PAZO, Maryland

Tonight I gave my brother a tour of Baltimore's latest "hot" neighborhood - Harbor East. In fact, it is so "hot" that we think it deserves a recognizable name like New York's SoHo and The Village. To keep in step with this, we are now going to call it "He". Five years ago this restaurant and lounge opened in He, giving Baltimore's hip and groovy people a very different place to relax and enjoy everything it has to offer. The menu is comprised largely of tapas, all very inviting. We were happy to get seated in the lounge where we could enjoy delicious food comfortably, people watch, and listen to great music. All the tables on both floors were filled by the time we left and it was clear that this place is still "happening".


PAZO
1425 Aliceanna Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
P: 410-534-7296

CHELSEA MARKET, New York

Chelsea Market has entrances on 9th and 10th Avenues between 15th and 16th Streets, allowing you to see at least two dozen retail and restaurant spaces between those doors. It was hard to walk past several bakeries, each smelling better than the last. Inside this market are all kinds of offerings. There are various small restaurants, groceries, specialty food items, kitchen utensils, baked goods,

seafood, flower arrangements, wine, teas, and gifts and I'm probably forgetting even more that can be found there. I loved browsing from one end of the market to the other. It appeared that this market is a "best kept secret" by NY locals; a place where they can escape the madness of the street and get comfy inside in one of the seating areas offered by various establishments. Everyone there seemed relaxed and happy. I don't think this was my last visit, I saw things I still want to buy and there was a cozy little area in the back of a tea store that was calling me to sit and sip.



Chelsea Market
75 9th Avenue between 15th & 16th Streets
New York, NY 10011
Subway to 14th Street and 8th Avenue

FISHS EDDY, New York

I took this picture of the side window of FISHS EDDY. It says it all. Inside are dishes of all themes and related items. I think I could have spent hours shopping there and I, in no way, can cook like or resemble Martha Stewart. It's hard to walk out empty handed, and so I didn't. It was fun to see so many things in one space yet I couldn't help but worry about having to pay for anything my swinging handbag could break if it knocked over one of the towers of dishes. Yikes! I loved the store for kitchen related gifts and needs, and will be shopping there again with my hands free to really explore all that this store has to offer.

FISHS EDDY
889 Broadway at 19th Street
New York, NY 10003
P: 212-420-9020

NOUGATINE, New York

NOUGATINE at Jean Georges is offering an autumn promotion, one that my brother and I readily accepted. We had our choice of two plates and one dessert in an offering that made our
choices difficult. My calamari was perfect and his shrimp salad with avocado and tomato dressed in champagne vinegrette, was exceptional. My red snapper was light while my brother's tenderloin was a little on the rare side for him. For dessert, I tried and totally consumed the warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. I think I would have chosen that three times if given the option. My brother, who eats gluten free, had fewer dessert options and couldn't order the cake. Bummer. All in all, we thought our lunch experience was well worth the $26 prix fixe. And, when you exit, you are in the heart of Columbus Circle where you could spend the rest of the afternoon. It could be considered being in the right place at the right time.

NOUGATINE at Jean Georges
1 Central Park West
New York, NY 10023
P: 212-299-3900

W HOTEL LIVING ROOM, New York

Staying in a W Hotel can be a real treat, but when I want to treat myself to a few minutes of relaxation in the Union Square neighborhood, I like to sit in the lounge in the W Hotel overlooking Park Avenue South through 16 ft high windows. This area is called the "Living Room" and it does have some very comfortable chairs and sofas for sitting with a drink of any kind. I prefer to sit on the cushioned bench along the window where I can see everything that's going on outside. It's a great corner to people watch. Sometimes I sit with a glass of wine, sometimes it's a resting place where I can taste an appetizer with a cup of tea. Regardless of my need, I always leave this resting place in a good mood!

W HOTEL NEW YORK - UNION SQUARE
201 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
P: 212-253-9119

BOTTLEROCKET, New York

BOTTLEROCKET is a wonderful Wine and Spirit shop located in Chelsea. Bottles are arranged for easy access making it convenient for me to find one of my favorite red wines - The Chocolate Block. This full bodied South African red is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet, and Cinsault. I prefer to buy it here, but be prepared, it can be difficult to find in other stores. I save it for my special occasions since it retails for $40 a bottle and my wallet struggles to keep up with my tastebuds. Everyone in the store is friendly and helpful and there is even an email newsletter for interested patrons. Shopping here is a definite must for anyone interested in raising their "spirits".

BOTTLEROCKET
5 W. 19th Street
New York, NY 10011
P: 212-929-2323

UNION SQUARE, New York

I love going to Union Square, it's a hub of activity and entertainment. Sunday is the best time to visit and today we lucked out with an art fair. I couldn't stop reaching in my pockets to buy unique gifts from table to table; there were so many great items of interest! It's a park area where you can relax and stroll from vendor to vendor throughout the year. If you get tired, there are plenty of people watching opportunities. A fun place for a fun time!

