Tag: USA

Rustic Restaurant Furniture – A New Restaurant Trend

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For perfect outfitting dining areas, restaurant owners give preference to the furniture that is durable, eye-catching and makes food lovers feel comfortable when dining. When it comes to giving a unique and classical look to all restaurants, restaurant owners pick rustic, vintage style and mid-century modern stylefurniture as their first choice. That is why rustic restaurant furniture and chairs are sweeping the US in a craze. After years of the same old thing, owners are beginning to differentiate themselves from their competitors by doing some radical and rural decoration. Twin Peaks is a good example of a restaurant chain that has an interior theme resembling a log cabin. There, you can find long community tables made of rustic yellow pine, sometimes made of entire slabs of solid wood. These tables can be distressed to resemble worm holes, chips, discoloration and abuse. As one restaurant owner puts it: the food business is competitive, you have to stand out or stand down.

Pine, in addition to other woods, such as cedar, is great for rustic restaurant furniture. The presence of pin holes and knots normally degrade the value of a wood, but the same characteristics are what make these wood species unique for restaurants. These woods also stain unevenly, which gives each table a high contrast of multiple colors when stained. Other wood species, such as maple or oak, have a very uniform and clean look which cannot be easily distressed.

Rustic restaurant chairs can also be distressed using the same method to create the old look. As in the example of twin peaks, they used a pine logs to create commercial grade restaurant chairs. Each piece has to be cut by hand, and then assembled piece by piece. This turned out to be quite expensive. A cheaper alternative is to buy used furniture, and distress DIY. Who cares how it looks because it is old anyways?

In comparison to modern furniture that is crafted with costly woods and modern carpentry tools and instrument, rustic restaurant furniture and chairs not only make a restaurant look different and eye-catching but also add a little cost to the pockets of restaurant owners when they think of having new furniture with a rustic and classic touch.

If you are thinking of buying custom and integrated furniture carrying the touch of traditional and classic furniture, the maker custom restaurant furniture American Hospitality Furniture can make a real difference to your furniture needs. It is noted that the company proudly markets many of its products are either made in USA or assembled in USA.

Reasons Why People Go For Extended Stays At Hotels

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Hotels are usually meant for brief stays or tours and vacations. Yet, sometimes it does happen that you may need to stay on in a city for a longer period than you had planned for. In such times, you must find a temporary place to stay which would let you extend your stay as per your need, be it a week, a month or even a year.

Such travelers or guests who check into the hotel for an extended stay are different from the regular travelers who stay for just a few days or so. Lets discuss this concept of extended stay in detail.

History

The concept of extended stay hotels originated in 19th century in England. In the USA it was pioneered by Jack DeBoer who founded the Residence Inn, an extended stay hotel meant for travelers looking for temporary housing.

There are various reasons why people choose to stay on at hotels away from their homes for long periods of time. These are:

Reason no. 1 – Relocation

You have relocated for a new job and are looking for a nice and safe place to stay. Extended stay accommodations are an ideal option until you find a house for yourself since it is fully furnished and offers some added house-keeping facilities which you wouldnt get if you were to simply rent an apartment or suite.

Reason no. 2 – Extended project

An extended stay hotel is suitable for a business traveler who is working on a long-term project which requires him to stay in a different city and away from his family and home.

Reason no. 3 – Buying a home
If you are buying a new home and in the meantime are looking for a place to stay which provides all the comforts of home, extended stay hotels are perfect for the interim duration.

Reason no. 4 – Refurbishing

Many people also prefer to stay on at a hotel when renovating or refurbishing their homes to avoid getting in the way of the construction activity. Hotels that offer extended stay lodging facilities provide a good alternative to the option of taking up temporary housing elsewhere.

Reason no. 5 – Budget vacation

The current global meltdown has forced people to trim their vacation budgets considerably. In this scenario extended stay hotels offer an excellent option for a long yet inexpensive holiday with the family. The facilities and services provided by the extended stay hotels in San Diego, Chicago or any other city are at par with the comforts a typical home would provide, and so it is like taking your home with you on the vacations.

