Live Chat and Vegan Dining Options

You are probably thinking what does one have to do with the other, right?  Let me share:

Yesterday I sign onto the Interlaken's website as available for a "Live Chat".  (You've seen them on some websites, and now we are experimenting with it too.)  So anyway I am hopeful as I "invite" a person who is on our website to chat with me - "Could I assist you further?" I ask.  Well how excited was I when he starts typing to me, and about my favorite thing:  FOOD!  He said he was interested in coming to visit us from New York City and was looking at our menus in Morgan's restaurant to see what dining options we had for vegans.  Thoughts started racing through my head:  "Of course we have vegan options" "Our Culinary Graduates would be happy to prepare vegan meals for you" "We can do anything you'd like" "I'm a vegetarian myself!" "Do you have specific favorites" "Chef Scimeca trained under Alice Waters at Chez Panisse" "Chef Scimeca cooks vegan meals for his family all the time".  Well the one thing about Live Chat that I learned quickly yesterday was you've got to type back fast, and I mean fast!  (I want to rename it fast chat) I can't think my thoughts, I have to write my thoughts quickly so the Guest knows I am alive and breathing on the other end and am anxious to answer his question.  So to the vegan couple looking to come from NYC to visit us and are wondering if we can feed you the answer is a big YES!  Give me a call so I can truly "Live Chat" with you!

You talked, we listened!

A few weeks ago we received a few emails from our Guests as part of our Guest Feedback program that asked us to "update our fitness room".  You talked to us and we listened!  In addition to the already new Treadmill and Functional Trainer added in August, here are our two most recent purchases, with one more on the way:

A complete set of kettlebells from 5 pounds to 25 pounds, perfect for a total body fitness routine.

A recumbent bike!  If you've seen recumbent bikes but never tried one before, here is your chance to see how you like it.  Having an upright stationary bike at home, I immediately felt my entire body was more comfortable and my upper body was way more relaxed as well.  This bike was fun to ride, and it's important when fitness is fun!  If I had my ipod with me I could have plugged that in as well.  This bike has many programs that it will give you a different route and a different workout each morning you wake up with us!  Take a walk to our Atrium building to try it yourself!

The last and final piece to our new fitness room will be a Stair Climber to arrive in a few more weeks.

First Thanksgiving from Home

Ah, a private Penthouse room for families big and families small.  This cozy set-up was perfect for a family of ten on Thanksgiving Day.  A traditional Thankgiving dinner in front of the warm fireplace, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade on the widescreen TV, and the ability to take advantage of the not-so-chilly temperatures out on the Penthouse roof.  

If now is the time to break tradition from cooking every Thanksgiving but still keep the coziness of home at your fingertips, then I highly reommend asking about the Penthouse room for next year.   You will have everything but the mess!  You will smell the wonderful Thanksgiving Feast as you enter the building and then help yourself to the buffet located on the sunny deck in Morgan's, complete with a Chef carving station of turkey and ham.  Fresh whipped mashed potatoes, sweet potato and marshmallow casserole, roasted winter vegetables, whole cranberry sauce, an assortment of salads and breads, the list goes on!   Be sure to save room for dessert as we offer a wide assortment of pies, freshly baked cookies and even pumpkin mousse.  You will definitely have that full belly feel just like you were sitting at your own dining room table as you head to the sofa or oversized chairs to watch either the annual parade or the football game.  It's a private room - so yes, naps are allowed!  Come for the day or spend some overnights with us - it's your choice.  I hope to see you at the next 4th Thursday, November 2013!

Learn to dance at Interlaken!

For those of you who watch Dancing with the Stars regularly each week and wish you could float or jive around the dance floor like that, then this just might be your chance to learn some moves!  In all my years at Interlaken, this is the very first ballroom dance weekend we've ever offered and I am super excited about it.  I attended a dance weekend myself back in April and it was quite fun!  Although I did learn the basic steps of a few dances (like the rumba and the cha cha cha) I will admit I was not flowing around the dance floor like some were, but it was still a happy time.  I am confident if I had a few more classes I would have been set, so in looking at this workshop schedule there is plenty of instruction to learn the basics and more!  Then you can show us your moves Saturday night at the open dance.  The dance weekend will be hosted by Steps in Time, a dance center from Canton, CT.  With 30+ years in the business, they are sure to have you "step up and step out"!  Call us for more details or book the package right on-line.

