We’re off to Connecticut and Vermont in order to attend my cousin Meagan’s wedding at a mountain resort in Vermont.  It should make for a grand time especially since its been nearly three years since we’ve seen the family back east.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel:  “Good times were had by all”…

The image of evacuated hotel guests brings back not-so-fond college memories when I lived in the tower dorm building and some jackhole would find it humorous to pull the fire alarm handle at 2am.  Unfortunately, this fire alarm was legit as something caught fire in the hotel’s fitness center at approximately 4:30am.  Fortunately, nobody was injured but of course this was on the night of the wedding.  Thankfully we missed out on the fun and games since we were residing in the condos.

Cristy’s Restaurant: Torrington, CT

We enjoy a simple breakfast at Cristy’s Restaurant (P: 860-496-7330) after our early morning arrival in Hartford, CT.   You have to love the 70s’ nostalgia at its finest; coffee mug advertising.  Although the offering of Kraft syrup (with corn syrup) is seriously “no bueno” when dining in New England.

“Farmer Pops”

Dad on his John Deere riding lawn mower (he built the shed himself).

Me as a seal pup…

Look at the melon on that scooter!

Stonybrook Golf Course: Litchfield, CT

Elfie, Auntie Bev and Dad before we “hit the links” at Stonybrook Golf Course  http://www.stonybrookgc.com).

Stonybrook Golf Course: Hole 1

Drought or not, Stonybrook is pretty green.  I think on the East Coast their idea of a drought is different than California’s idea of a drought.  It’s all relative I suppose…

Stonybrook Golf Course

Bella’s approach shot with the green on the left.

“Frog rock”

Stonybrook Golf Course

Bella and I find hilly golf courses so much more fun and interesting than the flat land courses.

Stonybrook Golf Course: Fairway

Courses are so much greener on the east coast.  Shock-HER!

Stonybrook: Another challenging green…

Auntie Bev is having some exceptional putting moments today.

Fun statues and rock sculptures @ Stonybrook

Statues fishing on the creek.

One Surreal Fairway…

Some fairways were in better shape than others.

“Gone Fishin”…

A course groundskeeper lets his black Labrador take a dip on a warm summer day.

“Italian Combo” Grinder:  Carbone’s Market, Torrington, CT

Carbone’s Market (carbonesmarketllc.com) is under new ownership since our last visit but their sandies still pack quite a punch (a tad less meat than last time).  However, for Italiano’s you must ask them to drown your sandie in oil and vinegar or it will end up on the drier side.  Saying “extra” isn’t sufficient.  Also, for this to be a true “Italian combo” it really should have some prosciutto and capicola.

Some of their other sandie options include:  hot capicola; eggplant; liverwurst; meatball; pastrami; prosciutto; roast pork; sausage; seafood; tuna; veggie etc.

Zini’s Restaurant: Bantam, CT

The fried artichoke hearts appetizer at Zini’s (zinisrestaurant.com).  It has great texture with lemon the prevailing flavor.

Zini’s Restaurant

Tender fried calamari with a light batter and a marinara dipping sauce.

Zini’s Restaurant

Their veal saltimbocca is seriously tasty.  I’ve considered ordering this dish in the past but always opted for veal marsala.  The veal is pretty tender and the prosciutto and cheese make the dish.

For dessert I have a cannolo pastry which tastes of ricotta cream with slight graininess, moderate firmness and vanilla notes.  It is of the simple variety but it is nicely done.

Zini’s Restaurant

David, Dad, Thelma and Bella.  The dining room has lots of cottage charm with stacked stone walls, dark wood floors and floral window coverings.

Zini’s Restaurant:  Bantam, CT

We enjoyed a fantastic modern Italian dinner at Zini’s.

Former warehouse: Bantam, CT

This area of Connecticut has seen much of their industry vacate the area since the late 90s’ and early 2000s’.  Some of these warehouses and factories get bought by investors and re-purposed for modern-day needs.  One of them has even been turned into loft condominiums in small town America.

Friendly’s Maple Walnut Ice Cream

Every time I visit Connecticut I must partake of Friendly’s Maple Walnut ice cream.  You can buy it at Stop & Shop grocery stores.  It has that light beige-brownish color, a good amount of walnuts, creamy texture and a pronounced maple flavor.

