Just for Keith: A Taste of Nashville in 48 Hours

I love Steve Martin -  but I guess not enough.  Martin and his band the Steep Canyon Rangers, won entertainer of the year last Thursday night at the 2011 International Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville and I had no idea he was seriously in the music business. Who knew?  Obviously not me.

But, I do know about Keith Urban and that was what got us to Nashville for 48 hours over the summer. A birthday request to see him in concert - so off we went. And now, it is one of our favorite cities. We only made a dent and we will be heading back for sure.

Our highlights:

Friday - arrive mid-afternoon and head to our hotel.

Hutton Hotel in Nashville - great boutique hotel with lots of style and centrally located. The staff is super nice - as we found most people in the Nahsville to be. Highly recommend.

Hotel Lobby

Mad dash for a tour of Vanderbilt University. Even in the rain it is still gorgeous and impressive.  And look at the great colors in some of the libraries.

A twisty campus tree

Yummy blue ceiling

Loving the green walls

1808 Grille - located in the Hutton Hotel so obviously it was convenient for us (just an elevator ride). Sophisticated and approachable food and we loved the decor - modern but not cold. White accessories and great lighting. Also, they opened 1/2 hour early for us so we could eat dinner and still get to the Grand Ole Opry show on time -  that's southern hospitality for ya!

Hush Puppies

Grand Ole Opry - a must. A little hokey but fun.

Nice Suit

Saturday - still raining but we must go to the Pancake Pantry, apparently a Nashville tradition (with a very long wait).

 The Country Music Hall of Fame . Lots to absorb and we skipped the guided tour. Fun to see all the displays  - from Carrie Underwood's dress (like 15K swarovski crystals!!??)  to Elvis' car and piano (there are some very weird things there too -  along the lines of stuffed squirrels).

Pre Keith Urban we ate at Puckett's which was fantastic! Located in the Honky Tonk part of town and near the venue. We fall in love - with fried okra (get the ribs too).

Try it at home with Paula Dean's fried okra recipe.

And, now, the reason for our trip - Keith Urban - just look at him!

The show was fabulous! We also like Jake Owen who was the warm up.

Sunday, we leave mid morning knowing we will return - the trip was just not long enough.
But please, the real highlight of the trip for me ...

sisters...priceless

Chili in the Forecast

Thanksgiving has now come and gone and one would think that I would be leaving all thoughts of turkey behind me but that just is not possible. Two words, two ways, will sum it up:
"Deer Valley"  --  "Turkey Chili"

Oh, and "Yum Yum!"

The mountain opens this weekend and I am off to ski, celebrate and eat turkey chili at the 19th Annual Deer Valley Celebrity Skifest. You can tune in to watch this Sunday, Dec. 5th, either right before or right after the NFL game on CBS; check your local listings. ( Disclosure: Yes, this is my husband's show and yes, this should be considered a plug.) But also know that aside from all the fun, festivity and fabulous skiing (due to the early dumping of luscious snow), there is a charitable component to the weekend benefiting Waterkeeper Alliance. Check it out.

Now, back to the turkey chili. Deer Valley has the best food on any ski mountain in the US that I have been to and their turkey chili is tops! One can try to make it at home too -  there is a mix and what could be easier especially this busy time of year.

Photos above are from Skifest 2009 - this year's photos will follow.

And, since there was an inquiry, here are some of my tips for airplane travel (which I seem to do a lot of):

I wear comfortable, layered, usually black or other dark clothing. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable at 30,000 feet up due to your clothing selection. The seating is uncomfortable enough. I am not getting any larger but I have more space in the lavatory on the plane than at my seat. Note that while I want to be as comfortable as possible, I don't need to look like a slob. I love the bygone era when people actually dressed up for their flights;

I bring a folder with my flight/ticket info, car rental or ground transportation, other confirmations (dinners, baggage, etc), places or things I might want to do when I get to where I am going - everything is organized and in one place. I can review it during the flight if I need to and I have it with me;

Wear or bring socks/peds for "going through security " - why would I want to touch the dirty floor with my feet when I have to take my shoes off;

I pack little roll up flats for the flight - more comfortable than high heels or boots for extended travel and, should my feet swell from the air pressure, I don't have to stress that I can't get my shoes back on before I can walk off the plane;

Yes, I usually pack extra clothes in my carry on just in case my checked luggage (and I ALWAYS check luggage) doesn't make it to the destination with me;

I have a zip lock bag with all my liquid essentials always packed so I never have to rethink it and it is ready to go on short notice. I routinely check it to make sure I don't need to replace any items;

I always travel with pain relief medicine as I don't want to take up time looking for a drug store;

I don't wear lots of big jewelry and or belts that have to be removed while going through security - although I tend to wear a chunky watch which I just routinely take off and put in my purse so I don't set off any machines or have to walk through again;

We all know by now, remove your computer from its case. But also know that some airports want your iPad separated too so I just do that without being asked - why invite delay?;

Pack a large wrap or scarf or travel blanket - it can get cold on planes and it can also serve as a pillow (I have a neck roll as well but it takes up a lot of space);

Download any movies or TV shows at least a day before so you are not disappointed when you realize you wanted to watch the latest episodes of Glee or Keeping Up With the Kardasians (a guilty pleasure that I seem to share with a lot of people) an hour before you have to leave the house;

Gum, mints, snacks;

And, finally, I always have headphones and sunglasses with me. They are essential to ward off chatty seat mates* or the glare from window shades that won't close.

