Writings

Briefs from various print and web-based outlets

Dining/Food

Early Risers

You may not notice them at first, but bite into a tiny leaf and your tastebuds will tingle from a burst of spice or spurt of sweetness.  Dainty, delicate and oh-so-delicious, micro-greens are a favorite of savvy chefs who use them to add an edge to an entrée, enhance an appetizer or to creatively color on any dish served by ritzy resorts, luxury cruise lines and restaurants bearing celebrity names.

Plucked before they reach full maturity, these tender young things, also known as “teen greens,” are larger than seedlings but smaller than baby greens.  Brightly colored, intensely flavored and rich in antioxidants, a little truly goes a long way so use these teeny greenies sparingly.

Fresh, hand-harvested gourmet micro greens are available from Cahaba Clubs Herbal Outpost in Odessa.  More than 3,500 pounds are grown hydroponically year round in a nutrient-rich, water solution that’s pesticide free.

Cahaba Clubs Herbal Outpost, 18625 Rustic Woods Trail, Odessa, FL 33556, (813) 792-1718, cahabaclub.com

Key Lime

Enjoy food and drinks with a twist at Lime, the latest creative concept
cooked up by the duo that brought Ciccio & Tony¹s, Water and Daily Eats to SoHo¹s esteemed Restaurant Row.

At the new eatery, in the space that once housed Primadonna Trattoria, business partners James Lanza and Jeff Gigante shine the limelight on Brazilian and Mexican dishes that feature rotisserie-roasted chicken, pork and beef.

Diners may sip imported tequilas, savor baked chicken wings seasoned with a hint of lime, or chomp on chutney-accented ribs while watching sports on HD plasma TVs viewable from the restaurant¹s 130 seats.

No need to dress up but you’ll likely need to speak up to be heard above the cheers and chatter at this tropic-cool new spot.  If you can’t be vocal at least be a focal point - find a seat at the centerpiece margarita bar.

Exotic and tropical fruits help make the food as well as the mood. Look for lychee-flavored frozen drinks and mango mixed into salsas, as well as a colorful décor that boasts faux lime trees. 915 S. Howard Ave., Tampa; 813-868-5463, ciccioandtonys.com.

Ciao Now or Continental Devine

Whether cars, stars or clothes, anything Italian is bound to be sleek, sexy and sophisticated.  Downtown St. Petersburg’s Bella Brava is no exception.  The tony trattoria, more piazza than pizzeria, truly takes wining and dining to a new level.  Outgoing diners opt for the second story balcony while insiders book the Chef’s Table for a five-course meal matched with wines, all personally selected by Chef Mario Luigi Maggi.  “It’s noisy, fun and the place to be for anyone, whether in their 20s or their 60s,” said Dyce Craig who collaborated on the concept with business partner Michael Venturo.

515 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; 727-895-5515 or bellabrava.net

Good Feedback

Mary Lou Janson

Tampa’s dine-amic duo James Lanza and Jeff Gigante have no reservations when it comes to creating untested or unusual restaurant concepts.  Since opening Ciccio & Tony’s on Howard Avenue a decade ago, the business partners have developed four distinctly different eating environs that seem to equally stimulate appetites as well as sales.

The two joined forces in Florida after meeting in Manhattan where Lanza owned and operated several successful restaurants he personally designed.  Gigante, a former Tallahassee pizzeria proprietor and theater major at Florida State University, moved to New York to pursue an acting career and began working for Lanza between auditions and acting gigs.

Initially hired by Lanza as a server, Gigante later joined the baking staff before combining his customer service and food preparation skills to move into restaurant management.  Working late nights and weekends at the various restaurants, as well as in various plays and productions, took their toll so Gigante opted to move to Tampa, open a restaurant in collaboration with Lanza and selectively act as the right roles come along.

From that first joint venture, a diverse mix of chic eats has emerged and expanded beyond the trendy borders of South Tampa’s SoHo to North Tampa and Pinellas County.  There’s the cool, contemporary look of Water where sushi makes a splash.  Daily Eats with its retro décor and comfort food caters to the healthy who hunge for turkey burgers to hedonistic appetites that go for kobe beef burgers.  The latest restaurant-with-a-twist is Lime, which boasts Brazilian and Mexican dishes, big screen sports and a centerpiece Margarita Bar.

“We love what we do and believe in what we do,” said Lanza.  “The timing is right because consumers are more sophisticated about food now.  We appeal to the person who cares about what they eat.”

Lanza provides the inspiration for new concepts.  Gigante oversees operations to execute the ideas.  Executive chef and partner Luis Flores helps create the cuisine that fits with each theme, freeing Lanza to devote some time to trading commodities and afford Gigante the opportunity to occasionally appear in independent films and national ad campaigns.

Still it’s quite likely either owner may be found at the door or on the floor any place, any time, personally tasting the food, greeting guests or even mixing a cocktail if needed.

