The R&B game has its next big thing in Ebony Riley. With her new EP, ebony, out today via Interscope Records, the Detroit native makes her case as one of the genre’s most thrilling prospects and adds her name to the long list of stars reared in the Motor City. In just seven songs, Ebony, previously known as “Riley Montana,” delivers an unforgettable project that blends the flavor of today’s R&B sounds with her charming mix of sass, sensuality and sensitivity. Whether its charged flirtation over an upbeat ’80s sample, cussing out a soon-to-be-ex lover out, or mediating on that eternal question – “Why me?” – ebony runs a range of emotions and is sure to have listeners reaching for the replay button. “I just want people to feel heard and understood when they listen to my music,” Ebony says. “I want to take people on a journey.” Join that journey and listen to the full ebony EP HERE.
Focus track “Deuce Deuce” sets the tone. On the song, she flips what could be a sad post-cheating revelation on its head, instead rewriting the typical narrative to come out on top. The kiss-off track comes complete with its official music video, featuring a cameo appearance from Lori Harvey. Watch the full “Deuce Deuce” video HERE. Further highlights include contributions from a who’s who of proven R&B hitmakers, including GRAMMY winner James Fauntleroy (“Why”), and GRAMMY nominees Shea Taylor, who produced four of the EP’s songs, Muni Long and Jeff Gitty (“Draws”).
A nine-year veteran of the modeling industry, Ebony Riley has graced the catwalk for top fashion houses and appeared in exclusive editorial spreads, including Vogue France and Harper’s Bazaar. But, the millennial covergirl notes, “Music was always on the menu.” Thanks to her mother and grandmother, Ebony had an early musical education in gospel and ‘90s R&B, and traces of such influences – The Clark Sisters, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu – exist in her own music. “I draw from all of them in my work,” the singer makes clear.
To celebrate the EP’s release and Ebony’s achievements, Interscope and Lenny S hosted exclusive listenings in New York and Los Angeles for partners and tastemakers to rousing reception. East Coast attendees included Drake, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Meek Mill, A$AP Ferg, and more, while Kelly Rowland, Coco Jones, The Internet’s Syd, Lori Harvey, Muni Long, Jozzi and others graced the LA festivities. If there was any doubt about Ebony’s appeal, all questions were answered when guests heard the EP and watched the “Deuce Deuce video.” The verdict? The crowd screaming, “run it back!!”
This new Forever stamp celebrates women’s soccer in the United States. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. National Team, millions of girls and women throughout the country participate in the fast-paced, competitive sport.
Soccer, also known as football internationally, is the most popular sport in the world, played by hundreds of millions of players in almost every country. In the United States, women’s soccer has gained a firm foothold in sports and popular culture. From youth leagues to the elite world champion U.S. National Team, millions of girls and women across the country participate in the fast-paced, competitive sport.
The stamp artwork depicts a female soccer player in action, striking a ball with a side volley. Conjuring the aesthetic of mid-century print design, illustrator Noah MacMillan (1988-2022) used simplified shapes and bold colors to convey the high energy and fast motion of the sport. The somewhat grainy rendering lends a timeless quality to the design, evoking not just a single all-star athlete or era, but the entire legacy of women’s soccer.
Art director Antonio Alcalá designed the stamp.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Storeat usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826 or at Post Office locations nationwide.
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 163 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Seven Attractions That Tell The Story Of Native Americans In Tennessee
You don’t have to look far to see the lasting legacy of Native Americans in Tennessee — in fact, the name “Tennessee” is derived from “Tanasi,” a Cherokee village in what is now Monroe County. Today, the state is home to more than 20,000 Native Americans and a rich culture and history waiting to be experienced by travelers. Below, check out seven attractions that tell the story of Tennessee’s Native American heritage.
Travel Tip: The Trail of Tears National Historic Trail runs east to west across Tennessee, carving a tragic story of the removal of Cherokee Indians from their ancestral homelands.
