A Made To Measure Georgian Heritage Home

A newly built Georgian-style house with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms in Toronto’s Rosedale neighbourhood.

Services Ltd., Johnson and Daniel Division (James Strathy Warren)

With 11-, the main floor features large with dark- of quarter-sawn white oak. A library is panelled in mahogany, and has a . A dramatic reverse staircase ascends from a centre hall.

At the rear is an open- comprising the kitchen, family room and eating area, with doors opening to the garden. The countertops in the kitchen, wet bar and pantry are fashioned from Calacutta honed marble.

Some areas of the house feature heated stone floors.

A state-of-the-art system controls temperature, security and lighting. The house also contains and structured cable for high-speed internet, television and communication .

Upstairs, lead into the master suite, where French doors open to a Juliet overlooking the garden. A dressing room is lined with hand-crafted closets and includes a flat-screen TV. The ensuite bathroom has a separate water closet, cast-iron tub and honed with in-floor radiant heating.

The two other bedrooms on the second floor have ensuite bathrooms. Located on the third floor are a bedroom and bathroom as well as a games room.

On the lower level, an “infinity” swimming pool is surrounded by limestone and enclosed in glass. A media room has built-in surround sound and a . Adjoining an exercise area is a bathroom with limestone floors and walls, as well as a .

A climate-controlled wine cellar is constructed of and lined with Douglas fir wine caskets that accommodate 500 bottles.

Outside, the landscaped property includes a very private stone terrace in the rear garden. A more functional element is an in-ground irrigation system. The exterior features copper trim and a cedar roof.

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Monday, June 16th, 2008

Landscaping Rock No Comments

Escape to Milwaukee in winter (!)

MILWAUKEE — When it comes to winter getaways, most people think warm: Cabo, Jamaica, Miami. These are the literal hot spots, where bone-chilling winter blahs melt like so many snowflakes into sandy beaches, tropical drinks and balmy sunsets. But a quick jaunt to Cabo, Jamaica or even Miami isn’t always an option, for obvious reasons: money, timing and availability.

Consider, then, the rogue winter excursion: Consider heading into the cold instead of warmth. Consider trekking north instead of south. Consider the urban retreat instead of the beach getaway.

In other words, consider Milwaukee.

(It should be noted that as I’m writing this before you’re reading this, Miami had a high of 81 F. Milwaukee’s was 5 F. But Milwaukee has butter burgers.)

Sure, it’s cold there. Big deal. You can handle it. Plan a weekend full of fireside relaxing and comfort-food dining. And shopping. And indoor sightseeing. And old world culture. Milwaukee, after all, is a metropolis.

So what’s the advantage of ditching one freezing city for another?

For starters, the traffic — or lack thereof. There’s hardly any congestion, even during Friday rush hour. Plus, there’s parking everywhere — much of it free, or shockingly cheap.

And then there’s the food. Beyond the bevy of brats and cheese curds, Milwaukee’s dining scene is surprisingly satisfying. Yes, I did have a butter burger — correction: I had a veggie butter burger. (Note to vegetarians: You’ll do fine here.) But I also indulged in a leisurely Saturday night dinner for two at a restaurant whose executive chef was nominated last year for a James Beard award. Everything right down to the dessert was perfect, and the bill was less than $175 for the two of us, including drinks, tax and tip.

Consider, too, the fact that Milwaukee knows the cold well, and has planned accordingly. Should you visit the Milwaukee Art Museum (and you should), take your time in the parking garage — it’s heated. The museum itself, of course, is fabulous. Beyond the new wing designed by starchitect Santiago Calatrava, there’s an enormous permanent collection that rivals most major cities’. It houses one of the largest collections of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings in the States, a cool gift shop and stunning views of Lake Michigan. Not to mention, its exhibitions are top notch. Don’t tell the Art Institute, but I kind of like Milwaukee’s art museum better.

I also like its coffee better. Milwaukee’s Intelligentsia, so to speak, is Alterra Coffee Roasters, and there are a half-dozen outposts (my favorite is the Fifth Ward Foundry) at which one can sip the strong stuff; eat a melt-in-your-mouth provolone, cheddar and pepperjack grilled Wisconsin cheese sandwich; and linger awhile.

Another place where Milwaukee shines is the Friday night fish fry. They’re virtually everywhere in this town — winter and summer — and some are better than others. I took my chances on a new place in the suburbs, namely for the fact that I’d read it boasted a fireplace. Still dusted with snow from a big storm the week prior, the Pleasant Valley Inn was a cozy wintry oasis, right down to the snowman stationed at the entryway. The lighting is dim, the soundtrack is Frank Sinatra, and wood paneling is everywhere. Oh, and the fish fry wasn’t half bad. Besides, everything tastes better fireside.

Actually, everything is better fireside. Even sleeping. Such was the rationale for booking a semi-pricey (for Milwaukee) room at the Euro-style boutique Hotel Metro. It’s housed in a historic Art Deco building in the East Town neighborhood, and it’s all suites, a number of which have gas fireplaces. Further winter relaxing comes courtesy of a rooftop spa with a saltwater hot tub, a sauna … and a mini-workout room in which to burn off some of that guilt stomached with all the good food here.

