Thursday, April 25, 2013

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Dining with Stars"


Source      :   http://blog.splendia.com
Category   :  Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard



With the recent announcement of this year’s awards and the publication of the 2011 Michelin guides, we thought what better than a run-down of ten of our best hotels – in no particular order – with Michelin starred restaurants. Whether you’re a fine gourmand or simply wish to treat yourself to a special meal, we’ve got all you need…
Dining With Star
Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach

Hotel Condes de Barcelona

This modernist hotel is home to two prestigious restaurants: Loidi, an affordable bistro, and Lasarte for fine dining. Both are run by three Michelin star awarded master chef Martin Berasategui, one of the best chefs in the world today.

Hotel Wellington Madrid

Among Hotel Wellington’s restaurants is the Michelin starred Kabuki; the best of its kind in the Spanish capital, offering a unique fusion between Japanese and Mediterranean flavours.

Hotel Metropole, Venice

Enjoy the richly spiced Italian cuisine prepared by well-known chef Corrado Fasolato in the hotel’s Michelin awarded Met Restaurant.Elysian’s restaurant Ria, run by chef Jason McLeod, was recently awarded two Michelin stars in the first edition of the Chicago guide, making it one of only three venues in the city to receive this prestigious award.This hotel has two Michelin star awarded restaurants under its roof: the French Stella Maris, run by chef Tateru Yoshino, and Hanasanshou, which specialises in traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine – prepared under the guidance of chef Yoshiaki Takada.

Hotel Le Meurice, Paris

Enjoy the delicacies of restaurants Le Meurice and Le Dali, created by the three star awarded master chef Yannick Alleno.

Hotel Martinez, Cannes

Superb French cuisine that changes with the seasons can be found in the two starred gourmet restaurant Palme d’Or, run by chef Christian Sinicropi.

Halkin Hotel, London

Don’t miss a visit to Nahm, the only Michelin starred Thai restaurant in Europe, under the guidance of Australian chef David Thompson.

Okura, Amsterdam

Find three Michelin starred restaurants under one roof at the Okura hotel: the two star awarded Ciel Bleu with its unique take on French cuisine, plus two Japanese restaurants – Teppanyaki Restaurant Sazanka, where dishes are prepared under the watchful eyes of guests, and the traditional Yamazato Restaurant, which serves authentic haute cuisine.

Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas, Coimbra, Portugal

Enjoy the cuisine of one star awarded in-house restaurant Arcadas, prepared using fresh aromatic herbs, fruits and salads cultivated on the premises.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Hotels with Ocean Views VA | "10 Simple Tips for Successful Solo Volunteering"


Source      :   http://solotravelerblog.com
Category   :  Hotels with Ocean Views VA
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


It’s week two of my trip to China and I’m pleased to present the second of three guests posts being published while I’m away.
This time we have Shannon O’Donnell who has actively traveled around the world since 2008; she travels slowly and volunteers in small communities along the way. Shannon is author of The Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook—a how-to guide for ethical volunteering. Her travel stories and photography are recorded on her travel blog, A Little Adrift.com.
Successful Solo Volunteering
Hotels with Ocean Views VA

Volunteering abroad has become an increasingly popular activity for travelers as the internet and global communications shed more light on wealth disparities, poverty, and environmental issues facing us all. As a solo traveler interested in giving back on your travels, you’re in a unique position because you can truly lead by your own interests and find a volunteer experience that fits exactly with how you want to spend your trip.
There are countless volunteer experiences out there. Some tours and trips will claim to cater to solo travelers in particular but it would be better to explore within your specific niche interest rather than a specific company. There are a range of great projects with varying levels of facilitation. You simply have to narrow it down, vet the organization, and take the basic safety precautions before you set out.

1. Learn the basics about development and aid issues. Important for every potential volunteer is understanding and adjusting expectations. Before you even begin searching for potential volunteer opportunities, read relevant books about aid and development so you have a better grasp of the core issues you’re trying to address by your volunteer service. For reading and researching, this post on understanding the developing world is a good place to start.

2. Pick a country you feel a connection to already. One of the great benefits of solo travel is that you, alone, are at the helm of your volunteer placement decision. So, perhaps you love a country because your best friend emmigrated from there or you had a childhood dream to travel somewhere? Your strongest personal benefits in international service often come when you pick a volunteer experience in a place that inspires you, or on a topic to which you have a close connection.

3. Read good books. Much of your excitement for volunteering will stem from the wonderful travel books you’ve read over the years. These books share insights into other countries and cultures, and reading about a place you’re about to visit helps you connect more deeply and understand different points of view, cultural norms, and their history. If you need inspiration, this resource lists great travel books for each region and country in the world.

4. Ask your organization a lot of questions. Once you pick a potential volunteer organization, you want to make sure their model for volunteering fits with what you’ve learned about aid and development work. And always ask for a breakdown of any volunteer fees so you know exactly where and how the program fee is used.
Be humble. Your attitude when you arrive and work at your volunteer experience will be the strongest indicator for success on your solo volunteering trip. Arrogance has no place in volunteer work—you are there to learn, support, and lift up other communities.

5. Show up ready to help in any way you can. Set no expectations for what you will do and be ready to offer whatever type of help your volunteer placement needs, even if it is not exactly the way you expected things to be. As a solo volunteer you should have the flexibility to go where they need you and do what they need you to do. As a volunteer you are there to help them, period, so be open to provide the help they actually need once you arrive—needs change and flexibility is a must in volunteering!

6. Make friends and travel the region. Volunteer placements are a perfect way for solo travelers to make new friends and connect with people you might not usually befriend if you had a travel companion. Be open to the new friendships and then use your time off from volunteering to visit local areas of interest. These bonding experiences with your fellow volunteers can become strong, lasting memories.

7. Respect new ideas and differences at your volunteer placement. Some volunteer placements will jolt you out of the familiar as you adjust to new cultural norms, traditions, and ways things get done. Business policies, economies, local governments, and cultural attitudes are very different in some places, so respect other ideologies and be willing to learn new ways of interacting and accomplishing needed tasks.
Fund-raise for your cause once you return home. You owe it to the people and community you worked with to become an evangelist for that cause, and it’s a great way for you to overcome reverse culture shock while sharing the experience with the friends and families you left behind.

8. Be flexible. Though we touched on this in other tips, it really is a huge factor in volunteering—be willing to expect the unexpected. Traveling can be wacky, unpredictable, and stressful and this holds even truer for volunteer travel when you have obligations, expectations, and countless other factors weighing in on the experience. Take the experiences as they come and be willing to accommodate the new realities you face on the road, and at your volunteer placement.

9. There is no surefire recipe for crafting a good-fit volunteer experience but making sure you’ve chosen an ethical organization, abandoned your fixed expectations, and learned a lot about your host country sets the stage for success. Volunteering is not an ideal option for every trip. If you don’t have the time to fully dedicate yourself in a meaningful way on a planned trip it might be best to leave volunteering for the next one.

10. For solo travelers volunteering can be a wonderful way to connect at a deeper and more personal level with the country. You’ll have a structure for your trip, points of contact to help you along the way, and it’s likely you’ll leave with many new friends.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "What do women want from hotels?"


Source      :   http://www.usatoday.com
Category   :  Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


What do women want from a hotel?

Easy access to electronics chargers, hair-straightening irons, yoga mats and quality shampoo that will protect their hair, according to new research from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Being able to leave those items at home could help female business travelers turn a checked bag into a carry-on, and prevent the need to spend valuable time waiting at the airport, says Sara Kearney, Hyatt's senior vice president in charge of brands.
Women Wants From Hotels
Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach

Female guests also want an easier way to communicate with hotel management and give staff feedback.

These are among the findings from Hyatt's research, initially conducted to get to know all their customers better, says Kearney.

Hyatt runs about 475 hotels under seven names including the traditional Hyatt, upscale Park Hyatt, contemporary Andaz and mid-priced Hyatt Place brands.

