Whiteface Mountain, From The Summit

There's a lot of great skiing out there and it's within your reach,and grasp, at Whiteface Mountain.
Skiers are a restless breed, always on the lookout for 'freshies'; always awaiting the big dump. Ahh...nothing like fresh powder! I've skied Whistler and Blackcolm Mountains in Canada and I've skied several mountains out west, Vail being one of my fav's. My home turf is the Snow Making Capitol of the World, Hunter Mountain. Hunter can't be beat for great conditions even with NO natural snow. I had the good fortune to ski Whiteface Mountain not once this season, but twice. Let me tell you, I've heard the rumor..."Ice face"; well I'm here to tell you, it's just NOT TRUE! Whiteface has a family mountain feel, but with all the perks of big mountain skiing. It's terrain covers everything from green trails to double black diamond, with an added bonus of glade and slide skiing.
I had two of the best skis days this whole season at Whiteface. Bluebird skies and all!
Whiteface is located in Wilmington, New York, next to Lake Placid, in the heart of the breathtaking Adirondack Mountains,and it's not to be missed. Although I grew up in the Hudson River Valley in upstate New York, there is something about the drive through the Adirondacks that makes you question yourself. 'Am I really still in New York'? The white birch forests that line the highway and the trickling streams that seem to flow everywhere are nothing less than breathtaking.
Whiteface is a social place; a vintage house party. Many of the present visitors came as children and return every year, often with their own offspring in tow.
From the top of the 1980 Olympic down hill course,elevation-4867', one can't help but feel invigorated and full of life. I'm alive! I took a deep breath and filled my lungs with fresh Adirondack air. My friend, Dudley, announced to everyone, "Take your time boys and girls, it's even steeper than it looks." I like the steeps. I thought about the Olympians who stood here 30 years ago to the day, I'm sure my heart was beating just as fast, but for a different reason; fear. What's truly great about Whiteface Mountain is that all levels of skiers can enjoy this mountain. While I took the downhill course, I had friends that chose the long cruiser run to the right. All the trails lead to the same end point, so you can meet up again with your party. To enhance your trip, I suggest downloading "The Bridget Widget" to your computer. (I will insert a link at the bottom of this page.) Named after my friend Bridget, you can get the latest snow conditions, 5-day weather forecast, special offers, deals and up to the last minute news on what's happening at Whiteface; let my friend Bridget entertain you in the process.
No matter your mood, Lake Placid is a great spot to be. It's not just about skiing. With two prior winter Olympics held in Lake Placid,the first in 1932 and the memorable 1980 games, when the U.S. Men's Hockey team beat Russia, there is so much to do. You can take a high speed bobsled or luge or skeleton run; it's like your childhood sled on steroids. Or,take the elevator to the top of the 120 meter tower of the Olympic ski jumping area. And,skating at the Olympic speed skating oval is a blast! Whatever your mood, Whiteface and Lake Placid have the answer.
If there are non-skiers in your party, there is plenty do do in the Whiteface/Lake Placid area. The eight person high speed Gondola carries you from the main base lodge to the top of Little Whiteface in 15 minutes. There are plenty of breath taking sights to see from the top. If you're not an adrenaline junky at all, then just take a stroll through town. There's lots of shopping and little cafes to choose from. The village's centerpiece is the beautiful Mirror Lake. On the day that I strolled through town, a man was out on the frozen lake with his dog sled and children and their families were ice skating. They even have a fun Toboggan run on the east side of the lake.
As for lodging, I would recommend two different spots. The Crowne Plaza offered a mid-week ski package that's a steal. $89. per night includes a full breakfast and a lift ticket. Or, there is the fabulous and pet friendly Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Lodge. Reasonably priced, clean,over sized spacious rooms with hot coffee, cocoa, tea and homemade muffins and donuts in the morning. For those who don't know who Art Devlin was, read my previous blog and learn about the greatest ski jumper in the world, Lake Placid native, Art Devlin.

For more information on the Olympic Sports Complex contact the ORDA Store:
518-523-1420 or: www.lakeplacidwhiteface.com

For information on Whiteface Mountain go to:www.whitefacelakeplacid.com
Whiteface Mountain
5021 Rt. 86
Wilmington, NY 12997

For Crowne Plaza Resort information go to: www.lakeplacidcp.com
101 Olympic Dr.
Lake Placid, NY 12947
For Reservations call 1-877-570-5891
to get the mid-week ski deal contact the hotel directly at 518-523-2556

Art Devlin's for sure is my #1 Spot! Still family owned and operated by Sue and Art Devlin. You will not be disappointed!
For more information on Art Devlin's go to www.artdevlins.com
Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Lodge
2764 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-3700
Ask for Art Jr. Tell him I sent you!

