#Brix Restaurant and Gardens

[rabbitcruiser]

Brix Restaurant and Gardens in Yountville, California opened on March 28, 1996.

[napawineries]

Watch the Sunset in Napa Valley after your wine tour

Napa Valley is famous for its excellent wine and food, incredible landscapes, and welcoming hospitality. With so many world-class activities available, prioritizing what to do doing your Napa Valley visit can be a challenge.

During your next Napa Valley visit, why not slow the pace for a day and focus on enjoying the ambiance and beauty of magnificent Napa Valley? Plan to experience one of the safe, fun, and educational wine tours with Platypus Wine Tours as you savor the beauty of the countryside, along with expert commentary and excellent wines at a few select boutique wineries.

Following your Napa wine-tasting outing with Platypus Wine Tours and a few hours rest, head out to one of the many excellent locations that offer great food, wine, and some unforgettable panoramic views of the Napa Valley landscape.

Make Your Reservation for a Platypus Wine Tour Outing

Platypus Wine Tours is the premier wine tour company for Napa Valley and Sonoma County. Guests reserving places for a join-in or private tour will enjoy a safe and well-curated visit to Wine Country in a comfortable, well-equipped vehicle, complete with informative commentary by a Platypus Wine Tour guide.

Tours will visit some select boutique wineries to learn a bit about the art and science of winemaking while sampling some of each winery’s varietals and blends.

Make your reservations in advance by visiting the Platypus Wine Tours’ website or phoning (707)-253-2723.

Napa Valley’s Best Sunset Views

Napa Valley offers a variety of spectacular scenes. With the coastal Mayacama Mountains as the western border, the Vaca Mountains to the east, and a rolling landscape of hill-covered vineyards, Napa Valley sunset views are phenomenal.

Many locations throughout Napa Valley offer breathtaking views at sunset. Here are some, but certainly not all, excellent dining and relaxing spots that provide great food and wine complemented by unforgettable scenery. By the way, don’t forget to take some photos to share with your envious friends at home.

·       Napa Valley Wine Train: A can’t-miss opportunity, the Wine Train meanders among communities and vineyards while offering an ever-changing landscape. Request the Vista Dome Car, if available.

·       Sky and Vine Rooftop Bar at the Archer Hotel, Napa

·       Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch, St. Helena

·       Brix Restaurant and Gardens Patio Dining, Yountville

·       Auberge du Soleil Patio Dining, Rutherford, a 5-Star Michelin restaurant.

Explore Napa Valley and Sonoma County with Platypus Wine Tours

Relax and allow your eyes to wander across the stunning landscape as you pass from winery to winery on one of the Platypus wine tours. Enjoy your Napa Valley wine-tasting experience, food complements, and fascinating commentary without worrying about navigating, driving, and parking at each destination.

Whether you plan to travel alone, with a partner, or as a group, Platypus Wine Tours offers excellent join-in and specially designed private wine tours.

Make your arrangements in advance for your special wine tour to enjoy the extraordinary hospitality and service that Platypus Wine Tours offers.

You may reserve your place by visiting the Platypus Wine Tours website or phoning their reservationists at (707)-253-2723.

[omnivorousshipper]

Hey Omni, hope your week is going well. I thought of a prompt you might like.

Request Friday: Brixton & Hobbs have competing booths/stalls at the local farmer’s market (maybe Sam wanted a garden and it got out of hand, and Brixton’s therapist suggested gardening as a way to channel his PSTD post-discharge from the military).

They’re rivals who share a favorite customer, Deckard Shaw (local small restaurant owner).

My week's been decent! Thank you friend!

