Heliskiing Take-off

Telluride is located deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It’s a ski-lovers paradise surrounded by enormous mountains going up over 13,000 feet. As you look to the sky there are peaks in every direction. It’s one of nature’s masterpieces and during the winter months, it’s yours to explore on skis, snowboards, gondola, snowmobiles or helicopter. Telluride Ski Resort is the main cold-weather attraction in Telluride and the park is enormous and adding new restaurants and ski runs every season!

Telluride is an easy ski destination for those of us who live in Los Angeles. United Airlines has a direct flight into Montrose, a town in the

Mountain Village Fireworks

mountains situated just a short hour drive from Telluride. Shuttles will meet you at the airport and transport you into town in comfort, safety and style.  Telluride is the type of ski destination where you never have to touch your skis. You can literally fly in, drive into town on the shuttle, check in your skis at the ski valet and then the ski valet will have them ready for you to ski out when you are ready to hit the slopes.

The best thing about Telluride is the legendary terrain, including the new Revelation Bowl, Palmyra Peak and Gold Hill Chutes. Telluride is one of the only ski resorts that offers intermediate level skiing from any point of the park. You can absolute go to the top of the mountain and have no fear of skiing down. It’s fun for groups of friends or families with various levels of skiing aptitude. If it’s the extreme terrain that gets your blood moving then you’ll be thrilled to use the newly installed Gold Hill Stairs, providing access to Gold Hill Chutes.

One of the most fun parts of visiting Telluride is using the gondola for transportation to activities and dining. It’s the opposite of Los Angeles in that there are no cars in Telluride. The main form of transportation are the various gondolas available throughout the mountain. It’s a great time for the whole family and a good opportunity to enjoy alternative forms of transporation.

Culinary Uprising

Alpino Vino
One dining adventure that will be sure to leave a lasting impression is going to dinner at Alpino Vino, Telluride’s upscale Italian restaurant. Alpino Vino is made to feel like a restaurant in the Dolomites of Northern Italy. The décor is includes hand-hewn beams and furniture crafted from reclaimed wine barrels. The restaurant is North America’s highest wine bar, sitting at almost 12,000 feet. Dinner guests are shuttled up to the restaurant via enclosed Snow-Coach! Then they are treated to a prix fixe five-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings. Can you imagine a more special or romantic evening? In addition to this one-of-a-kind dinner experience, Alpino Vino is open during the day for ski in, ski out service. Enjoy a wine flight and a grilled cheese tomato soup combo that includes gorgonzola cheese on the sandwich and truffle oil in the soup. The ultimate way to warm up and get ready to barrel down the next run.

Family Time at Guiseppe’s

Bon Vivant
Launching this season, at the top of the Polar Queen Express gondola, is Bon Vivant — an outdoor bar and sun deck serving light country French fare such as raclette with a fresh baguette and pastry topped escargot. Bon Vivant offers skiers and riders a place to enjoy the outdoors while they recharge on food and drinks. Adding to the ambiance is the spectacular views of the stunning 13,320-foot Palmyra Peak and Gold Hill.

Tomboy Tavern
Using the space formerly known as the Hop Gardens, the Tomboy Tavern opens this season. With a complete interior remodel that doubles the size of the restaurant, this iconic bar has a huge U-shaped bar and has added flat screen TVs. The revamped kitchen and expansive been garden makes this the perfect spot for slopeside dining and après ski social gatherings. You can recognize it from the slopes by the huge yellow umbrella that covers the outdoor bar.

Allred’s
Serving contemporary American cuisine, Allred’s is Telluride’s flagship restaurant offering gorgeous views, and a new menu serving steak, seafood, lamb, chicken, pasta and salads. A truly unique mountain dining experience with an altitude of over 10,500 feet, this season sees Allred’s with an extra dose of old world hospitality with the addition of General Manager Mario Petillo. During evenings in the bar, guests enjoy live music performed by concert pianist, Bob Israel.

Lodging
There are a variety of fantastic lodging options in Telluride, but there are no chain hotels allowing for an original experience. Visitors can either stay in the city of Telluride or in Mountain Village — just a quick hop on the gondola over the mountain. Telluride offers all types of lodging from

Solitary Skiing

small and inexpensive hotel rooms to grand manors with large price tags.

Bear Creek Lodge is located in Mountain Village and offers the quintessential mountain lodge experience complete with an A-frame design, ski in/ski out and condos with kitchens and up to four bedrooms.

The River Club is located in the town of Telluride and is upscale with steam showers, soaking tubs, hard wood floors, gas fireplaces and fully appointed kitchens with granite countertops.

Mountainside Inn is an affordable option, also set in town. The property offers kitchenettes, a large outdoor hot tub and is pet friendly.

The Blue Mesa Lodge is located in Mountain Village at the base of lift 4, near where the ski school meets. The prime location provides guests with easy access to the shops, restaurants and bars of Mountain Village.

Palapas at the private beach of the El Cid Marina Resort

They had me with the Mime. When you deplane from a packed flight onto a hot tarmac in Mazatlán and all you really want is a cold, local-brewed Pacifico on the way into the terminal (super-clean with gleaming floors and nice art) at least there is the charming Mime to welcome you. He’s really good. He just needs a case of cold ones to hand out to arriving passengers. We are, after all, about 20 miles south of the Tropic of Cancer.

So began a return to Mazatlán after a 10-year hiatus. What I found was the charm and friendliness of the Mazatlécas alive and well. New hotels

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1875)

and yacht harbors have been built as well as a world-class Mazatlan International Center, smartly located near The Golden Zone. This beautiful facility is a testimony to Mazatlán’s serious pursuit of the convention business.

Mazatlán translates as “place of deer” and the Totorames tribe had the place to themselves until they disappeared many years before Spaniards first showed up in 1531. You can see some artifacts in the Museo Arqueológico in Centro Historico.

