Gothic Splendor

Katie over at Katiedid just posted a hauntingly beautiful post about Douglas Little, Modern Alchemist and Purveyor of Curious Goods. He created a Gothic Fantasy for the pages of the November 2006 issue of House and Garden magazine, and for the windows of Bergdorf Goodman in 2006. I had to share some photos below of the striking Bergdorf windows. You can see all of the windows here:

I love everything by Douglas Little, founder of D.L. and Co. He is most well known for his unusual and fragrant candles, in addition to other curious objects. He is also a decorator/designer and stylist extraordinaire. Love him!

Photos courtesy of dlcompany.com

Trick or Treat?

Have a frightfully fantastic Halloween!

Photo: Vintage Halloween candy containers & lanterns; courtesy of countryhome.com

South Padre Hotels - 3 Key Tips For Finding A Great Hotel-hotel

South Padre Hotels - 3 Key Tips For Finding A Great Hotel-hotel

by Sam Malone

South Padre Hotels offer some of best amenities and options in the entire United States. Although the main attraction to South Padre Island will always be the beach, great seafood, and water activities, many people come away really enjoying the various hotels on the Island. However, to make sure you find the very best for your vacation, we have put together a list of tips to consider:

1. Pick a hotel that is near the bulk of the activities you want to do.
This will require a little pre-planning; however, it will help save you some time, money, and energy on your vacation. By choosing a spot near the things you want to do, you will spend less time trying to find parking spaces, walking, or can easily head back into your hotel room if you forget something. Popular activity hubs for water activities are mainly situated on the southern portion of the Island. However, if you are more into fishing, you would probably prefer hotels along the bay side of the Island. Big time shoppers and restaurant connoisseurs will really like the Inner Island hotels in the middle of the Island. Finally, if you are looking for some seclusion, the northern portion of the Island is ideal. This can be great for romantic getaways.

2. Choose a beautiful view based on your standard.
Since what one considers to be a beautiful view, you have some decisions to make. The gulf side of the Island offers beautiful sunrises and a view of the beach. However, the bay side of the Island will offer you beautiful sunsets and views of the many fishing boats and charters. The inner island portion will boast a cosmopolitan area of shops, people, and interaction. At night, this area can offer a captivating view. Therefore, the key here is to pick an area that you will like. However, we do recommend that you opt for rooms that are at least a few stories up and have a balcony. These will help enhance your view regardless of which area of the Island you wish to stay in.

3. Splurge on the amenities you will use.
Many South Padre Hotels will offer various sets of amenities; however, not all of these amenities will be of value to you. If services like Internet access or fitness centers are not of much value to you, choose other hotels that can offer other amenities you will actually use. Since you are on vacation, do not be afraid to spend a little extra on the amenities you want. These little things help make the whole experience that much more enjoyable. However, don't be afraid to cut out the things that will be of no value to you.

4. Reputation of individual hotels can change over time.
The best bet for finding out the current reputation of any hotel is to read reviews and message boards regarding that particular hotel. Although you should not give any one review too much weight, you should be able to get a general feel for what you can expect from a hotel and their management staff. Consumers have been very good about expressing their approval or disapproval about hotels in South Padre Island. With a little research, you should have no difficulty finding out which ones to hone in on.

By keeping these different tips in mind, it should be a lot easier for you to find some great South Padre Hotels.

About the Author

Now, stop wasting any more time looking for the best South Padre Hotels, try visiting South Padre Island - it is an information website offering solid tips and information about beautiful South Padre Island.

Hotels in Barcelona by Gill Critchley -hotel

Hotels in Barcelona by Gill Critchley -hotel

The architecture in the city of Barcelona is awe inspiring and very memorable and the Hotel Silken Diagonal is no exception.
Since 2004, the hotel has stood out for its modern architecture and especially its imaginative black and white combination on the exterior. The design was the idea of Juli Capella, a talented architect from the city, and it really makes the building stand out from the crowd.
On top of this being a beautiful building, this is one of the hotels in Barcelona that is also surrounded by other magnificent buildings. The location of this hotel is ideal as it situated next to the very impressive Agbar Tower. The Agbar Tower is the newest skyscraper to grace this cultural and vibrant Mediterranean city and was created by one of today's most talented architects. The hotel is also within easy reach of the main access roads, the port, the airport and only a few minutes away from the city centre.
As far as interior design goes in hotels, the Hotel Silken Diagonal has a striking look inside and is ideal for guests who want their stay to be tasteful and up to date with the current design trends.
The city centre hotel also has a very popular Piano Restaurant as well. This restaurant combines the best cuisine techniques from the Catalan and Basque traditions and the menu is very modern without being pretentious.
This hotel has a lot to offer its guests and will ensure your stay is an enjoyable one. If you are interested in staying here, it may be well worth your while checking the hotel's website to see if they have any special hotel deals on at the time you are looking to stay.
On top of this being a beautiful building, this is one of the hotels in Barcelona that is also surrounded by other magnificent buildings. As far as interior design goes in hotels , the Hotel Silken Diagonal has a striking look inside and is ideal for guests who want their stay to be tasteful and up to date with the current design trends.
If you are interested in staying here, it may be well worth your while checking the hotel's website to see if they have any special hotel deals on at the time you are looking to stay.

