Australian developer, Perri Projects, has appointed international award-winning designer hotel owner/operator, Ovolo, as hotel manager for its AUD$50 million (approx. US$35.9 million) South Melbourne project, expected to open in 2020. This will be the first-ever hotel management agreement for Ovolo, which currently wholly owns and operates 10 hotels across Australia and Hong Kong.
Located at 183-199 Moray Street, the 100-room, six-story designer hotel will bring Ovolo’s signature ‘effortless living’ ethos to one of Melbourne’s most iconic inner-city suburbs. Ovolo’s appointment represents a significant milestone for the project, which has received planning approval, with construction anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2019.
David Scalzo, Managing Director of Perri Projects, said that Ovolo’s innovative, design-led lifestyle hotels were a perfect match for Perri Projects’ vision for the site. “We are delighted to partner with Ovolo to realize our original vision for this site as a mixed-use lifestyle precinct featuring destination bars and restaurants, as well as leisure, event and function facilities,” Scalzo said. “Ovolo Hotels are internationally renowned for their high-end, high-energy designs that blend form and function to ensure each hotel delivers a unique experience for guests and visitors. Ovolo is well established and revered, yet agile and bold enough to challenge convention and break the mold on new sites, ensuring that each design complements and enhances the location of their hotels.”
Girish Jhunjhnuwala, Ovolo CEO and Founder, said Ovolo in South Melbourne represented a new phase of growth for the company, made possible through a shared vision with Perri Projects. “The Hotel Management Agreement with Perri Projects represents a natural evolution for our business as we continually look to expand our offering in new markets,” he said. “While we each bring our respective expertise in property development and hospitality management to this project, this partnership was forged through our mutual affinity for delivering truly unique projects and a shared vision for the South Melbourne site.”
Dave Baswal, COO & CFO of Ovolo Australia, said he was confident Ovolo’s offering in South Melbourne would be well received by the growing pool of established higher-end established housing and major commercial office buildings. “The underlying demographic of South Melbourne has been evolving steadily as creative industries in particular look to take advantage of the central location and raw industrial edge the suburb has to offer,” Baswal continued. “But while the suburb is on the rise with those in the know, local hospitality amenity has not kept pace with this change, and we believe Ovolo South Melbourne – with its bars, restaurants and even a rooftop function and events space – will be uniquely placed to provide a focal point for those local communities.”
Circoloco debuts in Southeast Asia
at Baba Beach Club in Thailand
On Saturday January 19th 2019, Circoloco will arrive in Thailand for a one-off event at the award-winning Baba Beach Club in Phuket, with an extensive lineup including Seth Troxler, Nic Fanciuli, Peggy Gou, Richy Ahmed, wAFF, Serge Devant & more.
This marks the first time that Circoloco has hosted an event in Southeast Asia, and perfectly coincides with their 20th anniversary. They’ll be bringing their iconic sound to award-winning luxury hotel Baba Beach club, conveniently tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket.
Working with local communities and supporting local artists, this collaboration aims to create a space where the international and local music scenes converge, contributing to the development of Thailand’s underground music scene.
The vision is to bring both sustainability and music to the forefront, invoking mindfulness for the environment and our natural surroundings, through the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable materials throughout the event.
About Circoloco //
The Circoloco name has been internationally recognized since its launch in 1999 and has grown to become one of Ibiza’s most iconic parties and innovators. In fact, it’s known in the industry as “a rite of passage” for anyone in Ibiza as well as stars of the underground music scene. The brand has a global cult following of highly loyal music lovers, having hosted almost every notable name in house and techno worldwide. Now in its 20th year, this global brand has travelled the globe and is incoming to Thailand for the very first time.
Website: www.circolocoibiza.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/circolocoibiza
Instagram: www.instagram.com/circolocoibiza
About Baba Beach Club //
Baba Beach Club Phuket is an exclusive beach club hotel and private residences, managed & developed by award-winning Sri panwa. Offering resort-style living with a 200 unspoiled white sandy beach located on a 42 rai beachfront on Natai beach, just 20 minutes north of Phuket International Airport. Designed in a unique Chino-Portuguese Shanghai Tang style with a collection of luxury pool suites and private beachfront pool villas creating an undeniable at-home vibe. The music lovers hotel is exclusively powered by Funktion-One sound system with an imitable music program, having welcomed Nicole Moudaber together with BE-AT.tv, Be Svendsen, Shaded, YokoO, D’Julz, Heidi, and many more.
