Wine Tasting

Is the somewhat paltry number of green list countries giving you the blues? Has a year of WFH, home-schooling and lockdown left you yearning for a night or two spent somewhere that isn’t inside your own four walls?

With hotels given the go-ahead to reopen from Monday, now’s the time to treat yourself to a few nights of rest and relaxation at one of Kent’s most luxurious destinations…

Port Lympne Reserve

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Dreams of going on safari feeling even further away thanks to the ongoing travel restrictions? Well, we may have the next best thing right here in the Kent countryside just outside Hythe.

Port Lympne Reserve is one of two wildlife centres run by the Aspinall Foundation, a charity which works towards the protection of endangered species. Not only can visitors come and see some of the magnificent wildlife at the reserve outside Hythe, they can also stay in a range of truly luxurious accommodation.

Short breaks on offer range from rooms in their boutique hotel to romantic nights under the stars in a 180 degree, panoramic bubble pod. And in a number of the lodges you can even wake up to the sight of animals right outside your window, before taking to your own personal buggy to explore the 600-acre reserve.

What is there to do nearby?

Sprawling away from the reserve and out towards the sea is the flat expanse of Romney Marsh, which is traversed by one of the smallest public railways in the world.

Opened in 1927, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway operates a fleet of one-third size steam and diesel locomotives along little more than 13 miles of track from the Cinque Port town of Hythe all the way to Dungeness, the vast shingle ‘desert’ which is home to Derek Jarman’s famous Prospect Cottage.

How do I get there?

For those coming by car, the reserve is situated just a short drive from J11 of the M20 between Ashford and Folkestone.

Its nearest railway station is Westenhanger, which is around 90 minutes from London Charing Cross, or take the high-speed train from London St Pancras International and change at Ashford International. All services are operated by Southeastern.

Address: Port Lympne Reserve, Lympne (near Hythe) CT21 4PD

Where can I find out more?

To visit the Port Lympne website, click here.

The Pig at Bridge Place

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Opened in April 2019, The Pig occupies the former home of the Bridge Place Country Club, a 17th century manor house that hosted renowned parties and gigs by bands including Led Zeppelin and The Kinks.

The building contains a wealth of period features, including large fireplaces, secret stairways, panelled rooms and endless nooks and crannies.

A kitchen garden and restaurant sit at the beating heart of the property, anything that cannot be supplied by the gardens is sourced from Kent’s best producers within a 25-mile radius of Bridge.

With far reaching views out across the Kentish countryside, all bedrooms are finished to a high standard. And elsewhere in the grounds there are Kentish hop pickers’ huts on stilts sit alongside the river in the grounds, each made from reclaimed materials, with a double-bedroom, fitted bathroom and wood burning stove.

What is there to do nearby?

You’re staying in the heart of the Wine Garden of England, so a visit to Simpsons Wine Estate in nearby Barham is a must if you want to find out why wine made in Kent is making waves around the world.

The winery was established by Charles and Ruth Simpson in 2014, and they have now planted around 30 hectares of vineyards in the rolling countryside of the Elham Valley outside Canterbury.

Their three planted vineyards – made up of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes – have the potential to produce upwards of 250,000 bottles of English still and sparkling wine per year.

Visitors can explore the winery and sample its produce by joining a wine tasting and tour of the estate.

How do I get there?

The Pig is about 15 minutes from Canterbury by car and there is free parking at the hotel.

Bekesbourne is the nearest railway station, about two miles away, and can be reached by Southeastern trains from London Victoria via Canterbury in around 90 minutes.

Where can I find out more?

Telephone 01227 830208, email reservations@thepighotel.com or click here to visit the website.

House of Agnes

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Describing itself as “not an ordinary bed and breakfast”, the House of Agnes is ideally located for a break exploring the historic city of Canterbury.

Featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed, this 17-room B&B is made up of nine themed rooms in the main house and eight more modern ‘stable’ rooms facing onto the garden.

It reopens on May 17 and anyone who stays for more than two nights will receive a discount on standard room rates.

There is a large garden with deckchairs for relaxing, free on-site parking, a cosy bar and comfy lounges, while breakfast can be enjoyed in its wood-panelled breakfast room or on the terrace in good weather.

