Photo by Melissa Bean of Mann Photography
Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Sept. 15-20
Serious bourbonistas, pay attention. The little town of Bardstown, Kentucky, (pop. 12,000) hosts some 50,000 international bourbon lovers at this annual festival.
Savor America’s only native spirit in the Bourbon Capital of the World. Located in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country and situated at the trailhead of the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bardstown is home to six distilleries. Claiming the title of “Most Beautiful Small Town in America,” Bardstown’s annual festival offers a rare opportunity to meet master distillers, sample the best bourbons and enjoy fine Kentucky regional food.
“We offer a wide variety of events, some of which are complimentary,” says Jill Hawkins, executive director of the festival. The evolving schedule and pricing can be found on their site as the date to the event gets closer. But one thing is for sure, Hawkins says there will be plenty of bourbon sampling, local and regional food, crafts and entertainment with “a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality.”
The six-day festival offers everything from family fun to black-tie galas. –TM / kybourbonfestival.com
While You’re There:
MY OLD KENTUCKY DINNER TRAIN
Relive the exciting elegance of railcar dining. Experience a four-course meal (veggies and kids accommodated, prime rib praised) with Southern hospitality and white-glove service. Lunch or dinner—and views. / 602 N. 3rd St.; kydinnertrain.com
BOURBON MANOR B&B INN
Experience a Historic Landmark Plantation Home featuring nine spacious, antique-filled rooms. The award-winning B&B is set in a tranquil, park-like setting and offers whirlpool tubs, fireplaces and gourmet breakfast. Bourbon Bar & Lounge plus spa onsite. / 714 N. 3rd St.; bourbonmanor.com
McINTYRE’S WINERY & BERRIES
Not into bourbon? Sample McIntyre’s unique fruit wines, ranging from dry to sweet. Peach, pear and strawberry are available, but blackberry ranks as the fave. Tour, taste and even buy the fresh berries. / 531 McIntyre Lane; mcintyreswinery.com
THE STEPHEN FOSTER STORY
Colorful kid-friendly folk-opera under the stars featuring the wonderful works of Stephen Foster and a challenging period in American history. Fans return year after year. See website for schedule and tickets. / 411 Foster Ave.; stephenfoster.com
SPALDING HALL
Once a school, seminary and hospital, this historic building is home to both the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and the Bardstown Historical Museum. The latter houses a little-known collection of American silver. / 114 N. 5th St.; whiskeymuseum.com
Courtesy of Neptune Festival/East Beach Photography
Neptune Festival
Sept. 25-27
Virginia Beach kisses summer goodbye with the grandest of finales: Boardwalk Weekend culminating the 42nd annual Neptune Festival. Hailed as the city’s largest and oldest event and named one of the nation’s 100 top festivals, not to mention one of the East Coast’s 10 best, the Neptune Festival has been celebrating Virginia Beach’s seafaring heritage since 1974. The event is presided over by King Neptune himself, backed up by his impressive royal court. Concerts, a surfing classic, volleyball tournament, sailing regatta and an 8K/5K run mark the weekend, along with the trademark 100-float parade along the oceanfront. Spectacular Saturday night fireworks displayed over the Atlantic draw huge crowds.
But the grandest feature of all is Virginia Beach’s own. “I do think Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship is the most unique aspect of the festival,” says Rebecca Bump, festival spokesperson, and the fabulous images from former years prove her right. Talk about taking pail-and-shovel imagination to new heights. –TM / neptunefestival.com
While You’re There:
THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (MOCA)
An award-winning public-private partnership celebrating contemporary art, MOCA features art reflecting the culture in which we live. Most works on exhibit were created by living artists. / 2200 Parks Ave.; virginiamoca.org
VIRGINIA AQUARIUM AND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
Explore over 800,000 gallons and one of the best aquariums and animal habitats in the country, with hands-on exhibits, marshlands and nature paths. Learn about everything from dinosaurs to sensible seafood. / 717 General Booth Blvd.; virginiaaquarium.com
LYNNHAVEN MALL
Considered a premier shopping and family dining destination in Virginia Beach, Lynnhaven is anchored by Macy’s, JC Penney and Dillards, has multiple theaters and offers casual eating like Chick-fil-A, Dave & Buster’s and Ruby Tuesday. / 701 Lynnhaven Parkway; lynnhavenmall.com
TOWN CENTER OF VIRGINIA BEACH
Where couples (or mom and dad on date night) might like to eat: McCormick & Schmicks, P.F. Chang’s, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Saffron Indian Bistro, Gordon Biersch; and shop: Brooks Brothers, Anthroplogie, West Elm, bevello. / 222 Central Park Ave.; vabeachtowncenter.com
FALSE CAPE STATE PARK
For the serious nature lover and not accessible by car, this park is isolated, pristine and beautiful. It’s one of the last remaining undeveloped areas along the Atlantic coast. Plan and book ahead. / 4001 Sandpiper Road; dcr.virgina.gov
New York City Wine & Food Festival
Oct. 15-18
The ultimate wine and foodie fest has become not only legendary, but a very worthwhile bite of the Big Apple.
“It’s a gourmet gathering that you can feel good about attending, with 100 percent of the net proceeds benefiting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and Food Bank For New York City,” say festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager. “Plus, the festival combines the star-power of your favorite Food Network and Cooking Channel celebrity chefs with world-renowned culinary talent like Jordi Roca from Spain, Mexico’s Enrique Olvera, quintessential New York City-based chefs like April Bloomfield, David Bouley, Alain Ducasse, Bobby Flay and more.” To find out the many more, check the ever-updated website.
One of the best things about NYCWFF is that there are event options to suit everyone’s taste buds and wallet, from $20 to $300 per person. For under $100, New Orleans guru John Besh and Food Network wine expert Mark Oldman will teach you what goes with a Sazarac. If there’s a much-loved foodie in your future, consider this more romantic than Paris. –TM / nycwff.org
While You’re There:
HOTEL HUDSON NEW YORK
The headquarters hotel for NYCWFF, Hudson is perfectly located at Columbus Circle. Self-described as cool, stylish and energetic, the Hudson’s admittedly small rooms are big on appointments and dynamic in design. / 356 W. 58th St.; morganshotelgroup.com
SHOPS AT COLUMBUS CIRCLE
Shop from Armani to Wolford; dine from A Voce to Per Se. Named the city’s most iconic shop-dine-be entertained center, these destination shops and more in the Time Warner Center offer it all. / 10 Columbus Circle; theshopsatcolumbuscircle.com
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MOMA)
Often called the most important museum of modern art in the world, MoMA seduces with art from Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” to Warhol’s soup cans. Plan on spending several hours viewing and savoring the gift shop. / 11 W. 53rd St.; moma.org
LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Since you’re in the neighborhood, why wouldn’t you drop in to see home base for the New York City Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and more? / 10 Lincoln Center Plaza; lincolncenter.org
CENTRAL PARK ZOO
Imagine—in the middle of this great city is a great park housing a tiny zoo, and it’s all at your doorstep. Lions and tigers and Gus, the polar bear–oh, my! / 64th St. and 5th Ave.; centralparkzoo.com
(September 2015)