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park covers more than 1,200 acres and contains at least 15 Native American mounds, which were both burial and ceremonial in purpose. The park’s archaeological features and wildlife can be viewed along six miles of interconnecting trails, including paved trails, which are wheelchair/bicycle accessible. The park’s Pinson Mounds museum offers further insight into these fascinating structures; it is designed to replicate a Native American mound, offering 4,500 square feet of exhibit space, an archaeological library, an 80-seat theater and a “Discovery Room”’ for historical exploration.
Mound Bottom State Archaeological Area (only accessible to the public through hikes led by Harpeth River State Park rangers)
Head to the seven-acre Mound Bottom State Archaeological Area in Kingston Springs (just west of Nashville), where you’ll find the largest number of Native American ceremonial mounds in Tennessee — more than a dozen. Researchers believe the area was occupied between approximately 1000 and 1300 AD and was an important civic and ceremonial center connected to the Mississippian site of Cahokia, which was located across the river in what is now St. Louis. The Mound Bottom site is only accessible to the public through hikes led by Harpeth River State Park rangers — check the park’s events calendar for upcoming experiences.
Audubon Acres
Chattanooga’s oldest wildlife sanctuary, Audubon Acres, offers more than five miles of hiking trails over 130 acres on South Chickamauga Creek, along with abundant opportunities for picnicking, wildlife viewing, and photography. It’s also a spot steeped in Native American history. The visitor center houses an archeological museum showcasing one of the largest publicly viewable Native artifact collections in Chattanooga, while the Spring Frog Cabin, a Trail of Tears site, is a wonderfully preserved example of Cherokee architecture from the mid-1700s. Going back even further, Little Owl Village at Audubon Acres is believed to be the site of a 16th century Napochie village that the Spanish Tristan DeLuna expedition encountered during their travels north from Florida.
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
As the first great gateway to the American west, Cumberland National Historic Park is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in Tennessee’s Native American history. Located an hour north of Knoxville where the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia converge, the 24,000-acre park features miles of game trails that were originally used by Native Americans, allowing visitors to literally walk in the footsteps of the original stewards of the land. Later, those same trails became the footpaths for more than 300,000 settlers heading west over the Appalachian Mountains.
The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
With the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation at the helm, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is Tennessee’s only tribally operated historical attraction. The East Tennessee museum telling the amazing story of Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee writing system. Never before, or since, in the history of the world has one man, not literate in any language, perfected a system for reading and writing a language until Sequoyah. Located in the Great Smoky Mountains on the shores of beautiful Tellico Lake, the museum recently added the Max D. Ramsey Shoreline Trail, with 1.5 miles of walking trail, along the shoreline, bridges and boardwalks through the marshy areas.
Red Clay State Historic Park
The tragic Trail of Tears begins at Red Clay State Historic Park. Encompassing 263-acres of narrow valleys formerly used as cotton and pastureland, the park site was the last seat of Cherokee national government before the Indian Removal Act, which resulted in most of the Cherokee people in the area being forced to emigrate west in the 1830s. It was here that the Cherokee learned that they had lost their mountains, streams and valleys forever. On the 263-acre property, you’ll find hiking trails, reconstructed sleeping huts, homesteads, council houses, the Blue Hole Spring, which served as a water supply during council meetings and the Eternal Flame, a memorial for the Cherokee people and those who were lost on the Trail of Tears.
Cherokee Removal Memorial Park and Museum
Cherokee Indian Removal Memorial, located on the banks of the Tennessee River in Birchwood, was one of the main staging areas for the Trail of Tears. Thousands of Cherokee Indians camped here before their infamous trip to the west. Lying near the center of the ancestral land of the Cherokee Nation, this area had nine encampments of thousands of Cherokees that waited weeks to be sent across the river here at Blythe Ferry. Today, a History Wall feature offers visitors a detailed visual re-telling of not only the Trail of Tears, but also the centuries-long saga of the literate and highly civilized Cherokee culture in Tennessee. A Memorial Wall, meanwhile, pays tribute to the people who died during the Trail of Tears — a necessary reminder of this tragic episode in our nation’s history.
