Category: Fun things to do in Connecticut

Yoga Anyone?

As I mentioned before in Check out my blog post:  Cave Girl, I work Monday through Friday on 100% commission in media ad sales, a super stressful, extremely competitive industry.   Consequently, on the weekends (or even some weeknights) I’m on the look-out for new ways to de-stress.

 

 

 

Yoga has become a new ‘old way.‘  Full Moon Yoga with Gong Meditation that is.  It’s my new go-to when the gym (Edge Fitness in Hamden) although helpful in terms of working up a sweat, building lean muscle, burning calories and fat, etc. still leaves me with a busy mind…

 

 

 

At this point I’m looking more for something that helps me to relax to the point of emptying my mind and filling it with good clear thoughts.

 

My solution has become Full Moon Yoga with Gong Meditation.  It’s offered once a month at the Yoga Community Center in Hamden, on the Friday closest to the Full Moon. It’s  held from 7pm to 9pm.  It’s wise not to go on a full stomach and light refreshments are served afterwards.  It costs $22 for one session or $60 for three sessions.  Everything takes place on the second floor in a large yellow walled yoga studio with soft lighting and relaxing music.  Mats, blankets and other yoga equipment are provided if you do not have your own.  Quick tip: don’t forget your water bottle.  Kundalini Yoga is practiced in the first hour and the second hour (while you are now lying on your mat, covered in a blanket with your eyes closed) focuses on deep sound healing and relaxation via Gong Meditation.  This is where you hear an actual gong being struck repeatedly for a good hour.  The gong vibrations (after two or more sessions) will cause you to experience deep relaxation.  The goal of  each of these sessions is to “elevate awareness and rebalance your physical, emotional and spiritual bodies.”  I remember the first or second time I went I felt like I was walking on actual clouds for at least an hour after the session (smile).

 

Here’s the room where all the magic happens…

 

If interested, you may register online at yourcommunityyoga.com or call them at (203) 287-2277.  Drop-Ins, however, are always welcome.

Namaste!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

New Haven, CT Fall(ish) eats!

I am writing this food blog post on a Fall day in New Haven, CT (that feels more like late Summer to me) so my restaurant lunch choices may reflect that (smile).

I also eat, dress and live for the weather as opposed to the season so if my good buddy and Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons of News 8 (ABC) tells me that it’s going to be 80 degrees outside, but the calendar doesn’t agree, I go with the temps…

With all that said, here are just a few of my favorite places to eat lunch in New Haven, CT when the leaves start to turn and the temperatures finally cool down:

New Haven Salad Shop – don’t let the name fool you.  This little gem on High Street in downtown New Haven also builds super hearty wraps that will easily fill you up until supper time.  There’s little room to sit inside though so I suggest you find a space on the Upper or Lower New Haven Green to enjoy your lunch.

 

 

City Point Kitchen  – a newer restaurant in the Oyster Point neighborhood of New Haven (beautiful water views!) with excellent, locally sourced food.  I tried the crab cakes over a salad bed on the afternoon me and my gf Christine went.  It’s cute and quaint inside and the small staff is friendly and very attentive.

 

Photo credit:  Mike Franzman Photography

 

Louis Lunch – By the time I went there, I had been working at News 8 for about 5 years.   Me and my co-worker Terri were talking about places in downtown New Haven to eat lunch  that were within walking distance.   I think she was the one who suggested Louis Lunch.   The fact that it was and is still legendary made it an obvious choice.  And quite frankly, I was a tad bit curious about the fact that I heard catsup was never allowed on their burgers.  The burger itself was good (always served on toast, not buns; with tomato, not catsup; and cheese whiz, not cheese.)   I missed my Ketchup though (smile).

 

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

 

Pepe’s Pizza in New Haven – It’s no wonder that there are so many locations in Connecticut now – even at the Casino!  This pizza is by far one of the best in the ‘pizza-saturated’ city of New Haven.  And the Little Italy neighborhood where it resides is always a treat to walk around in.

