Check out this Behind the Scenes from a photo shoot with Erik Almas for Westin Resorts.
Intelligentsia Coffe, Chicago
We asked some Chicago locals where to get the best coffee and we were guided to Intelligentsia’s Broadway location.
Intelligentsia on Broadway was the original location that opened its doors in 1995. It recently got a facelift by partnering with architectural firm Wheeler Kearns to provide a refreshed space along with a new “back bar” and twice as much seating.
About Intelligentsia Coffe:
In October of 1995 Doug Zell and Emily Mange left San Francisco to open an in-store coffee roaster-retailer on Broadway Avenue on the north side of Chicago. At that time they were simply hoping to bring great, fresh-roasted coffee to their own coffeebar with the help of a charming, but perhaps too often erratic 12-kilo roaster. Since then Intelligentsia has evolved considerably.
Intelligentsia now has three cities it calls home: Chicago—a city that is brooding, practical and reluctantly beautiful; Los Angeles—a city that views creativity as a birthright, is immensely vast, decidedly impractical and equally messy and marvelous; and New York—a city of paradoxes, hulking but chock full of intimate corners, timeless but achingly current, polished but decaying, worldly yet oddly provincial, all crashing together in perfect cacophony (or is it harmony?).
Intelligentsia conducts public tours of their Roasting Works at 1850 West Fulton Street in Chicago. (A Los Angeles tour is also in the works.)
This tour is a fantastic opportunity to witness a live demonstration of the roasting process and learn about what Intelligentsia does from some of the dedicated people who work here. The tour is a little over an hour and usually takes place on the first Saturday of the month.
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Ace Hotel Winner of Le Miami Awards 2013 in Category “GREATEST INNOVATION/DISRUPTION”
The LE Miami Awards 2013 were designed to discover the edgiest, most creative pioneers in modern luxury. On 13 June the winners were announced at the official Awards ceremony, brought to you by Travel + Leisure and DEPARTURES and hosted by The James Royal Palm, truly staking the LE Miami Collective’s place at the forefront of the contemporary travel evolution.
SHORTLISTED in same category:
citizenM Hotels
DOWNTOWN Mexico
Faena Hotel and Universe, Buenos Aires
Soho House Group
Ace Hotel, Palm Springs
Ace Hotel & Swim Club is a 170 room hotel, spa & resort located in Palm Springs, CA. It’s on the grounds of a renovated mid-century modern motel, within walking distance of downtown. It’s close to cool stuff like Joshua Tree, the Salton Sea and all kinds of historic desert modern architecture. It also happens to be the best place in Palm Springs to get a laid-back massage or natural spa treatment.
There are outdoor spa services, as well as room service, free wi-fi and a gym. You can bring your dog, and patio guest rooms are dog-friendly. There are two big, cool event spaces where you can get married or throw a party or have a big-deal meeting.
There are a lot of earth-friendly and sustainable elements, like recycled materials, low VOC paints and vintage furniture. The design is organic and bohemian. Some rooms have a garden patio and some have a fireplace. Some have record players and old vinyl you can play in your room and take home with you for a small price. There are also communal fireplaces located throughout the hotel. There’s good-smelling shampoo from Rudy’s Barbershop, and minibars with really addictive cheese popcorn.
John Richards and Amy Lindsey Richards of Pair Music collaborated with Ace Hotel to curate super amazing music for the lobby and poolside. John hosts KEXP radio’s Morning Show and is a huge supporter of new music, giving great emerging artists crucial exposure audiences in Seattle, NYC and over the internet. For Ace, he chose mixes of brand-new and familiar music, like blues, African funk, indie pop and Johnny Cash.
Photos taken at the Palm Springs Ace Hotel by hula seventy.
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
Chicago grew from a small back-country outpost into one of the world’s most important crossroads in less than 100 years and The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady is the perfect way to learn more about Chicago architectural history.
Cathrine went on a trip to Chicago a few weeks ago and checked out this tour. Here are some of the highlights:
Marina City
Highly innovative when they were completed in the 1960s by Bertrand Goldberg, the 61-story twin towers with semicircular balconies are part of a multiuse complex of residence, parking, marina, restaurant, theatre, shops and hotel.
Trump International Hotel and Tower
The Trump, with a hotel at the base and residential units above, is the tallest structurally all-concrete building in the world. The tower sets back in relation to its neigbours as it rises to over 90 stories.
Lake Point Tower
With its distinctive curvilinear, dark-tinted, glass curtain wall, Lake Point Tower, designed by Schipporeit and Heinrich, is quintessential Chicago Modernism, exuding brawn with stunning grace.
Willis Tower
The world’s tallest building for 24 years, this building, formerly known as Sears Tower, was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and marked the world’s introduction to the highly innovative engineering concept known as bundled tube construction.
(Photos by Cathrine, Team Jetpac)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Some Instagram updates from Julian’s Ungrounded experience this week.
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Hong Kong is Home by Javin Lau
“I remember when I first arrived in Hong Kong almost a decade ago, I felt like I had walked into an actual movie set. It was a place that I had only seen on TV as a kid, with its strange red taxi’s, odd stop lights and driving on the other side of the road.
My intent with this project was to illustrate the grandeur of Hong Kong that most people would never get to see. When I had recently watched the movie Oblivion, it had somehow starkly reminded me of Hong Kong, with the feeling of being so insignificantly small — almost irrelevant to my surroundings. Hong Kong is an unbelievably dense city, where much of the world can be accessed at your fingertips. But in a city where you can access the material world in a matter of seconds, it also has the ability to isolate you from the 8 million people around you as well.
With this piece, I hope that you are able to engage in this contradiction.”
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Harpa
This amazing concert hall, designed by Olafur Eliasson, is one of the most incredible buildings I’ve seen. Not just because it’s set in the beautiful marina in Reykjavik, Iceland, but just the entire thing is a gorgeous architectural masterpiece.
I could spend days photographing this place. The best part? It seems like the security people love it when there’s photographers shooting. They never gave me any problems, and seem to just totally ignore us standing in window sills and what not.
I love that they give photographers the ability to be responsible and non-destructive, to represent and make art from the beautiful architecture, light, and people.
Thanks so much to Tara and Hans-Olav for showing us around Harpa!
Find out more
This post is only a part of my Iceland posts from the photo shoot that I completed in April for Land Rover USA.
For all my posts for this trip: #landrovericeland
More information about my photography contract with Land Rover USA
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Top 10 things to do on Hamilton Island, Australia
One of the special things about visiting Hamilton Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is that there are so many things to do. But if you do nothing else, make sure you try some of these top 10.
1. Find Nemo (and many of his friends)
Hamilton Island is in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. A fringing reef surrounds the island and at low tide, the watersports playground of Catseye Beach turns into a snorkeler’s paradise. Fish have been hand-fed here for more than 20 years, so their numbers are plentiful and their colours amazing.
For the ultimate Great Barrier Reef experience, visit the outer reef by boat, plane, helicopter, semisubmersible or from an underwater viewing room on a stable platform.
2. Catch dinner
Head out on a fishing safari with Renegade Charters. The expert crew are on hand to help with bait selection and reeling your catch in. They will also clean and fillet your catch – ready for you to present to Chef to cook for your dinner in one of the island’s restaurants or for you to cook in your kitchen if you are staying in one of the island’s many holiday homes.
3. Get some therapy, naturally
A visit to Hamilton Island’s new full service day spa, Spa wumurdaylin, will soothe the soul (and the shoulders) with a variety of treatments including body cocoon wraps, exfoliations, facials, massage and body treatments. Guests at qualia, our world class resort located on the northernmost tip of the island can also enjoy Spa qualia and indulge in a range of indigenous treatments from Australian company Li’tya or wine lovers can try a Burgundy Bath Soak, Vinotherapie Body Scrub, Pinot Noir Mask and Chardonnay Massage.
4. Fill the Sails
Hamilton Island and the magnificent waters of the Whitsundays are known as a sailing mecca. You can get a taste for the sport in the trapeze of a 36ft catamaran Adrenalin Rush or take it a bit easier on a sunset or full day tour on the charming Banjo Paterson. If you get the sailing bug, you can complete a “learn to sail” course on Hamilton Island and take your own yacht on a bareboat charter for a few nights. The last week in August is a sailor’s delight as Australia’s largest offshore yachting regatta, the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week is staged.
5. Get in touch with nature
Start the day with yoga on the beach, followed by a rewardingly strenuous walk to Passage Peak - the highest point on Hamilton Island - where the views will take your breath away. On the way, you will more than likely see wallabies, kangaroos and Australian birds like the famed kookaburra and cockatoo. Then have ‘Breakfast with the Koalas’ at the Koala Gallery and head out on a kayaking tour where you will get up close and personal with local marine life.
