Friday, August 29, 2008

So, you have a weekend in Eugene

If you have the time, you really should drive to Crater Lake. It's about a 3-hour drive from Eugene, but is totally worth it. Take drinks and snacks because stores are few and far between. For pics, see welcomeanyway.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Albany hotels and directions

The airport is not huge, which is nice.

To get to the paper from the airport:
From the airport, follow the signs for Highway 87. You will be on Albany-Shaker Road. As you approach the underpass for 87, go under it. Stay on Albany-Shaker past the light at the underpass. Take a left after the light and just after the Times-Union building. Take another direct left into the parking lot. There is visitor parking. Mike Spain has been getting door passes for us.

To Towneplace Suites-SUNY from airport: From the airport, follow the signs for Highway 87. You will be on Albany-Shaker Road. Look for signs for I-87.
Turn right to merge onto I-87 South. Go 2.7 miles.
Take exit 1 to merge onto I-90 East toward Albany/Boston. Stay on 1.5 mile.
Take exit 2 for Washington Avenue toward UAlbany.
Take a left at Washington Avenue and go down about 1/2 mile.
Hotel is on left.

From Towneplace Suites-SUNY to Albany Times-Union:
Turn right (southeast) out of hotel onto Washington Avenue toward I-90 West.
Take fork that leads onto I-90 West.
Take exit 1N for I-87 northbound toward Montreal/Saratoga.
Stay on I-87 for 2.5 miles.
Take exit 4 for Wolf Road.
Left onto Wolf Road.
Right at light onto Albany Shaker Road.
Left into parking lot (watch for traffic).
Park in visitor spots at front.

To get to restaurants from paper:
From the light at Albany-Shaker and Wolf Road, head in the direction opposite the paper. You would turn right off Albany-Shaker onto Wolf Road (there is a light) if you were coming from the airport. There is a ton of hotels and restaurants down there, including many chains (Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn, Olive Garden, HomeWood Suites, Red Lobster).

Hotel review
The Wingate (from airport, head toward Hwy 87; just before 87, you will see hotel on your left) has wood floors and flat screen TVs but no fridge, micro, stove or bathtub. The breakfast bar is not as good as a Residence Inn but better than basic continental. It has fruit, instant oatmeal, waffles, donuts, toast, bagels, juice, hot chocolate, and egg/sausage sandwiches ready to be microwaved.
We're hoping to find a different hotel.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Albany sites and restaurants

Museums and Cool Sites
There's a Shaker Museum (near the airport), the NY state museum downtown in the Empire State plaza, Revolutionary War Saratoga Battlefield in Stillwater, the Bennington Battlefield (near the Vermont border), the Berkshires, Stockbridge Mass (an hour from Albany) has the Rockwell museum, Modern Art Museum in North Adams (30 mins north of Stockbridge), the Red Lion Inn (real fancy, expensive restaurants and a cool pub called the Lion's Den down in the basement), Adirondack State Park, the town of Woodstock, New World Home cooking restaurant between Woodstock and Saguerties.

Restaurants recommended by Times Union staff
Brew Pub
Firken and Fox (on Wolf down the road from the paper)
Emperor's Palace (Oriental)
Grandma's Country Pie Store on Central Avenue (great desserts)
Ron and Ted's fish fry on Central Avenue
Koto's Japanese Steak House

All downtown
(87 south to 90, 90 east to 787 south. Stay right, exit Clinton, light at end of ramp):
The Pump Station (right from light)
Nicole's Bistro
The Palace
Yono's at the Hampton Inn downtown (straight down block from off-ramp)
677 Prime (Angelo's Place) left off ramp
Lombardo's Italian
Jack's Oyster House

Approaching downtown:
Envy Lounge
McGuire's
Bayou Cafe (on Pearl Street; good beer and cocktails)

Restaurants we've tried and liked
Old Chicago pizza (on Wolf Street)

Monday, February 11, 2008

Lexington dining, sites

Murray's -- "fine" dining but you don't have to get too fancy.

Panera Bread! is always good. On Richmond Road and Nicholasville Road.

Wild Oats.

Amazing Indian food to rival Bombay House: India Garden just north of New Circle Road on Richmond Road. Set back a little from Richmond, it's close to the Chop House. Our busboy was David, who chatted with Scott and me in Spanish.

Joseph Beth books is what a bookstore should be. It's huge. It's beautiful. It's happily situated near Wild Oats, Panera Bread, and Lexington Green mall. A huge top floor opens up in the center to overlook the children's section downstairs. Signed pictures of such authors as Stephen King line the wall near the register. Chocolate bourbon balls are available.