What is there to do nearby?

Of course many first-time visitors will beat a path to the famous cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and famously the site of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket.

But that might be a somewhat obvious suggestion. So why not learn about the city before the coming of Christianity on a visit to the Canterbury Roman Museum.

The story begins in in 1868 when workmen digging trenches for a new drainage system unwittingly unearthed a beautifully preserved Roman floor mosaic.

After the Second World War – during which the city was targeted by the so-called Baedeker Blitz – more Roman remains where uncovered amid the bomb damage, and in time a museum grew around what is now known to be one of the UK’s only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics.

How do I get there?

Canterbury can be reached by car via the M2/A2 from London but, although the House of Agnes does have parking, the city is easily explored on foot – or perhaps by e-scooter.

Canterbury West railway station is just a short walk away, and is served by trains taking slightly more than 90 minutes from London Victoria or around 55 minutes from London St Pancras International.

Address: House of Agnes, 71 St Dunstan’s Street, Canterbury CT2 8BN

Where can I find out more?

Telephone 01227 472185 or click here to visit the website.

Read’s Restaurant with Rooms

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Set in elegant Georgian house Macknade Manor in Faversham, Read’s has long cultivated a reputation for fine food, with the chef David Pitchford earning the restaurant a Michelin star for two decades.

The house, which is surrounded by tranquil grounds with lawns shaded by lofty cedar, weeping willow and horse chestnut trees, also offers six traditional-style bedrooms for those who’d like to turn a meal into a longer stay.

Read’s describes its menu as showcasing seasonal dishes which “blend herbs and vegetables from the manor’s own walled kitchen garden with local game and fish fresh from the quayside at nearby Whitstable and Hythe” and the wine list “balances the European classics with a carefully chosen and imaginative selection from the Americas and the New World”.

Rates for a double room, dinner and breakfast start at £160 per person midweek, rising slightly at the weekend.

What is there to do nearby?

If you are visiting from July onwards, and great local produce is on your wishlist, then why not take a tour of Britain’s oldest brewery?

Shepherd Neame has been crafting the finest Kentish ales in the medieval market town of Faversham for centuries, and from July 1 beer lovers will once again be able to explore the brewery, discover more about its history and take part in a tutored tasting of the ales which have made the Sheps name famous in Kent and beyond.

How do I get there?

Read’s is situated on the A2 Canterbury Road in Faversham, just a short distance from J7 of the M2 at Brenley Corner.

It is also just a 20 minute walk from Faversham railway station, which is little more than an hour and fifteen minutes from London Victoria, or slightly more than an hour by high-speed train from London St Pancras International. Both services are operated by Southeastern.

Address: Read’s Restaurant, Macknade Manor, Canterbury Road, Faversham ME13 8XE

Where can I find out more?

Telephone 01795 535344, email enquiries@reads.com or click here to visit the website.

Rocksalt Rooms

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Situated just a stone’s throw from chef Mark Sargeant’s harbour-side restaurant Rocksalt, these four boutique bolt holes – two with sea views – are an ideal base from which to explore the transformed Folkestone seafront.

Kitted out with Egyptian cotton bedding, flat-screen TVs and Nespresso machines for the morning caffeine hit, these definitely rank towards the luxury end of the scale.

If you’ve decided to stay here, then there’s every chance you’ll be wanting a table at Rocksalt. The restaurant serves modern British food using ingredients sourced from the sea and countryside around Folkestone, all with sweeping views over the harbour and out into the English Channel.

What is there to do nearby?

As spring turns to summer there really is no better time to explore Folkestone’s Creative Quarter, with its quirky mix of independent traders and great places to grab a bite to eat.

The recently renovated Harbour Arm is also home to a host of different street food vendors and enjoys stunning views of the coastline stretching away towards the White Cliffs and Dover.

Art lovers are also in for a treat, as Folkestone is home to a permanent public art exhibition outdoors around the town and harbour, with artworks popping up in both scenic and surprising locations.

The changing exhibition, currently consisting of 84 artworks by 44 artists, is a legacy of the Triennial which is staged in the town this year takes place between July 22 and November 2.

How do I get there?

