<div>Nothing doing next weekend? Then consider renting a house upstate in Claryville, a quick two hour drive from the city.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This Catskills hamlet is close to <a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/clary.html">plenty of attractions</a> and only a 45 minute drive from <a href="http://belleayre.com/">Belleyare ski resort</a> (<a href="http://www.jauntsetter.com/archive/trip_picks/super-cheap-easy-escape-belleayre-mountain">see our Trip Pick on Belleyare here</a>). But should you want to stay indoors and listen only to the wind howl outside, we've got a bunch of super cozy homes for you to curl up in - with or without a group of friends. Take a look at our selections for rentals that sleep 4 to 8, all available next weekend for a two or three night stay.</div><div><br /></div><div>xo,</div><div><br /></div><div>your jauntsetter team</div><div><br /></div><div>PS: Please note that for all of the below, you can pay for your rental via credit card. You'll also be dealing directly with the owner of the rental site <a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/Home.html">Red Cottage Inc</a>, Jennifer Grimes, when you book. On that note, Jennifer is offering a 10% discount exclusively to jauntsetter readers on her own Claryville home, <a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/2-4/Pages/cottage_2.html">The Cottage</a>, for February 17th to the 24th. Thanks Jennifer!</div><div><br /></div><div>______________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Claryville Rentals, Available President's Day Weekend</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://www.RedCottageInc.com/redcottageinc/rentals/Pages/wild.html">Wildcat Mountain Cabin</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>With two bedrooms, this house could be the perfect getaway for a small group of friends, though it's affordable enough for a couples weekend as well. And while this home's hot tub won't be operating till spring, the rental house has one of our favorite warming perks ever: a luxuriously large&nbsp;tub in the master bedroom (pictured)!</div><div><br /></div><div>We once stayed in an inn that had this amenity, and we can't even begin to tell you how much we loved it. Getting out of a hot bath, toweling off, and climbing straight into a toasty bed has to be one of the most luxurious feelings ever. Other warming perks? The wood-burning stove in the living room and bonfire pit outdoors.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The house rents for a very reasonable&nbsp;<a href="http://www.RedCottageInc.com/redcottageinc/wildrts.html">$500/weekend or $675/three night President's Day weekend</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/rentals/Pages/halls.html">Halls Mills</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Not really into Valentine's Day in the city, when every single restaurant seems to be overrun with couples hell bent on spending too much <i>dinero</i> on a mediocre prix fixe? Why not make a sweet escape with friends, instead, and head up to Halls Mills for your own culinary treat. The place has four bedrooms and a large kitchen along with plenty of dining space - perfect for a group of singles and couples who like to cook and hang out together. Drive up on Friday, make a fire, cozy up with a glass of wine and some cookbooks, and start planning breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of the weekend, no heart shaped-desserts required.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/rentals/Pages/halls.html">Halls Mills rents for $600/weekend.</a>&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b><a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/holiday/Pages/farm_h.html#7">Liberty Farm</a>&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a classic (but newly renovated) three story farmhouse, nicely decorated and absolutely comfortable for friends. Like Halls Mills, it's super spacious with two large living rooms, a spacious bathroom with large tub, and a lovely design. Again, this house would be perfect for a group of pals who love to cook, play board games and hang out by the fire together. Sleeps 6.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.redcottageinc.com/redcottageinc/frmrts.html">Available at $525/weekend.</a></div><div><br /></div></div><script type="text/javascript"> var so = new SWFObject("http://www.db798.com/pictobrowserp.swf", "PictoBrowser", "520", "660", "8", "#EEEEEE"); so.addVariable("source", "album"); so.addVariable("userName", "dmcgivney"); so.addVariable("names", "Farmhouse"); so.addVariable("albumId", "5418473796112579441"); so.addVariable("titles", "off"); so.addVariable("displayNotes", "always"); so.addVariable("thumbAutoHide", "off"); so.addVariable("imageSize", "medium"); so.addVariable("vAlign", "mid"); so.addVariable("vertOffset", "0"); so.addVariable("colorHexVar", "EEEEEE"); so.addVariable("initialScale", "off"); so.addVariable("bgAlpha", "53"); so.write("PictoBrowser091223115242"); </script> 2010-02-08T15:42:47Z 470 affordable-upstate-house-rentals-available-this-weekend 2010-02-08T16:04:52Z OK, so we're <a href="http://www.jauntsetter.com/blog/french-inspired-food-reads">back with the truffles again</a>.&nbsp;<div><br /><div>But we just can't help ourselves. Fave French food blogger, <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2010/02/the_truffle_market_in_lalbenque.html ">David Lebovitz</a>, makes a hard case for <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2010/02/the_truffle_market_in_lalbenque.html ">traveling to Lalbenque</a>, the most famous town in the world for the elusive <i>les truffes noires</i>, to get your fill of black truffles. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out his post on why most foods (like bagels, macaroons and croissants) are best from their source, as well as some <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2010/02/the_truffle_market_in_lalbenque.html ">fantastic photos of the truffle market</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>[Image from <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2010/02/the_truffle_market_in_lalbenque.html ">David Lebovitz</a>.]</i></div> </div> 2010-02-08T14:57:46Z 469 monday-morning-dreaming-a-trip-for-truffles 2010-02-08T15:03:01Z <div>Just a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&amp;listing_id=38681352">quick link</a> to a super-stylin' vintage bag we found over on <a href="http://www.etsy.com">Etsy.</a>&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>From the description of this classic American Tourister:&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>"Versatile enough for an airplane carry-on, or for daily use at the office. Perfect for him OR her.&nbsp;This bag is in very good vintage condition with one or two scuffs on the outside, nothing of particular note. The creamy ivory inside is near perfect."</div><div><br /></div><div>The price? $42.00 for a sturdy piece that's made of vinyl but looks like leather - perfect for any vegan vagabonds.