I’ve headed to NYC for the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) conference for the last five or so years, but every time I visit, I still feel like a kid sucking in my breath to blow out all the candles on my birthday cake so my wish to become a princess will come true.

   In NY, you can be and do anything you want, whether princess or a pauper. A nature lover? Head to Central Park, a green haven for athletes or families who want to spread out a blanket and enjoy the beauty all around them. A museum-goer? The list ranges from he massive Metropolitan Museum of Art to more intimate museums like The Frick Collection or The Morgan Library. A barfly? No end of places to go. In fact, there’s something to do 24/7. And that includes eating.

Since my main purpose is to attend the board meeting and conference, there’s little time for frivolity. But each year I pick an activity or two outside the doors of the Roosevelt Hotel and the ASJA offices on Times Square across the street from the squiggly ABC news marquee and giant screen (also a treat to see).

 This year at the urging of a friend, I walked the short distance to 235 Madison to The Morgan Library – a truly unforgettable experience. Thousands of first editions of leather-bound books with gold lettering reach from floor to ceiling, a true writers and readers paradise. The opulent marble walls, mosaic panels and leaded glass windows are almost too much to take in at one time. Add the decorations on the ceiling inspired by Raphael’s Stanza della Segnatura in the Vatican, and the experience is to die for.

In addition to the masterpiece painting throughout, there is an original Gutenberg Bible, Pucchini’s first opera with notes on the staff lettered by him, a letter to a friend from John Steinbeck complaining about his “God damned book” that turned out to be Grapes of Wrath, a traveling exhibit by Proust with a cut and pasted manuscript full of hand-written scribbles. I could have stayed all day — and pretty much did.

Another highlight of the trip was seeing Holland Taylor (who also plays the sex-crazed mother of former star, Charlie Sheen, in the TV sitcom, “Two And A Half Men. In “Ann,” her one-woman show about former Texas Governor Anne Richards, Governor Richards was truly in the house. There was nary a sign of Taylor who played her role superbly. Add in the venue, the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, and the experience couldn’t have been better.

Last year my extra curricular activities included the Frick Collection, a spectacular house museum once owned by industrialist Henry Clay Frick, one of few remaining Gilded age mansions in the city.  Masterpieces by artists such as Bellini, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Gainsborough, Goya, and Whistler comprise the permanent collection, and we were treated to a temporary collection of Rembrandt sketches. Today, the Frick Art Reference Library is one of the leading institutions for research in the fields of art history and collecting. Awesome!

I also took a long, expensive taxi to Ground Zero only to realize that reservations are timed and I should have made them online or else hang around for more hours than I had. None-the-less, it was goose-bump eerie to see the new structure rising into the skyline and walk into the small museum near the ticket desk.

As for eating. Take your pick from every ethnic specialty. From my mile-high pastrami sandwich to the elegant Pampano and Café Centro, the food is divine. And expensive. In fact, the cheapest things in NY are Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s new fleet of yellow cabs that are spotlessly cleaned and have set rates for destinations like the airport. Be very aware of black “gypsy” cabs. An example: a trip to Lincoln Center in a gypsy cab: $20; in a yellow cab for the return trip: $8.50!

One day, I promise myself, I’m going to the Big Apple just to play; to re-visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; take a long walk in Central Park, see a Broadway play every night, eat different ethnic food every night and go broke happy! 

 

 

 

 

I admit it. I’m a total sucker when it comes to getting the inside scoop on an over-the-top home I could NEVER afford, and my must-see every year is the Decorators’ Show House & Garden that benefits the Atlanta Symphony.

Tuffeau Decorators’ Show House & Gardens (Photos courtesy Jeff Roffman Photography)

Tuffeau, the elegant 18,000 square foot estate in the Buckhead/Vinings area opened April 20 and will be on view until May 1. The elegant home, designed by William T. Baker, is reminiscent of grand French chateaus and has all the bells and whistles from leaded glass windows to French paneling to superb arched ceilings. We spent about two hours viewing the 37 rooms (imagine!), plus enjoying a delicious boxed lunch prepared by Carole Parks Catering. (www.decoratorsshowhouse.org).

 This year’s Decorate Show House is the best ever, and the designers have outdone themselves with livable rooms suitable for a very large family. (It’s rumored to be owned by a bachelor.) Though the décor is over-the-top elegant, the rooms are not over-decorated as some have been in the past.

The light fixtures throughout are show-stoppers, as is the art work – each chosen by a separate designer who was selected to decorate a single space. In most of the rooms, the furnishings are a delightful combination of traditional and contemporary with unusual touches.

