treasured recipes and the stories behind them are provided by an interesting lineup of cooks that includes a recipe writer, real estate developer, Midwestern soccer mom, and a semi-retired architect, homebuilder, and consultant. The diversity of their backgrounds—a first generation American born to two Guyanese immigrants, a mom who was raised in Maui, Hawai’i, a special education teacher from Cleveland whose culinary background is rooted in Southern cuisine, and a general counsel for a financial tech firm whose parents hail from Barbados—is reflected in their recipes.
Designed in a large format with glossy pages, plenty of color photos, and easy to follow instructions, this is a book for all levels of tastes and cooking skills. Ingredients for the most part are easy to find and don’t involve an outlay of cash for something that will be used only once or twice. As an example, though Bahrat Chicken Thighs with Hummus and Flatbread may sound exotic and complicated, it is a very easy dish to make with the only unique ingredient being Libyan Baharat spice.
But since that typically consists of black pepper, cardamom, cloves, cumin, nutmeg, coriander, and paprika, it can be used in other recipes as well. There are no unique ingredients in Mini Spinach B’jibin Pies, a recipe that harkens back to the home cook’s Syrian Jewish community. Basically, these are mini pies that can be made in four easy steps—the first one being to preheat the oven. All this makes it easy for home chefs to try new cuisines without a lot of complicated ingredients and equipment.
With a foreword by cookbook author Pati Jinich, whose three-time James Beard award-winning and Emmy nominated TV series “Pati’s Mexican Table” is now in its 12th season, the book goes beyond the typical concept of American cookery and delves into what we all bring to the table.
“The phrase “American food’ often brings to mind certain classic dishes: a fried chicken recipe served up at a summer picnic or a honey-glazed ham gracing the table at the holidays,” reads the book’s introduction. “And those meals are delicious ones to celebrate, especially when we can share them with the people we love. But those quintessentially ‘American’ foods represent only a narrow sliver of what our country’s cuisine really is. We are one nation with more than one million kitchens, each with its own heritage, culture, and community—making American food an amazing mix of different culinary traditions that bring together flavors from around the country and beyond.”
In all, The Great American Recipe Cookbook (published by Ben Bella Books) opens the door to what American cookery is—the coming together of cultures, identities, flavors, and tastes that celebrate what is probably one of the most diverse cuisines in the world.
Directions
Recipe courtesy of The Great American Recipe
Directions
This article originally appeared in the New York Journal of Books.
Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago Holiday Tour, a festive food and walking tour of Downtown Chicago begins at the end of November and runs through Christmas Eve.
Visitors will see the lights of the Magnificent Mile, the ice-skating rink and Christmas tree in Millennium Park, enjoy a warm and filling deep dish pizza, experience the German-inspired festivities of Christkindlmarket, and toast to a joyful season over a seasonal beverage! This 3 hour Chicago holiday tour is perfect for families, friends, holiday parties, and anyone looking to celebrate the season in an exciting new way. All food & non-alcoholic beverage samples included in ticket price. Pricing begins at $75 per adult/$65 per youth (age 4-11) on Fridays/Sundays and $70 adult/$60 youth on Mondays/Thursdays. All children 3 and under ate $10/$9 when sharing with an adult.
Glessner House, a National Historic Landmark in Chicago, is a cultural center and museum showcasing revolutionary design and celebrating the cultural arts from the late 1800s to the present day. Filled with original artifacts and unique family history, Glessner House prepares to celebrate the holidays with the following special programming:
A Christmas Carol, the classic holiday tradition that has been running for over four decades in Chicago, returns to the Goodman Theatre with Jessica Thebus directing and Larry Yando reprising his role as the miserly Scrooge. Tickets start at $30 and performances run through December 31, 2023.
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL is the record-setting Broadway holiday sensation which features the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” from the original animated special. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and help remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. Recommended for ages 5+ , performances run 85 minutes with no intermission at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from December 19-31, 2023. Ticket prices begin at $32.
The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker by two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, returns to the Lyric Opera House from December 2 – 27, 2023. This version is set during Chicago’s World Fair in 1893, where the young immigrant Marie and her mother, a sculptress creating the Fair’s iconic Statue of the Republic, host a festive Christmas Eve celebration. After a surprise visit from the creator of the Fair, the mysterious Great Impresario, Marie embarks on a whirlwind adventure with the Nutcracker Prince through a dreamlike World’s Fair that highlights the rich cultural heritage of Chicago and the wonder of the season. A ballet in two acts set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, The Nutcracker features an award-winning creative team, including Tony Award®-nominated set and costume designer Julian Crouch, Caldecott Medal Award-winning author Brian Selznick, Obie and Drama Desk award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist, Tony Award®-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz and Tony Award®-winning projection designer Ben Pearcy/59 Productions. The production was adapted in 2021 by Wheeldon to fit the larger Lyric Opera stage and features live music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Scott Speck, Music Director of The Joffrey Ballet. Tickets start at $40.
A full-blown tribute to the beloved Christmas movie “Elf”, Elf’d Up is back by popular demand for the 6th year. Elf’d Up is decorated from floor to ceiling with over 1,000 elves of all shapes and sizes, a 10-foot Christmas tree, an upside-down Christmas tree, wreath chandeliers, strands of festive colored lights, specific tributes to the movie-like figurines, wall quotes, snowflakes, Schylling Jester Jack in the Boxes, cut-outs of Buddy the Elf and Miles Finch and more. Each table comes equipped with condiment carriers filled with the “four main food groups”– candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.
Though there are some non-alcoholic drinks on the menu, it’s heavily skewed in favor of Christmas-themed cocktails, so more of an adult atmosphere – for adults who love Buddy the Elf, of course! They have food too, including specialty holiday menu items like Buddy’s Breakfast Pasta which includes spaghetti, topped with maple syrup, chocolate fudge, and mini marshmallows.
Jack Frost Christmas Holiday Pop-Up is turning up the holiday cheer again this year, this time in the heart of Fulton Market! From November 25, 2023 – January 5, 2024, enjoy two acres of winter wonderland with daytime activities like bumper cars and ice-skating, perfect for families. In the evening, adults can indulge in the festive atmosphere by sipping on boozy hot cocoa as you walk through the Christmas tree forest, try your hand at axe-throwing and explore the Christmas market. Challenge your friends to ice curling and snap some epic Christmas pics at the famous holiday photo-ops.Tickets start at $15; hours typically run from 2.00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on weekends and 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on weekdays but times may vary for holidays and booked events.
8 Crazy Nights, the original Hanukkah bar in Chicago, is back by popular demand for the fifth year in a row. Where pop-up Hanukkah bars are concerned, The Graystone Tavern is renowned for having the “one and only” in the region. What began in 2019 in Wrigleyville has quickly become a TRADITION!
In addition to all the customary blue and white lights and decorations throughout the indoor area, Graystone has also weather-proofed its beer garden for those who wish to take their celebration outdoors. And, for die-hard original Hanukkah bar Chicago fans, there is a special food menu to please everyone’s palate.
It includes a Brisket Platter, Challah Bread, Matzo Ball Soup, and Latkes, not to mention the vodka-infused, homemade Boozy Jelly Donuts! What’s more, Graystone Tavern’s bartenders offer some pretty remarkable, Hanukkah-themed cocktails like Mazel Tov, Dreidel Bomba, and Hanukkah Harry’s Hot Chocolate. Finally, besides the amazing scrumptious food and Hanukkah-themed drinks, they have spaces set aside for board games like Mitzvah Match, Schmear Build-A-Bagel card game, and Jewish Guess Who? to name a few.
