Ahoy, ocean-loving Divas! If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the waters around Catalina Island, you now have three chances to do so with the Maritime Museum of San Diego. They’re offering three separate trips aboard the schooner Californian, a traditional tall ship sailing vessel. As their promo materials put it:
As an active member of the crew you will take your turn standing watch, hauling lines, manning the helm and perhaps going aloft. Trips are designed for those with an adventurous spirit, a robust nature and a passion for the sea.
Translation: this might not be the trip for you if you’re prone to seasickness! But otherwise it sounds like great fun. The trip dates and rates are listed below; for more information, visit their website or call 619-234-9153.
“Although I’ve traveled to more than twenty-five countries, I recently took my first cruise and found myself discombobulated in unfamiliar territory. As with any mode of travel, cruising comes with its own set of challenges and surprises. Being a jet setter by choice, I’ve endured most travel bumps including the memorable mid-route Los Angeles to Pakistan mishap when a distracted flight attendant accidentally spilled a tray of beef stroganoff down the front of my white shirt. From this unforeseen mess sprung a slew of handy travel tips themed, How to be Zen When Traveling. Thus, each subsequent trip offered new opportunities to amend, refine and develop new strategies. Navigating one’s way through a cruise can be easy(er) with a little preparation, a flexible disposition and some Zen-preservation tactics. Otherwise, one runs the risk of doing the worst imaginable thing anyone could ever possibly do on a vacation: complain.” How to be Zen When Traveling. Thus, each subsequent trip offered new opportunities to amend, refine and develop new strategies. Navigating one’s way through a cruise can be easy(er) with a little preparation, a flexible disposition and some Zen-preservation tactics. Otherwise, one runs the risk of doing the worst imaginable thing anyone could ever possibly do on a vacation: complain.” READ MORE
I love a good volunteer opportunity, and my pet charity of choice is anything AIDS-research related. That’s why I am volunteering as a Greeter for Dining Out for Life on April 30, 2009 at Amici’s Pizza. So go out and eat… Stand up against HIV and AIDS by sitting down at one of your favorite restaurants. I want to spread the word that this is happening THROUGHOUT THE US & CANADA
Grab some friends and hit the town, take the office out for lunch, or plan a romantic rendezvous with your sweetie—DINING OUT FOR LIFE gives you an excuse to splurge. On April 30th, restaurants will donate 25% or more of their proceeds to various non-profits that serve those living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. So go on, live a little. And support a great cause while you’re at it.
What: Dine Out on Thursday, April 30th at any of the participating restaurants and 25%-50% of your bill will be donated to various non-profits that serve those living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses.
When: Thursday, April 30 2009
Where: From San Francisco to Tulsa to New York, and everywhere in between. To find participating restaurants, visit: http://www.diningoutforlife.com/
The Hotel Monaco Portland is one of only two downtown Portland hotels, the other being its sister property the Hotel Vintage Plaza, that have qualified for the City of Portland’s Recycle at Work Business Recycling Certification. Businesses are required to recycle 50 percent of their waste in the City of Portland. However, businesses who go beyond by joining Recycle at Work are recognized for their accomplishments.?? And as part of Kimpton EarthCare’s nationally recognized eco-program, the Hotel Monaco Portland has committed to recycling all paper, newspaper, glass, cardboard and compost.??
Here are just some of the ings that make the Hotel Monaco earth-friendly… Cleaning Supplies: All rooms cleaned with environmentally friendly cleaning products. Soy Inks: All corporate collateral is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Recycled Paper: Property wide printing on recycled paper. Organic Beverages: All complimentary lobby coffee is organic. They also encourage the use of coffee mugs during morning coffee service, discourage paper cups (but are available). Towel/Linen Reuse: Guests have the opportunity to do their part to reduce energy, water and detergents required for daily washings. Recycling: Back of house recycling programs addressing gass, bottles, paper, cardboard, etc. They have also replaced paper products with washable dishware for all internal meetings and events. Energy Conservation: Back of house lighting retrofitted and audited to ensure energy efficient bulbs are in place. Water Conservation: Implementation and auditing of low flow systems for faucets, toilets, and showers.
The Hotel even offers a “Carless Vacation” package that promotes reducing emissions by using public transportation.
Along with being earth-friendly the hotel is also pet-friendly. Pet services include a ‘pet-kit’ with bowls/mats, dog bed, and a dispose-a-scoop. They even offer pet massage, psychic readings, or walking services. For more information or to book a room for you and Fido, visit: http://www.monaco-portland.com/
Virgin America is launching its new high-tech, low-fare service ($49 one way) from San Francisco (SFO) to Orange County (SNA) with a special send-off for its inaugural flight at SFO via an OC-worthy send-off for its first guests, with a surf-band and makeovers at the SFO Departure Gate and spray tanning offered on the arrival tarmac at SNA.
Teresa of Tango Diva at the gate party covering the event!
We hear Sir Richard Branson will be giving dozens of previous contest winners the “OC treatment for free” with a seat on the flight, a stay at Pacific Edge Hotel in Laguna Beach, a South Coast Plaza shopping spree – and more.
Virgin is donating the value of the winners’ seats to Virgin Unite’s StandUp for Kids – a nonprofit outreach organization that is making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.