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&amp;listing_id=38681352">Click here for more info</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeadowbelleMarket">check out the rest of the shop</a>, which has other nice travel pieces, bridal accessories and jewelry.</div><div><br /></div> 2010-02-05T22:27:45Z 468 vintage-luggage-find-from-etsy 2010-02-05T22:28:14Z <div>On Fridays we normally like to post last-minute trip ideas for the weekend. But with a blizzard imminent, it seems that travel of any sort - even train travel - might not be the best idea.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Still, our wanderlust can't be contained, and we're dreaming about how we can get out of our apartment, away from this computer, and into an an extra large tub with a plush robe and room service menu nearby.</div><div><br /></div><div>What better, then, than holing up locally in one of New York's finest hotels? In our fantasy scenario, money would be no object (of course), and after a cozy night in, we'd wake up right next to the best place to enjoy the post-blizzard snow: Central Park.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take a look at our top three fantasy escapes, and let us know: if you could check into deluxe local lodgings tonight, where would you go?</div><div><br /></div><div>xo,</div><div><br /></div><div>your jauntsetter team</div><div><br /></div><div>__________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Local Escape: Luxury Hotels Near Central Park</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Old School New York Glamour - The Pierre:</b> Oh, if we could only check into the elegant <a href="http://www.tajhotels.com/">Pierre Hotel</a> tonight. Friends recently ate dinner at the hotel's restaurant, <a href="http://tajhotels.com/Luxury/The%20Pierre,NEW%20YORK/dining.asp">Le Caprice</a>, and raved about the service and food, so naturally we'd start off with an evening meal there.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After our dinner, we'd head up to a King room ($421/night with their weekend rates), making sure to request one with a soaking tub. In the morning, we'd ask for a late checkout, order coffee in our room and then walk through snowy Central Park to The Met as early as could be (to avoid tourists, naturally). After we got our fill of art, we'd head back to The Pierre where we'd linger over an afternoon cocktail in the lobby lounge before heading back to our apartment. Sigh.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Modern Luxury - The Mandarin Oriental: </b>The MO in Tokyo is our favorite hotel in the world, so we've always been curious about the <a href="http://www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork/ ">Manhattan location</a>. From what we've read, it sounds like a dream if only for the bathrooms: the hotel has some of the most spacious in New York; each one comes with a separate marble bath and enclosed shower. With floor to ceiling views of the Hudson in its Deluxe Hudson River View room ($645/night; pictured) we'd watch the snow fall up close - no room at the Mandarin is below the 42nd floor.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>When it gets dark, we'd take advantage of the home theater experience of our room with its large LCD flatscreens and over 100 television channels. Room service? Not needed - for more affordable snacks, we'd head down to Whole Foods to buy our own treats, and sneak in wine from elsewhere. In the morning, we'd start with a steam in the stunning spa, and then eat lunch at <a href="http://www.masarestaurant.com/">Masa</a> in Columbus Circle. Dinner at the regular restaurant is insanely expensive, but <a href="http://masanyc.com/pdfs/SPRINGLUNCHBarMasaMenu.pdf">lunch at the bar</a>&nbsp;is&nbsp;surprisingly affordable at $22 for a generous bento box.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Classically Elegant - The Ritz Carlton:</b> Opulent decor, high-touch service, a La Prairie Spa, some of the largest hotel rooms in the city ... We're really ready to <a href="http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/CentralPark/Default.htm">check into the Ritz</a>, can you tell? Again, our scenario there would likely involve a bath - like the Mandarin, every room has a marble tub - and a night in watching movies. Of course, before switching from our work clothing (i.e. a sad, bizarro blogger sweatpants/sweater combo) into our plush robes, we'd treat ourself to a glass of Champagne at the Ritz's guest lounge, which has fantastic views of Central Park.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After watching the snow come down, we'd spend the evening in our King room ($645/night)&nbsp;watching movies in bed. In the morning, we might visit the sauna in the 24-hour fitness center for a pick-me-up&nbsp;<i>svhitz</i> or the&nbsp;eucalyptus steam room in the aforementioned spa. Upon return to our room, we'd linger over <i>The New York Times</i> before heading out, well-rested and ready for a day of fun in a post-blizzard Gotham.</div><div><br /></div> 2010-02-05T19:37:30Z 467 last-minute-getaway-local-hotels-worth-fantasizing-about 2010-02-05T19:59:18Z <div>One of our favorite style blogs, <a href="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/02/the-good-kind-of-baggage.html?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StyleBubble+%28Style+Bubble%29">Style Bubble</a>, has a totally cool post about some unconventional luggage that blogger Susie recently discovered.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Made by LCF MA Fashion Artefact grad <a href="http://www.williams-handmade.com/">Sarah Williams</a>, these pieces range from vanity cases to portable trunks - and while all look wild, they've been designed for both form and function, with clever pockets and details that would make packing an artful breeze.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://stylesalvage.blogspot.com/2010/02/lcf-ma-graduate-showcase-sarah-williams.html">Check out the interview Style Savage did with Sarah</a>, and take a look at some of the amazing photos of her work below.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>[Images from Sarah Williams via </i><a href="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e40f970c-pi"><i>Style Bubble.</i></a><i>]</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>______________________________________________________</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e290970c-pi" alt="" /><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a988330120a862a3fb970b-pi" alt="" /><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e31a970c-pi" alt="" /><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e18e970c-pi" alt="" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e1f1970c-pi" alt="" /><img src="http://www.stylebubble.co.uk/.a/6a00e5508e95a9883301287764e22e970c-pi" alt="" /><br /></div> 2010-02-05T16:36:56Z 466 conceptual-luggage-we-d-really-like 2010-02-05T16:44:01Z