Tag Archives: Travel

Dr. Sue NY Times Travel Show 2018 Positive Entertainment

The New York Times Travel Show is packed with dreams of adventure! You can snap a photo with a costumed Mayan from Guatemala. Or reserve your plane, ship or plane (with a travel show discount) for a vacation spot where the weather suits your clothes. Pack a bikini for a tropical resort … or thermal underwear for the North or South Poles!

Don’t forget your walking shoes. Come climb with me to the top of an ancient Mayan temple/tomb in Belize, Central America! You can spice up relationships by traveling as a couple, or spend time as a family. Or (if you’re solo) make new friends and save money on a singles supplement (SinglesTravelInternational.com). You can luxuriate in the newly renovated Gran Hotel in Costa Rica (hotelselite.com). You can find a travel agent (WTH.com), travel with a professor (travelingprofessor.com) cruise the Caribbean Sea – or C.U. in C.U.B.A.!

You can take Metro North or drive along the Hudson River to Teatown, NY for an Eagle Fest (Teatown.org/EagleFest)! You can sip and sample your way through the Finger Lakes Wine Country in New York State (FLXWineCountry.com). You can book World Heritage Tours to Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Middle East (WorldHeritageTours.com). You can tour Morocco or attend a World Music Festival (visitMorocco.com)! Or stay right here in the Big Apple by celebrating Caribbean Week in NYC (June 2-8, 2018 – Caribtourism.com) You can even couch-travel and watch Cable TV Travel show (CreateTV.com/Travel) Near or far – where ever you are – the New York Times Travel Show will whet your appetite for wanderlust!

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Book: “Queens of Comedy” (Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, and more!) www.smashwords.com/books/view/219367 Musical: “SssWitch”: www.ssswitch.net www.YouTube.com/drsuecomedian https://www.youtube.com/feed/my_videos

Dr. Sue Lake Hopatcong Cruises Positive Entertainment

Lake Hopatcong Cruises

How’d you like to take a break on a lovely lake – with wining, dining, and mansion views? If New Jersey’s greenery, gorgeous scenery, or a floating feast amuses – then book lunch, dinner, cocktails and more on Lake Hopatcong Cruises. If I got a bit carried away with show-tune style rhymes, it’s because many of those mansions we sailed past were built by Broadway stars. In fact, our boat/ aka floating dining room “Miss Lotta” was named for Lotta Crabtree – a successful, wealthy vaudeville headliner.

Dr. Sue on
Lake Hopatcong

Once you climb on board “Miss Lotta” (the boat, not the lady), you’ll enjoy a two-hour narrated architectural/nature cruise. There are vintage and modern homes, boathouses, condos and bungalows. We even spotted an eagle nesting in a tree! There’s a full bar (cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks) and delicious buffet (lunch, brunch, and/or snacks for cocktail hour. The staff is friendly, courteous, and very attentive. (While I was outside exploring the upper and lower boat decks, my waitress “Cupcake” set me up for a second mimosa.) Lake Hopatcong is located in a state park in Morris County, New Jersey. (The nearest semi-big towns are Morristown and Hackettstown, NJ) – about an hour from Manhattan (in weekend morning traffic). It’s a long time since “Hopatcong” was named by the Native Americans, who may have been able to follow those twists and turns down to the lake – so turn on your GPS and Google Maps. (Type in 37 Nolan’s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849.) Reservations strongly advised (our cruise was packed). For more information and to book your cruise, visit the Lake Hopatcong Cruises on the web: http://lakehopatcongcruises.com/. Creative Living by Dr. Sue: You Deserve a Break – On or Off a Lake Why wait till you have the time and money for a major vacation? Plan a mini-cation that fits your pocketbook. Cruise a lake or local hotspots for relaxation and fun! (Photo of Dr. Sue by Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Dr. Sue: Coffee & Tea Festival NYC Positive Entertainment

Cup for Education with Dr. Sue Horowitz

“I love coffee, I love tea, I love the java jive and it loves me…” (“Java Jive” by Milton Drake & Ben Oakland). If you’re looking for a cuppa caffeine, an herbal serene, or an entertaining scene, you’ll hum, jive & come alive at the annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC at the 69th Regiment Armory – listed as one of the “Ten Best New York Events.” Perked up by morning cappuccino ($25 for VIP tickets – early entry plus swag-bags) we bought raffle tickets for “Cup for Education” – a non-profit company that supports educational projects in poor, coffee-growing areas. (All donations go to the local communities – the staff is all-volunteer.)

