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The Best Mother’s Day Gifts from Downtown

If there is anything that this pandemic has taught us, it’s to reach out to those we love, more often.

Human life does not exist without Mother. This year let’s make sure that we pay extra special attention to our mothers and grandmothers.

Whether you buy something already gift-wrapped from her special shop, and have it sent directly to her, or opt for a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or take the time to thoughtfully purchase a present yourself, our editors have found Mother’s Day ideas that are bound to show her how important she is, even if you can’t be there to celebrate in person.

 

LINNEA candles offer three distinctive collections designed to invoke precious memories and transport you to faraway places. Our editors cannot get enough of Linnea scented candles. While each collection (Classic, Spring, and Herbal) has an assortment to choose from, we picked these three as perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.

Wood House (Classic Collection): Create a customized sensorial experience that suits your mood with  The Classic Collection or enjoy each fragrance on its own. Mom will enjoy the warm and woodsy scents of Wood House, a blend of bergamot, violet, and sandalwood.

Freesia (Season Collection): Highlight the Spring season and Mother’s Day with thoughtful blends to stir and awaken the senses. Freesia’s aroma of Anjou pear, freesia, and vetiver is like a subtle spring breeze.

White Sage  (Herbal Collection):  Our favorite scent for spring, clean and fresh. Inspired by rich soil between our fingers, the Herbal Collection is a homage to Mother Nature herself.  Inspired by sage smudge sticks and culinary herb gardens, White Sage features notes of Petitgrain, white sage, cardamon cedar, and black pepper.

 

 

Harbour Island Gingham Long-Sleeve One-Piece Suit, this irresistible, comfortable, and eye-catching. Seriously, it’s about time we see a suit that looks this glamorous and fits like a glove. Tommy Bahama’s apparel and beach gear collections offer built-in sun protection using fabrics with 30-50 UPF (ultraviolet protection factor), mom will love this feature. Women’s sportswear and most beach gear feature UPF30 while women’s swimwear features UPF50, which blocks 98% of the sun’s rays. This is the perfect gift for Mom, she will have everyone asking where she purchased this elegant swimsuit.

 

 

 

 

“Every time I wear the jacket I’m stopped and ask where I got it from.” This is the jacket to have in your wardrobe this season. While shopping for Mom, be sure to order this comfortable, Harbour Island Gingham Long-Sleeve Rash Guard. Our team is in love with all of Tommy Bahama’s 2021 beautifully bright, seasonal colors, just the perfect fit and Mom will ready for anything.

 

 

Pre Mother’s day purchase, order today, so that Mom is ready for anything, with this Linen-Blend Off-The-Shoulder Classic style meets comfort, Mom will thank you for sure, this year you hit the mark!

 

 

 

One of our best finds in 2020 STAX. We love this brand of activewear, it is the most comfortable brand, ever. You do not feel poured into them, never uncomfortable and they look FAB! This fashion-focused, figure-flattering premium sports-luxe activewear for both performance and lifestyle, created by Founder and Creative Director Don Robertson alongside Co-Owner and Brand Manager Matilda Murray. Prioritizing high quality whilst demonstrating luxury at affordable prices, STAX. blends a perfect mix of both fitness and fashion, dressing every person at every size, STAX.

 

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face

 

 

 

 

TOUAREG DRESS 2CM PINK DEGRADED STRIPE 

Launched in 2013 by New York fashion photographer Randall Bachner, Marrakshi Life embraces comfort and craftsmanship. Taking key style elements from the traditional Moroccan wardrobe, an in-house team of local artisans helps create original, contemporary, and wearable design pieces. Randall describes his atelier in Marrakech as a community rather than a factory. He uses sustainable, low-impact production methods with garments, mom will be proud to wear.

 

 

 

Swimming is my go-to sport, you have likely seen grandmothers enjoying water aerobics in a Florida gated community and laughed silently as they attempted to exercise “elder style.” This is probably what you picture if someone says, “water workout.”

