Diane's Discoveries

Halloween in Maitland, FLA -- Maitland Art Center Tours

Unlike the usual Halloween haunted houses, the Maitland Art Center on West Packwood Avenue in Maitlaind, FL, is reported to have actual ghostly activity on a regular basis.  So when better to host tours in the dark to tell those ghost stories involving staff and artists in residence than Halloween.  

Built in 1937 by J. André Smith, a World War I documentary artist, as a winter artist colony, Maitland Art Center still hosts artists as a winter residence where they can work freely in complete privacy.  Mayan Revival imagery is dominant in the building, with a sense of wildness and abandon, that Smith said came from his dreams.  Only the chapel across from the art center had a more Christian look and feel to it--less pagan, more religious--because he built it for his Episcopal mother.  (photo below is the chapel entrance--Photo credit: Diane Dobry).

The evening tours, which are led by staff of the Art Center, begin at 6:30 on October 28.  While waiting for the tour to begin, guests can enjoy craft beer, wine, or water and the chance to design their own light-up luminary to carry on the tour.  A mini-flashlight that hooks onto a bag or strap is also provided.  

As I drew my luminaria--the haunted house in the photo above--I  spoke to the weekend manager and docent, and “experiencers assistant” Katie Benson, who told me she worked at the Art Center since February.  Even in that short time, Benson has experienced André's presence, since that is who the staff and residents believe is sharing the space with them in spirit.  

“Closing up at the end of my shift, alone, I felt as if someone was there with me, like a helper, looking out for me,” Benson recounted.  “It is eerie knowing that when you are somewhere by yourself and you feel that someone else is with you, though I never felt it was malicious in any way.”

She continued with a story about a recent photo shoot that required them to move a bust of André.  Benson said out loud, “Oh André, how do you feel about being moved?” At which point a mask behind her fell off its podium.  

Now that Benson has been working there and often arrives or closes up alone, she greets André out loud asking, “How are you?” 

As Benson and tour guide Kelly pointed out, many people have experienced the presence of J. André Smith.  Sometimes it is just a presence, often it is the smell of cigar smoke (he loved his cigars). But some have actually seen an apparition of him or at least a figure in the window or hallway.  

André keeps the security company, the facilities manager and sometimes the local police busy, as well, with alarms going off in the middle of the night. The alarms allow them to listen to the audio of the location where the alarm has been tripped.  One evening at 3:30 a.m., the facilities manager got the call and listened to the audio, which sounded as if large objects were being moved around in the building.  Yet no motion sensors or dead bolts were affected when the facilities manager arrived to check on things.  

Another time the alarm in the courtyard area.  The area surrounding the building is away from the main roads and tends to be isolated and quiet.  Yet the audio that night sounded like a concrete mixer was running, or a semi was driving down the road (which, on the small, narrow road was not very likely).

Lights are often glowing in windows in one tower that has no electricity when the gate to the tower is locked.  Artists have heard footsteps on the roof of their studios.  And at one point after Andre passed away and a developer was hoping to turn the property into condos, an artist who had known André saw him at the end of the gallery one night. That seemed to him to be a sign that Andre did not want the artist residence to be abandoned and sold.  And so it was saved and allows the work of artists to continue today, in the peace and creative energy of the compound.  

For more stories, join a tour on October 28 between 6:30 and 10:00 p.m.  Order tickets ($10 for member, $15 for non-members) in advance online at:

https://artandhistory.org/event/haunted-tours-of-maitland-art-center/2018-10-28

Winter Park Farmer’s Market on a recent Saturday morning, Winter Park, FL 

Photo: Diane Dobry 

Weekend Warrior:  

Winter Park--Park and Shop Saturday

If I have a favorite Florida town to shop in, eat in, walk through, and just enjoy the sights in, it is Winter Park, with its brick lined streets, flower-trimmed businesses, several parks, and lots of tempting restaurants, many that line Park Avenue across from the green open space of Central Park.  And, the shops are a nice mix of unique boutiques and bistros with a local flavor alongside the bigger, high-end shops like Williams-Sonoma and Chico’s. This is the route that hosts the parades, like the Christmas Parade, hosts open-air concerts and film events, and that invites visitors and locals alike to stroll through a town that has curiosities, visual charm and culinary enticement on almost every corner.  

 Photo: Diane Dobry--samples of quesadillas from Cocina 214 being offered to passersby on Park Avenue.

