While I’ll be partaking in a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year (i.e homemade with all the fixings), for those who wish to skip the countless hours of preparation and dirty dishes, the website Open Table has put together a list of restaurants in the Los Angeles area offering turkey dinner. Check it out here and see if anything strikes your fancy!
Okay, so I know that that is not how Hal David actually wrote that but I thought Santa Fe replaced San Jose quite nicely. Before making her way to Washington DC, my sister resided briefly in New Mexico. Until then, I had never really found any reason to venture to those parts of the Southwest. During her time there, I had the pleasure of making the rounds of New Mexico and it was then that I fell in love with the beautiful town of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Like so many others before me, I was taken by the spectacular topography, arts and culture which make Santa Fe a destination that continues to draw people from all over the world. Because of the city’s thriving tourist population, there is no shortage of beautiful hotels and restaurants to explore. Here are a handful of places worth staying and eating upon arrival.
Where to stay:
This Inn is owned by the Rosewood Group ( the fab hotel group behind San Ysidro Ranch) so you know it is going to be good stuff. Located right smack in the middle of the main square in Santa Fe, you will find no better located hotel if you are looking to be in the heart of it all. Decorated in traditional pueblo style, each of the Inn’s 58 rooms offers luxury amenities and kiva fireplaces. While there is no shortage of great food in Santa Fe, the Inn boasts one of the best and most reputable restaurants in the city, simply called: The Anasazi Restaurant and Bar.
Encantando is pretty new to Santa Fe. It only opened in July of 2008 but it has already garnered tons of well-deserved attention. Encantando is more secluded and resort-like than the Inn of Anasazi so you will need a car to take you to the town’s center. Set in the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains, this 65 “casita” resort boasts views of the stunning mountains as well as the the Rio Grand River and Valley. (Duran, Duran..eat your heart out!). Wood burning fireplaces, soaking tubs and flat screen adorn each room and there is a great spa on site along with several dining options. If you are looking to have a tad more romance and relaxation, Encantado might be your best option.
Where to Eat:
Lunch
1. Tia Sophia’s
2. Pasqual’s
Dinner
1. The Anasazi Restaurant and Bar
3. Coyote Cafe
Here are a couple of other snaps of the city, taken by my o-so talented Brother-in-law, Alex Thorne. He also snapped that awesome pic of the truck in the beginning of the piece as well. Did I mention Santa Fe is home to over 230 art galleries? Just making sure….
In the November issueof Bon Appetite, there is a great article on ten country inn’s specializing in gourmet cooking. Click below to read. There are some great places on the list and I felt it was worth circulating:
http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2008/11/culinary_country_inns
I have always been a fan of mid-century modern furniture. My house is filled with pieces I have purchased over the years. Sadly, getting a piece of good quality mid-century modern furniture can be quite pricey. In my quest to bring my costs down, I went on the hunt for a great store that specializes in mid-century inspired furnishings along with replications of pieces from that era. That place is a store in LA called Room Service.
Owners John and Taryn Bernard design most of the furniture themselves and most of the pieces can be customized. I have shopped there for years and have always been satisfied. I was delighted to find that in addition to being a furniture store, they also own and operate five vacation properties in the Los Angeles and Palm Spring area. Each properties is different, but their design is rooted in classic mid-century modern style. All of the furnishings are provided by Room Service. These homes are funky, retro, luxurious and just down-right cool. Their one LA property is located in the Hollywood Hills, and it is appropriately titled “The Pad”. It features views of the Hollywood sign, three king bedrooms, flat screen TVs, a Bose sound-system and Sub-Zero appliances. It is a perfect place to throw a private party or spend a week relaxing.
