With the economic downturn, there’s been a little more wiggle room for negotiating and we took it to our advantage. Accommodations at a 4 star diamond rated luxury hotel with full amenities at the Vail Cascade Resort.
Ski in ski out (private lift), with on site rental and valet storage (3 or 5 day lift ticket depending on days)
Daily hot breakfast in private room with views of Gore creek
Discount at the hotel’s award winning spa for spa services and for ski rental and lessons
2 (or 3) group dinners
Group event or Happy Hour
Arranged airport pick up on your schedule
Planned activities each evening. Planned lunches
Cost for 5 days/4 nights/3 day pass is $1265.
For other costs and options, see registration details here
Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Mexico: If another Christmas full of ice and snow sounds awful, how about some surf and sand instead? Ceiba del Mar Beach and Spa Resort is offering great packages for the holidays. Rates for rooms start at $453 per night. Add in the Luxury Gourmet Meal plan, which includes all a la carte meals, snacks and beverages, and rates start at $615 per room, per night. Two children (under 12) stay and eat free in the same room as their parents. Taxes (12%) and service charges (5%) are not included. They’ve got swimming, snorkeling, yoga, Pilates – unless of course you’d rather stay at home and spend another holiday scraping ice off your windshield? Check out their website for the details.
Have to admit i’ve been out of the loop on this film. Apparently Twilight, the teen romance film between an awkward girl and a cute vampire has gone viral. Sleepy Forks, Washington is being beseiged by “Twilighters”. You see, the author, Stephanie Meyers, used this town of some 3,000 folks as the setting for her books.
Before Stephanie came along, Fork was best known for logging, jails & rain.
Now hotel occupancy is way up, and the locals are selling every Twilight kitsch they can round up, including action figures and pacifiers.
So if you’re a fan, all i can say is “road trip !”.
First stop should be theForks Information Center.
Five day Forks Adventure Tours are given by Forks Adventures.
Why Forks, Wash.? The author explains it all on her website, stepheniemeyer.com.
With Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s arrival into New York City, protests are taking place at the UN. In San Francisco, instead of protests, Shams Ensemble, a band coming from Iran, will be performing at Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday, September 27. This is their first overseas performance since the current uprising in Iran.
Shams Ensemble, a musical troupe formed in Tehran has become a rallying point of overseas support for the Green Revolution in Iran. They will be performing in San Francisco to raise money for Amnesty International.
Western regional director of Amnesty International on human rights worldwide, Banafsheh Akhlaghi and San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi will be emceeing the event.
The ensemble produced a song for Iran’s Green Revolution loosely translated from Farsi as “The Cry For Change,” and it became the anthem for action and involvement. The song became an underground sensation and over a million copies were distributed to Green Revolution supporters.
The ensemble draws its inspiration from traditional Kurdish, Sufi and classical Iranian music and incorporates the poems of Rumi, a famed 13th Century poet and mystic. The nine-member group creates its mesmerizing music with the help of the tanbur, a traditional Kurdish lute, the daf, a framed drum, as well as Brazilian musical instruments.
Since Shams inception, founded and directed by Kaykhosro Pournazeri, nearly three decades ago, the group has struggled to obtain permission to perform in Iran from the country’s fundamentalist Islamic authorities.
But after entertaining troops in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, the ensemble was able to secure permission to perform in public once. Now, due to the uprising during the elections, all permits have been canceled. Shams Ensemble does not know when and if they will ever be allowed to perform in their country again.
WHO: Shams Ensemble, a world music band with 10 members – 5 members are coming from Iran WHEN: Sunday, September 27th @ 7:00 pm WHERE: Davies Symphony Hall HOW:www.CityBoxOffice.com or call 415-392-4400
More concert dates
New York
Rose Hall at Lincoln Center
October 3, 2009 @ 8 pm For tickets, CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE or call 212-721-6500
Los Angeles
Royce Hall at UCLA
October 10, 2009 For tickets, CLICK HERE or call 310-825-2101
San Diego
Sherwood Auditorium
October 16, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
For tickets: 858-653-0336
Washington D.C.
