At a Minimum or Is it worth an hour?

We found this little place heading north on route 11 just past Pulaski.  We were drawn in by the colorful flags that promised "Ice Cream".  It turned out to be an enjoyable stop.  Looking at the building it looks like a nice house with a small restaurant where the garage would be located.  Nestled between the house and the restaurant where a breeze way is expected is this charming area with a little ice cream stand.  What a clever pleasant use of space. We had already had a large meal and were looking for a little sweet to top it off.  We asked the young lady about the sizes.  My instinct told me that I wanted a baby cone.  Based on her description I ordered two smalls. I should have gone with my instinct.  The small was more than I needed or wanted.  That being said it was very good.   They also have picnic tables for those who prefer something more open.    I couldn't resist taking a peak in the restaurant, which had a matching charm.  This review only cove

 Daddy Ed's We happened on this little place by accident, so we ate here on a whim.  Turned out to be a great find.  I love small hometown restaurants where the locals eat.  I got the sense that most of the people eating had been there before.  We chose a table by the window and the waitress came over and provided menus loaded with good basic American fare at reasonable prices. Today's special was chicken and biscuits.  the waitress returned with drinks and was ready to take our order. I was torn between several items on the menu and still hadn't made a choice so I asked what the special came with. She looked blank and said chicken and biscuits. I thought it was odd that it didn't come with anything else, but caved at the last minute and ordered it anyway. I thought it was odd that it didn't come with anything else vegetable some type of side. it turned out to be an excellent choice the vegetables were actually incorporated into the chicken and biscuits the p

A charming little restaurant located in a charming bayside village....  We decided to visit on a Sunday night when someone was in the mood for Italian food and everyone decided it was too hot to boil water for pasta.  Apparently we weren't the only ones with that idea, the place was packed to capacity when we arrived.  We were told it would be a 30 minute wait. They do take reservations and another party of 6 who was smart enough to make one was promptly seated.  We decided to wait in the pleasant outside seating area.    Our party of 5 was seated at a    high top table after about 20 minutes.  The waitress pleasantly provided menus, took drink orders, and listed specials.  She returned a short time later with drinks checking to see if we were ready to order.  She brought a small loaf of bread to get us started and promised more bread.  The bread was soft and warm and served with butter or their own Italian dressing to use as a dipping sauce.  The bread definitely adds to the

Lavender Festival The festival was an incredibly well run event, held July 7th, 2018. I would not have guessed this was the first one.  I hope they make it annual event.  Parking in an open field was well organized.     The $2 admission fee could be paid at either end of the field.  Once inside I was exposed to all things lavender and an interesting assortment of vendors.  The spacious grounds with manicured gardens always provided pleasant sights and smells.  The vendors were laid out in a way that provided an easy flow.    The barn is a small museum of agriculture items.    The total price for the event depended on what items were purchased or the activities chosen.  It was possible to have a great time on a minimum wage budget.  It was also possible to spend hundreds of dollars. Optional activities included a lavendar themed paint and sip held in the tea room, wine tasting and making historical lavender tassies. One of the most pop

I don't normally review hotels because at this point I don't stay in many hotels and when I do it's not by the hour.  In the case of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, even though it took more than a days pay to spend the night the experience was worth it. The former Hotel Syracuse has been a north country landmark for years. I stayed at the hotel decades ago after hearing stories from relatives about their special memories.  My early trips were pleasant.  Eventually, even though the hotel still had fun historic features and a convenient location I stopped staying because the quality was so bad it was scary. I am grateful to the Marriott Chain for taking on the project to renovate the old hotel to the point that it surpasses it's former glory. Everything was perfect.  We couldn't ask for anything more.  Several members of our family stayed and everyone was equally pleased.  Beautifully restored ballroom Magnificent views