Upstate New York

So, after a wonderful week with my family and taking in the sights of New England, it is now time to get down to business, stop having fun and start focusing on work...

Right???

WRONG!

Jason and I decided that on our first official weekend in New England, 

we were going to go see upstate New York.  Jason wanted to see the 

Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and I wanted to go to Sharon Springs

to see where they film my favorite show on TV...

The Fabulous Beekman Boys!

If you have not seen it, you have to watch it...

It is about 2 guys from New York City who decided to open a farm and live the simple life!

Its great!

We decided that on the way up to Sharon Springs, we would stop by Bedford, NY to say hi to Martha Stewart since she just lives so close!

We thought it might be difficult to find her house, but don't you worry!

(I am really getting to be a very good stalker!)

Here is her mailbox, of course its perfect!

And then we saw her amazing greenhouse (obviously this is all the rear view since it is from the street, no trespassing, I swear!)

All the buildings at Martha's bedford estate are painted what she calls "Bedford Gray"  you can see it here...

And then I found a small sign for her horses!  So fun!

We then drove another few hours North and finally made it to Sharon Springs, New York

Our first stop was Beekman 1802 where the boys from the show sell their goods including goats milk soap, handmade linens, canned food from the veggies on their farm, etc.  I got a beautiful signed (first edition) cookbook!

At the store we met Megan, who was featured on the show!  She was nice enough to pose...

The store was as beautiful as I thought it would be...

We then saw the American Hotel where we made reservations for dinner for later that night!
I was so excited to see this in person!

Just across the street was McGillicuddy's Soaps where we met Deb who ALSO is featured on the show and makes all the soaps for Beekman 1802. (Which I have given out as Christmas presents before, to anyone who got one, this is who made them!)  She was also nice enough to pose with me!

By this time Jason was itching to go to the BBall Hall of Fame...

Which was actually very beautiful and interesting...

He finally got to see the famous busts!

We of course found the Giants stuff...

Then I forced him to take this picture! He doesn't look too upset about it, right!?

After seeing all the baseball stuff you could ever want to see, we drove back to Sharon Springs to try to find the Beekman farm.  We thought it was going to be as easy as finding Ina's house, or even Martha's house but boy were we wrong!

After what seemed like hours of looking, just before we were going to give up...

Then...

There it was!!

We drove right past it!

I screamed at Jason to turn around, and as he did I noticed 2 cars pulling out of the driveway...

(Now, if you don't watch the show, you will not understand and just think I'm crazy, but I don't care!)

As we got closer I realized, it was Farmer John!

We kept driving because we didn't want him to think we were stalkers (which of course we are)

So Farmer John was driving right behind us for about a mile!

He was very respectful and did not even tailgate us even though we slowed wwaayy down to take this pic!  What a nice guy!

After Farmer John following us for about a mile, he pulled off and we turned back around to take a closer look at the mansion and the farm...

The mansion is a historical sight from 1802 (thus the name, of course) and it is so beautiful!

Everything was perfect!  Even the shrubs at the front of the house!

Here is the barn... I guess the goats were inside for the night...

And again, I didn't trespass, I swear!

Our last stop was back at the American Hotel, where we had an amazing dinner of all local ingredients.

The hotel is owned by Doug and Garth, who of course are also on the show...

On the front porch... We felt very American!

We had an amazing dinner and stuffed our bellies full...

Doug was there that night and it took me almost 3 glasses of wine to get up the nerve to say hi and that I was a fan of the show...

He was so nice, posed for multiple pictures with me and then even was kind enough to indulge Jason and I with about a half an hour worth of gossip!  He even showed us his wedding pictures!
He was so welcoming and really reminded me why I love the show so much...

I swear, this is something I will not soon forget!

What a great day...

Jason got to see his baseball stuff...

and I got to see my Beekman stuff!

Hopefully the fun will continue!

Current Location:

Stamford, Connecticut

Hello Connecticut Part Two!

This is my continuation of the previous post.  This week was so much fun with so much packed in I could not fit it into one post!!  I think that shows how much fun we had!

Ok, here we go!!

Day 3:

After a crazy day in the Hampton's, we decided to slow down the pace for a little and take a ride across the Connecticut coast to Mystic...

Our first stop was lunch in New Haven and the famous Louis Lunch...

This small brick building from 1895 is where the hamburger was born.  They have kept everything exactly the same, and all they serve is hamburgers and potato salad!

The famous grills that were used since the beginning...

Yum!

After lunch we went on to Mystic, CT...