And OMG I LOVE THIS IDEA. It's so cute!! From Sam wanting to garden, to Brixton finding a great outlet for his trauma!

~~~

Luke smiled as Sam helped him set up their stall at the local farmer's market. She had insisted that they plant their own garden, especially since they had a big enough backyard for it

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you looked at it, the garden had done too well. And even though Luke liked his vegetables, it was too much for them to eat

So, he had applied for a small stall at the farmer's market. Now, they were putting baskets around it, showing off their goods

"Are you going to be ok by yourself, dad?" Sam asked when they were done. She was being picked up soon to head to her summer camp for the month

Chuckling, Luke smiled

"I'll be fine sweetheart. Don't worry about your old man. I have the eggplants to keep me company."

Soon enough, one of Sam's friend's mother was there to pick her up for camp. Waving goodbye to his daughter, Luke settled down at the stall and just hoped someone would buy all the vegetables

---

Setting his own stall, Brixton grunted as he set down a large basket of potatoes. He knew he went too far with the crop this year

Standing up, he wiped his brow of sweat and nodded in satisfaction at his stall. He had been selling his goods for two years now at the small farmer's market. It had been going well so far

He had been reluctant at first to start a garden, even though his therapist had insisted. Finally, he had relented and now he managed a huge garden

It was enjoyable work. No loud sounds, no fast movements, and he could do it all by himself. Perfect

Sitting behind the stall, Brixton waited for the crowd to come

And his favorite customer

---

Deckard adjusted his grip on his several bags, some already halfway full. Walking around the farmer's market made Deckard's whirl with more dishes that he could implement for his menu that month

His restaurant was doing well, growing more and more in popularity every week

Deckard was rather proud of himself

Although, he could do without Owen's constant ratatouille jokes. Or Hattie's Gordon Ramsay impressions

Looking around, Deckard lit up as he spotted one of his best sellers

Brixton was another Londoner who found himself in the big city of LA and they had become fast friends. Especially since the man let him have the best of his batch

Stepping up to the booth, Deckard smiled as Brixton stood to greet him

"Deck! How're you doing? Restaurant still up and running?"

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't." Deckard snorted and shook the man's hand

"Of course, of course. What was I thinking?" Brixton smiled at him brilliantly and Deckard glance away as he felt a small blush bloom on his cheeks

Clearing his throat, Deckard nodded

"Got anything good this week?"

"Far too many potatoes. But I saved the biggest for you."

Deckard smiled as the man took one of his bags and started filling it for him

"How much do I owe you, Brix? And don't give me the whole discount blollicks."

"It ain't blollicks when you're my favorite customer, Deck." Brixton winked at him. "Just cook me a few meals here and there and we'll be set."

Deckard smiled and shook his head

"I keep telling you, I'm far too busy with the restaurant to play private chef."

Grabbing the bag and looking through the choice of potatoes, Deckard didn't see the exasperated look on the other's facs

"Thanks, Brix." Deckard smiled at him. "Make sure to come by the restaurant, your meal is on me."

Walking away, Deckard didn't hear Brixton's sigh behind him

Instead, Deckard saw a stall a few feet away, being manned by someone Deckard didn't recognize. He must be new

Stepping up, Deckard greeted the large man. He had to wonder what a body builder was doing selling vegetables

"Morning."

"Morning." The larger man smiled at him, flashing him a beautiful smile. Deckard felt his heart beat faster. "What can I help you with?"

Deckard looked at the man's goods and raised an eyebrow

"You have a very interesting selection."

"My daughter picked what we grew. Seems like she has a bit of a green thumb." The man chuckled

Deckard's face lit up

"She's remarkable if she's able to do this. Has she been gardening for long?"

"Just started this year, actually."

"A true natural." Deckard nodded. "Is she interested in doing more?"

"Yeah, but there's not much I can help other than googling it." The man rubbed the back of his neck, a regretful look on his face

"If she needs any tips, I know quite a lot. I would love to develop her skill."

The larger man smiled at him even more and Deckard felt something warm in his chest blossoming

---

Not too far away, Brixton watched the scene unfold and felt a fury settling deep in his belly

How dare that guy make Deckard smile like that!

Brixton was going to make sure the new guy knew his place

~~~

I hope you enjoyed friend!

[cooldididesign]

studioduo architecture creates green oasis restaurant and industrial style showroom that link to nostalgic saigon

born in a tropical asian country, vietnam-based architect, studio duo architecture interior has been the great admirers of the 20th-century architectures and interior design movement that continually seek form and function, light and shadow, and find the tangible line to incorporate all of these into beautiful and viable projects. this made the two founders, arturo moreno and sarah nguyen, to designed the brix and momentum living showroom, which put aside the fact of polluted ho chi minh city. instead, bring the vietnamese a space to contemplate with nature and to embrace wabi-sabi serenity along with a little bit reminiscent of the nostalgic saigon city. the brix the brix is a tropical restaurant located in the heart of district 2, the ex-pat neighborhood of ho chi minh city. the highly dense and polluted megalopolis of ho chi minh brought us the desire to create a small lush oasis were to take a break from the concrete jungle. the premise of the project was to create an outdoor environment cooled down through passive design. the 120 pax restaurant seats between a water body, the swimming pool, and an extensive tropical garden. the perimetral walls design, allow the air to flow through them creating a cross ventilation current from the cold swimming pool air out to the hot street, thus, cooling down the central space. read the story https://bit.ly/3tnvuT2

[nowtravel]

On one hand, Georgetown is less than an hour away from Austin, Texas. On the other hand, it feels like it couldn’t be further away from the live music capital of the world. Drive thirty minutes away from Austin and you’ll transition from skyscrapers to a town square that feels like you’ve truly taken a step back in time. With a population just shy of 60,000, Georgetown is a much-needed change of pace in today’s busy and noisy world.  

If you’re not a Texan, this may be your first time hearing about Georgetown. However,  it is home to the ‘The Most Beautiful Town Square’ in the state and it’s known as the Red Poppy capital. Georgetown has made its claim to fame with several blockbusters being filmed in the area, including Dazed and Confused, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and more. The Southwestern University campus is located in Georgetown and it was the first college built in Texas back in 1840. Needless to say, there’s more to Georgetown than meets the eye.

I truly enjoyed my recent solo trip to Georgetown and I’d highly recommend it for a quick day-trip or weekend get-away. Keep reading my guide to discover all that Georgetown has to offer.

Where To Play In Georgetown

Explore the Underworld at Innerspace Caverns

If you’re looking for a unique adventure, then Innerspace Caverns is a must-visit. People visit from all over the world to see this otherworldly cave that is nearly 5 miles deep and 20 million years old. The caverns were discovered by drillers in 1963 as they set out to build IH-35 just above it. You’ll witness some of the original drilling holes among stalactites or stalagmites as you wander through the dark cave. You can sign up for a 75-minute Adventure guided tour or you can get down and dirty(headlamp,  helmet, and all) with their 4-hour long Wild Cave Tour. Either way, you can’t go to Georgetown without touring the Innerspace Caverns.  You may book your tour ahead of time here.

Go Shopping In Georgetown’s Downtown Square

Georgetown boasts the ‘Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas’ and it’s easy to see why. The Victorian historic district will make you feel like you’ve been transported to another era. The square is full of restaurants, wineries, bars, and shops for you to enjoy. As there are no open container laws in Georgetown, I personally loved exploring the square with a cup of wine in hand. A few of my favorite shops included Mikey V’s Hot Sauce Shop, The Baked Bear, Georgetown Winery!

