By MIKE OWEN

The final resting place of some of the city’s most distinguished citizens is getting a facelift — along its back side.

Up until recently, historic Linwood Cemetery has been surrounded on two sides by black wrought iron fencing, topped with sharp spires. And since 1957, the back two sides of the cemetery, which run along 17th Street between Fifth and 10th Avenues, and a stretch of the west side facing Fifth Avenue, have been graced by a chain link fence topped with barbed wire to discourage trespassers.

For a week now, workers have been digging and welding in place matching iron fencing along Fifth Avenue and are working their way up the 17th Avenue side, courtesy of the Historic Linwood Foundation.

The foundation, established in 1997 as an effort to restore and renovate the city’s first cemetery, works together with the city to maintain the 28-acre historic property.

Foundation Executive Director Jane Brady said she was not at liberty to divulge how much the project will cost, but said it was made possible by a gift from Warren Foley, chairman emeritus of the foundation’s board of directors.

“We’re so glad it will finally encircle the entire cemetery,” Brady said. “We’re always doing something here to renovate, restore and beautify.”
The fencing project, being done by Iron Works International of Atlanta, will replace more than 2,000 feet of chain link fencing with wrought iron.

The work was originally estimated to take about two months.
“But they’ve only been at it about a week,” Brady said.
“And you can see how far they’ve gone.”

The workers have finished the stretch along Fifth Avenue and about 150 feet along 17th Street.

The Historic Linwood Foundation and the Riverdale/Porterdale Foundation provide private funding and volunteer help to assist the city in maintaining its historic cemeteries, according to Deborah Abraham, cemetery division manager for the city.

“We’re in partnership with the foundations,” she said. “They do whatever they can do that we’re not able to do to help enhance the cemeteries.”
Riverdale, Porterdale and East Porterdale, the city’s other three cemeteries, are clustered near the intersection of Victory Drive and 10th Avenue. Porterdale was established in 1836, Riverdale in 1890 and East Porterdale in 1946.

But Linwood Cemetery is literally as old as the city. It was established in 1828, the same year the city was incorporated by the state legislature.
Its first resident, whose grave’s actual location has long been lost to time, was 7-year-old Truman Thomas. He was the son of Edward Thomas, the city’s first surveyor and planner. The boy succumbed to the elements of an unusually harsh winter of 1828 and was buried on land that his surveyor father would soon dedicate to be the city’s cemetery.

Among the others interred at Linwood are: Francis Joseph Springer, founder of the Springer Opera House; W.C. Bradley, the industrialist founder of the business empire that still bears his name; Dr. John Pemberton, the pharmacist who created Coca-Cola; H. Augusta Howard, the woman who founded Georgia’s Women Suffrage Association; and Confederate Gen. Henry L. Benning, for whom Fort Benning is named.

In the southwest corner of the cemetery, an old iron cannon stands sentinel over some of the hundreds of graves of Confederate soldiers buried there.

from ledger-enquirer.com

Anthony Brand

HOONS have gone on a rampage at a Coast sporting field, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage.

The wrought iron gates of Landsborough’s Peace Memorial Park weren’t enough to keep them from ripping up the turf with a vehicle on Friday night.

The ground is home to the Landsborough Cricket Club and maintained by volunteers in conjunction with the council.

Cricket club life member David McIntyre said the offenders removed the bollards from in front of the fence and drove through it before smashing through a separate piece of fencing on their way out.

“They lifted the bollards and drove straight through the fence,” Mr McIntyre said.

“They then proceeded on to the ground and drove all over the grass, ripping up a lot of the turf.

“As they left they drove through another part of the fence.”

Mr McIntyre said the vandalism was a slap in the face for volunteers who worked tirelessly to maintain the once-immaculate turf, mowing the ground themselves.

“When I saw the damage my immediate thoughts were with all the volunteers that help to keep the ground in such great shape,” he said. “We’ve had so much support from those volunteers and to see the damage done is very disappointing.”

