Check out the video and tour:

These wallets come in endless designs and have a place for everything including all of your plastic. They’re 100% recyclable, water resistant, tear resistant— what more could I want? Yes, I know— some more money to go inside of it! Funny!

Wouldn’t you know we have these available in at the Savvy Stews “First Flight Out” online store!

It happened recently on a Boeing 777 jumbo-jet flying between Miami and Los Angeles. Mick Jagger was resting comfortably in his first class seat while entertainment reporter Maria Salas was slipping into an airborne anxiety attack several rows back due to being deprived VIP access to the star to possibly conduct an impromptu interview or snap some selfies with the musician.

Maria Salas has a very heavy travel schedule

So what would any experience reporter do? Well, sneak into first class to use the lavatory of course! Not one, not two,  not three, but more along the lines of 5 trips to the lavatory later Ms. Salas was discovered standing within Mr.Jagger’s line of sight with a come-hither look on her face hoping for a chance invitation to a seat-side chat. A stewardess politely asked Ms. Salas to return to her seat in business class, but Ms. Salas would have none of it!  She took this opportunity to explain to the flight attendant exactly why she was authorized to “crash” the party in first class— something about “who she was”.

Incidentally, her seat was only a couple of rows from syndicated court show star, Judge Alex– who would have definitely passed down a stalker charge if this flight had been within his jurisdiction. Most of the other horrified passengers were ready to take matters into their own hands and strangle Ms. Salas themselves as the incident escalated.

She did not take the request from the female flight attendant to return to her seat very well and launched into a full fledged in-flight tantrum that almost brought the plane down, out of the sky according to a businessman seated in business class. One of the crew had to make another trip to Ms. Salas’ seat to remind her that she was not welcome in the first class cabin at which time the reporter began shouting to passengers around her to help her as she was being harassed by the crew.

At one point, Mr. Jagger himself, jostled by the commotion,  got up and sauntered past the cabin divider between first and business class to discuss the security situation with his two bodyguards who were seated a few rows back in business class. As they explained the  security situation to the rock-n-roll legend– he gazed around the cabin until he recognized the same woman with the, what seems to be, mistakenly unbrushed, curler-set, blond locks that had been staring at him for 10 minutes from across the first class cabin while on one of her trips to the toilet.

Judge Alex Ferrer watched the whole thing

Aires Libres: a breath of fresh air in the Village

From May 16 to September 13, the Village takes back the street, turning it into a fabulous 15-block pedestrian walkway during Aires Libres. Check out everything from public art to sun-soaked patios to streetside performances as you stroll, and enjoy the pretty pink-ball canopy and Pride-every-day feel!

Find your art at FIMA

The Festival International Montréal en Arts (FIMA), the Village’s first major LGBT happening, kicks off summer with a bang from June 12 to 16. An open-air exhibition showcasing works from over 120 artists from across North America, it also features short film screenings, multimedia performances and immersive installations.

From dance to drag to DJs, Divers/Cité dazzles

It’s big, bold and more fun than you ever imagined: from July 30 to August 4, pull out your party frock because Divers/Cité has outdoor dances, world-class DJs, spectacular performances, film screenings and more. Don’t miss Mascara, the world’s biggest open-air drag show, plus tons of performances outdoors.

Be part of our Montréal Pride

We’ll be pouring into the streets for the Pride Parade on August 18, but Montréal Pride is more than the high-flying, festive march – it’s seven days (August 12 to 18) of back-to-back fun, including Family Day, Community Day, T-Dances for the masses and then some!

Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon

A star of the silver screen, Alfred Hitchcock’s muse and the Princess of Monaco – Grace Kelly was utterly captivating. With From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon, the McCord Museum premieres a behind-the-scenes peek at this fascinating woman and her many roles, through everything from photos to clothing to love letters.

I was working a flight from New York to Los Angeles two days ago and half way through the flight a woman came to the back to use the lav and starting making small talk with us.  She did want to point out that as we were taking off and flight attendants were already strapped in our jump seats, the gentleman sitting across the aisle from her was talking (not texting or playing games but talking) on his phone.  She politely said to him “sir you are suppose to have your phone off” he of course dismissed her with a “don’t worry about it lady.”  We knew exactly who she was referring to because he had already displayed to us during our compliance check just how wonderful and important he was.  We needed to ask him more than once to turn his phone off and he was all sprawled out with his feet up on the bulkhead, he was super special!

Reports are out that recent research and tests may very well prove that Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) do indeed interfere with the navigational system (GPS) of the aircraft.  Pilots and now mechanics are reporting that they feel that certain incidents have been the result of cell phone usage.  The debate goes on but why not just use your time on the airplane as time to relax and reboot, your brain that is.  Just turn it off.

The restaurant itself, designed by the Johnson Group, pays homage to a rare pink marble quarried in Jasper, Georgia, while the ceiling and flooring are made of native heart pine. There is also a 30-foot pine and Cherokee marble sushi bar. The walls are made of slatted wood planks.

One Flew South offers a global menu with dishes made from regional foods and ingredients, as well as a full sushi menu. It also has an extensive wine, cocktail, and beer list.

Concourse E Kobe Burger

When I visit One Flew South, I usually order from the food menu. Last night, I revisited the Concourse E Kobe burger paired with a glass of 2010 Marc Brédif Chinon (Cabernet Franc). The wine is complex and rich, with black cherry, cranberry, and vegetal aromas and flavors and a bit of spice. It holds up well to the half-pound, juicy Kobe burger, which in my opinion, is one of the best burgers ever made. The condiments include goat cheese, shiitake mushroom spread, frisée, tomatoes, and pickles. It’s cooked to order, of course, even medium rare if you wish, and accompanied by five-spice fries.

I don’t hope for delays in Atlanta, but when they occur, the first place I think of is One Flew South. You should, too, the next time you find yourself stuck in Atlanta.

Whitesburg on Dwellable

Much to their surprise they were invited to the Irish White House to meet the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and stick around for afternoon tea while he spoke

After leaving the President, the Stews checked in at their hotel, The Brooks, which was centrally located in Downtown Dublin. The hotel features modern amenities such as a TV in the bathroom mirror, radio pipped into the shower and more! The hotel is within walking distance to many Dublin attractions and street vendors.about The Gathering, a year long event honoring Irish culture around the world.

You can’t visit Dublin without checking out a real castle, can you? We didn’t think so either! So we sent the Stews off to a town outside of Dublin called Mahahide and there was a castle that was lived in as recently as the 1970′s! They had an amazing tour guide which took them through the various parts of the castle and explained it’s rich history — she even took them into the bathroom and showed them how the servants (back in the day, of course) would dispose of.. well, the waste!

When they left Malahide, Bobby & Gailen headed off to The Guinness Storehouse to celebrate Irish Culture with the first pour of a pint of Ireland’s famous local brew, Guinness! St. Patrick’s Day weekend was kicked off in style by Master Brewer Fergal Murray as he poured the first class of perfection and kicked off the weekends festivities! You can learn how to pour the perfect pint (it takes 6 steps!) by clicking here.

Tune into The Better Show on May 29th to see more from the Guinness Storehouse and watch Bobby & Gailen take part in the first ever People’s Parade!

WRONG (and probably the WORST): Keep your hands to yourself
You shouldn’t poke, slap or tap them to get their attention. Can you imagine walking through a cabin and having someone at every row poke you on either side, on your back, tap your shoulder or even, slap your behind? You can’t? Well I can! On a recent flight that’s exactly what happened while I was walking through the cabin picking up trash. Trust me, we’re not going anywhere! We’re stuck in the same metal tube going 500mph together. I will get around to getting your trash and I know you’re there! I became increasingly frustrated as I was being treated like the Pillsbury Dough Boy but only resorted to verbally acknowledging everyone saying “I know, I know, I’m coming! I’ll get there.. I see you!” but on a recent Air China flight to Shanghai a passenger was arrested for slapping the behind of a flight attendant with a newspaper. He later told police that he wanted her to move so that he could get to his seat.

Keeping your hands to yourself doesn’t mean it’s okay to snap your fingers to get their attention, either.

RIGHT: Be Aware
Flight Attendant Sam Ward told me that the best way for someone to get his attention is to be aware of what he’s doing.

“If I’m helping another passenger or clearly appear to be busy, please just be patient. We are more than willing to assist you and your needs, but we have many duties and many passengers to deal with at the same time.”

Of course, it’s okay to interrupt and make yourself known if it’s an emergency situation.

WRONG: Misusing the Call Button
Sam says:

The use of the call button is like nails on chalk board to FAs because it’s abused. Use it when it’s something urgent.

Ringing the call button to have the flight attendants collect your trash will probably have you being told “I’ll be right back,” which in flight attendant speak means: “I’ll be back in about a half hour with a trash bag.” The flight attendants I spoke with concurred that it should be used for urgent situations (unless of course your flight attendants aren’t doing their job and walking through the cabin checking up on everyone).

RIGHT: Be Polite
This might surprise you, but most passengers don’t say please or thank you. Being polite and courteous to a flight attendant will net you everything you want, as quickly as possible. Cabin Crewmember Autumn Jensen stated

“I would like to assume that people would like to be treated with respect, so I would like to be treated with the same respect. Please, thank you, may I, and other such phrases will never go out of style. As with anything in life, it’s all about how you ask. Politeness will get you everywhere.

Ian Funderburg agreed

I always acknowledge when people politely make themselves known and let them know I will be there to help as soon as I am able to.

