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Home Away From Home: The Madonna Inn

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:30:01 -0800

Looking for a kooky, kitschy hotel experience? Then check out San Luis Obispo's own Madonna Inn. This 51-year-old hotel is an absolutely unique experience for visitors, featuring an overwhelming pink color palette and rooms with themes including "Love Nest," "Caveman," and "Portugal."

If you're in the market for a unique wedding reception venue, the Madonna Inn can handle your reception. Fully equipped with a steak house, day spa, convention center, and bar, the Madonna Inn can supply all of your needs - especially if those needs involve gaping at the Swiss-Alps-meets-Old-West decor. One last piece of advice: don't forget to direct your male friends to the rocks and waterfall urinal if they need to take care of business - it's apparently a tourist must-see.

Take the full tour.

Get in Gear: Camp Inn Hydr8r on Sale

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:30:00 -0800

As the weather has gotten a bit chillier I have started wearing thin gloves during my runs after work with my husband. It's been great except that the gloves have made it hard to keep a grip on my water bottle, and last night I dropped it about four times. So today I have decided I need a hydration pack, especially since I am the type of runner that needs to stay constantly hydrated while running.

On my hunt for a hydration pack, I came across the Camp Inn Hydr8r Hydration Pack, which to my delight was on sale for $9.93! I am thrilled because I am not yet sure how much I am going to love running with something on my back so I don't want to invest a lot of money on a product that may not be the right solution for me. This particular hydration pack holds 100 ounces (or just under three liters), which means it won't be too heavy when it's full. I love that it comes in a bunch of fun colors, which means now my only issue is deciding which color I want.

Fit Traveler: Hilton Garden Inn's Stay Fit Kit

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Staying fit while traveling is important in keeping up your routine and staying with your exercise momentum. Luckily some hotels are making it easier than ever to workout while on the road.

The Hilton Garden Inn has created the Stay Fit Kit, which allows you to workout in the privacy of your guest room or in the fitness center. It offers an isometric and core body workout by accommodating three (3) areas of training: Yoga, Pilates, and Core. This kit includes: a Pilates band, a Yoga mat, strap and bricks, an 8 lb abs ball, 3 lb hand weights and a resistance rope.

The Stay Fit Kits are currently available for complimentary check-out at the front desk at every Hilton Garden Inn. Each Stay Fit Kit includes instruction cards that detail exercises for each piece of equipment. However, if you're not into self instruction, there is also in-room 25-30 minute fitness programming (available for purchase) to go along with the kit.

No more excuses, working out is truly getting easier than ever, anywhere.

iPod Touch As the New Concierge: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:45:14 -0700

When I head out on vacation (when I get the chance, anyway), I always choose a hotel that offers the most amenities to suit my techie tastes . . . and I think this would qualify as most geek-tastic of all: The Malibu Beach Inn is taking technology to a whole new level by issuing an iPod Touch to all of their guests at check-in equipped with a program called Hotel Evolution. Hotel Evolution enables them to order room service, schedule spa treatments, make reservations, or even have their dry cleaning sent out, all with a touch of the screen.

No more clunky TV check-outs or picking up a phone to call for room service! Although I'm digging the idea of having things so accessible with a standard-issue iPod Touch, I'm just wondering how realistic it is to ask people to carry not only their cell, MP3 player, and digital camera around, but to keep track of the hotel's iPod Touch! I can only imagine what the fee would be if you lost it. What do you think about the next step in "Hotel Evolution"?

Do You Have Stained Glass in Your Home?

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I spotted this charming window on a landing at The Inn at Shelburne Farms, and was taken with the way it diffused light. I think it lends a softness to the entire area.

'Wich of the Week: Sunny Chicken Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:04 -0700

Sandwiches stand out for different reasons, and it often has nothing to do with gourmet ingredients or fancy sandwich shops. Sometimes, a sandwich tastes good because of the memories it evokes - hence, the proverbial PB&J like mom used to make. Other times, it's more about the sandwich experience than the sammie itself, as is the case with this week's 'wich.I recently organized a goodbye get-together for some friends who are moving cross country. Taking advantage of a sunny evening, we headed to the Alpine Inn in Portola Valley, CA, south of San Francisco. This 150-year-old roadhouse has an enormous beer garden, cheap suds, and totally no-frills food that's perfect for picnic tables.

The divey joint is mostly known for greasy burgers served on flattened French rolls. The chicken sandwich was prepared pretty much the same way, except with chicken. While the soft, toasted roll was a nice touch, the most notable thing about this sandwich was the warm Summer evening and good friends surrounding it.

What sentimental sandwich experiences have you had lately? Share them and find out how to make my sunny chicken sandwich when you read more.

Sunny Chicken Sandwich
Inspired by the chicken sandwich at the Alpine Inn

Ingredients

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, butterflied and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 soft French roll
3 slices of tomato
3 slices of butter lettuce
Yellow mustard, to taste

Directions

Heat an outdoor grill or skillet to medium-hot. Grill chicken breast, turning once, until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes.
Slice the French roll in half horizontally, and spread yellow mustard on both sides.
Lay the grilled chicken on the bottom half of the roll, followed by the tomato slices and lettuce.
Reduce heat to low, and place the roll on the grill or skillet. Heat, turning once and flattening the sandwich with a spatula, for two minutes or until roll is lightly browned.
Cut in half and serve warm.

Makes 1 sandwich.

Print recipe with images | without images

Thank God for Headphones

GiggleSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:00:00 -0700

This Holiday Inn ad shows why it's important to have definable and secluded workspaces. (In case your cubicle partner likes to imitate whale sounds, for example!) In the absence of that, headphones do the trick, too. (Thanks, Ad Freak!)

Lindsay Keeps It Very Real in NYC

PopSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Lindsay Lohan joined friends yesterday for another walk and some shopping in NYC. She tried on and purchased a few things at the store Ina and later tweeted about loving the boutique. She and Ali later had dinner at the Waverly Inn, where they sat next to Diddy. LL's had a fun trip to the East so far with her weekend in the Hamptons, nights out in Manhattan, and even a cameo at the Inglourious Basterds screening. She also apparently found time to hang out with one of the stars of Bravo's NYC Prep, as her dad is said to be shopping around a reality show of his own with Jon Gosselin.

To see more LL just read more.

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Would You Pay $19 For a Hotel-Stay Without a Bed?

SavvySugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:31:51 -0700

Call it an end-of-Summer fire sale. From Aug. 16 to 31, San Diego's Rancho Bernardo Inn is offering extremely reduced prices on its rooms that typically cost more than $200. The "Survivor Package" becomes cheaper with every amenity a guest gives up, and a $19 nightly rate applies if guests forego breakfast, air conditioning, lights, sheets, and the bed. The hotel staff will go as far as to replace the bed and headboard with a tent.

So what's the draw? The bigger hotel amenities, like three swimming pools and a golf course, are available for guests to enjoy. The hotel is hoping the promotion will pay off down the road when patrons who enjoy their tented experience return for a later stay at full-price.

Madonna's In Better Health, Out With Jesus

PopSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Madonna stepped out with Jesus Luz last night for dinner at the Waverly Inn. She's been back in NYC since her scary horse accident in the Hamptons last weekend, though all seems to be well with her health-wise amid news she's already back to working out with her trainer, Tracy Anderson. It's good news that Madonna appears to be on the mend so that she can focus all her energy on her upcoming adoption appeal on May 4.

To see more of a healthy-looking Madonna just read more.

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Bauer-Griffin Online, INFDaily.com, and Wenn.com