Early estimates put the damage bill at more than $2000, with the club having to dig into hard-earned fundraising dollars to foot the bill.

“We don’t know exactly how much it will cost at this stage,” Mr McIntyre said.

“They’ve done at least $2000 to $3000 worth of damage – maybe more.

“Along with ripping up the grass, they ripped up the artificial turf on the wicket as well, which adds to the cost and we’ll probably have to replace that too.”

The damage comes in the middle of the cricket season, forcing matches to be moved to other fields.

“It means the ground will be out of action for some time,” Mr McIntyre said. “We’ll get it back as soon as possible but in the meantime the matches will be shifted to other grounds. We’re not sure where yet.”

from sunshinecoastdaily.com.au

By Chitra Ramaswamy

The 65 km drive from Sunset Beach Resort where we are vacationing is scenic. Our agenda for the day is visiting the famous Nerja (pronounced ‘Nerkha”) Caves in the municipality of Nerja, most picturesquely located on Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast marking the eastern tip of Malaga’s Costa del Sol.

Once called “Detunda” by its Roman settlers, “Nerja” the town’s present name is perhaps derived from “Narixa” meaning abundant spring. The town was so renamed by the Arab settlers who were immensely attracted to its agricultural and silk products. At one time, a fishing town, Nerja located in the Axarquia region of Malaga, is now a much sought after tourist destination. The scenic Sierra de Burno, Sierra de Almijara and Sierra Tejeda descend down dramatically upon the 16 km turquoise aqua stretch and overlook the town. We drink in the vista from the spectacular Balcony of Europe, so named by King Alfonso XII who visited the town in 1884. Once the site of the great Moorish castle, this romantic setting, the venue for various cultural activities has a scenic promenade adorned with palm trees and exotic plants providing an enchanting view of the Mediterranean coastline.

Considered to have the best climate in Europe, Nerja is an year-round visitors’ paradise with cafes, restaurants, bars and water sports aplenty. The town is an aesthetic blend of the old and new with well-preserved, rich Andalucian architecture. We walk along the narrow winding streets of its old quarter with its freshly painted houses roofed with wrought iron terraces from which spill out plants with multicoloured flowers. As several other tourists, we also fancy riding a horse-drawn carriage to explore parts of the city.

We catch a glimpse of the gorgeous Gardens of Capistrano Playa which descends to the Burriana Beach before heading by car, towards the principal object of our visit, the Cave of Wonders.

A few kilometers in the outskirts of the town of Nerja we come upon the famous Caves, located on the lower slopes of the Sierra Almijara at its lowest point. The caves, the formation of which dates back to around five million years ago, were a chance discovery in January 1959 by five young Spanish schoolboys from Maro: José Luis Barbero de Miguel, Miguel Muñoz Zorrilla, Francisco Navas Montesinos, Manuel Muñoz Zorilla, and José Torres Cárdenas. For days together they had watched in fascination, huge numbers of bats flying out during the hours of twilight, through a narrow hole in a dry sink La Mina. When curiosity got the better of they decided to explore the region from where the bats emerged. They squeezed themselves in through a narrow opening, coming upon what is known today as the Cataclysm Chamber. And the rest as they say is history. On 15 June 1961, the Cave at Nerja was declared an Artistic Historical Monument. A monument to the five children who discovered the cave, in the form of a stone sculpture is erected at the cave entrance.

The cave measuring 7,220 metres from North to South is divided into three sections — the Lower or Tourist Galleries, Upper Galleries and the New Galleries discovered in 1969. The cave has two natural entry points and a third one built in 1960.

We walk down the pathway set in the midst of lush greenery, pass the monument to the kids and proceed to the man-made cave entrance. We descend down 8 metres through a flight of steps and have our first view of the miraculous structures in the caves. Beginning with the Entrance Hall, the first of seven chambers in this lower gallery, we walk along well marked pathways to access the Christmas Crib, Elephant’s Tusk, Cascade or Ballet, Cataclysm, Cavern and Mine chambers, each with its strange and mesmerising natural creations.