Stroll Through San Gabriel Park

Get active at the San Gabrial Park which offers over 9 miles of trails for you to hike, bike, or run. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can go kayaking or fishing with San Gabriel Sports.

Go Swimming In Georgetown’s Blue Hole

The Texas Hill Country is full of swimming holes and Georgetown is no exception. This lagoon is the perfect spot to unwind, soak up the sun, and spend time outdoors! While I didn’t get the chance to visit, I’m looking forward to returning for a swim when I return to the area.

Where To Eat In Georgetown

El Monumento

When it comes to Tex-Mex, El Monumento just get’s it. Do yourself a favor and order the prickly pear margarita!

600 Degrees Pizza

You can order a slice of pizza that’s bigger than your face at 600 degrees pizza without skimping on quality. They serve pizza, craft beer, and wings. Honestly, what more could you ask for?

Monument Cafe

You know I couldn’t create this guide without suggesting a spot for brunch, right? Well, Monument Cafe is THE place to go for a tasty breakfast or brunch menu.  If you visit on the weekend, you’ll get to see live music in their beer garden.

Sweet Lemon

This farm-to-table cafe offers fresh eats in a bright green cottage that is beyond insta-worthy. Aesthetics aside, their pastries are worth the visit alone. If you needed any more convincing, then you should know that they’ve been voted the best dessert place in town.

Stay At The Sheraton

If you decide to spend the weekend in Georgetown, there’s one place you should stay and it’s the Sheraton. The Sheraton Georgetown is the epitome of small-town sophistication.  It is one of few full-service hotels in the area and it is simply gorgeous! There’s a nearby running trail, a 24-hour fitness center, a swimming pool set among Rivery Park, and an onsite restaurant that will have you coming back for more. You can’t leave without ordering the Charcuterie board from Brix + Ale, which offers rich honey that is sourced at the Sheraton. Thank me later!

Note: Social distancing is enforced and Masks are required for the foreseeable future.

[your-dietician]

People in Business: July 5, 2021 edition

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/business/people-in-business-july-5-2021-edition/

People in Business: July 5, 2021 edition

American International College announces the following promotions and additions to the leadership team.

Nicolle Cestero has been promoted to chief operating officer and executive vice president and retains her title as chief of staff. Cestero joined the college in 2011 as the associate vice president for human resources and has assumed increasing levels of responsibility and scope of duties.

Cestero will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the college while continuing to serve as advisor to the president. Cestero will oversee the college’s legal matters and support presidential and institutional initiatives to ensure project deadlines are met and targeted outcomes attained.

Cestero holds a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of West Florida and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College. She is certified as a professional in human resources, as well as attaining the designation of certified professional from the Society for Human Resource Management. Cestero is currently working toward a master’s degree in business administration at AIC.

Velmer S. Burton Jr. joins the college as the executive vice president for academic affairs. He will oversee undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the School of Business, Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and School of Health Sciences.

He most recently served as senior vice chancellor of university strategy and performance and professor of criminal justice at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He also served as the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing 164 academic programs supported by 500 full-time faculty.

Burton received a certificate from Harvard University, Graduate School of Education, 2004 Harvard Seminar for New Presidents, an education doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, a Ph.D. in sociology and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati in 1991, 1986 and 1985, respectively, with more than 60 articles and publications in crime and justice to his credit.

Jennifer McDonough joins the college as vice president for institutional advancement. McDonough brings nearly 40 years of experience in the advancement profession incorporating institutional leadership positions and philanthropic consulting services.

As a former executive associate with Bentz Whaley Flessner, a national and international fundraising consulting and services company, McDonough served an extensive number of diverse private and public higher education institutions across the country, including American International.

She holds a master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies with a concentration in arts management, and a bachelor’s degree in art education, both from the State University of New York College at Buffalo.

Matthew Scott has been serving as vice president for student affairs and dean of students since July 2020. He will add Title IX coordinator to his area of responsibilities. With that addition, Scott will be the designated official from AIC with primary responsibility for coordinating compliance with Title IX, including providing leadership for Title IX activities; consultation, education and training.

Scott joined the college in 2013 as the director of residence life and deputy Title IX coordinator. Scott graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Springfield College and received his master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Louis R. Izzi joins the college as vice president for athletics, coming from the University of Bridgeport, where he served as vice president for athletics and enrollment management since 2019. While at Bridgeport, Izzi was responsible for the strategic planning, leadership, development, and operational and personnel management of the university’s NCAA Division II athletics program.

Prior to his role at the University of Bridgeport, Izzi served as the director of athletics at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, a Division III institution with 18 varsity sports, club and junior varsity teams, and intramural and recreational programs. Previously, he was the assistant director of athletics administration at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island for 17 years, while additionally serving as head men’s ice hockey coach at Johnson & Wales and Nichols College for 15 years. Izzi received a master’s degree in sport administration from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Providence College.

Jessica Chapin has been promoted to director of athletics. She joined the college in 2014 as the compliance coordinator. Among her duties, Chapin is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Athletics Department, including oversight of compliance with ensuring NCAA Division I and Division II rules and bylaws, retention, financial aid, and new student recruitment collaborating with offices across campus. She is the Title IX deputy coordinator for athletics.

Currently, Chapin serves on the NCAA’s women’s volleyball regional advisory committee and in May she was appointed to a four-year term on the NCAA Committee on Infractions. She currently serves on the executive committee of both Atlantic Hockey Association and the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association. Chapin received a master’s degree in athletic administration from Springfield College and bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University in psychology and health science, society, and policy.

