hdliving spring 2011 sm

LivingHIGH-DEFINITION LIFESTYLE AND ELECTRONICS

www.hdliving.com

SPRING 2011 , VOLUME 5 , ISSUE 1

A FRESH START FOR A NEW SEASON

LifeReinvented

+Tesla Cars | NY Dining | Sexy Sandals | Top Spas | Whole-House Music | Men’s Hats

PublisherRichaRd glikes

Editor in ChiefhOWaRd [email protected]

Associate Editor sTePhaNie adaMOW [email protected]

Editorial Offices 1500 Spring Garden Street,12th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19130

CREATIVE

Art Director TIM DUPNAK

Graphic Designer JUlIE lAMOND

Project Manager JANE CHEROAdministration (215) 238-5431 • [email protected]

CIRCULATION

For subscription inquiries and changes please call 1-800-818-8174 or e-mail [email protected]

HOME TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS OF AMERICAExecutive Director

RichaRd glikes(610) 363-9055 • FAX (610) 363-9065

[email protected]

501 East Uwchalan AvenueChester Springs, PA 19425

Published byThe Consumer Technology Publishing Group

Group President/Publishing DirectoreRic schWaRTz

(215) 238-5420 • FAX (215) 238-5457 [email protected]

Publisher of Custom Retailer, Dealerscope, Picture Business and E-Gear magazines.

Custom Publisher of the 2011 International CES Show Directory, Guide and Pre Show Planner

sPRINg 2011, VOlUME 5, IssUE 1

Using word pictures to capture the thrill of a new endeavor is my charge in this terse discourse. Imagine a beautiful cot-tage on a two-lane dirt road. There’s a small garden, red rose bushes in the front yard, bountiful trees, and a white picket

fence to accent the comfortable excellence of the domicile. Contrast that to a sleek, shiny, aluminum skyscraper with units that never seem to stop on an eight-lane highway and there’s a heliport on the roof with an airport only five minutes away.

We are moving—or, better said, we have two residences. One is the magazine you are enjoying now and the other is our new online maga-zine www.hdliving.com. Yes, we are transporting print into digits with pictures. Our new Website will be much more expansive because we are not limited to the constraints of paper, page counts, printing and postage.

It will be so big, in fact, that it will never seem to end. The freedom that the Web gives us means we can give you more specific information about the topics that make living in high definition exciting. The sections of the online magazine include HD Homes—a look at how others have outfitted their homes with state of the art electronics in exquisite style; Home Technology—the residence of what’s new and hot in gear; and Music Lovers—a series of contemporary reviews of jazz, pop and classical recordings.

In addition, the Green Tech tab will grow with articles about energy savings and green possibilities. Finally, there are areas dedicated to Product Reviews and a Learning Center to educate one to the point of understanding and comfort with today’s complex electronics and tech-nologies.

HD Living magazine will be our cottage life and hdliving.com will be our expansive loft with superhighways abounding. Picture life in the fast lane or verdant living—we’ve got both. Try it. We’re thinking you’ll love it.

Richard glikes

executive director

home Technology specialists of america

[email protected]

www.hdliving.com

HD Living Takes A Different Life

high-definition LifeStYLe and eLectronicS

COMPLIMENTS OF HOME TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS OF AMERICA AND OUR

VALUED VENDOR PARTNERS

connections

04 HDL w w w. h D l i v i n G . C o M

w w w. h D l i v i n G . C o M

WALL HANGINGELBA STYLE SHOWN

AUD IO /V IDEO FURN ITURE | HOME THEATER SEAT ING | ADVANCED ACCESSOR IES

For nearly 20 years, Salamander Designs has been

“Defining Original” in high quality, and highly customizable

audio/video furniture and home theater seating. Instead

of one-size-fits-all, everyone gets exactly what fits them.

Our Chameleon line features nine decorator styles from

traditional to contemporary. Each is available in 19 different

configurations ranging from small subwoofer enclosures

up to large wall hanging cabinets.

To learn more visit us at www.salamanderdesigns.com

W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M06 HDL

16Your Local Custom Solution

They have the v is ion and the

experience to bring your home

to life. Your community custom

electronics dealer wi l l exceed

your expectations and your wild-

est dreams with their plans for

your home automation installa-

tion or upgrade.

20A Bite in the ‘Apple’

Great eats can be found on every

corner in New York City.

26Backyard Boom

Outdoor speakers provide the

perfect soundtrack to your BBQ

or event.

32Steppin’ Out

Sexy sandals are the perfect

sassy accessory for spring. Fash-

ion experts offer tips on finding

the right footwear for you.

38Best Spas

These five spa resorts mix luxury,

relaxation and health-renewing

fitness in beautiful settings across

the U.S.

48Roots of the ‘Hoops’

The fasc inat ing, l i t t le-known

beginnings of basketball, plus the

excitement of March Madness.

10Made for the Shade

Save energy, money with stylish

automated shading systems.

12The Automated Estate

A local custom electronics dealer

profiles an impressive home that

features the latest home automa-

tion, distributing entertainment

and convenience throughout the

property.

FEATURES

20

contents SPRING 2011 ISSUE, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

26

Dramatic effects, sophisticated style and subtle details can transform

a house into a home of distinction. From imaginative designs that

use light, sound and video to delight the senses; to the luxuries of

convenience – Wilshire Media Systems brings entertainment,

energy management, comfort and security together into a single

solution that’s uniquely yours.

Since 1954, Wilshire Media Systems has earned an unmatched

reputation for servicing the communities of Southern California with

the finest audio, video, control and lighting technology, and a level

of customer service that is second to none.

For more information, call Brian Righetti at 805.497.1179 Ext. 277

or visit www.WilshireHE.com.

imagine what

WilshireMediaSystemscan do for you.

1412 N. Moorpark Road

Thousand Oaks, CA

58 62

52The Magic of Nordstrom’s

State-of-the-art service, focus on

customer satisfaction make depart-

ment store stand out from the rest.

COVER PHOTO by Shutter StockSpecial thanks to Phoenix Unequalled Home Entertainment


contents SPRING 2011 ISSUE, VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

70 687458The Power of the Sun

An in-depth look at solar power

for the home: how it works, and

ways it can benefit your family.

62Electro Magnetism

Tesla Motors proves that cars

that benefit the environment can

also be fast and furious fun.

68Coombsville’s Coming of Age

This small corner of the world

could be Napa Valley’s next great

wine-producing region.

70Whole House Music

Apple’s new Airplay system—

and the gear that will enable it to

provide music throughout your

home.

72Ear-Delicious

AKG’s Quincy Jones headphones

mix pro-quality audio with wild

visual flair.

74Hats On!

All you need to know about the

No. 1 fash ion accessory for

men—hot hat sty les,

hat history, finding the

right fit, and some cool

sites for buying them.

82Blooming Beautiful

Gorgeous cherry tries are truly

a sight to behold in the warmer

seasons.

HEATHCOTEA r c h i t e c t u r e

3396 WILLOW LANE, SUITE 200 l WESTLAKE VILLAGE , CA 91361 l PHONE 805-497-4700 l WWW. HEATHCOTE.NET

OVER 30 YEARS ARCHITECTURE SERVICES

ENTERTAINMENT . MEDICAL . INSTITUTIONAL . HOSPITALITY

MASTER PLANNING . COMMERCIAL OFFICE . MUSEUMS

INDUSTRIAL . POST PRODUCTION & RADIO STUDIOS

RELIGIOUS . RESTAURANT . RETAIL . MIXED USE

Daylight has a quality that we respond to emo-tionally. Colors

read true, finishes reveal their texture, and an uplifting quality pervades any room bathed in daylight. As we become more conscious of our footprint on this planet, we realize that making the most of daylight in our homes simply makes sense.

Utilizing daylight reduces our need for electric light, and saves energy.

To make the most of this natural resource, electronics company Lutron produces state-of-the-art shading sys-tems provide precision con-trol of daylight—all at the touch of a button.

Cut Down the Juice Use Besides providing control of how much light gets into a room, Lutron shades will enable you to save energy—more energy than conven-tional shades will.

How? Through custom settings like “Winter Warm”, which opens the shades, taking advantage of the sun-light coming in to warm the southern part of the room. “Summer Cool” does the opposite by lowering shades and blocking solar heat gain, keeping your room cooler and reducing your A/C costs. Tools of the Shade There is a variety of easy-to-use options to consider when planning a shade system for

your home.

QS Wireless shading system, which controls the entire family of the company’s auto-mated window treatments, and can work with the shades in one room, multiple rooms, or an entire home or building all at the touch of a button. The wireless QS sys-tem is a perfect choice when you’re making the switch to wireless control in your home with systems for security, lighting and entertainment.

shading tech, Lutron’s Sivoia QS has simplified wiring and a common communication language allow for easy inte-gration with Lutron lighting controls. Like its wireless counterpart, the Sivoia QS works with all of the com-pany’s window treatments.

Managing daylight is not restricted to a single wall sta-tion in your home. Shading systems can be controlled using a myriad of keypads, remote controls, wireless con-trols, or set to an astronomic time clock for automatic adjustment of shades.

-less control can be used as a tabletop unit mounted on a pedestal, a lightweight hand-held remote, or as a wall-mounted control with a

-trol one group of shades, and is available in seven colors. Since it’s battery-powered, no wiring is required.

Keeping it Green We’re not saying Lutron shades only come in green, but we will say you can get them made from sustainable fabrics to help protect the environment and improve your indoor air quality.

Of course, you’ll save some “green”—and help the envi-roment—by harvesting day-light and cutting HVAC costs and the need for lights. The Look of Lutron Lutron’s products look as good as they work. The com-pany’s controls are stylish and unobtrusive, blending with any home’s décor.

The shades align precisely within 1/16 inch of each other for a balanced, beauti-ful look to a row of windows.

Hone that precision with the Sivoia QS Venetian Blinds with Intelligent Tilt Alignment. They maintain uniform positioning across adjacent blinds, provide inde-pendent control of lift and tilt, and feature presets to your favorite positions. Safe and Sound Shading systems can also improve your home safety. Create an “away” setting to close all of your shades and restrict the view inside your house as you leave.

Sounds good? Contact your area dealer (see info on pg. 18) for further information on choosing the right shading solution for your home.

Made for the Shade A U T O M A T E D S H A D I N G S Y S T E M S C O N T R O L R O O M L I G H T , S A V E E N E R G Y .

LUTRON SHADING


| B Y H O W A R D W H I T M A N

Installed!

805.497.7536 | WilshireHE.com | 1412 N. Moorpark Road | Thousand Oaks, CA

Wilshire Home EntertainmentPresents a Complete Home Theater for Only

$9,995

A beautiful new home theater for just $9995 –installed!Introducing the $9995 Home Theater from Wilshire Home Entertainment. Everything you need to create the home theater of your dreams: projector,screen, sound system–even installation, for just $9995. This unprecedentedoffer from Wilshire Home Entertainment, Southern California’s hometheater experts for over 55 years, is only available for a limited time. So don’t miss out–visit Wilshire Home Entertainment today to get started.

Elite 100”Projector Filmscreen

Sony ES ReceiverSony Blu-ray Player

Panamax Power CenterAnd a Universal Remote Control

Monitor AudioFront, Center and Surround SpeakersAnd a Velodyne Subwoofer

SonyVPL-VWPRO1

Projector

Professional InstallationIncluding Labor, Programming,Materials, Cables and Electrical

Add an OptionalSix Theater Seats and aPlatform for an Additional $4995

>>

Have you ever gone to a movie and been so engrossed in the story that you forgot for a moment that you were sitting in a chair at a theater? So immersed in the storyline that

you were almost “in the movie”? It’s not at all uncom-mon to experience a racing pulse, goosebumps, or sometimes even tears when watching a good movie in a great theater. A Signature Cinema from Wilshire Media Systems can bring this experience right to your home.

To begin, we must first explain the difference between a Home Theater System and a Personal Cinema. Home Theater systems generally reside in a dual-purpose envi-ronment like a family room where the functionality of the room often takes precedence over the performance

of the system. In a Personal Cinema, the performance of the system is the primary focus of the room, which results in a viewing experience that exceeds a commer-cial movie theater.

The key to successfully creating an amazing Personal Cinema lies in Wilshire’s unique planning and design process. The projector, the screen, equipment, acoustic paneling, room construction, lighting, and electrical are all parts of the equation. Wilshire puts these parts together by designing the Cinema and managing the entire process from start to finish.

