A Short Hike in the Shawangunks

The Shawangunks (near New Paltz) is a beautiful place to climb, hike, bike or ride a horse, especially in late November on a warm, sunny day.

Today, we took the dogs on a noisy walk through fallen leaves from Spring Farm Trailhead to the top via Bonticou Crag and then Table Rocks Trail. Mutti and me struck out on the semi-steep loop around 2pm leaving only 2.5 hours left of daylight.

We ascended past old carriageways and open farm fields and barren forests. Then we came across this spectacular rock face formation. I think it's part of 'Near Trapps', the popular free climbing area where adventurers use carabiners, chocks, stoppers and other gear to ascend.

It was clear that we didn't come prepared to finish anywhere near the top today. But, from the parking lot we took photos of the "Million Dollar View," an especially tranquil place to be at dusk.

For more information, review the Mohonk Preservewebsite and perhaps become a member so you can help preserve the 7,000 acres of mountain ridges, forests, fields, streams and ponds from future development.

The Tin Angel Flys to Coxsackie

Just in time for Christmas, The Tin Angel gift shop opens today from 1-6pm in Coxsackie, NY. I know what you're thinking... Coxsackie? There's nothing there but a correctional facility. Wrong.

With less than 3000 people, the historical 1867 business district on the Hudson River attracts visitors looking to launch a boat in the summer or enjoy dinner at a tin-roofed eatery called the Blue Water Bistro. Other brick buildings with wonderful potential for revival include a Real Estate firm (also under renovation), a buffed clean National Bank and the Hermance Public Library on the hill.

The small retail holiday shop enters the mix with a cozy space on the corner of Reed and Mansion Street. I didn't get to meet the owner but maybe I'll get a chance today when I go back for the grand opening.

Holiday House Tours of Olana

Check out the Persian-style home of Artist Fredrick Church, even in the dead of winter. Olana gives holiday tours right up until Christmas. Admission is $9/adult; $8/students and seniors and children 12 and under are free.

The visit includes a look at how the family spent the holiday at home. Hear oldest son Frederic Joseph's letter to Santa Claus to find out just what gifts the children wished for and hear what other family and visitors wrote about the experience.

A setting sun in late November casts an intense orange glow on the castle making it more magical than usual. I walked the grounds until nightfall and then drove to the town of Hudson for a stop at my favorite fine chocolate store. A blog entry on Vasilow's Confectionery shop soon.

Pre-Revolutionary Stone Home in Athens

Shop on Black Friday? I don't think so. Rather, I found myself doing what everybody should be doing if they live in Upstate New York - hitting the back roads of the Hudson Valley with camera in hand.

Just past Sleepy Hollow Lake on Route 385 stands a cast iron sign marking the oldest continuously occupied residence in NY, if not the country. It's called the Albertus Van Loon House, erected in 1724 and still in use today.

Look at how the roof slopes and dips in certain spots. This is just a guess but because of the two chimneys there's probably two jambless fireplaces, one on each end. Like most pre-revolutionary stone homes, I bet there are wide board floors and massive carved beams on the ceiling. The windows look they are original leaded glass windows.

The once-tiled shingles on the gambrel roof have been replaced by a fireproof metal roof. The cranberry color matches the paint around the dormer windows, a nice touch.

I would have loved to have seen the inside but the drapes were closed tight and nobody answered when I knocked. I'm sure the owners are tired of giving tours. They are doing a wonderful job of preserving this historical gem.

The style is Dutch Colonial and the address is listed on the National Historical Register in Athens.

Modern Methods to Cook a Bird

What ever happened to making a traditional Thanksgiving turkey in a roaster pan in the oven?

Here my neighbor uses a "King Kooker" -- a burner, pot, lifting rack and thermometer to fry his bird in $50 worth of peanut oil. It's an expensive alternative and dangerous because the very high smoking point (450 degrees) can easily catch fire and water will only exacerbate the flames.

"It looks easy enough but there's no brine left to combine with the stuffing," I tell my neighbor.

"It doesn't matter," he says, "the meat is super juicy this way."