Tennessee is the home of the blues, bluegrass, country, gospel, soul, rockabilly, and rock ‘n’ roll— delivering an unparalleled experience of beauty, history, and family adventure, infused with music that creates a vacation that is the “Soundtrack of America. Made in Tennessee.” Explore more at TNvacation.com and join other Tennessee travelers by following “TNVacation” on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube, and “Tennessee” on Snapchat.
The Diesel democracy: denim, utility, pop and play, debuting in front of an audience of nearly 5,000. Experimentation for everybody, energy that’s inclusive; this 21st century Diesel reboot has only just begun. It’s a show that breaks a Guinness World Record: at the heart of the runway is the world’s largest ever inflatable sculpture.
“I wanted to open Diesel up to the public, for people who may never have been to a fashion show before. They deserve a spectacle, so we’ve broken the record for the biggest inflatable sculpture in the world. It’s what I believe about the fashion and the state of mind – everybody can be part of Diesel,” says Glenn Martens, creative director of Diesel.
Democratic fashion is everything, with experimentation and subversion for every single day. Denim devoré is created by weaving denim onto a transparent base, like the devoré corset waist of low-slung denim pants. The effect is also created with denim knits, while part-solarised denim is like it’s been left out in years of hot summer sun.
Denim is roughly embroidered with a layer of tulle that’s then torn, while totally distressed denim is held by stitching lines and a sheer lining to bring control to the destruction.
There’s also denim that’s been bonded with a layer of cotton then acid washed, revealing the denim once more. Scans of distressed denim have been taken to create second-skin trompe-l’oeil prints, while many pieces throughout the collection are trimmed with raw denim for pure Diesel energy.
Utility pants with supersized pockets are solarised for attitude, satin cargo pants are future perfect, while little fluid tops are held by wide utility belts. Nylon utility jackets and flying pants have cotton layers that are then cut away; dresses and pants are made from organza layers which are then cut open; double-layer printed T-shirts have smiley holes cut into the top layer to reveal the print beneath.
Acid floral slip dresses are trimmed with lace, as are tank minidresses with frill at the neck and arm. Vivid knits are coated then cracked open, like metallic pop dresses, or sleeveless vests fastened by hook-and-eye. Plasticised denim is waterproofed like jelly, creases left intentionally undyed, and metallic printed coats are like a city reflected in chrome.
Bonded leather jackets are cut with raw edges. Diesel Library denim pieces are bonded and encased in layers of rough-cut denim. Artisanal denim pieces are cut and distressed as if the denim is turning into fur; an artisanal coat is made entirely from over 15,000 distressed and brushed Diesel labels.
Slip-on denim heels have utility pockets to make going out easy. Strappy sandals have sporty soles, while patent boots are finished with a metallic D. Men’s flip-flops are moulded, while Prototype sneakers are cut open for summer. 1DR bags are medium or micro, while D-vina bags are tricked out with sparkling charms, or reimagined with a moulded D.
This season’s Diesel Eyewear collection is a special collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, launching exclusively through Diesel networks in February 2023. Each style, from aviator to wraparound, has colour edging and metallic temples finishing on a perfect D. One limited edition model has been exclusively developed for Diesel Runway and only 55 units will be immediately available through preorder on diesel.com with delivery in November 2022.
Show Facts:
– Guinness World Records have confirmed that the specially designed set has broken the record for the Largest Inflatable Sculpture.
– A capacity crowd of 4,800, with over 3,000 members of the public attending for free.
– When the public tickets went online on 1 September, they were gone in 90 minutes.
– 70% of the public tickets went to 18-25 year olds. – As well as the public, 1,600 fashion students from Milan were given free tickets.
– Also attending are NFT collectors, who received a free ticket with the purchase of their AW22 runway NFTs.
– Every single guest to the show will receive a commemorative NFT.
– The show, which marks the start of Milan Fashion Week, is held at the Allianz Cloud Arena under the patronage of the Municipality of Milan.
Diesel is an innovative international lifestyle company, founded by Renzo Rosso in 1978. Rooted in denim mastery and evolved into being a leader in premium fashion, Diesel is now a true alternative to the established luxury market.