Awesome, bewildering, bewitching, we gape in utter disbelief at the world’s longest stalactite measuring 63m in length, wondering how mere drops of water could give rise to such a grand formation! We are held spellbound by the poetry in stalagmite-stalactite in the Hall of the Cataclysm, which is more than 100 meters long, 50 meters wide and over 30 meters high. In the centre is the Great Column, a 32-metres-tall structure, supposedly the largest cave structure known to date, formed from 1,000 billion drops of water.

Still under the hypnotic spell cast by the cave’s fascination formations, we leave its precincts late evening as the sun prepares to retire.

from deccanchronicle.com

Justin Bieber has tweeted a ‘family’ photo of sorts to share with his followers. It’s actually his ‘fan family’, but he loves them just the same! Justin has always been mindful of the roles his fans play in his successful career and tries to show his love and appreciation as much as possible.

According to a report from Hollywood Life, this photo the Biebs tweeted is a rather peculiar one. It shows his fans on one side of a black wrought iron fence—not unlike the prison bars of days gone by. And Justin appears on the other side—rather strangely dressed in attire akin to that of a cat burglar!

The Never Say Never and Baby singer even holds hands with a couple of fans through the bars, one of which actually appears to have very hairy, masculine arms. Is that a guy holding hands with Justin Bieber? It’s likely a photographic trick on the old eyes—so many of these less-than-stellar quality photographs can be a bit misleading.

You can check the photo out for yourself by clicking here.

Justin Bieber certainly appears happy to be in the company of his fans, and even looks like he’s saying ‘Cheese!’ for the camera. It’s actually a great shot of him with his Beliebers behind him.

Are you impressed with the steps Justin takes to show his appreciation to his fans? He’s come under a bit of scrutiny lately for being stand-offish or rude, but do you think that’s really the case? Might some people simply misunderstand his actions when time is of the essence?

This photo certainly doesn’t convey a young man who treats his fans rudely. This one conveys pure love!

from celebs.gather.com

A national urban planners association is asking people to vote for their favourite public spaces, and among the nominees are a number of places in the Maritimes.The Saint John Market has been a popular gathering place since it opened in 1876.

The Saint John Market has been a popular gathering place since it opened in 1876. (Great Places in Canada)

The Canadian Institute of Planners is accepting nominations and votes for locations across the country.

The Saint John Market has held a prominent place in the city for more than 100 years.

The building takes up a full block and features a wrought iron gate and brickwork from the late 1800s. It opened for business in city’s uptown in 1876.

“It’s about people earning a living, it’s about people buying product for their households, and it’s a place to socialize. It’s the essence of our society,” Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase said Sunday.

Chase said the architecture, along with the rows of merchants inside, makes it a big draw to the public.

“It’s where you come and you meet acquaintances, meet new acquaintances, talk about the news of the city, the news of the country and gossip.”

Prince Edward Island has two nominees.Victoria Park was granted by Queen Victoria in 1873.Victoria Park was granted by Queen Victoria in 1873. (Tourism PEI)

One is a pedestrian mall Victoria Row, and the other is 16-hectare Victoria Park, granted to the city by Queen Victoria in June 1873.

Charlottetown mayor Clifford Lee said public spaces are important no matter where they are.

“It’s about the quality of life here in the city, it’s nature, it’s a real healthy environment,” Lee said.

Nova Scotia has five nominees, including the LaHave River and King Street in the town of Lunenburg — which is on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage list.

from cbc.ca

Welcome to Las Ventanas, an exquisite Mediterranean Estate, uniquely placed on a quiet, private ridge, with breathtaking, panoramic Pacific Ocean, islands, coastline, harbor  mountain views. Two sets of hand hewn stone columns and wrought iron gates welcome you at the end of private lanes off both East Valley Road and Hidden Valley Lane, and a winding, landscaped drive ensures privacy, and leads you to a magical compound in an awe-inspiring setting.