Tim stands diligently outside for about an hour waiting for his 18-pounder to cook. His method meets approval from his wife who has plenty of oven space left to bake the desserts.

Others in the neighborhood slice up an oddball Cajun combination called Turducken. It's a recipe that combines turkey, duck and chicken into one giant meal. Sausage and cornbread are also used as additional fillers.

No vegetarians allowed on this day.

Top Ten Must-Have Travel Apps

Happy Turkey Day Everyone. My 11-yr.old cousin Ariel loves my i-touch. "Show me all your Apps," she correctly asks using the right techno-jargon that leaves poor Dad stumped for ideas. Here now is a list of those helpful Apps that get me through a day of working in a new city, state or country. These are all free downloads and take only a few minutes to understand.

1. Trapster App - This App is invaluable when I'm flying down the Northway. It alerts me with push notifications of a mobile speed camera, live police car or checkpoint stop. Any user can store locations of where the police hide and refine the time of day they sit there. No more slamming on the brakes to slow down.

2. SitOrSquat App - If you drink as much Chai as I do while on the road, this App is a must. It finds all the closest, cleanest toilets available to the public in your vicinity. If can add to the database if you find one even better.

3. Currency App - Whatever country I'm visiting, I'm sure to know how far my dollar goes using this App. Currency provides up-to-date exchange rate information for over 90 currencies and 100 countries with the latest exchange rates.

4. Language Translator App - Traveling abroad? This App translates words, phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs of text into whatever language you need to communicate.

4. Taxi App - Once I find a parking space, I hail a cab to get around. There's a cab every 30 feet in NYC but it's a waiting game in Boston, D.C., Chicago and Philly. This App uses your current location to automatically find the nearest cab company and places the call.

6. Countries of the World App - Never again will I not know who the heads of state are, what the capital is, the flag, the GDP, population, calling code or geography of the next country I visit.

7. Yelp App - This is a wonderful App for helping me decide on where to take my business, be it eating in a restaurant, seeing a dentist, hair stylist or mechanic and find special offers and coupons. All the information is based on everyday reviews by regular people.

8. Drinks Free App - Not every bartender knows how to make a Calvados Sidecar. That's when this invaluable App steps in to save the day. Drinks Free is an app that has more then 5800 drinks you can make with photos and recipes.

9. NPR News and NPR Addict Apps - I wouldn't leave home without them!

10. Pandora App - Streaming my favorite alternative, folk, 80s and reggae whenever I need a music fix.

Bread Baking 101

I woke this morning to a bread blob invading my kitchen counter. Might Mutti have put too much yeast in the mixture? Mutti inadvertently turned a handful of sourdough rolls into a bread-baking World Cup. We might need to invite more friends for dinner tomorrow, any takers?

A Full House for The Laramie Project

Yesterday, I rushed back to the Capital District to attend "The Laramie Project" at the Albany High School Auditorium. I caught wind of it on Thursday when moderator Dave Guistina of WAMC radio interviewed the performers about the play.

If you're not familiar with "The Laramie Project", it's a play about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The murder triggered widespread media coverage because it was motivated by homophobia. The play was turned into a HBO movie in 2002.

There were 60 characters represented with hundreds of lines from court transcripts and interviews with the town community to memorize. But, the student actors pulled it off with professionalism and maturity, three days in a row. A standing ovation brought tears to the eyes of Ward Dales, Director and Career Explorations teacher at AHS.

Top Ten Reasons I Know I'm Home

I love my family but coming home can be downright depressing. The town of Massena borders on the northern most point in New York State with Canada across the St. Lawrence river and empty farmland to the east.

What was once a thriving industrial town, a hub for descent, good-paying, blue-collar jobs and even tourism in the early 19th century for natural spring spas, struggles today with high poverty, inadequate employment, lack of continuing education and backward thinking.

So, here now, is a tongue-in-cheek top ten list for those who have little choice but to find their sense of humor in the tragedy of living in this or any oppressive upstate community.