 

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

 

In the Upper State Street neighborhood of New Haven, you would do yourself a disservice if you did not stop and partake of a pie or two from Modern Pizza.  Well known for their brick ovens and thin crusts, these pies are to die for…

 

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

 

If you have the time, and/or have saved some room for dessert, go to Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop on Wooster Street in the Little Italy neighborhood of New Haven.  Libby’s is known throughout the East Coast for their cannolis and other baked goods.  I can certainly understand why – Yummy!

 

Photo credit: Mike Franzman Photography

 

Happy Fall and enjoy your lunch!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

Sports Nut

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve been playing sports and/or keeping busy with physical activities.   I have an inordinate amount of energy so this works out just fine (smile).  And Growing up Hollis, both my mother and father always made sure that their 7 children were kept busy with physical activities and/or sports all year long.

Today it’s the gym (The Edge Fitness Club in Hamden, CT) that keeps me active and sane.

But back in the day it was either organized sports (during the school year) or any kind of sports, activities or games (indoors or outdoors) with my 6 siblings and/or our neighbors.   I grew up in the ’70s, a time when there were no smart phones or tablets or laptops.  Check out my blog post:  R U Social?   We played games with each other and if you needed to see someone, you simply hopped on your no-speed bike and peddled your way over to their house (smile).

Speaking of houses, this is the house where we grew up in the small town of Groton, CT – lots of really good memories were made here –  Check out my blog post:  Easter Sunday back in the day…This is an updated version of when we lived in it as this picture was taken just two years ago.   For instance, back in the day we had a car port, not a garage…

 

Lots of memories were made in our house on Alder Lane

 

Organized Sports:

  • Softball – I started playing softball in a Women’s league when I was just 11 years old.  I ended up playing every position on the field with this league by the time I turned 15. I even won the team ball (which was signed by all of my teammates before they carried me off the field).  To this day I still own that ball…
  • Bowling – I starting bowling in a league at a local bowling alley when I was 11 as well.  Check out my blog post:  Bowling Date
  • Judo – I started when I was 12 years of age and ended at age 16.  I almost made it to ‘purple belt’ and my rugged gi (purposely made to be loose-fitting) fit me all 5 years.
  • Track & Field  – I started running track in high school ( 10th through 12th grades back then).  My events were the 220, 440, mile relay and the long jump (the metric system was not in place back then either).   I have to admit: although I was a decent runner, I had nothing at all on then Fitch Senior High School track standout,  Sherry Johnson, whom we were all in awe of because her legs never seemed to stop (smile).

Outside during the Winter – I (we – family) enjoyed sledding, playing ice hockey, building snowmen and/or snow caves, as well as ice skating – check out my blog post:   Ski Date.

Outside during the Spring/Summer  – I (we) alternately participated in or played:  kickball, badminton, field hockey, dodgeball, roller skating, bike riding, and volley-ball – check out my blog post:   Clams on the half shell…and roller-skates!

I (we) also walked on tall stilts, played on swings, climbed monkey bars and skipped rope.

A fave toy of mine back in the day was Big Wheels.   We lived on a cul-de-sac so I could easily (and safely) ride up the street, around the circle at the end of the street and back down again for hours at a time.  Once I picked up speed,  I would take my feet up and off the pedals, stretch my long legs out in both directions and whiz away!

If it happened to be raining outside, I would ride my Big Wheels up and down our driveway underneath the car port (as long as my father was at work) which meant that our oversized two-toned family station wagon was not parked underneath it and not in my way (smile).

Speaking of rain, Inside on rainy days:  I (we) played Klik Klaks, Clacker Ball, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Monopoly, and pored through novels Check out my blog post:   Put your slippers on…plus I (we) enjoyed clap games like Patty Cake and Miss Mary Mack, musical chairs, blowing Bubbles and playing Freeze Dance or Monsters.