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center
November 7, 2009
For tickets: 703-517-4343
After my lunch with Madame Speaker Pelosi, I know one thing for certain; she was nowhere near Bryant Park this week. Actually, fashion is not her gig. She hates shopping and prefers function over fashion. It makes sense. After all, she is the most powerful female politician in the United States. Mrs. Pelosi doesn’t need to worry if her d’Orsay pumps match her handbag, and she doesn’t care. The issues she deals with are much bigger than the latest styles gliding down the runways in New York, Paris, London and Milan. The only runway she cares about is the one her jet will be landing on in D.C., so she can get back to Capital Hill where 111th Congress has reconvened.
So, while others were chatting about the top must-haves for next season, Madame Speaker was generously giving me seven pieces of advice that are substantially more important than the hottest styles. And, unlike the latest fashion trends, her words of wisdom are priceless and will never be out of season. Power. Darling, it is the best accessory of the year. And it goes with everything!
She shared her power secrets with me, and now, let me share them with you:
1. Take Notes: That piece of advice was given to Speaker Pelosi by Norman Brokaw, the Chairman of the William Morris Agency. You can find the whole story in her book, Know Your Power (Doubleday 2008). So much information is thrown at us every second, and it is easy to get overwhelmed by everything we have on our plates. But if we just take a few seconds to jot down some notes, chronicle our priorities, and get our thoughts on paper, the weight of our responsibilities can lift from our shoulders and fall onto the paper. It is such a simple, yet powerful act. Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword.
2. Have Faith: Faith is a conviction for something that you truly believe in. Because many ideas and dreams we have do not yet exist, it is only through our faith can we make it happen. Speaker Pelosi had faith that she could make positive changes as a Congresswoman. Later her steadfast faith got her sworn in as the first woman Speaker of the House. “Faith again was very much on my mind. I thought of all the women throughout American history who’d had faith that one day we would achieve equity with men.”
3. Build Strategic Alliances: Earn others respect and know your boundaries. Speaker Pelosi shares, “We learn that leadership requires vision, judgment, action, and the respect of the American people. No matter how excellent the intellectual appeal, the emotional connection is essential for success.” So much of our relationships are built on emotional bonds and it is important to honor those bonds and value the trust you create. It is vital to have teammates who trust and respect you.
4. Love Others: “Let Other Views Exist.” Many of you reading this piece are not fans of Speaker Pelosi. And chances are you will want to post a message about all the terrible things that Speaker Pelosi has said to offend you. But, if you just let others’ views exist, you’ll have more energy for more productive activities, like spending time with the people you LOVE. She says that we need to recognize other people’s views – through acceptance we can learn to understand them. She never said you need to agree or like their ideas.
5. Organize, Don’t Agonize: When Speaker Pelosi ran for Chair of the Democratic National Committee, a few of the people closest to her did not support her – and some even attacked her. She lost. Two years later, congresswoman Sala Burton asked Speaker Pelosi to run for her seat in congress. So, instead of agonizing about her past loss and what others were saying about her, she organized. Speaker Pelosi knew that she had an opportunity to bring a woman’s voice to the table as a congresswoman – and to her, that was more powerful than anything some naysayer could do to her. We tend to focus on the bad in our lives and not the wonderful opportunities we are given. Madame Speaker focused on her goals and opportunities and spent no time worrying about her failures. Oh, if we could all do that!
6. “Age Quod Agis”: “Do what you are doing.” With a career like hers, it would be easy to lose track of time, family, and important moments. But one of the tools Speaker Pelosi employs is “Do what you are doing.” She shares, “Whether it is work or play, helping around the house, or entertaining the kids, focus on it.” Focus. Such simple advice, but so powerful. If we all took her simple piece of advice, I believe we would find some space for connection and a solid sense of presence.
