Connoisseur

BOOK IT
“Home. Home. I knew it entering,” sighs the opening line of Richard Hugo’s heartfelt poem, “The Only Bar in Dixon.” That same feeling hits you when you walk into a good independently owned bookstore, an oxymoronic feeling of somehow coming home to a place you’ve never been before.

There is a distinct ambience to bona fide bookishness: The smell of coffee; subdued classical music or jazz playing; wooden floors, old leather chairs, comfortable sofas; a fat cat sleeping on the checkout counter; a bulletin board that serves as the town crier. And most of all, books — books serious and books profane, books stacked horizontally on tables, books you know have been personally handled and chosen by a staff that won’t direct you to the sports section when you request The Catcher in the Rye.

In recent years, to survive the invasion of huge chain bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders, many of these oases of civility have become more than just bookstores: They not only have metamorphosed into important community centers themselves, they also have become intimately involved in local affairs. Perhaps nowhere else in North America has this retail evolution occurred more than in the Pacific Northwest, home to many superb independent bookstores, ranging from Portland’s mammoth, block-long Powell’s Books (550,000 titles) to Vancouver’s tiny Barbara’s Books (3,500 titles).

Village Books in Bellingham, Washington, along with sponsoring musical events, 10-to-20 monthly author appearances, weekly children’s story hours, and reading group discussions at the store, also gives at least 5 percent of its yearly profits to local charities, conducts book fairs at schools, and sponsors cruises on nearby waterways to increase awareness of environmental concerns.

Singles nights and journal writing workshops are popular at Bolen Books in Victoria, British Columbia, as is the store’s yearlong “Together in Transition” series of events (at the famed Empress Hotel), which raises awareness and money for the city’s Women’s Transition House, a battered women’s resource center.

In Vancouver, one of the best bookstore cities in North America, the one-room Women In Print bookshop helps raise money for the Vancouver Society of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women, while the Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium does the same for the city’s gay and lesbian organizations. Twice a year, Duthie Books, Vancouver’s largest independent bookstore company (10 stores, more than 200,000 titles), sponsors two extensive series of public lectures: Civitas, which spotlights social and political issues; and Nature, which features talks by well-known authors on natural history, science, and the British Columbia outdoors; for the latter, the bookstore joins with local environmental groups such as the Sierra Club of Canada (which receives a portion of the $5 ticket proceeds).

The defining characteristic of all these independent bookstores is their responsiveness to their city’s needs and desires. They are also comfortable places where words and ideas matter. They are individualistic, iconoclastic evidence that homogenization has been stalled. They feel like home. —Richard West

LEGENDARY LINKS
From historic golf courses in the British Isles to lesser-known “hidden gems” around the world, Golf Travel’s Guide to the World’s Greatest  Golf Destinations describes the world’s finest courses. The book provides detailed evaluations of various aspects of the golfing experience, including the glitches and glories of the course design, the condition of the greens and fairways, and the quality of services both on and off the course. The book also offers tips on how to play specific holes on each course and notes on course features that particularly challenge a golfer’s skills. The guide ($30) is edited by Terence Sieg, publisher of the monthly newsletter, Golf Travel: The Guide for Discriminating Golfers. Check your local bookstore or call 800-225-7825.

HONG KONG EXPERIENCE
One of the newest learning programs available to travelers is the Peninsula Academy, a collection of experiential programs being offered by the Peninsula Hong Kong hotel. The programs, which vary from one to four days and start at $593 per person (double occupancy), delve into the world of ancient Chinese arts, philosophies, medicine, and cuisine. From consultations with a Feng Shui Master on the most spiritually harmonious layout for the home to the selection of fresh ingredients ata bustling Hong Kong market, the Peninsula Academy specializes in hands-on experiences. For more information, call 800-223-6800.