“Each night is like being in a show.  The lights go on, the people come out and we are in the spotlight,” said Gigante.  “It’s exciting to launch a new concept but you have to put it out there every night to bring it to fruition.”

Travel/Tourism

2006 Tampa Bay Destination Guide

Arts, Culture & History

There’s an art to enjoying the rich cultural offerings of Tampa Bay.  Its transformation from a small, swampy village to a multi-cultural metropolis owes much to the immigrants from around the world who settled Ybor City, the foresight and fortune of railroad baron Henry B. Plant and many other colorful characters, from treasure-hording pirates to Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.  Learn more about those vagabonds and visionaries at local museums or enjoy the area’s true treasures, the wealth of visual and performing arts that regularly range from priceless paintings and public art displays to original plays and professional opera.

So make your travel plans to Tampa Bay and start making the kinds of memories that last forever.  Take the time.  Make the time. Because the time you spend in Tampa Bay could be the time of your life.

Real Estate

Commercial

For nearly 40 years The Sembler Company has broken ground and broken rules when selecting sites and creatively assembling tenants for its commercially viable, visually appealing retail projects.  The St. Petersburg-based company has a national reputation for its successful approach to creating shopping experiences in locations and ways that other developers don’t - or won’t – attempt.

Construction

Web Content

Buildings take a beating.  Nothing prevents high winds and torrential rains from wrecking havoc on whatever lies in their path.  But something can be done to minimize - and possibly prevent – damage caused by these destructive forces.  Renaissance Steel LLC is at the forefront of developing and designing a safer, stronger way to build.

When wall frames and roof trusses are made from wood, the beams are at risk of breaking, bending, rotting or warping.  Renaissance Steel was founded because it recognized the need for better buildings.  It’s committed to improving how walls, roofs and floors are constructed so they can withstand devastation from natural disasters, pest infestations and other structural foes.

But the visionaries of this new venture don’t simply sell steel.  By merging premium materials with state-of-the-art design, they’ve developed a superior building system.  It begins with the strength of steel.  Then precision engineering designs construction components that fully utilize steel’s durability.  The results?  Computer-crafted, scientifically tested building materials that meet - or exceed – government and industry mandated guidelines.

Renaissance Steel is the sole provider of this patented line of high quality, easily installed floor-to-ceiling building solutions.

Build with confidence.  Invest with the best.  Renaissance Steel.

Profiles

Ken Stoltenberg thought his career was in ruins.  Struggling to learn Greek and play bass guitar with his new wave college band the “Mental Custodians,” the University of Delaware student planned to hit pay dirt as an archeologist.

Lack of funds forced him to quit one credit short of an art history minor, collect his degree and take the first job offered.  Instead of uncovering ancient artifacts, he unearthed suitable locations for supermarkets.

The 37-year-old South Tampa resident still scouts locations but now it’s to break ground on groundbreaking building projects he develops with Mercury Advisors business partner Frank Bombeeck.  Their first collaborative effort, the multi-purpose urban complex called Grand Central at Kennedy, borders Tampa’s downtown and Channel District.  It combines offices, condos, restaurants, retailers, arts and entertainment within a single block.  Artists Unlimited and Stageworks Theater, local non-profits, will occupy prime street level locations in the project that he’s provided rent-free for at least 20 years.

The non-traditional project initially unsettled lenders so Soltenberg secured financing through a major foreign bank.  “It was a bit too much for some people to get their arms around,” he recalled.  “Urban living is coming to the Southeast in a big way.  This is a trend we saw about three or four years ago.”  Buyers soon snapped up the nearly 400 condos selling from the $140,000s and retail prospects now eagerly return calls.

“You can live here, go to an art exhibit or play, have dinner and enjoy a couple of pops afterward without every having to get into your car.  That’s a pretty cool evening,” he said.  “If you can make this kind of an investment, you can leave a little on the table to do a little for the arts.”

Hunt for Adventure

Skydiving, rock scaling, underwater cave exploration.  It’s all in a day’s work for South Tampa’s Bruce Hunt.  The affable 47-year-old and author of  “Adventure Sports in Florida” and “Visiting Small Town Florida,” relishes the thrills – but not the chills – of his job.  Whether driving cars at speeds exceeding 100 mph or silently soaring through the skies in a hang glider, there is careful training and preparation.  His wanderlust has taken him to the top of Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world’s highest waterfall.  From more than 3,000-foot above ground, Hunt began to freefall towards the trees below, allowing 10 precious seconds to pass before opening his parachute and safely landing. Not all adventures end well.  He fell from a cliff face during a 1987 rock climb.  That left the otherwise healthy Tampa native with a punctured lung, fractured ribs, broken shoulder and crushed ankle.  These days Hunt relishes softer adventures that introduce him to the pleasures and treasures of Florida's small towns and provide the creature comforts of Bed & Breakfast inns.  “For me it's always been less about the adrenalin and more about the challenges and new experiences--figuring out how to do these things and do them well,” he said.  “When I find something that intrigues me, I immerse myself in it and try to learn everything I can about it… I've always kept a list of things I intend to do in my life, and so far I've managed to put a check mark next to about two-thirds of them."