Location:
14th Street Subway stop
Surrounding neighborhoods:
North - Flatiron District
East - Grammercy
South - Greenwich Village
West - Chelsea

SPICE, New York

I'm back in Manhattan, my second home (home to my son and my brother). I love my monthly visits and absorb as much as I can what the city has to offer. It's 10pm and time to go out and grab a bite! I was in the mood for some Thai food so off we went to one of our favorites - SPICE. And, to add a little excitement, we visited their very new location. It's a corner restaurant in Chelsea with subdued lighting and great ambiance. I ordered their Signature Shrimp Fritters (golden ground shrimp and chicken with honey-chili sauce) for my appetizer and they were delicious. Instead of having my usual Pad Thai, I ordered the Miso Salmon. It was wonderful. A very generous portion surrounded by vegetables, all resting on a tangy sauce. Our servers were attentive and friendly and the price was right. All good reasons to keep it on my list of favorites!

STONEY RIVER LEGENDARY STEAKS, Maryland

Going to Stoney River was a no-brainer when my friend Zoa invited me to join her. We're on a mission to try new places and even though this restaurant is attached to Towson Town Center and has been open for only a few weeks, it was on the list and worth it! I managed to do a little holiday shopping until Zoa arrived which was a bonus for me. We met inside in the bar area where we waited for our table to be available. The bartender got us drinks, and a server, Justin S., gave us a rundown of what we could expect. We planned to give some "free passes" for uneven service, figuring there would still be kinks to be worked out. Instead, we were wowed by friendly, eager to please servers who did a great job fulfilling all our needs. Dorothy never missed a beat making us glad we were seated in her section. As I looked around the room, it was hard to believe we were even near a mall. The atmosphere was relaxing and calm with what Zoa called a sort of upscale LLBean decor. Funny. I started with the New England Lobster Bisque; it was excellent. Zoa got a tangy caesar salad and then it was "on to the entrees". We shared the 7 oz. Coffee-Cured Filet and the Horseradish-Encrusted Swordfish. We both agreed the steak was "the winner", and rightly so in a steakhouse. My favorite of our vegetables was the au gratin potatoes. We were too filled to try dessert even though I noticed there were two chocolate offerings which are always inviting to me. After dinner, we went outside to the valet parking area to get Zoa's car. It's reasonably priced and a great idea if you don't want to drive endlessly around a parking lot. Our mission was accomplished and we were delighted that it was so enjoyable.

Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Towson Town Center
825 Dulaney Valley Road
Towson, MD 21204
P: 410-583-5250

THE PRIME RIB, Maryland

Every November, Bill, Bill, Brian, and I have dinner together at The Prime Rib in Baltimore's Mount Vernon neighborhood. If you enjoy a good steak, this is the place. Dave, the manager, always graciously accommodates our requests. Chuck, our waiter, sees to it that we have the right amount of privacy combined with his attention and good service. Several feet away, two musicians play soft music on piano and bass. The lights are low, but the energy is high, as well dressed diners enjoy everything this fine dining restaurant has to offer. My filet was prepared perfectly tonight and I surrounded it with a caesar salad and shared vegetables. Desserts were outstanding as always, including my hot fudge sundae. Tomorrow, it's back to my weak dieting, but tonight's dinner and all that made it so enjoyable, was worth the setback! So keep a credit card handy ($50-$100/person) and definitely include this restaurant as a special place for special and any occasions, you won't be disappointed!

The Prime Rib
Horizon House
1101 N. Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
P: 410-539-1804

PATRICK'S RESTAURANT AND PUB

Every month or two, Bill and I try to meet our friends Dave and Judy for dinner at Patrick's in Cockeysville. We got waylayed for awhile since Patrick's experienced the misfortune of a fire, but as of tonight we are back on schedule! Our evening was fun filled, as it should be. For the first time, we all ordered the price fixe dinners. My strip steak entree was just what I wanted, not to mention the caesar salad, the baked potato, and the hot fudge sundae completed my expectations. It's always fun to sip my cosmo, catch-up on conversation, have a glass of red wine with dinner, and finish with dessert! Our waiter was wonderful, very attentive and cordial. He didn't write our requests which always makes me nervous (I can't even remember what I ordered let alone everyone else), but there were no mistakes. All in all, I can't think of anything that was missing unless it would have been the opportunity to compliment Chef/Owner Carole Brosso. Well done!


Patrick's Restaurant and Pub
Cranbrook Shopping Center
500 Cranbrook Road
Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
P: 410-683-0604