Added 19 May, 2013
Americans are driving less today than we did just a few years ago. Sometime around 2004, our addiction to driving took a turn in the opposite direction. Per capita, we began to drive fewer miles each year than we had the year before. As the U.S. population has continued to grow, our collective miles traveled by car has begun to stagnate. It’s not...
Added 19 May, 2013
Reclaimed wood, exposed beams and extra-wide planks were among the hardwood flooring trends seen at Surfaces, an international trade show sponsored by the World Floor Covering Association and held in Las Vegas. Also popular on the convention floor was floors in shades of muted grays, vanilla and whites. Hardwood floors with air-purifying titanium...
Added 18 May, 2013
What do Millennials want? Flexibility and independence top the list, according to a new study, “Millennials and the Future of Work,” from oDesk and Millennial Branding that polled nearly 2,000 people aged 19 to 30. Results? Millennial workers want freedom and the flexibility to work how they want. for ninety-percent of Millennials surveyed, being...
Added 17 May, 2013
American demand for smoked seafood is part of a larger trend of infusing everything from salts and cocktails to fruit and teas with a kiss of smoky flavor. The federal government doesn't track smoked seafood consumption, but sales at 18,000 supermarkets, mass merchandisers and club chains jumped 17 percent last year, 12 percent in 2011 and 4...
Added 17 May, 2013
At home there's the backyard garden, the local co-op farmers market and the stash of homemade pickles, but on the road, what's a food-loving locavore to do? Track down a farm-to-hotel of course. It's not just specialty and boutique hotels that are taking on the trend. Hyatt Hotels Corporation started a food initiative last May that requires that...
Added 17 May, 2013
Modern coffee culture is becoming complex and arcane. Forget drip versus espresso. To appreciate the new bean scene fully, you have to know a caturra and from a maragogype – two of several natural heirloom descendents from the ancient typica and bourbon varietals of the original coffee Arabica species. Slow coffee is the new foodie fetish. It’s...
Added 16 May, 2013
The Oregon Public House, the nation's very first nonprofit pub, just opened for business Friday afternoon. The pub's motto is, "Have a pint, change the world." You can think of the pub as a fundraising department for local charities. All of the pub's profits go directly to eight local organizations listed on a board behind the bar. Drinkers help...
Added 16 May, 2013
Dream kitchens of today aren’t about the sexiest six-burner range or the most exotic countertop material. As cooking has returned to center stage and remodeling budgets have sobered, the kitchen island is nurturing family togetherness and reviving casual entertaining. In short, the kitchen of 2013 has soul. "That industrial, commercial style was...
Added 16 May, 2013
In the Northern Hemisphere, the season of cooking al fresco is upon us and there are some summer food fads that have are emerging for the grill as identified by McCormick Kitchens. Flavors to watch include Sweet tea: It’s not just southern and not just for sipping. It’s being added to marinades and sauces to deepen flavors. Smoked tomato: As the...
Added 16 May, 2013
Bed bugs are on the rise throughout North America especially and they are the bane of most hoteliers. Guests, quite frankly, don't want to even think about it. GoodKnight is creating a bed bug-free bed that uses heat to eliminate bed bug infestations. Will this technology represent the future for hotels?