EVENT //
Location: Baba Beach Club Phuket
Date: Saturday 19th January 2019
Time: 2pm – 2am
Shuttle Service: 12pm – until late *Advance bookings are recommended
• The Spanish festival unveils its most contemporary programme yet
• The Strokes, Rosalía, Thom Yorke, Suede, Brockhampton, Vince Staples, Princess Nokia, Idles, Nils Frahm, Hot Chip, Shame and many more artists announced
Bilbao BBK Live brings together present, past and future in their latest line-up announcement, which features many of the biggest artists from the national and international scene. Taking place from 11 – 13 July 2019, acts including The Strokes, Suede, Brockhampton, Rosalía, Idles, Thom Yorke, Princess Nokia and Nils Frahm are amongst the new acts unveiled today for the forward-thinking Spanish festival.
Joining the already announced Weezer to kick off their global comeback in Bilbao is The Strokes, the New York City band credited with resurrecting rock in the early noughties, breathing new life into the genre and leaving their mark on countless groups to date. Catalan artist Rosalía also stars. The flamenco artist is one of the most relevant artist to emerge from the Spanish scene in many years, revolutionising the scene and picking up a Latin Grammy Award in the process.
Thom Yorke brings his ‘Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes’ tour to Bilbao. The Radiohead frontman will be joined by Nigel Godrich and video artist Tarik Barri to perform songs from a variety of his solo albums. Britpop pioneers Suede, now back with their eighth album The Blue Hour, are also set to bring their electrifying live show to the Kobetamendi Mountain in the heart of the Basque Country.
Other acts announced today include American rapper Vince Staples; musical collective Brockhampton; barrier-breaking Harlem rapper Princess Nokia; experimental Argentinian artist Nathy Peluso; Ms Nina, one of the prime exponents of Spanish reggaeton and trap; and Mueveloreina who fuse trap with tropical sounds and powerful lyrics.
Bilbao BBK Live 2019 also presents Idles, undoubtedly one of the bands of the year who, with their latest record, have broken onto the international scene and firmly established themselves as the official successors of authentic British punk. Joining the revered Bristolians are fellow Brits Sleaford Mods, Slaves and Shame, along with Stockholm’s punk collective Viagra Boys.
Alongside all of this, Kobetamendi holds much more in store, from the return of John Grant, who since the breakup of The Czars has remained one of the best voices in American indie music, to The Voidz, the side-project of one Julian Casablancas, as well as prime proponents of international pop and indie-rock Cut Copy, Khruangbin and Jonathan Bree.
Fans of electronic music can also look forward to performances from Nils Frahm, whose soundscapes have once more topped every best-of-2018 list, Hot Chip, Modeselektor Live, Nicola Cruz, Omar Souleyman, The Blaze, Yaeji and Kero Kero Bonito.
Rounding off the hefty roster of national and local artists are Vetusta Morla, Pony Bravo, Calavento, Uniforms, Serrulla, Olatz Salvador, EraBatera and Belatz.
All of these and many more acts will be performing live at the festival on 11, 12 and 13 July 2019 atop the stunning Kobetamendi Mountain, elevating the musical experience with a unique and unparalleled concert space. Bilbao BBK Live promises, yet another year, to be the place to be for an unmissable celebration of the best music of the moment. Book your 3-day festival pass now for just €125 at bilbaobbklive.com.
BILBAO BBK LIVE
11 – 13 July 2019
Kobetamendi, Bilbao
in alphabetical order:
BELATZ / THE BLAZE/ BROCKHAMPTON/ CALA VENTO/ CUT COPY/ ERABATERA/ HOT CHIP/ IDLES/ JOHN GRANT/ JONATHAN BREE/ KERO KERO BONITO/ KHRUANGBIN/ MODESELEKTOR live/ MS NINA/ MUEVELOREINA/ NATHY PELUSO/ NICOLA CRUZ live/ NILS FRAHM/ OLATZ SALVADOR/ OMAR SOULEYMAN/ PONY BRAVO/ PRINCESS NOKIA/ ROSALÍA/ SERRULLA/ SHAME/ SLAVES/ SLEAFORD MODS/ THE STROKES/ SUEDE/ THOM YORKE ‘TOMORROW’S MODERN BOXES’/ UNIFORMS/ VETUSTA MORLA/ VIAGRA BOYS/ VINCE STAPLES/ THE VOIDZ/ WEEZER/ YAEJI…
Wild Women Expeditions, the leader in women-only adventures, takes immersive travel to another level with new-for-2019 itineraries of 10 and 15 days that delve into the Berber culture of the women of Morocco.
