travel
San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter gets a hefty does of Italian style this fall with the opening of The Keating’s 35 room boutique hotel. Italian designers like to use slick surfaces and low-slung furniture, but the Keating employs that style with particular aplomb– the designers are also the guys behind Ferrari and Maserati. While it’s not a car themed hotel, the Pininfarina team did take historical and ergonomic cues from Italian vehicles. Next year a signature restaurant and eight premium suites are set to open, but until then expect the in-room espresso machines, attentive staff and sexy underground lounge to get your motor running.
Nicholas Butterworth, former CEO of MTVi is in the process of starting a to develop a new online travel channel called Travelistic . He describes it as YouTube meets The Travel Channel, meets YouTube. I think it sounds like a good idea. There are so many sites out there to post your travel pictures online, why not a place to post travel movies so that your friends and family can watch them. They are in private beta at the moment, so I have nothing in regards to interface or features, but I’ll keep you posted.
Paris Muse offers high-quality private tours in front of the world's greatest art collections. Their instructors are trained and experienced art historians. They are native English speakers, with teaching experience at top American universities, including Harvard University, New York University and University of California at Berkeley. They live in Paris because they are preparing publications and/or writing their Ph.D. dissertations in art history. After taking a look at their website you will see their impressive list of gallery and walking tours throughout Paris. You can even book your tours online.
The Napa Valley Vintners are coming to San Francisco for one night only. Join them for a wine tasting with a nightclub vibe: try wines from big bottles from more than 60 Napa Valley wineries, meet the people behind these incredible wines, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, and listen to the DJ spin while you sip, savor and mingle.
Tickets are $25 per person. If you pay with your American Express card, you will receive a $5 discount for each ticket. Tickets will only be sold online - no tickets available at the door.
Nightlife Napa Valley
LIMN Gallery in San Francisco
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
8:00 - 10:00 pm
292 Townsend St
San Francisco, CA 94107
L’Hotel du Nord is a slick new old restaurant with yummy plates and classic, white-tiled interior complete with wooden bar and uban atmosphere. If any of the places situated along the picturesque Canal St. Martin provide the perfect setting for a romantic dinner for two, then this is it. Also highly recommended for a late-night dessert on a balmy summer evening..
Continue reading "L'Hotel du Nord ~ Paris" »
Yield Wine Bar is a small, intimate wine bar located in the heart of San Francisco's historic Dog Patch Neighborhood. Yield is such a welcome addition to my tiny growing Dogpatch Neighborhood. Owner Chris Tavelli was the former sommelier at Millennium Restaurant and brings a great knowledge of organic, bio-dynamic and sustainable wines. They are committed to supporting sustainable winemaking and agriculture, as well as family owned and operated wineries. As such, all of the wines featured on their wine list are environmentally friendly — they are made by wineries that are wholly committed to the practice of organic, biodynamic or sustainable agriculture. Most do not use any chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides throughout the wine-making process, and some have even taken it a step further and received certification for these practices. All of them are as focused on making the best wine possible as they are on making it in the most environmentally conscious way.
Yield Wine Bar is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. until 12 a.m., and Sundays from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.
2490 3rd St San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 401-8984
For a decade, Wallpaper has been the first to uncover the best new design and urban travel spots across the globe. We think their first book publishing venture, the Wallpaper* City Guides, is the perfect way to present this decade of experience in ruthlessly researched, design-conscious handbooks for the discerning traveller. They don’t waste your time by suggesting too many things — they just suggest the best, the most exciting, the most beautiful. The first 20 are published this month and another 20 every six months after that.
Buy them online at http://www.phaidon.com/travel/
Awhile ago we blogged about Travel podcasts. Since then much has changed in the world of travel podcasts with some of the big travel book companies like Lonely Planet and Rick Steves getting in on the action.
Amateur Traveler:Well traveled host Chris Christensen delivers practical advice on more than 50 destinations. 35 Minutes; travel news and interviews. Updated Weekly
Lonely Planet: Authors report breaking news on specific locations and discuss topical travel issues. 30 minutes; update bi-weekly.
Rick Steves’ Europe: Interviews with knowledgeable guests make up for dull caller questions. 60 Minutes update weekly.
Travelers’ Tales: Tim Cahill, Simon Winchester, Pico Iyer discuss their often humerous wanderings. 60 Minutes. Update monthly.
The only way to the Bay of Fires Lodge is to walk—12 miles for two days along squeaky white sand. Good thing the rare Forrester kangaroos know the way. Architect Ken Latona's spare shedlike design, complete with roof-water collection, gray-water treatment systems, composting toilets, and 100 percent solar power, has won every award in the book. Still, the greatest prize is spending an evening by the glow of the outdoor fire pits, waiting for those Tasmanian devils to whirl into view.
Continue reading "Bay of Fires Lodge ~ Tasmania Australia" »
On September 23rd Kermit Lynch will throw his yearly “Provence in Berkeley Festival”. On Provence Day they recreate some of the gastronomic pleasures of Provence. They close the parking lot to cars, set up tents and tables, peel a ton of garlic, fire up a big bed of coals, and uncork a medley of delicious provencal wines.