About the Author
Gill Critchley is a UK based author with experience within the financial and travel industries.

Are you looking for Hotel in Rhodes Greece? Get the finest Hotel in Rhodes Island right here!-hotel

Are you looking for Hotel in Rhodes Greece? Get the finest Hotel in Rhodes Island right here!-hotel

by Frank Jaeger

If you are willing to go to a unique place where you can spent some valuable time in the form of holidays then Greece is considered to be one of the best choice for you. There are lots of holiday destinations available for you in Greece and one such fascinating place is Rhodes Island Greece.

If you want to make your normal trip to Greece a memorable one then it is best to go for a trip to Rhodes. While going for to a place like Rhodes it is necessary that you should some of the preparations in advance. There are lots of beautiful places for you to visit in Rhodes Island. If you do not have sufficient information about it then chances are that you fail to visit some of the most astonishing places in Rhodes Island.

The case is not that much easy as you are thinking of. If you do not have much information about it then you need to search for a reliable service provider which can provide you essential information and assistance. While selecting a service providing company you cannot go with a straightforward approach. It is imperative that you should avail the benefit of best Hotel in Rhodes Greece, know about what are the attractions available nearby you, valleys, beaches, villages, etc.

In all these, getting the finest Hotel in Rhodes Island is the most important factor. It is the most important factor because it is directly associated with your food and accommodation.

This is the reason why for having a better experience of holiday tour to Greece you should deal with a service provider which is not only reliable but also experienced, consistent and affordable as well. If we take all these aspects into account then we will find that there is one option which is quite suitable to make a same kind of deal. Its name is Webcon and it has benefited a large number of customers with its exclusive services till now.

It doesn't matter you are facing what kind of problem. Whether your problem is associated with Hotel in Rhodes Greece or visiting various good places, Webcon will offer definite as well as reasonable solution to your problem. If you are dealing with Webcon then finding out the most optimum Hotel in Rhodes Island is not a difficult task for you. Here, you will avail some of the services which are better as well as beyond your anticipation.

This is not a difficult work for Webcon because it has entered in the market with the clear cut objective of customer devotion and satisfaction. So, here you will not only get a good Hotel in Rhodes Greece but also some of the other attractions of Rhodes Island which you should visit.

Basically, besides best possible Hotel in Rhodes Island you will also get an opportunity to visit some places which are extremely lure and enchanting. Think about that you are visiting different beautiful beaches and playing or basking in the sun. These are some of the activities which make a trip to a hot spot a really delightful one.

Webcon is one of the service providers which are holding a strong goodwill in the market. It is having a very strong reputation in the market due to offering of best Hotel in Rhodes Greece and providing full information about various attractions available.

Frankly speaking, a long list of happy and satisfied customers is the secret to success of Webcon!

About the Author

The hotel in Rhodes Greece or the hotel in Rhodes Island can make your vacations special.

What Does it Take to Get the Good Stuff?

Friday is a big estate sale day. People line up at the crack of dawn (some camp in their cars overnight) to get first pick when the sale opens.

Today there was a huge sale in the Bay Area and numbers were passed out the day before to reserve a spot in line. One of my fellow antiques dealers (name withheld) paid $400 to someone in line to purchase their number. That's right. FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS! This allowed the gentleman to be number 20 in line, as opposed to number 75, or say, 124. The question is, did he find any treasures? I heard that he bought a couple of small things, but really. Is this funny, or have antique dealers gone too far to find a treasure? Perhaps I should get a second job standing in line at estate sales and selling my numbers. Just a thought.

Let's Bring Back...

I recently stumbled upon this post from Lesley Blume at the Huffington Post. She has a column called "Let's Bring Back." I thought I'd make a list of my own (below). What would you like to bring back?

