Dickinson College Hosts Kristin Kimball - Farmer Extraordinaire

     Last evening was a celebration of farm life and sustainability at the annual Local Farm Dinner organized by the Dickinson College Farm.  The speaker was Kristin Kimball, co-owner with husband Mark of Essex Farm and Institute and guest of the Carlisle House. Her inspirational presentation about her life-changing career decision as described in her book The Dirty Life was enjoyed by all. Farmed by draft  horses and several tractors,

Essex Farm is a total CSA farm providing a year's food for over 200 members.  
     Prior to Kristin's presentation, two of the Dickinson College students also spoke on how the Dickinson Farm and its leaders and fellow students changed their whole outlook and their futures about food, life, farming and sustainability. This year, proceeds from the dinner went to Leaf Project PA.

Last Chance for the Great Quiche Contest!

With a NEW Carlisle House breakfast quiche recipe coming soon, will it be YOUR idea? Will you be the luck one staying for two free nights at our Select Registry Inn? There is still time to suggest a new theme country and one new ingredient for our BREAKFAST quiches!

Find details on our website at http://www.thecarlislehouse.com/breakfast.shtml 

WHY ARE YOU WAITING ?????

Carlisle House Norwegian Quiche with Smoked Salmon

Your idea could be the very next quiche we display here on our blog, on our website, and on Facebook.   Fame could be yours, fortune not so much, but with two free nights at our Select Registry Inn you would be very happy, we promise!

A Taste of Carlisle with FREE ticket - March 9, 2014

Savor the Flavor -- A Taste of Carlisle is the Chamber's premiere tasting event presented in partnership with the Downtown Carlisle Association. The event brings together the best of the best from local restaurants, pubs, caterers, cafes, bakeries and chocolatiers to offer taste samplings to our attendees. In addition to the delicious food and beverage offerings, Savor the Flavor also features great shopping opportunities -- including jewelry, kitchen implements, bakeware, and other unique gift ideas. A portion of the day's proceeds are donated to local charities.

Participating restaurants include: Andalusia, Cafe Bruges, Helena's Chocolate Cafe and Creperie, Market Cross Pub, Piatto, and Rillos and many more. 

Come stay a night at the Carlisle House and enjoy the TASTE of our Carlisle contribution - one of our delectable quiches!  Then enjoy the Taste of Carlisle and we buy your ticket (Up to 2 tickets per reservation).  Must be booked by Friday, March 7! 

Price:  $15 in advance; $20 at the Door

Time: From: 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM Location: St. Patrick Church Activity Center Address: 85 Marsh Drive, Carlisle, PA 17013 Phone: 717-243-4515

Carlisle Events 2014 - Start Date is February 20

Sick and tired of Winter and all the snow and ice - time to head to Florida for the first show of the Carlisle Events Season. 


The Zephyrhills Winter Autofest takes place February 20-23 and is a collector and classic car swap meet, corral and auction.

Of course, then, we will see you all here in Carlisle for the annual big show events with the Fords, Mopars, Trucks, Corvettes and all the other exciting models and parades.

Don't miss one of the chances to find your parts and even that new "old" car that you have seen in your dreams.  There are so many to choose!

a collector and classic car swap meet

 We still have some rooms available so remember to call early

or book online!

 

Apr 23-27 Spring Carlisle & Auction
May 10-11 Performance & Style
May 16-18 Import & Kit Car
Jun 6-8 All-Ford Nationals
Jun 20-22 All-GM Nationals
Jul 11-13 Chrysler Nationals
Aug 1-3 Truck Nationals
Aug 22-24 Corvettes at Carlisle
    Sep 5-7 Sports & Outdoor
        Oct 1-5 Fall Carlisle

CARLISLE STARTS HERE 

Just 1 mile from the Showfield!! 

Carlisle Events  

Win a FREE Stay at the Carlisle House!