 

Even the connecting hallways and staircases meld the spaces and create beauty at every turn. The grand staircase, designed by Bryan Alan Kirkland Designs, was hand painted in a bright red-orange pattern set in panels and punctuated with a collection of guitars hanging over the landing. The family staircase has a very different, though no less elegant style. Designed by The Mercantile, it was also hand painted and highlighted with a spectacular chandelier.

 

The upstairs hallway contains comfy chairs and nooks overlooking the bright, airy living room that make it more a place to sit and chat than a space to pass through. It was creatively designed by Traci Rhoads Interiors

 

In the master suite, subtle, calming beige tones by Melanie Turner Interiors make its massive size warm and inviting (I’m ready to move in, or at the very least, redecorate my humble space.)

 Ikea features an affordable casual lounge and kitchen on the lower level that only looks expensive. A coffee table I admired was a mere $59.95, and the kitchen cabinets and countertops are sleek, modern and affordable.

But the piece de resistance is the James Bond-esq Home Cinema room designed by IHomes Atlanta. Overhead, the ceiling is a night sky with small points of starry lights that can be changed with the flick of a remote. The screen, as large as a movie theater, is viewed from leather recliners in two staggered levels. To die for.

View from my window at the Country Inn Resort

Gingerly, I insert my hand into a large flat box filled with brightly colored thin glass slivers, worrying I’ll draw blood. I’m on the hunt for shades of blues and greens to make a glass fused nightlight at Hands On Art Studio in Door County, Wisc., where I’ve traveled on an art, theater, cheese and wine trek.

Until a friend suggested the get-away, I’d never heard of Door County (sadly, neither had others living South of the Mason-Dixon line). But ask a Midwesterner and they all turn green with envy. “We call it the ‘Cape Cod of the Midwest’ and used to take the kids every summer,” says my Chicago cousin, George Klein. “Wish I could join you.”

Once I arrive on the narrow finger-like peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan on the state’s Northeastern side, I understand why the county population of 28,000 triples during the summer months. Not only does the “Cape Cod” moniker fit, there are activities that suit visitors of all ages.

Named after the strait between Door Peninsula where the waters of Green Bay meet the open waters of Lake Michigan, the dangerous passage was known to early French explorers as Porte des Morts Passage, (“Door to the Way to Death”) or simply, “Death’s Door.”

Though never far from water, the topography is equally spectacular, especially in fall. Bright yellows, reds, oranges contrast with the quaint white inns and B&B’s that dot the countryside.

Making fused glass nightlight at Hands On Art Studio

For the moment, I’m engrossed in arranging the glass slivers onto a piece of clear that forms the base for the nightlight. The idea is to cut the pieces to size, but the glass tool isn’t cooperating. I prick my finger trying to score the paper-thin glass and it breaks in places I hadn’t intended.

Somehow I bumble through, putting a drop of glue on the back of each odd shaped piece and set it in place. They don’t fit cleanly so I fill in with tiny glass pebbles and add a few glass rods. The instructor assures me that once it fuses, my nightlight will be a masterpiece. When it arrived a week after I return home, I’m tickled with the results of my artistic endeavor.

Hands On Art Studio is a do-it-yourselfers dream. No reservations needed. No talent either. Just a desire to create a work of art whether fused glass, jewelry, metal sculptures, mosaics, spin art or woods, metals and ceramics. Each “artist” pays just $7 for an entire day in all four studio spaces at potter Cy’s “art farm,” plus the cost of the project.  (www.handsonartstudio.com).

I could have stayed all day, but the next stop on my art trek is the Peninsula School of Art  known as one of the most dynamic centers for visual arts education in the Midwest with over 2,000 students and university-level instructors. http://www.peninsulaartschool.com

Peninsula School of Art

The day I visit, an installation of 30 four-feet high hand blown glass ears of corn with bronze husks from Wisconsin artist Michael Meilahn, are suspended from the ceiling. They represent his view that genetic modification is necessary to feed the world’s growing population. Other than the sheer beauty, the neatest thing about the exhibit is that visitors are encouraged to touch the art. Along the perimeter of the room are stainless steel hand-driven sculptures by Anne Lilly of Massachusetts.

I’m intrigued by a group of seniors hard at work forming and painting clay soup bowls to be sold for $15 at Soup!, a one-day event that benefits the Children’s Outreach Program. Purchasers of the more than 500 bowls made by children and adults are treated to a soup party donated by area chefs.

 The Door County Plein Art Festival every July is the largest outdoor painting festival in the Midwest and the School’s largest fundraiser. Forty juried artists complete five to 15 paintings outdoors and the School’s Guenzel Gallery hosts an exhibition and sale, with proceeds benefiting the educational and community programs of the School.