Provence in Berkeley Saturday, September 23rd, 2006
11:00 AM to 4:00 PM 1605 San Pablo Avenue (at Cedar St.) Berkeley, CA 94702
Those of you familiar with Milk & Honey, the private and reservations-only bar in NYC are going to be excited to hear about Bourbon & Branch, in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Dahi Donnelly and Brian Sheehy from Swig and Anu have brought on Todd Smith, the former and longtime bar manager of Cortez, and are opening a reservations-only bar in the old 501 Club space on the corner of O’Farrell and Jones. The vibe will be 1920s-inspired, offering a relaxed environment for those who want to avoid the crowds and mayhem that crowd most city bars, especially Thu-Sat.
Bourbon & Branch
Corner of O’Farrell and Jones
San Francisco, CA
Vals Spa, Switzerland
In a remote valley in southeastern Switzerland, the contemporary architect Peter Zumthor has elevated the ancient thermal bath to the realm of the sublime. Contrasts between light and shade, especially in otherworldly grottoes of quartzite shrouding softly lit pools, inform the experience. Incomparable Alpine views from outdoor spaces serve as a reminder that nature is the preeminent architect.
Mountain, stone, water - building in the stone, building with stone, into the mountain, building out of the mountain, being inside the mountain - how can the implications and the sensuality in the association of these words be interpreted, architecturally? The whole concept was designed by following up these questions; so that it all took form step by step.
Family Winemakers of California
Sunday August 20th 12:00 - 4:00 PM
Fort Mason Center
San Francisco, CA
Tickets for the general public are $35 in advance; $45 day of event. They are on sale at Fort Mason Box Office, (415) 345-7575, or via Ticket Web.
The Dwell on Design Conference + Exhibition hosted by Dwell, America’s premier modern design magazine, will view architecture through the lens of prefab, sustainability, affordability, and urban design via a dynamic group of speakers and engaging industry partners.
Experience the Dwell on Design Prefab Studios, Modern Markets and Dwell Design Source Studios by joining Dwell this September for an extraordinary event revealing the most engaging design issues of the day.
Continue reading "Dwell on Design Conference + Exhibition ~ San Francisco" »
Back in 2001, Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle decided to giver her award winning wind, Clos Apalta, its own facility in Chile. Now her $9 million cream winery is up and running. Go for a tour and luch or better yet snag on eof the four chich bungalows overlooking the vineyards. Reserve now for a weekend during spring harvest. Two-night stay for two, $1500 all inclusive.
Copenhagen is seemingly made for design tourism, and the Square is the perfect downtown hotel for travelers who need a little Arne Jacobsen in their lives—and the bright crimson Egg chairs in the lobby look positively retro next to the glowing green glass of the reception desk. The hotel takes its name from its location, on Copenhagen’s central Town Square, and is conveniently located next to the Tivoli Gardens and the Strøget, the famed pedestrian mall.
Continue reading "The Square Hotel Copenhagen" »
Quintess is one of the finest luxury vacation clubs in the world. A Quintess membership establishes an incredible new luxury lifestyle for you and your family. They combine the grand opulence of a multimillion dollar home with services and amenities found only in the best five-star resorts. Together, with amenities and programs provided through our destination partners, Quintess members receive access to one-in-a-lifetime experiences that no other luxury residence club can offer. Properties include private apartments that would each sell for around $4 million, in New York, Paris, Napa, and Cabo, with Florence London in the works. Memership is a $345,000 onetime fee; annual dues of $21,000 for 30 days a year then $250 a day thereafter.
Since opening their restaurant Les Trois Garçons in London's East End in 2000, the trio of Hassan Abdullah, Stefan Karlson and Michel Lasserre have blazed a trail at the most fashionable end of the UK hospitality scene. Their Loungelover bar, just around the corner from Les Trois Garçons, has picked up a clutch of awards for its wildly eclectic interiors and creative cocktail menu, and their latest venture, Annex 3, near Oxford Circus, has become one of the glitziest spots in the capital.
The turn-of-the-century building has previously been a library, a seedy pole-dancing club and a restaurant, but by the time the team bought it, the interior resembled a hideous salmon pink terrazzo bathroom. Out came the tacky tiles, revealing an original mosaic floor, which became a feature of the bar where two red stiletto chairs from a Parisian shoe shop and a tin model of a fairground ride from Sweden take centre stage. An enormous eagle from the Isle-sur-la-Sorgue flea market, surrounded by 1970s Perspex lights, greets guests in the reception area, and a mosaic sculpture of a boxer emerges from a gold wall close by.
Continue reading "Annex 3 ~ London" »
Chateau Eza and the medieval village of Eze sits 400 meters above the Mediterranean, on the Moyenne Corniche, or middle road, a Roman roadway that connects Monte Carlo and Nice. From here, obviously, it is possible to truly enjoy the Côte d'Azur, while keeping the crowd at arm's length.
The remoteness is probably what appealed to Sweden's Prince William; the chateau was once property of the Royal Family, and William spent thirty years here, pursuing his writing career. It's still quiet here, an ideal place to get some writing done, though the decor is distinctly un-Scandinavian, with luxe fabrics and French antique furnishings.
