CONNOISSEUR

Tie in to Pinehurst Golf
Pinehurst Resort & Country Club and Bost Neckwear Co. of Asheboro, North Carolina, have formed a licensing agreement to design, manufacture, and market the Pinehurst Neckwear Collection. The first collection, inspired by Pinehurst’s 100-year-old archives, consists of 10 designs in various colors. Three of the designs featured here are described “The PutterBoy Stripe,” “Pinehurst No. 2,” and “The PutterBoy Medallion.” The ties are made of 100 percent silk jacquard and are priced at $40. To order, call the Pinehurst Golf Shop at 800-795-4653.

Matanzas Masterpiece
Good wines for fall and beyond: The Matanzas Creek 1994 Sonoma Valley Merlot is young, tight, and focused, with a brilliant core of cedar-tinged currant and black cherry flavors. It has a Pomerol-like profile with superb balance and texture, with a floral and spice edge on the finish. Also from Matanzas Creek: The 1993 Journey Sonoma Valley Chardonnay is dense, creamy, rich, and oaky — a perfect demonstration of the commitment of this beautiful, lavender-scented vineyard owned by Bill and Sandra MacIver.

Schuss It All
Skiing. Snowboarding. Cross-country trails. Lodging. Dining. Service. If it’s Michigan, it must be Shanty Creek. This ski season the resort features 12 new ski slopes (for a total of 41), four new quad chairlifts, and greater-than-ever snow-making capacity at this Great Lakes destination. There’s also an additional 40 feet of vertical to the peak of Schuss Mountain, the result of land clearing and the construction that is under way on the new Cedar River Village complex. The village, which will include a Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, is slated to open in June 1999. Shanty Creek is accessed by commercial airlines via Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport. For vacation planning assistance, call 800-678-4111.

You Must Remember This
The Hotel Casablanca, located on West 43rd Street within short walking distance of the theaters on Broadway, is a true find: A charming, elegant, and inexpensive boutique hotel in the heart of the new Times Square. With only six floors and 48 guest rooms and suites, the Casablanca is attended by a superb staff who will soon learn your name and see to your particular needs with care and personal attention. What sets Casablanca apart is its family-like intimacy. Owner and great New York hotelier Henry Kallan sums up the Casablanca’s philosophy when he says, “When guests stay at the Casablanca, they only have to pay for their room and phone calls.” A café-lounge called Rick’s Cafe on the second floor offers complimentary continental breakfast throughout the day, every day, with wine and cheese on weekday evenings. The lobby and formal staircase leading to the café-lounge are decorated, like the rooms, in warm and comfortable Moroccan styles and furnishings. Exquisite tile-work and fresh flowers are everywhere, and the Moroccan theme allows guests an often-necessary respite from the exciting yet often taxing New York City experience. An outdoor patio and rooftop garden (where cigar smoking is encouraged), free access to the New York Sports Club, and complimentary bottled water in rooms complete this hotel experience. Rates range from $225 to $325, single or double occupancy. For information and reservations call toll free 888-9-CASABLANCA, or try their web address www.casablancahotel.com.

A Fishing Spectacular
Cormorant fishing, Japan’s spectacular sport where fish are caught by birds, enjoys a season from May through October. Make plans now for an opportunity to watch these professional fishermen as they employ fish-diving birds, a 1,000-year-old technique. Each fishing boat has four crewmen. The master bird handler, dressed in ancient ceremonial headgear and traditional grass skirt, controls 12 birds. A loose ring on the birds’ necks prevents them from swallowing the fish. Instrumental music, fireworks, and buffet boats of food and drink accompany the spectacle. For an informational flier, call the Japan National Touring Organization at 212-757-5640.

Coping with Laptops
Taking your computer overseas to send e-mail, keeping in contact with the office, or just keeping a personal travelogue? Traveler, beware. Computing overseas is not as simple as using one at home. Electrical adapters are required to recharge computer batteries, and any one of35 telephone jacks may be needed to connect a modem. Not to mention the concern of theft. Now, travelers who take their laptops on overseas trips have help overcoming these complexities, thanks to On the Road, a new international newsletter. Among the topics in initial issues have been purchasing light-weight computer locks, finding an Internet connection accessible from more than 155 countries, selecting a travel-friendly computer case, and using special services to send and receive fax messages. Subscriptions to the monthly newsletter are $49 or $44 for delivery by e-mail. Sample copies are available by calling 800-844-1071 or by e-mailing editor@roadnews.com.

Support Group
Women who seek challenges should consider this adventure built around rock climbing and canoeing, a wilderness program reserved for females only in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. This event is sponsored by the Adirondack Mountain Club (which began adding women-only wilderness trips to its roster about four years ago), and the Mirror Lake Inn in the Olympic Village of Lake Placid. The trips, limited to groups of 10, offer women a less competitive, more supportive environment than a coed program. In addition to the challenges, there is yoga, a wine and cheese party, and a meditation session. The Inn has outdoor and indoor pools, a full-service spa, salon, and fitness center. For more information, call 518-523-2544.

Wrinkle Be Gone
There are far greater hazards to travelers, but wrinkles (in your clothing, that is) are a nuisance. So Eagle Creek (known for its rugged backwoods and mountain climbing gear) has introduced its “Pack-It Folders.” Fold your clothing using the special folding board provided (full instructions included), slip your neat stack inside a Cordura Plus mesh “Pack-It,” close snugly, and stash in your suitcase. Since the clothing can no longer shift in your bag, it will arrive with a just-pressed look. Pack-Its are available in three sizes: Pack-It 15  (holds up to six shirts and can store in a briefcase, $19.85);  Pack-It 18 (8 to 12 shirts, blouses, slacks, $24.85); and Pack-It 20 (dresses, suits, sport coats and sweaters, $29.85). Available at luggage stores, department stores, and by mail-order catalogs such as Magellan’s. 800-962-4943.

Special Expeditions
Plan now to be part of Special Expeditions’ April adventure to Mexico. After four days aboard the 70-passenger Sea Lion or Sea Bird exploring the islands of the Sea of Cortez, travelers will stay in lodges on the mainland as they visit the Copper Canyon. Naturalists with varied specialties including geology, marine mammals, and birds will accompany the travelers. For more information, call 800-397-3348.

Ride in Style
International Limousines gets the vote for the finest limousine service in Paris. This company can take you in style from airport to hotel, to and from railway stations, around Paris day or night, to the country sightseeing, or around France and all of Europe. Rates are competitive with other, less-elegant airport transfers. International Limousines has a full fleet of perfectly maintained luxury cars including such models as the Mercedes Benz 600 SEL, 300 SEL, 230, and 220, Rolls Royce, Cadillac, Minibus Pullman, Renault Espace, and Renault Safrane Luxe. Drivers are fluent in English and impeccably dressed. For reservations or information call 011-33-1-53-81-14-14; fax: 011-33-1-45-74-66-07.