Urban Backpacker Travels: Wanderlust Stratton 2014

Hello and happy Wednesday!  Two more travel adventure posts, but then I'll be back to recipes I promise!

Two weekends ago I traveled to Stratton Mountain, Vermont for Wanderlust - a yoga festival, or as the founders put it "an adventure of the mind, body, and soul."  It truly was an incredible experience in so many ways.

So what exactly happens at a yoga festival?  I was a Wanderlust virgin, so I really had no idea what to expect from the weekend.  I actually considered dropping out last minute because I was super stressed at work and had to be in Chicago the following week.  Boy am I glad I didn't!  While it was a bit of a hassle to get to Stratton Mountain (subway > Amtrak > taxi > rental car),  once we made it there, we never wanted to leave.  My friend Kelly and I made the trek from NYC and met up with four of my girlfriends from my yoga studio in DC.  Kelly and I arrived around 10PM on Friday night, parked the car, checked in, and immediately joined the massive dance party that was happening in the main tent (coined "The Greatest Place on Earth").  There was live music and local beers, hula hoop-ers and electric body paint.  It was awesome.  We danced for a few hours, but headed back to our motel before too late because we were all signed up for an 8AM class the next morning.

Note on the motel:  We had originally planned to camp out, but when some of the girls arrived, the campsite was very wet.  It was also much colder than we had expected, so they found a cheap motel about 20 minutes away.  This was a little bit of a pain since we had to drive to the Stratton resort in the morning and home to the hotel at night.  Next year (yes, there will be a next year), we plan to get our acts together early and score one of the cheaper hotels on the mountain.

After only a few hours of sleep, we awoke to a beautiful but chilly Vermont day.  We piled into our car and headed back to Stratton.  The day went something like this:  8AM yoga class, 10AM yoga class, quick break to grab some lunch and sit in the sunshine, 2PM hike, 4PM yoga + dancing + meditation, more sitting in the sunshine and perusing the various vendors, wine and vegan pizza and deep conversations as the sun set, another epic concert + dance party until too late.  Sunday was pretty similar, except people started leaving early in the afternoon as it was the last day of the festival.

So what made this experience so great? First, there was the amazing yoga.  The classes were all taught by some of the top teachers, so not only were you physically challenged, but they also made you go deep into some of the other limbs of yoga (breathe, meditation, etc).  Then, all the other activities offered - an adventure race, hikes, runs, lectures, henna, massages... the list goes on.  Also, the food was first class - from smoothies to sushi to pizza to dumplings, there was a little something for everyone and it was all super delicious.   Oh and did I mention the live music yet?  Not only at night, but also during a lot of the yoga.  While all these things were great, the most incredible part of this weekend was the people.  Everyone was so happy and positive and open and you could really feel this energy. 

Sunday afternoon came way too soon.  It was not even a question as to whether we would be going back next year - we all agreed that we would be back, and this time for the full 4 days of the festival.

This is what we arrived to Friday night.

Hang out area

Hiking up the mountain

  

And riding down on the ski lift

Amazing local food

  

The Greatest Place on Earth

   

The group

Until next year...

Teaching at New York Yoga!

Hi all-  I want to share the exciting news that I've started teaching at New York Yoga on the Upper East Side!  Not only am I ecstatic to have found a place to teach (this is a big deal - NYC is overrun with yoga teachers), I'm also very happy to have found a hot yoga studio where I can get my sweaty flow on!  It feels beyond amazing to get back into a heated practice, especially with this cold winter weather we've been having here.

For the month of March, I'll be teaching the 1:35 PM Yogi's Choice Donation class on Mondays and Tuesdays at the New York Yoga HOT studio on 85th Street.  Hope to see you on the mat!