It was many years until the city emerged from a fishing village. Gold and silver shipments transited Mazatlan’s port from the mines in the mountains during the 1700’s, attracting pirates to the area. In the latter part of the 19th century, the city grew significantly, upgraded its port and buildings and, in the first few decades after the 1910 Revolution, Mazatlán became a modest tourist destination, with several hotels establishing themselves in the old town near Olas Altas Beach, enjoying popularity with vacationing movie stars.

The heartbeat of this enchanting city is strong. The First Friday Art Walk (from November to May) is a great way to experience a bit of the Centro Historico; attend a concert at the multi-tiered Teatro Angela Peralta (we attended a splendid performance here of Mozart’s Requiem on the eve of el Día de los Muertos); and perhaps discover a great meal at La Bohemia or Pedro y Lola’s, two of the many sidewalk cafes around the Plaza Machado.

While on the subject of dining, close to venerable Olas Altas Beach is a delightful courtyard restaurant, La Bahia, overseen by hostess Maria Lourdes, aka “Malu.” A few dishes we sampled were Pulpo A la Diabla (octopus) and a great rendition of Aquachiles con Camarones.

Not only a fun and sun tourist destination, Mazatlán is a huge shrimping port, and the state of Sinaloa, in which Mazatlán resides, is Mexico’s top agricultural producer. A trip to the French Colonial-style Pino Suarez Mercado in Centro Historico speaks to this with butchers at work on fresh meats, and fishmongers selling the day’s fresh catch. Food stands fill with locals and the feel of a community-gathering place is tangible.

Mazatlán International Center, a brand-new, full-service convention facility

Born in Spain, Julio Berdegé was a man of vision and personal achievement in Mazatlán’s modern history. Arriving in Mazatlán as a young man, he built Mexico’s largest commercial shrimp fleet and created the first master-planned resort community in Mexico, known as the El Cid Resort and Country Club. As a marine biologist and conservationist, he also had a prominent voice in matters of Mexico’s fisheries management. The El Cid development, now in command of his son Carlos, is dominant in the Zona Dorado of hotels and restaurants, which takes off north of the Olas Altas Beach area. One of the newest properties is the El Cid Marina Hotel, which sits along the channel for the marina, has two beautiful pools, a splendid, attentive staff and a unique, private ocean beach accessed by a short water taxi ride. Party fishing boats come in and out of the harbor and the curious can catch a glimpse of — what kind of luck prevailed on the day’s fishing adventures. It is my favorite of the El Cid properties (marinaelcidmazatlan.com).

Many cities in Latin America have what is known as The Malecon, a broad promenade along the beach. Mazatlán’s Malecon is one of the longest in Latin America, stretching miles along Olas Altas and recently widened with new monuments. In Mazatlán they love their monuments. There exists the Pacifico Beer monument that embodies a dramatic copper top of a beer cooking vat; the Continuity of Life monument which is a fabulous sculpture of leaping dolphins; the delightfully, whimsical monument of the Pulmonia, the ubiquitous, open-air alternative to taxi cabs; the monument of Jose Angel Espinoza Aragon, aka “Ferrusquilla”; and so many more.  All the monuments serve to enhance a long amble along Mazatlán’s beautifully upgraded beachfront Malecon.

For a little more immersion into Mexico, Pronatours (www.pronatours.com.mx) can help. One destination that a day-trip will cover is the nearby country town of El Quelite (25 miles northeast). Most of El Quelite’s residents are engaged in ranching or agriculture and the town has a feel of “real Mexico.” It is in El Quelite that Dr .Marcos Osuna built El Meson de Los Laureanos, a terrific restaurant in a venerable, history-rich building. An excellent host, Dr. Osuna’s kitchen serves meals from recipes handed-down through generations. These delectable dishes are prepared with a home-cooking touch that reflects the cuisine of southern Sinaloa. As you walk around El Quelite, you can visit a wonderful bakery with a huge stone oven and

Pércival Álvarez conducts the Mazatlan Concert Orchestra and Chorus in Mozart’s “Requiem”, performed in the Teatro Angela Peralta (1874)

delicious treats for sale. You will also find the Our Lady of Guadalupe church, and a monument of an ancient Aztec game, The Ulama — still played by locals.

Pronotours offers an array of other tour options, including a hugely fun cooking and dancing experience called Salsa y Salsa (www.salasandsalsa.com), rated the top tour for Mazatlan on Tripadvisor. In addition to Pronotours, hotel concierges also work hard in Mazatlán to connect visitors with fun experiences, and are there to make sure you want to come back.

Some quick study of online sites and a little Spanish brush-up can enhance your trip. Many Mazatlécas speak excellent English, of course, but attempts at conversing in the local language are always a bridge-builder. ¡Vámos a Mazatlán! n

The Christmas Tree at Trafalgar Square

Now is the time to head to London. The city is enjoying a mass of activity since The Royal Wedding, and into The Olympics. London is always a fabulous time, with plenty to do and see but right now, and heading into the 2012 Olympics, the city has planned loads of special offers and activities.

2012 Highlights
Yes!  It’s the Olympic games but before the first race is won, there are plenty of reasons to pop across the pond.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Celebrating 60 years of dear old Lizzy’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee will happen over the first weekend in June of 2012. Fantastic events such as the Epson Derby, BBC Concert in Buckingham Palace, Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, where a huge flotilla with up to a thousand boats, will be on the River Thames.
Various locations, June 2 – 5, 2012

Royal Opera House

Dickens 2012
Celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of literary genius Charles Dickens, Dickens 2012 is a year-long celebration of events remembering one of the most important literary figures of all times. The massive affair plans to “engage millions worldwide” with events and special exhibitions throughout London.
www.dickens2012.org

In addition to these unique programs the city has risen above its bangers and mash background and has emerged as a culinary destination. Dining in London is now a source of joy, with interesting restaurants preparing healthy and delicious fare. Shopping, art, and theater are booming and there is so much to do with the whole family. With British Airways offering daily direct flights to and from LAX to Heathrow, the trip is easy to plan and execute.