Some 30 percent of Moroccans speak Berber; the national language is Arabic. The Berber culture originated along the Nile, spreading into today’s North Africa that includes Morocco. Morocco is known for being one of the most progressive states in the Middle East and North because of its support for women’s rights. Despite these advancements, women’s education in Morocco still lags behind and over 80% of women are illiterate.
Berber women of Morocco will help to unravel their story and culture on women-only trips across Morocco, enroute sharing such secrets as how to maneuver the labyrinth of a medina (old city), find their way into the wilderness of the Rif mountain range and learn the art of making tagine.
By casting Moroccan women as, among others, drivers and guides for these trips, Jennifer Haddow hopes that both guests and locals will be empowered. She is the owner of Wild Women Expeditions that pioneered worldwide women-only travel.
“Wild Women Expeditions gives our guests the opportunity to empower themselves amongst other women, connect with the natural world and make a positive impact in the communities we explore,” says Haddow.
She notes that Berber women in Morocco, as are women in many other cultures, are too often cast as the memory keepers. “As travelers we love when they share their traditions in colorful ways. But this sharing can be a double-edged sword for women who may be left out of leadership opportunities in the tourism industry,” said Haddow. “On our Morocco tour we put the stories of women in the spotlight while empowering them with opportunities to benefit from tourism and play a leading role.”
Wild Women Expeditions tours in Morocco will help dull this sword and empower women by…
• Working with a female Berber entrepreneur who owns the transportation company for these tours and who hires female drivers;
• Engaging Berber Moroccan women as tour leaders are hiring female guides;
• Supporting trek guide training for Moroccan women;
• Visiting women’s cooperatives where locally made items are sold;
• Basing in a riad in Marrakech that employs women trained by the Amal Centre for disadvantaged women (http://amalnonprofit.org/);
• Conversing over a women-hosted dinner in Casablanca through Al Hidn, an association that empowers illiterate widow women in rebuilding their lives through a series of educational programs as well as providing them with financial and educational support to keep their kids in school;
• Supporting the Henna Café, a social enterprise project for women in Marrakech;
• Using accommodations that reflect the company’s commitment to women’s empowerment, such as the Kasbah Toubkhal that co-founded the Education for All program for girls’ education (an additional 5% of the revenue from a group stay here is donated to this local project);
• Being mindful of the environment – through women – with an overnight at an eco lodge owned by a local woman and part of an ecotourism initiative focused on empowering local women in the Riff.
The 10-day itinerary, Medina to Mountains of Northern Morocco, begins with a welcome dinner at Rick’s Café (from the movie Casablanca). The days that follow blend mosques, medinas, handicraft workshops, horseback riding and hiking in the Rif Mountains, a hammam (spa) and a world-famous botanical garden. The $3,495 rate includes accommodation for nine nights, all meals, private vehicle, driver, English-speaking guide and local guides, airport transfers.
The 15-day program, Mosaic of Wild Morocco, focuses on Morocco’s wild beauty from the dunes of the Sahara to the Atlas Mountains and on to the beaches of the Atlantic. Trekking by camel, dining with nomads, sleeping under a canopy of stars in Sahara luxury dune camp, draping the body with flowers of henna, chattering with Barbary macaque and indulging in a hammam are just a few of the many experiences in store. The nearly all-inclusive rate of $3,995 includes guided horseback riding, cycling and trekking, plus in-home meals with Berber families and cooking demonstrations.
Fairfield, California the San Francisco Bay city famous for its fruit and local wineries that provide grapes to the Napa and other surrounding vineyards.