Casa Verona, The White House, The Pink Door, The Lodge and The Park complete their collection and these are all located in Palm Springs. In two weeks I will be heading to Casa Verona for the weekend (more on that when I return) and I am really excited about it. I have to say, for the how cool and well-appointed these places are, they are really well-priced. All the Palm Springs locations are three and four bedrooms and feature pools and spa’s, BBQ’s Fireplaces and more just generally awesome stuff. Prices vary by house but winter rates go for about 3,000 per week and summer rates drop down a but from there. Unfortunately, I am unable to grab pics off their website to show you just how great these homes really are but click here and you will be taken to their website with a full photo gallery of each property. Prepare to be transported to another place and time.
This past trip to NYC, I spent a lot of time on the Lower East Side. Since I was there to attend the music festival CMJ, it made sense that I would focus my trip in that area as all the clubs have been relegated there. The Lower East Side is constantly evolving and in the few short months since my last visit, a whole new crop of restaurants have popped up. One of the standouts is a new eatery called Allen & Delancey. Not surprisingly, it is located on the corner of ..er..Allen and Delancey. Although the name is straight forward, the cuisine is anything but. I haven’t seen this creative of a menu in a really long time. Before I get to that though, I need to spend a minute on the restaurant decor.
Allen & Delancey is exactly the type of restaurant I look for when I go to NYC. It is a perfect ante dote to the busy, bustling and noisy city. The restaurant, which is tucked at the end of Allen street, is really non-descript from the outside. If you blink, you just might miss it. There is no sign to speak of.. just the soft glow of dim lights peeking out behind thick curtains. Step behind those curtains and you enter into a cozy den lit mainly by burning candles. The effect is wonderful- a perfect refuge to escape the madness of the city. We showed up rather late for dinner so we were able to get our pick of tables. We settled on a quiet corner table, settled in and began our eating adventure.
I was feeling open-minded that night and I feel like that might be the best way to approach Allen & Delancey. The menu is really interesting and in almost every dish, there was one ingredient I have never heard of. There is actually an appetizer which contains leaves. ( I did not order it, I was not feeling like foliage). What I did decide on for a starters was caramelized bone marrow, caviar and shallot puree. It is considered one of their “signature” dishes and I can see why. It is truly delicious. Each flavor was delicate and subtle and they blended together seamlessly. Neil Ferguson, who spent a good deal of time under the tutelage of Gordan Ramsey, has really done an amazing job conjuring up a brilliant menu.
For my mains, I moved on to lamb chops with braised middleneck, olives and tomato confit. The lamb was made to perfection and the braised middle neck provided a nice compliment to the lamb. I completed my meal with a delicious Syrah recommended by the fabulous wait staff. I was totally taken by Allen & Delancey. It’s a really, really well done restaurant tat combines great food with incredibly warm decor. It’s a tad on the pricey side but it is worth it..particularly if you are looking for a romantic place to take your significant other. This place is tops. Dinner for two w/ a glass of wine $160.00.
Allen & Delancey - 115 Allen Street. NY, NY 10002
Uggh! Update! It turns out that Neil Ferguson has resigned from his post as head chef of Allen& Delancey as of October 28th, 2008. He is moving to the Soho House. Hopefully the restaurant will remain faithful to his delicious recipes. See here for full details on his move.
I am sleepy. It is day 14 of my 15 day journey which has taken me everywhere from Washington DC to NYC to Palm Springs. I am sleepy…can I say that again? The good news is that in the final leg of a fairly exhausting journey, I got lucky and get to stay in one of my favorite places in California: The Parker Palm Springs. It’s been a couple years since I visited the property and I am happy to say that the hotel has stayed on the up and up. The Parker remains one of the most unique, well decorated and comfortable places in the Palm Springs area.
Since I am here for a work retreat, I have been spending A LOT of time on the thirteen acre property. I have hit every pool, lemonade stand, croquet field and bar this place has to offer. I sat by the fire pit. I rode bikes. I dined at Mr. Parker’s. I sat in the steam room. I have left no Parker stone unturned. It has been fabulous. Here is why it is so great; The Parker has managed to create an amazing vibe. At every turn, there is a an undiscovered space which is private, luxurious, funky and lounge-tastic.