Norwegian - Smoked Salmon, Jarlsberg and Dill

Spanish - Asparagus, Green Garlic Pesto & Manchego

WIN A FREE STAY at our Carlisle House, a Select Registry Inn – Home of our renowned International-themed breakfast quiches! You can check them out at http://bit.ly/M2M9q2

It is time to create a new quiche and we want YOUR idea. Suggest an ingredient and a relevant country for the new quiche and it could be you and your guest staying as OUR guests for two nights at the Inn.

All you need to do is JOIN our blog or LEAVE A COMMENT on this blog with your COUNTRY and INGREDIENT.   The deadline is March 15, and the winner will be named on Saturday March 22, 2014. No blackout dates, just subject to availability! 

 So all you foodies out there, get inspired and creative, and we look forward to hosting one of you here in Carlisle PA!

Fishing around Carlisle PA - Some of the best in the world!

Ah, yes!  You may wish the weather was already gorgeous and sunny enough for you to fish the streams and lakes of South Central PA!  But do not despair.  For now, the die-hards are out on the icy lakes around Carlisle with rods, bait and ice-bores. Sentinel Article

Our regular guests, Dale and Cynthia - certified Fly-fishing Guides were here last week and out on the streams.

But, it is just 2 months until the First Day of Trout Fishing in Carlisle and the Cumberland Valley.  Also within a 15 minute drive is the PA Huntsdale Fish Hatchery, one of the main sources for the beautiful and varied species of trout.  Visitors welcome.

The Carlisle House is so close to many abundant streams including the Yellow Breeches and the LeTort Spring Run, protected and promoted by the dedicated members of the Letort Regional Authority. Come for a day, a weekend or longer to enjoy nature, fishing and the Carlisle area.

Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering

24th Annual Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering in June!
 

Are you familiar with The Autoharp...a multi-stringed instrument with about 36 to even 40+ strings? It was a favorite instrument of the Carter family, known for their traditional American Folk music, and their song, Ring of Fire, is sung here by Sheryl Crow. 

Come to PA June 25-29 for the Autoharp celebration to

 enjoy musicians from around the world.

 We already have guests booked for the nearby event in

 Little Buffalo State Park, Newport, PA!

The Fabulous Beekman Boys with the Innkeepers in Charleston

Josh and Brent - aka the Fabulous Beekman Boys - were the opening highlight at our conference today.  They told the amazing story of how they happened upon the very small historic town of Sharon Springs, NY and inspired the townsfolk to revitalize the town.  Befriending the nearby farmers, craft people and local characters, they brought them all together with festivals and events bringing publicity and thousands of tourists and regular visitors to Sharon.

The point of having the Beekman Boys present to us is to show how we, although small entrepreneurs, can make significant economic impacts to our towns and villages.

The Boys were introduced by our friend Frank Salvo of the 1889 WhiteGate Inn in Asheville, North Carolina.

We look forward to seeing Josh and Brent in Sharon Springs someday!

Having our PAII and eating too...

Here at the Professional Association of Innkeepers International Annual (PAII) Conference in Charleston, SC.  Well we had to arrive a day early to get a head start on the eating side, so we set off on Saturday, and stayed in Jonesville, NC so that we could have dinner at Twentyone and Main in Elkins, NC.  And what a great dinner it was!  With Fried Pimiento Cheese Poofs, Fried Green Tomatoes, Smoked Shoulder of Lamb, an amazing Burger (think off cuts of ribeye and filet!), and good things to drink, it was a wonderful way to start this year's adventure!

How low can you go?

Now, here's a thing.  This 3rd blog about the use of technology in our B&B, I thought I'd better make sure I knew what technology actually is!  It turns out that the word comes from the Greek techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand".

No, that's not what I thought either!  But then, the more I think about it, the more it seems to be appropriate.  Let me give you an example.

Imagine that it is 3:30 in the morning, and somebody, me, a guest, whoever, lets go of the toilet seat and it crashes down with a bang which is amplified not only by the stillness of the night, but also by the startled waking up of the listener.