Artful Accommodations
The Hyatt Regency London — The Churchill is located in the heart of the West End, the hotel overlooks the gardens of Portman Square and is walking distance from some of London’s finest shopping destinations. The hotel is ideal for business or family fun and is within easy reach of the

Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill

capital’s main business, cultural and entertainment districts. In a first of its kind arrangement, the hotel is currently collaborating with the Saatchi Gallery, London’s leading contemporary art gallery. Starting in January 2012, the Hyatt Regency London — The Churchill and the Saatchi Gallery will display installations throughout the public areas of the hotel including the hotel lobby, the hotel’s restaurant The Montagu, and The Churchill Bar.  Additionally, in February 2012, the duo will open the Saatchi Suite, which allows guest to sleep and interact amongst the art.

Dining Destinations

Global
Dishoom ­— located in the newly developed shopping area, St. Martin’s Courtyard, this modern Indian eatery serves tapas-style Indian fare that has become a fast favorite for locals and tourist. The restaurant is always busy and has a “New York” feel with its checkered tile floor and wooden booths. Bring your appetite because everything on the menu is delicious.
http://www.dishoom.com/

Classic
Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason — after a long day of shopping or visiting art exhibits, having Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason is the

Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason

perfect way to unwind and recharge. Fortnum & Mason is a famous, historic department store that has been “the Royal grocer” for centuries. Inside the five-story structure, located in the heart of Piccadilly, on the fourth floor is St. James Restaurant, which is the place to go for a classic Afternoon Tea.
http://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Sustainable
FishWorks — located in the Marylebone High Street surrounded by unique shopping boutiques, you’ll find FishWorks serving sustainably caught and expertly prepared fish and seafood. The specials are posted on the chalkboard and the dining room is filled with smartly dressed Londoners. Save room for dessert and try the Eton Mess, a rather girlish mix of pavlova and berries named after the famous boys school.
http://www.fishworks.co.uk/

Après Theatre
Opera Tavern — located across from the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in Covent Garden, the Opera Tavern is another hit from the restaurateurs behind Salt Yard and Dehesa. Tapas-style dishes inspired by Spain and Italy rule the menu. The two-story venue is packed with diners enjoying pigs ears, charcuterie, shrimp skewers and squash blossoms filled with goat cheese served in a tempura batter and glazed with honey.
http://www.operatavern.co.uk/

The Arts
London has a flourishing art scene with exhibits ranging from emerging German artists to a massively popular Leonardo Di Vinci exhibit.

The National Gallery
Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan
This is the must see exhibit of the season! This unprecedented exhibition brings together the most complete display of Leonardo’s rare surviving paintings. Made possible by sensational international loans, this is the first exhibit dedicated to his aims and techniques as a painter. Highlights include a display, for the first time ever, Leonardo’s two versions of the picture known as The Virgin of the Rocks. The first version (on loan from Musée du Louvre) sits facing the second version and viewers can see his change in style from a detailed observer of nature to allowing more of an artistic license of expression.
Through February 5, 2012

Saatchi Gallery

Saatchi Gallery
Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art From Germany
The Saatchi Gallery, located in the massive 70,000 square foot Duke of York’s HQ building in the heart of London on King’s Road, offers free admission to view exhibits from emerging artists. Currently featuring work from German artists the exhibit ranges from big, bold, sloppy acrylic paintings to odd collections of toys attached to household products spray painted in metallic, to a vibrating mirror. The running theme of the exhibit is examining the “baggage of post-war Germany”.
Through April 2012

Shopping
London is a shopping mecca and there seems to be no recession in the busy streets and shops. New shopping developments and the gentrification of the East End allow visitors a varied experience.

Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is well known as the birthplace of British fashion in the 60s, where the hip and fashionable set opened shops and hung out. These days it contains independent boutiques, global fashion brands and award-winning restaurants. It has come full circle and is back to being at the cutting edge of creativity, drawing those in the know with extraordinary boutiques alongside quintessentially English pubs and cafes.

East London
The power of gentrification has transformed the East End from working class to über hip drawing creative and enterprising locals to start up new

East London Furniture

ventures in innovative spaces. The East end comes alive on Sunday mornings with one of the best flower markets in the city; the famous Columbia Road Flower Market. Start off with an egg sandwich and cappuccino from one of the street vendors and then enjoy the wide selection of flowers priced at incredibly reasonable rates. East London Furniture is a sustainability project creating furniture using discarded wood from the local neighborhood. If it’s fashion you are chasing then check out The Laden Showroom where up and coming designers rent booths filled with their stellar creations. The prices are more Santee Alley than Robertson Boulevard and the quality and originality are worth the buy.

Regent Street
For the true London shopping experience head to Regent Street; a long stretch of shopping destinations housed in stunning architecture. The stately, curved street is London’s ultimate shopping destination. Be sure to visit Penhaligon’s for scents crafted using fine and rare ingredients. Prince Charles and his father, Prince Philip, are fans of the quality-focused perfumer. Another high quality merchant located on Regent Street is eyeglass designer, Kirk Originals. Their frames are designed by the married, designing duo, and then hand-made and hand-painted in France. The results are likeable hipster frames that look good on everyone from cool Grandma to teen. Long time catalog purveyor, The East India Company, has opened their first retail store and it’s the perfect place for gifts to bring home. Choose from fine tea, gourmet coffee, chocolate, and artisanal biscuits. They also have an impressive collection of intricate tea sets.

Fitting In & Getting Around
London is about as opposite to Los Angeles as you can get in terms of transportation and dress code.  You’ll want to take advantage of the opportunity to fit in with the locals. The dress code is much more “New York” than “L.A.” By that we mean tasteful, dark, elegant — think Prada and Hèrmes. Although you will be walking and using taxis and public transportation, don’t even think about going out in your sneakers. Not a single self-respecting Londoner wears

Savoy Hotel

sneakers on the street — some women have taken to wearing Ugg boots but the majority of fashionable Londoners wear stylish, sensible and more formal footwear. Don’t forget hats, gloves and scarves to brave the chilly temperatures.