Welcome reception at the glorious Jelly Belly Candy Company, includes a self guided factory tour by the staff. The marvelous Company is a family-owned business based in Fairfield with another factory in North Chicago. The Goelitz family started a confectionery business in Illinois in 1869, than a Candy Business in 1924 in California. Later the Candy Company would expand a product line to include jelly beans. In 1965, the Mini Jelly Bean was developed. This was a small bean with a center of natural flavoring, different from traditional jelly beans in which only the outer shell was flavored. The company would become the infamous Jelly Belly Candy Company, with more than 50 varieties of flavors. Flavors traditional as cherry, exotic as buttered popcorn, and even inspired alcoholic drink flavors like blackberry brandy. Ronald Reagan while governor of California would quit smoking and turn to jelly beans as a substitute. The company also makes 100 different confections like gummies, candy corn, and chocolates. The tour is fun for the kids, but just as fun for the adults. This tour takes you through the process of making jelly beans, some stages include a video monitor explanation, while wearing a mandatory Jelly Belly paper hat. And, yes you get a free pack of Jelly Belly Beans at the end. There is also a shop where you can purchase and a Chocolate Shoppe with a fudge bar available for tastings. The ground floor cafeteria is great for lunch with Jelly Bean shaped pizzas being a favorite. For adults, upstairs is a wine tasting room with six different Suisan or green Valley Wines to match the six different chocolates made by the Chocolate Shoppe.
Mankas Steakhouse, a full American steakhouse menu with a local California flavor was our dine for the night. Chef Peter at Mankas uses favorite Suisun Valley products. The local product in Wooden Valley Winery was our first visit the next day at 7am for a visit to watch wine harvest in process. The Suisun Valley and Solano Country American Viticultural Area(AVA) -which is a wine-grape growing region-includes more than 50 sub-appellations of the best known wines region. The Suisun Valley about 8 miles long and 3 miles wide, between the Blue Ridge of the Vaca Mountains on the east. One fifth of the valley is planted as a vineyard with more than 20 varieties of grapes, established in 1982. The Green Valley just west of Suisun Valley is 4 miles long and a mile wide. Also called the Solano County/ Green Valley, AVA was established in 1983.
For breakfast a visit to Il Fiorello Olive Oil Companydedicated to growing and milling the “finest artisan olive oil” produced by owners Ann and Mark Sievers. Ann and her husband began with a harvest of 6 pounds of olives and 170 baby trees they planted in Green Valley. This turned into more than 2000 trees in Green Valley and Suisun Valley. The Suisan groves have 12 single varietals from Italy, Spain, France, and Greece, with blends as well. Il Fiorello offers in depth tours of their property, that concludes in an olive oil tasting and 13 balsamic vinegar reductions. Oil tastings are paired with seasonal bites of food including the classic Frantoio oil with steak.There are even cooking classes within the Fiorello’s Kitchen.
A visit to the GV Cellarsis just what we need for a glimpse into a simpler time. The tasting area on the second floor consist of a deck view of the vineyards and Vaca Mountains. The original property was an 80-acre fruit orchard which was replaced with grapes to produce wine under “Chateau de Leu”. In 2005, Bob Hager the current owner would acquire the winery and vineyards. Today, the Cellar grows within a 30-acre vineyard six distinct varietals:Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. The Dolcetto and Cabernet Franc are a house favorite.
Greeted by the owner and winemaker Sal Glavan at his Galvan Family Cellarsto taste his wines. Sal Glavan has been making wine in California since the 1990’s including a time working for GV Cellars. Galvan usually has a focus on crafting from the Green Valley and Solano County vineyards, but also ‘high end’ wines from the Napa County vineyards. Producing about 3,500 cases a year depending upon the grapes available wines are exceptional with the signature Bordeaux-style blends or Cabernet Sauvignon-base. The cellars also hold the tasting room for rock Wren Winery, owner Dennis De Domenico has produced Green Valley grape wines since 2005. He is known for making his Frenchs style Syrah “in the classic French style”.
The Suisun Valley Co-op is a perfect tasting room that is cozy but not crowded. Blacksmith Cellars, King Andrews Vineyards, and Sunset Cellars distribute their wine here. Matt Smith the owner and winemaker of Blacksmith Cellars started in 2003, with his release of his 2001 Alexander valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Smith starting as a chemist working in the lab at Beaulieu Vineyards in 1996. From that point he would work at various winecellars making a variety of familiar Suisun Valley wines. King Andrews is owned by Roger who is also the winemaker and Carol (Andrews) King. Sunset Cellars was established by Doug and Katsuko Sparks in 1977. Their speciality includes making small batches of high quality red wines. There are many interesting wines to try like the Blacksmith Rose and Sunset Suisun Valley Charbono Sunset.