Dad’s UCONN student ID from “back in the day”.

Saville Dam: Barkhamstead, CT

On the way to Vermont we stop briefly at the Barkhamstead Reservoir.

The Saville Dam is a nice spot to take a walk.

Vermont goes green a la Palm Springs style…

Grand Summit Resort Hotel: West Dover, Vermont

We took some back roads via the “scenic route” through Massachusetts before arriving at the picturesque Mt. Snow and the Grand Summit Resort Hotel (mountsnow.com/your-stay/grand-summit).

Grand Summit Resort Hotel:  Parking lot

This colorful bear statue reminds me of a similarly designed cow statue we saw while visiting a dairy farm in Taiwan.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel: Lobby

The mission style is much appreciated by me.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel: Lobby

Snow Mountain Village Condos

Our condo building.  There are a lot of prettier condo’s nearby whereas these are more economical and well suited for youngsters seeking a cost-cutter skiing or snowboarding vacation.  Think of a low-rent outdated furnished apartment building and you pretty much have it.

Uncle Pete went through three (3) rounds of condo’s before being housed in their hotel with free upgrades including a large suite and a sauna.  Condo one featured a roll-out window which when opened sent shattered glass “like rain” (and the frame) crashing down three stories to the ground below.  Fortunately nobody was injured.  Round two highlights included a bathroom with a caved in ceiling apparently due to water damage from above.  The third round featured a unit without running water.  “Good times”…

Our condo had some funky issues (ex. duct tape surrounding frames of roll out windows) as well clearly indicating maintenance is a low priority here.

We would experience modest accommodations in our condo with us returning to our youth via the “youngsters” volunteering for bunk bed duty.  The lamps and furniture are from the early 80s’ and early 90s’.  Our bathroom features a jacuzzi tub but I’m too scared to turn it on or even contemplate using it.

Harriman’s Farm to Table: Clams and Sausage

Bella enjoys this tasty dish and hammers the broth with a spoon at Harriman’s Farm to Table (www.mountsnow.com/the-mountain/harrimans).  Bear in mind, the restaurant is located just off of the noisy bar so a quiet meal is unlikely here.

Harriman’s Farm to Table: Burger with Vermont beef

This burger is much better looking than it tastes.  My order of “medium rare” ends up somewhere between “medium” and “medium well” and I should have sent it back.  Not even cheese and bacon could save this cow beaten down like its final days were spent in the Sahara desert.

Their clam chowder is super creamy and tasty with clam, bacon shrapnel and potato.

Snow Mountain Market: Peanut butter cookie

For breakfast I have this tasty thick homemade peanut butter cookie from Snow Mountain Market (P: 802-464-9666).

Mount Snow Golf Club:  West Dover, VT

Our first impression of this course…

Mount Snow Golf Club

Dad, Uncle Pete and one “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” golfing squirrel ready for our 7am tee time.

Mount Snow Golf Club

A “re-ver-sla” view of hole 1.

Mount Snow Golf Club

Dad’s approach shot on hole one.  I love this hole…

Mount Snow Golf Club

Hole number two features a very scenic par 3 hole.  I’m already digging these Nike irons and driver.  Too bad Nike is getting out of the game…

Mount Snow Golf Club

Mist on the pond at hole number two.

Mount Snow Golf Club

The greens are mostly sloping with rough pin placement throughout the course.

Mount Snow Golf Club

A fun elevated green on a par three hole.

Mount Snow Golf Club

We take our golf carts through “The Sherwood Forest”.  Only on the East Coast…

Mount Snow Golf Club

They have interesting insects in the caterpillar family here.

Mount Snow Golf Club

Wow!  This course is $79.00 per person on a Saturday and worth every penny.

Mount Snow Golf Club:  Back nine…

Uncle Pete “going deep” for a .10 cent range ball.  Apparently retirement was entered into a bit prematurely for my beloved uncle.  🙂

Mount Snow Golf Club: Back nine…

“Dog leg left”…

Mount Snow Golf Club

A zoomed in view of the ski runs at Mt. Snow.

Mount Snow Golf Club

“Dog leg right”.  I mishit my 3-wood and sent a towering drive that cleared the pond but not by a lot.  Well, at least the 2nd baseman didn’t track down my ball on an “infield fly rule”.

