http://www.donnetempo.com/index.htmlDonne Tempo highlights destinations and vacationsenDonne TempoCopyright 2008 Donne Tempo2008-10-30T22:26:12-04:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:27:28 -0400Donne TempoTravel2008-10-30T22:26:12-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/hotel-del-san%20diego-california-ghosts-haunting.php#unique-entry-id-7http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/hotel-del-san%20diego-california-ghosts-haunting.php#unique-entry-id-7By Jacquie Kubin, Editor, Donne Tempo Magazine

With Halloween around the corner, San Diego with her great food and arresting ghost stories becomes irresistible.

San Diego is bordered by Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, the Anza-Borrego Desert and the Laguna Mountains and it is steeped in early and present day history all of which leads to plenty of authenticated haunting sites. It is a place of blue skys, brilliant flowers, warm ocean breezes and very friendly people.

The first stop is historic “Old Town” San Diego where Californian life and living during the early American-Mexican era (1821-1872) is colorfully recreated..

It is where the town of San Diego, the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California and the first mission were established. Eventually more than 21 mission were established, leading to the colonization of California.

During this time, the area around that original mission grew to become the city of San Diego as retired soldiers and settlers built their homes around the mission and presidio.

Today Old Town San Diego is a lively State Historic Park that has been restored and revitalized to help preserve the rich heritage that was San Diego during 1821-1872.

So, with over 250 years of souls spending their earthly life in this mission town turned historical park, there is bound to be a few that have declined the invitation to cross over.

One of the most popular spots for ghostly sighting is The Whaley House. Now a museum, the house has been home to a Whaley family member since the mid-1800 until the death of Corinne Whaley, the last of Thomas Whaley’s children, who died in 1953.

Thomas left in 1890, and his wife followed in 1913 – or did they?

According to spookologists the Whaley House Museum is the most haunted house in America. The properties most noted continual guest is Yankee Jim; a man convicted to die and hung on the property before the house was built.

El Campo Cemetery, located just up the road from the Whaley house, was dedicated as a Catholic Cemetery in 1849, becoming the not so final resting place of many early San Diego residents.

El Campo today has only a few of the original four hundred and forty-seven graves still visible, causing some un-earthly disquiet from residents who were built upon, as San Diego began to grow and the land was needed for roads and building.

It is said that cars parked in front of the cemetery, where twelve or more of the dearly departed now rest beneath San Diego Avenue, often find that their car alarms are set off or that their cars will not start.

Inside the black wrought iron fence, El Campo has been the site of many ghostly disturbances and, it is reported, that many of the businesses built on what was originally cemetery grounds, suffer from frequent, and unexplained, electric and alarm malfunctions.

As a side note, the grave of Yankee Jim Robinson, who continues to live at the Whaley house, can still be found at El Campo Cemetery.

The distinctive Horton Grand Hotel is located in the Gaslamp Quarter District and is a beautifully refurbished Victorian era property.

Gambler Roger Whitaker who was shot as a cheater during a game of cards haunts this property. If you wish to share Roger’s room, ask for 309 when you register.

The Horton Grand Hotel’s other specter is Madam Ida Bailey, who owned the brothel that once occupied the land the hotel was built on. Both Mr. Whitaker and Madam Bailey are said to be quite friendly ghosts, causing the occasional flickering light and temperature increase, an occasional glimpse in the hallway or on the grand stair, but never any real frights or scares.

One of the most famous haunted hotel guests is Katie Morgan, also known as The Beautiful Stranger, who continues to live at the equally beautiful historic Hotel del Coronado, located across the bay from San Diego.

This wedding cake example of classic Victorian architecture served as the inspiration for L. Frank Baum’s Emerald City. The building is massive and remarkable to behold.

It was finished in 1888 without a single nail – the entire property being built using wooden pegs, including the remarkable wooden domed ceiling of the Crown Room, where King Edward VIII was said to have met, and later abdicated his throne to marry, Coronado divorcee Wallis Spencer Simpson in 1936.

The Hotel Del, as it is affectionately known, has played host to Kings and Queens, Princes and Legends, Presidents and some of Hollywood’s greatest names, including Marilyn Monroe who filmed “Some Like It Hot” with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon on the Del’s sandy shores (1958).

The story of Kate Morgan is what brings many visitors to this very busy property. Documented in the book, “The Beautiful Stranger: The Ghost of Kate Morgan and The Hotel Del Coronado” (a Hotel Del Coronado Official heritage Dept. Book/Christine Donovan) to see the beach where a young woman tragically ended her life.

Or was murdered.

The Heritage book does not lie to rest exactly who the ghost of The Hotel Del really is. The official record reports that it was Kate Morgan and suicide the cause of death is officially challenged by San Diego author John T. Cullen in his book “Dead Move: Kate Morgan and the Haunting Mystery of Coronado” and by Bonnie Vent of the San Diego Paranormal Research Project.

Ms. Vent is a research medium that lives in San Diego who claims that “Kate” revealed her true name, Lottie Bernard

Either way, no one knows for sure the identity of The Hotel Del’s Beautiful Stranger, but she is still a verifiable presence at the Hotel Del.

The waiting list for Kate’s room, Room 3327, can be long, however, it is said that some of the most active paranormal instances happen in the gift shop.

For more on the ghost of Kate Morgan/Lottie Bernard, visit our exclusive interview with research medium Bonnie Vent of the San Diego Paranormal Research Project]]>Donne TempoAmazonian Road Warrior2008-08-27T21:09:51-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-jumeriah-essex-house-new-york.php#unique-entry-id-6http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-jumeriah-essex-house-new-york.php#unique-entry-id-6By Jacquie Kubin, Editor and writer for Donne Tempo Magazine

New York, New York (June 2008) — There are few other destinations that come with the pre-conceived expectations of New York City.

