New York Bed and Breakfast Offers Slice of Pie for a Unique Turndown Service

The Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast hopes guests head to bed hungry this September. The award-winning, Salisbury Mills, New York, country inn is baking fresh pies daily using locally-sourced ingredients, then placing a huge slice atop each guest’s pillow as part of its yearly sought-after Pie on the Pillow turndown service.

“The pie on the pillow gets bigger and bigger in demand each year,” said Dena Finneran, who co-owns the bed and breakfast with her husband, John. “Our guests return each Fall to enjoy the pies and the foliage.” Now in its milestone fifth year, the Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast begins serving the pies on the Tuesday after Labor Day (September 3) through September 30th.

Dena, a culinary artist with a cookbook on the way, makes every pie herself using seasonal fruits from the nearby Blooming Hill Farm, Grove, Soon Orchard, Roe’s Orchard, and Jones Farm for the filling.

The pies include cherry pie, cream pie, and the crowd favorite – apple pie. They’re served by “chef’s choice” every night – except on weekends where a wedding party has reserved the full B&B.

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The Ivy Hotel Launches $30,000 Spring Adventure Package

The Ivy Hotel, 233 E. Ontario Street, is springing into luxury this year by offering guests the ultimate spring adventure package. For $30,000, guests may book the Spring into Luxury Package through June 20, which includes first class air travel for two from anywhere in the United States, limousine transfers to and from the airport, and a three-night stay in a 675 sq ft Ivy Hotel king suite. Guests will also be treated to a variety of special touches and glamourous excursions to experience all the Windy City has to offer.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests such a unique and meaningful experience at the Ivy Hotel,” said Max Herrera, director of food and beverage, Ivy Hotel. “With our Spring into Luxury Package, our goal was to take the pressure of planning a vacation off of our guests’ shoulders, and treat them to one of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives. From fine dining to taking in some of Chicago’s most magnificent views, guests will enjoy a VIP trip of a lifetime in the heart of the city.”

Just steps from Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, guests will embark on the shopping spree of a lifetime armed with $6,000 in American Express Gift Cards, a personal shopper, and limousine service to whisk them to their favorite retailer or boutique. The Chicago experience continues with a VIP tour of Chicago personalized to the guests’ preferences with lunch and a personal photographer, and a VIP dinner at any one of the restaurants on the Ivy’s top ten list. To complete the one-of-a-kind Chicago experience, guests will enjoy a private helicopter tour of the city, followed by a dazzling four-course dinner prepared by The Duck Inn’s award-winning chef Kevin Hickey. Limo service is included to and from all outings.

Upon check in, guests will enjoy a lavish in-room welcome basket, including a chilled bottle of Dom Perignon or Cristal champagne accompanied by two Swarovski Crystal champagne flutes, a fine selection of Godiva Chocolates and Petrossian delicacies featuring caviar and duck foie gras. Two luxurious designer bathrobes and a selection of Beekman 1802 fine bath products will also await guests, as well as a $2,000 dining and beverage credit to enjoy an intimate meal in their suite or their favorite libations at the Ivy’s Divine Lounge or Sky Terrace.

The Ivy Hotel features 63-rooms, the majority of which are suites with 675 sq ft of luxurious accommodations. The property offers numerous amenities and services, including the Divine Lounge lobby bar and restaurant, room service, complimentary Wi-Fi, meeting and event space and a lively rooftop bar during the summer months.

The Spring into Luxury Package is available through June 20, 2019. All taxes, tips, and gratuities are included. For more information on The Ivy Hotel, visit their website or call 312.335.5444.

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Chicago's Science-Inspired Hotel EMC2 Celebrates Pi Day and Albert Einstein's Birthday

Hotel EMC2, the art and science inspired hotel located at 228 E. Ontario Street, is celebrating both Albert Einstein’s Birthday and Pi Day on Thursday, March 14 with a charitable event and science-inspired incentives throughout the day. Keeping with the pie theme on Pi Day, the hotel’s contemporary restaurant, the Albert, will be offering a selection of hand pies, courtesy of highly acclaimed Executive Pastry Chef Vanarin Kuch, for $3.14. Both guests of the hotel and hotel employees are also invited to participate in a “Pie in the Face” event benefiting Project SYNCERE on the patio of the property. In homage to the restaurant’s namesake, the Albert will be serving up The Famous Vegetarian cocktail featuring CH Aquavit, carrot, orange, ginger, and coconut, as well as an Einstein Birthday Cake with vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, and sprinkles. Additionally, those who guess “What Did Einstein Never Wear” correctly when asked by a Front Office Agent at the property will receive a 10% off voucher at the Albert.

