Lisa G's Lake Placid

Sweet, naive, kinda dumb. Pam is none of these things, though somehow the Rose Nylund appealed to her. Opposite attraction? A pretty pink drink of Citron vodka, cranberry juice, rose water and lemon, its distinct rose petal flavor can be a bit unusual.

The final Happy Hour in the High Peaks Lake Placid Summit Tour venue, we went straight to the bar at Lisa G's, soliciting drink suggestions from Jecinda, our young and energetic bartender. She proved to be knowledgeable, sociable, professional, and seemed to enjoy her work. Simultaneously filling orders and answering our questions or elaborating on a particular cocktail, Jecinda stated, "It's all about the accessories, like the shoes or the purse," as she whipped up a Lychee Margarita, rimmed with lime zest, sugar and salt while Daniel, self-proclaimed "server extraordinaire", waited for his order.

Variety and creativity sprinkled with intelligence and a sense of humor pervade the entire experience, from Lisa G's fun and quirky website to the tongue-in-cheek menu descriptions. Tastefully furnished with craftsman style tables and stools and plenty of seating at the long cherry bar, the pub at Lisa G's has an upscale but relaxed and eclectic feel enhanced by several original paintings whose bold and sometimes garish colors seem influenced by both Matisse and Toulouse-Lautrec. A sitting area of plump stuffed furniture and a patterned carpet soften some of the edginess within the burgundy painted pine walls and hardwood floor. A pool table in the back lay dormant as we dined, supervised by two of the paintings.

Several specialty drinks, most priced at $7, tempt the adventurous while a plentiful selection of wines, drafts and bottled beers beckon the more conventional. Utica Club and PBR in cans are available for those with even simpler palates. Margarita variations include the previously noted Lychee margarita and the mango margarita (more mango than 'rita) with a cinnamon rim which we got to try.

The lunch and dinner menus offer a mouth-watering variety without having to take out a second mortgage. Kim's dinner choice of lemon Caesar salad - fresh, crisp and tangy - was a perfect light ending to an arduous day of "work", though did little to absorb the libations of a nine-hour day. We had been to The Cottage, Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, Straight Shot and PJ O'Neill's that day and were ready to bring the Lake Placid Tour to a close. No performance is complete without an encore, so we returned to our room to let loose the growler of porter for which we had bartered two Happy Hour in the High Peaks hats at Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood the night before. Feeling like we had barely scratched the surface, we're hoping to return to Lake Placid to see what we missed (or can't remember), perhaps during the winter. Meanwhile, we forge ahead and soon begin the Old Forge pub crawl reviews.

Cheers and Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

The Cottage Lake Placid

Lunch at the Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn was first on the agenda as we started the second day of the Lake Placid Tour. The sun had finally burned through the clouds, so we took our lunch outdoors on the deck overlooking Mirror Lake. Noting the woven table cloths and polished wide plank pine floors as we passed through the cozy dining room, we found the deck comfortable, spacious and reminisicent of the gardens of Avonlea. Surrounded by a neat white fence, abundant plantings offer some privacy from the street. Lamps of wrought iron and blown glass hang from sturdy white posts and large tables of a composite material seat 50 to 60 people.

As we studied the menu of fresh and healthy choices, the tables were quickly filled. Though it was still cool outside, everyone seemed eager to take in the newly discovered sunshine. When we had met Lisa Randall at Zig Zags the night before, she had recommended that we try either the maple martini or bloody mary. The bloody mary seemed a good addition to our lunch and a good place to start. The bloody marys soon arrived, Kim creating a bit of a distraction as she arranged her drink in various poses for a photo. The bloody mary, served in a mason jar mug, was simple and hearty, though one of us should have thought to try the maple martini. Next time.

We found the menu prices in the average to high range (nothing was priced higher than $14.95), but our sandwiches, salads and entrees were well worth the price. Lunch for four, with only two cocktails, was close to $90.00, including gratuity.