The Pacific Flyway, where more than a billion of birds follow the 10,000 mile stretch from South America to the Arctic on their annual migration, makes a stop in Fairfield. Suisun Marsh is one one of the significant stopover points where the birds rest, feed, and restore their energy for continuing on. The Pacific Flyway Centeris an educational and conservation initiative. With goals to educate public about the Flyaway and restoring wetlands to keep the flyaway viable.
A drive to the Grizzly Waters Kayak in Suisun City, where we meet the owner James Berg and get set for kayaking Suisun Marsh. Suisun Marsh is part of the Bay Area Water Trail where you can go on trails and see local and migrating birds.
With greetings from Jennivive Soriano the supervisor of brewery experiences we explore the Anheuser-Busch Fairfield brewery. Opened in 1976, the Fairfield Brewery is the ‘greenest’ of the company’s breweries, which derives a third of its power from solar and wind energy. Brewery tours include an hour of the Anheuser-Busch story and how their beers are produced. We took the tour of the brewery that includes the Flights of Fairfield. Fairfield is home to one of the Budweiserplants a famous attraction. The brewery is home to the one of a kind Budweiser Clydesdale (Horse) race events, tickets available online.
The Heretic Brewery Company known for their inner heretic beers that push the boundaries of beer flavors. Owners Liz and Jamil Zainasheff started as homebrewers and in 2012 would open the Heretic Brewing Company. With a variety of 18 different beers on their menu they also have a bar menu of burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers.
The Vezér is a Suisun Valley winery, owned by Frank and Liz Vezér. The Vezérs came to Fairfield more than 20 years ago and purchased 30 acres for vineyards, which has now spread to 60 acres. Originally selling their grapes to other wineries but in 2001 established their own label. The family vineyards produce estate wines like their flagship, La Salette a blend of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. There are two tasting rooms one on Mankas Corner Road and the other on Suisun Valley Road.
A visit to the Cal-Yee Farm Shop whom specializes in dried fruits and nuts. Founder Yee chew Yong fled from China to work as a laborer in California. In 1908, he rented 20 acres of farmland on Clayton Road where his son would purchase the land and his son would start the family’s dried fruit business.
The Wooden Valley winerystarted in 1933 after prohibition by Salvador and Manuel Brea.In 1944, Mario Lanza would partner with Manuel and eventually become the sole owner. Third generation of Lanzas, four brothers manage the Winery today. This winery is the oldest in the Suisun Valley with a large variety of red and white wines. The Lanza wines have the authenticity of traditional Italian family wines.
Dinner at Favela’s Fusionan upscale Mexican tequileria. The menu includes signature dishes representing the flavors of different regions in Mexico. The owner Veronica Favela-Diaz’s parents immigrated from Mexico and she grew up in Northern California. She and her father opened three restaurants in the 90’s emphasizing affordable quality Mexican food. After Veronica and Husband Edgar traveled all over Mexico learning about the different regions foods they came up with Favelas Fusion. This fusion offers a combination of traditional authentic Mexican cuisine. The Fusion applies a mix of Mexico to obtain one of a kind dishes that are beautifully displayed like the Shrimp Fajitas burrito with cilantro infused with rice and black beans in a tomato tortilla.
A trip to the Mangels Family Vineyardsto meet owner Gary Mangels and winemaker Gina Oberti. Gary Mangels is a fourth generation of a California farming and ranching family. His great grandfather bought 240 acres of land in 1876 and the family has grown grapes, made and sold wine, and raised livestock since. In 1943, surviving through prohibition the family sold the winery operation, but maintained the vineyards. Eventually the family would purchase Suisun Valley land and partner with Gina Richmond to found the Mangels Vineyards. Gina makes a variety of red and white wines including, Pinot Grigio and Syrah.
Backroadowners Jeff and Judy Anselmo greet us inside the tasting room in the kitchen of the house. Their wines are relatively young and maturting. As they find their style the plans for construction of the multimillion dollar tasting room will be completed in 2019. Backroad will be a neighbor to The Wagner family of wines -owner of famous Caymus Winery- new tasting room on Suisun Valley Road. It will open in late 2018 with hopes to specialize in ‘grand durif’ and become the trademark wine for Suisun Valley.
