Apple Festival + Great Friends = Perfection

October 4, 2009


WARNING: This is going to be a LONG post because I had such an awesome day yesterday and I want to share it with you! Feel free to just look at the pictures and skim the text. :-)

Yesterday Jeff and I met up with some friends at the Capital District Apple Festival. Our friends, Erica and Jess, invited us to celebrate their birthdays with them (they’re twins) and of course, we jumped at the chance to go to a Fall themed festival! Originally, the weather was yucky so we were planning on skipping it but then it cleared up and I am so glad it did! We had such an awesome day!

Before we left, I threw together a Turkey Sandwich on Nature’s Pride 12-Grain bread with hummus and salsa on top for lunch

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With a side of Newman’s Own Organics Mini Pretzels.

Then, it was off to the festival!!

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Of course, I had to have an Apple Cider Donut!

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And Jeff and I shared a cup of Hot Apple Cider

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Say Cheese

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The Birthday Girls

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Mr. Alpaca

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Jeff and I

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Much fun was had! There were a lot of Winery Booths set up so we did our fair share of Wine Tasting. I bought a Blueberry Wine. Yum!

And then, we browsed the Farm Market

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I wanted everything but we didn’t end up buying anything because Jeff and I are going apple picking next weekend!

After we left the festival, we continued the celebration at the Albany Pump Station

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From Left: Tom, Erica, Jess, Seth, Jeff

I was falling backwards before I even drank anything!

I was falling backwards before I even had anything to drink!

If you remember my review of the Pump Station last week, you’ll know that I wasn’t too pleased with the Turkey Burger I ordered. This time I ordered the Harvest Salad

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Boston lettuce, apples, walnuts, baby mozzarella, bing cherries, mushrooms and tomatoes served with an apple cider balsamic vinigarette, and topped with Maytag blue cheese

I ordered it without mushrooms or blue cheese. I also added Fresh Gorgonzola and and ordered the dressing on the side. Unfortunately, the waitress messed up my order BIG TIME. She brought out the creamy Gorgonzola dressing instead of fresh crumbled gorgonzola. There were NO WALNUTS in my salad and it was drenched in the apple cider balsamic vinaigrette. We were seated at a table on the second floor of the restaurant and totally secluded from everyone else. Therefore, our waitress NEVER came up to check on us and I was never able to send my salad back and have it prepared the right way! I ended up picking at the not so drenched parts of the salad and leaving most of it. BUMMER! It could have been an amazing salad!

At least I had a nice, cold glass of Hard Pear Cider to keep me happy

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As did the company of great friends.

Judging by my second disappointing experience at this restaurant, I don’t think we’ll be returning anytime soon. It’s really sad too because the atmosphere is amazing and they have good drinks! Third times a charm, right? Maybe, we’ll try again in a couple months.

After saying goodbye to our friends, Jeff and I headed to a local diner for a dessert which totally made up for my horrible salad.

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Mmmm Chocolate Mousse Cake. As always, it was humongous and I didn’t eat all of it. I loved the parts I did eat though!

I also had a cup of decaf tea

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Jeff and I were greeted by this huge frog outside the door to our apartment building when we got home

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I said goodnight Mr. Frog and went to bed!

Hope you guys enjoyed the recap! If you’ve gotten this far, you deserve a prize or something!

Have a great evening! I’m not sure if I’ll be posting tonight! I’ll give you guys some time to read this book-long post!

Until next time! <3

10 Responses leave one →
  1. October 4, 2009

    Ahhh! That’s a ginormous froggie!!

  2. October 5, 2009

    WOW!!! Awesome post! I wish I was there, too, that field of squash and pumpkins is making me squeal! :D

  3. October 5, 2009

    I LOVE apple festivals! I used to go to them all the time when I was a kid. I’ve been meaning to research for some around my area.

    Looks like you guys had a great time! :)

  4. October 5, 2009
    Brandi permalink

    the festival looks like so much fun! I have never had a cider donut, but I really want to try one :) they sound amazing!

  5. October 5, 2009

    :) i’ll just take the llama? ok? thanks. bye.

  6. October 5, 2009

    I wouldn’t even go a third time. I hate poor service and have been known to call a manager and let them know of my displeasure. You should have to pay for stuff you didn’t order or was just plain bad.

    But the rest of your day looks awesome and spending time with friends can totally make the day. :-)

  7. October 5, 2009
    melruns permalink

    I would like to start by telling you that you’re awesome. and i would like to end by telling you that jeff is a cutie. if i added a middle to that it might be that i hate it when restaurants mess up my order!! it always happens when we have to modify their dishes.

  8. October 5, 2009

    Wow, you did have a fantastic day!!!!!

  9. October 5, 2009

    that DOES sound like perfection! it looks like you all had such a good time, and well – apples are always something to celebrate :)

  10. October 6, 2009
    katklaw777 permalink

    Good Night Mr. Toad!!!
    Mister Frog he did a courting go, that is a beautiful, large and lumpy(warty) Mr Toad!
    Can I have a glass of Hard Pear Cider, it sounds really good and I agree Jeff is a cutie!

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