Settle your soul with luxurious retreat living, a place where complete rest & relaxation occur together with informal and formal entertaining, in perfect harmony with the easy Santa Barbara lifestyle. This beautiful home, with 4 bedroom suites, 6 bathrooms, & 1 bedroom guest house, sits on 9+ acres of beautiful landscaping. Experience year-round indoor/outdoor living & entertaining, and enjoy the sunrise, sunset & moonrise, the infinity pool, spa, & spacious and elegant rooms framing magnificent views.

Features include a large family room that opens to both front and rear patios a library/office; formal dining room opening to the front patio; a gourmet center-island kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances; a temperature controlled wine room; a downstairs office/gym; private patio areas off every bedroom; 6 fireplaces; vaulted ceilings in most rooms; jaw-dropping views from nearly every room; a master suite with spa tub, steam shower, exotic stone countertops, and a bedroom-sized, walk-in closet; BBQ Station and outdoor fireplace; a 3 car garage in the main house (1 car garage in guest house); and over 40 fruit trees in the orchard.

Las Ventanas is located just minutes from Montecito, Downtown Santa Barbara, and Butterfly, Miramar, Santa Claus, Summerland and East Beaches, and a short drive to Santa Barbara Airport. The picturesque Santa Ynez Valley, with its world-class wineries, is 45 minutes away, and vibrant Los Angeles, just 90 miles south. This is the perfect getaway or primary estate for those who want something truly special. Get ready to be WOWED!

from hauteliving.com

Located smack-bang in the centre of the stylish streets of Pest, the sights and delights of Hungary’s capital are on Le Méridien Budapest’s doorstep.

As a Budapest first-timer, the proximity to the attractions of the city that Le Méridien Budapest offered was invaluable. Armed with my Budapest transport card and map (which takes a while to master – in Budapest a lot of the streets sound the same!), exploring the city was easy. Within minutes I was amid the bustling Vörösmarty Square, perusing the shops on Váci Utca (the city’s equivalent of London’s Oxford Street) and strolling alongside the mighty River Danube, which separates Buda and Pest.

With so much history and culture surrounding the hotel, it was fitting that the hotel itself had its own story to tell. Formerly known as Adria Palace, an apartment and office building designed in 1913, the building has been declared a historic monument. As a building designed in the Secession era (a branch of Art Nouveau, inspired by natural forms) wrought iron balconies, ornate chandeliers and arched windows gives the hotel an aura of elegance. The most eye-catching feature is the giant, stained-glass dome that overlooks the atrium, with its grand chandelier hanging from its centre.

I stayed in an executive suite, which included a lounge area with sofas, big double bed and a generously-sized bathroom with a large bath and walk-in power shower. The room boasted all the mod-cons: TV (this room had two!), HiFi and a range of teas and coffees. With neutral décor, the overall look was clean, corporate and comfortable.

As we were in Hungary we were naturally curious about the traditional cuisine. We had tried a hearty paprika chicken and vegetable concoction at the Christmas market but sampling Hungary’s gastronomic delights in the high-end restaurant – Le Bourbon – was another matter. The restaurant serves French cuisine but does have a section on the menu of Hungarian classics, which is what we opted for.

We began with a starter of home-made foie gras terrine and cold smoked goose breast, freshly fried Makó onion and grilled seed toast whilst we sipped the Hungarian classic wine Tokaj (almost port-like in taste). On the whole the dish was a touch too sweet for my tastes, but nonetheless tasty.

The main course, however, really hit the mark. I devoured the grilled beef tenderloin topped with grilled goose liver and served with fresh Hungarian lecsó (a ratatouille-like mixture of peppers, paprika and tomatoes) and roasted sliced potato. A positively giant dessert followed – somlói galuska – a decadent, trifle-like dessert of sponge cakes, cream and chocolate sauce. As much as I wanted to gobble every last spoonful, by this stage I was ready to go lie down! The whole meal was a brilliant insight into Hungarian cuisine.

One of the other plus points of my stay at Le Méridien Budapest was the hotel’s spa and health centre, complete with a small gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. As I visited in December, I especially enjoyed warming up in the sauna and steam room and it was a great way to relax after sightseeing in the crisp, winter weather.

Le Méridien Budapest proved to be ideal for a city break – its enviable location and amenities made for a great stay but the one thing that really made it memorable was the delightful staff. From the moment I arrived to the moment I left, I was treated to five-star service, complete with a smile.

By Sarah Gibbons

from travelbite.co.uk

You can’t help but feel a little frisson of excitement as you pass through the tall iron gates and pull up under the beautiful wrought-iron and glass porte-cochère of the Shangri-La in Paris.

So far, so French. But as you step inside the hotel you’re greeted by two giant Ming dynasty-style vases standing sentry at the door, hinting at the provenance of this new address on the Parisian hotel scene.

The Shangri-La was the second of a trio of Asian-based luxury hotel groups to open properties in the French capital in the past 18 months (joining Raffles Le Royal Monceau and followed by Mandarin Oriental). It celebrated its first anniversary last month and is arguably the most romantic and intimate of the three, housed in the Belle Epoque Palais d’Iéna, the former home of Napoleon Bonaparte’s grand nephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte. The family coat of arms, lions’ heads and antlers can still be seen, carved into the pale stone façade.

Inside, a spectacular sweeping staircase leads to the principal salons on the first floor. The Grand Salon – all chandeliers, parquet, gilt and mirrors – recalls the grandeur of Versailles and is among several elements of the palace now protected on the list of “Monuments Historiques”.

The restoration of the building, which latterly belonged to the French Centre of Foreign Trade, took four years. It involved some additions, which are mercifully subtle.

Gentle hints of the Orient infuse the hotel. For example, delicate Jasmine Chung Hao tea from China’s northern province of Fujian is offered when you are taken to your room.

It’s no coincidence that the arrival of these Asian hoteliers coincides with an influx of well-heeled Chinese visitors eager to spend their yuan. During my stay, enthusiastic groups were jumping into the hotel’s fleet of slick limousines, presumably off to peruse the luxury brands of the nearby Avenue Montaigne.

The Shangri-La’s prices reflect this profligacy – you’ll need a stiff drink before reading the bar, restaurant and room-service menus.

There are three restaurants. La Bauhinia features a stunning glass cupola uncovered during the restoration, while L’Abeille, the gastronomic French restaurant, takes its name from the Napoleonic bee. The Shang Palace, which opened last September and was immediately booked solid, is easily the city’s most sophisticated Chinese restaurant, serving refined Cantonese cuisine.

Later this year, an indoor swimming pool and spa are due to open in the former stables. The currrent lack is of little consequence: there are still few more romantic places to stay during Paris’s loveliest season.

The hotel clings to the side of Chaillot Hill in Paris’s chic, buttoned-up 16th arrondissement. The Shangri-La is just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower and is only moments away from the Trocadéro with its views of everyone’s favourite landmark.

Several museums and galleries are also a short stroll away: the Guimet Museum, Musée du Quai Branly, Palais de Tokyo and the Marmottan Monet Museum. Perhaps more importantly, the Golden Triangle is a mere Louboutin’s totter down the hill.

There are 81 rooms and suites divided into five categories. The view that all visitors lust after is the symbol of the city and my room had just that. About half of all the rooms and suites have Eiffel Tower views and it’s hard to drag yourself away from the window.

Interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon was tasked with decorating the guest rooms, channelling a Gallic-Oriental fusion with Empire-style furnishings in hues of blue, ecru and white. Apart from some of the more lavish suites, it seems a bit sombre given the opulence of parts of the palace, but maybe that’s the point.

Bathrooms are decked in chocolate brown marble and buff limestone with separate baths and shower heads of dinner-plate proportions. There is also a Nespresso machine, kettle, DVD, TV and free Wi-Fi.

from independent.co.uk

by Allison Jones

In decorating their home, Steve and Patty Jo wanted it to be a welcoming space for family and friends, but also to be extremely dog-friendly. This decorating task inspired Patty Jo to put her own creativity to work, and it resulted in the perfect place to call home.