"Initially, we were conducting a study to get greater understanding of what travelers' general perceptions of the overall travel experience were," Kearney says. "As we started digging, we found that the richest area of opportunity was to focus more on what we were hearing from women. You could tell there were passion points that would make a bigger impact for women, and that men would probably appreciate them as well."

HOTEL DEALS: More cities embrace 'Restaurant Week' for hotels

In response to the findings, Hyatt began testing proposed changes in eight hotels such as the Hyatt Regency Chicago O'Hare. For some hotels, the new female friendly approach — officially in place as of today — has meant buying new shampoo and conditioner. For others, there have been additional changes.

As of today, guests should find in Hyatt's hotels:

Easier communication: Many women want assurance that their room has been cleaned and they want to provide feedback, the research revealed. As a result, Hyatt's hotels have added old-fashioned sheets of paper on which housekeepers sign their name and personally confirm that they've cleaned the room. They also invite guests to share their needs during their stay using pen and paper instead of e-mail. So far, the notes have mostly consisted of "thank you's" but Hyatt will be monitoring future patterns, Kearney says.

No-hassle borrow or buy program: The research also showed that female guests tend to be "much more reluctant than men" to seek assistance, she says. That means that a simple forgotten item such as a Dell laptop power cord or Blackberry phone charger could create a major obstacle. As a result, Hyatt's rolling out a special program called "Hyatt Has It" so that guests can borrow a variety of must-haves such as chargers, curling irons, flatirons, steamers, makeup remover wipes, razors and yoga mats. The items will be available for purchase or for borrowing. Since all travelers forget things, Hyatt expects this will be a big hit with men, too.

Customized meals: Many women find it harder to maintain their health and weight on the road, the research showed, so Hyatt revamped its menus. Expect to see new, freshly made juices and smoothies as well as smaller-portion options, even on room-service menus for late-night orders. Women who might like to order a plain piece of broiled fish and steamed broccoli will now be able to do that, too.

More trustworthy shampoo: Most female travelers pack the facial soap they use at home, but when it comes to hair products, they'll likely use hotel-provided products if they are credible, Kearney says. As a result, the Hyatt brand is doing away with its generic Portico toiletry line and replacing with a variety of amenities from such labels as KenetMD Skin Care, Le Labo, June Jacobs and Aromapothecary. Hyatt repeatedly heard from women, "I want a quality bath product that's consistent with what I'd use when at home." Kearney says.

Catering to women in a male-dominated industry

Last month, USA TODAY's Hotel Check-In discussed the topic of what women want from their hotels with five leading hotel CEOs - including Kimpton Hotels CEO Mike Depatie.

The medium-sized chain of about 60 boutique hotels, such as Hotel Monaco in Washington, D.C. and Hotel Palomar in San Francisco, receives a higher-than-average share of female guests because of its strategy, he says.

"You've got a fairly male-dominated industry; it's amazing how we forget some of the things that are important to women," he says.

He attributes Kimpton's appeal to women to its formula of having mainly hotels with about 200 rooms or less, which create a feeling of safety for many women, in addition to high-quality restaurants. The restaurants eliminate the need for female guests to "get in a cab and go across town," he says. Furthermore, their gyms all have glass doors for transparency, also generating a feeling of security, he says.


At Kimpton's boutique Hotel Allegro in Chicago, guests can ask to borrow a flat iron, curling iron or upgraded hair dryer.(Photo: Jordan Frank)
In addition, Kimpton hotels make available high-quality hair dryers, curling irons and flatirons. Each hotel receives requests for flatirons roughly five to 10 times per week, says Kimpton spokeswoman Jordan Frank.

"Other products most frequently requested by women are salon power hair dryers, shower caps, nail polish remover, feminine hygiene products, fashion tape and bubble bath/bath salts," she says.

Love for fancy shampoo, flat irons

So how big of a deal are such things as shampoo and flatirons for female travelers?

Meilee Anderson, a tourism industry executive in Seattle, for one, would appreciate it if hotels made flatirons available to guests. It would be one less thing to pack, she says.

Hitha Palepu, a pharmaceutical executive who travels often, says that "hotel-provided hair straighteners would be amazing." The irons are a must-have for her since she has "fussy" hair that can get fussier depending on the water quality in a given destination.

For other business travelers, having something as simple as upgraded shampoo is a valued expectation.

"If I'm going to a nice hotel, I expect some nice shampoo and leave my shampoo at home," says lobbyist Kim Musheno of Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Valdes, who works in public relations, says she regularly packs her own shampoo when taking longer trips and checking a bag with her airline. When she's taking a short trip, however, she boards her flight with only carry-on bags and takes a risk that her hotel will have quality shampoo, but she does so at risk of getting a talking to from her hair stylist.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Virginia Beach Hotels | "The Octopus Room at Tantalo Hotel"


Source      :   http://www.hotelchatter.com
Category   :  Virginia Beach Hotels
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


It was sheer luck that we happened to catch up with the General Manager of Tántalo Hotel in Panama City several months ago. We were visiting Casco Viejo for lunch, and when we ended up (on the recommendation of several locals) at Tántalo Kitchen, the hotel's ground floor restaurant, we figured we'd better ask for a tour.
Octopus Room
Virginia Beach Hotels

A few of the things Tántalo has going for it are: an excellent location right in the heart of Casco Viejo; a hip, young crowd constantly streaming through the doors all day long, and, most importantly, a truly tantalizing collection of murals, photographs, paintings and quirky furniture scattered around the entire hotel.

There are only 12 rooms total, and each of them boasts its own unique design, such as the second-floor Octopus Room, whose walls are covered by the long, curly tentacles of a giant blue and white octopus. One of the tentacles even holds up a sign reading 'Pipi Room,' pointing the way to the bathroom.

Gallery: Off the Wall Art At The Tantalo Hotel

All of the rooms come with free WiFi, 42" flat screen TVs, minibars, and a pillow-top mattress—and many have their own (small) private balconies for looking out over the cobblestone streets. But on top of the usual amenities, all the bold graffiti-like art on the walls is sure to keep you amused. One room featured a table built from reclaimed wood and a bunch of empty bottles.

Some of the designs are more daring than others, like a massive yogurt cup, filled with fruit, painted on a yellow wall behind one of the beds. Probably a good way to wake up excited about fruit parfait for breakfast!

Bathrooms are simple: small porcelain basins balance on top of hand-built wooden shelves with just enough space for a bar of soap and moisturizer. Meanwhile, the showers all have wooden slats on the floor.

If you plan on staying here, we'd recommend calling the hotel and asking them to recommend the best room to suite your tastes. Speaking as mollusk lovers, we absolutely fell in love with the Octopus Room, but we understand it might be a bit much for some.

Thankfully, for the hotel, most of the art is painted right onto the walls, so there's little risk of sticky-fingered guests (ahem, Australian guests!) "accidentally" walking off with one of the pieces.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach | "New downtown hotels spark optimism"


Source      :   http://www.starnewsonline.com
Category   :  Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


The number of hotel rooms in downtown Wilmington could soon more than double if all projects currently in the works come to fruition.

But is there enough demand to warrant adding more than 400 new rooms to the Port City's riverfront?

Or, in other words, is this beginning to look like too much of a good thing?

"We don't think we will be overbuilt right now," said Kim Hufham, CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach
Discount Hotels In Virginia Beach

More hotels are a good thing in helping to attract more and larger groups to the Wilmington Convention Center, Hufham said. The addition of these downtown hotel rooms "would give us the inventory so we could market to larger groups, for people to be able to stay overnight within walking distance of the convention center."

The roster of new projects downtown includes one hotel that's under construction and two others in the works – make that possibly three – and at least one other prominent piece of property being marketed as a prime site for a future hotel.

There are 4,458 rooms in Wilmington and 6,283 in New Hanover County, plus 1,520 rental units such as condominiums and cottages, Hufham said.