Travel Articles

BC-SPE-Summer Travel-Castles, 0985 for Associated Press

By Mary Lou Janson

You don’t have to live like a king to vacation like one. Throughout Europe, authentic castles are being converted into luxury hotels where guests may overnight, enjoy spa treatments and even dine with royalty.   

Despite their formidable appearance and medieval architecture, today’s no hassle castles feature all sorts of conveniences that put them on par with any modern hotel. In addition to indoor plumbing, climate control, fine linens and gourmet food, guests may be treated to heated towel racks and afternoon tea service. And, for the ultimate in royal treatment, fairytale-like touches such as personal valets, on-site helipads for airport transfers and private golf courses, or proximity to prestigious courses like St. Andrews in Scotland, can complement your castle stay.   
But the real appeal of drifting off to sleep in such a manor has more to do with the colorful past of these striking structures than with any creature comforts.   
“Castles are fun and can help to complete the travel experience. Why stay in a standard, generic hotel room when you can sleep in Mary Queen of Scot’s bedchamber or peer through arrow slit windows overlooking a drawbridge or moat?” said Pamela Barrus, who’s visited royal residences since the 1970s. “Accommodations represent a good part of the vacation budget and should offer more than just a place to lie down and shut one’s eyes. Castle hotels also offer insight into the history and culture of the region,” added Barrus, author of “Dream Sleeps: Castle and Palace Hotels of Europe (Carousel Press).”   

Like any lodging, Europe’s castles come in all shapes, sizes and locations and offer a range of rates for a single night or a king’s ransom to book an entire just for yourself or a group. Although constructed centuries ago, these former fortresses have kept up with the times to accommodate travelers with disabilities, families with small children and even guests requiring computer access. A moat doesn’t have to equate with remote. These historic hotels have been renovated to keep pace with modern day travel demands, from providing wheelchair access and offering children’s menus for families traveling with little ones, or self-catering options for those preferring to prepare their own foods, to stocking electronic games and DVDs.   
Of course, sleeping on a king-sized bed in a room once occupied by a king is part of the attraction but there are numerous ways to spend time.  Some escape to castles for romantic reasons and others to enjoy reuniting with family or friends.  Rest and relaxation can be a prime reason but there’s also a surprising array of activities to enjoy whether the castle overlooks the French countryside or a Scottish moor.

Garden tours, biking and hiking are generally available.  Some elite retreats even provide heated pools.  Others can arrange trout fishing in nearby lakes, balloon rides, dining in a dungeon, archery instruction and clay pigeon shoots.

Whether reading in front of a roaring fire, leisurely strolling through the stables or trying to explore every corner of the estate, travel experts agree that the hospitality and service are what guests need to feel right at home within the castle walls.

“We make the castle your home for the duration so it has the services of a five star hotel.   But we tailor it for the client so they can have breakfast in the garden, dinner at midnight or afternoon tea on a local beach.  We operate the castle to the guests’ rules,” said Lavinia Dowling, general manager of Myres Castle, a 16th century Scottish castle.
As plush and posh as certain castles may be, the novelty of hobnobbing with royalty can be a significant part of the appeal.   

When David and Jan Hooks “overknighted” at Thornbury Castle in South Gloucestershire, England a few years ago, they were delighted to discover they would be bedding down inside a castle turret. “The key to our room must have weighed five pounds. When we walked upstairs, we discovered we were staying in a turret that overlooked gardens. There were hidden doorways and a fireplace with a serving of port set up,” recalled David Hooks, a real estate consultant with offices in Chicago and Clearwater, FL. “We had cocktails with the owner, the baron of the estate, who shared the history of the castle and the area. Where else can you have drinks with a duke or eat with an earl in the grand dining room? It was fabulous.”   
Still, it’s wise to approach a stay in a castle with a sense of humor and an appreciation for adventure.   

Barrus points out that some castles may be far removed from major cities making it difficult and time-consuming to commute between the two. And because they weren’t originally built to be over-sized guesthouses, the narrow halls, winding staircases and rounded, rather than flat, walls common to castles can be disconcerting.
“I would advise people to put aside American pre-conceived notions about overnight stays. Think distinctive, lasting memories, not fast food and mini-bars. We were sleeping in history,” said Michael Kilgore, who arranged to be married in a castle online through www.scottish-wedding-consultants.com. He and wife Kathleen traveled from Tampa, Fl. recently to exchange vows at Edinburgh’s Borthwick Castle.