The brand’s collections include apparel, accessories and a wide range of lifestyle collaborations: from fragrances, watches and jewellery, to interior design and real estate projects with Diesel Living. Discovering, supporting, and fostering creativity is part of Diesel DNA and of its parenting company OTB, the international fashion and luxury group powering a variety of global iconic brands and companies.
DIESEL SS23 PRESENTATION AT MILAN FASHION WEEK VIA 360 MAGAZINE
KO Média is excited to unveil the Fall issue of ELLE Decoration Canada, featuring a glimpse of designer Suzanne Dimma’s eco-conscious cottage in Ontario’s Haliburton County. Accessible by water, Dimma’s refuge in the wild is a warm, uncomplicated, relaxed cocoon where nature is the main source of inspiration. “Creating a connection, a conversation with one’s surroundings, is of the utmost importance,” says the designer. With a focus on wood in all its glory, plus a palette of stone greys and sky blues, Dimma honors the notion of the summer cabin—once the final resting place of that old family sofa—into a new, stylish, year-round living space.
The Fall issue will also introduce readers to another great lover of nature, architect Maxime Frappier, who has rooted his family life in a minimalist glass home amid the forests of Lanaudière, Quebec. Further afield, in the outskirts of Milan, Dutch architect Geert Koster demonstrates how to combine solitude with socializing in a contemporary, sustainable home inspired by the region’s traditional stables. Also in Italy, artist and sculptor Othmar Prenner has crafted an Alpine cabin in the Lunga Valley whose unique design features have got to be seen to be believed.
In keeping with the theme of nature, this issue is an ode to wood in décor, art and home life. We deep-dive into West Coast sculptor Neshka Krusche, who gathers, cinges and shapes cedar logs to make stunningeco-driven art. Readers with kids will also enjoy our list of the latest, greatest and most handsome wooden toys, guaranteed to add natural flair to their rumpus rooms. We also discover a game-changing 1952 design with a spotlight on Danish designer Arne Jacobson’s Ant chair.
Finally, in décor we turn to two Canadian gallerists for tips on purchasing (and displaying) art, share our latest favourite Canadian lighting designs and catch up with experts in the carpet industry to get their opinions on the season’s most exciting underfoot looks. We also explore a new kind of online space for vintage design collecting.
The Fall issue of ELLE Decoration Canada will hit stands and Apple News+ on September 26, 2022.
General Motors [GM] and Black Automotive Media Group [BAMG] Internship Returns for Year Two with Clark Atlanta University – Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Across Automotive Media
The Driving Force [TDF] internship program provides HBCU students with multimedia career development, enhancing the automobile industry’s diversity, equity and inclusion.
Dubbed The Driving Force (TDF), the 10-week internship is designed for students interested in covering the automobile industry; and incorporates instruction in editorial content, video content production, and social media outreach, augmented by GM executive presentations.
TDF evolved following discussions between automakers and BAMG related to increased diversity, equity and inclusion for Black media in the automotive sphere. These efforts have created additional opportunities to help prepare the next generation of automotive media professionals.
TDF is led by respected automotive media experts Kimatni D. Rawlins, BAMG founder and publisher of Automotive Rhythms Communications; Greg Morrison of Bumper2Bumpertv; and other key journalists and publishers including Marcus Amick and Teia B. Collier.
“The goal of TDF is to extend educational opportunities to HBCU students who may not be aware of the myriad media paths in automotive communications … My automotive journalism career began with an internship with a major auto manufacturer, so I am thankful for the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience, and the experiences of fellow BAMG members with Clark Atlanta interns,” said Rawlins.
Supported by General Motors, theTDFinternship, kicking off September 28th, is designed to highlight career opportunities as journalists, videographers, photographers, publicists, marketers, and digital and social media pundits covering the auto industry. Participants will showcase their work on various platforms at the end of the internship, and will also liaise with GM communications executives, designers, and product planners through a series of presentations and interviews.
“We are excited to enter into a second year of partnership with BAMG to support the amazing students of Clark Atlanta University,” said Michelle Malcho, vice president Product and Brand Communications, General Motors. “We look forward to learning together and helping to prepare them for exciting careers in communications and journalism.”