Winter Park Farmers Market

Photo: Diane Dobry -- Some of the dip samples at the Simply Savory table.  If you stop at this booth in the market, you get a cup of small pretzel stix you can use to try out various dips.  Unique and quite tasty.  I especially liked the horseradish dip, though the cilantro/lime dip is popular.  

Photo: Diane Dobry--Mannix Family Premium Vanilla--Organically grown vanilla products--natural cold extraction process with no chemicals or additives. Also vanilla salt, vanilla sugar, ground vanilla beans, vanilla flavored with other oils, and vanilla beans. 

Photo: Diane Dobry--Don’t miss the Kombucha Wagon, also serving cold brew coffee.  I saw people bringing their own jugs to be filled from the tap. Find them on Facebook to see their various flavors, and videos showing their products and their Kombucha wagon. 

There are a few other food trucks,including a popular tamale truck, a popcorn truck, crepes and more.  Fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, fresh herbs, local honey--including the soon-to-be-no-more Tupelo honey from Winter Park Honey. And at the entrance/exit, when you’ve walked around in the sun, enjoy some fresh pure or mixed-fruit lemonade. I love the Raspberry Lemonade.

Photo: Diane Dobry

As you walk along W. New England Avenue over the train tracks toward Park Avenue, you might want to stop to enjoy the pergola and fountain in Central Park, or take a peek in the Winter Park History Museum. 

 Photo: Diane Dobry--Winter Park, Florida

Specialty Shops

Park Avenue is just overflowing with lovely shops and eateries.  At the corner of W. New England and Park Avenue is Peterbrooke Chocolatier, serving hand-dipped, enrobed,and molded chocolates and gift baskets  and boxes filled with truffles, cordial cherries, toffee and other confectionary items (like macarons). They make 18-24 flavors of creamy Italian gelato, and prepare milk shakes, floats and cups to go. Book a party or enjoy a chocolate camp experience, too.  

Photo: Diane Dobry--Outside Peterbrooke Chocolatier in Winter Park

Photo: Diane Dobry--inside Peterbrooke Chocolatier Winter Park

Head north on Park Avenue for a selection of restaurants, wine bars, coffee shops, boutiques and specialty stores.  Al fresco dining on the sidewalk gives a view of Central Park (the Winter Park one, not the famous one further north).  

New and Old Favorite Food Stores

Once I’ve filled my bags with goodies from the farmer’s market, stopped for some sweet treats from Peterbrooke,a quesadilla sample from Cocina 214, and a peek inside Williams Sonoma and Chico’s I hop in my car wherever I was lucky enough to find a space on the street (they do have some larger parking lots and garages in town, too) and I head down to Orlando Avenue where shopping centers are with more restaurants like Bulla on Morse Avenue and Orlando Avenue.  Right behind Bulla, just off of Morse Avenue, is a larger parking area, and slightly hidden away, but very popular Fitlife Foods--which sells different sizes of freshly prepared meals, snacks, desserts, soup--that are all-natural, chef-created and nutritionally balanced meals with and without meat or fish, and ready to be picked up or delivered. They recycle the used containers that you bring back and give a $10 credit for 20 containers--which they keep track of so you don’t have to let them pile up at home. The meals are quite good--I highly recommend the bison ravioli and the chicken with tortellini.  They even have breakfast foods, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and vegan options.  

Very clean store, by the way, and even the rest room is clean. 

Across Orlando Avenue is a small shopping center -- too small sometimes on weekends because the parking has to accommodate fans of both Trader Joe’s and Shake Shack, as well as Jillycakes (custom cupcakes and cakes) and Spa 810.  I try to be strategic about when I shop here, weekdays being a bit easier to find parking.  

Photo: Diane Dobry  -- Trader Joe’s with its very crowded parking area.

But this location is really quite lovely.  Shake Shack overlooks Lake Killarney, and there are some lovely fountains to sit near and enjoy a cupcake or a shake.

Photo: Diane Dobry--Shake Shack, Winter Park

Photo: Diane Dobry--fountain near Shake Shack overlooking Lake Killarney, Winter Park.

