Destination: Oklahoma City

Just got back from a fabulous 3 day trip to Oklahoma City. The Heartland Hospitality definitely lives up to it's reputation. I've never met a warmer, more friendly group of people.





I was there shooting video for a destination guide and I was actually pleasantly surprised with how much there is to see and do.

All kinds of ways to get your inner Cowboy going ... the western winds, the scent of leather, custom boots & chaps (I tried on a purple pair. You'll have to wait for the video to see that!), and the quintessential steakhouse, Cattlemens. Celebrating it's centennial in 2010, this restaurant has seen it's share of card games and Clint Eastwood-types. Smack dab right next to Oklahoma's Stockyard City, you're sure to get the freshest, tastiest steaks in the country while rubbing elbows with real cowboys. They don't call it Cattlemen's for nothin! If you're feelin ballsy, be sure to try their house specialty, Lamb Fries.

And the cuisine is not just all meat and potatoes, although the meat and potatoes are pretty darn good! I would also recommend having a slice of peach pizza and sipping homemade lemon cello and at Trattoria. The lemon cello was even better than I remember it in Sorrento, Italy. I swear!




The ultimate quencher and adventure for your tastebuds is Pops on Route 66. This cool little gas station in the middle of the road trip has over 500 types of soda including unusual flavors such as celery, jalapeno, and mint julep. It's difficult to choose just one fizzy drink. With all the many colors and flavors you've got to grab a six pack and fill 'er up.

Starting to notice a lot of food references here? It's a good thing I love running just as much as I love eating. One more for my sweet tooth ... Sara Sara Cupcakes. Our first night there we ordered a green tea cupcake an some coffee to enjoy on their front porch. It was the best comfort food and quiet ending to a long day of travel.


We also explored downtown OKC's hoppin art scene. We stood in awe of the largest collection of Chihuly Glass and enjoyed live music during Cocktails on the Skyline at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. You can also catch an independent film from the Sundance Institute Art House project at the restored historic Noble Theatre. Be sure to look up in awe of the Chihuly Waterford Crystal Chandelier in the theatre lobby.


One absolute "must see" is the National Memorial. This is something every American should make the trip to visit. An inspiring story of hope and survival weaved through thoughtful symbolism honoring those who were killed, those who survived, and those came to help in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building . The most memorable for me was the Survivor Tree. And gosh darnit I can't believe I didn't grab a picture of it! Probably because I was focusing on the video. Ah well. You'll just have to go see it live in person to experience it. After quiet reflection overlooking the Field of Empty Chairs, the Survivor Tree invokes a powerful feeling of strength and renewal that we all look for in our lives.


And there is so much more than I could possibly fit into one blog post. The Paseo Arts District and the unique and intimate dining experience at Paseo Grill. The beautifully renovated historic boutique Colcord Hotel. Rowing and cycling at the Chesapeake Boathouse. I loved Oklahoma City. The food, the culture, and most of all ... the people. Can't wait to visit again!

--Rachelle

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Summer Inspiration & Persperation

The hypnotizing hum of cicadas ...

the sweet smell of freshly cut grass and a burning charcoal grill ...

the bead of sweat that forms instantly on the nape of your neck ...

and the other one that rolls down small of your back
whenever you step outside between 10 and 4 ...

making it at two or three shower day ...

yes, summer is here.

I'm usually a water conserver and eco-friendly tree hugger all the way ... but the stickiness of summer leaves me with only two options.

A) Run the AC at full blast all day long making my house a comfortable 75 while condensation fogs up my windows in contrast with the steamy humidity outdoors. Thus ... eating up electricity.

B) Taking more than one show a day. Thus ... using up extra water.

I pick B. And I don't feel guilty about it with all the rain we've been having. A total of 8 days straight. My drought tolerant plants have bloated up and exploded ... making them just as slimy as the snails that are now eating them.

Now that I'm off my weather soapbox and done justifying my need for extra showers ...