But being within walking distance of a targeted destination is very important for hotels' success, said Margo Metzger, spokeswoman for the N.C. Bureau of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.

There are around 400 rooms downtown now, Hufham said, and that includes not only the Hilton Wilmington Riverside and the Best Western Coastline Inn, but inns and B&Bs as well.

Add to that 453 rooms if the three hotels in the works right now are all built.

The 124-room Courtyard by Marriott, under construction at Second and Grace streets, is scheduled to open later this year, said Tushar Zaver, of developer CN Hotels in Greensboro.

The 143-room Hotel Indigo, to be located at 1 Hanover St., may begin construction as soon as June if it gets the required permits, said Kyle Myers project manager for the development by USA InvestCo.

The proposed 186-room Embassy Suites Convention Center hotel should break ground this summer, said Brooks Johnson, director of development for Harmony Hospitality in Virginia Beach.

Developers Todd Toconis and David Spetrino have another property downtown under contract with a hotelier, Toconis said, but he would not give the address. He said he would have something to announce in two weeks.

Additionally, the owner of the land at 101 N. Front St. – site of the ill-fated The View condominium project – is casting a net that includes hoteliers.

"We are looking at multiple development concepts, including a hotel," said Cape Fear Commercial's Brian Eckel, who is providing development consulting services to the owners of the site.

Wilmington isn't by itself in hotel growth.

The lodging market is strong across North Carolina, said Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association.

"We have seen inventory in North Carolina grow for several years, including when the economy was down," she said.

Wilmington's hotel numbers are among the highest in the state, Minges added.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Affordable Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Hampton Inn & Suites could open in time for the Bradenton Blues Fest"


Source      :   http://www.bradenton.com
Category   :  Affordable Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Manatee County Chamber of Commerce President Bob Bartz has a front row seat to the "Pink Palace" renovations.

Bartz, whose office is across the street, hears regularly from tourists, residents and business people who stop in to ask about the work being done on the historic hotel.
Affordable Hotels In Virginia Beach
Affordable Hotels In Virginia Beach

"It's such a historical, iconic structure that's been talked about for so many years, that to see it come to fruition now is certainly exciting, and certainly going to add vitality to our downtown area," Bartz said.

The area is short on hotel rooms, and this will add to the inventory for the already-busy season of events planned, including rowing events along the Riverwalk.

Having another downtown hotel in place with amenities nearby has led to talks with major developers from Chicago, New York and Miami about other downtown projects, says David Gustafson, executive director for the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority. He's in talks trying to woo three more restaurants downtown.

"They're not just kicking the tires," he said. "They're coming into town making a determination of how they can make it work."

One of the restaurants could open late this summer, Gustafson said, but he declined to offer any names. He did say the restaurant would be a mid- to high-end eatery.

Existing restaurateurs are also eager for the hotel to open.

"The restaurants downtown are excited that this might help their business, because this hotel won't have a restaurant in it per se," Bartz said.

In the coming weeks, the scaffolding will come down on the historically dubbed "Pink Palace" as it continues its transformation into a Hampton Inn & Suites.

Renovation is nearing the halfway point, and as the windows are installed and beige paint helps transform the exterior, the hotel of many names is generating buzz.

"The buzz around the community is incredible about getting the old girl back into order," said Gustafson.

The 115-room hotel isn't even suitable yet for tours of the site, and officials have been clamoring to get a peek inside ever since work began Jan. 17. Some people are already trying

to line up dates not waiting for construction to be complete, Gustafson said, although reservations aren't being accepted yet.

"People are contacting our Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Development Authority and every day people reach out to me and say I want to book a wedding, I want to book an event or conference," Gustafson said. "To think it's six months out, but everyone wants to lock in those dates."

The $15 million hotel renovation aims to revive some of the building's charm from the 1920s through 1960 when it was the Manatee River Hotel and folks with deep pockets stayed there. The building later became a senior citizens residence called the Riverpark Hotel and closed in 2005.

Today, a sign hangs on the corner showing the building off as the Riverpark Grande.

"I know my DDA board, anytime I say that ("Pink Palace"), they give me a hard time for saying it," Gustafson said. "We're all going to have to change their name and we'll see what name sticks."

What passersby see at the top will be the hotel's final color, reverting back to the historic color of the hotel and replacing the pink that many in Bradenton have grown accustomed to over the last 30 to 40 years, Gustafson said. While some would say pink is their favorite color, Gustafson said the new treatment is growing on him.

"A lot of us were thinking we want the pink to come back, but I'm actually falling in love with the color on the walls," he said. "It makes the color of the blue aqua tiles around the windows jump out now."

The goal for the contractor, Widewaters Hotels, is to seal up the building before rainy season kicks in, paint from top to bottom, and then move on to the interior improvements, Gustafson said. Inside, detailed woodwork, finishing and intricate paintings will decorate the hotel.

The projected opening date is the end of November or beginning of December, he said.

Widewaters Hotels officials didn't return messages requesting comment for this report.

"Their marketing people are working toward the date they have and want to be open by the time the Bradenton Blues Fest occurs, which is the first weekend in December," Gustafson said.

The bluesfest at Riverwalk is designed to bring people right in the heart of Bradenton to stay, party and play. Hotel Officials have been planning all along to build on the success of Riverwalk, as well as the beaches, as they project 50,000 visitors a year will come to stay at the hotel and provide a $2.5 million annual economic impact.

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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Top Hotels In Virginia Beach | "April brings us New Haven Restaurant Week, Iron Chef, Worth Tasting tours and more​"


Source      :   http://nhregister.com
Category   :  Top Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard

People love food, watching food television and attending food events.

The New Haven region seems to welcome spring with a plethora of food happenings. My spring rendezvous begins with Worth Tasting’s first culinary walking tour of the season at 10:45 a.m. April 20, which I will host. In three-and-a-half hours, guests will visit nine eateries in downtown New Haven.
Top Hotels In Virginia Beach
Top Hotels In Virginia Beach

Elsewhere, join the bike riders at the Rock to Rock Earth Day celebration, 1-3 p.m. April 20 in East Rock Park’s College Woods. Bun Lai of Miya’s will cook off against Avi Szapiro of the newly opened ROIA at 1:30 p.m. There will also be a “food truck rodeo” featuring some of the city’s best outdoor vendors.

New Haven Restaurant Week begins the next day, April 21-26, when some of our favorites will offer $18 prix-fixe lunches and $32 dinners. Participating eateries include 116 Crown, Adrianna’s, Anna Liffey’s, Barcelona, Basta Trattoria, Bentara, Carmen Anthony, Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro, Cask Republic, Christopher Martin’s, Geronimo, Goodfellas, Heirloom, Ibiza, Istanbul Cafe, John Davenport’s, L’Orcio, Miya’s Sushi, Oaxaca Kitchen, Pacifico, Soul de Cuba Cafe, Temple Grill, Thali, Tre Scalini, Union League Cafe, Yolande’s Bistro & Creperie, Zafra Cuban Restaurant & Rum Bar, Zaroka and Zinc. For more, go to www.connecticutrestaurantweek.com and click on New Haven.

At 11:45 a.m. April 28, Iron Chef Elm City returns. This year’s “Challenge of the Champions” features three winners from the past five years. Gateway Community College, where I am on the faculty, and Visit New Haven, will turn up the heat once again at HADCO (formerly Delia), the Viking Center of New England, at 4 Laser Lane in Wallingford.

The event’s format is based on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef” program and features culinary experts as judges. I am delighted to produce the event at HADCO, where attendees walk around the kitchen and are in the middle of the action. I hope you can attend. Gateway hospitality and culinary students will be on hand assisting the competing chefs.

Chef Ben Gaffney of Atticus Bookstore-Cafe, the 2012 winner; Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho, owner of Tacuba, Waterhouse and Seawich Sandwich Shop in Branford, the first year’s winner; Chef Prasad Chirnomula, owner of Thali, Thali Too and Oaxaca Kitchen, 2011 winner, will square off.

