Travel + Design, Author at Travel + Design

Food & Drink

Jon Bon Jovi launches Hampton Water Rose in Ontario

Jon Bon Jovi’s acclaimed Hampton Water is now available at LCBO locations across Ontario. This premium rose was created as a partnership between Jon Bon Jovi, Jesse Bongiovi and Gérard Bertrand to create a rosé, pale, fresh, aromatic and well-balanced to embody the spirit of the Hamptons. Travelling all the way to the Languedoc region in France to create this wine, Hampton Water uses only the finest grapes to create an elegant rose. First launched in 2018, Hampton Water has been rated 5 years in a row above 90 points by Wine Spectator magazine. What attracts wine enthusiasts first is the jewel-inspired bottle and graphic label, but after popping open a chilled bottle it is love at first sip. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvèdre that’s aged in oak barrels, it’s smooth and silky with juicy acidity and sunny aromas and flavours. This wine develops notes…

British Columbia

Stay at the Versante Hotel during your stopover in Vancouver

Conveniently located five minutes from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Richmond, the Versante Hotel brings luxury and relaxation to your stopover in Vancouver. For guests looking for a mid-flight break before embarking on a long-haul flight to Australia or Asia, the Versante Hotel is designed to help you recharge and refuel. For guests on the go, check in through the Versante App and connect with guest services throughout your stay. This 100-room property is both steps away from the Richmond Night Market and a short walk to the SkyTrain’s Bridgeport Station if you’re looking for a quick way to head to downtown Vancouver. However, with several on-site restaurants and a rooftop pool, after you check into this hotel you won’t want to leave. In the warmer months, the rooftop outdoor saltwater swimming pool and hot tub at the Versante Hotel are the perfect space for guests to lounge while plane spotting with…

Food & Drink

Check out the Giovane Caffè inside the Shangri-la Toronto

A fresh new entry to Toronto’s bustling café culture has arrive, with the opening of the Italian-inspired Giovane Caffè Toronto. Located on the lobby level of Shangri-la Hotel Toronto (188 University Ave), Giovane Caffè is inspired by the modern Italian coffee bar, offering a combination of classic Italian coffee drinks along with modern iterations likely to tempt even the strictest of espresso purists. At the dedicated coffee counter, espresso aficionados will have a new destination to pick up ‘caffè speciali’ and a thoughtfully curated selection of caffeinated beverages that includes delights such as mandorlatte and marocchino, among others. The caffè counter will also offer grab-and-go options such as yogurt with amarena cherries and granola; panini like the mortadella with provolone, pistachio pesto, arugula, pickled onion; a daily selection of pastries; and espresso-based beverages courtesy of a state-of-the-art Victoria Arduino Eagle One espresso machine. Giovane Caffè Toronto is the latest addition to the growing family of award-winning Canadian restaurant group Kitchen Table. “This is a very exciting…

Design

How to improve your sleep hygiene and get a rest better at night

TikTok has seen an insatiable uptick in both volumes of cleaning posts and interactions over the past 18 months. A New York Times writer even described the pleasure of indulging in organizational #cleantok content as “narcotic”. But how many of you have ever thought of cleaning up your sleep hygiene? If any of the following traits sound familiar: low energy levels, perpetually hungry, feeling cranky, waning motivation, trouble sleeping or concentrating, indecisiveness and headaches, it could be time to put your proverbial marigolds on and scrub up on your sleep hygiene. What is Sleep Hygiene? Sleep Hygiene is everything you should and shouldn’t do to make sure you get the quality slumber you need, and it starts way before you go to bed. Think about it like a high performance formula 1 car or athelete – everything that makes them so successful is fine tuned to a tee. Nothing is…

Design

How to protect and care for your skin in the summer

Every season has its own set of benefits and challenges when it comes to your skincare. However, one of the best things that you can do for your skin is to customize your skincare regime by the season. To help you glow all summer long, we spoke with the Director of Education at Dermalogica Canada, Lindsay Barras, to learn her tips on how to protect and care for your skin in the summer. What SPF should you use during the day? The best sunscreen that anyone can wear is one that they will use every day! Skincare companies have been able to create sophisticated sunscreen formulas with all different textures to suit all different skin types. Dermalogica’s Invisible Physical Defence is a pure physical filter sunscreen that deflects harmful UVA and UVB rays and can easily be blended into light and dark skin tones. Physical sunscreen filters sit on top…