6. Get ‘Eventuous’
There is nearly always something happening at Hamilton Island in terms of special events. Ranging from major sporting extravaganzas such as the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week (August) or one of the world’s largest paddling events Hamilton Island Cup (June) right through to cultural experiences like presentations by The Australian Ballet at qualia or jazz weekends, Hamilton Island is renowned for its events and parties.
7. Paint a Picture
Take home your holiday memories on canvas. Art classes are conducted each week, under the tutelage of a visiting Artist in Residence. There are adult classes as well as special classes for the children and you will be surprised at the talent that lies within you.
8. Pump some adrenalin
The fastest way to tour around Hamilton Island is on a jetski. Jetski tours are a fun and interactive way to see the waters around Hamilton Island and to learn a bit about local history and marine life. Guests wear helmets fitted with speakers so they are in constant touch with their tour guide.
9. Say I do
While you cannot elope on Hamilton Island, with a bit of planning you can marry in this idyllic paradise. Wedding locations vary from a quaint chapel overlooking the sea to countless beachside and garden settings. One couple even got married underwater. And if you are just thinking about popping the question, imagine the surprise when she (or he) looks out of the helicopter window on your scenic flight over magnificent Whitehaven Beach to see ‘Will you marry me?’ on the beach.
10. Do nothing
Relax. Sleep in. Laze around the pool (pick your favourite pool among many). Have Hamilton Island’s staff take care of everything for you. The only thing to do while you are doing nothing is to decide where the next meal and drink is coming from and with a choice of more than 10 restaurants and bars, that won’t be hard.
(Photos are from Hamilton Island’s Instagram feed)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Hiking Wild Scotland
Scotland’s rugged beauty is unparalleled. With its steep, rolling highlands, brooding skies, rocky isolated beaches, dramatic crags, and pristine lochs, it’s no surprise that this country has cultivated such proud and spirited folk heroes as William Wallace, Rob Roy, and Mary Queen of Scots! Hike in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides along moderate terrain, providing a perfect balance of heart-pumping hikes, sightseeing excursions, and a little time for relaxation.
Video by Mountain Travel Sobek
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
British Airways UnGrounded: a hack at 30,000 feet
Our CEO Julian Green is about to board a flight to London participating in the first-ever innovation lab in the sky designed to connect Silicon Valley’s most notable business leaders and creative minds for the purpose of tackling challenges that affect the next generation of global innovators.
In some places in the world, an entire generation of brilliant minds don’t have the opportunities or partnerships they need. In other places, there are more opportunities than qualified people. It’s called the “global misalignment of talent.”
British Airways had an idea to help tackle this problem.
Their Advisory Board hand-picked 100 of the most forward-thinking founders, CEOs, venture capitalists, and Silicon Valley game-changers, and is putting them on a flight from San Francisco to London today.
On board, they’ll do what they do best—innovate and collaborate to find an effective solution to this growing global challenge.
Julian will be part of Team Transatlantic, which includes among others Claudia Fan Munce, Managing Director of IBM Venture Capital and Megan Smith, Vice President of Google.
This group will focus on how to meet the growing US demand for STEM talent, from the global pool.
You can follow Julian and the rest of the team on Twitter #ungrounded and #jetpacungrounded.
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Fox Hotel // Copenhagen, Denmark
The story of Hotel Fox begins with the launch of the car Volkswagen Fox. 21 international, young artists were chosen to do the most spectacular design hotel the world had ever seen.
The 21 artists were given no restrictions: They were told to decorate the 61 rooms exactly like they wanted. This resulted in 61 unique pieces of art where everything from carpets to pillows to wall decorations was created specifically for the single room.
As the guest at Hotel Fox, you become a living part of a 3D piece of art.
(Photo credit: Fox Hotel)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
(Source: gingerphotography)
“Cinco de qué? Sorry, while you were playing with your fake moustache, we were over here sipping 5 year Casa Noble direct from the barrel with owner Pepe Hermosillo in Tequila, Jalisco | Mexico.”
This was Experience Tequila’s Facebook status on May 5th and it piqued our interest. We got hold of one of the participants on this tour and to hear more about her experience.