The chefs are provided with a list of five possible “secret” ingredients a week before the event. At the competition, the “secret” ingredient will be unveiled, and the chefs will be required to create an appetizer, entree and dessert using the ingredient in one hour. Past year’s secret ingredients were Calabro Cheese, Lyman Orchards’ apples, Willoughby’s coffee, Hooker Beer and Deep River Snacks. A food pantry will be provided by Elm City Market for use by the chefs.

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Courtyard Virginia Hotels | "World’s 10 greatest hikes"


Source      :   http://www.foxnews.com
Category   :   Courtyard Virginia Hotels
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Whether scaling rockface, descending into caverns or traversing fjords, an epic hike creates a memory that will last a lifetime. Hiking guide and overall thrill seeker Kasey Austin and her team of backcountry experts at Austin-Lehman Adventures have pulled together a list of the world's greatest hikes. So get ready. It's time to strap on your boots and head for the hills.
Courtyard Virginia Hotels
Courtyard Virginia Hotels

1  Mooney Falls, Havasupai Reservation, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Descend through caves, down ladders, and along anchored chains in the rock face as you wind your way down along the shoulder of a cliff with views of a spectacular 200 foot waterfall. The clear blue-green pools below and contrasting red rock walls of the canyon beckon you down further as you weave in and out of view of Mooney Falls on your descent. Upon reaching the base, a hike further down canyon brings deeper pools, creek crossings, and tangles of green grape vines. Be sure to look upriver, as the view constantly changes behind you, begging for photos to be taken from every angle. (6 miles, round trip from Supai Village)

2  Exit Glacier, Near Seward, Alaska

Located in Kenai Fjords National Park, you traverse several mountain ecosystems beginning at the trailhead shaded by towering cottonwood trees then making your way through meadow and forest up to the alpine tundra. After that you are “walking on the moon” over a stark landscape of rock and ice.  This “strenuous” trail takes 6-8 hours to hike, and you’ll gain about 1,000 feet of elevation every mile. As you ascend the trail, take in views of Exit Glacier and the extensive Resurrection River extending into the valley below. Upon reaching the summit (on a clear day), you can see for miles across the Harding Icefield and can spot peaks jutting up out of the ice. You may also see a bear or two on this trail! (8.2 miles, round trip)

3  From Fira to Oia on Santorini Island, Greece

White-washed houses hugging the edge of a 1,300 foot caldera dominate the scene at the beginning of this spectacular hike in Fira. Birds-eye views of a blue expanse of the Aegean Sea; quaint, picturesque churches hundreds of years old; and dramatic volcanic cliffs will capture your sights as you make your way to the postcard-perfect town of Oia. A glass of wine in an inviting tavern amongst the locals in Oia is a requirement before transferring back to Fira by bus! (7.2 miles)

4  Wapati Trail, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming:

Beginning with a hike across an open meadow, this trail meanders through Lodgepole pine forests, past chalky white geothermal features, skirting a lily-pad dotted pond, and finally delivers you to the edge of the deep, multi-colored Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.  As you carefully make your way back along the canyon wall, you’ll “Ooo and Ahh” around every bend as the pinks, yellows, reds, and oranges of the rock appear all the more bright as you walk the final section to Artist Point, the most spectacular viewpoint of the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, a 308 foot tall waterfall! (3.5 miles point to point)

5  Beehive Basin, Big Sky, Montana

The work to get up to Beehive Basin is worth the effort. Beginning with views of the Big Sky Valley, this trail snakes its way along a trickling, snow-fed creek, across mountain slopes carpeted with wildflowers.  Upon reaching the basin, a small unnamed mountain lake awaits you surrounded by open vistas, tall mountains, and SNOW! A picnic lunch on the lakeshore followed by some trout fishing or a snowball fight is sure to be on your agenda for the afternoon! (6.4 miles round trip)

6  Salkantay Trail, Peru

This is the “back way” to get to Machu Picchu by foot and the 40+ mile trail takes you through 15 different ecosystems over the course of 7 days. Along the way, you’ll spend the night in beautiful, luxurious mountain lodges complete with hot tea upon arrival, warm water bottles in your bed at night, and a hot tub right outside the door where you can gaze upwards at the star-studded Peruvian skies. For an alternate to the popular Inca Trail (with entrance into Machu Picchu via the iconic Sun Gate) the Salkantay Trail with its dramatic scenery, fewer people, and stunning lodges cannot be beat! (41 miles point to point)

7  Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada

Strap on the crampons for this guided glacier walk on the massive Columbia Icefield of the Rocky Mountains. A specially trained glacier guide will ensure you’re properly outfitted to safely discover the world of glacier ice by foot! Stare down into the abyss of a glacial crevasse as you trek past a gaping hole within the glacier. Learn your glacier terminology as you view a moraine or millwell up close. Take in the craggy, glacially carved landscape as your guide provides the history of this fascinating area.  (3-5 miles, round trip)

8  Angel's Landing, Zion National Park, Utah

One of the most famous and thrilling hikes within the US National Park system. Those with a fear of heights may choose to pass for something less intimidating. This narrow and eye-popping hike in Zion’s main red rock canyon will definitely test your limits when it comes to its dizzying drop-offs and deep chasm views. During the hike you’ll walk along a narrow ridge with drop-offs on each side and pull yourself up a rock face by way of anchored chains. Don’t forget to ascend Walter’s Wiggles along the way! Upon reaching Angel’s Landing, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking 360-degree views that make it 100% worth it! (4.8 miles round trip)

9  Glen Nevis, Scotland

Voted “one of the best short hikes in Great Britain”. Fortunately, despite receiving this accolade, this hike does not see as many trekkers as one would think.  This walk begins in a spectacular chasm leading to a meadow, where a waterfall tumbles over 320 feet from a high mountain. The stunning valley surrounding you, featured in Braveheart, promises jaw-dropping views that will make you feel as if you’re walking the set of a movie. (5 miles round trip)

10  Luguna Capri, Patagonia

Monte Fitzroy rises above the serene waters of Laguna Capri for a classic Patagonia view. There are a number of hillocks along the lake creating unique vantage points for photography of the lake and surrounding scenery. Trekking around this area will provide views of sprawling glaciers, jagged peaks, and turquoise lakes that look unlike anything you’ve ever had the pleasure to see.  (4 to 8 miles, round trip)

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Ocean Front Hotels Virginia | "Meetings set on possible stops, park-and-ride for transit into Va. Beach"


Source      :   http://www.wvec.com
Category   :   Ocean Front Hotels Virginia
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


VIRGINIA BEACH - As Virginia Beach explores extending light rail into the city, Hampton Roads Transit will hold three public meetings this month on possible stops and park-and-ride locations.
The Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study is looking at possible locations for service, whether it's by  light rail or bus rapid transit, between Newtown Road and the Oceanfront.
Ocean Front Hotels Virginia
Ocean Front Hotels Virginia

The meetings will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:

-Oceanfront area: Thursday, April 18, Doubletree Hotel, main ballroom, 1900 Pavilion Dr., Virginia Beach. Bus routes 20 and 960 service this area.
-Town Center: Monday, April 22, Westin Hotel, Monarch Room, IV-V, 4535 Commerce St., Virginia Beach. Local bus routes 20 and 36 service this area.
-Hilltop area: Thursday, April 25, London Bridge Baptist Church, gymnasium, 2460 Potters Road, Virginia Beach. No local bus routes service this area.