Continue reading "Chateau Eza ~ Eze, France" »
Post Ranch Inn is blessed with one of the most extraordinary locations on the face of the earth, a place of such breathtaking beauty it’s hard to believe it’s even accessible by mere automobile-driving mortals. Big Sur is the most scenic destination along California’s most scenic drive, Highway 1, which links Los Angeles with San Francisco and features such curiosities as Hearst Castle and Steinbeck’s Monterey along the way.
Of course what Highway 1 mostly features is natural beauty, and some of the last unspoiled places in America. It would be difficult for any man-made structure to compete with these cliffside views of the Pacific, or the majesty of the redwood forests; but this strange and decadent little hotel holds its own.
Modernist architect Mickey Muennig settled in Big Sur in 1971, and has been responsible for most of its notable buildings ever since. Post Ranch Inn is his only hotel design, and indeed it’s hard to imagine it translating into some kind of movable hotel template, comprising as it does a number of discreet house designs, each uniquely suited to its location.
Continue reading "Post Ranch Inn" »
The term design hotel has found wide currency in recent years, and has devolved into a vague superlative, almost without referent. Today any hotel built after 1900 calls itself a design hotel, as though in opposition to those hotels which were not designed but which assembled themselves, of their own free will, from free-floating clusters of furniture, bedding, and masonry.
So it may strain the reader's patience when we refer to Hi Hotel as a design hotel, but there is really no more concise way to put it. Every aspect of the Hi Hotel, from the décor to the toiletries, was designed by Matali Crasset, a Philippe Starck protegé, and the style is somewhat familiar to those who have seen Starck's work — but somehow even more whimsical, more vibrant. A variety of schemes come in a variety of colors, from “White & White,” which resembles a hospital room, to “Digital,” whose walls are covered in foot-high pixels of blue and green, and “Monospace,” in bands of blue, white, and red.
Continue reading "Hi Hotel ~ Nice, France" »
Started by Sebastien de Jaegher aka Joon four years ago as punk/skate label, Noir Kennedy has just released their 7th collection. He began designing clothes because he didn’t find anything that he wanted to wear so he decided to makes his own Their influences comes especially from the musical medium, rock and roll of the seventies , Quadrophenia while passing by Minor Threat or Dispatch Mode. But also the skate, punk, trash scene in which he sepnt a good part of his youth and which particularly inspired him
If you didn't know it was there, you'd just pass this amazing store. around the corner from l'eclaireur [homme] this is definitely not one to pass up if you love skinny jeans and punk rock. Also good for anyone who wants to check out an interesting store concept.
Noir Kennedy 22 rue du Roi de Siecile Paris
According to Deserio.com the top skyline in the world is Hong Kong, China. Accoring to deserio.com “ Hong Kong has a whopping 43 buildings over 200 metres tall, 30 of which were built in the year 2000 or later!!! It also boasts four of the 15 tallest buildings in the world… that's all in one city! Hong Kong’s skyline shows a large selection of distinct sky-reaching towers, with beautiful night lighting and reflection.”
My personal favorite is Tokyo (picture below) Not that I have been to Tokyo but the I like the picture the best.
AmanResorts meets Africa at Marrakech’s Amanjena Hotel. It’s another departure from tropical island-chic for the chain that started a decade and a half ago in Phuket with Amanpuri. Designed by the American architect Ed Tuttle to conform harmoniously to its surroundings, Amanjena bears a distinct Moorish influence, miles from the Balinese style of its Far East sisters.
Aman addicts rest easy, though: all the elements are in place to make Amanjena a regular stop on the never-ending world tour of those jet-setters who are so loyal to this particular brand of luxury that they’ll hardly think of staying anywhere else.
Continue reading "Amanjena Hotel ~ Marrekech" »
When Avec opened in late 2003 as the quiet sister of Blackbird, the holiest establishment on Randolph Row, Avec was expected to be its downgraded bistro cum wine bar. Conceived as a casual, rustic, looser turn for Blackbird’s impeccably trained chefs, it turns out that the food at Avec is (arguably) better.
A dazzling wine list presents 120 bottles of traditional, often unknown varietals from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal; some 30 selections are ingeniously presented in 250 ml. bottles or carafinas, essentially making them glass-and-a-half or one- third-bottle pours. A clean, modern and organic space of naked cedar slats, hickory floors, blond oak benches and a back display of emerald-green wine bottles, Avec’s diners sit at long communal tables or at the stainless steel bar.
The new design hotel Yasmin is situated just around the corner from the Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague. The hotel is surrounded by the most significant historical and business monuments of the city.
A team of Czech creatives, including artists from Studio Najbrt and designers from local firm Mimolit, have turned a neoclassical building into a super-modern, Asian-inspired hotel. The restaurant is divided by abstract red steel sculptures, the bedrooms are lit by Moooi tube lights and, in the bathrooms, multiple mirrors reflect black tiles in a space punctuated by Starck fittings.
Yasmin four stars hotel offers first class facilities. 198 luxury designed rooms, including 11 suites fully air-conditioned, equipped with minibar, safety deposit box, luxurious bathrooms, satellite LCD screen TV, pay-TV and high-speed internet access.