“This is where we spend most of our time,” Patty Jo said as she stood in the great room. A leather sectional and recliner provide plenty of seating around a stone-top coffee table. High ceilings give a spacious feel. Cold winter’s nights are warmed by the stone fireplace that showcases a wall-mounted deer head sculpture.

The newly remodeled open kitchen is the ideal spot for family and friends to gather when entertaining. Chocolate walls are decorated with floating shelves displaying family photographs and collectibles. Granite counters have a stone backsplash. Patty Jo created a custom-built, raised eating bar for Great Danes Dottie and Shadow that incorporates pictures of the couple’s previous Great Danes. Four leather chairs surround a round table in front of a window that provides a spectacular view of the surrounding acreage.

Decorative gates act as a boundary for the dogs at the opening to the living room. White carpet is topped with a darker shag area rug. Metal artwork and pictures from Patty Jo’s extensive travels hang on the walls. Two leather sofas and a wrought-iron bench with cushion are grouped into a seating area. A vibrant floral arrangement is displayed on a marble pedestal.

Patty Jo says she loves home-improvement shows, and her guest bathroom was inspired by watching several of them and putting her ideas to the test. A glass vessel sink sits atop a black vanity. Black-and-white photographs adorn the walls. A mirror and tile backsplash form a contemporary design that makes this the focal point of the room.

The lower level is entertainment central. Since both Steve and Patty Jo graduated from the University of Kentucky, they wanted to use that concept as the central theme, but didn’t want to overdo it. A University of Kentucky billiard light hangs above the pool table. Two leather pub chairs flank a pub table. A bar area with mahogany cabinetry and tile backsplash is ideal for serving guests their favorite beverage. The granite counter has space for three bar chairs. A curved leather sofa and an accent chair are comfortable spots to catch the latest UK game on the wall-mounted flat-screen television. The walls are decorated with photographs of Steve in several fishing tournaments.

Patty Jo had an extensive basketball career — from Western High School through UK to playing professionally in Italy and Germany. In the early ’80s, she was the starting point guard for UK’s only SEC championship women’s basketball team, an All-SEC player, and a gold medalist and member of the 1983 Pan American Games basketball team. Her parents made sure that all of her memorabilia was saved, so she and Steve created a space for it. French doors open to a spacious room with dark bamboo floors. The area showcases PJ’s awards, shadow boxes displaying her jerseys, and notice of her 2009 induction into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

from courier-journal.com

This inviting brick traditional with slate roof sits on a high, .6-acre lot overlooking the James River. The home has approximately 3,600 square feet, with an additional 1,585 square feet on the basement level, now used for casual entertaining and workshop area. The remodeled kitchen with 9-foot ceiling adjoins the dining area and opens to the sunroom, providing an expansive space for entertaining overlooking the river. There are four bedrooms and a possible fifth bedroom on the first floor, 41/2 baths, an office, gardener’s work room, pier and dock with a boatlift.

The large entrance foyer leads to an open stairway. The 24-foot living room with fireplace has fine architectural details, chair railing and crown molding. The window-lined sunroom connects to the updated kitchen featuring cherry cabinets, granite countertops, wall oven and built-in microwave, warming drawer, large country sink, and a sleek downdraft island cooktop. The lower level offers a 38-foot family room with a fireplace flanked by windows, wet bar, and pool table.

There is an additional 40-foot storage area, full bath and finished workshop. The second-floor master suite features sitting area, ceramic tile bath with separate shower and tub. The waterfront terrace has a copper roof, overlooks a wrought-iron fenced yard and tiered landscaping, with wide concrete steps leading to the pier. A waterside “fisherman’s shack” provides an additional area for entertaining.

Extras: Security system, gas heat, walk-in cedar closet, newly-refinished hardwood floors, irrigation system, a 10,000-pound boatlift and garage.

from articles.dailypress.com