Storm King Cafe+Jones Farm 06-09-2013

Location: Storm King Art Center 1 Museum Rd, New Windsor, NY
              Jones Farm & Country Store 190 Angola Rd Cornwall, NY
People: RB, CK and myself

Feelings: After about an hour drive and denying the temptations of Woodbury Commons, Storm King Art Center, an open-air sculpture preserve welcomes you with the works of modern masters like Isamu Noguchi and Richard Serra. It is an ideal place for a little urban escape especially if you go during the non cicada invasion season. We unfortunately picked the day when the cicadas were busy mating, flying and dying everywhere.

The admission is $12 (kids under five are free), and if you are not much of a hiker or walker, the trams are available as well as bikes. Many people pack a picnic, but the small outdoor cafe on the premise offers decent beverages and food with organic ingredients. PB&J ($3.95, Natural Bazzini peanut butter with Oregon raspberry preserves on whole wheat bread) is fresh despite being a pre-made product sitting in the fridge. The lemonade ($3) is a perfect blend of tangy and sweet and a welcomed refreshment after a long walk under the sun.

RB's ham and cheese sandwich was tasty but dry, and the chibatta was a bit too hard for his liking.

After a nice day at Storm King, the family operated and owned since 1914, Jones Farm nearby is a perfect spot for fresh homemade baked goods and pretty good iced coffee with coffee ice cubes. Their fresh and moist apple cider donuts are a must. Grab a couple and sit at their outdoor benches.There are plenty of toys and nick-nack galore upstairs for Hudson Valley souvenirs as well.

Don't be alarm by their friendly chicken named Snowball. He will approach you, but he just wants to be cuddled.

Blue Hill Cafe at Stone Barns 03-29-2013

Location: 630 Bedford Rd. Pocantico Hills, NY
Time: 12pm
People: AR, CR, OR, CK and myself

Feelings: I am vain. Growing up in a large city in Japan means limited space/land availability, but it also means amazing food, beauty, culture, and plenty of eccentric people. I called the department stores my "backyard" and started drinking black, siphone coffee at the age of 11. My first heels were espadrilles at the age of 10, and I have always worn heels even in a snow storm or during my pregnancy as well as during the labor. My grandmother wore full make up and perfectly done hair in her deathbed, complaining about her dark aging spots on her cheek until she took her last breath. Needless to say, I have a very difficult time relating to many women outside of Japanese cities.

Stone Barns is a non-profit farm located in Hudson Valley and a home to the renowned farm-to-table restaurant, Blue Hill. "Farm" is a very scary word to a person like myself. But it turns out Stone Barns is quite urbanite friendly, and my 5.5 inch boots were easily able to handle any muddy spots.

This farm also runs as an educational center with a mission to promote local food and community based agriculture. It is a great way for kids to experience a working farm and see adorable baby lambs up close. Commence cute attacks.

Many people would not be able to afford to dine at Blue Hill restaurant, but the cafe is worth a stop and relatively reasonable. It is a small shop filled with delicious goodness like pastries, coffee, fruit and honey. The scone we tried was exceptional. With little crispy edges with soft inside, my anxiety over the farm was completely erased. I will definitely go back to this contained farm--more like Epcot of farming-- with higher heels next time.