The Door is noted for its superior art galleries showcasing mid-western artists, and we wander in an out of at least a dozen. My inner artist succumbs to a hand-crafted vertical clock and a brightly colored iridescent pendant.

So Little Time, So Much to Do

With towns named Sturgeon Bay (which boasts the only stop light in the county), Fish Creek, Egg Harbor and Sister Bay and Ephraim (the only dry town), there is always something to do. Or not. You can relax on miles of shoreline, read and snooze in rocking chairs on the porch of your B&B, or engage in outdoor activities, like several friends.

One is uber-athletic and bikes, hikes and Segways along the beautiful woodland trails and shorelines. Another plays a round of golf. We are all set for a river cruise, but are curtailed by the inclement weather. Not to worry, we find plenty of solace in the local wineries and a microbrewery, in addition to a visit to the Door County Maritime Museum (www.dcmm.org) where we tour the lovingly preserved Tug John Purves, built in 1919, and peruse Pirates! and the history of area ship-building, both extensive exhibits.

Eat, Drink, Enjoy

Harbor Ridge Winery’s motto: “Solving the world’s problems, one sip at a time.”

No trip to Wisconsin is complete without a tasting of cheeses, wines and apples. We begin at the Orchard Country Winery & Market and find delicious varieties of both apples and wine, a prelude for lunch at Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor (www.wilsonsicecream.com). I feel as though I’ve taken a step back in time with its table-side juke boxes and root beer floats of my youth.

Dinner is at Mojo Rosa’s in Egg Harbor (www.mojorosas-doorcounty.com) is one of the few Mexican restaurants on the Door and sister to two other restaurants, Villaggios, and The Village Café (in addition to the Pink Bakery).

For breakfast, it’s hard to beat Rowley’s Bay Resort and Grandma’s Swedish Bakery situated on the waterfront. The decadent pecan rolls were voted #1 in the state by Wisconsin Trails magazine. Indescribable. (www.rowleysbayresort.com/)

But don’t neglect a trip to Door County Coffee & Tea Co., (www.doorcountycoffee the Door’s premier coffee roaster . The food is as good as the coffee with flavors like cherry crème, bananas foster and raspberry almond that follow me home.

Always time for a tasting at Schoolhouse Artisan Cheese that features 30 cheese makers and 50 artisan cheeses. We all take home sample of our favorites. (schoolhouseartisancheese.com).

Grand finale of the fish boil at the Old Post Office Restaurant

The dining piece de resistance is an authentic Fish Boil at the Old Post Office Restaurant prepared outside over a roaring open fire. The 100-year old tradition was originally created to feed hungry loggers and settlers and remains alive and well in the Door.

Watching the process is part of the fun. Potatoes and onions go first into the steaming pot, followed by fresh Lake Michigan whitefish. When the oils from the whitefish rise to the top of the large black iron kettle, kerosene is added to the flames and the fish oil careens over the side, signaling the catch is ready to serve. The ooh’s and aah’s of diners and the clicking of cameras are followed by the best part – a delicious meal. (www.oldpostoffice-doorcounty.com)

Cheers!

For wine enthusiasts, follow the Door County Wine Trail: (www.doorcountywinetrail.com) and sip your way through the Door.

One of the trip’s special treats is seeing three original live theater performed by Equity actors: “And If Elected,” at the American Folklore Theater which is only performed during a national presidential election year; “Lombardi” at the Peninsula Players Theater, that pays homage to Wisconsin hero, Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers who took the team from total defeat to total domination of the NFL, winning five league championships in seven years and two Super Bowls; and “Cheeseheads, the Musical.” All play to packed audiences, so make reservations in advance.

 Accommodations:

Quaint guest houses, B&Bs too numerous to count dot the highways and byways.

Most notables:

The White Gull Inn in Fish Creek

www.whitegullinn.com

Country House Resort in Sister Bay

www.country-house.com

Getting there:

Fly into Green Bay, Milwaukee or Appleton airports and rent a car for the hour-plus drive to Door County. You’ll need wheels to get around.

Note from Travelgram: If you’re heading out of town for the Fourth, — drive or fly safely, watch your kids every MINUTE they are near water and have a blast!

If a “staycation” is in your immediate future, make sure the simple act of grilling doesn’t end in catastrophe.

Don’t let a barbecuing accident mar your holiday
America’s birthday party on the Fourth of July conjures up thoughts of a steaming hot summer day spent with family and friends, enjoying sizzling hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill and watching a fire works spectacle after dark. But all these lovely holiday rituals can be irreparably marred by a grilling accident, particularly one that causes an explosion.