1. Dining car travel. Oh, the Golden Age of Travel. Elegant meals served with fancy dinnerware. What a way to travel.

2. Letter-writing. Almost a lost art. Yes, the internet has enabled us to communicate instantly, but there is so much beautiful letterpress stationary out there and letter-writing is so personal.

3. Hats. On men and women. They are so chic and don’t you just love the photos of men at the ballpark sporting their fedoras and derbys?

4. Women’s gloves. So classy. I remember as a child in the 60’s, shopping with Mom in downtown San Francisco. You had to wear your white gloves and Mary Janes. Women looked so stylish.

5. Handsome luggage. Wouldn’t it be nice to sport a little train case and not see hundreds of black suitcases at airport baggage claim? Perhaps the old variety is difficult to transport, but isn’t it chic?

6. Full-service gas stations. Men with their little hats happily coming to your car to fill up your tank. What a luxury.

7. No sneaker rule. Don’t get me wrong, sneakers are comfy and great for exercise and walking, but I don’t like going to a nice restaurant or theater and seeing 75% of the people looking as if they just left the gym.

8. Old-fashioned architecture. Art Deco signage, skyscrapers with ornate, classical exteriors. Gorgeous brass elevator panels in lobbies.

9. Wood-carving. Bring back and preserve the lost art of carving by hand.

10. Phone calls. I may sound like an old fogey, but it’s difficult trying to respond to text messages and e-mails. It’s so difficult to type on that little phone pad! I love to spend time just chatting on the phone with a friend. It’s actually quite relaxing don’t you think?

Vintage Political Collectibles

With the Presidential election less than 3 weeks away, I thought it would be fun to blog about collecting vintage political memorabilia. There were so many different collectibles including pinback buttons, ballot boxes, bumper stickers, matchbooks, umbrellas…even cigarette packs!

The value of political memorabilia, like most collectibles, is based on condition, rarity and popularity among the collecting public. Most popular to collectors are items for the very famous presidents (Lincoln, FDR and Kennedy) and the infamous (e.g. Nixon).

George Washington wore the first political button in 1789 at his first Inauguration in New York. He, and many present, wore buttons, but these buttons were clothing buttons made of brass and proudly reading "G.W.-Long Live the President", modeling the phrase "Long live the King." Clothing-type buttons continued to be used by citizens in a very young United States, often times with the name of a hero like Andrew Jackson conservatively placed on the reverse side of the button.

A “Gold Water” six-pack. (From “Campaigning for President,” by Jordan Wright)

“Johnson Juice,” the counter to “Gold Water.” (From “Campaigning for President,” by Jordan Wright)

One of the best coffee table books on political memorabilia published this year is “Campaigning for President: Memorabilia from the Nation’s Finest Private Collection,” by Jordan M. Wright. In his years of collecting, which started at the age of 10 in New York, Wright has amassed more than a million pieces of campaign memorabilia items from the first George W. to today’s less-heralded version. Now that’s a large collection! You can purchase the book here.

A great resource to purchase memorabilia is from Ron Wade, who has been selling political buttons and rare historical and Presidential memorabilia since 1972. You can check out his site here. He has a fantastic selection from current campaign to nineteenth century items.

Have fun and remember to vote on November 4th!