Rooms: from €220 which you can book online
The gadget of the month is Samsung’s new YP-D1 Pocket DSC MP3 Plater, which debuted at CES. It’s an MP3 player and a digital camera all in one. Forget about crappy camera phones and use this two megapixel, 4X zoom instead. It shows pictures and text files on its 1.8” color screen and uses its USB connection to hook up to your TV to reveal all the docs on a larger screen. Besides holding hundreds of MP3s it also has an FM radio. You can’t buy it yet but it will retail for $299
Next month, renowned 17–story circular building in the heart of LA’s post Brentwood community will be unveiled as the new handsome new Hotel Angeleno. Embracing a sleek interior design accented by polished wood and modern earth tones, the botique hotel geatures 209 guestrooms and suited with the latest modern amenities, including 300–count Italian linens, wireless internet access, flat screen TV’s and private balconies. Guests can also take advantage of four exceptional meeting places, a full fitness center and heated outdoor pool. At penthouse level, Lounge offers authentic Italian steakhouse style dining and one of the finest panoramic views in the city.
Just 100 meters away by escalator from the ski runs and cable cars of the Silvretta ski arena in Ischgl Austria is the Hotel Madlein, the most extraordinary place in the Alps. This first-class hotel offers every luxury that one can imagine: cuddle room, family apartments, and now, new designer suites. A traditional Austrian chalet on the outside... but inside you'll Þnd a totally unconventional Zen-inspired interior. Rooms are light, spacious and airy, with swish modern furnishings. The loft-style designer bedrooms have bathrooms whose walls are made from frosted glass. The emphasis throughout is on stone, glass and wood to reflect the mountains, which you can see everywhere, from the floor-to-ceiling windows to the Japanese garden. There's entertainment at Pacha nightclub, and a Sushi Lounge and gourmet restaurant.
"World's Best Awards" from the editors at Travel + Leisure magazine. I have yet to experience any of these airlines, and have always heard great things about Cathay Pacific. But I am most surprised by the fact that not one Domestic American airline is in the top six.
Singapore Airlines
800-742-3333
www.singaporeair.com
Cathay Pacific Airlines
800-233-2742
www.cathaypacific.com
Emirates
800-777-3999
www.emirates.com
Thai Airways International
800-426-5204
www.thaiair.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways
800-862-8621
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Source: Travel + Leisure magazine
The Tumi Electric Adapter makes going international easier now with this innovative design: it has 4 adaptor configurations in one unit. Works for laptops, cell phones and small appliances in 150 countries. Features a replaceable electric fuse and convenient case. Most travel adapters are ugly and bulky but this travel adapter is something no international jetsetter should be without.
Buy it online @ Flight001
Courtesy of the same minds that brought us Mexico City’s Hotel Habita and Condesa DF, as well as Playa del Carmen’s neighboring Deseo, Hotel Básico is a high-design boutique hotel — but, like its sisters, a highly individual one. In this case it’s a concept that’s far from city glam, with floors made from recycled tires and twin rooftop pools made from converted oil tanks.
Unfinished concrete walls and exposed ductwork lend an industrial feel to the guest rooms, like something from a Bond villain’s island stronghold. Raised platform beds sit at the center of each room, surrounded by the sort of accessories you don’t often see in a hotel room — flippers for diving, a soccer ball, a Polaroid camera. A live video feed brings the beach conditions right to your plasma television, in case you need to check the surf or the scene before venturing out.
For all the funkiness, though, the Básico is anything but basic; the Caribbean view from the rooftop pools is stunning, and the pool deck cabanas come with built-in mattresses for luxurious lazing. Downstairs, an open-kitchen restaurant fashioned after a traditional puesto serves fresh and authentic Mexican seafood on a patio shaded by leafy trees
Secrets of Paris is a free, monthly e-newsletter started by Heather Stimller-Hall back in January 2001 as a way of sharing her latest finds with friends (both French and foreign) living in Paris. Through word of mouth alone it has become a very popular source of alternative Paris information for both residents and visitors, with subscribers from 24 countries.
The newsletter is completely ad-free, and includes tips on upcoming events, where to eat, shop, sleep and go out at night, as well as money and time-saving hints. Basically, it includes anything she finds interesting about Paris that isn't in the mainstream press. Topics include everything for drinking and dining to book event and hotel news. For anyone taking a trip to Paris or if you just dream of living in Paris, this is the newsletter to read.
Heather is also the author of the The Adventure Guide to Paris & Ile-de-France which you can buy online @ amazon.com
K West is a bit out of the way; its Shepherd’s Bush location is not exactly glamorous, but still just minutes from Central London by subway and a short hop from Notting Hill. In fact, we picked this hotel for people in the music industry as it is close to venues and studios. As such, it is reasonably priced with a cool vibe.
A recent redesign has found K West looking rather contemporary, yet not severely modern. The style of the moment is “less is more” — the palette is restrained, earthy, and the decor minimal and a bit bland in the least expensive rooms, lending to the slightly Zen aspirations of the hotel.