For your free download of the Bridget Widget go to www.whitefacelakeplacid.com

See you on the Mountain!

Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Lodge, Feels Like Home

Every weekend,I'm hitting the road and following a GPS somewhere. It's part of what you do when your daughter plays on a Tier One 16 and under travel hockey team. We pack the car and set out for a full weekend of fun and adventure. This past weekend,I found myself heading to the beautiful Adirondack Mountain area of Lake Placid, in upstate New York.
"Art Devlin who?", I asked the hockey mom in charge of reservations.
I'm a big fan of Trip Advisor, so, at that moment, I quickly googled up 'Art Devlin' and was pleasantly surprised to read that Art Devlin's Motor Lodge was rated #1!in Lake Placid. Even the highly acclaimed Mirror Lake Inn fell short as it was rated at #2. What? I thought. This can't be true. Did I hit the motel jack pot! Absolutely!
Sure,you can find fancier, and most definitely you can find more expensive, but you will NOT find a better bang for your buck anywhere else than at this comgy abode. Art Devlin's offers over sized, spacious, and clean rooms that make you feel like you're home. In an attempt to keep up with the times, Devlin's have added large flat screen TVs to most of the rooms. Soon, all of the rooms will have the upgraded version. The beautifully tiled over-sized bathrooms are a bonus as well! Coming soon, in August 2010, Art Devlin's will be offering a suite to the list of rooms at the motel. After a good nights sleep, head over to the main house and have a fresh brewed cup of coffee and a homemade muffin made with love by the Devlin's. While having my morning cup of joe, I couldn't help but notice the most impressive trophy case imaginable. At first glance, I thought it must belong to the entire Devlin family, perhaps generations of Devlin awards. I found out after speaking with Art Jr., that indeed, all the trophies in the case belonged to only one person, and that person was his dad, the Olympic ski jumping gold medal winner, Art Devlin Sr.
Art Devlin has a very interesting story. Art was born in the main house (were the lobby is today) on Sept 7,1922. When Art was just two years old, his mother passed away from scarlet fever.Soon after, his father suffered from depression and became a victim of mental health misunderstandings of the time and was institutionalised. With the family disrupted, Art was raised by relatives. Some might think that those turn of events would break a persons soul, but not Art. He was determined to become someone! He built a small ski jump in the back yard (where the pool is located today) and would practice for hours a day. By the time Art was 10 years old, he won his first ski jumping award in a 14-U class. By the time Art was
17, he earned a spot on the 1940 Olympic team. Unfortunately, the 1940 Olympics, scheduled for Japan,were cancelled due to WW2. Like many men of his time, he answered his country's call and joined the Army. After earning the title of Captain, he left the service and went back to his first love of ski jumping.
Although Art's credits are almost too long to mention, they all deserve recognition if we are to get a full appreciation of his triumphs. I have compiled a complete list at the end of this column.
Art passed away in 2002, missed by the Olympic community and by his family who still operate his motel today.
I was extremely comfortable at Art's! Its great location makes it an easy walk to the scenic Mirror Lake and the heart of Lake Placid village. If you plan on skiing the Olympic mountain, Whiteface, it's just a short scenic 9 mile drive down the road to Wilmington.

A list of Art's accomplishments is as follows:

Lake Placid High School - 1941
Syracuse University - 1941, 1942

United States Army Air Force - 1943-1946
Graduated Bombardier - Pilot Training -1943
50 Combat Missions, E.T.O. Germany - 1944
3 Distinguished Flying Crosses
5 Air Medals
3 Purple Hearts
2 Presidential Unit Citations
Rank of Captain - Discharged - 1946

Under Contract, Norma Shearer, Hollywood, CA - 1946-1949

Married Helen McCutcheon, June 28, 1952
Children: Jacqueline-1955, Art-1957, Alexis-1963

Olympic Teams:
1940 - Cancelled because of the war
1948 - St Moritz, Switzerland
1952 - Oslo, Norway
1956 - Cortina, Italy
1960 - Squaw Vally (he resigned to become a TV sports Commentator for CBS)

U.S. Eastern Ski Jumping Champion - 1939,1940,1941
U.S. Eastern Downhill Champion - 1941
National Ski Jumping Champion - 1942,1946,1949,1950
North American Ski Jumping Champion - 1949,1950,1954
National Champion (Canada) - Four Times
World F.I.S.Team - Lake Placid - 1950 - 4th
World F.I.S. Team - Falun, Sweden - 1954

