As a fashion industry veteran, the men’s wear designer Jesse Rowe has been to countless stores. The one he can’t stop thinking about is Marcello, a hidden shop in Fukuoka, Japan. “You walk into a nondescript building, go up a couple of flights of stairs to the rooftop, walk along a stone path, then go down a fire escape to this completely transporting clothing shop,” says Rowe. The designer has brought that spirit of discovery to Zebra Room, a boutique in Germantown, N.Y., that’s equal parts coffee shop, cabinet of curiosities and listening lounge. Housed in a converted barn, Zebra Room devotes most of its square footage to a collection of midcentury Scandinavian furniture that Rowe’s brother imports from Copenhagen (highlights include an Inca chair by Arne Norell). There are also secondhand clothes and goods, from vintage marinière shirts to handmade leather dog collars. A coffee bar (which serves everything from Mexican café de olla to cold brew tonics topped with yuzu) is set up in a cube leftover from an exhibition held by the shop’s next-door neighbors Alexander Gray Associates. Rowe and his wife, the interior designer Loren Daye, clad the plaster installation with hemlock wood to keep with the natural feel of the space, which also has a 1970s cast-iron stove and retains the barn’s bluestone dirt floors. The cube houses Rowe’s record collection and sound system, which the designer has modeled after those in Japan’s kissa cafes. He alternates between vinyl and streaming, but the shop’s soundtrack is always played through a restored vintage SunValley/Dynaco tube amplifier and Klipsch LaScala speakers; similar tube amps, turntables and speakers are also for sale. “I want it to feel like someone’s living room — you might have to yell over the music,” says Rowe.
We booked 2 weeks at an all-inclusive resort but hated it. After 3 nights, we left to create a better vacation.
24.09.2024 - 20:07 / insider.com / Ernest Hemingway
A few years ago, my partner and I decided to go to an all-inclusive resort for the first time.
The resort was in Varadero, Cuba, and our package seemed like an excellent value since the property had everything we thought we needed on-site — accommodations, meals, activities, and entertainment.
We were on a tight budget, so we also liked knowing how much the holiday would cost upfront. It sounded so good that my sister even flew out from Australia to join us.
When we arrived, we felt like we were in paradise. The three of us spent hours soaking up Caribbean vibes while lounging on the beach and enjoying the bottomless booze and buffets.
But — and I cringe admitting this — by day three, we started to get bored.
Our meals felt repetitive since they were all being served on the same property. We'd stopped drinking the unlimited alcohol because we'd experienced horrible hangovers. And although the resort had activities available, we found ourselves growing uninterested in the karaoke and games.
Before long, we felt trapped in our very large, very Westernized resort. Although we'd already paid and committed to staying there for two weeks, we unanimously decided to leave early.
After only three nights, we left our biggest suitcase in the room, packed our essentials in smaller backpacks, and set off to explore more of the Caribbean country.
First, we took a bus to Trinidad, a picturesque colonial town with pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and some of the most hospitable people on the planet.
We paid $10 a night to stay with a local couple who prepared us fresh lobster for dinner at a small charge. They told us about life in modern-day Cuba and took us salsa dancing under the stars.
From there, we headed to Viñales, near the beautiful Sierra de los Organos mountains and the Viñales Valley. We rented bikes and cycled around, visited a coffee farm, and explored local caves.
Last on our circuit was the capital city of Havana. Highlights included visiting El Floridita, one of famous writer Ernest Hemingway's old haunts, and going on a cigar and rum factory tour.
As we walked along Havana's waterfront and marveled at the crumbling buildings and vintage cars, I felt like we'd finally experienced the "real" Cuba.
Or, at the very least, a more authentic version of it than what we'd seen from the resort.
All-inclusive travel is great for people who love to lounge and don't want to venture out of a resort for food or entertainment, but we can confidently say it's just not for us.
We even recently tested the waters again with another resort-style holiday, this time in Bali with our three kids. But despite the luxury property's perks, like a kids club and multiple pools, we hated it.
Instead of
I visited New York's largest Halloween festival at a historic mansion with over 7,000 jack-o'-lanterns. Here are the coolest things I saw.
When the Van Cortlandt family acquired their sprawling Hudson Valley estate in the late 1600s, they couldn't have imagined that it would one day host a jack-o'-lantern festival with pumpkin sculptures including a Kraken, moving windmill, and Statue of Liberty.
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Indulge in Global Luxury: ALG Vacations' Premier Destinations
Your clients can take advantage of luxurious stays with all the benefits of booking with ALG Vacations through Luxe by ALG Vacations. From the sun-kissed shores of Bali to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, these carefully curated accommodations promise unforgettable experiences in some of the world's most coveted destinations.
How to Get More Out of a Vacation With Delta Vacations
What’s better than booking a customer? Booking a customer who is engaged with the product you’re selling and who is loyal to you, their trusted Travel Advisor. The best way to gain that trust? Make sure they’re getting the most out of their vacation, a great experience from start to finish, and a head start on their next getaway. Delta Vacations can help you provide just that, with every booking.
Kimpton’s first all-inclusive resort is taking reservations — and it’s a great deal on points
For the last few years, TPG has been shouting from the rooftops that an all-inclusive resort renaissance was slowly starting and that, before long, we'd see more and more brands we love jump off into the space.
MGM Resorts Has Applied for a Casino License in Abu Dhabi
MGM Resorts has already submitted its proposal to the UAE government to operate a casino in the country, CEO Bill Hornbuckle said Thursday at the Skift Global Forum 2024. The Las Vegas giant is yet to have any running hotels there but is the only operator to openly state it has applied for the right to run a legal casino.
When to go to Vail, an all-season destination (really!)
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