kendall-jackson

chardonnay

Kendal Jackson Vineyard in Lakeport California is exactly the picturesque location you’d expect it to be. Spread across the sun-kissed hills of Sonoma County, the Kendal Jackson vineyard defines the coastal California wine ethos. For over 30 years, this family owned and operated vineyard has turned grapes into gold by the artisan barrel. And as the wine industry becomes more and more commercial and industrial, the little engine that could in Kendall Jackson is a testament to hard work, craftsmanship, and handpicked quality of mystical proportion. Little has changed in Lakeport since founder Jess Jackson bought an 80 acre pear farm in the 1970s, and transformed it into his vineyard. Today Jackson’s rendition of a classic California Chardonnay is a tribute to his vision and product integrity.

The Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay features a burst of mango, papaya, pineapple and citrus, an elegant tropical medley of flavors. Combine that with a light aroma of green apples and pears from Jackson’s farm and you’ve got depth and balance unmatched for a lighter white wine. A hint of toasted oak rounds out the lingering finish making Kendal Jackson’s Chardonnay the perfect summer white. At only $14 a bottle, KJ’s creation should be a staple at any dinner party in CT until at least October.

cavit

pinot grigio

Cavit’s chief enologist is Italy’s famous Anselmo Martini, which instantly makes Cavit’s Pinot a prize. For 20 years, Martini has developed Cavit’s reputation as Trentino’s leading wine producer, and his knowledge is displayed in every bottle of the Pinot Grigio.

The principal source of grapes for Cavit Pinot Grigio is Trentino’s Adige River Valley. This area, recognized for the spectacular natural beauty of the Dolomite Alps, is ideal for vineyard cultivation because of its exceptional soil and climatic conditions. The grapes are 100 percent Pinot and are carefully selected then vinified, using the most advanced technology. Cold fermentation in state-of-the-art thermo-conditioned tanks preserves the natural 100% Pinot Grigio fruit and inimitable freshness of the wine. With its crisp, light character, bright straw gold color and appealing scents and fruit flavors, it’s no wonder Cavit is called America’s favorite Pinot Grigio. The flavorful Cavit Pinot Grigio is a wonderful aperitif chilled, and splendid with pasta, chicken, and fresh seafood entrees. The Marlborough region of New Zealand is becoming one of the world’s premier wine making locations and is home to over 25 artisan vineyards in a relatively small geographic area. How do you make up for a lack of size, one asks? Quality. Quality makes up for most anything in the wine world, and Marlborough is no exception. The Oyster Billy Chardonnay is elegant, assertive, ripe, and distinctly New Zealand-esque with hints of kiwi, citrus, and stonefruit, balanced with a clean and simple oak fullness. To retain all the natural assertiveness and flavor, no malolactic fermentation takes place. This bottle is a sublime expression of fruit purity from Marlborough’s unique soil and cool climate. In three words: zesty, crisp, and oh so original.

oyster billy

chardonnay

The Marlborough region of New Zealand is becoming one of the world’s premier wine making locations and is home to over 25 artisan vineyards in a relatively small geographic area. How do you make up for a lack of size, one asks? Quality. Quality makes up for most anything in the wine world, and Marlborough is no exception. The Oyster Billy Chardonnay is elegant, assertive, ripe, and distinctly New Zealand-esque with hints of kiwi, citrus, and stonefruit, balanced with a clean and simple oak fullness. To retain all the natural assertiveness and flavor, no malolactic fermentation takes place. This bottle is a sublime expression of fruit purity from Marlborough’s unique soil and cool climate. In three words: zesty, crisp, and oh so original.

The leg extension specifically targets one muscle group, the quadriceps.  It is also a great knee-strengthening exercise.  It is important to maintain correct posture while seated at the machine.  Keep your back flush with the back pad. Tighten you abdominal muscles, bend your knees, and keep your chest out.  Push the weight up making sure to focus on using your quadriceps.  Stop right before your leg is fully extended and reverse the motion back down.

This exercise is great for shaping and strengthening the inner thigh muscles.  Sit with correct posture in the machine with your legs outside of the side pads and place heels on the foot bars.  Release the lever-brace to position your legs together and then put the lever into the locked position. Push the weight by moving your legs together.  Return your legs back to start position and repeat.

This trains the abdominal muscles to support and stabilize your trunk while the arms and legs are in motion.  Lie on your back and bend your knees, bringing in your shins and making them parallel  with the floor. Grab your left shin with both arms while extending your right leg at a 45 degree angle.  Bring extended leg back in to original position, shins parallel with floor.  Repeat using opposite shin and leg.

Stretching the spine vertebra is very important for improving posture. No slouching! Sit tall with your feet stretched out in front of you. Your legs should be slighter wider than your shoulders.  Put your arms out in front of you with your palms facing downward.  Exhale and roll your back down while stretching your hands towards your feet.  Inhale while rolling up your lower back, mid-back, upper back, and then finally neck and head.

The scissor exercise is a great way to tone legs and thighs while working your abdominal muscles.  Lie on your back with your feet pointing forward. Lift your right leg up to a 90 degree angle keeping your legs straight and toes pointed. Alternate legs quickly. Make sure to inhale and exhale as you move your right leg towards your head and your left leg to the floor.

