luxist-awards

You don't have to ski or snowboard to have a good time in Park City, Utah. Besides the Sundance Film Festival and all things Robert Redford, there are a slew of other fabulous ways to spend your days and nights in the resort town. Park City proves itself well in the luxury category.

We put together a list of ways to live well in the city known for having the "Greatest Snow On Earth" (and being the site of a few scenes in Dumb and Dumber), and all without having to ever put on those godforsaken foot and calf-suffocating ski boots.

Apres Ski
In a way, resort hopping the apres ski scene is Park City's other great sporting event. The French term specifically refers to the drinking and revelry that ensues after a long day of skiing or snowboarding. The art of the cocktail is nothing to scoff at in snow country and up in these mountains the Mormon influence shunning drinking and nightlife is forgotten. Alta Resort's Sitzmark Bar is a classic. Off-resort, check out High West Distillery and Saloon. They make their own whiskey and vodka and have a killer, innovative cocktail list with drinks like the High West Silver Julep using High West's Silver Oat Whiskey and Rendezvous Rye. Park City's Main Street features a collection of classic, mountain and Western motif bars and nightclubs like No Name Saloon, The Sidecar, and The Spur. There's also Downstairs, owned by Danny Masterson of "That 70s Show" fame, a hip rocker lounge that celebrities typically flock to when they're in town.

Shop
Ski bunny fashion is no joke in Park City. Locals and pros sport some of the slickest and brightest colored gear and pseudo-gear from brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Lululemon, or, hanging in resort shopping areas in Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons. It's hard to resist not purchasing a brilliant blue fleece when witness to everyone else looking fashionably ski hip. There's shopping too for the fashion-forward who prefer to wear something that's also stylish away from the resorts. Along Main Street are adorable boutiques like Bunya Bunya and Mary Jane's with clothing and accessories handmade by local artists and independent designers. Park City also has the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah.

In the video above, partners at the Small Screen Network will show
you how to make a hot buttered rum, which is a great cocktail to have on a cold winter day. Robert Hess, host of "The Cocktail Spirit", will show you an easy to follow way to make one, without much advance prep work.

What you will need: a pre-heated coffee cup or mug, a teaspoon of butter, 2 teaspoons of sugar (preferably brown), 5 ounces of hot water, a cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and rum (Mount Gay Extra Old rum is what Hess uses).

For more innovative cocktail recipes, please see the ones offered to us by The Hurricane Club.

When home fragrance expert Harry Slatkin began his career in home fragrances 18 years ago, he literally changed the industry. Since he founded Slatkin & Co., many others have followed suit, from Ralph Lauren to Banana Republic and Martha Stewart. Slatkin now oversees product development for all the home fragrance brands under Bath & Body Works, the country's largest bath and body retailer with over 1,650 stores.

Home fragrances used to be more of a women's world. Since then, the industry has changed dramatically, says Slatkin.

"If I do a radio show, the callers in are mostly men," he says. "They are complementing me on this scent or that scent. Men are getting into scent just as much as women."

Home fragrances have also hit the college scene. "One of the hottest products right now for college students are plug-ins," says Slatkin. "Dorms smell and you can't really light a candle in a dorm. But you can use a plug-in to create a different atmosphere, plus it is a great way to hide all the musty smells of dirty laundry."

Eton of Sweden is internationally known for its innovative and classic designs, exclusive colors, and full range of coordinating accessories. Eton of Sweden was founded as a made-to-measure shirt company in 1928 by Annie and David Pettersson and is still headquartered in Ganghester, the same small village in Sweden since its founding. So what is it that makes Eton of Sweden one of the premier luxury shirt makers in the world and one that has endured for nearly a century?

To learn more about what sets this luxury shirt maker the best of breed, Luxist sat down with Erik Wilkinson, Eton's Director of Sales for North America.