Top Ten Reasons I Know I'm Home:

#10. The one McDonalds restaurant is so popular it has two drive-throughs.
#9. Public talk radio is mostly in French and high school hairbands rule the airwaves.
#8. Homeowners decorate their trailers with Christmas blow-up Santas and miles of lights weeks before Thanksgiving.
#7. Car garages and flag poles are twice as big as houses.
#6. Deer hunters on ATVs litter the landscape like yellow taxi cabs in NYC.
#5. Mention 'Mother Jones', Sushi or the Public Option in the local 'Guys Diner' and you'll be shot single-handedly at close range.
#4. Walmart, Walmart, Walmart.
#3. Bars on my cell phone flatline soon after the 'Welcome to Massena' road sign.
#2. The only place to see a movie (never mind an independent film or documentary) is the crumbling drive-in theater.

And the number one reason I know I'm home...

#1. My family makes me forget all of it and love that I have a home to come home to.

A Warrensburg Landmark Rebuilds

It's a long 4 hour journey going home for the holidays so I usually break in Warrensburg, NY for a shopping spree at the venerable Oscars Smokehouse. I load the car up with smoked German sausage flavored with garlic and slabs of Canadian bacon. But not this time.

Oscars burned to the ground two months ago on Sept. 4th and yours truly conveniently wished it away. When I stopped today, owner Jerry Quintal stood quietly looking over the construction of the new steel frames with a look of optomism in his eyes. Clearly, he was thankful that he wisely decided to take the insurance money and rebuild rather than retire.

"People ask me why and I tell them it's for my sons and all those who worked here as well as my customers."

The delicious meat shop had a loyal fanbase that stretched back 63 years when Jerry's father opened the place. Two years ago, I shot a video segment for the 'Rachael Ray Show' (she too called Jerry with her condolences) and remember taking shots of the dozens of black and white family photos that lined the walls.

"The brick smoking oven is what made all the difference. They don't make smoking ovens like that anymore", said Jerry.

But Jerry intends to harness that wonderful smoky smell from the oven through to the store, enticing everyone who takes a whiff.

The new business will operate with 9,000 square feet of space, plenty more than the last one, including glass windows where customers can watch the curing process. I, for one, will be back for their grand re-opening in January 2010 lined up behind hundreds more hungry folks from all over New York State.

Book a Bird to the Bavarian Alps

There's hardly a town in Germany that doesn't celebrate the holidays without a Christmas market. Proof of trading, swapping and bargaining for gifts in December reaches as far back as the Middle Ages. There were Christkindlesmarkts in every Bavarian town I visited, all replete with rows of wooden stalls selling handicrafts, sticky sweets and mulled cider.

Check out my latest travel article posted on GoNomad.com a few minutes ago: "A Visit to the Bavarian Alps: Christmas Markets and Pagan Spirits".

I went last December but should you decide to go now you can still take advantage of some of the airline specials at Swiss Air. If you're flexible with your dates, Swiss Air offers an Economy Saver flight for $341. one-way from JFK to Munich with one quick layover in Zurich.

The one venue you'll not read about in this article is the Island of Fraueninsel. We took a Christmas ferry across the freshwater Lake of Chiemsee to get there.

It was dark, drizzling and damp, so, with regrets, I hid out in a Gasthof on the island. I thought I was saving myself another flu but the sights I missed would have been worth a few sniffles.

I missed the Medieval Minster performance of Christmas carols at the Benedictine Nunnery. And, the nuns serving up a liquor called Klosterlikör with a tray of marzipan (almond paste). Interestingly, women have been the only ones allowed to make this 12th century recipe for biblical reasons. It's a concoction spicy enough to cure the common cold.

So, definitely, do walk around the Island despite whatever weather you come across. Enjoy the read and book your flight soon.

Do Cell Phone Towers Cause Cancer?

A controversial new documentary called Full Signal is about to debut. I helped shoot several interviews with leading experts and scientists for this film. Full Signal tackles issues that only a select number of brilliant minds are willing to talk about: the long-term consequences of cell phone use and cell phone towers on humans.

