Monday, April 20, 2009

Spring Fest comes to Warwick

As innkeepers, we are always concerned with the comfort and well being of our guests. Well, this past weekend the innkeepers became the guests of the guests.

On Saturday evening, Bill and I (and by "I", I mean Joe, Bill's partner and assistant) were treated to a wonderful dinner by two of our regular guests, Nora and Lucy. Nora is a great cook and in our kitchen made a delicious shrimp and clam fra diavolo over spaghetti and tilapia pinwheels stuffed with lobster. Yum, it was a terrific dinner. We finished it off with coffee and a scandinavian almond cake baked by yours truly. It was a fun evening and gave us a chance to sit back and get "waited" on. The conversation and company was a great way to spend a mild spring evening.

One of the things we talked about was the upcoming Spring Fest in downtown Warwick. It has been around for about 10 years and has become as anticipated an event as the Fall Apple Fest in October. The event which is taking place on Saturday, April 25th from 10am to 5pm is a home and garden expo with vendors lining the streets of Warwick. You will find all sorts of entertainment and dancing also. And of course don't forget to visit the food stands and sample all the delicious food that the Hudson Valley has to offer.

The other thing that you will want to visit is the farmer's market set up at the Spring Fest. This is the first farmer's market of the season. Here you will find fruits and vegetables and all sorts of food grown right here in the Hudson Valley. After this, the market will be set up every Sunday morning beginning on the first Sunday in May.

Well, enough for now. Check back soon for more of whats going on at the Inn at Stony Creek and the town of Warwick. Have a great week.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Guests for Breakfast

When I was a little boy, my favorite meal was always lunch, especially on school days. My mom or my grandma used to pack me my favorite sandwich, a piece of fruit and at the bottom of the bag, a surprise treat. And there was always that little note that said, "I love you" or "Be a good boy". But now that I am all grown up and have been with the Inn at Stony Creek for the last 5 years, my favorite meal has become breakfast.

Now, you might think it's because of the breakfast foods we prepare or the great smell of fresh roasted coffee that we brew. But it might surprise you to know that my favorite part of breakfast at the Inn are the guests. Its a wonderful experience every morning to meet the different people that come to stay with us. They come with a variety of backgrounds and stories and more important, a wealth of diverse culture.

Whether they are from Europe, Asia, Scandinavia, or even right here in the good old USA, they come to us with stories and experiences from all aspects of their lives. Our relaxed atmosphere allows them to feel comfortable in sharing things about their homeland, their reason for coming to the Inn, or even stories about their families.

We have one family from Ireland who have become friends to us. They come a couple of times a year with their empty suitcases joking that they've "come to shop". After breakfast, they head to Woodbury Commons and shop until they have filled their bags. And the next morning, with that wonderful Irish brogue, they regale us with tales of their shopping adventure over a hot cup of coffee.

But its not just the international guests that provide so much color to the Inn. It's also the folks who come from all parts of the United States. They come from parts of the country that might as well be a foreign country. Their backgrounds and experiences are just as diverse as if they had come from overseas.

So, you can see why I love breakfast at the Inn at Stony Creek. It's a wonderful, friendly, international experience for all our guests to enjoy. Hope to see you all sometime soon. Spring is here and we have lots of things to do here in Warwick.

Oh, and by the way, if you are coming to take advantage of our Shop and Stay package, be sure to ask for our certificate, good for a coupon book at Woodbury Commons.