Taking the Car and the Train Amtrak’s Auto Train from Florida to Virginia

Eighteen months ago, I gradually drove down the east coast from Long Island, ending up at my childhood friend’s home 15 minutes west of Lorton, VA, home of the northern end of the Amtrak Auto Train run to Sanford, FL, near Orlando. I was moving temporarily to Florida after my last job contract in Poughkeepsie had ended.  As someone who is not a fan of driving (I get tired after two hours behind the wheel), the Auto Train is a God-send.  Not only does it cut out about 18 hours of driving, it allowed me to pack my car full of my belongings and mail down a few boxes of clothes and books. Since I neither had nor needed any furniture, it was a great way to move to another state and still have most of my stuff with me.  As an AAA member I could also claim a discount on the price.  

Since I frequently travel to Europe on 8-to-12 hour flights, I am used to sleeping in restricted spaces on airplanes, so I opted for the bargain price that coach provides, rather than paying for a private sleeper car.  Granted, I would love to have been able to lay down flat and shut the door to outside noise, sharing a space that I would much rather spread out on, but while bringing my car with me and booking my AAA rate far enough in advance, my cost was a mere $300 for everything—which included dinner, dessert and coffee and tea available all day and all night.  A lounge next to the dining car offered the chance to purchase small bags of pretzels or chips, alcoholic drinks, soda, and a few other items.

I was lucky on the way down to Florida in early December – a time when snowbirds are not usually heading down, since they either go down before Thanksgiving or wait until after New Year’s Day—I was able to snag a seat with an empty seat next to mine and have a relatively large area to call my own.  Two reclining seats with both window and aisle advantage, allowed a decent night’s sleep, though it was the last leg of a week-long journey of two-hour drives, so the final two-hour drive from Sanford to my new temporary home with relatives was tiring.  I don’t know how much better the sleeper cars can be for getting a good night’s rest.  But there are safety belts on the beds to prevent injury from a fall out of bed if the train were to lurch.  

This trip, leaving the comfort and security of a nice home to start a new phase of life, possibly as a nomad, it was May, just before mother’s day weekend.  Snowbird city.  All the retired moms and grandmas heading north to be there just in time to celebrate their role in the family.  So the seats were pretty packed. Spreading out in the less expensive seats would not be possible, for me at least, though there were some people (usually close to the stairways, I discovered), who had two empty seats together.  Seats are assigned, and even though most people traveling alone ask for an empty seat next to them, it is more likely to get that arrangement when sitting in a location that is not ideal or that experiences frequent disruptions. Boarding the train began at 2:30 p.m. and after engines and train cars are all connected, with autos all loaded up into their special cars, we left at 4 p.m.

The dining car is the closest I have gotten–so far–to the dream of traveling on the Orient Express. Linen cloths on the tables dress things up. Glass pitchers filled with water and unsweetened iced tea and four clear plastic cups are set in the middle of the table.  The menu on a card in the center includes a tasty selection of one beef, one chicken, one fish, vegetarian pasta, and desserts that include New York cheesecake with a choice of chocolate or strawberry topping, and a vanilla ice cream sundae with chocolate syrup (it did say whipped cream, but this trip there was none.  On the way down, yes, there was cream on top).  

I always opt for the 5 p.m. dinner, because my lunch is usually not much more than a cheap sandwich or some snack food.  Also, the tables are freshly set and the rest of the trip can be free for hanging out online (when the wifi works), reading a book, checking the phone or trying to sleep. Other dining times are 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.  The 7 p.m. slot fills up fast, so the best bet is to check-in early if that’s your best time, or to skip lunch so you’re hungry at 5 p.m, or the opposite—eat a big lunch so you are not hungry until 9.  

At dinner, I met three other women traveling alone–all do this regularly. There was some consensus that more often than not (and again, timing is everything), they can score two empty coach seats to themselves. One woman, Brenda, asked how she could guarantee a double seat, and was told she would have to pay for two seats. Another woman, Michelle, said that she normally gets the extra seat, except for once.  And that was enough for her not to risk it again.  She bought a seat for herself and a half-price seat for her granddaughter who is under the age of 12, except that her granddaughter did not accompany her.  So she got the two seats for just half the cost of another seat.  A loophole to be sure, but for her it worked. However, it may not work for others.

The lounge area, between the coach seating and the dining car, has large round booths or small tables for two-to-four and people hang out there having beer, wine, playing cards, and people-watching. It offers the chance to socialize with fellow passengers and a bartender on hand to serve drinks and sell snacks, and keep the tea and coffee area service going.  Flat screen televisions in the lounge were not turned on, but I was told they were once used for showing new-release movies. I hear that those who wanted to watch were competing with those who wanted to socialize, and now, with wifi, and digital devices, airlines and Amtrak are doing away with their on-board entertainment – which is a cost-saving strategy.  Paying royalties is expensive.