Speaking of food … That delectable Saturday night dinner for two took place at Bacchus, the newest restaurant in Milwaukee’s renowned chain of Bartolotta Restaurants, founded by brothers Paul and Joe Bartolotta. It’s named for the Roman god of wine, and how: Bacchus has hundreds of wines on offer, from reasonably priced glasses of Australian shiraz to a $1,200 bottle of Bordeaux. As for dinner? Flawless. The brothers are also responsible for Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, poised north of downtown in a stunning location overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s excellent for dinner but famous for its Sunday brunch, a prix fixe with three perfect courses of casual French bistro fare. The creme brulee, by the way, is rich enough to earn Milwaukee its Cream City nickname all over again.

Beyond its restaurants, Milwaukee is a brew town, and there’s no shortage of pubs at which to drink the sudsy stuff — or learn how it’s made. A tour of the Miller Brewing Co. is free, as are two complimentary samples at its conclusion. Microbreweries tend to be a bit more generous. The Sprecher Brewing Co., for instance, a tiny operation headquartered just down the street from Solly’s Grille (home of the aforementioned veggie butter burger), offers a brief tour and four samples for $3, plus unlimited quaffing of its tasty and sodas, and the beer-sampling glass is yours to keep when you leave.

Milwaukee’s brewtown legacy extends to architectural tours — good news for gloomy days. The Pabst Mansion, on the edge of the Marquette University campus, is the massive graystone residence built for beer baron Capt. Frederick Pabst in 1892, and it’s a true mansion, by every definition of the word: It’s grand, it’s old, it’s hand-crafted, and you’re not allowed to touch anything. But it’s warm inside.

Also exceptionally warm: the Milwaukee Public Museum’s butterfly conservatory, where it’s a balmy 80 F year-round. The rest of the permanent exhibits are rather dated; “The Streets of Old Milwaukee,” which showcases European immigrants’ 1880s abodes, opened in 1965 — and doesn’t appear to have changed much since. But big-time visiting exhibits, like the current “Body Worlds,” are a regular feature, and when coupled with admission to the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium, the $15 twofer ticket is a fine way to while away a winter afternoon.

If you venture into the cold at night, parking is a godsend, even in hip ‘hoods like the East Side. On my Friday night visit, I scored a spot right in front of Hooligan’s Super Bar, a 70-year-old neighborhood favorite that draws a diverse local crowd. There’s a rotating 32 brews on tap, including local microbrews like Lakefront and Sprecher, and hundreds more taps decorate the walls. Across town at the Old German Beer Hall on Old World Third Street, parking was a little tougher, but worth it: Pints of Munich-brewed Hofbrauhaus flowed here like, well, beer, occasionally into oversized glasses shaped like boots — the accessory of choice. The runner-up? An antiquated cross-country ski to which five shot glasses were affixed, so that brethren can happily drink (or spill) in unison.

I challenge Miami to show me that kind of camaraderie.

IF YOU GO:

DINING: Any of the Bartolotta Restaurants are safe bets for an excellent dining experience. Bacchus (925 E. Wells St., 414-765-1166; www.bacchusmke.com) has a mouthwatering menu with an emphasis on seafood, and the space is stylishly modern — and incredibly comfortable. Uptown is Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro (3133 E Newberry Blvd.; 414-962-6300; www.lakeparkbistro.com), home of the aforementioned glorious French bistro-style, prix-fixe Sunday brunch, with an incomparable view of Lake Michigan.

If you’re going all out, there’s Sanford (1547 N. Jackson St.; 414-276-9608; www.sanfordrestaurant.com), which has topped Milwaukee’s fine dining elite for years. But just as good is chef Sanford D’Amato’s newer, more affordable Coquette Cafe (316 N. Milwaukee St., 414-291-2655; www.coquettecafe.com) in the Historic Third Ward. Coquette does the French brasserie classics — salade nicoise, soupe a l’oignon, coc au vin — expertly, and it’s priced within reason for a night out. Decidedly unpretentious is the cozy Pleasant Valley Inn in the nearby suburb of West Allis (9801 W. Dakota St., 414-321-4321), featuring classic Italian steak and seafood entrees and a Friday night fish fry.

For a quick bite — and a taste of Milwaukee’s downtown resurgence — pop into the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.; 414-289-3107; www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org), opened two years ago and home to dozens of vendors peddling meats, baked goods and, of course, Wisconsin cheese.

Street food isn’t out of the question either, even in wintertime. During prime bar time, vendors up and down Old Third World Street (between State Street and Juneau Avenue) sell brats, polish sausages and dogs with all the fixins’ for an average of $3.50.ukee isn’t big on the independent and boutique hotels, but there are a few worth mentioning: Hotel Metro (from $199; 411 E. Mason St.; 414-272-1937; www.hotelmetro.com) is a suites-only Art Deco gem on the east side of downtown. The beds are comfortable, and the service is excellent, but it pales in comparison to the renowned Pfister Hotel down the block (from $179; 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.; 414-273-8222; www.pfisterhotel.com), which has been a Milwaukee institution since it opened in 1893.