Virginia Beach is famous for hosting historic meetings. From unforgettable events at our LEED® Gold Certified Convention Center to the daily reunion of sand and surf, Virginia Beach continues to offer a wide variety of meeting locations and accommodations for every need under the sun. Our coastal charm is a happy host to a wide array of unique meeting locations and exciting events while offering an unmatched beach destination at your fingertips. Whether you’re an eager attendee looking forward to some beach time or a planner searching for eco-friendly and green alternatives, Virginia Beach has the tools to make your next meeting a success.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Virginia Beach Hotels | "Water Discus Underwater Hotel by Deep Ocean Technology"


Source      :   http://stupiddope.com
Category   :   Virginia Beach Hotels
By             :  Vacation In Beach Hotel
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard



Dubai is known for all things cool and expensive. Always two steps ahead, if it’s cool, it’s  in Dubai. The Polish company Deep Ocean Technology  has been contracted to build the world’s largest underwater hotel in the cool city. This underwater hotel will have accommodations both above and below the water. The company, Deep Ocean Technology is known for creating underwater vehicles and seabed exploration equipment.
Virginia Beach Hotels
Virginia Beach Hotels

The discus shaped hotel will have a discus underwater equipped with 21 rooms. It will be supported by 5 columns and circular shafts for the elevators and stairs. The second discus and a few smaller structures will be above ground with a helicopter landing pad on one. In case of some kind of aquatic emergency, the smaller structures will be able to detach from the columns and be used as life rafts for the guests. There will be a diving center in underwater facility equipped with an airlock that will lead divers straight to the water. The coolest part about the hotel is that it can be easily relocated or expanded without being taken apart.
This isn’t the first underwater hotel there are structures in Maldives and Florida. Check out the gallery below and let us know what you think.


Resort Hotel Dar Al Masyaf, Madinat Jumeirah is an establishment of 5 Stars. Its situated in Dubai of United Arab Emirates.

It shows you the Resort Hotel Dar Al Masyaf, Madinat Jumeirah for your stay in Dubai. The large complex impresionanate Madinat Jumeirah is a proposal of accommodation and leisure in Dubai. The complex is adjacent to the Wild Wadi water park, which can be accessed for free all hotel guests. Other services that stand out are the large private beach, the indoor and outdoor gondola rides to move between different areas of the hotel wi-fi throughout the hotel, sports facilities and spa services, including many other services. The rooms of Dar Al Masyaf, Madinat Jumeirah are located on different Arab-style houses, all with a wide range, Arabic decor and bathroom with large luxury bath center. Gastronomy is another of the highlights of the resort and you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes in any of its 41 restaurants.


Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach"


Source      :   http://stupiddope.com
Category   :   Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             :  Virginia Beach Hotels
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


When white sands and sprawling beaches are discussed, the Caribbean comes to the mind of most. Those kind of vacation requirements are available in the United States, thanks to the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Springs. The Resort is surrounded by the beautiful tropical greenery of Virginia Atlantic Coast. The comforts of urban city life blend well with the comfort and tranquility of the beach life. The spacious suites are spacious and elegantly decorated in various tones of white, beige and cream.
 Hotels In Virginia Beach
 Hotels In Virginia Beach

The bathrooms are handsomely adorned with marble and are equipped with deep soaking tubs for relaxation. Each room has a large plush bed and a fully furnished balcony with a garden view. The amenities are endless and service is near perfect, making sure that the guests are accommodated to the fullest. Given the atmosphere, forgetting the location is Stateside isn’t hard. Check out the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach below and let us know if this is a vacation destination for you.

A spectacular resort destination on Florida’s Atlantic coast, The Breakers Palm Beach, has lured generations of discerning travelers to its idyllic, Italian-Renaissance setting. Experience the irresistible charm and storied history of this legendary oceanfront resort, which seamlessly blends with an amazing range of modern amenities. Feel the allure of its glamorous yet classic ambiance, the warmth and care of its devoted staff...you will quickly discover why The Breakers is a peerless destination, well beyond what you would expect of the finest luxury hotels and beachfront resorts in North America.

Vacation In Beach Hotel | "Many hotels in Palm Beach County are spending millions to renovate as occupancy numbers rise"


Source      :   http://www.wptv.com
Category   :   Vacation In Beach Hotel
By             : Virginia Beach Hotels
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - If you've been to hotels in Palm Beach County lately, you may have noticed a lot of renovations.
Vacation In Beach Hotel
Vacation In Beach Hotel

Tourism leaders say it's no coincidence. They say hotels are remodeling at a near record pace, yet another sign, they say, of an economic turnaround.

"I think everyone was pulling back in the past and certainly during the recession when we saw everything come to a standstill...but we're starting to attract investors coming in and other investors to invest in what they already have," Glenn Jergensen with the Tourism Development Council said.

Hotel Biba, a small boutique hotel in West Palm Beach's El Cid Historic District, just finished over one million dollars in renovations.

"The customers want renovation...they want new. They want the latest," Jonathan Lefebvre with Hotel Biba said.

The hotel is owned by a local investor and has already undergone most of the renovations.

"We had a great season and a great summer last year. We're trying to move forward to keep the economy going," Lefebvre said.

Larger hotels have also been renovating. The West Palm Beach Marriot has spent millions over the past year upgrading all of their guest rooms.

"I'm very encouraged. It is about the travel increasing, both in group business and the leisure segment," Marriot General Manager Cheri Rotledge said.

Occupancy is up big time county-wide over the last year. Occupancy was just over 86 percent in February and the average room in Palm Beach County went for just under 200 dollars a night.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Courtyard Virginia Beach Norfolk Completes Major Hotel Renovation"


Source     : http://www.prweb.com
Category   :   Oceanfront Hotels Virginia
By             : Virginia Beach Hotels
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Marriott International Inc. has announced that the 146-room Courtyard Virginia Beach Norfolk Hotel at 5700 Greenwich Road in Virginia Beach, VA, has completed a major renovation of its public spaces, restaurant, guest rooms and meeting space.
The Virginia Beach hotel now features the brand’s Refreshing Business lobby concept designed to give travelers the flexibility to work and socialize however they choose while on the road.
Oceanfront Hotels Virginia
Oceanfront Hotels Virginia
The new state-of-the-art lobby at the hotel in Virginia Beach, VA, welcomes guests with vivid contrasting colors including blue, green, orange and red. The traditional front desk has been replaced with separate welcome pedestals to create more personal and private interactions when guests check in. Flexible seating options include a communal table in the center of the lobby, private media booths with high-definition televisions and an intimate, semi-enclosed lounhotel near Norfolk is the exclusive GoBoard, a 52-inch LCD TV packed with local information, maps, weather and the latest news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions. The entire first floor of the hotel, including the lobby and meeting rooms, now has wired and wireless Internet access.
ge area. A signature element of the new lobby at the
The lobby also features The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect., a new dining concept with casual, flexible seating. The restaurant at the hotel near ORF airport offers easier access to food and higher-quality, healthier menu options for breakfast and dinner. Snacks, wine and beer are also available to help guests unwind.
The Courtyard Virginia Beach Norfolk is just minutes to fantastic shopping and dining at Virginia Beach Town Center, Norfolk International Airport, downtown Norfolk and government bases such as Norfolk Naval Station. The property features 134 guest rooms and 12 suites, a seasonal outdoor pool, fitness center and The Bistro.

Hotels In Virginia Beach | "The Proper Way to Eat a Pig"


Source     : http://www.nytimes.com
Category   :   Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             : Virginia Beach Hotels
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Hotels In Virginia Beach
Hotels In Virginia Beach
On a recent morning in Portland, Ore., Camas Davis was teaching nine high-school kids how to butcher a pig. A 17-year-old named Mady called dibs on the front trotter, slicing through the skin near the pig’s ankle, then using a hand saw to cut through the bone. Nathan, 15, moved up the leg and worked through the hock, while Karina, 16, eyed the shoulder. Pushing up the sleeves of her red cardigan, she placed her blade between the fifth and sixth ribs, scored the flesh, then gave the knife a long pull, separating the shoulder from the carcass, but leaving intact the coppa — a muscle around the pig’s neck — in case anyone wanted to roast it.