Whether those expectations come from watching old romance movies, present day classic films, or King Kong, travelers expect this city to be a little bit more exciting, more polished, brighter than any other place on earth.

The reality is that New York is a busy place. It is always crowded, always noisy and there is perceptible grit to the air.

For this road warrior, for a trip to New York to be tremendous, it must include the perfect hotel. Because for me it is more than just a night’s sleep. It is a sanctuary from the noise, the confusion, from the city itself.

After many NYC trips that fell far short of the NYC we see in Hollywood films, Big Apple Nirvana is found at the Jumeirah Essex House.

The Jumeirah Essex House sits at Central Park South, just steps from the park and just blocks from Times Square. It is one of New York’s most famous hotels.

Debuting in 1931 as the Essex House, it launched with the tag “Always in touch with the Park, Never out of touch with the City!”

Over 75 years later, that sentiment still rings true.

The hotel, a grand dame dressed in art nouveau finery, retains her gilded doors, marble floors, wood detailing and architecture following a $90 million refurbishment, that reinvented the property as a place to see, and be seen, when it reopened in 2007.

The Dubai based company, Jumeirah, acquired the 515-room mansion style property in January 2006. The acquisition completed their search for a United States based property that would not only be iconic, but that would act as a calling card to the city’s large international travel base.

New York city wins hands down as one of the Unites States most expensive destinations. Room rates for standard rooms with barely enough room to turn around in are in excess of $400.00 per night. A little luxury can quickly run over $650.

For those prices, travelers are demanding that their hotel have the amenities of a fine resort.

Hirsch Bedner Associates championed the hotel’s redesign, recreating the lobby by enhancing existing historical charms, such as adding a frosted glass, ala Lalique, reception desk, that mirrors the carved rosette pattern on lobby doors and updating the room and suites to a fresh feel that melds a hip contemporary aesthetic with the property’s art deco heritage.

They employed a “Cruise Ship” mentality in order to take full advantage of all space imbuing a regal, almost yacht-like approach to the rooms that is luxurious and refined.

Stepping inside the rooms, the floors feel lushly carpeted, the honey-hued built-ins take up less visual and floor space than individual furniture pieces would. Numerous high tech features are prominent.

A favorite bit of technology does away with those annoying doorknob hangers as guests simply flip a switch to turn on the exterior “Do Not Disturb” light.

The room’s color palates include golden carpets that support deep red velvet hues found in leather accents, desk executive chair, pillows and door pulls.

The wall-to-wall wood cabinetry offers ample desk and drawer space while little touches – such as the hammered nail studs on the white leather ottoman, wood and burgundy leather luggage rest, or the light-up poles in the closets.

An extreme benefit if you have ever left a favored shirt hanging in a dark closet.

Flat screen televisions, motion-sensor stumble lights under the bed side table and in the washroom, telescopes to peer into the trees of Central Park and lounging couches that can double as single sleeping beds, are just some of the luxury accoutrements of the property.

It all combines to make the Jumeirah Essex house a hip, art nouveau meets 21st century technology hybrid worthy of your time, and money, to visit.

Paying homage to those early Hollywood films, entering the front door of the property, you quickly feel that you are someone, entering someplace special, where just “anyone” doesn’t go. It is just that crisply smooth.

Striving to return a bit of historical elegance to the property, the Jumeirah Essex House supports a lobby arts program that presently includes a collaborative exhibit “The Heart of Central Park – An Exhibition of over a Century of Images of Central Park from the Archives of The Museum of The City of New York and Magnum Photos.

These photos, many of them in black and white, reach back to the mid-1800s and brings to life the history of the city’s green heart and includes historical photos of those things we still love to do in the park, including skating, visiting the zoo, sailing boats on the lake or just enjoying its lushness.

Further celebrating the Central Park theme, the hotel’s curator Katherine Gass also commissioned two stunning works by noted Korean photographer Atta Kim and the American contemporary landscape painter, Mark Innerst.

Enhancing the hotel’s destination qualities are the luxe “The Spa at the Jumeirah Essex House” that includes sumptuous men’s and women’s relaxation lounges, personal soaking tubs and a 1,000 square foot fitness space, with or without a personal trainer.

The Spa, which uses Australia’s Sodashi 100-percent all-natural skin care and spa therapy line, provides a full menu of facial, body, massage and health therapies. It provides a luxury, tranquil environment that takes you out of the city to an oasis of wellness.

A last, but by no means least, element for the property is Chef Kerry Heffernan’s South Gate restaurant. Nothing short of an oasis in the desert of New York’s Mid-Town culinary offerings, Chef Kerry provides a sparkling new restaurant, and exciting menu filled with greenmarket inspired dishes that are innovative, interesting and exciting.

There is little doubt that Chef Kerry’s South Gate will be on the agenda for all future NYC trips.

The Essex House has been a part of New York City’s Central Park landscape for over seventy-five years. Now Jumeirah has given this historical grand dame new life, new purpose and a very lovely new elegance that will continue to keep her “Always in touch with the Park. Never out of touch with the City!”

The Jumeriah Essex House
160 Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
(212) 247-0300
www.jumeirahessexhouse.com

Jacquie Kubin is editor and writer for Donne Tempo Magazine and always on the lookout for that extra bit of luxury in travel.]]>Donne TempoAmazonian Road Warrior2008-08-25T23:45:26-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/hyatt-regency-florida.php#unique-entry-id-5http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/hyatt-regency-florida.php#unique-entry-id-5By Janice Jurist

If Miami is your brother's flamboyant tanga clad girlfriend, Sarasota is your hipster cousin, all about understatement and culture with a tropical flavor.