Laura Fones’ previous experience with Mexico had only been on day trips from San Diego when she decided to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a more authentic style than the most of us. She went on a recent trip with Spirit of Jalisco on May 2nd through 5th to taste her way through the Tequila Valley.
Why did you choose to go on a distillery/tasting tour instead of heading for the beach?
I prefer learning new things to getting sunburned. I knew almost nothing about tequila before this trip. I found out about the distillery tour at a booth at San Jose’s yearly Travel and Adventure Expo and it was such a unique concept, at such a reasonable price, that I couldn’t resist.
When I was in Dublin last summer waiting for the Olympics to start, I went to the Jameson and Guinness factories. This was an independent excursion, but interesting enough to make me want to learn more about alcohol production.
Did you combine this tour with other activities in Mexico?
We (my mother and I) had an extra day at the end of the tour to explore Guadalajara. It was wonderful to see art and government buildings and cathedrals after spending so much time in the dusty (but beautiful) corners of Tequila towns. Also, did you know that clowning is an INSANELY popular form of street performance in Jalisco?
What was the highlight of the trip?
Hands down, the agave fields. They took us an hour out of T-Paq, down an impossibly bumpy road, to a huge expanse of blue agave fields (that are owner by Tres Agaves, I believe). An elderly Mexican farmer told us (by way of one of our host’s translation) about the process, the fields, etc. But, truly, it was just an insanely beautiful stretch of land.
(Photo credit: Spirit of Jalisco)
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Eat Your Way Around Riverside / Leslieville –Toronto’s Hippest New Neighborhoods
When attending the TBEX travel blogging conference in Toronto last week we got the chance to also tag along to check out one of Chef Scott’s food tours in the Leslieville neighborhood of Toronto. The tastings included Ontario wines, sustainable seafood, olive oils, cheese, desserts and much more. We also got to visit the pantry of Food Network celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford at Ruby Eats!
Click here for a guided food tour around Leslieville in the Jetpac iPad App.
Leslieville
Leslieville began as a small village back in the 1850’s and has transformed itself into one of Toronto’s hippest new neighborhoods and the headquarters of Toronto’s film industry.
Leslieville is an artistic community housing a lot of the artistic and creative types including photographers, graphic designers, painters, and musicians. It’s home to a diverse mix of vintage furniture & retro shops, fashion and design stores,cafes and its the hippest place to dine in the city, with reservations now required at all the cool spots.
Riverside
Riverside is Toronto’s authentic urban neighbourhood. Spanning 10 vibrant tree-lined blocks along Toronto’s historic Queen St. East from the iconic DVP Bridge to just east of the world famous Degrassi Street. Conveniently located between Corktown and Leslieville, Riverside is only 2.5 km from Toronto’s downtown core, and accessible via streetcar, bike, car or by foot.
Riverside is home to historic sites, over 4 acres of parkland, 2 community centres, public art installations, festivals, schools, The Opera House, plus over 120 boutiques and services including original fashion creations, eclectic home design and décor, and plenty of trendy restaurants featuring award-winning chefs.
Chef Scott is a bilingual, private chef/culinary instructor with over 25 years diverse culinary experience. His career has taken him to Portugal and Italy on cooking tours and for several years he was an international private chef specializing in 5 star hunting and fishing lodges in the Canadian North, the American Midwest and New Zealand where he also hosted the “Culture in the Kitchen” radio show. He has cooked for many celebrities including comedian Jeff Foxworthy, NASCAR legend Richard Childress, Dallas Cowboys executive Stephen Jones, and pop singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne to name a few.
In 2010 he put an end to his gypsy ways and made Toronto his home. He founded “The Culinary Adventure Company” to showcase the culinary diversity of Canada’s largest city to locals and visitors alike. The company specializes in food tours, cooking classes, corporate team building events, pop up dinners and tastings, and outdoor activities with a culinary theme such as canoe and beach dining adventures and mushroom forages.
We ended the tour with one last stop, not normally part of the tour. But that will be a post on its own, so stay tuned!
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
Cheers to @DaveFearon and @PalinaKlimava who are getting married today!!! We wish you a long, happy and adventurous life together:) 💘
Map Paintings by Paul Morstad
Jetpac, the iPad app for travel inspiration.
See where your friends have traveled! www.jetpac.com
(Source: brainstastelikebaconpancakes, via everydayfrustone)