Learn to Dance: Ballroom Dance Weekend in Connecticut

Friday, February 8^th through Sunday, February 10^th, 2013

Friday, February 8^th, 2013

Check-in at 3pm

Intro to Ballroom Basics: 4pm-5pm

Happy Hour: 5pm-6pm

Buffet Dinner: 6pm-8pm

Overnight Accommodations (Have Romance Amenity List to Up-charge at time of reservations)

Saturday, February 9^th, 2013

Full New England Breakfast Buffet (7am-10am)

Workshop #1: 10am-10:45am

Workshop #2: 11am-11:45am

Luncheon Buffet : 12pm-1pm

Workshop #3: 1pm-1:45pm

Workshop #4: 2pm-2:45pm

Workshop #5: 3pm-3:45pm

Workshop #6: 4pm-4:45pm

Select Three Course Dinner: 5:30pm-8:30pm (reservations in advance)

Open Dance with Band: 9pm-12pm

Overnight Accommodations 

Sunday, February 10^th, 2013

Full New England Breakfast Buffet (7am-10am)

Intermediate Level Class: 10am-10:45am

Check-out by 12pm

Ballroom Dance Weekend Package includes: Standard Overnight Accommodations for 2 Nights, 2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners, 1 Luncheon, 8 Ballroom Dance Workshops (45 minutes per workshop), and Open Dance with Band and Instructor. (All Service Fees and Taxes are included)

Celebrate with us

Do you have an occasion coming up that you'd like to celebrate in an extra special way?  This Guest did and by the looks of it, he was happy to have chosen Interlaken!  And we are so happy he did.

Where's Teri?

I looked everywhere.  I went into the larger of our two conference areas, the Will Rogers Room, and saw the normal scrapbook weekend set-up - a long clothed table and chair for each scrapper - and STUFF.  All kinds of it.  Albums, paper, adhesives, punches, embellishments, stickers, ribbon, borders, and lots of photos.  Although I was able to say hi to Margaret and Jamie, I still didn't see Teri. I wandered into the Continental room and she wasn't there either.  Where is Teri? 

Teri, are you in there?

We've been the host for the Creative Memories group for many seasons now and this was the first time that Teri wasn't here.  She has passed the reins over to Margaret, Jamie and Kris but Teri, you'll forever be here in spirit!  I hope you make it to the next event in March as a participant. 

Love to scrap and want to take a part of these special weekends?  There is one planned both the first and second weekend in March 2013.  There's no club to join, just a love of scrapbooking.  Contact us for more details!

A Morgan's Must Have

It's the simple things in life, right? 

Local Honeycrisp Apple and Heirloom Kale Salad, Pecorino Vinaigrette, Black Olive Crunch

A super healthy and super delicious salad that you just must try.  And don't let the kale scare you away - you will love it after you have this dish!  Kale is my absolute favorite green, so to have it paired up with a honeycrisp apple -well, I knew the dish would be a good one but I had no idea it would be this good.  I savored every bite.  I tried to recreate the dish at home but no luck.  I'll just have to go to Morgan's more often.  Come to Morgan's any night and try it yourself - but hurry, you know the menu changes often around here!

Birch Beauty

Here is a photo of the beautiful holiday centerpiece you can create when you come visit Interlaken this holiday season!  As a special add-on to the "New England Holiday Escape" package offered the weekend of December 14th and 15th, Emily from Salisbury Garden Center will help you put together this wonderful arrangement that will certainly be the perfect addition to your holiday table.  This year take the time to create the perfect addition to your holiday table!

P.S. If you'd rather decorate a wreath, that is another festive option being offered that day!

Familiar Faces

I suppose if I started blogging about 'familiar faces' I'd be blogging every minute of the day as Interlaken has a very very large group of repeat visitors!  In this case, these are two nice women I met last year at the Quilts & Treasures Retreat and who are back again this weekend for more "sweet" fun (the theme of this year's gathering).  They are just so happy to be here and do their favorite hobby all weekend long.  In fact, they come a day early to get a head start!  I love wandering around the room and seeing the beautiuful masterpieces everyone creates.  Deb and Pam, it was great seeing you ladies and I am already looking forward to next year!

Love is Sweet

Love is sweet, I totally agree. 

Do you know what else is sweet?  The bride getting married today.  Her picture is at the end of this blog, and if you are a faithful blog reader (like she is) then you know it's very infrequent that I post a photo of the bride on her special day - definitely fate happening today with my faithful blog reader.

Although some of her friends and family members couldn't make it to the festivities because of Hurricane Sandy, they'll be here in spirit for sure.  This blog is for them today - a first look at some of the special touches Megan and her soon-to-be husband (actually husband given it's 5pm now!) have created for the day.

As you pull up to the main entrance, wedding attendees will know they are in the right place!

The cute sign that will welcome everyone into the wedding pavilion after the lakeside ceremony and the cocktail hour in the Vineyard room.

An eight foot table of pies! And right next to it is the "Love is Sweet" table , full of candy.  I told you the bride was sweet!  I would be hanging between these two tables all night...

Here she is!  Gorgeous.  You should see this dress up close.  What you can see up close though is her bouquet:

A picture of her Dad and her Grandmother - the perfect way to have those loved ones close at hand.

Even though your special day is here, Megan, I do hope you'll continue to stay connected to Interlaken with me!  And you know I'll be waiting patiently for professional photos from you. 

Congratulations Mrs. Aceto!  I hope your day is just as you hoped it would be.