Morning comes fairly quickly, if you manage a decent night’s sleep, with breakfast service beginning at 6 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.  Mini-bagels, croissants and coffee cakes are set on the table along with butter and cream cheese packets. A limited assortment of individual mini-cereals are available with four small containers of milk and a banana at each place.  Coffee and decaf are distributed by waiters. Tea is also offered, but I got mine at the lounge.

As most seating in coach is on an upper level, with a very narrow, twisting stairway in each car (rest rooms are at the bottom of the stairs), special seating for those who can’t climb stairs is closer to bathrooms (and probably more likely to experience disturbances in the night).  But those on the bottom level also have the option of ordering meals to be brought to their seats, since the dining cars are also upstairs.  

Sleeper cars have their own dining cars or passengers can have meals brought to their rooms.  Sleeper car roomettes include beds with bathrooms nearby, while sleeper car bedrooms have private toilets and showers.  I never got a chance to check them out, personally, but one of these trips, I hope to have the privacy and the chance to lie down flat en route.

We arrived on time at 9 a.m. in Lorton, VA, though we were told the local train traffic may sometimes cause delays. I overheard people discussing how long of a wait it might be to get their cars.  My seatmate, who makes it a practice to arrive at the station at the last minute (well 2 p.m.—not recommended if you want 7 p.m. meals or in case of a problem on the way to the station), swore her car would come out first because she was one of the last to arrive.  She waited no longer than a half hour before she was on her way.  I am one of those people who tries to arrive as early as possible to the station, and for that I may have paid the price of waiting 2 ½ hours for my car to come out. Yes it was one of the last few cars to be unloaded. Others on board said it was not so predictable, and perhaps that is true for those who arrive somewhere in the middle of the check-in period.  Not too early, not too late, but somewhere in between.  

Peck’s Old Port Cove,  Ozello, FL

Drove the very long and winding road off of US 19 to Peck’s Old Port Cove in Ozello, Florida, recently while investigating stories about ghosts in Citrus County.  A medium I know told me that she saw a little boy ghost near here who had apparently drowned (she said his feet were wet). This beautiful location is near the end of Ozello Trail, which seems to change from West Ozello Trail to South Ozello Trail.  So I’m not sure of the actual name of the long road I took to get here, but it traverses a number of tiny islands, and is bordered on both sides by tall reeds and water most of the way.  I have read and heard that it’s not a good idea to drive on this road in the dark, especially if you don’t know your way very well.  It’s not easy in full daylight either, but is surrounded by water and sky.  Unfortunately, the recent Hurricane Hermine left some devastation in the wooded areas along the way.   Once you arrive, Peck’s is right on the water. Indoors at Peck’s is a cozy dark, wooden bar and grill feel with a nautical theme.  Tables and chairs, small tabletop lanterns, a very shiny shellacked bar, with lots of windows that overlook the water.  Outside is lovely--picnic tables on a deck closer to the building, and on a raised deck overlooking the water, is a tiki bar with pub tables and chairs with umbrellas.  Service is available outside, and if the weather is not too hot, there is a nice breeze, that could be gusty at times.  The menu has lots of fresh seafood--including today’s catch--as well as scallops, crab, gator, shrimp, catfish, swordfish, flounder and more -- all kinds of appetizers (like gator nuggets), salads and soup, fish platters, and what I originally ordered, since I’m allergic to shellfish, was prime rib.  One of the specials was lobster and prime rib on their board, but they said they didn’t have any prime rib that day. Instead, I ordered the catch of the day--grouper blackened and it was the sweetest, tastiest fish I’ve had in a long time.  Instead of potatoes or rice, I got hush puppies--a treat for this northern girl.  

Coastal Heritage Museum

Crystal River, Florida

In a small, unassuming limestone building--built as part of the WPA programs during the depression--what used to house the city hall, police department, firehouse and jail, in a tiny two-to-three rooms is now the Coastal Heritage Museum in Crystal River, Florida. It is nestled among historic and newer buildings on Citrus Avenue south of US 19, across from Amy’s on the Avenue.   All Citrus County museums are free to the public, and during special events, such as the Manatee Festival, the museum, open from 9 am to 4 p.m. each day of the event, can receive up to 2000 guests.  An interesting exhibit is the diorama of Citrus Avenue from 1927, which features a recorded commentary (a button up and to the left above the exhibit), that explains the history of the street,  and tells which buildings are still standing.  You’ll find yourself leaving the museum and looking around at the buildings you see to determine if they were part of the diorama.