This coming Wednesday April 29th, 2009—11:30 am at San Francisco International Airport — Gate A12 – booked your flight yet? ALAS – Wednesday flight is SOLD OUT!
La Playa Hotel & Cottages-by-the-Sea, tucked away in beautiful Carmel, CA, is offering $149 room rates for spring. It looks like you have to call to get this rate: to book a room, phone 1-800-582-8900.
I’ll admit… when I first saw this, I had a bit of a giggling fit. A power operated bag? Come on! But, upon further inspection, I decided I quite liked it. I’ve been known to pack enough shoes for a small village when traveling, and there is nothing worse than trying to lug around a heavy suitcase after an exhausting flight. And apparently I’m not the only one who thinks that – The World’s First Hybrid PA Bag launched very successfully at The Gadget Show Live at NEC in Birmingham UK and is currently sold out. Live Luggage is now taking orders for June delivery.
Live Luggage has led the way in power-assisted luggage, and the pioneering PA series suitcase employs a wide range of innovative features that make it feel almost weightless to users. The new Hybrid PA Bag offers all the same technology, but in a lighter and more flexible bag, enabling greater range and utility. This soft top powered version has been designed specifically as a lightweight, flexible solution for frequent travelers.
The Hybrid PA Bag includes a laptop case and overnight bag which can both be separately removed to suit the differing check-in requirements of the world’s airlines.
Ooh, and for added benefit: In association with partner White Star Cruises, any customer who purchases a Hybrid PA Bag from Live Luggage will be offered VIP membership to White Star Cruises and given a $150 on board credit voucher.
Monterey County, located along the beautiful California coastline 120 miles south of San Francisco and 345 miles north of Los Angeles, is offering some great family-oriented deals for summer. These are a few of my favorites; they’re all cheap, active, and could be made to accommodate almost any age group.
First up, the My Museum in downtown Monterey is 8,500 square feet of hands-on fun. Kids can play at harvesting crops and delivering to them the farmer’s market in the MY Healthy Farm Exhibit, play golf in the MY Go-Fore Golf area, or play in the MY Theater, MY Hospital, or MY Beach stations, plus many more. Admission is just $7 for adults or kids.
Go on a Bug Walk or meet a local chef or florist at Earthbound Farm, the nation’s largest producer of organic greens. With over 30 acres of flowers, herbs, and vegetables, this could be a fun and sunny weekend outing with the little ones. Try a Saturday tour, which start at a very leisurely 11:00 a.m. Admission is $5 per child.
Pack a picnic and some warm clothes and take in a movie at the Outdoor Forest Theater, the oldest community theater West of the Rockies. Admission is $6; movies being screened this summer include Gidget Goes Hawaiian, Jurassic Park, and Horton Hears a Who.
The always wonderful Monterey Bay Aquarium is debuting a new show that sounds absolutely amazing – the Secret Lives of Seahorses, which features 15 species of seahorses and a bevy of relatives, including sea dragons, ribboned pipehorses, dragon pipefish and shrimpfish. Four multimedia galleries take you through every stage of the seahorse lifecycle. Admission is $29.95 for adults, and $17.95 for kids 3-12.
This is just a small taste of the great deals Monterey has on offer for the summer. So for family fun that won’t break the bank, visit beautiful Monterey County! For more adventures, visit See Monterey.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA–APRIL 23, 2009– Fares from San
Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento have been reduced to
$29-$79 each way in a 1-day sale announced by JetBlue today.
Flights to the East Coast are as low as $59.
The sale is for travel April 30 – June 10, but only on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets must be booked by 11:59PM
MST tonight.
Sample fares from San Francisco (each way):
- Long Beach … $29
- Boston … $59
- New York City … $79
Sample fares from Oakland (each way):
- Long Beach … $29
- Boston … $59
- Washington, D.C. … $69
- New York City … $79
Sample fares from Sacramento (each way):
- Long Beach … $39
- New York City … $79
Don’t get me wrong– this year’s formal Georgian Mansion is hardly a tear-down and it’s not like the designers shopped at Goodwill. It’s more that many showed a keen awareness of the challenging economic times as well as environmental issues, by using ingenious cost-saving measures and sustainable products.
Also, this year more than half of the applicants were designers who had not decorated Showcase rooms in the past. So come and check outthese “newbies” that represent many of the Bay Area’s next generation of talented designers.
The four-story mansion at 2839 Pacific,(one of the biggest lots on the block) was built in 1910 by S.F. architect Nathaniel Blaisdell, and features a penthouse wrap-around terrace that offers breathtaking Bay views.
Some of my favorite looks were J. Weiss Design’s dramatic kitchen makeover, sporting a huge sculptural light fixture, large-scale landscape photos, and a haunting “Phantom” window. Leverone Design’s family room made judicious use of the natural light by using the perfect shade of gray on the walls, showcasing his textural use of wheat, straw, linen and leather in flowing organic shapes. And what fashion-consious teenage girl wouldn’t fall inn love with Nancy Van Natta’s Coco Chanel inspired bathroom- complete with Chanel quotes and perfume bottles etched into the glass shower.
2009 Decorator Showcase
Located at
2830 Pacific Avenue
(between Divisadero and Broderick)
San Francisco, CA 94115
April 25 through May 25, 2009
