all the dish that’s fit to print
spotlight on sue harmsworth
Today is International Women’s Day and it’s very clear that Mother Nature has been notified as it is the most gorgeous spring day here in New York City – finally!
It’s also a very appropriate day to recognize strong independent females, like Sue Harmsworth, the CEO and founder of the global spa company ESPA International. Sue has been working in the spa industry for over 40 years and has consulted on nearly 200 spas in over 60 countries worldwide since she started ESPA in 1993 – quite the accomplishment!
Here is a little advice and insight from Ms. Harmsworth for all women to absorb and consider: “I have a very female workforce globally and try to mentor them in how to deal with the stress of modern life. I believe that if you are straight with people it is much easier in the long run. The world is very small and any attempt to cover up will always be found out. If you don’t know something, don’t pretend that you do. Respect other cultures and don’t think our way is the best. Be open to new ideas and people who know better. We never stop learning; I learn something new every day. Have a curiosity about everything and everybody and be aware of everything around you. Assume nothing, what you say is often heard in a different way. Believe in yourself, many people can achieve great things.”
Right on, Sue, and Happy International Women’s Day!
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friday freebies for facebook fans
Calling all Facebookers! COMO Hotels & Resorts is offering an exclusive deal only available to its loyal Facebook fans. Reserve a room at Uma Ubud in Bali and receive a special rate of $160 per night, per room (exclusive of tax).
Now it’s easy (and affordable!) for you to take that last-minute breather from winter. Offering is available from March 1-31. Not a COMO fan yet? You still have time, click here. For more information, e-mail the Uma Reservations Team at res.ubud@uma.como.bz.
…and that’s not all!
The picturesque White Elephant hotel on Nantucket is now on Facebook. Become a fan, and you can enter to win access to Nantucket’s “it” event for gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike – The 2010 Nantucket Wine Festival.
One lucky couple will have the chance to win:
- 4 day/3 night stay in a luxurious White Elephant Suite or a one-bedroom White Elephant Hotel Residence
- Two tickets to the following events:
- Thursday: Harbor Gala on the White Elephant Lawn, featuring over 30 wineries and restaurants
- Friday: The Ultimate Seafood Seminar
- Friday: Six-course Wine Dinner at TOPPER’S at The Wauwinet featuring Pride Vineyards of Nappa Valley
- Saturday: Grand Tasting featuring wines from over 150 world-class wineries
- Sunday Brunch for two at Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant featuring the infamous “Make Your Own” Bloody Mary Bar
Hurry, become a Fan by April 18 to enter to win!
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your body after all the after-parties
We love the holiday party circuit, but after all is said and done, our bodies are left thoroughly damaged. No sleep, too much food and drink, and full hair and makeup for every event leave our hair looking lack-luster, our bodies a bit bloated, and our visage dull – not a pretty picture!
Here are ESPA’s 20-minute fixes to help combat the after-holiday body blues:
To Strengthen Fried Hair
This hair and scalp treatment gives luster and manageability to dry, damaged, and chemically treated hair.
20-Minute Fix: Massage onto dry scalp and smooth a second layer through the hair and leave on for 20 minutes before washing off.
To Slim a Bloated Body
This algae-rich seaweed bath is great for those trying to detox or slim down as it acts as a lymphatic circulatory stimulant that eliminates bloating and fluid retention.
20-Minute Fix: Add two capfuls twice weekly to a warm bath and immerse body for 20 minutes before cleansing as usual.
To Brighten a Tired Face
This cleansing mask is made with natural clays, minerals, and essential oils that draw out skin impurities while rebalancing moisture levels and refreshing the skin without it ever becoming dry and flaky.
20-Minute Fix: Apply a generous layer over the entire face, neck, and décolleté and leave on for 15-20 minutes before washing off with warm water.
All products are available online at ESPA’s revamped website www.espaonline.com or at ESPA spas worldwide, including The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York.
For more information or samples of the above, please e-mail janet@alicemarshall.com or call 212 861 4031.
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winter deals in caribbean and mexico
It’s that time of the year: the leaves are gone, and Starbucks has the gall to bring out its holiday cups. So, at the risk of getting ahead of ourselves, we wanted to send out two new deals for the Caribbean and Mexico for early 2010 (!) escapes.
