Coast 2 Coast Mom

Red's Restaurant at Sea Crest Beach Hotel

Part of the Sea Crest Beach Hotel's recent multi-million dollar renovations included their dining offerings, and the cornerstone, Red's restaurant. Named for coach and philanthropist Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach, it's a relaxed Cape Cod restaurant with something for everyone. The killer sunset views on Buzzard's Bay make it a must-visit for a trip to North Falmouth. We tried Red's on our recent visit to Cape Cod. Situated right on the beach, it offers indoor clubhouse-style seating on a three-season porch, private, more formal seating, or outdoor seating. We opted for the indoor three-season room seating and perfectly timed it for... Read more →

Yonkers Esplanade and Saw Mill River Daylighting

I recently traveled over the Tappan Zee Bridge to visit Westchester County upon the invitation of the Westchester County Tourism and Film Board. We explored some fabulous food and dining experiences, and I learned a bit of Westchester history too. I had a terrific time and am excited to plan some family-friendly visits this fall to explore more of Westchester County. One of the great things about getting away for dinner, the day or the weekend in Westchester County is that it took about 35 minutes to get to Rye from our home in Bergen County. In less than an... Read more →

New Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies Coming Soon

New Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies are coming to a grocery store near you! While visiting Trumpeting Media's R&R Suite at the Four Seasons New York last week, I was introduced to a few new Pepperidge Farm varieties arriving on store shelves beginning at the end of August 2012. Meet the Milano Melts and Milano Slices: I tasted the Vanilla Creme Milano Melts and Salted Pretzel Milanos (those are pretzel bits on the Milanos) which should both be available in grocery stores within mere weeks . . . . . .but my FAVORITE new Milano cookie is the Peppermint Milano with... Read more →

Dining on the Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship

One thing we discovered aboard the Disney Fantasy was that Disney Cruise Line is unique in offering rotational dining options for their cruisers each night. Meaning, that you're assigned dinner at a different restaurant each night, and your table companions and serving staff rotate with you. So we ate with the same other family (a lovely threesome from Long Island) at our table each evening, and we were served by the same staff each night. The first night aboard, we ate at Royal Court, we dined at Animator's Palate our second night, and at Enchanted Garden our third evening. We... Read more →

Enchanted Garden Restaurant On The Disney Fantasy Ship

We ate at the Enchanted Garden restaurant for our third night of dining aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship, and for our "See ya real soon" breakfast before we disembarked. The design of the restaurant was inspired from the Gardens of Versailles in France, and the lighting changes throughout the meal mimic the transition from night to day and back. The little touches at Enchanted Garden reminded me of a lovely garden party: the hot air balloon images on the backs of the dining chairs, the water fountain in the center of the room, and the real working shutters on... Read more →

Animator's Palate Restaurant Aboard Disney Fantasy Cruise

By far the most interactive and fun dinner aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship was the night we dined at Animator's Palate restaurant. The dining experience there was creative and delightful, from the moment we walked in and were struck by the Mickey Mouse-inspired chairs, the painter's palette of table centerpieces and the featured movie scenes of animated Disney cooking and dining playing on the screens on the walls. We loved it! Here's a peek at Animator's Palate: The center piece and interactive placemats... How cute is this bread plate and knife? Just another creative touch on Disney Cruise Lines...... Read more →

Royal Court Dining Aboard Disney Fantasy

Our first night aboard the Disney Fantasy cruise ship, we dined at Royal Court. The restaurant designers aimed to create a dining experience and atmosphere worthy of royalty and the Disney princesses who inspired them: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Snow White. Royal Court delivered the palace-like experience in elegant and subtle ways like the lighting fixtures, chairs and marble-looking columns. There were a few intricate mosaics depicting scenes from princess stories along the walls, a great chandelier in the center of the room, and even the little touches like the fine china, the napkins. . . . . .... Read more →

National Chip and Dip Day - March 23rd

Update your grocery list: National Chip and Dip day is TODAY, March 23rd! Yes, such a day exists! That I'm just finding out about a day to honor the classic snack combo seems preposterous. How have I not known about National Chip and Dip day? Me, who keeps packets of Lipton's onion soup mix in the pantry just so I have it ready to mix with sour cream for some French onion dip on a whim? We enjoy snacking on chips and dip, and here's some of my favorite all-time favorite brands and combos: Xochitl corn chips. I love, love,... Read more →

Dylan's Candy Bar Easter Egg Hunt with Jelly Belly in NYC

Dylan's Candy Bar is prepping to host the ultimate Easter Egg Hunt with Jelly Belly in NYC in a few weeks and the Kiddo and I are so excited! An Easter egg hunt in such a legendary candy shop!! Tickets go on sale tomorrow Wednesday, February 29, 2012 on GiltCity.com for the candy-riffic Easter Egg Hunt that'll take place Sunday, March 18, 2012. The event includes a continental breakfast, the opportunity to explore Dylan's Candy Bar in search of eggs, and games and activities like photos with Dylan's Chocolate the Bunny and Mr. Jelly Belly, and playing with the Jelly... Read more →

The Coast-to-Coast Adventures of Flat Harrison - Got Milk?

If you've been following our coast to coast roadtrip the last couple of weeks, then you know we picked up an additional passenger on our way home from BlogHer '11 in San Diego. A life-sized celebrity cut-out of Harrison Ford from the Got Milk campaign, we dubbed him "Flat Harrison," (#flatharrison) and drove him back to New York City in the Ford Flex for my friend SelfishMom. We had a blast with an extra guest along for the return trip! The top three questions we were asked along the way: 3. WHY do you have a Harrison Ford cut-out? 2.... Read more →