Fortunately, Lisa had already given us the facts about the Cottage. Our plan had been to have lunch and then take a seat at the bar. After lunch, however, the bar was full. Small and charming, the bar only seats about 10 people but we learned that it's quite popular, features a wide selection of wines and beers and offers a 9 p.m. to close late night happy hour with $3.00 drafts and $4.00 margaritas and house wines. The Cottage is open from 11:30 am until 12 am daily throughout the year and features nightly food and drink specials from 5 to 7 p.m. They have been in business for 34 years and claim that the best time to visit is "anytime". This is yet another of many places we've reviewed that we're looking forward to visiting again.

Cheers and Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Superfecta!

Hot day at the track today, and no hot winning streaks between us. We just got back and are chillin' at Pammie's Pub where it's a cool 90 degrees out here at the "On-Deck Pub" and a creation is in the works. Pammie, ever resourceful, absconded with the Carousel's drink menu, just for some ideas. This one is based on the Hurricane, with, as we say inside the blue line, variances.

Superfecta
1 oz. spiced rum
2 oz. orange juice
1 oz. blueberry juice
Splash of pineapple juice

Shake with ice and serve over ice. Garnish with a cherry.

A less sweet version: The Trifecta

Trifecta
1 oz. 46 Peaks Vodka
2 oz. blueberry juice
2 oz. seltzer or club soda
Splash of orange juice
Serve over ice and garnish with an orange slice (which we skipped but you get the idea)

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Splash

Lake Placid Pub and Brewery Lake Placid

The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, icon of North Country brewers and birthplace of UBU Ale, is an interesting combination of two bars. On the first level is PJ O'Neill's. We arrived at around 1:30 p.m., O'Neill's sign indicating it didn't open until 4:30 p.m. Ascending the wide wooden staircase, illuminated by stained glass windows to the Lake Placid Pub, we read signs to get as much information as we could on our own. Kim commented on the windows, wondering if they were from a Lake Placid source. She later inquired and found that they were salvaged from a church demolition.

The entrance opens to a roomy span of bar and restaurant, light colored wood and gleaming bottles warmly lit by afternoon sun. Vintage posters, college pennants, and the brewery's collection of awards and medals decorate the pine walls. We took a seat, taking note of the numbered beer steins dangling patiently around the perimeter of the bar, each with its owner's name on the bottom. Kim surveyed the beer list, licking her chops as she faced the quandary of selecting only one. It was early and several more bars awaited. She opted for the ChocoWit, a Belgian-American wheat beer brewed with chocolate. Pam, always taking nutrition into consideration, had started Lake Placid Day Two with a Bloody Mary, so opted for the usual vodka and grapefruit knowing it was a good way to pace herself for the rest of the day. From her seat at the bar, Pam observed several full tables on the adjoining deck, overlooking Mirror Lake. The U-shaped bar could accommodate 16 to 18 patrons with several tables available for many, many more beer enthusiasts.

Steve, the general manager, took the time to talk with us about the restaurant and brewery and gave Kim a tour of the brewery. He even arranged a display of the brewery's wares for Kim to photograph. According to Steve, a local distiller has plans to make gin flavored with white pine needles. Eagerly awaiting that release, Pam relaxed and enjoyed her beverage, recalling that a bottle of Lake Placid Spirits 46 Peaks Vodka had been purchased that morning for testing back at the Pammie's Pub laboratory.

Winner of several awards, the Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company was selected as the best brewery in New York State in 2005 and 2007, and best brewery in the Hudson Valley in 2003, 2005, and 2007 by the TAP New York Beer Festival. Unable to keep up with growing demand, the brewery has expanded several times, finally entering into a partnership with the Matt Brewing Company where most of their beer is now brewed and packaged. Prices are reasonable and a tempting variety of freshly brewed beers changes throughout the year. The menu includes typical pub fare, with burgers and sandwiches in the $10 range, locally baked UBU bread and beer-inspired sauces, dressings and soups.