Michael Eriquezzo has been promoted to director of marketing and communications. He will have oversight of all aspects of institutional digital and traditional marketing, web, and public relations functions for the college, including the semi-annual Lucent magazine with a circulation to more than 30,000 alumni. Eriquezzo joined the college as the art director and senior designer in 2017 from Go Graphix in East Longmeadow, where he served as project manager and creative lead, and the Children’s Study Home as the external communications manager. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

****

Hampshire Power Corp. recently welcomed Patrick Quinlan as technical account manager.

Quinlan holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin and has more than 30 years of work experience in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Quinlan will be responsible for the support and growth of Hampshire Power Renewable Energy Certificate products and services, engaging installation companies and homeowners alike.

Quinlan joins Hampshire Power from Solablock Corp. and Black Island Wind Turbines, of which he was a co-founder. Previously, Quinlan served as a Congressional Technology Fellow, White House Technology Fellow, and worked as a senior analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Quinlan was a staff engineer at AeroVironment for famed inventor Paul MacCready. He holds several patents and has three projects now at the Smithsonian Institution.

*****

Friendly’s Restaurants and BRIX Holdings named David Ellis as chief marketing officer for all brands and promoted Sylvia Becker to vice president of marketing at Friendly’s Restaurants. Both individuals bring more than 20 years of marketing experience to their roles.

Ellis will lead brand strategy, marketing, public relations and digital initiatives for Friendly’s Restaurants as well as across BRIX Holdings brands: Orange Leaf; Smoothie Factory; Red Mango; Souper Salad; Red Brick Pizza; and Humble Donuts. He will also lead the development of loyalty programs, online ordering and virtual brands.

Becker will develop integrated marketing plans to support the brand strategy that will leverage the use of traditional and digital media, loyalty programs, off-premise, social media engagement, influencer partnerships and public relations to increase overall brand reputation, awareness and traffic across the Friendly’s Restaurant system.

Prior to joining Friendly’s Restaurants and BRIX Holdings, Ellis served as chief marketing officer for Uncle Julio’s where he was responsible for the launch of a new advertising campaign, new product development, the debut of third-party delivery and growth of the loyalty program. He also served as the vice president of marketing for O’Charley’s restaurants and held leadership positions at KFC and Darden Restaurants, for both Olive Garden and Red Lobster, including roles in brand management, national promotions, and menu strategy.

Becker has been with Friendly’s for eight years, previously serving as the senior director of media services. Before joining the Friendly’s team, Becker worked as the senior director of media services for Johnny Rockets and the marketing manager for McDonald’s, where she was tasked with boosting sales, increasing guest counts, and enhancing market share for the Boston Region comprised of 600-plus restaurants across New England and Albany, New York.

****,

Cornerstone Bank is celebrating Jennifer Anderson for being No. 5 on Banker & Tradesman’s list of top loan originators in Central and Western Massachusetts. Anderson, a vice president and mortgage loan officer with Cornerstone Bank, originated 155 mortgage loans to earn her spot on the list.

A long-time employee of Cornerstone Bank, Anderson has 17 years of experience as a mortgage loan officer. A resident of Spencer, she is a graduate of Babson College where she studied finance.

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[ramonssalas]

Lunch in Napa, day 1- Steph made us reservations at Brix Napa Valley. I wish I took more pictures here because the ambiance was crazy good. The restaurant opens up into a million dollar view of their backyard dining area, covered in flowering gardens (mostly sunflowers) and lush greenery, which is where we were seated. Gorgeous. The restaurant has been a #Yountville staple since March 1996. . For appetizer, I had the the crispy lobster deviled eggs and for my entree, I ordered the #brixburger - house smoked cheddar, bacon marmalade pickled peppers, mushrooms, chipotle remoulade with parmesan fries. Hands down the BEST burger I had ever had. Our food took a little longer than usual to get to us, and our server seemed a little frazzled by the huge lunch crowd. Nonetheless, our food was delicious, we had a great time, and we got to our next wine tasting stop just in time. I would come back to Brix just for their killer view and quality food. 8/10 recommend. ✔️ #BrixNapaValley #napaeats #yountvillelife #sunflowerfields #winecountry #lunchwithaview @brixnapavalley 🍷🍇🌻☀️🍔 (at Brix) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQfQmrHAYkKVISlgWBRuC190O0CtLMo2Lz7JhY0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rabbitcruiser]

National Vitamin C Day

It’s good for your immune system, it’s good for your mental health, it’s even good for your skin. Don’t neglect this crucial vitamin on Vitamin C Day.

Vitamin C. We all hear about it, how good it is for us, how it will help us fight off that cold. But how much do we really know about this mystery substance, and just how much can it do to help our bodies? Take advantage of Vitamin C day to learn something new and boost your health, to boot!

Learn about National Vitamin C Day

National Vitamin C Day has been created so that we can appreciate and learn all about the different ways that vitamin C can benefit our health. Vitamin C is also referred to as ascorbate and ascorbic acid. It is found in a number of different foods, as well as being sold as a dietary supplement. It is an essential nutrient in terms of producing a number of neurotransmitters and repairing tissues. It was discovered back in 1912. Sixteen years later, it was isolated. Then, in 1933, it became the first vitamin to be produced chemically.

