Night Skiing Now Open at Mt. Hood Meadows

Mt. Hood, OR - ?Meadows After Dark? night skiing and riding kicked off for the season on Friday at Oregon?s Mt. Hood Meadows. Meadows offers 140 acres of illuminated runs for night riding until 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the winter season.



Meadows also operates restaurants, the ski and snowboard equipment rental center and its retail shops during night skiing hours.
Meadows After Dark (photo: Mt. Hood Meadows)
Nighttime riding offers a chance to explore and discover Meadows in a whole new light. Meadows After Dark also offers affordable lift tickets and learn to ski and snowboard packages, as well as discounts for families.
Evening lift passes good from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. cost $30. A 5 Time Night Pass is also available for $89, or a whole season pass for night riding costs $129.
Adult evening group lessons start at 4 p.m.and 6:30 p.m. Private lessons are also available including the Late Bird two-hour special for $135 (normally the cost is $165).� Learn to ski packages for riders 13 or older include a Buttercup lift ticket, a two-hour lesson and rentals cost $35, or $79 for three visits.
Also, Park & Ride ? Mt. Hood Meadows? weekend and holiday shuttle service from Portland to the resort ? launches this weekend, offering round-trip service both Saturday and Sunday and continuing on weekends and holidays through to March. The 55 passenger luxury motorcoach (yes, it has a bathroom) picks up in Tualatin, Beaverton and Gateway between 6:45 and 7:30 a.m., delivering passengers to the mountain right around the time the lifts open. The return is scheduled at 4 p.m., giving passengers a full day on the slopes.
Seats are reserved and purchased through the resort website www.SkiHood.com. Prices range from $89 for an adult lift ticket and bus, to $30 for the bus only. Junior rates and beginner packages including the bus fare are also available.



Related stories:Mt. Hood Meadows Presents Friday Night Rail Jam Series
Towers Set for New High Speed Quad at Mt. Hood Meadows
Limited Opening Saturday for Mt. Hood Meadows
Mt. Hood Meadows Constructs 6th High Speed Quad
Autopsy Sheds No Light on Cause of Death of Snowboarder on Oregon?s Mt. Hood
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10 best destinations to take a hot air balloon ride

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, Transportation, Central America, Women's Travel, Luxury Travel, Theme ParksWhen traveling, it's always fun to explore a city from a new perspective. And, what better point of view than from the sky? These ten air balloon destinations will not only immerse you in beautiful scenery, but will also give you access to hidden treasures you may not have seen from the ground.

The Pyrenees, Spain

The Pyrenees is a mountain range that forms a divider between Spain and France. Crossing the Pyrenees in general is an unforgettable experience, and making this journey by hot air balloon will make it that more memorable. Watch as Catalonian buildings begin to resemble a Monopoloy game board. Lush greenery fills your view as you get the chance to see Santa Margarita, an enormous, well-preserved volcano crater, from an aerial point of view. In the winter, the snow capped mountains give the relaxing ride a magical ambiance.

One great tour group to go through for this ride is Vol de Coloms, especially since they serve Cava, a Spanish sparkling-wine, and sweet bread during the flight.Continue reading 10 best destinations to take a hot air balloon ride10 best destinations to take a hot air balloon ride originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Let's get Occupy right

I believe it is now time for the Occupy Movement to come out of beta.

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Pakistan: wave of protests over Nato air strike - video

Growing anger over a cross-border attack by Nato forces in Afghanistan that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers over the weekend fuels anti-American sentiment

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The Authentic Ski Tour: Red Lodge, Day 1

..... Billings, Montana (Ski Press)-They say that what you seek is what you find. So I shouldn?t have been surprised in the Billings airport, the ?gateway to the big sky,? to feel like I had landed in 1975, waiting for my bags in a nostalgic mountain scene of ranchers, miners and skiers, before anyone had heard of timeshares.Maybe it was the cowboys drinking Budweisers at the airport bakery and pastry bar, the guys in the seats on the plane behind me trading Clydesdale dreams and the promise of open land, or the horse statues at the baggage carousel, the stuffed sheep and all the soldiers coming home. But that sense of grassroots wonder started as soon as I heard those two good old boys behind me talking on the plane. ?If I had one of those Clydesdales I?d just keep it like a big old dog. Here puppy, puppy,? one of them said. And the other one agreed, that they were the most beautiful horses, and started to tell a story about how he used to ship bull semen all over the world. But then the plane hit a patch of bad air and the younger one said, ?Right now I?m just imagining that I?m driving down a gravel road.? Jeff Carroll picked me up outside. Tall, blonde and eternally tan, he had been Red Lodge Mountain?s Director of Sales and Marketing for nine months now, having made the move from Tamarack in Idaho. He said he had jumped at the job, and loved the mountain, and loved the opportunity to tell his wife that she was going home. ?She grew up here,? he said, driving to Red Lodge with all the deer beside the road. ?So it?s pretty amazing to raise our family here, too. He said he had a little girl, and another baby on the way. And I told him I remembered Red Lodge from coming up from Jackson Hole to ski Beartooth Pass in the late spring when the road was plowed between high white walls of snow; the red brick parade of buildings down Broadway and all the cowboy hats and Carhartts in the bars. We ate steak at the Carbon County Steakhouse, a perfect New York and Cowboy Coffee Ribeye. And I slept at Pollard?s down the street, the grand red brick hotel with the history of ?Liver? eating Johnston and William Jennings Bryants and even Ernest Hemingway on fishing trips coming through. There was a plaque behind the counter with the quote, ?Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear, and with a manly heart,? by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, that had been saved from the heyday of the miner?s ?Theatorium? next door. ?They started clearing out a lot of the statues and stuff when that place was used to make our own special ?cough syrup? during Prohibition,? the lady at check-in said. ?They used to ship their ?cure? all the way to Chicago and San Francisco.? I wanted to ask her more in the morning but she was gone. So I walked past the neon tipi of the Red Lodge Caf�, the wine bar, antique, pottery and kitchen stores, and past a fence made of skis where I saw a truck attached to an extension cord to keep the engine warm right next to an open Subaru hatchback loaded with fishing gear and thought: ?That?s Montana right there.? Slightly more than 2,000 people live in Red Lodge. And Jeff Carroll said his destination ski traffic is heavily weighted to North Dakota and Minnesota. ?So will I see lots of snowmobile suits and Viking?s Starter Jackets on the slope?? ?Oh,? Jeff assured me. ?Those are some of our best customers.? I didn?t see any obvious Brett Favre fans, but lots of hot-rodders in camouflage came zipping by, and telemarkers, snowboarders and kids in Day-Glo. We saw them skiing off Nichols and Grizzly Peak, and down into Palisades Park where the cliffs rise up like dinosaurs. Down the tree-sided steeps of Upper Continental and True Grit, and zooming the open slope of Lazy M with Bob, a fast-skiing welder from Billings who rides Harleys and only hunts with black powder now. He led us down ?Lodge Trail,? a gullet of bumps into the base area where I wish I had stopped to pull out my camera. And he stopped and smiled up at the sunshine and said, ?I?m going to have a beer then see a man about buying a house. It?s time I made the commute from here to Billings instead of the other way around.? At the gas station, Jeff started talking to the banker who said, ?Oh, Chico Hot Springs. You guys are going to love it there.?� Links: The Carbon County Steakhouse: www.thepizzaco.com/steakhouse The Pollard Hotel: www.thepollard.com Red Lodge Mountain: www.redlodgemountain.com

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Child sponsorship stories: Cathy's trip to Zimbabwe ? video

Plan UK child sponsor Cathy Dyer recently travelled to Zimbabwe to meet her sponsored child, Advance. Here she tells us the story of her visit. Video supplied by Plan UK

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The Authentic Ski Tour: Bridger Bowl, Day 5