I think this is best attributed to designer Jonathan Adler, who spared no expense (both creatively and probably financially) when setting out to design The Parker. Adler is a designer known for conjuring up a vibe from year’s past and when I say his signature style is reminiscent of something you would have found in the living rooms of Janis Joplin and Jimmy Hendrix in 1969, I ain’t lying. Immediately upon entering the enormous red-orange doors to the resort, you enter into a design time warp. Adler left no detail out and the result is a really fun time.
While the rooms are comfortable, calm and inviting, I would urge you ( if you can stand the heat) to spend as much time in the common spaces as possible, as this is where the Parker really shines. An added bonus of venturing from your room is that the Parker staff is very accommodating and friendly. I have wanted for nothing since I have been here. The night receptionist actually remembers my name, it’s like Cheer’s in here. Okay, I am gushing…it’s a sign of my lack of sleep. Night Night.
This review may be slightly biased as I am writing it as I lie on the hotel’s oh so comfy bed while staring out my wall of floor to ceiling windows at the stunning NYC skyline. Whatever potential negatives I may feel about the hotel are slowly slipping in to the distance and being replaced by dreamy views of what is shaping up to be a gorgeous Fall day in New York City. With that disclaimer, let me begin.
Thompson LES (Lower East side) is the latest in the series of Thompson Hotels which have popped up everywhere from Toronto and LA, to DC and Sonoma. Thompson may be becoming a chain but let me tell you, these hotels are no Holiday Inn. I have had the pleasure of staying in many of their places over the years and while they all possess a classy sophistication, each is unique in their design and aesthetic. Sure, there are certain hallmarks that I might call signature-dimly lit rooms, modern and slightly Asian inspired decor-but each possess certain attributes that prohibit the guest from ever feeling like they are staying in a chain hotel. There is always something fresh and exciting about each one.
The signature feature of Thompson LES is the stunning view of Manhattan from many of it’s guest rooms. Since I am here during their soft opening, I was able to afford what I now know is one of the nicer rooms. It is a 12th floor corner room with a balcony and 180 degree views stretching from Wall Street all the way Uptown. (Room 1200) No matter how many times I come to New York, seeing the Empire State Building all lit up never fails to make me swoon. I intend to enjoy this view as I know it may be a long time before I ever return to Room 1200.
The rooms themselves are actually rather spacious- a growing anomaly in NYC. I have a king bed and despite this, there is still plenty of room to situate yourself. There is even a chair in which you can recline and enjoy the view, make phone calls or work on your laptop using the FREE wireless provided by the hotel. Thank God someone is listening and making Wi-Fi free to its guests. As I mentioned in other posts, not providing Wi-Fi is a serious hotel faux pas. If McDonalds can provide it in their restaurants (highest price point 6.99) then so can a luxury hotel. Anyway - I digress.
There is a ginormous flat screen and an IPOD dock so that should satisfy all the gadget people out there. For the ladies, there are Kiels products in the bathroom as well as fluffy robes for some after shower comfort. My only critique would be the bathroom design, which is slightly small and really dark. It feels even more dark because the room is so bright thanks to those floor to ceiling windows flanking one wall of the room. It’s a little hard to see in there when trying to apply makeup. There is rain shower though, which I do like.
The rest of the room is well apointed and comfortable - it is decorted in dark woods with classic crisp white linens on the bed. The mattress is perfectly firm and I had a fantastic nights sleep. If I were going to quibble with the design, I might only take issue with the lighted picture of a snowy tree on the wall. It makes the room, which on all other fronts feels quite warm, semi-cold. All in all, Thompson LES is a winner. The staff are pretty up to speed for only having opened two months ago. They were friendly and helpful. In the coming months, there will be a restaurant and bar coming in as well as room service for their guests. For now, I will settle in, enjoy the view and relax.
PS. Since my unfortunate run in with Barcelona thieves, I have not had a chance to replace my digital camera. The best I can do for now is my camera phone! I think it does the view from my room semi-justice!