Debates on the subject have ranged from scientific circles to the mass media to courts of law. It's also becoming increasingly political as a number of studies connect medical ailments, from dizziness to tumors, to cellular technology.

Local public health physician and Professor, Dr. David Carpenter has been a leading voice on the subject of EMF and high voltage power lines. We filmed him on location in his office and atop the Helderbergs last November.

Following that we drove to Connecticut and sat with award-winning author B. Blake Levitt who spoke ad nauseum about the negative impacts and hazards of EMF on the environment.

And, of course, we found plenty of activists in NYC to discuss the legitimate fears of living so close to so many powerful towers.

My Producer/Reporter, Talal Jabari is a Palestinian/American living in East Jerusalem. He traveled extensively in 8 countries to examine the contradictions of opinions and research on this subject.

Full Signal premieres in December at the Santa Fe Film Festival in California. I would love to tell you that it will also air in the Capital Region but that depends on finding a theater to donate the space. The Spectrum or WAMC's Linda Norris Auditorium would be the perfect venue.

Drier than the Moon

By God, there's water on the moon! Albeit it's in the form of water vapor or water ice or hydroxyl ions but it is there. Where it came from is another question. Scientists predict impacts from ice-rich asteroids or comets. Other stuff like carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and methanol were also found.

Today, when Anthony Colaprete, the project scientist for NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, said "It would probably be safe to say it's wetter than the Atacama Desert," the driest place on Earth", I knew exactly what he was talking about.

A month ago I wouldn't have known where Atacama desert was. Now, I do. Here are some more photos of that harsh environment that I stayed in for 5 days. Atacama Desert is in Northern Chile and truly is as barren as the moon. Now, it's even drier.

Rallying for H.R.3962

It's a day of health care rallies in Albany, NY. Both demonstrations attracted enough supporters to guarantee media coverage.

Nola and I attended both briefly, just in time to hear the passionate Congressman Paul Tonko opine on the importance of passing H.R.3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act.

The bill passed in the House a few days ago and is on its way to the Senate soon. This is the final, reconciled version of the health care bill that was amended by three House committees over the summer.

Paul talked about the 40 million Americans who are currently uninsured. As well, he answered questioned on the specifics of the plan.

The Act would include a new government-run insurance plan (the public option) to compete with the private companies, a requirement that all Americans have health insurance, a ban on denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition and, to pay for it all, a surtax on individuals with incomes above $500,000.

All sounds good to me as well to the majority of Americans who need it.

As a small business owner I didn't have health care insurance for the first four years. Then, this summer, I qualified for Healthy New York.

I pay only $231/month with the CDPHP plan. I'm happy and won't be changing if or when H.R.3962 passes. CDPHP is sufficient for my needs despite my plan not paying for certain medications, optometry or dental. My choice works for me.

And that's the key word - choice. The health care bill may indeed be 1990 pages long but it's all about choice and that's always a good thing.

Taxes will not rise, nothing with be rationed, Medicare will not be gutted - those are typical scare tactics invented to derail a Democrat President. Politics as usual for the GOP.

My many trips to France, Germany, Canada and Japan (and so many more) have convinced me that there is nothing to be scared of in a government-provided health care system, rather there is everything to embrace.

Where the Air is as Sweet as the Cooking

Visited the CIA today - that's the Culinary Institute of America, the world's most prestigious cooking school. This year they celebrate their 60th year educating tomorrow's top chefs. The school sits on a former Jesuit seminary in Hyde Park and overlooks the mighty Hudson River.

It's incredulous but the smell of sweet ripened apple pie wafts through the campus like it's a normal presence. It made me soooo hungry.

Someday, I'll be back with Carrie with her sister Julie, she's the student in training here so we can dine at one of the four on-campus restaurants: the Ristorante Caterina de' Medici, St. Andrew's Café, the American Bounty Restaurant or the Apple Pie Bakery Café. All meals are prepared by the students.

Poet's Walk Park

The weather is beautiful this week. I'm taking advantage of my extra days off by biking and hiking. The other day I discovered a Scenic Hudson trail called "Poets Walk Park" in Red Hook, Dutchess County.