A spokesman for Celtic Castles, in internet-based castle booking company representing dozens of such properties throughout the U.K. and Ireland, reports interest and demand in castle accommodations, as well as the number converted to hotels, are growing. Traffic on the www.celticcastles.com website reportedly averages five million hits per month.
“Our youngest customer was 13 years old. He booked a castle for his parents and himself because he wanted to stay in a castle. Many seniors enjoy bringing their extended families back to the ancestral homeland as well,” said Roger Masterson, managing director of Celtic Castles.  While location, authenticity and price should be considered before booking any castle, the best advice Masterson offers first timers is to “take lots of pictures and absorb the history.”

BC-SPE-Summer Travel-Spa, 0994 for Associated Press

By Mary Lou Janson

A television show about celebrity spa resorts first convinced Barbara Pirie to find out what she was missing. Twenty years later, the New Jersey resident regularly travels the country to have heated rocks placed on her back or get massaged while floating in warm waters.

“I don’t look for a health spa to lose or manage my weight. This is pure luxury and indulgence in a setting that is unmatched,’ said the retired educator who regularly visits resorts and destination spas to take treatments. Since discovering the 24,000-square-foot Mii amo Spa overlooking Boynton Canyon from Sedona’s Enchantment Resort, Pirie has faithfully returned, typically with friends or family members. She’s currently planning her seventh visit.

Luxury hotels must keep pace with the travelers’ changing tastes and saps are catching on. Now that state-of-the art sleeping quarters and meals prepared by celebrity chefs are de rigueur, the focus has shifted to fitness. On-premise, full service spas and wellness centers opening, or expanding, to accommodate a growing demand for upscale workout facilities and beauty treatments. 
“The spa experience is quickly becoming part of the whole luxury hotel experience,” said Marshall Calder, senior vice president of marketing for the Leading Hotels of the World, a luxury hospitality organization representing more than 420 hotels, resorts and spas in 80 countries. “It has become as essential as a restaurant.”

A 2005 survey by that organization asked guests who have stayed at its 420 member properties about their spa habits. Of the 3,500 respondents, 59 percent said they specifically arranged vacations that included a spa experience and nearly half – 49 percent – ranked the presence of a spa at a hotel as “important.” More than a third revealed they visit spas three to fives times a year, while 16 percent make spa trips more than 10 times a year. This marked the first year for the survey.

“There is no doubt that the presence of a full service spa in a hotel or resort helps business and increases the length of stay,” Calder said. In addition to increased number of spas opening at hotels, savvy properties are maximizing the time guests spend at these facilities by marketing multi-day packages and designing spacious, private treatment rooms where an entire day’s worth of pampering and polishing may be enjoyed.

In keeping with the elegant environment of a luxury property, these splashy, flashy new spas are spacious and gracious, a far cry from the modest workout rooms and hair styling salons of old. Instead of stationary bikes there are group spinning classes. In addition to basic facials, options include non-surgical facelifts. Along with whirlpools are seawater massage beds and warm waterfalls.
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is among those at the forefront of spa/hotel development boom, offering spa experiences at most of its existing properties and including this component at all of its new hotels.  

“What we are doing is developing spa and wellness centers with many ‘wow’ experiences,” said Ingo Schweder, who oversees 13 existing spas and seven others currently under construction as group spa director of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. “Years ago people simply wanted a good spa treatment.  Now they want a variety of experiences that can be combined and personalized.”
Whatever the goal, stronger muscles or smoother skin, a Mandarin Oriental spa concierge works with guests to guide them through the myriad of choices available and, based on the amount of time the guest allows, creates a program particularly suited to that individual.

“One day it could be pilates training followed by a steam bath and the next day a skin refining treatment followed by yoga,” Schweder said. “Guests are not only into pampering but also aging prevention and de-toxing. They want a complete spa service that helps them to stay healthier for long periods of time.”
To accommodate the staff, space, products and services required for everything fromThai massage to weight training, the Mandarin Oriental is creating in larger spas than ever before. Similar facilities that once totaled 12,000 square feet now encompass 15,000- 20,000 square feet.  Driving the development of these bigger, specialty centers is the demand by hotel guests who have the wealth to better look after their health.

“In general, today’s travelers are healthier, wealthier and better educated than any other previous generation,” observed Schweder. “They have more disposable income than any generation before and are comfortable spending some of that on themselves.”

Travelers who don’t typically take time to patronize spas or frequent day spas at home are among those eagerly spending part of their vacation relaxing and rejuvenating at spas. And to ensure they will blissfully wrapped, rubbed and scrubbed to their heart’s delight, appointments are often booked before ever leaving home.