Outside  in the Fall – We played Hide and Seek, Hop Scotch – tossed with a bean bag, Jump Rope, Jacks, Marbles, Red Light-Green Light, Mother May I?, Simon Sez, Tag, and Slinky.

Life sure was different back in the day.  Electronics did not rule, our arms and legs did and, dare I say, we were better for it…

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

Connecticut “Summatime” Eats!

I love Connecticut in the Summertime because the weather is hazy, hot and humid and there’s soooooo much to do!  These ‘tropical vacation-like’ weather conditions draw folks outside so the possibilities on who to do what with are endless?.

And because it’s soooooo hot, one of my favorite pastimes in the Summer is eating out, especially at new restaurants.  But an old fave will get me every time (smile).

I have to be careful though with what and where I choose to eat because of my history of Colon Cancer.  So I take my time by going online beforehand to look over menus to see if they have “healthy,” “light,” or “low-fat” entrees.   This way I can pick and choose from foods that are not processed or fried and that contain as few ingredients as possible.   I won’t lie, sometimes this is easy to do and other times it presents a challenge…

Here are just a few of my go-to’s.  The actual list is real long so rest assured there will be a Part II and III of this blog post…

For breakfast on the weekends I love Julia’s Bakery in Orange.  The last time I was there I had a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on a homemade whole wheat english muffin.  All of their breads are made fresh daily and as a result, absolutely delicious!  I washed my breakfast sandwich and hash browns down with an Iced Coffee.  Yummy!

 

 

For my need-to-be-clean, super healthy days,  I like B Natural in New Haven, a Shops at Yale restaurant.  Especially the healthy juice from their Juice Bar. Here I had the All Natural Turkey Wrap with a Detox Juice.  Delish!

 

 

When I’m out looking for lip-smacking, finger-licking good ribs on my not-so-clean days (smile) I make my way over to the Science Park neighborhood in New Haven to Ricky’s Rib Shack!  The ribs and sides are to die for!   The background music is not too shabby either (smile).

 

 

For New Haven pizza, I’m stuck on Ah-Beetz on Temple Street.  I call it ‘Chipotle meets Modern’ because you truly walk the line to create your own thin-crusted 11 inch customized personal pie and healthy salad and then, when it’s finished, the servers bring it out to your table.  I named my customized personal ‘meatless’ pie LJ’s Vegetarian Delight, as I topped it with all the healthy stuff.

 

 

I love downtown eateries in the Summer, especially when they have a cute little shaded courtyard patio for dining in the rear.  Zoi’s on Orange Street in New Haven is a new fave that I recently discovered by way of my client, Mary Wade.  We ‘ladies who lunch,’ including Laura Hutchinson of News 8, all enjoyed our hearty delicious salads on this super hot sunny day!

 

 

When I’m in the mood for Northern Italian, I love me some Gusto Trattoria on the Post Road in Milford.  They have this gluten-free pasta dish which fills you up without filling you out.  And their warm homemade oblong garlic bread, which you spread with garlic butter and dip in olive oil, is heavenly!   Mangia!

 

 

Speaking of Italian cuisine, I love love love live theater and one of my favorite venues is the Waterbury Palace Theater.  Waterbury has lots of good Italian restaurants and one of my new faves is Damelio’s Italian Eatery.  It’s neighborhood location and outdoor dining on the patio make it a fun place for me and my client, Sheree Marcucci to eat.  They are known for their pasta,  anti-pasta and more.  I bucked the trend though and had this baked fish dish and it hit the spot!

 

For Italian cuisine in New Haven I like head to the Upper State Street neighborhood to Portofino’s for lunch or dinner – their salmon and spinach is always a good, healthy choice!

 

 

And the old standby, Tre Scalini in the Wooster Street neighborhood of New Haven will have you coming back for more!  Their salmon over ceaser salad dish with homemade croutons was the bomb!

