Archive for Around Town

Free Yoga in Five Fabulous Parks

April 10, 2013 / / Comments Off

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As spring gets into full swing (or even a slight swing), we can’t help but think about ways we can soak up the sunshine. Thankfully, the Casa Moderna Miami Hotel & Spa provided inspiration for a fun outdoor activity that combines stress-relief with a sun-sensational setting. Bayfront Park, not far from the hotel, provides free yoga. Free yoga? In a park? That’s right. And as it turns out, it’s not the only city that offers such a sweet deal. Classes are free, but bring your own yoga mat, water bottle and towel.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Bayfront Park, Miami: Classes start at 6:00PM on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9:00AM on Saturdays.

Bryant Park, New York City: Lululemon athletica provides free instruction in a fashionable setting. Classes start in May.

Republic Square, Austin: Classes are currently scheduled for Wednesdays in April, May, September and October from 12:00PM to 1:00PM.

Runyon Canyon, Los Angeles: Classes occur 3 to 5 times each day.

Dolores Park, San Francisco: Classes take place at 11:00AM every Sunday.

*Since all of these events take place outside, cancellations may occur due to bad weather.

Category: Around Town, Fit & Fabulous / Tags: , , , , , ,

Cave Hotels We Can’t Help But Dig

April 4, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Doesn’t everyone dream of dining in a 13th-century deconsecrated church and slumbering in a prehistoric, candlelit cave dwelling? At Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita hotel in Matera, Italy, these dreams become reality. (Plus, the views of the expansive, archaeological Park of the Murgia Matera from natural terraces make the jet lag totally worth it.) Here are a few other cavernous escapes we think you should carve out some time to see:

Photo courtesy of Uniq Hotels.com

Les Hautes Roches, France

This former-monastery-turned-stylish-hotel features 12 rooms set in caves on the banks of the Loire. And when you’re ready to come up for air, the sunny terrace and pool (and bar sculpted into rock) are simply divine.

Photo courtesy of Squeezed Daily

The Caves, Jamaica

Though the hotel’s guest cottages are above ground, the hotel is built along cave-peppered cliffs that drop into the sea. So, in between an Aveda spa treatment and a candlelit dinner at the cave restaurant, guests can cool off by swimming in and out of the caverns below.

Photo courtesy of The Cave Hotel

Cappadocia Cave Suites, Turkey

Carved from 3 of Cappadocia’s remarkable “fairy chimneys” (thin spires of rock), the hotel’s 18 suites meld Hittite, Roman and Byzantine architecture with 21st-century amenities and breathtaking views of the Goreme Valley.

Category: Around Town, Great Outdoors / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Five Fabulous Food Tours

March 29, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Within walking distance of Seattle’s Pike Place Market—and its dizzying array of fresh produce, sensational seafood and unique eateries—the Hyatt at Olive 8 inspired us to find the best ways to get a taste of a city. And food tours became our answer.

Photos courtesy of Chicago Food Planet Tours, Savor Seattle, Michelle Topor’s Boston Food Tours and Foods of New York Tours

Here are a few of our favorite guided gourmet walking tours:

Savor Seattle Pike Place Market Food and Cultural Tour: Sample more than 16 bites and sips—including crab cakes, chowder and cheese—during a 2-hour tour of this 105-year-old landmark.

Chinatown San Francisco Tours: Try Dim Sum, fortune cookies, teas and more on a 3-hour tour of this popular neighborhood.

Chicago Food Planet Bucktown/Wicker Park Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: Visit 6 authentic mom-and-pop establishments and ethnic eateries in this local artists’ community.

Michele Topor’s Boston North End Market Tour: Experience life in “Little Italy” as a local, with stops at a green grocer, salumeria, pasticcerias and an enoteca.

Foods of New York Tours Chelsea Market/Meatpacking District: Explore this 112-year-old-landmark building (the birthplace of the Oreo!) and became an insider on gourmet foods and flavors.

 

Category: Around Town, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Celebrate St. Patrick with Irish Pubs around the Country!

March 17, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day, fellow travelers! Here in Boston, we’re lucky enough to get front-row access to the second-largest parade in the country: The South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Boston’s also home to a slew of famous Irish pubs, like the Eire Pub (located just a hop, skip and a jump from Nine Zero, a Kimpton Hotel). In addition to touting pints of Guinness and hot lunches, Eire Pub is known for playing host to Presidents Clinton and Reagan. But Boston isn’t the only city that embraces the Emerald Isle; here are 3 more pubs across the country that we can all say “Sláinte” in.

Photos courtesy of Butch McGuire’s, The Dubliner and Molly Malone’s

{From left}

Chicago: One of Chi-Town’s original “singles bars,” Butch McGuire’s is said to have brought together over 5,000 couples. And if you’re not looking for a wee bit of lovin’, at least stop by for their signature Irish coffee.

Washington, D.C: Named after the famous James Joyce novel, The Dubliner is an authentic Celtic pub that serves up traditional drinks and dishes alongside nightly Irish jigs, ballads and more.

Los Angeles: Raise a glass at Molly Malone‘s! This dimly-lit brick-and-wood venue is a hot spot for live local and Irish music.

Category: Around Town, In Season / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Favorite Seaside Towns

March 15, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Camden, Maine, has everything you want in a coastal village. Scenic views from Mt. Battie, a quaint and bustling downtown featuring unique shops, outstanding local seafood, and welcoming Inns and B&Bs like the Camden Maine Stay Inn.

But while Maine may have a lock on charming seaside escapes, it’s hardly the only place travelers can go to get a little oceanside R&R. Here are a few of our favorite coastal getaways:

Clockwise from top left: Carmel shopping, Motif #1 in Rockport, aerial view of Friday Harbor, sunset over Sanibel Island. Photos courtesy of carmelcalifornia.com, Shutterstock, and visitsanjuans.com.

Friday Harbor, Washington – It’s not uncommon to spot an orca or two on your way to Friday Harbor, located in the San Juan Islands between Washington and British Columbia. The town is tranquil, friendly, and a little bit rugged, and features a vibrant arts scene and, of course, plenty of coffee shops.

Rockport, Massachusetts – A walk down Rockport’s famed Bearskin Neck is a must-do. Lined by shops, galleries, and lobster pounds, visitors are rewarded with a memorable view of the Atlantic at the Neck’s end. Don’t miss Motif #1, a famous red structure decorated with buoys, which is said to be the most photographed building in the world.

Sanibel, Florida – This is not Walt Disney’s Sunshine State. Much of Sanibel is set aside as a nature preserve, and its beaches are famous for the pristine and prized seashells that regularly wash up. Oh, and don’t miss the fabulous sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico.

Carmel, CA – Mix a little bit of posh and a whole lot of California you get Carmel, a fog-bound hamlet just south of Monterey. The shopping and dining on Ocean Ave is outstanding, and the long sandy beach is perfect for a stroll. Architecture fans will enjoy spotting Carmel’s unique and often quirky homes near the sea.

Category: Around Town / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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