“We have guests seeking escape from their hyper-active lifestyles. Increasingly they are planning ahead, reviewing information online and making appointments in advance instead of squeezing the spa into their vacation once they are here,” said Becky Dreisbach, executive vice president of the Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club at Disney World Resort in Orlando. “Many of them come to the spa daily to fully experience the therapeutic and relaxing element of the many different treatments offered.”

Procedures and programs may vary depending on the destination and the spa.  Some will focus on holistic healing while others specialize in addressing stress.  Whether trying a treatment for the first time or returning to a favorite spa, the experience should be one that lingers long after the visit has ended, experts agree.    

“There is a spa experience for everyone. They come in more shapes, sizes, philosophies and experiences than you can ever imagine. But whatever the spa experience, it should be fun and unexpected. It should leave you feeling more connected and your life more in balance,” said Jim Root, spa director at Miraval Life in Balance Resort in Southern Arizona and board member of the International Spa Association. “This is the gift people can give themselves that they take back home with them and share.”

“Exploring the Highs - And Lows - of Maui"

by Mary Lou Janson

HARD TIMES GIVE WAY TO GOOD TIMES
AS DENVER EMERGES AS A MAJOR TRAVEL DESTINATION
By Mary Lou Janson

Denver, Colorado:
Rocky Mountains and rocky times have long been two of Denver's defining features.  The Mile High City still stands in the shadow of its signature peaks but economic strangleholds that kept a tighter rein on the city than a rodeo rider breaking in a new horse are a thing of the past.
Denver, where east meets west at an almost perfect U.S. midpoint, is in the midst of a dizzying development boom that has enough momentum to move this former Wild West outpost into the big leagues among U.S. tourism cities.
Already popular for its proximity to great snow skiing resorts and hot hiking spots, Denver is gaining a reputation as a major  destination in itself, a place to stay and play.
The city has managed to remake itself with a more diversified economy, an enviable cultural richness, a downtown residential base, and a crowd-pleasing line-up of professional sports franchises, including 1998’s Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos.

"For the last few years, we have been a gateway destination, but now we are coming into our own," observed Rich Grant, director of communications for the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.  "Travelers looking for new ways to spend their valuable vacation time know how accessible we are, with the eighth busiest airport in the U.S.  And, as far as costs go, we are very reasonable."

Add to that a lengthy, growing list of fun things to do and Denver is the destination du jour.

No overnight success story, Denver has definitely paid its dues.  The days of silver and gold mining fortunes--and misfortunes--are long gone.  Recessionary times and the devastating roller coaster rise and fall of energy prices took their toll.  The only coaster Denverites ride these days is at downtown's Elitch Gardens Amusement Park.
Denver's image once suffered from poor air quality, an airport that became a national joke for its faulty baggage sorting system, and a real estate market fueled by foreclosures.
The skyline no longer is smothered in smog and the airport is regarded as an architectural landmark--as well as a safe place for checked luggage.  The downtown is bursting with new hotel and commercial development as well as warehouses transformed into high-priced condominiums that are selling well.

The exuberant 90s have eclipsed what Grant describes as the hopelessly depressed 80s.

A diversified economy has helped, blending businesses ranging from telecommunications to tourism more heavily into the mix.  Planning has played a part, bringing people back to the city center with popular residential and recreational developments.  And a willingness to pay to play has funded an abundance of parks and arts venues that make Denver the envy of many contemporary urban rivals.  A voter-mandated sales tax generates $25 million for scientific and cultural facilities serving the six-county area that encompasses Denver.

Mix in popular brewpubs, some high profile retailers, and a baseball complex that keeps crowds pouring into the downtown core, and you have some of the main ingredients of Denver’s success.

"There has been a remarkable turnaround in the last eight years," observed John Hickenlooper, CEO of Denver’s Wynkoop Brewing Company.  "Denver is becoming an attractive destination."

Hickenlooper and his partners made hops history a decade ago by bringing the first brewpub to the Rockies.  Today, its 5,000-plus barrel annual production also ranks their venture as the nation’s largest brewpub.  But, more important than tasty beer, and lots of it, Wynkoop breathed new business life into a struggling neighborhood.  Since opening in 1988 in what was viewed as an undesirable part of downtown, Wynkoop triggered the transformation of aging loading docks into lively late night reveling spots in the city's newest entertainment district, LoDo, or Lower Downtown.
The 66,000-square-foot brick brewpub continues to draw hungry, thirsty hordes to its restaurant, upstairs pool and dart emporium, and downstairs comedy club.  Wynkoop also inspired more than a half dozen more brewpubs to open in LoDo.

The competition doesn't seem to have hurt Wynkoop, which rings up sales of $6.5 million a year, Hickenlooper reported.  And sales have continued to grow by a respectable 10 percent annually, he added.  He credits the strong year-round patronage from local residents for keeping his business, and other LoDo ventures, healthy.