Folkestone can be reached via the M20 from London.

The nearest station is Folkestone Central, which is less than an hour by high-speed train from London St Pancras International or around 90 minutes from London Charing Cross. Both services are operated by Southeastern.

Address: Rocksalt, 4-5 Fishmarket, Folkestone CT19 6AA

Where can I find out more?

Telephone 01303 212070, email info@rocksaltfolkestone.co.uk or click here to visit the website.

The Spa Hotel

Where is it and what’s on offer?

Set in 14 acres of picturesque grounds close to the centre of Tunbridge Wells, the spa town from which the hotel’s name is derived, the Spa Hotel first opened its doors to guests in 1880.

Originally built in 1766 as a country mansion, hotel has a long-established history in the town and is home to 70 rooms, an award-winning restaurant, and – in keeping with the tradition of the town – a spa offering a range of treatments.

What is there to do nearby?

Bedgebury National Pinetum is home to the largest pinetum – the name used to describe tree collection that consists mainly of conifers – in the world and is an important place for species conservation, scientific advancement and the understanding of conifers.

Set in 350 acres of rolling Wealden countryside, its mix of conifers and broad-leaved trees is awe-inspiring in its size and grandeur. A series of paths wind through the Dallimore Valley, where you’ll find an impressive stand of giant redwoods.

How do I get there?

By car Tunbridge Wells is reached via the A21 from the M25.

Tunbridge Wells railway station is served by Southeastern trains which take around 45 minutes from London Charing Cross.

Address: The Spa Hotel, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8XJ

Where can I find out more?

Telephone 01892 520331, email reservations@spahotel.co.uk or click here to visit the website.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

Hard seltzer first stormed the warm-weather drinking scene in 2019 with such ferocity that the season will go down in pop-culture history as the “Summer of White Claw.”

Beverage companies are hoping that this year’s (fully vaxxed, hopefully) party scene will be similarly swimming in the fizzy drink particularly beloved by younger drinkers. Big Beverage has reason to be optimistic: Seltzer sales continued to climb to $4.52 billion in the year ending April 24, a 103% increase over the previous year. And a recent UBS forecast predicts hard seltzer sales will reach a can-dropping $15 billion by 2025.

To meet the seemingly unquenchable demand, some of the most recognizable beverage brands are offering a slew of new offerings just in time for “Shot Girl Summer,” which seems to be the moniker the zeitgeist is favoring for this year’s season of patio and poolside hangs.

Some of these new kids on the seltzer block are far different than their progenitors. Market leaders White Claw and Truly have each debuted a new version of their popular quaffs that at 8% ABV and 220 calories are far boozier and heavier than the light-and-bright drinks they’re known for.

Which seems puzzling, given that hard seltzers’ initial appeal to younger drinkers was its party-all-day alcohol levels and related lower calorie counts. One can only imagine the marketing meeting at which the concept was hatched: “So team, you know the stuff people love about our drinks? What if — stick with me here — we did the opposite?”

As a colleague noted, “it’s like they’re reverse engineering until they get to Four Loco,” name-dropping the beverage whose boozy, in-your-face profile earned it the nickname “blackout in a can” — and ultimately, an FDA ban. (Four Loko, in fact, debuted its own ultra-hard seltzer last year.)

Perhaps the top seltzer brands can contain multitudes? After all, plenty of fast food joints serve salads alongside those triple-stacked burgers with bacon.

We put the boozed-up offerings from White Claw and Truly to the test, along with a few other seltzers that have debuted in time for summer — whatever it is we end up calling it.

T

ruly Extra

Flavors: Black raspberry and peach mango

Calories: 220

Alcohol by volume: 8%

Truly’s entry into this subgenre was our panel’s least favorite by about 880 social distancing lengths (that’s a mile in pre-pandemic speak). Syrupy and cloying, it elicited some primal reactions. A sample: “Nooooo!” “Oh, no, no, no.” From another, a scrunched-up face silently communicated the verdict.

Different tasters imagined both flavors as the product of cough syrup mixology: The blackberry was “like if you mixed Dimetapp and Robitussin together,” one suggested, while the peach mango prompted another to imagine a demented bartender “pour[ing] Dimetapp in with the syrup on the bottom of a Dole’s peaches can.” Even the most ardent of seltzer fans among us lamented, “this is the only one I don’t want to take another sip of.”

White Claw Surge

Flavors: Blood orange and cranberry

Calories: 220

Alcohol by volume: 8%

Our tasters didn’t love this beefed-up version from the reigning champion of the seltzer aisle, but they at least favored it over the Truly Extra. Lighter bodied and easier-drinking, it packed a punch without aiming for a tastebud-assaulting TKO.

Most preferred the blood orange, which had a bit of pleasant citrusy bite, over the cranberry — but even that earned some praise, with one taster pointing out its novelty in the sea of commercial seltzers and another finding it engagingly (and relatively) “subtle.”

Cacti

Flavors: Pineapple, lime and strawberry

Calories: 150

Alcohol by volume: 7%

We’ve reached the novelty stage of the Seltzer Era, ergo this concoction from beer giant Anheuser-Busch and Travis Scott, the rapper/brand ambassador who has lent his name to everything from Nike shoes to Reese’s Puff cereal.

But celebrity-driven hype only gets you so far, and this collab proved divisive on the merits. Like Willy Wonka at a wine tasting, some detected notes of Jolly Ranchers, Kool Aid and . . . medicine. One bemoaned the subtlety of the lime — “it’s so plain” — while another found the dearth of faux flavor made it the most bearable. Some tasters liked the punchy pineapple, while others found it had a “bitter back end.”

“I feel like that kombucha meme, where I’m not sure how I feel,” said one taster, referring to the viral TikTok of a woman tasting fermented tea for the first time and alternating multiple times between a grimace of distaste and an expression that indicates she might like it after all.

Michelob Ultra Organic

Flavors: Citrus, mango-apricot, mixed berry

Calories: 90

Alcohol by volume: 4%

The flavors of this offering from the beer giant scored points, with one likening them to a nostalgic, albeit grownup, “juice box.” (The brew does contain a hint of white grape juice.)

But the textures were a major drag for others: After a few sips, tasters detected the drink left a filmy coating on the roofs of their mouths. And it literally fell flat in one category, with one taster pouring out a sample into a glass and observing that the bubbles dissipated almost instantly.

Topo Chico

Flavors: Lemon-lime, mango, strawberry-guava and pineapple

Calories: 100

Alcohol by volume: 4.7%

Speaking of bubbles, this much-awaited entry into the market from the beloved maker of non-boozy fizz, had them to spare. “I love aggressive bubbles,” enthused one taster. “Like, I want to hear them in my ears.” Those pops and a hint of a mineral edge made the drink more refreshing than its brethren, the panel concluded.

While we generally gave the brand high marks, there was one glaring exception — the mango was the breakout loser of the otherwise likable bunch. “I’m struggling,” said one imbiber after only a small sip, and another complained that it was like “drinking perfume.”

Spindrift Spiked

Flavors: Pineapple, mango, lime and black tea and lemon

Calories: 82-95

Alcohol by volume: 4%

The all-around, unanimous crowd favorite won us over with its natural fruit flavors and un-cloying sweetness. Each can contained a relatively high percentage of fruit juice (between 7 and 10%) in place of the more standard formulas that taste like they’ve been goosed in a lab with sugar and flavor extracts — because they probably have.

Like Topo Chico, the boozy Spindrift closely resembles its nonalcoholic precursors, so if you’re already a fan of the brand’s zero-proof cans, they’re worth a try — even if you’re generally skeptical of hard seltzers as a category.

The tea and lemon concoction, in particular, brought to mind a crisp Arnold Palmer. “I would crush quite a few of these,” said one new fan. The Spindrift’s more juice-forward profile reminded some of cocktails and inspired one taster to imagine taking things in an even boozier direction, which also sort of defeats the point of hard seltzer’s easygoing ABVs. “I want to make a gin cocktail with this,” she said.

Excessive speed will get someone killed

I live on 1st Street between Highway 29 and Jefferson. The speeding on this street and most all of the streets in this neighborhood have become race tracks, cars often flying by to try and cut in before the Jefferson Street stop light.