Set North American Distance Record, 307 feet, Steamboat Springs, CO - 1950
First American in Ski Flying - 120 Meter Hill - Oberstdorf, Germany -463 feet - 1952
Broadcast every World Ski Jumping Championship and Winter Olympic games since 1960 on TV, plus an average of 6 ski jumping events every winter on TV.
Wide World of Sports ABC-TV Sports Commentator from 1962, for 21 years.
Installed in the Ski Hall of Fame, 1963

Art spread himself in many directions and he was a true humanitarian. After spending a little time with his son, Art Jr, I feel like I have a better understanding of who Art Devlin really was. The family planted a blue Spruce tree in honor of Art and every year they decorate it with blue lights in remembrance of their father. It's not just a motel, it's a legacy.
I feel like his spirit was with us as my daughters 16U team captured the 2010 Lake Placid International Hockey Tournament championship.

Art Devlin's Olympic Motor Lodge
2764 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY 12946
518-523-3700
www.artdevlins.com
or e-mail: info@artdevlins.com

A Night at The Night

Take a stroll back in time when TV was in black and white. Now, go forward and make that TV a 37 inch wall mounted plasma, add 400-thread count Frette linens and an ultra feather duvet cover to the picture, and what have you got?
I'll tell you! You have the upscale boutique style NIGHT HOTEL, located on West 45th street in the heart of New York City's Times Square.
The 'Night' is decorated fabulously Gothic with the decor contrasted in black and white. As you enter into The Night, you will quickly shift from the outside world of stress and work to the solitude and comfort of The Night. The techno music playing throughout morphs you into another world. The black and white photos that decorate the walls throughout the hotel add to the seduction of the hotel; scantily clothed nudes with artistic tattoos on their lower backs. If you allow, it will change your mood; it oozes naughty!
I, for one, enjoy the escape from everyday realities.I urge you to go beyond the black and white to discover the entire spectrum. Desire it at Night? Then so it shall be. Some things can only happen at Night.

NIGHT HOTEL
132 WEST 45TH ST
NEW YORK, NY 10036
212-835-9600
www.nighthotelny.com
www.vikramchatwalhotels.com

Time Flies During Hockey Season

Yeah, I know the cliche, "Time flies when your having fun," or busy getting old, or raising kids, or just sitting around doing nothing. For me, the time has been flying high, far, fast and wide. It's HOCKEY season at my house! For me, this means practices four nights a week for the two out of three kids I have that are playing hockey. It means every, and I mean every, weekend we are following the GPS to some new hotel in some new little town,finding the back roads that lead to a Dunkin' Donuts Coffee Shop, eating and enjoying the continental breakfast,and locating a pizza place that we can call our new favorite!
It means the eight hockey sticks, new and old must lean against the wall in our doorway until about mid-March, so that every time we open or close the front doorway, they rattle against the inner wall, sometimes falling with a loud crash that makes your heart skip a beat. It means the smell, the superb aroma of 'The Hockey Bag' as you enter my home stirs throughout the air like a men's locker room. Yankee candle has nothing on me! The cans of Fabreeze are empty and discarded around the house because it must be easier to ditch it behind the cactus then to just toss it in the recycle bin. I try to keep the stench generally located in one area, however, there are the special times when my daughters think it is time to 'Air Out' the bags, and it is at this time when all items are laid out,well, usually scattered all over the floor, usually blocking all emergency exits. The shin pads,the shoulder protectors,the jerseys, the girl jocks,the many colored rolls of tape, and let us not forget the smelly socks and helmets with the mouth guards hanging from them like a Christmas ornament would hang off a tree, or mistletoe might dangle over your entryway.
You know it's hockey season when you always have a blanket in your car. Ours is a bright blue one with Sponge Bob Square Pants on it. At some point it makes it's way in the car soon after the fold up chairs from soccer season have made the way out. It is this blanket that is the core of warmth. It is the 'Togetherness Blanket' as our family shares it at the freezing cold arenas. We all sit much closer during hockey season, as the metal bleachers are frigid on our rears.
I must say I love Hockey season, even with all the extra layers of clothing and it's hat tricks, icings, and chuck-a-pucks, but I also am very thankful for my other daughter who is on the basketball team. She offers me the nice warm indoor wooden bleachers to defrost my bones. My cheering doesn't change,so whether it's 20 degrees, or 70 degrees,I'm every bit as loud!
Time is flying by for all of us. We must be careful what we wish for, for soon life will be over and our loud cheers will be but a distant memory of the past. We need to go to every game we can, to root the loudest we can, because if we don't, what is it all good for? There will be plenty of time at the end for peace and quiet...

