Splash Into Summer

Designer Thomas Ugene McNeel and his Love True Love swimwear line are

quickly developing a cult following. The swimsuits are created with

custom hardware, luxurious fabrics, eye-catching colors, and a

flawless fit. It’s no surprise that people are addicted to “Love.”

Price Ranges- $104-$145

Sauipe swimwear is making a splash with the Summer 2009 collection.

The classic and seductive designs are inspired by the culture and

landscape of Brazil. An international favorite, Sauipe featured three swimsuits from the line in the Sports Illustrated 2009 Swimsuit Edition.

Price Ranges $95-$120

Designer Mara Hoffman brings her impeccable style to the beach with

her newest swimwear collection. Designed with vibrant colors, chic

patterns, and a variety of cuts, Hoffman’s suits are sure to make a splash on any beach.

Prices Range $150-$176

Lisa Vogel debuts her highly anticipated LUXE by Lisa Vogel swimwear line this summer. Designed with 29-49 age group in mind, the smart and stylish swimsuits show off a woman’s body, while hiding imperfections.

Price Ranges $104-$125

On a “continuous quest for the perfect bikini,” the sexy and playful Australian swimwear brand Tigerlily is making waves with its sea-and-sand-worthy styles. With designs ranging

from girly floral patterns, to stylish geometric prints, to the

classic black bikini, this label sure knows its stuff when it comes to sexy summertime style.

Price Ranges- $150- $190  

(Bikini shown by LUXE swimwear) 

The 4th annual "Saddle Up LA" AIDS Benefit Horseback Trail Ride will take place this weekend on Saturday, July 11 through the Griffith Park Mountains. A country BBQ and ride to remember, the event honors not only those who have died of AIDS but will those living on whether infected or affected by HIV and raises money for The Life

Group’s invaluable HIV Community Programs. MC’ing for the 4th year in a row is Actor, Writer and AIDS Activist, MC Mystery Mike Hennessey. Also joining again this year is Glen Alen as “Bette”; A new performance by the LA Wranglers;  DJ sounds ofCelebrity DJ, Paris Wang;  Magician Rob Rasner strolling about from table

to table and more.

If you missed registration to ride, check out www.SaddleUpLA.org to find other ways to participate!

Come join The Cobrasnake, Deckstar and The Roxy as they kickoff their new event Spin The Bottle. The dance party will take place every Monday during the summer and is sponsored by Vitamin Water Sync and T-Mobile Sidekick. Weekly giveaways will include Sidekicks, mixtapes, t-shirts, and Vitamin Water sync just to name a few.  DJs include Marshall Barnes, Steve Aoki, Pase Rock, DJ AM, Skeet Skeet, with weekly special guest performers.  Come join the dance party every Monday night!

The Roxy

9009 West Sunset West Hollywood | 310.278.9457 | www.theroxyonsunset.com ;

Women everywhere have the idea that it takes gallons of tan-in-a-can, weeks at the gym and several sessions with their shrinks to feel good in a swimsuit. However, San Francisco designer Zoë insists that we all take a deep breath. At 19, a personal vendetta against ill-fitting, cookie cutter, department store swimsuits inspired Zoë’s determination to create her own “perfect bikini.” She admits the first attempt was catastrophic, but patience and vision produced results. In admiration of her handiwork, friends and acquaintances soon sought out Zoë’s handiwork because of her ability to create a bikini that insisted, above all, that its wearer feel fabulous. Upon debuting her first collection in a brand new storefront, Zoë found success as a custom-fitting swimsuit boutique. She proved that by simply swapping clasps for hooks or tweaking straps, she could provide the customer with the support and comfort they had searched for in a bikini all their life. Eventually, Zoë Bikini ascended into such demand and had produced countless options that its creator decided to forego custom bikinis. Since the change, however, she’s continued to stock her store with enough color and style combinations that women are more eager than ever. Serving body types from busty to curve-challenged, from surfers to lawn-chair lovers, Zoë guarantees that the retirement from custom-made suits won’t sacrifice exceptional customer service and personal consultation.

At about $140 per bikini, anyone can afford Zoë’s rainbow of options and superb attention to detail. Skip over to the Zoë Bikini store located at 3386 18th Street. They have the season’s most promising trends represented in every bandeau top and boy short. After investing in the perfect bikini, Zoë recommends fogbathing at Dolores Park where, rumor has it, a Zoë Bikini is wrapped around every other perfectly content body.

5k and 10k's, kids in wagons, classic cars and BBQ's you can tell it's the Fourth of July in Orange County.  As usual, Disneyland and the Anaheim Angels homeruns' have competition in the sky at night for battling blow-ups, but during the day, any place in Orange County is a blast.  Live music is prominent from Westminster to Dana Point and many activities can only be enjoyed here, behind the Orange curtain.  Marching bands and floats down Main St. in Huntington Beach, Harbor Cruises in Newport and Dana Point it is just a fun weekend ahead to look forward to.  The weather is going to be great and we are looking forward to a fun time.  Me, I will be just like the picture above,  hitting my house in Rancho Mirage for Puerto Rican libations and my pool.  Be sure to be safe this weekend.  Take a taxi to and from.  The DUI check points will be out and the police departments want it to be safe especially on the Fourth. You want to be behind the right kind of bars this weekend.

The new July issue has officially hit the streets.  Audrina Patridge graces this months cover with our exclusive, "back to the Track: Del Mar," edition. I can't wait for the ponies the run this season down in Del Mar.

Have a great weekend.  My advice to you youngsters, do not make bombs out or Piccolo Pete's, go to YouTube and you'll see....

