Jetsettersblog

It has all the international flair and bravura of a classic European quarter, yet its name—Pine Avenue—speaks of its uniquely American roots.

Nestled amid the high rises that form Long Beach’s metropolitan skyline, and located only minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County, Pine Avenue has emerged as the city’s premier business district. The revitalized commercial quarter has resumed its role as the focal point of downtown Long Beach business and social activity, following an extensive 20 year redevelopment effort.

Pine Avenue also offers visitors one of the best selections of fine dining and entertainment choices found in Southern California. A sampling of the area’s restaurants, many of which offer patio dining, include Rock Bottom Brewery, The Madison, L’Opera, Smooth’s Sports Grille and King’s Fish House. Entertainment options are equally impressive with nightclubs like Alegria and Café Sevilla, which feature live flamenco dancers; Cohiba offers nightly, live entertainment and dancing; and the nationally known Blue Café which offers live entertainment nightly. The Vault 350 is Pine Avenue’s versatile entertainment venue, presenting famous comedians and a wide range of musical concerts from hip hop to country western.

In many ways, today’s Pine Avenue shares many similarities to the Pine Avenue of turn of the century Long Beach. Back then, Pine Avenue was a bustling business district, flanked on its southern end by the world famous Pike Amusement Park, and beyond that, the cool, blue waters of the Pacific. Families would stroll along Pine Avenue, buying everything from house wares, to clothes, to furniture. Often, they would finish off their outing by sampling the Pike’s many exciting attractions such as the Salt Water Plunge, Pleasure Pier or Cyclone Racer. For the less adventurous, there was the Pike’s Walk of a Thousand Lights, the Dancing Pavilion or the Pacific Aquarium.

Thanks to a successful business venture between the Pike’s founder, Colonel Charles Drake and railroad magnate Henry Huntington—the two of whom connected downtown Long Beach to Los Angeles via the celebrated Red Car Line—Long Beach quickly became the year round convention and resort destination of California’s Pacific Coast.

Grand hotels, including the exclusive Virginia Hotel, were known throughout the country for their lavish accommodations and beautiful views. Pine Avenue and the Pike remained a favorite Los Angeles area destination until the mid 1950s, when, like in many American cities at the time, residents and businesses began moving out of the inner city to suburbia’s green knolls. For nearly 20 years, Pine Avenue and the rest of Long Beach’s downtown became virtually silent. The Pike, once a famous city landmark, fell into disrepair and was finally closed in 1973.

In the late 1970s, a large portion of downtown Long Beach—421 acres—was officially deemed a redevelopment area. The goal of the revitalization plan was to restore the spirit and vitality to the once robust commercial center. The process began with the development of the Ocean Boulevard corridor. It was during this period that most of the city’s first class hotels were constructed, including the Hyatt Regency, Westin (then a Sheraton) at Shoreline Square, the Long Beach Renaissance and Hilton. Class A office buildings such as the World Trade Center, Shoreline Square Tower and Landmark Square were also built during this period.

By the late 1980s, with Ocean Boulevard well on its way, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency turned its attention to Pine Avenue. In 1990, the Redevelopment Agency collaborated with Janss Corporation to develop Pine Square, a mixed use theater/retail/residential complex. Less than 24 months later, the first 16 screen AMC Theater in Southern California made its home on Pine Avenue. It also signaled the opening of several new retail shops and restaurants such as Johnny Rockets.

In 1990 the opening of the Metro Blue Line signaled the return of light rail transportation to Long Beach. Now visitors can once again travel swiftly between downtown Los Angeles and downtown Long Beach, and like its Red Car predecessor, the Blue Line connects with the other Metro

Exploring Pine Avenue light rail lines.

Pine Avenue is booming thanks to the multi million dollar expansion and reopening of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific in nearby Queensway Bay increases activity along Pine Avenue. The 120,000 square foot Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific represents the first of a multi phased master plan to transform Queensway Bay and downtown Long Beach into one of the nation’s premier waterfront destinations.