What’s happening in Denver is the result of many different factors that successfully converged, explained Hickenlooper.  He points to numerous downtown housing projects, ranging from affordable to high end, that have helped to make it "fun and cool" to live there.

"What we have here is a true village.  It's not just for the elite but offers a diversity of cultures, incomes, and people," he added.

Another big boost came in 1995 when Coors Field, a $215-million red-brick beauty of a baseball park, opened in the same dowdy warehouse district.  The stadium, with its own on-site brewpub overlooking the diamond, plus a decorative arch of whimsical baseballs, has been a people magnet, pulling record-breaking crowds of baseball fans to watch the Colorado Rockies.

Coors Field is commonly credited for cementing the success of LoDo, a 26-block sector that also boasts art galleries, a Tattered Cover bookstore, rooftop restaurants and sports bars.

"I think putting the stadium downtown really turned it all around for Denver," said Deborah Dix, a long time resident and director of public relations for the Brown Palace Hotel.
But LoDo is only part of the reinvention effort.  Though Denver's streets are lined with enough dining and entertainment options to make a head spin and a wallet thin, the city is far from content to stop there.  Still to come are an aquarium and a new hockey/basketball facility that will enhance downtown's fine museums, attractions, and performance venues, all popular stops for visitors and locals alike.

Construction has already begun on the city's newest sports center.  The aquarium will be a first for the Rocky Mountain states when it opens in 1999.  And retail superstars like Nike Town and a Virgin Records mega-store will add to an already vigorous commercial community.

Even long-standing Denver landmarks have been getting into the act.

The Brown Palace, an elegant century-old lodging located on a distinctive triangular lot in the heart of the business district, has been the hotel of choice for everyone from the Beatles to President Clinton.  Brown Palace is putting the finishing touches on a multi-million-dollar facelift.  And the Adam's Mark Hotel, in a major expansion and renovation program, recently boosted downtown’s room inventory by about 1,200 units.

In 1997 Elitch Gardens built new rides and a 10-acre water park, an estimated $25 million expansion, adjacent to LoDo.  Other major improvements include the permanent Prehistoric Journey exhibit at the Denver Museum of Natural History, which ranks among the biggest dinosaur blockbusters around and the Denver Zoo’s Primate Panorama habitat housing some 29 species of gorillas and other endangered primates.

The transformation has downtown bustling with people, from the morning runners and bikers using the city’s celebrated network of paved paths to the after-dark crowds on foot, in buses, and in horse-drawn carriages.  All of this activity keeps Denver lively late into the night.

Along with heavier traffic flows and increasingly harder to find downtown parking spaces, residents are concerned that Denver may lose some of its small-town charm.  Hickenlooper relishes the fact that the city has flourished on "mom and pop" businesses rather than national chains and that city officials are still on a first name basis with local business people.

"I like the fact that I can walk into local restaurants and see the owners at work there," he noted.  "I think we are a vibrant second tier city.  Any growing organism, like a city, creates its own issues.  The strength of a community is measured by its ability to resolve those issues."

Close Encounters Along Northern California’s Lost Coast
By Mary Lou Janson

My new-to-backpacking body ached from the more than 40-pound load I had strapped on four hours earlier.  My feet were so sore that it was a struggle to lurch along the dirt path.
Conversation between Maureen and myself that flowed so easily for most of the morning faded to an occasional observation or quick question.

Trailing the other members of our seven-woman troop, about a half-mile still separated the two of us from the end of the path where our group had parked cars before embarking on a three-day backpacking trip.

We were finishing a 4-1/2-mile trek through Sinkyone Wilderness State Park when, suddenly, we were eye-to-eye with an elk herd.  About a dozen Roosevelt elk were contentedly munching on foliage along the edge of the trail, but directly ahead were four husky bulls.

For a few seconds we all froze, the four males and the two of us.  Not wanting to draw attention to ourselves, Maureen and I remained still, whispering “What do we do now?” while stealing occasional glances at the powerful looking creatures.  No dainty deer, these males can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

Add to that weight advantage a pair of sturdy antlers growing from their heads and you can understand why we were suddenly in no hurry.  Warnings from rangers when we first arrived at the park alerted us that it was mating season, a time when the male elk are testy and territorial and don’t take kindly to other males who try to woo away their women.
We witnessed just how serious bulls can be about protecting their territory when we first arrived at the trailhead.  While unloading coolers and stuffing gear and supplies into bloated backpacks, we were under the watchful eye of a group of elk reclining close by.  All was well until another buck arrived uninvited.  Suddenly both males bellowed and charged one another.  Using their antlers as battering rams, they clashed and bashed until the interloper withdrew in defeat.
Park officials noted that elk “in rut” might be dangerous.  Counseled to keep our distance, we had cautiously avoided any close encounters with elk until now.