7. There is no Secret Sauce: When Speaker Pelosi first started in politics, there were only a handful of women in D.C. Because of this, there was a mystique about the “Old Boys Club.” It was though these career politicians knew something that the newcomers-especially women-did not know. They had the “Secret Sauce.” Well, there is no secret sauce! To succeed you need optimism, confidence, and a persuasive argument on the reasons why you are better than your opponent. It has nothing to do with a fabled “secret sauce.” It has everything to do with hard work and commitment.
Finally, I asked her, the Speaker of the House, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, what she hoped her book would achieve, and she said, with a beautiful, loving smile: “I hope that women will know their power, and take action with it!”
Regardless of how you feel about her political maneuvering, you can’t deny that she has some incredibly powerful advice that each of us can utilize in our daily lives. Not all of us can have lunch with Madame Speaker Pelosi. So, if you want to know more about how this mother of five from Baltimore became the most powerful women in politics, then you can pick up a copy of her book: KNOW YOUR POWER: A Message to America’s Daughters.
Many thanks to the Women’s Leadership program hosted by IBM at the Metropolitan Club in San Francisco.
As if some of us needed an excuse to buy some Hello Kitty stuff. The long retail arm of the uber cute cat reaches out with some limited edition products you will absolutely need for your travels.
Exhibit One: The new limited edition HK 35th Anniversary Mimoco USB flash drive.
Inspire envy from your airplane seat mate.
I know you Hello Kitty fans will find your own way to celebrate.
Go now to Sanrio.
Back in the day William A. Rockefeller Sr. built one terrific lodge for entertaining, fishing, and hunting in Upper Lake Saranac. “Big Bill,” as he was known to both pals and frenemies, fashioned his Great Camp in what later came to be called the Adirondack style- a pleasing combination of rustic and luxe.
Situated on 75 acres of verdant forest and pristine lake waters, Rockefeller’s original Camp Wonundra is now The Point, a gracious, country house resort. The original four structures, built from native stone and logs, offer contemporary guests a choice of 11 rooms, each one different with names like Evensong, Weatherwatch and Iroquois.
The Point doesn’t advertise, there are no signs to show the way, and drop-in looky-loos cannot be accommodated. We had made arrangements in advance for a visit and property tour.
We arrived at 2 PM for a late-ish lunch and were greeted at the gate by Megan, the energetic, pretty General Manager. Buddy, apparently her second whip, was with her.Together, they guided us into the 30X60 Great Hall in the Main Lodge.
“Here’s where we meet for cocktails and an 8 pm group dinner.” Megan said pouring us each a chilled flute of Tattainger Champagne.
“Group dinner?” My sis went into panic mode. “Uh, how does that work?”
Megan explained that when the property was full there might be 22 guests. Two round dining tables, each seating 11 would be set with one “facilitator” from the resort at each. In the manner of all great party hosts, the facilitator sees that conversation is enjoyed by all.
“Hmmm, I imagine your clientele is quite sophisticated,” Sis remarked. “Do guests really enjoy this? It sounds rather communal.” It was apparent that communal suppers were not high on her list.
Megan gave an easy laugh. “Actually, people love it. We have such engaging guests from all walks of life; We talk books, music, politics, sports, history. People genuinely seem thrilled to dis-connect from their electronic appendages to relax and enjoy divine food and drink plus good, old fashioned interesting conversation. Loads of fast friendships have developed which may be a strong reason for our huge return rate.”
Buddy sort of gave sis a quizzical look as if to say: who doesn’t like to meet new fun people?”
By now we were more than ready to tuck into some of this wonderful edibles and potables. As we stepped aboard the classic 33ft. mahogany Hackercraft, Megan called over her shoulder, ” I thought I’d take you for a spin around the Lake while you enjoy the special lunch Chef prepared.”
