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This trend has not gone unnoticed by the public relations team at the PMVB. I am proud to present to you Foodie Fridays! If you are a self-proclaimed foodie, a culinary adventurist, a home head chef or a recipe guru, you will want to pay attention to what I am telling you. Every Friday for the next nine weeks, we will be featuring a new Pocono Mountains chef. From seasonal farm-to-table to elegant fine dining, their specialties span as wide a range as the dining options found throughout the region. Tune in every Friday through June for a new chef, tasty recipes, clever tips and best of all, kitchen disasters! Sharpen your knives because our chefs will have you cooking up a storm. 

This Friday we are featuring a chef who has been in the bountiful Pocono Mountains for four years and enjoys perusing the local farmers markets for fresh ingredients. Prior to coming to the Pocono Mountains, this chef resided in south Florida and was part of the team of chefs who cooked for the then President and Mrs. Clinton at the Summit of the Americas. Sharing the kitchen with the Secret Service was quite an experience. Any idea who it may be? To learn more about this week's chef, follow us on twitter or Like us on Facebook, and every Friday we will tantalize your taste buds with a new chef!    

Please share your favorite recipes, unique ingredients or kitchen disasters with us! Next week I'll bring you the latest from Liquid as they launch lunch this Friday! Ciao for now...

Water Gap Country Club's famous Friday Night Scrambles are back.  Their first of the year took place last Friday, and with 140 golfers, it was a sell-out.  I've had many memories from this 9-hole, four-man scramble over the past two years, and it looks like 2010 will be another eventful year.  We brought two groups to the event last week.  Now, it's not uncommon for a golfer to lineup a difficult shot, look around at his playing partners and ask, "Five bucks?"  If the ball finds the hole, the golfer gets a crisp Lincoln and a little bit of pride.  I was surprised, however, to hear one of the golfers in the "other" group say, "I got 10 bucks, and I didn't have to do anything."  And so, the story goes...

On hole number one, our group landed the ball on the green but couldn't stop it from rolling off the back.  And so, we were faced with a difficult birdie chip. We saved par and tee'd off at number two.  Little did we know that we just missed an opportunity at easy money.  We would later find out that our friends in the group behind us also fly'd the green at one, leaving them with an eerily similar chip.  However, when they approached the ball, they found some green of their own.  Nestled underneath the ball was a crumpled, somewhat weathered $10 bill. The questions flooded in...  How did the ball come to rest so perfectly on the currency?  How did we not see the bill? Heck, we probably stepped on it! Nevertheless, the story of the $10 shot was born.

We finished at one-over for our nine holes, bogeying the last hole of the night. The "$10 group" posted a plus two score. I don't know what it is about that course, but something magical is going on at the Water Gap Country Club. See for yourself this Friday at 5 p.m.

Alex Zidock

I am currently in a tough predicament. While I sit here at my desk ferociously hard at work, the sun is beaming high in the sky, and it is currently 80 degrees.  These signs of a gorgeous spring and a tempting summer are way too much for me to handle! My mind keeps drifting to where I could be and what I could be doing in the Pocono Mountains...

Fly fishing. Why fly fishing you ask? Because I'm sending the above photo to a journalist and doesn't it look amazing? I've been trying to work on my golf game for tranquility, but that looks even better. Do you think I could pull off one of those vests?

If fly fishing is going to be my new release, there is only one place to go, the Lackawaxen River. Infamous for its fishing and water sports opportunities, this waterway has been named "2010 River of the Year" by Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Outside of the water, the surrounding environment is great for birding. During the winter months, bald eagles can often be spotted nesting here. History buffs will also enjoy the amazing view from the oldest existing wire suspension bridge, the Roebling Delaware Aqueduct Bridge and the former home of American author, Zane Grey.

But if you are an outdoor enthusiast, what better way to honor the PA River of the Year then to participate in this year's 2010 Lackawaxen River Sojourn. On June 12-14, take part in this three day, overnight sojourn from Honesdale to Lackawaxen.  Let me know if you're taking advantage of this great opportunity! I may join in for one day, but my puny arms won't make it a full three.

The 25-foot long river is certainly a gem in the Pocono Mountains to be remembered. So whatever floats your boat, do it on the Lackawaxen River this year! While I sit and finish this project, I may just start trying to master that wrist flick.