“MY father always said the day I began walking was the day I began fishing.  I don’t remember that, but I do know that when I was five years old I had my own fishing rod, and by ten I was catching 25 pound Striped Bass. By then, my father and I were known as the Portuguese father and son duo.  The more he taught me about fishing, the more I wanted to learn because the excitement of catching fish and never knowing what to expect in the process fascinated me.  By freshman year of high school all my friends were playing all kinds of sports, but I was a fishing fanatic.  I continued through college to fish and to learn as much as I could about the sport along the way.
Even though I was brought up to believe that fishing is a sport and not a science, as I got older and more experienced, I wasn’t so sure. I knew there was a science behind the sport, so I began to study the behavior of fish and examine their migration patterns.  I believed if I could learn everything possible about a targeted species, then knowing where they were likely to be, at any given time should make catching them a piece of cake.  Therein is the “science” of fishing.
Fortunately, because Fairfield County is a wonderful location for all types of fishing, I have been able to turn my passion for the sport into my business, one that allows me to teach people how to fish and enjoy this wonderful sport nearly year round.
As a charter captain I meet all kinds of people, some eager to enhance their skills as a mariner; others business people taking a break from stress at work. No matter, from kids to senior citizens, from novices to the very skilled, everyone can have a exciting day on the water fishing.  That’s what makes my job so satisfying.
Of course for me as captain, it’s not all fun; my job does have its challenges.  For example, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, and I have to decide whether to go out or remain at the dock, aware, of course, that some people plan their trips months in advance and would rather take their chances with the weather.  The problem with that for me is concern for everyone’s safety.  I  will go out on the water only when I deem it safe for all of us.
At other times the day can be picture perfect with light breezes, calm seas and a friendly sun at our service, but the fish aren’t cooperative.  They can be elusive at times, but very rarely am I left with my head spinning not knowing what to do.  When I have people on the boat either expecting to take home a cooler filled with fresh fillets or waiting to fight “the big one” so they can hang the picture over the fire place or in the office, I head to a location that rarely fails to have fish.

Every Captain has a few of these spots.  After years on the water, there’s always a plan B, C or D and some days plan X, Y or Z because there are always surprises—you never know for sure what you’re going to catch. You’ll be quietly concentrating and then “BAM,” mayhem breaks loose, reels screaming, rods bending, and frantic minds trying to handle multiple tasks at once fighting a 35lb striped bass with your friends cheering you on.  Now that’s real excitement!
Overall, my career as a charter captain is very satisfying. I’m in total control of my own business and make it possible for all kinds of people to have a memorable day on the water fishing. I especially  enjoy family charters because they always remind me of my days growing up fishing with my father.  Frankly, I can’t imagine doing anything else for my livelihood.”

Please visit www.jayhovacharters.com for more information, and to book your adventure on the high seas today.

Put your hands up Gold Coast!

Vibrant. Loud. Energetic. Diverse. Vigorous. Enter what ever catchy adjective here to describe this highly anticipated weekly celebration of summer in Fairfield County. We feel the city of Stamford named it perfectly to begin with, simply because each Thursday- the entire city is very, very Alive at 5.

If you somehow happen to be cave mates with Osama Bin Ladin, or have the misfortune of being a part of  the .0001 percent of Fairfield Countians that actually live under the Long Island Sound- then allow us at 203 Magazine to give you the Sparknotes description of Stamford’s amazing “Alive At 5″.

For the better part of a decade, Stamford CT, one of the brightest and most progressively active cities in the Tri State region has put on a hell of a good weekly fest, each Thursday night for a 7 week span each summer.   Shutting down Main St, Clark St, Lower Summer and the overall downtown area, the weekly riot sprawls colorfully all over city’s core. Outdoor dining, Beer tents, street entertainment and amazing people are truly the event’s pulse, while the large Heiniken sponsored main stage in Columbus Park is it’s heart. Bringing in national headliners from all over the world to rock cheering crowds gives Stamford summers a soundtrack no other city in CT offers.

Alive At 5 is the partnership project of  Stamford Town Center, Hob Nob Wine, Patch Block Wine, BevMax and, your good friends at 203 Magazine. The event  is produced by the Stamford Downtown Special Services District and the City of Stamford. Just as the name suggests, it kicks off each week at 5 PM, with the head liner taking the stage in the 7 o’clock hour. To put Alive At 5 in a box, simply couldn’t happen, as the crowds that pack the streets, park, and whole of downtown are every race, every age, and every walk of life. Literally. The air is filled with excitement as families and children intertwine with businessmen just off the Metro North from Manhattan, urban skateboarders in skinny jeans and Yankees fitted caps, and area students looking to meet up with old friends and create new ones.  And, best of all, there’s NEVER a problem. For an event of this size and caliber to be perfectly safe with a high level of organization is wildly unheard of- and is a testament to Stamford and it’s people.

Join the crowds each Thursday to sing, dance, drink and dine all summer to the famous music of George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, rocker Uncle Kracker, swing gods Big Bad Voody Daddy and the timeless Beach Boys with The Wanderers. Talk about a perfect summer soundtrack to kick off your weekends this year.

The cult classic film “Office Space” coined the phrase “Someone’s got a case of the Mondays.” Alive At 5 ” should create another one, a spinoff phrase (Is there such a thing as a spinoff phrase? Hmm, now there is. ) – and have everyone from southern CT saying it. “Someones got a case of the Thursdays.”  Except “a case of the Thursdays” is a good thing. No, rephrase; a GREAT thing. Because it’s a case that’s side effects include partying in beautiful weather, in the heart of one of the north east’s best metros, with hundreds of amazing people, great live music, awesome food and even better drinks. That beats Mondays, and getting your Stapler stolen and moved down stairs to “Storage B” by the Lumberg in  your life any day.

We’ll see you Thursday with a thousand of your closest friends.