Don Bartolo

Publisher, 944

In 2004, Teresa Rodriquez Williamson, author of Fly Solo – The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone, and Patti Mangan founded Tango Diva, a Web site dedicated to empowering and inspiring women to travel. What they created wasn’t only a worldwide online social community approaching 10,000 women travelers, but also a site with over 500 relevant articles covering culture, style and wellness, not to mention reviews on destinations, fashion, luxury travel merchandise and more. Tango Diva offers women of all walks of life the opportunity to share interesting destinations, develop a richer understanding of the peoples of the world and find out what it means to be a positive participant in this ever-shrinking world. With individual profiles, each member manages their own world travel map, journals, photos and friends.

www.tangodiva.com]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:19:42 MST http://www.944.com/articles/944-picks-tango-diva/ http://www.944.com/articles/944-s-choice-disco-taxi-cab/

Say “taxi driver” and the first thing that comes to mind is a mohawked Robert De Niro in a green military jacket talking to himself in the mirror. “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?” Well, no Bobby D, we’re not talking to you or the young Lolita-like nymph Jodi Foster. As a matter of fact, we aren’t even talking to Haydar Alhakim, the Bay Area’s Disco Taxi Cab Driver and topic of this little article. The dude’s M.I.A., which again, brings about the imagery of a lone man locked away insane wearing a military jacket. Let’s not say Alhakim is missing. He’s most definitely around making an impact on all of the environmentally conscious or vehicularly challenged people throughout the city. He’s out there on the sprawling urban dance floor, seven miles by seven miles, driving with a Travolta-esque foot-pump and arm jab. Imagine the sweating, odorous car flashing like the Cash Cab and pumping ’70s music that he thinks is probably the most current groove. Get Fergie to sing a Gloria Gaynor song and it will be. From the sounds of things — again, this is tough to say because when Alhakim did answer the phone he sounded like he was either high or lips deep in a harem of strippers — this is the best ride around. Read Yelp.com and people rave about this guy. Rave — another explanation to Alhakim’s rapid cycling and randomness. Granted, taxi drivers keep odd hours, but isn’t there a lull in one’s life where they know they could at least sit down for a cup of joe and chitchat? We can’t imagine not having some form of routine, some form of schedule. Then again, we didn’t spend our party years in the 1970s. Too bad we didn’t get our face-to-face with the dude, but in some way that adds intrigue in to who this character Alhakim is … kinda like how we felt about John Travolta in Disco Fever but could care less about him in Face Off or any other film for that matter. Now that we think of it, perhaps Alhakim will graduate up from “Cab 54” and drive a train. It would be a BART-y every day!

Please ride safely, bring protection and enjoy. You never know when a good thing ends. Call Alhakim at 415.573.5113, we just can’t promise he’ll answer.

There are some people who dream of going to Polynesia, and others, Paris. My goal was to see the Iditarod, a punishing, thousand-mile-long dog sled race across Alaska. A Tour de France for insane people, the Iditarod isn’t held in spring or summer; it’s a winter race with temperatures below zero, blizzards, mileage across frozen seas, and vast expanses of white nothing that can easily drive a person mad. Sounds fun, right?

It all seemed to make sense when I met my knightly tour guide in Anchorage, a white mustachioed real Alaskan who built most of his own house and thinks bailouts are for sissies. It’s true what they say about the bounty of Alaskan men — the odds are good, but the goods are odd. He whisked me away to the Mushers’ Banquet, a gathering of the almost seventy dog drivers competing in the 37th Iditarod. It was the night before the race and the tension was high.

The Iditarod’s ultimate champion was in the house, Lance Mackey. A mirror in many ways to that other hardcore Lance in the sporting world, Mackey is also a cancer survivor who not only beat his disease, but obliterated his sport’s competition, achieving heights none thought humanly possible. But our Lance ain’t about to run out and fake-date Sheryl Crow. Mackey lives on top of a hill in a state park in the middle of nowhere. There is no electricity and no running water.

This rugged individualism has characterized Alaska from the very beginning. Only the toughest survived the gold-mining days, and those who didn’t catch the last boat out of the little coastal town of Nome were frozen in until springtime. In the early 20th century, there were no airplanes able to withstand the super cold conditions, nor had the railway quite reached the sea. Imagine the horror when a sudden diphtheria outbreak swept through Nome. Without enough antitoxin stored up, death was certain.

It was 1925, and urgent messages telegraphed back and forth to Anchorage, an icy mayday snapping across the tundra. There was only one hope — a relay of dog sled teams. The trip would be treacherous — over frozen lakes and seas, across wind-whipped deadened plains. Miraculously, the mushers prevailed and saved Nome. This is what the Iditarod commemorates.
On race day in Anchorage, downtown buzzed with banners, crowds and reindeer hotdog stands. The Man, the legendary dog runner with ice in his veins, was sitting next to me at the table. “Mushers are more like coaches,” explains Mackey. “The dogs are the real athletes.” According to the race’s head veterinarian, the dogs burn 12,000 calories a day.

For the PETA-types out there, please know that Iditarod dogs are treated like friggin’ royalty. Vets posted at race checkpoints closely evaluate them and any dog found even remotely not up to par is immediately trundled off to a tiny plane with skis for wheels and delivered back to civilization. In fact, the dogs all wear booties to protect their paws from the ice, color-coordinated with the mushers’ outfits. And on the trail, they always come first. Only when the dogs are happily fed and bedded down on straw do the humans eat or sleep.

Now it might seem like the Iditarod sounds like the craziest race on earth, yet there’s another race that makes the Iditarod look like a walk-a-thon. There’s also the Yukon Quest, a mammoth Alaskan dog sled race that crosses into Canada. This is Iditarod’s country cousin; a rugged, 1,000-mile race in February with only 10 checkpoints (the Iditarod has double), some spread 200 miles apart across the vast, white wasteland. It is three weeks before the Iditarod, and no one races both. It would be impossible to recover from the hardest race on Earth only to embark on the second-most hardcore race on Earth.

