It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm, toasty, juicy, and satisfying, you can mix and match any root veg with an array of spices and flavorings to trick you into thinking you're eating something rich and sinful. I took a walk through Brooklyn's McCarren Park Greenmarket on Saturday and was immediately drawn to the vibrant orange carrots from Garden of Eve Farm. Parked right next door was Nature's Way Farm, with all of its delicious local honeys and honey products. The perfect (and absolute simplest) recipe came to mind: Honey Roasted Carrots. I grabbed a bunch of carrots ($4) and a honey bear jar of honey ($6.25) and I had everything I needed! You won't believe how easy this recipe is... INGREDIENTS: 1 bunch whole carrots, peeled salt & pepper to taste approx. 2 tbsp honey (you may use more or less for desired sweetness) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil INSTRUCTIONS: Preheat oven to 350F. Place washed and peeled whole carrots onto a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat carrots evenly and spread them out into a single layer. Drizzle the surface of the carrots with honey. Bake until desired tenderness, 40 - 50 minutes. Cooking up these honey-roasted carrots will surely inspire you to get out there and support these amazing farmers who bring you fresh, flavorful carrots, sweet sticky honey, and
It always feels like there is a very short period after that Thanksgiving feast where you can rest and fill up on detoxifying veggies and wholesome foods in preparation for the onslaught of holiday cookies, cocktail hours, treats, and sweets that descend upon you each December. I try to take advantage of the wintry assortment of vegetables the NYC Greenmarkets have to offer this time of year. My go-to dish is roasted root vegetables. Warm,
There's no better time than summer to get out there and plan an outdoor adventure! Did you know that exciting treasure hunts await just outside your door? One amazing way to get out there and explore your surrounding areas -- the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains, Finger Lakes and more -- is geocaching. Haven't tried geocaching before? Geocaching.com, guide to all things geocache, defines the game as a "real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location." It's simple! Sign up at Geocaching.com -- even simpler, download the Geocaching App -- and you can follow virtual treasure maps wherever you are to uncover clues and items planted in plain sight all around you. You can even make a day trip or weekend getaway out of it! Need inspiration? We've got you covered... Take Metro-North Railroad up to Westchester County and explore the number of hidden geocaches in the area. Maybe even leave your own! Rent a car near the Croton Harmon train station and explore the area, which is rich with agriculture, sweeping landscapes and farms to visit. While enjoying your treasure hunt, stop by and visit Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center -- bucolic, 187-acre farm with pastures, crop gardens, historic buildings and forests dating to the 1600s. Pick vegetables, have a picnic, and hike the woodland trails! After that, head a couple miles down the road to out Meadows Farm and load up on sweet corn, fresh vegetables and herbs at their farm stand to take home with you. Finish up your adventure at Faraway Farm Alpacas -- located on a beautiful hilltop farm. You can schedule a visit to meet the alpacas and friendly Icelandic horses. Learn about
There’s no better time than summer to get out there and plan an outdoor adventure! Did you know that exciting treasure hunts await just outside your door? One amazing way to get out there and explore your surrounding areas — the Hudson Valley, Catskill Mountains, Finger Lakes and more — is geocaching. Haven’t tried geocaching before? Geocaching.com, guide to all things geocache, defines the game as a “real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices.
Get excited, Greenmarket goers! Warmer days have arrived, which means EscapeMaker's monthly market visits are about to commence. We'll be posted up in markets a few times a month across Manhattan and Brooklyn from April through the end of October. Stop by, say hello and let us help you plan your next weekend getaway! Check out our full schedule below. APRIL: Thursday, April 27th at Columbia Friday, April 28th at Union Square Saturday, April 29th at McCarren Park MAY: Thursday, May 11th at Columbia Friday, May 12th at Union Square Thursday, May 18th at Tucker Square JUNE: Friday, June 9th at Union Square Saturday, June 10th at McCarren Park 28th at Union Square Friday, June 16th -- EscapeMaker's County Fair Jamboree at Union Square JULY: Thursday, July 27th at Tucker Square Friday, July 28th at Union Square Saturday, July 29th at McCarren Park AUGUST: Thursday, August 10th at Columbia Friday, August 11th at Union Square Saturday, August 12th at McCarren Park SEPTEMBER: Friday, September 15th -- EscapeMaker's Apple Palooza at Union Square Thursday, September 21st at Columbia Friday, September 22nd at Union Square OCTOBER: Friday, October 20th at Union Square Thursday, October 26th at Columbia Friday, October 27th at Union Square For additonal info and maps/directions to the various GrowNYC Greenmarkets across New York City, visit www.grownyc.org/greenmarket.