Relaxation is key, after all; the full name is K West Hotel and Spa, and the philosophy is: if circumstances prohibit an escape to Bali or Thailand, then settle into Shepherd's Bush for the next best thing. In reality, Spa is a bit of an overstatement, but these services may just the thing to rehabilitate a damaged psyche.
Continue reading "K West Hotel ~ London" »
Whenever in Bali, Indonesia, you should try the reflexology treatments offered by Chill Out Spa, in Seminyak district.
Located in a shopping area nearby the beach, with several hotels and Villas in its surrounding, this Spa has a modern and minimalist decor and offers a relaxing combination of relexology and acupressure. Therapists will relieve stress (and jet lag), helping to make you feel more balanced for the rest of the day.
It is also very unexpensive when it comes to US dollars or Euros. The 1 hour treatments cost from 80,000 iRp to 100.000 iRp (less than US$ 10).
Their address:
118 Jl.Kunti,Seminyak - Bali, Indonesia
Open: 10.00-22.00 (last rsv. at 20.00)
On October 30, 2006, a small group of far-sighted travellers will set off on a unique journey. They will visit a remarkable selection of South America’s most exciting and important destinations—places that embody the mystery of lost civilizations, the diversity of modern city life, the vigor of traditional folkways and the power of untrammeled nature. They will enjoy the unparalleled luxury of fine hotels, elegant resorts, and gala dining and entertainment events. They will fly point-to-point aboard a private jet exclusively dedicated to their comfort, convenience and safety. They will never forget their Circumnavigation of South America, 2006.
Your Own Private Jet
On every point-to-point flight of your itinerary, you’ll travel on board your own private, custom-reconfigured 757 jet. It’s the ultimate way to travel. Routes and schedules are chosen for your convenience: You fly direct, with no layovers or connecting flights, bypassing hectic airport lines and delays. Because your capable 757 can land at smaller, less crowded airports on its own timetable, remote destinations are suddenly within easy reach. Boarding and luggage-handling are expedited, as are Customs and Immigration formalities on cross-border arrivals. Your baggage always travels with you.
Access to the jet and its baggage hold is monitored and controlled at all times, under the careful scrutiny of the plane’s staff and security officers.
At $44,000 this isn’t for those of you with a full time job. You need to have already have made the big bucks to take a month off and pay $44,000 for you and your significant other. Or you can just order a brochure
Proving that size really doesn’t matter, Arab-kitsch cocktail lounge Andy Wahloo draws a formidably fashionable set crowd in here and fight for a coveted place on an upturned paint can .Andy Wahloo - created by the people behind its neighbour 404 and London’s Momo and Sketch - is Arabic for ‘I have nothing’. From head to toe, it’s a beautifully designed venue crammed with Moroccan artefacts, and enough colours to fill a Picasso. Quiet early on, there’s a surge around nine and the atmosphere heats up as the night gets longer.
Address: 69 rue des Gravilliers, 3e, Paris, France
Phone: 01-42-71-20-38
Through Marquis Jet's exclusive alliance with NetJets®, the worldwide leader in private aviation, the Marquis Jet Card enables access to the prestigious NetJets fleet with a simple payment for 25-hours of occupied flight time. There is no long-term commitment, no large capital outlay and no hidden costs. You can fly your 25 hours at your leisure, renew or simply walk away when you are finished; it's that simple.
Some of the many Marquis Jet Card program benefits include: Exclusive access to the NetJets fleet of over 500 aircraft
Guaranteed availability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Highest standards of safety, security and personal service
Access to thousands of airports in North America and Europe
10 aircraft types to choose from
Exchange your jet for a smaller or larger cabin depending on your needs
Freedom to exchange between NetJets North American and European fleets
No "deadheads" or "empty leg" charges within NetJets primary service area
No long-term commitment
Request Information
Located in Manchester’s Chapel Wharf development, on the Salford side of the River Irwell, at the foot of Santiago Calatrava’s forked Trinity bridge, the Lowry Hotel is without a doubt the queen of the Manchester hotel scene. From the outside, the building’s bowed glass face draws attention; interiors set themselves apart with a cool and crisp, almost Scandinavian look, quite at odds with the comically plush furniture and swank boudoir atmosphere that have become the hip Brit-boutique standard.
Rooms look out through floor-to-ceiling windows, many over the river, and are not just smart, with sleek modern furniture and cool neutral tones, but functional as well, with broadband internet and writing desks with ergonomic chairs. And if it’s over-the-top luxury you want, you’ll find it here, whether it’s a Presidential Suite complete with a baby grand piano, or just the services of a 24-hour bath butler, on hand to draw you a bath mixed with anything from Dead Sea salts to rose petals to champagne.
The Lowry Hotel
50 Dearmans Place, Chapel Wharf
Manchester M3 5LH, United Kingdom
164 Rooms
Rates from GB£130.00
Wireless in-flight Internet has been available on a handful of international carriers ever since 2004. But several companies are planning to expand service dramatically over the next two years on international and even domestic flights.