The Lake Placid Pub and Brewery is open all year, every day, hours changing with the seasons. Summer hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and they offer a Happy Hour special from 3:30 to 6 p.m. and a Tuesday night buy one get one free special as well. Patrons are encouraged to continue their parties downstairs at PJ O'Neill's after 10 until 2 a.m. The brewery has been in business since 1996, but PJ's has a longer history. Whether you choose the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery upstairs, PJ O'Neill's downstairs, or both, you'll find one of the finest selections of tasty brews in the Adirondacks. This is a not-to-be-missed attraction in Lake Placid.

We returned later that night to PJ O'Neill's, a self-proclaimed "true Irish pub". Its dark, low-ceilinged interior in complementary contrast to the upstairs, but with similar flavor - lots of wood and brick and a stained glass backdrop behind the bar. PJ's serves the same fine Lake Placid brews that are available upstairs. According to local lore, they pride themselves on being the "local pub" in Lake Placid. You can go there, but you have to be open-minded, out-going, or just wasted. We might suggest that you have a few upstairs to warm up first. Pam offered to trade her HHHP hat with a woman wearing a straw hat, but the offer was politely declined. Pam played pool (and won) against her husband while Kim bantered with the couple next to her at the bar, visiting from Hawaii. The bartender was leery of us, tolerant and closely observant.

We didn't stay long. It was close to 9 p.m. and we realized we were eating complimentary popcorn by the bowlful, so we wove our weary way in what we hoped was the direction of Lisa G's for dinner. We will be reviewing Lisa G's and other stops on our Summit Tour throughout the summer. In an effort to catch up on reviews, not all will be posted at the Adirondack Almanack before appearing here. The Cottage, Lisa G's, Dancing Bears and Straight Shot will only be posted on our blog, so check regularly. Reviews from the Old Forge trip start next week.

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Dancing Bears Lake Placid

Our third and last stop on day one of the HHHP Does Lake Placid Tour was Dancing Bears Bar and Restaurant, located at The High Peaks Resort in the Village of Lake Placid. Although the day was dreary, the room was well lit as natural daylight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows. High ceilings, pale-colored walls and tapered oak columns open the space and a cozy stone fireplace rests in a far wall. The restaurant surrounds the bar on all sides and amply spaced dining and pub tables offer views from any angle in the daytime. Three wide screen TV’s are visible without being a distraction. Fishing tries to be the predominant theme. Framed photographs and fishing gear adorn the walls in aesthetic arrangement but are interrupted here and there with the seemingly requisite memorabilia hanging in tribute to Olympics past. Of course, dancing bears are everywhere starting with a huge mural of the scene and other various renditions of this now iconic Adirondack image painted by William Beard. The work has undergone a metamorphosis in the last century. Originally titled The Wall Street Jubilee, the image depicts the bears of Wall Street celebrating a drop in the stock market. It seems now to symbolize a more rustic, whimsical portrayal of fun and frolic, a commune with nature. The Dancing Bears’ most celebrated feature is a beautiful outdoor seating area on the upper level. Due to the weather, we were not able to take advantage of the deck, which overlooks Mirror Lake and features a fire pit.

As the bartender greeted us we seated ourselves at the bar. The leather bar stools were beautiful and comfortable. On this evening, Darren was the lone bartender supporting the bar and restaurant patrons. He was very busy, but tried to accommodate our questions when he could. Pam's first question was whether they had any drinks unique to their establishment. He handed her a menu and pointed to a list of about six summer specialties featuring mostly fruity flavored cocktails. Pam reviewed them then turned the page only to discover a drink special list entitled "46 High Peaks"! A wise guy! Forty-six drink specials unique to their establishment, at least in name. Mostly remakes or variations of popular drinks, each one is named for one of the high peaks and range in price from $5.00 to $8.00. According to the Libations menu, you can win a prize for trying all 46 drinks. We don't think it's intended to be done in one day or night, nor do we recommend trying.

