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!

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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."

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.

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!

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!

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. 

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!

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.

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!

Peekskill, New York is an art lovers' dream with museums, galleries, and outdoor installations. and one of the best places to experience it is at the Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (Hudson Valley MOCA). We visited the Museum and took an interesting tour with Jo-Ann Brody and were very impressed with its art collection.

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.

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. 

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.