Not so fast…Fluid Running is a serious aquatic high-tech workout developed by certified trainer Jennifer Conroyd after she was injured and needed to rehab to run a marathon. Fluid running workout uses a flotation belt and Bluetooth, with a pair of waterproof headphones that connect with the Fluid Running app. Listening to music-backed workouts. You will enjoy, beginner to extremely advanced workouts led by Jennifer. Don’t worry about your phone’s safety as it will stay dry in your bag. Remember, these workouts are performed in deep water such as a pool, lake, or bay. Swimming and water exercise are some of the best and safest ways to stay in shape. Give the gift of health to Mom this Mother’s Day!

 

 

Do your feet hurt at the end of each day? Many of us spend most of the day on our feet.  We can definitely appreciate this new dpl® Slipper Foot Pain Light Therapy. FDA-approved OTC device eases foot pain while finally relaxing around the house. Medically proven to relax muscles and relieve muscle pain. Now this is a gift for mom!

 

 

No more running to the store to get your mom’s favorite carbonated beverage. Drinkmate,  carbonated beverages, not only cut back on trips to the store but also on plastic, and aluminum waste. Can you say recycle? Drinkmate, soda maker with a patented Fizz Infuser can carbonate virtually any beverage. The perfect gift for the carbonated mother!

 

To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.

 

 

The FDA cleared SONIQUÉ MINI is a facial cleansing breakthrough that combines the soothing, restorative treatment of red, infrared red and amber LED light therapy trusted and recommended by skin care professionals, making it the ultimate skincare cleanser. Red infrared light therapy stimulates natural collagen and elastin for the reversal of fine lines and wrinkles. Improves skin’s overall texture. Sonic vibrations will massage the skin and open pores for a deeper cleanse and the waterproof design makes it easy to incorporate into mom’s daily routine.

 

 

 

Bushwick Kitchen’s gift sets Threes Knees Spicy Trio including their best-selling Spicy Honey, Gochujang Sriracha, and Spicy Maple, will have mom saying thank you for this Mother’s Day.

 

 

 

 

 

Seeds of Wellness SOW® is truly a delicious line of chia-based products that help to incorporate the nutritional properties of seeds in various types of preparations. Trust us, we were leery at first but then once sampling these delicious chia milk and pasts, we were blown away. Easy, delicious, and healthy. SOW’s methodology “from the field to your plate” they are sure to control the entire process, from the chia to the plant and how it’s cleaned, and processed. Even how their products are packaged and distributed. The benefits of SOW products they are ideal to help your Mom balance both her’s and your daily diet. Give Mom a healthy choice, this Mothers Day!

 

Motherhood is the exquisite inconvenience of being another person’s everything

 

Virginskin anti-aging cream 

One of our all-time favorites has been rebranded and back out for consumers. Dr. Lefkovits created Virginskin through his deep knowledge of botanical actives and their benefits in treating skin. By working with multiple botanicals over time, he developed a cream that not only soothed post-treatment, but could also firm, plump, and smooth the skin to the highest standards that he and his patients demanded. His formula was a breakthrough and essential to the skin health of his patients, who loved the new glow in their skin. Today, Dr. Lefkovits’ legacy is carried on proudly and passionately by his daughter-in-law Andrea Lefkovits. Natural ingredients such as acacia flower extract, Centella Asiatica, jojoba, Mimosa Tenuiflora bark extract, Sheabutter, and Squalane, Virginskin is a nourishing cream that feels luxuriously smoothing. 

 

 

 

ReGen De Peau Platinum is an innovative, natural skincare backed by science that disrupts the way you age with powerful treatments of healing, lifting, and wrinkle reduction. One product… One application… One minute. Two times daily! It is made up of four-ingredient complexes, MDI complex, UGL Complex, BMPX Complex, and the organic Japanese Blue Lotus flower extract, known to be a miraculous turnaround in anti-aging. Apply a dime-size portion directly onto your skin, each to the forehead, cheeks, chin, and neck with a firm tapping motion to expedite penetration and energy into the outer layer of your skin. Mom will experience a cooling, tingling sensation for a few seconds. Give mom the gift of anti-aging.