Mount Snow Golf Club

The 18th hole with the clubhouse in the background.

The clock tower at Grand Summit Resort Hotel.

The beef brisket sandie and sweet potato salad at Reuben’s Smokehouse (www.mountsnow.com/the-mountain/dining/reubens) would be deemed “mediocre” in South Orange County, CA and “disgusting” in Texas, the Carolinas, Memphis or Kansas City.  The sweet potato salad is an interesting concept and executed “okay” with a little of the brisket being moist-er with decent bark on it.

Adding to the dis-ASS-ter is the fact that they are grossly understaffed (off season or not) for a Saturday with one teen on the register and one doing all the prep work.  The service is “snail slow” and incomplete with mistakes abundant and one customer receives a moldy bun and they don’t even have BBQ sauce on the counter.

We have made some uncharacteristic impulsive dining choices on this trip (failing to utilize Yelp) and we have mostly paid the price dearly for that transgression of “Foodie Law”.  There are plenty of appealing options nearby so it can be blamed a touch on time constraints but largely on sheer laziness.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel

The bride and the father of the bride make the walk.

Mount Snow Golf Club: Wedding Garden

Meagan and Steve at the altar.

The ladies wearing their sun dresses are “winning the game” today as the males sporting wool are not enjoying the 88 Fahrenheit degree weather.

David in his new Ben Sherman Camden Suit

Bella looks fantastic in that dress; one of my favorites on her.  The heat is unbearable so we hide indoors as I refresh with my old skool Vodka Collins beverage.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel

The reception hall for dinner and dancing and — “cornhole”?

Grand Summit Resort Hotel:  Reception

The friends of the bride and groom made this for them as a wedding gift.

Cousin Barbara plays cornhole…

The bride and groom cut the cake.

Grand Summit Resort Hotel: Reception hall

We enjoy a farewell breakfast with the bride and groom.  They serve local coffee roaster Pierce Brother’s java and it’s pretty good.

On our drive to a Connecticut winery Bella and I tear up a pint of Wilcox’s (local company) Maple Walnut ice cream which I bought at Snow Mountain Market.  It has less walnuts and less creaminess than Friendly’s so I let the Elf hammer it.

Historic Deerfield Massachusetts:  Stebbins House

If you want to tour a classic New England town where you can view the interiors, this is it.

Historic Deerfield Massachusetts…

Historic Deerfield Massachusetts…

Historic Deerfield Massachusetts…

Historic Deerfield Massachusetts…

We drive past the The Yankee Candle Company (stores.yankeecandle.com/massachusetts/south-deerfield-ma) also located in Deerfield, MA.  Thelma says it’s a great place to visit during Christmas time.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard: Pomfret, Connecticut

Sharpe Hill Vineyard (sharpehill.com) is definitely off the beaten path but it makes for a very fun afternoon.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Surrounding area of the winery.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

The vineyards and back lawn…

Uncle Pete on the winery backyard lawn.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Dad and Trish on the winery’s back lawn.  We have really lucked out with heat and humidity mostly being absent on our East Coast vacation.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

The winery’s staff serve vino at your table.  If you’re a California resident and you tour the best regions in the state you will not be overly enthused here by the wine but the collective experience is worth it if you’re in the area.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard: Attic dining room

Bella, Dad, Thelma, Kathy and Jean at our table in the winery’s attic.  A very cool experience indeed.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

My Delmonico rib-eye steak.  It wasn’t quite perfectly cooked but was definitely above average in quality and tasty.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard

Lamb chops with mint jelly sauce.

Sharpe Hill Vineyard: Wall art

A tree wall mural in the attic (incorporating the window).

Me and my dad…

Abandoned Factory: Torrington, CT

Most of Thelma’s family worked here before it shut down many, many years ago…

Abandoned Factory: Torrington, CT

On our flight from Hartford, CT to Detroit, MI, Detroit Tigers pitching coach AJ Sager was on our flight.

See below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Sager

Illy’s Cafe: Detroit, MI

Since we have nearly a three-hour layover in Detroit I might as well enjoy it.  Who knew Detroit was all about the Italians?   🙂

THE END!