WHAT TO DO: Winter, schminter. The Milwaukee Art Museum (700 N. Art Museum Dr.; 404-224-3200; www.mam.org) is open year-round — with a heated parking garage, to boot. Also open year-round: the Milwaukee Public Museum (with its balmy butterfly conservatory) and Daniel M. Soref Planetarium (800 W. Wells St.; 414-278-2702; www.mpm.edu); the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion (2000 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 414-931-0808; www.pabstmansion.com); and the Sprecher Brewing Co. (701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale; 414-964-2739; www.sprecherbrewery.com), where you warm up with sample brews before heading back out into the cold.

INFORMATION: Greater Milwaukee Convention %26amp; Visitors Bureau, 800-231-0903; www.milwaukee.org.

———-

PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099).

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Thursday, February 14th, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Escape to Milwaukee - in winter (!)

MILWAUKEE –When it comes to winter getaways, most people think warm: Cabo, Jamaica, Miami. These are the literal hot spots, where bone-chilling winter blahs melt like so many snowflakes into sandy beaches, tropical drinks and balmy sunsets. But a quick jaunt to Cabo, Jamaica or even Miami isn’t always an option, for obvious reasons: money, timing and availability.

Consider, then, the rogue winter excursion: Consider heading into the cold instead of warmth. Consider trekking north instead of south. Consider the urban retreat instead of the beach getaway.

In other words, consider Milwaukee.

(It should be noted that as I’m writing this before you’re reading this, Miami had a high of 81 F. Milwaukee’s was 5 F. But Milwaukee has butter burgers.)

Sure, it’s cold there. Big deal. You can handle it. Plan a weekend full of fireside relaxing and comfort-food dining. And shopping. And indoor sightseeing. And old world culture. Milwaukee, after all, is a metropolis.

So what’s the advantage of ditching one freezing city for another?

For starters, the traffic - or lack thereof. There’s hardly any congestion, even during Friday rush hour. Plus, there’s parking everywhere - much of it free, or shockingly cheap.

And then there’s the food. Beyond the bevy of brats and cheese curds, Milwaukee’s dining scene is surprisingly satisfying. Yes, I did have a butter burger - correction: I had a veggie butter burger. (Note to vegetarians: You’ll do fine here.) But I also indulged in a leisurely Saturday night dinner for two at a restaurant whose executive chef was nominated last year for a James Beard award. Everything right down to the dessert was perfect, and the bill was less than $175 for the two of us, including drinks, tax and tip.

Consider, too, the fact that Milwaukee knows the cold well, and has planned accordingly. Should you visit the Milwaukee Art Museum (and you should), take your time in the parking garage - it’s heated. The museum itself, of course, is fabulous. Beyond the new wing designed by starchitect Santiago Calatrava, there’s an enormous permanent collection that rivals most major cities’. It houses one of the largest collections of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings in the States, a cool gift shop and stunning views of Lake Michigan. Not to mention, its exhibitions are top notch. Don’t tell the Art Institute, but I kind of like Milwaukee’s art museum better.

I also like its coffee better. Milwaukee’s Intelligentsia, so to speak, is Alterra Coffee Roasters, and there are a half-dozen outposts (my favorite is the Fifth Ward Foundry) at which one can sip the strong stuff; eat a melt-in-your-mouth provolone, cheddar and pepperjack grilled Wisconsin cheese sandwich; and linger awhile.

Another place where Milwaukee shines is the Friday night fish fry. They’re virtually everywhere in this town - winter and summer - and some are better than others. I took my chances on a new place in the suburbs, namely for the fact that I’d read it boasted a fireplace. Still dusted with snow from a big storm the week prior, the Pleasant Valley Inn was a cozy wintry oasis, right down to the snowman stationed at the entryway. The lighting is dim, the soundtrack is Frank Sinatra, and wood paneling is everywhere. Oh, and the fish fry wasn’t half bad. Besides, everything tastes better fireside.

Actually, everything is better fireside. Even sleeping. Such was the rationale for booking a semi-pricey (for Milwaukee) room at the Euro-style boutique Hotel Metro. It’s housed in a historic Art Deco building in the East Town neighborhood, and it’s all suites, a number of which have gas fireplaces. Further winter relaxing comes courtesy of a rooftop spa with a saltwater hot tub, a sauna … and a mini-workout room in which to burn off some of that guilt stomached with all the good food here.

Speaking of food … That delectable Saturday night dinner for two took place at Bacchus, the newest restaurant in Milwaukee’s renowned chain of Bartolotta Restaurants, founded by brothers Paul and Joe Bartolotta. It’s named for the Roman god of wine, and how: Bacchus has hundreds of wines on offer, from reasonably priced glasses of Australian shiraz to a $1,200 bottle of Bordeaux. As for dinner? Flawless. The brothers are also responsible for Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro, poised north of downtown in a stunning location overlooking Lake Michigan. It’s excellent for dinner but famous for its Sunday brunch, a prix fixe with three perfect courses of casual French bistro fare. The creme brulee, by the way, is rich enough to earn Milwaukee its Cream City nickname all over again.

