| Inn on Ferry StreetWed, 07 Jan 2009 14:36:22 -0800 by travelandtransitionsMy abode for my last two days in Detroit was the Inn on Ferry Street, a beautifully renovated complex of six historic buildings. It encompasses four mansions as well as two carriage houses that were each built for prominent Detroit families. After many years of languishing, these buildings have been re-functioned into 42 stunning guest rooms.Ferry Street itself is a historic street in the Midtown Detroit District, which is also referred to as Detroits Cultural Centre. It is surrounded by a large number of museums, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Science Centre and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.I had a chance to sit down with Sue Mosey, the driving force behind the renovation of the six buildings that make up the Inn on Ferry Street. Sue is an urban planner and the President of the University Cultural Center Association, a non-profit organization that has aided in planning and developing nearly $400 million in new residential projects in Detroits Midtown area.Under the guidance of the University Center Cultural Association, the Inn on Ferry Street was renovated at a cost of about $8.5 million and today features 42 gorgeously designed guest rooms, a large breakfast room (breakfast is included free of charge), a business centre with complimentary meeting space for guests and great common areas in all the buildings that allow the guests to socialize and relax.Sue and I talked about the socio-economic history of Detroit and the unique factors that shaped this city. We also touched on some of the planned new developments and some of the festivals and special events that highlight the calendar of the city.The Inn on Ferry Street itself is a great hospitality establishment with excellent amenities. In addition to the business centre, it provides free Internet access, a free shuttle service covering the midtown and downtown areas, valet service and room service. A big breakfast buffet is available every day from 6 am to 10 am at no extra charge, and coffees, teas and fresh fruit are available during the day.I was staying in a two bedroom suite with a separate sitting room in the Raymond C. Smith Carriage House that was built in 1892 and holds seven guest bedrooms. The Scott House is the main building of the complex since it is the location of the reception area, the breakfast room and the business centre. It also features 3 guest bedrooms.The Pungs House was built in 1892 for a railway magnate and holds nine uniquely decorated guest bedrooms while the Owen House dates back to 1887 and used to belong to the owner of a dry goods firm. It consists of seven luxurious bedrooms and two large executives. The main floor holds a glamorous parlour with a baby grand piano and two fireplaces.The Roehm House finally was constructed in 1888 for the president of the Detroit Carriage Company. Nine guest bedrooms are located here and the popular second floor suite offers ultimate luxury with its Jacuzzi tub, private balcony and Asian influenced décor.The Inn on Ferry Street offers a great location in Detroits Cultural Center and is a prime example of some of the architectural rejuvenation that has been happening in various parts of the city. Related: usa michigan detroit "inn on ferry street" "bed and breakfast" | |
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| 2009 Spring festival (Chinese New Year) boosts retail marketWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:37:03 -0800 by barryin06China's Spring Festival is a time of celebration to usher in the traditional Chinese New Year (26th Jan. 2009). So people across the country are busy buying goods to enjoy the festival. In Chinese they're called "Nianhuo", representing an array of Chinese New Year-related goods, such as decorations,food items and gifts. And Sun Jiayu finds out these products are flying off store shelves. In recent days, people in China have been flocking to crowded shopping venues in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing. Many shoppers are hoping to buy "Nianhuo" ahead of the Spring Festival.A resident says, "the festival is coming. I'm buying goods with my friend, hoping for a bright new life in the new year."Among this year's most popular products in the "Nianhuo" market are those relating to the image of an ox. Meanwhile, many investors want to buy a lucky ox for good luck in the new year. Especially since last year's stock market was so depressed. A resident says, "I was born in the year of ox. I bought some paintings for luck in the stock market this year."Shopping malls and supermarkets have already opened special lanes and counters for selling "Nianhuo". A variety of sweets, alcohol, drinks and many other "Nianhuo" items are on display. Shopkeepers are hoping to cash in on all of the excitement. Yang Jianxin, Manager of Public Relations dept. of a supermarket, says, "we prepared for the goods one month ago. We also arranged a special place to store these goods to ensure they are in good condition." Since the start of winter, sales oof these items have not been affected by the global financial downturn. On the contrary, thanks to the excitement surrounding the Chinese New Year holiday and Spring Festival. And China's call to expand the domestic demand. The retail market is beginning to warm up again. Related: spring festival (chinese new year) boosts retail market | |
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| Conservation Home Just 7 Months OldWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:33:52 -0800 by TourFactoryhttp://www.tourfacto ry.com/s422617/r_www .youtube.com Short Sale in Asbel Estates! Just 7 months old, this Valencia IV model by M/I Homes is situated on a pond and conservation lot offering 3BR/2/BA/2-car garage and 1,632 square feet of living space. The upgraded kitchen features granite counter tops, maple cabinets with crown moulding, plant shelves and a pantry. Other features include: glass front door, neutral decor, cathedral ceilings, 17x17 tile flooring, alarm system and spectacular views. The oversized owner's retreat has two windows and sliders leading to the screened lanai all which allow for plenty of natural lighting and views of the pond. The master bathroom has Listello tiles surrounding the garden bath & walk-in shower, the dual vanities have marble counters & maple cabinets. Spend peaceful evenings relaxing on the screened lanai and enjoying the views of the pond and conservation beyond. No CDDs! All sales subject to lender approval. This home is being offered as a Short Sale. Listing price may not be sufficient to cover all encumbrances, closing costs, or other seller charges and sale of Property at full listing price may be conditioned upon approval of third parties. Call for details. Related: tourfactory tour422617 doug annette dale bohannon land lakes fl 34638 coldwell banker real estate virtual home tour | |
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| GIORGIO @ the Saint Ansgar Cathedral of COPENHAGEN 2009Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:12:53 -0800 by GCHANNEL2Saint Ansgar Cathedral was built in 1840-42 as a private chapel for the Austrian Embassy. Building was funded by a legacy from the wine merchant Peter Bianco. In 1865 the chapel was renamed "The Church of Saint Ansgar" after the benedictine monk, known as "the Nordic Apostle". In 1953 the church was upgraded to a cathedral. The chapel was designed by Professor G.F.Hetsch, who had been responsible for the construction of the Great Synagogue in Copenhagen a few years before. Hetsch was from the school of Classicism and at that time he perceived an interest in historicism, a new trend in architecture inspired by various historical styles. Saint Ansgar Cathedral is one of the earliest Danish examples of this type of architecture. The shape of the main facade is inspired by ancient Christian basilicas. The brickwork of the walls is reminiscent of mediaeval North Italian architecture, while the statue niches were inspired by the Italian renaissance. The end of the triangular gable is decorated with graceful classical palm trees. At the time, the red and gold brickwork aroused special interest as most contemporary buildings had stuccoed walls. The facades at the side, which are not visible from the street, were made very simple with large Romanesque windows which originally had clear panes. The present colourful stained-glass windows with their images of the saints were not installed until 1885-94. The need for a presbytery and school associated to the church was fulfilled by the architect in an unusual way by adding an everyday, multi-storey building to the eastern end of the church. Today there is a small museum here with Hetsch's original plans of the church, Liturgical items etc. In 1943 a bell tower was added to the church, designed by architect Gunnar Glahn. The interior of the church has one nave, a flat coffered ceiling, and a semicircular arched apse. This is richly decorated with paintings from 1864-65 by the German artist Josef Settegast. The paintings had already been planned by Hetsch in his design. The other decoration around the interior is mostly very colourful, with different coloured wall panels which complement the brickwork of the street facade. Hetsch had earlier designed the church fixtures and fittings in French Empire style. For the sake of symmetry, the pulpit and font stand at either side of the apse, although according to Catholic tradition, the font should stand at the entrance. Between 1988 and 1992, the church was restored by Professor Vilhelm Wohlert.¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤Welcome to the Saint Ansgar's Cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark. Saint Ansgar's Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Copenhagen after the Protestant reformation and has been recognized as a center of Catholic life in this country for more than 150 years. It is the seat of the bishop of Copenhagen, Czeslaw Kozon. The church was completed in 1842 and designed by the architect Gustav Friedrich Hetsch (1788-1864) to replace an earlier chapel on the site. Its form calls to mind a Roman basilica and its festive interior is filled with paintings, sculpture, and many historical artifacts. The church went through a complete restoration during the years 1988 to 1992 directed by Professor Vilhelm Wohlert. Saint Ansgar's is not however a museum, but a living building with services held every day of the year, and sung services at Solemn Mass on Sunday and religious holidays. The church is open throughout the day. We hope you enjoy your visit to the cathedral web-site and that you will also some time take the opportunity to visit the cathedral itself. It is located in the very center of the Copenhagen, only a short distance from the Royal Palace at Amalienborg.¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤Sankt Ansgar Kirke er den eneste katolske kirke i Frederiksstaden midt i København. Den blev indviet i 1842 og er en af arkitekten G.F. Hetschs hovedværker. Sankt Ansgar Kirke er sognekirke for kvarterets katolikker og domkirke for alle katolikker i Danmark. Sankt Ansgar Kirke er åben i dagtimerne - også udenfor gudstjenesterne. Mange mennesker kommer her for at fornemme Guds nærvær, tilbringe et stykke tid i bøn eller blot forsøge at samle tankerne midt i en travl hverdag. Vi håber, at dit besøg på denne hjemmeside vil give dig en fornemmelse af kirkens skønhed og af det fællesskab, som den er domkirke for. Vi håber også, at du - hvad enten du er katolik eller ej - vil få lyst til selv at besøge kirken, næste gang din vej går forbi Bredgade. Related: copenhagen cathedral saint ansgar sankt ansgars kirke the roman-catholic frère mansour labaki taala ta3ala ta'ala baynana tarateel taraneem rou7ya die ansgar kirche ist die einzige katholische im zentrum kopenhagenschristian hymns roumaine communauté catholique church | |
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| myHotelVideo.com presents Suitess Hotel in Dresden / Saxony / GermanyWed, 07 Jan 2009 11:47:27 -0800 by myHotelVideoMore @ http://www.myhotelvi deo.com/en/landingpa ge/youtube/resourcei d/Mhv_Catalog_Offer: :124234 Location:This private, superior category hotel is located right in the heart of the Old Town, just a few steps from Dresden's Church of Our Lady. Guests will find restaurants, bars and shops just 100 m away in the Neumarkt area of the city, while Altmarkt, with its nightspots, is just 500 m. The sights of Dresden are all in the close vicinity: Grünes Gewölbe (250 m), the Royal Castle (250 m) the Zwinger gallery (300 m) and the Semper Oper opera house (300 m). Pinarischer Platz (300 m) offers the nearest links to the public transport network and it is 1 km to the Central Station and 3 km to Grosser Garten park. Dresden Airport is just 10 km away.Facilities:Behi nd an intricately-detailed Baroque facade, remodelled according to the historical plans, this hotel comprises a total of 21 comfortable single and double rooms and elegant suites. Established in 2007, the hotel promises visitors a taste of the unmistakeable character of the world famous Elbflorenz - the Florence of the North. This charming city hotel invites guests to enjoy the gourmet Maurice restaurant, and further facilities on offer at this air-conditioned establishment include a lobby area with a 24-hour reception and check-out service. It also offers a hotel safe, a currency exchange facility and a cloakroom as well as lift access. There is a cafe, a newspaper stand, a hairdressing salon, a bar and a pub on-site and conference facilities are at guests' disposal. They can take advantage, moreover, of the WLAN/Internet access and room and laundry services. Covered garage parking is available for those arriving by car.Rooms:Guests can enjoy all the pleasures the modern age and at the same time experience the artistic comfort of the Biedermeier style, in which the décor of the 8 rooms and 13 suites is modelled. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom with a shower/bathtub and a hairdryer as well as a telephone, a TV, a radio, Internet access and a minibar. They are also equipped with a washing machine, an ironing set, a king-size or double bed, individually adjustable air conditioning and heating and a safe.Sports/Entertai nment:This hotel features an exclusive spa area on the 6th floor with a spa lounge high above the rooftops of Dresden. It offers sun loungers and parasols, a spa tub, a sauna, a solarium and a steam bath. Guests can also relax with a massage or spa treatment and sports enthusiasts may enjoy a work-out in the gym. The nearest golf course is Ulersdorf/Possendorf , just a 30-minute drive from the hotel.Meals:The chef de cuisine welcomes guests to the gourmet restaurant Maurice, with its 3 private dining rooms and green terrace, La Terrasse, where they can enjoy a breathtaking view of the dome of the Church of Our Lady.Payment:America n Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA are accepted at this hotel. Related: myhotelvideo.com myhotelvideo video hotel suitess dresden germany saxony | |
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| myHotelVideo.com presents Andalussia in Conil / Conil de la Frontera / Costa de la Luz / SpainWed, 07 Jan 2009 11:08:35 -0800 by myHotelVideoMore @ http://www.myhotelvi deo.com/en/landingpa ge/youtube/resourcei d/Mhv_Catalog_Offer: :102836 Location:The hotel is situated in a quiet, new residential development with magnificent panoramic views of Conil and its surroundings, full of natural beauty. This location offers guests quick access to points of interest in the area, including beaches (Bateles/Paseo, 1.5 km away) and the city centre, which is about 900 m away. The hotel can easily be reached from either Cádiz/Seville or Málaga. Jerez Airport and San Pablo Airport are 52 and 145 km away respectively, and Málaga Airport is some 230 km from the hotel.Facilities:Bui lt in 2008, this modern and unique building houses a new establishment, which recalls the distinctive decorative and architectural elements of the Andalusian tradition; the combination of water, vegetation, white walls and arches was inspired by the ancient courtyard houses of Andalusia. The hotel is perfect for travellers looking for a rest on this magnificent corner of the Spanish coast. This air-conditioned hotel offers 30 rooms, complete and modern facilities, a casual atmosphere and dedicated service with careful attention to detail. The staff is friendly and well qualified. Guests are welcomed into a reception hall with 24-hour check-in and check-out service. Other facilities include a hotel safe, lift access, café, bar, TV lounge, breakfast room and, for a fee, WLAN Internet access. There are also conference facilities for business guests, and room and laundry services are on offer (charges may apply). For additional fees, guests may make use of the bicycle hire service and the parking garage.Rooms:The hotel has 30 comfortable and practical rooms spread over three floors, all of them with a balcony and exquisite décor. They each come with a fully equipped bathroom (with a bathtub, hairdryer, magnifying mirror, toiletries, etc.) and an LCD TV with satellite channels, remote control and a DVD player, as well as Internet access and a direct dial telephone. Other amenities include an ironing set, a double bed and individually regulated air conditioning and heating.Sports/Enter tainment:The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and parasols on the sun terrace. Guests can also relax on the nearby sand beach or enjoy a round of golf at the Novo Sancti Petri course, about a 10-minute drive away.Payment:This hotel accepts American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and VISA as methods of payment.How to get there:The hotel can be accessed from anywhere because it is conveniently located at the first residential development on entering Conil, by the North Belt Road. From Algeciras/Málaga via the A48 motorway: Take the first exit to Conil, called Conil Sur. At the first roundabout on entering Conil (which connects with the North Belt Road), take the first exit to the right. The hotel is about 200 m further, to the right of the next roundabout. From Cadiz/Seville via the A48 motorway: Follow the same directions as above, but in this case Conil Sur will be the third exit encountered on the way to Conil. There is also the option of coming by the old N340 road through Conil Norte: Take the first exit to the left at the first roundabout on entering Conil. The hotel is about 200 m further, to the left of the next roundabout. Related: myhotelvideo.com myhotelvideo video hotel andalussia conil de la frontera spain costa luz | |
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