Plan a taxi budget for your travels. While the tube is excellent, quick and affordable, cabs are just more relaxing for tourists. Definitely plan a few trips on the tube but for late nights, carrying luggage, and at the end of an exhausting day of sight seeing, rely on the outstanding service of the many black cabs that are available at every corner. The drivers are honest, professional and knowledgeable, and the cabs are clean and large enough for five passengers or lots of luggage.

Del Amo Fashion Center

Torrance, California is not the best-known destination in Los Angeles County. The city has long been a corporation magnet drawing major Asian-based businesses such as Honda and Toyota for their U.S. Headquarters. Torrance also hosts flight attendants on layovers and soccer players with games at the nearby Home Depot Center, home of the current MLS champion Los Angeles Galaxy. Most visitors to Southern California don’t consider a visit to Torrance but it’s blossoming into a place well worth discovering. Especially if you are a visiting tourist looking for excellent value and a fantastic proximity to many Southern California visitor attractions such as downtown Los Angeles, Disneyland, LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Long Beach and Orange County — Torrance is a perfect location for you.

The City of Torrance is centrally located in southwest Los Angeles County about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles on the edge of Rancho Palos Verdes and also just 15 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and Long Beach Airport. The Del Amo Fashion Center, with 2,500,000 square feet of retail space and 314 retailers, is the fifth largest shopping center in the United States and features some of the best shopping in the state of California. We spent a few days in Torrance and found an awesome brewery, a world-class art collection, thoroughly delicious dining, hip accommodations and oh yeah, they have the beach!

Torrance Beach is a nice sunny stretch of beach nestled in between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove in Santa Monica Bay. It’s ideal for swimming and even surfing when the waves are right. It is also the beginning of The Strand, a 22-mile paved and lit beach path which heads north to Santa

The beach in Torrance

Monica. This beach trail begins at Torrance Beach and winds along and through the picturesque L.A. County beach scene passing through Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey and Venice Beach arriving in Santa Monica. The trail is ideal for walking, jogging, skateboarding or one of the best ways to see the coastline is rent a beach cruiser bike in Torrance.  Cruise down this trail and experience the best of southern California — palm trees, ocean waves, sunshine and coastal enclaves.

Old Town Torrance has a collection of beautiful and historic architecture. It’s going through a resurgence with interesting businesses moving into the area. The downtown historic area dates back to 1912 and features a deep variety of boutique retail shops with an assortment of dining options. So whether your shopping preference is quaint boutique retail shops to cutting edge large shopping center options…your shopping needs can be met in Torrance.

Marriott South Bay in Torrance

Torrance offers a total of 2,500 hotel rooms with a wide variety of lodging flags available representing every budget. All of the major brands are represented including Best Western, Marriott, Courtyard, Days Inn, Doubletree, Hilton, Extended Stay America, Holiday Inn, Homestead, Miyako, Ramada, Residence Inn, Howard Johnson, Super 8, Staybridge Suites and Travelodge to name a few.

One of the top hotels in Torrance is The Miyako Hotel. This property captures the Japanese culture of the area, beginning with the complimentary green tea service. The Japanese auto industry has long been an important economic engine for this community and the hotel has been a central gathering place for visitors, tourists, families and business people. The Miyako Hotel is a perfect example of American, Asian and Japan fusion hospitality. Modern comforts meet the traditional luxuries at affordable rates. Another top hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Torrance/South Bay. It is conveniently located across from the Del Amo Fashion Center and just minutes from Pacific Coast highway, the Redondo Pier and pristine Torrance and Redondo beaches

In addition to the California beach scene, Del Amo Fashion Center and Old Town Torrance with deep and varied shopping possibilities, Torrance offers many other cultural attractions. Some of the top-notch attractions include The Toyota Automobile Museum, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, Chen Art Gallery at Sunrider, Southern California Live Steamers Miniature Railroad, Torrance Farmers Market, and the Pacific Electric Railroad

Red Car Brewery

Bridge

The Chen Art Gallery is an amazing art experience that is not widely known throughout Southern California. The Chen Gallery is located inside the world headquarters of Sunrider International. This non-profit gallery showcases one of the finest private collections of Chinese art and antiques in the United States. Exhibit displays include imperial porcelains, antique furniture, jade carvings, ancient bronzes, snuff bottles, silk textiles and ink wash paintings. Collections range from the earliest Neolithic Era to the late Qing Dynasty and beyond. This is a hidden gem in Torrance and a must for any visitor.

The Toyota USA Automobile Museum displaying more than 100 vehicles including Toyota Motorsports race cars, celebrated its Tenth Anniversary with the grand re-opening at a new 45,000 square foot location adjacent to Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Headquarters in Torrance. This is the only Toyota Museum outside of Japan and is the sister operation with the primary Toyota Automobile Museum located in Nagoya, Japan.
The purpose of the museum is to preserve a collection of significant model offerings and milestone vehicles representing Toyota’s history in the United States. It currently consists of more than 100 Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars and trucks, dating from 1958 to 2007 as well as motorsports vehicles. Special exhibits include items such as: the first Prius and drawings or a Hollywood/Futuristic features such as the Lexus Minority Report

Old Town Torrance

Tom Cruise movie prototype, three very rare Toyota 2000 GTs, along with a poster of James Bond movie You Only Live Twice, where the car appeared, plus a cutaway drawing and technical schematics.

The entertainment industry has also played a prominent role in Torrance, as it has long been a favorite location for shooting movies and TV shows. One of the most famous Torrance locations is the high school where the widely and internationally popular Beverly Hills 90210 television series was filmed. You will be driving along in Torrance and recognize other notable locations from a host of TV and movie appearances including American Beauty, Pulp Fiction, The O.C., Buffy and the Vampire Slayer, Boogie Nights and Clueless.

Food and beverage options are plentiful in Torrance. The city boasts over 400 restaurants, and Old Town Torrance has seen a recent transformation welcoming in a few notable additions. With its large Asian population and a sister-city of Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan, Torrance is home to some of the best and most authentic sushi and ramen houses in Southern California. The Torrance Certified Farmers Market offers organic fruit, fresh herbs and a wide variety of vegetables, including hard-to-find Asian varieties.