Reason no. 6 – Global recession

The recent recession in the economy has also caused numerous people to look for temporary housing for various reasons, a prime cause being foreclosure. Extended stay hotels help people endure the crisis of home loss during such hard times.

Reason no. 7 – Value added facilities

Extended stay hotels provide more facilities than a regular hotel. Here is what you get by staying at extended stay hotels:

Home like ambience where you can stay for as long as you want.

You get all the facilities and amenities which are required to stay in a home. Rooms come fully equipped with microwave, TV, telephone, air conditioning, whirlpool and many other amenities.

Other facilities such as maid services, laundry facilities and continental breakfast are also provided.

Extended stay hotels have thus become a reliable option for long term accommodations. If you are looking for a hotel for extended stay, dont forget to check out its weekly and monthly package rates. Also find out what added facilities the hotel offers to its guests who opt for extended stays.

Ideas On How To Pack A Carry On Bag For Traveling On The Airlines

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I have an adult daughter I love to travel with and we have been fortunate to go several places around the world together. As the saying goes she would pack everything but the kitchen sink and I knew if I had forgotten something she would have it. When she would come home for Christmas we would always laugh that she had to bring two suit cases and a carry on for a seven day stay.

This same daughter came back from a trip to Switzerland and Prague this year and informed me she had only taken a carry-on bag. I was astonished. I asked her if she felt like she needed more and she said no.

Advantages to using only a carry-on bag when flying:

It is wonderful not checking bags and having to wait in line to check them, and then wait even longer for them to come off the belt to pick up. This saves a lot of time and frustration.
Knowing that your bag wouldn’t be lost.
Not having heavy baggage to lug up and down stairs and off and on trains or other modes of transportation.
Packing only the essentials.
Saving money by not having to pay money to check one or more bags.

So how on earth do you pack just a carry-on bag instead of larger bags? I just went to Japan for 10 days so I have some firsthand knowledge of how to do this. At first I had to receive constant reassurance from my daughter that I could do it because frankly I didn’t know how I could do it. When packing only a carry-on there is not the luxury of packing clothing “just in case I might want it”, planning ahead is very important. Everything you pack will be used.

First of all check with your airline, this can be done on line, to find out what their measurement restrictions are. Domestic and International can be different. Measure your bag three ways; length wise, the depth and side to side. Add these three together and you have the size of your bag.
I still pack everything in plastic bags, by squeezing out the air you can get more in them. Rolling your clothes takes up less space. If you are concerned about wrinkles you can buy wrinkle free clothes, use the hotel’s iron, or lay them flat for your outgoing trip and then as you collect things on your trip roll them up for the return trip.
Wear one blouse and take two other blouses for a total of three. These can be two short sleeves and one long sleeve if going to a warm climate, or reversed for a cold climate. Check the local weather before you pack.
Wear one long pair of pants and pack two short pair, or reversed depending on the weather. If you like to wear skirts or dresses, change out one of these.
Take as many socks and underwear as you are willing to wash outI mean if you don’t want to wash only every four to six days then take that many.
Wear your bulkier shoes and pack your lighter ones. If you will only need one pair, that saves even more space. Two pair might be a good idea if you are planning on going to the beach, out for the evening, or if you think you may get your feet wet.
For cosmetics take as few as possible and in 3 oz. or smaller sizes as those are the TSA rules. Put all gels and liquids in a quart size plastic zip bag before getting to the airport. Place them in the outside pocket of your luggage and you can take it out easily to go through security.
Pack enough medications for the duration of your trip and a few extra pills in case of emergencies. Keep these in their original bottles, ask the pharmacists to put them in the smallest bottles available with a label.
If you need a curling iron or blow dryer buy a travel size. Everyplace I have been are now providing blow dryers. Buy smaller hair brushes.
Use a bungee cord to attach a jacket to your bag to stroll through the airport, doesn’t take up valuable space on the inside of your bag.

