Jet Setter - A Girl's Guide to Travel, Culture & Style

Jetsetter: Stopover at The Joule, Dallas

I love Dallas. It's a behemoth of a city that spreads out like a spider's web. There aren't any mountains or gorgeous natural vistas as Texans, at least in North Texas don't like trees. Anywhere there's a new development, down go the trees. I find it really irritating, because Texas really is beautiful. Think the Dixie Chicks song "Wide Open Spaces." That song just captures the soul of this place. 

In the last decade, Dallas jumped on the bandwagon of downtown renaissance projects -the city's elite obsessed with competing against New York City as a cultural center.  Texas does have this thing about bigger is better. The Capitol Building in Austin is bigger than the one in DC.

But for all the successes and very sad failures (They ruined Deep Ellum!), I think my favorite is the latest jewel to transform the Dallas skyline - and that's the new Winspear Opera House.

Designed by British architects, Foster & Partners, it's a gorgeous red building with a 60-foot glass facade that wraps around the building and includes a sky canopy on all sides. It's part of a $350 million multi-venue performing arts center designed to be the crown in Dallas' burgeoning arts district.

So, if you're in Dallas, be sure to check out the Opera House and Dallas' other little Joule. This Joule is a 129-room artsy boutique hotel situated in a "revitalized 1920's Neo-Gothic building."

The lobby resembles an oil rig and has some gorgeous artwork. Its main claim to fame is the infinity rooftop pool on the 10th floor which hovers over Main Street. The views are gorgeous. The cocktails delish!

 

Websites

The Joule - www.starwoodhotels.com

Dallas Opera - www.dallasopera.org

Dallas Arts District - www.thedallasartsdistrict.org

October Playlist - Music We're Lovin'

Here are some funky classic remixes and French pop.

1.  Angel Eyes (Layo & Bushwacka Remix) by Ella Fitzgerald, Layo & Bushwacka

2.  Who Needs Forever? (Thievery Corporation Remix) by Astrud Gilberto

3.  Last Kiss by Ishtar

4.  Summertime (UFO Remix) by Sarah Vaughan

5.  Des que j'te vois by Vanessa Paradis

 

Snapshots: Take a Whirl Thru Japan

Here's a quick and fun intro to Japan. Zaji Girls Akiko and Jessica hang out in the seaside village Ise, Japan. Also check out the slideshow featuring Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

For a Monday - 4 In The Morning by Gwen Stefani

Zaji Girl Guides - The Sweet Life

We're excited to announce the launch of our Jet Setter travel guide series.  We've got 12 guides for 12 months that take you through the destinations we love - both international and US. 

The travel guides are short and sweet. Part travel journal highlighting some great cultural experiences. Part style guide for you fashionistas. We include a packing and shopping list. The itineraries are easy to follow in a fun, visual format. 

It makes trip-planning a piece of cake, as all the links and basic information you need are on one page.

The guides are available as a pdf download at Guide Gecko Travel Bookstore or in print at Guide Gecko and on Amazon. The print edition comes with a cd featuring interviews with special guests.

First up is Nice and the French Riviera. Stay tuned for Paris. And Cape Town will be out soon for all you guys headed for a little African adventure at the World Cup next year.

Cheers!

Denise

Websites

Guide Gecko Travel Bookstore - www.guidegecko.com

Amazon - www.amazon.com - Zaji Girl Guide

LA's Cocktail Cult - Varnish

Los Angeles' often missed attraction is its downtown. The City of Angels was just a few decades ago supposed to herald the "city of the future." And it has a mish-mash of architectural styles that only the forward-thinking could really appreciate.

And one of those century-old buildings with loads of character houses Cole's, "the originator of the French Dip." The French Dip is a roast beef sandwich on a French roll. Cole's has been around since 1908, but it's what lies behind the restaurant that's getting all the buzz.

You go anywhere trendy in LA and typically like cosmopolitan cities everywhere there are no signs. You have to be in-the-know. And being in-the-know is knowing to go at the back of the restaurant to a door with only the cocktail sign below - You've arrived at Varnish.

Varnish is a an intimate "speakeasy" bar with a specialty in "aromatic cocktails." Aromatic cocktails? Think old cocktail recipes from the 30s through 50s. For example, the Aviation Cocktail, a cocktail that was famous about 50 years ago.  The Aviation Cocktail is made with Creme Yvette, a violet liqueur that was discontinued in the late 60s, but has been reintroduced. Violet-scented cocktails. Hmmmm. I love cocktails. 