I am looking forward to a leisurely stroll through the park and seeing the works of some of our talented local authors, artists, florists and gardeners! I'm sure that your whole family will enjoy this event. I know mine will! 

Lisa Bauman Wispe, a local children's author will be promoting her new book Fritter's Spring: A Pocono Rabbit's Tale. You'll definitely want to take an autographed copy home with you.

There will be so many fine artists exhibiting everything from garden art to wheel-thrown pottery! I am planning to purchase a few things to spruce up my house as well as my yard!

If you have a green thumb or even if you don't, you may want to check out the gardening exhibits and take home a few ideas for your own garden as well as some fresh locally grown produce for dinner.

Did I mention that there will also be entertainment? The Cold Springs Band along with a few other members of the Pocono Bluegrass Society will be on stage performing some fabulous Blue Grass tunes for your listening pleasure and toe tapping enjoyment!

There is no admission fee for this great event, and free parking is also available. So bring your family, friends and neighbors and enjoy an afternoon in the park.

As always, I'm looking forward to hearing about your weekend plans in the Pocono Mountains and seeing some of your photos as well! I hope to see you at Books, Brushes and Blooms!!

If Music be the Food of Love, Play On

~ Shakespeare

Culture, history and brilliance. That is what comes to mind when I think of master musicians such as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. For three centuries, music lovers around the world have been enjoying the timeless elegance of the baroque style music from classical musicians, Bach and Handel. In honor of their birthdays, The Bach and Handel Chorale was formed in 1984 by Randall D. Perry. The Chorale bestows their talents to performing Bach, Handel and other artists of that era by presenting concerts locally and throughout eastern Pennsylvania. 

On May 1, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Jim Thorpe, the Chorale will be performing their spring concert, featuring pieces such as Bach's, "Dona Nobis Pacem." Reserved tickets can be purchased for $20/adults, $15/seniors and $12/students. Children 10 and under free. The concert will begin at 3pm. Be sure to check out the Chorale's concert schedule for upcoming concerts.

Visit Jim Thorpe for this exquisite performance of superb music and experience culture, history and brilliance with your family. It may not be your average family vacation activity, but it just might be the start of something special. Until next time...Celebrate family, friends and traditions. 

I am a birthday person. Yes, I am the dreaded person who will tell you all about her birthday three weeks before the actual day. I will remind you on a daily basis and if I don't see you, I fully expect a phone call with a boisterous voice on the other end singing the infamous song. As of today, my big day is exactly four weeks and one day away. That's right, mark your calendars!

As much as I love my birthday, I'm here to tell you that our Lake Wallenpaupack Visitors Center marks its one year anniversary on Sunday! The $1 million visitor facility has a prime location on Route 6 along the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack, providing visitors and residents with tons of valuable tourism information including referrals, reservations, directions and brochures. Did I mention the exhibits, meeting facilities and stunning view? Yes, whenever I am in the Lake Region, I am sure to stop by the center, sit on the Adirondack chairs on the back deck and absorb the picturesque view of one of the lake's many beaches.

In a year, this facility has experienced several additions. We have reached over 20,000 visitors, introduced several new exhibits including a pre-WWII canoe and hosted over numerous community events such as American Cancer Society Fundraisers and the We Are Winter weekend event. Be sure to look for the Center's participation in the Wally Lake Fest this August!

However, the PMVB could not take on this endeavor alone. Thanks to PPL Corporation, Palmyra Township of Pike County and the newly renamed Pocono Lake Region Chamber of Commerce that this building came into fruition. So if you haven't already done so, stop in the next time you are in the Lake Region and explore this gorgeous facility. With so many additions in year one, I can't imagine what year two has in store!

The Upper Delaware River provides recreational opportunities few areas of the country get to enjoy.  Most notably, fishing and boating are the most popular. And why not? There are fish aplenty and the scenery is beautiful. Between mid-April and mid-June, American Shad flock to the river in large numbers, and the anglers follow suit. Bird watching has become a growing activity in this park and Bald Eagles are also found hunting along the river.

