Some free Pix Plates and Places notes for Earth Day …
Starbucks and Caribou Coffee shops will be giving away free coffee if you bring in your own mug. Now, it doesn’t say what SIZE mug but I’m thinking the big Buc-ee’s Beaver mug might be a tad large (you know who you are). Also, I don’t see how they are going to limit your visits, so, with a Starbucks on almost every corner, many folks will be “happy” for days to come!
Wanna win a gift basket full of eco-friendly household cleaning products? Just comment on the Whole Foods Market blog! http://cot.ag/dRds4e
Disney Store locations are giving away a free reusable Mickey Mouse tote bag to customers in exchange for five plastic shopping bags. Many grocery stores are doing the same thing.
Admission to all 394 U.S. national parks is 100 percent FREE on Earth Day!
EVOS is offering customers free organic milkshakes to honor Earth Day. Sorry, I’d never heard of the Tampa based chain (FL, GA, NC) until now - http://www.evos.com/
While supplies last, Origins is offering customers free full-size cleanser to customers who fill out a short survey and bring a bottle of their current skin care product -- full or empty -- to any Origins location.
This is kinda the opposite of a give-away … Old Navy stores will be accepting your old flip-flops, which they'll be melting down to be used as playground materials. Doesn’t say they’re giving YOU anything, but still, better there than in a landfill.
Extending Earth Day into Earth Weekend …
Tomorrow, April 23 … Lowes is giving away 1 million trees.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
PLACES - Going to Seattle?
Seattle is the Emerald City because it's so green (in many ways). People thinks it rains a lot in Seattle but it actually rains more in Houston, but Houston gets its rain in 1,2 and 3 inch toad stranglers rather than the 1/8-inch a day misting of the Pacific Northwest.
How long are you there??? Do you have a car or transportation??? Where are you staying??? What do you want to see???? I've done Seattle with and without a vehicle.
Pike Place Market is THE place for me ... I try to do it every other day when I'm there if I'm not staying near there ... actually START my day there ... get the good stuff ... then come back at closing and pick up bargains. You can negotiate for bread at the end of the day. Also, got 3 lobsters for less than the price of two - my favorite deal everrrrrrrr!!!
Ohh ... Rainier Cherries when they're in season!!! They're my faves ... could eat them until I was sick (again - I have (yes, love them). And I have found ways to cook my own seafood and buy it fresh at the market - then go get some herbs and veggies and bread ... wines and beer ... local berries ... and I'm a happy camper. Many go to Pike Place Market to see the fish toss. It's fun to watch!
There’s several good places to eat around the Market. And there’s two originals. The very first Starbuck’s is in the market. I don’t drink coffee, but I do enjoy the place and the aromas. The other is Sur la Table. It’s full of all kinds of stuff you don’t have in your kitchen but could find a way to use, if your kitchen was twice as large! Just walk around the place and have fun.
Eats ... any place you feel comfortable in Chinatown ... grilled fish along the waterfront from any of the guys grilling on barrels ... Pyramid Brewing Alehouse across from Safeco Field. It's more than beer ... but if you LIKE craft beers, it's awesome!!!
If you have time and want to really see things, I recommend a Seattle City Pass. Besides going up in the Space Needle (it now gives you two trips - one in the day, one at night), it offers admittance to the Aquarium, Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo (incredible place to take animal pix). It’s also good for a cruise in the Harbor. PLUS, you get a choice of the Museum of Flight or the Music Project or the Science Fiction Museum (I took the Museum of Flight – spent the whole day there ... it has one of two Concordes in the US, the Air Force One 707 Lyndon Johnson was sworn in on, an SR-71 Blackbird, 747 number 1, and 727 number 1,000 .. among other great planes). When you’re at the Space Needle, ride the monorail, the first one in the USA.
The City Pass will save you half of what you’d pay to see these individually. But if you do the Space Needle, Harbor Tour and Museum of Flight, then the rest would be free.
http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html
also around town … If you didn’t do the Harbor Tour, then jump on a short Ferry trip ... probably cheaper … and ride across and back. If you liked "Frasier" head into the north side to see the views allegedly seen from his home (pretty homes and great views). Kubota Park is also cute. Take the Underground Tour – they raised Seattle 20 feet and you can see the old Seattle. You'll see and learn lots, like where "Skid Row" came from.
Into music? Seattle is the birthplace of grunge music but a wide variety of musicians are from the Emerald City. It’s the home of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Kenny G, Alice in Chains, Qunicy Jones, Chris Cornell, Queensryche, and Heart. You can go listen to music in the places where they started. You can visit the Hendrix Memorial at the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery just outside the city. Check local publications for live music at places like The Crocodile, The Paramount, Moore Theater, OK Hotel and The Vera Project.
Getting away from the city …
Microsoft is headquartered just across the bay in Redmond. Take one of the floating bridges to get there.