Beyond its restaurants, Milwaukee is a brew town, and there’s no shortage of pubs at which to drink the sudsy stuff - or learn how it’s made. A tour of the Miller Brewing Co. is free, as are two complimentary samples at its conclusion. Microbreweries tend to be a bit more generous. The Sprecher Brewing Co., for instance, a tiny operation headquartered just down the street from Solly’s Grille (home of the aforementioned veggie butter burger), offers a brief tour and four samples for $3, plus unlimited quaffing of its tasty and sodas, and the beer-sampling glass is yours to keep when you leave.

Milwaukee’s brewtown legacy extends to architectural tours - good news for gloomy days. The Pabst Mansion, on the edge of the Marquette University campus, is the massive graystone residence built for beer baron Capt. Frederick Pabst in 1892, and it’s a true mansion, by every definition of the word: It’s grand, it’s old, it’s hand-crafted, and you’re not allowed to touch anything. But it’s warm inside.

Also exceptionally warm: the Milwaukee Public Museum’s butterfly conservatory, where it’s a balmy 80 F year-round. The rest of the permanent exhibits are rather dated; “The Streets of Old Milwaukee,” which showcases European immigrants’ 1880s abodes, opened in 1965 - and doesn’t appear to have changed much since. But big-time visiting exhibits, like the current “Body Worlds,” are a regular feature, and when coupled with admission to the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium, the $15 twofer ticket is a fine way to while away a winter afternoon.

If you venture into the cold at night, parking is a godsend, even in hip `hoods like the East Side. On my Friday night visit, I scored a spot right in front of Hooligan’s Super Bar, a 70-year-old neighborhood favorite that draws a diverse local crowd. There’s a rotating 32 brews on tap, including local microbrews like Lakefront and Sprecher, and hundreds more taps decorate the walls. Across town at the Old German Beer Hall on Old World Third Street, parking was a little tougher, but worth it: Pints of Munich-brewed Hofbrauhaus flowed here like, well, beer, occasionally into oversized glasses shaped like boots - the accessory of choice. The runner-up? An antiquated cross-country ski to which five shot glasses were affixed, so that brethren can happily drink (or spill) in unison.

I challenge Miami to show me that kind of camaraderie.

IF YOU GO:

DINING: Any of the Bartolotta Restaurants are safe bets for an excellent dining experience. Bacchus (925 E. Wells St., 414-765-1166; www.bacchusmke.com) has a mouthwatering menu with an emphasis on seafood, and the space is stylishly modern - and incredibly comfortable. Uptown is Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro (3133 E Newberry Blvd.; 414-962-6300; www.lakeparkbistro.com), home of the aforementioned glorious French bistro-style, prix-fixe Sunday brunch, with an incomparable view of Lake Michigan.

If you’re going all out, there’s Sanford (1547 N. Jackson St.; 414-276-9608; www.sanfordrestaurant.com), which has topped Milwaukee’s fine dining elite for years. But just as good is chef Sanford D’Amato’s newer, more affordable Coquette Cafe (316 N. Milwaukee St., 414-291-2655; www.coquettecafe.com) in the Historic Third Ward. Coquette does the French brasserie classics - salade nicoise, soupe a l’oignon, coc au vin - expertly, and it’s priced within reason for a night out. Decidedly unpretentious is the cozy Pleasant Valley Inn in the nearby suburb of West Allis (9801 W. Dakota St., 414-321-4321), featuring classic Italian steak and seafood entrees and a Friday night fish fry.

For a quick bite - and a taste of Milwaukee’s downtown resurgence - pop into the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water St.; 414-289-3107; www.milwaukeepublicmarket.org), opened two years ago and home to dozens of vendors peddling meats, baked goods and, of course, Wisconsin cheese.

Street food isn’t out of the question either, even in wintertime. During prime bar time, vendors up and down Old Third World Street (between State Street and Juneau Avenue) sell brats, polish sausages and dogs with all the fixins’ for an average of $3.50.

Another quick, easy meal: Grab a sandwich and a cup of joe at any of the unique Alterra Coffee Roasters locations (www.alterracoffee.com) in Brew City. Speaking of brews, The Wicked Hop (345 N. Broadway; 414-223-0345; www.thewickedhop.com) serves pub food with an emphasis on pub, not to mention the largest cheese sticks this fromage-phile has ever seen.

Don’t forget the butter burger - and Culver’s doesn’t count: Solly’s Grille in Glendale (4629 N. Port Washington Rd., Glendale; 414-332-8808) claims to be the birthplace of the butter burger, which it’s been serving since 1936. Save your frozen custard cruisin’ for the summertime: Leon’s Frozen Custard (3131 S. 27th St.; 414-383-1784) is open all year but doesn’t have any indoor seating.

LODGING: Milwaukee isn’t big on the independent and boutique hotels, but there are a few worth mentioning: Hotel Metro (from $199; 411 E. Mason St.; 414-272-1937; www.hotelmetro.com) is a suites-only Art Deco gem on the east side of downtown. The beds are comfortable, and the service is excellent, but it pales in comparison to the renowned Pfister Hotel down the block (from $179; 424 E. Wisconsin Ave.; 414-273-8222; www.pfisterhotel.com), which has been a Milwaukee institution since it opened in 1893.