WRONG: Galley Invaders
Your seat is cramped, the aisle is narrow and the galley seems to be the only place where you can stand – that’s okay, but don’t over-extend your welcome (and please don’t perform galley yoga: the art of bending and stretching right in the flight attendant’s faces as they’re eating or sitting). The galley is the flight attendant’s work space, kitchen, sitting area and cafeteria. If it’s a busy flight the flight attendants may be prepping drink orders, snacks and food for other passengers and your being there might be in the way and slow down the process. Going to the galley to request a beverage or a snack is okay, but be respectful of the work they’re already doing, in other words, be patient, the requests they’re fulfilling at the moment come before you.

There seems to be rash of these incidents in the news lately about flight attendants being touched, harassed, cussed at, told what to do or should I say demanded what to do and more.  You know 9/11 changed a lot of things and we are so much more aware of people, there actions and our own personal space.  Flight attendants are fed up with being treated like we don’t deserve any respect or just plain courtesy.  I can tell you honestly for the most part the passengers I come in contact with on a daily basis are fine and have no issues.  There are always those though that I think to myself, how, where and by whom were you raised?  Why oh why when I am serving would you poke me in the bum or if I’m collecting trash why would you touch me with your trash to get my attention?

A little bit of courtesy and some manners will go a long way.  Respect us and our personal space and keep your hands to yourself or you may find yourself arriving at your destination and greeted by a group of people in a different uniform if ya know what I mean.

We came across this list that we’re sure will jog your imagination (and make you say “why didn’t I think of that?)! Here are 99 tips and tricks to make your life at home a bit easier!

We’ve all heard the epic stories of lost iPads ending up at the homes of airline employees and TSA agents who offered a variety of excuses regarding how the items ended up there when confronted by a SWAT team. We decided to see what would happen with the items most often left in airports, planes and hotels by today’s travelers.

Here are a few instances and what happens seems to really depended on who found it:

• What: Apple iPad
• Where: British Airways 747 economy seat MIA-LHR
• Status: Found and Returned

I discovered my Apple iPad was missing during while standing in line at customs in London.I reported it to a British Airways rep who provided my passenger contact info to the London Heathrow lost and found service, http://www.missingx.com/, which lists all items found at London Heathrow and several other locations on their website. I was able to then provide descriptive proof that the iPad belonged to me and was able to arrange shipping back to the US. The cost of the service was about $50, plus about $100 shipping. It was well worth it for the service and convenience. British Airways did a great job of forwarding my contact information to the service provider at Heathrow.

I used the “locate my iPhone” app to lock my device and provide my phone number. The iPad was never turned on to use this feature which at least put me at ease regarding my personal information.

FACT: There were about 25 iPads lost at Heathrow on the same day that mine was misplaced?

• What: Gadget and charger bag
• Where: Delta Airlines Flight Madison, WI to Detroit
• Status: Found and Returned

Upon arriving at my connecting flight from Detroit to LaGuardia, there was already an announcement being made by the gate agents for me to return to my previous gate to collect my bag which was filled with my essentials such as headsets, USB cables and all of those lovely things! Thanks Delta!

• What: Burberry Men’s Cross-body Messenger Bag
• Where: Hyatt Place Hotel at Reno/Lake Tahoe Airport
• Status: Gone Forever 

I called the Hyatt Place immediately after I realized I had left this item in my room, which I had just checked out of just 3 hours earlier. They were unable to locate the rather pricey bag and informed me that their staff even turns in iPads all of the time so if it were found, it would have been turned in. The only difference is that the Burberry bag does not have a GPS feature installed– which I am sure sounded like a slot machine jackpot in the head of the “lucky” person who found and is most likely carrying my bag today, listing it on eBay or even generously gifting it.

NOTE: Three emails to Hyatt President Rakesh Sarna have gone unanswered. Perhaps this is a new company bonus initiative! I really should have phoned the police.What: Apple Macbook Air

• What: Apple Macbook Air
• Where: TSA Checkpoint, Concourse J (Delta)
• Status: Recovered, but……

Upon taking my seat on a Delta flight from Miami to Atlanta, I discovered I had left my laptop at security. I had to deplane and miss the flight in order to trek back to the TSA checkpoint to hopefully collect my computer. Yes, they had my laptop and I was very pleased to be reunited with my beloved gadget but it did not take me long to wonder whether or not any attempt was made to locate me while a got myself together at the bench just past the security line or via an announcement in the terminal. If I had not gotten off the plane, I really wonder if I would have ever seen that Macbook again.

Have you lost a valuable item while traveling? What’s been your luck in locating and recovering the item.

travelvista.net

New hotels, traditional markets and a permanent exhibit on the life of Audrey Hepburn are among the highlights of 2013 in the Lake Geneva Region.

Spotlight on Hotel News
Hôtel des Inventions is a new three-star hotel in Ecublens, a suburb of Lausanne. Set to open in early summer, each of its 50 rooms and suites will highlight a different Swiss invention, from Lindt chocolate and bircher müesli to the bathyscaphe of Auguste Piccard. The property is a member of the Hôtels et Patrimoine group.

Le Baron Tavernier, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux vineyards in Chexbres, has just completed eight new suites and the new Spa Valmont, with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, hammam and sauna. The hotel offers a wide variety of regional specialties in the traditional restaurant, as well as panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

La Maison d’Igor is a new eight-room boutique hotel in the lakeside town of Morges, located in the house where composer Igor Stravinsky lived between 1915 and 1917. Stravinsky composed several notable works here, including Renard. Surrounded by lush gardens, the hotel has opened its new restaurant, La Table d’Igor, with a menu comprised of dishes made with fresh local and seasonal products.

Living Traditions: Markets

Farm-to-table has been a way of life in Switzerland for centuries. The best way to experience this “Living Tradition” today is at one of the open-air markets in the Lake Geneva region. In Yverdons-les-Bains, a food and flower market is held every Tuesday and Saturday, while Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days in both Lausanne and Morges. The most colorful market of all may well be the Marchés Folkloriques de Vevey, held every Saturday from July to September, where visitors can taste wine from the local vineyards in addition to shopping for fresh local produce, cheese, breads and more.

Spotlight on Museums

The actress Audrey Hepburn is the focus of a newly opened permanent exhibition at the Fondation Bolle in the town of Morges, where she lived for nearly 30 years. Objects, photos and other materials have come from Hepburn’s partner, Robert Wolders, and her son, Luca Dotti.

During the ongoing renovation of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, which promotes the union of sport, art and culture, visitors can board a boat with Olympic exhibits that will be moored at the Ouchy Pier all summer. The museum is expected to reopen its doors in October 2013, after a nearly two year renovation.

La Maison d’Ailleurs in Yverdon-les-Bains is currently presenting its first permanent exhibition, Souvenirs du Futur. Showing the development of science fiction from the 19th to the 21st century, the museum utilizes its collection of more than 100,000 items, including books, cartoons, posters and toys. The exhibit runs until August 25.

The Castle of Prangins, located close to Nyon, has just opened a new permanent exhibition, Noblesse oblige! Life in a Castle in the 18th Century. The exhibit focuses on the everyday life of a noble family in the canton of Vaud at the end of the 18th century, an in-depth look at wealth, property and family life.

The Lavaux Vinorama is a discovery centre dedicated to the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Geneva. More than 170 wines produced in the Lavaux are on display and each week, a selection of wines is available for tasting.

Spotlight on Festivals & Culture

The 47th Montreux Jazz Festival promises to be one of the best in recent memory, with performances by Prince, Leonard Cohen, Sting, Diana Krall and Kraftwerk, among others. More than 220,000 music fans are expected to attend the festival at the Stravinski Auditorium and Miles Davis Hall from July 5 to 20, 2013.

St. Prex Classics 2013 will take place from August 20 to September 1, 2013, in Saint-Prex on the shores of Lake Geneva, not far from Lausanne. The event features major performers from the worlds of chamber music, ballet and vocal performers on the Luna stage. The revolutionary Luna project, created by the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) was designed to increase temporarily increase seating in the historic medieval town of Saint-Prex while preserving the architecture and the setting. The dome of the Luna stage also provides exceptional acoustics for international performers.

Alt. +1000 festival de photographie is focused on the village of Rossinière in the foothills of the Swiss Alps from July 13 to September 22, 2013. The village is renowned for its 17th- and 18th- century architecture and verdant setting and the second edition of this unique photography festival will contrast this village identity with the inquisitive and provocative viewpoints of contemporary photographers.

The 19th Avenches Opera Festival runs from July 5 to 18th and will feature Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco” in Avenches’ magnificent Roman arena. This festival has evolved into one of Europe’s major opera events, a unique venue for renowned national and international artists who perform in a striking setting that attracts thousands of opera lovers every year

Scandinavian Airlines Flight 908, headed to Oslo onboard an Airbus A330, clipped its left wing against the tail of ExpressJet Flight 4226, which was going to Nashville using an Embraer E145, officials said.

The ExpressJet plane was towed back to the gate, and the SAS plane taxied back to the gate. All passengers deplaned and were re-booked on other flights. WNBC-TV had video from their news helicopter after the incident.

Photo Credit: WNBC

I came across a wonderful product by the name of IntelliSkin!  The name says a lot about the product because first of all its like a second skin so not bulky at all and quite intelligent because it helps you stand up straight.  It helps you look better because your posture is better but it also helps you feel better because of the support it offers.  Are you aware that for every four inches your head leans over your shoulders that is an extra ten pounds of weight on your neck?  So IntelliSkin will help you with your posture and train your muscles to hold your body in a comfortable upright position.  Whether you are a flight attendant,  professional athlete, a weekend athlete, a yogi or just someone who wants to feel better and look better this product is for you.  I have been using the sports bra and it has changed my whole perspective on going to the gym.  My husband (the workout fanatic and athlete in the family) uses the foundation tank and won’t leave home without it!

