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Let’s hear it for National New York Day

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And it is a thing, which celebrates America’s Fab 50, so today let’s hear it for National New York Day.

New York State, which I don’t have to tell you, is the 11th state of the union, endorsed by Alexander Hamilton.

And this being the 11th week since Delaware, the first American state, is honoured, the focus is on the Empire State today.

For many of us the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River and NY is our gateway to America.

And a year before Lady Liberty took her rightful place, one Frederick Trump, The Donald’s dad, arrived from Bremen.

Which means that this year, October 19, marks a very significant milestone, 150 years of the Trumps in the Oo Es of Eh.

NY’s Greatest Living Son

New York’s Greatest Living Son (sorry Jimmy Kimmel) will be delighted then that he got the endorsement, of sorts, of another NY great.

And one who is carved into the stone at Mount Rushmore, Teddy Roosevelt.

When promoting the Roosevelt Presidential Park in North Dakota at the American Travel Fare in Chicago.

And doffing his Raiders hat to the 47th President when saying that, yes, he is a New York City prez.

But he, Teddy, is the only Commander in Chief from Manhattan.

The famous five

Frankly Franklin: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

In all there have been five US Presidents from New York State.

And we should always remember that New York is a state, Teddy’s rellie Franklin, Martin Van Buren and Millard Fillmore.

Which, of course, is a gateway to the other great towns of New York State.

Which in Van Buren, the 8th President’s case, and the first to be born in the post-colonial USA, that means Albany.

For Fillmore, home is the lyrically named the Finger Lakes Area (Moravia).

While Hyde Park is synonymous with FDR.

All ways then to mark National New York Day by toasting all the Presidents then.

Tuck in to NY State food

Which brings us on to which NY food and drink you should take.

And our favourite would always be Buffalo Wings while for the healthier it might be a Waldorf Salad.

And maybe a Knickerbocker ice cream to follow.

While we suggest you go all out with a cocktail, say a Long Island Iced Tea.

So let’s hear it for National New York Day.

And we found an Aer Lingus each way flight through Dublin with pre-clearance from €614.08

America, Countries, Europe, Food & Wine, Sport

Long Island Iced Teas and Ryder Cup cocktails

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And back when I turned out my Jocktails I almost blinded the Scary One… and my Long Island Iced Teas and Ryder Cup cocktails will do the same for you.

Now the beauty of cocktails is their surprise element and the Iced Tea kicks like a mule.

Because it is devilishly misnamed as an innocent soft drink when it’s an excuse to knock your socks off.

A hole lot of fun

The famously raucous New York golf fans, of course, need no extra stimulant for next week’s biennial clash with Europe.

Golf tournaments have never been, nor would we want it to be, a booze-free haven.

With visitors to our own Open Golf Championship as likely to be seen in a Guinness tent or hospitality suites (guilty?)

All good when it doesn’t spill over to antisocial behaviour from the balconies, banks and grandstands.

We will, like many of you, be shouting at the television, glass in hand.

And not putting off any player.

Over to your bartender

Part of the team: On my travels in France

If you want to channel your own Long Islander then this is how to make Robert ‘Rosebud’ Butt’s Oak Beach Inn from 1972.l

Courtesy of our own go-to BBC site.

You will need 25ml of vodka, of tequila, of gin, of triple sec, of white rum, of lime juice and of lemon juice.

Fill with ice cubes and garnish with two lemon wedges and two mint sprigs.

Now with the Ryder Cup being played out and supported by dozens of nations, we can have even more fun with it.

And adapt a cocktail for all the different nationalities of players on show or the states from which they originate.

This year’s Ryder Cup cocktails

There is even an official Ryder Cup cocktail for this year’s Bethpage shoot-out.

Following on from the Elijah Craig Roma Old Fashioned from two years ago.

Check out the Elijah Craig bourbon and fix The Mulligan.

By pouring 2 oz. Green Tea Infused Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon.

With 4 oz lemonade, a splash of soda water and garnish with a mint and lemon wheel.

Just a little something to get your party started.

My Long Island Iced Teas and Ryder Cup cocktails.

And should the Ryder Cup whet your appetite for a visit to Long Island and it should.

The. we found a random Aer Lingus return flight to JFK from €603.81 from Dublin with pre-clearance.

Just don’t let me fly!

MEET YOU ON THE COURSE

America, Countries

Upstate New York will do it fa ya

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Now we all love the city that never sleeps but those who know know that upstate New York do it fa ya.

And while as a hard-up student I travelled upstate on the Greyhound bus I have since become an Amtrak convert.

Letting the train take the strain (you know how we were promised in Britain)!

On my coastal journey down New England.

Taking in the sights of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Now I’d put that journey past the Gatsby yachts right up there in the list of Great World train journeys.

With the ten-hour Adirondack trip which was named in top ten.

It runs from NY through the wine country of Hudson Valley and Albany and the mountains to Montreal.

Caravana love

You can, of course, get off along the way and it’ll be worth it.

Stay at the Hotel Caravana onsite at a retro drive-in movie theatre.

And transform movie night into a sleepover experience.

Newly available as Hotel Caravana at the Four Brothers Drive-In Theater, in the heart of Hudson Valley.

The two vintage airstreams are named ‘1967’ (sleeps up to four) and ‘2041’ (sleeps two) and have been fully renovated with a funky décor.

Of course as hard as parents try they know that nature will always take second place among teenagers to video games.

Game for a laugh

Play time: Sesame Street and gaming heaven

Why not then do a trade? And give them a day out at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.

The Rochester attraction will this year welcome a new World Video Game Hall of Fame exhibit.

And a 90,000-square-foot museum wing dedicated to video game history.

From strolling down Sesame Street to leaping into the world of American comic book superheroes.

The museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of its kind in the world.

Unraveling the history of play through toys, dolls, board games, books and electronic games.

Of course if your idea of outdoorsy fun is cohabiting with the locals then Upstate has an experience to rival any.

Wolves at the door

Sleeping with Wolves is a popular adventure experience that takes place in the summer.

It offers guests a chance to safely camp out overnight with more than 30 wolves.

Those that call the Wolf Conservation Center in the Hudson Valley home.

In response to its increased popularity, 12 new weather-proof camping pods will debut in 2023.

And that will allow the experience to extend from spring to autumn.

See, we told ya, Upstate New York will do it fa ya.

And all major airlines travel to New York with us again advising you to skip pre-clearance.

By flying out of Dublin with Aer Lingus with a sample trip next month circa €700.