Flare ups happen quickly. Be prepared.

“There are 3-million meals cooked on grills every year, resulting in 7,000 fires,” says John Drengenberg, consumer safety director of Underwriters Laboratories (http://www.ul.com), an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization. “Temperatures can reach 1,000 degrees.”

Some are accidents are minor, treated with cold water or aloe ointment. Others, like the April explosion that put six-year old Eliceo Lopez-Soto from Loha, Ore., in the hospital, are extremely serious. The young boy sustained severe burns on his face and hands, as well as inhalation problems.

His mother certainly never anticipated the consequences when she mistakenly grabbed a can of model engine fuel instead of charcoal lighter to ignite the coals in the family’s grill. The ensuing explosion that also injured his father was so intense that debris was blown up onto the roof of the house. (http://www.kgw.com/news/local/6-year-old-burned-in-Aloha-barbecue-accident-146609375.html)

But heeding safety rules and having fun are not mutually exclusive. Accidents can be avoided by following a few simple guidelines,” advises Drengenberg.

Most varieties of charcoal are safe as long as families follow the manufacturer’s recommendations like placing the briquettes in a cone shape and using only genuine charcoal lighter fluid. “Never add any flammable liquid to burning coals or use gasoline or kerosene to start the charcoal,” he says. “The unintended result can be catastrophic.”

Correct disposal is also imperative. Once the meal is finished and there is no more need for the heated charcoals, don’t dump them in sand or dirt in the corner of the yard. “Far too many kids end up in the emergency room after running through hot charcoal,” says Drengenberg.

Instead, let burned briquettes cool in the grill for at least 48-hours before disposal. If time is not available, pour water over the briquettes to ensure the briquettes have cooled completely.

Take care when removing the ashes from the bottom of the grill by using a small hand held shovel or broom and dustpan. If you’re removing a large amount of ashes, a dust mask may be helpful.

It’s never safe to use grills indoors, even small Hibachis that fit into bathtubs and fireplaces. The issue is not only fire, but toxic carbon monoxide fumes emitted by the charcoal. The same goes for garages that may appear safe since they’re open on one side, but also contain flammable products that can react with the fumes and cause a major fire.

Safety First
• Before using your grill, clear out leaves, cobwebs and other debris that may have accumulated in the bottom.
• When purchasing a new grill, make sure it has the Underwriters Laboratories label that ensures the item has passed 100 percent of rigorous tests and meets all established safety standards.
• A properly designed grill routs the propane correctly so the hoses don’t have to be kinked. Tanks should be under, not near the burner.
• Make sure all the connections are tight by checking for leaking gas in both propane and natural gas grills. The process is simple:
• Put a soapy solution around the connecting junctions. If no bubbles appear, the connections are tight.
• If the solution bubbles, it means gas is leaking and the device is dangerous. Tighten and then re-test the connections before using.
• Don’t store an extra propane tank near the grill. If there is a fire, you don’t want to compound the danger by setting two tanks on fire.
• Keep the extra tank out of the sun, and never put it in the trunk of a car.
• Although it’s impossible to be alert every second, always monitor the grill and keep kids away from the hot surfaces.
• Use mitts and long-handled tongs to avoid burns. Keep hands away from hot surfaces.
• Always keep a spray bottle filled with water nearby to spritz on flare-ups before they get out of hand.
• For added protection, have a fire extinguisher handy.

“Outdoor grilling should be fun, Drengenberg says. “Following common sense rules will ensure that it is also safe.”

What is the UL?
The Underwriters Laboratories were founded in 1894 when William Harry Merrill opened the Underwriters Electrical Bureau (later renamed Underwriters Laboratories) and conducted the first test on combustible insulation. By 1895, he had developed a set of safety standards, and the staff of three issued 75 reports to customers. Four years later, the number of tested products had grown to 1,000 and included lamps, fire alarm boxes, fuses and heaters.

Today, UL, a not-for-profit organization that receives no funding from the government, employs 6,800 professionals who work in 95 laboratories and testing facilities around the globe. More than 19,000 categories and up to 100,000 products are test annually, ranging from Christmas decorations to electrical products to barbecue grills. In 2011, 22.4 billion product earned the UL mark, a label so well respected that most retail establishments refuse to sell products without it.

Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains smack in the buckle of Mid-America’s Bible Belt, Branson, Mo., serves up a heaping helping of Las Vegas-style entertainment (without a hint of raunchiness), seasons it with a plethora of outdoor activities and adds generous portions of red, white and blue.