Funny thing about a blog...

As I sat on the couch with Oprah on the tube, kids and dogs active all around me, sipping a Cosmo-type of cocktail made from a kids juice box, I decided to save and give up on my Serenity Helicopter blog. I realized after re-reading for the tenth time that I needed to take a break,and my family demanding I take one.
The dog nudging my hand, begging for chow. My daughter rehearsing for the school Variety Show,insisting I watch her dance routine. Comotion in the back ground about someone touching someone elses stuff...blah, blah, blah.
Neglect, I think..."You are always on the stinkin computer!" Not true!,I reply as I sip my watered down drink.
Now yet another interruption...we MUST go out for Pizza NOW, people are melting around me for the lack of food....
Now it's the next day...it's a wonder I can write at all. It's a rare occasion in my house today because there is nothing on the calendar, no sports, no school, no nothing.That almost never happens! Movies! they say...Paranormal something or other, It's rated R! They need me so they can gain entrance to the crazy scary flick, does this mean I have to submit my own brain to such horror? Let's not forget the 10 year old that insists she is old enough to view such a film. Yikes! Makes me wish they all had something to do.
So...movies it is, I think I will sneak in to the new Clooney movie where he stares at goats or some type of farm animal...
Till next time, perhaps without interuptions...
Serenity shall wait till another moment in time...Perhaps when I have some serenity...

Vegas... It's not just for Gambler's

Serenity...The state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled.
On a recent visit to Las Vegas,or as most people refer to it as 'Sin City',I cashed in my chips and had the good fortune to fly on a helicopter to the Grand Canyon. I had an unbelievable experience aboard the giant bird.
My pilot, Steven Egger, just happens to be the owner of Serenity Helicopters, his story started not in Las Vegas but years before on the little island of Kauai in Hawaii. Steven, once a young Army pilot in Vietnam,followed his life long dream to fly, it is that dream today that allows him to do what he does best, and that is to share his love of helicopters with people day after day.
Steven, along with a partner started Air Kauai many years ago. On September 11,1992 Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai and demolished the Island,it had destroyed all hope for the immediate future of his business,the tourist trade was devastated, and Steven needed to make some important decisions. After much thought Steven decided to pick up the pieces and move to the nearby Island of Maui,his spirit was broken but his dream was still very much alive. That was more then ten years ago,today Steven still lives in Hawaii along with his wife Debra,together they followed his dream to Las Vegas where they now live part time as they launch there newest helicopter business; Serenity.
As we made our way to the Boulder City airport VIP style in the sleek,luxurious, Serenity van that picked us up from our hotel,the excitement in me was growing by the minute.
As we entered the gates of the Boulder City airport, we knew we were in for a very special treat, the airport itself is very small. Everyone knows everyone!
We followed our driver into the "office" of Serenity for a short briefing before our flight, when I say "office" it's not what I mean, because Serenity's Head Quarters are beautiful! The chic boutique, has a cafe style atmosphere that is warm and welcoming. We were offered coffee, soft drinks, and bottled water while waiting for our flight. The impressive photos of the canyon that played 'slide show style' on the many flat screen TVs made us feel like kids on Christmas morning.
Serenity offers three different tours to choose from, our choice was the 'Sky Dancer' tour.From the second we buckled up to the second we touched down at the picnic site my heart raced with excitement.
As we made our way towards the Canyon we flew over the Hoover Dam, which lies on the boarder between Arizona and Nevada. We then passed over Lake Mead, the largest man-made lake in the western hemisphere. As our journey took us past Fortification Hill, an extinct volcano, and Indian Pass, you could almost imagine the fierce battles that took place many years ago between the Native Americans and the pioneers.As we flew over the next ridge the landscape changed before my eyes,we followed the path of the Colorado River, it led us to the most magnificent picnic site in all of the Grand Canyon.
Steven gently lowered the giant bird,and we headed towards the picnic site. The exclusive landing site, was situated on a plateau overlooking the Colorado River, 3,200 feet below the rim of the Grand Canyon. As we wondered around the area taking photos of the beauty this magical place had to offer, Steven was busy 'setting up camp'. After our short exploration of the area we returned to the landing site where Steven offered us beer, wine,champagne,soft drinks, cheese, crackers,and grapes, what more could you ask for? "WIFI!" I exclaimed, as I tried to upload my photo to Face book, I had a good laugh at myself as I realized, I was not in Kansas anymore. Our time was limited in the Canyon, however, I was able to take some time to explore the sacred homeland of the Hualapai Indian's, and absorb the breath taking beauty this incredible place on Earth had to offer. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience to be enjoyed by all people.
So when your in Vegas and you want a 'sure bet', make your reservations with Serenity Helicopters, I promise you won't be disappointed. And if you find yourself in Hawaii, contact Air Maui for the trip of a lifetime. Steven and his staff are special,and they want you to feel special to, they call you by name, you are not just another number.I was delivered to the state of Serenity, I found my inner calm, and truly felt peaceful and untroubled while in the Canyon, even for just a moment in time, the importance of treating yourself to such wonder will stay with you forever.
Serenity Helicopters
www.serenityhelicopters.com
Boulder City Airport, Nevada
702-589-7700
or
Air Maui
www.airmaui.com
Kahului,Maui,Hawaii
877-238-4942