The beer selection includes something for every taste with common domestics and a modest collection of imports in bottles, some of New York’s finest in cans, and (mostly commercial) drafts. The Dancing Bears claims to serve the coldest beer in Lake Placid. Stella, Blue Moon, Yuengling, Coors Light, Saranac Pale Ale and Davidson Brothers Oatmeal Stout are dispensed through taps encased in blocks of ice. The “Freeze Your Glass Off” special is offered daily from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring ice cold pints for a cool 2 bucks!

The clean casual atmosphere of The Dancing Bears offers a pleasant, relaxing place to grab a bite and a drink or two, and easy on the wallet if you're there for the beer special. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner at moderate prices. We ordered appetizers at the bar and discovered one of the biggest and best order of nachos we had ever had, piled high and served on a pedestal.

We still have reviews to finish for The Cottage and Lisa G's which we hope to finish up this weekend. The Old Forge pub crawl reviews will begin with the Moose Lake Inn and will first be posted on the Adirondack Almanack. Tonight we're taking a little trip up to Au Sable Forks to "peak" 20 Main. Do try to keep up.

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Great Adirondack Brewing Company Lake Placid

Having left Zig Zags on that Thursday night, day 1 of Happy Hour in the High Peaks' Lake Placid Summit Tour, we went straight down Main Street to stop #2, The Great Adirondack Brewing Company.
We immediately introduced ourselves to Tom, the General Manager of 15 years, and let him know that Rob Kane, co-owner with his parents Edward and Joan Kane, had sent us. This bar is part of the Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Restaurant, which has been in business since 1982.

Wood, wood and more wood sets the scene inside the bar and restaurant area, from the oak bar to the richly stained pine paneled walls, bead board ceilings, and peeled log beams. Movie posters, sports memorabilia, a golf ball collection and winter sports gear create a confusion of decoration throughout the pub. Law enforcement and firefighter badges surround the bar, representing protective service from around the country. Delicious smells fill the air, tempting patrons to enjoy a fine meal.

Customers come and go, many apparent regulars who exchange friendly greetings, some curious about the two women in matching hats. The first bar to introduce Pam to grape rum, they offer drink specials featuring their best brews and a variety of "rum runner" drinks. A blackboard listed several beers on tap. Kim opted for the Abbey Ale, with a rich, fruity aroma and sweet flavor. She sampled the porter as well, claiming it tastes "Just as a porter should."

Open every day year round, the best best time to visit the Great Adirondack Brewing Company is in the summer months, but winter weekends and holidays can be special too. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The bar seats about 12 people, with additional tables along the perimeter. The bartenders are attentive and very professional. Posted on the walls in several areas are notices banning cell phone use. They have had problems with loud cell phone use, but advise that polite usage is generally tolerated.

The weather that day was not conducive to outdoor seating, but ample outdoor space, semi-privately tucked back from the sidewalk, provides at least 15 tables on the patio, easily accomodating a large crowd on a sunny day or warm evening. They do occasionally feature outdoor acoustic music on the patio.

Located in the Village of Lake Placid, the Great Adirondack Brewing Company is definitely not to be missed. If you're a beer drinker, you probably can't leave without purchasing a growler. Kim had been eyeing the decorative bottle with pewter handle and swing top lid and Pam was sure they wouldn't be leaving without one of those filled with Abbey Ale. She was correct. Not only did the Abbey Ale come home with us, we traded two of our HHHP hats with a couple of brewers for an additional growler of porter and posed for a photo op. (Pam optimistically hoped at least one bottle was full of grape rum.) Hopefully, the brewers will be sporting our hats when you visit the Great Adirondack Brewing Company.


Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

HHHP Old Forge Summer Tour Prelude

We arrived in Old Forge on Friday night and decided we were not ready to hit the town. We had our own private wine and cheese party outside our cottage and turned in not as early as we expected. Saturday morning we took an early walk, "casing" the town, went to a few shops, including the must see Old Forge Hardware Store. That included a look in their bookstore, where we hope to see our book properly displayed next year. We then went back to Village Cottages to plan our assault.

