travels – USA NEWS LIVE

Father and son’s travels encourage Healdsburg’s Aperture Cellars

chandankumarsoft — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:52:12 +0000

“Dad, we're doing one of the first Devil Proof tastings,” says winemaker Jesse Katz, holding a bottle of Malbec. “Would you like to try it?”

His father, famous photographer Andy Katz, bursts into laughter. “That's one of the dumbest questions you've ever asked me,” he says, taking a seat on the tasting table behind an empty glass.

Anyone who knows anything about wine knows how essential terroir is, the French word for earth. The concept goes beyond the soil itself and includes all of the environmental aspects that influence the event of the grapes and the taste of the wine. This includes the sun, the wind, the weather – every thing.

When the young winemaker was searching for a spot to place down roots with Aperture Cellars, he didn't select the legendary hills of Napa. Instead, Jesse selected picturesque Healdsburg.

Climate change was a significant factor – the growing season in Napa is getting warmer, drier and shorter, while breezes from the Pacific are keeping temperatures cooler in Healdsburg. Sonoma County also has an important number of soils, greater than in all of France, including cool, moist loam that is right for the Bordeaux varieties he promotes.

But just as terroir shapes the taste, aroma and quality of wine, the concept also serves as a robust metaphor for this father and son, whose shared experiences and influences have shaped their lives, deepened their appreciation for complexity and cultivated a passion for the craft of winemaking.

It's a journey that began with the winemaker's father, whose profession as a rock and roll photographer took him everywhere in the world to shoot album covers and capture moments for the Doobie Brothers, Dan Fogelberg and other artists. Andy then turned his lens to the sprawling vineyards of scenic locations like Tuscany and Bordeaux, immortalizing a number of the world's most respected wineries. Jesse, then a young teenager, was along for the ride.

However, these trips laid the inspiration for Jesse and provided him with an education he couldn’t have found anywhere else. Amidst the fantastic thing about these vineyard landscapes, Jesse developed a deep respect for wine culture and a curiosity for the intricate art and science of winemaking.

“That was a real aha moment for me,” he says.

Decades later, the climax of this journey is Blind cellar, where Jesse crafts the wine with the utmost care while Andy's charming photographs adorn each the labels and the partitions of the tasting room gallery. Currently, Andy is showcasing work from his pandemic project, “A Walk in the Park,” a photographic journey of greater than 60,000 miles in an RV to capture the stunning fantastic thing about every U.S. national park.

“I've traveled all over the world, but embarrassingly not much in the United States,” he said. “But it turns out that all this majesty was right here. It was incredibly fulfilling to explore this country.”

Almost every aspect of Aperture reflects this deep father-son bond and their intertwined past. This includes the acclaimed Devil Proof label, which was inspired by the family's adventures in Cuba, after they became fascinated by a neighborhood saying: “If you live well and drink well, the devil can't get you.”

The first winemaker to be named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker and one among Wine Spectator's Rising Stars, Jesse has built a fame for producing award-winning wines which can be enjoyed by wine lovers in all places, including skilled skater Tony Hawk in addition to Justin Timberlake, who asked Jesse to create a custom mix for his wedding to Jessica Biel. Jesse also made headlines when a bottle of his Cabernet Sauvignon sold for a record-breaking $1 million, the most costly bottle of wine ever sold.

But he stays a manual winemaker, examining each row of vineyards with a critical eye. He rigorously chews the grape skins, examines the seeds and studies the composition of the soil to estimate exactly when to emphasize the vines and when the optimal harvest time is approaching. He also pays attention to the symphony of the vineyard, listening rigorously to the whisper of yeast fermentation and searching for insights into the wine's evolution.

“That's the art,” says Jesse. “That's why I believe every bottle here tells a story. And if people can take that home with them, then that's why we're here.”

Details: Aperture Cellars offers wine tastings by reservation only ($50-$75 per person) Thursday through Monday at 12291 Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg. Make a reservation and learn more at http://aperture-cellars.com.

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Ship that continuously travels around the globe – that’s how much it costs

chandankumarsoft — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:50:42 +0000

A floating apartment. A residential yacht. A vacation home that travels around the globe.

There are many descriptions for the World, a luxury liner, but “cruise ship” isn’t one in every of them, says local resident Jim Minarik.

“The only thing the world has in common with a cruise ship is that they float on water,” he said. “If our ship were a cruise ship, we would probably have 1,500 passengers. When we're really busy, it's between 200 and 300.”

The World features 167 private apartments, starting from a 26.5 m² studio to a 300 m² four-bedroom apartment.

Minarik and his wife bought their apartment in 2020 with the plan to spend one to 2 months a yr on the ship, but now, he said, they spend as much as half the yr on board.

“We just found that we really liked the community and the way we travel – it's very cozy and comfortable,” he said. “You're constantly seeing something new.”

