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Welcome To
Luxury Experience
November 2023 Features
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Liquor Cabinet
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Could there
be any better job than being a spirits' judge? We lent our spirits knowledge as
well as our palates to act as judges for the 25th anniversary
of the Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake
Competition held on Saturday,
November 4, 2023, in the Magnificent Room at The SoNo
Collection in South Norwalk, Connecticut! Over the course of four hours, we, along with our fellow judges, tasted
products in assigned categories in a blind tasting, with winners awarded at the
end of the competition. Cheers!
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Wine Cellar
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Winemaker
Amy LaBelle of LaBelle Winery in Amherst,
New Hampshire makes gorgeous wines full of nuanced flavors. Her LaBelle
Winery Americus is a dry red, medium body wine that is a
delectable blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, and 50% of the
French hybrid grape Noiret. The result is stunning with dark fruit and
red berries on the aromatic nose with lushness that follows through on the
palate with a slightly spicy lingering peppery finish. Although bold on
flavors, Labelle Winery Americus has only 12.9% alcohol, which is another plus
in its favor. Although great to pair with grilled meats and heavier dishes, we
paired it with Luxury Experience - Seared Scallops with Fig Butter and
Candied Bacon, and the result was a fabulous pairing. The recipe works
well as a passed hors d'oeuvre at parties, as an appetizer, or main course. Cheers
and Bon Appetit!
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Wine Cellar
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The Russian
River Valley is noted for producing great wines, and 90+ Cellars Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2021 Lot 130 is gorgeous. Richly aromatic with heady aromas of green apple, lemony
citrus, tropical fruit, and a light toasty oak finish on the palate, make it
delicious to drink on its own or to pair with food. We paired it with Luxury
Experience - Salmon in a Beurre Blanc Sauce with Mushroom Wild Rice
which brought out the lushness and complex nuances of the wine. Cheers and Bon
Appetit!
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Performances
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There are concerts,
and then there are CONCERTS (!), and the concert given by Ranky
Tanky with special guest Lisa Fischer at The Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield,
Connecticut definitely fell
into the latter category! It was an evening of exceptional Roots, Gullah,
and Jazz music that had an appreciative audience on its feet awarding
the double Grammy winners with standing ovations throughout the
concert on Friday, November 10, 2023.
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Luxury Products
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As a dedicated
fan of Downtown Abbey and The Gilded Age, I fell in love with The Gilded Age Cookbook - Recipes and Stories from
America's Golden era by Becky Libourel Diamond. While the recipes are
wonderful, it is her carefully researched stories behind the recipes, along
with stunning photographs and vintage art, that make her cookbook such a
treasure. The cookbook makes a perfect gift for foodies as well as history
fans.
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Performances
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We saw the Tony Award winning
play Clybourne Park performed at the Music Theatre of
Connecticut (MTC) in Norwalk, Connecticut
on opening night, and it is a
powerhouse of an impactful play written by Bruce Norris that will
have you talking about it, and thinking about it, long after you leave the
theatre. Pamela Hill directs the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
winner and has a well-chosen cast comprised of Susan Haefner,
SJ Hannah, Rae Janeil, Matt Mancuso, Frank
Mastrone, Nick Roesler, and Allie Siebold.
Clybourne Park is live theatre at its best and runs until
November 19, 2023.
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Performances
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If you love
Jazz, you will definitely want to see First Lady of Song: Cherise Coaches
Sings Ella Fitzgerald at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. We had the pleasure of attending opening night, Saturday, October 28,
2023, where the talented Cherise Coaches transfixed the audience as she sang the
music of the legendary Ella Fitzgerald, the "First Lady of Song." Joined
by her band comprised of Ryan Bennett on drums, Runere
Brooks on upright bass, Jay Flat on saxophone and flute,
and William Kurt on piano, Cherise Coaches took the
audience on a reminiscent journey of not only the music of Ella Fitzgerald, but
also her inspirational life and how she overcame many bumps in the road and
went on to win 13 Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award! Bravo!
First Lady of Song: Cherise Coaches Sings Ella Fitzgerald runs until
November 5, 2023.
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Music Scene
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The latest release
from Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia (aka The
Blood Brothers) is Blood
Brothers - Live in Canada, which is a tour-de-force in live Blues
and Rock & Roll. The release features many of their songs from the
critically acclaimed release Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia - Blood
Brothers that was released in March 2023. The Blues and Rock & Roll
are in good hands, and voice, when performed by Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia.
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Destinations
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Peekskill, New York is a dream of a weekend
getaway with much to discover and explore whether you are looking for a
romantic weekend, to enjoy the arts, have an adventure, explore its gastronomy,
or learn about its history. Conveniently located 20 miles from Westchester, New
York, 31 miles from Poughkeepsie, New York, 37 miles from Greenwich,
Connecticut, 39 miles from Hyde Park, New York, 44 miles from Manhattan, New
York, 65 miles from Newark, New Jersey, 80 miles from New Haven, Connecticut,
113 miles from Albany, New York, and 142 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Peekskill, New York offers something for everyone and should be on your "travel
radarscope."
