Scenic Trails and Lobster Tails: A Weekend in Maine

After a recent trip to Portland, Maine to see my cousin graduate from Bates College, I was left wondering how I'd gotten this far in life without visiting before.  Not only is Maine a mere hour flight from the city, but it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  Seriously, sell one of your Hamptons share weekends and do Maine instead.  When you bite into your first lobster roll, you'll thank me! 

Here's how to do Maine in one weekend:

1.  Fly into Portland on Friday after work.  Rent a car and drive straight to Port Elizabeth and watch the sun set around the iconic Portland Head Light as you stroll along the water. 

2.  Have dinner in Portland at Street & Co. and consume massive amounts of deliciously fresh seafood.  After dinner, stroll through the cobblestone streets of downtown Portland and grab a beer at a local brewery along the water.   At the end of the night, head home to your lovely rented house along the water in Freeport (a pretty area and centrally located for all of your weekend adventures).  

3.  On Saturday morning, drive to the Freeport Farmer's  Market.  Sample cheeses and pet people's dogs while listening to the folk band play.  From here, head to Harpswell and hike the Cliff Trail.  You'll start with a scenic walk through the forest along a river, and slowly ascend the mountain.  Don't spend the entire time on your phone Googling what to do if you see a bear...just enjoy your walk.  When you get to the top, you're rewarded with stunning water views.  This is a good time to eat some trail mix and just admire the views.   

4.  By this point you'll be craving more lobster, so head to Estes Lobster House, right on the water in downtown Harpswell.  Everything is really cheap and you just burned a thousand calories, so don't be afraid to go big.  I suggest the Lobster Roll, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and Lobster and Crab Dip.  Afterwards, check out the adorable town of Brunswick, which is on your way home to Freeport.  If you have room for more seafood, eat dinner at Eventide, a new oyster bar in Portland.  There's also a fancy burger place called Duck Fat, and for sushi, try Yosaku (which involves sitting on the ground on pillows!).   After dinner, take in some tunes at country music bar Bonfire. 

5.  On Sunday morning, drive north about 45 minutes to Nezinscot Farm in Turner and have a delicious, locally-sourced brunch while petting animals.  If you don't have time for that, grab brunch in Portland at Silly's.  

6.  Drive back to the airport and fly home in time to pull your life together before Monday.  Hopefully, it won't be as traumatic as usual because you'll be so invigorated by all the fresh air and lobster.   

Portland Head Light

Cape Elizabeth

Portland Head Light

Cape Elizabeth

Portland Head Light

Cape Elizabeth

Brewery

Portland

Harpswell

Freeport Farmers Market

Freeport

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Cliff Trail

Harpswell

Estes Lobster House

Harpswell

Estes Lobster House

Harspwell

Estes Lobster House

Harpswell

Is London the new New York?

For those New Yorkers who have ever had the dreadful thought - "what if I ever get sick of the city?" - the knowledge that London exists should be more than adequate consolation.  London is basically an older, more refined New York.  You'll get all the hustle and bustle of New York, except that the buildings are more beautiful and the people speak in fancy accents.  

Just like New York, London can be broken down into neighborhoods with varying degrees of hipness, two of which are reassuringly named Soho and Chelsea.  You'll need reservations at the best restaurants, you'll wait an hour to eat brunch on Saturday morning, and you'll need to weasel your way into Chiltern Firehouse (an Andre Balazs property) just like you would at Acme.  

Truth be told, spending a weekend in London is a lot like spending a weekend in Manhattan, except everything is new since you're a tourist.  Summer is a great time to visit because the weather is nice and the city is not very crowded, since everyone is away playing croquet at large, tangentially royal estates.  If you should be invited out to the countryside, then you should stop reading here because you're obviously going to do that.  If you'll be spending the weekend in the city amidst the British summer interns, then please consult my list below of city highlights.  (Note: In London, neighborhoods are more spread out and cabs are quite expensive, so you'll want to minimize jumping around.  I'm providing itineraries for what I consider to be the three best neighborhoods: Notting Hill, Chelsea and Mayfair).

Notting Hill: Have brunch at Granger & Co or 202 before an afternoon of shopping on Portobello Road Market.  Relax afterwards with a pint at Mall Tavern, and for dinner try The Shed or current hot spot West Thirty Six.  Afterwards, get drinks at Rum Kitchen.  

