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Have you ever wondered just how steady a surgeon's hand is? Do you love sushi? Does a competition of any kind get your blood flowing? If you have answered yes to any of the previous questions, or if you simply want to support the Pocono Mountains community, you need to be at The Garden at Desaki on Friday, Nov. 18! Spectators will witness one of the most innovative and spectacular competitions ever to call the Pocono Mountains home! 

Five of Pocono Medical Center's top Surgeons will trade in their scalpels for sushi knives. Doctors Herman, Nikiforouk, Riley, Williams and Zama have accepted the challenge and are sharpening their skills, or should I say knives, at this very moment. Attendees to this historical and groundbreaking event will enjoy complimentary sushi and appetizers along with a breathtaking Samurai performance by Bruce Carlino. Celebrity judge scores will be combined with your popular vote to determine which of these surgeons will hold the coveted title of the Pocono Mountains Iron Chef!

That's not all ladies and gentlemen, 100% of the proceeds from this mind-blowing evening will benefit the New Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer Center! Don't wait another minute, call 570-780-9336, now and reserve your place in history!  Advance tickets are $35 and $40 at the door.

Hope to see you soon, Ciao for now...

School is OUT for summer, (well most schools are, sorry if yours isn't)! Have your children come to you stating they are "bored" already? Have you had someone tell you there is "NOTHING to do around here"? Growing up with four rambunctious boys meant both of these phrases were quite popular in our household. My, my, how things have changed. I can't seem to catch my breath lately with everything that is going on in the Pocono Mountains. Everyone needs to get outside and go, go, go!

Last weekend several of my high school classmates strapped on their sneakers, shorts, sports bras and tank tops to become "Warriors" for the day. Skirmish USA played host to the Warrior Dash where nearly 20,000 participants traversed through tires, climbed over cars, crawled in a foot of mud and jumped over fire all for the fun of it!! Plus, they gave you beer to drink and hats adorned with horns to take home!

I can't imagine anyone NOT wanting to do this, but if your thirst for adventure is a little less extreme, we are still the place for you and your friends to soak up all the best nature has to offer. May I suggest you grab your besties (aka BFF's) along with your siblings and plan on partaking in one, or two, or all of the following outdoor escapades?

• Hike, Bike and Whitewater raft during Pocono Whitewater's Big Day Out
• Climb and fly through the trees at CBK's Mountain Adventure Park
• Strap on Ski's at Pocono Water Ski and glide around Lake Wallenpaupack
• Dust off your cowboy hat and hop on a horse at Triple W Riding Stables

Oh, and don't forget the largest paintball game in the world will be here next month. The Invasion of Normandy slams in to the Pocono Mountains on July 16-17. Register right away and be part of history in the making. 

Now get off your bum and do something!  Ciao...

I'm back... It's hard to believe that it has been four months since my last blog! Time certainly fly's when you're having fun (well, that's what I keep telling myself). I must admit I am excited and honored to be bringing you all things "Socialista Style" on the third Friday of every month. To kick things off, lets jump in head first with one of the oldest and widely recognized social pastimes... bacchanalia!! 

Named after the Greco-Roman god of wine, Bacchus; bacchanalia were wild and mystic festivals held to honor Bacchus. Apparently, those festivals ended up getting out of hand and were later banned, thankfully however, rejoicing with wine lives on. In 2011, we celebrate both miniscule and grandiose occasions by opening a bottle of wine and toasting life with our family and friends... to be perfectly honest I can't imagine life without wine. Which brings me to ways you can indulge in what wine has to offer in the Pocono Mountains. 

Throughout the entire month of May you can find Sangria Sundays at Cherry Valley Vineyards in Saylorsburg. Grab your best girlfriends or boyfriends, if you are so inclined, and head to Cherry Valley this Sunday between 1-5pm to enjoy a pitcher of their freshly made Sangria, free live music, and a cheese plate all for $18. I don't see how you could pass this up, but...

If Sangria isn't tempting your taste buds this month no need to fret. Join Leslie Chappell-Britt, sommelier and wine lover, at The Settlers Inn at Bingham Park on Friday evenings from 5-6pm. Leslie will be sharing her insights, knowledge, and passion during her Wine Chat, where she will guide you through an unassuming and entertaining hour of tastings and discussions on the world of wine. The cost is $12 per person. Prepare to be dazzled, I guarantee you will fall in love with the Settlers Inn and hope you will make it a regular stop in the journey we all call life.