Because of its role as downtown’s centerpiece, Pine Avenue hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach also attracts thousands of visitors to the area each year as the world’s best drivers compete for right to be crowned “king of the beach”.

Other large scale downtown annual events include the Concours D’Promenade, which kicks off Grand Prix week, is held annually on Pine Avenue and the Promenade, between First and Third Streets. In addition, the Promenade is the site of the weekly Downtown Marketplace, which attracts a number of visitors who take advantage of the marketplace’s farm fresh produce and handmade crafts.

Pine Avenue is the classic blending of the best of Long Beach’s past and its future. And as downtown’s business anchor, it proudly displays the outward signs of vitality and strong growth once again.

Perhaps one of our best kept secrets is the fact that Flanders has some of the best restaurants in the world. Home to more Michelin stars per head than France, Belgium excels itself in the wide ranging, top quality restaurants it produces.

The Flemish region is brimming with excellent gastronomy at fantastic value for money. We’ve selected our top ten compiled to represent the best of Flanders. So if you’re heading to Europe this summer, it’s worth plotting a path via the Flemish cities to sample some of our gems.

Patrick De Vos “Zilveren Pauw”, Zilverstraat 41 – 8000 Bruges,

Set in beautiful surroundings in the heart of romantic Bruges. The Zilveren Pauw translates as the Silver Peacock and the charming interior compliments its excellent cuisine. www.patrickdevos.be

2. Dome – Grote Hondstraat 2, Antwerp 2018

Situated in the fabulous Zurenbourg district of Antwerp, Dome is housed in a splendid, round Art Nouveau building which was formally a teahouse, sewing school and police office! Enjoy fabulous cuisine such as monkfish with fresh spinach and pumpkin oil.

3. Pakhuis Brasserie- Schuurkenstraat 4, Ghent 9000

This is a magnificent restored 600 sq.m warehouse right in the heart of the historic centre of the city. Serving great food in a spectacular setting. Cuisine in traditional French-Italian style, plus contemporary creations and a wealth of oysters, shellfish and seafood www.pakhuis.be

4. Rouge Tomate Avenue Louise 190 – 1050 Brussels

Situated in the heart of fashionable Avenue Louise, Rouge Tomate serves up the best seasonal produce innovatively prepared with local ingredients. Bright and modern design compliment the fresh and nutritious menus which are altered on a regular basis.

www.rougetomate.com

5. De Blauwe Maan Mechelsestraat 22 – 3000 Leuven

Head chef Johan Gilbert serves combinations that please the eye as well as the mouth. Specialising in Italian food with a Flemish twist.Situated in the historical centre of Leuven, guests can enjoy a calm and relaxed dining experience. www.deblauwemaan.be

6. Folliez Korenmarkt 19- Mechelen

Gastronomic delights are the speciality of this Michelin starred Mechelen restaurant. Popular for lunch and dinner, the range of dishes is varied and caters for most tastes. An eye for detail and exceptional presentation make for mouth watering classic dishes with a Mediterranean accent using the finest fresh market produce.

www.folliez.be

Pegasus Restaurant – Guido Gezellestraat 7 – 8970 Poperinge

No visit to Flanders Fields country should be without a stop in this magnificent hotel/restaurant offering traditional dishes with a hint of the Mediterranean. Head chef Bert Recour is renowned for his originality and flair and its exceptional setting and beautiful décor make a meal at this restaurant unforgettable.

www.pegasusrecour.be

8. The Ostend Queen- West Helling 8400, Ostend

This well reputed fish restaurant sits in a prominent position offering stunning vistas of the Ostend promenade. Situated on the top floor of the Ostend casino, the chef, Pierre Wynants has created a stunning menu to match the view. Try specialities such as Sole “Belle Epoque” and the Zeevruchtenshotel( seafood platter) made with oysters, lobster, king crab, Ostend grey shrimp, black tiger prawns, mussels and winkles.

