Travel

Dining Outside the Home: Passports in Gloucester, Massachusetts 

Dining Outside the Home: Passports Restaurant in Gloucester, Massachusetts! Everything about this quaint little bistro nestled in the heart of historic downtown screams culture. Unique local art is part of the decor. Instead of rolls, a server comes to the table with a basket of freshly baked popovers. Yes, popovers….with real butter. Yum. The sidewalk placard out front announces daily specials to show you the way. It did for me anyway. The Smoked Salmon Sandwich was layered with what seemed like a half pound of thick-cut, salty salmon. There must have been some lemon in the slather of creamed cheese topped with red onion slices. It was all good. If only there was more time to explore this rustic homespun town of Gloucester. It definitely deserves a double-take. 

Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire 

Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Summertime Seafood in Rye, New Hampshire. Sometimes you just need to go to the shack. The seafood shack, that is. Located right across the road from the beach, on the scenic route through New Hampshire, sits a casual restaurant that practically never closes. Petey’s is famous for the freshest seafood, generous portions, and the best clam strips my husband has ever eaten. If you don’t believe him, drive by sometime. The parking lot is always full. Always. I’m a lobster-lover, so I’ve tried everything from a cracked lobster dinner to lobster-on-a-stick, with drawn butter of course. The juicy, tender, bite-size chunks can almost make me swoon. They practically come from the ocean to the table. Sound like Paradise? Pinch me, I must be dreaming. 

Dining Outside the Home: Atlantic Grill in Rye, New Hampshire 

Dining Outside the Home: Atlantic Grill in Rye, New Hampshire! Patio dining is such a plus this time of year. The sun is warm, the coastal breeze is cool, the drinks are perfectly chilled, and the seafood is spot on. For starters, the buttermilk-fried calamari set the tone for generous portions. The rich cherry peppered marinara sauce was a condiment companion that released the flavor within. Chunky Seafood Chowder was next on deck. The first slurp from the bowl was enough to see why it was tagged “award-winning chowder”. It was thick and creamy with a blend of clams, scallops, shrimp, lobster, and haddock. Definitely five-star, in my opinion. The Sandwich Board proclaimed the Lobster Roll as Maine tail and claw lobster on a brioche bun. It was indeed. No fillers here, folks! The entire meal left us feeling overstuffed. Pamper yourself and enjoy the seafood. 

Dining Outside the Home: Florentine Café of Little Italy in Boston, Massachusetts 

Dining Outside the Home: Florentine Café of Little Italy in Boston, Massachusetts! At first glance, wide open windows catch the attention of passersby. Each one is bordered with overflowing flower boxes that cascade beyond wrought-iron grillwork. Echoes of laughter and the clink of glasses mingle from within. This touch of ambience sets the stage for Old World charm and succulent homemade pastas in Little Italy. Warm crusty bread suddenly appears at the table with herbed olive oil before the specialties of the day are shared. As you rake your eyes across the menu, that inner voice promises to start another diet…tomorrow. 

Dining Outside the Home: W Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts 

Dining Outside the Home: W Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts! For an upscale lounge experience filled with modern decor, electrifying colors, heightened entertainment, and effervescent spirits, this chic barroom located on the corner of a busy intersection makes it a perfect spot for leisurely socializing. Grab a table for two after a day of walking The Freedom Trail and kick back for a refreshingly cool cocktail. Whether you choose a Hennessy cucumber-lime concoction or a D’usse elderflower-lemon spritzer, the W Boston completes the adventure. 

Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts “Where Everyone Knows Your Name”

Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”.  Located at the edge of the Public Gardens, on Beacon Hill, is a popular watering hole-turned-landmark in Boston. The friendly neighborhood bar attracts visitors from all walks of life. Could it be the fact that for over a decade the sitcom catapulted this local pub into the mainstream? Week after week its down-to-earth cast of characters brought light hearted laughter into our own living rooms. No wonder others still gravitate to this local hangout. You should, too, the next time you’re in Boston, Massachusetts. Cheers. 

Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts!

Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts! Located in the heart of the Theater District of Downtown Boston, this neighborhood restaurant opens its wall of sliding windows to make the open-air dining room an inviting experience. Each unique crafted cocktail delights the palate with signature favorites like The Abby: a blend of fresh lemon, elderflower liqueur, and grey goose la poire topped with a splash of dry sparkling bubbly. Yes, please. Every seat offers a perfect vantage point of the chef’s kitchen where top-notch skills make cooking look effortless. It’s easy to turn off the cell phones and mingle with others. You never know when a celebrity may pop in. At the table next to ours Julian Edelman, of the New England Patriots, dropped by for an appetizer sampler. Memories are made of this! For an atmosphere of warmth and cheer, take a walk to Abby Lane. 

Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana! 

Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana! It’s not every day you can have dinner in a new age French chateau surrounded by impressionist art. Step inside past the elegant Venus’ fountain into a European world others simply dream about. Inhale the exceptional aromas that drift by on open platters for hungry patrons awaiting that first bite. House specialties are worth exploring. The grande finale to a fabulous meal is the Venus Delight! Indulge in this crisp pastry shell filled with vanilla bean ice cream overflowing with cinnamon apples sautéed in a brandy reduction sprinkled with toasted walnuts. What a romantic dessert perfect for sharing. Bon Appétit! 

Paris Las Vegas is a “City of Lights” in Nevada

“If you are lucky enough 

to have lived in Paris 

as a young man, 

then wherever you go 

for the rest of your life 

it stays with you, 

for Paris is a moveable feast.”

~ Ernest Hemingway