Not for Mackey. He shattered every preconceived notion about dog running when he entered and won both races in the same year, two years in a row, with the same dog team. He’s won the Quest four times and the Iditarod thrice, including this past March. First prize was a whopping $69,000 — less than what it costs him to prepare all year for it — plus, a Dodge truck. Lance is the Iditarod’s most unlikely spokesman, a man who found himself No. 2 to Tiger Woods in Sports Illustrated’s “2008 Toughest Athletes” list. It figures.

www.knightlytours.com and www.iditarod.com

Unlike most of South America’s great tourist cities, Buenos Aires, Argentina mixes its saucy Latin charm with venerable European roots. We jetted down to the “Paris of the Pampas,” lured by a tempting peso-to-dollar ratio, talk of arm-length steaks and rumors of spirited (dare we say drunken?) dancing until early morning.
Now back in San Francisco — and still high on the fumes of dulce de leche and leather goods — we penned a quick guide to our favorite BA spots to indulge in culture, or just plain indulge.

Bookstores: Sense of Shelf
Phrase to know: Dónde están los libros ingleses?

Aristo: Asunto Impreso
In 1994, photographer and publisher Guido Indij opened his quirky bookstore, Asunto Impreso, and inadvertently created The Promised Land for indie-book connoisseurs. The shelves are laden with the crème de la crème of hardbacks — ranging in topics from fashion and cinema to plastic arts and industrial design — and the open, clean space showcases the most complete selection of art books in Latin America. With over 17,000 titles on the visual arts to choose from, it’s hard not to judge these books by their covers.
Peru 1064, San Telmo
Pasaje Rivarola 153, BA Centro
tel. 4361 8210 | www.asuntoimpreso.com

Boho: Crack-Up
The brilliantly lit assortment of shiny, candy-colored hardbacks in Crack-Up’s front window is apt to lure even the most disciplined shopper off his or her intended course. Inside, the two-level interior contains a tightly edited collection of sleek coffee-table books, off-the-beaten-path travel guides, and leather-bound Latin classics. For those with a looser grip on Castellano (Argentine Spanish), there’s a cleverly executed English language corner upstairs.
Costa Rica 4767, Palermo Soho
tel. 4831 3502 | www.crackup.com.ar
Shops: Attention to Retail
Phrase to know: Puedo probarme...

Aristo: Cora Groppo
Cora Groppo’s romantic summer palate of dusty rose, nude and sorbet-hued mint is well suited to stroll through the park with that swarthy Latin lover picked up at Casa Cruz, whilst asymmetrical cuts balance the collection with a strongly delivered edge.
4696 El Salvador, Palermo Soho
tel. 4832 5877 | www.coragroppo.com

Boho: De La Ostia
Nobody does Argentine cool girl like De La Ostia. Featuring a boho mash-up of slouchy tops, Bolivian-inspired sweaters and a killer luxe-meets-street denim collection, this shop is a must on any south-of-the-equator shopping circuit. A troop of helpful and hip staffers, each carrying off an enviably louche look, are willing to assist in creating a perfectly flippant ensemble from surprisingly well-priced pieces.
Salvador 4627, Palermo Soho
tel. 4833 3468 | www.delaostia.net

Boho: San Telmo Antique Market
Though street performers, food vendors and tango dancers might be playing in the background, the fair’s almost 300 stalls, glistening with distinctive trinkets, brings out the serious souvenier finder in us. This weekly Sunday fair communicates the storied character of the city as a whole. Chock-a-block with leather goods, alpaca furs, quirky lamps, intricately carved vintage knives, old-school gramophones and ornate rings around every corner, the one-of-a-kind nature of each piece guarantees a score.
Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo

Cafes: Sugar and Buzz
Phrase to know: Me gustaría un café con leche.

Aristo: Florencio
Burrowed deep away from the tourists, up a not-too-steep hill in an area called “La Isla,” sits María Laura D’Aloisio’s Florencio — a tiny pastry shop that has expanded its offerings to salads, sandwiches and even dinner. A Buenos Aires celebrity of sorts, D’Aloisio’s has become the spot locals try to keep secret. Cash only. Dinner Wednesday and Friday only, closed Sunday.
Francisco de Vittoria 2363, Recoleta | tel. 4807 6477

Boho: La Pasteleria
If a French doily could be a pastry shop, it would probably spin all its precious laciness into La Pasteleria. The powder blue and crisp white exterior lured us into its charmingly petite space. We recommend snagging one of the six indoor or outdoor chairs as soon as they become available. Then plop down shopping bags and devour ladylike cupcakes, cookies or brownies, in a most un-ladylike manner.
1744 Gurruchaga, Palermo SoHo
tel. 4833 2153

Restaurants: A Table at Twelve
Phrase to know: Uno más por favor.

Aristo: La Vineria de Gualterio Bolivar
La Vineria de Gualterio Bolivar’s unassuming San Telmo space belies some of the most experimental dishes found in Buenos Aires. Argentine Chef Alejandro Digilio trained with Ferran Adria at El Bulli. Although his dishes aren’t as out there as Adria’s, such wonders as running egg yolk wrapped in sheep cheese mousse and crunchy bread then drizzled with white truffle oil are unforgettable.
Bolivar 865, San Telmo | tel. 4361 4709
www.lavineriadegualteriobolivar.com

Boho: Casa Felix
Chef Diego Felix and his American wife, Sanra Ritten, are ravishing, lean and environmentally conscious, just like the pescatarian prix fixe menus they serve out of their magical Bolivan-style Las Canitas residence. These “underground” dinners are made entirely of seasonal, market-fresh ingredients and may include Patagonian toothfish and handmade ricotta cheesecake, depending on the time of year. Felix studied in San Francisco with Erick Tucker at Millenium and Carlos Nieto at Fresca to refine his cuisine. No wonder we felt so at home.
Giribone 947, Las Canitas
tel. 4555 1882 | www.diegofelix.com
A Caipirihna or Six (Nightlife)

Aristo: Hotel Faena
The Poolbar at the Hotel Faena, designed by Phillipe Stark, defines cheto or “high class” among porteños. You’ll find buttoned-up service, undoubtedly slow by American standards, but it’s hard to pass up one of the only mixologist-driven cocktail menus in BA.
Uriarte 1658, Puerto Madero
tel. 48331112 | www.faenahotelanduniverse.com/#/eng/

BoHo: Devenir
Shack-like Devenir in Palermo SoHo shakes nightly with sweaty, smiling dancers loose on sugar-filled, made-to-order caipirihnas. It bills itself as a Brazilian restaurant, but we recommend the post-midnight dance party that takes over the dining area after the eating is done. Arrive around 1 a.m. to avoid the lines and then dance off your asado to the bumping rhythm of the Brazilian drums into the night.
Serrano 1327, Palermo SoHo
tel. 4776 3368

Barrio Breakdown
Phrase to know: Donde esta … ?

