#Team Events Hamburg Indoor

[golflounge]

Exploring Team Bonding Opportunities in Hamburg

Fun team building events in Hamburg

Team bonding is an essential aspect of building a successful and productive team. When team members have a strong bond and work well together, they can achieve great things. Hamburg, with its vibrant atmosphere and numerous attractions, offers a wide range of opportunities for team bonding activities. In this article, we will explore some fun team building events in Hamburg that are sure to bring your team closer together.

Corporate bonding activities for your team

Corporate bonding activities are designed to promote teamwork, communication, and trust among team members. These activities often involve group challenges and outdoor adventures, and they are a great way to break the ice and build relationships. Hamburg provides a perfect backdrop for corporate bonding activities, with its stunning architecture, scenic parks, and exciting cultural scene.

Effective team building strategies in Hamburg

Team building strategies are crucial for fostering a positive work environment and enhancing team dynamics. By implementing effective team building strategies, you can improve communication, boost morale, and increase productivity within your team. Hamburg offers a variety of options for team building activities that cater to different preferences and objectives.

Team activities Hamburg: Connecting and growing as a team

Engaging in team activities is a fantastic way to connect with your colleagues on a more personal level and foster a sense of camaraderie. Hamburg offers a plethora of team activities that cater to various interests and preferences. Whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or adrenaline-pumping challenges, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city.

Team building ideas 2024: Planning ahead for an unforgettable experience

As you begin planning your team building activities for 2024, it's essential to think outside the box and come up with fresh and innovative ideas. Hamburg offers numerous unique team building ideas that are sure to make your experience unforgettable. From team scavenger hunts in the historic city center to cooking workshops showcasing the city's culinary delights, the possibilities are endless.

Team Events Hamburg - Indoor & Outdoor

When it comes to team events in Hamburg, you have the option to choose between indoor and outdoor activities based on your team's preferences and the weather conditions. Indoor team events provide a comfortable and controlled environment where your team can bond and collaborate effectively. On the other hand, outdoor team events allow your team to enjoy the beauty of Hamburg while participating in exciting challenges and activities.

Best team events - Book now quickly and easily

Now that you're aware of the fantastic team bonding opportunities in Hamburg, it's time to start planning your team events. To ensure the best experience for your team, it's crucial to book your desired activities quickly and easily. Many businesses in Hamburg offer team building packages and services, making it convenient for you to organize your team events without any hassle. Don't miss out on the chance to create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds within your team.

Remember, team bonding activities are not only about having fun but also about fostering effective communication, teamwork, and trust within your team. By investing in team-building activities in Hamburg, you can create a positive and productive work environment that will benefit your team in the long run. So, start exploring the various team bonding opportunities in Hamburg and give your team an experience they will never forget! Visit us e-sports hamburg

[putschki1969]

H-el-ical// Q&A Corner（Vol#1）

Today at 20:00* (JST) the first episode of H-el-ical//’s new video project "H-el-ical// Q&A Corner” will be broadcast on the official YouTube Channel. Please look forward to it! (Twitter source)

[Note: In her tweet, Hikaru says the video is airing at 22:00 in English. Please note that it is 20:00]

VIDEO LINK

SUBSCRIBE to Hikaru’s YouTube Channel!

H-el-ical// Official

Summary

Hikaru is answering questions which she received in the comment section of THIS video. I agree with @chibalein and @concretebadger, the BGM sounds like something we haven’t heard before so we could get a new release pretty soon.

Anyways, this is part 1 of the Q&A Corner. She will answer the other questions in a second part. Without further ado, let’s get to the questions:

Team udon, team soba, team ramen or team something else? When it comes to udon and soba, she prefers udon. Even thoug h you traditionally eat soba for New Year’s Eve in Japan, Hikaru always eats udon :P  As for ramen, she really loves it, especially miso ramen. Hikaru wonders what could be meant by something else...maybe pasta? She loves that too.

How about selling postcards, calendars and clearfiles with her photo as merch? Hikaru is kinda shy so she hasn’t sold any of those visual goods so far. But if the opportunity arises in the future, she will do it. Please have some more patience.

Favourite character in Kimetsu no Yaiba? I think she says Tamayo. [Don’t know any of the characterts]

These days everyone worries about their immune system and how to strengthen it. Anything particular she does to take care of her health? She can’t really go to the gym anymore because of corona so she does her best to do ?? every day.

A question referring to the chicken tatsuta burger which is sold in Japanese Mc Donalds. This year there was a collaboration between the tatsuta burger and the popular song Touch ( タッチ ), the opening song of the anime of the same name. Hikaru posted this tweet back in February. Since this is very nostalgic Hikaru is supposed to share an anecdote from her student days. Something about her school being big and at a sports festival they were split into four groups and her group was in charge of supoort...[not really sure on this one]

Favourite type of flower? She loves baby’s breath.

Would she ever take on the challenge of singing enka? It’s super difficult so probably not. She is not sure that opportunity will arise for her any time soon.

Would she ever like to do a narration job in the future? She doesn’t wanna rule it out so it might be a possibility. But since she is from a rural area in Japan, her dialect and her intonation might not be what is wanted for a narration job. She would have to work really hard to talk in what’s considered to be standard Japanese or whatever.

Will her backpack ever be available in other colours? And will there be a second series of the Gachi backpack? Many fans said that they would totally buy different colours if the price was cheaper HOWEVER black is actually the cheapest colour to produce so it’s a little difficult. Eventually there will be a questionnaire though. As for a second series, she is definitely taking it into consideration.

What kind of child was Hikaru? Has she always loved singing? She was a super open and social child at age 3~4. To the point where she would befriend total strangers at the park for which she would usually be scolded by her parents. Now as an adult she is much more reserved and an indoor person. And yes, she has ALWAYS loved singing.

Any power meal she has? Not really. She doesn’t really eat a lot before singing. But after an event/recording etc she always feels like she deserves some sort of reward meal. For example, after finishing that shoot she will probably go an have a hamburger. She loves junk food so she will typically gravitate towards that.

Any plans for future videos? Anything she would like to try? At the beginning of the year, she posted her first cover which was quite the challenge for her. But she would like to continue doing stuff like that and challenge herself further.

Where is her recommended power spot? When she does sight-seeing, she likes to visit temples, shrines and castles. But honestly, her bed is the place that provides the most comfort and strength.

Any game she has recently been into? Her younger sister recently bought some Switch game called Bokujou Monogatari so Hikaru has been borrowing her sister’s Switch to play from time to time. She has also played older versions of the game.

How was it to sing “stone cold” at ANIMAX MUSIX? She was super nervous, it was like her heart was beating out of her chest. Still, it was a lot of fun and she is glad for that opportunity because otherwise she probaby wouldn’t have had a chance to sing it.

[architectnews]

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Competition

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Architecture Competition, Czech Design Contest News

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Design Competition

23 August 2021

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Competition

Location: Czech Republic

August 23rd, 2021 – We’ll know what the new Vltava Philharmonic Hall will look like in May 2022. Prague and IPR announced an international architectural competition today

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Design Contest News

Architects worldwide are now turning even more of their attention to Prague. The capital city of the Czech Republic, together with its Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague), has officially announced an international architectural competition for the design of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall. In May of 2022, the jury, headed by the internationally renowned Czech architect Michal Sedláček, will choose the winning building design for the new concert hall that will be standing in Holešovice in Prague, near the Vltavská metro station. The competitors will divide EUR 707,500 among themselves in design and sketch royalties.

Today at last, a big step has been taken towards adding another culturally significant building to Prague after more than 100 years. The announcement of an international architectural competition for the design of the new concert hall building, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, is of international import not just for Prague, but for the entire Czech Republic. Preliminary interest in participation has been expressed by about 60 studios from around the world, including from the Czech Republic.

“Starting today, all interested parties may officially submit their competition applications. Five entities, chosen primarily from among the most renowned architectural studios, will be asked to participate directly. These are Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Snøhetta, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, David Chipperfield Architects and SANAA. We also expect a strong showing from Czech architects, because as professionals we view this as an exceptionally open competition, which means they’ll have a great chance to win,” stated the Chairperson of the jury, Michal Sedláček.

The deadline for submitting applications is 30 September 2021. In October 2021, the competition jury will then choose a further 15 teams in addition to the five already chosen. The competition will then continue with 20 teams in total, a rare number in comparable international competitions. Roughly six months later, in March 2022, these competitors will submit their architectural designs for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall and its immediate surroundings. The jury will begin evaluating the submitted designs in April 2022 and in May 2022, a winner should be decided on and the competition officially ended.

The final jury selection comprises 11 regular members (with voting rights) and 21 alternates (taking part in all negotiations and joint meetings of the jury). Apart from the aforementioned Chairperson Michal Sedláček, the regular members include Andreas Cukrowicz (notably the winner of the international architectural competition for a concert hall in Munich), Tina Saaby (notably a former Copenhagen city architect) and Peter Gero (he notably took part in the creation of Hamburg’s new Hafen City neighborhood). Of the Czech architects, the members include Josef Pleskot, Marcela Steinbachová and Martin Krupauer (Team Leader of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall project).

The state and metropolitan municipal political representatives who will be present include, among others, the Czech Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek, Mayor of Prague Zdeněk Hřib and Deputy Mayor for Spatial Development and the Land Use Plan Petr Hlaváček, alongside Czech Member of Parliament and Prague representative Jan Čižinský. More information on the jury, including a short bio of all of its members, can be found here: https://ift.tt/2Whp8cg

”I trust that both Prague and the Czech Republic can look forward to a new and unique modern building thanks to this architectural competition, where we’ll see the very best of world architecture. Thanks to the high interest of Czech and international architects, we are expecting timeless designs that will raise the already rich architecture of Prague one level higher. I’m happy to see that the Vltava Philharmonic Hall has support across the political spectrum,” said the Mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib.

“It’s also good to be aware that without this new Prague architectural icon resulting from this competition, we’d have real problems starting up a transformation of the whole unattractive area of Bubny–Zátory. The intimate connection of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall building to the Vltava river will, on the one hand, continue the tradition of placing important public buildings on the riverside while, on the other hand, it will emphasize the importance of a new and significant architectural focal point for the town. This has been borne out in the practical experience of other countries and cities, whether Hamburg, Copenhagen or any other city.” added Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček.

The architectural competition documentation includes the results of public participation and a sociological study

Aside from the basic goals of the commissioning body, the construction program design based on the recommendations of the feasibility study by Henning Larsen, AEA Consulting and Buro Happold, as well as other materials, the supporting documentation for competitors also contains the results of the public participation and a sociological study. These were prepared from information provided by the Prague public through direct interactions at the location where the Philharmonic Hall will stand (for example walks with commentary), and in other ways, including a poll. Between March and June 2021, there were several workshops with Prague City District 7 and local cultural and community actors.

Significant outputs from this participation include requests for community spaces, because both local groups as well as the city district would welcome a space to host community events within the Vltava Philharmonic Hall (VPH). Music schools (primary-level and conservatories) would like to use the concert hall, rehearsal rooms and facilities.

There is also a very interesting demand for public outdoor spaces to meet people, relax or set up different kinds of events. All of these things should be part of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall project.