Step 1: Location. Indentify a location in your home that can accommodate a Personal Cinema. In this case a mostly empty storage room above a three car garage was

Delivering GoosebumpsWilshire Home Entertainment brings the movie theater home with Signature Cinema.

custom+install|wilshire home entertainment

w w w. h d l i v i n g . c o m012 HDL

How smart is your lighting?

With a Lutron total light control system from Wilshire Media Systems, you can

save up to 50% of lighting energy used in your home. Now that’s smart!

Our energy saving systems use dimmers, sensors, shades and timeclocks to

save energy while adding convenience and style. Now that’s brilliant!

For help saving energy in your home or office, call Brian Righetti at 805.497.7536

or visit www.WilshireHE.com.

Precision Control Shades • Can save up to 10% on

HVAC costs.• In the summer, reduce cooling

costs by closing the shades toblock solar heat.

• In the winter, reduce heatingcosts by opening the shades tolet in the warming rays of the sun.

Dimmers

• Light level is proportional to energy use.

• Dim the lights and you’ll use less energy.

• Dimming lights by 50% uses only 60%

of the energy–saving 40%.

Occupancy Sensors

• Sensors automatically turn lights off

when a room is vacant.

• Easy to retrofit with wireless

communication.

• Can provide up to 20% lighting

energy savings.

Timeclocks

• Can provide up to 20% lighting

energy savings.

• Automatically dim exterior lights

at night.

• Automatically turn exterior lights

off at sunrise.

transformed into a Wilshire Signature Cinema. Wilshire can create a Personal Cinema in a room that ranges from 200 sqft up to 3000 sqft.

Step 2: Contact. Make contact with one of our dedi-cated design professionals. From there, you’ll convey your vision to us and establish a working budget for the overall project. An in home consultation with you may also be needed to get a better picture of what will be required to complete the project.

Step 3: Design. A deposit of the working budget is required to fully design and engineer your system; this deposit is credited to the overall price of the project. The design will provide a scope of work and services, iden-tification of key components, any required renderings, and a fixed price to completely install your Cinema. The presented design will maximize the working budget that was established in prior meetings.

Step 4: Production. Once the overall design and bud-get have been agreed upon, our Operations Department will establish a production schedule. Construction, prod-uct ordering, and installation will be coordinated to meet the project timeline.

Step 5: Delivery. Wilshire will “deliver” your Personal Cinema to you when it has been thoroughly calibrated and tested for performance. The delivery process will include a detailed lesson on operating your Cinema as well as instruction for the future care of the system.

The Wilshire Signature Cinema featured here origi-nally started as empty room above a garage and was

primarily used for storage. To achieve the homeowner’s main goal of reproducing movie theater quality sound at home, our designers incorporated a JBL Synthesis system speaker package that utilizes seven hidden speakers, four hidden subwoofers, and six amplifiers. JBL Synthesis is a slimmed-down home version of the speaker systems used in most commercial movie theaters. All of our JBL Synthesis systems are computer calibrated and tuned specifically for each installation resulting in sound qual-ity that is far superior to a traditional theater.

The final design of the Cinema required some physi-cal modifications and minor construction. As you can see by the before and after pictures, the vaulted ceil-ing was brought down a few feet to improve sound quality and allow for recessed lighting. A riser for the chairs in the rear of the room was designed to accom-modate two rows of stadium seating and a partition wall was erected behind the second row of chairs. Just like a traditional movie theater, the front speakers are located behind a perforated film screen allowing the sound to pass through. Sound absorption panels were added to the walls and ceiling to limit echo causing reflections. The projector is hidden with a remov-able shroud that matches the décor in the Cinema. Everything is operated with a one-touch control sys-tem making the Home Cinema easy for everyone to use. Wilshire’s interior design team applied the final touch and incorporated colors and fabrics that reflect-ed the homeowner’s tastes .


>>

Listen Up!Wilshire’s New Performance Audio Listening Room Presents Music at Its Finest.

Today, many of us listen to music on the go on our iPods through little ear-bud headphones. The music is compressed and the quality is far less than what the artist intended us to hear.

We’ve traded convenience for quality and the listening experience suffers as a result.

When you’re listening to a high performance audio system, you can close your eyes and truly be a part of the music. That was the goal behind Wilshire Home Entertainment’s recently completed remodel of our new Performance Audio listening room.

Wilshire carefully designed the acoustics our new Performance Audio room and filled it with some of the finest audio components in the world that can faith-

fully recreate performances and deliver sonic master-pieces. Inside you’ll l find speakers and audio compo-nents from Revel, Bowers & Wilkins, Monitor Audio, Mark Levinson, Parasound, Lexicon, and Rotel. Put them all together and you’ll lose yourself in the music that touches your soul.

We invite you to grab some of your favorite albums, whether on vinyl or CD, and visit Wilshire’s new Performance Audio room. You’ll rediscover your music and experience it in a way you never thought possible.

Keeping Customers Satisfied Wilshire offers customers three real differences from the competition: Experience, support and value.

dealer+profile|wilshire home entertainment


Home Theaters & Media Rooms | Outdoor A/V Systems | Lighting & Control Systems

House Audio Systems | Residential & Commercial Installation

Great home entertainment and business

solutions start with great design.

Wilshire Media Systems experienced

team of designers will work with you to

develop the ideal design to meet your

highest expectations.

Whether you dream of a complete

home theater, a multimedia conference

room, or a flat screen television, we

can make it all blend perfectly with

your home or office. From custom

design and installation, to the latest

in state-of-the-art electronics,

nobody has more experience than

Wilshire Media Systems.

805.497.7536 | WilshireHE.com

1412 N. Moorpark Road | Thousand Oaks, CA

“Wilshire has been in the business since 1954, and has the most experienced sales and operations staff in Southern California” says Wilshire President Mike McMaster. “We support clients after the sale well beyond what you experience at other companies, and create long-term value with this combination, so cli-ents receive a good return on their investment.”

One key way the Wilshire team keeps customers satisfied is by making sure each project is specifi-cally geared to their unique interests and lifestyles. So learning everything possible about their clients is a high priority for Wilshire: “You have to ask a lot of questions,” McMaster says. “That’s the only way to make sure you provide a solution that meets expecta-tions. Who will be using the system? What are the priorities between performance, cosmetics, features and budget? We also educate clients people on the possibilities so they can make an informed decision.”

Of course, Wilshire does far more these days than just video and audio installations. “We’ve added many new capabilities to our offerings,” McMaster explains. “Lighting control is our fastest growing technology, which provides energy savings, safety and conve-nience to your home or office. We also offer integra-tion with iPod, iPhone, iTunes and AppleTV, which

allows our clients to display and listen to their music, family photos and download movies throughout their home.”

And Wilshire doesn’t just serve homeowners. The company also works with private businesses. “Over the past several years, we have expanded our capa-bilities for business by offering conference room sys-tems, video teleconferencing, and even large assembly rooms,” McMaster says.

You will benefit from Wilshire’s rich 55-year history in many ways—including the design of your project. “We take our experiences from past projects, and adapt them it to fit the room, home or business with the best solution possible,” McMaster says. “I believe the design should be inspired by [the client’s] goals as well as the rooms or areas they are intended for.”

Ultimately, for Wilshire Home Entertainment it’s all about giving the people what they want: thrilling, world-class performance.

“Many people focus on all of the equipment we install, but for most of our systems we are delivering emotion,” McMaster says. “The ability to entertain, or escape, or educate all fulfill basic human needs. If we can deliver goosebumps with a song, a movie or a slide show of family photos, we’ve made an impact.”

Contact:

Wilshire Home Entertainment1412 North Moorpark Rd.Thousand Oaks, CA 91360(805) [email protected]

w w w. h d l i v i N g . C O M018 HDL


Who doesn’t love a trip to New York City? Whether you are visiting to go to a show on Broadway, sight-see or shop, you still have to eat. But with so many options, you don’t want to just wander into the first place you see. Chances are, you’ll end up scratch-ing your head and wondering what you just spent all your

money on. The fol-lowing restaurant recommendations will help you navigate the neighborhoods like a local, so you can have a great meal without breaking the bank.

This is not a guide to big-name tourist attractions, or chain restaurants from the chefs you see on TV. What you will find is consistently great food in fun atmospheres,

and experiences you will remember. I won’t pretend this is the definitive list, because we’re talk-ing about New York City, and there’s at least one restaurant on every corner. If you have your own recommendations, just let me know at [email protected]. I’ll be happy to continue my research and have a taste. Cheers.

Take a Bite in the ‘Apple’

TheaterDistrictSO MANY PEOPLE come from out of town to visit the famous theater district. It is easy to find yourself in an overpriced tourist trap for dinner before a show. If you know where to go, you can have a fantastic dinner—and save your money for great seats. Trattoria Dopa Teatro is right in the heart of the theater district, on 44th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Any pasta dish is a great choice and the excellent service will make sure you get out in time for the show. www.dopoteatro.com

IF IT IS A MATINEE you’re catching, you can’t beat the lunch special at Becco on 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. Owner Lidia Bastianich has a Public Television series called “Lidia’s Italy” and has written several cookbooks, so you will get a world-class meal, and the lunch and dinner specials can’t be beat. The pasta special features a sample of three different pastas each day, with waiters coming around to offer unlimited servings. www.becco-nyc.com

Looking for a great meal in New York? Go to www.nyc.com/restaurants for some delicious destinations!

HDL f i n e f o o d

new york + dining B Y J A C K C O T T E R

In pursuit of perfection

When John Bowers founded his company on the south coast of England in 1966, his dream was simple. He wanted to create speakers that neither added to, nor took away from the music. Speakers that could transport you to the time and place of the original performance— to the emotion of the moment. Forty-five years on, Bowers & Wilkins is the world’s largest premium speaker brand. We produce models for nearly every home audio application and performance level, from the incomparable 800 Series Diamond used in Abbey Road Studios and by the most discriminating audiophiles to the award-winning Zeppelin iPod® speakers. Each one is an example of acoustic excellence and superb industrial design.

Listen and You’ll See.

www.bowers-wilkins.comiPod is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.


IF YOU WOULD RATHER avoid the theater district crowds altogether, just walk a few blocks west into Hell’s Kitchen. Named for the notorious Irish tenements that used to be there, the area today is also called Clinton, and is the home to so many great restaurants.

5 Napkin Burger at 45th Street and 9th Avenue was opened to honor the most popular item on the menu at the Upper West Side restaurant, Nice Matin. 5 Napkin Burger is no

burger shack, however. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, and a full menu and drink selection. That famous burger is described as “10 ounces of fresh ground chuck topped with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and a rosemary aioli.” Just don’t wear your Broadway best, because this juicy delicious burger is called the 5 Napkin Burger for a reason. www.5napkinburger.com

If you are ready for the most intimate dining

experience in New York City, get a reservation and bring a nice bottle of wine to Nook on 9th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets. This BYO establishment is named Nook because it is one of the tiniest restaurants you will ever find. While the menu is limited to a few well-thought-out masterpieces, you will not be able to find one review of the food here that is anything less than gushing. snipurl.com/nooknyc

Hells Kitchen

Further south along the West side is Greenwich Village, and yes, it is still the hip-

pest scene on the planet. The neighborhood is located between 14th Street and Houston Street, with the beautiful Washington Square Park in the middle. Known to locals simply as “The Village,”

Greenwich Village was at one time, in fact, an actual village, and much of the area is designated a historic district. By the early 20th Century, Greenwich Village was already becoming a bastion of art and culture.

The Village was the heart of the bohemian scene and the Beat Generation in the 1950s, and has been called home by writ-ers including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs and Maya Angelou. The Village also inspired musicians Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix and many more. The area today includes the main campus of New York University, and you are more like-ly to find celebrities than starving artists. The neighborhood is also home to some quirky, wonderful places to dine.

Home Restaurant is on Cornelia Street between Bleecker and 4th

Streets. Home spotlights seasonal and regional foods and features local breweries and New York wines. Just down the street at Cornelia and Bleecker Streets is Trattoria Pesce Pasta, a classic Italian restaurant complete with old fashioned décor and a great atmosphere. Make sure you get a reservation so you can enjoy an authentic Italian meal. www.homerestaurantnyc.com snipurl.com/trattoriapescenyc

Greenwich Village

HDL f i n e f o o d

new york + dining


The East Village

Follow the movement of the Beats to the East Village, born out of the Lower

East Side in the mid 1960s as Beatniks, followed by artists and musicians moved into the neighborhood from Greenwich Village to the west. Great rock bands like The Who, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream and Led Zeppelin played at the Fillmore East. The legendary CBGB night club where the punk music scene started was also in the neighborhood.