 

Everything I am, you helped me to be

 

 

 

When you think of Ladurée, you think delicious macarons, pastries, and oh their delicious Club Ladurée, think again!

La DoubleJ and the Parisian la Maison Ladurée are excited to announce an exclusive collaboration launching in time for Mother’s Day. The 12-piece collection brings the Milanese lifestyle brand’s happy maximalist homeware together with Ladurée’s delectable sweets.

Reinforcing La DoubleJ’s commitment to celebrating women and wellness, the collaboration draws upon the deeply personal and spiritual practice of the brand’s founder, J.J. Martin, and dives into themes of motherhood, fertility, and the spiritual concept of the sacred feminine. This is realized through the Tree Of Life print, a verdant La DoubleJ artwork, designed in-house in honor of the ancient Tree Of Life archetype, a symbol of fertility, renewal, life cycles, and all types of motherhood for everyone.

Framed by the soft pink and pistachio green shades of Ladurée’s world-renowned macarons, the collaboration ranges from La DoubleJ’s first-ever Teapot, an exclusive design crafted in fine porcelain by Italian manufacturers Ancap, to cotton twill Aprons and a new porcelain Goodie Jar, perfectly shaped to stash macarons. Sets of seven and 13 macarons will be housed in La DoubleJ printed confection boxes, available exclusively at Ladurée stores. This is calling your mother’s name this Mother’s Day.

 

 

 

Downtown is crazy about their afternoon tea. Perfect timing for This Ultimate Gift Set with the ultimate tea experience for two. Featuring a Tea Tasting Assortment Tea Chest of 20 blends, forty signature silken pyramid infusers in all, is our most expansive selection of premium gourmet teas. Also includes are two signature Café Cup presentations: two lidded porcelain Café Cups, two bamboo oval serving trays, two orchid white Tea Trays, and two porcelain Sugar & Creamer Set. This gift set is presented in a keepsake slate grey gift box with elegant gold foil Tea Forté lettering, with your Moms name on it!

 

 

 

 

The perfect introduction to the Tea Forté experience. Beautifully packaged and always appreciated, this curated tea collection is a most welcome presentation of the world’s most extraordinary teas. The Tea Tasting Assortment Presentation Box contains 20 pyramid infusers, two each of the following 10 blends: African Solstice (herbal tea), Black Currant (black tea), Chamomile Citron (herbal tea), Earl Grey (black tea), Ginger Lemongrass (herbal tea), Green Mango Peach (green tea), Jasmine Green (green tea), Raspberry Nectar (herbal tea), White Ambrosia (white tea), and White Ginger Pear (white tea). The open lid reveals a detailed tasting menu.

 

 

 

Give Mom a chance to relax, restore and revitalize her mind and body with this wellness-focused tea collection, inspired by the elegance and holistic knowledge of fine luxury spas. Organic green tea blends and herbal tisanes come together to support a glowing complexion, enlivened spirit, fortified defenses, calm state of mind, and purified sense of tranquility. The Wellbeing Presentation Box contains 20 pyramid infusers, four each of the following blends: Defense (green tea), Invigorate (green tea), Purify (herbal tea), Radiance (herbal tea), and Serenity (herbal tea). The open lid reveals a detailed tasting menu. All teas in this collection are USDA Organic and Kosher Certified.

 

 

Take Mom out for a delicious meal at one of our new favorites Charlie Palmer New York City

 

 

 

Charlie Palmer Collective grew out of Aureole, American cuisine pioneer Charlie Palmer’s landmark restaurant. For 30 years it has been one of New York City’s most celebrated restaurants, garnering 13 Michelin stars and two James Beard awards. Traveling, no problem you can find coast-to-coast locations by Charlie Palmer award-winning restaurants and luxurious boutique hotels in beautiful significant historical locations and each designed with distinctive personalities to provide unique experiences. If you have not been to Charlie Palmer’s it’s time, take mom out for Mother’s Day this year!