Vitamin C is widely recognized for helping to keep colds at bay. However, there are plenty of other benefits that are associated with this powerful vitamin! You could reduce your blood pressure by upping your vitamin C uptake, for example. Vitamin C is also beneficial in terms of helping to keep your skin healthy. This is because it protects it from the oxidative damage that is caused as a result of exposure on a daily basis to pollution, heat, and light. This has seen the population of vitamin C products increase considerably.

There are plenty of natural ways to add some more vitamin C to your diet. You don’t need to opt for vitamin C supplements, although many people do. Some of the fruits that have the highest sources of vitamin C include cantaloupe melon, citrus juices and fruits, kiwi fruit, pineapple, papaya, mango, and the various berries, such as cranberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There are a number of vegetables that are rich in vitamin C as well, including cauliflower and broccoli.

The History of National Vitamin C Day

As a substance occurring naturally in countless different fruits and vegetables, vitamin C has likely been around as long as the earth itself. Peoples from all over the world have long been aware of the extensive health benefits of consuming foods high in vitamin C as well as the risks associated with not consuming enough of it, one of which is scurvy. It was not until the late 19th century that scurvy was described in detail by British physician Sir Thomas Barlow, that people began to understand just how much this substance can do for our health.

However, scurvy was known for thousands of years prior, with even the great Hippocrates himself writing about it. In the 18th century, it is assumed that the disease killed more British sailors than any enemies they had and was one of the greatest factors limiting maritime travel over the ages. Today, very few people suffer from scurvy and Vitamin C is considered on of the most important nutrients food can and should provide.

How to celebrate National Vitamin C Day

The best way to celebrate National Vitamin C Day is to stay healthy, and this very vitamin can help you with that! Vitamin C is necessary for good health and general well-being, but the unfortunate truth is that not everyone has the time to pay close attention to what they eat and just how many grams or milligrams of a certain substance they consume daily.

The drastic rise in popularity of microwavable dishes has caused people’s diets to become much less healthy over the recent years, as has the fact that many people are working longer hours than ever and don’t have the time or the energy to cook themselves and their families a well-balanced meal every day.

Luckily, there are a few ways to make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin C, no matter your lifestyle. One is to simply squeeze lemon juice into the water you drink. Half a lemon contains almost 100% of your daily vitamin C requirement, so just a squeeze here and there will be more than enough!

The same goes for—alcoholic drinks. If you’re going to have a few Mojitos this Friday anyway, why not use fresh lime juice? And have we mentioned Vitamin C helps prevent hangovers as well?

But it doesn’t stop there—as it tuns out, you can put lemon juice into pretty much everything for your daily dose of Vitamin C as well as a deliciously tangy zing. As opposed to some other “healthy” foods which, let’s face it, can be downright nasty (looking at you, kale!), lemon juice makes almost everything you put it on and in taste better.

Salad dressings. Grilled meats. The list goes on. And if for whatever reason you’re not a fan of lemons, don’t worry! Many fruits and vegetables contain enough Vitamin C to keep you healthy, including tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, peppers, and many more. Take advantage of National Vitamin C Day to do your body a favor!

Vitamin C cannot only be consumed, but it can be applied to your skin as well. As mentioned earlier, Vitamin C is great for skin health. Why not make your own Vitamin C serum? It is not as difficult as you may think! All you need is some aloe vera gel, filtered water, and vitamin C powder. You may decide to add some other vitamins as well, such as vitamin E oil. There are some variations of how to make vitamin C serums and facemasks online, but the ingredient list is a simple one, yet the benefits are vast!

Of course, you can also buy some vitamin C skin products, rather than making your own. If you are going to use a vitamin C serum, whether homemade or not, we recommend washing your face first and using a toner. You can then apply a small amount of the serum. The serum is probably going to be quite thick. Do this before you go to bed, and add another layer of moisturizer. In the morning, you should wash your face thoroughly before any makeup is applied. Because of sun exposure, vitamin C serum is not designed to be used on a daily basis.

Make sure you spread the word about National Vitamin C Day and the benefits associated with this nutrient so that you can help others experience the benefits of it!

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[story-the-world]

Northern California

San Francisco, San Jose, Napa… really all of Northern California. This is an interesting one to write about, since I have been to Northern California around 20 times… however most of them were when I was little. Below are my recommendations on the various areas – with a bias towards activities (rather than going out). I have heard from several people that the best part of living in San Francisco is how close you are to all of the other gems Norther California has to offer – and not the city itself. Which I also believe to be true… this post will not take the usual form of 3 do’s and 1 don’t and will be more of a list of things I like/places to visit – with the most detail on Napa.

Redwoods:

Redwoods are amazing. It’s like going to a giant waterfall, you look up and think “nature is really cool.” There are a bunch of places to see the big trees, and even drive through them. We would always go to (

http://www.roaringcamp.com/excursions/redwood-forest-steam-train

) It is touristy and for little kids but the train is fun and the trees are beautiful. The pro of going down here (about an hour and a half south of SF) is that you are close to Santa Cruz – which has a cool boardwalk (similar to Coney Island). Not much else to do here besides the boardwalk, as the town isn’t that special.

Monterey and Carmel:

Monterey is a cool town another hour south of Santa Cruz. It has a really good aquarium (if you are into that) and some good sea food. The drive from Santa Cruz down to Monterey is really scenic and there are some nice beaches to stop at along the way. One of my favorite things to do is to buy kites, and fly them at Marina State Beach – or one of the other ‘dunes’ along the way. It is super windy and great for flying kites.