IntelliSkin was created by Dr. Tim Brown who is one of the foremost experts and leading innovators in the world of sports medicine.  He has more than 25 years of experience, working with some of the world’s biggest athletes across a range of sports. With his many personal athletic injury experiences as a former college football player, pro beach volleyball player, and skilled surfer/snowboarder, Dr. Brown knows firsthand about the frustration of injury and the painstaking process of rehab and recovery.

Think this product is not for you?  Think again!   There are a variety of products to choose from go to intelliSkin.net and you will be amazed and intrigued.

Set a Budget
One of the biggest problems that arises when people go on vacation is that they spend way more money than they ever planned to. By creating a budget and sticking to the budget, can come back from your vacation and not feel badly about yourself. You can accomplish this goal by setting a realistic budget. If you think it’s going to be difficult to stick to $200 per day for you and your significant other, then make sure that you allot for $300 or more.

Find a Balance
Some people like to plan every last second of their trips, and others just want to have as much free time as possible. Too much of the former can mean that you return from your trip feeling just as exhausted as when you left. However, not having anything planned can mean that your vacation is a disappointment. You might return to your home feeling as though you really did not get to see anything.

A Comfortable Room
When you are planning a trip, you might figure that you are not going to spend a lot of time in the hotel. As a result, you decide to go for a cheap hotel. Of course, some inexpensive options can be quite nice, and you should not discount all of them. However, make sure you do your research. If you choose one of the cheapest hotels out there, you might find that the beds are uncomfortable or that the water doesn’t run. Furthermore, you never know how much time you actually want to spend relaxing. Of course, you absolutely want to make sure that you do not choose an establishment plagued with bed bugs or other rodents!

Take Photos
Taking pictures is another way that you can have an incredible vacation of which you can be proud. After all, once you get back home, you want to show your family members and friends all of the activities you have participated in and all of the fantastic places that you have visited. Then, you will not forget about your trip, and you will always be able to remember all of the details. Furthermore, you could even make a scrapbook or a photo album of the pictures that you took on the trip, and you will have this album with you for all of time.

Get Involved
Think outside the box a bit – get involved next time your travel. Spend a week volunteering, or take local classes in traditional arts if you’re traveling abroad. Some people even attend classes online while traveling for a semester – the world’s your oysters – travel doesn’t have to just be about leisure. Be productive and/or generous with your time, and you’ll be more proud of this trip than any other.

You can be really proud of this vacation, and you can always remember the beautiful times that you had. Of course, a major part of loving a vacation is making the active decision to have an excellent time. When you follow these aforementioned tips, this option will be so apparent right before your very eyes.

Jedda Guerrero writes about everything related to travel – her recent work is about earning an international public health degree online and the internship she took to India upon completing it.

Complete Work First
It can be really tempting to hop off the plane and go to the local club or bar for some entertainment. However, you need to focus on taking care of your work obligations before you participate in any of this fun. Therefore, set a to-do list for yourself. Head to your room and to the conferences, and make sure that all of these tasks are addressed before you go any further with the travel expedition.

Arriving on Time
Now, your company might book the flights for you and say that you have to go on a particular flight, so you might not have too much control when it comes to this part of the travel plan. However, if you are responsible for booking your own flights or travel arrangements, then you need to be certain that you have plenty of time in-between. Travel delays are quite common, and you certainly do not want to miss out on an important task to which your boss needs you to attend.

Adjusting Your Schedule
One problem you might encounter is the infamous “jet-lag.” When you fly across the country, you could wind up having a lot of trouble with staying awake or alert at a time that you are just not use to. Once you have traveled a lot of work, you will probably get used to this process. However, at the beginning, try to take a nap while you are on the train, bus, plane or other mode of transportation. Consume some coffee or soda to make sure that you stay awake during the important moments. You should also make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods so that you have energy.

Time for Contact
It’s quite possible that your boss is going to want to speak to you while you are away at this conference or meeting. He or she will probably want to have some concept of what is going on and the levels of success you have encountered at the meeting. Due to this request, you need to be certain that you are making time for these phone calls and are ready to go at any moment. Find out when you are expected to check-in with your boss, and add that item to your agenda. Once you have checked these items off of your list, you can have some fun.

Above all else, you need to remember that the purpose of a work trip is not to go out and socialize with other people. You have specific tasks that you need to perform. Much like a day in the office, you can’t spend all of your time chatting with colleagues and having a party!

Melissa Rodriguez writes about work and travel. Her recent work chronicles her experiences earning an online bachelor’s of psychology while backpacking across Asia.

In recent years we’ve witnessed flight attendants blow emergency slides and quit (ala Steven Slater), flight attendant’s have nervous break-downs on board and rant over the public address system and we’re about to see an airline dress their cabin crew as maids and butlers as a marketing ploy, so where am I going with all of this? CareerCast just released a “study” of the worst jobs for 2013 and being a flight attendant is number 10.

Now the evidence would suggest that a flight attendant losing it and blowing a slide and ranting over the PA is stressed and overworked… and at some airlines they are! Each airline operates differently with their own policy and procedures based on the foundation of what the FAA regulates.

Here’s what CareerCast says about the job:

High stress, low pay and a shrinking job market all contribute to flight attendant’s inclusion among the worst jobs of 2013. The BLS projects virtually no change in job prospects, as airlines continue to consolidate and reduce staff.

Now, let’s go through these claims.

High Stress — Yes, there is high stress in the job… sometimes. Boarding is stressful, you need to get the flight out on-time otherwise you have some explaining to do. Irate and unhappy customers also add to the stress of the job, but they add to the stress of any customer-facing position out there; not just flight attendants. As much as some flight attendants don’t like to admit it, we are on board for service/customer service and safety. Sure, we’re there “primarily for safety” but we also have a role to play in making sure our passengers are happy, taken care of and chose to fly with the airline again in the future. Security adds to the stress as well, the thought of 9/11 is in the back of everyone’s mind and being situationally aware at all times can be a burden. Let’s remember that flight attendants are the first responders for any situation that happens on that airplane and they’re trained for those situations. In fact, yearly, flight attendants return to training for recurrent lessons in evacuations, CPR, and other emergency scenarios.

But is it always stressful? No! There’s a lot of downtime on trans-continental and international flights (ever wonder why the flight attendant never throws your magazine in the trash bag? They’re reading it themselves!), if a flight attendant works for an airline with more than two cabin crewmembers on board their co-workers can help solve passenger concerns and problems, and their overnights are their time to explore, eat, and enjoy the city they’re visiting… all stress-free!

Low Pay — Now here’s where it gets tricky. Yes, generally speaking, the starting pay for a flight attendant is low. And, I’m not just saying low… I mean… very low. Regional airlines usually make less than legacy airlines (or the majors) but even the legacies start out flight attendants around $18-20 per flight hour (every hour the door is closed). Flight attendants are not paid during boarding, deplaning, or delays. Some will argue that their “per diem” (an hourly rate that the airline pays to help in covering the cost of eating and entertainment on the road) counts as pay. But, for the most part, that per diem payment is $2 an hour. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t call $2/hr getting “paid.”

With that said, the longer you stick with an airline the better your pay will be. Every year your hourly rate will increase, your seniority will improve (at some airlines this will happen more slowly than at others) affording you better flights, schedules and lifestyle. A flight attendant blogger, The Flying Pinto, also posted about this study and said:

Am I rich? Yes, in terms of freedom and lifestyle. How many people can build their own schedule and work as little or as much as they want or need to?… How’s my actual pay check? As good as, the higher end of a nurse’s salary.

And while her seniority allows her to build a schedule that fits her needs (as does mine, in full disclosure) I cannot discount those flight attendants hired after me that don’t have the seniority to build their own schedules yet (junior flight attendants are usually on call in the event a senior ones calls in sick), they don’t have a say in where they go, what time they leave, or what days they have off. Further, to say that the average flight attendant salary is the higher end of a nurse’s is a bit bullish. You may earn that amount if you fly 120+ hours a month and take only eight days on the ground. But, the longer you stick with the airline the more livable the wage, and in time, if the airline a flight attendant is employed at grows, so will their job opportunities and salary.

That brings us to the final note from CareerCast, the shrinking job market. A little research will show that the airline industry is bouncing back! All of the majors and most of the low cost carriers have hired new flight attendants this year. To say that it’s shrinking shows their lack of information.

So, is being a flight attendant one of the worst jobs in 2013? That depends on you. Everyone is different. If you’re willing to devote the time and “pay your dues,” and wait patiently as every year you move up the pay scale and seniority list the end benefits are amazing, like The Flying Pinto described. However, do your research before just applying to any airline. Each one of them has a different definition of how and what your seniority means and how it’ll affect your life. Make the right choice for you.

However, that all changed. All of a sudden I was a magnet for the crazy people, flights and anything that could go wrong. I recently worked a Cancun turn. I can’t hold the overnights yet — and the turns are norotious for being a pain because one flight in one direction is always hellacious and the other easy. Knowing that one flight is going to suck — I still bid them.

On push back from Los Angeles a call button at 11 Left goes off. I make my way through the cabin filled with people watching the safety demo video and as I approach row 11, a pair of 20-something year old girls start pointing at the 40-something year old lady sitting in the aisle seat. They hold their thumb to their ear and pinky finger to their mouth as if to symbolize a phone and mouth to me “She’s on the phone!”