Wilkinson explains that Eton is one of the only apparel brands that has completely vertically integrated the process. With its mill partners, Eton of Sweden buys the raw materials---Pima and Egyptian cotton---which comprises 100% of its collection. Eton buys high quality Pima cotton directly from a consortium of farmers in Peru. "Eton of Sweden only uses Pima and Egyptian cotton because it is the finest, long staple cotton that can be used to make shirts," says Wilkinson.

The cotton is then weaved in Northern Italy and France before being transported to Switzerland for a lengthy, proprietary (and patented) and high-tech 35-step finishing process that produces a smooth, crisp and wrinkle-free result. "The finishing is the critical part of what makes our shirts so special," he adds. "Our shirts tend to last longer and keep their color better than others, too."

Gallery: Eton of Sweden: The premier men's luxury shirt maker

Dubbed the "new cupcake" its time to celebrate macarons during the second annual Macaron Day, which will be held on Sunday, March 20. Many of the finest bakers and chocolatiers, including François Payard and La Maison du Chocolat, will be celebrating the occasion by giving away free macarons to their customers. In 2010, François Payard organized the first Macaron Day in New York City. Macaron Day coincides annually with Jour du Macaron in Paris.

On Macaron Day, stop by any participating shop to receive free samples of macarons, the famed French treats. Confirmed participants for thus far include, François Payard's FC Chocolate Bar at The Plaza Hotel and François Payard Bakery, Almondine Bakery (two locations in Brooklyn), Bisousciao. Macarons, Bouchon Bakery, Butterfield Market, Cannelle Patisserie (Queens), Desserts by Michael Allen (Brooklyn), Cours la Reine (Brooklyn), Desserts by Michael Allen (Brooklyn), Dessert Truck Works, Georgia's Café & Bakery, La Maison du Chocolat (three locations in Manhattan), La Renaissance Pâtisserie Française (Scarsdale, NY), Mad-Mac, and Macaron Café (2 locations in Manhattan). Participating locations will provide one macaron per customer, with quantities limited by location.

Gallery: Macaron Day NYC

For those seeking a truly exotic, once-in-a-lifetime Out of Africa-type experience, Giraffe Manor may be just the place. Here, guests enjoy the unique chance to interact with its resident herd of Rothschild Giraffe, a rare breed which is among the world's tallest creatures. Guests have the unparalleled experience of the giraffes, with the animals vying for guests' attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even at the bedroom window. Giraffe Manor is located in 12 acres of private land only 20 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. It is set within 140 acres of indigenous forest.

Guests interact with the giraffes throughout the day. Breakfast is served in the sun room, with its enormous windows flung open to welcome the giraffe that come and join you. Dinner is a cosy affair as the drawing room fire is lit and guests and managers gather for evening drinks. You can either chose to have a candlelit hosted meal in the dramatic wood paneled dining room or at your own table under the stars surrounded by the glow created by lanterns and candles on the terrace.

Gallery: Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya

Our partners at the Food Network visited an authentic
Irish pub in Dublin to learn how to pour the "perfect pint". According to the experts, there are six key steps to do so. Watch the video above and find out why a 45 degree angle is so important, what the "perfect dome" looks like and what happens in precisely 119.5 seconds.

Click here to read our related post on the Best Brew Pubs in the U.S.

Sharon Haver, fashion guru and founder of FocusOnStyle.com, shares tips on the best ways to care for your cashmere sweaters and other cashmere pieces. Dry clean or handwash? "Unless it is something you really got very dirty, the longer you can go without cleaning it, it seems to work better with cashmere," says Haver. "You can handwash it or use a very gentle cycle in a good washing machine that won't beat it up. Use cold water and a delicate laundry detergent, or even shampoo."

Haver recommends putting the cashmere piece in a dryer for a minute or two to air fluff it. "Then lay it down on a towel and let it dry naturally," she adds.

Watch the video above to learn more about cleaning your cashmere as well as how to properly store cashmere and protect cashmere from moths.

Check out Haver's related video to learn more about cashmere and how to shop for it.

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