WHAT TO DO: Winter, schminter. The Milwaukee Art Museum (700 N. Art Museum Dr.; 404-224-3200; www.mam.org) is open year-round - with a heated parking garage, to boot. Also open year-round: the Milwaukee Public Museum (with its balmy butterfly conservatory) and Daniel M. Soref Planetarium (800 W. Wells St.; 414-278-2702; www.mpm.edu); the Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion (2000 W. Wisconsin Ave.; 414-931-0808; www.pabstmansion.com); and the Sprecher Brewing Co. (701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale; 414-964-2739; www.sprecherbrewery.com), where you warm up with sample brews before heading back out into the cold.

INFORMATION: Greater Milwaukee Convention %26 Visitors Bureau, 800-231-0903; www.milwaukee.org.

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Sunday, February 10th, 2008

Landscaping Stone No Comments

Rooms with a view at a hotel in Michigans Harbor Country

NEW BUFFALO, Mich. — Booking an overnight stay in New Buffalo, Mich., usually means you’ve got one of two options: the B%26amp;B or the beach house. These are typical digs in Berrien County’s lakeside hub that, come summertime, crawls with tourists from Chicago, Indiana and Michigan proper. Winter is pretty quiet, but during high season, you’re lucky if you can score a square foot of sand even months in advance.

We recently happened upon a third lodging option that’s likely to be just as popular when things heat up: the luxury condo-hotel.

New Buffalo’s Marina Grand Resort opened in July 2006 right on New Buffalo Harbor, upping the stock in chic shelters in the area known as Harbor Country. Part hotel, part luxury condominium, Marina Grand combines the best of both worlds: There’s a concierge desk in the modest lobby, but the rooms are so quiet and private, they feel like home. There’s a top-notch tavern adjacent to the hotel, but the suites include fully equipped kitchens and dining areas adequate for hosting a formal meal.

Not to mention location, location, location. Marina Grand is right on the water, a few blocks west of Whittaker Street in the heart of downtown New Buffalo. It’s within walking distance of Whittaker Street’s dining options and boutiques, the village’s main grocery store (if you’re putting that kitchen to use) and, of course, the beach. Waterfront access may not be that much of an incentive in January, but cozy fireplaces and great comfort food justify scoping out Marina Grand Resort now for summer travel.

CHECKING IN: From the outside, Marina Grand Resort resembles a beachy-keen condominium building. Despite the name, there’s no grand entrance or flashy resort facade — just a small parking lot, a few patio chairs for lounging near the entrance and modest signage stenciled into a glass entryway. Inside, that simplicity translates into tasteful stylishness. Reflecting a modern Scandinavian aesthetic, all of the walls are white, a few sparse pieces of furniture sit on concrete floors, and a simple reception window is front and center facing a cozy cylindrical fireplace.

ROOMS: Very white, very modern and stylishly sparse — kind of like staying in an upscale Ikea. My room was a one-bedroom — the smallest of the suites — and it was comfortably large. Upon entering the suite, the open-plan kitchen featured , stainless steel appliances, , and an island that overlooked a modest dining area and the sweeping living area. A wonderfully plush white couch (which can be made into a sofa bed) sat in front of a and flat-screen TV; a French door opened out to a small patio overlooking the marina. The king-size bed was dressed in simple white linens and centered against an unusual, dark wooden headboard that featured built-in lighting and nightstands. In the bedroom was another, smaller flat-screen TV as well as a desk and chair; a sliding glass-door led to the patio. There are also two-bedroom suites, which can sleep up to eight people; two- and three-bedroom loft suites (which sleep six and eight, respectively), as well as standard but spacious king and queen rooms.

BATHROOM: In my one-bedroom suite, there were two — both incredibly stylish and simple, like the rest of the suite. The master bath featured double sinks with modern fixtures set against taupe-colored marble. There was an enormous, wall-length mirror; simple single-bulb, frosted-glass pendant lighting; and a deep, luxurious soaking tub and oversized shower. A hair dryer was beneath the sinks. The half-bath, located just off of the kitchen, featured a large, round white porcelain sink with dramatic fixtures, and coordinating large, round mirror and round lighting fixtures.

KID FRIENDLY: A family of four could be quite comfortable in a one-bedroom suite, with the kids on the sofa bed in front of the huge flat-screen. Other surefire kid-pleasers include the game room, with table tennis, foosball and a handful of arcade games; bike rentals; and not one, but two swimming pools — one outdoor (closed during winter) and one indoor.

ROOM SERVICE: Complimentary coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls are on offer in the lobby from 6-10 a.m., but no room service.

PERKS %26amp; PEEVES: All rooms have small patios with a clear view of the harbor, which, even in the morning fog, is pleasant to gaze upon. In warmer weather, the hundreds of square feet of harbor-side patio space (including a roof deck and outdoor dining areas) are a hit, as is the outdoor . And for the duration of the cold months, the indoor is a nice option — as well as the small fitness center, when it’s too cold for a jog on the beach.