I do not recommend the hard suitcases as a carry-on bag because they don’t have any pockets on the outside you can put things in. Like your plastic bag with liquids. And other things you may need to tuck in at the last second.

If you travel often within the USA to relatives homes keep things like blow dryers, extra tooth paste, brushes and so forth in a closed container that can be kept out of their way on a shelf or under the bed at their homes. This saves you space when traveling and keeps you organized.

If you travel often keep small size products in the plastic zip lock and keep them with your travel supplies. The next time you travel your personal items will be all ready to go and this will save you time.

If you are traveling with children get them carry-ons they can not only pull, but holds all their clothing and stuff, even if you have to carry it along with yours, a paying customer is allowed one carry-on and one personal item. Too often I see kids just pulling little dinky carry-ons.

You are also allowed a personal item so use your back pack for your book to read, whatever you take to hold your I.D., money, treats, and other things you want to get to without opening the overhead bin. For the children load their backpacks with things they will need for the trip, activities and treats would be the main things to include.

Time management is important to all of us and you will not only make the most of your time but you will see that being organized has its distinct advantages even when traveling.

Traveling To The Us – Travel Insurance Usa Is A Must

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With scores of people going in and out of the USA every year, it is not a surprise that the term ‘Travel Insurance USA’ is an area of interest for so many. Traveling, be it for whatever purpose, has its advantages but at the same time exposes one to certain risks. Accidents and incidents arrive unannounced and hence, the best that one can do is be well prepared for them. One of the best ways of doing this is by getting insured.

Types of Travel Insurances

Travel Insurance to USA can be classified under a couple of broad categories.

* Single-trip visitor insurance is for a one time visit. This gives you and your family a basic coverage including medical coverage.

* Multi-trip insurance is a US visitor insurance that holds good for frequent fliers. Many insurance companies specify the number of visits as well. It also carries with it huge discounts.

* For people planning a long stay, for example when visiting relatives, the long stay insurance covers work perfect. These give coverage for 3 to 18 months time.

* A medical insurance is a health insurance for visitors to USA and gives coverage against all the health related issues. However, it is necessary to give an accurate account of ones medical conditions before purchasing it.

Medical Insurance Classifications

American travel insurance is a must for every person visiting the US. Medical insurance is one important aspect of it. This one category has a diverse range of policies which can be availed by consumers as per their needs and their coverage area.

* Visitor Medical Insurance: is an insurance coverage available for people visiting the USA. Illness or injuries can strike anytime which brings up the need for medical insurance. This can be purchased by visitors during any time of the trip.

* Global Health Insurance: plans are available to expatriates and frequent international travelers. These plans give comprehensive coverage in all countries against any medical condition.

* International Students Health Insurance Plans: are for not only for the students but also their spouses and children.

* Nanny Health Insurance: plans give coverage to nannies and au pairs who are non US citizens.

* Immigrant Insurance: is also a section that cannot be ignored. Every individual that migrates to the US has to go without a medical insurance cover and hence ample provisions have been made in this area as well.

When searching for ‘visitor insurance USA’ we come across the term visitor travel insurance. When looked in to it in detail we realize that both are quite the same and present the same aspects. Both deal with the fact that every visitor visiting the US needs to have an insurance cover. There are a number of organizations offering policies in this respect. The quotes and coverage offered by each one differs but the purpose is the same.

There are organizations like Atlas America Insurance, Patriot America Insurance, and so on that offer visitor USA insurance. As a consumer, you can go through the aspects of each insurance provider and choose the one that suits you best. There are websites like American Visitor Insurance that offer a complete comparison of some of the major players in the market thereby helping you make a wise choice.