A recent trip to Sarasota for the Forks & Corks Food and Wine festival had me in need of a quality, luxury hotel.

You just can't sleep at the Day's Inn hotel when your days are spent wining and dining with the Sarasota/Manatee Originals family of fine restaurants!

The choice was the Sarasota Hyatt Regency. Checking into the property, everyone from the valet to the front desk to the executive chef had one thing on their mind. The properties recent renovation.

Obviously the entire staff is proud of their new digs. And while I never saw the place before this highly touted renovation, I can tell you the place looks FABULOUS.

The marble lobby is cool and sleek and full of light. A ride up the elevator and the halls are carpeted in bands of hot tropical colors. Portraits of what I imagine are an old distinguished family of Sarasota flamingos stare down at you with flamingo hauteur.

The rooms are what you would expect of a Hyatt hotel - gracious and spacious.

Very cool indeed are the bedroom balcony's that have been enclosed in glass providing an intimate spot to sit and view the boat slips and Sarasota Bay below.

If not for the lure of the wine festival, art and cultural goings on outside I could have stretched out contentedly with a book, or just spent a day watching the changing sky and boats slipping in and out to the bay

On the breakfast buffet I was delighted to find deep pinky orange slices of papaya.

When I asked where it came from, the executive chef, Aaron Chaverria, explained how he makes a real effort to buy his fruits and vegetables locally.

Chef Aaron is a native of Nicaragua where his father was a renowned agricultural engineer and professor in the United States, and he insisted Aaron study agricultural engineering as well as his culinary pursuits.

The hotel’s Currents restaurant menu is decidedly Flori-bean, reflecting Chef Aaron's Basque and native Nicaraguan roots. A beef tostada appetizer is stacked on a crunchy base with Calabrese cheese, onion straws, and roasted poblanos peppers.

Chef Aaron uses hearts of palm, oranges, avocados and shaved Brazil nuts in his Brazilian salad, tossed with passion fruit/mango vinaigrette.

The Mojo Chicken with tomato, corn, and avocado salad, black bean coulis and cilantro crème fraiche, (with sweet potato sticks, what else) definitely sums up the hotel's ambiance of tropical sophistication.

I, pastry addict that I am, had to pass up dessert.

A point of curiosity during my stay were the young people in the hotel trudging around with violins and cellos strapped to their backs. A bit of questioning and I found out they were participants in the Sarasota Music Festival with concerts held at the opera house, maybe a half-mile from the Hyatt.

For these musicians, or girlfriends traveling to Sarasota for a bit of sun, nightlife and fun events, this particular hotel is a particularly good location as it is in the middle of everything!

While it's an easy 3-mile trip to Sarasota "must-see" attractions, The Ringling Museum of Art and Cad'Zan, it's walk-able to the downtown area with its theaters, phenomenal restaurants, independent movie house, and of course, the opera space as well as the famous Van Weisel performing arts center and the visitors' center.

The Sarasota airport is maybe a 5-minute cab ride away. It seems that everything is just right there.

Checking out, I signed up for their emails notifying me of upcoming promotions and specials. With such a beautifully RENOVATED hotel, super friendly staff, and restaurant full of delightful and interesting food and people, I will be checking my email for an excuse to go back.


Rating: Four out of five golden arrows!
Hyatt Regency Sarasota
1000 Boulevard of the Arts,
Sarasota, Florida, USA 34236
Tel: +1 941 953 1234 Fax: +1 941 952 1987
http://sarasota.hyatt.com



]]>Donne TempoTravel2008-07-22T23:04:54-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-forks-corks.php#unique-entry-id-4http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-forks-corks.php#unique-entry-id-4By Janice Jurist

How do you go from song and dance man in Podunk, Iowa, to founding the official state art museum of Florida? You run away and join a circus, of course.

In 1927 John and Mabel Ringling, of Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey circus fame, built an Italianate palazzo in Sarasota, Florida in order to house his then $16 million dollar art collection acquired during his circus day travels. Ringling also chooses Sarasota as the “winter home” for his circus, putting Sarasota on the cultural map.

First opened in 1930, the palazzo became the de facto art museum of the area and the Ringling family established the Ringling Junior College and School of Art in 1931. Today Sarasota continues to be a quality destination for those seeking a vacation filled with the arts – from museums to theater; the symphony to a yearly film festival held each spring.

Adding to the numerous really good reasons to visit this Floridian city, this June (the 5th through the 8th) The Sarasota-Manatee Originals held their first Forks and Corks Food & Wine Festival.

And it promises to not be their last.

The festival, benefiting the Ringling Museum of Art and Meals on Wheel, brought out fifty independent restaurants from the area for a three day gastronomic Olympics.

The event theme, Bubbles on the Bay, began with a champagne reception held on the marble patio of the Ringling home turned art museum, Cad'Zan.

The space was decorated with cascades of big plastic bubbles, claw footed tubs full of bubbles, and clear plastic blow-up chairs and sofas, that were truly like sitting on bubbles.)

The actual bubbles were flowing, thanks to Moet Hennessey. As the sun went down in it’s brilliant and showoffy way I would not have been surprised to see the Doge of Venice himself, champagne in hand, followed by a lute player or two.

Instead, the Funky Monks from Chicago performing homage to the Red Hot Chili Peppers entertained us.

Champagne, wine, and nibbles flowed late into Friday night preparing us for a series of seminars held at the University of South Florida. Six fascinating seminars were offered, ranging from an olive oil tasting, chefs' demonstrations, and my personal favorite, Bell Wine Cellars wine blending class, led by the master vintner himself, Anthony Bell.

