Editors' Picks 2018: Emily DeNitto
Round Pond Estate
Rutherford, Calif.
Napa Valley has an abundance of excellent wine tasting spots—but those at Round Pond Estate are special. You’ll enjoy sweeping views of the property’s 366 acres of vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains beyond, and the wine you’ll taste can be exquisite: The latest Gravel Series, three cabernet sauvignons available only to Round Pound members and guests of the estate, are a particular thrill.
But Round Pond is worth visiting for more than its wine. The estate, which stone presses its own olive oil, offers private guided tours of its olive grove and tastings of its olive oils and vinegars. There’s a bountiful garden on property that supplies delicious brunches and lunches. And you might even run into Round Pond’s exuberant, poetic winemaker, Jaime “JJ” Dowell, whose passion for wine is contagious. Round Pond is owned and operated by the second generation of the MacDonnell family. They have embraced the California wine lifestyle in the best ways possible, and you’ll feel their connection to and love for the land throughout the property. roundpond.com
Italian Whites
When I think of the Italian wines I love, they’re almost always red—an earthy Tuscan brunello or a bold barolo. But people who know much more about wine than I do have been urging me to try Italian whites this year, insisting that it isn’t just about pinot grigio anymore. Convinced that there’s a trend afoot I should pay attention to, I listened—and I’m glad I did. The whites I’ve tried are crisp, full of flavor and body, and offer the added excitement of discovery. My favorite: Ornellaia’s 2016 Poggio alle Gazze ($75). A blend of sauvignon blanc, viognier and vermentino, the wine is bright with flavors of peach and grapefruit, and notes of almond and honey. Others worth checking out include Le Macchiole Paleo Bianco 2016 ($85), Petrolo Bòggina B 2016 ($75) and Frescobaldi Gorgona 2017 ($150).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
New York is a treasure trove of the visual arts, from its estimated 1,500 galleries to its street art to its more than 100 museums. The queen of them all is the Met. I was reminded of how just how much I love this place on a fall day this year when I went to check out a show on Tintoretto portraits. Deeply psychological, it managed to give me a fresh perspective on the 16th century artist. Nearby, another show, “In Praise of Painting,” showcased Dutch masterpieces. And then I stopped into the exhaustive, gorgeous exhibit of more than 150 pieces by Eugène Delacroix, in a show jointly created with the Louvre. All that and I hadn’t even touched the permanent exhibits. The crowds can be annoying (go on a weekday morning if you can), but they’re worth navigating. Few institutions offer the breadth and depth of work you can see at the Met. metmuseum.org
Scales
Portland, Maine
Portland is a special city, full of history and great natural beauty. And, of course, it has long been one of the best places to enjoy a lobster just plucked from the sea. But in recent years it has gone way beyond that culinary touchpoint to become a major foodie destination. Much credit for that development goes to Dana Street and his partners in, first, the fabulous seafood restaurant Street & Co., then the more ambitious Fore Street (on many national “best of” lists) and Standard Baking Co., a bread and pastry maker just below the restaurant. In 2016, the group opened Scales, and I finally got a chance to visit over the summer. Housed on the Maine wharf, the restaurant looks out at the water and the lobstermen regularly unloading their cargo—it has an authentic industrial feel even as it offers delicately prepared contemporary takes on seafood and more. There are incredible breads (Scales bakes its own, down to the oyster crackers) and the seaweed mignonette I had with briny, plump oysters was the stuff of dreams. Scales and its siblings express a wonderful and rare sense of place: sophisticated but unpretentious, tied to the sea and land right outside their doors, and deeply satisfying. Entrees start at $30, scalesrestaurant.com
Jazz Forum
Tarrytown, N.Y.
