May 14th, 2015 at 9:00 am
When you think of wine tasting, what comes to mind? For many, it might be a whole event or afternoon production. First, you head to a local winery or tasting room and begin your sensory adventure. Your day is filled with the sweet and dry aromas and tastes of various grapes and assorted blends. Between samples, you cleanse the palate with water and maybe even a pretzel or cracker. By the end of your tasting afternoon, you’re ready to leave with a few bottles of some of the delicious wines you’ve sampled and hand-selected.
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May 7th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Has granite lost its luster as the kitchen countertop of choice? Despite advancements in countertop materials, and to paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of granite’s death appear to be greatly exaggerated.
A kitchen favorite for decades, the natural stone isn’t always the first choice for younger homeowners, who might associate it with older generations’ kitchens. Many are opting for other surfaces, which in recent years have come a long way in matching granite’s strength and durability.
With more countertop choices available, some homeowners are using more than one type in their kitchen design. A food-prep area, where cleanup and bacteria resistance are concerns, might call for quartz. And granite might be best in a space used for serving because it is the most heat-resistant. So it isn’t unusual to surface an island in one material and the perimeter in another.
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May 7th, 2015 at 9:00 am
Author: Nate Chapnick
Information provided by: Riviera San Diego
Image courtesy of sippakorn / Shutterstock.com
Exotic Beauty: 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish
Aston Martin’s flagship supercar, the Vanquish, is a whole new animal for 2015. A revised 6.0-liter V12 engine puts out 568 horsepower, making this the most powerful GT production engine in Aston Martin’s history. A state-of-the-art Touchtronic III automatic transmission provides gearshifts that are faster and smoother than ever before, launching the Vanquish from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds on its way to an incredible 201 mph top speed. Inside, the hand-built Vanquish offers the finest in bespoke British luxury with over 100,000 potential interior specifications, while also showcasing the latest technology such as glass capacitive touch buttons. Exotic ingredients abound, from a crystal key fob to carbon fiber body panels and carbon ceramic brakes, making this Aston Martin one irresistible treat. Released just in time for the spring and summer driving seasons, the $284,995 2015 Vanquish can be found at your local Aston Martin dealer now.
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April 30th, 2015 at 9:00 am
Finding the ideal Southern California home will be fast, easy, and fun this weekend, May 2 and 3, during our six-county Open House Extravaganza.
Numerous homes will be available for viewing both in person and online, where open houses can be selected and filtered by criteria such as price, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and ZIP code. Top agents will be on hand to provide tours, offer advice, and answer questions about the home-buying process.
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April 29th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Kitchen blenders have come a long way since Stephen J. Poplawski, owner of Stevens Electric Co. in Racine, Wisconsin, began designing drink mixers in 1919. He patented them in 1922, along with a liquefier blender, and soon they were in use at soda fountains around the country to whip up malted milkshakes.
Fifteen years later, the Vitamix company–which had made kitchen products since 1921–introduced its own heavy-duty version of the blender. In 1949, the company hit the big time after showcasing its blender in the world’s first TV infomercial.
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