Travel Classics Writer's Conference Begins this Week in Tarrytown

Leading travel-industry writers will gather in Tarrytown at the three-day 21st annual Travel Classics Writers Conference taking place from May 28 through May 30, 2015.

The program begins on May 28 at noon with a panel discussion entitled “Food and Travel” at the Tarrytown House Estate, conference representative Maren Rudolph said.

This panel will be moderated by Dana Bowen, Executive Editor for Every Day With Rachael Ray — the panelists are Marian Bull, Associate Digital Editor at Saveur; Karen Shimizu, Deputy Editor at Organic Life; Marina Vataj, Digital Editorial Manager at Wine Enthusiast; and Barbara Fairchild, former Editor-in-Chief at Bon Appetit magazine.

Conference activities include a cocktail reception and dinner at the Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown on opening night with cocktail-hour entertainment provided by Mark Morganelli who is a new resident of Tarrytown but a well known and long time devotee to jazz in Westchester County.

The conference’s culinary-related activities include breakfast at Tarrytown House’s Biddle House, lunch at the River City Grille in Irvington, dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Westchester in White Plains, after dinner drinks at the Red Hat on the River in Irvington, and a farewell brunch at The Valley Restaurant at The Garrison in Garrison.

The keynote speaker is James Oseland, Editor-in-Chief of the Rodale publication Organic Life. He was previously the Editor-in-Chief of Saveur and has been a judge for five seasons for the Bravo television show Top Chef Masters. His 2006 memoir, Cradle of Flavor, was named one of the best books of the year by the New York Times.

The program includes a book-agent panel discussion moderated by Katharine Sands (Sarah Freeman), and having as panelists: Regina Brooks representing Seredipidy, Rita Rosenkranz (Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency), and Sheree Bykofsky (Sheree Bykofsky Associates).

Speakers participating in the conference include:

• Richard Bradley, Editor-in-Chief, Worth
• Paul Brady, Deputy Consumer News Editor, Condé Nast Traveler
• Sheila F. Buckmaster, Editor, Global Business Travel
• Jennifer Buege, Deputy Editor, Delta Sky magazine
• Jackie Caradonio, Senior Editor, Robb Report
• Sara Clemence, Travel Editor, The Wall Street Journal
• Nicholas DeRenzo, Senior Editor, Hemispheres
• Robert Firpo-Cappiello, Editor-in-Chief, Budget Travel
• Jennifer Flowers, Deputy Editor, AFAR Media
• Travis Kinsey, Managing Editor, American Way, Celebrated Living and Nexos
• Patrick Perry, Executive Editor, The Saturday Evening Post
• John Rasmus, Editor-in-Chief, Men’s Fitness
• Hannah Sheinberg, Assistant Editor, National Geographic Traveler
• Karen Shimizu, Deputy Editor, Organic Life
• Marina Vataj, Digital Editorial Manager, Wine Enthusiast

For more information contact Vintage Hudson Valley, www.vintagehudsonvalley.com, P.O. Box 288, Irvington, NY 10533. 914-591-6410.

Photo: Dining room at the Castle Hotel & Spa in Tarrytown