I look at the lady on the aisle and see her holding a phone to her left ear and ask her to please hang up the phone and power it down. She then says to the person on the other side of the call:

So, hey, I have to go. The punk girls next to me ratted me out to the flight attendants for being on the phone.

She hangs up.. looks at them and says “REALLY?” and I walk away.

Situation: Over. Right? Wrong!

We take off and right after we cruise through 10,000ft I get a phone call from the aft of the plane and one of the other crewmembers asks that I come to the back to assist in a situation with an upset passenger.

I make my way to the back and the lady who was on the phone is standing there, physically shaking. I ask her what’s going on and she says

I just…. I just can’t believe it. I’ve never had anyone be upset with me, not like me.. or anything. But those…. girls.. those 18 year olds sitting next to me.. just called a BITCH! A BITCH! I can’t believe it.. I’m so shaken.. no one has ever talked to me like that.. I don’t know what I did to have them hate me so much.

Okay.. seriously? You’ve never had someone call you a bitch before — yet you were throwing the word “punk” around like it was nothing? I find that hard to believe. But, she continued:

And.. as for the phone.. I really didn’t know it had to be off. And yes, I didn’t know because I wasn’t listening and I was talking — I own that.

Okay fair enough.. but.. she was shaking because someone called her a bitch. So I offered to allow her to move her seat away from the girls, as there wasn’t really anything else we could do. We couldn’t exactly go over to the girls and ask them to apologize for calling her a bitch, it’s none of our business.. it’s between them.

She returned to row 11 to grab her belongings and move them up to row 4.. and before she even reached her row she started yelling at the girls. “You’re mean women.. both of you! Just MEAN!” The girls responded by yelling “buh bye! MOVE out! Get going!” and waved her goodbye as she departed from row 11.

The girls later came to me and apologized for ringing the call button and turning this into a situation — though I didn’t accept their apology. They didn’t do anything wrong. A 40 year old woman was just upset she was caught, and then further upset when the girls responded to her to verbal attack.

Needless to say, neither of them had any alcohol for the flight. We were too afraid to see what might happen next.

Inside Microclimate

Microclimate [a wine bar] is one of the top five wine bars I’ve ever visited. Partners Stephanie Mira de Orduna and James-Emery Elkin have created a truly incomparable experience where Finger Lakes’ and international wines and food come together in harmony. The bar offers wine flights, wines by the glass or bottle, craft beers, fruit lambics, hard cider, and local and international appetizers.

Sparkling Rosé Flight

My friend and I arrived just as the bar opened. We opted to try a flight of five sparkling rosés, including a couple from the Finger Lakes, Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars and Hands and Heart (both made from Pinot Noir), combined with a Rosato from Spain, an Argentinian rosé made from Malbec, and a Gesellman Blaufränkisch Rosé Brut from Austria. We didn’t take notes, but simply enjoyed each other’s company while tasting this fascinating Finger Lakes-international lineup of rosés.

Antipasto Platter

My friend and I decided to pair the flight with an antipasto platter, again a blend of local and international bread, cheeses, charcuterie, Marcona almonds, and olives. We couldn’t have asked for a better accompaniment. In fact, my friend stopped nibbling and I felt a tad guilty when she told me to finish up the remainder, as it was so scrumptious.

Even after a long day of wine tasting in the Finger Lakes, please don’t return to your hotel just yet. Continue to Geneva, New York to this delicious, intriguing, and unique establishment. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Geneva on Dwellable

About 40% of delays this week were a result of not enough controllers in towers, the FAA said, with 400 delays blamed on staffing Sunday, 1,200 delays blamed on staffing on Monday, 1,025 on Tuesday and 863 on Wednesday.

Without debate, the Senate approved the measure. The legislation allows the Federal Aviation Administration to shift $253 million from other accounts to eliminate the furloughs and avoid closing 149 towers at small airports.

The House of Representatives should consider the bill on Friday.

(c) 2013 Savvy Omnimedia.

Motel 6 made the slogan famous. “We’ll leave the light on for you.” So, who knew Aer Lingus would be the flying Motel 6 equivalent?

Okay, that’s not entirely fair. I mean, the service was great with amazingly nice flight attendants.. but there were a few aspects of my recent trip with Aer Lingus that kept me up at night, literally.

I flew from New York to Dublin to attend the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and tour the Guinness Storehouse this past March. My ticket was purchased as a code-share with JetBlue from Los Angeles to New York and onto Dublin.

I had heard good things about Aer Lingus, I know it’s the not the worlds fanciest airline, but I was expecting friendly crews, comfortable seats and a pleasant ride.

I paid to “upgrade” to, what the airline calls, “Choice Seats.” The seats were in a smaller cabin aft of first class but before the larger coach class cabin. There was only three rows of passengers in this section which made for a quieter and more cozy ride. However, the seats don’t come with extra legroom or anything. You’re pretty much paying for the proximity to the boarding door, advance seat selection, and a window or aisle. Can’t expect much for a $30 each way fee, can you?

Something else I noticed was the lack of onboard WiFi. Prior to my trip AerLingus.com mentioned that their A330 fleet would be fully equipped with Wi-Fi by March, but just a week before my trip that deadline was moved to May, and now, as I write this I just checked again and it’s June. Offering WiFi on an international flight would be a huge bonus to book with the airline, hopefully, they’ll stick to June.

The actual service was nice, I thought. The meals were good, the crew was accessible and I never went hungry.

But, and there’s always a but, they left the lights on! The flight from New York to Dublin departed New York at 10pm and on push-back the cabin manager turned all of the lights off and made an announcement that the lights were off “because it was safety procedure.” But, once the wheels left the ground — the lights were turn on to FULL bright and remained on for the next three hours while the crew did their service. Let me say that again, the lights were on for three hours.. not being turned off until after 1 a.m. EST. The flight was only 6 hours long! So, on a redeye flight, a flight that lands at 8:30 a.m. on a day that I had to work ALL day the lights were only off for 3 hours.

And, before you scold me and say “Well you should have had an eye mask!” let me respond by saying, I did! I had my own pillow, blanket, ear plugs and eye mask — this wasn’t my first rodeo. However, because I was in a window seat I was directly under one of the lights — and even the eye mask couldn’t block out the full intensity of the lights.

Upon arrival I met up with colleagues that had taken the earlier redeye from New York to Dublin and they, too, had the lights on for half of the flight and when one of them asked the flight attendants why the lights were on — they were told it was an “occupational hazard  for the crew to  dim the lights or turn them off during service.. so they had to remain on until everything was completed.

As a flight attendant myself, I can safely say I’ve never left the lights on while working a redeye — in fact, they’re the first thing I adjust when the door closes. Domestically, I’ve never been on a redeye with the lights on..this was a first.

The passenger seated next to me was headed to a business meeting at 11 am, and at one point, because of the uncomfortableness of trying to sleep with all of the lights on, we caught ourselves looking at each other, directly in the eyes  while trying to doze off. He said “I can’t believe the lights are on” and I said “It won’t matter in an hour.. the sun will start to rise anyway.”

So, if I had one complaint about Aer Lingus — or one thing to say to their InFlight management, it’s simple: Turn the lights off.

www.mastrocomm.com

Marriott Vacation Club today introduced the new Marriott Golf Academy℠, with locations at Marriott’s Grande Vista resort in Orlando, Fla., and Marriott’s Shadow Ridge resort in Palm Desert, Calif. Formerly the Faldo Golf Institute, the new Marriott Golf Academy℠ debuts on May 1, with special introductory pricing and packages for 2- and 3-day golf schools and 3-hour sessions through September 30, 2013.

Marriott Golf Academy℠ offers a wide range of expert instructional programming for golfers of all skills levels, from low-handicap elite golfers seeking a competitive advantage to newcomers seeking an introductory golf experience that is matched to their needs. Among the Academy’s premier golf school programs are 2- and 3-day golf schools, 3-hour full swing & short game sessions, private lessons, on-course instruction, corporate programs, junior programs and a selection of programs and services from the Club Fitter’s Workshop™, an important complement to any golf instructional experience.

Located in highly desirable golf destinations, Marriott Golf Academy℠ is based at two acclaimed Marriott Vacation Club resorts, offering spacious and luxurious one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas, fully equipped with all the comforts of home and complemented by an assortment of on-site amenities and activities for golf groups, couples or the entire family.

The Orlando based location, adjacent to Marriott’s Grande Vista resort, boasts a 35-acre instructional facility offering full swing and short game areas, a 9-hole golf course, Swing Analysis Studio, Club Fitter’s Workshop™, and is adjacent to Marriott’s Grande Pines Golf Club, which provides the perfect 18-hole championship golf experience for students. The Marriott Golf Academy℠, located just minutes away from the family attractions exclusive to Orlando, serves as the ultimate family vacation destination.

Marriott’s Shadow Ridge resort is located in the scenic Coachella Valley, a popular international destination for golf aficionados set against the beautiful backdrop of the snow-capped Santa Rosa Mountains in Palm Desert, Calif. The golf resort, which boasts acclaimed luxury villa accommodations and unmatched amenities for the whole family, is complemented by a world-class practice facility, a state-of-the-art swing studio, Club Fitter’s Workshop™ and an 18-hole championship golf course. This beautiful and peaceful valley is often referred to as the “golf capital of the world” because of its ideal playing conditions and abundance of courses.

“The new Marriott Golf Academy offers a memorable golf instructional experience at two of the finest resort destinations in the world,” said Bill Nault, Vice President, Marriott Golf. “The certified golf instructors are truly experts at tailoring a program to ensure students are learning at a pace suitable to their game.”

