Tuesday, April 30, 2024

DESIGN AND DIRECT SOURCE Project Photos & Reviews Portland, OR US

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“For the wall mural, I had to pick something to bring them into nature and a calming environment,” Lalikian says. For a bedroom off the nursery, Carmine Sabatella wanted to create a jewel-toned escape. “I thought, if somebody’s taking care of the baby, they have a space where they can come and feel like it’s a retreat,” Sabatella says. The designer outfitted a door handcrafted in India with a vintage mirror to create a one of a kind headboard and bathed the space in deep emerald green. The glamorous touches continue in the ensuite bath, where Sabatella added a custom mirror-tiled tub that plays off the vintage French tile floor. Designers, developers, and contractors rely upon DDS to deliver creative products which are affordable and on time.

Michael Bruno

design direct source

No team in the playoffs, if you get down 12 early, you’re not going to just take your ball and go home. We still have plenty of fight left in us and we know that we were better than what we were playing early. A favorite at DDS due to the wide range of colors, sizes, and many coordinating trims. Dozens of colors available with a range of variation, including some mottling and fabric textured surfaces.

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Along with product there would be a focus on customer service to engage with and allow designers to pursue their creativity and desired aesthetics, while meeting the timing constraints and budget realities of commercial projects. An office space in the Gatehouse is now a soothing spa-inspired lounge designed by Margaret Lalikian. The designer referenced the house’s original name, El Robles—Spanish for oak tree—with a tree-filled landscape mural by Arpy Dabbaghian.

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Designer Mark Hermogeno paid tribute to Silver Queen Susanna Bransford Emery-Holmes in the kitchen, butler’s pantry, family room, powder room, and mudroom. “We had thought, What if she actually came back to life and asked us to remodel the space? “We wanted to concentrate on polished nickels and polished chromes to get that silver feel back in,” he says of the fixtures, hardware, and lighting by Kohler and Kallista.

The room is anchored by a Riva 1920 table made with the wood of a 50,000-year-old Kauri tree, which Levine surrounded with seating for 12. Another seating area with views of the garden was designed for more intimate dining, games, or meetings, and it’s illuminated by a Murano glass chandelier. At the far end of the room, Levine installed a lush purple sofa with cocktail tables, creating the perfect spot for drinks, dessert, or relaxing with a cup of coffee. Designer Rachel Scheff used the home’s spectacular ceiling, woodwork, and stained glass as the inspirations for her fanciful, flora- and fauna-filled foyer. “It was one of my favorite rooms in the house because it was the one that had the most history preserved, and I wanted to really celebrate that,” she told AD PRO. For her Foyer of Enchantment, Scheff installed a custom mural by Hattas Art Studios, a John Richard chandelier dripping with glass leaves, a silk wall covering by Aux Abris, and organic furniture created with Amorph Studio.

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Designer Ashleigh Miranda focused on juxtaposing technology and earthy elements in her moody media room. More broadly, the TikTok order underscores ongoing shifts in U.S. foreign investment policy, particularly with regard to technology and data security from foreign entities. National security concerns have heightened in evaluating foreign investments or operations, especially those originating from countries with which the U.S. has complicated geopolitical relationships, such as China. While some of our products incorporate renewable or recycled materials, we understand that sourcing materials globally can offset these efforts. Additionally, the nature of stone and tile production poses inherent environmental challenges. We pride ourselves on providing top-quality materials at competitive prices, paired with inventive and prompt solutions to your queries.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who scored all 12 of his points after halftime, made a trio of 3-pointers in a 13-0 run the Nuggets used to seize control in the third quarter at 89-74. Below, tour the inspiring rooms and outdoor spaces of the 2024 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. The landmark mansion was built in 1902 by architect Joseph J. Blick for Gertrude Potter Daniels, who paid $15,000 for the shingle-style home. In 1905, Susanna Bransford Emery-Holmes—known as the Silver Queen thanks to the source of her late husband’s fortune—purchased the home and soon made it her own. In 1922, she spent $37,000 to have the Postle Company of Los Angeles, who also built the Pasadena Playhouse, remodel it into an English Tudor Revival–style mansion, giving it the regal exterior that remains today.

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Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets.

Intel Launches World's First Systems Foundry Designed for the AI Era - Investor Relations :: Intel Corporation (INTC)

Intel Launches World's First Systems Foundry Designed for the AI Era.

Posted: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Stone

The designers worked with a color palette of Dunn-Edwards paints, and several chose to highlight the brand’s 2024 Color of the Year, a steely blue called Skipping Stones. Nods to Pasadena’s famous peacocks can be found throughout the designs, and many creators fearlessly brought in statement floors, enveloped their spaces with jewel tones, and added texture to ceilings. Others focused on bringing the beauty of the estate’s gardens and views inside with verdant murals, floral fabrics, and nature-inspired lighting. “I really feel like the dining room is a forgotten room,” says the designer, who set out to prove how vital the space is to a home.

