Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

So, for our anniversary, we went 1 hour north to Albany and stayed at The Desmond



It's a large complex of Colonial-style buldings - a nice change from the usual hotel chain appearance.




We dined at their Simpson's Restaurant both for dinner last night and breakfast this morning. Their decor is right up our alley - Colonial. large hearth with fire going, in the reception area, wing back chairs and loveseats, Windsor chairs, wallpapered rooms, lanterns banking the hallway walls and even wallpaper in the elevators. Just Right.

We had Eggplant Panini and Maryland Crab Cakes for appetizers, then I had Sole Francaise and hubby had Char-grilled Ribeye Steak. TOO full for coffee or dessert! They have pretty Oneida dishes and silverware, very comfortable booths, and great service.

And this wasn't even their fancier Scrimshaw Restaurant! - Simpson's is their casual one, which was fine with us, as I don't have a good outfit any more. The skirt suit I bought 3 years ago for Dad's 70th birthday dinner no longer fits and was donated to the Salvation Army, as I do with everything that we no longer need but is still serviceable. Besides, I'd need a far prettier head wrap to go with fancy clothes!

Breakfast was just as detail-oriented with a selection of teas, and a tiny pot of honey, SO cute tiny jars of jam from England and apple-cinnamon butter for my French Toast. Hubby had a breakfast to suit a king. And even better was that when I was searching their site for specials, I found one that, for just a few dollars more than the regular King room rate, included $20 towards breakfast.

Though I knew they had coffee supplies in the room, we never travel without our preferred brand of instant coffee (Folgers) and sugar. But I forgot the spoons! and making coffee with stirrers isn't quite the same. They have internet access (which I didn't need) and a phone in the bathroom! I suppose for those busy execs, who can't detach from the world, not even to brush your teeth.

And Hubby found a store that carried Nivole.

We finished one of the 2 small bottles we brought with us, before dinner. We'll surely be going back there for future occasions.