The kids were wearing aprons over their jeans. When it wasn’t their turn to butcher, they gossiped and texted friends photos of the dead pig, which was splayed out on a jigsaw of white cutting boards, its head sitting nearby, gazing on; its eyelids had been sliced off during an inspection for parasites. On a counter, industrial plastic bins were marked: bellies, loin/chops, shoulders/roasts, hams, bones/trotters/hocks. The students took turns removing the pig’s feet and breaking the animal down into four “primals”: shoulder, loin, belly and ham. Then Davis stepped in to show them how to butcher it into the cuts they’d seen at the grocery store and the ones they hadn’t. She picked up a leg, peeling off the skin with her blade, removing the “H-bone,” and then turned it toward her students. “Instead of muscling through this,” she said, “I’m going to use the tip of my knife to feather through the fascia,” the pig’s connective tissue. Davis held the knife in a butcher’s grip and delicately separated the muscle groups to reveal a roast. “Now it’s your turn.”
 Hotels In Virginia Beach
 Hotels In Virginia Beach

Butchery is a new course being offered by the Oregon Episcopal School, an independent preparatory academy that prides itself on “inquiry-based learning.” Each year, the week before spring break, called Winterim, is reserved for experimental education projects. Some students go dog-sledding in Minnesota. Others play Dungeons & Dragons or opt for an intensive course in the art of hat-making. Recently, an English teacher at the school, Kara Tambellini, read an article about the Portland Meat Collective and proposed a course on butchery.

And so Davis, who has taught butchery to mothers and young professionals, to beer brewers and bike messengers, but never to high schoolers, devised a weeklong curriculum that covered the basics. This included a field trip on a Friday, when she took the students to a local farm to meet and select a pig, whom they named Wilbur and then, realizing she was female, renamed Wilburess.

The next Monday morning, the class met up with Wilburess again at a local slaughterhouse, along with her 30-year-old owner, Bubba King, who had a thick brown beard and bounced a 5-month-old baby named Ulysses on his hip. When the recession hit, King explained, he borrowed some farmland — though he had no previous farm experience — to raise pigs. He learned how to butcher them on YouTube. Eventually, he got in touch with Davis, who, through the Meat Collective, gave him a formal lesson. Now her students buy his hogs for their butchery courses. King sells them for $3.25 per pound of hanging weight, which is how much an animal weighs after it has been slaughtered, gutted and drained of its blood. Wilburess, at 171 pounds, earned him $536 — he gave the students a discount.

In this farm-to-table era, community-supported-agriculture shares — in which families purchase farm goods through a weekly subscription — have become increasingly popular. Nowhere is that more true than in Portland, where people take their food ethics, among other things, very seriously. There is a sketch in the first episode of the IFC comedy “Portlandia” in which characters played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein persistently nudge their waitress for information about the chicken on the menu. After asking if the chicken was raised organically and about the size of its roaming area, they find out that the chicken was named Colin and that it grew up on a farm 30 miles outside Portland; later Armisen is handed the chicken’s citizenship papers. (The line between Portland and “Portlandia” often blurs; for example, Armisen gave the commencement address to Oregon Episcopal’s graduating class.)

Six months before that episode was broadcast, I moved to Portland, and while I was unpacking boxes in my new house, a neighbor stopped by and asked me if I wanted to buy a cow. I went silent for a moment, then asked the only question that came to mind: “Where would I put it?” My neighbor, standing in my doorway wearing his bike helmet, handed me a brochure. “I found two people already, so you’d get one-fourth of the cow,” he said. He pointed to an address. “You can visit him here.”

It’s not as easy to get farm-to-table meat, however, as it is rhubarb and pattypan squash. Meat regulations are strict, and they dictate that animals must be slaughtered and processed (gutted, cleaned and butchered) at a U.S.D.A.-approved facility before entering the commercial market. There is an exception: If no one is making a profit, and the animal is going to be used only to feed family and friends, it can be slaughtered and processed at the owner’s discretion. The loophole was probably intended for cattle ranchers, but city folks can use this exception to purchase a live animal (or a share of it) before it is killed. Meat C.S.A.’s are catching on throughout the country, and Portland — where its legal to have three or fewer ducks, chickens or pygmy goats on your property without a permit — is already three steps ahead. What better way to learn about the ethics of your meat than to slaughter and butcher it yourself?

The Portland Meat Collective — a group of butchers and chefs that offers classes on meat production, butchery, cooking and, yes, slaughter — was founded by Davis, a self-described “meat thinker.” She challenges her students and the larger community to engage with all aspects of meat production, whether that means visiting animals at farms or learning the skills to put them on their plates. The collective gave its first butchery course in 2010 and now holds classes in commercial kitchens, charging $100 to $300 per class. In the last three years, it has educated more than 1,000 students. The collective plans to introduce a Kickstarter campaign to expand the model nationwide. They’re considering Seattle and Hood River, Ore., as test markets.

As a result of being a nose-to-tail carnivore, Davis has been called everything from a killer to an anti-feminist by animal activists, who might be surprised to learn she once was a vegetarian herself. (When I asked her why she began eating meat again, she replied, “I was hungry.”) The organization that leased Davis a commercial kitchen for Winterim asked that we not mention its name, and when Davis initially visited the space, someone asked how she was going to contain the pig’s blood. “What blood?” she said, and the reply revealed that the owners thought she was going to walk a live pig through the front door and kill it in front of nine teenagers. This ignorance, Davis says, is telling of our relationship to the animals that we eat — most of us don’t know the difference between butchery and slaughter.

Here’s how Wilburess actually died. At the slaughterhouse, she walked down a chute into a kill room where Latin dance music was playing. A man applied an electrical prong to the back of her head to stun her senseless. He sent another stun to her heart to induce cardiac arrest. Then he checked her eyes for rapid movements and, finding none, pierced her brachial artery. He moved her body into a vat of scalding water to loosen the hair follicles. Then she was placed on a table to be dehaired. A worker hung her body on a hook, eviscerated it, then cut it down the middle. The students watched it all. No one fainted. No one cried. (Though a few kids admitted to their teachers later that they were considerably shaken.) As for Davis, she said that the first time she witnessed a slaughter, she broke into tears, and nearly every time she visits a slaughterhouse, she gets choked up.

The reasoning underlying the Portland Meat Collective, she says, is that by taking part in the process, we begin to think of how to use the animal differently. “Once you slaughter a pig, you dehair it, you butcher it, you wrap it and you put it in your freezer, it’s so much work you don’t want to waste it,” Davis says. “It’s special.” Two days after Wilburess’s slaughter, Davis cut off the pig’s head and started listing its possible uses. “Once I take the face off, there’s a lot I can do with this. I can make my jowl bacon. I can leave the face intact and make porchetta di testa. I can dry the pig ears and give them to a dog. I can make headcheese.” She pointed to the area just next to the jaw. “The more a muscle works, the tougher it is, the more flavorful it is. Imagine how much these worked — the cheeks!” The students watched in silence. “They’re delicious.”

The first animal Davis ever slaughtered was a chicken. After that, she killed a rabbit. “I’ve never figured out how to fully articulate what happens,” she said. “I don’t feel guilty, and I don’t feel bad. It is a pure and intense experience, but it is the most complicated experience you can have in terms of living and dying.”

The way the Portland Meat Collective teaches rabbit slaughter is by having a person sit in a chair with a rabbit at their feet and gently place a broomstick over its neck. When you pull the body, the stick breaks the rabbit’s neck. Sometimes, it goes badly. “This one guy pulled the body so hard, he ripped the head off,” Davis told me. “I came home from that class and curled up on a couch and didn’t move for a day.” In a separate incident last year, activists stole 18 rabbits from a breeder who supplies the Meat Collective. Among the group of stolen rabbits was a nursing mother, and because she’d gone missing, several 10-day-old rabbits died. Davis wrote an essay about the incident that was later adapted for the radio program “This American Life.” (Again the line between Portland and “Portlandia” blurred; it turns out one of the suspected rabbit thieves was an extra on the TV show.)

As a kid, Davis hunted and fished with her family, and one summer she worked in an “intentional community,” where bakers consulted their astrological charts before baking bread. As an adult, after working at National Geographic Adventure and Saveur, she moved west in 2006 to become the food editor of Portland Monthly. There, Davis experienced — and later wrote an article about — “the tastiest cut of beef you’ve never heard of”: bavette. But when she set out to buy it, she was stymied. No butcher carried it or could even tell her where the cut was located on the cow. The chef at the restaurant where she first ate bavette couldn’t tell her exactly where on the animal it came from; nor could the guys at the meat shop, who mostly wielded their knives not to butcher an animal but to cut open boxes and pull out ready-made cuts. Eventually, she discovered that the bavette was located between the sirloin and the flank. It is known as “flap meat” in the U.S., and typically tossed into the container reserved for grind.

In 2009, in search of a deeper understanding, Davis went to France to study with an American cooking teacher named Kate Hill and to serve as an apprentice with a family of butchers and farmers named the Chapolards. She doesn’t speak French, and the Chapolards didn’t speak English, so she learned their craft through risk and repetition. She made some costly mistakes, like the time they handed her what she thought was a shoulder primal, and she cubed and skewered it, only to realize it was actually a ham. “I basically just lost them hundreds of dollars,” she recalls.

The Chapolards would say, “Why would you do this thing that’s not for beautiful, smart women?” It wouldn’t be the last time she ran up against this question, which often carries the implication that, given her relatively short apprenticeship in the world of butchery, she has traded on her looks to gain fame. She’s aware but not concerned about the focus on her unexpected appearance. “I don’t want to capitalize off it,” she says, “and I kind of do.”

After a summer in the Chapolards’ cutting room, Davis returned to Portland and found a job at a specialty-foods store called Pastaworks, where she tried to bring European butchery to the meat counter. “Let’s not do individual pork chops,” she suggested. “Let’s put the whole loin in the case so it looks beautiful and we can cut individual chops.” But the loin was unrecognizable to her customers. “Is that tuna?” they asked. So later that year, she decided to start a school that would replicate her experience in France by purchasing whole animals from small farms and teaching people how to butcher them by hand. “If we gave people the opportunity to try and come up with an alternative system of meat production,” Davis once wrote in response to an online comment by a vegetarian, “we’d a) eat a lot less meat, and b) really dedicate ourselves to thinking about what it means to kill an animal for food, thereby c) causing us to recalibrate our respect for the animal world.”

On the last day of butchery class, the students made sausages. They loaded a meat grinder with chunks of pork shoulder, fatback (the layer of hard fat used to make lard) and spices. The grinder returned the pork to the students in ribbons, which they packed into the chamber of a sausage stuffer. Each student fit intestinal casings onto a nozzle and churned a crank with one hand while using the other to coax the cased sausage into a spiral.

I asked Alex, a 17-year-old wearing a fencing-team jacket, how it felt to make sausage out of a pig he knew by name.

“I hate the feeling of raw meat,” he said.

“Then why’d you take this class?” asked Sean, a 17-year-old with a side interest in baking cheesecake.

“I felt like I had to know,” Alex replied.

Another student, Sophia, 19, who showed promising knife skills throughout the week, said that in the dorms, her butchery lessons hadn’t been so well received. “Everyday someone asks, ‘What did you kill today?’ ”

“It’s a slow education,” Davis said of teaching people the origin of their food. She has received requests from all over the country asking her to start meat collectives in other states. “Here, it’s been pretty easy to create an alternate economy,” she says, estimating that about one-third of her students go on to purchase meat directly from farmers. But she also points out that in Portland, they’re lucky to be so close to sources of livestock. “We have the Willamette Valley and eastern Oregon that’s full of great small farmers.” Other cities are not so connected, physically and otherwise, to local agriculture. “I had a woman who wanted to start one in Baltimore, and I was like, ‘How far away is a good farm, whatever that means to you?’ ” The woman took her best guess. “She said, ‘I don’t know, 500 miles or something?’ ”

Once the sausages were made, the class poached them, then browned them on a flattop griddle, then arranged them around the edge of a ceramic platter piled with green lentils. I wondered if the students would suddenly balk, preoccupied with the knowledge that, after days of butchering, they were about to eat an animal they’d once seen alive.

When they sat down at the table, they didn’t even wait to pass the platter. They reached over one another, spooning heaping servings onto their plates. They scarfed it down and fought over the last links.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Hotels In Virginia Beach | "Microsoft's Outlook.com calendar gets a makeover"


Source     : http://news.cnet.com/
Category   :  Hotels In Virginia Beach
By             : Virginia Beach Hotels
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


Microsoft is finally applying a metro look and feel to its Web-based calendar.
On April 2, Microsoft officials revealed that the new Outlook.com calendar is rolling out now and will be available around the world this week at More from today's blog post about the calendar refresh:
Virginia Beach Hotels
 Hotels In Virginia Beach

"Outlook.com uses Exchange ActiveSync to sync your mail, calendar, and address book on your smartphone, tablet, in the new Outlook 2013, and with the Mail, Calendar, and People apps on your new PC or tablet running Windows 8. You can also use the Outlook connector to integrate your calendar with previous versions of the Outlook desktop software. Connecting your calendar to your mobile device is easy."

Microsoft officials hinted last summer that the calendar refresh was coming shortly after the new Outlook.com Web mail service was announced, which was July 31, 2012. But up until today, officials have declined to say when users could expect the updated Calendar.

Because I get this question often from Hotmail users who are in the midst of moving to (or being moved by Microsoft to) Outlook.com, I'd like to point out the way to see your Calendar in Outlook.com is to click on the downward arrow next to the Outlook logo (upper left). By doing so, users will find their contacts (now known as People), Calendar and Skydrive cloud-storage options.
Update: One feature some were expecting, but that seemingly didn't make it into this update is Skype integration. Supposedly that is still coming, but it's yet another one of those things for which we don't have an official date target.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Virginia Beach Hotels | "Joshua Tree National Park and Desert Hot Springs"


Source      :  http://www.latimes.com/
Category   :  Virginia Beach Hotels
By             : Hotels In Virginia Beach
Posted By  :  Hotels in Virginia Beach North Courtyard


It's a dry heat – a boulder-studded, wind-raked Mojave heat, in which rock stars lie low, artists think big, marines train, weird plants jut toward the sun like beseeching biblical figures, and climbers cling to granite walls like insects stuck to flypaper, except the climbers are way happier.
Virginia Beach Hotels
Virginia Beach Hotels

That's a notable thing about Joshua Tree National Park and the towns around it. While legions of Californians keep their faces to the beach, no matter the season, a certain stripe of traveler is powerless to resist the desert, especially in cooler months. They come for the wide-open spaces and quirky lodgings you see in the park-adjacent towns of Joshua Tree and 29 Palms. They come for the bands at Pappy & Harriet's, for the steaming pools of lithium-rich water at Desert Hot Springs or maybe for a sound bath (to be explained soon) at the Integratron in Landers.

Here are 11 micro-itineraries for Joshua Tree and environs, a sprawling area that begins about 110 miles east of Los Angeles City Hall, north of I-10. On another day we'll come back to the desert areas south of I-10, including Palm Springs and its Coachella Valley neighbors.


1. Big rocks, bigger sky

Joshua Tree National Park (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Joshua Tree National Park covers nearly 800,000 acres. No matter the time of year, you'll enjoy it most in the day's first and last hours of light, when the shadows get interesting and temperatures change fast. The Mojave and Colorado deserts collide here, and a few billion rocks demand climbing or observation. There are almost as many cartoonish Joshua trees, which are better admired than climbed.

From the park's west entrance (near the town of Joshua Tree), head to Hidden Valley, a haven for tent-camping, hiking, climbing and scrambling. There's a 1.1-mile looping nature trail to Barker Dam that's great for photography, (still water, stacked boulders) and the neighboring Gunsmoke area is beloved by boulderers. Not far from there is Cap Rock. Back in 1973, a few days after 26-year-old Gram Parsons died of a drug overdose in room 8 of the Joshua Tree Inn, his friend Phil Kaufman stole the body from authorities and brought it to Cap Rock for a DIY cremation. It didn't go well, and rangers continue to discourage this practice. For a healthier interaction with the landscape, try a class from the Desert Institute (www.joshuatree.org), whose recent offerings have included geology and plein air poetry. Wherever you go, bring water.

2. Downtown Joshua Tree

 Pie for the People pizzeria (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Get your first meal at the Crossroads Café (61715 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree) where the bulletin board is liable to mention rock climbers' chalk bags for sale; mercenaries for hire; and any upcoming drum circles. (At least, it did in February.) For a date shake, walk down to Richochet (61705 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree). For gear or a guide, stop at Joshua Tree Outfitters (61707 Twenty-nine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree). There's also pottery shop, a couple of thrift stores and the Joshua Tree Saloon (61835 Twenty-nine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree), which plays a key role during the Joshua Tree Music Festival (May) and the Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival (October). Across the street, there's the Instant Karma Yoga Studio, the Mount Fuji General Store (a hipster boutique) and a pizzeria called Pie for the People pizza. If you like a lodging with a little style and don't need a pool, head for the five-room Spin & Margies Desert Hideaway (64491 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree). If you want even higher style (and have more money), there's the Mojave Sands Motel (62121 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree), where owner Blake Simpson has turned a roadside hole-in-the-wall into five room compound with vintage vinyl and a manual typewriter in every room. Though he only opened in 2011 and his bottom price is $200, Simpson hopes to add a pool and bump prices up before the year is over. (Bear in mind also that dozens of Joshua Tree properties are listed on vacation-rental sites like vrbo.com, with widely varying descriptions and prices.)

3. The egg in the boulders

Joshua Tree art. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

There's a growing art scene here, and not just within the walls of the Red Arrow Gallery and Joshua Tree Art Gallery on the main drag. Check out the artists of High Desert Test Sites (6470 Veterans Way, Joshua Tree), who make outdoor works that the desert will transform and reclaim. Like the galleries, the headquarters opens on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.) and one work is always accessible. It's along Twentynine Palms Highway 1 mile east of Park Drive, on the boulder-strewn slopes at the end of meandering, unpaved Neptune Road. Up close, you may see that "untitled" by Sarah Vanderlip is made of welded aluminum, but from a distance, it gleams like a silvery egg, possibly dropped by a titanium dinosaur.

4. Pappy & Harriet's

Pioneertown (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Pioneertown, up on a plateau about five miles north of Yucca Valley, was built in the 1940s as a TV and movie set. Some decades later, along came Pappy and Harriet's Pioneer Town Palace (53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown), a roadhouse with live music that has become a desert institution. Somehow, Pappy's gently blends desert-rat locals with escaped city slickers and lures performers you'd never expect in the middle of nowhere. The Pioneertown Motel is right next door. Or, If you're okay for the drive back to Joshua tree, there's the 10-room Joshua Tree Inn ( 61259 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree), where you can have room 8 (the Gram Parsons death room) for $109. It's got a pool and a shrine to Parsons.

5. The Integratron
Virginia Beach Hotels
Virginia Beach Hotels 


 The Integratron (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

You're either up for The Integratron (2477 Belfield, Blvd., Landers) or you're not. It stands about 20 minutes' drive north of Joshua Tree, a white wooden dome, 38 feet high and 55 feet in diameter, built in the 1950s, '60s and '70s by renegade aeronautical engineer George Van Tassel (who died in 1978). Van Tassel wanted to contact other worlds. In his absence, a trio of sisters has taken ownership and the building has a new life as a place for meditating, or playing music or just climbing the ladder to the upper chamber, curling up on a blanket and listening for half an hour to hear somebody coaxing eerie, powerfully resonant sounds from a series of quartz bowls. "I call it kindergarten nap time of the third kind," says co-owner Joanne Karl. But the sign outside says "sound bath." To bathe alone is $80, by reservation. But two weekends per month, you can join a public sound bath at noon for $15. The sound, bouncing off the rounded walls and trembling through the Douglas fir floorboards, is mesmerizing. Karl estimates that a third of her customers are musicians.

6. The 29 Palms Inn and the town's murals

Twentynine Palms (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The city of 29 Palms stands at the northern entrance to the national park, its population of 30,000 dominated by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, which readies marines for service overseas. Since the early 1990s, town boosters have bankrolled the painting of about two-dozen historic murals, so as you roll past all the barbershops in town (marine cuts a specialty), you'll notice a lot of history in living color. For another sort of color, the 29 Palms Inn (73950 Inn Ave., 29 Palms) is a prime haven. The family-run inn, whose rooms, bungalows and cabins are scattered over 70 acres near the park entrance, goes back to the 1920s. If you can swing it, rent Irene's Historic Adobe, which went up in the '30s and has a master bedroom, a bunkroom, kitchen, living room with fireplace and a big private courtyard.

7. Stony haven

 Roughley Manor (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

In a territory dominated by stray boulders, why is it so surprising to find a house with stone walls? Maybe it's because Roughley Manor (74744 Joe Davis Dr., 29 Palms), which goes back to 1928, is three stories high and surrounded by equally tall trees. This is a good spot for families, its 25 acres set apart from the rest of town, the grounds including a pool, grassy areas, two suites in the main house and five cottages. While the J-tree hoteliers court the young and trendy, Roughley Manor's resident owners cater to scrapbooking groups. When your book's done, it's a short drive to Smith's Ranch Drive-In Movie Theatre (4584 Adobe Road, 29 Palms), which still screens movies on Thursday through Sunday nights.

8. Damp and shady at last

 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

After you've zoomed down the hill from Joshua Tree but before you reach the windmill forest at the entrance to the Coachella Valley, you reach Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (11055 East Drive., Morongo Valley), where boardwalk trails trace paths past riparian brush and desert willows. More than 250 bird species have been recorded in the area. When you're done, hop across the highway for grub at Willie Boy's Saloon & Dance Hall (50048 29 Palms Highway, Morongo Valley).

9. When the time is right, Two Bunch Palms

Two Bunch Palms (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

If you saw Tim Robbins take a mud bath in "The Player" (1992), you've seen Two Bunch Palms (67425 Two Bunch Palms Trail, Desert Hot Springs). Set on 56 acres and shaded by palms and tamarisks, this 52-room resort goes back to the earliest days of Desert Hot Springs. It also has a new set of owners -- which is good, because many guests have complained for years about the property's deterioration. Fortunately, the makings of a great retreat are still here, beginning with the stonework and grotto area that is the heart of the resort. Once those new owners have renovated some rooms, get one near the grotto.

10. The pueblo and the spas

Cabot's Pueblo Museum (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

First you'll see the head -- a 40-foot Indian head with feather, carved from sequoia by artist Peter Toth in 1978. Then you'll notice the rest of Cabot's Pueblo Museum (67616 E. Desert View Ave., Desert Hot Springs), a four-level, 35-room mansion built in ersatz Hopi style by Cabot Yerxa, one of the pioneering eccentrics of Desert Hot Springs. To get a good look inside, you sign up for the hourlong tour and learn how Yerxa built the home from recycled materials between 1941 and his death in 1965. Then (because there isn't a lot in Desert Hot Springs to divert your interest) it's time for cocooning in a little spa hotel, of which there are several. The seven-room Sagewater Spa (built in 1954, redone in 2001) gives you mid-century minimalism. El Morocco Inn (66810 4th Street, Desert Hot Springs) is a 2005 revival project with 10 rooms, many veils, three round beds and sparkling Trip Advisor ratings for its service. The six-room Hacienda Hot Springs Inn delivers an Old California feel, including an outdoor kitchen, enormous common table, and plenty of books and desert memorabilia. None of these places is good for children or outdoor cellphone chats.