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Train from St. Petersburg to Helsinki
by
Rebecca Jennings
You're speeding by frozen lakes, snowcapped mountains and frosty evergreen forests on your journey to the White City of the North- if your thoughts immediately jumped to Game of Thrones, a) you would be mistaken, and b) consider yourself a total nerd.
Fortunately, there's a better way to traverse the scenic Scandinavian tundra that doesn't involve dragons or worse, White Walkers. Forget horseback, the new, high-speed Allegro train now offers…
in Inside Scoop
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Ice Hockey World Championship
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Rebecca Jennings
It's the biggest annual winter sports event worldwide - nope, not indoor soccer. From May 4-20, the 2012 IIHF World Championship will be held in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden, where the world's top teams will compete for the highest title in hockey.
This year, the IIHF will debut its new championship format in which the 16 teams will be split into two groups of eight. Each team will play…
in Inside Scoop
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Helsinki Week
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Rebecca Jennings
Each year, summer in Finland is heralded in by the celebration of the capital city's founding in 1550. Helsinki Day, which over the years has burgeoned into a weeklong outdoor festival, invites travelers from all over the world to engage in picnics, concerts, theatre and street shows.
Since 1959, Helsinki Day has been a favorite of locals and tourists alike because of the wide range of activities offered and the…
in Inside Scoop
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The Magic of Marimekko
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Darlene Gillard
If you've ever traveled to Finland more than likely you've shopped, seen, or heard of Marimekko. Admired by fashion lovers and interior decorators alike, the company designs and manufactures high-quality clothing, textiles, tableware, and a bunch of cool accessories.
Known for its strikingly inventive patterns and clever use of colors in prints, Marimekko was first a phenomenon in 1951 when it was founded, then a lifestyle throughout Northern Europe and…
in In the Bag
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Helsinki's Michelin Dining
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Thom Meintel
Chez Dominique
A two star Michelin rating is a big deal in any country but in Finland it's even bigger. It's understandable that thoughts run toward France and the UK as far as award-winning cuisine, but who knew that Finland had ante-d up? I found out when I stepped foot into Chez Dominique that memorable night that Finland has raised the bar as far as 5 star dining. If you…
in Taste of the Town
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Helsinki Festival 2012 - Night of the Arts
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Rebecca Jennings
What began as a series of classical music concerts in the 1950's has transformed into a midsummer romp in the heart of Finland that includes contemporary pop and world music, dance, theatre, cinema and exhibitions. From August 17th to September 2nd, feed yourself the arts at the 24th annual Helsinki Festival.
One of many worldwide "White Nights" events, the Helsinki Festival celebrates the long days and nearly nonexistent nights at…
in Inside Scoop
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Feasting in Finland
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
It’s not Your Momma’s Cuisine!
Wild reindeer terrine with tart lingonberry jam. Earthy trumpet chanterelles in a wine reduction sauce over seasoned trout. Crispy buckwheat blinis with Russian pickles, honey and sour cream.
It's enough to give any culinary enthusiast warm and fuzzy goose bumps. Yet that's what makes dining in Finland such a delightful experience.
Simple yet sophisticated, anticipated yet surprising, locally grown, hunted and snared fare derived from…
in Eating Around
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Helsinki Samba Carnaval
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Aimee Lam
Are you ready for some samba, you know, colorful costumes and feathers in every color of the rainbow? No, I'm not talking about heading to Brazil, that's way too predictable. Everyone knows that Brazilians are experts at the samba - skimpily clad dancers and lots of hip swaying - but have you ever seen the Finns do it? Now you can, because just in case you miss the February 18th…
in Inside Scoop
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New York, NY
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Thom Meintel
DohYO @ YOTEL
Settle in on a cushy banquette at DohYO with a mango-ginger martini at arms length and study the playful murals that invite diners to experience the joyful energy at this one of a kind hotel restaurant. It's 10 p.m. and the place is buzzing with the who's who visiting New York City for the weekend. Their rendezvous this evening is the hotel du jour in Manhattan, Yotel,…
in Taste of the Town
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Denver, Colorado
by
Billie Frank
The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa
Photos by Steve Collins
From the minute you pull up to The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa and are greeted by the impeccably uniformed doorman, you know you are in the lap of luxury. The pampering at this Four Star, Four Diamond property starts at the door and continues throughout the stay.