The Lower East Side today has lost the grittiness that once defined sections like the Bowery and Alphabet City, but much of the art and culture remains. Be sure to check out the scene at night on St. Marks Place, where the punk rock culture remains with shops and characters.

If you do want to just check out

the scene, you can pick up a great dinner as you walk through the neighborhood. Grab your appetiz-er at Pommes Frites at 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. This walk-up window only serves Belgian fries, but there are dozens of sauces to choose from to go with the fresh twice-fried potatoes. You can try as many sauces as you like until you find your favorite, from the various mustards and mayon-naises to vinegar, curry sauce and peanut satay. www.pommesfrites.ws

If you can’t get a table, begin your walk through the neighborhood to Artichoke Basille’s Pizza on 14th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. This delicious pizza will fill you up, it is one of the best places to get a slice in all of Manhattan. Artichoke has been visited by famous chef David Chang, as well as Keith Richards, who, legend has it, enjoyed the spinach artichoke pizza so much he began playing air guitar. www.artichokepizza.com

Speaking of David Chang, his Momofuku Noodle Bar is also in the East Village on 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. This small restaurant packs in all the attitude of its famous owner. Just make sure to be there early so you can get a table, or sit at the bar and be dazzled by the chefs at work. Be sure to order the one-of-a-kind pork buns that everyone in New York is talking about. www.momofuku.com/noodle-bar

Yakatori Taisho is its own scene within a scene, hidden on the happening St. Marks Place near 3rd Avenue. Authentically Japanese, you’ll feel like you just stepped into a lost piece of Tokyo. Don’t come here if you can’t handle the crowd, but if you’re eating on St. Marks Place, you’re there for the vibe. www.yakitoritaisho.com

If you get off the main drag and head to 7th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, Caracas Arepas offers a much warmer brand of authenticity. Choose from a long list of arepas, Venezuelan sandwiches filled with delicious combinations of meats, cheeses, plantains and sauces. Prepare to get cozy in this tiny restaurant, but the food, drinks and décor make it impossible not to have a great time. www.caracasarepabar.com/manhattan.php

Can’t Get A Table?

Rock rules at St. Marks Place

HDL f i n e f o o d

new york + dining

The new James SPL SeriesSlim LED TV speakers setsa new standard for depth andperformance.Only 1.5 inches deep, the SPL Seriespairs perfectly with today’s generationof thin LED displays and TV’s,yet packs in high quality 1” dometweeters and proprietary, highexcursion 4” woofers for unexpectedfull range response. Hearingbass and volume from a speakerthis small is a first.Each SPL speaker is customsized and manufactured tomatch the display and is suppliedwith custom sized brackets.Color options are also available.

Available in LCR under display formatsand James Centergy design, providingleft, right and center sound from onlya pair of left and right mountedvertical SPL speakers.SPL series speakers also match manyJames inwall/inceiling surrounds andinroom, hidden subwoofers.

can be better.

Sometimes smaller...


HDL S O U N D S

Backyard BoomSpeakers that will spice up any backyard BBQ or outdoor event.

outdoor+music

| B Y S T E V E K R A S O W S K I

+Paradigmwww.paradigm.com

HDL 027W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M

SonanceAsimilar speaker system that can

endure harsh weather conditions, yet continues to improve the landscape

as well, is Sonance’s Landscape Series system of two-way satellite speakers and in-ground subwoofer, which is designed with a long- life UV stable material to withstand extreme weather. The two-way satellite speakers, the LS67SAT and LS47SAT, feature 0.75-inch integrated tweeters and power handling up to 25 watts at 70V. The LS67SAT incorporates a 6-inch woofer and the LS47SAT a 3.5-inch woofer. In addition, the LS10SUB, an in-ground subwoofer, features a 10-inch woofer and 100 watts of power handling at 70V. Its enclosure material is designed to either be buried or left exposed to the elements. A brown canopy is included to easily blend into the surrounding landscape. The LS47SAT has an MSRP of $380, the LS67SAT has an MSRP of $720 and the LS10SUB in-ground sub-woofer has an MSRP of $2,500.

Take a look out your front door and you may be experiencing some nasty winter weather such

as snow, sleet, freezing rain and temperatures in the single digits. Living in Philadelphia, I know we certainly are. Well, just think, in just a few months you’ll be in the midst of spring and summer and see some beautiful weather.

With said weather comes grill-ing, enjoying cold drinks and listening to good tunes by the pool. Did I say “listening to good tunes”? Of course. It’s the perfect accompaniment to the perfect BBQ, and instead of dragging your stereo system outside, why don’t you invest in incredible outdoor speakers from incredible, reputable speaker companies?

Some outdoor speakers blend so well into your backyard landscape that your family and friends won’t have a clue where

these great sounds are coming from. Could these angelic sounds be coming from the heavens above? Of course not. They’re coming from well-known speak-er companies such as Paradigm, Sonance, James Loudspeakers and Niles Audio. These compa-nies have been around a long time and are par for the course when it comes to great speakers.

Whether you have a small or large backyard or garden, the Paradigm weather-resistant Stylus Series Rock Monitor speakers are the bomb! Because they look exactly like rock for-mations (available in three real-istic textured faux-stone finishes that blend unobtrusively into the natural surroundings), they are unnoticeable when placed care-fully in a garden, on the ground or on a deck or patio. Paradigm has updated its line of outdoor speakers with the new Rock

Monitor 80-SM, brother speaker to the 60-SM, and the new and improved Sylus Series (v.3). The 80-SM is built on the same plat-form as the 60-SM and boasts a realistic faux rock cabinet. With the Stereo/Mono (SM) option and Dual-Directional Soundfield (two tweeters offset at 30-degree angles) the Rock Monitors offer incredible placement flexibility, especially as there are no walls or ceiling to contain the sound.

Also, because the Rocks are weather-, water- and UV-resistant, you have the ability to place them in direct sunlight or around a pool or pond, as a friend of mine had done recently (looks fantastic!). Paradigm offers a security spike to prevent theft or unauthorized movement of the Rocks for the both the 60-SM and 80-SM as well. The MSRPs of the 60-SM and 80-SM are $259 and $399, respectively.

Sonancewww.sonance.com


Power Up With JamesThrow-

ing your annual

Karaoke party in your back-yard just got that much better with the James LoudspeakerLandscapeCollection,the new 61ST (8 ohm) and 61ST70 (70 volt) subterranean mini powerpipe subwoofers. The 61ST is the first “mini” powerpipe subwoofer designed for local zone bass applications and distributed bass configurations. It can be installed as a mono channel, with two satellite speakers as a 2.1 stereo, or with multiple satellites for smaller zones such as bedroom patios, etc. In addition, up to two satellite speakers can be mounted to the top of the 61ST or separated out with a traditional stake or tree mounts. Endless con-figuration options are available and provide a per-fect addition to larger James garden systems when smaller zone coverage is required. The 61ST uses a proprietary 6.5-inch bass transducer and features an external weather-resistant port and James’ normal aircraft aluminum construction and marine rating. MSRPs for the 61ST and 61ST70 are $1,500 and $1,800, respectively.

Of course, if you’re not strictly an outdoorsman and like to spend an

equal amount of time indoors as you do outdoors, then Paradigm has taken good care of you as well. In addition to the Rock Monitors, Paradigm also offers speakers that can be utilized both indoors and outdoors, the Stylus Series speakers. The company offers six different models in the new Stylus Series, including two new stereo/mono (SM) models. The Stylus 470-SM (shown) and Stylus 370-SM both provide a Dual-Directional Soundfield (as seen in the Rock Monitors) and are made to endure harsh weather elements all year round, so no worries if you’ve partied too hard the

night before and had forgotten to bring them indoors. They fea-ture reinforced PolyGlass miner-al-filled enclosures, Santoprene rubber surrounds, stainless steel/brass hardware and anti-rust aluminum grilles to ensure long-term protection from extreme weather conditions, water and UV-rays. You also have the option of mounting the speak-ers vertically or horizontally via specially-designed brackets, for easy movement and flexibility in installation. The Stylus Series speakers are available in black or white for MSRPs as follows: Stylus 170 - $119 each, Stylus 270 - $179 each, Stylus 370 - $249 each, Stylus 370-SM - $299 each, Stylus 470 - $299 each, Stylus 470-SM - $349 each.

The Stylus Series Speakers

outdoor+music

Paradigmwww.paradigm.com

james loudspeaker www.jamesloudspeaker.com

Handcrafted in America since 1949, McIntosh’s unwavering commitment to performance, innovation and quality brings an elevated music and fi lm experience.

www.mcintoshlabs.com


James further enhances its land-scape offering with a newly updated and retooled 31ODS70

outdoor satellite, which has new finish options and a special perforated protec-tive grille and micro-fiber water barrier for improved outdoor longevity. The 31ODS70 features a proprietary full-range 3-inch driver encased in a rug-ged all die cast aluminum housing for use in harsh outdoor installations. The MSRP of the 31ODS70 is $350. If you’re more of a gardener or planter, you’ll be remiss if you overlook Niles Audio’s PB6Si and PS6Si planter box

loudspeakers. Both are available in a classic terracotta and weathered concrete finish, capable of holding live plants and flowers. They blend perfectly into any outdoor setting yet provide uncompromised sound due to a proprietary 6.5-inch dual voice coil woofer and two 1-inch fluid-cooled Tetron tweeters. Designed to handle the harshest of conditions, each model is made of fiberglass and is protected by a UV-resistant paint. Drainage holes ensure plants will stay healthy, while screens allow for acoustic transparency and keep bugs and debris at bay. The discrete loudspeakers are wired for

one-speaker stereo input or two-speak-er stereo mode and a trouble-free con-nection is guaranteed by dual 3-inch burial-rated connection cables with waterproof wire-nuts. The MSRP for both the PB6Si and PS6Si is $399.99. So start thinking happy thoughts while shoveling that snow on your front stoop. Before you know it, you’ll have beaten the winter doldrums and be back on top of the world, grilling, chill-ing and thrilling, all the while enjoying the sounds of your new surround-ings. Remember: Warm weather is just around the corner. Sounds good!

Sound Decisions In Backyard Audio

outdoor+music

james loudspeaker www.jamesloudspeaker.com

®


HDL f o o t w e a r

sexy + sandals

No matter where you go this spring sea-son, you’ll surely see

designers tipping their hats to 70s fashion styles, which means that wedge heels will be a “glaring trend,” says Corey Schuchman, director of e-commerce at Jildor Shoes (www.jildorshoes.com), which has four storefronts in Long Island, N.Y., as well as a burgeoning online business. You’ll see wedges in the high variety (four inches or so) and in a kitten heel. Designers to watch in this category include (but are certainly not limited to) Stuart Weitzman, Bettye Muller and Andre Assous.

Schuchman is convinced that the sexy sandal this season is “strappy” in all styles, including the gladiator and huarache—thin lines like that from Cynthia Vincent, Kate Spade and Jimmy Choo. But the wedge is popular because can be worn day and night, and also adds a layer of comfort.

Jennifer Guggenheim-Rubenstein, co-owner of ViVi G. Shoes (www.vivigshoes.com) in Media, Pa., and West Palm Beach, Fla., knows all about this fact firsthand. With a podiatrist father, she’s learned that a steep inclination of the heel can cause or aggravate heel pain, or plantar facsii-tis. Choosing a platform heel, for example, can reduce this pain. Shoppers afflicted with heel pain should also look for a more rigid sole. “You should not be able to fold the shoe after taking it off,” Guggenheim-Rubenstein explains.

Steppin’Out

IT’S EASY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A SHOE and succumb to

the impulse buy; but tak-

ing the time to consider

the complete package or

outfit will pay off. Sites

like ShopStyle (www.

shopstyle.com) and

Polyvore (www.polyvore.

com) not only provide

the hottest fashion

trends, but they also

offer complete outfit sug-

gestions users have put

together.

But what if the “trendy”

style just isn’t you? No

worries.

Candice Caprice,

co-owner of Per Lei

Boutique (www.perlei-

boutique.com) in Media,

Pa., and Avalon, N.J.,

says you should wear

what makes you feel

good regardless if it’s the

latest trend.

“Wear what works for

you. Bring in the trend

with a colorful necklace

or accessory.”

Caprice always is sure

to ask her customer

what shoe she plans to

wear with an outfit.

“People have so many

shoe options. You need

to be aware of footwear.

