Category Archives: Shop

Eat, drink and buy gadgets

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We are making our holiday shopping lists and checking them twice. Whether you’re naughty or nice, edibles and kitchen gadgets are on lots of wish lists, which I discovered while reporting a holiday shopping article for NPR.

image013Here are a few domestic delights on the home front this year:

  • Martha Stewart, longtime arbiter of taste, is now toasting a new enterprise, Martha Stewart Wine Co. The online wine shop features a curated collection of wines, all taste-tested by Stewart, plus monthly wine club options and special occasion gift memberships. Among the options are a package of six bubblies from France, Italy and Spain, for $92.75. And if you don’t like what you’re sipping, Stewart will replace it for free. I sampled a selection of wines and they all have one thing in common: value prices and above-average quality. Martha, you’re picky. I appreciate that.aervana-electric-wine-aerating-dispenser-1-1
  • Wine aficionados love wine gadgets. Aervana is a push-button, battery-operated wine tap and aerator in one. Uncork a bottle of red wine— inexpensive young, tannic red wines benefit the most—place Aervana on top of the bottle and push a button for instantly aerated wine dispensed from a stainless steel spout directly into the glass. It is differentiated from other aerators in that it leaves the sediment in the bottom of the bottle during aeration. Based in suburban Philly, Aervana is available to consumers as well as wine pros. MSRP: $99.98, batteries included.
  • Standing in front of the sink doing dishes or manning the range doesn’t sound like a glamorous task. You can add bling to domestic chores, as well as relieve your aching back and legs with anti-fatigue WellnessMats, which combine ergonomics and design with monogrammed mats. The Signature includes two posh designs available in eight colors and two sizes, plus an initial in metallic gold or silver. Priced from $149.95 – $279.95.
  • The Kuma chef’s knife is on the cutting edge this year with foodies. It’s razor-sharp for precision cutting. No worries about squashing tomatoes. Kuma’s 8-inch all-purpose knife is suitable for chopping veggies, slicing meats, mincing herbs and other tasks. It’s lightweight with a sleek Japanese-inspired design. It’s also easy to sharpen. Kuma is available for around $25, plus an extra $10 and change for a sharpening rod.

Treasures Revealed, appraisal day at Winterthur

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Ever wonder what your antiques, alleged and otherwise, are actually worth? Get expert valuations for your antiques, jewelry, and other heirlooms at Treasures Revealed, a special appraisal day on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Sponsored by Freeman’s, the revered Philadelphia firm, Treasures Revealed will feature experts from America’s oldest auction house to provide verbal auction estimates for the items participants bring for perusal.

Getting expert answers to these questions is a great experience. More than 10 years ago, my mother and I brought a few treasures to Winterthur for appraisal. It was tremendous fun and I recounted our experience in an essay for the Christian Science Monitor. (Read it to find out how we did!)

IMG_3257Appraisal day also is a super way to warm up for the 54th Annual Delaware Antiques Show, which runs Nov. 10-12 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. Expect more details here as the show approaches.

This year’s specialists include the charming Scotsman, Alasdair Nichol, who is a regular on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow®. Nichol, an expert in paintings, won hearts in Wilmington when he volunteered his services several years ago at a successful art auction to benefit Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County.

special-alasdairAt the Winterthur event, specialties will include fine art, silver, jewelry, watches, rare books, militaria, decorative arts, manuscripts, photographs, rugs, pop culture, sports memorabilia, and furniture from Asia, America, and Europe. The event does not include appraisals for modern guns, toys, dolls, coins, and stamps.

Each participant can bring a maximum of two treasures. The fee for each item is $25 for members, $50 for nonmembers. Can’t maneuver the enormous armoire great-grandfather brought from France? Leave it at home and bring lots of pictures.

Reservations and timed tickets are required for the event, which runs 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Timed tickets are valid only during the time printed on the ticket. To make a reservation and purchase timed tickets, call 800.448.3883 or visit Winterthur’s Treasures Revealed ticketing page. Tickets also include access to the Garden and galleries. For details, view Winterthur’s Treasures Revealed FAQ.

Before or after the appraisals, enjoy Treasures on Trial: The Art and Science of Detecting Fakes, a special exhibition in the Galleries included with admission. At 2 p.m., there’s a special lecture “Collecting Classics: Henry Francis du Pont’s Pursuit of New England Masterpieces” with Brock Jobe, professor emeritus at Winterthur. Jobe will explore five New England landmarks from the collection and the diverse paths that brought them to Winterthur. The cost to attend the lecture is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers.

Read all about it. Even the fine print.

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We’re supposed to read the fine print, right? But what if we can’t?