Vegan Thanksgiving

I've always said that Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, if not my most favorite (Passover is also up there, so maybe I just like holidays centered around feasts...).  Anyways, being vegetarian and then vegan did not change this.  Luckily at my family's Thanksgiving, we have always had tons of different vegetables to go along side the standard turkey and mashed potatoes.  Each year I try to find a new veg-friendly recipe, at least one sweet and one savory, to bring into the mix.  Generally, I have been very successful in convincing my family that vegetarian and vegan food does not have to be plain or unfulfilling, and that it does have a place at the Thanksgiving table.  While I'm not sure what I will whip up this year, here are a few recipes that have caught my eye over the past few weeks:

Main Dishes:
- Farro with Leeks and Balsamic Roasted Brussels

- Walnut Encrusted Tempeh

- Smoky Butternut Squash Sauce with Pasta and Greens and Butternut Squash Mac and Cheeze
- Butternut Leek and Toasted Hazelnut Risotto
- Seitan Mushroom Roast  

Salads and Sides:

- Grilled Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

- Quinoa Salad with Pears, Spinach, and Chickpeas

- Roasted Root Vegetable Mash

- Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels with Nutmeg and Sage

- Apple Cider Glazed Sweet Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Biscuits

Desserts:
- Raw, Vegan Pecan Pie
- Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
- You Won't Believe It's Vegan Pumpkin Pie

- Raw, Deep Dish Chocolate PB Ice Cream Cake 

- Vegan Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Drinks:

- Perfect Fall Sangria

- Butterscotch Maca Mug

In addition to being a favorite time of year, Thanksgiving is also pretty significant to me as it was 3 years ago on Thanksgiving that I ate meat for the last time.  This year, in addition to passing on the turkey, I am turning this day into one of giving: giving a turkey a life that is!  One of my favorite teachers at my yoga studio in DC is holding a donation based class Thanksgiving morning.  All donations go to Farm Sanctuary's Adopt a Turkey program.  Which means my one time donation of $30 will sponsor and support a turkey living at one of Farm Sanctuary's shelters, for the rest of his or her life!  I encourage you to check out the program, or better yet, if you will be in the DC area this Thanksgiving, join me in taking Courtney's class at The Studio DC.

Sunday Funday - Exploring AdMo + First Yoga Class

Hello and Happy Monday!

This past weekend was my first back in the nation's capital for quite some time.  Saturday was uneventful, but Sunday was full of good times.  Sunday morning started with a long run in Rock Creek Park (another first in quite some time.. ow).  After lunch, the BF and I headed back to my old hood for the Adam's Morgan Day Festival.  We walked up 18th Street, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival, but didn't hang around too long - I was set to teach my first yoga class later in the evening, so I wanted some time to relax and prep beforehand.

To beat the crowd and the heat, we headed over to the newly opened Puree Juice Bar, located inside MINT gym at 18th and California (bottom of Adam's Morgan).  I had heard about Puree, but had never tried their juices as the original bar is in Bethesda (just a little too far up the Red line for me to venture).  It's super exciting the they have opened this second location - I love seeing local, health-oriented businesses like Puree thriving and expanding.

We got to sample two of the juice offerings - the "mean lemonade" and the "daily green."  Both were really good (even the not-so-crunchy BF agreed).  I ended up getting the daily green.  This juice was a mix of pineapple, kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, and ginger - definitely green tasting, but with enough sweetness to give me just the boost I needed before my yoga class.  Besides juices, Puree also offers smoothies and an assortment of raw food/snacks.  The only downside to Puree, like so many organic/vegan/raw/whateverthenewhealthcrazeis places, is the price - most juices are around $10.  That being said, and although I no longer live in the direct area, I can see myself coming back to Puree in the near future, because their juices are so dang tasty (and their logo so dang cute).

The BF didn't get a juice, but he wanted a snack before my class, so we stopped into Pleasant Pops, which is right next door to Puree and Mint.  I've been in Pleasant Pops before, but only to get a drink, so this was a first pop experience for both of us.  He got the Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate popsicle, and it was fantastic!  Super creamy (I think it's made with coconut milk) with a slight hit of heat, this pop was the perfect treat for a hot day.  Again, while I'm no longer living in the immediate area, I can see myself stopping back in Pleasant Pops again soon.

