The Sunday Seven 05.19.19

Hello, friends…Here’s this week’s Sunday Seven in wine, food, lifestyle, design and travel!

Little Known, Rarely Offered Home Tour

For one day each fall, you can tour model homes from Chicago’s 1933 World’s Fair at the new Indiana Dunes National Park. Thisi little-known—and rarely offered—historic home tour is clustered together on a single block in northwest Indiana and features five one-of-a-kind midcentury homes. All five structures were part of Chicago’s 1933 World’s Fair and are today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fair’s theme was a “Century of Progress.” Pretty cool.

The End of an Era – Robert Parker Retires

Love him or think he’s overrated, there is no denying Robert Parker’s effect on wine. In 1978, he began publishing The Baltimore-Washington Wine Advocate, which was renamed The Wine Advocate a year later. The Wine Advocate now has subscribers in more than 40 countries all over the world. His contribution to significantly raising the bar of critical, unbiased wine writing using the 100-point scale cannot be overlooked. His tasting experience and expert, straight-talking opinions will indeed be missed, as he hands off his duties to the next generation.

Taco Bell Opening a Pop-Up Hotel in Palm Springs

Yep, you heard that right — and I’m sure you’ll be seeing this all over Instagram! The Bell, aka a “tacoasis,” will open its doors for five days, taking over an as-yet-unannounced space in Palm Springs, CA. Everything from guest rooms to breakfast and poolside cocktails will be infused with a Taco Bell twist. In addition to Taco Bell-themed rooms, expect off-menu Taco Bell dishes to be served up, along with a gift shop selling exclusive Taco Bell swag, and even hot sauce packet pool floats. There will also be an on-site salon offering Taco Bell-inspired nail art, fades, and braids to guests looking for a little pampering while they sip a Baja Blast to escape the desert heat.

Verde Valley Vineyard Scene

This one is all about the Verde Valley. On this stretch of Arizona’s wine trail, a largely experimental and free-spirited vineyard scene is growing more serious by the minute. While only three vineyards existed here in the early 2000s, the Verde Valley Wine Trail today includes two dozen venues, spread over 450 square miles. We toured along the Verde Valley Wine Trail last year during a trip to Sedona and had an awesome time!

Obamas Take to Producing

The Obamas are helping bring a new kids’ food show to Netflix. Higher Ground, the production company that was founded by the Obamas last year, is working on a half-hour series called Listen to Your Vegetables & Eat Your Parents that will “take young children and their families around the globe on an adventure that tells us the story of our food.” Over the last decade, the Obamas have devoted a lot of time and energy to getting kids to eat healthy food — a story that continues to need to be told.

Pablo Picasso: 5 Things You Didn’t Know

Everyone knows Picasso is a revolutionary painter, and that he was the father of Cubism, but did you know he was once tried in court for allegedly stealing the Mona Lisa? (He was later cleared.) He was also extremely superstitious about things and avoided getting his hair cut at all costs. This and more really interesting Pablo Picasso facts at the link!

Glass House Hotel Dreams in Chilean Wine Country

At the new Puro Vik, guests sleep in glass boxes. Norwegian-Uruguayan entrepreneur Alex Vik and his American wife, Carrie, recently opened the 22-room design and art-centric Vik Chile, bringing an unprecedented level of luxury and sophistication to the area. About a two-hour drive from Santiago, Millahue Valley is Chilean wine country, and the setting is ripe for luxury and relaxation. The property is comprised of a collection of 19 glass houses. Each its own suite for two, the houses hang from the steep hills just below Vik Chile so guests feel like they’re floating on top of the valley and amid the trees. I am obsessed!!

Hope everyone has a great upcoming week!!
xx—BB