Minarik said the couple loved the onboard experience a lot that they eventually purchased a second, larger apartment on The World and kept the primary apartment for family and friends.

Life on board the ship

Like many cruises, The World has several restaurants and bars, yoga classes and a gym, two pools, a medical center and 24-hour room service.

But that's essentially where the similarities end. First of all, the owners are accountable for this ship.

“It's a democratic society on board,” said Residential Director Eddie Wong. “They vote on things like the itinerary, they vote on renovations on the ship,” as does the board.

The itineraries change yearly, Wong said. The 2026 schedule is prepared, he said, and includes stops in Antarctica, French Polynesia and Easter Island, which he called “one of the most coveted places in the world.”

The World docks in around 100 ports every year, stopping there not only for a couple of hours, but for 2 to 5 days.

“We'll dock in a port, for example on the Amalfi Coast,” Minarik said. “We'll stay for three or four days, so we might not get out at all on the first day… maybe we'll just go out for dinner.”

Several owners continue to exist the ship permanently, but most come and go as they please, he said.

After the cruise from South America to South Africa, Minarik said, he and his wife disembarked in Cape Town and went on safari for 2 weeks before heading home to Orange County, Calif. The friends they were traveling with caught up with the ship, which had since sailed up the west coast of Africa, he said.

The inhabitants of the world

Many of the owners are North Americans, Wong said. “But we have residents from about 20 different nationalities … we also have a lot of Australians on board,” he said.

Minarik, a former CEO of a serious consumer electronics company, said all owners have had some extent of monetary success.

“That's just a fact, but what's really interesting is that everyone has a great story,” he said.

Purchase prices for residential properties range from $2.4 million to $15 million – this amount doesn’t include quarterly maintenance fees, which may amount to about 10% of the acquisition price annually.

Nevertheless, money isn’t a giant issue on board the World, said Minarik.

“There's definitely no competing with your neighbors, because whether you're a multimillionaire or not, there are plenty of billionaires,” he said. “So you talk about your love of travel and the experiences.”

He said one in every of his friends from the ship is an 82-year-old man who “donates more money to charity than I could imagine.” What are they talking about? “Scuba diving,” Minarik said.

Potential buyers might be vetted, Wong said. In addition to a financial and police verification, he said, buyers will need two letters of advice from an existing resident.

Each yr, about 10% of the residences are offered on the market, an organization representative told CNBC Travel.

The average length of ownership is seven to eight years, Wong said. By that point, owners have traveled to most parts of the world several times, he said. Others move away to be closer to specialized medical care or to spend more time with family.

Minarik agreed that the most important downside to ship life is the time spent away from his children and grandchildren. He said he and his wife plan their lives to balance their love of family and voyages of discovery.

Another drawback? Minarik said he couldn't take his dogs on board.

But “if I could think of anything other than you not being able to have your pets and your family, that would be pure invention,” he said.

Only ship of its kind?

Wong said that while other firms have tried, The World remains to be the one ship of its kind.

The MV Narrative, an upscale residential vessel built by an organization called Storylineswas affected by several delayed departures. Originally scheduled to depart in 2024, it’s now scheduled to set sail in 2027. The ship is larger than The World and can have 500 cabins to accommodate around 1,000 people.

Another residential ship, Life at seawas canceled in November 2023, the identical month the primary departure was scheduled. Some travelers had reportedly sold their businesses and houses before learning that the corporate behind the cruise, Miray Cruises, had canceled the three-year-old voyage after failing to seek out a ship.

image credit : www.cnbc.com

Biden travels to New Hampshire and Boston

chandankumarsoft — Tue, 21 May 2024 17:59:37 +0000

Local News

President Joe Biden is in New England on Tuesday, making stops in New Hampshire and Boston.

First, Biden will meet with veterans and their families on the Westwood Park YMCA in Nashua “to discuss how the historic PACT Act has provided life-saving health care and benefits to more than 888,000 veterans and survivors,” in accordance with the statement White House. The PACT ActThe law, passed in 2022, expands health care and advantages for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.

The president is then expected to travel to Boston for 2 campaign receptions. With TD Garden set to host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Pacers on Tuesday night, Boston police are warning motorists to organize for road closures near Logan Airport, Back Bay and the Seaport District.

Biden what expected to announce that his administration has processed multiple million claims from veterans injured by exposure to toxic substances.

According to a video captured by WMUR, Biden landed in Manchester, New Hampshire just before noon on Tuesday.

Biden was greeted by several officials, including Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. Despite bashing former President Donald Trump prior to now, Sununu does stand by Trump in his rematch with Biden.

President Biden arrived in New Hampshire ahead of his visit to Boston today.
Boston police warn of traffic delays and road closures as he arrives for 2 fundraisers as Celtics fans travel to TD Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finalshttps://t.co/8svKJMESfc pic.twitter.com/YxoC4E1DAY

— Boston 25 News (@boston25) May 21, 2024

According to an Instagram report, demonstrators blaming Biden for the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza planned a protest near the South Station on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m post from the Boston Party for Socialism and Liberation.

The group called Biden “genocide Joe” and said its goal was to “make that clear.” [Biden] is NOT welcome in our city so long as he continues to fund Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians!”

Since the October 7 attacks, Biden has faced sustained outcry from the left over his continued support for the Israeli military.

image credit : www.boston.com

After securing a “place” in jazz, Emmet Cohen travels to the Bay Area

chandankumarsoft — Wed, 15 May 2024 07:35:09 +0000

Like hundreds of other music fans, I first heard Samara Joy at Emmet's Place, an internet jazz haven that has been providing a gentle stream of soul-invigorating music for the reason that early months of the pandemic.

Created by award-winning pianist Emmet Cohen following New York City's shutdown in March 2020, the continuing series has change into an extension of the town's jazz scene, with outstanding production values that bring viewers right into their living rooms. The first session with Joy, “Live From Emmet's Place Vol. 67,” was livestreamed from his home studio in Harlem on August 23, 2021 and has amassed greater than 200,000 views on YouTube.

Although she was hardly unknown on the time—she had won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition two years earlier—Joy had not yet begun racking up the Grammy Awards that catapulted her to stardom, or top-notch performances like her four-night run on the SFJAZZ Center on May 16-19. “The best thing about it is that people from all over the world who can't experience a jazz club near them can hang out here,” said Cohen, 33. “People all over the world have come to 'Emmet's Place' whether they're there Gather live and join the chat or watch them later.”

He distributed the broadcast this month to the young, Juilliard-trained New Jazz Underground trio as he embarks on a tour that will take him to a three-day performance at UC Davis' Mondavi Center with his organ quartet May 16-18 trumpeter Benny Benack III, tenor saxophonist Ruben Fox and drummer Kyle Poole.

“I'm a big fan of Jimmy Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco, who was a friend,” Cohen, 33, said as he name-checked jazz’s greatest Hammond B3 practitioners at Mount Rushmore. “I can have the horns in front with this group. I love the freedom of controlling the bass section. We can explore tempos and keys, starting with one melody and ending with another.”

His Bay Area appearance with his piano trio with Poole and bass maestro Rueben Rogers includes a Sunday afternoon concert at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, a Monday night at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center and an eight-show, four-night residency at SFJAZZ's Joe Henderson Center Laboratory from May 23rd to 26th.

All performances are sold out, but the Bach concert and Joe Henderson Lab set on May 24 at 7 p.m. will conveniently be livestreamed. Whether in person or online, he is a gracious host, fluent in a centuries-old set of piano phrases, including the sophisticated stride style perfected at Harlem gatherings to raise money for tenants.

“That’s the mythology,” Cohen said. “I live on Edgecombe Avenue, where all my piano heroes used to have rent parties in Harlem a century ago. There is a spiritual weight to what we do.”

For Cohen, Emmet's Place is more than just a place to stay. “For me it has become a documentary effort, trying to capture all the musicians who make up the scene and are able and willing to be a part of it,” he said.

The need to document the scene and connect with previous generations is the driving force behind Cohen's other major initiative: performing and recording with the improvisers who have shaped jazz since the mid-20th century.

His “Masters Legacy Series” includes albums with the late drummer Jimmy Cobb, bassist Ron Carter and saxophonist George Coleman, all of whom recorded classic albums with Miles Davis. Cohen's fifth and most recent “Legacy Series” project came out last fall and wowed soul-soaked tenor saxophonist Houston Person (still going strong at 89) at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival's Juneteenth celebration on June 15 and June 16 at the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society appears). He leads a quintet with the independent alto saxophonist Eric Person).

The time he spent with another jazz legend made his final performance at the SFJAZZ Center in 2019 particularly memorable, when pianist Ahmad Jamal played at Miner Auditorium and they met for dinner after the concert.

“He’s one of my heroes,” Cohen said. “My interests range from Jelly Roll Morton, Earl “Fatha” Hines and Fats Waller to Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Brad Mehldau. I love finding common ground between them and everyone in between.”

EMMET COHEN

With organ quartet: 7:30 p.m. 16-18 May; Mondavi Center Vanderhoef Studio Theater, UC Davis; $45; www.mondaviarts.org

With the Emmet Cohen Trio: 4:30 p.m., May 19, Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay; $45-55 (live stream $10); bachddsoc.org; 7:00 p.m., May 20 at Kuumbwa Jazz Center; $44; www.kuumbwajazz.org; 23-26 May at SFJAZZ Center; $35; www,sfjazz.org.

image credit : www.mercurynews.com