Floating Island Classic Dessert - Brasserie JO at the Colonnade [Photo]

Courtesy of the Colonnade Hotel, Boston

5th Annual Tour de Farms Offers Great Food, Fun and Bicycling

Fantastic foods, amazing bicycling, and spectacular scenery are in store for all those who participate in the 5th Annual Tour de Farms! Scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2012 in Shoreham, Vermont. The Tour de Farms offers three loop rides (approx. 10, 25 and 30 miles) and a family-friendly five-mile walking or biking option. At frequent designated stops, family farmers will treat bicyclists and walkers to tasty samples of local foods such as apple cider, quiche, bread, roasted vegetables, yogurt, wine, maple syrup, and cookies.

Because the event is a tour and not a race, the pace is low key, allowing ample time to chat with farmers and relax with friends in the beautiful Champlain Valley. This year’s Tour is sponsored by Earl’s Cyclery & Fitness, City Market, Healthy Living, Cabot Creamery, the Lodge at Otter Creek, Vermont Sun,and the Addison County Regional Planning Commission. The Tour attracts approximately 600 bicyclists from Vermont, northeastern states, and Canada.

The Tour de Farms is co-organized by the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN), Rural Vermont, and the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and is a fundraiser for all three nonprofit groups.  Each year, the tour is enhanced by the addition of new features, such as NOFA-VT’s wood-fired pizza for sale and a stop at a quirky art gallery.  This year’s Tour will offer a handful of new farmers and food producers and three StoryWalk® choices for young children.  StoryWalk® offers the opportunity to read great children’s books while walking in beautiful, natural settings.

There is also a competition open to all who wish to make a short film about the 2012 Tour de Farms.

Participants can expect to sample from B Vineyard, Champlain Orchards, Danz Ahn Farm, Doolittle Farm, Golden Russet Farm, Lemon Fair Honeyworks, Millborne Farm, Misty Knoll Farms, Neshobe Farm, North Branch Farm & Gardens, Singing Cedars Farmstead, Solar Haven Farm, Stonewood Farm, Sunrise Gardens Greenhouse, Sylvan Shade Farm, Vermont Trade Winds Farm, Windfall Orchard, and the restaurant Tourterelle.

If you’re not interested in riding, but want to be involved, consider volunteering! Volunteers are needed to assist with various aspects of the Tour de Farms, including registration, parking, farmers’ helpers, photography, crowd control, and ride marshalling. In return for a three-hour time commitment, volunteers will receive a free Tour de Farms t-shirt. Those who get in touch early are more likely to secure assignments of personal interest.

At noon on September 16, Shoreham will kick off an AppleFest on the town green, complete with continuous live music, crafts, and a farmers’ market featuring a variety of delicious items for sale.  AppleFest continues until 5:00 pm and all proceeds benefit the Platt Memorial Library in Shoreham.

Advance registration fees for the Tour de Farms are: $28 for adults and $13 for kids 16 and under.  Day-of registration fees are $50 for adults and $20 for kids 16 and under. Children in trailers and bike seats ride free and don’t need to be registered.

Registration opens on August 1 at www.ruralvermont.org. All routes begin and end at the Shoreham Town Green. The 30-mile riders depart at 10:30 am, the 25-mile riders depart at 11:00 am, and the 10-mile riders depart at 11:30 am. For more information, contact the VT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, www.vtbikeped.org (802) 225-8904 or Rural Vermont, www.ruralvermont.org (802) 223-7222.

Attitash Mountain Resort is Hosting BlueberryFEST on August 4, 2012

Attitash Mountain Resort will celebrate summer when it hosts the BlueberryFEST at its Bear Peak base area on Saturday, August 4 from 2 – 8 p.m. Attitash gets it name from the region’s Native American Abenaki word for blueberry and early August is generally when New Hampshire’s wild blueberries are in full bloom. The BlueberryFEST event will celebrate summer at Attitash Mountain Resort and feature a craft fair & farmer’s market, field games, bouncy house, live music, BBQ-style food, seasonal brews, and blueberry pie baking & pie-eating contests.

 

The Craft Fair & Farmer’s Market portion of the event is free to the public and vendors will be located in the Bear Peak base lodge. An admission purchase will be required to access the festival area for live music and other events. The festival area will also offer BBQ-style food and seasonal, berry brews from Moat Mountain Brewery, Tuckerman Brewing Company, Woodstock Brewery, Sea Dog, Samuel Adams, & White Mountain Distributors available for purchase.

 

Admission rates are Adults (21+) $12; Age 6-20 $7; Age 5 & Under free. Save $2 when you buy online before the event or by presenting a valid, summer operations ticket from Attitash Mountain Resort or Wildcat Mountain purchased Saturday, August 4. A valid form of ID is required to purchase alcohol.

 

Crafters, Farmers, and those interested in entering the Blueberry Pie Baking Contest should contact Attitash Mountain Resort Events Coordinator Corey Madden at 603-374-2615 or cmadden@attitash.com for more information.

 

Live Music at the Blueberry FEST will feature:

 

Al Shafner 2-3 p.m.

Enjoy classic covers from this local solo guitarist.

 

Livin' the Dream 3-5 p.m.

Dover, NH-based Livin’ The Dream always brings a solid performance of cover songs, ranging from top 40s to classic rock.

 

Adam Ezra Group 6-8 p.m.

The Adam Ezra Group puts passion in their performance of original songs and gets the crowd on their feet. Having toured with Rusted Root, The Avett Brothers, Jason Mraz, Deer Tick, The Goo Goo Dolls, Blues Traveler and many more, the Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the local Boston scene to the national level.

 

Visit www.attitash.com

 

Source: Attitash Mountain Resort

The Cliff House Resort & Spa is offering a special three-day, two-night Lobster Cruise package on Maine's Southern Coast

Lobster is the ultimate summer indulgence. Now The Cliff House Resort & Spa is offering a special three-day, two-night Lobster Cruise package.

This perfect summer getaway includes everything from ocean view lodging and classic steamed lobster dinner to a lobster boat tour on Maine’s dramatic coast.

A highlight of the package is a narrated cruise on the Finest Kind lobster boat – an Ogunquit favorite since 1956. This popular tour leaves from scenic Perkins Cove and hugs the coast, while the captain hauls traps and offers an up-close look at his catch.

The Lobster Cruise package includes full breakfast both days, and choice of entrée if you want to sample chef’s innovative take on downeast cuisine in lieu of lobster. From $418 per person based on double occupancy.

Just an hour north of Boston, the Cliff House has been welcoming summer guests since 1872. This year the Resort is celebrating its 140th Anniversary. Check out the anniversary specials where there’s even more lobster – including a five-course Lobster Tasting for Two! Visit www.cliffhousemaine.com

Harvest on the Harbor Food & Wine Festival, Portland Maine

Event: Harvest on the Harbor
Date: October 24-27, 2012
Venue: Oceanside Pavilion at the Ocean Gateway Pier (Portland, Maine)
Website: www.harvestontheharbor.com

Harvest on the Harbor features Maine's notable chefs, culinary competitions, over 160 food artisans, epicurean purveyors & Maine-made products.