Wow, it's wonderful to be back! Please be sure to let me know how you enjoyed the events I've shared and let me know if you have requests for future blogs. I missed you!

Ciao for now my friends...

Back by popular demand... MY BLOG!  Well maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration however, wouldn't it be awesome to be back because of popular demand?  It has been a hectic month for all of us and it never seems to slow down no matter how old I get.  Every year as soon as Thanksgiving rolls around time just goes into warp speed and before you know it, we are ringing in the New Year.  Family, food, gifts and decorations consume our lives and we never have a minute (or ten) to relax and enjoy ourselves.  Well I have the perfect escape for you!

On Thursday, January 20^th the Sherman Theater proudly presents, not one, but two classic rock stars!  Put on your timeless rocker T's, your favorite jeans and rock the night away with Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter.  Both men have impressive resumes that have intertwined with each other's over the years to produce hits.

Derringers #1 hit with The McCoy's,  "Hang on Sloopy", knocked the Beatles hit "Yesterday" out of the #1 spot in the summer of 1965.  Derringer eventually joined Edgar Winters White Trash band as a replacement for guitarist Ronnie Montrose.  Prior to their collaboration, Winter's critically acclaimed 1970 debut album Entrance contained an early recording of "Tobacco Road", that was an emotionally devastating and powerful masterpiece propelling him into the national spotlight. 

Edgar Winter's epic album They Only Come Out at Night, produced in part by Rick Derringer, featured his two mammoth hits "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride".  Both remain colossal crowd pleasers to this day!  That's only a taste of what this awesome evening has in store for you.  The best part is, if you purchase one ticket through Ticketmaster your second ticket is half off!!   Simply enter the code FRANKENSTEIN into the Special Offers Box.  Hope you enjoy the Show!

Date:                   Thursday, January 20th
Show Time:       8pm
Seating:              Reserved Seating
Ticket Prices:    $55 / $45 / $38

Ciao for now...

It's been a few weeks, have you missed me?  Hope so!! I'm sure you are going to wish you were with me last week once you've read how awesome my Wednesday was, try not to be too jealous of my job...

I've always welcomed a challenge and believe myself to be on the adventurous side. When the opportunity to spend a few hours strapped into a harness climbing and flying through the trees presented itself, I jumped at the chance! Who doesn't love to climb trees and dangle themselves 50 feet in the air? Especially if you are part monkey, as I'm sure I am!

Last week our very own PR Personality Gillian Moore, our Director of Public Relations Alicia Quinn and yours truly braved the sunshine on a gorgeous 60 degree November day, fastened ourselves into climbing harnesses and geared up for our first trek through CBK Mountain Adventures in Tannersville. After a thorough orientation by Will, one of the many trained experts employed by CBK, we were ready to climb. We began on the Oak Grove Course where you'll get your blood pumping and heart ready for what lies ahead.  We traversed through the Big Pocono, Pharaoh, ASP and Cliffhanger courses encountering challenges with names like Tarzan's Jump, The Zig-Zag, Vertical Logs and The Surf Board. Oh, and don't forget the zip-lines! I could clip myself on to one of those all day long!

Don't be discouraged if zip-lines and navigating obstacle courses 10 - 40 feet in the air isn't your idea of fun. CBK Mountain Adventures also offers Disc Golf for those of you who prefer keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground. Although I respect your need to feel close to mother earth, I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and at the very least complete the Oak Grove Course, you will feel spectacular! Check out this YouTube video by Adam Richins for an idea of what to expect. It's Time for CBK!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBYmlJpqvd0

Ciao for now...

To scare or be scared... That is the question that pops into my mind this time of year.  You can barely walk out of your house without seeing a carved pumpkin, a creepy crawly spider or a ghost in one form or another.  To answer my own question I would have to say I enjoy both but prefer to do the scaring, it's just so FUN! For instance last week I walked into our Mommy & Me blogger Nina's office with no intention of doing anything other than asking her a simple question, but I soon realized that she had absolutely no idea that I was standing directly behind her while she was proofreading something on her computer screen.  It took me all of two seconds to decide that I was going to grab her by the shoulders and scream boo into her ear.  She literally jumped out of her chair (insert smiley face and sinister chuckle) I must admit it made me happy!

