all the dish that’s fit to print
reasons to face the date
While today’s date might have the superstitious afraid to leave the house, we have found a few specials that will have even them ready to walk under a ladder.
Remember that old, isolated hotel in the 1980’s horror classic The Shining? Hard to forget. While you won’t be alone at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, the panoramic views of the Rockies will take you back to that creepy setting (in a good way). And at 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill their “holiday” special is the $13 Superstitious Shrimp & Marg. A Pikes Place shrimp cocktail, served alongside a chilled house margarita. The perfect way to face your fears!
godzilla strikes the mori arts center
A dinosaur-themed vacation in the city that gave us Godzilla! The Summer with Dinosaurs package at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo includes tickets to the Dinosaur Museum’s special exhibit “Dawn of the Dinosaurs” in the Mori Arts Center, which features computer graphic animation, interactive dinosaur origami, and special dinosaur modeling classes with a resident paleontologist. Located on the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower, ‘Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ features some of the earliest dino specimens knows, making the Jurassic period look futuristic. It is a great family activity that every age group will enjoy.
As part of the package, children staying at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo will receive a dinosaur amenity from the hotel, and parents can enjoy either lunch at Grand Hyatt’s Oak Door restaurant or breakfast via room service. Rates start at 38000JPY, approx $426 USD.
After a day of running around through life sized dinosaur dioramas, parents can indulge in a mini adult vacation; leave the kids with a babysitter, and pull up to the dinosaur-themed bar for some prehistoric inspired cocktails, like the herb mojito—a Triassic favorite. Grand Hyatt Tokyo also offers nightly entertainment at the Maduro Bar, a perfect after-hours reprieve after the day’s excitement. It is sure to be a thrilling and dynamic family trip!
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mayan adventure
Honeymooners taking part in Rosewood Mayakobá’s Honeymoon Mayan Romance may eventually need to pull themselves away from all of the private moonlight Tantric Yoga sessions and romantic moonlight couples’ massages (complete with a couple’s massage tutorial)…. While this package does include a daytime snorkeling trip among the Mayan ruins, the Yucatan Peninsula is a marvelous place to explore for more than just a quick dip. The nearby Coba ruin is a thrill for history buffs and the merely curious alike. Considered to have been one of the largest Mayan cities, it is awe-inspiring in its setting of dense forest and shallow lakes. Rent bikes at the entrance and make a day of touring the vast park and snapping photos of the impressive, towering ruins. This ancient marvel is a perfect daytrip getaway!
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tasty thai treat
After a 20+ hour flight, everyone can use a little pampering. Get a luxurious welcome to Thailand with the Metropolitan Bangkok’s Tantalizing Thai offer. Upon arrival, sip an exotic welcome drink before sitting down to a dinner for two at the new nahm – Michelin-starred Chef David Thompson’s outpost of his London restaurant – accompanied by a signed copy of Thompson’s acclaimed book on Thai cuisine. After a good night’s sleep, enjoy a healthy breakfast, sure to energize any weary traveler, before heading off to the islands or staying to explore the busy city.
Rates start at $205 for single occupancy for an overnight stay and include a welcome drink, dinner at nahm, Thompson’s signed book, one night’s stay, and breakfast.
The offer is valid August 1- October 31, 2010.
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getting fresh in santa fe
Can’t get enough of a local farmers’ market? Take a trip out west and sample the Southwestern flavors at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market, ranked among the Top 10 in the country. Inn on the Alameda invites locavores to stroll through the colorful and scent-sual market in their new Railyard home, while enjoying the extras thrown in with the Fresh Santa Fe Package. After stocking up on hand-crafted cheeses, fresh produce, and numerous artisanal products unique to New Mexico, wander along Canyon Road and take in the art scene. (American Style magazine just ranked Santa Fe #2 for the top 25 Art in Small Cities, and the Inn is the closest hotel to Canyon road.)
Included in the package is:
• A three-night stay in an accommodation of your choice, based on double occupancy
• $20 per person in Farmer’s Market tokens
• A gift certificate for $40 for lunch at Il Piatto, a downtown trattoria with a passion for local ingredients
• A pair of Santa Fe Farmers’ Market caps and re-useable market bags
• A sumptuous daily continental breakfast
• A daily wine and cheese hour
Fresh Santa Fe is available for a three-night stay on Sundays through Wednesdays until the end of October, with rates ranging from $531 to $1041. To book, please call 888-984-2121.