 

There is no role in life that is more essential than that of motherhood

 

 

 

 

 

You might just want to give Mom a break from grocery shopping. You can find everything you want and more at Eataly Downtown. Think about it, fresh Italian cheese, pasta, fruit, meats, seafood all delivered right to your door. Want to make mom dinner but you’re still learning, no problem, contact Eataly they will provide you with just the right supplies to make a delicious home-cooked meal. Or order in, Eataly will be sure to deliver the same quality meals from their chefs. Here we chose bundles, we like to stock our pantry so that we are ready for one or more guests. Now that’s Italian!

 

Help Mom’s cravings with Chocolate Lover, combat stress with Golden Mellow, and help her sneak in a full serving of veggies with Super Green. These delicious healthy choices include a full serving of our best-selling superfood mixes, absolutely no fillers or additives, and 100% organic ingredients. Now you can take the power of superfoods anywhere with Super Bars and we at Downtown do just that!

 

 

Book Mom the perfect getaway, she does everything for you, now it’s time to pamper her. Whisk Mom off to the heart of Ibiza, to this luxury boutique hotel Cas Gasi offering exclusive accommodation in Ibiza to those looking for a peaceful haven within easy reach of the island’s delights.

 

 

Our bags are packed for this beautifully restored country home is set on four hectares of the picturesque Mediterranean landscape of pine forests, orange and olive groves, almond, fig, and carob trees plus organic vegetable plots. A relaxing hideaway in pure surroundings. I don’t know about you but my bags are packed just in case my daughter decides to give me this much-needed vaca for Mother’s Day!

 

 

 

 

Making memories, just got fun! Polaroid unveils the newest, and the tiniest member to join their family. The Polaroid Go camera. Just 4.1 inches long, 3.3 inches wide, and 2.4 inches tall, the Polaroid Go is the smallest analog instant camera in the world. Polaroid’s greatest, and most exciting new launch in decades. Designed as a wearable creative companion, the pocket-sized Go camera leans on Polaroid’s iconic heritage of design while simultaneously creating a new format of instant cameras for a new generation. Features include a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, long-lasting battery, dynamic flash, double exposure, and travel-friendly accessories – making it easier for anyone to capture memories wherever creativity takes them. Accompanying, their launch is the Go film, reimagining Polaroid’s classic square format in the smallest analog film the brand has ever produced. Give mom this new polaroid and watch the magic happen, on film!

 

 

 

We believe! The dpl® Joint Wrap Pain Relief Light Therapy is the most versatile joint pain relief device that’s both medically proven and clinically tested. Unlike a heating pad, infrared light therapy works below the skin’s surface-reaching deep tissues. stimulating cells and increasing circulation to target pain at the source. Powerful pain relief LED lights using IR (infrared) and red wavelengths, the dpl] Joint Wrap Therapy promotes circulation, accelerates healing,  and reduces inflammation. Used by professionals, athletes, and physicians, it benefits pain resulting from arthritis, joint injury, tendinitis, muscle pain, and more. Plus, it’s a safe, natural solution for all skin types with no side effects. Mom will thank you for this new device this Mother’s Day!

 

The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation

 

 

 

One of our team’s favorite sweets! A limited release 16 piece Mother’s Day collection is a flavorful display of your love and gratitude for everything mothers do. Beautifully handcrafted and infused with layers of delicate flavors, this collection displays admiration for the most important woman in your life, your Mom. Enrobed in buttery white chocolate, our Lemon curd apricot truffle is a blend of intense citrus balanced with the golden sweet flavor of apricot at the center. This Raspberry rose petal truffle is infused with aromatic notes of rose petals and sweetened with raspberries that gently unfold onto your palate, all wrapped in creamy milk chocolate. A decadent box filled with florals, fruit, and intricate flavors, this special collection recognizes all the care and dedication mothers put forth for their families every day. Trust us our entire office can attest to these delectable bites, we cannot get enough and neither will you mom this Mother’s Day!

