Spring Break: Brattleboro, VT!

This year, I didn't actually get a spring break, because Columbia and Pace University's breaks didn't line up for the first time in three years (boo). Even so, I got a couple of three-day weekends, and Ari happened to get a random gig in Vermont playing a private ski club, so we decided to make a mini vacation out of it, continuing our tradition of spending spring break in a colder place than New York City.

We booked a hotel (Holiday Inn Express, baby!) in Brattleboro, and spent most of our free time exploring the cute main street area. Our first night we had dinner at a restaurant called Duo, which was pretty good.

My cocktail was called "The Cloud" and Ari's was called "The Mountaineer." 

The next morning, we went hiking in Madame Sherri Forest, which has a pretty cool namesake. Our bartender from the night before had actually recommended it, when we asked about what we should do in the area. 

Madame Sherri was actually French, and she was a costumer for the Ziegfeld Follies who retired up in the woods of New Hampshire and reportedly threw wild parties. The remnants of her house are still there.

Ari and I just saw the movie The Witch, and this reminded us of that setting. Creepy. 

Indian Pond

Remnants of Madame Sherri's "castle." 

We only had the early part of the afternoon free, and then we had to drive to The Hermitage Club for Ari to do rehearsal for the show that evening. The club was so swanky! Hardly anyone was there because it was such a warm winter, so there was barely any snow to ski in. 

View out the window while waiting for the band to finish rehearsing. 

The highlight of the night was definitely the free dinner that we got before the show (I got to eat it too, even though I wasn't part of the band). It was a full menu with appetizers, mains, side dishes, and dessert. I got lobster mac n cheese (I couldn't resist). Ari had salmon with roasted mushrooms and onion rings. 

I got a s'mores sundae which was AMAZING. 

 

Then they did the gig! It was a cabaret act with four musicians and a singer. A good show, but sadly not so many people in attendance, again because it just wasn't great skiing weather to begin with. 

I was amused by the cliched antler chandeliers. 

The next morning, we went for another quicker hike in Fort Dummer State Park. It had a nice view of the Connecticut River.

Our last activity in Brattleboro was a visit to Hermit Thrush Brewery, which makes mostly sour IPAs. Ari and I are not really fans of that type of beer, but these were actually REALLY good. 

Before we drove back to New York, we stopped in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts to visit Ari's cousin Rosa, her husband Dominic, and their baby, Rocco. 

Rocco was adorable and let me read him a couple books. 

And then we drove back to the city! A good three-day spring break! 

Almost spring break

My spring break starts on Monday! But really, it starts tomorrow, after I finish teaching my 9-12pm class at Columbia.

I am not going anywhere special for spring break, except for maybe tagging along on a one-night stay in Philly if a couple of my friends decide to make the trip. 

For the rest of the week off, I am looking forward to an awesome STAYCATION. I kind of dislike that cheesy term, but it's the best way to describe my break. Plans include attempting to win lottery tickets to a Broadway show (maybe Matilda?) and getting a Frozen Hot Chocolate (R) at Serendipity. (I loved that drink when I visited NYC my very first time in the summer of 2007; I hear the line's not too long when it's 40 degrees out.)

Also, Ari and I got back from a really nice wedding last weekend in Austin. The bride was one of Ari's high school friends, and in exchange for Ari playing at her wedding, she paid for our hotel and rental car. On Saturday morning we had a very rushed, but worthwhile, visit to the actual downtown area of Austin (where it was rained all day and was chillier than NYC, alas), and had a blast at the rehearsal dinner and actual ceremony. I will post some pictures as soon as I can--it appears I left my camera cord back in Monrovia at Christmas, so it may take a while….