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Locally Grown Spa Treatments The Latest Luxury Trend

Filed under: Spas

Traditionally in the world of spa and beauty treatments the most exotic treatments have been the most luxurious, but recently the local food craze has spread to the spa world and the demand for treatments using locally grown fruits and herbs has increased dramatically. The Ojai Valley Inn in California is a good example, it offers a Pixie Tangerine & Pomegranate Scrub for $145 that involves using locally grown tangerine halves to scrub the body with a sugar-based exfoliant mixture. "When they put this stuff on, I can smell fresh juice," said one guest.

It's that freshness, along with feelings of social responsibility and a love for unique experiences that's driving the trend. "People don't necessarily want to have the same experience in Florida as they have in New York as they have in California as they have in Dubai," says spa consultant Matt Wuttke. And because locally sourced spa treatments support nearby farmers and reduce the carbon footprints of transported goods there's even more warm fuzzies to be had from what is often considered a guilty indulgence. The only downside? In many parts of the country 'local' also means 'seasonal' so you're favorite Elderberry Facial ($190, Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake) probably isn't available year round.

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Tags: local, local food, locavore, spa, spa treatments, spas

Orlando Artist Blows Glass, Minds

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Charlie Keila laughed at me. I had just commented on how hot his studio gets, and he couldn't contain the amusement of a man who deals with it every day. Artists who work in glass spend a lot of time around 1,900 degree ovens – it's just part of the job. When you look at the work produced, though, you can see why it's worth becoming acclimated to the sweltering conditions. Keila can only be described as a master.

Keila's studio sits at the corner of Orange and Pine in Orlando, FL – just across the street from Corona Cigar Co. – in the City Arts Factory. In fact, the artist was in large part responsible for the location. After having learned the glass art trade elsewhere, he returned to the town of his teenage years, bringing with him a commitment to arts and culture for which Orlando had been desperate.

This is the Orlando that's obscured by "The Mouse" ... but it exists. If you look past the theme parks and set your sights on downtown Orlando, you can find a vibrant culture that deserves far more recognition than it receives.

For years, Keila says, Orlando has effectively exported its talent. Artists and business professionals alike grow up in Orlando and take their talent elsewhere. The community is deprived of the talent it creates, resulting in a cultural and professional vacuum. This is exactly the problem that the glass-blower sought to solve when he decided to return.

Tags: art, art market, art studios, artist, ArtMarket, ArtStudios, artwork, florida, glass, glass art, GlassArt, glasses, glassware, local, orlando