*My daughter told me that she can still tell if my eyes are open from the side.

All of the above is now second nature to me so there really is no hassle.

Happy and easy travels to all!

What Are You Looking At?

WELCOME TO MIP AND CANNES


OUTSIDE MAIN PALAIS



INSIDE THE PALAIS



LOVE THE RED BAR STOOLS ABOVE AT THIS BOOTH (I THINK THE BOOTH WAS FROM SPAIN)



READING MATERIALS PERTAINING TO ENTERTAINMENT AND MIP HAPPENINGS - IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES


NOTE THE PALE GREY DAMASK PATTERN ABOVE AS THE BACKDROP AT THIS BOOTH



MEETING ON THE HIGH SEAS (WELL, IT COULD HAVE BEEN BUT THE BOAT WAS DOCKED)

Welcome to MIPTV. "MIP" is THE international TV convention that takes place in Cannes, France in April of each year; MIPCOM, of a similar nature is held in October each year. Essentially it is a content market where producers, distributors, networks and the like converge to meet, greet, discuss, view, collaborate, form partnerships perhaps - main objective to buy and sell TV shows. Sometimes it is the show format that is on display, sometimes already produced TV episodes - all for your viewing pleasure. New trends, hot topics and networking fill the day.

Over 13, 000 people attend from over 100 countries (per MIPTV), from China to Nigeria to Israel, Korea and all places in between. Attendees are professionals from the entertainment industry and you must be registered to attend and the price tag is high. Journalists can register as well. The main event, where the exhibitor booths are located, is in the Palais but follow-ups and other meetings are held around the fabulous town of Cannes. Yachts and Cafes and major hotels are typical venues.

Will Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution be "coming soon to Chinese TV"? Where will Jersey Shore travel to? The Singing Bee (currently in the US on CMT) does exist in Greece (and many other countries around the world). How many countries have Big Brother? Where else is the world will the new reality series with Donald Trump and Omarosa air? (It will air in the US starting in June). Dramas, factual programming, serious documentaries, junior and family programming, new game shows. Can you keep your hand on the car longer than the person next to you? Yes, there really is going to be a show where contestants have to keep their hand on a car in order to win - last man standing takes the keys. There are programs that focus on the environment, the planet, biotechnology, history - there really is something for everyone. And, if not, well at least you are in Cannes.

FYI - It was my first MIP and I found the experience quite wonderful in that ideas are shared, that cultural barriers are crossed (or not) and that in a sense, TV, becomes a universal language. How poetic that language is I leave up to you, the viewer.
Advice: wear comfortable shoes.

Looking Through Rose Colored Glasses

A pink wash for Charlemagne. Courtyard of Notre Dame. Just for fun.

As far as looking at life through rose colored glasses, there is nothing wrong with that... "glass half full" as the saying goes. After all, while it is true that our trip to Paris unexpectedly ended 24 hours after arrival, a week ago we were strolling through a beautiful city without a plan or an agenda, relaxing in a cafe, and enjoying life. So, better a day in Paris than none at all. La vie est belle!

(By the way, I really was in rose colored glasses. )

I hope you enjoy/enjoyed this week's posting "trips" to Paris. BTW, for anyone visiting in the near future, we had a fabulous dinner (yes, I realize it was the only one we had) at Le Bambouche, 15 rue de Babylone ( www.lebamboche.com). If you click on the tab "Cadre", you will see our table - photo top right. During dinner, they do dim the lights.

Mad Mac

Well, Paris did not go exactly as planned - in fact rather than watching Coco Before Chanel on the flight over, I should have watched Paris in 24 Hours because we had to fly home early - but all is fine now. http://video.yahoo.com/watch/140787/1703744.

C'est La Vie - we will try again in the Spring.

In the meanwhile, those 24 hours were great. One of the first stops (and yes, I know there were not many) was Laduree (www.laduree.com). My husband was sure it was a shop for soaps. But no, it is not; it is a patissier, a chocolatier, a place I was drawn to when I first spotted the window display (see above). And yes, there was really a line out the door. About $20 later we had a few ( really just a few - 4 to be exact) different flavors of the famous macaroons; red fruits, lemon, "pamplemousse" - grapefruit - which is my favorite. Great texture, color, flavor but I have to say I felt underwhelmed. Perhaps it was that we ate them out of a bag as we continued our walk through the streets. When we go back we will take our time, sit down and enjoy them with a little "cafe". Like many things, it is about presentation, about patience and love.

Where in the World are You Writing Me From?

IDEA:

We just got a fabulous thank you note from a friend. Part of its "fabulosity" to me is this: the author put his location - at the time of writing - on the correspondence card up near the date of the note. I just love this! I am not talking ... ummm ... "kitchen table" or "rooftop deck" ... but rather the city or town - the geography. It has me visualizing my friend and his whereabouts.

I will now copy this tradition and place my location accordingly. My friend travels the world quite a bit. Me? - not so much. Hopefully, I will have some interesting places to write from very soon. Of course this idea works for any type of correspondence, not just thank yous.

Thanks for the inspiration Jerry!

8/20/09

New Hope, PA

What Color is Your Sand?

Sand: small particles, varying in size, and often containing quartz, rock fragments from nearby... rocks of course... fine, grainy, soft, crunchy, smooth, etc.

Color of sand: often described as in the beige family...sounds blah. But this doesn't look blah to me! (Beach sand - up close - really close -along the coast of the Sea of Cortez.)