All of the sudden the afternoon was ending and it was time to head over to The Studio DC in Dupont where I would be teaching my first yoga class.  I was a little nervous, but also excited!  My nerves disappeared as my friends, co-workers, and fellow teachers-in-training arrived - I was so happy to see all these people showing up to support me.  Teaching was HARD, but I expected as much.  It wasn't physically taxing like a yoga class normally is, but emotionally exhausting.  After class, I grabbed sushi with a few of my "students," but before long had to head home to pass out.  While there are definitely things I know I can improve on, the class went as well as I could have hoped for and I am looking forward to teaching more in the future.

A good first weekend back in DC, I'd say.  Until next time, namaste.

NYC Adventure - Part 2

Friday afternoon I met up with my friend Sylvia, my host and tour guide for the weekend.  We hustled over to the Guggenheim to check out the James Turrell exhibit.   I had recently been to one of his exhibits at the LACMA in Los Angeles, so I was excited to see what he had in store for NYC.  I don't think you were supposed to take pictures, but no one stopped us so...

These pictures are all in the same room by the way.  For those of you who are not familiar with this JT, he plays with the concept of light and perception.  This was the main room in the museum - most of the pictures are taken looking up at the ceiling, which was illuminated with colored light.   The color of the light changed every few minutes or so.  The exhibit was great, but the one part that you had to wait in line for was so not worth the wait.  Regardless, the line gave Sylvia and me plenty of time to catch up, gossip, and figure out what we wanted to do for dinner.

We decided to check out Cafe Blossom, which just happened to be a fine vegan restaurant I had read about, which just happened to be directly under Sylvia's apartment.  Talk about meant to be!  We had a romantic candlelit dinner of pizza, beet carpaccio, quinoa with grilled veggies, and a giant Asian-inspired salad.  And wine.  And vegan ice cream.  (HUGE SCORE for NYC:  Vegan ice cream!) Needless, we were stuffed!  After a beer at a nearby bar, we called it an early night. 

My hot date - check out that GIANT PIZZA

Mixed greens with marinated tofu, kimchi, and cashews

VEGAN ICE CREAM - nom nom nom

Saturday began with a morning yoga class (again at Yoga to the People).  I then introduced Sylvia to my new found love - Organic Avenue.  We tasted a few juice and smoothie samples, and both settled on the Green Love juice.  YUM!  Couldn't have been a more ideal weekend morning in my book!

All smiles for GREEN LOVE

We showered, dressed, and ate our left over pizza for lunch.  We then set off to explore some more of NYC - specifically The High Line and Chelsea Market.

The High Line is a public park built on an elevated freight train line on the West Side of Manhattan (we hopped on it at one end in the Meatpacking District).  There are benches where you can sit and people watch, or just take in the interesting views of the city;  food carts where you can grab a bite to eat; and stretches of walkways with flowers and other greenery.  It is a truly beautiful place amidst the hubbub of the city. I know I mentioned this in Part 1, but I love when there is plenty of green space in a city!

Roof top bar next to the High Line

Benches for relaxing

Us with a view of the city beneath the park

We descended back to the street level and headed over to the Chelsea Market, an indoor market built in the former National Biscuit Company complex.  The market is home to a number of food vendors, as well as some retail stores (such as Anthropologie) and pop up shops.  There was a sample sale going on when we visited - checking this out felt like an authentic New York experience!  High fashion on the cheap?  Yes, please!   We also stopped in the 'Artists and Fleas' section of the market, which features more local, up-and-coming artists and vendors. We both saw so many things we liked, but resisted buying anything.

Inside the Chelsea Market

Walking and shopping made us hungry for a snack - lucky for us there is a One Lucky Duck location within the Chelsea Market!  #cantgetenough  I got a Goji High smoothie and Sylvia got a kale salad from another nearby vendor.  We then made our way back home for a rest before dinner.