We recently discovered that we were on different wavelengths regarding the design of our book, so we took some time to sit in the sun and revisit our differences of opinion. This is what we refer to as our "board meetings". It was too cool for the pool, so we sat in Adirondack chairs and just worked it out. We spent some time with our host, Janet, as she gave us the scoop on the local establishments. By 1 pm, we were ready to hit the bars, knowing we had a lot of ground to cover. On our way to Big Moose Lake, in Inlet I believe, we encountered a bicyclist in our path.

Spandex deteriorates. Ever have a bathing suit that you put on one day and realize you can see through it? OK for your backyard, but you don't wear it to the beach. Bicycle shorts are made out of Spandex, too. As we approached the cyclist, standing to pedal harder, sun at his back, we realized that his Spandex had deteriorated, AND he was cycling "commando" - the crack of his butt visible to all!

Question is, did he know it and do it on purpose? How do you put on your riding shorts and not notice? We pondered that question on and off throughout our Old Forge (and vicinity) tour.

With a new appreciation of "Bottoms Up"!

High Peaks Pammie

Straight Shot Lake Placid

A small sign over the door to Straight Shot deceived, as did the name. A sandwich board advertised Happy Hour 3 to 6 p.m. Hoping to save a few bucks, Kim and Pam had 15 minutes to kill before 3pm, so they wandered into a few shops. Another check of their watches and they proceeded to Straight Shot.

The interior was nothing like the image the name "Straight Shot" invoked. Half expecting to push through swinging saloon doors and cast an eye on men standing at the bar with shot glasses in hand, whiskey bottles perched before them, Pam was taken aback by the true interior - clean, bright, retro-contemporary; finished in warm, earthy tones. As they took their seats at the bar, both admired the black lacquer-edged bar top, translucent amber illuminated from below.

Straight Shot Lounge was the eighth bar they had visited since arriving in Lake Placid the evening before. Adirondack style interiors are nice, but this style was a refreshing change. Seating 16 to 18 patrons at the bar, the upholstered stools were classy and comfortable. Oversized amber pendant lights hung over the bar. Joanne, the bartender, looked casually professional in her white cotton shirt and friendly smile. (She wore pants too.) Neither long white apron nor protective rifle were visible behind this bar. Upholstered booths were available along the perimeter of the lounge area, with textured glass partitioning the it from the restaurant, Generations. Large granite floor tiles contrasted the blonde wood tones and simple window treatments softening the room. The dining room featured gleaming hardwood floors, arched windows and a cylindrical fireplace.

Generations and Straight Shot are affiliated with the Golden Arrow Hotel, though not physically connected to the hotel. All three are open year round, seven days per week. Straight Shots' standard hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 12 or 1 a.m. during the summer season. The current Happy Hour special featured well drinks or domestic bottled beer for $2.00. Sensing the good deal, Kim and Pam took advantage of the special several times, and even invited their husbands to join them. They were tempted to stay for dinner, but two more bars were on the list so it was time to move on.

Hey, by the way, whatever happened to the days when your whiskey was served by the bottle?

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Old Forge Area Part II

The list kept growing. After a hasty but healthy dinner, we were back out to cover two or three more bars. Could we possibly do four? Never mind that at least three or four more on top of that had been suggested to us as "not to be missed". We'd had several conversations with Janet, our host at Village Cottages, who offered directions, history and valuable advice about many of the places on our list and who seemed to be related to or at least knew almost everyone in town.

Daiker's bar

Turns out Tal Daiker is Janet's cousin. The original plan was to hit destinations which were within walking distance, but Daiker's was six miles away and we just couldn't go home without going there.

We spent less than an hour at Daiker's and had a nice chat with Tal, then drove back in to Old Forge and made a quick stop at Slicker's. The tiny bar was pretty crowded so we didn't really get a chance to talk to the bartender, but we met a few locals (who had also been at Daiker's) who told us we had to go to Tony Harper's Pizza and Clam Shack. (We would find these gentlemen at every bar we went to for the rest of the night.)