IMG_2327I don’t know what I would do without my reading glasses, the specs that help me decipher a menu, get a grip on price tags, digest text messages and enjoy a novel.

Here’s the fine print: all reading glasses are not created equal. The specs from various dollar stores are cheap, so no worries when you misplace them. But they fall apart, lack balance and often are uncomfortable. So I usually spend a little more and buy a three-pack from Costco. But they aren’t as stylish as I would like.

Enter Readers.com, a seller of quality, fashionable eyewear. They are light, with spring temples that offer a good fit. And there are lots of super cute styles to choose from in both readers and sunglasses, the better for beach reading. There are 14 power options, including quite a few you won’t find at the dollar store.
The folks from Readers.com sent me two pairs to try out. I am wearing a pair from the new garden collection as I write, with a muted floral design called Bouquet in a matte plastic finish. They are comfy, well-fitting and don’t slide down my nose.

The MSRP is $19.95, but there are codes on the website that offer discounts starting at 15 percent off. To take 40 percent off any one item enter HAPPYWALLET40. The deal expires Aug. 31.

Carriagers carry on at Point-to-Point

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The parade of carriages at Point-to-Point at Winterthur is always a spectacular sight, with glossy teams of horses pulling lovely carriages with elegant drivers and passengers.

unnamed-6The late George A. “Frolic” Weymouth of Chadds Ford led the parade for years. On Sunday, May 7, John Frazier Hunt of Spring City will lead more than two dozen regal, horse-drawn antique carriages through Winterthur’s 39th Annual Point-to-Point racecourse, continuing the grand procession in honor of his longtime friend.
p allen smith 4Celebrities, including Martha Stewart, often come along for the ride. This year, expect Gloria Austin, international carriaging champion, and P. Allen Smith, national tastemaker and new Winterthur Board of Trustees member. I met Allen a few years ago during a visit to Little Rock, Arkansas, and have been a guest at his fabulous farm, where he raises heirloom livestock, breeds that date back to colonial America. He is a frequent visitor to Winterthur and will be a valued trustee. He also is a really nice guy, a true southern gentleman.

Despite a nippy forecast, Point-to-Point is expected to draw more than 15,000 spectators to the 1,000-acre former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont. The Brandywine Valley’s most stylish spring sporting event, Point-to-Point features a day of professional thoroughbred steeplechase racing, lots of entertainment and glamorous tailgating, in addition to the magnificent horse-drawn carriages.

Hunt will hold the ribbons–that’s carriage-speak for reins–to his grand 1895 Park Drag originally built in London by Henry S. Whitlock for the Gilby gin family. The parade starts at Weymouth’s former home at Big Bend and proceeds along the traditional, winding route to Winterthur. Frolic initiated the parade on a whim 39 years ago, inviting a few friends to ride with him. The crowd enjoyed the spectacle so much that he returned with a few more friends every year for 37 years.

thBut what to wear? Women tend to don something feminine and floaty with wide-brimmed hats for the steeplechase. This year, with temperatures expected in the 50s, I wish I had sensible-but-chic tweeds like the ones the ladies donned at Downton Abbey for a shooting party. (What a treat is was to see the clothes up close and personal at Winterthur’s fabulous Downtown Abbey costume exhibit!)

There’s still time to secure tickets. The show goes on, rain or shine.

 

Three lovely libations for Valentine’s Day

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ferrari-perle-millesimato-magnum-1185804-s238Valentine’s Day is great for the restaurant business.

Beg. borrow or steal a reservation, wait at the bar and finally descend on your table and hope your romantic evening out won’t be sidetracked by an overpressed wait staff and kitchen.

Why not spend a romantic evening at home?

Find a great card and a thoughtful gift for your sweetheart. Set a lovely table and light the candles. Put on wonderful music. And let the magic begin.

Here are three lovely libations to spark romance:
Build a wood fire and put a bottle of bubbly on ice. Ferrari Perle 2008 is celebratory, with that yeasty pop race car drivers and accomplished hosts expect from this superb producer of sparkling wines from Trento in northern Italy.  It’s creamy, with crisp apple and subtle notes of almond. (SRP: $38)

pinotnoir-B3-2_largeOn to dinner! Loveblock Pinot Noir is a gorgeous red with purple hues from a small vineyard in New Zealand appropriately named Someone’s Darling and brought to us by Terlato Wines. It’s complex, so open the bottle early and let it breathe. Expect perfumed violet, intense dark fruit, and an herbaceous oaky waft layered with savory mushroom and sweet strawberry notes. I suggest pouring this pleasing potable with duck. (SRP: $37)

Select_BottleIt’s a romantic evening. Back to the fireplace. Put another log on the fire, dear, and Indulge in Laphroaig Select Scotch Whisky, with the exquisite peaty notes of Scotland and “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay,” the literal translation of the label. (SRP: $44.99)

Hopefully, you already have set out nice glasses and comfy pillows.