There’s nothing quite like the intimacy of a good jazz club, where people actually listen to the music and can feel a real connection to the musicians and the rest of the audience. Of course, that’s an experience you can have in New York pretty much anytime you want. And now you can have it just north of the city as well, at Jazz Forum, a terrific venue that opened in the Hudson River town of Tarrytown a little over a year ago. Part of the appeal is that it’s not in the city—it’s the only dedicated jazz club in Westchester county and people are so grateful for it you can feel the love. Another part is the caliber of the artists—you can see everyone from pianist Larry Willis to vocalist Catherine Russell. There’s a bar, a limited but tasty food menu and about 90 seats from which to enjoy outstanding music in a cozy, welcoming setting. jazzforumarts.org
Jazz Forum photo by Bob Plotkin
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
These two books really stood out for me (though both were published in 2017, I read them this year). On the surface they couldn’t be more different: The sweeping Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family beginning in the early 20th century, illuminating Korean history and its relationship to Japan in particular. Conversations is the story of a contemporary young woman in Dublin, rich with provocative dialogue and psychological and intellectual insights. But both reveal the personal impact of broad social developments. Both are incredibly compelling reads. And both are particularly smart about women’s lives and how the political becomes personal. Normal People, the second novel by Rooney, a literary wunderkind, comes out in the U.S. in April. I can’t wait to read it.
Pachinko: Hachette Book Group, $16, 496 pages
Conversations: Hogarth, $17, 320 pages
Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham, Mass.
I love this place. Developed in 1914 in a history-rich Cape Cod community, Chatham Bars Inn is a perfect destination for relaxing and refocusing. You can take a cooking class with the generous and talented executive chef Anthony Cole, walk the gorgeous beach right in front of the inn’s doors or play a game of tennis, croquet or golf. But the best part of Chatham Bars is its focus on wellness. Stay in one of the dedicated spa suites (adults only) that feature their own saunas, steam showers and jacuzzi tubs with waterfall features. You can get a terrific treatment at the inn’s dedicated spa—or schedule one in your room. There are excellent meditation and yoga classes, botanicals made with ingredients from the inn’s own garden…the list goes on. If you’re looking for a low-key but luxurious getaway—the perfect embodiment of New England style—Chatham Bars is a great choice. chathambarsinn.com
Round Pond Estate
Rutherford, Calif.
Napa Valley has an abundance of excellent wine tasting spots—but those at Round Pond Estate are special. You’ll enjoy sweeping views of the property’s 366 acres of vineyards and the Mayacamas Mountains beyond, and the wine you’ll taste can be exquisite: The latest Gravel Series, three cabernet sauvignons available only to Round Pound members and guests of the estate, are a particular thrill.
But Round Pond is worth visiting for more than its wine. The estate, which stone presses its own olive oil, offers private guided tours of its olive grove and tastings of its olive oils and vinegars. There’s a bountiful garden on property that supplies delicious brunches and lunches. And you might even run into Round Pond’s exuberant, poetic winemaker, Jaime “JJ” Dowell, whose passion for wine is contagious. Round Pond is owned and operated by the second generation of the MacDonnell family. They have embraced the California wine lifestyle in the best ways possible, and you’ll feel their connection to and love for the land throughout the property. roundpond.com
Italian Whites
When I think of the Italian wines I love, they’re almost always red—an earthy Tuscan brunello or a bold barolo. But people who know much more about wine than I do have been urging me to try Italian whites this year, insisting that it isn’t just about pinot grigio anymore. Convinced that there’s a trend afoot I should pay attention to, I listened—and I’m glad I did. The whites I’ve tried are crisp, full of flavor and body, and offer the added excitement of discovery. My favorite: Ornellaia’s 2016 Poggio alle Gazze ($75). A blend of sauvignon blanc, viognier and vermentino, the wine is bright with flavors of peach and grapefruit, and notes of almond and honey. Others worth checking out include Le Macchiole Paleo Bianco 2016 ($85), Petrolo Bòggina B 2016 ($75) and Frescobaldi Gorgona 2017 ($150).