Adjacent to the lobby is Bentwood Tavern, a new modern pub. Renowned local chef Jenny Drilon’s upscale comfort-food draws regulars and guests for dinner and drinks nightly, as well as lunch on the weekends.

Peeves are few.

My suite had a couple minor flaws — an armoire that didn’t quite close, a faulty light bulb — but when these were mentioned at checkout, I was told that they were the responsibility of the owner. That’s the rub with staying in a condo-hotel: Management can’t control everything. Then again, if you like your room enough to buy it, you probably can.

BOTTOM LINE: On a Saturday night in November, my one-bedroom suite was $179. King and queen rooms start from $109 on winter weekdays; three-bedroom lofts can run as high as $828 on summer holiday weekends. Parking is free for guests; tax is 8 percent. Three rooms are handicap-friendly.

MARINA GRAND RESORT

600 W. Water St.

New Buffalo, Mich.

877-945-8600; www.marinagrandresort.com

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Friday, February 8th, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Nine destination bookstores worth putting on a tourists itinerary

NEW YORK — When is a bookstore worth a tourist’s time?

When it’s more than just a place to buy books.

A destination bookstore can make you feel like you’re part of the community, whether you’re grooving on the laid-back vibe at Powell’s in Portland, or tuning into the Beltway buzz at Washington’s Politics and Prose.

Some bookstores offer literary touchstones, like the wooden chairs signed by writers who’ve visited That Bookstore in Blytheville, an Arkansas institution frequented by native son John Grisham. City Lights in San Francisco, once a hangout for Beat writers like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, draws tourists from around the world.

“Each one of these stores has a unique, distinct personality and approach,” said Meg Smith, chief marketing officer for the American Booksellers Association, a trade group for independent bookstores. “You really do see a snapshot of the town and the region in these kinds of fulsome independent bookstores.”

And don’t overlook the shopping potential. Most independent bookstores take pride in showcasing regional literature. Quirky handwritten signs with staff recommendations may direct you to writers you’ve never heard of. The tote bags at the Strand bookstore in Manhattan, which come in more than 30 designs, were voted the No. 1 souvenir to bring home to Japan by New York readers of Nikkei, a Japanese financial newspaper.

Any list of destination bookstores is bound to leave off some favorites. But here are nine noteworthy bookstores around the country that are definitely worth a visit.

BOOKS %26amp; BOOKS: 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, Fla., http://www.booksandbooks.com or 305-442-4408. Some bookstores are crammed with serpentine rows of dusty shelves aching with books - but that’s not what you’ll find at Books %26amp; Books, which has three locations in addition to its Coral Gables flagship. “Our Coral Gables store is built around a courtyard in a Mediterranean-style building and our South Beach store is in a gorgeous Art Deco building,” said owner Mitchell Kaplan. The store also has branches in an upscale mall in Bal Harbour and on Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean. Books %26amp; Books hosts 70 author events a month, and the stores’ specialties include art, architecture and regional literature, including books about Cuba and Latin America. Both the Coral Gables and Miami Beach stores also have full-service restaurants.

CITY LIGHTS BOOKS: 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco; http://www.citylights.com/ or 415-362-8193. This store, a city landmark, was co-founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who also started City Lights Publishers and was arrested on obscenity charges for publishing Ginsberg’s famous poem “Howl.” The store continues to serve as a center for counterculture activities and politics. Recommendations from its “Muckraking” section, for example, include titles like “The Fall of the House of Bush” and “What Orwell Didn’t Know.” Tourists also like to stop in at the bar next door, Vesuvio, to have a drink where Kerouac once bellied up.

ELLIOTT BAY BOOK CO.: 101 S. Main St., Seattle; http://www.elliottbaybook.com/ or 800-962-5311. Elliott Bay Book Co. is located in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square district, once the city’s Skid Row but now known for nightclubs, galleries, sports arenas and architecture - including the 1867 red-brick building that houses Elliott Bay. Cedar shelves offer 150,000 new and used titles in rooms with exposed brick walls, and one or two readings are held every night. “It can be anyone from a first-time poet to Dave Sedaris returning for his 10th time,” said Elliott Bay spokeswoman Tracy Taylor. “We had him here when nobody knew who he was and there were 15 people in the audience. He sang the Oscar Mayer song.”

POLITICS AND PROSE: 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington; http://www.politics-prose.com/ or 800-722-0790. Even people who’ve never been here feel like they know the place because many of its readings are broadcast on C-SPAN. “We have a lot of people who come here and the first thing they want to know is, ‘Where does the author stand?’” said co-owner Barbara Meade. “They want to have the whole setting they see on television explained to them.” January events include the authors of titles like “The Nuclear Jihadist” and “The Speculation Economy,” but don’t let the “Politics” in the store’s name fool you. Readers can find books here in any genre; the store’s children’s section is especially well-regarded.

POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS: 1005 W. Burnside, Portland, Ore.; http://www.powells.com or 800-878-7323. The Gold Room, the Rose Room, the Purple Room - even with a color-coded map and signs, it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinths of Powell’s City of Books. And “it’s hard to walk out with less than 10 books,” said marketing coordinator Kim Sutton. She added that locals love to bring their out-of-town guests in: “They’ll say, ‘This is my bookstore,’ and show them around with a lot of pride and ownership.” Powell’s claims to be the world’s largest independent used and new bookstore; its other locations include three other general bookstores and two specialty stores (Technical and Home and Garden).

PRAIRIE LIGHTS: 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa. http://www.prairielightsbooks.com or 800-295-2665. Thanks to the University of Iowa’s famed Writers’ Workshop, which has given Iowa City a vibrant literary scene, you never know who you’re going to see at a Prairie Lights event. Could be a Nobel laureate like J.M. Coetzee; writer promoting his new best-seller, “In Defense of Food,” or even a presidential candidate like John Edwards, who was in town for the caucuses. “Right place, right time,” said Jim Harris, the , when asked to explain how the store has attracted so many bigwigs over the years - from Raymond Carver to Toni Morrison to Junot Diaz. Store events also air on WSUI, a National Public Radio affiliate.

TATTERED COVER BOOK STORE: 1628 16th St., Denver; http://www.tatteredcover.com or 303-436-1070. Visitors to Denver often go to 16th Street, a mile-long outdoor mall through the heart of LoDo, historic Lower Denver. There, amid breweries and boutiques, near the arenas where Denver’s major league teams play and across from the train station, you’ll find the Tattered Cover. “We get a whole lot of tourists, along with people waiting for trains and fans hanging out until game time,” said spokeswoman Patty Miller. The store has two other locations, but the LoDo location is especially inviting, with cozy nooks, overstuffed chairs and a .

THAT BOOKSTORE IN BLYTHEVILLE: 316 W. Main, Blytheville, Ark.; http://www.tbib.com or 870-763-3333. It’s located in an out-of-the-way small town, but That Bookstore in Blytheville has become famous thanks to Grisham, who grew up nearby. “He comes here all the time, every time he has a book,” said Mary Gay Shipley, the store’s “manager, founder, owner and janitor.” While Grisham no longer greets the public during his visits, he does sign books, and his association with the store gave Shipley the clout to get other big names in - from Mary Higgins Clark and “Cold Mountain” author Charles to Bill and Hillary Clinton. The store is located on Interstate 55 between Memphis (an hour away) and St. Louis, so “we get a lot of customers traveling from the Midwest to Florida,” Shipley said.

THE STRAND: Corner of 12th Street and Broadway, near Union Square, Manhattan; http://www.strandbooks.com or 212-473-1452. Founded in 1927 by the Bass family, which still owns it, The Strand is a New York legend, offering “18 miles of books,” including used books for a buck, new best-sellers, rare books and collectibles in every price range, and an entire floor of art books. It’s as much a scene as it is a bookstore; customers range from Japanese tourists and East Village hipsters to New York University students and crusty intellectuals who quiz the staff on their literary knowledge. The “treasure hunt” is part of the allure, said Christina Foxley, director of store events. “Our stock is constantly changing. One hour we might have a book, one hour we don’t. You never know what you might find.”

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Backyard Landscaping No Comments

Nine destination bookstores for the tourist’s itinerary

A destination bookstore can make you feel like you’re part of the community, whether you’re grooving on the laid-back vibe at Powell’s in Portland, or tuning into the Beltway buzz at Washington’s Politics and Prose.

Some bookstores offer literary touchstones, like the wooden chairs signed by writers who’ve visited That Bookstore in Blytheville, an Arkansas institution frequented by native son John Grisham. City Lights in San Francisco, once a hangout for Beat writers like Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, draws tourists from around the world.

“Each one of these stores has a unique, distinct personality and approach,” said Meg Smith, chief marketing officer for the American Booksellers Association, a trade group for independent bookstores. “You really do see a snapshot of the town and the region in these kinds of fulsome independent bookstores.”

And don’t overlook the shopping potential. Most independent bookstores take pride in showcasing regional literature. Quirky handwritten signs with staff recommendations may direct you to writers you’ve never heard of. The tote bags at the Strand bookstore in Manhattan, which come in more than 30 designs, were voted the No. 1 souvenir to bring home to Japan by New York readers of Nikkei, a Japanese financial newspaper.

Any list of destination bookstores is bound to leave off some favorites. But here are nine noteworthy bookstores around the country that are definitely worth a visit.

BOOKS %26 BOOKS: 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, Fla., www.booksandbooks.com or 305-442-4408. Some bookstores are crammed with serpentine rows of dusty shelves aching with books %26mdash; but that’s not what you’ll find at Books %26 Books, which has three locations in addition to its Coral Gables flagship. “Our Coral Gables store is built around a courtyard in a Mediterranean-style building and our South Beach store is in a gorgeous Art Deco building,” said owner Mitchell Kaplan. The store also has branches in an upscale mall in Bal Harbour and on Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean. Books %26 Books hosts 70 author events a month, and the stores’ specialties include art, architecture and regional literature, including books about Cuba and Latin America. Both the Coral Gables and Miami Beach stores also have full-service restaurants.