Head for Snoqualmie for scenery (the falls are higher than Niagara but not nearly the water amount) and wineries.
The best oysters are at the mouth of Hood River on Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. Take a Ferry to Bremerton and drive from there. If you have a rental car ... ??? I’ve had Dungeness crabs on Dungeness Spit – and all other kinds of seafood there as well.
There are two great lighthouses on the Pacific just north of the mouth of the Columbia River … North Head Light House is my favorite. Volunteers take turns staffing the lighthouse to give tours. You can rent the keeper houses by the day, week, or weekend. It’s at Ilwaco on the coast, it’s picturesque and awesome – great seafood just off the boats in town. Pretty views.
Other Ideas ... head for Mt Rainier - there's horseback riding at the base of the mountain that's fun ... the Boeing Plant in Everett ... orca's off San Juan Islands ... Mount St Helen's ... Columbia River (go down to Portland!) ... Tacoma Wildlife Park ...
Sports wise, there’s Mariner baseball and Sounders soccer.
Let me know if you need any additional (or more specific) suggestions.
How long are you there??? Do you have a car or transportation??? Where are you staying??? What do you want to see???? I've done Seattle with and without a vehicle.
Pike Place Market is THE place for me ... I try to do it every other day when I'm there if I'm not staying near there ... actually START my day there ... get the good stuff ... then come back at closing and pick up bargains. You can negotiate for bread at the end of the day. Also, got 3 lobsters for less than the price of two - my favorite deal everrrrrrrr!!!
Ohh ... Rainier Cherries when they're in season!!! They're my faves ... could eat them until I was sick (again - I have (yes, love them). And I have found ways to cook my own seafood and buy it fresh at the market - then go get some herbs and veggies and bread ... wines and beer ... local berries ... and I'm a happy camper. Many go to Pike Place Market to see the fish toss. It's fun to watch!
There’s several good places to eat around the Market. And there’s two originals. The very first Starbuck’s is in the market. I don’t drink coffee, but I do enjoy the place and the aromas. The other is Sur la Table. It’s full of all kinds of stuff you don’t have in your kitchen but could find a way to use, if your kitchen was twice as large! Just walk around the place and have fun.
Eats ... any place you feel comfortable in Chinatown ... grilled fish along the waterfront from any of the guys grilling on barrels ... Pyramid Brewing Alehouse across from Safeco Field. It's more than beer ... but if you LIKE craft beers, it's awesome!!!
If you have time and want to really see things, I recommend a Seattle City Pass. Besides going up in the Space Needle (it now gives you two trips - one in the day, one at night), it offers admittance to the Aquarium, Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo (incredible place to take animal pix). It’s also good for a cruise in the Harbor. PLUS, you get a choice of the Museum of Flight or the Music Project or the Science Fiction Museum (I took the Museum of Flight – spent the whole day there ... it has one of two Concordes in the US, the Air Force One 707 Lyndon Johnson was sworn in on, an SR-71 Blackbird, 747 number 1, and 727 number 1,000 .. among other great planes). When you’re at the Space Needle, ride the monorail, the first one in the USA.
The City Pass will save you half of what you’d pay to see these individually. But if you do the Space Needle, Harbor Tour and Museum of Flight, then the rest would be free.
http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html
also around town … If you didn’t do the Harbor Tour, then jump on a short Ferry trip ... probably cheaper … and ride across and back. If you liked "Frasier" head into the north side to see the views allegedly seen from his home (pretty homes and great views). Kubota Park is also cute. Take the Underground Tour – they raised Seattle 20 feet and you can see the old Seattle. You'll see and learn lots, like where "Skid Row" came from.
Into music? Seattle is the birthplace of grunge music but a wide variety of musicians are from the Emerald City. It’s the home of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Kenny G, Alice in Chains, Qunicy Jones, Chris Cornell, Queensryche, and Heart. You can go listen to music in the places where they started. You can visit the Hendrix Memorial at the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery just outside the city. Check local publications for live music at places like The Crocodile, The Paramount, Moore Theater, OK Hotel and The Vera Project.
Getting away from the city …
Microsoft is headquartered just across the bay in Redmond. Take one of the floating bridges to get there.
Head for Snoqualmie for scenery (the falls are higher than Niagara but not nearly the water amount) and wineries.
The best oysters are at the mouth of Hood River on Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. Take a Ferry to Bremerton and drive from there. If you have a rental car ... ??? I’ve had Dungeness crabs on Dungeness Spit – and all other kinds of seafood there as well.
There are two great lighthouses on the Pacific just north of the mouth of the Columbia River … North Head Light House is my favorite. Volunteers take turns staffing the lighthouse to give tours. You can rent the keeper houses by the day, week, or weekend. It’s at Ilwaco on the coast, it’s picturesque and awesome – great seafood just off the boats in town. Pretty views.