We had plans to meet up with my friend Emily and her boyfriend for dinner that night.  I was BEYOND excited because everyone had agreed to check out Beyond Sushi - a vegan sushi joint I had read about and was so excited to try!  This place is sort of a whole in the wall - just a counter where you pay and they make the sushi and three small tables where you can sit.  I was a little nervous bringing three non-veg people here, but it turns out I had nothing to worry about - every single thing we got was absolutely phenomenal.  We tried four of the sushi rolls (pictured below, left to right - the Mighty Mushroom, Spicy Mang, Pickle Me, and Green Machine) and two of the rice paper wraps (Spicy Shroom and Sweet Angel).  By no means were these rolls "just" vegetables - they all had interesting preparations and combinations of fruits and vegetables, complimented by delicious sauces.  I only wished my stomach were larger so I could have enjoyed more! SCORE for NYC - Vegan sushi that is worlds better than any conventional roll.

Plant powered rolls!

Sweet Angel - Buckwheat noodles, sweet potato, asparagus, and sprouts with spicy siracha sauce

We left pleasantly stuffed (this was becoming a recurring theme) and bar hopped a bit before calling it a night.  Sunday morning we were up early again, ready to explore more - Brooklyn, specifically the Williamsburg Flea.  We grabbed some iced coffee and hoped on the subway.  SCORE for NYC - Amazing public transportation.  A few minutes later, we arrived in the aforementioned hipster mecca.

From the subway, we wandered down a few streets before we made it to the flea market, which was just getting started.  The flea market had tons to offer: vintage clothes and shoes, screen print t-shirts, old and new jewelry, furniture, art, the list goes on... The best part was these goods were unique and reasonably priced.  Score for NYC - Flea markets. We shopped around for a bit, both of us finding some fun jewelry to add to our collections.  We also grabbed some snacks to hold us over until we could eat a solid lunch.

Williamsburg Flea

Frozen chocolate covered mango

AWESOME SLIDERS SOLD HERE

Beet slider with eggplant bacon, cheeze, spicy ketchup, and guac

Before too long we were starting to fry in the hot summer sun, so we got back on the subway to head home.  On the way, we stopped at Peacefood Cafe for a quick bite to eat.  We both ordered the same salad (Asian inspired with marinated tempeh) which hit the spot.  I also picked up some treats for my train ride home - a vegan sun dried tomato and ricotta croissant and a gluten free banana ginger muffin.  Both of these baked goods were there's-no-way-this-is-vegan good.  I don't normally like croissants, but the salty 'ricotta' and sweet tomato paired perfectly with the buttery croissant.  And the banana ginger muffin... basically my idea of a perfect muffin: moist, dense, and slightly sweet.  Score for NYC - the magician bakers at Peacefood cafe (please teach me your secrets).

And then it was time for me to go... While I was sad to see such an awesome weekend end, I was happy that this visit had taught me that NYC doesn't have to be loud, scary, or expensive.   On the contrary, I learned first hand that NYC is filled with great art and architecture, wonderful food, and funky culture you just don't find anywhere else.  So as my train pulled away from the station, I found myself thinking  See you again soon New York...

NYC Adventure - Part 1

This post will begin a series of travel posts.  I will be on the road for 6 of the next 7 weeks, with just one week at home to pack and move out of my apartment (more on that later).  I always try to make the most of my travel opportunities and I plan to share my favorite sights, activities, and eats here.

So NYC... Unlike so many people, I have never longed to live in the Big Apple.  Sure, I love Broadway shows and fashion and Sex and the City, but NYC always seemed too big, too loud, and too money driven.  This trip totally changed my thoughts on the city... I absolutely LOVED it!  Here is why...

I took the train up to NYC on Wednesday morning.  I had to be at the office shortly after arriving, but I found time to grab a fruit and spirulina smoothie from a cart across from my hotel.  Score 1 for for NYC:  Fruits, smoothies, and juices are easy to find and can be cheap! While the afternoon was spent working, I was able to meet up with my friend Kelly for dinner and a run in Central Park.  Central Park is incredible, especially for runners.  There were tons of people walking and running, even on such a hot evening.  Score for NYC:  Green space (i.e. space to RUN).