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august pond-hopping
While Londoners flock down to the Mediterranean, August is the time for a Yankee invasion. Restaurants aren’t as crowded, it’s easier to get tickets to coveted West End shows, and Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors (see our full round-up below). Two of the city’s hottest hotels, the Metropolitan and The Halkin, are also offering discounted rates, making it easy to hop across the Atlantic for a British mini-break. The hotels sit in a prime locale, sandwiched by Hyde Park and the Buckingham Palace Gardens, perfect for summer strolls and picnics.
At The Met, book ahead with the “Ultimate Savings” offer to get a City Room from £179, roughly $257 (compared to the standard rate of £390, a savings of 55% and roughly $305) with a minimum of two nights. (Must be booked at least seven nights in advance, valid through December 31, 2010.) Over at The Halkin, “Extend that Weekend Feeling” is discounting weekend rates by 20% when guests stay three nights. A double room starts at £450 a night, roughly $650. Three nights at that rate would £1350, or roughly $1950, but with the discount it’s only £1080 ($1560), making it a savings of about $390. Use that little bonus to load up on Top Shop must-haves or to procure tickets to a West End show. After a day of finding quirky antique treasures on Portobello Road or numerous crossings of the Thames, relax and take in the green views from one of the 51 rooms overlooking Hyde Park at the Metropolitan. At The Halkin, fill up on Thai fare at Chef David Thompson’s nahm, the first Thai restaurant in Europe to be awarded a Michelin star.
Herewith, our round-up of August’s key events…
Music Festivals
What: a two-day festival featuring artists Kings of Leon, Passion Pit, Imogen Heap, and many more
When: August 21-22
Where: Hylands Park and Weston Park
What: celebration of 80s music, dressing up encouraged
When: August 20
Where: Remenham, Oxon (about an hour from London)
What: David Guetta, Audio Bully, and more pump out dance music in the last summer festival at Victoria Park
When: August 27
Where: Victoria Park
What: The last concert in August promises to be one of the best parties of the summer.
When: August 29
Where: Clapham Common
Hyde Park in the summer
Art Exhibits
What: An exhibition celebrating the artist’s influence in 20th century sculpture
When: Through August 15
Where: The Tate Britain
Victoria & Albert: Art & Love in London
What: An exhibition featuring over 400 works from the Royal Collection gathered during the lives of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
When: Through October 31
Where: The Queen’s Gallery
What: An exhibition focused on the new and exciting artists coming out of the UK in the past few years
When: June 2-October 17
Where: The Saatchi Gallery
West End Shows
What: David Hirson’s fun 1991 play tells the story of a dramatist leading an acting company in the 17th-century court of Prince Conti, starring Joanna Lumley, aka Patsy from Ab Fab.
When: June 28-August 28
The Merry Wives of Windsor at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
What: Enjoy this comedy in Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre.
When: August 14-October 2
Into The Woods at London’s Open Air Theatre
What: Watch the celebrated Sondheim play outdoors in Regent’s Park
When: August 5-September 11
New Restaurants
Bar Boulud – Knightsbridge
This New York gem opened a British outpost in May with two bright rooms, a charcuterie counter, and a lounge.
Petrus – Belgravia
Gordon Ramsey’s French restaurant opened in March and boasts a glass wine case with 2,000 bottles.
Viajante – Bethnal Green
Opened in April, this eclectic new spot is in the former Bethnal Green Town Hall.
The Milroy – Mayfair
Just opened in May to the public, the restaurant serves up modern European fare and occupies the space that once housed Henry VIII’s hunting lodge.
More
What: A huge street fair set up by London’s West Indian population, full of food carts, steel drum bands, and crazy costumes.
When: August 29-30
What: Operas in the open air, set in beautiful Holland Park.
When: La Forza del Destino, August 4, 6, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm
Francesca da Rimini, August 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 at 7:30pm
Fantastic Mr. Fox, August 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 at 7:30pm
What: Take advantage of summer sales at this fashion forward hot spot. The chic flock here for the latest from Lanvin, YSL, and Rodarte.