The Club Fitter’s Workshop™ at each location is equipped with Trackman® — the most advanced launch monitor, swing analysis technology and software program in the industry. Recognized among America’s 100 Best Club Fitters, the renowned Club Fitter’s Workshop™ offers golfers a dynamic club fitting experience to ensure students are properly fit with equipment that will help optimize their performance.

The Alumni Clubhouse™, a popular web-based resource center, is available for all golf school attendees. The Alumni Clubhouse™ enables golfers to communicate with their school instructors, review lessons, view video-swing analysis and study archives of their game-improvement history. Moreover, golf school attendees can access a complete library of video drills designed to support each student’s game improvement plan, at their desired pace.   Looking for hotels with specifics to suit your needs check trivago.com.

Spring Airlines said it would be the first domestic Chinese airline to have crew members dressed in such a fashion. Passengers on some flights from Shanghai’s Hongqiao International Airport this week will be the first to experience the new look.

The airline says they plan to offer several flights with a permeant ”theme,” such as your crew dressed in costume, in an effort to drive traffic. One blogger wrote: “The airline should respect their crew members because flight attendants are still quite different from maids and butlers.”

So what we the pilots going to wear? The Spring Airlines spokesman said the male crew members who would be dressed as butlers would include the pilots, with their outfit featuring a long black apron as well as a tie.

What do you think? Is this a slap in the face to the job the flight attendants do? Or is this an amazing marketing plan to sell tickets?

(Source: Photo)

Queen Standard Room

During my recent visit to the Finger Lakes, I had the opportunity to stay in a locally-owned and operated property just outside of Hammondsport, New York, thanks to the great team at the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association.

Bathroom Vanity Area

Vinehurst Inn & Suites was built in 1960 and has become a landmark of sorts for the area. It’s located one and a half miles from Keuka Lake, so it is a great place to start your Finger Lakes adventure, whether it be the great outdoors or the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

Organic Bathroom Amenities

A year ago, spring 2012, Veteran JP Oliver and his wife, Kitty, took over ownership of the property. After some renovations and new landscaping, the inn is now open year-round. As Kitty says on their website, We had minor renovations and landscaping done while upgrading features and amenities to make it a wine country getaway destination for travelers coming to the Finger Lakes to try our wines, hike our trails and enjoy our lakes. The inn is an affiliate member of these organizations: Veteran Owned Business, Finger Lakes Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail, Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce, Finger Lakes Cheese Trail at the Finger Lakes Beer Trail.

The Gorgeous Sink

The inn resembles a small hotel in structure, but it is more like a bed and breakfast with regard to its warmth and charm. Each room is uniquely decorated, so no two rooms look alike. Room types include standard rooms with queen or king beds, whirlpool suites, and family suites. Amenities include complimentary parking, wireless Internet and continental breakfast, including homemade muffins made by Kitty Oliver. The accommodations are made to feel like home, right down to the beautiful and unique décor, luxury bedding, meticulously clean rooms, gorgeous sink (yes, I have a thing for cool sinks!), organic bathroom amenities, Egyptian cotton towels, corkscrew, and stemless wine glasses.

Corkscrew and Stemless Wine Glasses

When I return to the Finger Lakes, the first place I will check for accommodations will be Vinehurst Inn & Suites. I suggest you try them as well, for your home away from home in the Finger Lakes.

When you’re watching our segments, or any TV show for that matter (that isn’t live), you’re seeing the best of the footage, people, interviews, etc. but what happens to all of that stuff we can’t use? How many times did we try to do something, just to get it perfect for air?

Well, that’s what this clip is ALL about! In Dublin the Stews were lucky enough to march in the first ever “People’s Parade” as a part of Ireland’s “The Gathering” event this year. They were trying to rely that tidbit of information and a few other facts about the event — but.. it never seemed to work quite right!

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Aviation Administrator Michael Huerta told the Associated Press on Thursday that they “have no choice but to cut controller staffing by 10 percent.”

Doing so, will reduce the amount of aircraft a particular airport can handle and “could result in flight delays of more than three hours in Atlanta, and extensive delays in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York-area airports,” the federal officials said Thursday.

Lakewood Vineyards’ Tank Room

Lakewood Vineyards was the first winery on my list for my second visit to the Finger Lakes. I arrived at 11:30 a.m. on April 13, 2013 and co-owner Elizabeth Stamp graciously hosted me through one of the most comprehensive tastings of my life: 17 wines and two meads. Yes, in an hour and a half, I tasted almost all of their portfolio, which includes vinifera, hybrid, and native grape wines. It was my first opportunity to try wines made from Baco Noir, Catawba, Cayuga White, Concord, Delaware, Niagara, Valvin Muscat, and Vincent.

Lakewood Vineyards’ Barrel Room

I also spoke briefly with winemaker Chris Stamp. His philosophy of winemaking is to stay as true to the grapes’ inherent qualities as possible and he excels in doing so. Below are some of the highlights of my morning tasting. If you are interested in seeing the complete list of wines tasted, don’t hesitate to contact me with an e-mail address and I’d be happy to send it to you.

Chardonnay blind tasting

2011 Chardonnay, $12.99
What makes this Chardonnay stand out is that it’s fermented in oak from New York State, so it is local through and through. It has all of the good characteristics of an barrel-fermented Chardonnay, aromas and flavors of apricot, butter, coconut, and vanilla. It is a gold-medal winning Chardonnay.

Riesling blind tasting

2012 3Generations Riesling, $19.99
This wine is named after the three generations of the Stamp family who grew, fermented, and blended this gorgeous Riesling from their finest lot of grapes. It is bone dry with tree fruit aromas, yet tart citrus flavors and the distinctive Finger Lakes acidity. It was one of my favorite wines of my entire Finger Lakes trip.

The vineyard dog

2010 Candeo, $12.99
As Elizabeth Stamp told me, this wine is “for those times when champagne is too much and beer is not enough.” Candeo, which means sparkle in Latin, is made from Cayuga White grapes. It’s fruity and fun, perfect for summer celebrations, picnics, and parties.

Cabernet Franc blind tasting

2010 Cabernet Franc, $15.99
Cabernet Franc is a black-skinned grape that grows well in the cooler climate of the Finger Lakes. This gold-medal winning example is no exception. It’s bright red in color, with light tannins and aromas and flavors of blackberry, cocoa, oak, and tea.

Valvin Muscat with local cheeses

NV Valvin Muscat (hybrid), $12.99 (New Release)
I had this wine twice, once in the tasting room and again that evening at their wine dinner. It is delightful both alone and paired with local cheeses and mixed fruits. It has aromas and flavors of melon, peach, and pear combined with good acidity and a long finish.

Winemaker Chris Stamp

2010 Catawba, $8.99
The Finger Lakes area sometimes receives a bit of negative press about this native grape, but it’s very popular and can be quite delicious. I thought this wine would be another great summer sipper, with lots of berry and citrus aromas and flavors. It’s like pink lemonade for grown-ups.

Fightin’ in the Finger Lakes

2010 Borealis, $13.99
This gold- and silver-award winning ice-style wine is made from the common Concord grape, the grapes most of us eat and use for grape juice, jams, jellies, and preserves. If I were to describe it, it would be candy in a glass, but for adults, of course.

Fightin’ in the Finger Lakes scorecard

The Stamps invited me back to Lakewood that evening for their Fightin’ in the Finger Lakes wine dinner, during which their wines were paired against some of Europe’s comparable offerings in blind tastings accompanied by food. The attendees were given score cards and we rated the wines on color, aroma, taste, and pairing, then the winners were revealed. Lakewood Vineyards won the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc rounds against offerings from France, while their Riesling lost by just one point to a German offering. I am thrilled to say that I correctly identified all three of their wines before the results were revealed. I am on my way to becoming a Finger Lakes wine specialist.

Thank you again, Elizabeth and Chris Stamp, for your wonderful hospitality and for including me in your wine dinner. You made me feel like family during my visit. When I think of my visit to Lakewood Vineyards, this quote comes to mind:

You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place, I told him, like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you’ll never be this way ever again. ― Azar Nafisi

www.gallerykeoki.com

The Savvy Stews have moved on to higher altitudes this week by visiting The Lake Tahoe Northstar Resort, which they found on Trivago.com.

This layover kept them bundled up and busy, starting with the event of all events the North Tahoe Snow Carve.  The best snow carvers from around the world came together to compete by sculpting breathtaking masterpieces out of 20-ton blocks of snow.  Our congratulations to Team Germany who took top honors for their sculpture titled “Four Elements”.  Sculptures are judged on Creativity, technique and message. Overall the Snow Carve was a huge success.

The Savvy Stews were hosted by Northstar Resort, a beautiful “California Luxury” ski resort that offers something for everyone.  Families are entertained in a variety of ways including a large ice skating rink with a stage set up with live music to enjoy and a bungy  trampoline just to mention a few. When the Stews got hungry there were more choices than they care to admit.  Everything from Euro Snack for Belgian Waffles and French Hot Dogs to Tacos Jalisco for authentic Mexican cuisine served in a quaint colorful and fun atmosphere.

After a gondola ride up to the mountain for some skiing and snow boarding Gailen and Bobby visited the Zephyr Lodge which seats 500 indoors and another 200 can sit out on the deck and enjoy a view of the Sierra Crest.   Menu options are diverse and include the Asian bowl station, a Napa salad bar, and signature items like the Gourmet Brisket Grilled Cheese sandwich, Specialty soups and sandwiches, and the famous Zephyr Burger.  All that or you can just do what one of the Stews did and have your lunch in a glass, a Beefy Bloody Mary!