There are over 120 brewpubs listed in and around Torrance and vicinity but none is more awesome than the Red Car Brewery & Restaurant. They serve delicious beer that even appeals to the non-beer drinkers and food that is equally fulfilling. Another standout dining establishment in Old Town Torrance is 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro. The restaurant is perfect for dinner or lunch serving incredibly fresh and delicious meals using the best ingredients. They have fun themed nights such as Mac N Cheese Mondays.

Be sure to check out Torrance for their vast array of attractions, central location and incredible dining. Whether you are on vacation with your family and want to teach your kids how to surf or closing a business deal at Honda, Torrance has something for everyone.

Austin Hope

There’s a saying called “living the dream” and it has to do with living. If you find yourself successful doing something you love then you are “living the dream”. If you add freedom and the ability to make money to that equation then you are “living the American dream”.  Third generation farmer and first generation vintner Austin Hope is living the American Dream. He manages his family’s winery in the beautiful oak tree dotted, rolling hills of Paso Robles in the Central Coast of California: a heavenly location.  What better place to live the dream?

An industry veteran and still under the age of 40, Austin is a vibrant, active, mass of energy.  He’s on the move with new ideas in an industry that doesn’t move quite as fast. By default, most winemakers are hip, but they do tend to be older, technical and well, a bit more rotund!  Austin’s interests are varied: he hunts, practices Pilates, he is a mad chef, and he’s a huge fan of live music and will catch a show any chance he can.  He’s also a family man who spends time with his two daughters when not on the road promoting his wares. He lives this wonderful life in idyllic Paso Robles in a home on the estate vineyard, with his parent’s house just over the bluff. As easy as it would be to be envious about Austin’s life, you just can’t be anything but happy for him.  This is because he is  down to earth and knows exactly where he came from, so you end up soaking him up and savoring him. He’s worked hard at his craft – in the winery, vineyard and in the market over the last fifteen years to build the family’s business.

Making a living off the land has been part of his family’s tradition for three generations. His grandfather was a farmer and beer distributor in Bakersfield.

Austin’s parents moved the family from Bakersfield to Paso Robles in the late 1970s and started planting grapes and apples. At the time, the region was just developing and wasn’t the viticulture powerhouse that it is today. Austin started helping with the family business at age 8, by hoeing weeds in the vineyard as part of his weekly chores. His father, Chuck Hope, is considered one of the pioneering grape growers in the

Paso Robles grapes

region, noted for raising the bar in the vineyards for higher quality fruit. In the 80s the family started doing business with legendary winemaker Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards. They began growing and selling Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for his Liberty School label. This was the start of an important partnership between the Hope family and Wagner family that has blossomed into a strong and healthy friendship.

In the mid 90s, while studying Fruit Science at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Austin travelled to Napa to work under Chuck Wagner. Working with Chuck was instrumental to Austin’s development as a winemaker. “That was probably my “a-ha” moment,” says Austin. “I realized that I not only wanted to grow grapes, but to manage our own label to bring our fruit directly to the market,” he says. Upon his graduation he began making wine with the family grapes.  Eventually the Hope family took over the Liberty School label from Chuck Wagner and began producing the wine in Paso Robles. In addition to Liberty School, the Hopes launched Treana in 1996 and two years later, Austin became the official winemaker for the brand.

Hope Family Wines, as it is known today, is fueled by Austin and his colleagues, many who have been with him since the beginning. They are a fantastic group; making great wine at affordable prices with 5 distinct brands: Liberty School, Treana, Austin Hope, Candor and Troublemaker.

Treana Vineyard

Over the past 15 years, Austin has grown the business from producing around 20,000 cases a year to over 300,000. Helping Austin is his good friend and high school buddy Jason “JC” Diefenderfer. JC came on board to help design and build the winery’s crush facility back in 1997. JC never got around to leaving after the facility was completed, and now works as a winemaker with Austin.  Austin, JC and their team are proud to source grapes from over 50 local vineyards in Paso Robles and the Central Coast for the Liberty School brand.

Austin likes to live in the moment and buck tradition. In 2009, Austin released a free iPhone app called WineDJ to pair his Liberty School wines with music. The latest example is how the company released the newest wine brand – Troublemaker. The winery created a hilarious, must-see video, a parody of TV show The Office and used social media to help launch the new wine. By using their website, YouTube channel, Twitter and Facebook, they were able to get the video seen by thousands who, otherwise, wouldn’t have watched a wine video (http://youtu.be/0_zr4J75_Kk). After seeing the video you’ll get a good idea of the camaraderie and spirit of the group in addition to understanding the new wine. Troublemaker is also interesting because it’s a multi-vintage wine, another technique that Austin believes in. Blend 3 is 55% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 5% Petite Sirah, from the 2009 and 2010 vintages.

Richard Carlton Hacker, one of the world’s foremost authorities on the pleasures of wines, whiskies, pipe smoking, and cigars, has known Austin for the past decade. He says that what’s been really impressive to see in Austin’s development as a winemaker and businessman is his focus and

Hope Family Wines

understanding of what will and will not work with the wine produced in Paso Robles. Says Richard, “Austin has gotten a very finite vision of what he wants to do with the winery”. By working with local family vineyards, making quality wines, and building brands that offer great value – year after year, Austin and his team continue to stay relevant in the exploding Paso Robles wine scene.

For over 30 years, they’ve helped build the ‘Paso’ brand and that’s something Austin is very proud of. Along the way, he’s managing to live the dream. “People tend to have this dream that it’s easy to run a winery, but there’s still a lot of hard work, sacrifice and risk,” Austin says, “we just try to have fun along the way.” I’m glad he is, because the wines are delicious.