Expect a long, dry finish with spice. Add a heartfelt hug from your sweetheart.

 

Tastes of Tuscany at Brio

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Brio is not your typical chain restaurant. It’s a destination for Tuscan-style fare and a great place for sharing, with seasonal small plates, grilled dishes and chef’s specialties.

We were invited to sample a tasting menu at the Brio location at Christiana Mall, which includes a bustling dining room, friendly bar and outdoor seating in fine weather.

IMG_1288Our server is warm and knowledgeable, a pro who can help diners make decisions and pair wines with their meals.

For starters, we tuck into velvety fresh Burrata cheese, drizzled with olive oil. We spread the cheese on crusty grilled slices of ciabatta baguette with tangy roasted tomato compote. We sip two wines: Conundrum, a round, pleasantly acidic white blend from California; and 19 Crimes, a fruity Australian red blend.

There are a lot of beans in Tuscan cuisine and a lot of beans on Brio’s menu. We sample a small plate of white bean dip with parmesan pizza bread. Pureed cannellini beans are topped with a salad that keeps the dish from being too starchy: artichokes, Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and feta.

IMG_1289-2Our favorite course of the evening is the 16-ounce bone-in espresso rubbed rib eye served to us by general manager Michael Collins. The cut is juicy, tender and flavorful, presented with savory sides: Sicilian cauliflower oven roasted with capers, pepperoncini and pine nuts, and creamed spinach and kale with toasted bread crumbs. The perfect pairing: Decoy by Duckhorn, a robust Cabernet.

Typically, this would be plenty of food for us. But we still have more dishes to mangia through.

We sample two chef’s specials, reminding one another that we need to save room for dessert. Prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin is pan seared and served on a bed of cannellini beans and rendered pancetta. It’s homey and delicious, fragrant with fresh rosemary and grape tomatoes.

IMG_1291Balsamic braised beef short rib is quintessential comfort food. It’s paired with oven-roasted carrots that remind me of my grandmother and butter-basted wild mushrooms, an unexpected treat.

Such a sumptuous repast calls for a decadent dessert and our hosts do not disappoint. Flourless chocolate torte is already lush and indulgent. The chef puts it over the top with chopped Marcona almonds and super smooth olive oil gelato.

 

 

Tarting up the Christmas tree, with help from Fairfax Hardware

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You wouldn’t know it to look at it but my Christmas tree is old and fake.

It was passed along to me years ago by my good friend Brenda, who was upgrading to a fancy shmancy pre-lit tree and was looking for a new home for her perfectly fine, impeccably maintained artificial tree.

img_1714-copyFor years, I had stuck by real trees, like pine sap on your best sweater. But I experienced a gradual awakening. Fake trees don’t shed much. No worries about recycling them after the holiday. And if you put lots and lots of blingy objects on the tree who will know the difference?

Thus began my new tradition: tarting up the Christmas tree.

I load my tannenbaum with decorations I have been collecting for years, through the stages of my life.

There’s Baby’s First Christmas ball–and Rebecca’s Christmas mouse, made by the baby herself six years later. Many are handmade, traded years ago at the annual neighborhood ornament exchange on Garfield Avenue in Palmyra, N.J., my home town. There are official White House ornaments, including one I brought back from my stint at USA Today. (I predict the official Trump ornament will be a 14k gold wall–and Mexico will pay for it.)

img_1715My current fave is a miniature replica of an old-fashioned typewriter, a gift from my friend Ellen, with whom I have shared many fond conversations on the merits of Chicago Style versus AP Style.

For the first time I can remember, my tree is illuminated by big, colorful bulbs harkening back to the days of my childhood. (You can buy them at BJs.) I’ve also added vintage garlands reminiscent of a feather boa from my glamorous grandmother’s tree, which I found when my sister Roni and I were cleaning out closets after our mother died.

img_1716Mom was fond of tinsel, arranging it strand by strand on our tree. I take my own approach,  tossing sparkling clusters of silvery icicles with great expectations. When the tinsel gets to the state of the cobwebs on Miss Havisham’s wedding cake, I know I’ve got it right.

After the holiday, as I dismantle the tree, I follow Mom’s example, removing the tinsel to use next year. But each season yields less glitter as time and kittens take their toll.

This year, I did not have enough tinsel to tart up the tree! I also was out of ornament hooks!

