posted by Charles H. Russo on Jun 26
I know it???s a little early to shut down for Thanksgiving but we???re packing our bags and high-tailing it out ofLondonto head home for the holidays. This means no computers and no blogging until next week- but lots of shopping and eating until then. Just like last year we???re going to brave ???Black Friday??? to hit the stores- which have nothing on anOxford Streetcrowd- and can???t wait to tuck into our family???s super yummy roasted chestnut and porcini mushroom soup (the secret to why it tastes so good? Add a splash of cognac and lots of cream??¦ or maybe it???s the other way around). And if we???re feeling inspired, we might even make these cookies we spotted on the Pillsbury site. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Jun 21
Lincoln City
I was born on the Oregon Coast, and as a family we try to visit at least every two years. I don’t have any family left there, but I still get a thrill when we drive the last few miles into Lincoln City and catch our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. Although my family moved away when I was just 6 months old, every return feels like a homecoming of sorts. Of course, there are a few things we must do every visit - I would be heartbroken if we skipped them, and oh yeah, the kids would too!
Mo’s Restaurant is a MUST. I hate fish, never have liked it - but when we’re on vacation in Oregon, I eat it like crazy. Mo’s has the BEST clam chowder - and I don’t like clam chowder - at all! Yes there are a lot of tourists, and you usually have to wait in line, but I’ve never said “Ugh, I’m sick of this” and we eat there almost daily the 2 weeks we’re on the coast. Mo’s has locations in Florence, Otter Rock, Newport (2 locations), Lincoln City and Cannon Beach. You can also order their chowder base online, which we do every New Years. They ship it in dry ice via FedEx Overnight and it’s TOTALLY worth it!
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Jun 1
The North Face Denali Fleece – Most popular fleece ever?
It seems like the North Face Denali Fleece has become a staple item for the outdoor lifestyle. Whether you are a true outdoor enthusiast or just dress the part, the North Face Denali Fleece is an essential. Its popularity aren’t just because of its stuffing good looks, this North Face fleece is the real deal.
The North Face Denali Fleece is, in my opinion, the best all purpose fleece jacket on the market. It is designed to handle the everyday encounters of outdoor life. Designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind the North Face Denali Fleece is comfortable, versatile, and strongly built.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 31
Our final trip with the 2007 Dartmouth Ski Team was a special one for the athletes, coaches, and administrators who have dedicated so much to the ski team in particular and Dartmouth Athletics in general. At the White House on June 18, President George W. Bush honored 27 of this year’s NCAA Division-1 national championship teams-of which we were one-in an afternoon-long celebration that included a tour of the White House, a personal meeting with President Bush, and Presidential remarks delivered on the South Lawn.
Having gone our separate ways after winning the ski championship, we arrived at Washington’s Hotel Sofitel from all corners of the country-some from Hanover, others from Colorado and Texas, myself from New York City where I’m spending the summer on an internship. Having the team together was pleasant reunion because end-of-term finals and graduation rarely allow much time to say goodbye to so a number of of the people that influenced our lives at Dartmouth.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 29
One of the best reasons to choose a vacation rental can be the amenities offered. Beyond having a kitchen and sometimes a washer and dryer - many resort complexes and property rental companies offer great perks to their guests that don’t cost a dime.
Destin Days Vacation Rentals offers a wide variety of free Destin Florida rental amenities. This is the best and most inexpensive way to see all that the Gulf Coast of Florida has to offer.
Enjoy buy one get one free deep sea fishing with Lighten Up Charters and Captain Doug Richards. This is a 4 hour fishing trip that includes tackle, license, Captain/ Mate and fish cleaning. There must be a minimum of 4 people to book the trip, but if you divide the savings among four, this is a perk you can’t afford to miss.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 18
Rooftop at the soon-to-open Gansevoort South.
Happy Halloween…lets talk hotels…WHICH exclusive New England resort that recently sold out for big money is gearing up for an oh-so-polite power struggle? Media darling and always booked, it doesn’t turn a profit, and the new owners aren’t ‘avin it, ‘enry — not at least long term they’re not…
…WHICH big, expensively PR’d rebranding effort isn’t bearing fruit? Everyone’s talking about the fact that nobody’s talking about the host of faded hotel and resort properties snatched up, revamped and relaunched by a deep-pocketed investment firm as part of a new high-end collection. Joke’s on them, media doesn’t care; may have something to do with the fact that nothing they’ve done seems in the slightest bit innovative…
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 13
courtesy of the BBC
It’s hard to imagine that a building so incredibly characterful could have so recently been so hated, but the city’s St. Pancras station (being re-dedicated tomorrow in a big ceremony with the Queen and all) was not too long ago seen as an “obsolete, pompous and absurd” reminder of a past that most Britons would have rather forgotten.
True, St. Pancras was and is one of the most ridiculously over the top pieces of architecture from its time standing in London today, but things change, and its lurid, red brick boastfulness is now gloriously back in vogue, new champagne bar and all.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 12
Here is an interesting interview of Thomas Owadenko that Loic Le Meur just uploaded on his blog. Thomas is the CEO of the new travel 2.0 site called Trivop.
Trivop.com is a very good example of a good use of web 2.0 in the travel industry. It is a platform of video reviews of hotels (located in Europe and then in the future in the US).Like I said in the past, the future of hotel reviews is strongly connected to the future of online video; we previously saw the impact of a simple video uploaded on youtube to report a poor hotel room in Madrid. We also saw Tripadvisor launched a video uploading feature on their website to follow this (hotel) trend.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 8
Tim Leffel is the editor of PerceptiveTravel.com, an online, non-corporate magazine devoted to showcasing original and thought-provoking travel stories.
Perceptive Travel is one of my favorite online media outlets, consistently serving up eclectic and engaging travel stories.
You won’t find any fluff at Perceptive Travel, and Mr. Leffel aims to keep it that way.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on May 2
Britain is a country that many tourists talk about, notably for its horrendous weather, cream tea, and of course the British “stiff upper lip.” Yet over this weekend nothing will dampen the moods of its residents, because the annual Guy Fawkes Night celebrations will be taking place at venues all over the country.
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night or Fireworks Night, is an age-long British tradition celebrating the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to assassinate the Protestant King James I of England. Led by Robert Catesby, a group of Catholic conspirators planned to implant and detonate a series of explosives in the Palace of Westminster on the evening of November 5th 1605, when the King and most of the English Parliament were inside the building. Guy Fawkes, the protagonist of today’s festival, was in charge of preparing the explosives. However, the plot was discovered at the last minute and Fawkes, with many others, was tortured and executed. November 5th, what would have been the day of the assassination, is nowadays a night of celebration and fireworks for the British, although many events take place on the weekend surrounding this date.
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