Bring a few pairs of

shoes with you when

shopping.”

Caprice’s pick for

the sexy sandal of the

season is the jeweled

sandal, or something

metallic, which transfers

well from day to night.

ShopSmart

BY STEPHANIE M. ADAMOW

When most of us are digging out from snow storms and layering cardigans to

shield ourselves from the cold, fashion buy-ers are knee-deep in something totally differ-ent—spring couture. And good thing, because nothing will warm you up faster than think-ing about toasty temps and the must-have outfits they necessitate.

Zig Zag Sandalo, $595Style available atViVi G. Shoes www.vivigshoes.com

Delman Sadie, $275 Style available atViVi G. Shoes www.vivigshoes.com

INTRODUCING THE NEW TOTEM ELEMENT SERIES.

The new Totem Element Series expresses perfect balance between form, function, art and technology. Streamlined for any musical genre, it conveys conviction, honesty and ease while offering enormous scale and presence. Revolutionary in its conception, the Element Series is a true evolutionary step in sound design. Discover your own at totemacoustic.com.


Many design-ers, like Missoni, are

incorporating color and texture elements into classic looks, says Jennifer Guggenheim-Rubensteinof ViVi G. Shoes in Media, Pa. Look for rosettes and lazer-cut flowers, for example.

“Designers like Delman maintain their classic styles but incorporate

trends without going over the top,” she says. Think classic ballet flat with spicy colors. Guggenheim-Rubenstein also likes independent designer Ann Roth, who blends time-honored styles with embellishments like tassles to set a shoe apart.

At New York’s Jildor, where Steve Madden began in the industry as a mere salesman, Corey

Schuchman says you’ll find lots of neutral colors, despite an early presence of glittered and sequined styles.

“You will see this vari-ety present in the evening shoe, but we don’t expect that to carry through,” he says. “We tradition-ally carry neutral colors because they transfer easily from day to night,” Schuchman explains.

Neutral colors are great if you plan to vacation. Reduce your packing with shoes that will go with anything. (But if you can’t shake the need for bright colors, Tory Burch jelly flips have thin, sexy lines that are great for tropical getaways—or to just channel that energy!).

Coordinate your shoe choice with other accesso-ries as well. If you choose a neutral shoe, an enve-lope clutch with a splash of color will incorporate the season’s trends with-out being overbearing.

“Small accessories in big colors” is an idea offered by Melissa Robbins, co-owner of Mykonos (www.mykonospa.com), a high-end jewelry and acces-sories boutique in Chadds Ford, Pa.

Besides the overwhelming nod to the 70s this season, you’ll find a number of “in” trends, that will make for a fun shopping experience. If you want to play with colors, you’ll see reds and oranges—lots of bold color schemes.

If you’re looking to pair those snazzy

sandals with a new bag, check out

these tag-a-longs from Brighton:

From Brighton’s Nolita Shimmer Collection is the Nolita Shimmer Pouch ($120) — A luxe

little bag of python-embossed soft

leather. You can wear it as a wristlet or

cross-body bag. Also includes Nolita

Pleated Hobo ($320) a soft python-

embossed leather hobo bag.

The Pebble Sterling ($200) — A

cross-body

bag with a

strap, two

inside zip-

per pockets,

two open

pockets,

outer front

flap pocket with flat magnetic closure,

outer front zipper pocket, outer back

zipper pocket with eight credit card

slots, one inside zipper pocket, zip-top

closure and custom marigold Ditzy

Dots lining.

SpringAccessory Report

A Little Embellishment

HDL f o o t w e a r

sexy + sandals

Complementingyour sandals is a breeze with styles from Diane von Furstenberg’s spring 2011 line. The Juliette in white, $865, is available at Per Lei Boutique, Media, Pa. perleiboutique.com

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SLEEK DESIGN AND INTELLIGENT FEATURES — IT’S THE CENTER OF ENTERTAINMENT.

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HIDDENWHEELS


Shoe lovers are hip to latest styles by perusing fashion websites and local boutiques. It’s not often that we stop to

think about how certain styles began. Hey, if it looks good, who cares, right? Well, just in case you were wondering, here’s a brief Sandals 101 course with a little history and definitions of some of our favorite styles.

The oldest known sandals (at least 10,000 years old) were discovered in Fort Rock Cave in the U.S. state of Oregon. The ancient Greeks wore sandals made of willow leaves, twigs or fibers in styles like the boot sandal, which rose above the middle of the leg.

The ancient Egyptians wore san-dals made of palm leaves and papy-rus, which can be seen often on the feet of Egyptian statues. According to Herodotus, sandals of papyrus were a part of the required and characteristic dress of the Egyptian priests.

Descendants of some of these ancient designs can still be seen today. Here are some of the popular variations you’ll find this season:

GLADIATORThese super-strappy Roman-style san-dals are the most common and popular designs found in the market. There are

many straps on the sole to hold the foot to the upper sole as well as a thick band, which goes around the ankle to keep the foot secured in position. Amp up sexiness by choosing a heel in this style.

WEDGEThis sandal is distin-guished by a wedge heel that has a sole capped off with a small heel. Wedges provide a good balance and support. Wedges made of cork are lightweight and durable.

ESPADRILLEEspadrilles origi-nated as casual flat-heeledshoes, but have evoloved to incorporateheels, like the wedge shown. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or rubber material molded to look like rope. The jute rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille; the upper parts of the shoe vary widely in style.

PLATFORMPlatform shoes are shoes, boots or san-dals with thick soles at least four inches in height, often made of cork, plastic, rubber or wood (wooden-soled plat-form shoes are technically also clogs). They have been worn in various cul-tures since ancient times for fashion or for added height.

STILETTOA stiletto heel is a long, thin, high heel found on some boots and shoes, usu-ally for women. Stiletto heels may vary in length from one inch to 10 inches or more if a platform sole is used, and are sometimes defined as having a diameter at the ground of less than 1 cm (slightly less than half an inch). Stiletto-style heels 5 cm or shorter are called kitten heels.

Sources:

snipurl.com/sandaltypes

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandal

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espadrilles

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_shoe

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiletto_heel

HDL f o o t w e a r

sexy + sandals

Why not dial it up one more notch by pairing that ensemble with a sandal that has a little extra pizazz? Designers are taking classic styles and

adding a touch of dazzle, like this one from Ann Roth. Accents like tassles give a subtle style more pop and dress up a more casual outfit. Check out more of Ann Roth’s designs, inspired by romantic themes at www.annrothshoes.com

On Your Toes

Hotsy Totsy by Ann Roth, $345Style available at ViVi G. Shoes www.vivigshoes.com

A Sandal for All Time

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Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories. © 2010 Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.

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Where better to “get your spa on” than at the beach? Set on 4.5 beachfront

acres situated between Miami and Fort Lauderdale that include 400 feet of Atlantic Ocean coastline, Acqualina (run by The Trump Group) is an ideal setting for the kind of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation you can only find at a world-class spa.

The winner of the 2010 AAA Five Diamond Award, Acqualina has 188 residences, 54 guest rooms and 43 suites—along with two oceanfront res-taurants and three oceanfront swim-ming pools—but the main attraction is

the resort’s incredible 20,000 square-foot oceanfront spa.

Overlooking the ocean, the Acqualina ESPA Spa provides a tran-quil setting in which to enjoy the finest ancient and modern therapies, along with latest skin care treatments.

The ultimate treatment offered, ESPA Time, begins with a Welcome Foot Ritual in which the specialists determine your specific needs and cus-tomize your experience to best satisfy them.

All spa treatments incorporate a full line of marine, aromatherapy and plant-based products blended from

organically grown plants recognized for their potency, purity and results in skin care.

The spa also has his and her locker rooms that contain saunas, steam rooms and relaxation lounges, as well as an outdoor spa veranda with out-door spa pools.

Daily rates for in-season dual occu-pancy range from $375 per night for an intercoastal room, to $575 for an oceanfront room, to $825 for a clas-sic suite, to $975 for a one-bedroom oceanfront suite. Spa treatments are extra. Check the Web site for addition-al rates and special deals.

Acqualina Resort & Spa On the Beach

best+spas| B Y H O W A R D W H I T M A N

Acqualina Resort & Spa Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. www.acqualinaresort.com

THE NEW SONANCE® LANDSCAPE SERIES

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LS47SATTwo-waySatellite80Hz-20kHz3.5” woofer.75” tweeter 25 watts @ 70 volts

LS67SATTwo-waySatellite60Hz-20kHz6” woofer.75” tweeter25 watts @ 70 volts

LS10SUBIn-GroundSubwoofer35Hz-100Hz10” woofer100 watts @ 70 volts

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When Bob Archer from CEPro chose the new Sonance Landscape Series as one of his picks for Product of the Year, he said: “I found that this system delivered an audiophile-like sound quality experience to a category that’s never been associated with critical listening. I heard the system at the 2010 CEDIA Expo and was completely surprised by it’s airiness and smoothness. The next-best part is that the installers can blend this into a landscape environment without the products looking out of place.”

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East coasters don’t have to travel far to enjoy spa splendor at The Lodge at Woodloch, based

in Pennsylvania’s breathtaking Poconos resort area. In contrast to the region’s somewhat rustic, woodsy, ski-oriented vibe, The Lodge at Woodloch offers the kind of spa experiences you’d expect at the sunnier climes of other attrac-tions in this article.

At The Lodge, you can get in touch with nature, communing with the

area’s beautiful trees and paths, as you enjoy superb spa treatments from the resort’s well-trained staff. The spa has 27 treatment rooms for customized facial and body experi-ences, along with private fireplace lounges, saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools. There’s a salon for hair care and manicures, as well as the Aqua Garden, which has co-ed soak-ing pools with heated hydro-massage waterwalls, an indoor pool designed specifically for aqua classes and water volleyball, and a heated outdoor

whirlpool for year-round use. The resort also offers couples an especially romantic and cozy vaca-tion, with fireplaces; private veran-das with woodland, lake and rock garden waterfall views; and luxury bedding with down comforters.

The Lodge at Woodloch offers an Intro to Spa Package, with pricing structured around different accom-modations ranging from $249 to $759 a day per person, plus spa treatments that can be added on an á la carte basis.

The Lodge at Woodloch

The Lodge at Woodloch Hawley, Pa. www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com

best+spas

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Look for retailers offering a bonus Panasonic 3D Ultimate Pack (with AVATAR on Blu-ray 3D™ and 2 pairs of 3D glasses) when you buy a VIERA VT Series 3D TV.


Based in Wisconsin’s Osthoff Resort, Aspira is a 20,000 square-foot, feng shui-inspired spa that

provides a fresh, modern, new-age contrast to the rest of the resort’s elegant, Victorian style.

Set on the waters of Elkhart Lake, which was considered a sacred body of water by Native Americans who lived on its shores, Aspira is best known, naturally, for its Sacred Waters Massage ($325 per per-

son). In this treatment, water from the lake is warmed up in deerskin pouches and placed along “chakras” (force centers) of your body, provid-ing a powerful animal-to-spirit con-nection.

More modern approaches incorpo-rate the Bouvier hydrotherapy tub, which has 250 microjets and a hood that goes over the tub, giving the impression you’re on a speedboat. Check www.osthoff.com for infor-mation on accommodations.

Aspira The Spa

Aspira’s renowned “Spasuite”experiences include:

The Aspira Journey ($265)

Aspira The Spa Elkhart Lake, Wis. www.aspiraspa.com

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Although it appears to be a serene French vil-lage, Cal-a-Vie Health Spa is much closer

than France, in California’s gor-geous San Diego County.

With its 5:1 staff-to-guest ratio, Cal-A-Vie promises a luxury stay on the level of a five-star hotel. But it also offers a world-class spa experience ranking with the best

our country offers. The Cal-A-Vie’s sumptuous spa menu of offerings includes:

aromatic essential oils to tone, calm and detoxify your body.

smooth, heated, oiled pieces of bamboo or rattan to provide deep muscle relaxation.

stretching, compressions and pressure-point work to relieve tension.

basalt stones providing heat that relaxes your muscles.

addresses your foot’s reflex points

corresponding to your body’s organs to provide balance, body harmony, improved metabolism and rejuvenation.

Seven-night sessions (including treatments, accommodations and meals) will run from $8,095 to $8,595 per person, while La Petite sessions run $4,195 for three nights and $5,595 for four nights per person.