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picasso profusion
Got a passion for Picasso? Not everyone has $106.5 million burning a hole in his pocket – which is the going price for a Picasso these days. Quell your art envy with help from The Victoria-Jungfrau Collection. Switzerland is hosting two upcoming exhibitions devoted to Pablo, brimming with priceless oeuvres. With the Art & Culture package at the Bellevue Palace in Berne, art lovers get a bubbling flute of champagne upon arrival, a sumptuous breakfast buffet in the morning, a four-course dinner at La Terrasse, and admission to the Paul Klee Zentrum to see the Klee Meets Picasso in Berne exhibition. (The exhibition runs from June 6-September 26.) Starting October 15, a Pablo Picasso Retrospective will grace the city of Zurich. With the City Break package at Eden au Lac, guests get two nights in a deluxe double room overlooking Lake Zurich, complimentary breakfast, a four-course dinner at Restaurant Eden, and plenty of time to peruse those Picassos.
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jared coffin house and inn on the alameda on the today show
Check out the video below of Niloufar Motamed, Features Editor at Travel + Leisure magazine, recommending the Jared Coffin House and Inn on the Alameda as great places to bring Mom for Mother’s Day! Al Roker nods his approval to the Nantucket deal: accommodations, bike rentals for two for one day, and one breakfast for two at Brant Point Grill, all for $150 per night! And in Sante Fe you can spoil your mom with a cooking class and daily breakfast and wine and cheese reception, with the third night half off!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
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i just said yes! prewedding pampering package
While finally getting a guy to propose may relieve one set of worries, planning a wedding brings on a whole new bunch of ‘em. The Park Hyatt Chicago has introduced an engagement package for brides-to-be to bask in the glow of a shiny new ring, and hold off on wedding planning for the weekend. Grab your maid of honor or mother of the bride and head to Chicago. The package includes overnight accommodations for two, two tickets to the Chicago History Museum’s “I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot” exhibition, two glasses of champagne in the NoMI Lounge, two manicures and paraffin hand treatments at Tiffani Kim at the Park, and a two hour bridal tour with ShopWalk owner Danielle Lutz with tips on how to create a wardrobe for the big day. After pampering you for two days, they send you off with a one year subscription to your favorite bridal magazine to help you start the planning.
Rates start at $400 and must be booked 7 days in advance.
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newlyweds rejoice!
The high season for weddings has begun! Below find a round-up of honeymoon packages to suit all kinds of couples, from the couple who wants to just do nothing together to the couple that wants to do everything together.
For the laidback couple: beach time
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Rosewood Mayakoba knows that running around town to pick up save the dates, sample wedding cakes and find the perfect dress is hard work, even with the help of a great wedding planner or maid of honor so the five-night “Honeymoon Mayan Romance” package begins with top-shelf tequila upon arrival, and is all about chilling out. Take a Tantric Yoga class and enjoy a Moonlight Massage for two on your suite terrace. Glory in your private plunge pool and butler and end the day in an Aroma Bath with champagne and chocolate. You’ll also get a Couple’s Massage instruction session with 30 minutes of “alone time.” Let stress slip away at this gorgeous resort, nestled between the Yucatán jungle and Caribbean Sea that marries high design with serious luxury. Rates start at $1152 per night.
Visit www.rosewoodmayakoba.com or 888-ROSEWOOD for more details.
Maldives
At Naladhu, the Island Romance package begins before you even reach the property. A speedboat will meet you as you leave the airport to take you directly to this Maldivian island resort. A House Master will lead you to your private house, where Champagne cocktails and fruit are waiting. Spend the day by the pool or snorkeling in the reef then relax with a complimentary coconut milk bath for two. As if that wasn’t enough, chocolate cake to share is included! Nightly rates for the Island Romance package begin at $1,475 per night with a four-night minimum (rate excludes service charge and Maldivian government bed tax).