www.kursaaloostende.be

9. Het Pomphuis Siberiastraat z.n , 2030 Antwerp

Situated in the southern district of Antwerp is an old building which housed city pumps. The building was converted into a restaurant but the old pumps have been retained together with the glazing and high round windows which graciously illuminate this highly recommended restaurant.

www.hetpomphuis.be

10. Hostellierie St Nicolas Veurnseweg 532, 8906 Elverdinge

Based in Elverdinge, close to the city of Ypres, the restaurant Hostellerie St Nicolas is managed by Franky Vanderhaeghe and his wife Sandra Nys and has the prestigious honour of being awarded two Michelin stars. Situated in modern and pleasant surroundings, the restaurant prides itself in using fresh local and seasonal ingredients and represents excellent value for money given their various prestigious accolades.

www.hostellerie-stnicolas.com

By Morna Martin, Jetsetters Magazine Adventure Correspondent.

When United States’ Secretary William Seward decided in 1867 to purchase the Alaskan territory from Russia there was a public outrage. Critics accused Seward of being a fool for spending $7,200,000 on land, “…that contained nothing of value, but fur bearing animals…and would be not worth taken as a gift…”

“Seward’s Folly” as the incident is historically referred to, proved to be Seward’s mountain of gold. In the1890’s, large quantities of gold were discovered in Alaska.
William Seward was vindicated. In1912 a whole Alaskan town was named after the once ridiculed politician.

One of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities, Seward is located within the Kena i Peninsula Borough, 126 miles south of Anchorage. The breathtaking Mt. Marathon towers over the town whose beauty will enchant and haunt you for the rest of your life. It was voted All American City in 1963,1965, and again in 2005.

The town can be reached by car, ship, or rail. The Seward Highway National Scenic Byway and All-American road starts there and the drive from Anchorage is sure to be a highlight of your trip. Many cruises stop in Seward. The friendly Chamber of Commerce staff will meet you at the cruise ship terminal and help you make most of this unique destination. A one-of-a-kind trip can also be had by The Alaskan Railroad.

Once in Seward, you might be tired and not in the mood to check out the bustling harbor or the historic downtown district. A wide range of accommodations are available. Pay special attention to Andersen’s Evergreen Cabin, 6.5 miles North of Seward in the striking Bear Lake area. The cabin offers all comforts plus you will meet a mother and daughter who make the “Gilmore Girls” seem dull. Their friendliness and warmth will make you immediately take them into your heart . You will make friends for a lifetime. Should you be a recluse, have no fear, they will leave you alone and you will still have a stunning vacation.

There are many things20to do in Seward, some are an absolute must, however:

The Alaska Sea Life Center is a “non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation, and public education.” Their naturalistic exhibits are fascinating and enlightening as well. Among other things you can take a backstage tour of the facility and/or hand feed their many adorable puffins. You will have a prodigious learning experience.

Seavey’s Ididaride Sled Dog Tours, voted “Best Sled Dog Ride in Alaska.” At the home of Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, you will learn about the Iditarod, Alaska’s legendary dog sled race. You will meet lots of energized sled dogs, hug loveable husky puppies and experience a two-mile dog sledding escapade Fun, Fun, Fun…

Let the “Exit Glacier Guides“ take you on a ice hiking tour to stunning Exit Glacier. The friendly guides will provide you with all that’s necessary for a safe trip and will also store your baggage. Hourly shuttle service to and from exit glacier in an environmentally friendly bus (it runs on cooking oil) is also provided.

Stop by the local library for a real treat. Everyday at 2 P M you can catch an out of this world movie about the devastating earthquake that nearly wiped out Seward in 1964. Cannot get enough about the earthquake? Find Seward native, Christina Pichotta and listen to her fascinating rendition of events.

Hungry? Seward offers many excellent restaurants and coffeehouses. Should you accumulate too many souvenirs at one of the many charming shops and art galleries, “Ray’s Reusables,” a wonderful second hand store, will rescue you with a variety of well priced suitcases.