A sociological study was also carried out on a sample of 1500 over-15s by the same polling company, Median, between the middle of June and July this year. The results of the study will be included in the competition documentation. All of the three queried groups of respondents, meaning citizens of Prague apart from Prague 7, residents and frequent visitors of Prague 7 and the group of audience members (people regularly visiting cultural events in Prague) and subscribers (regular concert-goers), agreed about the main findings of the survey.

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall project (to produce a building with interesting architecture in the neglected space surrounding the Vltavská metro station) has the significant support of all the aforementioned groups for all parts of the study sample (between 60–70 %). Looking at potential supplementary functions of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, respondents would welcome coffee shops and restaurants, while in the immediate surroundings they preferred places to sit, relax and meet with friends. Conversely, they disliked the idea of office space. Another supplementary activity with the highest support was public film screenings.

Concerning the frequency of visits to the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, three quarters of residents and visitors to Prague 7 confirmed their interest in stopping by the Vltava Philharmonic Hall at least once a quarter (one tenth of Prague 7 respondents would even like to come once a week). Of the remaining Prague citizens, two thirds would head over at least once every three months, and among subscribers, four out of five would like to visit the VPH at least once a month. When visiting the Vltava Philharmonic Hall, the addressed target groups agreed they would like to feel above all dignified, elegant and festive. For the respondents, the least appropriate use of the indoor spaces of the building was as workplaces.

More detailed results of the public participation and sociological study are published here: https://ift.tt/3zcjUxh

Project schedule for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall

On the completion of the architectural competition and the conclusion of the contract with the winner, work will begin on the project documentation and on obtaining the building permits necessary to begin construction. If everything goes according to plan, the entire second phase of the project should be completed in 2025. The estimated costs are 750 million crowns.

The final, third stage should start with the choice of a building contractor in 2026. Construction is slated to begin one year later, in 2027. The direct construction costs of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall itself were estimated at 4.9 billion crowns in January 2021. Economic analyses recommend the best option would be to divide the investment between the state, the capital city and the private sector. According to estimates, this brings the total costs to build the Vltava Philharmonic Hall as high as 6.1 billion crowns.

The new concert hall should be finished in 10 years, meaning in 2031.

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall in Prague should have a total of three auditoria: the main concert hall for about 1800 persons, a smaller hall for chamber music with a capacity of 700 seats and a multifunctional hall for other genres and events with a capacity of up to 500 seats. The main concert hall should offer state-of-the-art acoustics, excellent spatial and visual characteristics and facilities corresponding to 21st century standards.

The building should also accommodate both of the significant Prague orchestras – the Prague Symphony Orchestra (FOK) and the Czech Philharmonic. The building should also integrate the music division of the Municipal Library of Prague and other creative spaces, which are to be another important pillar in the building’s construction program.

The bold architecture of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall on the bank of the Vltava river will spearhead the revitalization of the Bubny–Zátory brownfield. As a result, the Vltava Philharmonic Hall will become a new cultural center for Prague and the entire Czech Republic.

Previously on e-architect:

12 August 2021

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Design Contest, Czech Republic

Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Architecture Competition

The City of Prague will launch an architectural design competition for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall in the latter half of August. This building will become a new city landmark, a heart of a future new municipal district.

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall will also launch and accelerate the transformation of one Prague’s largest brownfields: the Bubny-Zatory redevelopment zone for which it will provide a new urban centre. The construction of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall will perpetuate Prague’s international reputation as a cultural capital.

The main concert hall will be The Vltava Philharmonic Hall’s soul. Next to this, there will a chamber-cum-multipurpose hall and other spaces for smaller events. Built around a music library, this area of the building will have rehearsal rooms, teaching areas, and studios. Naturally, the complex will have a restaurant, a café and various other refreshment facilities. The building will include a creative hub.

The Vltava Philharmonic Hall will have two resident orchestras: the Czech Philharmonic and the FOK Prague Symphony Orchestra. Outdoor public space, which will offer opportunities to meet, rest or host various sorts of activities and events, will be integral to the whole project. All this combined will make the Vltava Philharmonic Hall a cultural centre that will be vibrant 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, attracting a wide range of visitors.

As the Vltava Philharmonic Hall will have to meet contemporary standards in its technical, urban development and architectural parameters, the winning study must place a stress on delivering a flawless spatial and visual design with top-class acoustics in the concert halls. Needless to say, the sustainability of operations is an aspect that must not be overlooked.

The 4ha plot earmarked for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall is located within Prague’s broader centre on the bank of the Vltava, thus naturally continuing the tradition of placing prominent buildings alongside the river. The site is well served by transport links, a factor which is both an advantage and a challenge for the teams participating in the competition. The project must integrate all local thoroughfares and interlock them harmoniously with the public space surrounding the building.

Candidates may send in their portfolios from the second half of August until 30 September. In total, 20 tenderers will be competing: in October, on the basis of the portfolios submitted, an international jury will pick out 15 teams that – with a further five directly approached candidates – will be invited to draw up architectural designs for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall. Pre-registration for the competition is already open via the contracting authority’s profile.

The winning design will be announced in spring 2022. The competition prizes are worth approximately EUR 707,500.

For more information, please visit the competition website.

Location: Prague, Czech Republic, central eastern Europe

Prague Design Competitions

reSITE / Skanska Design Contest pictures from design contest organisers Bridging Prague Competition

Prague Congress Centre Design Competition

Prague National Gallery Entrance Hall Mateo Arquitectura image from architects Prague National Gallery Entrance Hall : Competition design

Prague Victory Square Design Competition image courtesy of architecture contest organisers Prague Victory Square Architecture Competition

Prague Architecture – Selection

Andel’s Hotel Jestico + Whiles Andel’s Hotel Prague

The Czech National Library Building Future Systems Czech National Library Architecture Contest

Franz Kafka Society Center Steven Holl / Marcela Steinbachová Franz Kafka Society

Czech Architecture Competitions

Selection of Czech Architecture Contests on e-architect

Sportovní hala Dukla – Pardubice Architecture Competition

New Town Hall Prague 7 Architecture Competition

SPIRETEC Competition

Comments / photos for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Competition page welcome

The post Vltava Philharmonic Hall Prague Competition appeared first on e-architect.

[icecreamandknishes]

Restaurants Canada Show 2021

A week ago today was the Restaurants Canada Show, my favourite event of the year. 

Restaurants Canada is the lobby group for Canada’s foodservice industry. 

This year it was held online due to the pandemic, and the title of one of the sessions I attended says it all: Guest Services without the Guests.

Enercare Centre 2020

Every year I go to the show, hang out with friends, try new foods, meet chefs and watch professional food competitions.

Instead this year, stuck indoors sitting at my computer, I felt waves of sorrow as I listened to the stories of how the industry has been hit so hard by the pandemic.

Thousands of restaurants have closed across the country, tourism was hard hit and there are 380,000 fewer people working in the industry than there were one year ago. Behind all these numbers are real people who specialize in hospitality, the interaction between host and guest. 

The theme of this year’s show was Feeding the Recovery, and as we learned more about how the industry changed I started to feel optimism and pride in how the foodservice industry managed to adapt to the challenges.

Chef Michael Smith of The Inn at Bay Fortune in Prince Edward Island spoke to Donna Dooher, owner of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Toronto. 

Chef Smith bought The Inn at Bay Fortune with his wife about six years ago. The focus of the restaurant at the Inn is live fire, all foods (except for some prep work) are cooked over live fires which Chef thought would be the highlight of the Inn. But when he talked about their farm and the food they grow for the Inn he became choked up. His chefs all start off the day working for an hour in the fields, connecting themselves to the soil. It is this connection to the soil that counts, a theme heard throughout the Show.

Donna Dooher’s restaurant in Toronto hasn’t had indoor dining since October 10, 2020, just take out and delivery. Her restaurant is famous for its brunches, and with its pivot to takeout she offers great brunch items, including frozen scones and biscuits that you can heat up at home and top with her famous blueberry compote.

Restaurants had to up their online presence and deal with delivery services.

Chef Patrick Kriss Chef and owner of upscale Alo and Aloette Restaurants decided to crank out hamburgers, as many as they could cook to happy take out recipients. 

It was a bit easier for some large chain restaurants compared to small independents to pivot because they already had take out systems in place.

Independent restaurants had to figure out how to prepare foods that would travel well and have given great thought to how they are packaged to be presented attractively. 

There was much discussion of how important it is to treat employees well, racism was delved into and the days of the “brigade” top down military style running of kitchens is out of style. 

It’s not just the restaurants that were hit by the pandemic but their suppliers also.

Many restaurants teamed up with their suppliers and now you can order groceries, wine bottles, alcohol and cocktail kits with your meals.

One of the consumer trends is that people are ordering expensive bottles of wine to go with their take out dinners as a splurge.

.What are the trends of the future? 

Will we have the Roaring Twenties or a more subdued recovery with consumers hesitant to spend money? There was no clear cut answer as to which way it may go.

Hopefully our governments will continue to help restaurants during the recovery and we the consumer can do our part too.

It’s good to get a break from cooking and there are many options available for take out. Just be nice to our foodservice people, they’ve had a very tough year.

[touringturkeys-blog]

Barcelona and the Andorran Pyrenees

We arrived in Barcelona on a rainy morning after a quick flight from Lisbon. Austin, Ryan’s closest friend from high school, graciously picked us up from the airport despite being half asleep and half drunk from the night before. We spent our first day relaxing at Austin’s home outside the city, in the forested enclave of Les Planes. We ate delicious pizza (our favorite was with fig and goat cheese) and chatted with Austin’s housemates. Valentina is a an awesome swiss-german woman who has studied traditional medicine. Chris is an english bloke who manages to be both laid-back and engaged in the same moment.

The next day we gathered some outdoor gear and Austin’s energetic dog, Kala, and set out for the mountain kingdom of Andorra.

Kala was primed for romping

The drive through small spanish and french villages with the ragged mountain range in the background was picturesque. Crossing the border into Andorra is a strange experience. The source of Andorra’s wealth lies in its status as a tax-free haven. Upon entering, one is bombarded with neon offers of cheap liquor and perfume in gigantic malls. However, Andorra’s heart and soul is in its mountains. Andorra has beautiful mountains. Everywhere you look sun-kissed granite and quartz peaks look down upon you.

Our starting point - trailhead at Rui d’Incles

We spent three days hiking and camping, climbing through steep valleys filled with boulders, streams, and glass-like alpine lakes. We climbed up the Rui d’Incles drainage up to a ridge that straddled the France-Andorra border. The only people we saw were close to the trailhead.

One neat feature of the Pyrenees (and other European mountain ranges) is the system of refugios - stone huts that offer shelter and, sometimes, food and drink. We stayed in one the first night that was a simple two-room slate-roof affair. We sipped on hot cocoa mixed with whiskey while playing Cambio, a local card game similar to Golf. In another area stood two refugios that could sleep 30-40 people and were equipped with a restaurant and bar. They were beautifully constructed and had neat features like a hydroelectric generator and big outdoor patio. They were closed for the season, however we could sit on the patios and dream of hamburgers and surly french mountaineers drinking vermouth.

Approaching the Refugio Juclar

The Refugio at Estany d’Juclar (photo by viajablog)

We returned to city life in Barcelona, spending two nights in the hip neighborhood of El Poble Sec. Austin works in that neighborhood. He’s got a cool gig working for Eat Street, a little company that organizes street food events around the city. The events have really taken off. Americans take note: the job is hard work no doubt, but he can also go into the office in the afternoon and team brainstorming often involve drinking many beers. Perfect.

Austin’s flexible work schedule allows him to spend more time with his child

During our last days in Barcelona we walked through city parks and quaint cobblestone alleys, toured the harborside, sipped on coffee and wine, and ate delicious tapas. We soaked in Turkish baths, an elaborate indoor system of hot pools of varying saline and temperature. Austin arranged them for us while backpacking, on a cold wet evening, after hearing Amanda’s talk of soreness from the past weeks of biking and hiking. (Thanks again Austin!) We also visited Parc Guell, the city park designed by Gaudi, likely the most popular tourist attraction in Barcelona. And for good reason. Calling it a “park” is like calling the Great Lakes a “water feature” - it’s accurate but largely misses the point. Parc Guell is brimming with hallucinatory structures like a huge undulating bench covered completely with colorful mosaic tiles and gatehouses with towering irregular spires reminiscent of a gingerbread house.

The Serptine bench at Parc Guell

After a quick trip to a local climbing gym and one last meal in Barcelona, we said goodbye to Europe as we boarded for our next flight, headed to southeast Asia.

[amtwarranty]

Tips to Help Throw a Safe 4th of July Company Party

Planning to celebrate America’s Independence with your coworkers this Fourth of July? While many companies are closed on the actual day – it’s a federal holiday – many employers still have a get-together the first week of July for their employees.

Holiday parties are a great way to connect with coworkers, but take steps to help make sure you are being safe while enjoying. Here’s a few safety tips to keep in mind brought to you by AmTrust’s loss control team:

Fireworks AmTrust recommends that everyone stay away from consumer fireworks and enjoy what is sure to be a better show at a public display done by professionals. In fact, 250 people seek emergency room treatment every day from fireworks-related injuries in the Independence Day season. Show your community support and help insulate your company from potential property damage, general liability and possible workers’ compensation injuries by attending a public event in your city.

 Heat Having an outdoor picnic is a fun way to celebrate the Fourth of July with coworkers. But be mindful of the summer heat and watch out for signs of heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps. Shade, plenty of water and cool towels can help prevent these issues, but pay attention to the weather and consider moving the party indoors if temperatures are rising to an extreme. Sun block is also a must for outdoor parties.

Food contamination Potlucks are a staple for summer get-togethers, but for a company party you are better off hiring a professional service to reduce the risk of food borne illness.

Grilling If you choose to use a grill to serve hot dogs or hamburgers, we still recommend hiring a professional. But if you choose to do it yourself, make sure to always supervise the grill while in use. Check gas grills for any leaks. Keep children away from grills at all times. Ensure grills are never used indoors or in a garage, and at least two feet away from siding, decks and other flammable materials.

Alcohol  Alcoholic beverages should be limited at company parties. Consider hiring professional bartenders instead of letting employees serve themselves. Other methods such as drink tickets help control consumption.

Insects Mosquitoes, bees, ants and other insects can all be uninvited guests at a summer party. Special candles and bug spray can help keep some of these bugs at bay. Be on the lookout for bees and other bugs whose stings can cause allergic reactions.

Driving Finally, make sure you encourage employees to use safe driving practices. Remind employees to buckle up, follow speed limits and put their phones away while driving. If alcohol is served, employers should arrange for transportation home.

 Article Source:- https://amtrustfinancial.com/blog/loss-control/tips-to-help-make-a-safe-4th-of-july-company-party

[sentrava]

Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Stay Indoors With These 7 Winter Activities in OKC

The thing about traveling for meetings, conferences or other work events is that you don’t always have control over when you go where. Would I recommend someone travel to Nashville in January? Likely not. But regardless, you might find yourself here anyway for a convention. The same goes for Oklahoma City; while, sure, it’s a bit chillier than usual in the winter months, you’ll find a plethora of things to do in OKC in the winter—and a shiny new streetcar by which to explore many of them while staying warm.

Here are my tips for those of you traveling to the area—whether you’re on business as part of a meetings and convention groups, on a leisure vacation with your family os flying solo—this winter.

Order a Flight at Coop Aleworks

One major difference we’ve seen in the 18 months we’ve been regularly visiting Oklahoma City is the blossoming of the local beer scene. Vanessa House, Stonecloud Brewing and Prairie Artisan Ales are a few of our favorites, but Coop Aleworks leads the charge with its flagship F5 IPA available everywhere and $20 million expansion plans in the hopper at the 87,000-square-foot downtown Armory, which has been abandoned since 2010. The current brewery, about 20 minutes west of downtown near the airport, has taken advantage of recent legislative changes and now has full-service tap options for those who want to sample the staples and some of the experimental blends the brewers are cooking up. Growlers and tours are available.

If there’s time on your way out of town, swing by the Brewers Union, where many breweries like Vanessa House get their start through an innovative incubator model, with shared resources and marketing support.

Experience a Thunder Game

It was just my second-ever NBA game, though I used to work for the Lady Vols under Pat Summitt’s watch in college, and what a treat it was to be surrounded by thousands of loud, cheering OKC Thunder supporters. The venue, Chesapeake Energy Area, has nary a bad seat in the house, and live basketball with a legion of turned up fans is just about the best way to spend an evening if you’re a sports fan. The elevated options include a whole host of local food and beverage choices, with all-inclusive group and corporate bookings available during the weeknight that merge the experience onto the exclusive 2nd level concourse or even onto the court during warmups. Individual tickets can be purchased from fans or the ticketing office here.

Bonus: It’s right on the streetcar line, and the line often operates late or on Sundays to accommodate game schedules.

Learn More About OKC’s Spirit at the National Memorial

We’ve written about the iconic memorial in Oklahoma City a couple of times now, but it deserves a special visit while you’re visiting to remember the tragedy of the homegrown terrorism that struck the city—and country—in the mid-90s. The delicate touch that the existentially beautiful space embodies reminds both of us of how Germany handles its past, and is truly a must-see if you’ve never been. The walk-throughs, the timing, recordings, outdoor reflection pools, and objects of the investigation and final apprehension of Timothy McVeigh, who killed 168 people with a fertilizer bomb by parking a rented Ryder truck in front of a federal building on April 19, 1995, is a reminder and sacred experience for anyone interested in the history of the single worst terrorist attack in the United States outside of 9/11.

Nab a Lane at Dust Bowl

There’s nothing quite like slipping on a pair of bowling shoes, racking up a 10 pound ball and knocking down a slider strike, and the Dust Bowl has you covered with an experience that reckons with the past while raising the bar on the tired and sticky lanes of yesteryear. Hot chicken poppers, totchos, poutine, hamburgers and shakes rounds out the hygge experience you’ll have with a reserved lane in a quasi private area of the expansive and centrally located space.

After you’re through, head upstairs to the German-themed Fassler Hall for live entertainment, a pint or sausages and duck fat fries.

Have Your Mind Blown at the Cowboy Museum

The embodiment of American settlement and culture, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum pays tribute to our country with an expansive archive of artifacts and stories about the history of the wild lands. From pre-expansion to the narrative of cowboy ethos, the sprawling grounds encapsulate just about everything there is to say about American Western civilization on the North American continent, when cattle drives, gold, God and exceptionalism shaped the formation of the contiguous states. Docent tours are available for groups that include specialized and immersive experiences.

Spend an Afternoon at Chisholm Creek

Twenty minutes north of town on a wide, open highway, the large, mixed-use development Chisholm Creek takes advantage of the breathing room that suburbia provides by sprawling out across 190 acres, with dining, lounge, sport and shopping options. The indoor skydiving facility is a first-class experience for those who don’t feel like hurling themselves out of a perfectly good airplane but still want the thrill of flying like a hang-gliding squirrel. The wind tunnel technology behind this sport makes it possible to suit up safely for an adrenaline rush like no other. Group and team-building packages are available, as are meeting spaces for get togethers.

If you’re a golfer who loves a challenge—or even a rookie who simply loves smashing a ball with a metal club—Top Golf is also located at Chisholm Creek. Featuring more than 100 temperature-controlled hitting areas, multiple bars and a full restaurant, this innovative twist on the sport elevates itself by using microchipped balls for tracking shots in a variety of competitive, computer controlled games. The expansive facility is tailor made for groups and the setup is very similar to a luxury bowling alley, with plenty of space to lounge while enjoying the day out. Company events can be booked here, and are all-inclusive. Private event spaces, meeting rooms and a rooftop terrace are also amenities worth mentioning.

Go for a Climb at Threshold

A monster climbing gym with more than 20,000 square feet of space, Threshold has a wide range of additional workout options that don’t involve rope and an orientation to gear. With a couple different yoga options, HIIT, Core Blast, sandbag fitness and, of course, basic and intermediate climbing classes, this is the spot to go if you’re one of those crazy people who likes to work out on the road. The heart of what Threshold does revolves around scampering up challenging, manmade rock walls and boulders, so bring your concentration (and core muscles) and explore the various workout spaces. There are also group team-building packages available for corporate crowds that break the mold and encourage trust between participants.

Seasonal Events

We happened to visit OKC during Downtown in December, which covers the streets in lights and other holiday-themed installations, and also includes one impressive holiday pop-up market (igloos, a big tree and all!) in Midtown right off of 10th Street, as well as ice-skating, Christmas decorations at Devon Energy Tower and Myriad Gardens’ Illuminations: Night Lights in Crystal Bridge.

If you’re looking for an off-peak time to take a group to Oklahoma City, December is a great choice with so many fun planned activities you could plug right into. For other monthly and seasonal events, check out Visit OKC’s calendar.

Looking for more Oklahoma City travel tips? Check out these ideas:

11 Reasons We’re Obsessed with OKC

Urban Whitewater Rafting in Oklahoma City

Where to Find the Best Murals and Street Art in OKC

Oklahoma City’s Art Game is Strong: Check Out These Creative Stops

Off the Rails: Where to Go Along OKC’s Streetcar Route

This post is part of an ongoing ambassador partnership with Visit OKC.

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Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Stay Indoors With These 7 Winter Activities in OKC published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

[speakingosess]

Looking for distinctive gifts

Looking for distinctive gifts

When you're looking for distinctive gifts for father on Father's Day, some items have been created to make a good impression. Father's day gift baskets are designed to be memorable items, as they come in a variety of themes with many different products. Men often have different tastes and interests than women, so products designed specifically for them reflect the interests and hobbies they enjoy. For the chef, the Gourmet Food Gift Basket range includes products that will delight the palate and inspire large meals.

A shopping basket can be designed

A shopping basket can be designed for the outdoor cook, which can include cooking utensils and food. Items placed indoors could include various bottles of barbecue sauce, marinade sauce, seasonings and recipes. There are also several styles of snacks containing a variety of cheeses and sausages. In the food category, people will also find fruit gift baskets for dad. These will have apples, oranges, pears and even jams and jellies. Crackers can also be included in this package to complement the variety of fruits.

Theme packages available

Theme packages available to men include hobby related items such as fishing, golfing, beer making and wine tasting. A basket designed for the fisherman may include a wicker design that can be used to hold real fish. Items wrapped indoors can be a mix of foods such as sardine cans, smoked herring, crackers and instant coffee packets. A distinctive set created for the golfer will contain all items stored in a convenient cooler that any father can take on the course. This item will be stocked with golf balls, t-shirts and a variety of ready-to-eat snacks.

Number of men's gift baskets

There are also a number of men's gift baskets designed for baseball or football enthusiasts. Just like the unique fishing and golf models, these products will also incorporate elements that can be used in a complete package. Foods can be a variety of cheeses, sausages, nuts and snacks that men like to eat while watching their favorite sporting event. There are also packages with memorabilia from specific teams, such as coffee mugs and t-shirts, on which the different team logos are printed. Anyone can buy shirts, ties, coffee mugs or golf balls for dad, but dressing them in a themed packaging will make all products a lot more memorable.

Give your father something you want

Personally, I think this is the perfect time to give your father something you want him to use. Especially if it is a well planned and thoughtful gift; he will feel obliged to try at least what you decide to give him. Take this opportunity to present him with healthy gift baskets. You know that big pieces of juicy steaks and hamburgers do not need excuses to be consumed by him; The fresh fruit gift baskets, on the other hand, need to be convincing.

Gift baskets of fresh fruit

So maybe gift baskets of fresh fruit could solicit frowns instead of the delightful smiles of the special man in your life. You can still give him a King's package on the day of his death. Why not pack whole wheat bread, lean meat, imported sausages, raisins and even a bottle of his favorite beer? Remember the past, have a picnic for two and let him enjoy your company in addition to the thoughtful basket that you have prepared for him.

The hobby that your father likes

What is the hobby that your father particularly likes? Is it golf? If you can not afford to buy a new set of clubs, grab a basket and fill it with golf items that you will appreciate. In addition to golf balls, tees and magazines; install a bubble-headed golfer stand or a custom wall clock with a picture of himself and his trophy during his last tournament. If you can not find any, fun tokens like golf club pens and high-impact t-shirts are fun for the basket.

Another secret

Let me tell you another secret, no matter if your gifts are inexpensive for your parents. If you were like me and "good grades were a good enough gift for them," then you know what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, being far from the proper age, test results are not a particularly feasible gift these days.

Collect a collection of his favorite songs

Why not collect a collection of his favorite songs downloaded from the Internet? You can print images of artists and paste them alongside your father as a small original gift basket. He's probably not a floral person, but maybe he'd like a bunch of corndogs? Be creative, a laugh is a sufficient gift for him. It is a day when you will be able to express your unfailing gratitude to your father. All his life, he has made sure your life becomes a priority make loving gift baskets for Father's Day to this amazing man.

[navyblueleggs-blog1]

Georgia's Southern Design Restaurants An Actual Treat.

An event of Vancouver's cultural diversity and natural environment Hawksworth Dining establishment showcases ingredient led, modern food that demonstrates the extremely proficient technique and also relentless drive for excellence that has actually become Chef David Hawksworth's hallmark.

Today Aboy's remains to make every effort to bring the great cooking it has been recognized for as well as introduce brand-new food selection to satisfy their growing clients. Although it has actually seen the rise in the variety of eateries with similar idea as theirs, paired with the increase of fastfood chains in the city, it has actually handled to preserve a respectable number of clients as well as still are attracting new ones.

There many websites available from where you could get these discounts and also deals. However, from these countless choices, you'll need to choose the most effective one. As well as while picking, see to it you are selecting the one that supplies you the facility of dining at one of the most preferred dining establishments. Amongst all these sites, charity is one of one of the most relied on one. It is the location where you could discover the most effective Dining establishment Discount coupons that use you 50% -60% discounts on eating the top restaurants in Miami. For restaurant dining chair, have a look at this website.

With style for all stages of a connection, Milk and Roses in Greenpoint is suitabled for both a comfortable supper to celebrate a dual digit anniversary as well as a delightful initial day. Visit the candle-lit bookshelf-lined indoor restaurant for an evening of significant romance or try the fairy-light covered exterior yard (which likewise functions as a wedding event venue in warmer climate for a much more laid-back-- though no much less charming-- experience. No matter where you're seated, take advantage indulgent food selection options like the poultry liver pate, served with mission figs, and the duck served with gold faro as well as dried out red currant.

Although Gleason's early dining establishments offered a minimal food selection of hamburgers as well as club fare, the Ripe Tomato flaunts a considerable menu that is a mixture of American country price and also Italian standards. House Specials on the menu consist of a Cedar Salmon dish offered over a cedar slab for distinct flavor and a Shrimp and also Scallop Bisque promoted as having been voted the most effective Soup in Saratoga". They use this chair for the restaurant. The dining establishment likewise provides a considerable wine checklist and also any client ought to make certain to leave sufficient room for among their unbelievable homemade desserts. Self-made pumpkin pie was the temptation on the day that this author visited the establishment.

As soon as you choose dining establishments for which you intend to acquire certifications, simply enter the discount code (bear in mind, NEVER pay the total) and also pay through charge card. You can either publish out the certificates from on-line instantly or publish them out later from your account to prevent losing them.

Soda and fruit beverages have reduced dietary worth as well as lots of calories. At concerning 150 calories each 12 ounce serving, your youngsters will gain an extra extra pound for every 3 weeks if they consume alcohol just a container of soft drink each day.

The French likes their sauces as well as there are many different sorts, as well as some are considered as specialities at particular dining establishments where they will certainly come with most food, so if you get a chance, take into consideration attempting a few of these.

The city still really felt a whole lot like an armed camp then. A scenic tour by The New York Times three weeks after Katrina found that many restaurants were shut, conserve for a couple of makeshift hotel operations as well as one endure little diner called Slim Goodies.

Second is Always Enjoy. Guest-focused restaurant you will be defeating the staff members and also visitors away with a stick if you have an enjoyable. Produce imaginative incentive programs for your team. Pair the cooking area and the stewards in groups as well as hand out rewards.

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New Post has been published on Albumcheck

New Post has been published on http://albumcheck.de/2020/06/roter-appell-der-veranstaltungswirtschaft-an-die-politik-bigcitybeats-world-club-dome-night-of-light-edition/

Roter Appell der Veranstaltungswirtschaft an die Politik - BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME "Night of Light" Edition

„Night of Light 2020“: Deutschlands Veranstaltungswirtschaft errichtet mit über 3.000 Unterstützern ein riesiges Licht-Monument in mehr als 250 Städten

BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME “Night of Light” Edition

Der offizielle Streaming-Partner der von der Essener LK-AG ins Leben gerufenen Aktion „Night of Light 2020“ mit Gestört aber GeiL, Le Shuuk, Milk & Sugar, Musti Nero, Paul van Dyk, Simina Grigoriu, DJ Teddy-O, ASK:ME u.v.m.

Die wichtigsten Wahrzeichen, Gebäude und Spielstätten Deutschlands erleuchten in Rot als flammender Appell an die Politik

Eilmeldung: Groß-Veranstaltungen wohl bis mindestens Ende Oktober 2020 verboten

Alarmstufe Rot! Seit dem 10. März 2020 finden in Deutschland keine Konzerte, Festivals und Events mehr statt. Einer ganzen Branche wurde gnadenlos der Stecker gezogen. Doch wollen wir alle künftig auf Live-Shows, Messen, Club-Gigs und Open Airs verzichten? Wohl kaum. „Autokinos und rein virtuelle Events waren und sind immer noch eine gute Alternative, jedoch sind sie keinesfalls die Zukunft der Live Kommunikation. „Wirtschaftlich sind sie maximal ein Tropfen auf dem heißen Stein,“ sagt Bernd Breiter, CEO von BigCityBeats und Macher des WORLD CLUB DOME.

Für den Initiator der Aktion „Night of Light“ und Vorstand der LK-AG Essen, Tom Koperek, steht die gesamte Veranstaltungswirtschaft auf der Roten Liste der aussterbenden Branchen: „Die nächsten 100 Tage übersteht die Veranstaltungswirtschaft nicht! Die aktuellen Auflagen und Restriktionen machen die wirtschaftliche Durchführung von Veranstaltungen quasi unmöglich.“ Das treffe nicht nur die Veranstalter, sondern auch Spielstätten sowie Zulieferer und Dienstleister jeder Art und Größe: Technikfirmen, Bühnen- und Messebauer, Ausstatter, Caterer, Logistiker über Künstler bis hin zum Einzelunternehmer, der Content, Drehbuch, Regie oder florale Dekoration zu Events beisteuert. „Rien ne va plus – nichts geht mehr!“, lautet Kopereks düsteres Fazit über die Notlage einer heterogenen Branche, die über 150 verschiedene Gewerke und Spezialdisziplinen in sich vereint und deshalb über keine einheitliche Lobby verfügt. Umso wichtiger sei es, für eine stärkere Wahrnehmung durch die Politik und Öffentlichkeit zu sorgen. Vor allem in Anbetracht der Tatsache, dass das Verbot für Groß-Veranstaltungen in Deutschland nun auf mindestens Ende Oktober 2020 verlängert wurde, wie RTL und Spiegel am Vormittag des 17. Juni 2020 berichteten.

Doch diese Message ist in der Politik noch nicht so richtig angekommen. Dabei zählt die Kultur zu den größten und wichtigsten Gütern, die unser Leben in Freiheit untermalt. Als Wirtschaftsbranche ist die Veranstaltungsindustrie in Deutschland die sechstgrößte Branche. Hier sind etwa 1,5 Millionen Menschen besch��ftigt und es werden knapp 130 Mrd. Euro direkt umgesetzt.  Rechnet man die Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft mit ihren veranstaltungsbezogenen Teil- und Zuliefermärkten hinzu, so beschäftigen mehr als dreihunderttausend Unternehmen in über 150 Disziplinen mehr als 3 Millionen Menschen und erzielen einen Jahresumsatz von über 200 Mrd. Euro!*

Die Branche, die als erste (FIRST IN) der Corona-Krise zum Opfer fiel, soll nun auch die letzte sein (LAST OUT), die zurückkehrt? Getreu der Devise „Jetzt reicht’s!“ setzen Firmen aus dem Event- und Kultursektor in ganz Deutschland ein Zeichen und beleuchten die Wahrzeichen ihrer Stadt, ihre Clubs, Locations und Firmensitze. Ob die Hamburger Reeperbahn, die Dresdner Frauenkirche, Zeche Zollverein Essen, Hotel Atlantic und der Fernsehturm Hamburg, der Domplatz Leipzig, die berühmte Gorch Fock, in Köln die Schanzenstraße, Palladium, Dock One, E-Werk, Lanxess Arena, die Alte Oper, das Tempodrom und die Max-Schmeling-Halle oder gar berühmte Monumente in Berlin – alles soll an diesem Abend rot leuchten.