Clay Street can be worse; it is two-way and you fly down that street as well.

I am not imagining the speeds, I bought a radar gun so I could be accurate when I complain to the PD about someone speeding. I have pets, neighbors have kids and grandchildren. To play in the front yard is no longer safe. I have clocked one speeder doing 87 mph, this is a 30 mph zone and it really should be 25 mph.

It is a both a historic district and now the main entry into downtown Napa. Tourist often slow down to look at the homes and that just compounds the problem. If that were not bad enough, I see three or four more cars going the wrong way almost everyday; it is a head on accident waiting to happen.

Jefferson is no better. I walk my service dog to Fuller park in the evening, the crosswalks at Oak Street is a joke. I have stood in the cross walk while literally dozens of cars fly through in violation of the law. Either they do not know the crosswalk laws or if they are just too arrogant to care. I actually had seven cars violate the law while a Napa PD officer sat in his car writing a report or something but doing nothing.

I can not help but wonder what some of you would do if I drove down your street where your children, grandchildren and pets wee playing at just half the speed you fly down my street? You would be chasing me down crying out for my head on a platter, so why do you not respect our street?

Besides your speed what is with the downshifting and cranking the RPM up with deafening volume? I am hard of hearing, wear hearing aids and it hurts my ears, what is that doing the children’s hearing?

I know we were without traffic officers for a while, we now have one, maybe two I haven’t checked. It is recommended we have one for each 10,000 residences, that means seven or eight (Editor’s Note: Interim Police Chief Sylvia Moir has said one of her projects is beefing up the traffic unit, now with just one officer).

Speaking of speed, Imola Ave. is a 35 mph zone, I haven’t checked with the radar gun but I’ll bet the average speed is over 50 and probably closer to 60.

I saw a great solution in Marin. On the road that goes by Redwood High School they put a sign at each end reading “speed strictly enforced.” About half way down the street they set up at a parking lot and pulled over every single speeder into the parking lot where they sat until the officers could write the tickets. I realize some of you do not care about the fine, but if you have to sit and wait for the officer to get to you I’ll bet you would care. Now all they have to do is put out the sign and everyone slows down, you do not know if they are there or not?

I do not know if this is a solution, but something has to be done before someone dies. I wonder what it would do to Napa’s pristine reputation if celebrity or a couple of children were to be the victims? It would be national news and all of the downtown restaurants, wine tasting, hotels would suffer. We have finally started to open up after COVID-19, the last thing we need is national news coverage for someone dying on our downtown entry way street.

Thank you everyone for reading this and taking a few more minutes to get where your going. Nothing is worth someone getting hurt. Besides the light is always red at Jefferson.

Raymond Burch

Napa

Check out the week in cartoons

Lisa Benson cartoon

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Clay Bennett cartoon

Clay Bennett cartoon

Clay Bennett cartoon

Clay Bennett cartoon

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Jeff Danziger cartoon

Jeff Danziger cartoon

Jeff Danziger cartoon

Jeff Danziger cartoon

Jeff Danziger cartoon

Lisa Benson cartoon

Lisa Benson cartoon

Mike Lester cartoon

Mike Lester cartoon

Signe Wilkinson cartoon

Tim Campbell cartoon

Tim Campbell cartoon

Clay Bennett cartoon

Moms, grandmothers, and even great-grandmamas may seem like they have superhuman strength and energy because they are often catering to everyone else’s needs. But on Sunday she can finally sit back and relax because dinner, dessert, and baked goods can be delivered right to her door. If she likes to celebrate, help her gather her best vaccinated friends for an in-person restaurant brunch with complimentary mimosas, or opt for a virtual wine tasting experience.

The following gifts fill her heart with warmth and keep the good times flowing.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.

Picking up something sweet is easy at The Bakeshop on Twentieth which offers a variety of made-to-order treats including apple caramel crumb, maple walnut pecan, and maple pumpkin pies, as well as a loaves of babka and coffee cake ($14.95-$17.95) or chocolate ganache pound cake ($35) for curbside takeout or local delivery. This small-batch bakery opens at 8 a.m. so if you’re heading to her home early, pick up a cup of freshly brewed coffee or iced tea to kick-start her day.