Chelsea: Eat brunch or lunch at Bluebird (a neighborhood institution) or the Chelsea Farmer's Market, before shopping along Kings Road. Grab fish and chips at gastropub Admiral Codington and al fresco drinks at the Phene.  Head to Jak's on Walton Street for dinner, and Raffles for nightlife. 

Mayfair: Have lunch at Cecconi's and afternoon champagne tea at the iconic Wolseley.  For dinner, go to Berner's Tavern (inside the Edition Hotel) or Pachamama.  Go out to Chiltern Firehouse or, if you can find a member to take you, the Arts Club or Lulu's.

Other main attractions: Shopping at Harrods, V&A Museum, British Museum, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, the National Gallery, Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park, Holland Park, Regent's Park.  

Hyde Park

Portobello Road Markets

Portobello Road Markets

Chiltern Firehouse

Knightsbridge

Knightsbridge

Bluebird

Chelsea

South Kensington

V&A Museum

V&A Museum

South Kensington

South Kensington

South Kensington

Admiral Codington

Fish and Chips at Admiral Codington

The Berkley Hotel

Holland Park

Holland Park

Holland Park

The peacocks of Holland Park are protected by the Queen. 

Holland Park

Holland Park

The peacocks of Holland Park are protected by the Queen. 

Gerner's Tavern

At the Edition Hotel. 

Gerner's Tavern

At the Edition Hotel. 

Gerner's Tavern

At the Edition Hotel. 

Gerner's Tavern

At the Edition Hotel. 

Gerner's Tavern

At the Edition Hotel. 

Edition Hotel

The Berkley

A special thanks to Kat Kaplan for her tips and suggestions, which were instrumental to my weekend in London and this article.  

Les Bergeries de Piscia

Driving to this hotel from the airport in Figaro, I thought someone was playing a joke on me.  Following the route suggested by Googlemaps, we ascended a mountain for what seemed like ages, navigating twists and turns and fearfully observing the landscape become increasingly rugged and wild.  When the paved road came to an end and there was no hotel in sight, we considered turning back.  Placing all of our trust in technology, we continued forward, bumping along the dirt road and scraping past uncleared branches.    

When we finally saw signs for Les Bergeries de Piscia, it was like seeing a mirage after hours in the desert.  We parked the car, and as we followed the signs to the hotel's entrance, we were delighted by exotic wildflowers, cactus and butterflies fluttering around our heads.  The understated but chic hotel grounds compliment, while not overshadowing, the rugged landscape,  while a turquoise infinity pool, perched dramatically on the edge of the mountain, provides a welcome reminder that, at last, you've reached civilization.  

The restaurant, like the hotel's landscaping and decor, is elegant while remaining authentic and unimposing.  There is no menu, table decorations or wait staff.  When you're hungry, simply take a seat in the rustic dining room and the chef will fill you in on what is on the menu for the day (though it will likely include local boar, goat cheese and fig preserves).  

The unparalleled tranquility of this rustic hotel provides an unexpected compliment to your your Corsican beach weekend and is surely worth a visit, even if only for lunch a quick dip in the pool!

The Perfect Picnic at Storm King

Located just an hour north of the city, in the lower Hudson Valley, Storm King is a magical sculpture park set amidst green pastures, rolling hills, and tranquil lakes.  Home to over a hundred works by some of the foremost sculptures of our time, Storm King is the perfect place to picnic on a sunny spring, summer or fall day.  Bring a bottle of wine and spend the day lolling on sculpture and skipping through meadows.   

Getting there: Coach USA buses depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd and 8th, 3rd Floor at 8:30am and 10am, and arrive at Storm King at 9:55am and 11:25am, respectively.  You can also take New Jersey Transit/MetroNorth from Penn Station to the Salisbury Mills train station, which is a three mile taxi ride from Storm King.  If you're driving, the address is 1 Museum Road, New Windsor, NY 12553.  Zipcar Members get a two-for-one admission to Storm King and a discount on Storm King Memberships ( membership@stormkingartcenter.org)

Hours: April 1 - October 1, Wednesdays - Sundays, 10am - 5:30pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Admission: $15