Pacific Coast Magazine: Spring 2018
Buzz: Things We Like
Crushing for Conservation
The Ranch at Laguna Beach is the first hotel in North America to acquire a GLSand glass bottle crusher, which is now in operation, through a new partnership with the manufacturer. The machine compresses entire glass bottles to produce a sand-like substance, and was designed to help reduce waste and cost, as well as encourage sustainability specifically in the food, hospitality and leisure industries.
The sand-like product can be used for various projects throughout the resort, such as pavement repairs and poor filtration; it can even be used in sand traps on the property’s golf course. The addition of the bottle crusher is an expansion upon The Ranch’s various other sustainability efforts, such as using reclaimed water to irrigate the golf course and landscaping at the resort, planting an organic garden on-site and partnering with organizations such as Chefs to End Hunger, Clean the World (which recycles hotel soap) and the Ocean Institute’s youth camp outreach program. (ranchlb.com)
Passionate Martinis
Markitini is a martini-making kit that recently made its Orange County debut after its Laguna Beach inventor, Mark Hirschmann, decided to start bottling the ingredients of his homemade passion fruit vodka martinis, since they were such a hit with his friends and family. The brand also has other merchandise for sale, such as the artful Markitini bottle, which was designed by dipping passion fruit in ink to recreate the texture of its skin. The beverage is made with Minnesota-distilled corn vodka infused with passion fruit and accented by Cape gooseberries, which are used in place of a traditional olive garnish. The festive kit includes fresh fruit, toothpicks, shakers, glasses and a vermouth sprayer as well as instructions directly from Hirchmann. The next step for the company is to secure wholesale distributors so as to sell the drink in restaurants and hotels, as well as releasing a custom 1930s-style bottle design for a classic yet refreshing look. The kit should be available soon on Hirchmann’s website for his day job as the co-owner of a mold and fire prevention company. (twilightlounge.co)
TIWAL Inflatable Sailboats
TIWAL inflatables, created by industrial designer Marion Excoffon, are perfect for people with an adventurous soul who may not have space for their own sailboat. This dinghy is packed in two bags, both of which will fit in a small car, and can be put together and ready to use in under 20 minutes on any body of water from placid lakes and serene ponds to flowing rivers and the open ocean. There are more than 700 TIWAL boats being used all over the world, which has helped garner attention and bring in award nominations, such as the 2016 Good Design Award in Japan, 2015 Boat of the Year in South Korea, Sailing World’s 2014 Boat of the Year in the U.S. and the 2014 Red Dot Award for Best of the Best in Germany. Whether you’re sailing for sport or for fun, TIWAL provides everything you’ll need for your day out on the water. (tiwal.com)
Black Bully Whisky
Since 1864, Black Bull Whisky has been selling its signature Scotch whisky, which is 100 proof and comprises a blend of half single malt whisky and half single grain whisky. Today, the core range of this label includes three distinct bottles: the Kyloe, made of Speyside malt whiskies, matured in refill bourbon and sherry casks with a bourbon slant and blended with aged grain; the 12 Year Old, also made of Speyside malt whiskies, matured in casks of ex-sherry European oak and refill ex-bourbon American oak and blended with lowland grain; and the 21 Year Old, made of Highland malts with a bit of Speyside and Islay. Find this entire range of Black Bull Whisky at Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa or Total Wine & More in Laguna Hills, Huntington Beach and various other locations in Southern California. (blackbullwhisky.com)
Reserve & Try
Nordstrom recently expanded its Reserve Online & Try In Store customer service initiative to be offered at Irvine Spectrum Center. Through this service, shoppers are able to reserve items and a dressing room through the store’s mobile app. Customers who utilize the app will be given two to three different sizes of each item they choose, all of which will be waiting to be tried on upon their arrival. Participants must check-in at the order pickup counter on the first floor at the west door entrance, where they can also retrieve any orders that have been made online and items that have been altered to better fit the customer, or they can make any necessary returns—convenience at its finest. This service is also available in various other SoCal locations, including South Coast Plaza and Brea Mall. (shop.nordstrom.com)
Hotel Californian
The recently opened Hotel Californian in downtown Santa Barbara combines colonial architecture and design influenced by both Spanish and California culture, as envisioned by celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard and developed by Michael Rosenfield. The hotel contains 121 rooms, including a two-bedroom presidential suite; two on-property restaurants serving dishes with a bit of Mediterranean flare; a rooftop pool and event deck; a fashion boutique; a Moroccan-themed spa that is made to look like it came straight out of Marrakesh and comprises a couples’ suite, gendered steam rooms, a solon as well as indoor and outdoor lounges, pls myriad treatments form massages to nail care. With paseos, gardens, fountains, open plazas and the beach and State Street just steps way, there certainly won’t be a dull moment when staying at this luxurious property. (thehotelcalifornian.com)