I had to rearrange my schedule a little to shoot some video in Tampa. Can't really show off the "sunshine state" when the weather is behaving like Seattle. We were back down to the bay this week and one of our stops peaked my eco-interest.

Considering I've got a speech to give mid-June on the process of becoming green certified lodging and an article due to a local publication on the "green scene" ... any eco-friendly subject matter peaked my interest and the new Tampa History Center had some jaw dropping facts.

The most interesting to me was that the atrium's double-pane exterior windows are filled with argon gas, providing extra insulation and wind-resistance to inclement weather off the bay.

Neat.

They also recycled a lot of reusable material during construction, proving that it is not necessary to bulldoze and consume to create something fresh and new.

Guess I need to use this green spark of inspiration add a little perspiration and get some work done ... off to do some research ... and then to write.

--Rachelle

Spilled Lemonade and Rain

I recently was in a Wal-Mart Commercial for Montreal.

Boy, those French Canadian's certainly add some funk to this super store.

I'm in a brown shirt ... with crappy hair ... because the director didn't think that people that went to Wal-Mart should fix their hair ... or that it should just be messy and natural looking ... so despite the cool French VO and snappy music, I guess Wal-Mart has the same reputation in Canada.

At least they caught me smiling in the end without my "O" face for the rain and spilled lemonade. I got more wet on this set than you would at Sea World in the front row of Shamu's show.

Ah well. Enjoy.

Sharing Photos

Ugh! What a week?! I lost my camera cord ... which makes sharing photos an impossible task. I finally found it ... in an obvious place, of course ... and have been catching up.

It's funny, my grandmother was recently asking me why I don't send her pictures anymore or share them with her when I visit.

Hmm.

I guess I hadn't stopped to think about that in awhile. The generation gap between paper and digital.

I have tons of photos ...

on my laptop as a screen saver ...

my digital picture frame in my office ...

on my phone ...

on my website ...

on Facebook ...

And way too many more things to mention! Of course, nothing that she has access too. So I brought her over to my house one afternoon for some tea, popped open my laptop and introduced my grandmother to the digital age. She got to check out my cousin's profiles and photos on Facebook, take a look at my website and some commercials I had worked on and overall was just tickled pink.

She was amazed at how much technology can do ... and I guess it opened up my eyes to be more grateful that I'm alive and young to experience first hand this fast moving technological revolution.

--Rachelle

Confession

Okay. I have a confession.

I caught the flu bug last week. Now, I don't know if it was the "swine" flu ... but it hurt. It was achy. And Gross. I could do nothing but lay in bed for a couple of days. Which left me with only the option of eating saltines ... drinking gatorade ... and reading.

So read I did. More than I've ever read in such a short amount of time in my life. Three books. Over 500 pages each. In a week and a half. If only I had that kind of reading speed in high school or college! My imagination was obviously starved.

I resisted for so long. I thought it was just some juvenile teenage saga. I usually only read books on business topics. But I was hopelessly and helplessly sucked into the Twilight Series.

I guess it's just a girl thing to get hooked on a good forbidden-love-hunky-guy-hero story.

Ahile ago, I had discussed the possibility with a writer friend of mine of planning a writer's retreat at the cottages. Now I feel the need to wipe the dust of those plans and get it going! Wonder if they'd bring along any of the book cover models with them? A girl could hope ...

--Rachelle
www.TremainStreetCottages.com

Miles of Fun

Just got home from running the Corporate 5K in Orlando.

The event was HUGE ... 11,000 people walking, running and jogging along. There were beer tents and bagels, bananas, upbeat music getting people pumped up and going, live bands on street corners and downtown restaurants handing out water and fruit.

My favorite had to be the people sipping wine and having lawn parties watching the crowds puff by.

It was definitely more of a party than a race ... but sometimes it's not how fast you cross the finish line ... and instead how much fun you had along the way!

Three miles of fun today. Two hundred and forty more to go in my training for Key West's half marathon.