Dinner at Chez Soulin downtown Fairfield a Louisiana style restaurant. With every Southern comfort food you can think of from Gumbo to Southern Fried chicken. “Beneath the heart is soul. The soul needs food.”. The owner Cheryl Reed runs the restaurant with her family her brother is the manager and her daughter is the cook. Cheryl’s vision for Chez Soul is good food in a welcoming place that feels like home.
Tenth Annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony set for Friday, November 23, in Fredericksburg
Experience the unique mix of German Christmas traditions and warm Texan hospitality this holiday season in Fredericksburg. In partnership with the City of Fredericksburg, the Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau will begin the season with the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and German Christmas Pyramid on the evening of Friday, November 23, at Marktplatz.
The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. on the East side of the Vereins Kirche with entertainment throughout the evening by The TubaMeisters, The Low Brass Project band, the Fredericksburg Chorale and the Fredericksburg Akkordeon Klub. The countdown and lighting ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m.
Following the lighting ceremony, the entertainment will continue until 8:00 p.m. with more holiday favorites as Santa makes his way to the Oktoberfest Halle at Marktplatz, where free cookies, hot chocolate and bottled water will be available.
Cookies will be provided by a number of local businesses and hot chocolate will be prepared by the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Department.
Children are invited to take free photos with Santa (bring your own camera or phone), and groups are encouraged to take photos at the holiday selfie station, also at the Oktoberfest Halle.
In case of inclement weather, the entertainment and countdown will be relocated under the Adelsverein Halle at Marktplatz.
Lighting ceremony attendees can also enjoy outdoor ice skating until 10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 23, at Eisbahn in the Kinderhalle Pavilion at Marktplatz (for a fee). All day skating and skate rental is $15 per person, and tickets are available at the gate.
The German holiday spirit is most apparent with Fredericksburg’s 26-foot tall wooden German Christmas Pyramid that was hand-crafted in Germany in 2009 specifically for Fredericksburg. Considered staples in German holiday decorating, Christmas pyramids are wooden carousel-like structures (normally table-top size) that have several levels depicting Christmas motifs, such as angels and manger scenes.
Fredericksburg’s Community Christmas Tree, also part of the lighting ceremony, stands 30 feet tall and dons hand-crafted ornaments donated by Hill Country artisans. The beautifully lit Christmas tree and Christmas pyramid are the centerpiece of the holiday magic in Fredericksburg and will be prominently displayed at Marktplatz through January 6, 2019.
Make plans to attend the lighting ceremony with your family, friends and neighbors. To learn more about all of the holiday events in Fredericksburg and to download a free 2018 Fredericksburg Christmas & Holiday Guide, log on to holidays.VisitFredericksburgTX.com.
Louis Vuittoncelebrated the newObjets Nomadescollection during Design Miami/ 2018 atCecconi’s Soho Beach HouseonTuesday, December 4th. Guests in attendance included Michael Burke (CEO/Chairman of Louis Vuitton), designers of Objets Nomades including Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari (of Atelier Biagetti), Humberto Campana, Patrick Reymond (of Atelier Oi), as well as Bailey Beckstead, Nathan Browning, Carolina Daur, Isaac Hindin-Miller, Sue Hostetler, Poppy, Olympia Scarry, Fiona Scarry, and Beau Wrigley.
Photo Credit: Louis Vuitton / David X Prutting /BFA.com
For Design Miami/ 2018, Louis Vuitton exclusively introduced three new objects: Italian design studio Atelier Biagetti’s Anemona Table, Atelier’s Oï’s Serpentine Table, and Tokujin Yoshioka’s Blossom Vase, along with a selection of existing objects. In addition to these brand new additions, new variations of two select Objets Nomades were also presented: The Campana Brothers’ Cocoon swing chair and André Fu’s Ribbon Dance chair. The new collection of Objets Nomades and Les Petits Nomades are showcased at both Design Miami and our Miami Design District store alongside a special curation of our most exquisite and one-of-a-kind exotic offerings.
Dunton Hot Springs, the iconic 19th-century ghost mining town turned luxury resort in the Colorado Rockies, has introduced a brand-new winter activities program for the 2018/2019 ski season.