For the stress-crazed couple: inner peace
Bali
Begin your journey together in Bali’s spiritual heartland, at the COMO Shambhala Estate, with a Wellness Program tailored to your needs. Give your marriage the brightest possible beginning by learning how to stress-battling techniques based on the philosophies of Yoga, Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Then let the experts in holistic healthcare go to work using massage, acupuncture, Ayurvedic therapy and hydrotherapy (using water from the Estate’s sacred, mineral-rich spring). Rates begin at $2,100 for a three night Stress Management program in a Garden Room. Visit http://www.cse.como.bz/rates-2010 for more details.
Turks & Caicos
Stay at Parrot Cay and simply ‘be’ as a couple in one of the few pristine places in the Caribbean: a 1,000-acre private island where the spacious, teak-filled bedrooms spill out onto a mile of powder soft beach. Recover from the pre-wedding jitters with complimentary extras like Pilates and yoga classes and use of windsurf boards and catamarans. A seven-night Parrot Cay Honeymoon also includes 60-minute couples massage, a candlelit dinner in the COMO Shambhala Cottage and a bottle of champagne on arrival. (BONUS: The COMO Shambhala Stress Management program is available here as well!) Rates start at $6,012 per couple.
For the classic couple: New England whimsy
Nantucket, Massachusetts
The Wauwinet, a natural, stunning waterfront setting in Nantucket, is perfect for the couple that doesn’t want to go stray too far from home. Newlyweds can stay at one of the Wauwinet’s charming garden cottages, just slightly removed from the main buildings. Arrive at the hotel via the Wauwinet Lady, the hotel’s private charter, then indulge in couples treatments at The Spa by the Sea. With Nantucket Island Resort’s Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion, rates at the Wauwinet start at $225 for 2010.
For the foodie couple: Southwest seasoning
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Stay at the Inn on the Alameda and explore our oldest capital city’s culinary and cultural delights for your honeymoon. With the Taste the City Different package, couples can take a three-hour walking tour around beautiful and historic Santa Fe with a chef guide to introduce you to the city’s most unique dining destinations. The next day, see who’s got better mincing skills with a cooking class and lunch to follow. When you’ve had your fill, the hotel’s Kiva fireplaces, triple-sheeted beds, and afternoon wine and cheese will be waiting. Don’t forget to bring home those authentic Southwestern recipes ‘por dos.’ Rates begin at $675 for a three-night package.
For the adventurous couple: exotic escapades
Bhutan
Honeymoon in the largely unspoiled kingdom of Bhutan, and participate in adventurous activities that include rafting, archery, camping and fly-fishing at Uma Paro. Then hit the road with biking and trekking courses that visit local monasteries and villages for a slice of culture. And don’t forget, the Bhutanese measure their wealth in Gross National Happiness, so the joy of recently married duos will certainly spike that statistic! Stay in a Como Suite and you’ll have a stunning 180 degree view of the Paro Valley. Rates start at $595 per night.
Chiang Saen, Thailand
High in the rolling hills of Thailand’s north, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa is the perfect locale for the adventurous honeymooners to hang their hats before setting off for an unforgettable adventure. Never a dull moment at the resort, couples can learn to ride, bathe, and feed Thai Asian elephants at the on-site elephant camp. Choose the Mahout Discovery package for a three-day intensive mahout training course and learn all the sublties of elephant driving, or partake on a tri-country expedition on the Mekong through northern Thailand, Laos, and Burma, with the Three Country Discovery package. Nightly rates for the Mahout Discovery package begin at $480 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, and at $682 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, for the Three Country Discovery package. Certain restrictions and conditions apply. Please refer to the package links for details.
For the couple who wants it all: beach, adventure, culture
Changlang Beach, Trang, Thailand
Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand will satisfy the couple looking for an unforgettably full cultural experience. Try pretty much every water sport imaginable, from sailing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, waterskiing, to even swimming with sea cows! Need something to hang beside the marriage certificate? Get scuba-certified on site with the resorts 5-star PADI scuba diving center. And you both can learn how to prepare a full Thai meal with staff-led cooking classes. More creative couples can partake in the art of Kae-Sa-Luk, Thai fruit and vegetable carving. Book your stay online 40 days in advance between now and December 20, and receive 20% off and daily breakfast buffet for two with the Early Bird Bonus special package. Nightly rates begin at $270 for a Deluxe Garden Terrace room.
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