--Rachelle

Simplifying Social Networking

Aaaah ... thunder ... rain ... a hot cup of coffee ... what a relaxing morning! Only because I don't have to rush to be anywhere.

There is something to be said about the lost art of simplicity. It seems our lives keep speeding up and getting more complex. So sitting down with a blanket, hot coffee and a book seems like a big escape.

I've been spending a lot time on Facebook and Twitter lately, and it seems everytime I log in I follow one link to another, learning new things and adding lines to my to-do list. Curiosity gets the best of me, and without knowing it time slips right on by.

Do you ever find this happening to you?

What new social networking tools do you find useful? Which ones are a waste of time? How do you streamline and simplify?

Okay ... thunder just cracked again and this time with a big flash of lightening. Time to unplug, enjoy the rain, and get back to my coffee!

--Rachelle
www.TremainStreetCottages.com

Booze Away Your Blues

Erin Go Braugh! Happy St. Patricks Day!
When I think of St. Patty's Day ... I think of lucky four leaf clovers, green drinks and a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Aren't we all looking for a little luck these days? A pot of gold at the end of a rainbow would be just dandy! If it just weren't for those pesky pinching leprechauns!

Actually, life is pretty good and I consider myself lucky. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon having lunch and tea with my grandmother. Not only is she funny, but she has a lot of life lessons that are valuable.

I asked her, "Mamere, what did you and your family do during the depression? Obviously you survived and later thrived, what advise would you give?" To which she replied, "booze." Ha! Boooooooze away your blues, I thought! Appropriate for Saint Patrick's Day. Actually, the extended story included her father making "booze" in their basement and selling that to make the extra cash they needed to get by. All well and good during prohibition. Right? I come from a family of rebels. Wow. I thought this little hidden skeleton in my family was hysterical and left me light hearted for the rest of the afternoon.

She also talked about appreciating the simple things ... good food, friends, family and fun. Seizing an adventure out of life whenever and where ever you're able to find one. Even though times in the late 20's and 30's were tough ... almost every picture I have of my grandmother she is doing something fun and is exuding a beaming smile. Rollerskating, dancing, hanging out with friends. And at the end of a struggling era I have a picture of her with her first car, a 1939 Desoto.

So tonight, as your spending times with friends, whether you're having a pint at your favorite local Irish joint or spending it at home, raise a glass and toast to the good times in life. Believe it or not, these are those times. And just in case you need it, here are a few good beer recipes to get you through! I'm not much of a beer girl though, so I think the only green beverage I'll be enjoying tonight is some green tea.

Beer Recipes

Irish Drinks

Green Tea Recipes

--Rachelle

Tremain Street Cottages

Cookin up somethin good ...

Lights ... Camera ... Cooking!



I've been working on a special project with a dear college friend of mine for awhile now and we're getting close to completing it! A fellow Travel Channel Academy VJ even came up for a week and gave us a hand. Today we added a few more touches. All I can tell you ... is that we're cookin' up somethin' good.

We still have some work cut out for us ... and while the journey of creating something is long ... it is also fun and rewarding.

A big HUGE thank you to Jonah and Vanessa for their talents and support. Also a big thank you to the Captain's Inn, Adora Inn and Mount Dora Historic Inn letting us take over their kitchens for a day.

Jonah at the helm.

Vanessa adding some energy.

And finally me ... learning to make a sweet breakfast.

--Rachelle

Wish Upon A Hero

Everyone has a wish. Anyone can be a hero.



That's the slogan for Wish Upon A Hero, a site dedicated to helping people by perpetuating kindness. This is the ultimate do-a-good-deed-and-pay it-forward website. Basically, if you have a need or a dream ... make a wish. If you have the ability ... be a hero.

A hero in need of a hero ...