As Fall is upon us, I think it might be the appropriate time to begin fantasizing about that ski vacation on the horizon. I have been a skier since I was four and generally speaking, my accommodations were rarely hotels. Usually it was a rented condo, and it was filled to the brim with family and friends, who had all gathered to hit the slopes.
Fast forward twenty years and things have changed slightly. Namely, I don’t have too many friends who ski so it can be tough to get the condo thing together. Because of that, I have increasing turned to hotels as my primary choice of accommodation. What I have found is that the idea of the “Chalet” had evolved immensely over the years. Many modern hotels have sprung up over the US that are either on or near the slopes. Here are a few of my favorites:
1.Stein Eriksen - Dear Valley, Utah
I had heard about Stein Eriksen for many years as this mythical winter wonderland and lo and behold, it actually is. Set at the end of a mountain road, which winds up from the base of Park City, the lodge sits almost entirely isolated from all other houses. As we rode up, twinkling white lights wrapped around trees lit our path and after a short while, the giant lodge was sprawled before us. Beautiful, classic and cozy, the lodge exudes all the things that I crave in a ski resort: A warm fire, a killer view and a sense of serenity.
2.Resort at Squaw Creek - Squaw Valley, CA
Okay, first things first. In addition to being ski in/ski out with it’s own private chairlift, this resort has an ice skating rink! Seriously? An ice skating rink? I am sold. But really, this recently renovated and gorgeous lodge is a winter sportsman’s (or woman’s) dream. In the summer, there is golf and fly-fishing. In the winter, there is on-site access to downhill skiing and cross country skiing. For those who’s ambitions lie in more indoor territory, there is an excellent spa as well. Besides regular deluxe rooms, the property also has one and two bedroom bi-level penthouses complete with full kitchens and floor to ceiling plate glass windows. Swoon!
Upon visting Sky Hotel’s website, you are congratulated for finding your way into “Aspen Chic”. Personally, I am not sure that is such a good thing but what I will say is that if you go there, you will have found your way into a really hip hotel near some very good skiing. Aspen can definitely be faulted for it’s silly Hollywood flair but at it’s core, it is still some of the best skiing in Colorado. What sets Sky Hotel apart is that it takes the traditional ski lodge and turns it on its end. The exterior is everything you would want in an alpine lodge - lots of timber- but it’s interiors reflect a more modern edge than most places. Another plus is that it is pet-friendly, which is a great because dogs love room service (just kidding). What’s best about the hotel is it’s shared spaces. The lounge and pool(heated!) are particularly welcoming and have a great ambiance for relaxing apres-ski.
Enjoy and may the snow begin to fall.
It’s been a wild ride in the outside world this week. When I am not endlessly fretting about the impending presidential election, I am struggling to sort out what is going on in our financial markets. Somewhere between watching the Dow hover between “oh shit” and ”HOLY FUCK”, I had a minute to ponder how this impending recession (some say depression) will affect the way people (and me) write about travel. Is travel a need or a luxury? For me, it is a need. I need that inspiration that comes with every new city, country, hotel, culture and person you might meet along the way. When I don’t travel, I feel stagnent, bored and ansy. I truly believe that exploring a new place is an instant mood-lifter, a healthier alternative to say, pills?
I am struggling a bit right now to find the balance of making this blog relevent in such uncertain times but I can only hope that people can see the value that travel holds. Some of the best experiences of my life, which have undoubtedly shaped my personal development, began in a single trip. I am sure many of you can say the same thing. I guess it is time now to get inventive as to where the money is spent. Perhaps it’s time to explore South and Central America, South East Asia and other places where our dollar still holds great value. Maybe we explore our country in depth, as America has some breathtakingly beautiful parts. As a Californian, I am always amazed at how much natural beauty surrounds me so closely that I rarely take advantage of. I suppose in conclusion, I will simply say that I will continue to blog about the things I appreciate most about travel, great food and amazing hotels. However, I will try to be mindful of our current sitution. I will just have to hope people come along for the ride!