The Delaware Water Gap is formed by Mt. Minsi in Pennsylvania and Mt. Tammany in New Jersey. It is an impressive site that was once touted as a scenic Wonder of the World. The two mountains used to be connected as one, but erosion over millions of years has formed what is now the gap. Visitors to this park most often enjoy camping along its banks, fishing the Delaware River or hiking along the McDade or Appalachian Trail. Access to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area can be found along River Road around Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania.

The Delaware River is one of the cleanest and most serene rivers in the entire country.  It's no wonder that National Parks Service gave it several parks throughout its course. What better time to explore them then National Park Week?

 
Rare Brick Photography

In honor of Earth Day, I am going to change my name from Socialista to Ecolista for this week's blog! Although I cannot claim to be 100% eco-friendly at all times, I do try to do my part to keep our planet green. And here at the PMVB, we practice being Green, everyday.

I'm sure you know the basics that we can all do every day to help save the planet and keep it beautiful and sustainable for generations to come, but I thought I would share with you some other great ideas to help you get in the Earth Day spirit!

- Pull the plug: Use a power strip to turn off televisions, stereos and computer systems when you're not using them and unplug appliances such as phone chargers, extra refrigerators and printers until you need them.
- Bump your thermostat: Set it to 78 degrees and open the windows when there is a fresh breeze. (In the winter, set it to around 68 degrees and turn it down even more when you go to sleep or are away.)
- Put your fridge on a diet: If your fridge is equipped with a power-saving feature, use it. Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Read: Walden, An Inconvenient Truth, Silent Spring, The Omnivore's Dilemma, Hot, Flat and Crowded, Go Green, Live Rich.
- Power down your computer when not using it.
- Turn your water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Test your windows and doors for leaks: Hold a ribbon near the windowsills or door jamb. If it's fluttering, you have a leak. Caulk it up to save energy and money.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes.
- Make your water multi-task: use it more than once while grooming, cleaning, washing dishes and playing.
- Go paperless.
- Go meat-free at least one day per week.
- Make a waste-free lunch.
- Plant a tree, a flower or a garden with your children.
- Adopt a pet from your local animal shelter.
- Volunteer.
- Don't drive one day a week.
- Explore nature in your local community: we have some of the most beautiful parks in the country.
- Buy local.
- Buy in bulk.
- Bring your own reusable shopping bag.
- Turn trash into treasure: get creative by using old items (such as broken gadgets, torn clothing or plastic bottles) such as art supplies.

Many of these suggestions are simple, easy and will go a long way in keeping our planet beautiful. This Earth Day I will be volunteering with the United Way doing trail maintenance at the Trexler Scout Reservation. What will you be doing? Please share with me your Earth Day adventures! Ciao for now...

Presented at this year's Annual Tourism Day on May 12 at Mount Airy Casino, these awards are our version of the highest honors across the region. We feel it is extremely import to recognize industry employees and member facilities who excel and flourish in our tourism community. These prestigious nominations include the Brand Hero Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Outstanding Tourism Employee of the Year, Community Service Award, Green Award, Brand Champion Award and Community Service Award. 

Be sure to check the requirements for each honor and fill out the nomination form. Take the opportunity to recognize your employees and facilities for their outstanding accomplishments, they deserve it! Oh and don't worry, this year's award ceremony is a luncheon. While there will be delicious food, couture gowns and suits are not required. See you there!

The theme of this year's conference will be mobile marketing. As an iPhone enthusiast, I'm excited to hear our keynote, James Huth, Director of Business Development for NBC 10, share his expertise with mobile marketing campaigns. We developed a partnership with NBC 10 for our mobile campaign around the Winter Olympic Games and are looking forward to another campaign this summer.  Stay tuned and be sure to become a part of our mobile community! I promise it comes with perks!

At the Tourism Achievement Awards Luncheon, the Brand Hero, Lifetime Achievement, Outstanding Tourism Employee of the Year, Community Service, Green and Brand Champion Awards will be presented. For further information on nominations, please contact Ann Pilcher.

But no skipping out early! If you haven't already been, Mount Airy Casino will be giving tours of their facility and it is gorgeous. So if you happen to be touring the gaming floor and witness a young female in a suit with iPhone in hand and brand ambassador pin on anxiously playing the slots, say hi and tell me how much you love my blog!