Back to the cottage. Park the car. Hoof it. It was only two blocks to the Tow Bar. We immediately felt at home at the Tow Bar and decided that's where we wanted to end the night, so we had a quick drink there and crossed the street to Tony Harper's where we were pleasantly surprised at the building and the atmosphere. Finally we returned to the Tow Bar where we relaxed, had conversations without a notebook, took some photos and played pool.

Tow Bar buddies

We'll add write-ups and reviews as we finish them. Some you will have to wait for to appear on the Adirondack Almanack; others we will review here. Between the Old Forge area and Lake Placid, we accumulated 16-18 bars in the queue waiting for review. So do try to keep up.

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Old Forge area Part I

Busy day today. First on the agenda was the Red Dog Tavern, but that didn't open until 4:00. It was only around 1:30. What to do...

Continue on to Big Moose Lake - The Big Moose Inn Eagle Bay...

Next stop: The Wayback Inn in Eagle Bay...

About 45 minutes more to kill, so off to the Glenmore Bar & Grill in Big Moose...

And finally, the Red Dog Tavern Old Forge...

We went back to our cottage for a quick dinner and to regroup for round two, on foot, in Old Forge. We'll catch up on our reviews in the coming weeks. We still have to finish Lake Placid write-ups. It's a never-ending job.

Cheers & Bottoms up!
Kim & Pam

Zig Zags Pub Lake Placid

Two days of Happy Hour indulgence began with the first bar we encountered as we walked from our hotel down Main Street in Lake Placid. Somewhat amused by the bobsled parked on the sidewalk, we entered Zig Zags without hesitation. As we approached the bar in Zig Zags Pub, Kim commented that there were no women in the bar. The bar itself was fairly full, but she was correct in her observation. The bartender approached, and Pam, once again, couldn't resist. Sometimes she has no filter between thinking and speaking. "Do you serve women?" she asked him, a fleeting deadpan look on her face, then she flashed her 'I just can't help myself' smile. He came right back with something like, "When they're available. On a plate," etc. Ice broken and raucous greetings ensued...

A pool table waited in the center of the room and Pam's competitive streak was kept in check due only to our time constraints. Darts (traditional and electronic), foosball and a few video games are placed around the room. An area near the entrance is occupied by several pub tables looking out onto Main Street. Zig Zags is named for curves 13 and 14 on the bobsled run, and numerous posters, photos, signs and memorabilia support predominant theme.

Brett's "bartender" face

We ordered our drinks and soon launched into describing our purpose. Conversations started to fly, left, right, up, down, zigzagging, about Zig Zags. Suggestions about where else we needed to go came from other patrons. We were introduced to Rob Kane, the owner of The Great Adirondack Brewing Company, who gave us the bartender's name there. That would be our next stop, but we had work to do here. We met Lisa Randall from The Cottage Bar and Restaurant on Mirror Lake. A few women had slipped in unnoticed. Our bartender and owner of Zig Zags, Brett, was kept busy by his patrons and with exchanging insults with the regulars at the end of the bar. Lisa helped Pam with questions about Zig Zags, then continued by answering questions about The Cottage. We promised her that The Cottage was on our list for the next day.

Tony & Wayne

While Pam conducted interviews, Kim snapped some photos of the bar and its less camera-shy patrons, declined a marriage proposal (being already spoken for), and made some new friends, including Wayne, Adirondack Guide and owner of Middle Earth Expeditions whitewater rafting adventures, and Tony, who offered to take us to some "real" bars not on the map. We'd have to get there by four-wheeler or snowmobile, and it all sounded just a bit sketchy. Ladies, Wayne claims that "If you're looking for a man, come here," listing his qualifications as hardworking, can hunt deer, build a log cabin and skin a bear.