I had work stuff all day Thursday, but made an early morning stop at Organic Avenue, an NYC organic juice bar chain, to get some breakfast and stock up on snacks.  I got the Jalepiña juice, made with spinach, celery, cucumber, parsley, romaine, jalapeño, pineapple, and cilantro.  This green juice packed a punch and was great for some early morning energy.  Organic Avenue also sells raw food and snacks.  I grabbed a coconut yogurt and cinnamon raisin granola for my breakfast, both of which were really good.  As everything I got was so delicious, not to mention so healthy, I knew I would be back again. Score for NYC:  Organic Avenue. Period.

Coconut yogurt

After work on Thursday I hit up a yoga class at a studio recommended by two friends - Yoga to the People.  YTTP is donation based, which makes it an affordable way to practice while traveling (for comparison, other studios I looked at in NYC had drop in rates of $30 per class - crazy!).  The class was great and it was awesome to see that the studio was thriving.  Score for NYC:  Affordable yoga!

After yoga I stopped by One Lucky Duck - the takeaway raw food shop operated by the folks who own Pure Food and Wine (a super upscale raw food restaurant in NYC).  One Lucky Duck and Pure are known for their amazing desserts, so I splurged and got a 'Mallomar' along with a salad. First, the salad - greens, kale, and herbs topped with hemp seeds and pumpkin seed macadamia "parmesan" and a lemon pumpkin seed dressing.  This salad was everything I could want in a salad - it was huge, fresh, and delicious, filled with nutrient dense ingredients.  The salad could have easily been enough for two meals, but seeing as I was pretty hungry from the yoga class I devoured the whole thing.  The Mallomar was also delicious:  a crunchy, chocolate dipped cookie topped with a cloud of sweet cream.  Again, I knew I would be back to One Lucky Duck to taste more of their amazing raw goodies. Score for NYC:  Yummy and healthy raw food!

Mallomar from One Lucky Duck

Friday started super early, with a 7AM running tour of downtown NYC!  I had read about running tours, but this was my first time trying one, and it was a blast.  By running instead of walking you can cover a lot more territory in a shorter time period, and get a work out in!  Our guide, Karl, was super knowledgeable and friendly and carried water for us.  I would definitely recommend this type of tour to any traveling fitness enthusiasts.

Our guide pointing out some sights

Tall buildings!

Park with a view of the city hall

View of Freedom Tower from Tribeca

Me with the Charging Bull post run!

I then headed back to my hotel, stopping at Organic Avenue along the way to pick up some breakfast.  A mini Cafe Latte to counteract the early morning wake up, a Matcha Chai Glow smoothie, and a SHOT.  What?  A shot for breakfast?  Organic Avenue has all these different "booster shots" you can take - wheatgrass, chlorophyll, lemon, ginger, and other interesting blends, each with a specific health benefit.  I felt like I was coming down with a cold, so they recommended the 'Oregano Candida Cleanse' - garlic, oil of oregano, lemon, and alkaline water.  I was a little hesitant but was reassured that it tasted like pizza.  Sure enough, it did taste like pizza!  If you were to blend pizza up into a liquid... regardless, my head and throat felt much clearer the rest of the day, so I think that the shot helped.

After showering and wrapping up some work things, I packed up and checked out of my hotel.  I had plans to meet my friend Emily for lunch, but had a little time to explore until then.  I walked around the Union Square and Gramercy areas taking in the Friday morning sights, and stumbled upon a fairly large farmer's market.  Before too long, I headed to Murray Hill where I had my lunch date.  This area is affectionately known as 'Curry Hill' due to the large number of Indian restaurants.  That being said, Emily and I dined on some delicious (and cheap) Indian food at Chote Nawab. The lunch special at this place was incredible - for under $20, we each got a dish (palak paneer for Emily, okra for me), plus lentils, rice, and naan.  Also, when the waiter realized that I don't eat dairy (the lentils contain butter), he brought us out another lentil dish at no extra cost.  Score for NYC: Great ethnic food.  We hardly made a dent in all of it!  Besides the good food, it was awesome to catch up with another friend.  She had to get back to work, but we made plans to meet up again later in the weekend.

Stay tuned for Part 2 featuring a great art exhibit, more green juice, phenomenal vegan sushi, and a flea market adventure...