Bangkok Airport Hotel. From Low Budget Guesthouses To 5 Star Hotels-hotel

Bangkok Airport Hotel. From Low Budget Guesthouses To 5 Star Hotels.
by Harri Brent
There are several great Hotels in the Bangkok Airport Vicinity. One guesthouse for low budget that I recommend highly is called 'Sananwan Palace'. It is a pleasure to stay in this family run and operated oasis. It's just 25 minutes by taxi from the airport.
Room Rates
300 Baht room with Fan 600 Baht room with Air Con.
Sanawan Palace Guesthouse has a nice swimming pool, a sauna and gym. Room service and delicious food at your fingertips. It's a little oasis in the Bangkok area and you will enjoy the old market at the canal close by and the new temple which is only a 5 minute walk from the guesthouse.
This guesthouse is in a district called Bangpli and it is a little bit difficult to find for taxi drivers but they do offer a pick up at the airport which costs just as much as hiring a taxi at the airport.
Looking For A Hotel Instead?
There are several Hotels also very close to the airport:
Avana Hotelis close to Bangkok Airport. 25 Km or 25 minutes by taxi from the airport This luxury hotel was previously known as Highway Inn Hotel. A 3 Star Hotel with Room Rates starting at 1000 Baht a night.
The Convenient Resort Suvarnabhumi Bangkok.This Hotel provides comfortable accommodation and is just five minutes away from Suvarnabhumi Airport and approximately 25 minutes from Bangkok City Centre. This resort offers a 24 Hour reception and is ready to serve you regardless of your flight arrival or departure time. Room rates start at less than 1200 Baht.
The Floral Shire Resort.Floral Shire Resort is only 5 km or 3 miles from the Bangkok Airport. This resort offers free pick up and drop off at the airport. Room rates start at 1000 Baht. That's about what the taxi would cost you.
The Grand Come Inn Bangkok.This Hotel is approximately 10 kilometers from the Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport. Room Rates around 1600 baht.
Whether you are looking for a hotel for a one night lay over or for a long time stay, there are many options in the vicinity of the Bangkok International Airport.
Some of the Hotels offer airport pick up and drop off limousine services at reasonable prices. Most of them have a 24/7 Reception service to accommodate you no matter what time of day or night you arrive.
Out of experience I would suggest using the airport pick up service since it is so much more convenient and trouble free than standing in line for a taxi at the airport. They usually cost the same and are not metered taxis but limousines.
Hotels Bangkok Airport Vicinity
Sanawan Palace

About the Author
Paradise Pattaya

Hotel La Residenza in Milan-hotel

Hotel La Residenza in Milan-hotel
by Marco
La Residenza Hotel is located in a tranquil setting, sheltered from city chaos yet at the same time a short distance away from all major places of interest in Milan. The hotel lies in the "Affori" area in the North of Milan, at about 5 km far from the Duomo and from the Fair Center (Fieramilanocity), which are easily reachable by public transport. The La Residenza Hotel in Milan is also at a short distance (11 km ) from the New Exhibition Center of Rho-Pero thanks to the vicinity of the highway.The hotel is also near the Galeazzi Hospital and the Niguarda Hospital. Moreover, the hotel is located near the famous disco Alcatraz (reachable by car in just 5 minutes) and it is at 7 km far from the San Siro Stadium.The La Residenza Hotel is also near the Bovisa Station (about 2 km) and the Bovisa Campus of the Polytechnic of Milan, as well as the Bicocca University (5,5 km).The La Residenza Milan Hotel is located at only 1 km far from the underground station of Maciachini (yellow line) to which is connected by 3 bus lines (bus n°41 - 52 - 70). That is an easy way to get to the Central Station of Milan and to the Garibaldi Station.
In a relaxing and familiar environment where every detail is chosen with the greatest care, the multilingual staff of the La Residenza Hotel remains at complete disposal to assist the guests during their stay.The 60 rooms (single with French bed, twin and double with queen-size bed, triple and quadruple), extremely comfortable and welcoming, are furnished with style and simplicity, in a fine mix between classic and modern style. They are equipped with air conditioning, a direct telephone line, tv, minibar, hair dryer and private bathroom with bath and shower, laundry service.Rooms especially fitted and fully accessible for the disabled are available on the ground floor.At the La Residenza Hotel small pets are welcomed.Among the range of services available, there is the chance to have frequent access to the gym, the Internet Point and the wireless connection in the hall, the garage (which must be reserved and paid for in advance), the garden, the snack-bar, the elegant wine room, the safe at the reception, the sell of bus tickets, the booking of daily trips and of taxis from and to the main airports. At the restaurant of the La Residenza Hotel in Milan the guests can taste the typical Italian wine and gastronomy, starting from the delicious and abundant buffet-style breakfast with its sweet and savoury specialities, with possibility of room service. On request it's possible to organize parties and banquets. For those who love soccer, there is also a large screen to enjoy live matches. Not to miss in spring and summertime the aperitif in the garden with diffused music, drinks and delicious snacks.
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About the Author
Specialized in providing accommodation all over Italy in Hotels and B&Bs since 2004

Have You Seen This?

I stumbled upon this entertaining website called, "The Living Room Candidate" which features Presidential campaign commercials from 1952 to current. They are quite entertaining. Many of them very civilized, some not. In any event, it's fun entertainment. I LOVE any old commercials. Click here and enjoy!

Pimento Cheese Spread

Why haven't we heard of this on the West Coast? Apparently this is a traditional Southern comfort food that hasn't caught on in many parts of the country.

I just returned from visiting family in Nashville, and just about every market and cafe/bakery has this delicious spread.