U.S. policymakers are increasingly reviewing how companies, particularly foreign-owned ones, collect, store and manage data due to the potential for misuse of this information. The Agami Topiary collection is characterized by its mesmerizing unique texture and variety of colors as it draws upon the charm and character of a rustic tile body and tone variation to create a space full of inspiration. The collection’s distinctive character is ideal for any modern space looking to recover vintage liveliness and sophistication. The Nuggets had 15 offensive rebounds for 18 second-chance points, 10 more than the Lakers, who grabbed just six offensive boards. And the Nuggets committed just four turnovers — just one by their starters — while the Lakers turned the ball over a dozen times, including a whopping seven by James.

Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. We are a team of diverse and creative individuals who love what tile can do for a space. Dedicated regional service teams ensure personal and profitable communication and collaboration.

design direct source

As the Pasadena Showcase House of Design enters its 59th year, it’s returning to a familiar setting. The Potter Daniels Manor, the English Tudor Revival–style residence that hosted the 1975 and 1996 showcase houses, has been reimagined with 30 new interior and exterior spaces for the 2024 edition, which is now open until May 19. Instead, the company's Large Action Model was trained on on the DoorDash app and interface so it can order on your behalf while using your account credentials. You do need to give your username and password when setting up your Rabbit, but the company claims it doesn't store your data. You just press the push to talk button and give your query, which Rabbit answers via the Perplexity AI engine.

Our mission is to impact peoples lives by making apparel that people and planet can feel good about. We're industry disruptors, looking at sustainability holistically and putting the ethical treatment of the people doing the sewing on par with the importance of sustainable materials and high quality production. We look at everything through the lens of caring for our neighbors as ourselves and being good stewards of the planet. Design & Direct Source’s mission is to show designers that creativity and affordability are no longer mutually exclusive. We have an exceptional understanding of value and how to achieve sophisticated design at prices that are commercially viable.

I've also yet to stack multiple tasks together to see how much time the R1 can really save me. And even with the stuff my phone can't do I imagine it won't be long until Apple catches up with what it's doing with iOS 18 and Siri 2.0. And, of course, Google is pushing very hard with AI with Gemini on the best Android phones. Sure, Google Meet — not to mention lots of other apps — can already do this for me, but it's good to know that the Rabbit can record your meetings and provide a generative AI summary.

It is also part of a larger trend of heightened scrutiny and skepticism toward Chinese technology firms and investments in the U.S. This aligns with broader U.S. strategic objectives of countering Chinese influence in critical technology sectors and protecting domestic industries. Treasury measures aimed at bolstering CFIUS’ enforcement power and broadening its scope also signals tighter controls ahead for investments in the U.S. deemed as sensitive. The bill follows growing frustration on Capitol Hill over perceived inaction by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to scrutinize TikTok after ByteDance’s 2017 acquisition of social media startup Musical.ly. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Vikings Top 15 European Cruising Experiences

viking european river cruise

We had a great time and we look forward to doing another European river cruise in the future. We spent most of our time either on an excursion, exploring the town where we were docked, or on the sundeck enjoying a glass of wine. There are a few items that remain standard every day, like hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.

Take Advantage of Docking Right in the City and Go Exploring

Lying at the confluence of three rivers, Passau often experiences flooding, and one of the sights is where previous floods have left their mark. At the end of the cruise, Viking provides transportation from the ship the Porto airport. Viking helped organize the taxi to our next hotel.

Danube Christmas Delights

Alternately, you may join an optional tour to Schönbrunn Palace, the “Versailles of Vienna,” or enjoy a Viennese waltz lesson as well as visiting the palace during a full-day optional excursion. A cup of coffee or tea and a slice of exquisite Sachertorte are a must for any afternoon in Vienna. Another incredible experience in this region is to cruise across the Arctic Circle where sunlight shines 24 hours a day during Norway’s summer. At midnight, locals embrace the everlasting sunset by going to the beach or kayaking under a golden sky. Viking’s 15-day Into the Midnight Sun ocean voyage includes an overnight stay in Bergen and visits to Edinburgh and the Orkney and Shetland islands in Scotland.

Basel to Germany Viking Hervor Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Cruise Ratings on Cruise Critic - Cruise Critic

Basel to Germany Viking Hervor Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Cruise Ratings on Cruise Critic.

Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:42:27 GMT [source]

Day 13 – Cologne, Germany

Others, including ourselves, prefer to stay in town and buy their own noontime meal. In our opinion, few things can match ordering local food in a local restaurant with local patrons. To us, it adds another layer to the experience of being in another culture. Cruise days are full, so I kept a daily river cruise journal along the way. Our 15-day cruise became a series of stories that will tell you what you can expect every day and what you can do in each cruise port.