..... Bozeman, Montana (Ski Press)-We linger over coffee and bacon in the Summit Hotel at the base of Big Sky, hoping that the sun will soften the snow. But there is a cloud growing like a purple crown over Lone Peak, like ink into the early blue, and I imagine the high steeps like vertical white lanes custom frozen for human bowling balls. ?It?s slide for life conditions,? said the patroller at the top of Lone Peak when we walked in to see about signing out for the Snowfields. When Dax Schieffer and Doug Wales and I were the only three skiers on the tram that should have been a clue. For me, it?s just as well.� But Dax is devastated. He isn?t going to get to show off some of Big Sky?s most sensational skiing treasures, especially its adventurous alpine bridge to the expansive terrain of Moonlight Basin, and all morning he keeps glancing back up the hill. ?Sorry we didn?t hit it,? I told Dax. And with Lone Peak separating the sky with its cascading terrain like the flanks of a volcano behind him he said, ?How?d you know that?s what I was thinking about right now?? So that then it was just me and Doug driving to Bozeman, eating vinegar chips and drinking Gatorade, and losing count of all the white crosses by the side of the road. It is gorgeous country, expansive and glacial. With hot Augusts and frozen Januarys and sunsets that are among the most beautiful in the world. ?I?m glad to have lived in the East,? was the refrain that I heard. ?But I knew I would live in the West since I first saw the Rockies as a child.? That light going gold and red through the peaks as we drove into Bozeman at the end stop of my Authentic Ski Tour of Yellowstone Country, from Red Lodge to Chico Hot Springs to Yellowstone to Big Sky and now to Bridger Bowl, as I had the sense that I was finally going to ski the most authentic mountain of them all. I asked Doug, ?Who was it that wrote the story for Rolling Stone?? He said, ?Tim Cahill.? Published in 1985, before he became an outdoor writing legend first at Outside Magazine then with books like ?Jaguars Ripped My Flesh? and ?A Wolverine is Eating My Leg,? Cahill enshrined Bridger?s ?Ridge Hippies? in the article ?Going to Extremes ? Adventures in the Endo Zone.? With Bridger Bowl as the setting, the article introduced extreme skiing to much of America, explaining the passion for hiking past the chairs to ski the same chutes and gullies that in the summer you climbed with harnesses and ropes. And it focused on some of North America?s most soon-to-be famous ski astronauts like Tom Jungst, Scot Schmidt and Doug Coombs. That kind of skiing is the industry standard now, with open gates and steep skiing stars from Vermont to Vail. But in 1985, it was revolutionary. And at Bridger, the hike-to access for the Ridge had already been open for 12 years. Add the fact that Bridger Bowl operates as a non-profit, funded by lift tickets and association membership dues (membership being open to any Montana resident 18 years or older) instead of condo sales, and you?ve got a mountain with 100 percent focus on the ski experience, and nothing else. Or as Wales said, ?All of the net profit goes right back into the hill.? In the past few years that net profit has enabled Bridger to continue to lead the way in opening technical terrain, including the rugged Schlasman?s Lift (which you can?t board without a transceiver). It will also result in a new triple chair ? replacing the Deer Park and Bridger lifts next year. On the day we ski, though, the snow that had been baking in the sun for nearly a week is frozen as hard as a coral reef under a cold bank of clouds. On the steeps I feel as if I am at the top of a great frozen wave, trying not to skitter too quickly to the frozen ocean below. ?I?m pretty sure this is the worst day of the year,? Wales said, pointing to the top of the Bridger Lift where the crew has hoisted the Jolly Roger. ?Maybe the last two years.? ?It?s all a matter of degrees,? he said later, still thinking about it on the chair. ?Whether it?s temperatures or steeps, a couple degrees can make all the difference in the world.? Halfway through the afternoon Wales returned to his office to take another phone call about the history of skiing at Bridger. The same way he?s taken my calls for more than a decade, answering questions about open boundaries, avalanche control and now alpine hydration. And I kept skiing because there were still decent slopes, and the lifts haven?t closed. There were still people speeding down the steeps, even hiking the Ridge, and calling out to each other from the chair as if even a day like that there were still nothing better in the world to do. I laughed at the bumper stickers behind the bar at Jimmy B?s Bar and Grill that say, ?Did you move here to be in a hurry?? and, ?Custer was an out-of-stater, too.? At the Montana Ale Works we had bison patty melts and I heard a favorite song by Son Volt that I had never heard sung live before. In the morning it was snowing and I thought, ?what if I stayed for a few days more?? Links Bridger Bowl: www.bridgerbowl.com Montana Ale Works: www.montanaaleworks.com Good Lodging: www.cmoninn.com/midwest-hotel-locations/bozeman/ Special thanks to: Doug, Jeff, Robin, Dax and Colin.

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Ed Balls's response to Osborne's autumn statement: 'plan A has failed' - video

The shadow chancellor gives his response to George Osborne's autumn statement to the House of Commons

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St. Croix Mega Sweepstakes

The Caribbean's most historic resort shines with timeless grace. 138 spacious, elegant rooms are spread over 340 acres: in the signature pink Great House, on two of three beaches, on ridges overlooking the sea, gently-rolling golf greens and acclaimed tennis center. Three restaurants, renovated spa and fitness center, designer boutique. Recognized by the National Trust as a Historic Hotel of America.
Prize Details: - 8 days/7 nights accommodation - Island tour - One day car rental - 2.5 hours spa for two people - Breakfast daily - Floating mats, kayaks, snorkeling at the beach - Blackout dates apply - Prize Value: 2,999


Located on a quiet stretch of beach on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, the Divi Carina Bay All Inclusive Beach Resort combines privacy and relaxation with modern style amenities. The Divi will delight you with its oceanfront accommodations, gourmet food, gorgeous tropical setting and full-range of activities for adults and kids alike.
Prize Details: Three nights, All-Inclusive Stay, featuring the following accommodations? Deluxe King offers a king sized bed with queen sleeper sofa, refrigerator, microwave, air conditioning, television, clock radio, and private patio or balcony with an ocean view. Total Value: $1350


At The Palms, our goal is to help every guest transform from island visitor to welcomed friend. Our 40 beach front guest rooms are your home in America's Paradise. Friendly, attentive staff, 24 hour assistance and security, great snorkeling, swimming pool, award-winning restaurant, on site recreational activities and modern amenities.
Prize Details:7 night stay in a beach front room. Welcome drink upon arrival. Rum and coke in the room. A guided snorkel tour by a Palms staff member. Valued at $2300.


Win a week?s worth of authentic island relaxation on Stx. Best swimming, snorkeling, sunsets, dolphin crossings on the beach at the Sand Castle! Imagine the perch from a SeaView Suite, experience the laid-back, friendly atmosphere?enjoy a massage! Dine waterfront at the award-winning Beach Side Caf�!
Prize Details:Seaview Suite reserved for 2 persons, 7 nights, 8 days in paradise on the beach with gorgeous sunsets and opportunity for star-gazing! Includes Daily Seaside Continental Breakfast, Scuba Dive or Intro, Unlimited use of snorkel equipment and kayak for 2, Bottle of sparkling wine and Lunch for 2 at the Beach Side Caf� or Wine Club or Beer Club if the timing is right! Preceded by 2- One Hour Therapeutic Massages to set you right with the world again followed by a Romantic Dinner for 2 at the Beach Side Caf�. Prize Value $3999


Relax-on-the-beach in full sun or shade, snorkel the reef or swim in the fresh-water pool. Enjoy ocean-side meals at casual and fine-dining restaurants. Nap in a hammock, get a massage at the Spa, take a nature walk, play tennis, kayak or embark on a sailing charter without leaving the property. www.TamarindReefResort.com
Win 4 days and 3 nights at the oceanfront Tamarind Reef Resort on the US Virgin Island of St. Croix PLUS receive a $100 gift certificate to the Galleon fine-dining restaurant OR receive a $100 gift certificate for a sailing adventure to Buck Island.



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Slap the Bag

Boxed wine, sans box, is the ideal hut trip evening beverage.  It?s packable, un-breakable, light for it?s volume (ever tried skiing in a bunch of wine bottles? Don?t.) and, if you upgrade from Franzia, delicious. But just because you?re drinking wine doesn?t mean you have to keep it classy.  You are probably wearing your long underwear in a room full of strangers, after all. For optimum party level and card game shit talking allow us to recommend slap the bag, the quintessential college wine drinking game, which translates just fine to grown up parties. Step one: Remove bag from box. Do this before you leave home.  Or, but a wine that already comes in a bag (genius!) like Clif?s The Climbers Pouch. Step two: Have a friend (or stranger, good bonding experience) hold the bag tightly at just above face level.  Yours, not theirs. Step three: Open spigot; chug for as long as you can. Step four: Close spigot; breathe for a second; slap the dickens out of that bag. Step five:  Clean wine dribble off your chin/shirt/hut slippers. 

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Ask Tom Q&A!

Tom Hall of Lonely Planet is online now answering your travel queries. Click on the comments button to post a questionThe run of mild and dry weather couldn't last, and it didn't. Now that fog is descending and temperatures are falling, could it be time for cheering thoughts of a sunny getaway once the madness of Christmas is over? Or maybe you haven't thought beyond the festive season yet and still need ideas and advice for Christmas shopping and New Year breaks. Tom Hall will be addressing all these topics, plus the latest situation in Egypt, the big Bangkok clean-up and any other travel dilemmas you may have.Tom will get to as many as he can in an hour, but due to the volume of questions, he may not be able to answer all of them in the live blog. Unanswered questions will be considered for future Ask Tom blog posts.Tom Hallguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Amsterdam day trip: Van Brederode castle

Filed under: History, Learning, Europe, Netherlands
Amsterdam has plenty of day trip opportunities. Smaller cities such as Delft are a short train ride away and the pretty countryside has many historic attractions.

Ruïne van Brederode is a castle in the town of Santpoort Zuid, about 25 minutes away by train from Centraal Station. From the Santpoort Zuid station, signs lead through quiet, tree-lined streets to the castle. The fifteen-minute walk is relaxing after the craziness of the big city.

Soon the castle comes into view. Ruïne van Brederode has a long history and has been through a lot over the years. The earliest known castle on this spot was built by William I, Lord of Brederode, starting around 1282. It guarded a narrow strip of land that connected the Dutch mainland to West Friesland. A map in the gallery to this post shows the site's strategic importance.

The castle was besieged, taken, and destroyed in 1351 but was soon rebuilt, only to be set on fire by Spanish troops in 1573. By then the age of artillery was well underway and this type of castle was no longer militarily useful. The ruins were allowed to slowly crumble until they were restored in the nineteenth century.