Boeing's Connexion service, which is already on 100 planes—including those flown by Lufthansa, SAS, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines—will be installed on at least 100 more by the end of 2006. OnAir, a joint venture between Airbus and the telecommunications firm SITA, currently provides only in-seat text-messaging and Web-based e-mail from mobile devices; however, the company plans to add high-speed Wi-Fi access by 2007. KLM, Iberia, Northwest, Virgin Atlantic, and Qantas are among the 11 airlines who already contract with OnAir. Verizon Airfone is said to be working on wireless Internet, too; however, its service would be limited to domestic flights.
But the spread of in-flight Internet may not please all passengers. Savvy business travelers are already using Connexion to place unlimited international calls from 30,000 feet with free Internet phone services such as Google Talk and Skype All you need is a laptop and a computer headset. So much for getting a little peace and quiet on that red-eye.
Tasca do Edgar, in the corner of Rua Alice (Alice street) and Rua Mario Portela (Mario Portela street), in the neighborhood of Laranjeiras, in Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most delightful places to go and to experience "how to be a carioca".
Do not expect waiters able to speak English. All you can expect is to go to a place not usually spotted in the tourist guides that can offer an atmosphere of what real Rio de Janeiro is all about.
The Portuguese entrepreneur José Luis Ribeiro (better known as Juca) also owns "Bar do Serafim", just across the street and "Adega do Juca" (Juca's Cellar) that is situated nearby, at Gago Coutinho street. His commitment is to offer real good food in an informal environment where families and friends can meet to eat.
The menu is full of Brazilian dishes for you to choose. The samosas - filled with carne-seca (dried meat), shrimp, crab, siri (a soft-shell crab) or cheese - or the codfish croquettes are a great choice to start. Then order a seafood special or try the Brazilian feijoada (typical pork and black beans stew). Ask for a caipirinha or a chopp (draft beer) to drink. If you find enough room for dessert, do not hesitate to ask for one of the marvelous Portuguese yolk-based dessert specials: Pastel de Belém, Toucinho do Céu, Pastel de Santa Clara. They have a big glass window at the counter where you can see the sweets before ordering. Just stand up, have a look, order and wait for the divine dish to come to your table.
And, in these Brazilian summer months, if you go on Saturday, you will have a bonus: in front of Tasca do Edgar, every Saturday before Carnival the rehersals of "Volta, Alice" Carnival Band take place at 5 pm. The parade is scheduled for February 27, at 5pm.
info:
Tasca do Edgar
Rua Mário Portela, 16 - Loja A
Phone: 2558.9447/ 2558.5582
Opens Tue-Sun from 10am. till the last client
Major credit card accepted
No valet parking.
Miss Tanaka is one of the most romantic places to have dinner in Rio de Janeiro. Nearby the district of Jardim Botânico, the Japanese food restaurant is located just in front of one of the greener areas of the
city.
It counts on several charming ambients to have dinner, including a backyard with a folding roof, which allows you to see the stars and the moon in a clear carioca night. Other ambients are special as well
- the tatami mats (Japanese mat), the room with gift wrapping paper walls, the red lantern ambients, the entrance room that has a small lake...
The Japanese food menu is creative and sophisticated. And you can see the sushimen working not only behind the counter but in the big kitchen (it is has glass window for you to admire their work). We
suggest you to try the Shimeji appetizer (mushrooms cooked in sake), hot roll sushis and the beautiful (and tasy) tempuras (fried vegetables and shrimps).
info:
Miss Tanaka
Rua Pacheco Leão, 758, Jardim Botânico
Phone 3205-7322
Working Hours: 18h/0h (mon.), 18h/2h (tue-fri.), 12h/1h (sat.) and
12h/0h (sun.). Major credit cards accepted.
Valet parking at night
The years he spent as an advertising copywriter in Tokyo undoubtedly taught Koichi Hara how to get a message across. He's doing that now in a three-dimensional way: Japonesque, his Jackson Square gallery of Japanese furniture, tableware, and art objects, some of them his own design, is like a sanctuary. "It's for mind and spirit, to give you calm," he says. "Not just for showing art." The pieces—ranging from a burned ca. 1700 Buddha rescued from an incinerated temple on Kyushu Island to glazed contemporary teacups to a table carved from an oak log—are so lovely and beautifully exhibited that some come here just to study his displays. $60 for a bamboo letter opener; $150,000 for a stone sculpture by the Japanese artist Masatoshi Izumi. 824 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94133; 415-391-8860; fax 415-391-3530.
It's hard to imagine how it could happen, but a beach resort in the southern Atlantic once renowned for its picture-perfect white and pink sands somehow dropped off the traveler's map. In 1959, when Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American Airways, opened his exclusive Cotton Bay Club on Eleuthera, the 110-mile-long by 2-mile-wide Bahamian island quickly became a playground for wealthy Americans. Then hurricane damage and the demise of Pan Am sent the elite elsewhere, and investors set their sights on nearby Harbour Island and the Exumas. Slowly but surely, however, Eleuthera is rebounding. Last year, Continental added new flights to the island from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The venerable Cove resort has recently been transformed into a stylish retreat, and a hotel at the center of a real estate development called Pineapple Fields is now accepting guests. And by the end of the year, Eleuthera will see the debut of several small luxury hotels, plus Starwood's 1,500-acre Cotton Bay Villas. This upscale, ecologically sensitive resort, owned by Bahamian locals, will leave the landscape of kamalame trees and pigeon plums largely untouched, and its beach will be the domain of only the lucky few. .