Zig Zags, the only true "bar" in Lake Placid, is open daily throughout the year from 3 p.m. until 3 a.m. Lisa claims the best time to visit is between 10 p.m. and 12 a.m., but we know otherwise - anytime is a good time. They have been in business for 10 years, have Happy Hour Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. with varying specials daily, and feature live music on Friday and Saturday nights. With plenty of draft and bottled beers and a standard liquor selection, Zig Zags has a come-as-you-are, I am what I am, laid back and fun personality. We talked to almost everyone in the bar, who seemed both accustomed to and tolerant of tourists, which is not always the case. The impression was one of a locals' hangout that likes to have company.

Note the Happy Hour in the High Peaks hat on Rob

Regretfully, we left Zig Zags, hopeful that our subsequent stops would be as rewarding. In the coming weeks we'll review several of the bars on the Lake Placid leg of the summer tour. Next week we review the second bar on our Lake Placid tour, the Great Adirondack Brewery. Workaholics that we are, we'll be continuing the summer tour in Old Forge this weekend. Suggestions are encouraged! Cheers and bottoms up!

HHHP Summer Tour - Old Forge this Weekend

We're off to Old Forge tonight and staying til Sunday. So far we have the Red Dog Tavern, Tea House and maybe Tow Bar on our list. Let us know if you have any other suggestions. We're sure we'll get more input once we get there.

Don't forget to order your HHHP hat before they're all gone. $20.00 is a good deal!

Bottoms Up and Cheers!

Kim Ladd and Pam Ladd

Fireworks photos

In case you didn't want to fight the traffic to see fireworks, enjoy the ones we saw tonight.

Firecracker Cocktail

One final recipe before the real fireworks begin - the Firecracker, which we did not invent, but made our own with a little staging...

The Firecracker
2 oz. spiced rum
1 oz. sloe gin
1 oz. Bacardi 151
4 oz. orange juice
Top with a cherry and serve in your favorite bud vase.

*Warning: Fireworks are illegal in New York and many other states. Fireworks are for illustration only. No actual use is implied.

No way, Jose?

No way Jose? Cause for celebration: We just topped our 3000th blog view. I know it sounds minor, but a milestone is a milestone.

In keeping with the historic document theme, The Tequila Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Mexico ensures that $400 million in tequila exports from Mexico to the U.S. continue without interruption. I'll drink to that! Viva Mexico!

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Our Four Fathers

In keeping with the celebration of America's Independence Day, we consulted our Four Fathers (Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Johnny Walker and Jose Cuervo) for inspiration.

The Constitution of Happy Hour in the High Peaks
We the people of the Adirondacks, in order to form a more perfect cocktail, establish drunkenness, insure domestic camaraderie, provide for the common intoxication, promote general cheer, and secure blessings of inebriation to ourselves and our swill, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the High Peaks.

We present to you the Happy Hour in the High Peaks First Amendment or the Bill of Rights:

Freedom to imbibe
Freedom to slur our speech
Freedom to blog
Freedom to gather with friends
Freedom of inebriation

Then we're pretty sure the framers of the Constitution must have proposed a toast. We came up with the Bomb Pop:

Bomb Pop
Cream of Coconut (available at WalMart and other fine supermarkets)
Grenadine
Blue Curacao

Pour the Cream of coconut into a shot glass. Carefully pour the grenadine on top of the coconut. Very slowly drip or drizzle the blue curacao over a spoon to float it on top of the grenadine.

Our Lake Placid trip yielded a new addition to Pammie's Pub: 46 Peaks Vodka. It is yearning to breathe free, so we shall continue our celebration on this the most austere of occasions in our nation's history in an attempt to liberate the contents of that bottle. Check back later, as there may be some fireworks involved. Not that we New Yorkers are intelligent enough to handle them.

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

Timeless Tavern Northville

Northville is one of the few places that is not on our way to anywhere else in the Adirondack Park. With overnights planned in both Lake Placid and Old Forge in the next two weeks, most places are on the way to or beyond either one of them.