Gallery: Van Brederode castleContinue reading Amsterdam day trip: Van Brederode castleAmsterdam day trip: Van Brederode castle originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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A food adventure in Detroit

Detroit, Michigan, is better known for crime and dereliciton than dining, which is why the creative team behind new Boat Magazine wanted to tell a more positive story. In this extract, they track down the best places to eat and drink in the cityMost of us, when we have a lull at work, keep quiet about it, surf the web, catch up on admin, writes online travel editor Isabel Choat. And you'd imagine a couple expecting their first baby to be doubly grateful for a few weeks' calm in the office ? a chance to conserve energy. Not Davey and Erin Spens. When the pair, who run a fledgling creative agency in King's Cross, London, realised August was going to be quiet month, they decided they needed a challenge, something that would combine their love of magazines and design and travelAnd so they upped sticks and relocated their office and two colleagues to ... Sarajevo, Bosnia, where they set about finding a cast of interesting characters ? a war photographer, the author of a cookbook, a film director ? who would help them "tell a new story about the city". The result was Boat Magazine, a "nomadic" publication that focuses on one city per issue.Despite being upstarts in publishing the Spens commissioned an impressive array of writers from Dave Eggers, who introduces the issue with an extract from his short story collection How We Are Hungry, to Scottish writer Sophie Cooke and a host of international names. And of course, as a labour of love by people passionate about design, it looks beautiful - printed on luxurious thick matt paper, clever and smart. You can read Boat online and subscribe to the print version at boat-mag.com.So where do you go from war-ravaged Sarajevo? Detroit, Michigan, is ravaged in a different way ? but is equally unloved and under the radar. Published this week with an introduction by Detroit-born author Jeffrey Eugenides, it features basketball stars, It Girls, city farmers and a film director. Their next move? Sao Paulo, due out in April.The following is an extract from the current issue ? by photographers Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton ? on some of the best and most interesting places to eat and drink in Detroit - and the people behind them.A foodie adventure in Detroit. Photographs and text by Liz and Max Haraala Hamilton Our journey starts out at a little place in Ferndale called AJ's Music Cafe (ajsmusicafe.com). We'd heard that the owner, AJ O'Neil, had the best coffee in Detroit, so decided to head down there. AJ's is not just known for its coffee ? it also holds the record for the longest concert in the world, lasting 360 hours and involving local bands. The cafe is split in two, with the restaurant on one side and on the other a little stage, where the longest concert took place. It's typical of Detroit independent businesses to set out with a simple mission and then out of the blue decide to put on the longest gig in the world.Rafino Valentine moved back to his home town, Detroit, and like so many is intent on bringing industry back to the city. His idea for a local vodka distillery came from a Dirty Martini he downed over eight years ago when he was working on Wall Street. Rafino couldn't understand why vodka was seemingly always imported: someone in the US had to be able to produce a world-class vodka. After spending several years working in other distilleries and studying the traditional processes of production, Rafino started Valentine Vodka (valentinevodka.com).As he showed us around, Rafino explained that the whole concept of being a Detroit-based company starts with the building itself. The doors to the distillery are stripped back to the original doors of the former pool table factory that now houses the distillery and bar. The bricks and wood in the bar are salvaged from old buildings that were being demolished in Detroit. Rafino gave a few bottles of vodka to the foremen in exchange for the bricks and timbers.Rafino clearly loves "old". He uses traditional distilling techniques and makes a single batch at a time, tasting and smelling the vodka throughout each step to produce a spirit that competes and often beats the big brands that most of us know.The vodka is bottled by hand, and 99% of the material used in the process is locally sourced. Rafino starts by trying to source ingredients from Detroit, then Michigan, then Illinois and finally from the rest of the US, but so far the furthest he has had to go is Illinois.While enjoying a Dirty Detroit (Valentine's bar's signature version of the Dirty Martini), we told the barman, Nick, about our morning spent driving miles and looking unsuccessfully for one of the local food vans we had heard about ? Jacques Tacos, only to discover that he usually parks up right round the corner.Starting over is a common tale nowadays in Detroit. We had heard that there was a Detroit-based company making mead, an ancient alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting a solution of honey and water.B. Nektar Meadery (bnektar.com) was founded in 2006 by Brad and Kerri Dahlhofer and their friend Paul Zimmerman. The three had been avid home-brewers but it wasn't until Kerri and Brad were laid off that they decided to set up a meadery and start producing and selling their own mead. The day we visited them at their distillery on an industrial park, also in Ferndale, they were bottling their new concoctions ready to be tasted for the first time by the general public and sent off to 10 states around the country.But not every enterprise in Detroit has positive stories to tell. We'd heard of Detroit resident Kristyn, who had got hold of an old Airstream trailer and was trying to serve healthy street food. We tried to track the truck down, so drove to the last address we had heard it was parked at. We ended up on the outskirts of downtown in an area of boarded-up buildings and open green spaces. We drove past a building with an Airstream trailer outside and pulled up to have a closer look. Kristyn explained that her business, Pink FlaminGO! (find it on facebook.com) was off the road at the moment.Kristyn still goes out with the truck, although it's not supposed to be serving food. She has been fighting against paying extra taxes for permits to park up and serve food downtown, and dealing with the realities of a local government hampering small businesses. We spent a few hours with Kristyn and her friend Malik talking about Detroit, and listening to their solutions for the city. (Find Pink FlaminGO! mobile restaurant on Facebook (facebook.com)We heard more about two food vendors in Detroit than any other. Before we'd even landed, people had been telling us about the infamous Coney Dogs war that has been raging since the early 20th century. This is a rivalry fought over the Coney dog, a hot dog topped with beef chilli based on the legendary Nathan's hotdogs found in Coney Island, NY. In downtown Detroit, two restaurants sit side by side, American Coney Island (americanconeyisland.com)and Lafayette Coney Island (find it on facebook.com), both serving their interpretations and claiming supremacy.Legend has it, a family feud created the two rival eateries, and portraits of family members hang proudly in each place. Residents in the city take sides, but we sampled the delights of both. American Coney was the bigger restaurant, decked out in a patriotic red, white and blue and patrolled by an owner who introduced himself as "Dan the Hotdog Man". Conversation was flowing until Dan discovered we didn't love Tony Blair quite as much as he did. We walked around the block a few times before sneaking in next door to Lafayette Coney. The service here left a lot to be desired and it was definitely a less polished experience, but in the end their dogs came up trumps.Everybody we met in Detroit told us we had to visit Eastern Market (detroiteasternmarket.com). This is a huge farmers' market surrounded by meat wholesalers and restaurants. We headed down there on a Saturday morning to find a bustling area filled with vegetable stalls, and thousands of people from all over Detroit and the surrounding states shopping for produce for home or business. The must-haves are the ribs from Berts, but we were as taken by the market across the freeway, with its walls painted in murals of meat, fish and cheese, which are sold inside.Food is a great introduction to any city. We met so many extraordinary people through the plates, bowls and glasses of this town. They have given us a good taste of what Detroit has to offer. But we leave with an unsatisfied feeling in our stomachs as if we have only just had the appetiser. The rich food landscape of this city is evolving so rapidly, we'll have to come back in a few years for the main.? haaralahamilton.comDetroitFood and drinkFood & drinkUnited StatesAmerican food and drinkRestaurantsguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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One luxury and two budget hotels in Amsterdam

Filed under: Europe, Netherlands, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Luxury Travel
Visitors to Amsterdam are spoiled for choice when it comes to hotels. From flea-bitten junky flophouses all the way up to five-star luxury accommodation, hotels in Amsterdam offer something for everyone. Picking one can be tricky, though. Here are three places I've stayed at.

The four-star Hotel Estheréa is a good choice if you want to splash out. Its location on a broad canal in Amsterdam's historic district is perfect. The immediate neighborhood is packed with restaurants, bookshops, antique stores, the flower market, and a few laid-back coffeeshops. It's much quieter than the neighborhood closer to Centraal Station but only a short tram ride away.

The interior of the hotel is brightly decorated and there's a huge (and very trippy) fish tank in the lobby. The rooms are spacious by Amsterdam standards and many offer a beautiful canal view plus lots of amenities like a safe and voice mail. Service is excellent and there's a hearty breakfast every morning in the dining room shown above. Rates run from 185 euros on up.

My only complaint about this place is that you have to pay for Internet.I don't mind so much for hotels catering to business travelers since they're just going to put it on expenses anyway. As far as I could see, though, the Hotel Estheréa mostly caters to tourists. There are two free computers in the lobby, but chances are you'll have to wait to use them.Continue reading One luxury and two budget hotels in AmsterdamOne luxury and two budget hotels in Amsterdam originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Ligety, Vonn Take Home World Cup Globes

..... Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (Ski Press)-In a year when the success of the U.S. Ski Team was astounding, Lindsey Vonn and Ted Ligety capped off the excitement with some of the most prestigious awards in alpine skiing - Audi FIS World Cup titles.Vonn took the overall crown plus three other titles, while Ligety won his second giant slalom title in three years. The charge was led by Vonn who took three discipline titles in downhill, super G and super combined, to become first American to win three discipline titles in the same season. She also became the first woman to win three straight overall titles since Petra Kronberger of Austria in 1990-92. "It's so important to me. The overall title is one of the biggest things you can win in our sport. I always try to give my best every day, but it's a long season," said Vonn. "The last few years have gone really well for me. It's so hard to say whether you'll be able to win the overall title. To stand here in the finish and have a title in my hand is so rewarding." Only three other women have as many overall titles as Vonn -- Vreni Schneider of Switzerland and Janica Kostelic of Croatia have three each and Annemarie Moser-Proell of Austria leads all with six. Vonn also broke records this season with her 11 World Cup wins. She now holds the U.S. record for World Cup wins with 33 passing Bode Miller (Franconia, NH). Only one skier in the world ever had more World Cup wins in a season - Schneider with 14 in the 1988-89 season. Moser-Proell and Anja Paerson of Sweden also have 11 in a year. Finally, Vonn's career wins put her in a tie for sixth place on the all-time list with Hanni Wenzel of Liechtenstein, and Moser-Proell leads that list with 62. "It means the world to me. If you had asked me at the beginning of the season if I'd have been able to do that, I would have said 'not likely.' It takes a lot of hard work, not only by me, but from the team, from U.S. Ski Team coaches, from my husband, from Red Bull and my ski company Head," Vonn said. "It's everyone working together to make as successful a season as possible and I couldn't do it without them." Ligety brought the U.S. its only crystal globe in the men's World Cup to mark his career second giant slalom title after winning his first in 2008. With his success, Ligety joins Phil Mahre as the only American man to have two World Cup giant slalom titles. He earned the honor with four podiums in discipline this season, including one win. He also notched his first podium in super G with second at Val d'Isere in December. "Having two globes is awesome," Ligety said. "It's cool to have those and to be the best in giant slalom over the last couple of years is nice." Ligety also podiumed at first and last World Cup GS races, as well as won in Kranjska Gora for the third straight year. The success of the team didn't stop with World Cup titles, though, as the U.S. pulled in Olympic medals. On the women's side, Vonn took a win in the downhill and bronze in the super G. Teammate Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, CA) racked in two silver medals in the downhill and super combined. On the men's side, Miller took in the trifecta of Olympic medals with a bronze in downhill, silver in super G and gold in the super combined. Miller was joined on the super G podium by Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) who took the bronze. With the season now closed, the alpine team will return to the U.S. to train this summer in preparation for the 2011 World Cup season opener in Soelden, Austria and the 2011 World Championships in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.

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It Ain?t Over ? Utah Gets Rocked!

..... Snowbird, Utah (Ski Press)-While many ski areas are shutting down after the Easter weekend, it looks like Utah is only just getting started on the ?deep? season. April showers have resulted in ample powder at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, which has received four-and-a-half feet in the last week, pushing the season total to 440 inches with a mid-mountain base depth of 127 inches. With an additional 30-40 inches forecasted in the coming days, the mountain is in mid-winter form and skiers are raving about the spring storms. ?Just like last year, April is providing some of the best conditions we?ve seen all year,? said resort president Bob Bonar. ?With this deep snowpack we expect to offer skiing and riding well into May, continuing our tradition of offering the longest season in Utah.? And at Solitude (from whence we received a photo collection of nothing but over the head faceshots yesterday ? Thanks a lot Joe and Nick), 58? of snow last week brings the YTD total to 438?!!

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10 of the best budget hotels and hostels in Amsterdam

Looking for a budget bed? Unfold Amsterdam's Steven McCarron tracks down the best, whether you want to be in the red light district or a quiet backwater? As featured in our Amsterdam city guideFlying Pig Uptown HostelSituated just off Vondelpark and the museum district, the Flying Pig Uptown was freshly refurbished in 2010 and is a fine alternative to the Flying Pig Downtown, the owners' ever-hectic flagship hostel in the red light district. Uptown you get the party-centric atmosphere with the detoxing properties of the Vondelpark next door ? you can even borrow inline skates to explore. The bar is always full; likewise the kitchen, where visitors bond over the stove. Unsurprisingly, this breeds an active space with guests coming and going at all hours. Be warned: the hostel is strict on its under-35s only policy, but if you're beyond that limit, you're unlikely to want to share a room with a horde of rowdy 18-year-olds.? Vossiusstraat 46, +31 20 400 4187, flyingpig.nl, queen-size bunk in shared room from ?25pp B&B, private doubles from ?85 B&BBackstage HotelYou can guess that the Backstage's owners are big music lovers from the hotel's name alone, and the interior drives the theme home ? guitars and memorabilia adorn the walls, and it's even sponsored by Jack Daniel's. Part of the concept comes from the location: minutes away from music venues Melkweg and Paradiso, the theatre district and a hearty selection of blues bars. The furniture is all inspired by flight cases, while light bulbs border mirrors to recreate that authentic dressing room vibe. There's even a four-person Guitar Hero room (yes, including the game) that's decked out in wall-to-wall original drawings by legendary Amsterdam tattooist Henk Schiffmacher.? Leidsegracht 114, +31 20 624 4044, backstagehotel.com, doubles ?77.50-?115 room onlyStayokay Hostel Amsterdam VondelparkWhether you've been to Amsterdam before or are heading for your first visit, chances are you'll find your way into favourite hippy hangout Vondelpark ? be it for lounging, picnicking, drinking, cycling or skating. This quirky schoolhouse-turned-hostel is virtually inside the park, located along a parallel lane, with many of the rooms looking down on to the grass. As hostels go, it's modern and refined, with hordes of uniformed staff ready to look after the hundreds of guests it can accommodate. Despite the high numbers coming through, it's extremely clean, making it a viable option for more than just backpackers.? Zandpad 5, +31 20 589 8996, stayokay.com, hostel beds from ?20pp B&B, private doubles from ?60 B&BBetween Art and Kitsch B&BA cute alternative to the design and boutique hotels blossoming all over town, this quirky B&B in De Pijp, just a short walk from dozens of museums, is lovingly decorated by its owners. Its three rooms embrace a mishmash of styles ? filled with antiques, curiosities and other seemingly random items picked up on travels, ranging from colonial cabinets and Arab rugs to neoclassical chandeliers. All rooms are equipped with en suite bathrooms, and there's a shared kitchen for all guests. As is so common in Amsterdam's budget range, however, you'll have to beware of the climb. It can feel like a stairway to hell to reach the third-floor rooms, especially when dragging your luggage.? Ruysdaelkade 75-2, +31 20 679 0485, between-art-and-kitsch.com, doubles from ?80 B&BChic&BasicBudget stays around Central Station are notoriously shoddy, but take a five-minute walk west and you'll find this honest little gem which is suitably chic and, well, basic. Situated on one of the quietest segments of the Herengracht, this canal house hotel has been renovated from a classic Mediterranean feel to the crispness of bright white walls and bedding with black trims and minimal furniture. Admittedly, there's an Ikea feel to the furnishings at times, but it's a solid, value-for-money option. And key details such as location, cleanliness, service and free internet terminals should make up for having a generic art print above your bed.? Herengracht 13-19, +31 20 522 2345, chicandbasic.com, doubles from ?90 B&B CitizenMThis new Dutch chain has been racking up praise, particularly since opening in Glasgow in 2010. It started in Amsterdam, first as an airport hotel at Schiphol, then in the south of the city. Although a boutique hotel at heart (the fancy Vitra furnishings are a giveaway), the quality service, luxury bedding and budget prices make this a haven for everyone from backpackers to business travellers. Every room is identical, with a wall-to-wall bed against the window, and futuristic glass toilet and shower off to the side. All tech features, including ambient coloured lighting, are controlled via the Philips MoodPad. Party people may feel out of sorts in this residential area, but the centre is only a short tram or train ride away.? Prinses Irenestraat 30, +31 20 811 7090, citizenmamsterdamcity.com, doubles from ?79 room onlyCityCenter Bed and BreakfastProving it's possible to find seclusion among the noise and action of the city centre, this delicate little B&B sits above a small side street between the rumbling trams on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and the bustle of the Nieuwendijk shopping street. As it's just five minutes from Central Station, you'll get a rare taste of central Amsterdam living with easy access to nearby attractions while avoiding the area's seedier hotels. The rooms have a clean, Swedish feel. The only minor downer is sharing the plush bathroom facilities with other guests, but given that there are only two rooms to rent, that isn't such a hardship. Besides, it's renowned for friendliness, comfort and cleanliness, and you'll feel waited on by owner Camillo.? Sint Jacobsstraat 21, +31 64 516 0078, citycenter-amsterdam.com, doubles from ?90 B&BHans Brinker Budget HotelThis place is all about location and price: a quiet courtyard on the doorstep of nightlife-saturated Leidseplein. Brinker is as budget as budget gets, a fact famously exploited in the long-running marketing campaign which boasts that it's "a cheap, dirty, cold, poorly-lit youth hostel" with "rusty beds in awkwardly-shaped dormitories" and used paper flags stuck into dog excrement throughout the city exclaiming that more of the same could be found at the hostel's entrance. The sleeping quarters, with their closely arranged metal bunks and lockers, call to mind the set of Porridge, and the rooms are awkwardly shaped, but the place is surprisingly tidy. It's the perfect place for younger travellers who are likely to fall asleep in one of the surrounding bars anyway.? Kerkstraat 136-138, +31 20 622 0687, hans-brinker.com , hostel beds from ?25pp B&B, twin room ?80 B&BSt Christopher's at the Winston Like its adjoining pub and club, the Winston hotel/hostel is dripping with character. On the edge of the red light district, it's surrounded by S&M clubs, coffee shops, bars and restaurants. But Dam Square and more cultural outings are only a short walk away. The cheapest options are the hostel rooms, but don't expect much sleep there. Instead, splash out on a private room for a unique stay in Amsterdam as each room has been customised by local artists. From bold street art murals and drug-inspired scribbles to debauched red light vibes that will haunt you even after you close your eyes, you're unlikely to forget the experience. ? Warmoesstraat 129, +31 20 623 1380, winston.nl, hostel beds from ?14.90pp B&B, private doubles from ?74 B&BStayokay Hostel Amsterdam ZeeburgThis ultra-modern hostel opened in 2007 and offers spacious rooms (shared and private), attractive interior design that uses orange tones without the eye-watering issues of easyHotel, a large glistening dining area, and excellent toilets and showers. As in all Stayokay hostels, staff are well-trained professionals who look after the public spaces day and night. But where it differs from other hostel options is its location in the east of the city. Off the beaten tourist track, it gives a taste of the real multicultural city, for example at the nearby Dappermarkt. The building is shared with Studio K, a bar/restaurant/cinema/club, and a bike rental shop, so you can cycle to the centre in only minutes. ? Timorplein 21, +31 20 551 3190, stayokay.com, hostel beds from ?20pp B&B, private doubles from ?50 B&B? Steven McCarron is an editor of Unfold Amsterdam, a poster publication and website about what's on in AmsterdamHotelsHostelsBudget travelAmsterdamShort breaksCity breaksTop 10sNetherlandsguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Radar: World?s Walkable Cities, Paris? Christmas Markets, Airline Passengers Sue Over Coffee Spill

The Radar: Top travel news, stories, trends, and ideas from across the Web. Got Radar? Follow us on Twitter @NatGeoTraveler and tag your favorite travel stories from the Web #ngtradar. Check back the next day for our daily roundup.