Recently, a soldier's wish was to renew his wedding vows to his wife before being deployed again to Iraq. Being a sailor, only a Captain would do! So Therese, with Wish Upon a Hero, discovered Captain Barry and The Captains' Inn located in Mount Dora. Immediately upon hearing the story, Innkeepers Tamara and Barry happily agreed to grant their wish.

Captain Barry performed the touching ceremony for Kelly & Darrell at sunset by the lighthouse on Lake Dora.

"We were proud to make her wish come true. We wish Darrell a safe and speedy return to the USA." -- Captain Barry

Poetry In Motion

There is always something fun and unique going on in this town. From cultural to just plain fun and entertaining, our social calendars are filled to the brim with options and the biggest decision one usually has to make on a weekend is how to be in two places at once as to not miss a thing.

Recently, one of our coffee houses, One Flight Up, hosted an event called Flights of Fantasy where 9 entertainers charmed, humored and inspired through their and prose and poetry with the theme of life and love in honor of Valentines Day this month. Here are some comments from other Innkeepers ...

"It was a lot of fun, something out of the ordinary for Mount Dora, that's for sure. Some were really funny and some really odd. One writer, Michael Suib, lived in Key West for years and I guess he's moved here now... he was a riot. He recently has published a book and has written many times for the Miami Herald. A total of nine poets read their Poems & Prose to a silent attentive audience while we all sat and sipped wine, tea & coffee drinks. Codi put out a nice buffet of sweets and it was a really nice experience." -- John, The Adora Inn

"It was fabulous, and quite unexpected. There were two published writers who read both prose and poetry. It reminded me of the coffee houses my mom would take me to in Berkley California when I was growing up ... although a little brighter and the topics more upbeat and fun." --Jim, Mount Dora Historic Inn

The Captain's Inn

Get a glimpse inside the Captain's Inn ...

They've Got The Beat!

The Mount Dora Music Festival is currently filling the town with rhythm and harmony this weekend. With venues both large and small, indoor and outdoor, featuring jazz, blues, folk, rock, classical and more ... there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Music is one of those powerful mediums that instantly moves the heart and touches the soul. I know whenever I need a pick-me-up, energy boost or just some inspiration all I have to do is plug in my ipod for an instant fix. It reminds me of a quote by Alphonse de Lamartine, "Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends."

But music can be much more than just a solitary art. It also has a way of bringing people together and no one would understand that better than Nancy and Gary, Innkeepers at the Coconut Cottage Inn. They both have been involved in the planning of this festival for many years and throughout this weekend you will most likely find them both hanging around the Community Building or Donnelly Park tapping their toes to the beat.

If you get the opportunity, bring your blankets, chairs and picnic baskets downtown to catch a free concert in the park or make a night of it with dinner and a show downtown. Be sure to wave hello to Nancy and Gary!

--Rachelle

Innkeeper to Island Keeper

So, I already thought I HAD the best job in the world acting, writing and blogging my adventures in Central Florida and what it's like to be an innkeeper. But as it turns out, I could have the best job in the world on the OTHER side of the world in Queensland Australia.

Click here to see my VIDEO and let me know what you think!

--Rachelle

All aboard!

Inspired by my activities logged on the blog, Jim and Ana with the Mount Dora Historic Inn were inspired to act as a tourist in their own backyard and jump aboard the Mount Dora Trolley for a tour. Jim and Ana have loved living in Mount Dora since they moved here from Miami ... I think this experience deepened their appreciation for the town.

Here is a guest blog by Jim Tuttle ...

My wife and I own a Bed and Breakfast in Mount Dora; and, are afforded many opportunities to meet fun and fabulous people all the time. Even while walking around town with our dogs, Brie and Niko, we are often engaged in conversations by visitors and neighbors, and many times our chats will last the better part of an hour. We love living in Mount Dora and we especially love that we took the plunge.

We traded in our stressful corporate days for the hassle-free and enriched lifestyle that we have, now. In fact by mid-day, we generally are enjoying a picnic in one of the many parks, shopping (my wife's favorite), taking part in one of the many outdoor activities, or dining at a street side café.