BigCityBeats wird die Aktion als offizieller Streaming Partner und Virtual Event unterstützen! Der WORLD CLUB DOME sendet mit einer Special Edition Live aus dem einzigartigen Firmensitz der Eventtech-Spezialisten der Adam Hall Group, um auf die „Night of Light“ aufmerksam zu machen. Am 22. Juni von 22:00 bis 01:00 Uhr wird die Nachricht so Millionen Menschen auf der ganzen Welt erreichen. Dieser Tag wird in die Historie der Event-Industrie eingehen! Hoffen wir, dass BigCityBeats nicht eines der letzten Events einer ganzen Industrie feiert, sondern, dass diese Warnung rechtzeitig in der Politik ankommt und sie wachrüttelt!

„Für viele Dienstleister wird es kein Überleben auf dem Markt geben. Ihnen droht das gnadenlose Aus“, so Visionär und Gründer von BigCityBeats, Bernd Breiter. „Mit diesem Appell wenden wir uns an die Politiker, endlich aufzuwachen.“ BigCityBeats zählt mit rund 400.000 Gästen pro Jahr zu den größten Event-Agenturen Deutschlands. Man schrieb mit dem ersten DJ-Set aus dem Weltall von der ISS bereits Musik-Geschichte und feiert Events auf drei Kontinenten der Erde. „Wir wussten zwar, dass wir mit der BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME Winter Edition im Januar als erste Großveranstaltung des Jahres starten würden – wir wussten aber nicht, dass wir zugleich einer der Letzten sein würden“, so Bernd Breiter. „Die letzte Veranstaltung vor der Corona-Krise: ok! Aber doch bitte nicht die Letzte überhaupt!“

Um die Signalwirkung an die Regierung zu verstärken, haben Bernd Breiter und sein Team ein einzigartiges Event-Konzept erarbeitet: internationale Highclass-DJs aus den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen der elektronischen Musik spielen auf drei Floors im Experience Center beim Eventtechnik Hersteller Adam Hall. Die Adam Hall Group, die für BigCityBeats bereits den Zero Gravity Flieger ausgestattet hat, mit dem 50 VIPs in die Schwerelosigkeit flogen, zählt zu den Global Playern der Veranstaltungstechnik. „Wir müssen in dieser sehr schwierigen Zeit alle solidarisch zusammenhalten. Deshalb unterstützen wir auch als reiner Technik-Hersteller die Night of Light und sind sehr dankbar, dass Kreative wie Bernd die Message auf Ihre Art weitertragen und diese ernste Lage damit unverkennbar versinnbildlichen,“ so CEO von Adam Hall, Alexander Pietschmann.

Der Firmensitz nördlich von Frankfurt wird am 22. Juni zur virtuellen BigCityBeats WORLD CLUB DOME Night of Light Edition. Outdoor auf dem Dach: feinster Techno – Indoor: Superstars des EDM-Sounds bis hin zu HipHop. Wieder einmal bringt BigCityBeats alle Musikrichtungen unter (und auf) ein Dach. Das Streaming der DJ-Sets erfolgt live auf allen Social-Media-Kanälen von BigCityBeats, auf der offiziellen Website www.night-of-light.de und auf diversen Partner-Channels. Dazu werden live die rot beleuchteten Mahnmale aus ganz Deutschland eingeblendet. Auch alle Zuschauer des Streams sind dazu eingeladen, Bilder und Videos über die WhatsApp Nummer +49 152 06349488 und unter dem Hashtag #nightoflight2020 aus ihren Städten zu posten.

„Wir arbeiten derzeit an neuen Ideen und richten den Fokus auf die Winter Edition im Januar 2021 in Düsseldorf. Das Line-up steht bereits“, zeigt sich der CEO von BigCityBeats begeistert und hofft, dass die Politiker mit „Night of Light“ endlich wach werden und „wir in den dringend benötigten Dialog kommen, um lösungsorientiert darüber sprechen zu können, wie wir gemeinsam Wege aus dieser Krise finden.“

- News - - #News

[rachelcarsoncenter]

(Adventures in Stavanger, Part 1)

In this mini series you can read about the experiences of Johanna Felber and Malin Klinski, candidates of the RCC’s Environmental Studies Certificate program, during an exchange program with the University of Stavanger in Norway. If you want to find out more about life in the land of the midnight sun, trolls, and vikings, you are in the right place... 

By Johanna Felber and Malin Klinski

Stavanger is a place of contradictions. The fourth largest city of Norway is situated on the southwestern coastline. Depending on who you ask, you will hear quite different stories about the place. Some might talk about Stavanger as being Norway’s (or even Europe’s) petroleum capital. The big-oil resources have not only helped the city of Stavanger to accumulate wealth – they are also a symbol of the nation’s global economic importance. As recently as January 2020, the Norwegian government officially opened a new giant oil field, 140 kilometers off the shore of Stavanger. It is estimated to generate a maximum turnover of US $100 billion. Norway itself obtains its energy mostly from renewable sources, especially wind- and hydropower. Stavanger’s oil and gas are mainly export goods.

The other side of Stavanger is more in line with the picturesque face of the city. Countless ships still sail towards the old port; tiny wooden houses (often white, sometimes colorful like in the “color alley”), narrow streets, the fish market, and cobblestones make up the charm of the gamle (old town). Less well known is the impressive variety of street art, which can be discovered when wandering about.

The fjords around Stavanger are passageways to many of the smaller islands situated close to the shore. The best way to experience Stavanger’s natural beauty is going outdoors and exploring the landscapes surrounding the town. Once you stand on a rocky mountain overlooking the region, you realize how tales of trolls found their way into Norwegian folk tales.

Photo by the authors.

Fun Fact: Norwegians have a lot of words to describe weather, that don’t exist in the English language. Oppholdsvær, for example, means cloudy weather without rainfall, meaning great weather to go out into nature!

  On the Road

Our Stavanger adventure started in Munich. We drove up to Stavanger with Hanna’s red camping bus. It is like a little house, with a bed, a cooking stove and, most importantly in Norway, a heater. Hanna even sewed curtains to cover the windows and keep out the cold. Our journey led us to Hamburg, Aarhus, a beach on the very northern rim of Denmark, Hirtshals, and then to a small lake between Kristiansand and Stavanger, before we finally arrived on the university campus.

Malin lives in a student dormitory, just outside the main building of the University, and she was able to move in as soon as we arrived on campus. Hanna resides in a shared flat closer to the city center, from where she can cycle up the hill to the university. On a sunny day you can see quite far, right out to sea. Getting into town from the university by bike takes 30 minutes, up and down steep roads.

Beach in north Denmark

First morning in Norway, at a lake

  The University

Our courses at the University of Stavanger (UiS) are all connected to the local Master’s in Energy, Environment and Society – an interdisciplinary program. The focus is mainly on environmental and energy politics from a global, comparative perspective. The entire interior design of the university is cozy and thought through. From light installations to plant pots, cushions, colourful wallpapers, fluffy carpets and artistic paintings – Norwegians know how to make spending a lot of time indoors bearable. This is quite important when you can’t leave the house for a short stroll because the wind is howling relentlessly and the rain splashing mercilessly against the windowsills. The Norwegian weather forecast’s website is called yr.no, which means something like “drizzling rain.”

The university library is more of an open, creative space. You can find rocking chairs, beanbags and hammock-pergolas. You are allowed to play games, speak loudly and bring your own food. When we first visited the library and a housemate of Malin’s waved and shouted, “What’s up?” through the hall, we winced in unison. Even though it felt a little weird in the beginning, we quickly adapted to the local habits – and brought some cinnamon buns and tea into the library while discussing the first paper we had to submit.

One of the reasons we have decided to come to Stavanger is the Greenhouse at UiS. Dolly and Finn Arne Jørgensen, two researchers in the field of environmental history, initiated this platform for sharing research, developing ideas and projects, and discussing environmental topics. A couple of professors and PhD candidates join them in the weekly Greenhouse Lunch, where current themes and activities are shared, planned, and promoted. We have also been there once and were heartily welcomed to the group. Unfortunately, the lunch is coinciding with one of our seminars, but we will join them again soon for other events, in a second installation in this miniseries, will keep you updated about what the environmentalists here are thinking and working on.

No, these pictures don’t show a fancy hipster café – it is the university library

  Exploring Nature

Until now, we have tried to get outside as much as possible. Stavanger’s surroundings offer countless possibilities for experiencing nature. We both became members of the UiS friluftsliv group (outdoor sport group), which organizes all kinds of outdoor activities. Most of the hikes in the area are easily accessible by public transport, with some entailing underwater tunnel rides and ferry cruises. It is definitely worth visiting the Vigdel beach, close to Sola. We wandered on wooden planks through pliant dunes, climbed over rugged, craggy cliffs, and saw a rainbow appearing from the depths of the stormy sea. Moreover, it is an excellent spot to have a picnic and eat homemade cinnamon rolls with loads of confectioner’s sugar. Another nice tour is taking the public bus to the island of Rennesøy and wandering along the steep cliff towards the mountain range. It really is an adventure path and no matter where you go, it is impossible not to take dozens of breaks to admire the view. With the friluftsliv group we went on two different hiking trips that both ended with a bonfire. We grilled marshmallows and roasted home-made bread dough on sticks over the flames.

  On another weekend trip we joined some members of the friluftsliv group on a ski tour with the Norwegian mountain club DNT in the region of Sirdal, about two hours drive from Stavanger. We didn’t really know what we signed up for, as the tour was a mixture of slalom, cross country skiing, and snowshoe hiking. The scenery was beautiful, it was an experience we wouldn’t have wanted to miss, but we still found ourselves with incredible muscle aches on Monday morning.

One of the most popular leisure activities in Norway is spending time in cabins. We slept in two different cabins on our ski trip, and learned that there are quite some things to be aware of when signing up for such overnight stays. After eight hours of tour-skiing through the snowy mountains on just the first day, we finally arrived at our cabin.

We felt like doing nothing more than falling into one of the bunk beds and closing our eyes. But two Norwegians girls still had enough motivation to take off all their skiing equipment, run down the hill, and jump into the icy water of the river running by. Malin decided to join in the experience. The water was so incredibly cold that you couldn’t even feel it anymore. It is a miracle how the body still manages to function in these temperatures.

Compared to this experience, lugging the water buckets from that same river back up to the fireplace was a rather relaxing task. After so much physical activity and fresh air we were really hungry, and nothing on earth could taste better than pasta with tomato sauce then. With a heavy woolen blanket thrown around our shoulders and the dim light of the candles (which were lighted to save electricity) the evening was made even more cozy. We played cards and told stories about our favorite hiking trips. One thing we learned from that skiing trip in Sirdal was that the further you are away from a proper road, internet connection, and running water, the more hyggelig it gets!

The word hyggelig can mean a lot of different things. It translates to pleasant, good, nice, secure, intimate, snug, and comfortable. It describes a feeling or impression – if you find yourself sitting content, tired but warm, at a fireplace after a long day, you will know what it really is about.

  The way to the heart is through the stomach

Food is very expensive in Norway. This is a fact. A bowl of simple green salad costs 7 euros in the university cafeteria. The only way around this is making your own food, and being creative. The 20 people that share the kitchen in Malin’s student dormitory come from 15 different countries. Since arriving, we have cooked many different dishes from various regions of the world in this kitchen. We made huge amounts of hummus and falafel and spent hours rolling sushi. One day we prepared pizza dough and tiramisu for the entire house, with instructions from Jacopo, an Italian student from Milan. The more people share the food you cook, the more affordable it becomes.