Other Ideas ... head for Mt Rainier - there's horseback riding at the base of the mountain that's fun ... the Boeing Plant in Everett ... orca's off San Juan Islands ... Mount St Helen's ... Columbia River (go down to Portland!) ... Tacoma Wildlife Park ...
Sports wise, there’s Mariner baseball and Sounders soccer.
Let me know if you need any additional (or more specific) suggestions.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Plates/Places - Celebrate Cullen-Harrison Act today!!!
This should really be called Mugs & Places ... or Glasses & Places.
On April 7, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Cullen Harrison Act into law. It was the first part of the repeal of the Volstead Act (or the 18th Amendment) which limited the sale and production of alcoholic beverages.
Depending on your tastes, today is a good day for a drink. So raise a glass ... your favorite glass ...
Some quick suggestions (since it's almost noon in Texas).
Houston area ... The Stag's Head Pub, Hearsay, Flying Saucer, Harp and Ginger Man all come to mind. Saint Arnold Brewing has a 3:00pm tour. It's easy to find a spot in Mid-Town (Maple Leaf or The Dog House), Rice Village, or along Washington Avenue (Taps Room). The Whole Foods in Sugar Land has their Kegerator installed and they have $3 pints for of Austin's Jester King Blonde.
Austin area ... Draught House, Ginger Man, Bess Bistro, Lovejoys, Uncle Billy's Brew n 'Cue, NXNW, and Black Star would top my list. Really, I'd hang out east and west of the Driskill Hotel on Sixth Street, not to mention north and south on Congress or Guadalupe. If you know where (512) is located, maybe you could sneak by there. Great wine by the glass is also available at Mandola's Italian markets (two locations) as Damian is brining back his own label through the McPhearson Vineyards.
Speaking of Sixth Street, the Bar Lamar at the Flagship Whole Foods is a great place for beers and wines on tap and on cask. They also sell by the bottle, can and growler.
Austin is also home of Tito's Vodka as well as Paula's Orange and Lemon Liquers. All are fine Texas spirits that would not be possible with Mr. Cullen and Mr. Harrison.
Hill Country ... Becker Winery and Duchman Winery get my nod as the best. There are several others you will find to stop and enjoy in your travels. The Hill Country is also home to Dripping Springs Vodka.
San Antonio ... Ranger Creek is both a brewery and distillery, or "brewstillery." Take your choice with beer or bourbon (but the bourbon won't be ready for a few years).
Dallas and Ft Worth ... Each city has a Flying Saucer and a Ginger Man, plus there's Trinity Hall. Rahr Brewing has a special tour today. There are several colleges in the Metroplex and they seem to generate places all their own.
Speaking of college towns, I would make suggestions for College Station, San Marcos, Huntsville and Nacogdoches, but y'all know your spots. Gig 'em. Growl, Roar, and Axe 'em!!!
From Houston to Beaumont, Corpus to Austin, nothing beats Spec's Beer, Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods. Sorry they are not in Dallas or San Antonio. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 9 pm, the maximum hours as allowed by state law.
Today is a great day to celebrate American history in Texas. Please do so with responsibility!
On April 7, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Cullen Harrison Act into law. It was the first part of the repeal of the Volstead Act (or the 18th Amendment) which limited the sale and production of alcoholic beverages.
Depending on your tastes, today is a good day for a drink. So raise a glass ... your favorite glass ...
Some quick suggestions (since it's almost noon in Texas).
Houston area ... The Stag's Head Pub, Hearsay, Flying Saucer, Harp and Ginger Man all come to mind. Saint Arnold Brewing has a 3:00pm tour. It's easy to find a spot in Mid-Town (Maple Leaf or The Dog House), Rice Village, or along Washington Avenue (Taps Room). The Whole Foods in Sugar Land has their Kegerator installed and they have $3 pints for of Austin's Jester King Blonde.
Austin area ... Draught House, Ginger Man, Bess Bistro, Lovejoys, Uncle Billy's Brew n 'Cue, NXNW, and Black Star would top my list. Really, I'd hang out east and west of the Driskill Hotel on Sixth Street, not to mention north and south on Congress or Guadalupe. If you know where (512) is located, maybe you could sneak by there. Great wine by the glass is also available at Mandola's Italian markets (two locations) as Damian is brining back his own label through the McPhearson Vineyards.
Speaking of Sixth Street, the Bar Lamar at the Flagship Whole Foods is a great place for beers and wines on tap and on cask. They also sell by the bottle, can and growler.
Austin is also home of Tito's Vodka as well as Paula's Orange and Lemon Liquers. All are fine Texas spirits that would not be possible with Mr. Cullen and Mr. Harrison.
Hill Country ... Becker Winery and Duchman Winery get my nod as the best. There are several others you will find to stop and enjoy in your travels. The Hill Country is also home to Dripping Springs Vodka.