Fortunately, as Maureen and I watched, waited and wondered what to do, the creatures cleared the trial, gradually drifting off in different directions.  Worried that they might return, we decided to make our move.  Cautiously we crept past the elk enclave, keeping our heads down and eyes averted.  As we pulled even with the group still leisurely lunching off to the side, Maureen picked up speed and power walked away with me hot on her heels.

It was an anxious end to a perfect weekend.  Hiking California’s Lost Coast had appealed to my wanderlust for some time.  The name alone intrigued me enough to borrow a backpack, sign up for a group hike and head out on my first real wilderness experience.

Prepared for everything from rain and cold to bugs and sun, I packed enough clothes, toiletries, water purification tablets, and energy snacks, such as carrots, cheese and Clif Bars, to get me through three days and two nights.  The backpack quickly filled even without the sleeping bag, inflatable mattress and group food and gear we had to help carry.  Our leader and camp cook, Carole Latimer, provided tents, cooking pots and utensils, and food for breakfasts and dinners.  For more than 20 years Latimer’s guiding company, “Call of the Wild, has specialized in offering a range of wilderness adventures for women.

Originally set for spring, weather forced our Lost Coast trip to be postponed until late September.  The adventure began with a four-hour drive north from the San Francisco Bay area to Richardson Grove State Park, where I met my campmates for the first time.  We pitched tents by the light cast from a campfire and flashlights, talked about our earlier camping experiences and careers for about an hour, then finally tried to fall asleep despite the roar of trucks on nearby Highway 101.
The lure of the wilderness, promise of warm, dry weather and need to brush up on, or acquire, backpacking skills had brought us together from various parts of California and Nevada for this particular trip.  The group included two college students, a founding member of a Silicon Valley start-up company, an accountant who works for the Nevada Gaming Commission, an attorney with California’s Prison Parole Board, myself and Latimer.

This trip would only cover about a quarter of the more than 22 miles of trail that run along the ridge of the Lost Coast, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

After a hasty breakfast and quick clean up of the campsite, we drove to Garberville and continued west through Briceland and Whitethorn enroute to the trailhead at Bear Harbor.
As our caravan of cars snaked its way along the steep, narrow, curving dirt road that leads to the Sinkyone Wilderness visitors center, the thick fog that usually covers this coast began to thin.  By the time we paid park fees and parked at the trailhead, the sun was blazing against a blue sky.

That afternoon we marched over more than four miles of some of the steepest trails I have ever scaled.  We worked our way through stands of old growth redwood trees, climbing slowly and strenuously to reach sunny bluffs hundreds of feet above the coast.  From those vistas, we drank in views of jagged cliffs and beautiful blue-green waters that make this coast comparable to parts of Hawaii.  I was torn between keeping up with the group and taking time to simply gaze at the towering trees and raw coastline hundreds of feet below.
We reached Wheeler Camp just in time to gather wood, purify water hauled from a nearby creek, and set up tents before the blue sky burst into bands of gold and pink as the sun began to set.  Huddled around a campfire, we greedily devoured tossed salad, hot bread and pesto-coated pasta.

For two nights we enjoyed an oceanfront campsite at Wheeler Beach.  The Lost Coast is aptly named for its remote nature.  Day hikes are possible but backpacking allows enough time to fully appreciate the beauty of this well-preserved area.
Deer nibbled on grass nearby as the sun set over the black sand beach at our campsite.  The bright light of a full moon, howling winds and waves hitting the beach made sleep a little difficult but I finally slipped into a deep slumber.  I slept so soundly that when one of the tents was pulled free from its stakes by the wind, I didn't even here the other campers give chase to capture it.

Saturday morning half of us set out on another hike while the others rested and relaxed by the beach.  This time we traded our big bundles for compact daypacks.  Even with the lighter loads, the trail was so steep it was impossible to breathe and talk.  We broke for lunch at another black sand beach where we hoped to spot sea lions.  But that day we had the beach entirely to ourselves except for a few birds.

Watching the campfire flames during our final meal, it was evident that the Lost Coast had left a lasting impression on all of us.  Since the time when Sinkyone Indians first occupied this area, there has been sporadic activity, ranging from logging operations to farmlands.  Traces of railroad right-of-ways remain but the area is blissfully free of everything but the most rudimentary facilities such as the occasional outhouse.

We began our weekend as spirited strangers, eager for a new experience.  We finished the trip sharing a special bond that can only come from discovering such a dramatically beautiful spot.  When recalling our weekend, images of the ancient redwood trees, foaming blue-green water, stunning rock formations and black sand--and even the elk--come rushing back.  Memories of sore backs and tired feet are already forgotten.

Hitting the Road with our Housecat

By Mary Lou Janson

When you own a pet, going away is typically preceded by a guilt trip.
Before my husband, Lee, and I leave on one of our frequent business excursions, our cat burrows inside our bags, as if trying to stow away and travel with us.
Even after the bags are zipped, locked and dragged to the front door, Jasmine doesn’t give up.  She attempts to hitchhike by leaping to the top of the heap and holding on until we pry her off.