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Stop motion travel through Google Street View

Stop motion is always a creative way to mobilize inanimate objects in real time, and when you mix in the miracle of Google Street View there's a clever story in the fold. In Address is Approximate, Vimeo user The Theory captures the lonely life of an office desk toy rekindled with the use of a few local props and a large screen monitor. It's a beautiful product, and perhaps the best video that we've ever seen hosted at Vimeo. Nice work.

[Via Photographyblogger and Reddit]Stop motion travel through Google Street View originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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The Authentic Ski Tour: Yellowstone National Park, Day 3

..... Yellowstone, Wyo. (Ski Press)-We drove out in the morning with the mountains going gold in the light, and the deer and the elk beside the road. They jumped the barbed wire fences so lightly, off into the grasslands and the endless views. And there was a little pasture filled with buffalo, and a herd of bighorn sheep working their way back into the hills. ?You wouldn?t go hungry,? I said. And Jeff said, ?And we?re still 20 minutes from Yellowstone.? It was the third leg of my ?Authentic Ski Tour? of Montana?s Yellowstone Country. After a day skiing the rustically exhilarating slopes of Red Lodge with Jeff Carroll, and an evening at the high-end honky tonk hot springs of Chico, we were heading to the crown jewel of America?s national park system: Yellowstone. Founded in 1872, the first national park in the world, just the mention of it filled my head with scenes of spouting geysers, iced over waterfalls and great herds of bison plowing pathways through the snow. ?I think I?m a Teddy Roosevelt Republican,? I suddenly confessed to Jeff (although it was President Ulysses S. Grant who first set the preservation stage by signing Yellowstone?s special status into law), suddenly getting all misty-eyed about our American wild lands, and the kind of politicians interested in preserving our country?s most spectacular and pristine native soil. ?But that?s something that probably doesn?t exist anymore.? ?Have you seen the Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks?? Jeff asked. ?It?s incredible.? We drove in to Yellowstone through Gardiner, Montana, and had only just paid the park ranger when I snapped a photo of a bull elk 10 yards from the car. Then we caught a snowcoach in to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, with our guide/driver going on about ?geyser geeks,? wolf packs, calderas, wildlife biologists and grizzly bears, and how her parents had first fallen in love working one summer at Yellowstone. She said, ?That?s why I?ve always kind of thought of this as home.? Only 30 minutes into the drive we began to see herd after herd of bison, trudging in single file to a new grassy field, and creating a little Prehistoric-style traffic jam across the road. We saw bubbling gray mud pots, bleached white tree trunks and new green growth from the forest renewing itself. And everywhere there was the atmospheric mist of the geysers and the hot springs billowing in the cold March air. ?That?s one of the reasons I like winter here the best,? our guide/driver said. ?Because it?s so quiet. And the geysers are so much more dramatic at this time of year.? That equal measure of beauty and breathing planet is stunning to see, with the corresponding splendor of creation and damnation everywhere, of unfettered natural law. It?s why on the way out, when we stopped to take photos of two coyotes tearing apart the carcass of an elk, in my notes I wrote, ?Only heaven could be this wild and gorgeous, and this raw and real.? ?Did she also tell you that the bears might also be waking up right now?? asked Doug Wales. The director of marketing for Bridger Bowl, it was Wales who had invited me to Montana, and who had been the most excited about getting out for a cross-country ski on the Yellowstone snow. It was Wales who set me up to use that old joke, ?I don?t have to outrun the bear. Just you two.? But that would have been hard to do. A talented cross-country skier, Wales made it look easy, kicking and gliding up the snow-covered road as Jeff and I fell further and further out of view. Then again out the long, peaceful streamside trail, to the Lone Star Geyser like a throne of magma in the woods, bathing in the sun and a raven?s caws. ?When does it erupt?? ?Every three hours.? ?Every three hours from when?? ?Exactly.? We decided to ski back to watch Old Faithful instead, betting the safe bet. Which paid off like it always does, blasting hot water straight up in an exclamation arc as painters painted, gawkers gawked and video cameras whirred. ?Look at the coyote,? someone said, and there it was, sniffing the seats and then off into the woods as if it had known the geyser?s regular eruption schedule as well. ?That was cool.? That was nature?s entertainment hour, pulling out all the stops in a single day of sky and scenery and sensation in a place where there is no internet and no TV in the rooms. We sat by the fire instead, letting the feeling grow. In the morning we would see those coyotes eating the carcass, more steam from geysers like Yankee Boy and Old Faithful again, and more elk in the river and a swan. And for dinner, we would all order the buffalo. Next: Big Sky. Links: Yellowstone National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park

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The Authentic Ski Tour: Chico Hot Springs, Day 2

..... Pray, Montana (Ski Press)-Through the windshield I can watch the Absaroka Range coming into view like great blue gods with diamonds and avalanches in their hair. Livingston, Montana is coming up on the right, and Bob Dylan is on the radio. ?Did you ever see the movie Rancho Deluxe, with Sam Waterston and Jeff Bridges?? I ask Jeff. He shakes his head. ?No.? It?s day two of my self-proclaimed ?Authentic Ski Tour,? of Montana?s Yellowstone Country, busting a Big Sky hole through the cookie-cutter clutter of ski experiences so sugared up, starched out, and stiltingly stratified that it?s a wonder anyone can tell their vacations apart anymore. Jeff Carroll got me started with the grassroots elegance of Red Lodge, and now we are heading to Chico Hot Springs, then Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky, Moonlight Basin and Bridger Bowl. ?It was filmed in Livingston,? I said. ?Bridges and Waterston are modern rustlers. And Slim Pickens is sent to catch them. And Jimmy Buffet and his band have a scene in the bar.? Buffet wrote a song called ?Livingston Saturday Night?: ?Pickup's washed and you just got paid. With any luck at all you might even get laid, 'Cause they're pickin' and a-kickin' on a Livingston Saturday Night.? But we?re heading south to Paradise Valley now, closer to those mountains catching clouds, through the endless prairies between the peaks and the great log cabins in open spaces without even a tree to stop the wind and the sun from coming through. ?It?s beautiful.? ?I know.? We?re heading to Chico Hot Springs, a kind of Rocky Mountain Eden where the mountains and plains and bubbling hot waters come together, and the wedding parties, couples and cowboys come for miles. Like a great camphouse-meets-country hotel, it is tucked against the peaks, golden in the light, with the wonderful restaurant inside, those mythic waters, and the Chico Saloon, its legendary bar. At the rooms across from the stables, where the horses are being fed at dusk, a stout man is busy unloading several six-packs of different micro-brews. ?Looks like you?re getting ready for a good time,? I said, wondering if he was booked for a week, or about to host his own beer festival right then and there. He looked me in the eye between moving six packs and said, ?It?s always a good time in Chico.? And walking over to the Chico Dining Room I felt a little warmth of anticipation at the light melting out the windows, and the sense of coming in from the cold. I felt the warmth of the wine, The Prisoner, and the conversation as Chico?s General Manager Colin Kurth Davis took us into the night, through Chico?s history and the restaurant?s menu. ?You have to stay for two nights,? he said. ?One night to eat here in the restaurant, and one night by the pool in the Grill.? Interested and generous, Davis gives off the air of a friendly neighbor hosting an endless pool party and barbecue. And what a pool, and what a menu. For the Dining Room there is even a book, ?A Montana Table,? written by Colin?s wife, Seabring Davis, an accomplished journalist and foodie, detailing the deceptively simple preparation of the restaurant?s ubiquitously delicious fennel breadsticks, rock-cooked Yellowstone Chicken, and Huckleberry Swirl Cheesecake. We sit there for hours. It is a perfect pace. In my mind, I could go there right now. It is Colin who finally breaks the trance. ?Shall we go next door?? I?ve never seen two-stepping that good before. The pedal-steel guitar and stand-up bass of Dirty Shame, and all those pretty country girls heating up the dance floor. The young cowboys come in with their towels tucked under their arms to hit the pool. Drinks are served in cups through the window, into the steaming outdoors. A sun-kissed blonde named Shona shoots me with a potato gun. Rounds of tequila are ordered, and the night suddenly accelerates as the band plays faster numbers. The dance floor fills, and if you look hard enough, you can see the stars start to swirl. Links Chico Hot Springs: www.chicohotsprings.com A Montana Table: www.amazon.com/Montana-Table-Recipes-Springs-Resort/dp/0762725702/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Jimmy Buffet, Livingston Saturday Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gzzS0nyMfM