Mr. Bell, a Napa, California winemaker with personal roots amongst the vines of his families’ South African vineyard, broke us up into teams of six. We were given four perfectly drinkable Cabernet clones, two blending wines (merlot and Petit Verdot), and a calibrated beaker. We were challenged to compete with the other tables in coming up with a new Cabernet blend; the winners got a bottle of Mr. Bell's elegant wine.

My table strove mightily. We mixed and blended ourselves into a stupor and it was FUN. I'm not sure whether we won.

Members of Sarasota/Manatee Originals provided lunch in the rotunda of the University of Southern Florida. Several restaurants offered tasting dishes of their house specialties.

My favorite was bacon-crusted scallops with locally grown corn and feta salad, followed by a steely Morgan Winery Chardonnay. Stanley Lambert brought a dessert wine called Choc a Block from his eponymous Barossa Valley, Australia vineyard. The dark chocolate Port, made using a fortified Australian Tawny wine base and seeping it with chocolate. is a great accompaniment with brownies and all things rich and velvety!

Sunday- ah Sunday- and we were back at the Ringling for the Grand Tasting. Thirty of the Originals restaurant members plus 80(!) wineries participated including Dr. Bürklin-Wolf, Germany; Champagne Ruinart, France; Fairview Vineyards, South Africa; and Lakeridge Winery, Florida.

Fortunately the festival provided a list of who was serving what, so I picked out seven restaurants and ten wineries to visit.

My notes are a little food and wine stained, but it looks like I ate crab cakes from Martinis and Tapas. Speaking with Chef Matthew Patten at MT’s I learned that while their crab cakes follow a standard recipe of jumbo lump, minimal filler and panko breadcrumbs, they also add a bit of whole grain mustard, Cajun seasoning and a Cajun inspired aioli for a bit of added spice.

Other standout dishes where the Osso Bucco with risotto goat cheese with wild berry compote from Sandbar, the Confit of duck crepes from Bijou Café and Bourbon Street jambalaya zabaglione from Siesta Key Oyster Bar.

I was stuffed and mellow and delighted to discover several must-visit restaurants in the Sarasota/Manatee area. I also discovered some AMAZING new wines.

If you have the LEAST interest in eating or drinking you cannot miss the Sarasota Forks and Corks when it rolls back in town June 2009. I came away hugely impressed with the Originals' members' enthusiasm for cooking with locally grown produce and seafood.

Donne Tempo Magazine and Donne Travels welcomes new writer Janice Jurist, a self-named foodie and writer. We have Janice working on obtaining recipes from her favorite Forks n’ Corks tasting and it seems as there were many! Thank you Janice.



]]>Donne TempoTravel2008-06-27T18:38:24-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-tampa-bay-food-wine-festival.php#unique-entry-id-3http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-tampa-bay-food-wine-festival.php#unique-entry-id-3By Lisa M. Ruth

Gently combine one part fabulous food, one part outstanding spirits, and one part tropical paradise. Layer with exciting chefs and innovative sommeliers and vintners, exquisite and whimsical displays, and top with interested, informed crowds.

The result: The 2008 Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival - Unleash Your Palate.

Southern Wine and Spirits and The Abilities Foundation produced an outstanding culinary event in Tampa Bay, May 15 –17th 2008. The second annual event, subtitled, “Unleash Your Palate,” wowed visitors with its quality and pageantry.

The amazing setting – the divine Don CeSar’s on stunning St. Pete’s beach – perfectly framed the event and offered varied venues, from informal barefoot-on-the-beach to black tie ballroom, to showcase the regionally available food and wine.

Diverse exhibitors and vendors like provided plentiful, varied samples spanning the culinary spectrum.

Chefs and sommeliers were accessible and friendly, further heightening what was both an entertaining and educational experience.

The opening food event for the festival was The OSI Party for the Senses & Sergio Mendes Concert, located on the lawn outside the bay front Mahaffey Theatre.

This party showcased food and beverages from Outback Steakhouse International’s five restaurants, Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, and A La Carte Event Pavilion.

Soulful vocal entertainment by Sharon Little added the polish to an event filled with wonderful food and beverages, themed models and performers.

Of course, there are always those things that stand out, and for us that was the Bonefish Grille’s Ocean Trust Martini (Absolute Citron, mango, sour mix, orange juice, and a splash of soda).

Carrabba’s lobster ravioli in a vermouth cream sauce, and Outback’s pan seared lobster crab cake were also outstanding.

The true hallmark of a great food and wine festival is the festive daytime atmosphere which centered around the Grand Tasting Village.

The Village was set upon The Don CeSar’s white sand beach creating a 20,000 square foot epicurean bonanza.

Exhibitors include some of Tampa’s finest restaurants and chefs, as well as world-known wine makers and distillers.

Entering The Village, Guests might feel overwhelmed, because of the huge array of displays, but they quickly acclimate as they receive a wine glass and are enticed by resplendent displays.

Again, the spirits are outstanding and food is tremendous. We particularly enjoyed Tampa Island Flavors authentic Caribbean cuisine [islandflavorsandtings.com], individual desserts from Annie’s Pies, and vodka from T&W Winery & Distillery.

The casual atmosphere encourages communication with vintners, chefs, and restaurant owners, all who are happy to answer questions of just talk to guests.

Kudos to State of Florida Culinary Ambassador, Executive Chef Justin Patrick Timineri, who offered not only excellent seafood dishes but also information on seafood conservation. Sustainable seafood practices are important to the industry and those of use who love to eat it.