Get excited, Greenmarket goers! Warmer days have arrived, which means EscapeMaker’s monthly market visits are about to commence. We’ll be posted up in markets a few times a month across Manhattan and Brooklyn from April through the end of October. Stop by, say hello and let us help you plan your next weekend getaway! Check out our full schedule below. APRIL: Thursday, April 27th at Columbia Friday, April 28th at Union Square Saturday, April 29th
Women's History Month may be coming to a close, but the celebration of women cannot and should not be limited to one month out of the year. This evergreen celebration is as important now as it has ever been, and for those of you looking for special ways to remember and honor strong females past and present, we've got a few ideas for you...day trips, weekend getaways and the perfect spring escapes! Plan a getaway to the Finger Lakes to visit the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, NY. The Hall of Fame is the nation's oldest membership organization dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements of great American women, including inspirations like Maya Angelou, Julia Child, Hilary Rodham Clinton, Betty Ford, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Helen Keller, Coretta Scott King, Annie Oakley, Rosa Parks, Janet Reno, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, Edith Wharton, Oprah Winfrey and so many more. Make a whole weekend out of it by booking EscapeMaker's Craft Beverage Package in the Finger Lakes! Discover New York State's Women's Heritage Trail, filled with historic sites and museums that celebrate the achievements and history of women in NY. Visit the Hudson Valley's Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Dutchess County; the Matilda Joslyn Gage Home just outside of Syracuse, celebrating Gage who was a noted speaker and writer on woman’s suffrage, and an abolitionist; the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Museum in Chautauqua County; or visit the national historic landmark, the Susan B. Anthony House, in Rochester. Or, celebrate women in agriculture by visiting some of the female-led farms and producers across the state and in New York's citywide Greenmarkets. Meet two of the Hudson Valley's finest: Elizabeth Ryan of Breezy Hill Orchard in Dutchess County and Beth Linskey of Beth's Farm Kitchen in Columbia County;
Women’s History Month may be coming to a close, but the celebration of women cannot and should not be limited to one month out of the year. This evergreen celebration is as important now as it has ever been, and for those of you looking for special ways to remember and honor strong females past and present, we’ve got a few ideas for you…day trips, weekend getaways and the perfect spring escapes! Plan a getaway
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.soukupfarms.com Finger Lakes, New York: Wellspring Forest Farm & School Maple Weekend: 3/18-3/19 www.wellspringforestfarm.com Catskills, New York: Roxbury Mountain Maple Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.roxburymountainmaple.com Vermont: Smugglers’ Notch Resort MapleFest: 3/18 – 4/2 www.smuggs.com/maple Woodstock Village Green Maple Madness: 3/25 – 3/26 www.woodstockvt.com/upcoming-events St. Albans, VT Vermont Maple Festival: 4/28-4/30 www.vtmaplefestival.org Town of Poultney MapleFest Craft Fair: 3/25-3/26 www.poultneyvt.com Sugarhouses Statewide Maple Open House: 3/25-3/26 www.vermontmaple.org/openhouse
DID YOU KNOW over half of the country’s maple syrup comes from Vermont and New York State? Celebrate the maple sugaring season this March at a Maple Weekend, Open House or festival near you via Amtrak, Metro-North, Zipcar or bus! Hudson Valley, New York: Crown Maple at Madava Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.crownmaple.com White Oak Farm + Hilltop Hanover Farm Maple Weekends: 3/18-3/19 & 3/25-3/26 www.whiteoakfarm1.com Soukup Farms Maple Weekends:
EscapeMaker.com will partner with Dutchess Tourism Inc. to run popular Farm Fresh Tours program with Metro-North Railroad through 2017. EscapeMaker.com, NYC’s guide to local getaways since 2000, announced today that it has secured a contract with Dutchess Tourism, Inc. to administer the development and operation of their successful Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tours program through 2017. For 10 years, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. has operated the Farm Fresh Tours program, which offers guided day trips to local farms and producers in and around Dutchess County by providing bus shuttle service to train passengers arriving at Metro-North stations in Poughkeepsie and Beacon, among others. The objective has long been to encourage car-less travelers to hop on a train from New York City and spend a day exploring local agriculture, a driving economic force and way of life in the Hudson Valley. Many Dutchess farms are family-owned and welcome visitors to “pick-your-own” produce, make purchases from their farm stands, or join them during family-oriented festivals. Apple picking, wine making, visiting breweries or learning about cheese making are all examples of agritourism, which supports local farmers and producers. “One of our major focuses for the past several years has been to seamlessly connect the dots between customers eager to learn about where their food comes from and the local farmers who work tirelessly to produce goods to the region,” says Caylin Sanders, founder and CEO of EscapeMaker.com. “Having worked with the amazing team at Dutchess Tourism for 12 years and with our expertise for bringing New Yorkers out of the city to experience the endless offerings of the Hudson Valley, jumping at the opportunity to take over the program was an obvious and organic choice for us. Our missions are aligned.” EscapeMaker.com will continue to offer many of the existing farm and destination itineraries,