The House at.. Hautefage was designed as a bucolic bolthole for writers, musicians and film-makers; a place of rest, retreat and rustication, perfect for the creative polish or final push. Of course, if you want to just kick back and enjoy the scenery, pool and the lovingly understated interior (two and a half years in the making), and leave your creative juices simmering elsewhere, you can do that, too.
Service levels are dictated by the guest. If you want your food shopping and cooking done, that can be arranged. And, as the retreat is in France's gastronomic heart (there are two Michelin-starred restaurants within ten minutes' drive), the food is something to get excited about. Indeed, so keen are Gillis and Maclean on local fare, they're looking to produce a food range under The House At name, with a London store planned in the near future. The House At only opened last summer, but the pair are already thinking about adding a screening room, editing suite and recording studio. So if your rom-com, short film or difficult second album needs a little quality time and attention, this is the perfect place to retreat to.
For Booking Inquiries contact Kle Savidge @ kle@thehouseat.com
Can a Zen Buddhist monk improve your skiing? Find out at a Utah session of Ski to Live, a one-of-a-kind, spirituality based ski and snowboard clinic where skiers delve deeper into the powder by looking deeper into the self. Participants in the four day clinics discover new strengths while facing their fears on the slopes and in life. Former professional extreme skier Kristen Ulmer was inspired to create the program when she realized that good skiing has less to do with technique than it does with the state of mind. Participants start the day with yoga, then hit the slopes with thoughtful instructors, including Ulmer, intent on pushing past mental and physical boundaries. In quiet afternoon settings, Zen Master Genpo Roshi leads all persuasions of powder hounds down a path of self-discovery. The result is the clarity of pure awareness, which can increase control over the thoughts that affect physical performance, including skiing. Ski to Live takes place at Snowbird Resort, January, 5–7; Alta, Utah, March 23–26; and Sugarbush , Vermont January 27–29
Some cities are filled to the brim with chic and hyper-modern designer hotels, but Paris could always use another one. As such, Hotel Sezz is a welcome addition to the landscape, the perfect antidote to the prevailing antique hotel trend. Here, in the 16th arrondissement (hence the name), Starck protégé Christophe Pillet has created a dramatic and stylish space, a hotel that would turn heads in Milan or Barcelona and looks all the more surprising in staid old Paris.
But first you have to find it; rather than sandwiched between designer shops and department stores, Sezz is tucked away down a quiet street in an upscale residential neighborhood, with not a shop or restaurant in sight. And the facade itself is absolutely classic, offering no hint of the fantasy inside.
Once through the doors, it’s another world, one dressed not in the flashy whimsy of a Starck, but in Pillet’s own original style, a black-and-red futuristic boudoir chic. Walls of exposed grey stone convey a subterranean atmosphere, and the ultra-modern furniture is severe and masculine. It all feels a bit like the devil’s own bachelor pad, with the freestanding bed occupying the center of the room atop a thick crimson rug. Bathrooms are impeccably designed, with oversized tubs easily large enough for two. And while the single room may be passing out of style, the singles at Sezz are possibly the best we’ve ever seen.
Public spaces include the first Veuve Clicquot champagne bar in Paris, certain to become one of the city’s most in-demand nightspots, and a jacuzzi, hammam and massage room in the basement, for when that oversized soaking tub isn’t doing the trick.
San Francisco International Art Exposition: Featuring more than 75 international galleries representing more than 2,000 artists, this year's show is an eclectic collection of modern and contemporary artwork in a variety of artistic styles and media that range from painting, drawing, photography and printmaking to sculpture, video, installation and mixed media.
From museum-quality masterworks by Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keeffe, David Hockney, Edward Weston, Richard Avedon and Willem de Kooning to works by young, cutting-edge artists, the San Francisco International Art Exposition provides private collectors, museum curators, corporate consultants and art enthusiasts with an opportunity to view and select work from a comprehensive exposition of 20th century art
Fort Mason, San Francisco
Thursday, September 29 – Sunday, October 2, 2005
Hours:
Thursday, September 29: 11am – 7pm
Friday, September 30: 11am - 7pm
Saturday, October 1: 11am - 7pm
Sunday, October 2: 11am - 6pm
Located bang in the centre of Stockholm, La Camera has a slick interior, courtesy of Scheiwiller Svensson Architects, the menu consists of appetisers from which you can pick 'n' mix accordingly, while the epic cocktail menu promises to be the talk of the town.
The two-day Tropical Green conference will be an invaluable experience for architects, interior designers, developers, city planners, politicians, and voters in search of learning the ways of 21st century design that will both help the environment and their wallets.
You can register online with a cerdit card by following this link or calling (800) 715-2443. Checks may be made payable to METROPOLIS magazine. Please mail your check and registration form to METROPOLIS Products, P.O. Box 576, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Please complete one form for each individual.