The drive through Hadley and the town of Day along the Great Sacandaga Lake was alone worth the hour and fifteen minutes. Pam was on a trip to Virginia, so I flew solo on this one. However, I did allow my husband to chauffeur.

The Timeless Tavern sits on Main Street in Northville amid a row of storefronts in what appears to be a timeless town as well, reminiscent of a Look Magazine Hometown USA spread. Both village and tavern were pretty deserted, understandable at mid-afternoon, but the tavern was open, or almost open. Their hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday; closed Monday. The bartender seemed to be getting the bar set up so it may not have been quite 4:00 when we went in.

The bar area is spacious with lots of natural pine; neat, well lighted, and with simple decor. Several tables, simply and elegantly covered with matching linens, are positioned in the tavern, a few next to windows; the others far enough away from the bar to be able to enjoy dining but close enough to be in on the action. The bar menu features sandwiches, burgers, specialty salads and light entrees in the $10.00 to $12.00 range, while the restaurant entrees are all priced between $17.00 and $25.00. Flagrant Red Sox and New England Patriots fans, owner Tom's New England accent betrayed his allegiance as we asked where the Yankees memorabilia was. We'll overlook it.

I made an immediate trip to the ladies' room. Contemporary and spotless but otherwise unremarkable. When I returned, my husband commented on the men's room, uncharted territory for me. Displayed over the urinal is a glass case containing several jokes for a gentleman's amusement, at the expense of we women, I'm sure. Doesn't the task at hand (so to speak) require some sort of attention? How does one steady the stream while pee(r)ing around the room? Just saying.

An inspection of the beer cooler divulged at least thirty bottled brews, including six or seven Sam Adams choices alone, the usual domestics, and even Molson Golden, which we didn't even think was still produced. Yuengling, Blue Moon, Sam Adams seasonal and a couple of others rounded out the beer list. The bar is well stocked with several flavored vodkas, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Jeremiah Weed, Maker's Mark and American Honey to name just a few.

The Great Sacandaga Lake region of the Adirondack Park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and seasonal visitors, though not as commercial as other areas like Lake George and Lake Placid. The Timeless Tavern is open year round and is accessible by snowmobile in the winter. The beer is cold, the staff is friendly and the menu is varied, though a little pricey.

Cheers!
Kim Ladd

Lake Placid Day 2

Thursday June 30 was day two in Lake Placid. Thanks to Lisa, whom we'd met at Zig Zags the night before, we started with a wonderful lunch on Mirror Lake at The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn. Despite being overcast, the view on the deck was lovely. Since proper nutrition is important and sets the tone for the rest of the day, we ordered Bloody Marys. Our busy agenda didn't allow us to linger long at the bar.

We ditched our husbands and went straight to the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery. General manager Steve graciously spent some time answering our questions, encouraged picture taking and even showed Kim the brewery. We decided to return later to PJ O'Neill's downstairs.


Next Stop: Northern Exposure and the Cabin at the Northwoods Inn. Both were pretty empty when we were there but definitely deserve another look.


We crossed Main Street and noticed the happy hour sign at Straight Shot Lounge at Generations Restaurant at the Golden Arrow Resort. The name conjured images of a dark hole-in-the-wall kind of place, which couldn't have been further from the truth. Very chic and contemporary and bartender JoAnne was a gem. And domestic bottled beers and well drinks were only $2. Also noteworthy was the martini menu.

Rose Nylund

We allowed Tony & Bob to tag along to PJ O'Neill's, back at the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, where voracious popcorn consumption encouraged us to head out to dinner at Lisa G's. Of course, we had dinner at the bar. Bartender Jecinda happily made drink suggestions and answered our questions. Pam tried a Rose Nylund, an unusual combination of Citron, cranberry juice, lemon and rosewater. We also shared a mango margarita.

Too full of good food and drinks, we decided to call it a night. We'll be individually reviewing each of the bars from this trip for the Adirondack Almanack. Can't wait to go back to Lake Placid!

Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam