BOWLED OVER!
Super Bowl XLII comes to Phoenix the first weekend of February, and the city will be bursting at the seams with parties, fans, and celebrities. And the good news is that you don’t need a ticket to the big game to join in the excitement. Here’s our take on the best the weekend has to offer.
BEST REASONS TO PARTY IN THE STREET
Coors Light takes over a swath of downtown Scottsdale for the Coors Light Craftsman Court Scottsdale Block Party, featuring live performances from Boogie Nights on Friday and Otis Day and the Knights on Saturday.
Feb. 1–2
Craftsman Court (between 3rd and 5th avenues)
Anheuser-Busch plays host in another part of downtown Scottsdale for Bud Bowl 2008. Expect the Budweiser Clydesdales and live entertainment on an outdoor stage.
Feb. 1–2
7340 E. Indian Plaza
BEST PLACE TO PRAY FOR A WIN
The 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration is a three-hour jam, featuring roof-raising gospel performers, NFL player testimonials, the all-NFL-player choir, and headliner Patti LaBelle.
Feb. 1
Phoenix Symphony Hall
225 E. Adams St., Phoenix
superbowlgospelcelebration.com
BEST REASONS TO TEMP YOUR TASTE BUDS
The Taste of the NFL dinner invites chefs from each city with an NFL team to cook their specialties, ranging from braised short ribs to the Double Lovin’ Chocolate Spoonful. Guests fork out at least $500 per person; proceeds benefit local and national hunger organizations.
Feb. 2
Phoenix Convention Center
111 N. 3rd St., Phoenix
tasteofthenfl.com
BEST EVENT YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN TO GET INTO
Seats for the Big Ticket Gala, presented by the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, start at $1,250 and go as high as $100,000 for a premium table of ten. (This price also gets you tickets to the big game.) ESPN’s Chris Berman hosts the event, which includes dinner and entertainment from headliner Jay Leno.
Jan. 30
The Phoenician Resort & Spa
6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale
azsuperbowl.com
BEST EVENT THAT DOESN'T COST A DIME
ESPN The Magazine’s Next Big Weekend is an outdoor extravaganza that in past years has featured live stunt shows, sports-themed challenges, and live music.
Feb. 3
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale
BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE GAME IN TV
Not your average neighborhood sports bar, the Fox Sports Grill in North Scottsdale is VIP all the way, with three water walls, two fire pits, a putting green, and more than 50 televisions.
16203 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
foxsportsgrill.com
BEST EVENT FOR KIDS
The NFL Experience Built By The Home Depot is an 850,000-square-foot interactive football theme park complete with sports clinics for the kids, free autograph sessions, more than 50 games, and the largest football card show around.
Jan. 26–27, 31 & Feb. 1–3
(Feb. 3 for Super Bowl ticket holders only)
University of Phoenix Stadium,
West Parking Lot
1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale
nfl.com/superbowl/nflexperience
BEST EVENT YOU CAN'T GET INTO
Playboy is renowned for throwing the hottest Super Bowl parties, rife with
A-list celebs, world-class entertainment, and of course, Bunnies. But alas, unless you hold one of the coveted invitations, you’ll have to take our word for it.
Feb. 2
Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass
5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler
BEST BITE AT THE BAR
The Roaring Fork in Scottsdale serves the town’s best bar food, according to readers of Phoenix Magazine. Don’t skip the appetizer of green chile pork or the grilled grouper tacos.
4800 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale
480.947.0795
roaringfork.com
— Dean Blaine
BOSTON
BONA FIDE BITES
Sample the signature tastes of Bean Town with these picks from the editors of Boston magazine.
Best Boston Baked Beans
Durgin-Park
This Faneuil Hall restaurant has been satisfying hearty Yankee appetites for more than a century. And what could be more satisfying than a heaping helping of Boston baked beans? The key ingredient of this local specialty is the navy bean, Massachusetts’ official state bean. According to Durgin-Park’s Web site, it’s the choice of one out of every five customers.
What Boston said: “Tender and hearty, with a surprising molasses kick, they’re perfect ballast for braving a wicked nor’easter.”
340 Faneuil Hall Market Pl.
617.227.2038
durgin-park.com
Best Boston Cream Pie
Omni Parker House
Omni Parker House
Opened in 1855, the Parker House is America’s longest continuously operating luxury hotel. It’s also home to Parker’s Restaurant, the place where Boston cream pie was invented (along with Parker House rolls and Boston scrod). Today, executive chef Gerry Tice serves up nostalgic cuisine with a contemporary flair.
What Boston said: “Invented…back in the days when men wore top hats and no one had heard of hydrogenated fats, this custard-filled, chocolate-topped sponge cake is the 19th century at its most decadent.”
60 School St.
617.227.8600
omniparkerhouse.com
Best Clam Chowder
Great Bay at Hotel Commonwealth
Located in historic Kenmore Square, Great Bay offers a menu that changes daily. You might find a spicy halibut taco or ratatouille crusted salmon, but you can always order a bowl of New England’s signature soup.
What Boston said: “A pure, fine broth; a smoky backbone of bacon; and plump whole mollusks elevate this above the gluey sludge commonly doled out to tourists.”
500 Commonwealth Ave.
617.532.5300
greatbayrestaurant.com
— Julie Moore
SAN FRANCISCO
WATER MUSIC
Near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, on a little spit of land at the eastern edge of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, lies an adventurously artistic, goofily scientific, and little-known attraction. Walk out to the end, past the sign that declares this is “Not a Through Street,” and you’ll get a glorious view: Alcatraz on one side, the Golden Gate Bridge on the other. In the middle, just in front of you at the ocean’s edge, stands the Wave Organ.
Both a place and an instrument, the Wave Organ is a stone amphitheater with listening tubes that connect to the sea. Put your ear up next to a tube to hear the ocean’s thump, gurgle, and ping, or have a seat in the listening chamber, a stone grotto where you can enjoy stereophonic murmurs from multiple listening tubes. It’s a little like being inside the world’s biggest seashell: whooshing, booming, faraway drums, thunder, and the sound of water swirling.
The organ is the brainchild of George Gonzales and Peter Richard, an artist-in-residence at the city’s interactive science museum, the Exploratorium. The pair constructed it in 1986 using pieces of stone left behind after the city’s Laurel Hill Cemetery moved out of town in 1939. (You can still glimpse pieces of the old gravestones.)
The best time to experience the Wave Organ is at high tide — not always convenient, as high tide often happens in the early morning. But the spot is open 24 hours a day, and you won’t find many people there at any hour. Best of all, the music is free — and always on.
— Ingrid Case
CLICKTIPS
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
These new Web sites are bound to put you ahead of the curve when planning your next vacation.
TVtrip takes the surprise out of booking a room online by posting video clips shot in and around hotels across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. For each participating property, you’ll see video segments showing the various room types, dining areas, facilities like gyms or swimming pools, and the surrounding area outside the hotel. The clips are shot by professional videographers and are designed to give travelers a clear, in-depth look at available hotels before booking. The site also includes written descriptions, lists of amenities, and user reviews for about 1,000 properties in 70 destinations. Check it out at tvtrip.com.
Vine Voyage, launched by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, lets you learn about the wines on the restaurant’s menu before you visit. The site takes you on a virtual vineyard tour and highlights topics such as grape selection, climate control, bottling techniques, and label design. Go to vinevoyage.com.
Digital Driver, created by the Consumer Electronics Association, gives visitors an overview of state laws regarding cell phone use while driving. The goal is to keep drivers safe while alerting them to any potential fines. Learn more at digitaldriver.org.
— Julie Moore
GEORGIA
RUSTIC LUXURY
Part luxury eco-resort, part nature reserve, and part homage to your grandfather’s cabin, Little St. Simon’s Island resort offers guests the chance to commune with nature while enjoying some of the world’s finest hospitality. The rustic lodges and cottages are situated under the shade of a cypress forest, but green meadows, lush marshes, and a long stretch of untouched sandy beach are a short walk or bike ride away.
Accessible only by boat, the resort employs several naturalists who study wildlife and offer talks and tours, both organized and impromptu. Alligator, sea turtles, porpoise, and all manner of birds live on or around the island. In fact, birding enthusiasts consider it to be an important site, especially for viewing shore birds.
The island was once a private family retreat, and each cottage is decorated with simple furniture and accessories to create its own homey flavor. Guests dine family-style in the main lodge. All the meals are prepared by a gourmet chef and are inspired by the local cuisine. Activities include horseback riding, sea kayaking, fishing, and bicycling. Consistently rated at the top of the world’s best resort lists, Little St. Simon’s Island has five cottages with 15 guest rooms, so it never feels crowded, and there’s always a chance to get to know your fellow guests.
The resort is accessible from Savannah or Jacksonville. For more info or to make reservations, call 888.733.5774 or log on to littlestsimonsisland.com.
— Melissa Marshall
LOS ANGELES
ART ON THE MOVE
You don’t have to go to a museum to see great works of art in L.A. Instead, head to the nearest Metro station. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) commissions artists to display various works in unexpected venues like bus stops, rail stations, bus interiors, and construction fences. Best of all, Metro offers free docent-guided tours of the art displayed inside the transit system; several media are represented, including photographic displays, sculpture, and a glass mosaic mural. Guests are taken to several of the 62 participating stations, and Metro selects different combinations of destinations for every outing. So each trip is sure to be unique. Metro is the only transit agency in the world to offer this kind of excursion. You can catch one on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month. To learn more, visit metro.net/art.
— Julie Moore
Hollywood/Vine Station, Hooray for Hollywood, Gilbert “Magu” Lujan, Artist, in collaboration with Miralles Associates Inc., Architects. Courtesy of Metro ©2007 LACMTA
LAS VEGAS
NOW APPEARING
 |
|
PITTSBURGH
A CITY REIMAGINED
Once a run-down steel town, Pittsburgh is finding a new niche as a dining and nightlife capital — thanks in part to several renovated buildings around town that have taken on new and very different lives.
The Church Brew Works
Once an old basilica, this popular restaurant/brewery retains many of the building’s original details — vaulted ceilings, elegant Corinthian pillars, and stained-glass windows. But copper brewing equipment now stands in place of the altar, and a long bar winds its way along one wall. The menu offers a wide selection of gourmet pizzas, wraps, and buffalo burgers. More sinful delights come in pints and stout glasses and include the Pious Monk Dunkel, Pipe Organ Pale Ale, and other award winners brewed on site.
3525 Liberty Ave., Lawrenceville
412.688.8200
churchbrew.com
The Priory Hotel
This European-style hotel is also a former monastery. The cells have been converted into cozy single rooms, luxurious suites, and a short-term apartment that takes up the entire fourth floor. The Priory prides itself on offering cultural packages (rooms plus symphony tickets or dining in the historic Strip District). The Grand Hall, a splendid Catholic church located next door, is now a 350-seat banquet chamber that’s a popular spot for weddings.
614 Pressley St., North Side
412.231.3338
thepriory.com
Double Wide Grill
According to the story on the menu, the grill was an old gas station run by the Hullficker family. In 1939, Tessie Mae Hullficker made such scrumptious burgers and fries that her husband decided to turn the station into a restaurant. Well, this story’s only half-true: The Double Wide Grill was a real South Side service station, but it was renovated into a restaurant in 2006. And the Hullfickers may just be local mythology. Diners can enjoy avocado club sandwiches and jalapeno burgers.
2339 E. Carson St., South Side
412.390.1111
doublewidegrill.com
— Robert Isenberg
PHILADELPHIA
SIP, SNIFF, SAMPLE
When it comes to tasting wine, most of us think Napa or Bordeaux. But smart oenophiles know that one of the best places to learn about wine is in Philly. On any given night, behind an unassuming storefront in the city’s art museum district, wine lovers gather in a cozy classroom at The Wine School of Philadelphia to swirl, sniff, and sip vintages from around the world. Best of all, there’s a great sense of fun, as students and instructors claim to smell and taste everything from oregano to gardenias to…sweat socks.
Brian Freedman, director of wine education, says the institution’s philosophy of taking the snobbery and intimidation out of wine tasting has helped make it a success; the classes at this unconventional school are educational, popular, and fun. “We focus on what we call the ‘sensory analysis of wine’ — learning to discern and understand what it is you personally are smelling and tasting,” says Freedman.
The Wine School of Philadelphia, which was founded in the back of a coffee shop in 2000 and has since grown to encompass half a city block, offers everything from beginner tasting classes to lessons on more advanced topics such as starting a wine cellar, hosting a wine event, and buying wine like a sommelier. One-time classes typically last two hours, and attendees taste eight or nine wines. For more info, call 800.817.7351 or visit the Web site at vinology.com.
— Melissa Marshall
scOTTSDALE
UPSCALE GOES INDIE
Shop outside the box at The Mix, a mall with a decidedly independent spirit. Made up of three buildings with a combined 30,000 square feet of retail space, The Mix features an eclectic collection of fashion and design boutiques and restaurants — not a single chain store among them.
Each building reflects a specific theme. “Nest” showcases items for the home and garden. “Live” features trendy clothing styles for men, women, and children from designers like Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood. “Play” focuses on having fun and offers a toy store and a pottery-making shop. Learn more at themixshops.com.
— Julie Moore
CHARLOTTE
GOOD FOOD — AND MUCH MORE
For a night out, dinner and a show usually implies a traditional, semiformal affair. In the Queen City, that’s not necessarily so. You can choose what suits your mood: exotic, classic, or funny.
Theater
Classic dinner theater is back in all its elegant glory at Pineville Dinner Theater (10403-J Park Rd.). The place regularly draws capacity crowds with its extensive buffet, attentive service, and a variety of stage plays and comedies, ranging from raucous bedroom farces to musicals. Check out the martini bar, Cameo’s, the perfect place to unwind before the show or enjoy a relaxing nightcap.
Belly Dancing
A number of Charlotte restaurants feature this ancient and exotic art. Professional dance troupe Yasmine and the Magic Hips Dancers perform at Sofram Turkish Cuisine (8652 Pineville-Matthews Rd.) every Thursday night. During the performance, enjoy the tasty lamb or chicken shish kebab. On Fridays, the troupe performs at Kabob Grill (1235 East Blvd., Ste. G), a small, cheerful spot with a varied Lebanese menu. The Kabob House (6432 E. Independence Blvd.), home to Persian cuisine, hosts the dancers on Saturdays.
Live Jazz
Nestled in the charming Elizabeth neighborhood near Uptown, Cajun Queen (1800 East 7th St.) is a laid-back restaurant that features live jazz seven nights a week, while serving up its signature barbecue shrimp or Cajun fried oysters.
Offering a more upscale atmosphere is Blue Restaurant and Bar (corner of 5th & N. College). Located in the heart of the city, the restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes with live jazz Wednesday through Saturday.
Comedy
The Graduate (1308 The Plaza), a new restaurant and bar in the Plaza-Midwood neighborhood, is also home to the Charlotte Comedy Theater. This improv group performs interactive, improvised shows every weekend. Expect great casual fare in a friendly environment with plenty of laughs on the side.
— Sam Boykin
MAUI
ODDS-ON FAVORITE
Win the lottery at Haleakala National Park and you get to spend up to three nights camping in a volcanic crater. Odds of winning are pretty good, too. According to park ranger Roberta Pilcher, about 90 percent of requests from hikers hoping to stay in one of the three isolated cabins at the bottom of Haleakala Crater are fulfilled.
Winners are literally picked from a hat, but there are some tricks to improving your odds. Pilcher says it’s best to avoid holidays and summer months. “September through June is best.” And be flexible, adds fellow ranger Dominic Cardea, who suggests including alternative dates and cabin preferences in your request if possible.
Each of the three cabins is equipped with a dozen foam-padded bunks, cold running water, a wood-burning stove and firewood, and a kitchen with a two-burner propane stove, cooking utensils, and dishes. On the downside, the toilet is outside, there’s no electricity, and you’ll have to carry your food and supplies on a 4- to 10-mile hike (depending on which cabin and trail you choose).
The cost is a flat $75 a night for up to 12 people, but an overnight stay in the crater is a bargain at any price. Its variegated landscape ranges from Mars-like dunes to tropical rainforest, and evening starscapes are surreal. And don’t worry, the volcano is dormant; it last erupted in 1790.
For more info, visit the park’s Web site at nps.gov.hale.
— George Cagala
Illustration by Jon Flaming
THE SUITE LIFE
Hotels have often made room for famous and somewhat quirky long-term residents — Warren Beatty at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, Lou Reed at the Chelsea, Howard Hughes at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, and the children’s storybook character, Eloise, at the Plaza Hotel. But these days, calling a hotel home isn’t that eccentric. Why would it be when the full-time perks include your own private beach, gourmet room service, on-site gyms, and exotic spas?
While cities like L.A. and New York have always had their share of hotel residences, vacation-minded hotspots like Miami, Vegas, and Palm Springs have experienced notable growth as well. More than a dozen new hotels offering hip pads for sale have sprung up along Miami’s beaches in recent years. Stylish names like the W, Viceroy, and Gansevoort are claiming their share of the real-estate market.
“We didn’t envision these as residences where people would live full-time. Our owners see their units as a smart investment and a dream vacation home,” says Ron Molko, co-developer of the Vincci South Beach in Florida. “Our owners make money from the unit’s guest business when they’re away, watch the unit appreciate in value, and get to vacation in South Beach on top of that.”
The Conrad Residences in Indianapolis, on the other hand, are more likely to be permanent homes. They can’t be rented out, and their location in a mid-sized city means more square footage for the money.
Whether they’re making an investment or putting down roots in a full-time residence, hotel home-owners get the benefit of combining style with convenience. As for young Eloise at the Plaza? She may be interested to know it’s gone condo.
— Litty Mathew
CUPPA EDUCATION
Coffee has decidedly moved from caffeine kick to culinary art. And now roasters are taking cues from winemakers, hosting tasting events that make it easier than ever to learn the difference between Arabica and Sumatra beans. These events, called “cuppings,” allow coffee lovers to sample blends, learn about roasting, and find out how to pair coffee with food. Here are some worth checking out:
Barefoot Coffee Roasters
Santa Clara, California
Baristas at Barefoot began hosting cuppings in 2003. The events are held the first and third Saturday of each month, and participants get to taste and study coffees from around the world. Advance registration is encouraged; classes fill up quickly.
barefootcoffeeroasters.com
Rembrandt’s Coffee House
Chattanooga, Tennessee
To help connoisseurs pair the perfect coffee with Rembrandt’s danishes, pastries, and other desserts, the cafe hosts classes, which also cover the history of roasting and brewing the perfect cup.
rembrandtscoffeehouse.com
East Harlem Café
New York City
This java hot spot blends coffee with culture, putting special emphasis on varieties from Central and South America. Events like A Taste of Culture involve an afternoon spent sampling coffees and desserts from south of the border.
eastharlem-cafe.com
Kona Joe Coffee
Kealakekua, Hawaii
The majestic Mauna Loa Volcano is the backdrop for the Kona Joe Coffee farm on the Big Island. The 20-acre spread has been offering tours since it opened a decade ago. Twice a day, visitors are invited to explore the farm; learn how coffee is grown, roasted, and dried; and try several blends.
konajoe.com
— Jodi Helmer
Illustration by Jon Flaming
PORTLAND
CLASS PERKS
You don’t have to get a job at your local coffee shop to learn how to brew the perfect cup of joe. Just sign up for one of the consumer classes offered at the American Barista & Coffee School. Bruce Milletto founded the school in 2004 as a training camp for cafe managers and their baristas. Today, anyone can take half-day or full-day courses ($125–$200) to learn skills like texturing milk (latte art), using the French press, cupping (evaluating) coffees, and operating high-end espresso machines (a real value when you consider that nicer machines cost upwards of $1,000).
“Coffee’s twice as complex as wine, as far as taste goes,” says Milletto, adding that after his 18 years of importing coffees and food products from Italy, he still believes Americans have some catching up to do to achieve similar quality in espresso preparation.
Classes are limited to 12 people. To learn more, call 800.655.3955 or check out coffeeschool.org.
— Kristine Hansen
PARIS
BY DESIGN
I had been to Paris enough times to complete the checklist: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre — check, check, and check. But I wanted to stray from this well-worn path and go where Parisian design junkies (i.e., French versions of moi) go. So, I emailed Nicole Barre, founder and editor of the online magazine Design à Paris, to book her tour. Barre guides visitors through home decor shops and stylish hotels in the up-and-coming Le Haut Marais area, and to design district Le Marais.
A friend and I met her at the St-Paul metro stop. Some days as many as seven people sign up for Barre’s guided excursion, but my friend and I lucked out and got her all to ourselves. For three hours, we were led — sometimes at alarmingly breakneck speed — through the narrow streets. We saw lamps made from carafes at Galerie Sentou, one of the first design boutiques to spring up in this quarter. We also visited Fleux, an airy shop that carries witty, offbeat French designers like mat&jewski and La Tête Au Cube. At Hervé Gambs we found the most authentic, inspiring, and elegant artificial flowers we’d ever seen.
In Le Haut Marais, Nicole took us to Hotel du Petit Moulin, where interiors are by Christian Lacroix, and to Lieu Commun, a design collective run by former associates of Philippe Starck. Tired and happy, we finished our tour. Over cocktails at the Hotel Murano bar, we reflected that the view of the lobby’s limited-edition Karim Rashid loveseat felt equally as transporting as the view from Sacré-Coeur.
— Caroline Tiger
TORONTO
STEPPING OUT
Who knew the humble shoe had such a rich and culturally fascinating history? The curators of the Bata Shoe Museum did. Over the years, they’ve amassed a collection of more than 12,000 pieces of footwear and related items (up to 1,000 of which are on display). The collection spans 4,500 years and includes everything from ancient Egyptian sandals to Shaquille O’Neal’s size 20EEE Reeboks. The shoes are made from materials as varied as fish scales, animal skin, bear fur, woven straw, ivory, silk, and silver.
Some of the exhibits currently on display include: “Beauty, Identity, Pride: Native North American Footwear”; “Chronicles of Riches: Treasures From the Bata Shoe Museum”; “The Charm of Rococo: Femininity and Footwear in the 18th Century”; and the permanent exhibition “All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages.”
Get info to plan a visit or window-shop the online museum store at batashoemuseum.ca.
FLORIDA
HI, NEIGHBOR
Nostalgic for a time when a quick walk or short bike ride could take you everywhere you needed to go around town? Then plan a vacation along Florida’s Gulf Coast, in one of the quaint communities that sprang from the New Urbanism design movement. The idea was to create compact, walkable towns that offer an escape from urban hustle and bustle.
The pioneer of the movement was Seaside, founded in the early 1980s. With its pedestrian-friendly streets, footpaths, and pastel-colored cottages, Seaside served as the backdrop for the movie The Truman Show. The town center includes a bookstore, a specialty-food market, a post office, and restaurants. Stop by Bud & Alley’s (850.231.5900, budandalleys.com), where the rooftop deck is the perfect spot to relax with a drink and listen to the sound of waves rolling onto the shore. Find out more about the town and cottage rentals at seasidefl.com.
In the nearby community of WaterColor, you can rent a cottage and lounge on your own wide front porch. Or try the WaterColor Inn (866.426.2656, watercolorinn.com). This 60-room property combines the feel of a seaside cottage with the amenities of a hotel. The on-site restaurant, Fish Out of Water (850.534.5050), features a fire-and-ice theme with an exhibition kitchen and an ice bar containing fresh seafood and sushi. Go to watercolorvacations.com to find out more about activities and accommodations in the area.
Rosemary Beach, a 107-acre community east of Seaside and WaterColor, was established in 1995. Nothing in this small village is farther away than a five-minute walk, and that includes the row of home decor and clothing boutiques on Main Street as well as Courtyard Wine and Cheese (850.231.1219, courtyardwineandcheese.com), where they offer wines by the glass or bottle and a rotating menu of cheeses. Stay in one of 200 rental cottages in the area or at the 55-room Hotel Saba (850.278.7222, thehotelsaba.com), which opens this month. Guests will be comfortable at The Pensione (850.231.1790, thepensione.com), a new eight-room B&B located above Onano Neighborhood Cafe (850.231.2436), which dishes up authentic Northern Italian cuisine with a mostly Italian wine list. Check out the community online at rosemarybeach.com.
— Kristine Hansen
WASHINGTON D.C.
A DOSE OF HISTORY
Just about every D.C. vacation itinerary includes stops at the city’s many museums. But after you’ve seen the masterpieces of Rembrandt and Renoir, check out the quirky National Museum of Health and Medicine on the grounds of the Walter Reed Medical Center.
The museum was established during the Civil War as a storehouse for artifacts related to 19th-century military medicine. Today, the collection includes more than 24 million objects, less than one percent of which are on display. You’ll find educational pathology exhibits, archival photos, anatomical models, and historic pieces of medical equipment (from rare microscopes to x-ray machines and surgical instruments). You can even see the bullet that took the life of Abraham Lincoln.