The Savvy Stews can certainly say that a good time was had by all and we were well entertained, well fed and very comfy in our wonderful condo with all the amenities!  We can’t wait to visit beautiful Northstar Resort again soon.

www.gallerykeoki.com

The Savvy Stews have moved on to higher altitudes this week by visiting The Lake Tahoe Northstar Resort, which they found on Trivago.com.

This layover kept them bundled up and busy, starting with the event of all events the North Tahoe Snow Carve.  The best snow carvers from around the world came together to compete by sculpting breathtaking masterpieces out of 20-ton blocks of snow.  Our congratulations to Team Germany who took top honors for their sculpture titled “Four Elements”.  Sculptures are judged on Creativity, technique and message. Overall the Snow Carve was a huge success.

The Savvy Stews were hosted by Northstar Resort, a beautiful “California Luxury” ski resort that offers something for everyone.  Families are entertained in a variety of ways including a large ice skating rink with a stage set up with live music to enjoy and a bungy  trampoline just to mention a few. When the Stews got hungry there were more choices than they care to admit.  Everything from Euro Snack for Belgian Waffles and French Hot Dogs to Tacos Jalisco for authentic Mexican cuisine served in a quaint colorful and fun atmosphere.

After a gondola ride up to the mountain for some skiing and snow boarding Gailen and Bobby visited the Zephyr Lodge which seats 500 indoors and another 200 can sit out on the deck and enjoy a view of the Sierra Crest.   Menu options are diverse and include the Asian bowl station, a Napa salad bar, and signature items like the Gourmet Brisket Grilled Cheese sandwich, Specialty soups and sandwiches, and the famous Zephyr Burger.  All that or you can just do what one of the Stews did and have your lunch in a glass, a Beefy Bloody Mary!

The Savvy Stews can certainly say that a good time was had by all and we were well entertained, well fed and very comfy in our wonderful condo with all the amenities!  We can’t wait to visit beautiful Northstar Resort again soon.

The most recent phase of remodeling includes a new and welcoming lobby that incorporates Hilton’s user friendly check-in pods complemented by modern decorative tiling, lighting and wall treatments. Guests may relax in the newly redesigned lounge where club-style seating is arranged around a fireplace. Together all of these elements create a relaxing, fresh and inviting environment for guests. Additional upgrades to the hotel include the 24-hour Business Center with its private work stations, a new standard in Hilton’s “Stay Connected” program that provides complimentary wireless high-speed internet access via AT&T. Guests will also enjoy the newly redesigned Sierra Pacific Restaurant/Lounge with its comfort seating, fresh decor and contemporary buffet station featuring The Breakfast at Hilton Buffet (R), a healthy selection of hot and cold foods.  In addition, the Sierra Pacific Restaurant serves California style fare throughout the day and evening. Additional enhancements to the hotel include a new pool patio with new furnishings, and upgraded carpeting and lighting in the 8,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.

“Both our business and leisure guests are delighted with the new upgrades and amenities at the hotel,” said Susan Chung, Director of Sales, The Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island Hotel. “Our phone has been ringing off the hook with requests to schedule meetings and special events. Harbor Island is such a convenient and beautiful location, and now that we are providing these new luxury amenities and services the reception by guests has been outstanding,” added Chung.

The Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island Just minutes from San Diego International Airport, guests may enjoy complimentary airport shuttle service at this 211 guestroom waterfront property with spectacular views of the San Diego Downtown skyline and Harbor. Newly redesigned guestrooms feature the Hilton Serenity Bed(R), balconies overlooking the Bay or Marina, complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room coffee service, and 32″ HD flat screen televisions. Other amenities include Hilton Fitness by Precor(R), an outdoor heated swimming pool with whirlpool spa, and room service. With over 8,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 3,200 square foot Marina Ballroom, the hotel is ideal for conferences and events. The property is pet friendly and parking is available on site for a fee. In addition to being only three miles from the San Diego Convention Center, the hotel is in close proximity to area attractions including: the cruise ship terminal, Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Legoland, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway, Seaport Village Shopping Center, the PETCO Park Padres Games, as well as downtown San Diego.

Finger Lakes Wines

Below is my tentative itinerary for my return trip to the Finger Lakes. I owe a big thank you to Christina at Finger Lakes Wine Country for organizing my visit, making my reservations, and securing my lodging.

Day 1

11:30 – 12:30 – Lakewood Vineyards

Lunch at Veraisons Restaurant at the Inn at Glenora

2:30 – 3:30 – Anthony Road Wine Company

4:00 – 5:00 – Billsboro Winery

Dinner at Union Block Italian Bistro

View of Keuka Lake

Day 2

11 – 12 – Hector Wine Company

Lunch at Dano’s Heuriger

2 – 2:45 – Hosmer Winery

3:15 – 4 – Standing Stone Vineyards

4:15 – 5 – Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

Dinner at Stonecat Café

Well, The Keating Hotel was poratrayed as having bad management, a lack of staff (the hotel’s manager was cleaning rooms), a chef that buckled under stress (he passed out) and a slew of other issues. BUT, are they all true? Did the hotel REALLY have those issues or was it just for TV? Are the changes Gordon made still in place? If you’re asking the same questions we are — have no fear — The Stew Crew is here! Our team of Savvy Travelers drove to San Diego to find out just what the Keating is all about.

If you’d like to watch the episode of Hotel Hell to see the “before and after,” before watching our video above check it out below:

Well, The Keating Hotel was poratrayed as having bad management, a lack of staff (the hotel’s manager was cleaning rooms), a chef that buckled under stress (he passed out) and a slew of other issues. BUT, are they all true? Did the hotel REALLY have those issues or was it just for TV? Are the changes Gordon made still in place? If you’re asking the same questions we are — have no fear — The Stew Crew is here! Our team of Savvy Travelers drove to San Diego to find out just what the Keating is all about.

If you’d like to watch the episode of Hotel Hell to see the “before and after,” before watching our video above check it out below:

Public transportation

Who says everything in New York is expensive? They obviously haven’t seen the inside of the M60 bus, operated by New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority. This popular service connects all terminals with Upper Manhattan with remarkable speed traffic permitting at a very reasonable cost ($2.75 for a single ride). The route runs past nearly every subway line, as well as the Metro-North Railroad station at 125th Street, where you can connect to trains serving the Hudson Valley, Connecticut and Grand Central Terminal. Purchase a Metrocard you’ll need one anyway, later on from the vending machines near baggage claim in the Central Terminal, or from Hudson News outlets around the airport.

Shuttles

Got luggage? Lots of luggage? Climb aboard one of the NYC Airporter shuttle buses, which feature leather seats, free wireless internet and power outlets that make a ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Penn Station or Grand Central Terminal that much more pleasant. The fare is currently $13 each way; for assistance, look for uniformed staff as you pass the baggage claim area.

Taxi

New York’s airports have, in recent years, been very nearly under attack from unlicensed hacks desperate to make a buck . So if anyone approaches you in the terminal or out on the curb trying to offer you a taxi, ignore them and move directly to the clearly marked taxi ranks located at each terminal. Fares from LaGuardia are metered, not fixed, and you’re responsible for bridge and/or tunnel tolls (if you’re headed to Midtown, ask the cabbie to take the Queensboro/59th Street/Edward Koch Bridge to save the toll). This means you could end up paying just a few bucks for a ride to the nearest subway station, or much more than that to cross the city in bad traffic. Flag fall is $2.50, plus $0.50 for each additional unit that’s one-fifth of a mile, or 60 seconds of waiting. There are peak and night surcharges as well, plus tax. Learn more at nyc.gov/taxi.

Car rental

If you must, it’s possible, but LaGuardia is one of the worst airports in the country to try and score a set of wheels. Agency locations are scattered willy-nilly around the airport-adjacent neighborhood; lengthy rides on too-infrequent shuttle buses are almost par for the course. And what do you get for your trouble? Some of the highest rates you’ll ever lay eyes on. Like, $100 per day high. If you can skip the car and pick one up later somewhere else should you actually really need it, do so. You’ll be glad you did.

Best food

It may not be everyone’s favorite airline, but when it comes to eating at LaGuardia, nobody does it better than Delta. A complete culinary rethink of their Terminal D real estate and their new empire at Terminal C, too has been a godsend for those with no choice but to eat airside. Custom Burgers carries the pedigree of local celebrity butcher Pat LaFrieda, while Taste of Tagliare is a pizza joint opened under the watchful eye of Brooklyn pizza guru Dom DeMarco (DiFara’s). This, plus a growing number of other eye-raising offerings make this part of the airport the place to be when hunger hits. Everything’s post-security sorry, everyone else! (Tip: Terminal C and D are now connected via a sky bridge, which opened in late 2012.)

Where to go drinking

A decent wine list at an airport? It’s not out of the question, and certainly not at LaGuardia, which has quite successfully hosted one of many Todd English restaurants, Figs, for quite some time long enough for many people to even forget that it’s there. Don’t. Right in the heart of the Central Terminal, on the food court level again, that’s pre-security, so everyone can go, Figs is the savior of many a stranded passenger; a nice dry Italian red can make the most interminable wait just a little more bearable. There’s also a smaller Figs Caf, located post-security on Concourse D.

Best souvenirs

The sleek Metropolitan Museum of Art shop, located pre-security in the Central Terminal, is far from your average airport gift shop, featuring an impressive selection of gifts that nobody will suspect you purchased at the very last minute before you dash to catch your flight.

Wireless internet

Paid, via Boingo, starting at $4.95/hour. Sign up or add value to your account at Boingo.com in advance and save yourself some hassle. Coverage is good in most public areas throughout the terminals.