On the Riviera Maya, Rosewood Mayakobá just announced its ‘5 for 4’ offer for stays from January 3 through May 10, 2010. This is available for all room categories. The fifth (consecutive) night is complimentary, and the only blackout date is March 3 to 7, 2010. The resort just won a Five Diamond Award for 2010, on top of a slew of others, but the real reason to go is the tequila library.
More details and reservations here or call 888-ROSEWOOD
In Turks & Caicos, Parrot Cay has several new offers for stays from January 10 through September 8, 2010: ‘7 for 5,’ ‘4 for 3,’ and then 25% off of any of its packages. These are applicable to all room categories. Its packages include the Stress Management Program and the Ayurvedic Program at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, the all-inclusive Sun and Seclusion, and then the new Babymoon and Romantic Runaway packages.
More details and reservations here or call 649-946-7788
After last winter, we are resolved to build in some warm sun & turquoise water getaways this year. After all, the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte only gets you so far.
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pilates for the people
Who says you have to be a celebrity to go on a wellness retreat? Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand thinks everyone deserves some serious R & R, so they have designed two Wellness 360 Sentiré Retreat Packages that, from October 5-12th and 12-19th, include 7 nights for the price of 5.
Experience the powerful rejuvenating effects of Pilates with renowned A-List instructor Kirstin Ferrie, personal trainer to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. A ten-year veteran of the craft, Kristin is the first teacher from the UK to be gold certified with the Pilates Method Alliance. Take daily yoga class and learn to meditate with Kate Guthrie, who is known for her creative, playful nature and relaxed classes that are accessible to students of all levels. Whether you need some deep-tissue work or want to try traditional Shiatsu massage, Dale Husted is your man. After an hour of his hands, you’ll be completely energized. And don’t forget your consultations with Naturopath Dr. Gopal and Ayurvedic expert Kavitha Hulmani. They’ll enlighten you about holistic medicine and the body’s ability to heal itself.
All this learning could work up an appetite, but who wants to ruin their new training with a burger and fries? Anantara has thought of everything; this package also includes a cooking class with Kelly Brennan, the resort chef, who will instruct on how to prepare “wellness” cuisine.
For more package details, see our original post.
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things that go bump in the night
Rattling pipes, creaky floorboards, and strange noises in general – these can all be part of staying somewhere other than one’s own bed. However, here’s a collection of places where there’s an actual reason for the sounds – ghosts! Get into the Halloween spirit this October with a stay in or visit to some of these haunted hotels and houses. Boo!
Jared Coffin House – Nantucket, MA
Check into Room 223 to bunk in with the ghost of a Whaling Captain (an experience you arguably can’t get at the nearby Whaling Museum!). Guests of Room 609 meanwhile have had nighttime visits from the apparition of a little girl. Other ghosts are known to roam the halls and rooms of the historic property in the heart of Nantucket town. Not a believer? Just ask the Innkeeper who has had a few “run-ins” with said spirits, including being pushed from behind while working the front desk – alone!
Homes and Buildings of the UK National Trust (Visit for Free as a Member of The Royal Oak Foundation)
Crown Liquor Saloon – Belfast
Sharing a ’snug,’ (an individual wooden booth) with ghosts is not exactly the idea when meeting friends for drinks. On Great Victoria Street in the center of Belfast, tales of the haunted saloon are quite common. The Crown Liquor Saloon acted as a haven for weary Great Northern Railway travelers centuries ago, and the old watering hole still plays host to Victorian-era haunts today. One visitor recalled sitting with three ghostly men and a woman in one of the famed booths while waiting for her friends to arrive for cocktails.
Ham House – Surrey
“All Dogs Go to Heaven” may be the case for most; however, for one King Charles Spaniel, Ham House is his final resting place. The dog’s portrait hangs in the gallery, but a livelier version of the pooch can be “seen” meandering the halls. A recent investigation by the Ghost Club, a paranormal research organization based in London, concluded that there may be as many as fifteen ghouls (not to mention other ghostly dogs) dwelling in the property. The property kindly requests you leave your Fido at home.
The Old Post Office – Tintagel, Cornwall
The flickering lights in the old post office didn’t deter the custodians from their daily duties. However, it did inspire the use of the antique Spagnolli receiver, a predecessor to morse code, to make sense of the flashing lights in the converted manor house. The flashes spelled out the word “Noah” repeatedly – eerily enough, the surname of a previous resident.