Docents, all of whom are volunteers, are familiar with the history of the people and items featured in the exhibits, and if you’re lucky, one of the descendants or a local who remembers the actual people and events, may be on site to narrate the history first-hand.  

Amy’s on the Avenue

Citrus Avenue Crystal River, Florida

I’ve been staying in Crystal River, Florida, for almost six months, trying different eateries, bistros, restaurants and bakeries in Crystal River, Inverness, Homosassa, Lecanto, and other local towns in Citrus County.  Inverness and Crystal River are my favorites, since they have put an effort into creating a downtown center in each town, and there are better food and drink places available.  More hip, more variety, with a touch of funk.  I had heard about a couple of places I hadn’t tried--and one of them was Amy’s on the Avenue.  Someone was telling another person about it and I heard them say “Tapas,” and I was anxious to check it out.  I like little bites of many things. 

When I did stop by, I saw that the Tapas is an evening thing for people who come by to hang out for a few drinks.  There is a wine list with some impressive selections. I was there for a late lunch, but wanted a nice glass of wine--so I ordered a South African Chenin Blanc because I’m a Vouvray girl.  The waitress was super friendly, and told me there was a special quiche with a salad and croissant -- and there were only two mini-quiches left.  The menu had a nice selection of starters --hummus, crab bisque (I can’t have shellfish), sushi--and salads, including Cobb, Greek, Caesar and Avenue --some lettuce with several fruits and pecans.  Typical sandwiches were offered--such as BLT, Chicken Salad, Club--and desserts have the standard Key Lime whatever--here it was a cake--and a Hummingbird cake, Pumpkin Pie, and unusually, there were cookies and truffles on the dessert menu, as well.  I took the special quiche plate and I was not disappointed. With the Chenin Blanc, I was a happy girl--maybe a little buzzed--but happy.   I spoke briefly to the owner--Amy--and asked her about the evening set-up, because I want to write a piece for the paper about nightlife in Citrus County--which I’m told does not really exist.  She said that in the summers, they don’t do the evenings on the deck with the Tapas, because snow birds leave, (I saw mostly young people when I was there), and also it is too hot at night with bugs.  So the Tapas will have to wait until the evenings cool down--November maybe?  Inside, there is a cute little gift shop, too, with the usual things you see in other gifts shops, but are unique in that you can’t be sure to find them in any one place.  The requisite hand-crafted bars of soap, the tea towels with a message, and so on.  I did pick up a couple of truffles for the ride home -- a bit of a mess in the car, but a definite pick-me-up.   I’d highly recommend Amy’s on the Avenue for lunch or Tapas in the cooler months, especially if you come to see the manatees huddling in King’s Bay or Crystal River to keep warm.  In the summer, take a walk on Citrus Avenue, on both sides of Route 98/19 and check out some of the gift shops, eateries, my favorite tea house, and Karma Cottage, if you like some New Age on the side.  

The price was a reasonable $20 for the special lunch and glass of wine with tip.  I’ll go back again.  

Details on menu items, hours, and location: http://www.amysontheavenue.com/ 

Lunch is 11-3, Tapas and Wine  5-9  

The Nature Coast Inn:  A B&B for visitors, tourists and locals

I met the owners, Tim and Patti Haines, and the Innkeepers, Wendy and Terry Brennan, recently when I was writing about this place for an article in the local paper (Citrus County Chronicle).  The chemistry among them is just one of “let’s have fun” with a desire to share it with their guests.  Always thinking about what can we do today?  What can we add to our repertoire of bedrooms, meals, local activities, and casual evening entertainment.  The guitar and banjo on the mantel in the lobby have led to brief musical interludes with proprietors and guests.  The front porch bench and swing are places the owner, Tim, has envisioned as a spot for drinking before dinner.  Dinner at a bed and breakfast?  Well, that’s what Tim and the gang are thinking about.  They invited me to Easter brunch, which was a combination of healthy local vegetables and southern cooking (turkey and gravy on waffles with a fried egg on top, accented with asparagus and some warmed grape tomatoes). They make a nice yogurt with sliced strawberry and granola, fresh orange juice, and tea or coffee for starters.  The next brunch will be on Mother’s Day and they are planning to add room packages that include dinner and breakfast. They already host parties at the Inn with custom decorations and menus.  They say if you want an “Old Florida” type wedding, just let them know what you want, and they can do almost anything, limited by the space of the place.  