Get away from it all

It’s not every day you find an airport you can escape on foot at least not without risking life and limb to run across various highways and boulevards. If you’ve got time on your hands, get some exercise by walking along the narrow but well-trodden footpath that leaves from the far end of the Delta terminal; it’ll connect you to a paved promenade that runs along Flushing Bay, past the almost-charming World’s Fair Marina and on over to the new home of the New York Mets, Citi Field. On the way back, stop at the promenade-adjacent Dunkin Donuts that’s a favorite with limo drivers waiting on their airport pickups.

The long layover

If you’re seriously stuck, get out. Really there’s way too much close by that’s worth seeing. Head out of the terminal to the curbside Q48 bus stop; in 20 minutes or less, youll be in the heart of downtown Flushing, known around the New York area as the most happening of the city’s many Chinatowns. Asiatown is a more appropriate way to describe the bustling commercial district, a mix of cultures from across that side of the Pacific Ocean, all amounting to a place that can be completely overwhelming even to long-time New Yorkers. Think Times Square, but with a lot less English spoken. And with much better restaurants. Allow for at least a half-hour of travel time on the return, just in case there’s traffic.

Best airport hotel

Located just a highway overpass away from the airport terminals, the renovated Courtyard by Marriott on Ditmars Boulevard offers location, predictability and a free, 24-hour shuttle into the airport though, if you hate waiting around for a ride, you can walk it in minutes, at least to the Central Terminal. The lobby has been renovated to Courtyard’s smart-looking new standard; rates can often be remarkably reasonable by New York standards (marriott.com).

The 3 day retreat will include classroom and hands-on experience, focusing on education in sustainability and farming practices as well as an introduction to indigenous Hawaiian history and culture.  The program will be led by Executive Director of SLIM, Dr. Jennifer Chirico and Hawaiian Culture Expert, Kainoa Horcajo.  Participants will also be guided on excursions to local sustainable agricultural sites, and ocean and coastal locations to learn about marine life, coastal rehabilitation and renewable energy farms. The program will conclude with a community work day at a native Hawaiian taro field, where attendees will work with local Hawaiians for a hands-on farming experience.  Participants will also be able to receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Hawaii Maui College.

The “Sustainability and Hawaiian Culture” retreat will take place at Lumeria July 24-28, 2013.  Guests who wish to stay overnight can enjoy farm-to-table, local, organic food prepared by Lumeria’s Executive Chef, Indica Chaves.  The package starts at $1,650 for double occupancy and $2,300 for single occupancy.

About Lumeria Maui 
Lumeria Maui is Hawaii’s first luxury educational adventure retreat, offering a rich array of mind, body and spirit offerings and activities in a five-star setting. As an all-encompassing wellbeing destination, Lumeria supports the guest experience with organic cuisine, nurturing gardens, private pavilions and numerous opportunities to relax and rejuvenate amid decor specifically crafted to inspire, unwind and assist personal transformation.

Lumeria encompasses six ocean- and mountain-view acres between the seaside village of Paia and the upcountry paniolo (cowboy) town of Makawao. In addition to its 24 luxury guest accommodations, the retreat also features a spacious yoga studio, 900-square-foot outdoor yoga platform and 8,000-square-foot lower terrace suited for group activities. Harvest restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week with menus featuring local, organically grown produce.

Daily instruction in yoga and meditation are included with accommodations. Further education is made available through customized programs tapping its wealth of therapeutic healing arts, health consultations and exploration of sacred Hawaiian culture. Located just 2.5 miles from the island’s famed North Shore, Lumeria active adventures include surfing, kite-surfing, stand up paddle board and windsurfing sessions, all led by world-class  athletes and instructors.

The property is a restored historical site, originally constructed in 1909 and featuring classic Hawaii-style architecture. In light of its adaptive reuse, the project is now listed in the National Registry of Historical Places since its reincarnation in 2012.

Prior to the sister station ceremony in the kick-off event of Japan Week 2013, Mr. Masaki Ogata, the Vice Chairman of East Japan Railway Company (JR-East), one of the Bullet Train operators, appeared in a tourism seminar sponsored by All Nippon Airways (ANA). He disclosed his company’s recent achievements and near-future plans to the audience, appealing efficient travel suggestions.

Mr. Ogata revealed that Japan’s railway system continues to grow even more: A new line is scheduled to open in 2014 to the Hokuriku region, where a popular destination of Kanazawa will be much more directly accessible from the Tokyo area. JR-East just announced that they completed the full extension of the northern bound Bullet Train (Tohoku Shinkansen) in 2010, and they have just reached at the world record speed of 320km/h (199mph) on March 16, tying with the TGV system in France. Despite of the unprecedented earthquake and tsunami disasters, the Bullet Train line also extended all the way to the south most point of Kyushu, the southern island of the Japanese archipelago, which completed the maximum coverage of the entire country.

In the southwestern island of Kyushu, a new concept luxury train service is about to start, and all the seats were quickly sold out domestically as soon as reservation hotline went live. Branded as Cruise Train Seven Stars, Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) runs a brand-new luxury sleeper trains cruising through main tourist destinations in Kyushu. Despite of the ticket price starting from almost $2,000, international attention is already soaring, and JR Kyushu is considering international sales in 2014. In addition to the superior service and hospitality in the relaxing suite rooms, passengers enjoy exclusive designs such as panoramic windows and special decor made with Kyushu’s local crafts and traditional artworks.

For more tourism attractions, JNTO also connected high popularity of Japanese food to train travel. Ekiben (bento sold at train station), is the unique custom in today’s Japan for train travel, and it is the great example of Japan’s varieties of local flavors packed in the bento box to take on the train trip. With Japan’s esthetic and design elements, ekiben is a perfect assortment of Japan’s food, design, and regional culture.

Japan Week 2013 was the annual event to encourage tourism to Japan, and Tokyo Station became the very first sister station for Grand Central Terminal, and this remarks new phases of cultural exchanges and relationship between New York and Tokyo, not to mention between the 2 countries. Through the train culture and regional diverse, JNTO is going to raise awareness on the efficiency and attraction of train travel in Japan, also re-introduce Japan’s attractive destinations and regional flavor of Japanese cuisine.

Reserve a featured cruise by April 18, 2013 and enjoy $200 reduced deposit per couple and a complimentary cruise value booklet ($325 value)!*
Plus, OUR EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES on select sailings!

Caribbean It’s everything a tropical paradise should be: turquoise waters teeming with colorful fish, lush jungles, exotic animals and amazing natural wonders. Departing: April 16 – December 30, 2013 4 to 20 nights from $449 per person

Mexico & South America A cruise to South America or Mexico supplies imagery that can only be described as otherworldly. Departing: April 20 – December 29, 2013 7 to 31 nights from $599 per person

Alaska  This northern frontier boasts pristine landscapes, majestic wildlife and one of the most enthralling coastlines in the world. Departing: April 17 – September 21, 2013 7 to 32 nights from $599 per person

Europe From Parisian museums to Grecian ruins to the Scottish Highlands, the vistas of this diverse region are filled with adventure. Departing: April 16 – December 5, 2013 2 to 38 nights from $491 per person

Canada & New England  Stroll through history among colonial brick buildings, autumn woods and rocky shores as you experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Canada and New England. Departing: September 14 – October 26, 2013 7 to 14 nights from $799 per person

Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific  The South Pacific holds an abundance of natural treasures and the islands of Hawaii and Tahiti are just some of its well-known jewels. Departing: April 15 – December 30, 2013 10 to 36 nights from $1,299 per person

Panama Canal   The result of several nations’ historic efforts, a Panama Canal cruise is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Departing: April 15 – December 29, 2013 10 to 29 nights from $1,099 per person

Asia & India Wander among ornate gilded pavilions, ancient temples, modern skyscrapers and bustling street markets filled with just about everything imaginable. Departing: April 17 – November 14, 2013 7 to 38 nights from $799 per person

Australia & New Zealand  Australia and New Zealand provide some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in the world. Departing: April 23 – December 23, 2013 2 to 36 nights from $299 per person

]]> http://savvystews.com/2013/04/06/princess-cruises/feed/ 0 http://travelingwinechick.com/2013/04/02/heron-hill-winery/ http://travelingwinechick.com/2013/04/02/heron-hill-winery/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:44:04 +0000 Elizabeth Smith http://travelingwinechick.com/?p=1913 ]]>

Heron Hill Winery

As I was planning my Finger Lakes trip in November 2012, the first winery that reached out to me was Heron Hill Winery. Tambi Schweizer, the tasting room manager, added me to the schedule immediately and made sure my visit was at a time where she would be available to give me personal attention.

View of Keuka Lake from Heron Hill Winery

Heron Hill was also the first winery I visited upon my arrival. The view from above Keuka Lake was breathtaking. Equally pleasing was the tasting at Heron Hill and the graciousness of Tambi, my hostess.

Side-by-side Riesling tasting

Tambi allowed me to taste an wide selection of their wines, including side-by-side tastings of some of their Rieslings and Pinot Noirs.

My Heron Hill selections

I selected three wines for purchase, two Rieslings (one for me, one for a friend) and a Pinot Blanc. Heron Hill was the only Finger Lakes winery that offered me free shipping, so I took Tambi up on the offer. Heron Hill was also the only winery I visited that offered a Pinot Blanc, which was surprising to me as I think the cool-climate Finger Lakes region would be a suitable location for Pinot Blanc production.