If you came to not just eat, but also learn, The Festival offered numerous seminars in the Village, including Bring Sexy Back (exotic spices and herbs-based signature drinks, by Master Mixologist Francesco Lafranconi), Come Out of Your Shell (tricks of the trade, by Doug Bebell, Proprietor of Mystic Fish Restaurant), Mediterranean Delights (Chef Jim Nuetzi and Executive Chef Dan Tenderous, Capital Grille), Please, Make Me Blush (National Fine Wine Director Paul Chevalier), The Naked Native (native seafood, Chef Justin Timineri), Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier, and Rubb Me Down (steak rubs).

The Friday evening event, the Titanium Chef Challenge, was a rollicking competition between exciting young chef Joshua Adam Garcia (AKA JAG) and world-renowned executive chef and international celebrity chef Jason Roberts.

The festive competition challenged the chefs to create a dish using the “secret ingredients,” chocolate and mahi mahi. The Abilities Foundation auctioned off two seats to judge the competition – raising more than $15,000– and winners joined judges celebrity Lorraine Bracco (The Sopranos) and culinary rocker/celebrity chef Johnny Ciao.

The set up allowed excellent viewing of the chef’s, sous chefs (Jason Timineri for Chef JAG and Robert Masson for Chef Roberts) and their “kitchen’s.”

Local television personality and comedian Tim Wilkins hosted the event, keeping the audience involved and informed of happenings on the floor. Lack of seating was a small problem, which many guests overcame by sitting on the floor or steps.

All good things come to an end and The Festival culminated with a black tie gala and auction benefiting the Abilities Foundation in the Grande Ballroom of the Don Cesar. Local chefs joined international celebrity chefs to create a six-course gastronomic panoply. Exceptional wines and spirits complemented the food, creating a dazzling finale to the festival.

We grant sincere compliments to the Abilities Foundation, Southern Wine & Spirits, and the chefs, sommeliers, and exhibitors for an all-around stellar event. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next year.

Overall Rating: Outstanding

The Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival is hosted by Southern Wine & Spirits and this year benefited the Abilities Foundation.
]]>Donne TempoAmazonian Road Warrior2008-06-22T22:59:38-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-quorum-hotel.php#unique-entry-id-2http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-quorum-hotel.php#unique-entry-id-2By Lisa M. Ruth

The Quorum Hotel, Tampa is billed as “The Business Resort.”

For this inaugural release of the Amazonian Road Warrior, The Quorum Hotel fully met the quest for a quality business, and leisure hotel that meets the demands of we, the “fairer” sex.

Not only was this quest fulfilled, the stay far exceeded my expectations, perfectly delivering the services a business traveler requires, the comfort a traveler desires, and the extras most travelers don’t even consider.

The staff is exceptional, the furnishings are soothing, and the surroundings are warm and tropical. All that and the “little extras” add up to a big bonus for feminine travelers who choose The Quorum.

The hotel environs highlight palm trees and beach themes, welcoming guests to a mainland tropical paradise that is soothing, without being kitschy. The lobby area seems endlessly bright with a large skylight, opening an already spacious area. Resonating the hotel’s theme are several unique starfish pieces on the wall that can’t help but draw your attention.

Comfort and warmth radiate from every area of the hotel. The décor and furnishings are distinctly Floridian, with cherry woods and warm yellows throughout.

The Blue Water Grill melds into lobby, with no walls separating the two spaces, creating a casual, friendly atmosphere. The hallways to the guest rooms are freshly decorated and sport more palm trees springing forth from new carpet.

Everything in the hotel is clean, tropical, and well-placed.

Continuing the relaxed, but luxurious vibe of the lobby, guest rooms envelope the weary with comfort while providing the hard tools needed to get that last bit of work done.
Keeping the floor space open of heavy furniture, each room has a 32” flat-screen TV with premium channels, a coffee maker, a desk wide enough to hold a computer and files and Internet access. While not expansive, the rooms are large enough to meet guests’ needs, and designers have used the space extremely well.

The club-level rooms also have in-room wireless.

Personally, I appreciate the luxe of the washroom vanities with rich granite countertops.

For this tired road-warrior, the main focus of the room is, of course, the bed. The Quorum features a ComfortCrafted bed that is soft but firm, with the high quality duvet and linens that assure a good night sleep. The thick drapes and good insulation create a quiet retreat, allowing for undisturbed sleep, or time to work or read. Most of us do not consider the importance of silence, the restorative benefit of being within our own space, until we are distracted by other guests talking in the hallway or wake to the sound of running feet.

All of this is remarkably welcome because of the properties location in bustling downtown Tampa. From the outside in, the hotel is a remarkably calm oasis, as the property successfully uses tropical plants to buffer the hotel from the cacophony outside.

The Quorum has a nice pool with a waterfall and a spa. The deck has plenty of space for sun-worshipers, as well as a shaded area for those who want to enjoy the pool but avoid the extra UV rays. The fitness center offers several types of equipment. It has treadmills, stationary bikes, a stair climber, free weights, and weight balls. The rubber flooring was added earlier this year, as were the multiple flat screen televisions.

Two of our favorite features are a large map showing various running paths and their mileage, and complimentary refrigerated bottled water.

The furnishings are wonderful, but the true stand out at the Quorum is the staff.

We had the pleasure of meeting Ian Larson, Assistant General Manager/Director of Operation who greeted us at check in. Mr. Larson and his entire staff were remarkably personable, professional, and knowledgeable. They happily fielded a barrage of questions from guests on subjects as varied as restaurant recommendations, the location of a supermarket, the history of cigar-making in Tampa, and the names of plants used to landscape the property. Every member of the staff was pleasant and proficient.