 

 

 

Together with the master gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden and renowned perfumer Laurent Le Guernec, Caswell-Massey’s NYBG Living Florals Collection brings the experience of the garden to your home and is the ideal Mother’s Day gift. Available in three single-note fragrances Lilac, Gardenia, and Honeysuckle, plus two premium rose fragrances—Beatrix Rose and RÒS—and two orchid fragrances—Orchid and VIC—that represent the complexities found in the garden’s most prized florals. Give a gift that gives back to mom, this Mother’s Day, because a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these products will support the New York Botanical Garden’s work in plant research and conservation, horticulture, and education. What could be better than giving and then your gift, giving?

 

 

For the sensitive tummy mother, we have a new brand just for you. These did not last long in our office. Raised Gluten Free is a women-owned business bringing to market the ultimate comfort food for those with food allergies. Sweet and savory pies, and yes we sampled almost all of them! Made in small batches at a dedicated, certified gluten-free bakery in Northern California, the plant-based offerings are not just gluten-free, not just vegan, they’re both and more. The artisan products deliver indulgence that’s also free of dairy, eggs, and peanuts, Kosher Pareve, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

 

 

 

Eataly has unique gifts for Mom. Calvisius begins within the small town of Calvisano, situated between Venezia and Milano. There, you will find Agroittica Lombarda, the most prolific caviar farm in the world, producing 25 tons of eggs per year. This project of farming endangered fish in freshwater began in collaboration with the University of California: Davis and a Pacific species of White Sturgeon. This four-pack of caviar comprises Royal, Classic, Tradition, and Siberian caviar, all sourced according to sustainable methods from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Coast.

 

 

 

Mom will be in savory bliss with this ultimate turkey burger from Pederson Farms. Seriously it’s delicious and with zero sugar, nitrite-free, uncured pork bacon making this the best turkey burger she will ever taste. These ultimate burgers are freezer to grill ready. It’s your turn to make mom dinner, easy to make but not to forget.

 

 

 

 

“Being a mother is the greatest gift, yet it is sometimes the most under-appreciated role. It’s hard to find that balance between supporting and defending without overstepping that fine line. Every mother thinks they got it wrong at one time or another, but the truth is, no matter what mistakes we may make, we still get it right. We bring life into this world, and the lives we give will go on to become extraordinary individuals. They will remember who taught them to tie their shoelaces, button their shirts, and comb their hair. We glow with pride and smile when we witness our children living their lives, because hopefully, we have given them the tools to succeed.” Grace A. Capobianco

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

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Dining Featured Hotels Living NYC Travel

A Rocking Good Time at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

They say that Rock n Roll is a lifestyle–a way of life. You can build cities out of it. And while Tampa, Florida wasn’t built on Rock n Roll, Tampa’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is. And with the completion of their expansion, Tampa, Florida, is finally ready for you to rock and roll all night and party every day. 

So what would you need to live the rock star life? Glitz, glamour, and opulence. And Hard Rock is filled with it. Bright lights fill the gambling floors, offering every kind of game for every price point. Swim through the sea of lights, and you’ll find a restaurant, a venue, or recreational experience. Want a stack of pancakes? Fresh sashimi? A perfectly marbled steak? Or maybe you want to grab a drink and watch live music? It’s all there. 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

And live music is everywhere. Hard Rock Tampa features multiple stages, ranging in size from hundreds to more than a thousand. Their largest stage holds 1500 people and hosts internationally-renowned singers, comedians, and performers. Between all of their locations, you are guaranteed a show, with more as you get closer to the weekends. 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

If you are just there to relax, you’re also covered there. A beautiful pool ringed with cabanas, and a long poolside bar forms the center of the hotel and casino. Stop by for a swim, or a full day lounging in the sun. Finished with your tan? Hang out at the bar and watch a game over drinks. Just to the side of the pool, explore Hard Rock’s ‘Rock Spa & Salon,’ where you can treat your body and spirit with their brand new 26,000 sq ft facility. Enjoy a massage, a therapeutic facial, or a workout class in Hard Rock’s state-of-the-art fitness center. Hey–even rock stars need time to relax. 