Just the other day, we took the Historic Trolley ride with two of our guests around town, and though, we have lived here for a little over two years now, we learned so much about our very "Norman Rockwell-esque"

The tour was so very informative about Mount Dora's unique history and extremely entertaining. In addition to all the fun we had with our hosts Byron, and Doris the Narrator, we also enjoyed the canopied streets (thanks to our many mature oak trees) and awe-inspiring architecture of the town. The architecture in Mount Dora is as diverse as its residents.

Our homes in Mount Dora are so far removed from the cookie-cutter type homes we were accustomed to in Miami, that we were instantly captured by the extremely distinctive architecture you find in this historic town.


After our fabulous trolley ride, we decided to take in one of the local restaurants and enjoy the sunset. Here is my wife enjoying a glass of champagne while we sat at Pisces Rising and watch the sun sink into the horizon. Just another day in paradise!

Dog-on Hungry

Tonight was girls night out ... including my very furry baby girl pictured to the left. I love how our little town, Mount Dora, is so pet-friendly.

My neighbor and I walked downtown to dinner and brought along my shiba inu, Allie. We strolled through the park, past the dog-treat bakery (where she got a good sniff at the front door) and landed ourselves outside on the deck at Pisces Rising overlooking Lake Dora. While we enjoyed the ambiance and entrees, Allie relaxed at our feet while sipping from her own doggie bowl and inhaling some treats brought to her by our server. I swear she doesn't even take time to taste her treats ... the moment it hits her lips, it's gone. Like a magic disappearing act. Ah well, such is a dog's life. They savor their naps, just not their food.

Do you have a favorite dog-friendly business or travel destination? If so, let us know! Allie and I just might have to come visit.

--Rachelle

Ghostly Gardens

What ever happened to global warming? I think this is the COLDEST winter I can remember here in Central Florida ... and from what I see on the news everyone in the rest of the country is experiencing the same. It even sounds weird to say "cold winter" and "Florida" in the same sentence. At least we're not dealing with power outages, snow and ice. Our preparation for record lows includes pulling out our scarves and sweaters and covering up all our plants in the yard to the point where it looks like we have lawn ghosts and have rewound back to Halloween.

It's a bummer. Usually our winters are mild enough to get some pre-spring gardening done. Our landscaping sure could use some love ... but it may just have to wait until after Valentines Day.

Until then, my little white sheet ghost garden will have to do.

--Rachelle

It doesn't get better than this ...

Is it cold where you are this evening? Snowy? It's 70 here. Sunset over Lake Dora ... aaahhh ... a day in the life of an Innkeeper ...

Ring In The New Year At The Adora Inn

Still looking for plans this New Year's Eve? The Adora Inn is offering a fabulous evening package including ... a candle lit "Dinner at the Inn" and one night stay so you don't have to drive home after midnight! I like the idea of just crawling into bed after a night of new year celebrations!

The menu includes:

Appetizer: Tomato Basil Risotto
Entree: Filet Mignon topped with a wild mushroom ragout
Dessert: Flourless Chocolate Volcano's with raspberry coulee
Complimentary Beverages

Rooms are limited, so contact John & Arthur at the Adora Inn soon to reserve your spot!

--Rachelle

Video Featuring Mount Dora Historic Inn

Okay, so the diet will start January 1st. But, until then I've been enjoying the tasty treats of my fellow innkeepers while making videos and also snacking on all the sweets left over in my house over the holidays. What's a holiday without a few extra calories?

Anyway, here's a link to a video I made for the Mount Dora Historic Inn: Click Here To See Video

Also, there is a fabulous recipe I found on PW for what to do with left over sweets and cookies. (In case you have any of those.) I know that sweets don't last long enough in our household to make leftovers out of them.

Does anyone have any good January-first-stick-to-your-resolutions diet plan they can recommend? Just checking.

Hope you enjoy the video ...

Rachelle