For more information, check out: www.Seward.com

Take action. Travel to Alaska. You will receive the great gift of a glimpse of pure American history and breathtaking scenery. Unlike Mr. Seward, nobody will call you “a fool.”

Located near Lake George,

The Saratoga Hilton, is one of the company’s newest hotels in the northeastern U.S. Located within walking distance of more than 50 restaurants and nightspots, the 242-room hotel (212 standard rooms and 30 one- and two-bedroom suites) is located in downtown Saratoga Springs and was recently renovated to feature modern public space and guestrooms.

The Saratoga joins the Hilton Family of Hotels but remains part of the LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels collection. Now guests of The Saratoga Hilton will be entitled to standard Hilton benefits, including participation in the Hilton HHonors frequent traveler rewards program.

The hotel is connected to the Saratoga Springs City Center adding an additional 20,000 square feet to the hotel’s 26,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 6,300-square-foot Saratoga Ballroom that can accommodate up to 800 people.

Each guestroom will be furnished with the Hilton Serenity Collection of amenities, which includes the Hilton Serenity Bed with the Serta Suite Dreams mattress and box springs, Pacific Coast down duvet, Super Topper mattress pads and top-quality linens and pillows.

Standard amenities will also include the Hilton Serenity Bath Collection, featuring the exclusive Crabtree & Evelyn line of La Source bath products; a Cuisinart dual-cup, single brew coffeemaker and Lavazza coffee; the easy-to-set Hilton Family alarm clock with MP3 player connectivity; high-speed Internet with wireless access; and a 32-inch LCD flat screen television.

Downtown Brooklyn welcomed a new boutique hotel with the opening of Nu Hotel, located at 85 Smith Street at Atlantic Avenue.

Hersha Hospitality launches Nu Hotel Brooklyn on the heels of its opening of the Duane Street Hotel in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood and The Independent in Philadelphia.

 The 93-room, newly built hotel, owned and operated by Hersha Hospitality and designed by Datumzero Design Office, features three styles of guest rooms: the Nu Standard, the Nu Friends Suite, and the Nu Urban Suite.

Nu Friends Suites are equipped with bunk beds and modular furniture that adapts for friends and family. Nu Urban Suites feature a cozy bed niche with leather surroundings, a sitting area and custom hammocks.

Nu Hotel reflects a commitment to eco-friendly living. Cork flooring appears in rooms, as do organic bedding materials and custom furnishings crafted from FSC- certified, sustainably harvested teak wood.

Amenities include 32-inch flat-screen televisions with “jack packs” to dock audio, video and computer electronics and complementary Wi-Fi access.

Bathrooms are equipped with chalkboard walls where guests can jot notes for housekeeping, travel mates, or simply record their own musings. The hotel also offers Nu Bar, which serves as the property’s café/lounge and serves beverages, cocktails and light fare.

The Nu Gym includes cardio equipment and free weights in addition to a boxing bag and yoga/pilates mats and accessories. Rates begin at $200 per night.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 718-852-8585 or visit www.nuhotelbrooklyn.com

A new international landmark will make its home in Orlando, providing a tourism boost for Central Florida’s International Drive corridor.

Great Wheel Corporation has selected Central Florida as the site of the Great Orlando Wheel, North America’s iconic observation wheel, the company announced this month.

Scheduled to open in 2010, the Great Orlando Wheel will tower 400 feet. It will capture the experience of flight with spectacular views spanning 25 miles in all directions.

The Great Orlando Wheel will sit on 20 acres next to the Orlando-Orange County Convention Center, in the heart of the tourism corridor.

Located at 6503 Westwood Boulevard, the giant wheel will be less than five minutes from Interstate 4 and SR 528. The location will be convenient to the Orlando International Airport, downtown Orlando, and the area’s world-premier theme parks, hotels and attractions.

The Great Orlando Wheel is one of several observation wheels currently under development in gateway cities around the globe, including Beijing, Singapore and Berlin.

