by Shane Dunning, Woodwinters Each year on 1 June sees the release of the new vintage of the fabulously titled Marilyn Merlot from California's Napa Valley. For those of you who have seen the film Sideways where the main character has a merlot related melt-down, you might be aware that it has become quite trendy to be disparaging of merlot dominant wines. So with that in mind I thought it would
Tomorrow sees the grand opening of a major new art gallery and museum in Yorkshire. Named for one of Wakefield's most famous daughters, The Hepworth Wakefield features key work by sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore and is at the heart of the city's regeneration. The waterfront building, designed by award winning architect David Chipperfield and clad in pigmeted concrete, appears to rise out of the River Calder. Visitors to
For those of us who find being good difficult why not check into The Good Hotel. Their philanthropic approach is designed to inspire the "good in us all'. The eco-friendly hotel decor features reclaimed and recycled construction materials. Saving the planet has delivered quirky and interesting design features: the bench (pictured below) made from recycled felt blankets; a vending machine branded by ReadyMade magazine which dispenses sustainable t-shirts and wallets
le truc, proudly shows off their new patio for outdoor dining. The choice of places to eat in San Francisco is outstanding and there will be reviews of a couple of stationary restaurants at the end of the week but le truc looked fun particularly if you are able to hire it for private parties. Here's how the owners describe what they are trying to do; "There is no law
San Francisco company, modern-twist brings art to the table by collaborating with local artists and designers to produce these table mats. Like all clever ideas it seems obvious once someone has thought of it; using silicone to manufacture place mats. That means they are heat proof up to 250 Celsius, they are thin, flexible, easily lifted, non-porous and waterproof. Parents and kids will be pleased to hear they don't slide,
San Francisco's stunning de Young Museum, designed by Swiss Pritzker Prize winning architects Herzog & de Meuron, is located in the city's beautiful Golden Gate Park. The museum describes the architectural concept: 'Constructed of warm, natural materials including copper, stone, wood and glass, the new de Young blends with and complements its natural surroundings. Ribbons of windows erase the boundary between the museum interior and the lush natural environment outside, and
A trip to the cinema doesn't usually involve lederhosen, a blond wig and breaking into 'The hills are alive with the sound of music…' That is unless you are at a screened sing-along version of the Sound of Music at The Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Classic musicals such as Mary Poppins, Evita and West Side Story feature the lyrics as subtitles for those members of the audience who are less than word perfect. The costume contest
This week we're wearing flowers in our hair as we head west to San Francisco. From the high camp of the Castro Theatre to the cultured cool of the de Young Museum, we'll bring you some of the most interesting things going in this most laid back and creative of American cites as well as recommending delicious Californian wines so that you can enjoy a taste of the west coast wherever you
by Nicki Slater, The Imagination Workshop So the house smells like moist compost and all available floor space has been taken over by small green things which we have to be careful not to step on – makes hoovering tricky (shame)! All the seeds I planted in pots and trays are now showing their first leaves. The runner and borlotti beans are growing incredibly fast. I think if I watched them
No matter how discerning we like to think we are we all have our guilty secrets – little lapses in taste we don't want to share but won't let go. Do you hanker after a big faux leather recliner or do you – deep in some hidden corner of your soul – think a toilet roll cover is actually quite a good idea? We'd love to hear your guilty design pleasures so come