In essence air travel consolidators enable travellers to compare flight prices across a range of airlines for a particular flight route on at the same time period. This enables travellers to save time and money by comparing a range of airlines simultaneously to determine not only the most cost effective airline, but also the most convenient time to travel and airline to travel from/to where there are several options.The core benefit of using an air travel consolidator is that you can inevitably find not only the cheapest flight route, but also the most affordable flight at the most convenient time. As the online travel market has grown over the last decade, so the number of travel consolidators on the net likewise has increased, and is due to eclipse traditional offline travel consolidators within the next two years. Indeed, the benefit of using an online air travel consolidator is that you are able to not only compare several airlines using one consolidator, but in fact quickly and conveniently compare several travel consolidators' best prices for a particular travel route against one another. As such you are effectively comparing 'the best quote' across a range of 'best airfare' quote providers. While many online air travel consolidators may offer the same flight routes by the same airline, the relationship and deals that they have which airline will inevitably vary, as such one consolidator will be able to quote a far more cost effective price on the same flight as another airline.
Continue reading "Air Travel Consolidators" »
One hundred of San Francisco’s finest restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe menus at $21.95 for lunch and/or $31.95 for dinner. A la carte menus will be available as well. Available exclusively to Visa cardholders, "Dine About Town San Francisco" gives diners the rare opportunity to try out hot new restaurants and revisit some favorites at tempting prices. Experienced Dine About Town-ers know to make reservations as soon as the dedicated Web site, goes live A list of all 100 participating "Dine About Town San Francisco" restaurants, searchable by cuisine and location, will be available. Through a partnership with OpenTable.com, the leading provider of free, online reservations for diners as well as guest and table management systems for restaurants, reservations at the participating restaurants can be made online at www.sfdineabouttown.com.
Just declared the #1 US hotel in the west by Travel and Leisure magazine and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa is located at 175 N. Jackson Street, just minutes from Jackson's Town Square, renowned for its fine shopping, art galleries and restaurants. Established in 1990, the Rusty Parrot is a 31-room lodge that has established itself as the lodging choice of discerning travelers worldwide. Well-appointed rooms are designed with in-room wood burning fireplaces, down comforters, and one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted furniture. Rooms are available with king- or double queen-size beds and feature baths with oversized soaking tubs, with in-room massages available in front of a roaring fire. To further pamper guests, the Rusty Parrot provides complimentary thick bathrobes, boutique bath amenities and nightly turndown service to every room.With close proximity to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park, guests often make the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa their home base as they make day trips into the parks. The lodge is twenty minutes from Jackson Airport; twenty minutes from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort at Teton Village and ninety minutes from Grand Targhee ski area. A complimentary public shuttle service and private van service is available to bring guests to and from the ski resort.
The action takes place over three levels at the sleek new Garrett Café Bar at the Bairro Alto Hotel in Lisbon. Colourful light boxes and a rotating light display are warm and inviting on the main level; Chinese lacquered tables and screens spice up the Mezzanine; while the Igloo-lounge in the basement offers cool, minimalist surroundings perfect for private parties. Go along towards the end of the week and sip Champagne and Pimm's cocktails while local DJs spin their favourite tunes.
Praca Luis de Camoes, 8, Lisbon Portugal
All coach sets are not created equal. True, nearly every U.S. airline economy cabin is packed like a sardine can these days, but some are packed tighter than others. You can get closer to comfort by being picky about the models of aircraft you fly and then trying to engineer yourself into the best seat on the particular plane you've selected.
I've been comparing a lot of coach cabins lately, tape measure and seating charts in hand. On a Continental Airlines 737 from Newark to Denver, my seat cushion measured 18.5 inches across. The pitch—the distance from row to row, which is a measurement of legroom—was 31 inches. There was no inflight entertainment, and it took some squeezing to get my garment bag into the overhead compartment. For my flight from Denver back to Newark, I opted for a United Airlines 777 instead. My seat cushion measured 20 inches across, the pitch 32 inches. I had my own personal seatback video screen with a choice of movies and television shows, and there was tons of space in the overhead compartment.
Next came an American Airlines 757 from JFK to Seattle. This time my seat cushion measured 18 inches, the pitch 35 inches. My theory that American must be trying to attract the tall and thin was confirmed on my return flight. I managed to snag an exit-row seat: Although it was only 17 inches wide (thanks to immovable, hip-confining armrests), it afforded an extra 7 inches of legroom.
On only four flights, then, I had experienced seats with cushions anywhere from 17 to 20 inches wide and row-to-row spacing of anywhere from 31 to 42 inches, and I had decided it was high time I investigated how coach travelers with a flexible schedule can land themselves the best possible seats. Here's what I found:
Go for two-aisle plans
Wide bodies, which are typically, which are typically used on long-haul and transcontinental flights, have long been more popular than one-aisle planes. They have roomier seats, more storage space, and a less confining—as long as you don't end up in middle seat in the center section. (For a list of wide-bodies used on domestic routes, and their percentage of middle seats, see "How likely are you to get stuck in a middle seat?")
Continue reading "How to Get the Best Coach Seat" »
Cassis is a town I fell in love in the year I lived in Aix-En-Provence. Cassis is a beautiful resort town just
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