And ate dinner at the famous Mystic Pizza from the movie with Julia Roberts.  Everyone said the pizza was great.  I thought it was just pizza, but what do I know!  

Day 4:

New York City!

After a little bit of a rest the day before, we all decided we were ready to venture into NYC...

Our plan was to start with a double decker bus tour to see as much as possible in a short amount of time...

As you will see, I think we accomplished our goal!

We took the train from Stamford into Grand Central Station...  We can see that Dad was excited!

Then hopped on the bus, ready to go!

We saw Central Park...

Times Square (we decided to go back when it was dark to really see the lights)...

Fashion Ave!

Flatiron Building...

NYC street grid...

And, of course, the 9/11 memorial building in process...

So fun!

Our next stop was lunch, and I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

For years I wanted to try the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3...

There it is!

It may look like we split it 3 ways... 

but I'm not embarrassed to admit I only shared with Mom, 

and really ate about 3/4 of the whole thing!  It was as good as I imagined!

After lunch, we finally got to Tiffany's on 5th Ave...

This is my impression of Audrey Hepburn... of course I needed a croissant and cup of coffee.  They really should have a food truck out front selling some so people can really pose!

We decided to walk into Central Park, and could not believe how beautiful it was!

Jason and I decided we would definitely be back to explore the park in depth!

Then walked into the Plaza Hotel.  It was High Tea, and I realized how much I want to have High Tea at the Plaza Hotel!  Maybe next trip!

We made our way to Soho for some shopping, and then a quick stop in Chinatown where I bought a "Michael Kors" watch

No pictures!! shhh!

By this time we were running out of daylight and decided to make our way to the top of the Empire State Building before the sun went down...

The views were great...

But Kim and I got a little scared since it was so high up! 

(we were obviously getting a little delirious at this point!)

Finally the sun started to set...  

I thought this was a great city view of the sunset...

And we could see Times Square in it's full glory!

Yep, it's full glory!

What a day!!

Day 5:

Last Day!

The last day before Jason and I had to get back to normal life, and start our Connecticut assignment, we  went to NYC one last time and saw Aunt Mary and Uncle Mark.

They decided to show us where they work which was AMAZING!
Mark works at SIRIUS Radio which is in Rockafeller Center

We met them on the street, where he pointed out where Ben Stiller was filming his new movie right in front of his building!

Then showed us the foyer of the building... He informed Kim and I that we might recognize it from the movie The Devil Wears Prada!  It is where the clackers are!

He then took us up to SIRIUS, behind the scenes!

Kim and I of course had to do a couple poses:

Of course at the microphones...

And again at the turn tables where all the bands play!
Thank goodness it was a Sunday so no one was there to look at us weird!
(other than our family!)

I got to see where Martha records all her SIRIUS shows!

and then there was Howard Stern's area...
of course we were not allowed in!

Mark's office

This is the view from Mark's office...
Yes, that is Time Square!

Mark said Andy Cohen was just there promoting his new book which I had just read last week!
Crazy!

Lastly, Mark had to show us his new bike which he uses to get around the city and go to the Hamptons on the weekend...  Of course we had to continue with our poses, and he was nice enough to let us!

Very cool, thanks for showing us Mark and Mary!

Oh yea, one more pose across the street in front of Radio City!  Don't I look like a real New Yorker! haha.  Ok, thats it for the poses, I swear!

After SIRIUS we went to Rock Center where Jason and I were pointing out places that we see on 30 Rock every week!

This view!

This view!

GE building!
Mark says he thinks they film in the early morning because he never sees them filming when he is at work.  Makes sense...

After taking a billion photos, we decided to sit and rest and get a drink in the bar that sits where the ice rink usually is!  It was just such a cool experience...  Jason and I kept looking at each other like "this is great..."

Our last stop was dinner...
We could not decide where to go, then Jason had the brilliant idea of a restaurant we saw while watching what else, Food Network!

It is called Ninja New York.... yep, Ninjas...

Like Kim...

It is dark, it is scary, it is filled with Ninjas making the guests scream when they serve you flaming food and drink and scaring you by putting a sword to your throat when you are eating, or even walking back from the bathroom!

Oh no!
Someone has a ninja sword to Kim's neck!!
Hi Ya!

Only in New York!


Like I said, it was a whirlwind of a vacation but I am so happy that I have so many photos to remember all the excitement!
This was a perfect way to kick off our New England assignment...
Of course, Jason and I know there is a lot more to come!

Current Location:
Stamford, Connecticut