Cal-A-Vie Health Spa

Cal-A-Vie Health Spa Vista, Calif. www.cal-a-vie.com

best+spas


Feel the heat at Mii amo, a state-of-the-art spa based in the Enchantment Resort in Arizona’s canyon

country. Red rock canyons provide unbelievable scenery, and, legend has it, healing properties that will enhance your spa experiences. Mii amo offers five “Journey” expe-riences that can be configured to the needs of any guest. They are:

For tired, overwhelmed people, this series of treatments help you open up, re-connect and feel positive, healthy and rested.

Re-energize and kick off a new exer-cise regimen with this fitness-ori-

ented series of treatments. Trainers also offer advice on nutrition, vita-min supplements and eating habits.

For returning

guests, this experience allows you to relive the treatments that have worked best for you in previous visits.

A transfor-mative journey with treatments and activities to help you embark on a new stage in life, be it a per-sonal or family milestone, fresh beginning or time of contempla-tion. For rates, or to plan and reserve your journey, go to

Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment Resort

Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment Resort Sedona, Ariz. www.enchantmentresort.com

best+spas

Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PowerLite is a registered trademark and UltraBlack is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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BASKETBALL HISTORY

Roots of the ‘Hoops’A L O O K A T T H E B E G I N N I N G S O F O N E O F A M E R I C A ’ S F A V O R I T E S P O R T S , B A S K E T B A L L .

Basketball, that most American of games, was invented by ... a Canadian. James

Naismith, born in Ontario in 1861, created the game in 1891 in Springfield, Mass., exactly 100 years before the game’s greatest player, Michael Jordan, won the first of his six championships.

A physical education professor at one is now Springfield College, Naismith was looking for a way to promote physical fitness and keep his class active on rainy days, so he came up with some rules: peach baskets (with bottoms) hanging from doors on either side of the gymnasium; one point per basket; no running with the ball; the establishment of fouls; two fifteen-minute halves, and the team with the most points at the end was declared the winner.

The first official basketball game

was played in early 1892 at a YMCA, with the first women’s game tak-ing place later that year at Smith College. The game spread through-out the reminder of the 1890s throughout the YMCA system.

The first college game was played at Minnesota’s Hamline University in 1895, between Hamline and the School of Agriculture. Naismith him-self worked to establish the game in the college ranks, becoming the coach of the University of Kansas team in 1898. The college game’s popularity was spread throughout the early-to-mid 20th century by a group of Naismith’s proteges: Amos Alonzo Stagg at the University of Chicago, Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky, and Forrest “Phog” Allen at Kansas. Allen’s protege, legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith, was the college coach of Michael Jordan.

The 1920s saw the rise of professional teams, with local teams emerging around the country. The all-African-Amer-ican, entertainment-oriented Harlem Globetrotters team, still active to this day, was founded around this time as well. The college game emerged the following decade, with the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and NCAA Tournament beginning in 1937 and 1938.

A League of Their Own The first forerunner of today’s NBA, the National Basketball League, was founded in 1937, with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) arriving in 1946. The two leagues merged, forming the National Basketball Association, in 1946.

The BCS and college football’s lack of a playoff to determine a national champion is a source of consternation and debate among sports fans. But for fans of the

other major college sport, basketball, there’s no debate: Everybody loves March Madness.

It goes by many names: March Madness, The Tournament, The Big Dance, but it’s known officially as the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. The tournament overtook the rival National Invitation Tournament (NIT), which still exists to this day, to become the preeminent college basketball tournament that crowns the undisputed national

champion. If you’ve worked in an office, you’ve probably filled out your bracket and entered a tournament pool.

The first NCAA tournament was played in 1939,

and was the brainchild of legendary Kansas basketball coach and James Naismith protege Phog Allen. It began with eight teams, before expanding to 16 in 1951, 32 in 1975, 48 in 1980 and 64 in 1985. It remained that way until 2001, when a play-in game was added to bring the total to 65; starting this year there will be four such games, bringing the field to 68. The games are played at neutral-site arenas throughout the country.

UCLA has won the most titles (11), followed by Kentucky (7) and North Carolina and Indiana (5 each.) Duke won its fourth title last year, defeating small-school cinderella Butler in the final. The womens’ tournament, which was played for the first time in 1981, is held each April, usually following the mens’ bracket. Connecticut and Tennessee have dominated the womens’ tournament for most of its existence.

March Madness Rules!

James A. Naismith(November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939). Invented the sport of basketball in 1891.

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BASKETBALL HISTORY

The NBA has been the top professional league ever since; it was challenged briefly by the American Basketball Association before the two leagues merged in 1976.

The NBA has waxed and waned in popularity over the past several decades. The 1950s and 1960s saw famous battles between the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain’s teams, first Philadelphia and then the Lakers. The league struggled in the late 1970s, due to drug scandals and a lack of star power, but was reinvigorated in the 1980s by another Celtics-Lakers rivalry, this time headlined by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

The 1990s were personified by Michael Jordan, whose Chicago Bulls won six championships under coach Phil Jackson. Following Jordan’s retire-ment, multiple championships have been won by Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs.

The original rules of basketball were auctioned off by Sotheby’s in December, and purchased for $4.3 million by hedge fund CEO David Booth. Naismith’s granddaughter had discovered it four years earlier among his possessions. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame sits in Springfield today.

Sources: Website of Naismith Memorial

Basketball Hall of Fame;

www.kansasheritage.org; Wikipedia.

BASKETBALL HISTORY TIMELINE:

1861: James Naismith born in Ontario, Canada

1891: Naismith invents the game of basketball in Springfield, Mass.

1892: First basketball game played at a YMCA

1895: First college basketball game played in St. Paul, Minn.

1898: First professional league formed; it folds five years later

1926: Harlem Globetrotters founded in Chicago

1937: National Basketball League (NBL) formed

1938: National Invitation Tournament (NIT), first national championship college tournament, established

1939: NCAA Tournament played for the first time

1939: James Naismith dies at the age of 78

1946: Basketball Association of America (BAA) formed

1949: NBL, BAA merge to form National Basketball Association (NBA)

1954: Tiny Milan High School wins Indiana state basketball tournament, in events later dramatized in the movie “Hoosiers”

1957: Boston Celtics center Bill Russell wins the first of 11 NBA championships in his 13-year playing career

1959: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame opens in Springfield

1960: The Minneapolis Lakers, winners of four championships in the 1950s, move to Los Angeles.

1963: Michael Jordan born in Brooklyn, NY

1964-1975: UCLA mens’ college team, under legendary coach John Wooden, wins a record 11 consecutive NCAA championships

1976: NBA and ABA merge

1979: Michigan State (led by Magic Johnson) defeats Indiana state (led by Larry Bird) to win NCAA tournament final. Bird and Magic will meet in the NBA Finals, leading the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, five times throughout the 1980s.

1979: NBA adopts the three-point field goal for the first time

1984: Michael Jordan is drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls

1991: Jordan’s Bulls win the first of six NBA championships in the 1990s

1991: After announcing he has the HIV virus, Magic Johnson retires from basketball

1992: With professional basketball players allowed in the Olympics for the first time, the “Dream Team”- led by Jordan, Bird and Magic- wins Olympic gold in Barcelona

1993: Michael Jordan announces his retirement from basketball, becoming a midlevel minor league baseball player before returning to the NBA in April of 1995

1997: Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) formed

2000: The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Jordan’s former coach Phil Jackson, win franchise’s first championship since 1988. Bryant has won a total of five to date, most recently last year.

2002: After unretiring a second time to play for the Washington Wizards, Jordan retires for good.

2002: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame opens in current location

2004: A brawl between players and fans during an Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game in Auburn Hills, Mich., greatly embarrasses the NBA.

2010: LeBron James makes “The Decision,” jumping from the Cleveland Caviliers to the Miami Heat.

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The Magic of Nordstrom’s


There are a num-ber of depart-ment stores around today

that do an excellent job of fulfilling the needs of today’s discriminating shoppers. Bloomingdales, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue all offer a high standard of products with the vast selection that only a department store can provide.

But one stands out from the pack: Nordstrom’s is commonly regarded as one of the finest—if not the finest—department stores in the country. In fact, the retailer is looked upon by businesses in other industries (not just retail) as one of the best companies in the U.S. and possibly the world.

What sets Nordstrom’s apart? The store, like its competitors mentioned above, offers a superb selection of fine products.

But the Nordstrom’s dif-ference can be summed up in two words: cus-tomer service. Serving customers is not just a priority at Nordstrom’s; the company has turned this important factor into a work of art.

Nordstrom’s’ customer service philosophy—which has been covered on TV shows such as “60 Minutes” and was the basis for a popu-lar business book “The Nordstrom Way: The Insider Story of America’s #1 Customer Service Company”—can be bro-ken down into four major practices:

good service

with customers

those customers

the freedom to make decisions

What makes the retailer stand out from the rest?

retail+space

To Nordstrom’s, engaging new customers and “closing the deal” with a ring of the cash register is only the first step in the

company’s philosophy for ongoing success.The trick is not to just sell to new

customers, but ensure that those customers come back and become regular shoppers. This is achieved through the company’s jump-through-hoops theories of what is good customer service.

For example, most every store takes

returns, but some may tend to make the return experience a stressful, unpleasant one. Not Nordstrom’s, where employees will not only take your return, no questions asked—but also help you find a replacement item; new color, style or size; a similar but different product; or an entirely different piece, whatever you want.

In addition, the company’s scenario of perfect shopping experiences that salespeople are trained to achieve on a daily basis helps

ensure that you have such a great, enjoyable and grief-free encounter that you’re likely to return for another equally pleasant visit.

It’s like a great restaurant visit; if you had a delicious meal with excellent service, you’re going to come back. Cold food served by uninspired, unhappy servers? Not so much.Nordstrom’s strives to give you that “great meal” of a shopping experience every time you walk through their door, so you’ll be sure to come back for more, again and again!

Keeping Customers


PORTS 1961This Twill sculpted dress is made from rayon/nylon, sapphire, $995. At select Nordstrom stores and online at Nordstrom.com.


Concrete evi-dence that Nordstrom’s believes in the

value of customer service above all else is provided by its emphasis on hiring only the best employees.

While some stores may be less discriminat-ing about who they hire, Nordstrom’s is fanatical about finding people who:

about fashion, and

care of customers.In your years as a

shopper at retail, you’ve probably encountered salespeople who are “hav-ing an off day” and may not provide the best—or friendliest—service. Nordstrom’s goal is to find people who never have an “off day”; sales-people who are always

“on”, always friendly, eager to please, and ready to go that extra mile to

100-percent satisfied.Nordstrom’s managers

and brightest salespeople. They undergo interview-ing training to gain insight on potential employees’ abilities to sell with clear focus on customer needs.

Store managers are often its former sales-people—the company believes in promoting from within. So managers can easily spot salespeople who have that magic “something”–because they have the same traits!

New hires are closely coached, mentored and trained to ensure they are a comfortable fit within the Nordstrom’s culture.

It pays off: In a recent survey, 94 percent of

Nordstrom’s employees felt their store was a

contentment translates into friendlier, more help-ful salespeople who rarely or never have a “bad day”, furthering Nordstrom’s efforts to provide a perfect shopping experience.

retail+space

Finding the Value In People

Nordstrom’s stresses that its

salespeople identify good

customers—and quickly bond

with them. In other words, its salespeople

go out of their way to engage shoppers in

a personable, personal way that doesn’t

seem forced, scripted or pushy—more

like making a new friend than dealing with

a salesman.

Walk into a Nordstrom’s. Odds are you

won’t get the typical “Can I help you?”

types of generic questions, but rather a

friendly—but still non-aggressive, more

laid-back—approach. The salesperson

may introduce him- or herself by first

name, offer a handshake and engage

you in a light, fun conversation, all the

while ascertaining what you’re looking

for so they can best help you. If you’re

“just looking”, they’ll back off, but with

a reminder that they’re there to help and

are just a shout away. But they’re so

expertly trained, personable and helpful

that odds are you’ll be delighted to talk to

this person and let him or her guide your

shopping experience.

Nordstrom’s salespeople are paid

on commission. This is unique for

department stores, which frequently pay

by the hour no matter how much or little

a person sells. The commission is not

only a fair way to recognize good service

to customers; it also strongly motivates

sellers on the store floor to carefully

execute your visit in the friendliest and

most helpful way possible.

Interestingly, while you might assume

the store’s commission policy creates

competition among co-workers, that’s not

the case. Since Nordstrom emphasizes

cooperation and teamwork, salespeople

tend to cheer each other on in the belief

that satisfied shoppers benefit the

entire business, no matter who gets the

commission. This facet further adds to the

store’s friendly, low-pressure atmosphere.