• Palermo Hollywood is a mecca for those who favor the life of lattes, designer duds, trendy restaurants and packed bars — kinda like the Marina.
• Palermo Soho is just a skip away from Palermo Hollywood. Much like Cow Hollow, it’s a slightly more subdued area for wearable fashions and unassuming, yet appetizing spots for a bite to eat.
• San Telmo has great vintage shopping, historical relevance and glorious grime, just like The Haight.
• Las Canitas is a little pocket of posh restaurant and shop heaven. It reminds us of the six-block slice of glitz we call the Upper Fillmore.
• Microcentro is always bustling and full of suits. Like our Financial District, there are some worthy cultural destinations, but we prefer one of the more kicked-back neighboring hoods.
• Recoleta is as pretty and pristine as a dollhouse. Its tree-lined streets, luxury boutiques and sparkling cafés remind us of Pacific Heights.
• La Boca offers color, excitement and a glimpse of the poorest part of the BA populace. Just like our Tenderloin, its destinations are oozing with character and extremely easy on the wallet.
• Puerto Madero sits on the banks of the Rio de la Plata riverbank. Its expensive restaurants, dressy dance clubs and slightly industrial air are a bit like SOMA and make us wonder what would happen in our water-bordered Rincon Hill if bars stayed open until 6 a.m.

Whether it’s paired with the perfect meal, sent as a gift or sipped slowly to smooth out a romantic evening, a bottle of wine is a simple-yet-sophisticated symbol of rich history and taste. Thousands of shoppers a day swing by local supermarkets to purchase their preferred red or white, making wine a mainstream staple for the kitchen table. But has consumerism faded the distinguishing features of the timeless bottle of wine? A renowned Argentine winery has opted to capitalize on the commodity, allowing customers to own not just their own bottles, but entire barrels of wine.

Algodon Wine Estates, located in San Rafael, Mendoza, in Western Argentina, is offering a unique wine barrel ownership program in which customers craft their own vino brands. The premium barrels, available in French or American Oak, are filled with a varietal of choice and aged to the customer’s satisfaction. Personally designed labels grace the fronts of all bottles, which are then shipped to the barrel owner’s preferred location.

“Barrel owners will have the unique satisfaction of being directly involved with the wine-making process,” says Nestor Lara-Baeza, an account coordinator with Geoffrey Weill Associates. “These highly personalized barrels and bottles are one-of-a-kind.”

Be aware, however, that the process comes with a cost — average pricing on a barrel is roughly $6,000. But each barrel provides approximately 300 bottles of wine at about $25 each, and can be filled up to three times.

The program comes from the mind of Camilo Aldao, descendant of one of Argentina’s oldest wine-making families and owner of the recognized Estancia and Vineyard Finca Los Alamos. His exposure to the practice of identifying oak barrels in France combined with an appreciation for fine wine compelled him to develop Argentina’s first personal barrel ownership program for others who might share his passion. Last year, Algodon Wine Estates entered into a joint venture with Aldao to bring the concept to fruition.

“Our mutual goal is to produce premium wines from the vineyards of Finca Los Alamos and Algodon Wine Estates, utilizing the best modern wine-making technology,” says Lara-Baeza. “With over 43 years of experience in the wine-making business, Camilo continues to implement the same craftsmanship and tradition that has been passed down through generations from a family of winemakers.”

Algodon Wine Estates offers a unique distinction from its Argentine neighbors and Californian competitors in that it is the only commercial winery located in the district of Cuadro Benegas, a region noted for its advantageous geography. The district is situated between rivers fed by glacial runoff from the snow-capped Andes Mountains, creating arguably one of the most mineral-rich locations to cultivate grapes.

Bonarda and Malbec are two of the signature Argentine grapes offered in the barrel program, and other varietals available include cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and syrah. In addition to hundreds of bottles of personalized wine, the program includes a complimentary two-night stay at the world-class winery or the Estancia at Finca Los Alamos.

Pick a barrel at www.algodonwineestates.com

She’s the sweet girl from the OC who became known by millions and the subject of constant media attention dissecting everything from her love interests to fashion choices to her enviable ability to do even the skimpiest bikini justice — all because of a little TV show known as The Hills. Audrina Patridge is the amicable friend to all on MTV’s insanely popular series, but there’s much more to the 24-year-old than her latest boy drama spun by gossip blogs and tabloids. The aspiring actress has her own spinoff MTV series in the works, a smoking hot ad campaign with Carl’s Jr., a campy film called Sorority Row due out in September and a myriad of projects keeping her schedule crazy busy and her star rising.

Patridge still found time to channel her inner equestrian for 944’s celebrated annual Del Mar Races Issue, giving a whole new meaning to the word “racy.” Look for her at the track on Opening Day and later at L’Auberge Del Mar, where she’ll host 944’s official after-party. We can’t wait.

For details on race action and track festivities hit up www.delmarscene.com

For more pictures of Audrina, pick up the July issue of 944 San Diego or Orange County, currently out on stands. ]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:38:13 MST http://www.944.com/articles/audrina-patridge-hits-her-stride/ http://www.944.com/articles/can-t-steal-my-sunshine-fabulous-one-stop-shop-summer-getaways-that-offer-peace-of-mind/

It’s no secret that the economy has seen brighter days. Our stress levels are having a heyday, dining out has become a rare delicacy and cash just doesn’t grow on as many trees, does it? With summer upon us, it’s about time we reward ourselves with a little peace of mind. Take that chunk of change you’ve put aside for trivial necessities like groceries and get out of town. Here are a few resorts and hotels just a hop, skip and a jump away from America’s Finest City, that offer an all-encompassing and peaceful summer escape.

Shorebreak Hotel, Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach’s newest destination is bliss; think “beachy meets posh sophisticate.” With the lobby photography of the surrounding area by Art Brewer and unique surf-inspired details throughout, this new Joie de Vivre Hospitality boutique hotel is laid-back cool with four-star, full-service amenities. Let the Beach Butler arrange a bike tour, relax and get fit at the on-site yoga studio, or cozy up to a fire pit on The Deck. Each guest room offers HD flat screens complemented by contemporary surf décor and wall hangings. Slip into Italian linens while the crashing waves lull you to sleep — that’s right, you can hear the ocean from your room, and watch the sun set over the water from your window. To ensure guests feel most at home, the hotel encourages you to bring pets and is located only a mere mile from Dog Beach where your pooch can prance leash-free. Dine at the adjacent coastal Mediterranean restaurant Zimzala or kick back in its “living room” lounge.
Cool Perk: Every week the Shorebreak releases a killer rate for locals living within 100 miles of the property on its Facebook and Twitter pages. The rate is valid to book and use for the next seven days after posting. Rate offers will vary but could be anywhere from $100 and up based on the time of year and will include a set amount of rooms at that rate. The first to book are the first to save. How cool is that?
www.shorebreakhotel.com

Viceroy Palm Springs
There may be newer kids on the block out in the desert, but none hold a candle to the timeless style, glamour and seclusion upon which the Viceroy has built its name. With picturesque views of the desert landscape and surrounding San Jacinto Mountains, the hotel offers a chic, yet intimate, dining experience showcasing progressive California cuisine at Citron, and a sexy, understated lounge scene. The hotel’s full-service spa offers personalized treatments, and a wellness program that includes power yoga, Tai-Chi, Pilates and morning hikes. Spend the last afternoon poolside, hobnobbing with some of Palm Springs’ blue-haired legends. Oh, the stories they tell …
Cool Perk: The Viceroy goes the extra mile to tend to our four-legged friends with gourmet dog biscuits, mobile pet grooming, dog-walking and pet-sitting services.
www.viceroypalmsprings.com

Porta Fortuna, Punta Mita, Mexico
Located within the realms of one of Mexico’s most exclusive hideaways, Punta Mita, Porta Fortuna melds tropical beauty, unobstructed views of the Bay of Banderas, world-class golf and entertainment in a private setting. Hit up Playa Fortuna, the rustic Beach Club at Porta Fortuna, to indulge in cocktails and full-service gourmet dining at Sufi restaurant, and oceanfront lounging in sleek saline pools, cuddle ponds and swinging daybeds. The product of cutting-edge LA-based developer, Cliff Damavandi, Porta Fortuna carries a luxurious yet savvy vibe, perfect for jet-setters seeking late-night shenanigans that aren’t compromised by comfort.
Cool Perk: Fortuna is located at the tip of the private Punta Mita peninsula, extending clear views of Puerto Vallarta’s city lights at night.
www.portafortuna.info

Canary Hotel, Santa Barbara
Located just one block from Santa Barbara’s trendy State Street, the Canary Hotel is the city’s only full-service luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. The hotel captures a piece of the Canary Islands with induced sounds of nature and Spanish-inspired art and architecture with a metropolitan touch. This hotspot is highly recognized for its rooftop pool, which offers a 360-degree backdrop of the neighboring Channel Islands and the Santa Ynez mountains. With an inviting vibe, the Canary’s moniker restaurant, Coast Restaurant & Bar, is a major locals attraction with comfort food from local farms and wharfs, and a noteworthy raw bar.
Cool Perk: Canary knows how to appeal to our economical palate with specials like “book two consecutive nights and receive the third night complimentary.” Three’s a charm.
www.canarysantabarbara.com

Aurora Hotel & Spa, Catalina Island
Taking the cake as one of SoCal’s more romantic getaways, Catalina Island is one of the West Coast’s untapped weekend destinations. Only eight miles wide and 21 miles long, the island is generally sans cars, with locals getting from here to there on tricked-out golf carts. The Aurora Hotel & Spa embraces modernity and sleek architecture complemented by Catalina’s remarkable ocean views and artsy backbone for the ideal mini-vacay. Have a cocktail on the rooftop deck amid breathtaking views of the vast Pacific Ocean, or take some personal time with the hotel’s signature massage, the Mermaid’s Kiss — a blend of Swedish, deep tissue and Reiki massage style met by Thai stretching and body relaxation. The bed and breakfast-style boutique hotel offers suites equipped with en-suite Jacuzzi tubs for Stella to get her groove back.
Cool Perk: One of the highlights of the hotel is the homage it pays to local and international artists like Porschia Denning and Bruce Hall. Guests can purchase the art right off the walls.
www.auroracatalina.com

Rancho Valencia, Rancho Sante Fe
It may still be in San Diego County, but trust us; this tranquil property feels a million miles away. Tucked away amid the rolling “big bucks” properties that typify the exclusive Rancho Santa Fe community, Rancho Valencia is a North County piece of paradise. The resort is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer, with new Executive Chef C. Barclay Dodge spearheading a special Chef’s Celebration Menu showcasing his “coastal ranch” cuisine at the Rancho Valencia restaurant thru Labor Day for only $19.89 — the year the property first opened. Book one of the property’s 49 thoughtfully appointed suites, lounge by the serene pool or get pampered at one of the top spas in the country.
Cool Perk: For active types, Rancho Valencia offers playing privileges at three killer golf courses nearby, 18 tennis courts situated in a lovely garden setting, a state-of-the-art fitness center, croquet and bocce ball lawn, and complimentary mountain bike rentals.
www.ranchovalencia.com

Sushi Fix with a Twist
Beloved sushi spot Harney Sushi just got a new head chef, but fans of the restaurant need not fret. Executive Chef Anthony Sinsay upholds the restaurant’s innovative menu by keeping fan favorites and introducing cooked items that complement their award-winning raw selections. Harney Sushi reveals hot dishes such as “virtually” smoked escolar with pretzel, honshimeji mushrooms and wasabi yogurt spuma. The restaurant will also introduce three new sushi rolls, one being the Rastatori Roll, which is stuffed with shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese, rolled in soy paper and topped with Ahi Poki.
301 Mission Avenue, Oceanside | 760. 967.1820
3964 Harney Street, Old Town | 619.295.3272
www.harneysushi.com

Fly Me Away
North County locals and visitors now have a new hangout where they can grab a delicious bite to eat and hang out in a fab space afterward all under one roof. Flight, which is the former Pasquale Del Mar, promises to bring the sexiness of downtown to the affluent beach community. Owner Amy Finley traveled the world to bring wines and a new design concept to Flight. Stop by on a weekend and try the Italian comfort food-inspired menu for melt-in-your-mouth beef tenderloin and potato purée. We also hear the ham risotto is amazing. After dinner, stay for drinks from Flight’s impeccable wine menu, then dance the night away to great music.
3790 Via de la Valle, Del Mar | 858.259.0504
www.pasqualedelmar.com

A League of Her Own
We talk about wine a lot, but this bit of news has 944 particularly excited. Megan Yelenosky is the new sommelier at Vela Restaurant, located at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. What makes Yelenosky so rad is that she’s the first and only woman who has achieved Advanced Sommelier status in San Diego County. Just 25 percent of those who take this hardcore test pass, and Yelenosky is already working toward her Master Sommelier title, currently achieved by just 124 people in the world. Vela’s wine list is globally influenced, and guests can explore wines from the little-known areas of Greece and South Africa. For dinner, Yelenosky recommends the pan-roasted halibut with pork belly and baby artichokes and tangerines, paired with the Littorai Pinot Noir from Sonoma. For dessert, try the Peach Panna Cotta, Stone Fruit Chutney and almond biscotti with the Naughty Sticky from Napa Valley. And here’s a deal difficult to refuse: The first week of each month, enjoy a five course meal for $50, including wine pairings.
1 Park Blvd., Downtown San Diego | 619.564.3333
www.sandiegobayfront.hilton.com

Operation: Make Over Laurel … Again
Four years after its last overhaul, the longtime fine-dining staple Laurel just re-opened its doors by same owners Urban Kitchen as the brand-new Cucina Urbana. Check out the completely revamped interior, Italian-focused cuisine with American influences, retail wine shop, rustic countryside-meets-cozy neighborhood vibe and nothing on the menu more than $20. Chef Joe Magnanelli who oversaw Laurel’s kitchen is now channeling his Italian roots with pasta dishes, artisan pizzas and thoughtfully crafted steak, chicken and veal entrees.
505 Laurel Street, Bankers Hill | 619.239.2222
]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:23:32 MST http://www.944.com/articles/drink-dine-inside-dish-your-monthly-guide-to-the-gastronomic-good-life-2/ http://www.944.com/articles/distractions-the-top-nine-summer-getaways-in-your-own-backyard/

One / La Jolla Cove
La Jolla is a treasure trove of tide pools, caves and coves. Be sure to visit the seals before they are forced out for good.

Two / Cedar Creek Falls
This 100-foot waterfall, the largest in San Diego, is hidden amid the rocky hills outside Julian.

Three / Palm Canyon
Renowned for its spas, Borrego also offers beautiful hikes, such as Palm Canyon, which leads to a desert oasis.

Four / Quail Botanical Gardens
Encinitas has several gorgeous gardens including one of the world’s most diverse botanical collections.

Five / Black’s Beach
Just over the sheer cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach remains the city’s only clothing-optional destination for coastal recreation.

Six / Spruce Street Bridge
Hang out on San Diego’s only suspension foot bridge, located on Spruce and First between Hillcrest and Bankers Hill.

Seven / Presidio Park
This quiet, lush park in Mission Hills offers stunning panoramic views ripe for the picnicking.

Eight / Warner Springs
This legendary resort on the county’s fringe offers golf, horseback riding and natural hot springs.

Nine / Cabrillo National Monument
Check out a tribute to the first European to step foot on the Western U.S., Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, as well as stunning coastal scenery.]]> Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:19:07 MST http://www.944.com/articles/distractions-the-top-nine-summer-getaways-in-your-own-backyard/ http://www.944.com/articles/what-s-new-ajne-rare-precious-at-timmons-gallery/

Perfumer to the stars, Ajne Rare & Precious, is landing at Timmons Gallery in Rancho Santa Fe to launch a custom shop in the middle of the art gallery. Ancient perfumery is a lost art form that’s being revived with Ajne’s fragrances, and Timmons was the prime location to showcase perfume as art and create a one-of-a-kind demi-blending experience. Celebs, including Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank, Kanye West, Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey, Lucy Liu and Kate Beckinsale, rave about Ajne’s 100-percent natural and vegan, completely customized fragrances that are based on the ancient chakra system. Free of aroma-chemicals, parabens, sulfates and phthalates, Ajne perfumes utilize organic essential oils and healing organic oils that are healthier alternatives for the client and the environment. At Timmons Gallery, clients begin with a computerized fragrance analysis test by the gallery’s certified mélanger to determine which area of the body needs harmonizing, then the mélanger guides the client to choose the ideal essential oils to make a totally individualized scent and hand-blends the ingredients to perfection in a signature decorative flacon. In addition to perfume, Ajne also creates body care, skin care and ambient fragrance items made of rare and precious plants. Plus, it is the only natural fragrance line carried in Bergdorf Goodman that is packaged entirely in glass. Fancy!

16089 San Dieguito Road, Rancho Santa Fe | 858.756.8488 | www.ajne.com

The current state of the economy presents a harsh, do-or-die motive for small business owners: get an abundance of loyal customers in, or eventually be forced out. Entrepreneurs are now, more than ever, incorporating innovative ideas to stay afloat.

The plunge of the U.S. retail industry in late 2008 has forced many seemingly powerful and larger retail chains to file for bankruptcy — more than a dozen stores have been added to the list for 2009. This reality has pressed some enterprising souls to adapt by offering new products and services to broaden the customer base. The increasingly popular hybrid store is taking on a new, crucial importance, and three small business owners in particular are capitalizing on their creative combinations.

Covet, a trendy apparel store located in Scottsdale, features a full hair salon located in the back half of the shop. Owner Randy Krebs originally opened the store in January 2007 as solely a clothing boutique, but developed the idea to merge with local hair salon owner Joel Porter in July 2008.

“We always wanted the whole thing to be a lifestyle experience, and the fact that it coincided with the plummeting economy worked to our benefit as well,” says Krebs. “To some extent, both of us were downsizing, but it’s a good collaboration because they really feed off one another. Customers come in and shop that want to get a haircut and vice versa — they come in to get their hair done and then they want to shop.”

However, the hybrid store is not invincible to the economy’s downfall. The International Council of Shopping Centers predicted a total of 148,000 retail store closures in 2008 — the largest number since 2001 — and an estimated 73,000 closures in the first half of 2009 alone. Covet, like many other small businesses, saw a decline in store activity this spring, a period that would have otherwise been considered peak season. Offering two services to customers helped the store stay afloat in several ways.

“It’s helped out on two fronts, from a cost management standpoint but also just in terms of generating traffic,” says Krebs. “It’s also nice because there’s always activity in the store. Even customers just passing by are drawn to activity, versus an empty store with one lonely guy ready to pounce on you as soon as you walk through the door.”

The cutting-edge boutique features a variety of emerging designers and iconic brands that are unique to the store and cannot be found at any other retailer in Arizona, such as Endovanera, Nice Collective and Orthodox. The cuts and styles offered by the salon are an equally stylish counterpart. Salon owner Joel Porter acknowledges the advantage that hybrid stores possess in satisfying individually unique yet like-minded clients.

“It’s a good marriage between the two,” says Porter. “I think the relationship works. It’s a new trend, the industry is looking to put a lot of things together. It’s really win-win for both.”
For other hybrids, two aspects combined work to cultivate a culture within the community. Motorcycle Federation, an apparel shop located in New York City that sells motorcycle-inspired gear and accessories, features a full café which serves as a hub for motorcycle enthusiasts.

The shop recently opened this past February, after part-owner Leila Barratt-Denyer and partners decided to transform their motorcycle riding hobby into a business. “We discovered this whole subculture of riders,” says Barratt-Denyer. “We wanted to create a space where people could find amazing gear, not only for riders, but for people who are very fashion-forward in the industry.”

The café was constructed as an integral part of the store and was ready for use upon the grand opening. “The café played into the community aspect because we wanted people to come hang out with us,” says Barrat-Denyer. “We are the only ones open at 8 o’clock [in the morning] in this community, and we try to invite people from the neighborhood to come have coffee with us in the morning. It cultivates a relationship with people who actually live in the community, and with people who are into the motorcycle culture.”

While leather biker goods and Italian coffee are an unlikely yet successful duo, some entrepreneurs are combining more complementary couples. Redefine Arts, located in Orlando, Fla., promotes urban culture in the area through apparel and art. Like Covet, Redefine Arts originated as a clothing boutique. During the opening process, owner Peter Flores decided to utilize a large portion of his 1,900-square-foot store to feature urban pieces by local artists.

“A lot of the younger crowd comes in specifically looking for a certain type of clothing,” says Flores. “The older crowd, I would say between the age of 30 to 60, they come in looking for art — for their offices, their houses and even as gifts. It definitely pulls in two completely different crowds.”

The shop opened in May 2008, and as it approaches its one-year anniversary, Flores attributes his success to the unique hybrid advantage, although the journey has proved difficult. “I think if we were either just art, or just apparel, then we probably wouldn’t have done so well or even lasted the first year, so the whole hybrid idea definitely helped us out,” Flores says.
Redefine Arts also features art shows on a regular basis, which draw in crowds of roughly 150 to 200 people.

“We keep it true to our roots with the urban art, but we also try to venture out to incorporate the older crowd,” says Flores. In the current recession, following the latest trends and offering reduced pricing just isn’t enough to stay afloat. It comes as no surprise that the hybrid store excels in this regard, but even a dynamic duo of products or services needs a passionate owner to survive.

“It’s definitely always, as it should be, a labor of love, one that you enjoy doing day in and day out,” says Covet owner Randy Krebs. “During these times you’ve just got to keep your spirit up.”

Mapping can do more than make an office look studious or assist loudly dressed tourists in a big city. The Tempe-based organization, NiJeL: Community Outreach Through Mapping, has found a way to utilize maps to aid those who have come here to find a better life.

NiJeL stands for the names of the founding members: Nancy Jones, JD Godchaux and Lela Prashad. The organization uses geographic information systems, or GIS, in order to assist refugees in getting to know their new city. The former International Rescue Committee volunteers started the for-profit organization in the fall of 2006. “The families they had placed us with were newly resettled refugees who had been in the United States for a month,” Godchaux says.

From this work sprang the idea for NiJeL. Prashad and Gochaux were volunteering with a family from Liberia who Prashad says needed a lot of extra help. The mother was having an immense amount of trouble finding daycare and traveling efficiently using the bus system. Godchaux and Prashad had to drive her to the daycare in order for her to actually locate the center. “She would have had to find some other method of finding childcare,” Godchaux says, “a neighbor or a friend, because it wouldn’t have happened.” The three of them then realized these families needed something else.