Architectural Photography

And the food. I mentioned it earlier, but it is worth mentioning again. Restaurants range from casual and cool, like the Hard Rock Cafe, to the stately, with Council Oak Steaks & Seafood. Both, by the way, feature live music. Whatever food you want, they’ve got it. A special shout-out to Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, and their supreme cuts of meat–I even follow their Executive Butcher on Instagram just to see the latest cuts. But don’t miss out on your chance to try out all 13 of their dining locations. 

Council Oak Hard Rock
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa takes its Rock n Roll soul to heart. Its vast collection of memorabilia, its multiple venues, its delicious food, is all a celebration of our urge to cut loose, indulge, and treat yourself in ways that you can’t at home. If you want to rock and roll all night, Hard Rock is always open. 

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

If you’re interested, check out www.seminolehardrocktampa.com and subscribe to Downtown Magazine to read more in-depth coverage in our Spring issue.

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Categories
Featured Hotels Living

Easy Steps to Win a Four Seasons Staycation

The most magical time of the year to be in New York City is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by starting a new holiday tradition in the heart of downtown, with the best that Lower Manhattan has to offer.

In celebration of the festive season, Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown unveils the launch of Martinis & Mistletoe – an exclusive festive package and social media sweepstakes in partnership with the most iconic downtown destinations including Brookfield Place, One World Observatory, Westfield World Trade Center, the Winterland Rink on The Rooftop at Pier 17 and CUT by Wolfgang Puck.  

Created as a bucket list staycation, Martinis & Mistletoe is the ultimate downtown festive offering and includes the best that Downtown has to offer. Along with overnight accommodation in signature Four Seasons comfort, the overnight experience includes a personally curated VIP shopping experience at Brookfield Place and Westfield World Trade Center, Priority/VIP access to One World Observatory for stunning views over the city at sunset, the Veuve Clicquot VIP Skating Package at Winterland Rink on The Rooftop at Pier 17, and dinner for two in CUT by Wolfgang Puck including a four-course tasting menu. The package is available for a limited time only from November 22, 2019, to January 31, 2020. Rates start from just USD 995 per night.

To celebrate the festive season and this exclusive package, Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is launching Instagram sweepstakes. One lucky winner will win the Martinis & Mistletoe package to experience the staycation first hand. Entries will be received through the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Instagram channel from Friday, November 1 to Friday, November 15, 2019. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on Monday, November 18, 2019.

For a full selection of festive offerings at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown can be found at click here.

Social Media Sweepstakes Terms and Conditions: Entrants are required to like the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Instagram account @FSNYDowntown. To enter the contest, an entrant needs to TAG a friend and leave one comment on why they both deserve to win the Martinis & Mistletoe Package. An entrant must include the hashtag #contest with their comment in order to be eligible. Entries will be received through the Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Instagram channel from 9:00 am EDT on Friday, November 1, 2019, to 5:00 pm EST on Friday, November 15, 2019. The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified on Monday, November 18, 2019. More information can be found in the full Terms and Conditions here.

Categories
Featured Sports

Interview: Skier Bode Miller

Interview conducted by Sydney Wright

Big Sky
Photo courtesy of Finn Partners

At a recent event, Downtown Magazine had a chance to chat with Bode Miller, champion alpine ski racer. Miller recently announced that he is moving his family from their home in California to Big Sky, Montana, a small Rocky Mountain town. He also recently announced a partnership with Lone Mountain Land Company, the owners of the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club and Moonlight Basin

Downtown Magazine: What enticed you to get involved with Lone Mountain?

Bode Miller: Well, I guess the root of it was a desire to have my kids be able to experience a bit of the outdoors, nature, that I got to experience when I was younger. There’s a lot of really cool projects and action going on in Big Sky so it was a really perfect balance for Southern California. I love Southern California, but some things are missing from it in terms of culturally and communing with nature. 

I’ve been to ski towns all over the world for the last 25 years, and being able to really be a part of building one, kind of… (Big Sky) has been there for a long time, but it’s raw enough, it’s not developed enough, where it has its own true identity. We’re really building it from scratch with what we think is the right stuff. I can bring in elements from all different cultures and do something unique and cool. 

DM: How would you describe the Big Sky to someone who has never been there, someone who has never experienced it?