Bakeshop on Twentieth; 269 S. 20th St.; 215-644-9714; bakeshopon20th.com

Mom probably knows how to cook almost everything without even measuring, correct? The new cookbook, Let’s Brunch: 100 Recipes for the Best Meal of the Week by Belinda Smith-Sullivan will give mom opportunities to try breakfast and brunch dishes. Recipes include sweet potato buttermilk biscuits; honey and pepper bacon; jumbo shrimp and lump crab with vodka cocktail sauce; an egg, prosciutto, tomato, and arugula panini; and an assortment of libations to complement the dishes. While the cookbook is the gift, up the ante by presenting the book with a dish or two that you prepared. Available at Uncle Bobbie’s. Gibbs Smith, $24.99

To buy: Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books: 5445 Germantown Ave.; 215-403-7058; unclebobbies.com

» READ MORE: Refresh your spring meals with these new cookbooks

If mom is one of the many people shifting to a plant-based diet, a meal subscription service from Veestro can save her time on meal planning with fresh, organic ingredients arriving frozen right at her door. There are over four dozen meals to choose from including chick’n Milanese, crab cakes, red curry with tofu, and veggie empanadas. All can be popped in the oven or microwave for easy cooking. Meals are available in weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly subscriptions that range from $117 to $297. Each dish can be stored in the freezer for up to eight weeks.

To order: veestro.com

An easy breezy Sunday morning (or early afternoon) calls for brunch at Indeblue which will offer a three-course prix fixe Mother’s Day menu for $25. The special menu, available May 8-9 for dine-in, takeout, or delivery, includes savory dishes such as crispy spinach chaat, paneer toast, masala egg omelet, spicy chicken ‘n’ waffles, and chocolate chai pot de crème. Moms will also receive a complimentary mimosa with dine-in and takeout orders. Reservations encouraged.

Indeblue Modern Indian: 205 S. 13th St.; 215-545-4633; indebluerestaurant.com

Mom can have her cake and eat it too without leaving home. Bake Me A Wish offers special occasion-themed sweets including a jumbo ice cream sundae-style cupcake four-pack, individually wrapped cookies, and brownies in a crate that can be repurposed as a keepsake box as well as a gold-colored bakery tower with a mix of more than two dozen brownies, cookies, and chocolates. All desserts include a personalized greeting card. Packages run $45-$59.

Shop: bakemeawish.com

Combine her love of socializing and wine with a private, virtual wine tasting experience hosted by one of City Winery Philadelphia’s winemakers. The 45- to 60-minute sessions include two to four bottles of wine, a wine opener, customized tasting guide, wine storage instructions, and suggested culinary instructions. Add-on packages include charcuterie, cheese, and nut tasting kits. Dates for the wine tastings are flexible so Mom and friends can log on for a fabulous night when it fits their schedules. $110 to $195.

City Winery: 990 Filbert St.; 267-479-7373; citywinery.com/philadelphia

» READ MORE: More Philly tips: Read our most useful stories

Kalea Bay, located on Vanderbilt Drive, just north of Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples, is simply the most popular and hottest selling luxury high-rise community in Southwest Florida.

One of the main reasons for Kalea Bay’s incredible sales are the phenomenal residences offered. The floor plans were perfectly designed for the Florida lifestyle and feature lanais positioned so residents can watch the distant horizon as the sun slowly touches and then disappears into the glistening Gulf of Mexico.

The other main reason for the high-rise community’s success is the long and impressive list of amenities that make living at Kalea Bay so special.

“Our main amenity area measures 88,000 square feet and is truly the recreational and social centerpiece of our community,” said Inga Lodge, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Kalea Bay. “Receiving compliments regarding our amenities from residents, their guests and even visitors is a daily occurrence.”

The main amenity area is located on the north side of the large lake at the community’s entrance. It features three individual pools, including a resort pool, an adults-only pool and a children’s pool, plus an open-air bar, fitness center, lakeside fire pit, kid’s game room, teen’s lounge, an event lawn and several  restaurants.

“Our restaurants serve incredible meals throughout the day,” noted Lodge. “The Driftwood Café offers a more casual fare while The Salt and Oak restaurant is designed for an elegant evening dining experience and includes such features as a private dining room, a banquet room and wine tasting room – among others.