Paving the Way
Here’s your chance to follow in the steps of some of the greatest golfers in history — by having your name immortalized on the Walk of Champions at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame. For an $85 contribution to the World Golf Foundation, a brick engraved to your specifications will be placed along the walk. A $125 contribution entitles you to a brick in the “Premium Area” of the walk. For an additional $45, a commemorative replica brick, identical to the one on the Walk of Champions, will be sent to you. For more information, call 888-W-G-BRICK.

Hand Carved
C.A.O. International Inc., known for its unique gift selections, offers a suggestion for the pipe smoker in the family: A meerschaum pipe. No two are alike and each pipe is hand carved and available in a variety of styles and prices. For buying information, call 800-BEST-CAO.

Adventure for Women
It’s a fact: More women than men today take off on adventure vacations and hike, bike, climb, walk, sail, ride horses, snorkel, river-raft, and canoe around the world. A new 256-page book, Active Woman Vacation Guide, by travel expert Evelyn Kaye, juxtaposes true stories by women of the past who climbed mountains in bloomers, with today’s women who raft through the Grand Canyon, scuba with sea lions, and walk across Australia. The paperback volume details information on hundreds of trips offered by 50 selected adventure companies. Check your bookstore or call 800-800-8147.

Cruise Pick
It’s easy to imagine sitting aboard the sun deck of the comfortably appointed new barge, the Lorraine, as it cruises slowly through the winding canals of the Alsace region of France. The industry pioneer with more than 30 years of experience, Continental Waterways encompasses the largest fleet of deluxe hotel-barges cruising along rivers and canals of the many regions of France. For information about the Lorraine or other barge cruises through France, call Abercrombie and Kent at 800-323-7308, Kemwel’s Premier Selections at 800-234-4000, or Fenwick and Lang at 800-841-4321.

Shoe Caddy
Sun Mountain has introduced the “Atlas,” a golf bag that includes an expandable, integral shoe pocket. When zipped, the shoe pocket appears to be just another side pocket. Unzipping reveals the expandable pocket that allows easy storage of golf shoes while not playing, or street shoes during play. The Atlas features a 10-inch oval top with four, full-length dividers for easy club access. And, the bag weighs just 6 pounds. Other features include Sun Mountain’s Pillow Top graphite-friendly top, side, and spine pockets that are fully accessible when the bag is on a cart, and the signature padded Sun Mountain shoulder straps. The bag ($198) is available in four color combinations: Black, mallard, navy/platinum, and black/silver. Ask for information in your Associate Club pro shop, or call 800-227-9224.

To Each Its Own
U.S. Cigar’s debut of the Habano Primero earlier this year followed years of development and exploration for a distinguished blend of extensively aged tobaccos. While the cigar’s filler tobaccos yield from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Brazil, the binder leaf is harvested in Mexico. Wrapper tobacco is a Cuban seed sun-grown in Indonesia that adds a long, rich finish and handsome sheen. Smooth and full-bodied, with a complex, earthy taste, Habano Primero hints of dark roasted coffee and spice, producing a long, rich finish. Its aroma is sweet and musky, with a tinge of cedar. Habano Primero is available in four sizes. For more information, call 888-624-4271.

Remember the Open
Robert Talbott Inc. has unveiled a commemorative neckwear collection in honor of the recent 98th

U.S. Open Championship at San Francisco’s Olympic Club. The limited-edition collection features four designs retailing at $75 each. Available at select pro shops and specialty stores. Or call the U.S. Golf Association at 908-234-2300.

Out of Sight
Manhattan Design Studio’s new magnetic eye wear enables the wearer to remove and reattach sun lenses with one hand. These high-tech lenses are perfect for traveling and feature “neodium” permanent magnets. The collection currently includes more than 30 styles. For more information, call 800-707-8834.

It’s in the Mail
The hassle of traveling with golf clubs has only been amplified by new airport security regulations across the country. Shipping typically requires proper cartons and extensive paperwork. Enter Golf Bag Express, a new system that includes a convenient shipping container with the UPS 2nd Day Air bill filled out. Ship your clubs home. Or ship them ahead to your destination. The cost for shipment within the United States (including Hawaii) is $59. For reservations, call 800-237-6200.