During each 30-minute ride, the Wheel will ascend slowly and silently to 400 feet.

For more information, visit www.greatwheel.com/orlando

The historic Driskill hotel in Austin, Texas, a Destination Hotels & Resorts property, is undergoing a renovation of its 189 guestrooms and its 1886 Café & Bakery. Completion is slated for Labor Day.

Six rooms are being remodeled to conform to ADA standards, increasing the hotel’s total ADA room count to nine. An additional six rooms feature special amenities for hearing-impaired guests.

The new color scheme will feature browns and creams that are found in the Central Texas landscape.

Leather furniture accented with nail-head trim will contrast with Victorian-inspired pieces like a curved, high-back settee.

While custom iron beds emblazoned with the Driskill “D” logo remain in place, all new Sealy mattresses and bed linens are being installed, as are new desks and desk chairs conducive to workstation standards.

Plasma-screen televisions are also being added. Artwork includes historic black and white photographs of the hotel from the Austin History Center archival collection.

Call 800-252-9367

or visit www.driskillhotel.com .

Akuas Dubrovnik, a company dedicated to providing exclusive water-shuttle and island-transfer service, is now offering much-needed assistance to the destination’s burgeoning cruise and tourism industry.

For the growing number of cruise passengers and hotel guests visiting the “Old City” this year to view its natural beauty and cultural treasures, this service streamlines and adds precious time to those visits.

The shuttle-transfers between Gruz Port and Old City Harbor provide passengers with a 30-minute panoramic view of the celebrated city in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. The company also offers convenient island-transfer service to visitors and locals who desire to visit the Elafiti islands located just off the coast.

For the 2008 travel season, Akuas acquired a fleet of modern cruisers that include seven 40-passenger boats and one 60-passenger vessel that are currently providing continuous transfer service to Dubrovnik’s cruise passengers.

Akuas Dubrovnik also said it is poised to take advantage of every opportunity in bringing innovative and branded attractions to the region.

Plans are already in place to expand the company’s services to include Akuatics, a themed water park; Akuanauts, a submarine adventure; and Akuaflights, a helicopter sightseeing excursion along the coast.

Most recently the company signed an agreement with the operators of St. Jacob’s Beach Club to provide shuttle service from the Old City Harbor to the popular beach site.

For more information, visit www.akuas.h r

One of the largest fluvial islands in the world, Ilha do Marajó – slightly larger than Switzerland – has about 50,000 km² of land, lying at the mouth of the Amazon River in the State of Pará. The island’s 250,000 inhabitants live in 13 municipalities and in the many fazendas (farms) spread across the island. Although visiting the island is fairly straightforward for independent travelers, many travel agencies in Belém, the State capital, offer package tours to Soure, the main town, and to remote fazendas.

Researchers have discovered that the island was inhabited between 1000 BC and 1300 AD by successive Indian civilizations. The first of these, known as the Ananatuba civilization, was followed by those of the Mangueiras, the Formiga Marajoara and, finally, the Aruã.

The ceramics produced by these civilizations were ornamented with intricate designs in black, red and white. The best examples of these ceramics are displayed at the Museu Emílio Goeldi in Belém. The resemblance of these designs to those found in Andean civilizations prompted the theory amongst some researchers that the inhabitants of Ilha de Marajó had originally floated down the Amazon from the Andes. In 1991, a team of international archaeologists reported the discovery of pottery fragments near Santarém which were estimated to be between 7000 and 8000 years old. These fragments predate what was previously considered the oldest pottery in the Americas.

Ilha de Marajó is divided into two main geographical regions of almost equal size. The eastern half of the island is called the “região dos campos”. This area is characterized by low-lying fields with savanna-type flora sectioned by strips of remaining forest. Various palm trees and dense mangrove forests line by the coast. The island’s western half, the “região da mata”, is primarily rainforest.