Bonding With Customers

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Freedom to Decide

The final factor that sets Nordstrom’s apart from other department stores is the leeway and control the company gives its salespeople in guiding customers’ experiences.

The retailer’s sales personnel are encouraged to try new selling strategies and new customer service approaches. Pretty much anything goes, within reason, provided that the staff members do right by customers. Ongoing mentoring by management provides support and new ideas for fresh approaches, but the over-riding directive is, in fact, the only rule that exists at Nordstrom: “Use good judgment in all situations.”

Good judgment means doing whatever it takes (within the limits of propriety and legality, of course) to ensure that a customer is satisfied and has a great time shopping in the store. But this single rule–and the lack of others-–is a key indicator of how much con-trol and trust the retailer gives its staff to guide their encounters with customers.

“Nordstrom is unique in that employees are encour-aged to use their best judgment when making deci-sions on the sales floor as to how to handle customers’ requests or situations,” one employee stated. “If we make a mistake, we are instructed in how we should have handled the situation, but we are not fired, and we are not made to feel dumb or incompetent. We are trusted more here than anywhere I’ve worked.

“We strive to treat each other in a ‘caring’ way, and we strive to deliver the best customer service any-where. Everyone tries! It is a source of pride.”

Nordstrom’s staff controls customer care

retail+space

Nordstrom’s is no newcomer to retail, and its philosophies toward customer service and staffing have carried

through since its formation over 100 years ago.

The proof is in the pudding. Nordstrom’s has held its own, even during the downturn for retail and shift toward discount buying in recent years, and the retailer is primed to further hone its excellence in service and quality for another 100 years.

For Nordstrom’s, it’s about more than just adhering to its old ways--rather, the retailer is focused on expanding on previous successes by continuing to find newer, bolder ways to provide great service, and train and motivate its staff.

As “60 Minutes” correspondent Morley Safer put it in his story on Nordstrom’s for an episode of that show, “The ‘Nordstrom way’ is not service like it used to be, but service like it never was.”

100 years of service

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Solar-panel installation on a home may seem on the sur-face to entail a very high ini-tial investment. But how does

installation make sense from a dollars-and-sense perspective in the long run? David Young, president of St. Louis-area-based The Sound Room, says that when he helps clients understand the whys and wherefores of solar panels, they readily see why it might be prac-tical to consider their installation for their far-reaching benefits.

Young, in business since 1983 as an A/V specialty retailer who then entered the field of custom installation and whole-home integration, launched the solar-panel aspect of his business last year as the Sunergy solar energy division, investing in the hardware and software tools and in the techni-cal training of his staff, which attended seminars at solar-panel supplier Sharp’s California facilities to become certified in installation and maintenance.

Young said it was well worth getting involved in this area based on the num-ber of inquiries he had received from people interested in solar energy, and also as a corollary to his team’s work as installers on “green” homes where it was a logical next step to offer solar panels as part of a total solution. Some of the first questions clients ask about panels have to do with the

robustness and longevity of the systems. “The panels we use feature a 25-year warranty,” Young explains, “and we tell people you can expect a long, long life from the installations. We use Sharp photovoltaic panels, and they’re built to last. They’re one of the world’s

largest producers of solar panels and they make their panels in the U.S., in Memphis. That’s a big advantage.”

Cost ConsiderationsCertainly, cost comes up in some of the first questions from clients. “The

The Power Of The Sun

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solar + panels

The whys and wherefores of adopting solar panels

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W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M

conversation is totally different from a discussion about buying audio or video systems,” he says. “You’re not talking aesthetics, entertainment or enjoy-ment. It’s strictly a return-on-invest-ment (ROI) conversation, a dollars-and-cents conversation. It’s ‘How soon can I expect to get my money back?’ The answer to that depends on several factors—on where you live and what kinds of incentives there are locally—either from the government or from the utility. Different municipalities, even where we’re located, have differ-ent incentives.”

Young says that everything in solar is priced by the watt—“so much, per watt generated. When we quote a price we quote it as how much it is per watt, installed. That’s also how rebates work—it’s so much per watt that you are rebated.”

While Young says he enters the con-versation armed with some of those numbers, he will also do a site analy-sis: “We’ve purchased some expensive equipment that enables us to determine exactly what kind of generation the client can expect. The equipment does a shade analysis, and depending upon where you’re mounting the panels, it will tell you how much sun per hour you’ll get, and analyzes how much shade there is.

“We also have software we bought which we pay a monthly fee to work with, where we plug in all the numbers and then it calculates the total ROI. You

input data about the panels and other information about the installation, and the software even allows you to do a site analysis before going to the site, using a mapping system that zones in on the address of the building. It will tell you with some degree of accuracy what the best scenario is. Of course, we’re still going to make the trip to the site, but it helps us to zero in early, so that we can determine if the situation is practical or not, and whether the cli-ent needs to rethink the location of the installation.”

What to Look For; What to Ask Young advises homeowners consider-ing taking the solar-panel plunge also

One of the first venues where Young installed solar panels was his own facility, where he

also hooked the array up to a Powerhouse Dynamics monitoring system that culls consumption data and power generation data, displaying everything in real time.

A fringe benefit was his own energy savings: “We got rebates—and they made a big difference, as they helped pay for a big portion of the system.”

The installation here was about $6 to $8 per watt, and we got $2 per watt back just from our utility company, and another 30 percent of the total installed cost back as a federal tax credit.

“We’re blessed with some of the lowest electric rates in our area of the country, and the payback isn’t as fast as it might be in other parts of the country where they’re paying a lot more for electricity, so without the rebates and other incentives, it wouldn’t have made sense here. But with them, it starts to make sense.”

Clients crave seeing feedback from the solar-panel installations, and they can get it in several ways. “The inverters we use allow you to receive feedback in real time, so you can see what you’re producing at any time. With the Powerhouse Dynamics system, it gives you the whole picture—not just what you’re producing but also consuming. It’s a nice add-on.

“And it provides what we call the ‘Prius effect’—it lets you know immediately what your behavior and actions do in terms of consuming power. So if you turn your whole-house lighting system off, you can see an immediate gain and if you’re running appliances, you can see it, circuit by circuit.”

In-House Demo

Be sure to take a look at some of the solar-panel installations done by the installer you are considering. – David Young

Young says that everything in solar is priced by the watt—“so much, per-watt generated.”

HDL 059


to consider purchasing a service con-tract from the integrator, which might include an annual performance evalua-tion of the system and a panel cleaning so that the maximum amount of power generation is assured.

And as for what the savvy consumer should look for in a solar-panel install-er, Young offers theses caveats:

-

ship with a high-voltage electrician for managing the installation: “Although we can handle everything that is low

the panels and the meter is treated like a generator—you’ve got high voltage that feeds into the grid, so you need an electrician to make that connection.”

make sure of its reputation and support

can produce and what their efficiency is. We like to stick with a well-known,

installer you are considering.“I would also suggest that consum-

ers look into how long the installer

as was the case in the early days of the

who are starting up out of their garages. -

ance and workmen’s compensation, so you want to know that the company you’re dealing with has a track record that’s more than months old, and has

Young also warns against going the do-it-yourself route: “You’ll see some more DIY systems out there from the

with electricity, and in tying something into the grid, there’s a really high risk level—and horror stories that go with

down.”

and local organizations relating to solar

these affiliations, Young says, “we have -

ence of a lot of other professionals in

division for us, we’re using the same personnel that we do with other things.

-

make sure that you’re not in danger of contracting with a company that’s one

-ness—especially when you’re dealing with something that can potentially last you a quarter of a century.”

Look for companies that, like The Sound Room, are members of national and local organizations relating to solar energy and ‘green’ building

For further information, go to: www.solarenergy.org sunenergyfacts.com

Through solar panels, electricity feeds into the house, powering its lights, appliances and the furnace. Extra electricity that is produced by the system feeds out of the house and can be sold back to a local electric company.

HDL g r e e n e n e r g y

solar + panels

Ever since the fi rst CD players in 1983, the credibility debate in audio has been over whether “bits are bits,” and there’s no more to it. Ever since 1983, differences in digital audio performance have been clear to all who would listen, and differences between digital cables have ranged from minor to jaw-dropping amazing.

Now, the audio world is going through an evolution maybe even more profound than the transition to CDs: Digital audio fi les, whether on a spinning disc, streaming from the internet, or resident on a hard drive or a fl ash drive, are offering wonderful new opportunities for convenience ... and for fantastic performance.

AudioQuest brings the same sensitivity, insight, and technology to today’s new digital transfer modes as we’ve brought to Digital Coax, AES/EBU balanced digital, Toslink and ST fi ber optic cables for the last 28 years.

There are particulars to each digital format, however “jitter,” time-based shifting and smearing of data, is the same enemy it has always been ... AudioQuest employs all its proven techniques for minimizing this data damage: Better metals, better geometry, better dielectric, DBS (Dielectric-Bias System), NDS (Noise-Dissipation System), and other ingredients required to fi nesse each specifi c application.

Whether you use buds with an iPod, a 3.5mm-plug analog cable from a computer, or USB cable into a DAC (Digital Audio Converter), whether playing 128K fi les, lossless 44.1 (CD quality), or 24/96, it’s a bright and wonderful day in audio!

Really... Just One’s and Zero’s?USB, FireWire®, Ethernet, eSATA join HDMI on the Digital frontier!


Think an electric car can’t handle the demands of interstate driving? Think again.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla Motors, which is bringing performance and muscle to the world of emissions-free electronic vehicles, surpassed

1,500 deliveries worldwide of its “Roadster” this past January. The Roadster is a sporty number with zero-to-60 acceleration in 3.9 seconds (3.7 seconds for the “Sport” version) and a top speed of 125 miles per hour.

Those vehicles are found in more than 30 countries, where they’ve racked up 8.5 million miles in real-world driving. According to Tesla, that’s the equiv-alent of 415,000 gallons of gasoline and more than 22,000 barrels of oil. THE ROADSTER HIT THE STREETS IN EARLY 2008. The milestone was a fine follow-up to a banner year in 2010 for Tesla, which acquired an assembly plant in Fremont, Calif., and forged strategic partnerships wit Toyota and Panasonic. Tesla also became a public company last year.Tesla also launched the next-generation Roadster 2.5 in 2010; and opened its first Asian store in October, a showroom in Tokyo’s Aoyama district that already has the highest foot traffic of any Tesla store worldwide. ELECTRIC MUSCLE Tesla was founded in 2003 by a group of Silicon Valley engineers who “set out to prove that electric vehicles could be awesome,” the company’s Website says. Tesla’s goal is to produce a full range of electric cars, from premium sports cars to mass market vehicles—and drive down the cost of electric vehicles. Tesla boasts it is currently the only U.S. automaker that builds and sells highway-capable electric vehicles in serial production.

“The Roadster has earned global appeal. Our latest delivery milestone proves the Tesla is raising the bar for EVs,” said Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk. “The Roadster’s advanced electric powertrain is the foundation of Tesla’s suc-cess.”

Electric battery packs and powertrains, Tesla believes, will help lessen global dependence on petroleum-based transportation and drive down the cost of electric vehicles; and the company looks for cooperation with other car manu-facturers to put more electric cars on the road.

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AND THESE ARE REAL CARS: The Roadster’s AC induc-tion motor and single-speed gear box create instant torque from 0 rpm. Up to 295 pound feet of torque and 288 horsepower are produced as the car smoothly accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

Tesla says the Roadster’s “elec-tric powertrain enables unprec-edented responsiveness,” and

optional custom-tuned suspension allows drivers to adjust handling to their preference.

A monocoque chassis in resin-bonded and riveted extruded aluminum adds rigidity and strength to a lightweight vehicle. And, the zero-emissions Roadster can drive 245 miles per charge. It plugs into nearly any outlet, anywhere in the world.

The new Roadster 2.5 features upgraded power control hardware to enable spirited driving in extreme climates, making it adaptable to weather and terrain found in locations from the Swiss Alps to the Phoenix Desert.

The new Roadster’s seats seats have improved comfort through larger more supportive bolsters and a new lumbar support system. An optional seven-inch touchscreen providescontrols, navigation and back-up screen. Listen to the quiet, as well: sound reduction materials quiet the cabin, while heel arch liners suppress pavement noise.

A new front fascia and rear diffuser on the new Roadster 2.5 reflect the “future of Tesla design language.”

