Homage to Gettysburg

I've been coming to Gettysburg, PA on and off for the last four years

for the sole purpose of dropping off, picking up, or parent-day visits to

my daughter who has been attending Gettysburg College.  And tsk tsk,

shame on me, not once have I toured the famous Civil War battlefields.  

So, on the eve of her graduation next month, I thought it time to 

pay homage to this most significant historic place.

Welcome to the historic town of Gettysburg.  Founded in 1786

by Samuel Gettys, an early settler and tavern owner.

A guaranteed unique slice of Americana.

Nice place to start the day, the Ragged Edge.

A locals hang-out,

serving hearty baked oatmeal for breakfast.

On to the battlefields.

For a place that hosted such horrific bloodshed,
pain, disease and suffering....

...there is a remarkable sense of peace and serenity in these fields.

Plenty of re-enactors can be found
wandering the grounds.

Historic homesteads that were caught in the crossfire,
used as hospitals, headquarters, or looted for provisions.

Overlooking Gettysburg College campus from
one of the battlefield look-out towers.

An amazing 2500-student liberal arts school.

McKnight Hall (home of foreign language study)

"Penn" Hall, used as a hospital during the civil war.

And what could be better after a long day of sight-seeing
than a cold brew at the Appalachian Brewing Company?

Mountain lager and Water Gap Wheat.

Celtic Knot Irish Red.

If you're a regular, you get your own specially-numbered mug
they keep there for you.

Parting shots. 

Overwhelmed in Eataly!

I was in New York City with a friend the other day, and at around lunchtime she suggested we go into Mario Batali's (et al) newish Italian epicurean mecca, Eataly.  She neglected to mention it is a 50,000-square-foot artisanal-food extravaganza.....and every square inch was occupied by foodies, shoppers, diners, elbows, baskets, gawkers.  I will admit, I was a little stressed out (nope, don't like crowds), but it was worth the experience once we squeezed our way up to one of the innumerable bars (seems to be one every five feet), and calmed down with a glass of wine.  Ok, and a Bloody Mary.

 There are sit-down spots to eat with full table service....

...but at the heart of Eataly is the standing table enoteca 

(literally meaning wine repository) where friends and business 

colleagues meet for a little sipping, savoring and tasting 

of the myriad offerings.

Cheese, cured meats in one corner.... 

...and exquisitely fresh seafood in the next corner.

Plus pizza, produce, pasta, bread, olive oil, 

fresh meats, desserts, wine...

it's all there,

 somewhere.

Couldn't exit without my own little take-home basket of

cheese, olives, bread, olive oil.....yum.

Eataly

in the Flatiron district

200 Fifth Avenue (at 23rd Street)

New York, NY

www.eatalyny.com