AM/PM NEWS from AMPR: Issue #3 2021

May 25th, 2021

Welcome to the latest issue of AM/PM NEWS. We’re confident you’ve treated your moms to indulging treats earlier this month and have brilliant ideas for dads (friendly reminder: June 20 is father’s day). But how about self-gifting?! We shared some well-deserved, travel-inspired options for you – and your four-legged friends – that are only a click away. As travelers are looking to get their hands dirty and immerse in nature more than ever, we picked top foraging experiences from New England to Europe to Africa. We hear someone has a big birthday coming up: 245, that is. What better place to celebrate it from than Washington, D.C.?! Even though the Summer Olympics will look and feel different this year, we are inspired by all the athletes as well as a chef who knows a thing or two about an Olympian diet (hint: 6,000-seat Olympic Village cafeteria in Athens). There are so many city hotels we love, but for this issue, we highlighted three favorites that offer something a bit extra with their outdoor spaces.

TREAT YOURSELF:

The new exclusive dog collection from the Fife Arms in Scotland might convince everyone to own a dog. All made with the house tweed, created by Scottish textile designer Araminta Campbell, the selection includes a chic coat (£32.50), almost-too-pretty-to-chew bone (£12.50), and a wool and leather leash (£35). As a way to give back to the restaurant workers across Napa Valley, author Jess Lander and Feed Napa Now (a coalition feeding families across the region) have teamed up to create The Essential Napa Valley Cookbook ($39.95). If you love coffee as much as we do, try the sustainable custom blend by Nayara in Costa Rica, created in collaboration with master roaster Ken Palmer, who trained alongside Alfred Peet of Peet’s Coffee ($28 for 500g).

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE:

Even though it has gained Instagram-worthy attention in recent years, foraging was a way of life for our ancestors. Going back to basics require expertise, so consider: Dromoland Castle in Ireland for a hands-on lesson in harvesting seaweed; distill essential oils with a medical nutrologist at UXUA in Trancoso; explore the Scottish Highlands with Fife Arms’ in-house forager for plants that can be transformed into teas; turn to andBeyond’s guides on the Masai Mara for wild flora that will do wonders for a toothache; or learn how to shock an oyster in Nantucket, where Retsyo Oysters are cultivated just 300 yards away from The Wauwinet hotel on the northeast shore.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA:

When America celebrates its 245th birthday this July, the capital has myriad options for history buffs and curious minds alike of all ages. Check out the recently-renovated Martin Luther King, Jr. Library as well as the 4700-piece, 100-year-old Phillips Collection. Where to Stay? The Dupont Circle, where interior architect Martin Brudnizki and Irish designer Clodagh are behind the new look, offers hand-picked ‘Slice of the City’ experiences that range from “24 Hours In” to special exhibitions. For an Instagram-dream, outdoor cocktail indulgence, check out Doyle Bar’s new terrace instillation by The House of Suntory. One of our favorites from the special cocktail menu by the famed Japanese spirits brand is ‘ice cream parlor’ with Haku vodka, passion fruit and Morenko’s honey lavender ice cream.

GOLD MEDAL GOES TO:

Kalesma is the newest opening in Mykonos. The suite and villa property, where each accommodation has unobstructed views of the Aegean Sea, is the only hotel in the world with Rick Owens furniture, welcoming guests at the lobby. In addition to the bread oven, giving a nod to more than 70 types of bread in Greece, Chef Costa Tsingas, former executive chef in charge of Greek food at the Olympic village for the Athens Olympics, focuses on extremely traditional raw materials and cooking techniques for light and ingredient-centered dishes. His pantry essentials include oregano, gigantes (beans), honey, yogurt, stafides (raisins and currants), krokos (saffron), ambelofila (grape leaves), phyllo, kefalotyri, manouri and feta cheese, and of course, olive oil and olives. The hotel’s wine collection has some rare options, including Pure Santorini 2014 and Thalassitis vythismenos Gaia 2015.

CITY HOTELS WE LOVE:

Beyond the far flung and remote destinations, cities will also make a comeback. Especially those that offer privacy, extra space and outdoor offerings. Royal Mansour in Marrakech is a quiet retreat near many cultural institutions, including Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Guests are welcomed with an open-air courtyard, nearly four acres of lush gardens and private multi-story riads (not your typical hotel room here) with rooftop plunge pools dotted along petal-pink pathways. London is always a good idea! When the city reopens, Americans might be lured with Belmond’s address in the city, The Cadogan, with its exclusive access to the private 8.5-acre Cadogan Estate Gardens — one of the largest garden squares in Chelsea and home to acres of sunny lawns, sculptures, a ‘pollinator meadow’, tennis courts and a playground. When La Réserve Geneva, the first hotel under the La Réserve brand (others are in Paris, Ramatuelle, Zurich), opened its doors in 2003, it was an unexpected newcomer to the city due to its tucked-away location and design. The property is located on a 10-acre park on the shores of Lac Léman. Its interiors, designed by Jacques Garcia, are inspired by an African game reserve, with animal print carpets and sculpted elephant heads.

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