If you keep driving down, you get to Carmel… probably my favorite place in the world. White sand beaches, and a quiet, cute little town. Might be the most beautiful sunsets in the country. The restaurants are fantastic.. I like Portabella the best.. but skip the dessert and grab something at Patisserie Boissiere Restaurant.

Napa:

This is tricky because it is really up to you in terms of what you want to do. There are a bunch of options:

-wine train (I didn’t do this and heard it stinks)

-bike tour (I didn’t do this since I did a bike tour in Mendoza but I assume it is similar)

-groupon tour (I actually heard good things about a few of these. If you do your research you might be able to get a good deal on a bus tour/tasting. Only problem is you are stuck to a specific agenda and with a large group. If you want to make friends and not worry about driving, this might be a good option).

-research and take ubers (probably the most expensive, but you get the personalized agenda. This is what my sister did since her and her husband wanted to go to very specific places that were somewhat far apart)

-drive (If you don’t drink too much at the tastings (they are expensive) this is a good option. Probably can only do 1-2 in a day)

-walk (stay in town and walk to ‘tasting rooms’ – I like this option because in my opinion, once you go to one winery and see the ‘process’, you don’t need to go to another. I am spoiled since I have been to plenty of places to see ‘how wine is made’ and I really just like tasting different vintages, and grape varieties)

Some places in various areas:

Sonoma: 

Hawkes Wine tasting room (the vineyard is very cool as well), Tasca Tasca – Portuguese Tapas, Girl and the fig – really good food

Napa:

Regusci Winery – wine is really good, beautiful scenery, great people… highly recommend doing to tour where they take you around on a golf cart. If you are lucky enough, you might get invited to a special concert in the cellar on the 3rd floor! Oxbow market – cool public market with fresh veg. This is a must stop if you want to get snacks or bring a picnic.

Yountville: (this is where I stayed… there are about 15 tasting rooms within walking distance (or bike). At each one, they will give you a map of all the wineries (names, hours…) Don’t try to do them all! Napa Valley Lodge ($300 per night). Good hotel with a really nice pool – easy to walk to all the tasting rooms. The French Laundry (Michelin star… impossible to get in… if you do, the food is wonderful). Hope and Grace – the owner Charles is super friendly and they have really good wines. I purchased quite a few while I was there. Jessup Cellars – cool spot, good wines, and an art gallery. Brix – great place for lunch, beautiful garden with fresh veg for the salad. 

Rutherford/Oakville

Cakebread cellers, nickel & nichel, opus one, Robert Mondavi Winery, Frog’s Leap winery

St Helena

Beringer Vineyards, Newton Vineyard

Calistoga

Schramsberg, Castello di amorosa – wine was meh… views were beautiful

Other (non wine)

Tank – good tasting room in an old gas station, Buster Original BBQ – good bbq – get the pulled pork!

Other tips for Napa:

-bring some small bills and tip the person doing the tasting for you if they are good. This is pretty common in Napa, and it encourages them to be more personable

-if you buy wine, the tasting fees are generally waived. If you buy enough, the shipping might be free as well

-cabs are really expensive, so try some of them, but don’t limit yourself to just cabs. There are some lighter reds and whites that are really good too.

As far as SF goes…

Fishermans warf = time square – avoid.. the seals are cool but there are not many left hanging out at the dock. Otherwise, it is your typical chain restaurants/bars

Palace of fine arts is cool, and so is the golden gate bridge. Recommend going to each and taking a few pictures for the gram

Best bars – in my opinion – are in the mission. There is a combo of dive bars and fancy new places.. it had a similar vibe to division street in Chicago. Some places I like are Zeitgeist (huge beer garden in the bac), Monk’s kettle (unlimited beers on tap), Lolo (tacos), El Techo (rooftop).

Golden Gate Park and Twin Peaks are cool to hike or bike.

Coffee shops – I wasn’t impressed, most were chains and they were all pretty crowded. The ones that weren’t chains had a pretty bad atmosphere… the tech bro stereotype is real

[stacylaughs]

July 2-9, 2019

I took the 4-hour bus from Vienna Erdberg (VIB) to Prague Main Railway Station on Flixbus for four hours (€17.90). There’s a lot of joy that comes from getting your remote work done on a bus.

You can walk from the main train station to Old Town Square in around 10 minutes. And, as weird as it is to cross the train tracks, you can do it, if you are headed away from old town, like where I stayed.

Brix Hostel was 528.57 CZK (currently $23.28 USD) a night. Public transportation is easy to take, but I only walked and took Ubers around town. Each ride cost me Kč102.20 - Kč211.78.

The past of Prague with its artistic and architectural heritage is fascinating, as well as its small museums, lively restaurants, bars, and cheap prices. The seasonal legions of tourists can be tiring -especially the British bachelor and bachelorette parties- but a quiet walk at dawn or glass of Bohemian lager outside of Old Town is worth the trip. And, I was so lucky to have my friend, Johanna, visiting from Ireland at the same time as me! I could easily spend another week here.

Things to see:

The elegant Charles Bridge was built in 1357 and is ordained by 30 statues dating from the 18th century. Try and visit at dawn before the hordes arrive. It’s an unavoidable people nightmare during the day.

Check out the clock tower of the Old Town Hall, where the astronomical clock (from 1410!) entertains crowds on the hour (from 9am-9pm) with its parade of apostles and a bell-ringing skeleton. 

Josefov was once the city’s Jewish Quarter, and its fascinating monuments now comprise the Prague’s Jewish Museum. Highlights are the Old-New Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, and Old Jewish Cemetery. 