San Antonio ... Ranger Creek is both a brewery and distillery, or "brewstillery." Take your choice with beer or bourbon (but the bourbon won't be ready for a few years).
Dallas and Ft Worth ... Each city has a Flying Saucer and a Ginger Man, plus there's Trinity Hall. Rahr Brewing has a special tour today. There are several colleges in the Metroplex and they seem to generate places all their own.
Speaking of college towns, I would make suggestions for College Station, San Marcos, Huntsville and Nacogdoches, but y'all know your spots. Gig 'em. Growl, Roar, and Axe 'em!!!
From Houston to Beaumont, Corpus to Austin, nothing beats Spec's Beer, Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods. Sorry they are not in Dallas or San Antonio. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 9 pm, the maximum hours as allowed by state law.
Today is a great day to celebrate American history in Texas. Please do so with responsibility!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
PLATES - April is Grilled Cheese Month
Any sandwich that is good can be made better by grilling it with butter ... and adding bacon. This is just such a story.
I was walking though Central Market a few years ago and they were sampling in the cheese department. CM is one of the great places to go for samples. What drew me over was the smell of grilled butter.
Today's sample was a grilled cheese sandwich, but not just ANY kind of grilled cheese.
Their recipe was for some English white cheddar cheese on fresh CM bread with a bit of apple butter, then grilled. The apple butter added some spices and sweetness to the cheese. The grilling made it complete.
Before you think it's too off beat, remember the pairing of apples and cheese has been around for some time. It's a natural on an hors d'oeuvres tray, as well as that apple pie with cheddar recipe. I managed to get a second sample just to make sure this grilled sandwich version was a good taste fit. Yummmm. It was.
I've made it at home a few times through the years, tweaking and fiddling. Shredded cheddar works well for me, but use what you like ... Velveeta, Kraft singles, Mozzarella, Gouda.
A teaspoon of apple butter on each slice of bread (on the inside). My favorite brand is Bama, but it has a little extra heavy spice. Use what you like and what you have. I've also made it with other jellies and preserves (I like to try new things - think "what fruits do you like to eat with cheese?").
Thennnn ... I added some crumbled pieces of a cooked slice of applewood smoked bacon (cooking note - cook the bacon first). I'm not gonna kid you and say I haven't used MORE bacon than a slice. But that took away from the cheese and apple butter flavors. One slice is nice.
When I grill, I get the iron skillet medium hot and rub the butter in the skillet, then turn it down on medium and start toasting the sandwich. I lift it out, rub the stick of butter in the skillet again (you can see I use exact measurements), flip sandwich, and continue toasting until melted and toasted.
What kind of bread to use? White? Whole wheat? Texas toast? Yes, I've used them all. There's even a suggestion to use olive bread or rosemary bread from the CM chefs. Play with it and your taste buds.
Serve this with a soup, a salad, your favorite wine ... or all three. Enjoy Grilled Cheese month!
I was walking though Central Market a few years ago and they were sampling in the cheese department. CM is one of the great places to go for samples. What drew me over was the smell of grilled butter.
Today's sample was a grilled cheese sandwich, but not just ANY kind of grilled cheese.
Their recipe was for some English white cheddar cheese on fresh CM bread with a bit of apple butter, then grilled. The apple butter added some spices and sweetness to the cheese. The grilling made it complete.
Before you think it's too off beat, remember the pairing of apples and cheese has been around for some time. It's a natural on an hors d'oeuvres tray, as well as that apple pie with cheddar recipe. I managed to get a second sample just to make sure this grilled sandwich version was a good taste fit. Yummmm. It was.
I've made it at home a few times through the years, tweaking and fiddling. Shredded cheddar works well for me, but use what you like ... Velveeta, Kraft singles, Mozzarella, Gouda.
A teaspoon of apple butter on each slice of bread (on the inside). My favorite brand is Bama, but it has a little extra heavy spice. Use what you like and what you have. I've also made it with other jellies and preserves (I like to try new things - think "what fruits do you like to eat with cheese?").
Thennnn ... I added some crumbled pieces of a cooked slice of applewood smoked bacon (cooking note - cook the bacon first). I'm not gonna kid you and say I haven't used MORE bacon than a slice. But that took away from the cheese and apple butter flavors. One slice is nice.
When I grill, I get the iron skillet medium hot and rub the butter in the skillet, then turn it down on medium and start toasting the sandwich. I lift it out, rub the stick of butter in the skillet again (you can see I use exact measurements), flip sandwich, and continue toasting until melted and toasted.
What kind of bread to use? White? Whole wheat? Texas toast? Yes, I've used them all. There's even a suggestion to use olive bread or rosemary bread from the CM chefs. Play with it and your taste buds.
Serve this with a soup, a salad, your favorite wine ... or all three. Enjoy Grilled Cheese month!
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