They also have champagne and orange juice to enjoy breakfast mimosas. Every day is different, so there are plenty of options. River ships are not very big and they have width limits, so they can squeeze through those tight river locks. Because of this, balconies on river vessels are quite small. They are wide enough to fit one chair facing sideways (see photo above). Discovering Europe on an intimate river cruise was on our travel wish list for many years.

Today’s announcement follows a year of accolades for Viking. In October, Viking made history when it was voted #1 for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. The company was also voted to the top of its categories for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure in the 2023 World’s Best Awards.

In many ways, it's a combination of the best Viking river cruises in Europe as it takes in the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers and Dutch waterways. Your first full day in Budapest begins with a morning tour. From Pest’s National Opera House and historic Heroes’ Square, we crossed over the Danube to the Buda side of the river. Oour tour took us along Castle Hill to Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church. We also had some free time to explore before returning to the ship for lunch.

Those produce about 700 million bottles of wine a year, so expect sips of Saint-Emilion, Medoc and Sauternes on a Viking Bordeaux river cruise. For return visitors there are voyages along the lesser-explored Lower Danube to discover the Iron Gates gorge and culture-rich capitals of Bucharest and Belgrade. No Amsterdam tour is included on the itinerary (even though its canals are yet another UNESCO site), and I assume that’s because most people have planes to catch. If you wish, you are welcome to join the next round of passengers on the afternoon walkabout.

Therefore, Viking has a small fleet of ships built specifically for these Portugal cruises. In the Caribbean (read here), Mexico (read here) and Alaska (read here). We knew this European river cruise would be a very different experience, and that’s exactly what we hoped for.

It’s actually a fun way to check out the layout and design of the other river cruise ships. It docked every evening, so there was no travel at night. Our first night on the ship was spent docked in Porto and we also spend two nights docked at Barca d’Alva. The longest amount of time spent sailing on the river was about 4 hours. You should know – if you purchase wine or alcohol during your excursions, you are allowed to bring it back on the ship and consume it on-board.

viking european river cruise

We enjoyed a final dinner on board and our last evening together as we cruised on to Amsterdam. The afternoon options included a walking tour of the Old Town area. Highlights were the Albrecht Dürer House and Main Market Square. We drove by Zeppelin Field (the Nazi parade grounds of the 1930s) and the Palace of Justice, site of the infamous Nuremberg Trials. Passau is a town that lies where the Inn, Ilz and Danube Rivers meet. Our guided walk along the town’s narrow streets took us through Old Town and past many traditional patrician houses.

Tour so we could experience Brauhaus culture and drink Cologne’s famous Kölsch beer. We’d done it on our Rhine cruise and it was just as fun this time. Time to relax on the sun deck with other passengers and watch the scenic vineyards of Franconia sail by. Rothenburg is a medieval town with charming half-timbered houses, a turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. It ranks among one of the most picturesque in all of Germany. If you have a camera, you should really consider taking this tour.

Monday, April 1, 2024

15-Day Viking Cruises Grand European Tour Itinerary

viking european river cruise

Alternately, you may take an optional World War II tour that includes the illuminating Documentation Center Museum. After lunch, spend free time exploring Nuremberg’s Old Town. Or, join an optional tour to discover the secret network of underground bunkers where priceless art was hidden in wartime. Cruise past hilltop castles along the Rhine, stopping in Koblenz to visit Marksburg Castle, the only Rhine fortress never destroyed. After your tour, continue cruising this stunning stretch of the Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Are excursions included on a Viking River Cruise?

We were escorted to a driver who took us directly to our hotel, Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Lisboa. We enjoyed the brief interactions but our goal was to spend time together. At cocktail hour, the Cruise Director spends 30 minutes talking about the next day’s activity. We attended these presentations each evening, but that was really the only time we joined an on-board activity.

Christmas on the Rhine & Moselle

The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler - Cruise Critic

The 10 Best River Cruise Lines in Europe for Every Traveler.

Posted: Fri, 22 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Take some free time to enjoy Bamberg and perhaps try some of the town’s distinctive smoke-flavored beer before returning on board. A river cruise lends itself to spontaneity with direct access to destinations. There are no tenders or cities an hour from where you dock. In Lyon, France, the riverside park full of picnickers, cyclists, and bocce ball players right outside the ship compelled me to step out, grabbing a city map on the way off the ship. The afternoon spent lingering in the medieval alleys and Renaissance streets I first spotted on the earlier tour with Viking during the Lyon & Provence itinerary had me hooked on river cruising.

Seine River Cruises

For most travellers, the aurora borealis is the world’s most sought-after spectacle in the sky. On a clear night, these ethereal lights may appear over Norway as faint wisps of green or dramatically dancing ribbons in multiple colours. In Search of The Northern Lights is Viking’s 13-day ocean voyage in the Arctic, sailing between London (Tilbury) and Bergen via the Norwegian fjords. Multiple departures will operate from January to March 2025, regarded as the best time to see the lights. One of the best Viking River Cruises in Europe takes place on the Rhine River and the scenery is spectacular.