The current state-of-the-art fitness center features stationary bicycles, assorted strength machines, free weights and stretch area.

Adjacent to the clubhouse lies the tennis pavilion with four Har-Tru tennis courts, as well as eight pickleball courts. Guest suites for overnight guests are also located near the clubhouse.

Soon, another amenity will be available for residents to utilize, enjoy and benefit from.

“Our new 14,000-square-foot Wellness Center will be dedicated to the health and well-being of our residents,” reports Lodge.

“It is expected to include a spin studio, treatment rooms, Pilates and yoga studios, a free weight area, private and group fitness classes, a relaxation lounge, circuit and resistance training and an expanded café.” 

Additional outstanding features will include luxury locker room facilities with a dry sauna, steam shower and changing and vanity areas.

“We are currently anticipating it will be completed in the Fall of 2022,” Lodge stated.

Although a few residences remain in Kalea Bay’s third tower, the luxury high-rise community’s sales effort is now focused on Tower 4.

Like its three predecessors, the 22-story fourth tower offers 120 luxury residences and will feature an infinity-edge pool, open-air fitness center and a sky lounge on its rooftop.

Six floor plans are available in Tower 4 ranging between three-bedroom plus den/three-and-a-half-baths to four-bedroom/four-and-a-half-baths. The size of the residences ranges from 3,755 to 3,922 total square feet.

Preconstruction pricing for Tower 4 begins at $1.7 million.

For more information regarding the high-rise community visit KaleaBay.com.

To maintain social distancing in the sales center, located on Vanderbilt Drive, two-tenths of a mile north of Wiggins Pass Road, appointments are required and can be made by calling (239) 793-0110. Models are also available to tour but by appointment only.

Read or Share this story: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2021/05/15/incredible-amenities-propelling-sales-kalea-bay/5035777001/

Audiences can enjoy drag entertainers and spoken word poetry with an important message

This Sunday, QMUNITY, B.C.’s queer, trans, and two-spirited resource centre, will be hosting a virtual benefit starting at 11:00 am in support of International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Hosted by Libby Davies and David C Jones, the event marks QMUNITY’s seventeenth annual event, with this year’s theme being “Together: Resisting, Supporting, Healing.” Guest performers Ilona Verly, Ivan Coyote, and Sarah MacDougall are set to make an appearance, and tickets are still for sale by donation online now at Eventbrite.

“International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is an annual event that’s ran around the world, originally starting with the World Health Organization recognizing that homosexuality was not a mental disorder, which happened 31 years ago…reminding us that homophobia transphobia, and biphobia does still exist,” says Joel Harnest, co-executive director of QMUNITY.

“For community, we use [the event] as a fundraiser…to help us rid the world of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia by donating to our organization to ensure that we can run really holistic support programs, seniors’ programs, and peer support groups for queer, trans, and two-spirited folks.”

QMUNITY’s annual benefit started in 2004 as a breakfast for IDAHOT. Attracting many faces each year, the event holds a place of importance throughout the Vancouver community.

“Each year, we want to stir up some conversation,” says Harnest. “We know that businesses and larger law firms might send some of their employees to this branch, so we want them to start to think about ways that they can address homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in their own workplaces.”

The benefit is just one of the many events QMUNITY hosts in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community, including a wine tasting event called Stack the Rack and annual pride parades. Through community connection, social services, and leadership, the not-for-profit organization acts on their mission to improve the lives of LGBTQ2S+ people in B.C. Some of their services include low-barrier counselling, youth and senior social programs, and peer groups.

“I think in the year 2021, in an urban center like Vancouver, depending on your privileges, you might think it’s actually quite an easy time to be LGBTQ2S+, and that complicity is really dangerous,” says Harnest.

“Right now, there’s lots of dialogue in Canada around conversion therapy and…there’s some political parties that are housing voices who speak in favor of conversion therapy, and how it’s a suitable mental health counselling strategy when we know that it can lead to increased rates of suicide, depression, and anxiety. So [QMUNITY] is a way for our community to recognize that there is still work being done, and we’re not done yet.”