Founded: 2003 Headquarters: Palo Alto, California Employees: More than 800 Patents: 15-plus, 100-plus pending Stores: 15 worldwide, more coming soon On the road in 30 countries www.teslamotors.com

TESLA MOTORS COMPANY PROFILE

A modern, sporty interior matches the Roadster’s performance.

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MORE TO COME In 2012Tesla will begin delivery on its Model S, bringing a more sedan-like experience to driv-ers considering an electric option.

The Model S offers seating for seven people (five adults, two children), more cargo space and premium interior styling. While it doesn’t have quite the kick of the Roadster, the Model S has some oomph: zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds; and a top speed of 120 miles per hour.

On the mileage, front, the Model S betters its predecessor, getting up to 300 miles per charge versus the Roadster’s 245. In addition to more pas-senger space, the new vehicle has a second cargo area under the hood.

Three battery pack options adapt to the driver’stypical driving needs, with 160, 230, or 300 miles per charge. And like the Roadster, the Model S is engineered to plug into nearly any outlet, anywhere in the world for 45-minute charging.

The Model S powertrain provides instant torque at the driver’s request. The powertrain features a liquid-cooled, floor-mounted battery pack and single-speed gearbox.

The stamped-aluminum body provides aerodynamics, style, and safety.Need to stay connected? A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G con-

nectivity allows quick access to streaming radio, global positioning system navigation, and helpful information drivers on the go might need such as restaurant recommendations and movie times.

If you want to find out more about Tesla Motors’ electric vehicles, there’s plenty of information on the teslamotors.com Website.

And best of all for someone considering an electric car, a lot of that information is generated from outside the company—the “Enthusiasts” tab on Tesla’s home page features a blog and lively discussions among Tesla drivers and technology enthusiasts.

The discussion forum groups threads under four topics: general, Roadster, Model S and “The Tesla Point of View,” where the company starts dis-cussions about current events.

Thread topics include such nuts-and-bolts back and forth as “Power draw while charging” or “Away from home charging”; and enthusiasts even discuss what’s going on with makes from other companies, such as in the “Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt DC” and “Electric Delorean” threads.

It’s a good place those interested in electric cars to get feedback on the technology’s real-world experience from those actually driving them.

TESLA MOTORS’ WEBSITE OFFERS INSIDE CONVERSATIONS

The Model S has optional 3G connectivity for drivers who want to “stay connected.”

TESLA MODEL S INT


At the southeast end of California’s world-renowned Napa Valley lies a lesser-known

grape-growing region on the cusp of discovery. Called Coombsville, it is gaining noto-riety because of the truly great wines it is producing. Sitting on a plateau under the imposing Mount George, Coombsville has a microclimate that features a unique combination of cool air, consistent temperatures, varied elevations and well-drained, mineral-rich soils. The wineries situated in this cool corner of Napa Valley are rapidly gaining recognition for producing some of the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon. What makes Coombsville wines so hot? In a word, balance—the fruit here turns out red wines that are very dark and intense in color with flavors of blackberries, black plums, mulberries, dried herbs and black olives. They at once couple textural smoothness and richness with vibrant acidities and fine-grained tannins, producing an exquisite and elegant wine.

Winemakers are unified in their recognition of the unique geographic characteristics of Coombsville and its ability to produce outstanding wine.

Because of its proximity to San Pablo Bay, Coombsville’s climate is quite moderate, allowing the grapes here to ripen over a long period of time and thus producing very ripe fruit characteristics without the sugar and corresponding alcohol levels typical of other valley wines. The sloping, hilly terrain of the Coombsville region is made of well-drained, mineral-rich soils—a mélange of volcanic ash, cobbled rocks and lava flow from the ancient eruption of Mount George.

This well-draining soil found throughout the area becomes “hot” during the summer, making it particu-larly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon,

which needs warm soils to fully ripen. Coombsville fell on the radar of

wine passionates seemingly over-night, but its breakthrough moment is actually many years in the making. Like Yountville, Oakville and other popular wine regions before it, wine-makers recognized the importance of this area long before consumers. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, before any-one outside the valley had heard of Coombsville, famed winemaker Randy Dunn sourced grapes from here, as did Joseph Phelps for its award-winning Insignia Wine. In recent years some other high-profile producers and wine-makers have been using Coombsville

Coombsville’s Coming of Age

FINE WINE AND SPIRITS

A S M A L L C O R N E R O F N A P A V A L L E Y I S B E I N G H E R A L D E D A S C A L I F O R N I A ’ S N E X T G R E A T W I N E R E G I O N| BY JASON ALEXANDER

fruit for blends, including Andy Erickson for both his own Favia label as well as Arietta, Vineyard 29 and Lail Vineyards. In the last 20 years, a handful of lesser-known wineries has emerged making single vineyard wines which are bringing greater visibility to the region. Meteor Vineyard is perhaps the most unique among the wineries of Coombsville.

Years ago when digging for wells it was discovered that the soil on the property contains small round volcanic rocks that go more than 500 feet deep.

This particular vineyard characteris-tic provides enhanced drainage, forces the plant roots deep and has a pro-found impact on the wine. According to Meteor Vineyard Winemaker Dawnine Dyer, Meteor is the per-fect expression of the uniqueness of Coombsville wines in how it blends modern and traditional wine charac-teristics. The result is intense, luscious fruit found in modern Napa wines, along with a unique minerality due to the volcanic stones, which provides a structural complexity found in tradi-tional Bordeaux styles.

In addition to Meteor Vineyard, Coombsville is now home to some

20 wineries including Caldwell Vineyard, a wine lover’s jewel, with winemaking operations located with-in an excavated cave; and Palmaz Vineyards, where winemaking takes place within the living rock of Mount George in a maze of tunnels and lofty domes. Coombsville is pursu-ing AVA (American Viticulture Area) designation and is doubtless headed into future fame. Most wineries in the area offer private tastings, often with the wineries’ winemakers them-selves. Visitors to the area should contact wineries directly for tours and tastings.

Suggested Coombsville-Area Attractions + Oxbow Public Market: This vibrant market features dozens of spe-cialty merchants and vendors with a wide range of artisanal food and wine. Visit www.oxbowpublicmarket.com for events and details. + Morimoto Napa: Masahara Morimoto – known to millions as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America—recently opened his first West Coast Restaurant in Napa’s new downtown riverfront development. Reservations essential; For more infor-mation visit www.morimotonapa.com + Meteor Vineyard: Tasting by appointment. Call 707-258-2900 or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment and tour. + Back Room Wines: For eclectic, small production wines from Napa Valley. First & Main Streets, Downtown Napa; go to www.backroomwines.com.

W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M HDL 069

Winemakers are unified in their recognition of the unique geographic characteristics of Coombsville

whole house+music


A happy byproduct of Apple’s introduction of its iOS 4.2 operating system late last year was a technology called

AirPlay. In a nutshell, AirPlay enables wireless streaming via Wi-Fi of video, audio and photo content from an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch to the newest-generation Apple TV. It can also enable wireless music streaming from iTunes libraries directly to third-party speakers and receivers that are AirPlay-enabled.

Some of the first products by manu-facturers to feature AirPlay compatibility were announced or demonstrated at the Las Vegas-held Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the beginning of this year, and there are bound to be many more companies hopping aboard this particular Apple bandwagon in the coming months. Below is a brief roundup of some of those products and their features.

Apple’s AirPlayUpping the Ante on Wireless Content Streaming

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), a renowned British loudspeaker manu-facturer, took the wraps off the sequel to its very well-received Zeppelin iPhone/iPod/iPod Touch speaker docking system. The

Zeppelin Air lets listeners stream music wirelessly from the iTunes collec-tion housed on their Mac or PC, while using their iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad as the remote interface.

The pure audio attributes on the Zeppelin Air include completely upgraded drive units, heightened amplification, and advanced digital signal processing. B&W has engineered the system as a fully active 2.1 design, meaning that all five built-in speakers are individually driven by dedicated amplifiers. B&W’s Flowport technology gives the unit an edge in bass per-formance as well. The model is available beginning in March and carries a suggested retail price of $599.99. www.bowers-wilkins.com

Bowers & Wilkins (B&W)

Apple’s AirPlay with iMac for wireless streaming www.apple.com

| B Y N A N C Y K L O S E K

HDL 071W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M HDL 071W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M

Electronics giant Sony has come out with reasonably priced systems specifically designed to complement the

AirPlay technology.The S-AIR AIR-SA20PK Wireless

Speaker System ($399.99 SRP) transmits your music all over your house via the included S-AIR iPod dock and two receiver/speakers. The system offers incredible flexibility: Enjoy your iPod music on one speak-er while the other plays an AM/FM radio station through the system’s multi-zone function.

Wireless remotes provided for the docking station—as well as for each speaker unit—give you total control over your music. Additional features include a digital alarm clock in each speaker, plus a fluorescent readout to view information on individual tracks such as artist, title, and album. In addition, the speakers feature LCDs for viewing time or playback info.

More pluses:

set up. You’ll quickly be able to enjoy

your music!

of Apple products, including the iPod mini; iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; iPod classic 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod touch 1G, 2G; and iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3Gs.

and video cables.

with up to 10 receiver/speaker sys-tems by adding optional AIR-SA15R wireless speakers.

(RF) transmission, you can send your signal up to 150 feet away from the source unit.

one-line fluorescent display for com-municating unit functions and dis-playing song information

Sony also offers the ALTUS S-AIR Play Wireless Multiroom Speaker System ($399.99 SRP), which features two wireless speakers and a wireless ALTUS-AIR iPod dock, along with two remotes for easy control.

The ALTUS S-AIR Play system deliv-ers 16 watts total system power (14W RMS) for powerful sound. Its full-range bass reflex speakers have 2-1/4” mica drivers for sharp, pristine sound. LCD display on each speaker provides a clear digital LCD readout. The system also includes:

station presets for quick access to your favorite stations.

-venient wireless control anytime.

enable you to customize your sound any way you like.

options. www.sony.com

Sony on the ‘Air’

As to be expect-ed, a new set of headphones bearing the

name of music icon Quincy Jones come with no small degree of hype. After all, “Q” doesn’t put his name on just anything. Grammy-winning producer/arrang-er/composer Jones is asso-ciated with quality sound; if he’s behind an audio product, it better be good, right? So the big question here is, do the Q460 headphones live up to their hype—and their namesake’s reputation?

Most definitely. The Q460 provide sound reproduction that’s as vivid, punchy, pow-erful and accurate as you’re likely to hear from commercially available on-ear phones. They’re comparable with the studio-level “cans” they were developed to emulate. They are ear-delicious.

They’re also visually striking! The nearly florescent green color of the model I tested (they’re also available in black or white) is certainly vivid and hard to miss. It may not appeal to more refined consumer, but the Facebook generation will probably love it. It’s certainly original and bold. And you probably won’t have much trouble finding these in the dark.

The design is very impressive. Both ear-pieces fold completely flat and inward, allowing them to fit in the included very cool and very compact carrying case for a small footprint when you take them on the road.

Comfort is always an issue, especially with over-the-ear headphones. In today’s iPod society, earbuds have become the norm, so it’s good thing that the Q460 model is built for comfort. It’s relatively lightweight—I had the set on for hours and didn’t feel the head-fatigue that sometimes

comes with having a heavy set of full headphones on.

The earpieces felt good on the ears, never irritating. As I typically use lightweight, behind-the-head earphones, I wondered if I’d feel the dif-ference over time, but truth-fully I didn’t. These are most likely the most comfortable over-ears headphones I’ve ever experienced.

Back to the sound: The Q460 unit does your music of

any kind justice. Bass is especially punchy, highs are crisp and clear, stereo separation is well-defined. Distortion is virtually non-existent thanks to noise-reducing oxygen-free cables. You can hear the Quincy Jones touch with every note. I’ll bet his produc-tion work on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album sounds great on these.

The Q460 headphones provide this superb sound for a variety of media. AKG and Harman wisely configured the unit to work with the iPod, iPhone and iPad. The iPhone compatibility is especially unique and valuable, as the hookup incorporates an in-line microphone and three-button remote control to ensure easy smartphone use and transition to music mode.

Click here to View Larger but whatever device you’re hooked up to will probably sound better than ever before through these. I can’t imagine there are any earbuds that could compare to the audio you’ll experience with these.

All in all, the Q460 are an excellent, standout entry into today’s star-endorsed line of quality headphones. With a $229 MSRP (they retail for around $170), these headphones aren’t cheap—but they’re well worth every penny. For further info, check out snipurl.com/qphones.