Rockin The Roof Off The Barn At Levon's

There's plenty of perks living in the beautiful Hudson River Valley, in upstate New York. To name just one, I live 20 minutes from Woodstock and Levon Helm's house and his recording studio were just about every Saturday night they hold The Midnight Ramble. I was lucky enough to attend last nights Ramble in the Barn, it was filled with surprises.
For starters, my favorite little "Blues Man",Little Sammy Davis opened the show with his unbelievable harmonica sound. I have seen him several times in the past, and I love him!, he usually stands in place, shuffling his little feet back and forth to the music, last night he sat rather still in his chair, playing the Horner and singing the blues like no other. He proved once again, that he's still got it! I'm not sure how old he is, but he's got to be at least 80-plus years young.
The bold music of Mitch Rider and The Detroit Wheels provided the perfect warm up for Levon to follow. Rider, most notably remembered for is hit 'Devil With The Blue Dress On', rocked the doors off the barn! I have seen many of musical artists from yester-year, and let me tell you, Mitch hasn't lost a beat! his voice is as powerful as it ever was, and his talented band rocked right along with him. Mitch brought a special guest of his own, Jeff Miller. Jeff, a singer and song writer him self, jammed with Mitch and the wheels for an added little bonus for us.
Next up, Levon and his unbelievable cast of performers, I like to call them the baker's dozen. This talented group of musicians love what they do, it's evident in the sound that they put out, all you have to do is look at there smiling faces. Each of the musicians while individually terrific, together are inspirational. Levon was silent last night,recovering from throat surgery this past June, he's on strict orders from his Doctor to rest the vocals. However,the lack of singing didn't hold him back in the least. The GREAT news is that his prognosis is good, and there is NO SIGN of cancer. He proves him self on the drums, as one of the best of all time, but he also plays other instruments as well. During one number, he did a little hip gyrating dance number with his mandolin as his partner. His super talented crew was his voice last night, but he will be back and I'm sure better than ever!
The Ramble always proves to be a magical evening,you never know who might just show up. In walked Robbie Dupree, I thought we might get lucky enough to hear him, but something must have come up because he never did take the stage.
Another big bonus for us was, Grammy Award Winning,singer and song writer, Rodney Crowell just happened to be visiting a friends farm down the road,he thought what the hell, I'll go check out Levon's and see what's going on. Rodney once married to Roseanne Cash from 1979-1992, collaborated with his father-in-law, Johnny Cash, on the hit song 'Walk The Line'. Johnny Cash wasn't a fan of how Rodney changed the song around a bit, but ultimately was happy with the end result. Rodney ruled the country charts, and in 1988 he had five #1 hits,and in 1989 he had two #1's.
It's not called the Midnight Ramble for nothing, Levon and his guests ramble, and rock till the end, and the end didn't come last night till Jim Weider took the stage. Weider was lead guitarist(replacing Robbie Robertson)with The Band from 1985-1999. Jim is a native of Woodstock and while a teenager,he met Levon Helm. He has preformed and recorded with such musicians as, Bob Weir, Keith Richards, and Dr John.
It's not just any ones house that you can go to were the living room is filled with legends. If you have never been to a Ramble you had better check it out, and give yourself plenty of notice because it sells out fast.

www.levonhelm.com
www.rodneycrowell.com
www.jimweider.com
e-mail Jeff@esientertainment.com
for Little Sammy Davis go to Levon Helm's site