August 12th, 2010
AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape… AMPR ticker tape…
Hot off the press…
AUGUST 2010
Here is our monthly news in tweetable form.
New and Notable
Hotel Parq Central
- Up up and away for #BalloonFestival! #HotelParqCentral opens on 9/23/10. Rates starting at $179/night including breakfast and other treats.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
- #AnantaraBophut in Koh Samui, #Thailand will be getting an upgrade! And we have the pics (http://bit.ly/cSwDte) to prove it!
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August 10th, 2010
Ever had tomato ice cream? It may sound a little out of the ordinary, but with ripe summer tomatoes, we’re willing to try anything. Wimpole Home Farm’s 10th Annual Tomato Festival is happening August 21st and 22nd and showcasing tons of tomatoes, such as the heart-shaped “orange strawberry” and the sweet burgundy colored, “black zebra.” Royal Oak Foundation members get free entry into this tasty tomato fest, but for those of us that can’t hop over to England this summer, here’s a recipe to enjoy the summery goodness of tomatoes in a whole new way.
Wimpole Tomato and Basil Ice Cream
Ingredients (more…)
July 27th, 2010
Dreaming of a getaway to the English coastline or the rustic countryside, but don’t want to break the bank at a pricey hotel? Get all the comforts of home at one of the charming NEW National Trust holiday cottages. Live like a local in these idyllic, self-catering abodes – perfect for families or large groups. They certainly have us lusting for an English Country mini-break.
Make sure to join the Royal Oak Foundation – the National Trust’s U.S. affiliate – before crossing the pond for free access to over 300 historic houses.
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July 23rd, 2010
© Frederick Warne & Co ©NTPL/Robert Morris
Learned life lessons from Peter Rabbit? Had a framed picture of Jemima Puddle-Duck on the wall as a child? No childhood has escaped the whimsical influence of the works of Beatrix Potter. Her anthropomorphic characters are in countless tales read to kiddies of any era at bedtime. (more…)
July 20th, 2010
Lee Jofa’s Royal Oak Collection prints, inspired by the historic houses of the National Trust of England, graced the set of Sex and the City 2, and now the designer’s style is available in the palm of your hand. The new iPhone app eDesign Assistant gives designers constant access to Lee Jofa and Kravet products. Search over 36,000 fabrics, and take photos with your iPhone for perfect color matching – eliminating the need to carry around multitudes of swatches to see if the print matches the couch and the rug or the curtains and the coffee table. Join the Royal Oak Foundation, travel over to England, and take advantage free access to over 300 National Trust historic houses for your own inspiration. See something you like? Pull out your iPhone and see if you can find Jofa’s interpretation in textiles.
July 12th, 2010
Do something different for Halloween. Pop over to jolly old England and take part in some spooky Halloween activities. Medieval castles and aged Estates provide the perfect eerie setting for All Hallows Eve. Join the Royal Oak Foundation – the U.S. affiliate to the National Trust – and get access to over 300 historic houses without having to pay an admission fee.
©NTPL/Ross Hoddinott ©NTPL/Andrew Butler
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July 7th, 2010
©NTPL/Penny Tweedie
When Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson found Sissinghurst, it was an Elizabethan summer palace in ruins. Now the roofless rooms and crumbling brick walls are filled with flowers. The house and gardens embodies a beautiful connection between past and present. Sackville-West and Nicolson’s grandson, Adam Nicolson, recently wrote about his unique abode and its “delicious homeliness” (in the English sense, meaning homelike, not ugly). Beyond the house and garden, there are fields of farmland. Members of the Royal Oak Foundation have free entry to this idyllic country Estate, and over 300 other historic houses in the National Trust’s repertoire.
July 2nd, 2010
Just this morning Iceland Express announced that summer and fall fares to London, Copenhagen, and Luxembourg are on sale for just $399 round trip! There are a limited amount of seats, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of a late summer trip to London to catch the festivals, or a fall getaway in a cozy English cottage, now is the ideal time to book.
June 30th, 2010
Tatton Park (left) and Jeff Koons’ Cracked Egg at Waddesdon Manor.
The National Trust is going modern with its new contemporary art initiative, Trust New Art. Pairing up with Arts Council England, the Trust is introducing a three-year contemporary arts and crafts program at selected historic houses across England. For members of the Royal Oak Foundation – the U.S. affiliate to the National Trust – entry into these historic houses is free, so sign up before you go to avoid entrance fees. Some Trust properties are already involved. Jeff Koons’ Cracked Egg is showcased alongside an exhibition of new lighting pieces by Brazilian designers, the Campana brothers, at Waddesdon Manor, and newly commissioned work by over 20 artists will be scattered around Tatton Park for its second contemporary art biennial. The juxtaposition of the refined historic houses and modern works of art will bring new crowds together and really spice up the English countryside. (more…)
June 22nd, 2010
This fall, stave off that sad summer-is-over feeling with a trip! Take in all that the season has to offer in a cozy English cottage and check out the happenings of a British autumn. Festivals with local cuisine dapple the September calendar and country houses are surrounded by orchards brimming with fall fruit.
For Foodies:
Go: The Big Green Food & Craft Festival at Beningbrough Hall will have great Yorkshire food and crafts, fresh produce, and a Hog Roast. September 25-26.
Stay: Goodramgate, York
A cozy apartment in a medieval building right in the town of York – perfect for exploring on foot.
Go: A World War II event in Northumberland gets visitors to think of wartime food, rationing, and Victory Gardens. Weekend of September 25.
Stay: Westwood Cottage, Northumberland
Previously part of Wallington Estate’s stable block, this stone house is built around a central courtyard and is close to the grand estate’s main house.
Go: Get tempted at the “Taste and Temptation” weekend at Petworth House and meet local producers and taste their delicious, fresh products. September 26.
Stay: Emley Farmhouse, Surrey
Surrounded by farmland, this quaint country cottage retains many of its original features, such as an internal well and large fireplaces.
For Nature Lovers:
Go: The beautiful island of Anglesey has dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and mountain views of Snowdonia.
Stay: Bryn Llywelyn, Anglesey
This stately Georgian farmhouse has a large walled garden full of apple trees and has a view over the wild Llanlleiana Bay.
Go: The fascinating Calke Abbey is filled with fascinating possessions and surrounded by a National Nature Reserve replete with trails.
Stay: Southwood House Farm, Derbyshire
This 18th century brick farmhouse is flanked by fruit trees and sits on the south side of the Calke Abbey estate, formerly used as its dairy.
For Beach Bums:
Go: Hell’s Mouth Bay – despite its foreboding moniker – is a great place to swim and surf. In autumn the water is still warm and the waves start picking up again.
Stay: Pant Rhiw Cottage, North Wales
This remote cottage sits on a hillside overlooking the bay and is accessible only by a walking path.
Go: Enjoy the gorgeous beaches of Cornwall and the gregarious charms of Polzeath, known for its surfing.
Stay: Overhaven, Polzeath
This tranquil cottage is a stone’s throw from the town and has sweeping views of the countryside and the coast.
Go: Explore the cobbled lanes and idyllic houses of Clovelly in Devon this fall, when all the summer crowds have dispersed.
Stay: 1 Coastguard, Clovelly
Hidden in the woods about a quarter mile from the shore, this cottage is a great retreat for exploring the rugged coast.