 

Just across the street from one of my favorite live entertainment venues in New Haven, the legendary Shubert Theater on College Street,  sits  Elm City Social, a new fave because of the unique decor and the delicious New American cuisine.   After eating this Kale Caeser with Chicken dish,  I (almost) licked my plate clean (smile).

 

A Shops at Yale restaurant, Heirloom, sits inside The Study at Yale and is open for breakfast,  lunch and dinner.  We went there for lunch and I enjoyed an Heirloom Veggie Burger with a side salad.  They are known for their Farm, Coastal Cooking.  Healthy!!

 

And just last week I dined at Atelier Florian on Upper Chapel Street in the Chapel West Neighborhood in New Haven with my dear friend and Wine Connoisseur,  Janna Waite.  The General Manager of the restaurant, Alexandria Pena, convinced me that I would be in for a real treat.  She was right.  I loved the classy ambience along with the attentive service and the delightful Belgian cuisine.  We both ordered a half dozen Blue Point oysters before our meal. And then we settled on the same entree: Faroe Island Salmon with Tender Leeks,  Haricot  Verts and Mashed Potatoes, which just about melted in my mouth.  The French wine Janna picked out that night was well suited for our meal. And the dessert, which Alexandria insisted we try, was too good to pass up, warm blueberry cobbler with french vanilla ice cream and whipped cream – Super Yum!!!

 

I had the pleasure of dining out at Prime One Eleven in Trumbull over a month ago because my gf Lola invited me and my partner James, along with 5 other couples, to a milestone birthday dinner party for her hubby Darryl.  I enjoyed it there so much that when me and my “squad” were looking for a restaurant in Fairfield County to celebrate a belated birthday, I recommended it.  It’s a relatively new, upscale eatery that’s fun to be in, has really good food, good drinks and very attentive servers.  My “Composition” (Entree) that night was the Organic 1/2 Chicken with Roasted Garlic Whipped Potatoes and Wood Fired Asparagus.  Delish!

 

 

And finally,  if you’re looking for a fun date night alone or with other couples which involves packing your own picnic basket and purchasing one of their 5 wines, Gouviea Winery and Vineyard in Wallingford is always a good choice.  It’s local for me and my partner and the picturesque vineyard presents many photo ops.  Bon Appetit!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

Peetza Weetza!

Back in college in the mid-eighties, I truly had a love affair with pizza.
What’s not to love?!?   It was cheap, it was plentiful and it was easily had!  The greasy, gooey, cheesy red variety with pepperoni or sausage was what I craved the most.  And I liked my crust thick back then.  These were obviously pre-Clean Eating days (I am now a Colon Cancer survivor with a delicate stomach).  But back then my stomach was a cast iron that could absorb even the hardiest of dishes. I usually had a beer or two to swallow the slices down as pizza and beer were a true match made in heaven…

 

 

Fast forward to today and I like to think my tastes are a little bit more sophisticated.  Give me an upscale pizza restaurant, with a “wide variety of my favorite pizza toppings,” a coal-fired oven and then (stop it!) spoil me by allowing me to name my custom-made pie and you have a customer for life!  That’s what happened today when I taste tested at the soft opening of a brand new restaurant in downtown New Haven featuring the latest concept in pizza, grinders, and salads…you custom make your pizza or grinder or salad so you get exactly what you want on it.

I stood on line and had everything I love put on my custom-made pie, as well as my own crisp build-your-own salad, and all of the ingredients are fresh and locally produced.  Yummy!

 

 

 

If you are at all familiar with the New Haven restaurant scene, think “Chipotle” meets “Modern” in an upscale setting…the restaurant I am speaking of is called Ah-Beetz, which simply means “Pizza” in Italian.

 

Again, once your pie is finished you get to name it.  I named mine LJ’s Vegetarian Delight (smile).  My creation was meatless with lots of cheese, tomatoes and veggies. And it only took minutes to cook!

 

 

After my first bite of LJ’s Vegetarian Delight I was in love, but this time it felt good and, more importantly, I felt healthy…

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL