GROOMED L.A.

Roman Holiday - By Jim Tobler, Editor in Chief for WOW Travel

Authentic, charming, and an amazing spa, all at Villa Spalletti Trivelli.

Villa Spalletti Trivelli. It is the elegant family palazzo of a Roman Count and Countess. Neighbours include the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, whose 17th-century Palace is just across the leafy park. The Trevi Fountain is a stroll away. Guests here live as the Romans live. It is every inch a home-away-from-home, a salmon pink mansion from where everything one does takes on extra resonance: the joy of a performance of Verdi at the Teatro dell’ Opera; the spectacle of the Coliseum lit at night. A picnic on the banks of the River Tiber; a feast of fine art in the footsteps of Bernini and Michelangelo.

Many of Rome’s iconic sights are on your doorstep, starting with the Piazza del Quirinale and the Presidential Palace (open to visitors on Sunday). The piazza crowns the highest of the seven ancient hills of Rome, where Augustus’s Temple of the Sun stood; it now holds the giant statues of Castor and Pollux.

Another aspect of the Villa which sets it apart is the service of the resident chef, Adriano. The day begins with a large buffet of homemade cakes with ricotta cheese, fresh croissants, sugar brioches and bread rolls with that Roman speciality, fouettee cream, as well as cold cuts, cheeses, salads, fruits and yogurts. One may ask for pancetta and eggs, cooked specially, Italian style. For lunch or dinner Adriano prepares gourmet meals to make you swoon.

And in the midst of this authentic Roman splendor, a Hamman spa to relax after the walking. Enjoy the wellness treatments; they will make you feel relaxed, in another world. It is a marvelous feeling, both as you enter, and then, when you come back out, refreshed, back into the Villa, and all the grand city that surrounds it.

By Jim Tobler, Editor in Chief for WOW Travel

Capella Pedrega - Cabo San Lucas

HAPPY MONDAY!

Let's start the week with a little day-dreamin, shall we?

Kiwi Travel/WOW Magazine's GROOMED L.A. pick of the month :)

Perfection at Capella Pedregal

By Karen Mumby, Contributing Editor

You tunnel in, but there is plenty of light at the other end.

Capella Pedregal sits quietly in Cabo San Lucas, but the only way in is through a private tunnel. That is the first, but certainly not the only, remarkable thing about this resort.

At night it is even lit with torches. Once you are through, and onto the grounds, there is another level of delight. The grounds are planted with local plants and include an extensive herb garden. Probably the best way to describe it all is a well-manicured desert.

Cappella's architecture is welcoming and peaceful; right away you feel at home. The rooms, suites and villas are the definition of luxury; all feature spectacular ocean views. There are special touches throughout. Each room is carefully decorated to make sure guests feel pampered, treated to something special. (The only downside is the ocean is not swimmable which is common in Cabo. It’s those dangerous riptides.) The rooms have an intuitively nice arrangement, everything where it ought to be, and easy therefore to find.

Lunch at Don Manual means you will have the best ceviche, wonderful guacamole, and fabulous fish taco's. And the espresso, well, it is great; you cannot always take that for granted. El Farallon is located out on the point above the surf, with incredible views. The views are lovely, certainly, but you are also looking out at the paces from which your food is taken, usually that very day. Everything is served fresh out of the sea.

The Auriga spa is like no other, unique and completely relaxing. Whale-watching cruises, eco-tours, snorkeling, and parasailing are also available. You will be in good shape heading into one of the many music events the resort features. John Legend & The Roots with special guest star Joss Stone were onstage from December 10th to 12th.

 

Just surrender. Spa Montage in Laguna Beach partners with mind-body-yoga-expert Ashley Turner on a new wellness retreat series.

I first met Ashley Turner years ago when I was on my journey into the world of practicing and ultimately teaching yoga.  We were students together and 'retreat-mates' and I'll never forget this golden halo that seemed to follow her everywhere.  

There was no doubt that Ashley's career would soon flourish.  She grew into a full on yogini, meditation teacher and mind-body psychotherapist,  named by Yoga Journal as "Who's Who in Power Yoga" and now sits on the faculty at Kripalu and Loyola Marymount University's Yoga Philosophy.  Can you say OM(G)?! 

Now, she's bringing her expertise to the Spa Montage Laguna Beach with her  “E-volve” Wellness workshop and retreat series. 

Featuring workshops and a variety of quarterly retreats, each session is themed in alignment with the natural cycles of the solar calendar to target and address common mind-body issue areas for the time of year. 

Each of the retreats will include two-hour, twice daily yoga and meditation workshops and one customized 60 or 120 minute Surrender treatment to rebalance and address each client’s specific constitutional challenges.  B-R-E-A-T-H-E will me, people.

Each workshop is priced from $65 and includes a full day at Spa Montage with access to steam, sauna, relaxation areas and Oceanfront Spa Lap Pool.  

Talk about chillin' in the winter. 

 

Resolve to E-volve Workshop

January 8, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Reclaim Romance Workshop

February 12, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Change Your Mind. Change Your Body. Change Your Life Workshop

March 12, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Spring Detox: Clear Your Body, Mind + Soul Retreat

April 16 and 17

Indulge in a complete physical, mental and emotional detox to unleash your fullest potential for the year ahead. Our bodies and minds naturally accumulate stress, toxins and unprocessed emotions on a daily basis. Join us for this customized 2-day intensive to reclaim physical strength, mental clarity and emotional well-being. Release unwanted tension, toxins, unprocessed emotions, fear, grief and insecurity and learn the basics of a balanced, clean lifestyle to create radiant health, happiness & beauty from the inside out.

To further enhance the experience, guests can choose from a variety of customized, optional add-ons including: a private 30 minute consultation with Ashley, which will identify and explore underlying causes of the client’s existing symptoms or concerns; a group Moonlight Hike while observing the Full Moon; and a spa lunch daily from Mosaic Bar and Grille when booking the full retreat. 

For more information on the upcoming wellness series, please visit http://www.spamontage.com/lagunabeach/ or call (949) 715- 6010. 

http://www.ashleyturner.org/

www.montagelagunabeach.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beautiful Life of Groomed L.A. expands to world wide hotels and travel!

Groomed L.A. is beyond thrilled to expand our curatorial of The Beautiful Life to include the worlds most exciting and luxurious  hotels.  In conjunction with the fabulous online hotel concierge Kiwi Collection and their online magazine Wow Travel we will bring you this feature once a month.  

To explore more and score fabulous rates, visit the Kiwi Collection and expand your horizon of all things beautiful.

And of course all the hotels featured will have some of the world's finest spas.

First up, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort

Nestled into what was once a coconut plantation, this gorgeous beachfront property is now a luxury eco-resort. Scattered across 17 acres, the resort's 25 bungalows, in thatched Fijian style, charm visitors with rattan furnishings, decks with views, and generous Italian tile baths. No telephones or televisions to interrupt the sound of tropical birds calling from the trees.

Your activity options at Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort are endless. Embark on a rainforest hike. Take a glass-bottomed boat tour with the guidance of the resident marine biologist. Dive the coral reefs. Afterward, relax with a Fijian massage at the resort's spa.

After a full day, satisfy that hunger with contemporary Fijian cuisine at the open-air restaurant. Here with kids? Eat early, then send the children off on a staff-led frog hunt, while you enjoy a glass of wine under a star-filled sky.

You will leave feeling that nature’s harmony has spoken directly to you.

Jim Tobler

Editor-in-Chief

http://www.kiwicollection.com/wow-travel

http://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/jean-michel-cousteau-fiji-islands-resort

Kat Kendall checks in on and checks out at the new FREE CITY SURERSHOP on Highland.

There's a new community center in the neighborhood. And it just so happens you can buy clothes there. Clothes that have a message. And there's other stuff by local artisans like Vans, Heath Ceramics, Oliver Peoples, Commune. And if you're not in the market for shopping? Don't let that stop you from taking part.

In the new 3000 square foot Free City Supershop Supermat everyone is welcome. I'm going by today to get an almond milk drink and the vegan ice cream that tastes like an indulgent desert. I want to hang out and bask in the art vibe. And I wont get the evil eye for scoping and not shopping either. Nina Garduno, the creator of this experience wants me to. She wants us all to come and just hang. Nina is a taste maker who lives life like an evolving, living and breathing art installation.

The supermat idea came from the laundry mat. The place where the community hangs out together while getting life done. Come linger, look at the art, listen to great music, that includes a special mix from Wendy Melvoin. Or see the bicycle painting or string art that Leisha Hailey made, yes Leisha Hailey the gorgeous actress everyone fell in love with from the L Word.

GET INSPIRED.

And if you do decide to spend some money on clothes, you wont be sorry. I can't afford a $325 sweatshirt. But wait actually, I can. Here's the idea: If you by one of the right thing, you save money, because you don't waste money buying seven of the wrong thing. Every print on a Free City sweatshirt is blocked printed by a human. Right here in the U.S.A. The ink is so deeply saturated you have colors that you just don't see on clothes. Plus the sweatshirt was cherry picked, and cut just so, and the material? The softest yummiest smelling sweatshirt you'll always want to wear. On a hike, or a plane, or over a dress at a chic dinner. It works everywhere. So you'll get your money's worth. I can attest to that, because the yellow hoodie I bought 4 years ago is still my go to jacket for everything.

If a Free City sweatshirt was a guy, he would be my perfect mate because he'd go the distance. I would never get sick of the relationship and I'd feel cozy and sexy at the same time.

All my needs would be met!!!!!

For now, there's the California dreamin' at Free City.

1139 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles; freecitysupershop.com.

Kat and Leisha at the opening fiestsa :)

See you there!

xo Kat