Viking Rhine River Cruise: Get Your Fill of Riesling, Castles and Legends

It is called the “Versailles of Vienna” due to its massive size (1,441 rooms!), and it qualifies as a UNESCO site as well. Leave us a comment if you have any questions about our European river cruise with Viking. We prefer to tip this way because it’s easy and fair.

Explore Bergen

There are articles about every stop on our river cruise itinerary. Raise a glass of Kölsch to our Rhine, Elbe and Baltic cruises through Germany, where you can discover stunning cathedrals, magnificent riverside castles and the fabled Black Forest. Let Viking immerse you in German history, cultural treasures and famed UNESCO Sites.

Our tour ended at the Dom, Germany’s largest cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we had seen the castle on our previous Rhine River cruise, we opted to join a couple dozen other passengers for the optional Moselle wine tour. Our route took us along along the Mosel River, which offers a landscape of terraced vineyards punctuated here and there by typically German towns. As for the lunchtime meal, some passengers return to eat on the ship.

Viking Launches Year-Round European River Cruises - Cruise Critic

Viking Launches Year-Round European River Cruises.

Posted: Thu, 25 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The line's high-end offerings and free shore excursions also help make Viking river itineraries some of the most popular in Europe. There is no better view on a river cruise than the panoramic Sun Deck, especially when sailing. My heart-swelling moment waving to the children on the river bank was one of many on the ship's top deck that pulled my attention away from any attempt to read. Happily, Viking provided plenty of chairs, so there was no need for the frantic rush to snag or save seats.

Pre-Extension: Oslo & Scenic Train

With that said, we must disclose that we teamed up with Viking River Cruises in order to make this trip possible. We agreed to share our honest, firsthand experience on this blog and social media channels. Social interactions are a big part of the cruising experience for this older demographic.

From a cliff 400 metres above the ocean, finish your day watching the Cyclades sun setting over the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea. Other islands such as Rhodes and Crete offer opportunities to hike among the volcanic splendour, sample wine at hilltop wineries, and discover historic sites. The voyage also includes Kuşadasi, Turkey, for a chance to roam the ruins of Ephesus, dating back to the 10th century BC. At the Belvedere Palace, you can make your own framed mirror with gold stones at a private workshop, channelling Vienna’s renowned artist, Gustav Klimt, who used gold leaf in many of his works.

viking european river cruise

I stepped directly out into ancient Roman ruins in Vienne, a castle's sycamore-lined square in Tournon, and the sun-washed walls of Avignon. This is the picturesque town where the Moselle and Rhine converge. They were enjoying a few hours off and invited us to join them. Viking had planned an evening glassblowing demonstration afterwards, but nope. The cruise director had to postpone it at the last minute because the glassblower missed the ship. After a traditional German lunch in a Rothenburg restaurant, we returned to Würzburg.

After 26 years in Europe, Viking knows the most enjoyable aspects of its popular destinations, from major cities to the countryside. Every itinerary has been honed to explore the most beautiful landscapes, stunning landmarks, and unusual customs and cuisines unique to each port of call. Immerse yourself in the Old World as you sail Europe’s most iconic rivers. From the Main to the Moselle, the Douro to the Dordogne, the Viking experience is unsurpassed.

The reason for the limited sailing time is because the navigable part of the Douro River is not very long. It’s less than  250 kilometers from Porto to Barca d’Alva. We enjoyed many delicious fish dishes on the cruise. Every day there is a new menu with a la carte options. Lunch and dinner are 3 course meals, with an appetizer, entree and dessert. We really enjoyed the dining experience on the Viking Osfrid.

Viking crew distributed red umbrellas in anticipation, and there were always chuckles amongst the passengers as we ducked under. From the Sun Deck of Viking Hermod it was an intimate, unscripted traveler’s dream, sharing the waterway with kayakers, fishermen, swans and children splashing and waving to us from the water. Vineyards climbed the hills around the Rhône River, with chateaux and villages lined along the river’s edge. Gliding down this river somewhere south of Vienne, France, I realized how much I loved this pace of sightseeing, a real luxury in a hurried world.

Or, instead, join an optional full-day journey along Germany’s picturesque “Romantic Road” to Rothenburg, with its turreted city wall and impressive Gothic and baroque architecture. Upon returning to Würzburg, enjoy a tour of the Bishops’ Residenz before rejoining your ship for dinner. Span the continent from the pristine shores of Norway to the cultural riches of Budapest. From the seaside village of Skagen, Denmark, sail the North Sea to Amsterdam. Along the Rhine River, pause to sample Germany’s finest vintages and explore elegant palaces and impressive castles.

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