It’s hard to imagine there is even more for the feminine business traveler at the Quorum, but there is. The hotel offers additional specialties that put it in a class above other properties. At check in, the staff offers guests’ cold bottled water and fresh fruit, displayed in a tropical arrangement in the lobby.

Every weeknight, the hotel hosts a Manager’s Reception, with complementary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Staff attends the function and is available to answer questions and provide recommendations. A certified massage therapist is in the lobbying during the reception, offering free massages to guests.

On Wednesday’s, the hotel offers a cigar rolling demonstration and discussion of the history of cigars.

There are little extras in the rooms as well. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and soaps are by Bath and Body Works. They provide a vanity kit and even a make-up removing cloth. The towels smell fresh and are clean and soft. Bedside lamps have dimmers that are easily accessible without requiring guests to get out of bed to adjust the lighting.

For this Amazonian Road Warrior, the proverbial icing on the cake is the recycling bin in the lobby. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded The Quorum a Florida Green Lodging Certificate, which recognizes hotels for their effort in conserving natural resources and works with the lodging industry to reduce waste and minimize pollution.

The hotel has an active recycling program, encourages multiple-uses of towels and linens, and conserves water. The Quorum Hotel-Tampa is truly “The Business Resort,” exceeding expectations for properties in this category.

The ground-floor business center has flat-monitor computers with free Internet access, printers, and a fax. There are also wireless computers and printers at the Club Level on the 11th floor.

Overall, the combination of comfort, superior service, and added features makes it a top pick for Tampa travelers.

Rating: Four out of five golden arrows!
Quorum Hotel – Tampa
700 N. Westshore Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33609
Phone: 813-289-8200
Fax: 813-287-8275
www.QuorumTampa.com
]]>Donne TempoAmazonian Road Warrior2008-06-21T18:11:28-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-intercontinental-tampa.php#unique-entry-id-1http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-intercontinental-tampa.php#unique-entry-id-1By Lisa M. Ruth

You leave your marathon meeting exhausted and rush to the airport. The flight to Tampa now leaves at 6pm instead of 2pm, out of gate 4A instead of 6D. First class is full, so you are stuck in the back of coach, in a middle seat, squished between an extra large passenger with no sense of personal space and a chatty grandmother concerned about irritable bowl syndrome. The airline loses your luggage. Your carry-on handle breaks, so you lug your bag to the curb, where you break your left heel getting into the cab.

After a very short ride from the airport, you walk through the glass and stainless steel doors of the InterContinental Tampa, and find yourself in an oasis of tranquility and comfort. Luxury, and excellence envelope you, chasing away weariness and anxiety, and you find yourself in a very, very good place.

Welcome to the InterContinental, where excellence truly is the standard. Every facet of the hotel is impressive. The sophisticated, elegant property seamlessly weaves sleek marble and glass, funky art deco, and plush textiles into a singularly superior experience. The staff is outstanding, knowledgeable, and impossible to fluster. Susan, the clerk on duty when we checked in, was a stellar mix of professionalism and warmth.

The InterContinental is striking from the second you enter. The lobby features dark stained woods, modern marble check-in stations instead of traditional counters, and nautical blue-and-white accessories. Glass elevators overlook the 11-story atrium, anchored by a large fountain and framed by chrome-tinted glass windows. Shula's No Name Lounge is nestled on one side of the lobby, and its open, raised setting invites guests to enter and relax.

When you step off the elevator to your floor, chic, comfortable surroundings greet you. We rarely even notice "hallway art" in hotels, but found ourselves admiring the painting on our floor, another example of the designer's attention to detail.

Pad down the hall and you find what we consider the crowning jewel of the hotel, the guest room. The InterContinental recognizes that lovely lobbies are nice greetings, but that superior guest accommodations make a perfect stay. And the hotel delivers.

Guest rooms reflect the overall décor of the hotel, with luscious linens and contemporary, stylish accents. We love the art deco mirror and platform sink in the bathroom. Each room has a flat screen television, an Ipod docking station, wireless Internet, and a well-stocked mini bar. The hotel also offers nightly turn-down service and complimentary bedtime chocolates.

While all those guest room accoutrements are wonderful, our highest accolades go to the bed itself. The feather topped mattress, abundant pillows, and luxurious linins create a relaxing haven for weary travelers. We found it extremely difficult to remove ourselves from such sublime bed.

The hotel also offers a pool and a fitness room. The rooftop pool is located on the seventh floor of the hotel, and provides expansive views of Tampa Bay and downtown Tampa. The well-equipped fitness room is open 24-hours.

Shula's, owned by legendary football coach Don Shula, provides two dining options on site. Shula's Steak House specializes in premium Black Angus beef, but also offers seafood specialties and an amazing molten lava chocolate cake. The restaurant is themed after the 1972 Miami Dolphin's "perfect season," and wait staff presents the beef selections on a menu printed on a football. The casual Shula's No Name Lounge offers cocktails and appetizers, while multiple flat screen televisions broadcast sports and news events.

The InterContinental is sophisticated luxury at its best – comfortable, confident, posh and sleek. Overall rating: exquisite. Our main goal now is to find an excuse to go back.]]>Donne TempoDaytripper2008-06-21T17:16:57-04:00http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-artists-ghosts-in-abingdon-virginia%20.php#unique-entry-id-0http://www.donnetempo.com/donnetravels/files/travel-artists-ghosts-in-abingdon-virginia%20.php#unique-entry-id-0By Cyndi Paxton Johnson

Looking for a vacation that’s close to home yet offers you unparallel relaxation, fantastic countryside views, great food, eclectic art and maybe a ghost or two?

Historical Abingdon, Virginia may be your perfect getaway retreat!