The “Pie in the Face” event will take place on March 14 from 2pm to 4pm. Those looking to participate can purchase a $5 pie for a ten foot throw or a $10 pie for a five foot throw. These pies will be thrown at the Hotel EMC2 management team and all proceeds from the event will benefit Project SYNCERE, an educational, Chicago-based non-profit that combines art and science to create transformational experiences for youth within underserved Chicago communities. Jason Coleman, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Project SYNCERE, and members from the philanthropic organization will be present at the event.

Hotel EMC2 is located at 228 E. Ontario Street. Room rates start at $249.00. For details on reservations, please visit www.hotelemc2.com or call 884-205-3939.

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Sand, Sun, and Kid-Friendly Fun in New Smyrna Beach

With 17 miles of white sand and beautiful blue waters, New Smyrna Beach, located on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, is a prime spot for families wanting to plan a getaway this spring. And with so many kid-friendly attractions, camps, and free activities, they’ll want to do more than just build sandcastles and splash in the surf (although we love that too!). Take a peek at some of the fun:

• Marine Discovery Center: 5-Day Spring Adventure Camp (March 18-22) With pontoon rides, fishing, and arts and crafts, the kids will be too busy having fun to notice they’re learning about New Smyrna Beach’s wildlife and environment.
• The Hub on Canal: Art Fun 4 Kids with Heather Pastor (March 13, April 10) Kiddos can channel their inner Van Gogh with an art class at The Hub on Canal. Instructor Heather Pastor teaches about famous artists, then children create their own masterpieces with a variety of mediums.
• Surfin’ NSB: Ride the Waves: Little thrill-seekers will love a private family surf lesson from the pros at Surfin’ NSB. An instructor will bring boards right to your hotel or condo, so all you need to do is walk out onto the sand.
• Turtle Mound River Tours: Set sail on a two-hour narrated tour of the Indian River Lagoon for a chance to see dolphins, manatees, and incredible views of Canaveral National Seashore.
• New Smyrna Museum of History: Encourage a love for learning by exploring NSB’s interesting past through cool artifacts, models, and photographs. Kids will love the vintage boards and other local memorabilia in the surfing exhibit. Parents will love that it’s free admission.
• Fishing Charters: Reel in the fun on the Indian River Lagoon with a local guide, like Captain Drew Cavanaugh of Florida Inshore Fishing Charters. From hauling in a prize catch to close-up views of local wildlife, a charter is a perfect way to spend a day on the water.
• New Smyrna Speedway: Zoom zoom! Watch as stockcars and trucks vie for a spot at the finish line. Races are held weekly and children 11 and under are free.
• New Smyrna Beach Escape Room: Older kids and teens will love this combo scavenger hunt and puzzle-solving activity. Participants attempt to escape from a locked room by deciphering riddles and puzzles. Choose from themes like “Alien Autopsy” and “Houdini’s Secrets.”

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Fairmont Chicago Launches New Valentine's Day Packages

Booking a Valentine’s Day getaway or date night has never been easier thanks to new packages and events from Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 North Columbus Drive. From a couples’ spa retreat to a fondue party, guests can enjoy an effortless weekend away with their loved one.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day vacations, Fairmont Chicago is offering guests a new Romantic Escape Package, which includes overnight accommodation for two in a luxurious Fairmont Guestroom at 20% off the best available rate, late checkout, and a bottle of bubbles, starting at $189. Guests may enhance their stay with a variety of amenities, including one dozen roses delivered to the guest room upon check in, in-room blowouts and hair styling, ice-skating for two at Maggie Daley Park, and breakfast in bed with mimosas.

Guests looking to restore and reconnect this year can treat themselves to a getaway at Fairmont Chicago’s luxurious spa. mySpa’s Be Mine Package offers a champagne toast for two, 25-minute soak in the infinity tub with a seasonal bath bomb, 50-minute couples myMassages, and 50-minute couples signature facials starting at $500 per couple during the week and $550 on weekends (price represents 25% spa services) from February 1 – February 28.

Fairmont Chicago is also inviting Fairmont Gold guests to a Valentine Soirée, the Some Like It Hot Fondue Party, in the exclusive Fairmont Gold Lounge, February 15 -16, featuring tableside fondue and signature cocktails crafted from local distilleries. Pre-Dinner appetizers will be served from 4 – 6 p.m., featuring cheese fondue, and desserts from 8 – 9 p.m., featuring chocolate fondue. Guests looking to take advantage of Fairmont Gold and join the Valentine Soirée may book the Gold Rush Package, receiving three nights for the price of two.

More information on Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, please visit https://www.fairmont.com/chicago/.

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World Exclusive NOLA-Distillery Opens

Keeping up with the tradition of New Orleans, NOLA-Distillery’s focus is producing products made with Louisiana grown ingredients and traditions of the south.

Conceptualized and manufactured in New Orleans, their brands consist of a Louisiana-grown Sweet Potato NOLA Vodka and NOLA Pepper Vodka. In addition, their newest brands Louisiana Tradition Whiskey, Gin, Rum and Vodka. They also have a Special Edition Mardi Gras NOLA Vodka available.

NOLA-Distillery focuses on personalized handcrafted spirits. The Jazzmen Rice group is working with NOLA-Distillery in developing and marketing the first Louisiana Jasmine Rice Vodka to penetrate and compete in the new trend globally. Dawn Vachon, National Sales and Marketing Director says, “Jazzmen Rice Vodka will be wildly popular in the local and national retail market because they already have brand recognition on supermarket shelves, retail outlets and have an international presence.”

They will be producing Multi-Award-Winning Handcrafted Hierarchy Vodka and Larry Flynt’s HUSTLER® Vodka as well as additional HUSTLER® products.

NOLA-Distillery's motto is “Everybody has Experienced Handcrafted Spirits, but NOLA-Distillery Perfected them.”

NOLA-Distillery has a beautiful Tasting Room and is conducting tours open to the public.

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RCI Adding Sky Trail® to LuLu's Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach

Ropes Courses Incorporated (RCI) is at work to assist Lucy “LuLu” Buffett, owner of three popular LuLu’s restaurants in Destin, Florida; Gulf Shores, Alabama; and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in opening her second outdoor Sky Trail® aerial attraction in mid-February at Buffett’s North Myrtle Beach restaurant at Barefoot Landing. The 48-foot-tall (14.63m) Sky Trail® is being designed and installed by RCI. LuLu’s waterfront location along the Intracoastal Waterway is known for its fun coastal menu and its beach and vacation-spirited merchandise available in its adjacent shop. And, new for 2019, Buffett is adding an extra element of excitement with the debut of her second Sky Trail® in one of her three signature restaurants.

“LuLu’s has always been about family,” explained Buffett. “When we added our first Sky Trail® at the Gulf Shores location, it was wildly successful and complemented our mission to create a coastal dining and recreational experience for families. The kids get to play in a safe environment while the grown-ups get to have a drink, enjoy delicious fun food and listen to live music.”

Planning and customized design work have been underway for months and RCI began installation of the multi-level attraction in December 2018. The Sky Trail® will include 26 elements to challenge children and adults with such as the themed lily pad stepping stones and a tippy version of “Walk the Plank.” This six-inch-wide beam showcases a color-wheel at its end that draws participants further along the beam for a chance to pull the hanging cable and set the spinning wheel in motion. Thrill-seekers who reach the top of the course have the option of taking the QuickJump free-fall exit - a three-story descent with a gentle landing that delivers a breathtaking grand finale. Every participant is outfitted in a harness equipped with a single redundant slingline that keeps them secure while they work their way among the obstacles using RCI’s U.S.-patented overhead tracking system.

“We named our Sky Trail® LuLu’s Mountain of Youth and it has now become a central ingredient to the LuLu’s experience,” Buffett continued. "That’s why it was important for us to include that element in North Myrtle Beach and we were delighted to partner with FACE Amusement company to make that happen.”

This Sky Trail® with its splashy color scheme of hot pink, turquoise and yellow will be eye-catching and inviting to diners as it blends with LuLu’s tropical theme, menu and gifts.

“The Sky Trail® provides guests with a fun and engaging experience that sets this restaurant complex apart from any in the greater Myrtle Beach community. Guests of virtually every age can climb and have fun soaring above the ground, thanks to the creative design by RCI,” explained Bucky Mabe, CEO of FACE Amusement, managing company for the Sky Trail® at LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach. This is the place to be in Myrtle Beach where, after an exhilarating climb, you can enjoy fresh Gulf seafood in a fun and truly stunning restaurant, with a vibe only LuLu’s can provide,” he added.

RCI has built Sky Trail® aerial attractions in 30 different countries and in a variety of different venues including amusement parks, zoos, community centers, hotels, resorts, cruise ships, shopping centers, adventure facilities and natural or historic tourist attractions. The size, colors, elements and designs are customized to each location to complement each setting.

“The LuLu’s restaurants and their bustling gift shops have been exceptionally fun for installing two of our Sky Trails® along with a Sky Tykes®,” explained Jim Liggett, president and founder of RCI. “The whole energetic vibe of LuLu’s restaurants and shops is about fun, food and music which is the perfect fit for us and our attractions.”

For more information about RCI attractions including Sky Trail®, Clip ‘n Climb® climbing walls and Amaze’n Mazes™, visit www.ropescoursesinc.com.

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