A Relaxing Mountain Getaway

by Brandon McCarrick Located in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, North Carolina is a destina- tion where the people are friendly and time seems to float by like the cool mountain air. It’s home to one of America’s architectural wonders, and people from all over the world come to enjoy its sights. Art museums, galleries, and cultural festivals also add to this mountain locale’s lively atmosphere. Self magazine has called Asheville America’s “Hap- piest City” and Money magazine claims it is one of the “Best Places to Retire.” One notable Asheville retiree was George Vanderbilt, one of the richest men of the Gilded Age. Enchanted by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the thick forests of western North Carolina, he built an estate here in 1895, which is the largest private residence in the country and attracts a million visitors every year. Designed after France’s Loire Valley cha- teaux, the Biltmore House sits on 8,000 acres and boasts 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, and a bowling alley.

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A New Hot Spot and Vision for Waikiki

by Lauren Kawana If tourists start asking where the edge of Waikiki is, don’t send them down to the corner of Ala Moana and Kalakaua or to the Honolulu Zoo. There’s a new venue with a catchy name—part of one hotel’s effort to modernize itself and revitalize the appeal of O‘ahu’s most popular beach. Last November the Sheraton Waikiki unveiled its Infinity Edge pool and Edge of Waikiki poolside bar. Rob Iopa and Wayne Goo of WCIT Architecture designed and completed the project at a price tag of $6 million, part of the overall property’s $187 mil- lion renovation.

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by Christa Wittmier

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Confessions of a Sommelier

by Jason “Cass” Castle It’s 11 a.m., and after con- suming a Bloody Mary at the airport bar, I’m staring down a pint of Heineken. It’s my usual ritual to prepare my palate for a profes- sional wine tasting. This morning bears witness to what should be one of the best tastings of the year. Thirty or so Hawai‘i wine profes- sionals have gathered in the conference room of a Honolulu hotel, ready to taste some seriously expensive and hopefully seriously delicious white Burgundy. Hosting this sit-down event are two legends in the wine trade, one a Master Sommelier, the other a Master of Wine. Only a couple hundred people in the world hold these impressive titles. Many of us are flying in just for this event; us wine geeks live for this kinda stuff. Click here to read the complete article

A Piece of Hawai’i

by Kris Reisdorf Watch what you say. Award-winning Executive Chef Chai Chaowasaree always said he would never open a restaurant because “it’s so much work!”Today Chai owns two of the most popular and suc- cessful restaurants in Hawai‘i: Chai’s Island Bistro at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, and Singha Thai Cuisine in Waikiki, which has been open for twenty years. Chai’s Island Bistro offers Hawai‘i regional cuisine; daily menu items include crispy whole snapper, chicken sate, and ‘ahi katsu. Chai is happy to point out that he uses locally grown ingredients and that Chai’s Island Bistro is one of the only restaurants with live Hawaiian music every night, seven nights a week. Hawai‘i’s hottest at that: Jerry Santos, the Brothers Cazimero, and the Makaha Sons to name a few. “We want guests to take away a piece of Hawai‘i as part of their dining experience,” says Chai, “just as we want diners at Singha Thai Cuisine to feel they are in Thailand. That is why the music is so important.” Click here to read the complete article

Fun Things To Do For Two

by Melanie Galindo Looking for something different for Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, an opera lover, or someone simply wanting to try something new, here are a few events leading up to and taking place on this day devoted to love: Click here to read the complete article

Ideal Design for the Hawai’i Home

by Lauren Kawana These Islands are unique, with as much character and charm as there are people who live here. It’s important to appreciate our surroundings when we create living spaces: What’s ideal for Hawai‘i’s environment and lifestyle? What elements should we consider when we’re creating a home? Read on to see what a few professionals from the local architecture and design industry have to say. Click here to read this complete article