Easter in the Hamptons

We've just returned from the Easter long weekend at our house in Southampton (which, for those who don't know, is on Long Island, in NY). We decided, because of the four day weekend, that we would leave Thursday evening and return tonight, Monday.

I awoke to the smell of bacon and scrambled eggs wafting from the kitchen to my bedroom. I quickly set the table and we had a lovely sit-down breakfast.

Then it was off to town on our bicycles...
... the weather there was lovely.
We returned home and decided to drive the rig to the beach.
Where we walked.

We saw a seagull that wouldn't move no matter how close we got, an odd reminder of the play I've just finished reading; Anton Chekhov's masterpiece, 'The Seagull.'

The beach in the Hamptons stretches all the way to Montauk (also known as 'the end of the Earth' for obvious reasons) and doubles back. We walked for a long time, but it began to get dark, so we returned to the house...

... just in time for some champagne and a shrimp cocktail; very Long Island.
Then we had a Frisée salad with poached quail's eggs...... a rack of lamb with a mustard-thyme crust (delicious!)...

... and finally a lemon-coconut cake for dessert, which we ate while watching 'Taken' on our new Blu-Ray player.

Top 10 Telluride

With the end of my vacation looming (I leave tomorrow), I thought I'd make a top ten list of things to do in Telluride. From shopping to dining, my ten favorites:

1. A belt I had custom cut for $36

2. The Telluride Gallery of Fine Art, which features works by the likes of Jerry Uelsmann and Malcolm Liepke

3. Honga's Lotus Petal sushi bar and restaurant

4. The run called 'Plunge'

5. First tracks in fresh powder

6. The free gondola

7. The view from 'See Forever'

8. Lunch at the Alpino Vino on a sunny day

9. Artisan truffles from Telluride Truffle

10. Dinner at the New Sheridan Chop House

From art to the art of aprés-ski, Telluride has it all, and this list is the best of the best... well, in my opinion

Telluride - Day 7

Firstly, let me apologize for my infrequent blogging; our hotel's wireless is a bit touchy. But, today it seems to be working well, therefore:

Today was absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous! You could see forever on a run called 'See Forever;' aptly named. These are the absolutely divine views, above and below.

We saw a glider flying high (I only know what it is because of the Thomas Crown Affair, but still). What fun that looked like!

Then we stopped for lunch at the Alpino Vino, the only place to have lunch on the mountain. There was a rowdy, slightly intoxicated large group near our table, but their songs and revelry added to the fun, I think. Below is the view from our daybed/banquette.

We had a bottle of white wine, some bread, and an antipasto...

... as well as some nice paninis and cappuccinos, each of which came with a biscotti, hazelnut chocolate, and perfect cube of brown sugar.

The good weather continued all through the day; not a cloud in the sky!

We stumbled into Telluride Truffle, a very cute little place (with slightly surly workers), where delicious artisan truffles sport names like Bunny Hill (milk chocolate with a banana centre), Early Frost (mint and dark chocolate), and powder day (white chocolate with Amaretto flavoring).

All around (if you pardon the pun) a delicious day!

Telluride - Day 3

Today, we awoke to the welcome sight of snow. Snow everywhere. We ate breakfast, took the gondola to the top of the mountain, and were pleased to find half-a-foot of fresh powder awaiting us. There's nothing like powder skiing; it doesn't matter how experienced you are, you're either good at it or you're not. But there's a certain rhythm that comes with powder that you can't get from any other conditions.

We stopped in for lunch at The Great Room, the mediocre restaurant at the Peaks hotel. At least one good thing came out of it, though:

Then it was back to the slopes until about three, yesterday the visibility was little to none, but today, surprisingly, it wasn't bad. I'm not the best skier in the world, but I'm fairly experienced (we've skied Vail, Beaver Creek, Lake Louise, and Mont Tremblant in the past), and I can honestly say that this was possibly the best day of skiing of my life.

We headed to the hotel for a shower and a hot Toddy, and then went to town. There are two places to stay in Telluride: the Mountain village (a fairly Intrawest-y place that's all new, where we stayed last year), or Telluride proper, an old mining town with history, character, and restaurants. The town is great. We didn't have too much time, but we stopped in a shop with handmade hats and boots.

The boots were customizable...

You can choose from a variety of heights, styles, and materials. The basket below contains just some of the options.

Still foggy!

Telluride - Day 1

Today, we embarked on a perilous journey that involved two flights (Toronto to Houston to Montrose) and an hour-and-a-half-long drive. We woke up at 5:30 AM, downed a few coffees, and headed to the airport, where we tirelessly endured search after search and guess what they didn't find... weapons, bombs, liquids of any sort. After the flights and car rides, we were happy to check into the slightly rustic, but none the less well-appointed hotel with a fabulous adjoining restaurant 'Cosmopolitan.' The sight of the fireplace (below) in our suite was a sight for sore eyes, and a low but soothing gas flame is now warming my toes while I write this.

Like the hotel in general, the suite is well-appointed. With (four!) plasma screen TVs, two fireplaces, steam showers, and wi-fi, one gets a rustic ski experience with all the modern amenities you know you want.

There is a living room and kitchenette connecting the two bedrooms, which both have their own cozy seating ares. I can't wait to plop down on this sofa tomorrow after a long day's ski.

Inviting club chairs beckon, well-placed, I feel, in front of windows which face the mountains and bathe the room in light.

The bathroom houses more modern amenities. I don't recognize this particular brand of hotel bath products, but with soothing scents like aloe vera, honeysuckle, and almond, what's not to love?

Each room has its own TV, and I brought a choice few movies just right for snuggling up by the fire after a tiring day: Roman Holiday, the Great Escape, Lost in Translation, the Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and As Good as it Gets.

Each of the rooms on the top floor has a private balcony; mine faces the slopes.
Last but not least, the comfy bed where I'll be sleeping for a long time tonight.

Five Favorite Things

Today, I am going to play Oprah, and present my five favorite things. So, my few lucky viewers, here are my top five picks for music, art, books, travel, and design.

#1: Design

Fresh flowers complete any space. They breath

life into any place that needs it, and can be made into

bouquets simple, elaborate, natural, or experimental.

They're something that one can find anywhere,

for any price

#2: Travel

In today's world, travel is a luxury that too few can

afford. Fortunately, I have the superb privilege to make

excursions to foreign places. Amongst my favorites is Paris,

and St Germain is the place to be. I happened upon this

place in November, the Esprit Saint Germain, and

fell in love with its modern cosiness.

#3: Books

The Book of Negroes is a historical fiction novel

that tells the story of a woman, kidnapped from

her African village of the age of nine, brutally

forced to walk the path of slavery and oppression.

It is by Lawrence Hill, and is available in the US

as Someone Knows My Name.

#4: Art

J.M.W Turner's masterpiece Snowstorm: Steamboat

Off a Harbor's Mouth. In his time, Turner's works faced

great skepticism, but he is now regarded as the artist

who elevated landscape painting to eminence.

#5: Music

Charles Trenet is one of my all-time

idols; his music (predominantly in French)

is moving to the point of being emotionally

attaching. His songs, particularly what I believe

to be his greatest masterpiece: La Mer, are

widely recognized for their upbeat tempo and

meaningful lyrics.

From hotels to music, now you know a bit more about me. I hope you enjoyed this post.