Go to New Town (Nové Město), founded in 1348. The broad, sloping avenue of Wenceslas Square is lined with shops, banks, and restaurants. Beneath is a shrine to the victims of communism, including students Jan Palach and Jan Zajíc, both of who burned themselves alive in 1969 in protest at the Soviet invasion.

Take a picnic and the metro to Vyšehrad, on the southern edge of New Town. This ancient hilltop fortress has superb views and a cemetery with some surprise finds.

Traditional Czech cuisine is strong on meat, dumplings, and gravy. Bohemian beer is one of the world’s best. The most famous brands are Budvar, Plzeňský Prazdroj (Pilsner Urquell), and Prague’s own Staropramen. Have a drink at BeerGeek Bar, Lokal, Letna Beer Garden, Pilsner Urquell Original Restaurant, U Veverky, and Klasterni pivovar Strahov. Cocktails are great at Hemingway Bar, Tiki Taky Bar, and Cash Only.

I had so much fun playing video games late night at Joystick Arcade Bar.

Couldn’t keep me away from the Korean food at Bibimbap.

Walk up Vitkov Hill for the views and walk under it to visit Eska Restaurant.

There is a lot of fun art around Prague, but none quite as mesmerizing as the Head of Franz Kafka. I stood and watched that one for a bit.

I enjoyed visiting the Apple Museum, for a walk down memory lane with all the devices of my childhood.

Go up to Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral.

Honestly, Lennon Wall and Lovers’ Bridge were a miss for me, but I just walked through to check it out. 

Prague is really into trdelník, a doughnut style ice cream cone, which I found a big mess and just alright tasting. The street sausages are tasty, though.

We took an Uber (€25-50 one way) to Kutná Hora, but be careful as you might need to take a train back if you can’t get an Uber trip back to Prague. It’s famous for its Sedlec Ossuary, Kamenna kasna stone fountain, and Cathedral of St. Barbara.

I had a shellac manicure (300 CZK), shellac pedicure (500 CZK), and lash extensions (850 CZK) at Victoria Nails & Lashes. Another place to go is Chic & Grace for a shellac manicure (299 CZK) and shellac pedicure (549 CZK).

Mozart had the premiere of his opera, Don Giovanni, at the Estates Theater in 1787, and I think you can still see it performed there.

[msfoodlover]

Napa Valley Vineyards

After a  fabulous birthday lunch at Brix Restaurant and Gardens in Napa Valley, Brix has totally surprised and wowed us with its vineyards and gardens. Brix is situated on acres of gardens and vineyards with spectacular views of the Mayacamas mountains. We had this view while having our meal. The best part was I was able to take a brief stroll on the property after our lunch while the bf stayed behind to take my pictures. (And because the grounds were wet.) It has been raining for weeks but we were given a break on that Saturday when we went to Napa. The beautiful afternoon was another birthday present from Above! :)

February 2017

[business2businessposts-blog]

Startup Watchlist: 10 Agritech Startups To Look Out For In 2019

Inc42 has compiled a list of startups that transform farmers' lives through the innovative use of technology

Some of the start-ups that agriculture startups india are AgroStar, Ninjacart, Crofarm, Bombay Hemp Company, Stellapps

The Indian agricultural sector needs a rapid technological shift to help address the critical gap between production and product procurement

This article is part of the Inc42 Startup List, an annual series that lists the best emerging companies to be aware of in 2019 from industries such as agritech, AI, logistics, healthtech and more. Explore all the news from the 'Startup Watch List' series here.

Agriculture and India share a unique association. From the wheat-rilled farms of Punjab to the crowded rice fields of Tamil Nadu, to tropical climate and fertility, mineral-rich land has helped agriculture flourish in India since time immemorial. In fact, agriculture is the basis on which the Indian subcontinent has been able to generate its rich civilizations.

However, in recent years, with global warming and depletion of water resources to feed the fields, yields of agricultural land in India fell. For example, although India is the largest producer of pulses in the world, the pulse yield (659 kg / ha) was the lowest among the Brix countries in 2014.

Agricultural growth in India has been somewhat volatile over the past decade, ranging from 5.8% in 2005-06 to 0.4% in 2009-10 and -0.2% in 2014-15.

In the face of low productivity, income and debt debt, farmers commit suicide by the thousands. In addition, given the increasing population of India, there is an urgent need to enhance agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner. Technology, which is the key to everything from unrest, is also accelerating with agriculture as a number of startups in agricultural solutions have begun to solve agriculture-related problems in India.

According to Inc42 Datalabs, Agritech's total funding in India increased from US $ 46.1 million in 2017 to US $ 66.6 million in 2018, giving us an idea of growing investor appetite and belief in agritech's potential in India; Based on agriculture in the country.

With the BJP-led government chosen as one of its core principles, the past four years have been characterized by multiple digital initiatives and governance. One of these steps is the establishment of the National Agriculture Market (eNAM), an all-India e-commerce portal aimed at creating a unified national agricultural commodity market aimed at eliminating intermediaries and helping farmers achieve better prices for their products.

However, despite these measures, there is a large gap between production, as well as issues related to adequate crop production and storage, which means that farmers are still unable to obtain fair prices for their products. They were keen to tell the government that they were unhappy by organizing rallies to New Delhi and other places as evidence of protest.

Aside from politics, the current scenario represents a great opportunity for start-ups in India to come up with solutions. As Mark Kent of venture capital firm Omnivore - "the opportunity involves a 1/6 humanitarian feed." This indicates 1.3 billion people in India.