BM: You know, it’s hard to describe it. I would say it’s rugged, but obviously Yellowstone Park is there too, so it has all the amenities. (Big Sky is) a nice combination of activities for every person–parents, grandparent, kids–where you can all be together. It’s small enough that it seems like everybody’s drawn together. You kind of feel like you’re huddling against nature. 

You feel connected with the people there. You go into the stores and the people are not salespeople, they’re like a chill old uncle or something. People are nice and friendly and open, and the activities are engaging and fun. Everything’s really distilled down to the more human elements of things. Even in a small community like where I am in Southern California, it’s just not the same thing. (In Big Sky) it’s an inclusive atmosphere combined with a rugged resilience. It’s unique. 

DM: What’s been one of your favorite memories of hiking with your kids out in Montana? 

BM: While we were walking in the trees, there are these lodgepole pines. They’re skinny, and they grow incredibly fast. They’re all over the place. And there’s a whole area where it’s those lodgepole pines right up until they break, and then it’s like 10 ft of bare rock, and then a cliff of maybe like 100 ft. It’s more or less straight down. 

We were walking through and I knew that it was there, so I was holding their hands, and they walked out of lodgepole pines, which are trippy, so you’re kind of distracted. They’re like bamboo because they’re so close together. So we’re all weaving through them, and then right there is the edge. You don’t notice it till you step out of the trees. So both my boys, watching them be like, “whoa.” And I was right there with them. 

We walked right up to the edge, and they could see over. Just to see them realize that that was just nature. It’s not Disneyland manmade apparatus or the edge of a building. Nature is that way. You see their minds, their imaginations, go a million different ways. And it’s based in reality, which I loved. 

That’s how I was when I was little. It does amazing things for your mind. They can learn things that you could spend a lifetime trying to teach them, and they can do it on their own in like 10 seconds if you give them the environment to let them do it. 

DM: I can see why you’re the spokesperson. You’re making me itching to get out of the city for a weekend. 

BM: I’ve spent a lot of time in cities that were awesome. I became very aware of it a long time ago. That I had to balance it out. I’d go crazy if I didn’t. 

DM: What’s your favorite thing about New York City?

BM: The diversity of the food. I’m a foody, and there’s a lot of good spots to eat — little holes in the wall and the unknowns. There’s a speakeasy that’s in the back of what used to be an old grocery store, where you went in their cooler, and there’s a little speakeasy back there. This city is old and it’s got a lot of history in that way. I’m not such a big fan of shopping or any of that, but there’s some sneaky stuff in the city that’s interesting. 

Big Sky
Bode Miler enjoys a hike in Jack Creek at the Yellowstone Club, Montana. Photo courtesy of Finn Partners.

DM: That’s awesome. So with skiing, I’m sure it’s a big adrenaline rush, would you say when skiing or racing? 

BM: Sometimes.

DM: What fills that void? What do you do for an adrenaline rush now?

BM: Nothing. I don’t really like adrenalin that much. It generally represents danger, and I’m not a big fan of danger. I think a lot of people get mixed up with risk and danger and fear, and I was never afraid of ski racing. I just always knew it posed a danger to me. 

When you’re going fast, you can get hurt. I wasn’t afraid of that. I just knew that it was there. The adrenalin was usually based around the knowledge that I was about to put myself in a really dangerous situation. It was true danger. I would get a huge adrenalin spike and I would be able to overcome that fear and then try to do it. And unfortunately, it most often ended up badly for me because I was having to take more risk and try harder than other guys.

Inherently it was a love/hate thing. I wanted to accomplish what I wanted to, and I liked the creative aspect of it, but I didn’t like that part. So now I’m not an adrenalin-seeker. I don’t like skydiving or any of that shit. I’m happy just to do mellow. Just drive around on a golf cart. 

Categories
Architecture Hotels Music

Seminole Hard Rock Goes Big On Hollywood Guitar Expansion

By Dan Metz, Associate Editor

This fall, Hard Rock Cafe, Inc. is looking to change the shape of their franchise–and the size of their Rock ‘n Roll–with what CEO Jim Allen calls “the world’s biggest guitar.” This 400 ft tall guitar-shaped hotel is part of an expansion to Hard Rock’s Hollywood, FL hotel and casino, part of a $2.2 billion dollar expansion encompassing the Hollywood and Tampa facilities.