CITY LIGHTS BOOKS: 261 Columbus Ave., San Francisco; www.citylights.com/ or 415-362-8193. This store, a city landmark, was co-founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who also started City Lights Publishers and was arrested on obscenity charges for publishing Ginsberg’s famous poem “Howl.” The store continues to serve as a center for counterculture activities and politics. Recommendations from its “Muckraking” section, for example, include titles like “The Fall of the House of Bush” and “What Orwell Didn’t Know.” Tourists also like to stop in at the bar next door, Vesuvio, to have a drink where Kerouac once bellied up.

ELLIOTT BAY BOOK CO.: 101 S. Main St., Seattle; www.elliottbaybook.com/ or 800-962-5311. Elliott Bay Book Co. is located in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square district, once the city’s Skid Row but now known for nightclubs, galleries, sports arenas and architecture %26mdash; including the 1867 red-brick building that houses Elliott Bay. Cedar shelves offer 150,000 new and used titles in rooms with exposed brick walls, and one or two readings are held every night. “It can be anyone from a first-time poet to Dave Sedaris returning for his 10th time,” said Elliott Bay spokeswoman Tracy Taylor. “We had him here when nobody knew who he was and there were 15 people in the audience. He sang the Oscar Mayer song.”

POLITICS AND PROSE: 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington; www.politics-prose.com/ or 800-722-0790. Even people who’ve never been here feel like they know the place because many of its readings are broadcast on C-SPAN. “We have a lot of people who come here and the first thing they want to know is, ‘Where does the author stand?’” said co-owner Barbara Meade. “They want to have the whole setting they see on television explained to them.” January events include the authors of titles like “The Nuclear Jihadist” and “The Speculation Economy,” but don’t let the “Politics” in the store’s name fool you. Readers can find books here in any genre; the store’s children’s section is especially well-regarded.

POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS: 1005 W. Burnside, Portland, Ore.; www.powells.com or 800-878-7323. The Gold Room, the Rose Room, the Purple Room %26mdash; even with a color-coded map and signs, it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinths of Powell’s City of Books. And “it’s hard to walk out with less than 10 books,” said marketing coordinator Kim Sutton. She added that locals love to bring their out-of-town guests in: “They’ll say, ‘This is my bookstore,’ and show them around with a lot of pride and ownership.” Powell’s claims to be the world’s largest independent used and new bookstore; its other locations include three other general bookstores and two specialty stores (Technical and Home and Garden).

PRAIRIE LIGHTS: 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa. www.prairielightsbooks.com or 800-295-2665. Thanks to the University of Iowa’s famed Writers’ Workshop, which has given Iowa City a vibrant literary scene, you never know who you’re going to see at a Prairie Lights event. Could be a Nobel laureate like J.M. Coetzee; writer promoting his new best-seller, “In Defense of Food,” or even a presidential candidate like John Edwards, who was in town for the caucuses. “Right place, right time,” said Jim Harris, the , when asked to explain how the store has attracted so many bigwigs over the years %26mdash; from Raymond Carver to Toni Morrison to Junot Diaz. Store events also air on WSUI, a National Public Radio affiliate.

TATTERED COVER BOOK STORE: 1628 16th St., Denver; www.tatteredcover.com or 303-436-1070. Visitors to Denver often go to 16th Street, a mile-long outdoor mall through the heart of LoDo, historic Lower Denver. There, amid breweries and boutiques, near the arenas where Denver’s major league teams play and across from the train station, you’ll find the Tattered Cover. “We get a whole lot of tourists, along with people waiting for trains and fans hanging out until game time,” said spokeswoman Patty Miller. The store has two other locations, but the LoDo location is especially inviting, with cozy nooks, overstuffed chairs and a .

THAT BOOKSTORE IN BLYTHEVILLE: 316 W. Main, Blytheville, Ark.; www.tbib.com or 870-763-3333. It’s located in an out-of-the-way small town, but That Bookstore in Blytheville has become famous thanks to Grisham, who grew up nearby. “He comes here all the time, every time he has a book,” said Mary Gay Shipley, the store’s “manager, founder, owner and janitor.” While Grisham no longer greets the public during his visits, he does sign books, and his association with the store gave Shipley the clout to get other big names in - from Mary Higgins Clark and “Cold Mountain” author Charles to Bill and Hillary Clinton. The store is located on Interstate 55 between Memphis (an hour away) and St. Louis, so “we get a lot of customers traveling from the Midwest to Florida,” Shipley said.

THE STRAND: Corner of 12th Street and Broadway, near Union Square, Manhattan; www.strandbooks.com or 212-473-1452. Founded in 1927 by the Bass family, which still owns it, The Strand is a New York legend, offering “18 miles of books,” including used books for a buck, new best-sellers, rare books and collectibles in every price range, and an entire floor of art books. It’s as much a scene as it is a bookstore; customers range from Japanese tourists and East Village hipsters to New York University students and crusty intellectuals who quiz the staff on their literary knowledge. The “treasure hunt” is part of the allure, said Christina Foxley, director of store events. “Our stock is constantly changing. One hour we might have a book, one hour we don’t. You never know what you might find.”

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Sunday, January 13th, 2008

Landscaping Stone No Comments


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