2010 Heron Hill Ingle Vineyard Riesling

Five months quickly passed by and Easter arrived. As I was selecting a wine, my first thought was “Easter and Riesling.” I have grown to enjoy contrasting flavor pairings with Riesling, so I prepared potato-encrusted cod and a side of green beans and potatoes in an olive oil Parmesan sauce. The dense, white meat of the cod as well as the buttery, salty potato crust paired well with the Riesling, enhancing its sweeter fruit flavors. The acidity of the Riesling cut through the creamy Parmesan sauce of the green beans and potatoes.

My Easter meal

According to one source, 2010 was a challenging vintage for Finger Lakes Riesling as it was a very long, warm growing season that impacted acidity levels. However, I found this Riesling to be lovely. It was pale lemon in color, with beautiful floral aromas and a luscious mouthfeel. As the wine warmed and opened up, it had complex flavors of apple, citrus, and tropical fruits, and the acidity was juicy and mouthwatering.

As it turns out, Easter and Heron Hill do pair together nicely. Thank you, Tambi, for introducing me to Heron Hill and welcoming me to the Finger Lakes.

Wine specs
Vintage 2010, $19.99 at heronhill.com
100% Riesling
Appellation: Finger Lakes
Harvest Date: Oct. 5-12, 2010
Acid: 10.5 g/l
PH: 2.78
Fermentation: stainless steel tanks, no malolactic fermentation
Bottling Date: Nov. 9, 2011
Residual Sugar: 1.57%
Alcohol: 12%
Drink through 2020

Hammondsport on Dwellable

Check out this clip of Bobby & Gailen a week ago in Dublin trying to give a history of the castle they’re standing in front of when a man comes running from it, asks them to move, and then move again because they’re in his photo of the castle even though the Stews were clearly there first! What’s worse? It seem the Stews know exactly who he is!

In fact, this man kept showing up at various events and venues Bobby & Gailen visited and continuously made himself a spectacle so it was fitting that he ended up right in the middle of one of their shots. You’ll also hear an older English couple that was watching the Stews filming chime in on the man’s actions. Check it out!

The actress’ rep is reporting that Lindsay will no longer fly commercial airliners and will instead be flying on a chartered aircraft. Sources close to Lindsay told TMZ she believed there was a problem with the plane … specifically that fuel was leaking, and now that she has her own aircraft she can oversee its daily safety inspections since she told friends that she plans on taking an online course in aircraft maintenance and even eventually plans to obtain her pilots license. Recent photos of her Los Angeles home depict a “practice” airplane that the college has provided for LiLo to hone her skills.

Our sources say LiLo has become overly paranoid after the incident, so much so she has hand selected her aircraft’s cabin crew. Her reps released the names of three cabin crewmembers who were selected based on their expertise and fabuloisty. Apparently, all three crewmembers are well known-flight attendants; all having been mentioned in multiple publications and seen on various television shows. The movie star hopes the media centered crew will help her regain positive exposure in the press.

Shawn Kathleen - a.k.a. “The Sassy Stew“ met LiLo when they unwillingly became roommates in an unnamed Los Angeles psychiatric facility. Allegedly, Sassy was the flight attendant responsible for duct taping a male passenger to his seat on a flight headed to the United States and upon arrival was immediately committed for her actions. Since then she has been a heroine for flight attendants in the media and recently created a Facebook page shaming bad passenger behavior that was reported on by NBC News.

Gailen David, a former flight attendant, has a strange history with the starlette. During one of her last visits to rehab her nurse had planned to provide the actress with the movie “The Iron Lady” for viewing in her downtime, but instead mistakenly provided her with David’s airline-version “The Aluminum Lady.” LiLo was enchanted by the presence of penguins and phoned David to order one of her own. David has since moved on from penguin pushing and is now a travel correspondent on national television.

Bobby Laurie moved to Los Angeles with the hopes of making it in television. One of his first jobs, aside from blogging for HuffPo, was working for Jaime Lee Curtis as her assistant. He made it a point to always be seen in public with her even though she’d constantly duck and shy from the camera. LiLo smelled the desperation for fame (which resonated with her) through one of his travel segment appearances on a syndicated morning show  and reached out to recruit him.

The Crew assembled for their first day of training at Linday’s on-property private hanger which was equipped with a custom made classroom and a uniform consisting of stolen items assembled by Winona Ryder on April 1, 2013. They then quickly realized this was an April Fools’ joke!

We’ve been working with Switzerland Tourism for almost a year now on various television and print projects but we have actually never been to the country! We’re leaving Tuesday night and will spend a week there filming in three different cities for our TV segments on Better and Daytime. I’m estimating you’ll see them on the air in June.

One of the highlights of the trip, for me, is flying on an A340! Yes, I know, I’m an airline geek. But, I’m also excited to fly on SWISS. I’ve heard many good things about their comfort and service that I hope they live up to their expectations. Their website even has a video (below) that shows off large TV screens, a decent recline and friendly service, needless to say they have my attention and I’m excited to try it out. Rest assured, we’ll be reporting our experience back to all of you!

I will say, one thing that annoys me is the ability to book seats. We’re about to board an 11 hour flight and can’t pre-select seats in Economy. So you have no control over whether you’re stuck in a middle seat in the middle of the plane or a window. Their website says that 48 hours prior you should be able to confirm seats, so let’s hope that’s the case because it’s going to be quite uncomfortable stuck in a middle next to people I don’t know for 11 hours.

Anyway, that aside, this should be an amazing trip! Seven days, three cities, three Swiss Deluxe Hotels and a slew of activities to show off what an amazing destination Switzerland is. Make sure you follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to follow along!

Manchester is well known for great bands like Oasis, The Smiths, Stone Roses and Joy Division, as well as two of the country’s biggest football teams. But beyond its famous music and football scene, the city is blessed with a great variety of attractions. Here are some of the best it has to offer:

The Lowry

This modern theatre and gallery complex is named after the British artist L.S. Lowry, famed for his work in North West England across the first half of the 20th century. The complex only opened in 2000 and has a beautiful waterside setting which hosts an impressive variety of award-winning theatre productions and, of course, a 400-piece Lowry exhibit.

Museum of Science & Industry

Given its industrial roots, it’s only right that Manchester has such a fine collection of displays devoted to the field. There are extensive exhibitions in transport, power, technology and science. If you’re an aircraft or steam locomotives enthusiast then it’s not to be missed, especially with the special train rides put on at Bank Holidays and weekends.

Shopping

Make sure you take your credit card, because Manchester has two huge shopping malls – the Trafford Centre and Manchester Arndale. Each attracts well over 30 million shoppers a year, with Arndale boasting some particularly large fashion outlets. The Trafford Centre, meanwhile, is situated on the outskirts of the city, but is a magnificent complex, complete with a host of high-street brands. It also has activities like Laser Quest, miniature golf, bowling, an arcade and a stunning Great Hall, which amasses a number of restaurants in its glazed exterior, along with what is thought to be the world’s largest chandelier.

National Football Museum

Manchester is not only home to two massive football clubs, but also the National Football Museum. The museum boasts some wonderful exhibits, with contributions from FIFA and the FA, which include the ball used in the 1966 World Cup final. Tours at both stadiums are also well worth looking into given the remarkable facilities on show.

Chill Factore

If you fancy doing something completely different, head down to the UK’s longest indoor skiing and snowboarding slope. Located in Trafford Park, this complex is not only large, but has real snow on its slopes, where you can also try your hand at luge and tubing.

While out and about in Manchester, make the most of the experience with the great range of rewards cards available from American Express. Cardholders can earn exclusive membership points as they spend, which can be redeemed in exchange for fantastic card rewards like cashback, British Airways Avios points and much more.

#TGTaste with Villa Maria Estate

Last year I was fortunate to taste Villa Maria Estate‘s 2011 Sauvignon Blanc with thirstygirl®. This year I was invited to taste the 2012 Villa Maria Estate Reserve Bin Sauvignon Blanc and the 2011 Villa Maria Estate Reserve Bin Pinot Noir and asked a friend to join me. The 2012 vintage of wines marked Villa Maria Estate’s 50th anniversary vintage.

2012 Villa Maria Estate Reserve Bin Sauvignon Blanc

2012 Villa Maria Estate Reserve Bin Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (Average SRP $13.00, wine-searcher.com)
As a child, I was one of those kids who loved eating lemons and limes. I also ate grapefruit without sugar. In retrospect, I believe I was destined to love Sauvignon Blanc. This wine took me back to those childhood memories of grapefruit, lemon, and lime running down my chin. The wine is a very pale, greenish straw color with medium body. I love the bright, crisp tart flavors and acidity. My friend and I paired it with salty, aged cheddar and fresh bread dipped in olive oil with kosher salt. Both appetizers brought the fruit flavors to the forefront. Today I paired a glass with a puff pastry-like appetizer filled with spicy risotto cheese. This wine would also pair well with chicken, shellfish, grilled veggies, and spicy Asian foods.

2011 Reserve Bin Villa Maria Estate Pinot Noir

2011 Reserve Bin Villa Maria Estate Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (Average SRP $18.00, wine-searcher.com)
Most Pinots that I have sampled lately tend more towards the bright, red-fruit style. Not this Pinot. It is ruby red in color with a medium body. It is earthy and spicy with dark fruit and savory mushroom flavors. My immediate thought for a meal pairing was Holy Shiitake Pie from Mellow Mushroom, whose primary toppings are Shiitake, button, and portobell0 mushrooms. Of course, I will use any excuse to have that pizza, but in my mind this would have been the consummate pairing. Alas, my friend’s olive oil and kosher salt dip and aged cheddar served as substitute pairings. Last night I sipped the remainder of this wine without food, so I could further explore its funkiness.