Ear-Delicious A K G ’ S Q U I N C Y J O N E S S I G N A T U R E H E A D P H O N E S D E L I V E R D A Z Z L I N G S O U N D A N D S T Y L E .

QUINCY’S HEADPHONES




Hats On!

Trying to choose a hat? An impor-tant element of

finding the hat that will work best is matching it to your face type and shape. Here are some guidelines for deciding what type of hat will best complement your face.

go with big facial pro-portions.

a medium crown hat is

as a full crown model would make a squat face appear

Those with -

der face should try a tapered hat with a mod-erate-height crown.

medium taper crown

slender face.

Wear a medium-full crown hat. For further guidelines, check out “The Art of Fitting Faces” at snipurl.com/hatbyface

HDL accessories

men’s + hats

Hats may well be the ultimate fashion accessory for men. While there are a number of add-ons women can adopt to make a fash-ion statement—such as handbags, ornate jewelry, fancy footwear, etc.—the males of our species tend to be more fashion-reserved. Except when it comes to hats.

Men’s hats do more than just protect male heads from sun, cold, wind or rain. They can also make a fashion

statement. While hats for men may have gone out of fashion over the years, they are making a strong comeback in recent times. And the timing has never been better, as there are a wide variety of hat styles available lately, per-haps more different types than in any time in recent memory.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popu-lar—and adventurous—styles of hats for men currently available.

Today’s men’s hats are fashionable as well as protective.

Finding the Right Hat For Your Face Get your

style on with this fedora at: www.menshats.com


W W W. H D L I V I N G . C O M HDL 075

Men’s hats have been around for hundreds—thousands, actually—of years (see “The Origins

of Hats” on pg. 78), and since they’ve been around, there have been some styles commonly regarded as classic hats that retain their popularity to this day. They tend to be dressier than other hats and are well-suited to high society.

DERBY—Also known as the bowler hat, the derby was introduced in 1850 as the Coke hat. As a common practice in those days was to name a hat after the customer who com-missioned it, the Coke hat was made by Lock’s of St. James, England, for Thomas Coke, second Earl of Leicester; hence the original name. When the Bowler family of Southwark, England began mass-producing the hat, the style became identified as the Bowler. As its popularity spread to the United States, the hat took on the name by which it’s most commonly identified today, that of the Derby hat.

The Derby/Bowler is a hard hat made of felt that has a distinctive rounded crown top. FEDORA—The Fedora is a soft hat easily recognized by its distinctive lengthwise crease. It was popularized

by Humphrey Bogart and other movie tough guys, and today is regarded as a classic American style. TOP HAT—The original Top hat, which emerged in Europe around 1830, was based on another style popular in that time, the Tall Beaver hat (which was made from

actual beaver fur). The new style was covered with a shiny silk instead of fur. (Interesting note: Since the popular-ity of the silk-based Top hat quickly overtook that of the Beaver hat, sales of American beaver skins plummeted quickly. Famed frontiersman Kit Carson is credited with the classic quote “Hell is paved with silk hats” in response to this drop in sales).

The quick rise of the Top hat led to the development of what would become a virtual necessity for stage magicians: the Collapsible Top hat, which could pop out instantly, creating an eye-catch-ing visual impression.

The Classics

The “hat of the

people” was cre-

ated in Italy in the

1880s, and was brought

to America by Italian immi-

grants. It got its name, leg-

end has it, because it was worn by Italian

Gondoliers, so was commonly associated

with boating.

Like the Fedora, the Boater quickly

became a staple in American films.

Dancers Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire

wore them onscreen, and perhaps the

most famous movie appear-

ance of the Boater was

when it was worn by Robert

Preston in “The Music Man.”

(Note: The hat became so

popular that it inspired its

own movie title, “The Italian Straw Hat.”)

Recently, the Boater was prominently fea-

tured in the 2003 film “Seabiscuit.”

Today, the Boater is considered a dress-

ier straw hat that can be worn with eve-

ning and formal wear and is also appropri-

ate for afternoon social functions.

The Boater


HDL accessories

men’s + hats

NEWSBOY—A classic English style, the Newsboy is an eight-paneled cap, typically made from wool, lined with satin, and sport-ing a compelling patchwork design. Priced at around $95.

WALKING HAT—Another patchwork-based hat, the Walking hat is popular for its soft, woolen texture and attractive look

as well as its flexibility (you can easily stuff it in your pocket). Retails for around $100.

CATCHY CAPS—Caps are in these days, and there’s a wide variety of styles to choose from in this family. Imported ball caps such as the one from Goorin Bros. ($40) are evolved versions of the American baseball cap. Goorin Bros. also makes a cadet cap ($50) of textured wool with a cotton twill lining. The woolen Ivy cap by Borsalino Doria ($95) is a simple but stylish entry from Italy. Christy’s also has a popular patchwork Ivy cap ($85) that combines a variety of cool patterns.

FUR FELT FEDORA—The classic Fedora style is back in force with a spin; the current-favorite varia-tion on this style is the Fur Felt Fedora. Popular mod-els include the Brewster by Stetson ($250) with its pinch front, lightly brushed fur-based felt, natural color, and 3-1/2” crown trimmed with a 1-inch band; and Dobbs’ Swing ($175), which has a 2-1/2” brim, bound edge and contrasting double bow.

What’s Hot in HatsThe current wave of fashionable men’s hats covers a broad range of headgear from tradi-tional, classic styles to bold new looks. Here are some of the hottest trends in hats for men:

Once you’ve chosen a hat style, you’ll need to know your hat measurement to ensure you get a properly fitted piece of headgear.

The easiest way to get your hat size is to place a cloth measuring tape around the widest part of your head where the hat will rest. Note the width in inches of your head circumference, and go by these guidelines:

Measure by Measure

Small: 21-1/4” to 21-5/8”

Medium: 22” to 22-1/2”

Large: 22-3/4” to 23-1/4”

XL: 23-5/8” to 24”

XXL: 24-1/2 to 24-3/4”

What are hats made of? The typical men’s hat consists of these main components:

The Crown—

The Peak—

-

-

-

-

-

Hat Components

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THE HIGH-DEFINITION AUDIO EXPERIENCE OF BLU-RAY DISC® HAS GREATLY INCREASED

THE DEMANDS ON TODAY’S A/V RECEIVERS. BUT ONLY PIONEER HAS MET THE CHALLENGE.

While others tack new features onto 50-year-old amplifi er designs and call their receivers

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I N C O L L A B O R AT I O N W I T H :


HDL accessories

men’s + hats

While hats may not have truly caught on as a fashion acces-sory for men until

the 19th and 20th centuries, historic records indicate that hats have been around for much, much longer. One of the first depictions of a hat can be seen in a Thebes tomb painting from ancient Egypt showing a man with a straw hat on. Other early hats include:

brimOf course, men have always worn

on the battlefield, a classic example -

tive horned helmets. But the use of hats by men for reasons other than protection during warfare has grown tremendously over the centuries. A number of popular men’s hat styles emerged in Europe in the 1800s.

The Origins of Hats

Your local mall will most likely have department stores

and specialty shops where you can choose from a generous selec-tion of fine men’s hats. There are also a number of excellent online hat sellers to choose from, including:

www.menshats.com- As the Web address implies, this site focuses solely on hats for men. Excellent selection includes a spot-on category of best-sellers showing the hottest trends in men’s hatwear.

www.hatsinthebelfry.com- Also a retailer seller with four shops in Maryland and Pennsylvania, hatsinthebelfry.com sells hats for men and women, has a tremen-dous selection on its site, and also carries a number of useful accessories for the hat conneiseur.

www.zappos.com- The venerable online department store is a good source for men’s hats as well as many other fashion and household items.

www.millerhats.com- Another specialist for men’s hats, based in Houston, Texas, this online seller’s site has excellent information on hat selection and history as well as a superb selection to choose from.

Where to Buy a Hat

This logo means Integra has met the exacting standards for video performance of the imaging science foundation, an independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of electronic imaging. A feat only the Integra engineers have accomplished thus far.Not only does this assure you of the very best video circuitry and image quality, it also means that all of the controls are there to perform a full isf video calibration by input, through anIntegra.The most accurate colors, the richest blacks, the cleanest whites, all made possible by Integra and isf.There is only one way to ensure the best video performance possible in your home theater,Integra & isf

Inspired By Passion - Driven By Excellencewww.integrahometheater.com

There is but onemanufcturer in the custom electronics industry allowed to put this logo on the front of their A/V Receivers and Preamp / Processors -Integra.

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PICTURE QUALITY AQUOS® Quattron LED LCD TV utilizes Quad Pixel technology to produce more colors to create a more realistic picture than ever before.Quad Pixel Plus enables the processing of images with less jags in diagonal lines.

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For anyone who has witnessed the beauty of a blossoming cherry tree, we can certainly relate to George Washington’s

father’s disappointment that he chopped it down—regardless of the moral of the infamous story! This flowering deciduous tree explodes into an incredible sea of pale pink and white flowers.

Millions have witnessed this sight while viewing the beautiful cherry trees sur-rounding the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. burst into bloom each spring, which has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation’s capital. Those famous trees, a gift from Japan in 1912, signal Washington’s rite of passage into spring with an explosion of life and color.

The initial gift of 3,020 trees was rep-resented by 12 varieties that bloom for just a couple of days each spring. The Japanese celebrate this time of year with hanami parties (cherry blossom viewing) under the blooming trees. Washington D.C. celebrates a similar custom during the Cherry Blossom Festival held each year in that city. Interesting to note that the cherry blossom (sakura) holds a very

prominent position in Japanese culture. It is Japan’s unofficial national flower and has been celebrated as such for many centuries.

There are dozens of different cherry tree varieties. The Yoshino Cherry tree is one of the more popular cultivated flow-ering cherries and produces a profusion of single white blossoms that create the effect of fluffy clouds. The Akebono, a mutation of the Yoshino boasts pale-pink blossoms and blooms at the same time as the Yoshino. The Kwanzan cherry tree (named after a mountain in Japan) bears heavy clusters of clear pink double blos-soms while the Weeping Japanese Cherry Tree, also know as the Higan cherry tree, produces variable flowers, from single to double and dark pink to white.

Other selections include the Autumn Flowering Cherry tree (semi-double, pink flowers) the Sargent Cherry tree (single, deep pink flowers), the Usuzumi Cherry tree (white-grey flowers) and the Takesimensis Cherry tree. The Fugenzo and Shirofugen open white but fade to pink.

Cherry trees range in size from six to

thirty feet creating a tidle-wave of color across any landscape. The bark is a dis-tinct reddish-brown and the wood is strong with a beautiful red fine grain. The leaves of a cherry tree are droopy with flowers arranged in umbels on the end of the stalk. In the autumn, the leaves turn beautiful colors, ranging from pink, orange and crimson to brown.

Although the fruit of the cherry tree is in the same genus as prunes and plums, it is much smaller but just as sweet. The geographical range includes the majority of Asia and Europe, Northern Africa and most of North America with most breeds thriving best in zones four through eight.

Cherry blossom season is relatively short but ravishingly beautiful. Full bloom is usually reached within about one week after the opening of the first blossoms. It is truly a sight to see!

Blooming Beautiful| B Y J A N E C H E R OC H E R R Y T R E E V A R I E T I E S

We’ve all heard of the famous anecdote

about George Washington cutting

down a cherry tree. He was about six years

old, as the tale goes, and had received a

shiny hatchet as a gift. Like most little boys

his age, he was tremendously fond of this

“weapon” and began mischievously chop-

ping down everything in his path. One day

while in the garden, he tried his hatchet on

a blooming young cherry tree of which his

father was extremely fond.

George’s father, upon discovering the

awful fate of his beloved cherry tree, asked

about the mishap. Despite fear of possible

repercussion, George, the honest youth

that he was, admitted contributing to it’s

demise. “I can’t tell a lie, Pa, you know I

can’t tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet!”

Though frustrated by this admission as well

as the loss of his beloved tree, George’s

father took great pride in the fact that

George had learned the value of being hon-

est at such a ripe young age.

When George Met Tree

CHERRY TREES BLOOM

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© 2009 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved. © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved. Twentieth Century Fox, Fox and associated logos are trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and its related entities.

MEET OUR FULL HD 3D.THEY GIVE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION.

Look for retailers offering a bonus Panasonic 3D Ultimate Pack (with AVATAR on Blu-ray 3D™ and 2 pairs of 3D glasses) when you buy a VIERA VT Series 3D TV.

Date post:	29-Mar-2015
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