EscapeMaker.com will partner with Dutchess Tourism Inc. to run popular Farm Fresh Tours program with Metro-North Railroad through 2017. EscapeMaker.com, NYC’s guide to local getaways since 2000, announced today that it has secured a contract with Dutchess Tourism, Inc. to administer the development and operation of their successful Dutchess County Farm Fresh Tours program through 2017. For 10 years, Dutchess Tourism, Inc. has operated the Farm Fresh Tours program, which offers guided day trips to
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar on snow,” and compare a variety of syrups at a maple tasting bar. The event kicks off the 2017 series of agritourism-themed events designed to promote Greenmarket farmers, producers and winemakers within a day’s drive or train ride of New York City. EscapeMaker will be on hand with general agritourism info on how to visit farms, farm stores, breweries and wineries whether by car, bus, ZipCar, Metro-North Railroad or by Amtrak. Beginning at 10am, market-goers can listen to live music, watch maple-inspired cooking demos, and enjoy free samples of a variety of local maple products from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. There will also be an opportunity to learn about agritourism getaways through literature and conversations with the representatives from a number of tourism regions. Attendees can find information about Maple Weekends via Amtrak in Vermont, craft beverage trails in the Finger Lakes, charming bed & breakfast stays in the Hudson Valley, Farm Fresh Tours via Metro-North Railroad in Dutchess County, and more. “We’re thrilled to be back for our second year of special agritourism-themed events with GrowNYC,” said Caylin Sanders, President and Founder of EscapeMaker.com since 2000. “Our 2016 events were a huge success in terms of interacting with Greenmarket shoppers, providing agritourism education and inspiring local getaways and vacation packages. We look forward to building upon that enhanced shopping experience – beginning with
Shoppers at GrowNYC’s Union Square Greenmarket will be greeted with a special treat on March 17th, 2017 when EscapeMaker.com, New York’s guide to local getaways and farm escapes, hosts its second annual Maple Fest. The event will run from 10am – 4pm on the north side of the square and will feature maple product samples, dancing maple trees, competing pancakes and more. Attendees will get to taste maple yogurt, maple candy, icy local treat “sugar
It's the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country's maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with the days getting warmer, now is the time to start planning for your escapes to the long list of sugarhouses within reach. Vermont is the nation’s leading producer of maple syrup. Producing over 1.3 million gallons of syrup, Vermont generates 42% of the country’s maple syrup from more than 1,500 sugar houses statewide. In 2014, Vermont produced 1,230,000 gallons of the sweet, sticky goodness. Vermont Maple Open House Weekend takes place this year on March 25-26. The sites and activities at the many sugarhouses in the region range from tours to pancake breakfasts to maple tapping demonstrations to samples of maple syrup, candy, creams and more. Check out some hot spots like Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm, Corse Maple Farm, or Green Mountain Sugar House...or get the full list of all participating Vermont sugarhouses here and plan your maple weekend escape! New York is second leader in maple production in the USA, following Vermont. In 2014, New York produced 546,000 gallons of maple syrup, which makes up over 17% of the entire country's supply. With locations at approximately 160 farms and museums, Maple Weekend across New York State takes place March 18-19 and March 25-26. Visitors will find sugarhouse tours, free samples, activities and so much more! Check out Roxbury Mountain Maple in the Catskills (Sullivan County), or the Hudson Valley's White Oak Farm (Westchester County),
It’s the sweetest time of the year, EscapeMakers! Every spring for a few short weeks, maple sugarmakers across the Northeast open the doors of their sugarhouses for maple weekends, inviting visitors to discover the sweet flavors and traditions involved in making maple syrup. Between Vermont and New York State, more than half of the country’s maple syrup production takes place just a train ride away from NYC via Metro North Railroad or Amtrak! And with
