Departures
Issue: May/June 2011
Pump it Up!
London’s Selfridges department store steps up its shoes
Whether you prefer platform buckle boots by Alexander McQueen or bohemian Birkenstocks, The Shoe Galleries—which opened last September in Selfridges & Co.’s London department store—indulges your Achilles’ heel. With a range of 150 different brands and 4,000 pairs of shoes on display (plus another 55,000 in stock), this 35,000-square-foot Valhalla of chaussure couture has supplanted Paris’ Galeries Lafayette as the biggest shoe department on the planet.
But it’s not just size that matters—it’s style. Six galleries are flanked by 11 boutiques designed to reflect the homes or lifestyles of the most famous among its featured designers. You can browse for red-soled Christian Louboutins, for example, in a crimson salon, complete with a chandelier, scarlet carpet and a staircase to nowhere, that captures the essence of the designer’s Parisian apartment. Or lounge in animal-print chairs beneath a gold foil ceiling that pays homage to Tamara Mellon, co-founder of the Jimmy Choo brand. www.selfridges.com.
Our World in Numbers
7Approximate distance, in miles, that the 42-inch ball will float downstream from Mullen, Idaho, to Wallace in the Gyro Club’s annual Lead Creek Derby on June 18.
13,000Funds, in dollars, that the Gyros raised last year for area youth and community programs through sales of $1 derby tickets. Prizes are awarded to those with tickets showing times closest to the actual time that it takes the ball to reach the “finish line.”
3.3Number of visitors, in millions, to Olympic National Park in 2009, making it the nation’s fifth most visited National Park.
9.5Number of visitors, in millions, to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the nation's most visited, in 2009.
2,000Approximate length, in miles, of the Oregon Trail, from Missouri to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
15.6Approximate distance, in miles, that Oregon-bound settlers traveled each day during the 4 1/2-month journey. An estimated 500,000 people crossed the trail to Oregon, California and other Western states between 1812 and the 1860s.
Racing With Tradition
The Wa`a Kiakahi weekend celebrates the ocean and the cultures that surround it
The seventh annual Wa`a Kiakahi weekend, devoted to honoring and teaching the ancient ways of the sailing-canoe paddlers from more than 1,200 years ago, brings many locals and visitors together to experience one of Hawaii’s oldest traditions. Wa`a Kiakahi, meaning single-mast canoe, is an integral part of the Hawaiian culture—it’s how the settlers of Hawaii first arrived to the islands.
The weekend’s events include public interaction with the racing canoes and their crews to learn about the history, and free rides to experience the thrill of paddling an outrigger canoe. The weekend culminates with a Maui–Moloka`i race after a moving farewell ceremony for the crews. All are welcome to join in and experience this special moment. June 10, 3 p.m.: Traditional Hawaiian welcome for the crews of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association. June 11, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.: Complimentary Hawaiian sailing canoe rides. June 12, 8 a.m.: Traditional Hawaiian farewell ceremony for the crews before the race. All events take place on Ka`anapali Beach in front of The Whaler condo resort. For Maui travel tips and more information, visit www.kaanapaliresort.com.
West Meets East
Urban Enoteca brings Columbia Valley wineries to Seattle
In a spacious setting combining rustic design elements with a modern vibe, Urban Enoteca brings wine country to Seattle’s industrial SoDo district. The tasting room is staffed by reps from seven wineries, including Fidélitas, Kiona, Cave B Estate Winery and others predominately from the eastern part of the state, who pour their latest offerings daily (except Monday). Purchase by the taste, glass or bottle and linger in lounge areas where you and your friends can sip your latest finds with wine-friendly nibbles from the kitchen. (206) 467-9463, www.urbanenoteca.com.
A Classy Spot
EVOO fuses eating with learning in Cannon Beach
Of the many restaurants along the Oregon Coast, EVOO in Cannon Beach is the only one dedicated to making you a better home chef. Instead of a menu, you are welcomed with a “class description” and learn the finer points of cooking by watching chefs prepare the nightly meal. Instead of a check, you pay “tuition.” Owners Bob Neroni, a Culinary Institute of America–trained chef, and epicurean educator Lenore Emery (the couple are pictured at left) refer to their concept as Interactive Demonstration Dining. Their reliance on fresh, locally sourced meats, seafood, produce and artisan foods allows them to prepare meals that are both exquisite and simple. “If you start with high-quality ingredients, you don’t have to do a lot with them,” Neroni says. “They speak for themselves.” EVOO seats up to 20 “students” around a central counter—perfect for observing, smelling and devouring the action. (503) 436-8555, www.evoo.biz.
Travel Smarts – The Ins and Outs of Rental Car Extras
City tours bring novels to life
The rental car counter can be the scene of more indecision than an ice cream store. How do you know which of the insurance options to choose? Here are some guidelines.
Collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW) insurance, for coverage if the vehicle is damaged in an accident. Before you leave home, check your auto insurance policy. You might already be covered; if so, you may not need this. However, if the car is damaged, the rental car company may tack “loss of service” charges onto your credit card. These could max out your credit limit before your insurance company pays. Some credit cards offer insurance on rental cars, though you may have to pay for any damages first and collect from the credit provider later. When you’re traveling internationally, the logistics of dealing with damages—perhaps in a foreign language—could be daunting, so buying CDW/LDW might make sense.
Liability insurance, for protection from lawsuits. This type of coverage typically extends off your auto policy (check to make sure).
Medical coverage for you and your passengers. If you have medical coverage under your auto insurance policy, you’re probably already covered (again, check ahead of time to make sure). Your personal health insurance policy may also cover you, though some plans set exclusions or limitations.
Roadside assistance, to provide you with services in the event of a dead battery, lockout or other mishap. Some rental car companies now charge fees for this type of coverage. AAA members do not need this, because AAA roadside assistance follows the member, not the car, anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
Renaissance Man
Spokane’s MAC brings da Vinci into focus
When Norway’s Queen Sonja dedicated a pedestrian bridge south of Oslo in 2001, the designer, an artist/engineer/philosopher from Italy, was unable to attend. He had died 482 years earlier.
That designer, of course, was Leonardo da Vinci, and the fact that plans he drafted in 1502 were the basis of the Norwegian structure shows just how far ahead of his time he was. Opening June 3 at Spokane’s Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, “Leonardo da Vinci: Man—Inventor—Genius” demonstrates the scope of the original Renaissance man’s visionary nature. The exhibit brings together replicas of 60 of da Vinci’s most innovative constructions (many are interactive), replicated to scale from original drawings, with copies of 23 of his paintings, including the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Additional items address his continuing influence on daily life and the myths and legends surrounding him (you may have read about these in a popular novel). The exhibit runs through Sept. 5. (509) 456-3931, www.northwestmuseum.org.
Tidal Trek
Walking adventure reveals the quiet side of Monterey Bay
The Monterey Bay coastline in central California is known for many activities—from golf to shopping. But here, a short distance from the sounds of the bustling Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Cannery Row, it’s possible to find the wild coast on a Slow Adventure tour. The company’s European-style inn-to-inn walks allow you to take your own pace on a four-day, 40-mile journey from Santa Cruz to Monterey. Explore on your own, or get tips from your guide, and meander along bluffs, sand dunes and windswept beaches that connect more than 15 state parks and sanctuary beaches in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Your daily guide provides custom maps and notes, a gourmet lunch and transportation for your luggage. After each day’s adventure, put your feet up and relax in a waterfront inn. Choose between the classic or frugal Walk the Bay options, or plan your own walking adventure with a do-it-yourself version. (831) 332-7923, www.slowadventure.us.