Godchaux says NiJeL wants to make life easier for the volunteers and caseworkers who work with resettlement agencies. NiJeL gives them a way to find local services and resources surrounding these families in need. Volunteers and caseworkers can enter the zip code of their family and locate resources like grocery stores, food banks, after-school programs, banks, libraries, bus routes and places of worship to aid the continuous flow of refugee families into Phoenix.
To put that flow into perspective, according to the office of the Arizona State Refugee Coordinator, there are 2,517 predicted refugees to arrive in Phoenix, and 3,442 refugees to arrive statewide this year.

NiJeL gains funds by speaking to non-profit organizations to find out how they may help, and then find funding through grants, project by project. This helps NiJeL assist families at home and also expand to India and Egypt.

Working with a group named Ekajon, which focuses on mobile communication, one of NiJeL’s new projects is called Flood Hazard Monitoring. “We would push text messages from a central source down to a local village in India,” Godchaux says. “The idea is to give them much more of an advanced warning of an oncoming flood.” Harass Map, another project getting started in Cairo, addresses the harassment issue among women in Egypt. Godchaux says there is no concrete number on how many women in Cairo are being harassed, and therefore there is no way to know if it is getting better or worse, and they are looking to help using mapping. “It fits in with the rest of our work,” Prashad says. “And we’re hoping that this may open a window to more international work.”

The founding members are exceptionally prepared for this. Prior to joining NiJeL as their first full-time employee, Godchaux had been a senior policy analyst at Morrison Institute for Public Policy, which is part of the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. Prashad is the Director of the 100 Cities Project at ASU where she manages use-inspired urban remote sensing research between scientists and cities around the world. Jones made a recent move to Baltimore but is still a leg of NiJeL. “Being so close to D.C., [Jones] is helping us build up our network,” Prashad says.

Mulitiple organizations on a local level as well have already utilized NiJeL.Kelli Donley, the executive director for the leadership team at Community Outreach and Advocacy for Refugees, or COAR, is one of them. She says many of the families coming to Arizona from Burma and Bhutan are getting lost. “When they’re out and about, they’re not looking for street names or sign posts,” Donley says. “They’re looking for big markers like mountains.” She says people from Burma and Bhutan are used to knowing where a certain mountain is in relation to their home or field or place or worship. This has become less of a problem since COAR started to implement maps provided by NiJeL. The trio has been working with COAR for over a year using the COAR Refugee Resource Map.

Godchaux says the ultimate aim is to be able to have maps that are easy to use for newly arrived refugees.“Something that is very iconic,” he says, “not very text heavy so that it wouldn’t take somebody who has a tremendous amount of English proficiency to be able to use.” Godchaux says the next step is to expand the maps to multiple languages and cities. NiJeL is also looking to create an interface where users of the maps may add their own information. They are looking to call it MapPress, and get it off the ground this year. “We’re hoping the map can have a few different layers so that some of the caseworkers could comment on some of the different resources and share information,” Prashad says. Godchaux says there are many specific refugee projects in Arizona and “having access to those services or at least knowing where they are around you would be beneficial,” he says. “We’re hoping that we can provide a service.”

Find it all at www.nijel.org

People who hate Conan O’Brien always have astounded me because none of them ever criticized anything that ever actually appeared on the show. It was always, “I just don’t like him,” rather than, “Frankly, I was offended by The Masturbating Bear and Horny Manatee.”

It always felt like the same argument made by people who claimed they didn’t like punk bands because so many of the musicians had tattoos, piercings and mohawks: “It’s too loud! It’s too different!” Conan, when he took over for David Letterman, very much was a vital injection of punk rock into a late-night scene that needed Pimpbot5000, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog and Quackers The Shit-Eating Duck. Conan didn’t just fill Letterman’s shoes, he, with Letterman’s blessing, took them, spray-painted them nine different colors, glued glitter and bells and confetti to them, drew penises on them Superbad-style and made them his own. And he’ll do exactly that with The Tonight Show, which has Conan Haters out in full force.

Take Sally Swift, whose blog on Open Salon after Conan had hosted two — two! — Tonight Shows was headlined: “I knew Johnny Carson. Mr. O’Brien, You’re No Johnny Carson.” Here’s the thing: Conan loves Carson, too. He grew up idolizing him. It’s why Conan lies awake at night worrying about the next night’s show. Plus, the “So-and-so will never be Carson” argument is ridiculous for exactly the same reason as the “This year’s best NBA draft pick will never be Michael Jordan” argument. Oh, really? This One New Person won’t be The Best Ever? Why even make the comparison? Swift’s uncle was Ed McMahon’s business manager so she’d get front-row seats. “Johnny played not only to the cameras but directly to the studio audience, especially those seated in that first row,” she wrote. “He connected with us, smiled and winked as if to insiders. And that connection translated into intimacy with millions. Conan O’Brien? Not even close.” She should sit in the front row of a Conan broadcast, if for no other reason than also to enjoy Andy Richter, who despite not controlling the universe at least isn’t appearing in Cash-4-Gold commercials.

Conan Haters such as Swift fail to recognize that while no one’s questioning Carson’s brilliance, he was the only game in town. Conan isn’t just competing against Letterman, Kimmel, Ferguson, Fallon, Stewart, Colbert, everything DVR’d that day and now also Leno — “The Wal-Mart of Comedians,” a friend of mine once brilliantly noted — he’s on a fourth-place network fighting for an ever-shrinking network entertainment share that’s been broken and scattered among YouTube, Hulu and iTunes. Not to mention, the show’s format is outdated. Those in my generation and younger don’t watch hour-long variety shows. The Suits may argue such shows still are profitable, presumably with older viewers, but we don’t need to tune in because the previous night’s best clips will be zipping around on Facebook and Digg and Twitter the next morning. How many people actually watched Joaquin Phoenix’s meltdown on Letterman live?
Conan faces the biggest challenge ever commanded of a late-night host. And he will conquer. He always has. And the only thing that would make it sweeter is if he gets to invite on air everyone who’s ever doubted him and say to each, “Sit perfectly still. Only I may dance.”