Like many events over the past year, QMUNITY’s benefit will take place online. While virtual functions and Zoom calls may be starting to feel underwhelming, Harnest says the event is bound to engage all audiences.

“We just did a dress rehearsal last night, and I am blown away. The sheer skill and talent on display is really remarkable — all the musicians, performers, drag performers, and spoken word artists have great talents and skill.”

•SATURDAY: Ghost Hunt & Paranormal Investigation at the Western Block — Art247, 247 Market St., Lockport (404-9884) Investigate historic areas of the former Western Block, with existing structures dating back to the early 1800s. Pre-registration required. Masks required. Tours available: 7-8:30 p.m.; 9-10:30 p.m.; 11pm -12:30 a.m. 

• SATURDAY: The Roaming Table – Lewiston Food Tours — On Center Street in Lewiston (866-3302), from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sample food from area restaurants and listen to tales of Lewiston history on a Historic Lewiston Tour or a Prohibition Food and Drink Tour. Visit online for details at www.lewistonfoodtours.com.  

• SATURDAY AND THURSDAY: Niagara Falls Culinary Institute Cooking Class — Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, 28 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls. From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday: Lobster; Thursday: Moroccan. The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute offers a variety of hands-on culinary, baking, and beverage classes. Each class is a good mix of information, demonstration, and hands-on learning. Classes are available both in-person and remotely (at a discounted rate). In-person participants are required to wear masks at all times in class. Pre-registration required. 

• SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: Saturday Yoga Series at Freedom Run Winery, Freedom Run Winery, 5138 Lower Mountain Rd., Lockport (433-4136 ), 11 a.m. Join Kathy from Suma Cura Wellness Center. All levels welcome. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and class starts promptly at 11 a.m. On Sunday, join Yoga with Christine Harbison. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and class starts promptly at 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online or in the Tasting Room and include a glass of wine following the class.

• THROUGH MAY 22: Elements Exhibition Art247, 247 Market St., Lockport (404-9884) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with extended hours of 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. This exhibition focuses on the Five Elements of Japanese Philosophy: Earth, Water, Fire and the Void.

• THROUGH MAY 27: MY Colours OUR TRUTH Exhibition Carnegie Art Center, 240 Goundry St., North Tonawanda (694-4400) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The exhibition will showcase artwork by the WNY-Urban Arts Collective and serves as visual representations of each artist’s own lived experience.

• THROUGH MAY 20: ‘Beyond the Glass’ Wine Tasting & Tour — Freedom Run Winery, 5138 Lower Mountain Rd., Lockport (433-4136) at 1 to 5 p.m.m. Learn about the rich history and wide variety of wine produced as well as the harvest and production process. Includes 4 wine tastings and an individually wrapped artisanal presentation of cheese, salami, and crackers, chosen to pair best with the wine tasting. Space is limited, pre-registration is required at www.freedomrunwinery.com.

Outdoor Adventure

• SATURDAY THROUGH MAY 27: Niagara Falls Illumination Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls from 8:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. Enjoy a colorful illuminations display nightly.

• SATURDAY: Honorable Harvest, Artpark, 450 South Street, Lewiston, (282-5154) from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Explore and experience local plant species through their origin stories and traditional uses. Space is extremely limited, pre-registration is required via phone. Masks are required over the age of 2. Bring equipment that may enhance your experience including binoculars, magnifiers, and camera.  

Shopping

• SATURDAY: Lockport Community Market, Harrison Place, Building #3 140 South St, Lockport (434-0212) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Every first and third Saturday of the month, find fresh and local produce, food products, crafters and artisans at this indoor market. Before attending the market, please visit the website to review the list of rules thatto create a safe and easy shopping environment. 

• MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY: Niagara Falls City Market Pine Ave., Market Square, between 18th and 19th streets. off Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fresh fruit and vegetable market. Year round.

• TODAY, TUESDAY AND THURSDAY: North Tonawanda City Market, Corner of Payne Ave., and Robinson St., North Tonawanda, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Fresh produce, flowers, pastries and more. Year round. 

This list has been compiled by Destination Niagara USA. All event dates and details are subject to change. Registration may be required. Masks are required at all attractions, and events.