Southeast Historic Boutique Hotels Join Autograph Collection

Feb 24th, 2012 by Wendy

The Saint in New Orleans and the Blue Moon Hotel and Winter Haven Hotel both in Miami Beach, Florida, has joined the Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, an evolving portfolio of independent luxury hotels that provides individualist travelers with unique experiences. Each of the hotels is the first to join Autograph Collection in their respective cities: The Saint Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana, and both the Blue Moon Hotel and Winter Haven Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. With these properties, the collection has accumulated an impressive 32 hotels in the portfolio since its launch in 2010, with plans to include up to 60 properties by the end of 2012 in various key markets worldwide.

About The Saint Hotel: The Saint recently reopened its doors on February 9th as the first Autograph Collection hotel in Louisiana. Selected to join the collection based on its notable architectural and historical significance, the hotel was previously known as the historic 103-year old Audubon Building in the world famous French Quarter. The 166-room hotel features interiors decorated with large black and white photographic murals of the early 1900s, and exposed brick and bright blue and white deco style decor.

The lobby of The Saint Lobby in New Orleans. Its building is the historic 103-year old Audubon Building in the French Quarters.

Hotel Review
New Orleans

About Blue Moon Hotel: Blue Moon Hotel is an intimate boutique sanctuary replete with 1930s charm. The hotel is tucked away on popular Collins Avenue and is a seamless combination of Art Deco and Mediterranean influences coupled with modern and sophisticated touches. Conveniently located just a few steps away from the beach, boutiques and bistros on Ocean Drive, the iconic hotel remains a key staple in South Beach. The Blue Moon Hotel is a composite of two former hotels—the Lafayette and Les Suites—and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. To ensure the historical attributes of the property are preserved, the hotel will undergo restoration efforts in early 2012.

A guest room at the Blue Moon Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

About Winter Haven Hotel: The Winter Haven Hotel was initially designed by acclaimed architect Albert Anis and the property was first unveiled on Ocean Drive in 1939. The oceanfront hotel’s exclusive location lends to guests’ unique experience of the most famous and energetic street on South Beach, immersing them in the elegance of the Art Deco movement of days gone by. The hotel’s interiors are nautical inspired, an ode to the majestic ocean liners of the era, with a blend of modern touches, including terrazzo flooring, glass blocks, chrome finished railings and a grand cruise ship-inspired staircase.

A guest room at the Winter Haven Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida is a modern, elegant natical inspiration.

Hotel Review
Miami Beach

For more information about the hotels, please visit www.autographhotels.com.

Tags: Albert Anis, Autograph Hotels, Blue Moon Hotel, The Saint, Winter Haven Hotel

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Cook with Another Martha, Martha Washington

Feb 22nd, 2012 by Wendy

In the spirit of the week of President’s Day, Mount Vernon invites visitors to experience a behind-the-scenes look at our first president’s and his wife, Martha’s, kitchen through the new exhibition, Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington. On display inside the Donald W. Reynolds Museum, this temporary exhibition celebrates food at Mount Vernon and Martha Washington’s role as early America’s premier hostess. Following food from the Estate’s field to kitchen to table, visitors will see recipes and cookbooks that Martha treasured, pots that simmered in her kitchen, and fine tablewares that made Mount Vernon’s dining room fit for a president. For the first time ever, visitors to the Museum will experience scents as they explore the exhibition—smelling cinnamon, coffee, herbs and warm bread. The hardcover book Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington is included with general Estate admission: adults, $15; children ages 6-11, $7; and children under 5 are admitted free.

Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington features more than 125 fascinating objects amassed from Mount Vernon’s collections, other institutions and private lenders. Among the highlights are the Washingtons’ dinner bell, heart-shaped waffle iron, a vente-sized mug of Chinese porcelain, coffee mill, three-foot olive jar, presidential dinner invitations and other kitchen items. In addition to displaying Martha Washington’s cookbook, the exhibition will feature George Washington’s account of the food staples used by the household. Few 18th century domestic utensils survive today; most wore out from service and were discarded since they had little monetary value. Martha Washington’s descendants carefully preserved many objects from Mount Vernon’s kitchen because of their association with George and Martha Washington.

For more information on Mount Vernon and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum go to www.mountvernon.org.

George Washington Estate Hoecakes and Hospitality

The new Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington exhibition, opened February 18, goes behind the scenes in the Washingtons' kitchen. This new exhibition will feature more than 125 kitchen and food-related objects from Mount Vernon. Among the highlights are the Washingtons' dinner bell, heart-shaped waffle iron, a vente-sized mug of Chinese porcelain, coffee mill, three-foot olive jar, and presidential dinner invitations. (PRNewsFoto/George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens)

Tags: Donald W. Reynolds Museum, Hoecakes & Hospitality, Martha Washington, Mount Vernon

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Serpas Serves Up Fat Tuesday

Feb 20th, 2012 by Wendy

Chef Scott Serpas

Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 21 is Fat Tuesday, the traditional Louisiana Mardi Gras celebration before Lent begins. Serpas in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward will be stepping out with their own annual Mardi Gras party as chef-owner Scott Serpas will be celebrating his restaurant’s third anniversary in conjunction with his hometown of New Orlean’s tradition.

From 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., Serpas will serve an abbreviate version of their regular menu alongside specially priced dishes from New Orleans, including seafood gumbo, muffaletta, crawfish pie, red beans and rice and chicken and sausage jambalaya. The Mardi Gras feast will be complemented with favorite Louisiana beers such as Abita Amber and Jockamo IPA as well as homemade Hurricanes, a spirited red cocktail known as the calling card of Bourbon Street and then topped off with a slice of King Cake. Serpas will be alive with vibrant décor, masks and strands of beads as live music from a second line street-style jazz band will sound throughout the evening. No admission.

Serpas is located at Studioplex in the Old Fourth Ward at 659 Auburn Ave. #501, Atlanta, Ga. 30312. For more information or reservations, visit www.serpasrestaurant.com or call 404.688.0040.

Tags: Atlanta chefs, Mardi Gras, Scott Serpas, Serpas

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Beaufort Boosting it’s Cool

Feb 13th, 2012 by Wendy

The town of Beaufort on the Crystal Coast—North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks—has been named “America’s Coolest Small Town” for 2012 by Budget Travel magazine.

Beaufort's waterfront on North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks named America's Coolest Small Town

Beaufort possesses an old-world, southern charm, steeped in maritime history and the adventure brought by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Boats dot the marina, from private yachts and massive sailboats to the trawlers the bring locally owned restaurants “fresh from the docks” sea fare. Once home to the infamous pirate Blackbeard and the final resting place for his Queen Anne’s Revenge two miles off the coast, Beaufort offers a glimpse into the past 300+ years of historical legacy. And to enjoy it all cozy inns charm the coast so the combination makes it very appealing to its 4,300 locals and travelers alike.

Dangling like a delicate strand of pearls off the coast of North Carolina, the favored Atlantic beach destination of generations represents one of the only remaining natural barrier island systems in the World. The Islands are strung together with 85 miles of silken coastline along the Southern Outer Banks, 56 miles of which are in the protected Cape Lookout National Seashore. The barrier islands take a southward curve, blessing the Crystal Coast with beaches that course east and west with views of the dazzlingly bright sun rise to greet the day and then slip into the shimmering translucent blue waters during a spectacular North Carolina sunset.

For more information on Beaufort and North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, visit www.crystalcoastnc.org or www.facebook.com/crystalcoast.