We even joined in the International Food Festival of the university. Teams received 40 euros to buy groceries and cook traditional food from their country. The winning team receives vouchers for the cafeteria. Unfortunately, we didn’t win – competing with countries like India, Vietnam, and Mexico, we were hard challenged from the outset! In the end, the winner was South Korea.  We made Semmelknödel and Scheiterhaufen –  spinach and parsley dumpling with creamy mushroom sauce, and a sweet dessert made from old bread, milk, cinnamon, apples, berries and loads of sugar. We had a lot of fun and more people than we expected complimented our food.

Team Germany – not expecting to win, but still in a good mood. Hanna, David, Malin, and Kevin are posing for the team photo. David and Kevin study sport science.

Despite the often non-existent sunshine, we really enjoyed our first month in Stavanger. A lot of things are still on our bucket list for the next months, so we will surely not get bored. One of the most important things is learning Norwegian, which will hopefully give us the chance to dive deeper into the culture. We will share our experiences in snakke norsk med nordmanner and everything else that left us sometimes clueless, sometimes smiling, during our exchange in Stavanger in our next blog post.

Opplevelser I Stavanger (Adventures in Stavanger, Part 1) In this mini series you can read about the experiences of…

[architectnews]

Hotel Property Award 2020 News

Hotel Property Awards 2020, International Accommodation Competition News, Designs, Buildings

Hotel Property Award 2020

9 Oct 2020

Hotel Property Award 2020 Winners

hotelforum: The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia is the winner of the “Hotel Property Award 2020”

The runners-up are the Lighthouse Hotel & Spa in Büsum and the Hotel Ottilia in Copenhagen

Three finalists from three different European countries

Integration into the overall environment is key

Munich, 9th October 2020 – This year’s “Hotel Property Award 2020” goes to the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia, designed by 3LHD Architects. The Award was presented yesterday as part of the hotelforum conference.

Andreas Martin, Managing Director of hotelforum management GmbH: “This year’s prize-winner has impressed us by successfully combining the clear, modern architectural language of Croatian architects 3LHD from Zagreb with the elegant Italian interior design signature of Piero Lissoni and partners from Milan.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is integrated into the surroundings in such a way that guests can enjoy a variety of spectacular views of the bay and of the town of Rovinj. In combination with the intensive greening of the building, this means that the hilly coastline between the waterside and the surrounding pine trees is treated with respect.”

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj replaces the former Park Hotel and is situated on a slightly elevated position in a pine grove in Rovinj Bay, with a view of Catarina Island, directly off the coast, and of the picturesque Old Town of Rovinj. There are 209 rooms and suites on the hotel’s six floors. The hotel offers two bars and two restaurants on the upper floors, directly adjacent to the hotel lobby.

These include the Cap Aureo Signature Restaurant, which specialises in preparing local vegetables, as well as three other gastronomic establishments on the hotel building’s ground floor, which opens onto the marina where there are various boutiques. In addition, the two upper floors feature a very spacious 3,800 square metre wellness and spa area accommodating a total of three indoor and outdoor pools overlooking the bay of Rovinj. Access to the hotel by car and on foot is from the land side, via the 5th floor. The hotel has an extensive underground car park, which is built into the coastal cliffs and also has a public section that is accessible from the marina level.

The interdisciplinary 19-member jury pre-selected among the 40 candidate hotels from 12 European countries to choose ten nominees from four European countries. The following three hotels were selected from these nominees for the final round (in alphabetical order):

– Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia)

– Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark)

– Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany)

Jan-Oliver Meding, Managing Partner of MPP and spokesperson of the hotelforum jury: “All three finalists are characterised by a high degree of empathy for integration into the overall environment of the respective hotels. Hotel developments should ideally bring new life and momentum to districts and neighbourhoods. They will not be remembered as isolated solitary objects, neither in the urban environment nor in the natural surroundings. The developers and operators of all three hotels have done this successfully.”

The three hotelforum finalists came from three different European countries for the first time. Martin: “Whether we are talking about holiday hotels on the waterfront or inner-city hotels, Europe is also growing together on a high level of quality in terms of hotel architecture. It is characteristic of the current market situation that two hotels in holiday destinations have been selected as finalists and that a holiday hotel has emerged as the winner of the competition for the second year running.”

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen

The Hotel Ottilia in Copenhagen was created in the Carlsberg district as part of the project to repurpose the former Carlsberg brewery. One part of the building dates from 1881, and another building was added in 1969. The 4-star boutique hotel houses 155 rooms and suites and offers an unrestricted view of the Danish capital from the roof terrace, which also has an event area. When converting the ex-brewery’s former grain and beer stores into a hotel, the challenge was to retain the original elements of the brewery in the building and to convert them to a new purpose.

The result was a contemporary, and in some aspects unexpected design by Danish interior designers Mette Fredskild and Morton Hedegaard which reflects the history and architecture of the building. An original silo was transformed into a work of art incorporating mirrors and water pools, and the former entrance area of the brewery, the historic Dipylon Hall, is now a trendy lounge area of the hotel. Together with the Scandinavian team of architects Arkitema, project developer and operator Brøchner Hotels has successfully applied sustainable district development in order to convert a property that is of historical significance for Copenhagen to a new purpose.

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum

With its 111 rooms, the Lighthouse Hotel & Spa is located directly on the Wattenmeer World Heritage Site, on the North Sea. Building on their constructive cooperation in the past, project developer and operator Heimathafen Management has worked together with the Ladehoff architectural office to incorporate the jagged charm of Büsum harbour in front of the entrance and has created a high-quality hotel with a North Sea character.

The building replaces a former spa facility at the Museumshafen and was built directly adjacent to the dyke. Some areas of the hotel are located in the dyke, such as the car park, and the two restaurants looking out over the Wattenmeer on a level with the dyke. The neighbouring former Büsum adventure pool is currently being modernised and, when it reopens, will once more offer direct access to the pool from the new hotel.

All public areas are designed to be barrier-free, and the distinctive Northern German charm of the hotel property is characterised by the playful arrangement of buildings which appear to be individual constructions, but which are in fact integrated on the inside to form a single hotel complex. The new hotel considerably enhances the harbour environment, and is located directly next to Büsum lighthouse, which gives the hotel its name. In order not to disturb individual guest rooms with the beacon, the hotel records light sequences and transmits the light signal on from the façade with a precision of seconds.

The Award targeted both hotel developers, owners and operators. Applications to the “Hotel Property Award” were received from hotels which were opened between January 2019 and July 2020.

The jury was looking for a successful interplay between architecture and design, integration into the project environment, sustainability and technical innovations, the originality of the concept, as well as cost-effectiveness.

The winner of the “Hotel Property Award 2020”:

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj Location: Rovinj, Croatia Owned by: Maistra Hospitality Group Operated by: Maistra Hospitality Group Project developer: Maistra Hospitality Group Architect: 3LHD Interior design: Lissoni Architettura Type of operation/category: holiday hotel, full-service, 5 stars Construction period: 24 months No. of rooms: 209

Hotel Ottilia Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Owned by: Brøchner Hotels Operated by: Brøchner Hotels Project developer: Brøchner Hotels Architect: Arkitema Architects Interior design: Architect MAA Mette Fredskild & Morten Hedegaard Type of operation/category: city hotel, full-service, 4 stars Construction period: 24 months No. of rooms: 155

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa Location: Büsum, Germany Owned by: Sroka Beteiligungs GmbH, Kähler Beteiligungs GmbH, Light B.O.N.E. GmbH Operated by: Lighthouse Hotel GmbH & Co. KG Project developer: Heimathafen Management GmbH & Co. KG Architect: Archtekturbüro Ladehoff GmbH Interior design: COSMAN-Interior Type of operation/category: holiday hotel, full-service, no star classification Construction period: 23 months No. of rooms: 111

10 Nominated Hotels in alphabetical order:

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor (Munich, Germany) Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia) Hotel Bergamo (Ludwigsburg, Germany) Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark) Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany) nhow Amsterdam RAI (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany) San Canzian Village & Hotel (Buje, Croatia) The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Yotel Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Previous Hotel Property Award Winners

Schgaguler Hotel Castelrotto/Kastelruth (2019), QO Amsterdam (2018), Bretterbude Heiligenhafen (2017), Reichshof Hamburg CURIO Collection by Hilton (2016), Hotel Zoo Berlin (2015), Holzhotel Forsthofalm Leogang, Salzburger Land (2014), Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes (2013), Hotel TOPAZZ Vienna (2012), 25hours HafenCity Hamburg (2011), Roomers Frankfurt (2010), Lindner Park-Hotel Hagenbeck (2009), 25hours Frankfurt (2008), Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway (2007), Hotel Daniel Graz (2006), Colosseo Erlebnishotel Rust (2004), Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo Brussels and Accor Suite Hotel Hamburg (2003), Hilton Köln (2002).

hotelforum

hotelforum is the European Hotel Development Conference, which for 18 years now has been a regular annual feature accommodating networking and exchanges between experts when it comes to hotel properties. hotelforum continues to offer a highly-qualified communication platform even as a hybrid conference with a live stage in Munich where a limited number of people are able to attend in person, and consists of a varied stage programme, virtual breakout sessions, opportunities for exhibitors, and various networking formats for the hospitality industry. It culminated in the presentation of the Hotel Property Award on Wednesday, 7 October. You will find more information at www.hotelforum.org.

16 Sep 2020

Hotel Property Award in 2020

hotelforum jury nominates hotels for the “Hotel Property Award 2020”

Ten hotels from Croatia, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands have been nominated

Newly-built hotels and conversions are evenly balanced

Sustainability as an overall concept of social, economic and ecological factors

Nhow RAI Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Berlin, 16 September 2020 – The interdisciplinary jury of hotel experts has nominated ten hotels from among 40 applications received from 12 European countries for the “Hotel Property Award 2020”, which will be presented on Wednesday, 7 October as part of the hotelforum conference.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia: picture courtesy of hotelforum

The nominees include four hotels from Germany, three from the Netherlands, two from Croatia and one from Denmark. Four of the hotels are purely new constructions; three hotels replace former hotel or spa facilities, and three are the result of the conversion of a former brewery, a publishing house and an old village centre, respectively.

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, Munich, Germany: photo © Andaz Munich Schwabinger

Andreas Martin, Managing Director of hotelforum Management GmbH and Chairman of the jury: “Whether we are talking about newly-developed hotels, repositioning after demolition and the construction of new hotels, or the conversion of existing properties, the development of the neighbourhood and the integration of the new hotel into an existing or newly-developed environment play a central role in all the nominated hotels. The interplay between the individual hotel architecture and the respective project environment was discussed all the more intensively by the expert jury and weighed up against one another in terms of sustainability aspects”.

Hotel Bergamo, Ludwigsburg, Germany: photo : Brigida González

The expert jury with a total of 19 members is made up of ladles and gentlemen from the fields of architecture, development, finance, operation, technical building installations and design of hotel properties, as well as of representatives from the media and academia.