Why I Do Not Sell Restaurant Booths (or Chairs) For Homes

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There is a huge difference between the furniture that we find at a restaurant and a home. It is nothing but the furniture need that makes both of them different to each other in terms of size, type, design, style, utility, etc. Furniture makers craft restaurant booths (or chairs) for commercial purposes whereas the furniture that makes your home look splendid is crafted for domestic purposes. This difference also gives birth to bulk manufacturing at wholesale prices and specially ordered manufacturing at retail prices.

As a manufacturer of restaurant booths, we like to work in volume. For instance, a whole restaurant at a time may have 10-20 booths. These booths are all custom, done by hand and packed onto custom pallets and boxes for shipping. They are also priced according to low price and high volume. What bugs us the most is when a residential customer calls in and wants booths for his/her homeand they want it at the wholesale price. We dont make any money selling 1 or 2, or even 4 booths. To do so, with the factor of labor involved, material ordering time, customization and measuring, there is little margin left. In order to make sense, the items would be priced at double the wholesale price we charge of $190.

Availing restaurant booths for home at wholesale price is not possible owning to the low volume of furniture demanded by households. Our suggestion is to find a local upholsterer (theres some in every city) and ask them to do it. The same concept goes for restaurant chairs, at 4 chairs per order, our labor just for packing the material is more than the margin. Most consumers do not realize that the restaurant chair market is not a Walmart or Costco concept, where everything is on the shelf. Our products have to be assembled by our staff with specialized tools and knowledge in order to ensure the highest durability. We cannot give unassembled furniture to the customer and expect them to assemble themselves.

Another difference is the footprint of a restaurant chair is much larger than a typical dining room chair. It can be 2-3 inches wider, 1 or 2 taller. With a residential chair, you get thin legs and frames; with the commercial chair, you have wider and less aesthetically designed curves etc.

American Hospitality Furniture is a well-known name in the manufacturing and designing of custom restaurant furniture. The company proudly markets many of its furniture products are either made in USA or assembled in USA. For more information regarding Restaurant Booths visit our website

Sports and Recreation Management Programs

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Sports and recreation management programs have emerged as some of the latest and most innovative offerings at various institutions of higher learning around the United States. It is important to have organizational and leadership skills in order to pursue this career, but even if you don’t think you are adept in these areas you can hone your skills in an academic program and be quite successful. These programs are designed to offer students training and experience that will translate to success in organizing sports teams, sporting events, recreational activities and the advertising or marketing thereof.

There are sports and recreation management programs that go by many different names at the different colleges and universities that offer them. You may find courses offered as a specialization within a bachelor of science in business administration. Some schools offer a specific bachelor of arts in sports and recreation management. You will gain leadership and management skills that can apply to many different careers. Your coursework will help you in your future efforts to develop sales, develop marketing strategies for sporting events or to advertise recreational activities. You will also gain skills in administration, coaching, facilities management, public relations, recruitment and even the legal aspects that may be associated with sports and recreation management careers.

There are numerous options out there if you are considering getting a degree in sports and recreation management. There may be a good degree program at a local college campus, or you may relocate to pursue a program in another city or state. Just remember that if you pursue a degree in another state, out-of-state tuition fees will apply for the first year until you can become a legal resident. If you don’t have a program nearby, and you don’t want to pay out-of-state fees or relocate to another city in your state, you may also consider online programs. There are many sports and recreation degree programs at online universities.

In order to get the most out of your sports and recreation management training, you should also complete an internship during your last year of school. Then you’ll really be ready for this exciting career.

Find best culinary schools or culinary arts colleges on CulinarySchoolsU.com and start your path to a rewarding career. CulinarySchoolsU.com is an online education resource offers information about top culinary schools of USA and Canada that are offering best culinary programs in various disciplines.

Vacation At Sherkston Shores – Part 2

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In my first article on Sherkston I talked about some of the many things there are to do inside the park. In this article, I’ll tell you about why I keep coming back to Sherkston, the smallmouth bass fishing. As I said before, Lake Erie’s water is very clean in southern Ontario. When my father and I go out sailing, we can see the bottom when we’re in 20 feet of water. The clear water has led to a very healthy population of smallmouth bass. When I see guys out in their boats, they’re usually trolling for the smallies with crankbaits. Since I don’t bring my boat up, unless I can hitch a ride, I have to find a different way to hook these beautiful fish. That’s what I’ll share with you right now.