After more Champers, a divine Caesar salad with shaved truffles, a perfect slice of rare entrecote and a zesty lemon soufflé finish, we were ready with more questions.
“Which is your favorite season here?” Sis asked.
“I love them all,” Megan answered, “and I’m truly not just spouting the party line. In fall, the air is so crisp, the leaves are amazing, and it’s a great time for hiking, biking, bonfires and boating. In winter, we cross country ski, toboggan, snowshoe and enjoy games like darts, pool, and checkers. We even have a puzzle competition! I usually suggest spending one night cuddled up in your room with dinner brought in, enjoying a crackling fire followed by a massage. In warm weather we fish, a staff member will take guests out on a private outboard to catch, then cook fresh bass, pike or trout. We picnic on our private island, water ski, play tennis or golf, maybe go for an evening cocktail cruise and watch the sunset. You just name it and it’s our pleasure to provide it.”
I asked Buddy his numbero uno fave. He rolled his eyes as if to communicate, “Here, it’s all good.”
Too soon we were back. I mentioned to Megan that I had three girlfriends looking to celebrate a big birthday next year. What would she suggest?
Her eyes lit up. “You just tell me when, and I’ll take care of everything. We can do Pajama Night and the girls can eat in cozy flannels, watch an old movie, sing around the piano, cook, gossip laugh and catch up. Next day I’ll have Chef prepare a gourmet picnic, I’ll take them on a breathtakingly beautiful hike, then naptime or more outdoor activities. Later, we’ll meet in the Great Hall for an elegant seven course dinner- this may even turn into an annual getaway!
I whisper to sis,” Wow-sounds great.”
She says -sotto voce- back to me, ” I know, but how much does it cost?”
Megan, or maybe it was Buddy, had sharp ears because, not missing a beat, Megan informs us that everything at The Point is included. Beginning at $1200 for two per night it may not be a steal, but I did the math, and it certainly is fair. Add up the cost for superior lodging, boat rental, ski rental, hiking guide, eating like a Queen while drinking like a Fish, plus no pre-determined check in check out time plus an easy possibility of 5 delish meals and suddenly, it’s not so bad.
“Big Bill” Rockefeller apparently was a guy who knew how to party. His idea of “camping” seems perfect to me. We told Megan to keep a light on for us.
TV personality Elizabeth Bermudez just launched her own mom video blog called Lizziebtv. It’s full of modern mom advice, such as tips on returning to work, and cool new kid friendly product finds .
Especially since i have no children i really could have used the iphone app advice while trying desperately to entertain the eight year old boy sitting next to me on a cross country flight last year. If only i had known about the bubble wrap app.
check out Elizabeth’s video blog @ lizziebtv.com.
We’ve only got a couple months to go until things start getting cold and slushy around here – which means now might be the time to book that vacation to Hawaii! Hotel Renew, located in beautiful Waikiki, Honolulu, is offering a bunch of different special offers for fall. Guests who book four or more nights receive 25% off their stay, with room rates starting at just $120. All visits at Hotel Renew include complimentary continental breakfast, Wi Fi, beach gear, and more.
The “Hawaii Sun & Fun” Package includes: a deluxe guestroom, a convertible car or Jeep from Enterprise Rent-a-Car; a pair of Hotel Renew flip flops; complimentary use of beach gear (based on availability); complimentary continental breakfast each morning; complimentary cocktail each evening and complimentary and WiFi throughout the hotel. Rates start at $199.
Finally, the Hotel Renew Newlywed Celebration package offers honeymooners and newly weds 20% off of public rates; a complimentary chilled bottle of champagne; turndown service; complimentary continental breakfast and complimentary cocktails each evening at Lounge Renew.
So if you’re looking to beach it up, honeymooning, or just plain sick of winter, give Hawaii a try! Check out some Divas’ great essays on their Hawaiian adventures here, here, and here.
Steppin’ Out Adventures