Veterans are kings (and queens) — honored at every entertainment extravaganza and even on rides like the famous amphibious Ducks that traverse land and lake. Richly thanked for their service to America via discounts at hotels, outdoor venues and theaters, World War II vets, members of the Greatest Generation, arrive in wheel chairs and on walkers. The youngest vets from the Gulf Wars bring pretty young wives and wee children. But none seem prouder to stand at attention, hand-over-heart, than our Viet Nam vets who were once sadly ignored countrymen they served so well.

If the name “Branson” sounds familiar, you probably associate it with hillbillies and country music. Think again. Broadway, Golden Oldies, gospel and classically trained musicians perform three times a day, along with spectacular staging, live bands and pageants like the current production of Joseph at the Sight and Sound Theater.

Dispelling Myths:

1. Instead of a planned city bent on creating a town for live music, Branson grew organically with a series of unrelated events. The Baldnobbers – whose show continues to this day — opened their doors in 1959 to entertain locals and visitors to the Ozarks. Next came “The Beverly Hillbillies,” a popular television show that piqued the public’s interest in life in the Ozarks. But it wasn’t until 1991 when “60 Minutes” aired a segment on Branson that the sleepy town sprung to life. Top entertainers like Dick Clark, Andy Williams, The Lennon Sisters and Dolly Parton opened enormous theaters, which in turn, attracted hotel chains and eateries. And with them, came tourists from around the globe who flocked to the “live music capital of the entire universe.”
2.  Along with all-American types, two internationally known entertainers took up residence – Russian comedian, Yakov Smirnoff http://www.yakov.com/ and Japanese musician, Shoji Tabuchi, whose opulent theater is often called the “Showplace of Branson.”
3.  Longing to hear Elvis croon “Blue Hawaii,” or Marilyn Monroe whisper-sing “Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend?” Then don’t miss Legends in Concert http://www.legendsinconcert.com/ that brings them back to life.
4. Who knew that one of the largest museums commemorating the Titanic is “moored” in Branson? Walk up the grand staircase, glimpse into a tiny Third Class cabin for four souls and compare it to the well-appointed First Class stateroom; peer at the table wear used all too briefly by ill-fated passengers, and watch a fascinating documentary about recovering the artifacts.
5.  Branson is NOT just for the senior set. The average age is 48.
6.  With a population of just 10,200, Branson welcomes 8,000,000 visitors annually!
7.  There’s plenty to do in the great outdoors like ziplining through the Wolfe Mountain canopy, biking, Segwaying, hiking, at the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park http://www.dogwoodcanyon.org/or fishing on Lake Tancycomo.
8. Family comes first in Branson, and not a single show is “off limits” to kids. They may not catch all the jokes, but they also won’t hear any four-letter words or ogle risqué costumes. The best of the best is the Hughes Brothers show, “it.” (www.hughes-brothers.com). With a total of more than 50 performers — five brothers, their wives and children (including one family of seven and another of 13) ranging in age from two months to late teens, they rock the stage with music and dancing.
9.  Silver Dollar City www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com is so well designed and landscaped, it’s easy to forget you’re in a theme park. Every venue and restaurant takes you back in time as you stroll among the costumed employees. You can experience thrilling rides like the giant pendulum swing that travels seven stories skyward at 45 mph.; gasp at the natural beauty of the wet limestone Marvel Cave some 300 feet below the earth’s surface and watch expert crafters create lye soap, candles, leather goods and blacksmithing — just the way they did in centuries past.
10. Don’t miss The Showboat Branson Belle (www.showboatbransonbelle.com) that treats passengers to a leisurely cruise on Table Rock Lake, feeds them royally and entertains with a professional Vegas-style variety show featuring a Julliard-trained violinist who flies through the air (while playing) as gracefully as a Cirque du Soleil artist.
11. 10. Don’t fret about where you’ll find live entertainment, lay down your head or find a good meal. There are 69,000 theater seats (more than on Broadway), 28,000 hotel/motel or condos rooms, plus campgrounds, and restaurants to fit every pocket book and palate. Highlights include Andy Williams Moon River Grill, (www.dinebranson.com/…/1844-andy-williams-moon-river-grill) complete with fine food and art from his personal collection.

 Plan your trip:

• Even with multiple flights daily at two airports – Springfield (www.sgf-branson-airport.com) and Branson (flybranson.com), you’ll need a car. Cabs are scarce and the walk between venues can be prohibitive.
• The Leap Day 2012 tornado whipped through several hotels rendering them uninhabitable, so make reservations before you go.
• Families can find reasonable condos a’plenty with two, three or even four bedrooms like The Majestic at Table Rock Lake (www.thousandhills.com).
• Feel free to bring family members in wheelchairs and walkers. Every venue provides ample accommodations and royal treatment.