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Popular ski destinations: Tignes, France vs Lake Tahoe, USA

FranceEspace Killy, Tignes/Val D'IsereL'Espace Killy, located in the Savoy region south west of Geneva, is named after the eponymous French ski racer, offers two different main resorts, but one fantastic ski area.In these uncertain climatic times, one of the most important considerations is booking with the confidence that you are going to have snow to ski on. Espace Killy is reassuringly consistent - both Tignes and Val d'Isere are high enough to pretty much guarantee skiing throughout the season and the variety of skiing caters for everyone from beginner to seasoned expert, as does the variety (and cost) of accommodation.Both resorts played major roles in the 1992 Winter games - Val d'Isere hosting most of the men's alpine skiing events while Tignes was the site for all of the freestyle skiing events."Val" is one of the most British of all French resorts. It's got a reputation for being posh and prices certainly commands a premium, but nowadays there is a wide spread of accommodation ranging from the hostel end through to some of the most luxurious hotels and chalets around. The nightlife is excellent and some of Val's haunts are legendary - Dick's Tea Bar, for example - and the skiing? well, it has both a World Cup and an Olympic Downhill course as well as some beautiful and somewhat easier pistes further from the resort centres.Both Val d'Isere and Tignes are served by a variety of ski schools. The ubiquitous ESF (Ecole de Ski Francais) is well represented, but so too are an increasingly large number of smaller, more international ski schools where English is usually the mainlanguage. Be sure to book in advance, however, as at busy times it can be really hardto find spaces otherwise.Tignes is more family-oriented and less "chocolate box-y" than Val, but it offers an awesome selection of chalets and apartments at its various resorts. The central meeting points at both Le Lac and Val Claret make the skiing accessible for dropping off the kids at Ski School and setting off yourself. There are some great places for lunch by the lifts, but be sure to get a place early as they get busy quickly. Tignes also has a great sports centre, with a superb wave and slide swimming pool ? and, in fact, lots to do for non-skiers.The Grand Motte Glacier in Tignes has snow all the year round so it's already open for business. However, if you are considering a summer holiday in the mountains, Tignes really has it all, especially when the Lac de Tignes is ice-free ? so you can combine walking, sailing, tennis and skiing in a truly great holiday destination.www.espacekilly.comHotels in Tignes or Val d'Isere start from around ?60-?70 per night for a double room.Driving distance from:Chamb�ry-Aix Airport: 140 km, 2h Geneva Airport: 170 km, 2h40 Grenoble Airport: 205 km, 2h45 Lyon St Exup�ry Airport: 215 km, 2h50 Turin Airport (via Frejus Tunnel): 200 km, 3h�USALake TahoeThree hours drive from San Francisco and forty five minutes from Reno, Nevada, lies Lake Tahoe. It borders California and Nevads in western USA. The region has several ski resorts situated around the Lake. When I last counted there were 14 (not including the cross country ski areas) and they range from the large by American Standards - such as Heavenly and Squaw Valleys to the small by anyone's standards like, Soda Springs Boreal.The downside is that they aren't really connected though the drive between one resort main lift and the next may be only a few minutes and, if you base yourself in Tahoe City or South Lake Tahoe you will always be well placed for several. The upside is that there is something for everyone and they all offer a view of the Lake, which is a view worth having. Tahoe caters for everyone. There is a resort for cruising and a resort for really bruising, punishing skiing and everything in between.You don't pay a premium for meals or drinks in the resort or on the mountain (a refreshing change from Europe) and there is a fair variety.Tahoe can also offer two extremes of holiday because half of it is in Nevada, where gambling, if not compulsory, is certainly the central pastime and the other half is in California, where things are much more "laid back". This makes South Lake Tahoe - the base town for Heavenly Valley - a fascinating place because the Nevada half is brash, neon-lit 24/7 party central, while the California half, is not.Other Lake Tahoe resorts have less of a split personality. Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 Winter Olympics has some really challenging skiing and much more of a European feel.Accommodation comprises hotels, motels, self-catering apartments and there are few catered chalets ? but you will find the facilities are generally more spacious and more highly spec'd than their French equivalents.Lift queues are incredibly well ordered - no pushing - every twenty feet or so there are tissue stops and when you get to your chair lift, someone will wipe your seat and greet you with "have a nice day!" Ski Patrols "police" the mountain and can remove ski passes from people who behave like idiots on or by the slopes.Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long and almost 1900 metres above sea level - higher than most European resorts, so the snow comes early and stays late. If you ski in Spring you can sometimes sunbathe on the shores of the Lake and ski in the mountains surrounding it, all on the same day.Tahoe doesn't have a glacier which means that there's no snow skiing once the season has ended, but, like Tignes, it has tennis, golf, watersports and mountain-type activities and, it too, makes a great place for a summer holiday.www.visitinglaketahoe.comHotels in Tahoe City or South Lake Tahoe start from $25 per night for a double room.Driving distance from:Reno Tahoe Airport: 45 minsSacramento Airport: 2hOakland Airport: 3h30San Francisco Airport: 4hSan Jose Airport: 4h�Best time to goThe best snow conditions in either France or California are from February to March. December heralds the start of the ski season but conditions may be cold.
14 November 2011
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Vintage shopping in Miami

Biba founder Barbara Hulanicki has lived in Miami for 20 years and makes the perfect guide to the city's vintage shops'Don't let me buy any orange things, OK? No more kitsch orange pieces," says Barbara Hulanicki, as we head off on our vintage shopping expedition. Miami's South Beach is well known for sun, sea, sand and partying. Less well-known is its appeal for vintage fans ? flea markets, fascinating shops and huge trucks full of designer dresses from house clearances. Keen to uncover this side of Miami, I'd put in a call to Hulanicki, fashion designer, founder of iconic clothes store Biba and long-time Miami resident.My grandmother was a Biba shop girl, so tales of tight Hulanicki miniskirts, stylish 1960s plastic Biba raincoats for under �20 and celebrities flocking to the Kensington High Street shop filled my childhood. I grew up in awe of this shop, sad that I missed the era it defined and annoyed that my grandmother has no items left ? she didn't keep one thing. The last time I interviewed Barbara she offered to take me shopping in Miami. So, here I am eating breakfast with her at the Front Porch Cafe on Ocean Drive (frontporchoceandrive.com), fuelling up in preparation. The plan is to do vintage shops on Saturday and the vintage/antique market on Sunday.Barbara moved to Miami in the early 1990s to help Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood decorate his club, Woody's on the Beach, and she's made the city her base ever since. She travels around the world designing hotel interiors and clothing for labels from Topshop to Coccinelle. Orange, I'm discovering, is her achilles heel. Her office is littered with orange glass ornaments, ashtrays and lights. Even now, as she is telling me that she really must not buy any more orange, her eye is wandering through the window of a secondhand shop, where she can spy some tangerine bric-a-brac.But orange aside, when it comes to shopping, Barbara is an expert. "I am just a big hunter. I think they call them hoarders now. I'll show you some pictures of what our place in London used to look like. Remember Steptoe and Son? It was like that. I used to collect antique lights. I'd have loads of them, art deco-style. Before going to bed my [late] husband Fitz would turn them all off, and as he got into bed he would realise he had forgotten one."After each big shopping trip I get that feeling again, the thrill of it, and I have to try to curb my hunting. This weekend will start my shopping habit again ? I just know it."Our first stop is Las Tias (2834 N Miami Avenue, lastias.com), an upscale secondhand shop with a fur-covered chaise longue and a 1980s cocktail dress in the window. We jump out of Barbara's Mini Cooper and get started. I run straight to the clothes and purses, and leave her eyeing up the furniture ? yellow pieces from a living room set."This person was very matchy, matchy," she says, stroking the pieces and imagining their former owner.Then it's on to the women's clothes: old party dresses, 1960s print shifts (my favourite) and vintage shoes.Having whetted our appetites we drive to C Madeleine's (13702 Biscayne Boulevard, cmadeleines.com), which is famous with editors, stylists and serious fashion fanatics."OK, hold your breath," says Barbara, as she swings open the door. She sees my eyes light up and says, "I knew you were going to love this store. You are going to have such fun. I might have to say goodbye to you, see you in two hours' time."I start in couture, then move on to the 1970s section (think vintage Bill Blass dresses for around $300), by way of hat boxes and leather jackets (around $600), and finish up wondering if I can charge a vintage Pucci dress to my credit card. Sadly the prices are out of my reach, but Barbara still practically has to drag me out of the shop.On the way back we make a quick stop at Divine Trash (7244 Biscayne Boulevard, getdivineonline.com). The owner, Donna, is fabulous. As we walk in, she is sorting through a collection of designer clothes that a celebrity has donated because she "can't wear anything twice". Barbara and Donna, both stalwarts of the vintage scene, swap stories of how much stuff they've bought since they last saw each other.I head straight to the celebrity pile, and start digging. But then my eyes are drawn to the vintage dresses."I see you have a thing for antique white lace dresses ? very interesting and summery, but what would you wear underneath it?" ponders Barbara as I'm trying on another lace top in the changing room. It could be worn as a dress, and is a bargain at $40.Sadly, nothing fits, so we drive to a stylish new eatery called Gigi (3470 N Miami Avenue, giginow.com). It's in the design district, open till 5am at weekends and serves Asian fusion food and great desserts. The Design district has been transformed in the past few years. It's now a hub for a young cool crowd, with art galleries on every block and new places to eat.Next day, I'm up early to find Barbara in my hotel lobby raring to go. The Sunday Lincoln Road Antique & Collectible Market (lincolnroadmiamibeach.info) is a short walk from the hotel but first we head to the nearby cafe at Books & Books for breakfast (927 Lincoln Road, booksandbooks.com) to feast on eggs Benedict, coffee and fruit. Under the hot sun, we start on the stalls."I love wondering what I might find, don't you? Nowadays I don't have any space left to store things but if it's haunting me, I have to go back and see if it's still there," Barbara tells me. Tanned muscular men and bikini-clad ladies on Rollerblades pass us, heading for the beach. But that's the last thing on our minds.We find vintage Missoni and Chanel clothes, plastic furniture and an antique globe. Three hours later, we still haven't bought anything, but we've had a blast. We talk all things Biba ("I still get people coming up to me and describing exact Biba items ? it's very sweet and I remember designing all of them," says Barbara), why vintage clothes are awesome ("that quality, it lasts for ages") and try to imagine the previous owners of some of this stuff, especially the nodding doll, and the lime green dress with one shoulder pad.The lack of purchases hasn't dampened our spirits. In fact, we've set a date for early next year to do it all again and I've started the research. Top of my list is Fly Boutique (650 Lincoln Road, flyboutiquevintage.com), an Aladdin's cave of vintage wares from battered Levi's to Chanel pieces and vintage Versace waistcoats. I can't wait.? The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club in Miami's South Beach (+1 305 674 1160, catalinahotel.com) has doubles from around $200 a night. Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 7310, virgin-atlantic.com) flies to Miami from Heathrow from around �390 return. For more information see miamibeachfl.gov MiamiShopping tripsUnited StatesNorth and Central AmericaFloridaCarlene Thomas-Baileyguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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The Highlands' coolest ? and most remote ? cottages