Dating from 1892, the lobby of the Italian Renaissance building is richly…
in En Suite
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Beaver Creek, Colorado
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Billie Frank
The Osprey, A RockResort
Beaver Creek Resort is the perfect place for discerning travelers headed to the Colorado Rockies. The gated, luxury resort community offers a plethora of amenities for mountain getaways. Beaver Creek’s appeal is broad. The resort prides itself on its safe, family-friendly environment and variety of activities and programs for the younger set. Perhaps you’re looking for a place for a romantic weekend, a business-related event, a…
in En Suite
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Yantra Mat
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Darlene Gillard
Who hasn't experienced trouble falling asleep? We all have and then there's that awful feeling of fatigue. Coupled with the normal stress of every working day, it's a combo we want to avoid. Now there's a fast solution so you can be alert and ready for early morning meetings, which for me sometimes involves exhausting fashion shoots. But how about just getting through the day? The answer is a Yantra…
in Inside Scoop
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Australia Rail Travel
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Rachel Petzinger
The Ghan Wins “Best Train Journey in Australia”
No need to travel by kangaroo anymore when you visit Australia! The Ghan, an Australian transcontinental passenger railway has recently been crowned the "best train journey" in Australia by the Australian Traveler's Magazine Readers Choice Awards.
Named after the Afghan cameleers who once traveled this route, the Ghan begins its journey in Darwin and runs from the tropical splendor of the north…
in Inside Scoop
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Marionette Play in Central Park
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Victoria Brooke Markus
Sometimes we look back on our childhoods and hear nursery rhymes as clear as day, only to realize how truly old we are once new renditions of these classics debut. Remember when Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet? Well, now her great-great-great-great granddaughter is doing some of her own sitting - that is, babysitting ... for monsters.
Young-at-hearts and children of all ages will gather round to see "Little…
in Inside Scoop
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Direct Flights to Puerto Vallarta
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Victoria Brooke Markus
Margaritas, a mariachi band, and the sweet sunshine of Mexico. That's what the inaugural passengers enjoyed with Virgin America's first ever direct flight from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta, and they didn't even have to board the plane to get the booze and music. The San Franciscan gate-side fiesta celebrated the airline's newest nonstop service to two of Mexico's hottest vacation hotspots, Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit. Begun on December…
in Got You Covered
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Three Thieves Debuts On Cooking Channel
Robin Hoods of Wine Scour the Globe for Next Great Wine FindsPremiering 8pm ET January 27, 2011
NAPA, CALIFORNIA, January 19, 2011-Three Thieves, a new hour-long television special featuring three Robin Hoods of wine on a quest to unearth undiscovered wine gems from around the world, debuts January 27 on Cooking Channel. An entertaining and enlightening blend of wine, travel and food, the special stars Joel Gott, fifth generation west coast winemaker and restaurateur; Charles Bieler, wine innovator, explorer and New York hipster; and Roger Scommegna, serial entrepreneur, connoisseur, grape grower and hotelier.
"We steal from the vine and give to the thirsty because great wine belongs to everyone," says Thief Joel Gott. "Our mission is to travel the world in search of kick-ass wine we can get at a steal. Then we bottle it and bring it home."
Known for revolutionizing the wine industry by creating exceptional yet accessible wines from high-end varietals at absurdly low prices, the trio brings their maverick style to life in Three Thieves. For the special set in Chile, their mission is to find and bring home a wine that best represents the country's vast contrasting landscapes, cultures, foods and people.
"It's not about the most expensive or famous wines and vineyards," says Charles Bieler. "It's about the exploration, the passion that went into making it, and wines that over deliver. That's what gets me excited." In Chile, the Thieves navigate through backstreet watering holes, sample indigenous fare at marketplaces and savor haute cuisine from leading Chilean chefs as they learn how flavors influence the nation's wine. Their experiences lead them to Chile's best undiscovered vineyards where they select one magical wine to bring home.
Three Thieves is poised to do for the world of wine what Brew Masters did for beer. "A goal of the special is to empower viewers to be more confident about their wine choices in a fun, unassuming manner," says Thief Roger Scommegna. Aimed at wine, food and travel junkies, audiences will experience what it's like living a dream job spent traveling the world, eating great food and drinking luscious wine.
Tune in to Cooking Channel on January 27, 2011, for the premiere of Three Thieves at 8pm Eastern Time, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific. Check local listings for encore airings.
COOKING CHANNEL (www.cookingchanneltv.com) is an entertainment brand dedicated to today's passionate food lover. For food people, by food people, Cooking Channel is the answer to a growing hunger for more content devoted to food and cooking in every dimension from global cuisines to international travel, history and unconventional how-to's. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), which also owns and operates Food Network (www.foodnetwork.com), HGTV (www.hgtv.com), DIY Network (www.diynetwork.com) and Great American Country (www.gactv.com), is the manager and general partner.
Frixo is a road traffic reporting site and think it may be a useful resource for your readers. It provides users with live traffic information and gets updated every 3 minutes using various road sensors.
GoMiles is a new web startup that helps people take control of their frequent flyer miles, hotel points, car rental points and other loyalty program points, once and for all. It lets you track all your miles
on a single visual dashboard, and then enables you to drill down into each account to see more detailed information (like progress towards elite status, or expiration dates).
www.gomiles.com
Itsybid is a unique new travel auction website that offers luxury hotel rooms, vacation packages and destination experiences to winning bidders at an average discount of 75-95 percent.www.itsybid.com