Design

These front door colors will increase the value of your home

A statement-making front door can boost a home’s curb appeal and its value. Research from Zillow® finds that homes with slate blue or black front doors appeal to more recent and prospective buyers and could sell for a higher price. Conversely, pale pink and cement gray front doors could negatively impact a home’s value. This front door paint color analysis is based on a Zillow study of recent and prospective home buyers who were randomly assigned images of front doors painted one of 11 colors. The home’s interior was the same for all study participants. Each color received a score based on buyers’ perception of the home, likelihood of buying the home and the price they would be willing to pay for the home. National price premiums were calculated using the typical U.S. home value of $334,141. Homes with a front door painted slate blue — a chalky light blue-gray color — received the…

Home Decor

How to plant the perfect garden

Embrace the warm summer weather and the bright sunshine by planting your garden. Whether you have space for plant beds in the ground or growing a few herbs in a planter, gardening can be both an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. You’ll never forget the taste of the first vegetable you grew yourself. Here are some tips for making the most of your garden this summer. Start with the florals Picking the right flowers can really set the tone for the exterior of your home. Choose between pre-planted flowers, like the Home Depot Plant of the Year Mega Boom Passion Fruit Dahlia Planter, or arrange your own florals based on sunlight and your favourite blooms. Annuals are a great way to add some colour to your display, but for a low-maintenance garden that comes back every year, look into planting hearty perennials. You’ll want to also consider how much sunlight your…

Design

This SMASH + TESS x MEC jumpsuit will be your cottage evening essential

Smash + Tess has teamed up with Canada’s go-to outdoor retailer Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) to launch a one-of-kind Polartec fleece one-piece jumpsuit available in Green Teal and Dark Slate in sizes 3XS to 4X. Combining MEC’s outdoor heritage and Smash + Tess’s proven record in women’s fit and inclusive sizing, the limited-edition Fresh Air Fleece Jumpsuit is made for warming up after sunrise swims, perfecting your s’mores game, and scanning the night sky for shooting stars. Launching on both retailers’ websites and in MEC stores across Canada, this fleece jumpsuit is the ultimate in elevated camp comfort. The epitome of cozy, the jumpsuit is made from soft, bluesign®-approved Polartec Power Stretch fabric to keep up with the wildest campfire dance moves. It features a zip-up mock neck, long sleeves to ward off cold nights, and jogger legs cinched with an elastic hem. Side pockets and a cargo patch on the…

Ontario

Experience Niagara Falls at the Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station

Expanding on the Niagara Parks Power Station that opened last year, the Tunnel has opened to the public connecting their innovative landmark to a viewing platform at the base of Niagara Falls. Visitors to the Tunnel will descend 180 feet below the generator hall in a glass-enclosed elevator, observing the many underground floors of the station on their way down to the historic tunnel. For over a century, the power station’s spent waters flowed through this engineering marvel as it made its way back to the Niagara River. The one-of-a-kind experience offers guests a 2,200-foot-long journey through the enormous tunnel that leads to the exit portal where the water exited back into the Niagara River. There, a brand-new viewing platform has been constructed, extending out into the river to provide never-before-seen panoramic views of Niagara Falls and the lower Niagara Gorge. Access to the Tunnel is included with all regular…

Hotels + Resorts

The best hotel in Austin for music lovers

Austin, Texas is best known for its music scene. Almost nightly, you can find a live band playing at clubs, coffeehouses, bars, concert halls, and more, with musicians like Janis Joplin and Willie Nelson who have called this city home. If you’re looking for the best hotel in Austin to visit to embrace the music scene in the city, look no further than The Otis Hotel, Autograph Collection. Conveniently located in the Campus District close to the University of Texas, The Otis Hotel infuses musical touches into every element of this upscale property. This hotel embraces the spirit of the city being named as The Live Music Capital of the World by offering guests the choice of records to borrow in their lobby library to play in their room. Each guest room has vinyl record players to let guest pick their own soundtrack for their stay and is decorated with local…