Close your eyes and imagine gently sloping hills, dotted with sheep, cows, goats and the occasional llama. A small stream gurgles at the base of the hills, running beside an historic mill that made flour for families as early as 1790.

See yourself drinking that first cup of morning coffee on the porch of a restored cabin, reveling in the laughter of the birds. The early morning mist settles below the peaks of the mountains and the calf’s frolic on the adjacent hill, racing each other across the green valley.

Later, when you’ve drunk your fill of beauty, serenity and coffee, you meander the four miles to the town that was originally named Wolf Hills, after wolves attacked Daniel Boone’s dogs when he camped there on his first expedition to Kentucky in 1760.

In 1778 the town was incorporated as Abingdon, after Martha Washington’s ancestral home in England. Today the town of Abingdon, Virginia offers us history, ghosts, theatre, music, art, shopping, dining, and the great outdoors – the perfect place to unwind, play, and rediscover the joy of living. I’m smiling as I type, remembering the three blissful days spent in the foothills of Appalachia.

Abingdon is about six hours southwest of Washington DC, just off of Interstate 81. Once you’re away from the city the drive is pleasurable, with postcard towns dotted amidst the rolling hills and Blue Ridge Mountains.

There are enough towns along the highway to offer a selection of chain restaurants, stores and gas stations. If you’re a book lover (like ME) you’ll want to plan your trip to coincide with the Green Valley Book Fair dates (www.gvbookfair.com) to peruse the 30,000 titles at 60%-90% off retail price. Located just south of Harrisonburg, VA, the fair is only open two out of every six weeks. Trust me – it’s worth the two mile detour!

Once you’ve arrived in Abingdon, you’re in for a treat! The town has much to offer – you’ll find yourself inundated with choices and opportunities! Prior to our trip, I called the Abingdon Visitors Bureau [1-800-435-3440, www.abingdon.com] and requested brochures. Several arrived within a few days – but many of the more interesting activities were not represented in my package. If you’re the planning ahead type, you’ll want to request information from a few different sources.

Allow me to whet your appetite for the delight that is Abingdon!

The History

Abingdon is our country’s oldest town west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and many of the original expeditions west traveled through there. Countless pioneers, already weary with travel and enchanted by the lush hillsides and green valleys, decided they were home. And so the town began. She (for the town is very much a lady) was quite a distance from the Revolutionary War – but her men traveled east and fought for their new country just the same.

Abingdon continued to grow following the War of Independence, and her people needed a mill. By 1790 White’s Mill was providing meal and flour for local farms, and the general store provided store-bought essentials for the home – as well as a gathering place.

In the early 1800’s Abingdon was flourishing, and by 1830 had attracted people such as politician/lawyer Francis Preston, who immediately began constructing his mansion-like home. Eventually the home evolved into a finishing school for young ladies, and later a hospital during the civil war. After the war the building became a women’s college and today she exists as an elegant hotel, The Martha Washington Inn. According to legend – and witnesses – the inn houses several Civil War era ghosts, including a young girl crying for her dead soldier.

Indeed, the Civil War wrecked havoc throughout Abingdon, and ghost tales flourish throughout the town (and the owners of the historic buildings are more than happy to tell you their building’s story). After the war, the partly burned town settled into the reconstruction years, much like the rest of the country.

The Great Depression brought Abingdon one of her greatest treasures – the Barter Theatre. So named because the group of playwrights that assembled there (such as Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, and Thornton Wilder) would accept “Ham for Hamlet” – or food in lieu of hard cash for tickets. George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, is remembered for bartering the rights to his plays for spinach! Throughout the years, many well known thespians have traveled through her doors, including Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Gregory Peck, and Ned Beatty. Today actors and playwrights still find love and fame at the Barter Theatre!

Abingdon is proud of her history and heritage – and loves nothing more than to share her stories and treasures with eager travelers.

The Arts

Abingdon is well known for her support of artists and their talents, and was named one of the 100 best small towns for the arts! In addition to the Barter Theatre, you can visit the William King Regional Arts Center for their rotating schedule of regional and national exhibits.

Visit The Arts Depot, a community-based arts center. Many artists have studios at the depot, and are always willing to share their vision and talents with visitors. I was entranced by resident artist Joyce Samuel’s poured watercolors. She literally pours brilliant colors over her paper, and then looks to see what definition emerges.

Weaver Nancy Garretson shared not only her incredible three dimensional wall art, but also her passion for looms and weaving. Did you know that during Revolutionary times, Great Britain would not allow Americans to weave cloth, making them that more dependent on the British empire?

Colonial American women – being a tad defiant and fiercely independent - quickly made their own looms and began weaving cloth for their soldiers. George Washington later took the oath of office proudly wearing homespun clothes.

Clay artist Sara Reese is surrounded by cats, fish, and other eclectic creations. Some of these playful critters are made by her students in the children’s art class she leads, sharing her lifelong love of clay with the next generation.

It seems like everyone in town has gotten in touch with their artistic side. Painters, sculptors, weavers, musicians, thespians and writers all proudly call the Abingdon area home. I can certainly understand why – I could have stayed there forever, too.

For more information about the Arts in Abingdon, go to www.aame.info, the Arts Alliance Mountain Empire.

The Shops

Shopping, anyone? Do you love to meander through antique stores – or does your heart prefer homemade arts and crafts? Looking for beads? Clothing or lingerie? A limitless assortment of gifts and sundries? Abingdon has it all – or at least an impressive collection!

The Cave House has been spotlighting the work of local artists and crafters since 1971. This lovely 1858 Victorian home is directly above the cavernous limestone grotto that once appealed to Daniel Boone – until wolves attacked his dogs!