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen, Denmark: photo : Sasha Maslov

“The discussion among the jury regarding the nomination for the ‘Hotel Property Award’ was controversial up to the very end, but it was striking and absolutely positive at the same time that more and more attention is being paid to the topic of sustainability – and not only in terms of energy,” according to jury spokesman Jan-Oliver Meding, Managing Director of MPP.

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum, Germany: photograph : Andrea Flak

“Sustainability is increasingly also seen as a coherent overall concept combining social, economic and ecological factors, and it is becoming increasingly central for a hotel to be embedded in its immediate surroundings.”

Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg, Germany: photograph : designhotelfotografie

San Canzian Village & Hotel, Buje, Croatia: photo : Nova Slika_Cijela_Velika Rez

The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Rotterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Yotel Amsterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

hotelforum considers interaction between the following categories to be decisive in selecting the nominees:

• architectural design quality (innovation) • integration into the project’s surroundings (destination) • sustainability and technical innovation (the future) • the originality of the concept (creativity) • economic efficiency (investment)

Hotel Property Award 2020 Nominees

The ten nominees in alphabetical order:

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor (Munich, Germany) Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia) Hotel Bergamo (Ludwigsburg, Germany) Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark) Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany) nhow Amsterdam RAI (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany) San Canzian Village & Hotel (Buje, Croatia) The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Yotel Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Links to Hotel Property Award 2020 Selected Nominees

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, Munich, Germany photo © Andaz Munich Schwabinger Hotel Andaz in Munich

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia photo courtesy of hotelforum Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

Hotel Bergamo, Ludwigsburg, Germany photo : Brigida González

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen, Denmark: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum, Germany: photo : Andrea Flak

Nhow RAI Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Architects: OMA / Reinier de Graaf photo courtesy of hotelforum nhow Amsterdam RAI

Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg, Germany photograph : designhotelfotografie

San Canzian Village & Hotel, Buje, Croatia: photo courtesy of hotelforum

The Slaak Rotterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Yotel Amsterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Previous winners of the “Hotel Property Award”

Schgaguler Hotel Castelrotto/Kastelruth (2019), QO Amsterdam (2018), Bretterbude Heiligenhafen (2017), Reichshof Hamburg CURIO Collection by Hilton (2016), Hotel Zoo Berlin (2015), Holzhotel Forsthofalm Leogang, Salzburger Land (2014), Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes (2013), Hotel TOPAZZ Vienna (2012), 25hours HafenCity Hamburg (2011), Roomers Frankfurt (2010), Lindner Park-Hotel Hagenbeck (2009), 25hours Frankfurt (2008), Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway (2007), Hotel Daniel Graz (2006), Colosseo Erlebnishotel Rust (2004), Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo Brussels und Accor Suite Hotel Hamburg (2003), Hilton Cologne (2002).

hotelforum

hotelforum is the European Hotel Development Conference, which for 18 years now has been a regular annual feature accommodating networking and exchanges between experts when it comes to hotel properties. hotelforum will continue to offer a highly-qualified communication platform even as a hybrid conference with a live stage and with a limited number of people being able to attend in person in Munich. There will be a varied stage programme, virtual breakout sessions, opportunities for exhibitors, and various networking formats for the hospitality industry. It will culminate in the presentation of the “Hotel Property Award”. 2020’s event will be held on Wednesday, 7 October. You will find more information at www.hotelforum.org.

Location: international

Hotels

Hotel Buildings

Architecture Awards 2020

Architecture Awards added in 2020 on e-architect – recent selection:

RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship 2020 image courtesy of RIBA

Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate

Rethinking The Future Awards

SBID International Design Awards 2020 News

Asia Pacific Property Awards 2020: 10 DESIGN

Architecture Awards

Stirling Prize

RIBA Gold Medal Award

What’s Up Paris? Competition

Rethinking Urbanity Competition image : wonderland plaform for European Architecture

Rethink Hotels Competition

Hotel Architecture

Contemporary Interiors

Comments / photos for the Hotel Property Award 2020 page welcome

The post Hotel Property Award 2020 News appeared first on e-architect.

[icecreamandknishes]

Gastropost - Final Mission

Butterfly Cookies, August 2012

Gastropost is an online food blog in the National Post newspaper. Once a week they post photos that have been submitted to them online through social media. I can trace my first Gastropost to August 2012. Although I didn’t submit every week, I submitted a photo as often as possible over the years.

Post Media announced that Gastropost is launching its last mission this week.

It was so exciting getting my photos printed in the newspaper. But more than that I was able to learn something new, and develop new skills.

A Pasta Production, 2016

Creating a special dish for Gastropost every week hoping it would get published in the paper made it fun even if I drove myself crazy getting it right or working to the deadline. I looked forward to seeing what the new Mission would be every week. I was asked to be a member of the “Inspiration Team” and would be emailed missions in advance, my posts would be released on mission announcement days, providing inspirational ideas for the new mission.

Over time I learned how to style food and take food photographs. And food styles have changed, the original instructions were to post the dish, no cutlery or accessories were to be included. But food trends evolve and the best photos now are quite complicated filled with accessories, different components, and ingredients used in the dish artistically strewn around. I’m still working on getting up to that level.

Hamburger Soup, 2016

I have been told by staff at Gastropost that my photos have influenced people (and theirs have influenced me too!) The top photo of the butterfly cookies in a flower pot was the first Gastropost photo I submitted in August 2012. I cringe when I look at it. Although it was a tasty delight the photo is not very good. I used a small digital camera to take it. I had to take it outside because I didn’t know how to deal with indoor lighting and food photography.

Then I had to learn how to load the photos into my laptop, and how to attach them to an email. At least I knew how to turn my laptop on.

Halloween, 2016

I upgraded my camera to a DSLR which helped improve my photography life. Lessons allowed me to move from “automatic mode” to “manual” and gain more control over the photos.

Beef Noodle Dish Chinese Lunar New Year, 2017

Most importantly a community was created. I met many wonderful people through Gastropost and made good friends. I met food blogger Linda Matarasso at the first Gastropost event I attended and she took me under her wing helping me get into events and including me in her food blogger community.

I was sent by Gastropost to promotional events for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Culinary Showdown, Cook For the Cure and ended up participating and raising over $4,000.

Culinary Showdown Chefs, 2015

Gastropost sent me to the Terroir Symposium Talks where I met top experts in the hospitality field, and tried fabulous foods.

Chocolate - Langdon Hall, Terroir Symposium, 2016

It is no secret that the National Post is having financial difficulties and has cut hundreds of staff the past year. This is just another cut for them.

Newspapers all over the world are in trouble and there are changes in social media.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, facing lowering revenues has merged with the Canadian Cancer Foundation. I participated in the last Culinary Showdown. 

Pecan Sugar Cookie Cereal - Final Gastropost, 2017

Blogs are losing favor as Instagram is taking over. People’s attention spans are getting shorter. Who knows what this all will mean in the future. 

I shall continue on blogging and posting photos on Instagram. And I will still enjoy reading my hard copy of the National Post every day. Newspapers still play a vital role in gathering news and are needed more now than ever, whatever newspaper you prefer.

Thanks Gastropost. It’s been good to know you.

[delhi-architect2]

Journal - 10 Astonishing New Projects by Zaha Hadid Architects

Zaha Hadid Architects is a practice that has transformed contemporary architecture. Founded by the late Dame Zaha Hadid, the firm’s primary mission over the last four years has been to carry her pioneering vision into the future. As a practice centered on design innovation, the team works across all scales and sectors. From cultural and residential projects to installations and furniture, ZHA has built a globally influential portfolio of nearly 1000 projects.

Taking a deeper dive into the firm’s work, the following collection of recently-completed projects combines a futuristic aesthetic with characteristic optimism. Showcasing an undiminished spirit of experimentation in urbanism, architecture and design, most of these projects had some input at the conceptual design stage by Hadid. The work builds on the firm’s continual advances in Building Information Modeling (BIM), parametric design and programming. These are the projects of a practice working to redefine what’s possible, and in turn, honor the legacy of Dame Hadid.

King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

KAPSARC (King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre) is a non-profit institution for research into the most effective use of energy for social wellbeing. The 70,000 square meter KAPSARC campus incorporates five buildings: the Energy Knowledge Centre; the Energy Computer Centre; a Conference Centre with exhibition hall and 300-seat auditorium; a Research Library with archives for 100,000 volumes; and the Musalla, a place for prayer & contemplation within the campus.

Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing, China

Designed to alleviate congestion at the capital’s existing airport, Beijing Daxing is made to be a major transport hub for the region with the world’s fastest growing demand for international travel and is fully integrated within the country’s expanding transport network. Beijing Daxing’s 700,000m2 passenger terminal includes an 80,000m2 ground transportation center offering direct connections to Beijing, the national high-speed rail network and local train services, providing a catalyst for economic development in Tianjin and Hebei Province.

Generali Tower, Milan, Italy

Generali Tower is within CityLife, the largest civic space and public park in Milan since Parco Sempione opened 130 years ago. The tower connects with its surrounding public piazzas and park; the curvilinear geometries of its podium defined by the perceived centripetal forces generated from the staggered intersection of these three city axes at the tower’s base. This vortex of forces at ground level is transferred vertically through the tower by realigning successive rhomboid-shaped floor plates to twist the tower about its vertical axis.

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar

Al Janoub Stadium was the first new stadium commissioned for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) together with Aecom began designing the stadium along with its new precinct for the city in March 2013. As one of the eight venues for the Qatar World Cup, Al Janoub Stadium will host group and quarter-final matches of the tournament and is located in Al Wakrah. The client’s brief called for a 40,000-seat football stadium for the 2022 World Cup which could be reduced to a 20,000-seat capacity in its legacy mode following the tournament.

Niederhafen River Promenade, Hamburg, Germany

Sited at Niederhafen on the Elbe River between St. Pauli Landungsbrücken and Baumwall in Hamburg, the upgraded 625 meter river promenade is integral to the modernization and reinforcement of the city’s flood protection system. With construction of all phases now complete, the redevelopment of Hamburg’s Niederhafen flood protection barrier re-connects its river promenade with the surrounding urban fabric of the city; serving as a popular riverside walkway while also creating links with adjacent neighborhoods.

Leeza SOHO, Beijing, China

The Leeza SOHO tower anchors the new Fengtai business district, a growing financial and transport hub between the city center and the recently opened Beijing Daxing International Airport to the south. The new business district is integral to Beijing’s multi-modal urban plan to accommodate growth without impacting existing infrastructure networks in the center of the city. The 45-storey 172,800m² tower responds to demand from small and medium-sized businesses in Beijing for flexible and efficient office space.

CityLife Shopping District, Milan, Italy

The CityLife Shopping District integrates a new public park with indoor and outdoor piazzas, food hall, restaurants, cafes, shops and cinema as well as facilities for health and wellbeing. The 32,000 square meter shopping district is one of Europe’s largest redevelopment projects, and will include 1,000 new homes, offices for almost 10,000 staff, the new 42-acre park, piazzas and kindergarten. Defined by the three axes of the city that converge within CityLife, the district’s composition continues the geometries of the connecting 44-storey Generali Tower.

Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre, Changsha, China

The new Culture & Arts Centre by Zaha Hadid Architects incorporates a contemporary art museum (MICA), an 1,800-seat theatre with supporting facilities and a multipurpose hall. Its organic architectural language is defined by pedestrian routes that weave through the site to connect with neighboring streets. Providing views of the adjacent Meixi Lake from the city and giving access to the parks and walking trails on the lake’s Festival Island, this ensemble of three separate cultural institutions creates external courtyards where pedestrian routes intersect for outdoor events and sculpture exhibitions.

One Thousand Museum, Miami, Florida

One Thousand Museum is a 62-storey residential tower opposite Museum Park in Miami. With views across Biscayne Bay, this popular 30-acre park was redeveloped in 2013 as one of downtown Miami’s primary public spaces and includes the city’s new art and science museums. The tower’s design continues Zaha Hadid Architects’ research into high-rise construction that defines a fluid architectural expression consistent with the engineering for the entire height of a structure.

ME Dubai hotel, the Opus, Dubai, UAE

Home to the new ME Dubai hotel, the Opus is located in the Burj Khalifa district adjacent to Downtown Dubai and Business Bay on the Dubai Water Canal. Exploring the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior, the design was presented by Zaha Hadid in 2007 and is the only hotel in which she created both its architecture and interiors. Spanning 84,300 square meters (907,400 square feet), the Opus was designed as two separate towers that coalesce into a singular whole—taking the form of a cube.

The post 10 Astonishing New Projects by Zaha Hadid Architects appeared first on Journal.

from Journal https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/zaha-hadid-architects-new-projects/ Originally published on ARCHITIZER RSS Feed: https://architizer.com/blog

[letsgoforacoffee]

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

Original link of the article: Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

This is a press release published by Hikvision. The original article was at http://www.hikvision.com/en/SuccessStoryDetail_32_i1130.html (URL has been removed since Oct 2017). The client’s name has been made anonymous since Oct 2017

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-Class Building

(15 April 2016) The stunning and iconic building – is a more than 20,000 square meter architecture masterpiece located in the center of Singapore. One of the busiest center in the world since its opening in 2002, the building has hosted more than 31,000 events, drawing a total of 84 million visitors as of 2016.

With its distinctive twin shells, this architectural masterpiece features world-class spaces in its two main venues – the Hall A and the Hall B; with capacities of 1,800 and 2,000 respectively. In March 2014, the Building was listed as one of the world’s 15 most beautiful building by Hamburg-based building-data company Emporis.

Today, the Building is renowned for possessing some of the best events in the world. With its innovative and refined characteristics, the world-class building suits a wide range of events. The hall regularly features world-renowned companies and guests, contributing to Singapore’s international and cultural vibrancy.

In 2014, after a decade of operation, management at the Building, a not-for-profit organization, and registered charity – decided to update their existing CCTV surveillance system. Working with Hikvision, a new surveillance system was designed to deliver effective internal and external surveillance and perimeter protection for this prestigious art center.

The challenge faced by HikVision

The Building’s prominent faade directly faces a number of tourists spots in Singapore. In order to preserve the aesthetics of the iconic arts building, the new IP-over-fiber surveillance system utilized carefully planned out locations for every CCTV camera.

Beyond providing effective video for general security, the new system also needed to provide 95% visual coverage of the entire site to assist with day-to-day management and visitor traffic flow as well as the implementation of required health & safety practices.

The Solution faced by HikVision

Hikvision Turbo HD (HD-TVI) CCTV Cameras

In the main hallway and inside the building, Hikvision’s 2 MP Full HD Indoor Dome Network IP Cameras (model number DS-2CD4124F-IZ) were installed to provide 1080P imaging; these cameras features Smart Focus motorized VF lenses, BLC, Smart audio, and intruder-detection functionality. Providing 24/7 coverage in the car park, 2 MP Full HD Outdoor Dome Network Cameras (DS-2CD4324F-IZ) were installed. Featuring built-in infrared (IR) LEDs, they can provide up to 165 feet (30m) of night-time viewing in complete darkness.

Preserving the internal aesthetics of the building’s architecture, compact and unobtrusive IR Mini Dome Network Cameras (DS-2CD2532F-IWS) were installed in the reception and counter areas. To assist with any disputes, the Hikvision Mini Domes, with their built-in microphones, were installed at the ticket counters and monitor all ticketing transactions while also observing any problems that might occur at the entry turnstiles. The surveillance footage from these dome cameras is a great asset in helping the building’s management team speed-up the flow of guest traffic by reducing queues and waiting times.

Providing an ideal surveillance solution to monitor the building’s perimeter, surrounding driveways, and walkways, Hikvision’s IP66-rated, 2 MP Network PTZ Dome Cameras (DS-2DF5286-A3) were installed, fully utilizing their 30x optical and 16x digital zoom and Smart Tracking functionality.

Powerful control faced by HikVision

In the control room, supporting live viewing, storage, playback, and control of the over 300 network IP cameras, are Hikvision’s DS-9664NI-XT-Series NVRs using one of the possible RAID configurations. In order to support a large number of PTZ speed domes, general security, and event management, the NVRs record both audio and video from each camera. Ideal for any size installation, the NVRs support hot-swappable HDDs and RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 storage.

To control Hikvision’s full range of Smart camera functions, including Smart search and playback, Smart detection, and record backup, as well as Smart applications such as people counting, heat mapping, and interactive mapping, all system equipment is managed by Hikvision’s open-platform iVMS-5200E Enterprise Video Management Software. Designed specifically for large-scale projects with multiple channel surveillance, this VMS offers video preview, video playback, and comprehensive alarm management. Fully integrated with the Hikvision array of NVRs, the iVMS-5200E also provides full control over the customization of video tags, playback by tag, and video searching; and for additional security of video footage, the locking and unlocking of any recorded files.

“We proposed the Hikvision solution based on our experience of using the company’s products on many other successful projects. We know Hikvision products are reliable and serve the needs of the customer perfectly. The end-user was delighted to work with us and Hikvision, the number one brand in video surveillance.”

With the Hikvision-powered security system now up and running, the Building’s team of dedicated professionals have a powerful security and site management surveillance tool at their fingertips, assisting their quest to offer a great experience for visitors, inspiring audiences, and cultivating the culture of Singapore.

Contributed By CCTV Camera, CCTV Singapore, and Safe Singapore

The post Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building appeared first on CCTV Camera, IP Camera, CCTV Singapore.

Source: https://cctvcamera.com.sg/hikvision-protects-singapore-world-class-building/

[justlistedrealestate]

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

Original link of the article: Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

This is a press release published by Hikvision. The original article was at http://www.hikvision.com/en/SuccessStoryDetail_32_i1130.html (URL has been removed since Oct 2017). The client’s name has been made anonymous since Oct 2017

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-class Building

Hikvision Protects Singapore’s World-Class Building

(15 April 2016) The stunning and iconic building – is a more than 20,000 square meter architecture masterpiece located in the center of Singapore. One of the busiest center in the world since its opening in 2002, the building has hosted more than 31,000 events, drawing a total of 84 million visitors as of 2016.

With its distinctive twin shells, this architectural masterpiece features world-class spaces in its two main venues – the Hall A and the Hall B; with capacities of 1,800 and 2,000 respectively. In March 2014, the Building was listed as one of the world’s 15 most beautiful building by Hamburg-based building-data company Emporis.

Today, the Building is renowned for possessing some of the best events in the world. With its innovative and refined characteristics, the world-class building suits a wide range of events. The hall regularly features world-renowned companies and guests, contributing to Singapore’s international and cultural vibrancy.

In 2014, after a decade of operation, management at the Building, a not-for-profit organization, and registered charity – decided to update their existing CCTV surveillance system. Working with Hikvision, a new surveillance system was designed to deliver effective internal and external surveillance and perimeter protection for this prestigious art center.

The challenge faced by HikVision

The Building’s prominent faade directly faces a number of tourists spots in Singapore. In order to preserve the aesthetics of the iconic arts building, the new IP-over-fiber surveillance system utilized carefully planned out locations for every CCTV camera.

Beyond providing effective video for general security, the new system also needed to provide 95% visual coverage of the entire site to assist with day-to-day management and visitor traffic flow as well as the implementation of required health & safety practices.

The Solution faced by HikVision

Hikvision Turbo HD (HD-TVI) CCTV Cameras

In the main hallway and inside the building, Hikvision’s 2 MP Full HD Indoor Dome Network IP Cameras (model number DS-2CD4124F-IZ) were installed to provide 1080P imaging; these cameras features Smart Focus motorized VF lenses, BLC, Smart audio, and intruder-detection functionality. Providing 24/7 coverage in the car park, 2 MP Full HD Outdoor Dome Network Cameras (DS-2CD4324F-IZ) were installed. Featuring built-in infrared (IR) LEDs, they can provide up to 165 feet (30m) of night-time viewing in complete darkness.

Preserving the internal aesthetics of the building’s architecture, compact and unobtrusive IR Mini Dome Network Cameras (DS-2CD2532F-IWS) were installed in the reception and counter areas. To assist with any disputes, the Hikvision Mini Domes, with their built-in microphones, were installed at the ticket counters and monitor all ticketing transactions while also observing any problems that might occur at the entry turnstiles. The surveillance footage from these dome cameras is a great asset in helping the building’s management team speed-up the flow of guest traffic by reducing queues and waiting times.

Providing an ideal surveillance solution to monitor the building’s perimeter, surrounding driveways, and walkways, Hikvision’s IP66-rated, 2 MP Network PTZ Dome Cameras (DS-2DF5286-A3) were installed, fully utilizing their 30x optical and 16x digital zoom and Smart Tracking functionality.

Powerful control faced by HikVision

In the control room, supporting live viewing, storage, playback, and control of the over 300 network IP cameras, are Hikvision’s DS-9664NI-XT-Series NVRs using one of the possible RAID configurations. In order to support a large number of PTZ speed domes, general security, and event management, the NVRs record both audio and video from each camera. Ideal for any size installation, the NVRs support hot-swappable HDDs and RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 storage.

To control Hikvision’s full range of Smart camera functions, including Smart search and playback, Smart detection, and record backup, as well as Smart applications such as people counting, heat mapping, and interactive mapping, all system equipment is managed by Hikvision’s open-platform iVMS-5200E Enterprise Video Management Software. Designed specifically for large-scale projects with multiple channel surveillance, this VMS offers video preview, video playback, and comprehensive alarm management. Fully integrated with the Hikvision array of NVRs, the iVMS-5200E also provides full control over the customization of video tags, playback by tag, and video searching; and for additional security of video footage, the locking and unlocking of any recorded files.

“We proposed the Hikvision solution based on our experience of using the company’s products on many other successful projects. We know Hikvision products are reliable and serve the needs of the customer perfectly. The end-user was delighted to work with us and Hikvision, the number one brand in video surveillance.”

With the Hikvision-powered security system now up and running, the Building’s team of dedicated professionals have a powerful security and site management surveillance tool at their fingertips, assisting their quest to offer a great experience for visitors, inspiring audiences, and cultivating the culture of Singapore.

Contributed By CCTV Camera, CCTV Singapore, and Safe Singapore

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Source: https://cctvcamera.com.sg/hikvision-protects-singapore-world-class-building/