I squandered precious time scouring Walgreen’s before heading to Fairfax Hardware, my go-to destination for whatever ails my house. As always, the people who work there were courteous, helpful and gosh-darn nice.

Do you have tinsel? And ornament hooks?

Of course, here you are. Happy holidays!

At Christmas, and always, a great hardware store is truly a gift.

 

 

 

ThinkFun games for the holidays

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The family that plays together stays together.

Take it from me, who grew up watching my mom and Auntie Barb play Chinese checkers on the beach at the Jersey shore. Then we would head back to the house and play Yahtzee. And then pinochle.

This year, I enjoyed a rousing round of Scrabble at Thanksgiving. Getting in the game is a good thing!

Here are three games from ThinkFun designed to get your gray cells firing and your family together. That includes yoga poses. These are challenges that reward players for thinking and acting together, not just participation.

cluem-1521-hiresspillStrategic Thinking + Stimulating Play = Perfect 4 Tweens, $12.99
Clue Master  – Your goal: Help Tippy the dog return to his dog house! Young players use deductive reasoning to place Tippy’s chew bones, tennis balls, and food bowls in the correct order to unlock the secret door and send Tippy home. The more you play, the more deductive tricks and strategies you’ll learn as you reason logically from the clues you’re given! (Ages 8+)

yogaspinner-1842-hiresspillActive Minds and Bodies + Multiple Players = Great Stocking Stuffer, $14.99
Yoga Spinner – Simultaneously stimulate and calm the mind while encouraging teamwork and physical activity. Yoga Spinner players give the spinner a whirl, choose the corresponding card, and perform the pose pictured to win the pose card. To win the game, players need to collect a card from each of the four categories of yoga poses. Yoga Spinner was recently the recipient of an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Award and a National Parenting Product Award (NAPPA)  (Ages 5+)

balan-1140-hiresspillVisual Math + Balance Board = Best Educational Gift Under $20, $17.99
Balance Beans – Balance Beans is a logic game and math game all in one. Use the Challenge Card to arrange the Red Beans. then carefully place the blue, yellow, or orange Beans on the Seesaw to keep it from teetering. When you balance the Seesaw, you are actually balancing an equation! This bean-filled logic game is a fun way to introduce young learners to elementary algebra. Balance Beans was recently named an ASTRA Award winner. (Ages 5+)

A red and a white to uncork for the holidays

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Our annual feast-a-thon is upon us, that sumptuous seasonal slice that dawns on Thanksgiving and waddles off into the sunset on New Year’s Day.

mkmbrown2There is no better way to usher in the holidays than with food-friendly wines. On my recommended list are a red and a white from Terlato Wines, the four-generation winemakers who have amassed a global portfolio of more than 70 brands in more than a dozen countries. Terlato provided wines for us to sample, including these two standouts from California in the $20-plus range.

Markham Merlot, born and raised in the Napa Valley, fills the glass with a jammy pop of dark ruby color scented with vanilla and dark chocolate, with lively notes of cherry. Its pillow-soft, laid-back tannins make it a great pout for entertaining small, intimate groups enjoying roasted veggies and sausages fragrant with herbs.

hanna-sauvignon-blanc-russian-river-valley-usa-10206617HANNA Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley is a match for crisp, fresh salads or a counterpoint to spicy dishes. It’s a bright yellow tinged with grass green, a zippy sip of pleasantly acid nectarine and peach with notes of hay and ginger.

Cheers to the holidays!

 

 

 

 

Free bird: Acme or ShopRite?

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Every year as Thanksgiving approaches I ponder an important question regarding which turkey is best for the feast: fresh, frozen or free?

90de03d299f49b637bab83ef14e66fd7For my money, give me a free bird (and a round of Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s Free Bird, the rock anthem blaring on my 1969 Impala Super Sport when a West Virginia state trooper clocked me driving 92 mph. He gave me a break and wrote me up for driving 5 miles over the speed limit. After all, it was my 20th birthday).

Regarding the turkey, my only decision is which promotional offer is the better choice.

This year, ShopRite is ponying up a house-brand turkey weighing up to 21 pounds with cumulative purchases of $400 through Nov. 24. Acme will hand over a Jennie-O bird with a weight of up to 22 pounds with a one-time purchase of $100. (Update: the offer ended Nov. 18).

ShopRite’s offer kicked off in October, so I figured I had plenty of time to rack up the required tab. But I soon realized that I was going to fall short thanks to ShopRite’s great seasonal promotions and my personal zeal for clipping coupons.

So this Thanksgiving, Acme wins out with its more accessible price point. I’ll stock up on holiday fare, toss in coffee and other non-perishables, check out for $100 and change and bag a bird for our holiday repast. I’m always grateful for a great deal.