Guests at Dunton can choose from a selection of guided outdoor adventures this winter, which are now included in the nightly rates. For the non-skier looking for a great workout, Dunton offers snowshoeing, the perfect way to explore the more than 1,600 acres of private snowy wilderness area of the San Juan Mountains, to which Dunton Hot Springs is home. At Dunton River Camp, the summer-only tented camp just four miles down river from Dunton Hot Springs, guests can now explore this area in wintertime with the new Winter Wonderland experience, featuring a day of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides pulled by the resort’s beautiful Percheron horses, with time to relax by the fire with a hot beverage in the farmhouse. And for guests seeking a more “elevated” experience, Dunton can take them out on a Nordic Ski Adventure on the High Meadows, which starts with an exciting Snow Cat ride up to 10,000 feet for an exhilarating day of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
The winter experience at Dunton also offers the option to book a wealth of private, a la carte activities, from snowmobiling and ice climbing to heli-skiing and backcountry skiing. And for a more intimate evening for couples, Dunton now offers a Sleigh Ride & Dine experience, which takes guests out as the sun sets on a private sleigh ride, followed by dinner for two in the original 19th-century farmhouse at Dunton River Camp, capped off with a bonfire and cocktails under the stars.
A winter stay at Dunton Hot Springs can also be paired with a stay at Dunton Town House, the collection’s five-bedroom luxury inn in Telluride, which was just named #1 on the “Top Hotels in Colorado” list and #4 on “The Best Hotels in the U.S.” list in the 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards from Condé Nast Traveler magazine. Guests who book a wintertime stay of at least two nights at both Dunton Hot Springs and Dunton Town House (and at least two of the properties, including Dunton River Camp, in summertime) will receive a 15% discount off their entire stay.
360 Magazine visited the Upper Cumberland Area of Tennessee this October. Just in time to catch the transformation of the leaves into fall colors. This region of Tennessee is located between Nashville and Knoxville, 1 hour drive each way. The flagship towns in the area, Crossville and Cookeville, not only capture beauty of small towns on the fringe of picturesque landscapes, they provide access to a multitude of incorporated businesses. The combination of affordable shopping with the low cost of living and no state tax make this a hidden gem prime to visit for the traveler interested in an authentic experience, maybe more. If this isn’t explicit enough, it’s the only place I’ve been in the states I’m seriously considering moving to. That realization stuck in three days.
We spent most of our time in the state parks. Natural beauty wasn’t the only consistent theme. Each park was fitted with Jackson Kayaks, a local company that not only leads the sport but also the industry. The kayaks provided to the parks were offered at a massive discount to ensure everyone visiting would have the opportunity to try it themselves. A philosophy that says everything about the community and values of Jackson Kayak. This company created by Eric Jackson, a lead competitor in the sport, started the company with a kayak for his son. A product which at the time did not exist for someone that young, giving all kids the change to try it out.
In true pay it forward style, this collective effort in the community is full circle. One direct example being the contribution of outdated signs and details from the state parks to furnish a local brewery, Happy Trails Brewing Company. This brewery, headed by Jessica, a working Kindergarten Teacher in the community. Similar to all good breweries is a product of its surroundings. Another notable taste is Red Silo, a brewery that started as the winner of the home brew contest at the local WCTE PBS Station Blues & Brew fundraiser. Calf Killer is another local legend that brings a taste that will make your taste buds melt. These obvious must tries are only half the adventure, you could spend the day with the home brewers and be the judge yourself.
It’s easy to follow the well-traveled highways in between Nashville and Knoxville. You won’t regret taking an exit and heading to the green on the map. The state parks are vastly accessible, overlooks and access is a high priority brought forth by the pioneering effort of the CCC. The Civilian Conservation Corps healing gesture was an organized effort by the Roosevelt Administration in the wake of the great depression. If this doesn’t paint the picture, don’t worry. There’s a set of tourist binoculars that give people who are colorblind the ability to see colors for the first time, which in the fall will bring a loved one to their knees.
While most of the sites are accessible to all, there’s another layer for the more adventurous. Fairly strenuous hikes to the base of the many waterfalls are always buried beyond the overlooks. Some that were only made accessible by Disney in the production of the 1994 film “The Jungle Book” which created roads to some surreal and recognizable locations in the film. Justifiably integral to the jungle aesthetics the film demanded. Likewise, Tennessee is the one of two places in the world that offer the spectacle of synchronous fireflies. The other being in Southeast Asia.