The sun was glowing red in the sky and soon it would set behind the Hudson River. Dozens of others had the same idea. We parked our cars and hit the gently rolling trail to the pavilion overview point.

The glowing orb set behind the Kingston-Rhinecliff bridge in magnificent glory. Birds chirped loudly and leashed dogs panted happily. I stood there loving the view. What luck that I live so close to the Hudson Valley. I'm no poet but between the blowing mustard fields, snapping tree branches and cleaving foot bridges, I almost became one.

There are 28 more Scenic Hudson Parks to discover up and down the Hudson. That's over 25,000 acres of natural treasures. Many are also wheelchair accessible and allow pets.

Bridging the Past with the Present

The Hudson Valley has some of the longest, oldest and most beautiful bridges in New York State. Out of the 10 that crisscross the river between NYC and Albany, five are in the historical Sleepy Hollow region.

They are: Bear Mountain Bridge near West Point, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge near Washington’s Headquarters, the Mid-Hudson Bridge near the Culinary Institute of America, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge near the first Capital of New York State and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge near the Fredrick Church castle called Olana.

Once the longest bridge in the world, the Poughkeepsie Highland Railroad bridge finished construction in 1889 as one of the safest and sturdiest iron and steel structures ever built. Its four massive support legs were sunk so deep into the river bed that it was said to last forever.

Then in the 70s, the bridge was abandoned due to a fire and sat rusting in silence because it was too expensive to tear down. But a $2 million corporate grant adding to the $38 million price tag helped launch it as a tourism and recreation destination.

In early October (last month) the bridge reopened as the "Walkway Over the Hudson" making it the longest pedestrian walkway in the United States. The 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration helped spark the financial incentives to make it happen.

I wasn't there last month but this weekend, with Mutti and sis tagging along, we got to enjoy a good share of the Hudson Valley and it's legacy projects.

Temperate Rainforests and World-Class Volcanoes

Good 'ol Steve! My editor at GoNomad.com promptly posted my latest article called "The Lake Region of Chile: Temperate Rainforests and World-Class Volcanoes." Pictured in this photo are 2 Huilliche women blessing the Canelo tree (cinnamon tree) in the Puyehue National Park. Afterwards, the rest of the indigenous people paraded in a circle around the tree blowing the bull horn and playing guitars. Read the article to learn why this country has more beauty than New Zealand, is far more affordable and half the distance to get to.

Chile Meets Soho

It's ironic that I should stumble upon this store in NYC this week exclusively about Chile while writing my travel article about Chile. It's called Puro Chile and sits at 161 Grand Street in the Soho district. It just opened on September 24 as a way to promote Chilean products in the United States, specifically New York City.

Inside is a stream of cultural and theme-driven activities including a store dedicated to all the rare Chilean wines I enjoyed so much while on assignment in Chile a few months ago.

The website says "It's the first space of this type in the world, dedicated to promote the country as a brand, Pure Chile’s goal is to promote, test and sell unique and high quality Chilean products and services, which include primarily Chilean cuisine, wine, and souvenirs."

So, this means I can pick up all those gifts that wouldn't fit into my suitcase and nobody will know the difference. I know where I'll be doing my Christmas shopping this year.

Cozy Cottages in a Concrete Jungle

Pomander Walk is a village-in-a-city, a tiny refuge from the noise and clutter of Manhattan where everybody knows their neighbors and the pedestrian-only street provides security for all.

My showbiz friend Andrea lives here and benevolently let me bunk here until Wednesday. She might need a forklift to get me to move because I'm in love with the "Walk".

Working all day in a concrete high-rise jungle, it's beyond comforting coming home to one of 27 Tudor-style homes of brick, stucco and timber. Each have small garden plots and half-blooming flower pots planted before the door.

The two story, two-bedroom houses were a genuine steal in the early 80's but today owners can pitch one for a couple million and get it. And why not? Living here beats having a doorman, elevator or garage any time. It's on the Upper West side close to Riverside Park and dozens of restaurants and retail stores.

For more interest in this NYC gem check out this New York Times article.