In Durness, in the far north-west of mainland Scotland, two luxurious and cosy eco cottages offer chic design and spectacular views of Loch EribollDurness: 58 degrees north, closer to the pole than Gothenburg and Juneau, Alaska. This is the land of single-track roads and passing places; of herds of deer and heather-coated mountains and cliffs that plunge into the icy sea. It is now also home to Croft 103, the only five-star accommodation for 100 miles in the extreme north of Scotland.Impressive when you consider that by Christmas the sun will only be up for around six hours, if it's visible at all. The past two years, when temperatures hit obscene lows and the UK seemed to endure its own brief ice age, the wee village in Sutherland must have felt like a Siberian prison."Oh no, it was magical," says Fiona Mackay. "We're really going to push for winter bookings."Along with husband Robbie, she is the owner of Croft 103 and Mackay's, a four-star hotel in Durness mainland, Britain's most north-westerly village. "There was one night we were finishing off our new cottages at the edge of the loch. The snow was all around, the sky was clear, the northern lights were great, and a big heard of deer came in off the hills to keep warm. It was just magic." It sounds more Philip Pullman than Dostoevsky.It's just about possible to make the journey via bus from Inverness, but when the weather is good the drive ? especially the stretch between Ullapool and Durness ? is one of the most spectacular in the country, if not all of Europe. The lack of traffic is a bonus, not least because of the amount of braking that's required every time another impossibly beautiful landscape pops round a tight bend.But this far north life tends to the extreme. Just as it's dark for a long time in winter, so the summer nights stretch past 11pm. At the Durness golf course there are tales of playing past midnight, and of watching killer whales hunting seals in the bay next to the 18th green. Nearby, Smoo is the largest limestone cave in the UK; similarly, out at Cape Wrath the Clo Mor cliffs are our highest sheer cliffs, and one of our best sea bird colonies. It's craggy and wild ? just as the end the world should be.In contrast with all that, the Mackays' new property is a picture of serenity. Croft 103 is actually two self-catering cottages: the Hill and Shore Dwellings, located a few miles outside of Durness. Well off the main road, they are set a couple of hundred yards away from one another, offering total peace and quiet. They look east over Eriboll, a vast sea loch where the last German U-boats surrendered at the end of the war, towards Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro.Robbie led us down to the Shore Dwelling where we found a basket full of local cheeses, smoked salmon and other seasonal Highland treats. It's possible to request him to dive in the loch for fresh scallops to supplement the bounty, but we weren't so cruel.Before arriving I had imagined self-catering in this part of the world would mean perilously waving a net around off a cliff in hope of catching a puffin. A few years ago, maybe, but today Durness is surprisingly cosmopolitan in its tastes. In the local newsagents we found perfectly ripe avocados, soy sauce infused with sesame and a respectable Argentinian malbec. Failing all of that, we were of course welcome to eat at the restaurant in Mackay's hotel.But back at the cottage, the kitchen is all brushed aluminium and locally milled Douglas fir. Everything is, of course, brand new ? the dishwasher, the oven sunk into the wall. You want to cook in a place like this.The rest of the cottage has a linear design, so with all the doors open it's possible see from the front door to the bathroom at end of the building. This allowed me a very long track on which to run, then jump on to the gargantuan bed ? a bespoke seven foot by seven foot ? in the penultimate room. My Olympic effort barely got me half way across the emperor-sized monster.The dash took me past a cosy rug in front of a woodburner, past a huge swallow-you-whole couch, and past a Bose sound system piped into the walls, next to a 50-inch plasma TV. Just to the right, though, there's a 50ft screen to watch the world in glorious technicolour. Enormous glass runs the length of the building, offering utterly spectacular views across Loch Eriboll from every room in the house. Perhaps the biggest achievement at Croft 103 is that despite all this glass, the near-Arctic location, and the polished concrete floors, it is quite a warm property.The key is in the design, which the Mackays say is "carbon negative". While the front is all glass, the back of the property is cuddled by a small hill. The rear wall is also insulated with sheep's wool, and tyre bales salvaged from a nearby scrapyard. Many of the stones used in the construction were sourced on-site, and everything else ? down to the toilet roll holders ? bought from Highland suppliers, or designed and fitted by local tradesmen. On top of all this (literally) there is a wind turbine that generates enough electricity to power both crofts, and still export 10,000kw hours a year back to the grid. The Mackays aren't kidding about this stuff.We went outside to enjoy the perfect silence. Croft 103 is aimed at couples looking for a romantic getaway ? and it would suit that perfectly ? but I couldn't help think that it would be a great place to write a book, too. A path to the end of the building led us to a barbecue and, to our surprise, a free-standing outdoor bath. We looked across the loch, to the purple and gold hills, and up to the cloud-free sky exorcising the earth of its last heat. "Hmm," we thought, glancing back at the hot water tap with suspicion, "maybe not today."? Port na Con, Laid, Durness, 01971 511202, neverwanttoleave.co.uk. The Hill Dwelling and the Shore Dwelling both sleep two people and cost from �600 for three-nights or �1,100 per week. Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies to Inverness from Bristol, Gatwick and Luton from �50 return, and from there rent a car for the 2�-hour drive to Durness. Inverness Airport Car Rental (invernessairportcarhire.net) costs from �17 a day HighlandsSelf-cateringScotlandUnited KingdomShort breaksLuxury travelguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Wrap up: Wedding album arrives from VioVio [CONTEST]

Lola Akinmade �kerstr�m finishes up her VioVio photo printing review.

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Down-home Dutch cooking in Amsterdam

Filed under: Food and Drink, Europe, NetherlandsDutch cooking isn't one of Europe's famous cuisines. Yet while it can't compete on the world stage with Italian or Spanish cuisine, Dutch cooking can been really good and travelers to The Netherlands shouldn't dismiss the culinary side of their trip. Here are three cheap to mid-priced restaurants that will make you appreciate Dutch cooking.

De Stadskantine
This "city canteen" at Van Woustraat 120 is run by friendly folks who decided there needed to be a cheap, quick, cafeteria-style restaurant in Amsterdam, something between the grab-and-gulp fast food joints and the sedate sit-down restaurants.

They succeed admirably. The long tables allow people to mingle in an informal atmosphere and each dish is already prepared so you don't have long to wait. This is especially good if you're just visiting Amsterdam, because you can rest and refuel without losing a big part of your sightseeing day. The servings are hearty and the food well-prepared and healthy. I had the turkey with tomato sauce, potatoes, and green beans. This isn't haute cuisine; this is tasty, filling food the way you mom used to make, assuming your mom was Dutch.