Just before locking up the house, I spend a few, final minutes assuring the cat that we will only be away for a short while.  I try to convey to her that Diane, our friend and cat caretaker, will keep her company.  I know the cat can’t understand but at least it makes me feel better.
So when a chance to take the cat on the road with us came along, we pounced on it.  An invitation to spend the night at a nearby pet-friendly hotel presented what seemed to be the, pardon the pun, purr-fect opportunity.
After consulting with Lisa, a friend who has traveled throughout Florida with her two kitties, I felt ready to hit the road with our green-eyed, black-haired housecat.
First we needed a few basic items.  Staff at the neighborhood pet-supply store suggested adding a collar and nametag to Jasmine’s wardrobe as well as a leash and harness that would loop around her midsection and neck.  Since she’d never worn anything around her neck, I selected a lightweight collar held together by Velcro.
The leash and harness were a one-size-fits-all set but the harness looked too snug on her.  Half the battle was just trying to get the loops around her head and belly.  Confident that the pet carrier would keep her safely confined during transfers from house to car and into the hotel, I decided to discard the leash and started packing an overnight bag. 
Food, water bowl, cat treats, one catnip-filled felt mouse, a small towel and litter box seemed to cover all of her needs.  At the last minute, I tossed in some paper towels and plastic garbage bags.

The back seat of our two-door car quickly filled.  The litter box fit snugly on the floor and her carrier covered more than half of the seat.  I crunched into the remaining space thankful the drive would take less than two hours.
As we pulled out of the driveway I wondered whether cats could get carsick.  As a youngster, I slept through many family trips thanks to the medication my mother gave me to keep me from constantly begging dad to pull the car over or quickly find a restroom.  I knew the warning signs of queasiness for humans but wasn’t sure what to look for in cats.
Traffic across the Bay Bridge was heavy, forcing us to slog along, stopping and starting for more than a half-hour before we made it to the tollbooth.  Jasmine tentatively tried stepping out of the carrier but the stop-and-go motion made it impossible for her to keep balanced so she stayed curled up inside.

One of our biggest questions about her ability to adapt was soon answered when she cautiously crawled out long enough to visit the nearby litter box.
Of course, the car needed a little airing out after her excursion but we were relieved that, well, that she was relieved.
As I dressed for the drive that morning, a casual black cotton dress I had not worn in quite a while caught my eye from the back of the closet.  It wasn’t long before the appropriateness of my attire proved itself.
Once we cleared the bridge and hit Highway 101 that would take us to Palo Alto, we were still more than an hour’s drive from the hotel.
Suddenly our little cat began making a big mess.
Without warning, she threw up in the carrier and bailed to seek refuge in my lap.  But after making a whole other kind of mess there, she escaped to the top of the litter box.
While Lee continued to drive and keep fresh air pouring in through the windows, I hustled to keep the car from becoming a toxic waste site.  The soiled towel along with dozens of used paper towels went into a garbage bag I sealed and set aside for disposal.  Fresh paper towels lined the bottom of the carrier, enticing Jasmine back inside the plastic container for the remainder of the ride.
A little water and a lot of rubbing got the black dress back into reasonable shape so that no one would suspect a thing, as long as they didn’t get close enough to detect the odor.
Fortunately our first floor room at the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel enabled us to park quite close to our room.  It was a relief not to have to carry the cat or litter box through a crowded lobby and into an elevator.
The newly renovated, recently re-opened property really knows how to pamper pets and welcomes ones weighing 25 pounds or less.  Toys, edible treats and a ceramic bowl were waiting for Jasmine when we entered the room but she was too busy burrowing underneath the bed to appreciate the gift.
The next 24 hours left us drained.  We made frequent trips to the room to check on the cat.  We confirmed, and re-confirmed, with the front desk to make sure no one would enter the room to turn down the beds or replace the towels unless we were there to make sure the cat did not escape. 
Thinking Jasmine would be exhausted after the day’s adventures, I hoped for a good night’s sleep for all of us.  This cat typically sleeps 20 out of 24 hours, but not that night.  She barely kept still.  We know because throughout the night she kept nudging our feet, walking across our chests and tugging at our hair.  
I think the ride back went much more smoothly.  I don’t remember much because I fell asleep draped over the pet carrier but Lee assures me that Jasmine made the trip without muss or fuss.  The remaining paper towels remained rolled up and unused.
We continue to talk about traveling with the cat and weigh the pros and cons of traveling by car or airplane.  We wonder how she might handle a longer trip and worry we would constantly be moving furniture and crawling around hotel floors with a flashlight trying to discover her hiding places.  The best plan for any future pet excursions may call for sedatives—-for me as well as Jasmine.