With solid views and tasty beer, naturally comes great food. The care and attention restaurant owners put into their work makes the meals feel family style without the crockpot. Notably the buffet at Homestead Harvest in Cumberland Mountain State Park carries as much depth as the hike on Pioneer Trail around Byrd Lake. If you really feel like earning your meal, rent a Jackson Kayak to enjoy the cool breeze off the water. Whether you’re camping or staying in the luxury cabins at the top of the hill, wake early and catch the fog on the lake first thing in the morning.
Great things are made in Tennessee, you could be too.
As always, reach out on Instagram @360travelfood to see the best spots. Here’s a listed on vetted local flavors and experiences:
• Jackson Kayak, founded in 2003 based in Sparta, TN (jacksonkayak.com)
• Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, TN (tnstateparks.com)
The high-desert, red-rock playground that is Moab, Utah, is a vast wilderness with many a secret to reveal to the curious. But this territory can also prompt frustrations when it comes to such logistics as where to go, park and sleep. Even venturing onto the trails can be tricky for greenhorns. A landscape that may appear as familiar as a Hollywood set is anything but.
Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/) is the go-to resource when it comes to questions about how to get the most out of a visit here. And the resident experts present will often suggest securing the services of a seasoned guide as the best way to maximize time and opportunities spent enjoying the Moab region.
Here’s why.
Avoid parking hassles. The trailhead parking lots at Arches National Park and Canyon lands National Park and at many other forest service and state park trailheads are often full by 10 a.m. A guide offers and utilizes drop-off/pick-up shuttle services to avoid the disappointment of being turned away due to a full lot.
Pack in more adventure. A guided experience eliminates back-tracking by always moving forward. More complex hikes may have different start and end points that require vehicle shuttles. Moab Adventure Center staff can arrange transfers and guide assistance for such hikes. One example is a six-mile trek from the Moab Rim to Hidden Valley that overlooks the Colorado River and town of Moab. The path drops to a canyon where the magic of prehistory is revealed in rock carvings known as petroglyphs. Different start and end points are solved with assistance of a guide or pre-arranged shuttle.
Fly instead of drive. Visitors can save time and hassle by flying to Canyon lands Field Airport (CNY) in Moab from Salt Lake City or Denver (daily air service) where Moab Adventure Center will arrange transfers to in-town accommodations and to all activity sites. Guests don’t need a car as they can walk to shops, restaurants and to the Moab Adventure Center, all centrally located.
Secure sometimes-scarce lodging in Moab. Especially for peak spring and summer weekends, visitors should secure advance lodging reservations in Moab. Moab Adventure Center helps by holding blocks of rooms (Moab lodging options) for clients who book a trip with them a minimum of 30 days out.
Embellish adventures. A guide is a wellspring of information and loves to share interesting factoids and lore that embellish adventures, be it a hike among the red rocks or a full or half-day rafting trip on the Colorado River. A guide can also pick up on client interests and suggest other activities and what to do in Moab, Utah. The free Pocket Guide Moab: Last Minute Itineraries for the Undecided Traveleris also a good resource to the area.
Collect insider tips. Who has the best Happy Hour? Who has free Wi-Fi service in town? What’s the best way to view a red rock sunset? Again, guides dispense insights and suggestions at no extra cost. An Arches Sunset Tour, for example, includes a 50+ mile, four-hour guided, interpretive tour in a comfortable sightseeing vehicle that stops at five sites where easy hikes await.
Safety factors weigh in. A guide is aware of which trails may be closed and of pending weather extremes such as icy conditions or flash floods. A guide also brings along extra water, first aid supplies and a cell/sat phone. Moab Adventure Center guides are trained in how to administer advanced wilderness first aid.
Arrange meet-ups with new friends. Part of the fun of travel and adventure is sharing experiences with people who soon shift from strangers to friends. A professionally trained guide helps break the ice and set the tone for a mutually good time.
Pack in more adventure. A guided experience eliminates back-tracking by always moving forward. More complex hikes may have different start and end points that require vehicle shuttles. Moab Adventure Center staff can arrange transfers and guide assistance for such hikes. One example is a six-mile trek from the Moab Rim to Hidden Valley that overlooks the Colorado River and town of Moab. The path drops to a canyon where the magic of prehistory is revealed in rock carvings known as petroglyphs. Different start and end points are solved with assistance of a guide or pre-arranged shuttle.
Collect insider tips. Who has the best Happy Hour? Who has free Wi-Fi service in town? What’s the best way to view a red rock sunset? Again, guides dispense insights and suggestions at no extra cost. An 