My pulse races and my endorphins go into overdrive when I scare someone or they scare me and I'm guessing this happens to most of us but not everyone is up for that kind of Halloween fun so here are two of the ordinary Halloween haunts for you to enjoy.

At The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos in Swiftwater, PA, strange events including hearing screeching monkeys and seeing terrifying, primate-like shadows occurred on such a regular basis the owners brought in The Pennsylvania Paranormal Association (THE PPA), a paranormal research group based out of the Scranton area to check out what was happening.  It was soon revealed that the property was once a biological research center and that discovery spawned the opening of The Haunted "Deadly Experiments" a "museum like" guided tour designed to be interactive and kid friendly.  The tour includes a vortex tunnel, a turnstile and several medical artifact displays.  The Haunted tour is open Friday & Saturday from 1 - 11 p.m. Sunday 1 - 9 p.m. with expanded hours as Halloween approaches.

Before or after your haunted tour I hope you have the opportunity to be an overnight guest at Great Wolf Lodge in the Pocono Mountains.  No imagination was spared when it comes to the decorations and spooktacular activities as Great Wolf celebrates Howl-O-Ween from October 8-31.  This event is exciting, fun, safe, and just a boo-bit scary! Little ghouls and goblins are invited to Cub Club for pumpkin painting and witchy crafts, while the whole pack will enjoy our nightly Trick or Treat Trail, weekend horse and wagon rides, cookie decorating, dance parties, costume contests, and Spooktacular Story Time! I promise you your children will talk about their Halloween trip to Great Wolf for years to come.  Happy Haunting!

Ciao for now...

I'm looking out my window at the raindrops splashing on the sill speaking to Mother Nature... "I know we need the rain, but do we have to make up the complete deficit in one week?"  I don't love any part of this kind of weather except that it's a great excuse to not be outdoors.  This begs the question "what is there to do in the Pocono Mountains when it's raining outside?"

It just so happens that we have a refreshing new restaurant in our midst.  Basso Cucina Italiana M Restaurant & Wine Bar is located on route 390 in Mountainhome, PA.  A trip there this weekend is most definitely warranted for anyone who has been watching the rain fall for the past few days or is simply in need of a delicious meal in an inviting environment.  The Pipolo Family has completely renovated the space that was once home to Harrison's Bar.  From the uplifting patio to the inspiring dining room there is no question that this is a family affair.  The six grandchildren were the inspiration for restaurants name... Billy, Allyssa, Sienna, Sophia, Olivia and Michael and you can find two of them working a few hours a week.

I've enjoyed several meals there since they opened in July and I must say I've loved everything from the warm breadsticks, to the house salad, delicious steamed clams, pork chops, pasta and who can forget sensational tiramisu!  Executive Chef Gracie, former owner of Gracie's Place in East Stroudsburg and one time personal chef to Frank Sinatra has one philosophy, no boring food.  I can certainly vouch for that, nothing that has touched my lips has been the list bit boring.

So as the rain continues to fall from the skies I suggest a dinner date with Pipolo Family at a new gem in the Pocono Mountains!  While you are there be sure to pick up the newest edition of Local Flair Magazine, a gem of a completely different kind!  Please be sure to share your experiences and comments with me!

Ciao for now...

How about we switch gears this week? I've been out and about socializing so often in the past few weeks I thought maybe I'd talk a break from the parties, events and fundraisers to chat a bit about something I know many of you crave... Shopping! You know the holidays are just around the corner and although I have never been, nor will I ever be one of those people who has all her shopping done by November 1... I know there are those of you reading this that began your quest for the perfect holiday gifts months ago. I, in no way will pretend to understand the desire or dedication to such a practice. One holiday season, many moons ago, I thought I should give this foreign concept a try... I ended up giving the gift to its recipient long before the holiday arrived and had to purchase another one. That was my last attempt at planning and purchasing prior to December 15. But I digress, back to the business at hand.