The Mercantile Store at White’s Mill is still a haven for locals and an attraction for tourists. The rooms are chock-filled with one-of-a-kind gifts and collectibles. I bought myself an amazing hand made broom, complete with gnarled handle and a carving of The Green Man, for only $30.

Over 140 local artist and craftspeople have their wares on consignment at the mercantile, with a percentage of sales going directly to the restoration fund for White’s Mill. We met seamstress Edith Jackson (born in 1918) when she delivered another assortment of old-fashioned bonnets and aprons to the store. She also brought her grandmother’s black bonnet to add to the store’s unique gift collection.

On Saturday mornings the local Farmer’s Market is hopping with activity, even in less than ideal weather! The wind had turned bitter our final morning and everyone was huddled under blankets, trying to stay warm. The cold didn’t deter the crowds or the friendliness of the farmers and crafters. I even saw my first coffee tree! Did you know that there is actually a fruit on these trees? We just roast, grind and savor the seeds, however.

The Food

Speaking of coffee, take a break at Zazzy Z coffee house and bookstore! WIFI friendly, it’s the perfect place to relax, check email, drink coffee and have a snack or sandwich.

Also downtown is Wines of Distinction. They have an impressive assortment of wine and beer, coffee beans, unusual gifts items and imported cheeses. I discovered that authentic parmesan cheese is only made from Tuscany red cows. I’m still not sure about the difference – but I’d love to spend a few days tasting my way to an opinion!

Take a break from shopping and sightseeing at Camella’s Remember When Teahouse [276-676-0089]. Located in Abingdon’s third oldest remaining structure, built in 1792, the home was once a Civil War command center.

Today the home reflects the elegance of days past, as visitors relax and indulge in warm scones served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd or jam. Afternoon tea is served between 11 and 4, and offers a selection of teas and finger sandwiches and canapés. The adjoining gift store offers many unique items, including Victorian niceties for brides and new mothers!

We indulged in sweet fragrant lavender iced tea and fluffy, lavender chocolate scones while we chatted with co-owner Carrie about her resident ghosts. I wanted nothing more than to collapse into her front parlor and be resuscitated with tea and sandwiches. Next time!

The Tavern Restaurant is a popular tourist destination. Built in 1779 as a tavern and overnight inn for stagecoach travelers, the building has sheltered guests such as President Andrew Jackson and the King of France, Louise Philippe. Despite this, it remains unpretentious with rough wooden tables and uneven floors. The menu is impressive and apparently time consuming – signs on the door warn that meals usually take at least two hours!

For a real treat, drive a few miles to Meadowview and dine at the Harvest Table Restaurant, which serves the best of local foods. They have formed the Meadowview Farmers’ Guild and partner with local farmers to promote organic vegetables and pasture fed meats.

These foods are not only bursting with flavor, as they haven’t traveled halfway around the globe, but they promote the community and give new life and support to local farmers! Feast on precious morel mushrooms, fresh asparagus, just picked strawberries and Blue Ridge trout! Trust me – you’ve never truly dined until you’ve feasted on fresh local foods prepared by culinary artists! [read more about the Harvest Table in the review at the bottom of this article]

The Lodging

Abingdon offers a wide selection of lodging choices – just decide what best suits your needs! Choose from high end campsites, hotel chains, quaint bed and breakfasts, solitary cabins or luxury suites.

One of the most famous is the aforementioned Martha Washington Inn. The Inn is large and luxurious, and offers three distinct restaurants and indoor spa. The price includes breakfast and afternoon tea. Reviewers have raved about the quality of the mattresses, pillows and towels!

I passed a multitude of lovely Bed and Breakfast dwellings - but none that were anxious to accommodate multiple children. In retrospect, we were much better off in our stand alone cabin.

Our “bit of perfection” was the BackCountry@Abingdon’s Whites Mill for two glorious nights. The ideal spot for families as it gives everyone room to spread out AND the kids can run around outside, enjoying the countryside. The secluded, beautiful cabin with breathtaking views is also perfect for a girlfriend’s retreat or a romantic getaway vacation.

The views from the cabin’s front porch will forever linger in my memories. My husband and I raced out to the porch every morning with our pot of coffee, listening to the call of the birds and calves as the mist settled into distant valleys. It was perfection.

No one wanted to leave. [read more about the cabin at Whites Mill at the bottom of this article] BackCountry also offers several luxury yurt type tents near Damascus, as well as campsites.

The Great Outdoors

Speaking of lush countryside and amazing views – make sure you spend part of your vacation playing in the great outdoors! There are many trails for hiking, biking or horseback riding, but the most famous is the Virginia Creeper Trail.

A 34.3-mile public access trail connecting Abingdon with Damascus, VA, the route began as a Native American footpath. Pioneers and early explorer Daniel Boone also followed the trail. Around 1900 the Virginia-Carolina Railroad laid track and used the route to haul lumber, iron ore, supplies and passengers. The nickname, Virginia Creeper, was given to early steam locomotives as they slowly struggled up the steep path. The Creeper ran its last train on March 31, 1977, and a portion of the route was returned to the US Forest Service for a recreation trail.

So pack your hiking shoes, bicycles and water bottles – adventure awaits! It is possible to rent bikes while you’re in the area – and one shuttle service drops you and your bike off at the top of a mountain and picks you up at the bottom! Talk about a luxury vacation!

The Summary

Abingdon, Virginia offers her visitors a plethora of vacation choices. Between the arts, shopping, trail riding and ghost hunting – you’ll have to make time just to sit, drink coffee, and enjoy the view! One thing is for certain – you’ll be anxious to return to the foothills of Appalachia and the friendly, artistic people who call Abingdon home!

Photos by www.JohnsonPixels.com
]]>