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York
New York is a treasure trove of the visual arts, from its estimated 1,500 galleries to its street art to its more than 100 museums. The queen of them all is the Met. I was reminded of how just how much I love this place on a fall day this year when I went to check out a show on Tintoretto portraits. Deeply psychological, it managed to give me a fresh perspective on the 16th century artist. Nearby, another show, “In Praise of Painting,” showcased Dutch masterpieces. And then I stopped into the exhaustive, gorgeous exhibit of more than 150 pieces by Eugène Delacroix, in a show jointly created with the Louvre. All that and I hadn’t even touched the permanent exhibits. The crowds can be annoying (go on a weekday morning if you can), but they’re worth navigating. Few institutions offer the breadth and depth of work you can see at the Met. metmuseum.org
Scales
Portland, Maine
Portland is a special city, full of history and great natural beauty. And, of course, it has long been one of the best places to enjoy a lobster just plucked from the sea. But in recent years it has gone way beyond that culinary touchpoint to become a major foodie destination. Much credit for that development goes to Dana Street and his partners in, first, the fabulous seafood restaurant Street & Co., then the more ambitious Fore Street (on many national “best of” lists) and Standard Baking Co., a bread and pastry maker just below the restaurant. In 2016, the group opened Scales, and I finally got a chance to visit over the summer. Housed on the Maine wharf, the restaurant looks out at the water and the lobstermen regularly unloading their cargo—it has an authentic industrial feel even as it offers delicately prepared contemporary takes on seafood and more. There are incredible breads (Scales bakes its own, down to the oyster crackers) and the seaweed mignonette I had with briny, plump oysters was the stuff of dreams. Scales and its siblings express a wonderful and rare sense of place: sophisticated but unpretentious, tied to the sea and land right outside their doors, and deeply satisfying. Entrees start at $30, scalesrestaurant.com
Jazz Forum
Tarrytown, N.Y.
There’s nothing quite like the intimacy of a good jazz club, where people actually listen to the music and can feel a real connection to the musicians and the rest of the audience. Of course, that’s an experience you can have in New York pretty much anytime you want. And now you can have it just north of the city as well, at Jazz Forum, a terrific venue that opened in the Hudson River town of Tarrytown a little over a year ago. Part of the appeal is that it’s not in the city—it’s the only dedicated jazz club in Westchester county and people are so grateful for it you can feel the love. Another part is the caliber of the artists—you can see everyone from pianist Larry Willis to vocalist Catherine Russell. There’s a bar, a limited but tasty food menu and about 90 seats from which to enjoy outstanding music in a cozy, welcoming setting. jazzforumarts.org
Jazz Forum photo by Bob Plotkin
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
These two books really stood out for me (though both were published in 2017, I read them this year). On the surface they couldn’t be more different: The sweeping Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family beginning in the early 20th century, illuminating Korean history and its relationship to Japan in particular. Conversations is the story of a contemporary young woman in Dublin, rich with provocative dialogue and psychological and intellectual insights. But both reveal the personal impact of broad social developments. Both are incredibly compelling reads. And both are particularly smart about women’s lives and how the political becomes personal. Normal People, the second novel by Rooney, a literary wunderkind, comes out in the U.S. in April. I can’t wait to read it.
Pachinko: Hachette Book Group, $16, 496 pages
Conversations: Hogarth, $17, 320 pages
Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham, Mass.
I love this place. Developed in 1914 in a history-rich Cape Cod community, Chatham Bars Inn is a perfect destination for relaxing and refocusing. You can take a cooking class with the generous and talented executive chef Anthony Cole, walk the gorgeous beach right in front of the inn’s doors or play a game of tennis, croquet or golf. But the best part of Chatham Bars is its focus on wellness. Stay in one of the dedicated spa suites (adults only) that feature their own saunas, steam showers and jacuzzi tubs with waterfall features. You can get a terrific treatment at the inn’s dedicated spa—or schedule one in your room. There are excellent meditation and yoga classes, botanicals made with ingredients from the inn’s own garden…the list goes on. If you’re looking for a low-key but luxurious getaway—the perfect embodiment of New England style—Chatham Bars is a great choice. chathambarsinn.com
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