Wondering where to go for a unique shopping experience in the palatial Pocono Mountains where you and your friends can spend the day shopping then enjoy dinner and a cocktail? That's easy... Jim Thorpe. Located in the heart of Carbon County, Mauch Chunk was established in 1818 and was later renamed Jim Thorpe after the legendary Native American athlete. Its hillsides, narrow streets and terraced gardens earned the town its nickname "The Switzerland of America." You will find whimsical boutiques, Victorian architecture and shop owners who welcome visitors from near and far. There are treasures nestled in every nook and cranny of this downtown so plan on spending the day and finishing your evening at The Inn at Jim Thorpe, where your taste buds will be dancing and your thirst will be quenched.

I can't wait to hear all about your adventures in Jim Thorpe, PA! Ciao for now...

(Photo credit: Russ Schleipman)

As I mentioned last week I've been the socialista extraordinaire the past few weeks and this one proved no different...  I'm not sure I've fully recovered from all the activities I've found myself involved in lately but being the trooper I am, I keep pushing forward... (insert laughter) 

I believe that part of being a "superior socialista" is the ability to lead, and I am proud to say that I am one of the 22 students enrolled in this year's Leadership Pocono program. Last weekend all of us rose early, laced up our sneaker and headed to Stony Acres for a day of team building. While climbing trees, zip lining and jumping off of a telephone pole, I quickly realized that we all have different personalities and styles of leadership and that each of us brings something different to the table...

One of my classmates brought something extremely exciting for me to the aforementioned table, a brand new boutique that will greatly improve my social wardrobe! I'm proud to announce the grand opening of Dawn of New York on Main Street in Stroudsburg! Owner and Sylist Dawn Notaro truly hit a home run with her eclectic boutique. I instantly fell in love with the look and feel of the space and couldn't wait to start trying on everything that tickled my fancy. Sipping champagne and snacking on hors d'oeuvres just added to the fantastic atmosphere! I walked out of the boutique with a new swing/shift sweater that has me wishing for cooler temperatures.

After the grand opening soiree my fellow blogger Nina and I headed to the after party at Liquid Martini Bar to meet friends and enjoy a much needed and deserved girl's night out. Of course my evening didn't end there, I also stopped at desaki to check out the "home grown" band of the week Sweet Charity. Desaki truly is an extraordinary place to listen to live music!

If you are interested in adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe, drop me a note, and we'll hit DNY together. Ciao for now...

I love being the Socialista for the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau! Want to know why?  It gives me an excellent excuse to attend every single awesome event that is held in our four counties.  I have had a busy few weeks and I don't see me slowing down anytime soon.  Let me just recap a few of the highlights of my recent escapades for you...

I'll begin with the serene setting of Big Pocono State Park.  It was a gorgeous Friday afternoon as I drove up Sullivan Trail to the 1,306 acres of rugged terrain on the summit and slopes of Camelback Mountain that make up the park.  I took in the breathtaking views of eastern PA and portions of New York & New Jersey as I witnessed the dedication of two magnificent park benches to Bob Uguccioni (aka Mr. Pocono).  If you are looking for a place to bike or hike head to Big Pocono for the challenge and when you are tuckered out you can bask in the glory or your surroundings while sitting on the new park benches.

My next night out brought me to desaki for their "martinis & manicures" event to benefit Thrive to Survive. I searched through my closet for something pink to wear and finally was rewarded for my effort when a dainty pink & black tank top appeared before my eyes.  The evening was spectacular and raised much needed dollars for the fight against breast cancer.  All the ladies grabbed their best friends and enjoyed the mini-manicures, fantastical martinis and heart tugging fashion show complete with breast cancer survivors & current warriors battling the disease. 

It just so happens that I was drawn back to desaki the following evening for their Local Band Series - Home Grown.  Terri and I, along with a few other socialista types sipped red and white wine respectively and danced to one of our favorite bands the Jim Roberti Trio.  I could go on and on about all the incredible events and attractions we have in the Pocono Mountains but I'm supposed to keep these blogs to fewer than 350 words and I want to save some excitement for next week!  Next time you hear someone say they're bored or have nothing to do... point them in the direction of the Pocono Mountains!

Ciao for now...