The expansion comes after record growth around the world, especially in their home state of Florida. According to Allen, these facilities have been operating at 98% occupancy since their opening, limiting their ability to expand and advertise. The move would add more than 2000 new rooms, as well as introducing some new features to the Hollywood location befitting a facility made, in part, into a giant guitar.

At “The Guitar-Shaped Hotel”, the pool is less of a place you go than a place you’re already at. The “Bora Bora Experience” is a tropical waterscape out of a Bond movie, stretching out from the hotel like a beachfront. If you don’t like walking, the “lakeside” Oasis Tower features swim suites: rooms with a porch that backs up to an exclusive pool for easy swimming. If that’s too far from the water, guests can rent full-service tipis built into the waterscape.

Photos courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe, Inc.

Of course, the heart of The Guitar-Shaped Hotel’s rock n roll spirit is the new, state-of-the-art Hard Rock Live, a 6500-seat entertainment venue capable of hosting A-list performing artists, major award shows, and anything in between. Designed to keep thousands of attendees as close as possible to the action, its farthest seat is only 165 ft away from the stage.

The Tampa and Hollywood facilities are both scheduled to open in October of 2019, only a few weeks apart. Booking for Tampa’s new facility, which opens on the 3rd, will start accepting bookings on June 5th. Hollywood’s Guitar-Shaped Hotel opens the 24th and will start accepting bookings on July 24th.

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Five Vacation Essentials You Always Forget to Pack

As we hit midsummer, many of us are packing our bags and heading off to various destinations for vacation. While vacations are supposed to give us an opportunity to get some much-needed RNR, planning, packing, and preparing for these trips can be quite exhausting! As we pack our bags in anticipation of escaping the concrete jungle, it can be too easy to forget some essentials. But don’t worry, Downtowners – we’ve got you covered. We’ve created a checklist for you travelers so that you won’t forget these five essentials that you must not forget for your next trip. Bon Voyage!

1. Water Bottles & Snacks

While this may sound obvious, so many of us forget to bring food and water with us whilst traveling. Whether you’re traveling via car, airplane, train, you name it, nourishment is essential for us to keep our energy up for our trip! It’s also great to have these things on hand in your hotel room, so that you aren’t charged insane amounts of money for eating the snacks supplied by your hotel, and so that you don’t have to leave the hotel room to grab a simple snack or drink.

2. Sunscreen

If you’re traveling somewhere warm and sunny, sunscreen is a must. We know, we know, you want to soak up all of the vacation glow that you can! But, sunscreen is an essential no matter what. There are many sunscreens to choose from, including reef-friendly for those interested in possible eco-friendly brands. Sun poisoning + vacation just don’t mix well!

3. Water Mist Spray

https://www.evianspray.com/shop/trio

Okay, this might not be an essential, but it’s surely nice to have. These travel sized water mist sprays are perfect for cooling off at the beach, on a hike, or wherever your vacation may take you.

4. Laundry Bag

Perhaps the item that’s easiest to forget whilst packing is a laundry bag. I mean, who’s thinking about laundry while packing for vacation? Unfortunately, laundry is an inevitable part of life (talk about first world problems!), and in order to keep yourself organized, bring a laundry bag to keep your dirty clothes in. This is an especially handy item to bring if you’re going away for a longer period of time.

5. Disposable Camera

Again, not an essential, but if you can fit one into your suitcase, it’s so worth it! As we move further and further into the Digital Age, taking photos is an act of instant gratification. But how cool would it be to take an awesome photo and not be able to see it until it’s developed? (I know, this is major millennial talk.) What’s even better is that this forces you to develop your photos, instead of just leaving them on your phone, which can be quite risky! (Losing your phone might mean losing all of your beautiful vacation photos!). Plus – the ~vintage~ feel of the disposable camera photos will fit perfectly on your Instagram feed. 😉