They have about a dozen kayaks on the premises and a canoe that they rent at very reasonable rates, as well as bikes for guests that are free of charge.  They will prepare a picnic lunch if you want to kayak to one of a couple of islands they own, where you can relax or even camp overnight.  

There is a firepit, a smoker, an outdoor burner for cooking and barbecuing out back--a pool, hammocks, gazebo and a screened-in porch for hanging out in the open air.  Check out the chicken coop, where they get their daily eggs.  Chickens are treated like guests, with a chandelier, paintings, a swing and climbing apparatus (a ladder).  Whatever keeps ‘em happy.  

They are at 649 West Highway 40 (Follow Your Dream Way) in Inglis, Florida.

CRYSTAL RIVER BOAT BUILDERS

The Courthouse Heritage Museum

Exhibit and Demonstration

Inverness, Florida

Covered a story for The Citrus County Chronicle on this group of boatbuilders dedicated to traditional building techniques and hand tools.  There is a foot-powered lathe and a shaving horse (used to carve wood blocks into different shapes).  The models include a sailing scow based on the Wartappo Civil War boat, which was built into a full-size replica and christened the Spirit. The boat has been on display in the Crystal River Preserve State Park but was recently removed to be given a permanent land-based home.  The 6-foot long mullet skiff ice boat is a model of the group’s next replica building project, representing an important piece of the county’s history. The mullet skiff had a gas engine and was able to tow fishermen in rowboats farther out to fishing grounds, which allowed more  fish to be caught and then packed in ice and transported by rail to sell in northern cities.  The 3/4 sized replica (24 feet long) will be built using a 1903 make break gas engine.

The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum 1 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL

Mon-Fri 10-4

NICOLE’S House of Cakes

INVERNESS, FLORIDA

The word “Cakerie” was calling out to me when I stopped by the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum on Wednesday. This little pink cake shop is directly across the road from the museum entrance. While covering a story on historic boatbuilders (next time we’ll post that),  I spied this as my go-to dessert locale after doing some interviews.   They had some really good red velvet and carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting--the carrot cupcakes had caramel drizzled across the cream cheese tops. They are open Monday thru Friday 10-6, and Saturday 10-2.   Available flavors of the day are posted on their Facebook Page, and may include flavors like Key Lime,Chocolate Overload, Peanut Butter Cup,Red Velvet, Oreo Cookie, Toffee, Hostess, Chocoklate Chip Cookie,Somoa, Pina Colada, Banana Cream Pie,Butter Scotch, S’mores, Boston Cream, Pink Lemonade, Pumpkin Spice,Lemon Blueberry, Strawberry Shortcake, Bacon, Creme de Menth, Orange Creamsicle, Cinnamon Swirl and Better than Anything. 

If you buy 1/2 dozen cupcakes ten times, you get a half dozen free. That’s a pretty good deal, considering the cupcakes cost $4.75 apiece.  They also do cakes, weddings, gourmet chocolates, and have space fordecorating parties. 

205 Courthouse Square Inverness, FL  34450  352-634-3834 www.nicoleshouseofcakes.com

Thanksgiving weekend, I left Long Island, NY, where I had been living since mid-summer to begin a new journey—literally and figuratively. Taking short trips to Virginia, where I would eventually catch the auto train to Florida (more on that trip in an upcoming post), I visited my best friend since high school, Michelle and her husband. They had just moved to the area outside of Philadelphia within a mile of Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA.  It was a relaxing, primarily adults-only celebration. Michelle and I have been doing weekend jaunts to the historic east end of Long Island for 20 summers.  This time, she proposed to show me Philadelphia’s historic area of Newtown in Bucks County.  Our three main goals were to get cupcakes at The Caketeria, lunch at Isaac Newton’s, and a $20 palm reading for me at New Age Astrology Readings & Crystals as I set out on my travels to a new life.

I love old towns—like Boston, Mass., Sag Harbor and Rhinebeck, NY, and  Newtown fit into that category. The architecture, the history, the quirkiness, and just the cool offbeat shops and merchandise fit my Aquarius personality to a T.  Having been founded by William Penn in 1683, the town’s many old stone buildings with vines growing up the sides have obviously been there for centuries.  In fact, it’s natural to walk down a street in an old place like Newtown and think, “I wonder how old that building is?” or “What is this place famous for?”  The historians of Newtown have considered that, and have placed little plaques along the sidewalks with historic information, drawings, maps and photos.  

