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Murder It Is

The best weekend retreat is one where you get pampered and solve a murder all at the same time. If you have not been to the Allenberry Estate and Playhouse in Pennsylvania, we highly recommend it.

Allenberry was bought from the Sadler family by the Heinze's in 1944. The original structure was built in the 1700's with more buildings to follow. The estate consists of 57 acres, the main lodge, theatre (with a 40 week season) and guest houses. The estate offers a great retreat from the hectic life of the DC metro area.

Each year Allenberry hosts a season of Murder Mystery weekends, which are an event not to be missed. This year's weekend is The Meeting House Thriller. The all inclusive package includes lodging, gourmet meals, cocktail parties and a murder mystery for you to solve. For more information, go to Allenberry's website.

For those who think that Pennsylvania is a lifetime away or who cannot get away for a 3 day weekend, try the Mystery Dinner Playhouse staged at the Sheraton Pentagon South. Marriage Can Be Murder is running through Nov. 19 followed by Who Killed the King starting Nov. 25. The tickets include a buffet or 4-course dinner and the show. For reservations call 888-471-4802.

Decorating with Your Travel Finds
By ON THE GO 4 U Design Consultant Suzanne Copenhaver

Summer vacation is over and perhaps you have traveled to other countries or other parts of the U.S.A. and fallen in love with a style of building or decorating that is different from what you have had. Maybe you have picked up a few items in your travels that you’d like to use to freshen up your home. Using your vacation finds or memories in your home is a great way to prolong your vacation. In the middle of a cold grey New England November, how lovely to come home to a room that reminds you of the islands of Greece, or vacation in Sweden. There is nothing new about adapting Scandinavian or Mediterranean. The key word is 'adapting.'

We have all seen pink stucco homes with Spanish tile roofs appearing rather startlingly on a grimy northern city street. These homes can be quite endearing to live in and decorate, but our aim is to get the feel of your favorite style without creating something which resembles a Hollywood movie set. The most obvious way to do this is color. Use the Mediterranean blues and greens on white walls and then decorate with accessories like pots and hand weaving. Or use a bit of pottery, glassware or sculpture as the base of your color scheme.

To use your souvenir, subdue the colors of walls, flooring or furniture. The items you have purchased will stand out and become focal points which set the mood of your room. The picture that accompanies this article shows a room with just a touch of the exotic. The walls are papered in a way that resembles, but does not imitate painted plaster and tile. The amazing things which can be accomplished with wallpaper these days are too often overlooked. The furniture is contemporary in earth tones and the other accessories are slightly primitive-iron and basket work and pottery. The most important things in the room are the framed Egyptian papyri. This makes a much more comfortable effect than trying to create an Egyptian room. The 'Egyptian' craze held sway in the early 1800's and resulted with furniture with crocodile feet and lotus carvings. Extremes like these can look ridiculous and become quickly dated and boring.

You can create an effect with water colors, masks, and a variety of items picked up in your travels. The items you use don’t have to be expensive; a glass bowl full of beach stones or shells in the middle of a cocktail table and pastel colors-pale blues, greens, greys and sand will give the feeling of the beach. The most important quality you need when doing this kind of decorating is restraint; not too many accessories, or colors, not too may 'foreign' items. You want to give a feel, not a mock-up, of the place you want to represent.

Local Activities...Day to Night

1. Take a dinner cruise on the Potomac. For information on the Dandy call 703-683-6076 and for the Odyssey call 800-946-7245.
2. Cruise to Mount Vernon and then take the tour. The boat leaves from Pier 4 in DC. Ticket price includes admission to the estate. For more information contact Spirit Cruises at 866-211-3811. Reservations are not required.
3. Take a private tour of DC by moonlight. The 2.5 hour tour takes you past all of the monuments that are lit up at night. Contact Majestic Limousine at 703-461-1914.
4. Of course, no fall season would be complete without the Waterford Fair including home tours. This year's fair runs from Oct 7-9. Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Waterford Foundation at 540-882-3018.

Hit the Road...Great Fall Travel Spots

'Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.' (Seneca)

If you can't join us for a Shop 'Til You Drop weekend, why not try the bus from DC to NYC. Round trip is $35 and is a good alternative for those who do not want to drive or fly. Reservations are required so call 866-287-6932.

New England is a favorite spot for fall travel destinations but beware that many people made their arrangements last year. Also, check with local tourist boards for the fall folliage schedules. The leaves turn earlier in the Northeast.

Did you know that there are 11 hot springs in Virginia with the hottest being in Roanoke? One of the most historic resorts and spas in the area is The Homestead in Hot Spriings, VA. The Homestead boasts a history back to the 1700's including the famous Jefferson Pools named for Thomas Jefferson who frequented the natural mineral spring pools. For more information, visit The Homestead website

Now that the weather has cooled off a bit, why not take a trip to Arizona. From the Grand Canyon to the many spas and resorts, there is something for everyone. Not the spa type gal or guy? Why not try a ranch? For all that Arizona has to offer, go to the Arizona Guide.

Reviews

Books:
Lucia Lucia by Adriana Trigiani, while not her most recent book is one of my favorites. You can feel yourself being transported to the department store sewing room as the story unfolds. If you want something a little more dramatic and unsettling, then we recommend Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Usually I am the last one to like something on the established book club lists but this one hits home.

Music:
Ok so maybe I am dating myself a bit, but for some reason I tend to wax nostalgic when fall hits. Try Peter Paul and Mary's Around the Campfire CD 2 Pack. It has all of the old favorites. For something new, try Thalia's new CD released in August entitled el sexto sentido.

Food:
I promise we will get back to our dinner party column and restaurant reviews in October but for now we are still on the old use what is available kick. Try new recipes and pack that backpack for a picnic adventure or hit the local wineries.

Have you read a book or been to a restaurant that you think ON THE GO 4 U readers would enjoy? Send us an email. No time to read a book? Call us now!