This last time I was in Nashville I had a grilled pimento and cheese sandwich and it was the best thing I've ever tasted! Not the processed variety, but the real "made from scratch" mixture with fresh cheddar cheese, pimentos and mayonnaise. I googled "pimento cheese spread" and found hundreds of different recipes to choose from. Do any of you have a favorite recipe? I'm obsessed!

Vintage Vogue Magazines

Vogue, November 1968

On Friday I was at an estate sale here in the City and was prowling around the garage. A fellow antiques dealer had stumbled upon stacks of vintage Vogue magazines from the 1960's. He let me look through them and wow...just gorgeous! Why were fashion magazines so much classier back then? Just look at some of these covers! The first image (above) is the cover of the November 1968 issue which I looked through. I love the photo of Verushka with an armful of blue enamel bracelets and baby snake rings. Great match with her blue eye shadow!

Vogue, December 1968

Vogue, January 1962

Needless to say, I was disappointed that I hadn't discovered these magazines first! The good news is that the web site, Paper Pursuits, has a huge selection of vintage fashion and design magazines, print advertisements and sewing patterns. They list the contents in each issue and show photos of some of the pages. Check them out here. I may have to buy some issues...

Vogue, May, 1962

Vogue, April 1963

Vogue, rare addition of Audrey Hepburn, November 1964

All photos courtesy of paperpursuits.com

A Guide to Choose Best Hotel in Hertford , Hertfordshire , UK-hotel

Hertford is one of most popular holiday destination in Hertfordshire .Hertford has many food, drink and entertainment establishments which have grown in number considerably since the eighties and nineties. It attracts people from nearby towns, and often the North London suburbs. There are approximately 25 pubs and clubs in the area , and around 35 restaurants available here . breathtakingly beautiful scenery on Hertford’s doorstep you begin to understand why Hertford is so popular.You want to enjoy your Holiday Breaks or Leisure Breaks in Hertford ? then go to Accommodation Hotels it was the best way for enjoy your time . You can Find the Lowest Hotel Rates Guaranteed! From Luxury Hotels to Budget Accommodations. it serves you Homely services with cheap rates .B and B is the main attraction is Hotels in Hertford . all hotels are located so near by Airports , Railways and road ways .Hertford hotels have a large range of menu for your B and B , lunch and dinner .if you are looking for Discount Hotels in Hertford Just log on to bellow site . this site providing Accommodation Hotels , B and B in Hertford , Discount Hotels in Hertford , Bed and Breakfast Hotels in Hertford , Online Reservation Hotels in Hertford is the best way to save your money and time also . Hotels Facilities : Bar, Golf Facilities, Valet Parking,Dining Room, Fitness Centre, Internet Access, Meeting Rooms ,Business Services,24 hour Reception.Room Facilities : Cable, Internet Access within Room ,Radio ,Tea Coffee Making ,Room Service ,Premium Movies ,Air Conditioning ,Mini Bar , Trouser press . Some Attractions around Hertfordshire : Benington Lordship Benington , De Grey Mausoleum Flitton , Devil's Dyke Wheathampstead , Frithsden Vineyard Frithsden . U Can Find Accommodations in Bellow Cities AlsoCheap Hotels in Leeds Hotels in Hertfordshire Hotels Accommodation in St Albans Hotels in Wembley Hotels in Ashbourne Hotels in Leeds Hotels in Arundel Folkestone Hotels Hotels in Bournemouth Hotels in Ramsgate Hotels in Stevenage Hotels in Edgware Hotels in Chorley Hotels in Hinckley For More Details Logon to : http://www.hotels-in-hertfordshire.co.uk/Hertford-hotels.aspx

Rachel Ashwell's New Shabby Chic Blog

For those of you who love Shabby Chic, you'll be excited to visit Rachel Ashwell's new blog. Some lovely photos and stories. You can check it out here.

Photos courtesy of Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Blog

Cecil Beaton Fabric

I was thrilled to find out about the Cecil Beaton fabric collection available at Liberty of London. Beaton, the famous British photographer, costume designer and diarist had a keen eye for all things fashionable.

I am in awe of his artwork and have a small collection of his first addition books. Now what a treat to be able to purchase his fabric and wallpaper. All of the designs in the collection are reproductions of Beaton’s original work from 1948 and produced by Beaudesert in England. They are checks, florals and stripes on silk, cotton and wallpaper. You can see them here.

Photos courtesy of cecilbeatonfabrics.com & Harper's Bazaar