Honey Ginger Glazed Muscovy Duck at Ris.
<MARCH/APRIL 2012
GONE TO MARKET
The latest venture of Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong, Society Fair (above) brings a bakery, café, butcher shop, wine bar and prepared-food market to Old Town Alexandria—all under one roof. There is also a 10-seat demo kitchen where guests can enjoy three-course fixed-priced dinners from Tuesday through Saturday. 277 S. Washington Street, Alexandria. 703-683-3247; societyfair.net
CHERRY JUBILEE
The Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates its centennial March 20 to April 27 with an expanded line-up of events, including art exhibits, concerts and special menus at restaurants around DC. Don’t miss the Honey Ginger Glazed Muscovy Duck at Ris. risdc.com; nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
COOKING CLASS
On March 24, the Park Hyatt Washington hosts a Master of Food & Wine Culinary Evening focused on seasonal local cuisine. Chef Sebastien Archambault, the new top toque at the hotel’s Blue Duck Tavern, will prepare a spring lamb dinner while pastry chef Peter Brett will teach a cooking class on cherry blossom-inspired sweets. Phone 202-419-6768.
DESIGNER DIGS
Taking inspiration from Dior ateliers in Paris, the St. Regis New York recently unveiled the Dior Suite (left), complete with a subdued color palette, luxurious furniture and haute couture-inspired upholstery. From $8,500 nightly; stregis.com
TENNIS, ANYONE?
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo recently introduced its own regulation grass tennis court—the first at any Four Seasons property worldwide. After a match, guests can relax in luxurious rooms or a one-bedroom canopy suite (pictured here) and watch monkeys and parrots cavort in the treetops. From $1,295; fourseasons.com
SPANISH ESCAPE
The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona boasts contemporary guest rooms and suites by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. The penthouse suite features two bedrooms, a dining room for eight and two terraces overlooking the city. From $10,500 nightly; mandarinoriental.com
RETRO STYLE
Airstream recently unveiled the Sterling Concept Trailer designed by architect Christopher Deam. The prototype introduces anodized aluminum surfaces and an aircraft-like aesthetic to the modern interiors (left, below), along with Mid Century-style upholstery and Merimekko textiles. airstream.com
TIME MANAGEMENT
The Fortis Limited Edition F-43 (left, below) is the world’s first mechanical watch to combine GMT, alarm and chronometer capabilities with two separate power reserves. The Swiss-made timepiece is water resistant to 165 feet and fitted with a padded strap in blue crocodile leather. $20,850. Available in the U.S. through gevrilgroup.com.
GAME ON
The iCade Mobile (below) brings classic controller configurations to games played on the iPhone and iPod touch. The cradle locks devices in either a portrait or landscape position and features a four-way directional pad, four action buttons and four shoulder buttons. $80; ionaudio.com
HOT WHEELS
The new Bentley Continental GTC V8 (bottom) features a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine; eight-speed transmission; and all wheel-drive. It also boasts a 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions over its predecessor, traveling 500 miles on a single tank of gas. $192,000; bentleymotors.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.