Blickling Hall – Norfolk
“Oh, the lady signed for it… the lady in the Dining Room,” said two delivery men returning a painting to the estate home. The house administrator was supposedly the only person living in Blickling Hall at the time, so who could the ghost have been but that of Anne Boleyn, who called the property her childhood home. Following her inability to bear a male heir for Henry VIII, Anne was executed. Yet on the anniversary of her death each year, visitors can expect to see her ghost. The ‘Grey Lady,’ a nickname given to the apparition for her long grey dress with lace collar, has been spotted looking across the lake and riding up the drive in a coach drawn by a headless horseman.
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cheers to joe gomes – 50 years and the perfect pour
LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR
A keen ear and an ability to talk to anyone has served Joe Gomes well over the years at Park Hyatt Toronto – 50 years to be exact. That’s how long he has been behind the bar at the hotel’s Roof Lounge. Built in the 1940’s, the Roof Lounge was the second bar in the city to receive a cocktail license. The deep suede wall coverings, rich leathers, fireplace, and faint jazz soundtrack give it a 1950’s Rat Pack vibe. Over the years, Joe has shaken and stirred his renowned martinis for famed guests like Jane Russell, John Wayne, and even the Queen.
He admits to the Globe and Mail that part of being a bartender is being a psychologist. He often takes the glass is half-full approach, asking what is there really to complain about? “You’re here enjoying your drink. The bar is filled with good people. How bad can things really be?” Joe still works the 5pm-2am shift with no plans of quitting anytime soon. Talk about stamina, this September will be his 34th year serving celebs and industry giants at the parties that overtake the roof top during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Get an inside peek at Joe’s life behind the bar here.
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date me!
Think you have a dating problem?? Think again!! The Liwa Date Festival is one event where you are sure not to be singled out! Held annually just outside of the city of Abu Dhabi, the Liwa Date Festival pays homage to this deliciously sticky fruit and the date palm from which it hails. This year’s festival runs from July 17 to the 26, drawing thousands of farmers, brokers, and date fanatics alike to see the best of this year’s crop in the largest date festival in the United Arab Emirates. As part of the festivities, 140 couples are expected to be married in a group wedding on Friday, July 24, in the Liwa wedding hall.
If you can’t make it to Abu Dhabi in time to get hitched at this year’s date festival, be sure to check it out next July! Etihad Airways offers non-stop service from three North American hubs (New York, Chicago, and Toronto), so getting there will be a breeze. And, be sure to shack up in the most impressive resort on the block….the soon-to-be-opened Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, just a 90-minute drive from the city of Abu Dhabi. Featuring the ultimate in luxurious desert living accommodations, you’ll definitely want to check it out. No dates required.
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vogue on summertime escapes
We all know that last-minute travel is trendy in 2009. Some of those who would normally book holidays six months out are waiting until the 11th hour to pick a spot, pack up, and go.
Vogue blogged about last-minute escapes this week. Not your run-of-the-mill weekend getaways but far-flung jaunts into worlds more exotic than our own, like Florence and Beirut.
One of the chosen is La Reserve Ramatuelle, opened a few weeks ago in the South of France. Sitting up in the Mediterranean hills, it takes in the heady views of the sea. As an added flourish, it’s the first spa featuring La Mer products in all of France. Vive la France- and the summer escape.
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move over metro
Reduce your carbon footprint and cover more ground around the capital with Park Hyatt Washington’s complimentary Bicycles at the Park program. Available for hotel guests, the rentals last four hours, allowing plenty of time for a scenic ride, and perhaps a picnic lunch. The new hybrid bicycles are comfortable and sturdy, no matter the terrain. For a leisurely ride, we suggest the flat towpath along the canal. For a more intense workout, try a rugged trail in Rock Creek Park. An historic route to take is the Mount Vernon Trail, which starts at Roosevelt Island and follows the Potomac River to Washington’s famous estate at Mount Vernon, and along the way goes through Old Town Alexandria (a perfect lunch spot) and Fort Hunt Park. The concierge will be sure to put you on the right path with a city biking map, bike lock, helmet, kickstand, and bottled water.
Bicycles at the Park will continue to be unveiled at more Park Hyatts around the world. We’ll keep you posted!
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