Given the importance and disruption of the agricultural sector, Inc42 is responsible for following developments in this sector. We have also been keeping up with current and upcoming agritech companies in India. Here are some agritech startups to watch this year:

10 Agritech Startups To Watch Out For In 2019

AGROSTAR

AgroStar, an emerging e-commerce company based in Pune, sells agricultural inputs directly to farmers, as one of the leading agritech companies in India, especially after the funding that was collected to start agriculture industury startups in the country in 2017.

AgroStar, which aims to expand its services across India, is trying to solve the problem of logistics in recent miles in rural India to enable better service delivery. The deliveries made by its field team (rather than using an intermediary such as the India Post) have reinforced the delivery of packages on time.

AgroStar has covered more than 2,300 symbols, which means more than 25,000 villages in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Ninjacart

NinjaCart, to the marketing and delivery platform for agricultural products, raised $ 34.6 million (Rs. 250 crore) into a B-series financing round in 2018 with the aim of expanding into different geographic regions and doubling the supply chain infrastructure.

NinjaCart connects farmers to end retailers such as grocery stores, supermarkets and restaurants that buy fruits and vegetables. The startup also manages the logistics network, allowing for product capture and output.

The Bengaluru company has a network of resources with more than 3,000 farmers across South India and fresh products are transported from about 4,000 retailers in less than 12 hours of selection daily.

NinjaCart mainly operates in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad with a team of more than 750 people.

Crofarm

Founded in 2016, the Crofarm chain of shops starts the agricultural supply chain by buying fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers and providing them with online and offline retailers.

Crofarm provides services to more than 100 small and medium-sized retailers through its multiple distribution centers and demands less than 5% waste on its supply chain compared to the average 50% waste of fruits and vegetables throughout the country's supply chain.

Crofarm operates mainly in Delhi-NCR and has a network of farmers throughout UP and Haryana and Delhi. The company hopes to reduce the risk of intermediaries and simplify operations in the agricultural sector, which is largely unorganized.

Company Bombay Hemp

Following the global trend to explore the medical benefits of cannabis, Bombay Hemp Company researches, develops, develops products and markets cannabis products. Indian start-up operates everything from cannabis clothing to research and development of drugs for treating breast cancer and epilepsy.

Emerging companies help local farmers develop their fields by providing ideal seeds, feedback on farming techniques and the use of new agricultural products.

The emerging company also participated with the Scientific and Industrial Research Council (CSIR) to conduct medical research on hashish.

Stellapps

Stellapps, an emerging Internet of Things (IoT) dairy company, had a good performance in 2018, not only raising money but also getting the prestigious Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as an investor.

Stellapps, initially incubated at the IIT Madras Rural Technology Incubator, monitors the quantity and quality of milk and storage facilities, establishes wearable devices to track livestock health, and provides livestock infrastructure.

agriculture industury startups is done by using technology such as Internet objects and data analysis while accessing data through sensors embedded in milking systems, animal wearable devices, etc.

No cow cows required here!

Cropin

The main product of CropIn, based in Bangalore, SmartFarm, allows large companies to map the supply chain and provide real-time updates on farms, weather patterns and pests, etc., for farmers with smart phones and Internet connectivity.

From cropping to harvest, SmartFarm monitors the field and climate, and accordingly, sends an action plan to the farmer.

Cropin is also working with the Government of Karnataka to digitize farmer-producing organizations and with the Governments of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in the climate adaptation program to help farmers fight climate change.

Arav for unmanned systems

Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS), based in Bangalore, developed its first-class commercial UAVs with the first UAV-equipped unmanned aerial vehicle (INSIGHT-PPK) in India. According to the founders, the unmanned PPK agritech startup is three times more accurate and twice as fast as the most common market solution.

The emerging company, which has raised an unknown amount in a pre-A-2018 financing round, provides three-dimensional land-surface presentations that can transform and change the way decisions are made in agriculture. .

In March 2017, AUS said it had seen a six-fold increase in revenue over the previous year.

gramophone

Gramophone, an emerging company based in Indore, Gramophone, initiated by graduates of IIT Kharagpur Nishant Vats and Tauseef Khan, is a comprehensive solution for all types of inputs to agriculture. The start-up company helps farmers with their toll-free number: farmers can communicate with them simply by giving an unanswered call and finding solutions to all problems related to agriculture.

They can also buy agricultural products such as seeds, crop protection, nutrition, etc., directly from the company's trading platform.

Ugaao

ugaoo.com is a gardening and agriculture platform that was launched at the end of 2015 and focuses on the horticultural market and landscaping. The emerging company works closely with farmers and provides them with high-quality organic seeds, among others, through its online platform.

It communicates with consumers in Tier 2 cities such as Surat, Nashik and Kuchi to capitalize on the growing market potential in these cities. It is aimed at farmers who have been exposed to the latest technologies and are knowledgeable about using applications.

In 2016, Ugaoo collected $ 425,580 (INR 3 Cr) from Namdeo Umaji Seed Company in favor of an e-commerce company.

EM3 Agricultural

Established in 2014, EM3 Agri offers agritech startup services and machinery for rent to farmers. The start-up provides agricultural-for-use services for each step of the growth process, including land development, land preparation, agriculture, agriculture, crop care and harvesting, post-harvest field management.

EM3 has partnered with the Rajasthan Government to provide small farmers with access to capital equipment, such as tractors, combine harvesters and advanced agricultural tools.

In 2017, I received funding of $ 10 million from the B Series from the UK-based Global Innovation Fund (GIF) and the current investor, Aspada Investments.