Marajó has two seasons: the rainy, from January to June, and the dry, from July to December. During the rainy season, much of the island turns into swamp and the “região dos campos” becomes completely submerged under a meter or more of water. The island’s few roads are elevated by three meters, but are nonetheless impassable during the rainy season.

The herds of buffalo which wander the fields provide Marajó’s sustenance, being well adapted to the swampy terrain. The island is filled with birds, especially during the dry season, including the guará, a graceful flamingo with a long, curved beak. The sight of a flock of deep pink guarás flying against Marajó’s green backdrop is truly unforgettable!

Soure, the island’s principal town, is situated on the Rio Paracauari, a few km from the Marajó bay. The tide along the city’s shore oscillates a remarkable rate of three meters. With regular boat service from Belém and easy access to several of the best beaches and fazendas, Soure is probably the best location to stay on the island.

The bay beaches near Soure are excellent and look more like ocean beaches. The beaches are often covered with exotic seeds washed down from the Amazon forests. Praia Araruna, the most beautiful beach, is also the closest, 10 minutes by taxi from town. The road passes through farmland where you might spot a flock of guarás, then follow two pedestrian bridges across the lagoons to the beach. The bay here, 30 km from the ocean, has both fresh and salt water. At low tide, you can walk about five km in either direction. The beach is deserted during the week, and could scarcely be called crowded on weekends.

Salvaterra is separated from Soure by a short boat ride across the river. Shuttle boats leave every hour during the day and cost about one dollar. A 10-minute walk from town, Praia Grande de Salvaterra is a long, picturesque beach on the Baía de Marajó. It’s popular on weekends, when the barracas open, but often windy. This is a good place to see the beautiful fenced corrals which dot Marajó’s coastline.

From Salvaterra, a dirt road goes to Câmara (24 km) and then continues to Cachoeira do Arari (51 km), a very pretty and rustic town. To the north, accessible only by plane, is the town of Santa Cruz do Arari, on the Lagoa (lake) Arari. This town is completely submerged during the rainy season, and is famous for its fishing.

The western half of the island is less populated and less interesting for travelers. There are boat services to the city of Breve. Afuá, on the northern shore, is built on water – both cities are linked to Belém by air-taxi.

Ilha Caviana, an island lying off the north coast of Ilha de Marajó, is an excellent base to observe the pororoca (the thunderous collision between the Atlantic tide and the Amazon River). The best time to see this phenomenon is between January and April, at either full or new moon.

TIP: Marcello Morelio, a local well known pilot/guide who shuttles between Belém and Ilha de Marajó, also organizes panoramic flights (maximum six people) to Ilha Caviana to observe the pororoca.

After an extensive multi-million dollar transformation, the High Peaks Resort on Mirror Lake has debuted in the Adirondack Mountain village of Lake Placid, N.Y.

The resort is located on Main Street. Located on the site of the former Lake Placid Hilton, the complete redesign and upgrade of the property’s public spaces and 133 guestrooms is highlighted by a floating lobby with two-sided stone fireplace, maple stained woods and scenic mural of the region.

The resort’s expanded fitness facility, three indoor and outdoor pools, Aveda Concept Spa & Salon, direct lake access featuring canoeing, paddleboats and swimming, and incredible views, make it the perfect place for a mountain getaway.

Topping off the new décor, there are 79 guestrooms with double queen beds and 54 with king beds, several with fireplaces, whirlpool tubs and direct waterfront access.

All offer baths with natural stone tiled walk-in showers, granite vanities and Molton Brown of London amenities; high quality bedding and linens; superior lighting; oversized desks; refrigerators; flat screen televisions; wireless and wired high speed Internet access, and multi-function music systems with MP3 players and movies. Introductory specials, available through Dec. 31, 2008, include a Stay Three, Get a Fourth Night Free offer, with rates starting at $199 per room, per night. Other introductory deals include: Bag-A-Peak and Peak Views Golf.

For more information, call 800-755-5598 or visit www.highpeaksresort.com