We also stopped at DJW Home, which had homemade soaps, jewelry, household items, and –like I said—quirky items with names that get your attention, like the “Cleaner than shit hand sanitizer.”  We did stop at Isaac Newton’s for lunch, but all along State Street I saw at least a dozen places I would have liked to try, just as much.

Meadowcrest Community in Crystal River, FL

It’s a warmer-than-usual December along the East Coast, and especially in Crystal River, Florida, where I am currently staying.  I’ve been here several times through the last two and a half decades, and am amazed at how good it still looks here, in this poor county of Florida.  Meadowcrest is one of a few hidden gems surrounded by fast food restaurants, dollar stores, big box stores, and some low income areas.  

On my walk to the pool, it is extremely quiet except for a few excited birds chirping in the shrubs along my route. Tiny geckos scurry along the edge of the sidewalk onto the lawns, up the trees, onto houses. Wooden signs with carved letters flank certain streets as the entryway to particular communities in the complex--Hillcrest, Fairmont Village, Arbor Court.  Each has houses with their own distinct look--some more uniformin design and color than others.  All very clean and inviting--there are definitely some rules to follow in this neck of the woods.

I take a sidewalk down the stretch of road known as McVicar, where the clubhouse entrance is located.  Streets are lined with well-manicured greenery and tall pin oaks that keep me cool in the sun, and give the neighborhood a sense of established elegance and permanence. Some locals walk nearby--neither slowly nor briskly--some holding dogs on leashes.  Though it is warm, dark clouds shift across the blue sky, cooling the air, but not, apparently, threatening rain.

As I reach the end of McVicar, I approach the clubhouse, passing the tennis courts on the right.  Two young men are preparing to play on one of two courts, which are normally empty unless it is early in the morning when residents hold matches--but I’m not usually there to be certain that actually happens.  Too early for me. 

Citrus Avenue is the funky little historic area of Crystal River, Florida, known as Heritage Village, and it just draws people in with the quirky old houses-turned-shops with front porches, strings of lights, artsy decor, and unique, locally inspired foods, drinks, music and merchandise. Right across Citrus Avenue from the Teahouse 650 cafe in Crystal River is the River Ranch Bar and Grill.  Nice, clean simple dining room and a lot of fresh fish on the menu. Very reasonably priced meals. The bar at this restaurant has a tasting from a nearby brewery and winery where I hope to visit to try the wines.  (I’m not a beer person, so maybe I should bring a beer-drinking friend to give her opinion on those). 

River Ranch’s food was very tasty, especially a gnochhi florentine soup for starters.  Some in my group had lobster mac and cheese, others had French dip beef and cheese sandwiches on baguettes.  I had ahi tuna nachos with a wasabi dip and a hot spicy sweet and pepper dip. The tuna was perfectly cooked on a bed of sesame seaweed salad and deep fried nachos. One of the specials was a huge platter of lobster tail, mussels, and shrimp which probably could have fed two. There are also pot roast and meatloaf and chicken dishes,sandwiches, and salads as well as fish platters and sandwiches. But they have some pretty nice Florida grown grain fed beef, too. 

The free soft drink refills kept coming. Service was well-intentioned and trying hard, but there were a couple of mistakes. I’m more forgiving, especially at holiday time, but maybe others would not be as tolerant. We arrived at the slowest time of day, and they said they would create sandwiches that were not on the menu if there was a request.  

By the time we left, the dinner crowd started to roll in.  Overall, I liked the food and I would go back.  Tone down the server’s attempts at enthusiasm to a more natural effort, and it would have been perfect.  

River Ranch Bar & Grill 

-- 631 N. Citrus Avenue, Crystal River, FL

No Starbucks in this small Floridian town, which turned out to be a good thing.  While I was missing my double shot espresso on ice, nothing beats a cool teahouse with homemade scones, loose teas brewed right, and homemade soups (kale quinoa or mushroom barley). There are a couple little tables amid the little boutiquish gift shop displays, and an outdoor porch overlooking Citrus Avenue and some of the other old Victorian shops and eateries on this unexpectedly quaint side street off of Route 19 in Crystal River.  Not far from the manatees, or the beach on the Gulf.  Wifi is available and specials, like quiche and sandwiches.  Friendly staff and patrons.  Parking in the back.