Post season free

Awesome reader Alice M. sends in a pic of this bouquet of candy canes. Yum. A magnum of Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millésime goes out to AM as our little way of saying 'thanks'.

Fries? Friend? Frumpy?

Fab photog and loyal reader Patti M. sends in this snow covered and presumed-to-be free sign from Germantown, NY. A red snow ball maker goes out to Patti as our little way of saying 'thanks.'

Orange ya glad?

From Durham, S.C., comes this sweet spray paint typography, courtesy of lovely loyal reader Yvette Y. 

A pack of matches goes out to YY as our little way of saying "thanks." Oh. Also this recipe:

Bananas flambé

Ingredients
1 orange
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1/4 cup orange liqueur or brandy
Kosher salt
3 ripe bananas, peeled, halved lengthwise and crosswise
1/2 cup dark rum
Whipped cream, for serving
Directions
Remove 4 strips orange zest with a vegetable peeler. Squeeze the orange and strain the juice.

Melt the butter with the sugar, orange zest and vanilla bean in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until the sugar caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the liqueur, orange juice and a pinch of salt.

Return the skillet to medium heat, add the bananas, cut-side down, and cook until glazed and golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and divide among bowls.

Add the rum to the pan and return to medium heat. Warm for a few seconds without stirring, then carefully tilt the pan so the rum ignites (if using an electric stove, hold a lit match near the sauce to ignite it). Spoon the flaming sauce over the bananas. Garnish with whipped cream and the glazed orange zest.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/bananas-flambe-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

An instant classic

Saw this in Rhinebeck mid October. Met the guy who made it. With a chain saw. Of course. Spectacular.

Labor day freebies

South street!

Just a few doors down! Lots of fun stuff.

End o' summer freebies from all over.

Not sure where most of them are from or who sent them in but here they are. Enjoy!

Mt. Tremper, NY.  Sent in by new reader Jackie O, whose boy is accepting offers for his big brother. A case of yummy chardonnay goes out to JO as our little way of saying "thanks".

Not sure. Nice chair though.

Hmm. Rhinebeck?

No idea.

Hmmm.

Bearsville.

Rhinebeck area.

Any guesses? (above)

I forget.

Nope.

Rhinebeck! South street!  A few doors down from home!!

And from lovely loyal reader Patti M, comes this gem from points north, no doubt.  Patti: "Rembrandt's - Philosophe en Lisant, with this particular print having come from the Louvre (it says so on the bottom right hand corner)! I think it's an original, which would explain the WOW...?" Yes, the wow factor is huge on this one. A vintage copy of the board game Masterpiece goes out to Patti as our little way of saying "thanks".

Summer frees

Thanks to reader Rachel R. for sending in the pic above. A replacement carton of Grey Goose vodka goes out to RR as our little way of saying "thanks." 

And the shot below was sent new MVP contributor Patti M.. An MVP discount card (worth up to 40% off at participating merchants) goes out to Patti as our little way of saying "thanks."

Loyal reader Claire M. sent in the bed frame pic above. Oh, wait, it's a futon frame. A box of Sharpies (in assorted colors) goes out to Claire as our little way of saying thanks.

The three shots below were spotted in Rhinebeck, NY.

The two shots below are from Provincetown, MA.

I'm not sure where the shot above came from, but the two below was sent in by super fab baker and free sign spotter Jenny K.  A box of super fresh baking powder goes out to JK as our little way of saying "thanks".

I totally woulda snagged the comfy chairs below, sent in by artist extraordinaire and free sign contributor Paula B.  A big bottle of Beefeaters goes out to PB as our little way of saying "thanks."

Two from the road

Photog. extraordinaire and all-around pretty girl Patti M. sends in these two fine, fine shots. Top: from beautiful Canaan, NY and bottom from just south of Story's farm in Palenville. A gift voucher for a free tank of gas from the Big Belly Deli and Valero Station right there at the corner of 32 and 23A goes out to Patti as our little way of saying "thanks."

Big free

New reader and fab photog Patti M. sends in this weather-worn shed just ready to be popped in the trunk of your car and swept off somewhere warm where it can spend its sunshine years.

A gallon of Glidden latex paint in barn red goes out to Patti M. as our little way of saying "thanks."

Killing it.

Reader Josh G. sends in this nighttime pic presumably from the mean streets of NYC's West Village. Looks like a casket, so we'll be sending out a case of embalming fluid to Josh G. as our little way of saying "thanks!"

Shhh.

Loyal reader, ex-neighbor and man about town Paul M. sent in this pic with the subject line "free with a whisper". Referring, no doubt, to the tiny sign on the large item. It brings to mind that old saying: "if you really want to be heard, whisper."

A carton of multi-colored Post-it® notes goes out to Paul as our little way of saying "thanks."

Double free

Double free sent in by photog pal Patti Mac. Presumably from way up Catskill way. A carton of perfectly preserved Kodachrome goes out to Patti as our little way of saying "thanks."

Some fresh pics from this year

Best yet?

From loyal reader/friend/contributor and long-suffering music wife Claire M. comes this free sign. Perhaps the nicest one to grace these pages. A souvenir trough goes out to Claire M. as our little way of saying "thanks."