The best time to go is during the week, as on weekends Varnish gets crowded.  Remember, it's LA. So, it's really crowded.

- Denise

Websites

Varnish Bar - www.thevarnishbar.com

Cole's Restaurant - www.colesfrenchdip.com

Cocktailia Blog - www.cocktailia.com

Bites and Bolts - covering good eats around LA - www.bitesandbolts.com

Architectural Tours LA - an amazing tour covering over 70 sites of downtown from Little Tokyo, China town, Disney Hall and more - www.architecturetoursla.com

LA Conservancy - Offers free tours of major LA neighborhoods and downtown - www.laconservancy.org

Photo Credits: Frank Gehry's Disney Hall

Fall's Dance - Repetto's Ballet Shoes

Fall is the perfect time to take advantage of the cooler weather and take in the latest exhibitions at art museums, concerts at the symphony or perhaps ballet performances.  My mother tried unsuccessfully to impart some natural elegance by making me take ballet classes for one or two very long years when I was a child.

Too much discipline for me. But I loved the shoes.  Was muddling around on Rue du Four one Saturday and came across Repetto, a Paris boutique with gorgeous ballet flats.  They make a great update to any Fall wardrobe.  Simple and comfortable. 

What else is in this Fall?  Ruffles are everywhere. Seems the inspiration must be from ballerinas with poufy, ruffly and very pretty clothes this year.  It's also a good time to invest in some classic jackets that'll look good and last forever.

Life is but a dance....

- Denise

Websites

Repetto - www.repetto.com

JCrew - jcrew.com

Photo Credits: Repetto store front by Denise Mpinga. Ballet shoes courtesy of Repetto. Ruffle Blouse and Winnie Jacket by Jcrew.

Techie Girl: Voyager 4 Language Translator

In the global village, English is the language of business. It's easy to get complacent as a native English speaker when it comes to learning other languages.  But I've learned in all my travels, as I'm sure many others have that speaking a bit of the local language goes along way.  It shows in one way or the other that you care that you're a guest in someone's country, and you're open to connecting. 

Not so long ago, I found myself struggling to figure out the right train to get on in Tokyo.  My Japanese friends had written a few handy phrases, but that didn't really help much when people asked additional questions. I came back ready to shop for a translator I could take anywhere.  

If you have an Iphone, there are tons of multi-lingual translators to check out. But so far, I think the "ultimate global interpreter," is the Voyager 4. It's a 14-language talking translator, covering Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Italian, Hebrew, Spanish and more. 

With a built-in recorder, alarm clock and a New Oxford American Dictionary, it's pretty efficient.  You put in the words or phrases. It spits out the foreign language equivalent and shows you how to pronounce the phrases as well as "articulates the translation in a crystal clear voice."

It's a stylish little gadget that also includes a metric and currency converter. I like it.

- Denise

Website

Voyager 4 - Lingo Translators

A French Affaire - My Brush with Julia Child

We're chatting with French specialist Elizabeth New about her brush with Julia Child and her own love affair with France. A native Texan, Dr. New is founder of French Affaires, a company celebrating French travel, culture, language, and l'art de vivre. She is a self-confessed Francophile and has been making pilgrimages to France since 1983.

Paris and Provence count among her particular favorite travel destinations.  Her experience includes undergraduate and graduate teaching, presentations at national and international conferences, and organizing and leading trips to France. She is currently writing a travel book on France.

Listen here! Or check out our podcast on Itunes.

Websites

French Affaires - www.frenchaffaires.com

Eat Me - A Chocolate Addiction

Chocolate is one of life's essentials.  How could we live without chocolate?  Need an afternoon pick-me-up?  Hmmm. Chocolate.  Feeling depressed.  Hmmmm. Chocolate.  What's not to love?

Was wandering around looking for chocolate this afternoon and discovered these scrumptious chocolate bars from New Zealand.  Yeah.  Wasn't quite expecting chocolate from New Zealand. The company's name is Bloomsberry & Co.  They've been around since 2001 and have the most eye-catching wrappers. I couldn't resist.

- Denise

Website

Bloomsberry.com