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Hotels and Resorts
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Looking for
a romantic and glamorous getaway? Look no further than The Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill, New York. This charming luxury hotel opened in March 2020, has 42
opulently furnished rooms and suites, a well-appointed Spa, an
acclaimed fine dining farm-to-table restaurant, aptly named, Apropos
Restaurant & Bar, hiking trails, complimentary bicycles,
and a seasonal outdoor pool. Situated on 65 acres on the top of historic
Fort Hill in the heart of Peekskill with panoramic views of the Hudson River
Highlands, The Abbey Inn & Spa provides a host of activities and
experiences to appeal to guests in every season. Having spent a lovely,
romantic weekend there, no wonder it's the darling for weddings.
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Restaurants
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When it
comes to romance, Apropos Restaurant & Bar located at The Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill, New York, knows its way to
enchant your heart. Chef Danielle L. Ceruzzi, Sous Chef
Luis Hernandez, and Sous Chef Adrian Glaza are the talents
in the kitchen where the restaurant's beautiful ambience and its farm to table
focus is evident in the locally sourced ingredients used to create their
spectacular dishes. We had dinner at the restaurant on Friday, September 22,
2023, and were definitely impressed. Bon Appetit!
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Liquor Cabinet
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If you are looking for a delicious
lower-alcohol choice, Thompson's Cider Mill Hard Cider crafted in
small batches from a proprietary blend of heirloom and antique apples at Thompson's Cider Mill in Croton-on-Hudson,
New York is a fabulous choice. Their award-winning ciders come in 9-flavors, in
dry and semi-dry styles. Thompson's Cider Mill Hard Cider Antique Apple
Blend Semi-Dry, only has 7% alcohol by volume, is delicious to drink on
its own and is also delicious in cocktails. In addition to their hard ciders,
Thompson's Cider Mill also handcrafts fresh cider. Cheers!
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Luxury Products
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A
Virtual History of Walking Sticks and Canes by Anthony Moss is the perfect gift
for yourself, your favorite fashionista, or historian. It is much more
than a gorgeous coffee table book; it is a valuable encyclopedia-like reference
book of more than 500 pages detailing the history of walking sticks and canes
with 800 sumptuous photographs and in-depth descriptions.
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Adventures
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If you love
to celebrate Halloween, The Great Jack-O-Lantern BLAZE
- Hudson Valley at Van Cortland Manor in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, USA should be on your radarscope. We went to see BLAZE on Friday,
September 22, 2023, and could not believe our eyes with the impressive displays
of thousands of expertly carved pumpkins that went well beyond our expectations.
The show runs until November 19, 2023, and is a "must see" Halloween
experience. Fun for all ages! Happy Halloween!
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Gastronomy
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Apples,
apple cider, and cider donuts
are the essence of Autumn in Hudson Valley, New York. We visited Thompson's Cider Mill located in Croton-on-Hudson,
New York and met with owner Geoff Thompson to learn
more about his passion and dedication to making apple cider.
After visiting Thompson's Cider Mill, we have a new appreciation of the work that
goes into the art of making high-quality cider, which was much different than
how we had imagined it to be.
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Wine Cellar
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Milano Wine Week in New York
City is always a highlight of the wine season. We attended two very
interesting and informative International Wine Masterclasses for
industry professionals at Il Gattopardo restaurant in New York City on October 11, 2023, part of the Milano
Wine Week presentations (October 7-15, 2023). Wine education consisted
of tasting 8 wines per Masterclass, followed by a delicious lunch buffet
featuring Il Gattopardo's Southern Italian cuisine. Bellissimo!
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Arts and Antiques
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Peekskill, New York, named for
Dutch businessman Jan Peeck, has a very interesting history, and to learn more
about the area, we visited The Peekskill Museum and took a tour
with Author and Historian John J. Curran, Museum Vice President,
and learned about the history of Peekskill and its historical prominence in the
Revolutionary War. The Museum is a treasure trove of information and objects
that will inspire historians as well as pique the interest of visitors of all
ages.
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Music Scene
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As the VizzTone label group aptly
noted to Mathias Lattin, "Welcome to the family," as they
released Mathias Lattin - Up
Next.
All songs on the release were written by Mathias Lattin and coupled with his
exceptional guitar work and vocals, the result is a release that crosses genres
from Blues, Jazz, Rock, Funk, and Swing.
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Music Scene
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Barcelona-born
pianist, composer, and music director Olivia
Pérez-Collellmir now makes her home in Boston, Massachusetts and is on
the faculty at Berklee Music. Her self-titled debut release, Olivia,
hit the streets on September 15, 2023, and if you love Latin jazz piano,
you really need to give this album a listen. Joining Olivia Perez-Collellmir on piano is a
multi-talented ensemble of international musicians that make it such an
engaging and sensational release.
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� � @luxurypair
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