Tea Fields with Dr. Sue Horowitz & Erica Morrison

Prizes included goodies from vendors – established tea brands like Red Rose/Salada plus newcomers like “A Gift of Tea” – which makes “Tea Fields” – a tea-infused, shea body butter which my skin is drinking in along with my morning cuppa. Coffees range from local – like Toby’s Estate, a Brooklyn roasters/espresso bar and New York Gourmet Coffee (“Fuhgeddaboudit!”) to major brands like A&P’s Eight O’Clock coffee. Ancillary products include Nektar’s crystalized honey (non-sticky) and chapstick, Stevia (organic, and non-caloric sweetener) and glass tea pots, warmed by tea candles – even sea-salted chocolate samples by Salazon and vegan ice cream from Alchemy in Long Island City. This weekend’s festival (produced by Starfish Junction) was sold out in advance – including the VIP tickets. But there’s always next year – plus many other shows at this Armory. The 69th Regiment has a history going back to the Civil War, so have a cuppa coffee, tea, and history! Creative Living: Swag-bags are fun, but here’s the real perk – caffeine (in moderation) actually reduces your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia and helps you live longer. Supporting charities like “Cup for Education” makes you feel better about your life – so do good, be well, and spend some dough on a cup of joe (and tea). (Editor/Photographer: Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Dr. Sue New York Times Travel Show Positive Entertainment

Win a Cruise @NY Times Travel Show

The annual New York Times Travel Show has something for everyone: from fantasy vacations to a fun afternoon! You can vacation globally (Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, Antarctica)! You stay-cation in NYC with a Broadway Show, Dining Certificate & Parking Voucher with ManhattanClub.com You can spin a wheel and win a deal (a cruise for two) at GetReadyToCruise.com

You can book a cruise or cruise with books with RoadScholar.org , EnrichmentVoyages.org , or SemesteratSea.org (learning & adventure for savvy seniors or college students). You can time-travel through New York State via ILoveNY.com/PathThroughHistory,. You can climb-travel in the Himalayas or a fiberglass wall at the Javits Center. (The wall is a good place to drop off the kids – but fasten that safety harness – unless you really want to drop them off!) You can climb into a bikini at a resort pool… or climb into a martini at a midtown Manhattan bistro…

Sue “Dr. Sue” Horowitz (Vocalist) & Rick Bogart (Clarinet) Perform Jazz Standards, Romantic Songs & Clever Parodies Broadway Thai Restaurant 241 West 51^st Street (btwn Broadway-8^th Ave) NYC Saturday/Sunday Nights (212) 226-4565, No Cover. Thai & American Food & Drinks are delicious (and reasonable) Creative Living: Live Your Vacation Dream – You can’t take it with you – but you can take a plane, train, bus, boat or taxi to wherever you imagine! So as the song goes, “Pack up all your cares and woes…” and go for it! (Editor/Photographer: Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Dr. Sue Travel New Orleans & NYC Positive Entertainment

Like a rich gumbo (New Orleans ) or Manhattan clam chowder (New York), big cities can be spiced for every palate: from fantasy wild to family mild. There’s no way to summarize their delights in one blog, but here’s a taster’s menu. Red Fish Grill: “Friends don’t let friends eat frozen fish” is the motto of this Bourbon Street restaurant, which serves only fresh-caught fish in an ambiance of artworks by local artist Luis Colmenares. Here I am displaying my catch: a metal sculpture of a fish by Colmenares. (By the way the meal was much tastier – and easier to cut!) Wear and Buy a Mask – or admire one in a Mardi Gras parade, shop, or museum. The carnival season lasts from January 6 (or “Twelfth Night”) through Mardi Gras (translated from the French as “Fat Tuesday.” Mardi is traditionally the last day of feasting before Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent). A variety of krewes (clubs) create and ride on themed floats, fling “throws” (beads and trinkets) at the crowds lining the parade route, wear costumes, and/or sponsor balls all season long. Even out of season, you can catch the flavor at Mardi Gras World! It’s a unique museum/warehouse/studio – with a fabulous book/gift shop! Artists design the sculpted decorations for the next festival season. They also provide decorations for casinos and theme parks all over the world!