De Stadskantine has only been open eight months and it's already hugely popular. It hasn't made it onto the tourist trail yet and the only language I overheard was Dutch. The menu changes regularly and there's always a meat dish, a fish dish, and a vegetarian option. Entrees are all under ten euros ($13.50), a bargain for Amsterdam. Check out their website for what's on today.Continue reading Down-home Dutch cooking in AmsterdamDown-home Dutch cooking in Amsterdam originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Observer winter travel special

For a full-on, glitter-coated Christmas extravaganza, there's no better place than Mexico City. And when you've had your fill of street parties and mariachi bands, head south to Oaxaca for a far more sedate experiencehe road that leads east out of Mexico City has a roller-coaster surface, and driving it is not normally a particularly uplifting holiday experience. But last year, as I escaped the early Christmas season mayhem of the capital, my route through the mismanaged urban sprawl actually intensified that wonderful sense of impending freedom.I had promised my carload of visiting family glorious views of the Iztacc�huatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes on the way ? on a clear day they are a near-constant presence all the way to Puebla, about two hours into the journey south to Oaxaca, our destination.Oaxaca, the capital of the southern state of the same name, is a place where indigenous, colonial and modern traditions meld into an explosion of colour, as well as being a hotbed of political activism. It is also pleasantly Christmassy: there are no jingle bells, nor the weather to go with them, but there is a lively yet unhurried aura of celebration.The contrast with Mexico City is stark, at least in those frantic weeks of record-breaking traffic jams leading up to Christmas Eve, when Mexican families hold their late-night Christmas feast. This is not to say you cannot have seasonal fun in Mexico City; you just have to plan it. The trendy bars in the Condesa and Roma neighbourhoods and the slowly rejuvenating colonial historical centre are buzzing, while the street markets are filled with modern takes on traditional crafts.You can go people-watching at the huge ice rink in Mexico City's Z�calo plaza in the shadow of the cathedral, the National Palace and the ruined Aztec Templo Mayor. A punt around the canals of Xochimilco between floating gardens can veer between relaxing and frenetic, with mariachi bands on boats drawing up beside yours, touting serenades.By contrast, Christmas in Oaxaca is an altogether gentler experience: it's a place to wander through with a vague idea of where to go and a willingness to change your mind if something more interesting crops up on the way.It is foolish to stay anywhere but in the centre, with its elegant green-tinged stone buildings and squares. Last year I had failed to book in advance so we ended up having to search around for vacancies. We should have put a seasonal spin on the nuisance, given the Mexican tradition of las posadas. These re-enactments of the search for a room at the inn are nightly celebrations that begin on 16 December and end on Christmas Eve. They tend to be private parties, or, in the smaller towns, they are organised by, church congregations and often include processions complete with somebody dressed up as the Virgin Mary, and a plaintive song in which pilgrims holding candles ask for shelter.Christmas is also a good time to visit the city's many colonial churches. The most impressive is Santo Domingo, a baroque extravaganza next to an austere and imposing monastery that houses a good historical museum and provides lovely views of the surrounding mountains and the city's famed ethnobotanic garden ? unmissable for anyone with interest in cacti. Even for those without such enthusiasms, the garden's arid exuberance is oddly beautiful and reflects the input of Oaxaca's most famous living artist, Francisco Toledo. Toledo has been a driving force in ensuring the city's restorations have respected tradition, down to a successful campaign a few years back to keep McDonald's out of the main city square.Oaxaca oozes confidence in an artistic tradition that goes far beyond Toledo and includes a ground rock of accomplished artisans whose work is on display in shops and markets around the city and in villages outside. But on the night of 23 December it is the turn of the masters of vegetable sculpture. The century-old noche de r�banos, or the Night of the Radishes, is one of Mexico's oddest Christmas festivals. It reputedly builds on a radish-carving tradition said to have first been encouraged by Dominican friars centuries before.The radish artists take over the city square all day, producing extraordinarily intricate religious and secular scenes in time for the competition that evening. Winners and losers then watch their creations rot away.Oaxacan food to eat, as well as to look at, is often best in the smaller restaurants and the markets. Snack on fried chapulines (grasshoppers), test out one of the seven varieties of mole (an incredibly complex chilli sauce), and wash it down with tejate (a drink made from corn, cacao beans, mamey seeds and rosita flowers). Christmas also brings street stalls in the city square selling bu�uelos, a fried sweet sprinkled with cinnamon, served in an unglazed pottery bowl that you are supposed to throw over your shoulder, making a wish as it breaks.Between the full-blown resort at Huatulco and the surfers' mecca at Puerto Escondido are a series of quieter and quite lovely little villages, including Mazunte and its next-door neighbour San Agustinillo. The most direct road includes a seemingly endless stretch of switch-back curves leading down from the mountains through tropical vegetation until you finally get to a small town called Pochutla and relief that you are almost there.Friends swear it takes six hours, but it took us around 10, owing to numerous stops when little faces turned white. A longer but straighter, and in some ways more spectacular, route through the sierra down to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and then back along the coast is easier on the stomach. For either road leave plenty of time to complete the drive in daylight both in order to see the view, and also as a basic security measure. You can also fly to Huatulco and take a taxi.Mazunte and San Agustinillo are both hippyish hangouts and most accommodation is quite simple, but there is also at least one luxury hotel, some perfectly comfortable cabins and a range of houses to rent.We rented La Casa del Arquitecto, which was perfect ? once we had dragged the bags up 100 odd steps and the owner had dealt with an invasion of giant ants. The facilities were basic but the view out to sea breathtaking, particularly while sipping a beer and watching the sunset from a tiny pool overlooked by vultures.Mazunte and San Agustinillo are most famous for the sea turtles that nest in the area ? particularly the Olive Ridley species that return year after year to Playa Escobilla. These turtles are rather solitary, but between June and November, a couple of nights or so after the full moon, they lumber up the sand en masse, scoop out a nest and lay around 100 eggs before setting off into the waves again.Villagers depended on the trade in turtle meat and eggs until a 1990 ban forced them to reinvent themselves along eco-friendly lines. There is a museum and breeding centre in Mazunte, and locals tout boat trips out to sea in search of turtles swimming along with what seems like grim determination. We also spotted a few passing dolphins.The bay at Mazunte is populated but not uncomfortably crowded and the waves big enough to be fun, but not too daunting. There are plenty of places to snack on the beach itself, though the better restaurants are inside the village. Long, deserted beaches stretch beyond, though the open Pacific sea and stories of rip tides ensured none of us dared go in.After a few days it was time to make the long journey back to Mexico City. This time we caught sight of Popocatepetl volcano along the final approach, complete with a small plume of gas and ash rising out of the crater.Back in the capital the Christmas season had almost fizzled out bar the last bubble of excitement in the lead-up to El D�a de Reyes, Kings' Day, on 6 January. My visiting family had flown away by the time Mexican children were taking part in my own personal favourite of all local seasonal traditions: releasing a small gas balloon and watching it disappear into the distance. The balloons carry letters for the Magi, asking for a particular toy in the hope it will appear on the next morning. And when the Mexican Christmas is over la cuesta de enero, or the January climb, begins.EssentialsMexico City Condesa df (condesadf.com); Hotel Maria Cristina (hotelmariacristina.com.mx); La Stanza (stanzahotel.com) Oaxaca Camino Real (camino-real-oaxaca.com); Las Bugambilias (lasbugambilias.com/oaxaca-bed-breakfast.htm); Posada Don Mario (posadadonmario.com/home.html) Mazunte/San Agustinillo Casa Pan de Miel (casapandemiel.com); Un Sue�o (unsueno.com/flash/index.html); Rentals laondade lacosta.com/housesforrent.htm; Flights Netflights.com flies to Mexico City from Stansted from �1,140 return with KLM (klm.com). For more information on Mexico, go to planeta.comMexicoChristmas and New YearMexico CityNorth and Central AmericaChristmasJo Tuckmanguardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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London's Billingsgate fish market

Karen Kay buys fish at the market, then learns how to prepare it at Billingsgate Seafood Training School

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Oyster bay: a Danish fishing safari

In the swish restaurants of Copenhagen you pay a premium to dine on fresh oysters, but join a tour on the west coast of Denmark and for �25 you can fill your bucket with fresh oystersLars Eriksen

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Mancuso Rocks Whiteface GS for 11th Career Title

.....Lake Placid, NY (Ski Press)-Three-time Olympic medalist Julia Mancuso captured the 11th U.S. title of her career with a victory in the women's giant slalom to close the 2010 Visa U.S. Alpine Championships at Whiteface Mountain Tuesday."I actually haven't skied giant slalom since the Olympics, so it was nice to get back on my GS skis," Mancuso said.Mancuso was also the giant slalom champion in '09, '05, and '03. With 11 titles, she now moves past U.S. great Andrea Mead Lawrence for the most titles of any American male or female, breaking a record that has stood for 55 years.The weekend brought some closure to a season�in�which�Mancuso had long worked hard ."Coming back from a back injury I always had the goal of getting ready for the Olympics. Even going into last season it hurt. I wanted to keep trying. Just being able to see the reward of the plan paying off was really amazing," Mancuso said.Second place for the day went to Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, OR) who produced the fastest second run. Ross was also third in the super G and second in the combined at Whiteface.Malin Hemmingson of Sweden was third followed by U.S. downhill champion Leanne Smith (Conway, NH).The top U.S. junior was Julia Ford (Plymouth, NH) out of U.S. Development Team, though the fastest junior was Erin Mielzynski of Canada. J-2 Foreste Peterson (Berkeley, CA) of the Squaw Valley Ski Team was the next fastest U.S. junior followed by Abby Ghent (Edwards, CO) of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.The USSA Western Region took the 2010Tom Garner Regions Cup with 2,903 points, followed by the East with1,869 and Rocky/Central with 986.Tuesday also marked the final race for Kaylin Richardson (Edina, MN), a two-time Olympian and seven-year member of the U.S. Ski Team. She ran both runs of giant slalom in a puffy red one piece ski suit circa 1980, with her parents making the trip from Minnesota just to see their daughter's last event.Numerous athletes, including Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) now move directly to Cochran's Ski Area in Richmond, VT for the annual charity slalom hosted by two-time Olympian Jimmy Cochran tomorrow.OFFICIAL RESULTS2010 Visa U.S. Alpine ChampionshipsLake Placid, NY - March 22, 2010Women?s Giant Slalom1. Julia Mancuso, Olympic Valley, CA, 2:07.522. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR, 2:08.113. Malin Hemmingsson, Sweden, 2:08.254. Leanne Smith, Conway, NH, 2:08.985. Megan McJames, Park City, UT, 2:09.17

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