A Syracuse Day Trip

I feel rather discombobulated today. I think it's a combination of the time change (clocks went 1 hour ahead Sunday morning) and our long, long day Saturday, when we (Mr.W and I), along with my brother and his wife, took a day trip to Syracuse.

The main objective was to attend CNY Blooms 2009 Garden & Flower Show. We try to go every year, if only to smell the promise of spring to come. It's held at the Syracuse OnCenter, a giant convention center connected to a parking garage.

Tiny rant here: every year the admission fee is $10 per person, and they publish a printable $2 off coupon at their website; in years past you printed one coupon and it covered as many tickets as you wanted to purchase. There was no language on the coupon or website to suggest this year would be any different--but when we arrived at the ticket booth there were signs taped up saying one coupon per ticket only. I know it was only a loss of $2, but dang if that didn't tick me off something fierce! Isn't that akin to bait & switch?

But the flowery fragrance brought a better mood along quickly and we entered to see this gorgeous scene:



I won't bore you with all of the photos that I took, but here are some of the more interesting things:



After all of that beauty, our tummies were rumbling, so we headed out in search of food. After a very short discussion, we all decided on Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It's a well-known joint established in Syracuse in 1988 by three bikers. It retains the biker-bar feel, too. Very tight quarters, loud waitresses and a 45-minute wait on the weekends are well worth it. For you BBQ enthusiasts out there, a few hints for eating at Dinosaur:

• Order sauce on the side. There are such a wide array of tastes as far as 'que goes that I must insist getting your meat naked. Dress it yourself to avoid disappointment.
  
  
• If you have any dietary issues, talk to your waitperson. I told our waittress that I needed to avoid sugar and she let me know that the tomato-and-cucumber salad had sugar in the dressing. (Why, I don't know, but... whatever.) She made other suggestions that were useful.
  
  
• Bring a flashlight or use illumination from your cell phone screen. It was almost impossible to see our menus in the light available. It was impossible to take a decent photograph of the food we enjoyed.
  
  
• The menu sides are carb-heavy, but there is a salad and yum-tastic beans & rice.
  
  
• Do ask questions. The specials board included dirty rice, but I didn't know I could get it as a side option until I heard the waittress at the next table say so. I'll know next time, though!
  
  
• Do check the menu for cocktail prices--over $8 per drink made me stick to Diet Coke!
  

A hearty lunch of sandwich platters (sandwich, pickles & two sides) plus sodas all around was about $60 with tax and tip... a little on the pricey side, but the food was outstanding.

After our very late lunch, our little group headed to Carousel Mall for a little shopping. Carousel is better than any mall around here, and while it does have all the shops you'd expect at a mall, there's a ton of construction that's been ongoing for at least a year now. And what was once a mall surrounded by large banks of windows and lots of natural light is now a mall surrounded by solid brick more reminiscent of a state penitentiary.



We made our normal stops there: my brother likes a particular comic shop, my husband likes a music store, and we all like an import shop and the bookstore. Then there's Lindt--my sister-in-law and I never fail to stop in there! Lindt is my most favorite chocolate and their little sample sizes are enough for me to enjoy a tiny taste of the real thing without overindulging. I tried the Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt--I can't say that I liked it all that much. I didn't dislike it, either--it was unusual. Let's just leave it at that.

As we left the mall it began to pour down rain--it's better than snow, but still makes for treacherous driving. So we said good-bye to Syracuse for a while and made our way home with minds full of flowers and hopes for an early spring.

It's Been a Wild, Wild Few Days

Ever had a weekend that left you exhausted?

Friday I headed to Syracuse to pick up Mr.W from the airport and enjoy a day of leisure. Syracuse is a fun little city, with a great mall, my beloved Christmas Tree Shop and the nearest Moe's. It is also home to my favorite little italian import store, Vince's.

One of my most favorite things to do in Syracuse, too, is stop by a particular store in the mall called Around the World. They sell a fantastic assortment of imported candy that is SO FUN to eat. Dave got a Yorkie, because it's not for girls.

I agree with the packaging. It's one. chunky. candybar. Just thick blocks chocolate. That's it. Very butch, indeed.

I got a kinder egg. My dear friend Nalinee turned me on to this treat in South Africa and I grab them whenever I can. Yum!

We arrive home to unload our many packages. Amid the confusion of bags of amaretti cookies and lady fingers, christmas gifts (yes, we've started already), baking products and seasonings, some wonderful pomegranate juice and some magazines we just can't get locally, Thundercat escaped.

Quick as lightening, she dashed right out the door.

There's something about a cat going outside on Halloween that bothers me. It's not a good night for small pets.

We went outside calling her name periodically. And when I say we, I mean me. She's gotten out occasionally in the past--Thundercat just loves the great outdoors--and normally stays close to the house, climbs a tree, chases a bunny (sorry, Michele!) and comes home. This time, however, she didn't. Come home, I mean.

Saturday night was a friend's annual Halloween party. I brought some goodies: mini mummy dogs (lil smokies wrapped in strips of refrigerated crescent roll dough, dotted with nigella seed 'eyes') and a pumpkin ale fondue that, though yummy, seized up. I think I was a little too anxious to get it out and ready. Someone with fondue experience must share with me this particular kitchen secret. Fondue dippers included roasted potato chunks, slices of chorizo and pepperoni, apple slices and grapes. And the mummy dogs--they were good doused in cheese, too!

Last, but certainly not least, I brought a selection of pretzel rod fingers in a sleeved vase. They were a real hit!

Sunday was another fast & furious day--we had to pack up my Sunday School because we're moving to another building. Fortunately I keep things relatively organized so it didn't take too long.

By Sunday afternoon I was in full distress mode. All that activity and lack of sleep looking for Thundercat. We walked the neighborhood. We called out day and night.

Evening fell and Mr.W ran an errand. He returned home with much activity and, even with the tv on full-blast, I heard something outside. Was it a meow? "Mute the tv!" I yelled as I ran for the kitchen door.

In dashed Thundercat, her coat full of leaves and burdocks, collar still on and none the worse for wear. She's been a lovey-dovey purrbox ever since. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Now I can rest.

Pumpkin Ale Fondue

- 1 cup shredded swiss cheese
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese

- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

- 3/4 cup pumpkin ale (I used Dogfish Head's "Punkin Ale" as recommended by a local shopkeeper. The label says, "A full-bodied brown ale brewed with real pumpkin, brown sugar, allspice, cinnamon & nutmeg." It was GOOD. And I don't even like beer.)

- 1 clove garlic, peeled

Toss cheeses with flour; set aside.

In a saucepan, bring ale with whole garlic clove to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low setting. Add cheese, a handful at a time, until melted, stirring often. (This is where my impatience came in.)

Transfer cheese to a fondue pot and keep warm. Enjoy with assorted dippers.