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Local Luxury: Garrison Confections in Providence, Rhode Island

by Donna Rodgers (RSS feed) — Apr 10th 2010 4:02PM

Providence, Rhode Island has many excellent chocolate shops. If you are looking for a chocolatier, however, there is really only one choice, Garrison Confections.

Chef Andrew Shotts, formerly a pastry chef at La Cote Basque, an iconic New York French restaurant that closed its doors in 2004, has opened his doors in Rhode Island. Previously associated with the Russian Tea Room (New York City) and Guittard Chocolate Company (San Francisco, California). Chef Shotts makes a large variety of chocolate, bonbons, tablets, truffles and more for every taste.

Finding such a treasure in Rhode Island is a treat. "A single truffle of the highest quality, like I buy at Garrison's, satisfies me in a way that a box of commercial chocolates never could," says Marcy Williams, a shopper from Central Falls, Rhode Island. "I love the crumble collection! You get apple, blackberry and stone fruit crumble chocolates in a box of six. Keeps me going almost a full week! My husband swears it's art. It's perfection!"

Unexpected spices, along with succulent fruit bits, caramel and chocolate, delights tastebuds. A box of six pieces about $12.00.

Carol Adams of Cumberland, Rhode Island agrees. "I have actually lost weight since I started buying fine chocolate," she laughs.

Bonbons are a specialty and Garrison makes twelve new flavors with each new season, according to the lunar calendar. Each is named for the season--Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice. With the passage of each season, new candies are presented as others are retired. The Valentine's Day special edition (new for each year), Legendary Lovers, is offered from February 8th-14th each year.

Should You Tip the Housekeeping Staff at a Hotel?

by Donna Rodgers (RSS feed) — Apr 7th 2010 9:31AM

How to Tip a hotel housekeeper Tipping housekeepers, bellmen, concierge staff and others in a luxury hotel is a topic even experienced travelers ask about. How should staff be tipped? How often should you tip them? How much should you tip?

Robin at AAA New England says "Housekeeping receives $3-$4 a day, only if you choose to tip. You should tip daily, because staff changes. Leave cash in a sealed envelope (most hotels offer stationery and envelopes in guest rooms), and write "for the chambermaid" on it. You may put the cash in the hand of whomever you're tipping. Tip the bellman about $2 for each bag, or more. Tip the concierge depending on how hard he worked for you. For example, if you want to have dinner in an exclusive restaurant and can't get the reservation yourself, tip the concierge $5 -$10 if they get you in..depending where you are, the money you leave may be very appreciated. When I was in Mexico five years ago, I left $10 with the housekeeper. She started to cry and hugged me so hard. Workers are paid really low wages, our tips are so great to them."

Gallery: Seven Tips About Tipping the Hotel's Housekeeping Staff

Local Luxury: ChocoLee Chocolates Opens In Boston

by Donna Rodgers (RSS feed) — Mar 25th 2010 2:01PM

If you are looking for the very best chocolate in Boston--designed and concocted in Boston--there is really only one choice. ChocoLee Chocolates (at the intersection of Montgomery and Dartmouth Streets) has just reopened in a new location!

Chef Lee Napoli, a pastry chef at such Boston-greats as Maison Robert, Anago, Metro, Bricco, The Buttery and Sandrine's Bistro, dreamed of her own line of handcrafted custom chocolates. Napoli has won many awards, including Yankee Magazine's Best Five Chocolate Makers in New England (2009), because her artisan chocolate is simply perfect.

At ChocoLee's grand reopening on March 20th, 2010, Madeleine Martino of Marblehead, Massachusetts, said "Nobody makes chocolate like Lee. When you walk into the store, you can see how passionately she loves chocolate! I absolutely crave the salted caramel!"

"Lee designs and makes the chocolate here," said Karen Jane of Boston. "She isn't buying someone else's designs, she isn't a global franchise, and she isn't collecting the world of other artisans. After I found this chocolate, I have never preferred another."

Expert Haggling at the Antiques Store Can Yield Big Rewards

by Donna Rodgers (RSS feed) — Mar 23rd 2010 3:01PM

If you buy antiques, you know that the asked price is the starting point of the haggling discussion. Those who like to buy antiques often carry their dog-eared copy of Kovel's on Antiques and Collectibles in plain sight while perusing items in the store. As always, you must research the bid and asked spread of each item you want to purchase. You should read voraciously about each item. Investigate online auctions, even if you don't purchase items this way. Admittedly, buying any major purchase sight-unseen, especially antiques, is challenging. Reproductions are out there and are sometimes hard to detect online.

Kelly Diaz at Rhode Island Antiques Mall suggests that customers do their homework. "If the item is very expensive, you should speak frankly to the seller if this is a purchase you're entertaining. Even if the seller takes off $50, it's a savings. If the seller has the item in the store a long while--more than a month--ask for the seller's best price. If you know the market for similar items, it's easier to speak intelligently with the seller. A buyer last week demonstrated good haggling skills when she asked about a boxed parure of Victorian jewelry. She had a loupe in her pocket, checked the hallmarks, told me the item wasn't solid gold. We did a test on the spot and she was right. She purchased the item and got a 50% discount!"

Best Schools for Flying Lessons

by Donna Rodgers (RSS feed) — Mar 4th 2010 9:02AM

plane interior If you are thinking about learning to fly, keep in mind that flight schools, as most businesses these days, want your business.Many flight schools recommended for purposes of this article have recently closed their doors. What do you look for when seeking out a flight school? What should it cost?

Here are recommendations gleaned from several pilots and flight schools:

1.The true cost of flight training should be based upon your needs. "When you enter our offices and tell us you want to learn to fly, we are going to ask 'Why?'," says Zeke Valtz, owner of Horizon Aviation Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts and Warwick, Rhode Island. "Are you seeking a career with the airline industry? Do you want to fly your own plane, or for business? We will tailor our flight training to your needs.. You will be trained by instructors who are fully engaged in your success. Consider that many flight instructors are in the air with you to build their flight time. We are here for our student, and our FAA check ride pass rate is one of the highest in the industry: 90% pass rate!" The FAA check ride is considered one of the most important factors in the development of high quality U.S. pilots.

2. How often you plan to take flight lessons will factor into the costs of lessons. "It all starts with the private pilot's license. Do you want to have your license in a year? Take a lesson each week. If you want the license in six months, bump it up to two classes per week. If you are really eager, take three lessons and week and your target date will be four months from now," says Gail Erwin, a private pilot in California. Usually, the more often you take classes, the lower the costs of flight training. You may spend $6,000 taking lessons over a year and $5,000 if you take the same lessons over six months.

3. The kind of aircraft you use during training may also influence how much you pay. If your training occurs in a two-seat aircraft vs. a 6-seat twin engine craft, your costs will be lower. Where you take training may also affect how much you pay. For example, a flight school in Puerto Rico quoted a cost of $3,000 to obtain the Private Pilot's License. This is a certificate, not an actual license. In speaking with other flight schools along the eastern seaboard, most costs average somewhere north of $4,000. It may be worth paying more for higher quality instructors and equipment than seeking out the lowest bidder for your business. Some schools, e.g. Flight World, Inc. in San Juan, PR say costs run anywhere from $4,000-$10,000 to obtain your license.