There is a wreck of an old barge about a mile from the beach. In the 1940s, World War II caused the value of steel to increase significantly. This price increase caused the authorities to salvage as much of the barge as possible.. They built a temporary dam to dry the lake bed between the shore and the wreck. Then they built a road out to the wreck and were able to truck a huge amount of steel back to shore. When they removed the dam and flooded the road, they left behind one of North America’s great bass fisheries. For much of the summer, the first half mile of the road sits under a few feet of water. From the edge of the road, the water immediately drops off to a depth of between five and eight feet. This is where the bass hide out looking for their next meal. My favorite fishing times are early in the morning and for the last hour before dark. Top water baits with no weight work great at these times. During the middle of the day I like to use a shallow diving or rattling crank bait. These bass will bite at any time of the day. The fact is that I’ve caught over 100 of these smallies in a day several times. The average size is 12 inches and the longest one I’ve landed was 21 inches.

Lake Erie’s smallmouth bass season runs from the fourth Saturday in June until the end of November. You have several options when it comes to fishing licenses. If you’re going to be angling in Lake Erie for a week or less, you can purchase an eight day sport fishing or conservation license. The conservation license allows you to keep up to two smallmouth a day ad the sport fishing license lets you to keep up to six fish each day. If you’re going to be at Sherkston for more than a week, you can get a seasonal sport fishing or conservation license. The limits are the same but the license is good for the year. I always catch and release so the conservation license saves me quite a bit of money.

If you need even more reasons to visit Sherkston Shores, stay tuned. In part 3 of this series, I’ll talk about some of the things you can do within a short drive of the resort. Sherkston is made up mainly of privately owned and rental cottage units. There is also a camping area where you can put up your camping tent and stay for a day, a week, or longer. There is also daily use access if you just want to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day of fun. Don’t forget that if you’re coming from the USA, you will need either a passport or one of the new passport cards to return home after your trip. Sherkston Shores is simple to get to. Just cross the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, NY and go west on Route 3 for about eight miles. Sherkston Shores will be on your left at Empire Road. There are also signs to help you find your way.

Myrtle Beach home Vacation Rental by Owner Great Fun

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If you are planning for a long family vacation in USA, then you must plan well in advance. Since holidays can create a lot of rush at some favorite destination for families and friends. It is important that you book a place of your choice. You can rent an apartment or a condo at the place you will be staying. This will help you a lot of time with your family and also will give you a home like atmosphere.

The houses of the Myrtle Beach owner are just near the long coastline. You may be able to find a good Myrtle Beach condo if you go through the listing and check out which suits you best. You may go for a rent in at Myrtle Beach vacation than the usual hotel stay. Renting a house or an apartment is always better, if you are on along vacation with your loved ones and family. Also, this suits all those who have a big family.

Even those who travel for vacation after marriage can check out the small apartments and Myrtle Beach condo. Some of them are just so closer to the beach, where you can just sit in the Porch and feel the cool wind. As most of us want to relax on a holiday, a renting a Myrtle Beach home is a great idea, which is comfortable and cost friendly. Most of these are well furnished houses, you just need to go in and live till you stay.

But as the vacations start, people come in large numbers and so a prior booking should be done so that the best placed house is not taken by someone else. Renting means a freedom to go and come anytime, no issues with anyone, and you and your family can cook together, plan an outing and go to all the nearby sight seeing places and market.

Renting a house will really make you Myrtle Beach vacation memorable. It will just be another home outside and you can enjoy to the limits. The places there, are suitable for everyone, from a couple, to a nuclear family or a joint family, every one can find a suitable Myrtle Beach home. This thing will not cost you much, help you spend real quality time with your family and spouse which is difficult when you back to your city and get busy in the daily schedule.