Hair removal expert and licensed esthetician Katherine Goldman has opened her shoppe at the new location right in our own neighborhood. Stript Wax Bar, on West 3rd Street is a salon that is dedicated to the art of waxing. They specialize in one thing, and one thing only — waxing. Katherine has 10 years of experience under her belt and has the formula for making an uncomfortable experience a bit more tolerable. There is no need for an appointment. Just drop in, have a glass of vino, and be back to the beach in no time. Both men and women are welcome.
With the help of designers, Claire Campbell and Renee Silvester, Katherine chose to go with a Modern Boudoir design for the salon, with violeta, silver and black being the main color scheme. This striking look is complimented with mirrored furniture and textured wallpaper, creating a sophisticated and chic feel that is welcoming to both female and male clientele. The salon is equipped with six treatment rooms, offering a private setting for more intimate waxing services, while the front of the salon features a wax bar where Stript L.A. estheticians sculpt the perfect brow.
The Stript Wax Bar is definitely a salon with a big future. Offering the most cutting edge waxing services, Stript L.A. will soon be a must-stop on every Angeleno’s beauty list.
Here’s a little sneak peek on what is offered at Stript’s new L.A. location:
• The Vajacial – This buzzed-about four-step “facial” for your va-ja-jay zone tidies up any ingrown hairs and calms or averts any potential irritation and discoloration around the bikini area.
• Depilar System Permanent Hair Removal – The newest permanent hair removal option (featured in InStyle), Depilar is an enzyme-based treatment performed immediately after waxing to destroy hair follicles and is more effective and less expensive than costly laser, IPL and electrolysis treatments!
• CryBaby™ Semi-Permanent Mascara – A new favorite of Allure’s beauty editors, CryBaby™ semi-permanent mascara treatments curl, lengthen and thicken lashes while remaining waterproof, smudge-proof and clump-free for up to three weeks, revolutionizing the way women think about mascara.
• Vanitymark Brow Bar – Get red carpet-worthy brows from celebrity makeup artist and brow expert Brett Freedman, who will be personally training all of Stript’s staff and making a guest appearance once a month to tame and style your brows. The Brow Bar will use Brett’s Vanitymark products, as well as Katherine’s own mineral makeup line, Prissy Minerals.

8218 West 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048
323-951-9517
www.striptwaxbar.com

The Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Solo streams bit-perfect digital audio from Apple iPad™, iPhone® or iPod® devices to headphone amplifiers and powered speakers using Apple USB Audio for superior audio quality.

Why do you need it? Simply, it makes the music sound so much better! Even audio novices can hear the difference right away. If you already have a home stereo amplifier or better yet, a portable headphone amplifier, combining it with the AlgoRhythm Solo will deliver the music you’ve been missing.

The AlgoRhythm solo is made for portability. Now it is possible to have desktop quality audio wherever you go: train, bus, plane, office or home.

How does it work? Currently, Apple iPad™, iPhone® or iPod® deliver compressed analog audio, whether from the headphone output or analog line out. Even playing a high quality track results in down-sampling. The AlgoRhythm Solo uses advanced digital processing and a reference grade digital to analog converter to provide audio at the highest resolution the Apple devices are capable of producing.

Cypher Labs (www.cypherlabs.com) operates with a mission to unlock an unsurpassed listening experience for the portable audio customer. Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Ore., the company’s products are designed to the highest standards, with state-of-the-art processing chips, digital-to-analog converters, analog output stages, and audiophile-grade components throughout. The AlgoRhythm Series consists of quality portable audio products designed to release the high resolution features of the most popular digital music players available today. Along with unrivaled sound quality and cutting-edge features, Cypher Labs products also boast durable and stylish construction — reinventing the art of sound.

Priced at $579

The Sky Lodge

Want to party in Park City, Utah? Then stay at The Sky Lodge, which is the prime location for you! The Sky Lodge is a 33-unit boutique hotel is in the heart of Park City’s historic Old Town District. It’s a wonderful property from the penthouse to the underground, (yes, underground) spa.
The penthouse is particularly lavish. It covers the entire top floor and has a wrap around patio overlooking Main Street. During the Sundance Film Festival, you can keep your eye on the activities from your own luxurious vantage point. On the deck overlooking Main Street is the hot tub. You are literally right above restaurants Zoom and Easy Street.

Not ready for a penthouse? Then take one of the other units, each with its own patio and multi-person hot tub. The rooms are romantic, deluxe units with their own patio, and hot tub. You can also ask for a couple’s hot tub turndown service, that includes getting your hot tub ready, and putting out the champagne and chocolates for you and your favorite person!

Need more room than a single unit? Well, The Sky Lodge is still for you. We suggest that you and family take one of the 33 luxurious suites which have up to three-bedrooms. The suites all come with a total condominium package. The furnishings are elegant yet modern, including an 8-person dining room table. There are full kitchens, including a wine refrigerator as well as the Cuisinart coffee makers. Living rooms are comfortable with flat screen TVs, leather couches, modern art on the walls, fireplaces and even Bose sound systems. The bedrooms also have these several amenities.

Japanese style doors open into the huge bathroom with wardrobes, a center room bathtub with water that flows down from the ceiling, a double-headed shower and Aveda products. You and your family will want to plan ahead for this deluxe vacation spot!

The Amatsu Spa at The Sky Lodge

The Amatsu Spa at The Sky Lodge is like going from old west to modern Japan. The spa features Japanese style treatment rooms with sliding doors covered in rice paper which are entered from the zen sand garden. The treatment rooms are simplistic in their design and inspire relaxation. You’ll want to spend all day inside the relaxation room as you sip on tea and thumb through Buddhist self help books.

Before or after your treatment, slip into one of the traditional Ofuro baths. These handmade, wooden baths are filled with pure water and allow for peaceful contemplation and cleansing the body and the mind.

The variety of original treatments is impressive and includes Bamboo-Koi Massage, and treatments using Zents personalized Essential Massage Oils.

Easy Street

Easy Street is the on-site restaurant for The Sky Lodge and is a full service, breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant. Underneath Easy Street is Bar Bohome, which is the lounge area of this historical property. The building is the beautifully restored Utah Coal & Lumber building, a historic landmark. Both venues are very French in their décor and feeling. Easy Street is more formal with a grand open kitchen that sits in the center of the dining room. Bar Bohome has a more intimate, dark interior. The low ceiling and wood paneling are perfect for hiding out and consuming your favorite cocktails. Executing the culinary program at The Sky Lodge is Executive Chef Scott Boberek.

Sky Blue

On the roof of The Sky Lodge sits one of the best bars in the United States. With views of the Wasatch Mountains, three local ski resorts, and Old Town Park City, Sky Blue offers outdoor seating with fire pits and a hot tub. Yep, you can be at the bar, in the middle of Park City, seated in a hot tub. In addition to this ambiance, you can drink some of the best-made drinks in the country. Sky Blue consistently wins national mixology competitions. Most recently it was voted “Best Spot to Drink In the View” by USA Today. The bar offers a menu of delicious small plates and does a weekend Grill Menu which includes casual fare.

In anticipation of another great ski season this winter in Park City, groups of friends and families need not look any further than The Sky Lodge’s “Double Black Diamond” package. This package includes four nights in a two-bedroom Sky Suite, and lift tickets for up to four people to enjoy Park City Mountain Resort or Deer Valley. Guests can look forward to relaxing in their private outdoor hot tub on their deck or at the rooftop bar, Sky Blue.

The Sky Lodge’s “Double Black Diamond” package is available for $699.99 per night (taxes and fees not included), based on a 4-person occupancy. What’s great about the package deal is that it includes lift tickets for four guests.
435.658.2500 | www.theskylodge.com

The Stein Eriksen Lodge

The Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City is the quintessentially exclusive, classic ski lodge. This is where the rich and famous hang out. It’s a five-diamond, five-star resort with a spa that is off the hook. The Stein Eriksen Lodge is the four‐time number one ski resort according to the readers of SKI Magazine.

Stein Eriksen is a world-renowned skier who started Deer Valley Resort and the lodge. The lodge used to be very difficult to get into, but with the recent additions of other lodges, such as the St. Regis, Montage and the Waldorf Astoria into Park City, the Stein Eriksen is becoming more available.

Located just outside of town in the mid-mountain area of Deer Valley Resort, Stein Eriksen Lodge has 180 rooms including 68 suites. Recently the lodge invested millions in upgrading the already impressive rooms adding double capacity to their wireless network and converting to flat screen, HD televisions. The rooms are set up like a home away from home with large living areas, fully equipped kitchens and onsite laundry. The hotels offers world-class hospitality, ski-in/ski-out, ski valet, twice daily maid service and full-service concierge. This is a beautiful, classic old-world lodge with all the amenities you will need…and more!

The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge

The readers of Condé Nast Traveler recently rated the Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge the No. 1 Resort Spa in the continental United States. The spa is truly a marvel. The surrounding mountains inspire its architecture and design. Designers of the Spa have used natural elements such as copper, water, stone in its construction, and then added rich fabrics for accents. In each of the 16 treatment rooms there are handcrafted naturally detoxifying salt lamps, which heal and sooth.

Signature treatments, such as The Great Salt Stone Therapy, the Pigment Balancing Facial, and the Hike Boot Relief treatment are unique to the mountain spa and are the creation of Spa Director, Jill VanAusdal. A full line of locally crafted products featuring indigenous ingredients such as cedar and sage are used to invigorate the body and at the same time, lower tension and stress levels. In addition to customized treatments, every guest may also enjoy expanded fitness facilities and a year-round heated pool, which has breathtaking mountain views.

Glitretind Restaurant

The Glitretind Restaurant at the Stein Eriksen Lodge is an extremely elegant restaurant. Absolutely gorgeous. It sits on the slope-side of the mountain and is known as a fine dining, luxurious hot spot. The restaurant features an extraordinary menu created by Zane Holmquist, Executive Chef & Director of Food & Beverage Operations for Stein Eriksen Lodge Management Corporation. Holmquist joined the Stein Eriksen Lodge food and beverage team in 2000 and was promoted to executive chef in 2001. Prior to the Lodge, he served as executive chef and food and beverage manager for the Goldener Hirsch Inn in Park City. The Glitretind was the only restaurant in Park City to win, (last year) the Santé Restaurant award, which is a prestigious industry award.

The ambiance can be categorized as mountain elegance and the ideal place to impress business clients or a proposal of marriage. The menu consists of standouts such as Tuna Crudo, Roasted Poulet Rouge Chicken and Hawaiian Barrumundi. The Four-Star, Glitretind Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and weekly for Sunday brunch.

In addition to the beautiful mountainside ambiance, and the remarkable menu, is the wine program at the Glitretind Restaurant. Cara Schwindt is the Wine Director and Sommeliére. The Lodge’s 10,000-bottle wine cellar holds one of the largest and most varied collections in Utah. Clearly it can cater to the most discriminating clientele.

Both Chef Zane and the Sommelier, Cara, have food and wine blogs for your information and enjoyment.

435.649.3700 | www.steinlodge.com

Zoom Restaurant

Zoom Restaurant is located next door to The Sky Lodge in the historic Union Pacific Depot building. Robert Redford started the restaurant, hence the name and the décor which uses many photographs of movie stars as they enjoy the environs of Park City. Great food, ambiance and wine make this a constant hot spot. Try the ribs!
www.zoomparkcity.com

High West Distillery and Saloon

High West Distillery and Saloon is located in the former home of master carpenter Ellsworth Beggs, in the heart of Old Town, Park City — right next to the city gondola. This is a wonderful Old West style place to sip whiskey and while doing so, imagine yourself as a thirsty cowpoke. While comfort food is served, the thing to do at High West is to taste the variety of whiskeys created onsite.
www.highwest.com

PAN AM stewardesses were the pinnacle of fashion, style, glamour and independence.

Nancy Hult Ganis, one of three Executive Producers for the new TV series PAN AM, was formerly a Pan American stewardess and brings a true-to-life focus to this highly entertaining and high-flying new TV drama. This greatly anticipated series premieres Sunday night, September 25 at 10pm PT/9 CT on ABC Television Network and will be produced by Sony Pictures Television.