Explore the French Quarter . You’ll find everything from street musicians to strip joints. Some of Bourbon Street is on the seamy side, but other parts of the Le Vieux Quartier (The Old Quarter) offer courtyards with splashing fountains and hundred-year-old houses that suggest New Orleans green, purple and gold theme colors in muted, vintage hues. You can pump up the volume at jazz clubs (the spirit of Louis Armstrong and other jazz greats lives on!) grab a chicory coffee and a beignet (doughnut) at Cafe Beignet; ride a river boat right out of Kern/Hammerstein’s musical “Showboat”); board a trolley (think “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Tennessee Williams’ classic play set in New Orleans); or catch an outdoor tumbling act with multi-ethnic audience participation and equal opportunity ribbing. What to Eat: New Orleans is famous for its cuisine. Here are a few favorites: Marriott Marquis Downtownn – this unexpected gem is tucked away near the Convention Center in Warehouse District, an up-and-coming neighborhood of art galleries and museums. Marriott jazzes up its menu with local cuisine (gumbo, jambalaya), and the health-conscious traveler can keep it light with fish and salads. My favorites were the bouillabaisse (fish stew) and wintergreen salad with blackberries. One rainy afternoon, the lobby featured an “action station” where chefs put their twist on hot buttered shrimp over grits with a cocktail called a “blonde hurricane”! New Orleans in New York City! Sue “Dr. Sue” Horowitz (Vocalist) & Rick Bogart (Clarinet/Musical Director) Perform Jazz Standards, Romantic Songs & Funny Parodies Broadway Thai Restaurant 241 West 51^st Street (btwn Broadway-8^th Ave) NYC Saturday/Sunday Nights (212) 226-4565, No Cover. Rick is from New Orleans, so enjoy a taste of Dixie in NYC! A Bientot (See you soon)! Creative Living: Visit New Orleans – or live a your own version of its life style by eating fabulous food and celebrating your culture and heritage! Festivate! – it’s a fantasy word – but just like wearing a mask, sometimes it’s fun to play with fantasy. (You can always remove the mask, ditch the glitter, and return – refreshed – to the daily grind – especially if it’s New Orleans chicory coffee!) (Photos by Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.

Dr. Sue Travel Mini-Cation Positive Entertainment

Brunch with Sue

Between a vacation and stay-cation is a mini-cation – a short vacation with a minimum of packing and mileage. It’s a chance to get away from computers, cleaning, cooking, kids or whatever constitutes your daily scene and upgrade your routine. Instead of hosting a dinner and dealing with sleepover arrangements, mini-cations offer a low-stress, high-fun way to connect with out-of-town friends and family. Many hotels offer dining with a great weekend brunch (often an all-you-can-eat buffet) for hotel guests and locals. A buffet brunch (like the one at the Nassau Marriott) is an easy way to celebrate special occasions – without a huge price tag or the need to negotiate special diets and different sized appetites. Tables can usually be re-arranged for singles, couples, and large groups . Away from urban centers, there is ample parking for overnight and dining guests – a big plus for car-owners and buses.

Pool

Another plus is swimming – many hotels feature pools (outdoor and/or indoor). If you didn’t drop off the kids, you can always drop them in the pool. Mer-folks – like Ariel (the little mermaid) and me – love an all-season dip. We can swim, dry off, and dine in style without going out into the cold – just wrap up in a robe or towel and change for dinner. What happens to that towel? No problem! One lovely perk of mini-cations is that someone else picks up the towels, scrubs the tub, and makes the bed! As for local activities, most hotels are located near museums, movie-plexes, and theatres plus shopping – upscale, downscale, and everything in-between. (One clothing store was so upscale, all I could afford was a christening gown – and how often does a Jewish girl wear that?) As a mer-lady (without fish scales), I settled for a swim cap – for my next mini-cation! Creative Living: Give Yourself a Break: You may not have the time or cash for a major vacation, but a weekend, overnight, or day-cation treat can recharge your batteries and enlarge your point of view! (Editor/Photographer: Jay Berman)

Susan (“Dr. Sue”) Horowitz, Ph.D.