Otis Historical Archives is on site and features a huge collection of rare and historic books documenting the practice of medicine from the Civil War to today. The collection is so large, it would stretch over a mile if laid end to end. Learn more at nmhm.washingtondc.museum.
— Judith Ritter
NEW YORK CITY
TOUR GUIDE
The Big Apple isn’t your average city, so why take an average tour? Spice up your trip with one of these out-of-the-ordinary guides.
A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour
Better bring a hearty appetite for this guided bus tour of some of the best pizzerias in the neighborhood — it’s over four hours long. Highlights include Grimaldi’s, where the Neapolitan-style pies are baked in a coal-fired brick oven, and L&B Spumoni Gardens, a pizzeria/ice cream parlor where you can get a Sicilian pie followed by traditional spumoni for dessert. The cost is $75 for adults and includes pizza and soft drinks at each stop. You’ll also get to check out many iconic sites, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Coney Island, and famous movie-scene locations. Learn more at asliceofbrooklyn.com.
On Location Tours
Escape reality with visits to places made famous in movies and on TV. Choose from four different tours. The New York TV and Movie Sites tour features locations from TV shows and movies such as Friends, Will & Grace, Hitch, Spider-Man, and The Devil Wears Prada. The Sex and the City Hotspots tour stops at Carrie’s apartment stoop and Charlotte’s art gallery. Sopranos Sites is a New Jersey jaunt to places like Bada Bing and Pizzaland, while Central Park Movie Sites is a walking tour that visits the boathouse from When Harry Met Sally and the band shell from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Prices range from $17 to $42. Check it out at screentours.com.
Elegant Tightwad Shopping Excursions
Shopping is a must-do in the Big Apple, and this is your chance to do it like a pro. Owner Pamela Parisi and her band of personal shoppers show visitors where those in the know go to find designer clothes and accessories at wholesale prices or less. Three excursions are offered:the Garment District Diva Trek, the Uptown Consignment Crawl, and the Accessory Addict Trek. The trips include visits to showrooms that aren’t open to the public. Prices range from $45 to $75. Learn more at theeleganttightwad.com.
— Julie Moore
Or...
Take Frank’s advice and do it your way, with the help of Tailored Tours. The brainchild of Bronx residents Lisa and Christopher Karel, the company offers self-guided walking tours of the Big Apple, delivered as email attachments you can print out or use on your cell phone or PDA. Designed for the independent traveler, the one- to three-hour tours cost $3 each and let you pick a theme (first visit, romantic, scavenger hunt, pub crawls, etc.) or a neighborhood (Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park). To learn more, visit tailoredtours.com.
— Beth D’Addono
LAS VEGAS
SADDLE UP
Before the dancing fountains, before Bugsy Siegel or the Rat Pack, Vegas was part of the Old West, where cowboys and their horses roamed the desert landscape. This 19th-century world still lives on at Cowboy Trail Rides in Red Rock Canyon. Owner Big Jim Sage has spent 13 years building a herd of sweet-tempered horses to take riders into the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for a glimpse of the Old West — wild burros, cacti, high ridges, and steep rocky cliffs, not to mention the stunning views of this corner of the Mojave Desert.
Big Jim’s wranglers are patient with riders of all experience levels. As for the horses, you might get a cheery mustang named Pete or a quarter horse named Stagecoach (who’s the size of a stagecoach). They’re all surefooted and in superb condition.
The corrals are a half-hour drive from the Strip. Or you can arrange pickup at one of eight casino meeting points. Visit cowboytrailrides.com.
— Chase Binder
- BAHAMAS / by Christopher Percy Collier
- TOP TEN TASTES / by John T. Edge
- WHERE FLUFF MEETS TOUGH / by Christopher Percy Collier
- VERBATIM: RINGO STARR / by J. Rentilly
- ALTER EGO: JAMES MORRISON / by J. Rentilly
- 9 HOLES WITH… DOTTIE PEPPER / by John Maginnes
- MATERIAL WORLD
- OUR DIGITAL LIFE / by Dan Tynan
- FOOD FROM THE EDGE / by John T. Edge
- SAVE MY CAREER / by Donald Asher
- SMART BUSINESS / by C. J. Prince
- DEPARTURE
- ALL OVER THE MAP