The PAN AM series opens in 1963 New York. The WWII and Korean War mindset is history. The country is full of optimism and hope and yet a tumultuous decade of change is underway as the world teeters on the brink of a Cultural Revolution and the Cold War.

Passion, Adventure and Espionage Inspired by the Real World 1960s Dawn of the Jet Age

PAN AM is seen through the eyes of its educated, cultured, refined flight crews. These flyboys and girls are young, good looking and represent the luxury, glamour, passion, adventure and 1960s style, with the energy of the modern Jet Age of international travel. The characters are immersed in sexy entanglements and some espionage in this stylish, thrilling and original new drama. The planes are sleek and glamorous. The airline is a cutting edge cultural icon of the 20th century. The pilots are rock stars and the stewardesses are the most desirable women in the world.

Nancy Hult Ganis has worked with notable filmmakers such as Francis Coppola (Peggy Sue Got Married, Gardens of Stone) and Saul Zaentz (Amadeus, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, English Patient). Her credits include extensive documentary work for PBS and projects with the late director Sydney Pollack. Ganis was originally contemplating a documentary on Pan American World Airway’s culture and its far-reaching influence, but colleagues with their stories from around the globe convinced her to rethink her scope. The colorful and exciting tapestry that is Pan Am culture in the dynamic 1960s setting was worthy of a full length TV series.

The executive producer/writer Jack Orman, whose credits include writer/producer of the phenomenally successful TV series ER, indicates that PAN AM gives the viewer a sense of global adventure at a time in the dawn of the Jet Age when the excitement of the destination is matched by the event of the travel itself. Orman adds that PAN AM story lines tie into world events including the espionage theme as one of many elements of the series that highlight cold war drama and the tensions of the time. The fictional series will explore how historical events impact the characters of PAN AM with storylines involving actual Pan Am events such as Kennedy’s trip to Berlin, or the Beatles infamous 1964 arrival at JFK aboard a Pan AM Boeing 707. The expanding wealth and influence of the Far East also figure in as an effect of the airline industry making the world a smaller place. It is a broad canvas for Orman to paint as the creative force behind the venture.

Orman shares the challenges ahead for creating a period piece. With the early 1960s setting everything must match the era from cars, planes, and buildings, to fashion, make-up and hair styles. The 1960s, if re-created authentically, becomes the stage, landscape and backdrop for the cast as they move through storylines that include true events of the decade. It was a turbulent decade of changing socio-political and economic influences. The world events all combine to provide an exciting platform for the E Ticket Disney ride…as Orman states “The series is a metaphor for taking people for a ride”… and what a thrilling and exciting ride it is.

Pan Am — the Airline as a Cultural Icon
Pan American World Airways was the largest and most prestigious United States international air carrier from the late 1920s until its collapse on December 4, 1991. Its founder, Juan Trippe, was a visionary in the mold of Steve Jobs of Apple. This major airline is credited with many innovations that shaped the international airline industry including widespread use of jet aircraft, wide bodied aircraft, jumbo jets, computerized reservation system and more. On-board cuisine was catered by Maxim’s de Paris and if they were unable to provide the entree directly, they dictated what the menu should be around the world. The food was delivered with a personal service flair that has rarely been equaled as passengers flew around the world. Pan Am was the undisputed leader in International travel with hubs in New York, London, Miami, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Berlin and Honolulu.

Having worked as a Pan Am stewardess in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ganis brings a unique perspective to this TV venture. She has lived a Forest Gump life which included the incredible eye opening experience of international travel. This provides the authentic underpinning of the show. The PAN AM series is inspired by history yet energized by the fictional cast of characters that the viewer will immediately embrace and will be thrilled to follow in their weekly escapades.

“Pan Am crews and colleagues were a tight global family bonded with the privilege of traveling, exploring and finding the common humanity in people and places throughout the world”

Ganis comments that “Pan Am crews and colleagues were a tight global family bonded with the privilege of traveling, exploring and finding the common humanity in people and places throughout the world”. Pan Am stewardesses were the pinnacle of fashion, style, glamour and independence with an international trend setting lifestyle that made these women the most desirable women on the planet. They were pre-feminist forming a powerful sisterhood. At that time, they shared one of the few career options that offered them empowerment and respect. Orman adds “These women were pioneers, a new breed of women … smart, strong and focused and most were college educated and spoke foreign languages. It was a highly sought after and respected job, despite the irony of regular girdle checks and weigh-ins.”

Ganis reflects on her own personal experiences at Pan Am and states “we were just young women who wanted to step out and experience and travel the world. We were strong, resourceful and able to think on our feet. We hosted our passengers as though they were guests in our home with a gracious manner uncommon today. It was a unique exciting slice of life”.

PAN AM — The TV Series
This slice of life is so well captured by PAN AM’s cast of fresh, highly attractive young faces. The series, set in the dawn of the Jet Age, stars the four stewardesses, Christina Ricci, Margot Robbie, Kelli Garner, Karine Vanasse, and the Captain and Co-Pilot, Mike Vogel and Michael Mosley.

Christina Ricci, the most well known of the cast members, is Maggie. This actress plays a somewhat unfocused yet ambitious, buttoned up professional in order to see the world and fill her hunger for life. She works in the opulent aisles of Pan Am planes serving caviar and champagne while back at her Manhattan apartment, she lives with her beatnik friends. This is an example of the edgy storylines that is full of potential for conflict, excitement and thought provoking drama.

Then we have the two sisters…Kate (Kelli Garner) the spirited older sister who in Episode One is recruited to be a spy for MI-6 and the CIA. She is also the one who helps convince her younger beauty queen sister Laura (Margot Robbie) to leave her life of domesticity and bolt as a runaway bride. Laura immediately joins Pan Am and becomes the cover girl for the Life Magazine Pan Am feature story.

We have Captain Dean’s proposal to the beautiful and mysterious Bridget…but actually, to go any further would ruin the plot, so we suggest you tune in September 25th to catch the thrilling pilot. We are betting that you’ll love it and the 12 shows being produced for this fall. Don’t miss a single episode.