TDF’s mission parallels that of the Department of Mass Media Arts at Clark Atlanta University, which provides students with rigorous academic and professional training, complemented by a strong liberal arts education.
“We continue to move with momentum to ensure our scholars at Clark Atlanta University have access to a world-class education and that mission includes offering initiatives that focus on technology and enhancing their analytical thinking skills,” said Clark Atlanta University president, George T. French, Jr., Ph.D. “We want our students to exercise their creativity, be competitive in the world of technology and be included in the technology career pipeline. Initiatives such as this bring them one step closer to that goal.”
Clark Atlanta student, Joshua Paul Williams was a participant in the inaugural TDF session. “The business experience I inherited from participating in The Driving Force Multimedia Internship was far more than I could have imagined,” said Williams. “The program focused on individually developing each student’s communications and networking skills which has given me lifelong connections, practical lessons, and an expanded perspective.”
ABOUT GENERAL MOTORS
Based in Detroit, General Motors is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which powers everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet,Buick,GMC,Cadillac, Baojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found HERE.
ABOUT CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY
Established in 1988 by the historic consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University continues a 152-year legacy rooted in African-American tradition and focused on the future. Through global innovation, transformative educational experiences, and high-value engagement, CAU cultivates lifted lives that transform the world. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit HERE.
ABOUT BLACK AUTOMOTIVE MEDIA GROUP
BAMG is a distinguished group of Black reporters, publishers, writers, and entrepreneurs representing over 100 years of combined experience in automotive journalism within radio, television, print, experiential marketing, and social media. BAMG members either work for or own various automotive media platforms targeting diverse audiences. BAMG’s primary objective is to bring equity and equality to Black professionals who work in and around the automotive industry. For additional details regarding The Driving Force HBCU internship program, please go HERE.
Gucci Attache, the house’s latest bag style. The Attache Bag is characterized by an adaptable “G” clasp at the bottom of the strap which transforms the silhouette into a stunning half moon shape. This style draws upon a playful 1970s aesthetic and reaffirms the house’s ongoing efforts in gender inclusivity, offering eight distinct unisex styles.
A piece of contemporary design created from the awareness of a modern attitude and of the intentional revival of a historical object from the archive: Gucci Attache is a bag that reinterprets tradition and the system of House codes while transporting a silhouette, which draws from an intuition and an attitude of the 1970s, into the present through a narrative and gesturality outside the confines of gender, feminine or masculine.
Attache, like the French word for “hook,” like the geometry with which, through the power of symbols, can be defined as onomatopoeic because it closes onto itself like a hook. Or like the metallic hook that attaches the two corners. Attache, therefore, is the bag that progresses from a half-moon design encompassed by the Web, distinguished by a metal G that opens and closes its silhouette.
Versatile as a symbol, in shape, and in volume, the Gucci Attache is presented as the essence of a very current attitude and gesturality. Both in its medium and small sizes and in the diverse ways it can be worn, either on the shoulder or across the body, the line presents that appeal that only objects with dual functions can have.
“I was fascinated by the bag after having laid upon it a casual and fleeting glance while I was in the archive… Immediately, a desire took shape to reinterpret it and include it in the Love Parade collection for the fashion show in Los Angeles because its silhouette, typical of the Seventies, projects a very modern attitude that convinced me to draw out an eclectic symbol that could express the idea of a dual function. It is its G-shaped clasp detail, with its mechanical origin, that makes it the joining link between a bourgeois spirit, typical of an object of this kind, and the functionality of the world of utility,” says Alessandro Michele, Creative Director of Gucci.
With its interchangeable straps, in leather or the Web, that allow it to become both a shoulder bag and a handbag, the Gucci Attache is an item of design that is both transportable and ergonomic, living in contact with the body, a perfect silhouette to add to a hypothetical collection of objects of desire. In other words, of those wonderful, useful, inseparable objects that in the culture of contemporary living, have become bags.
The Gucci Attache is featured in a campaign that Art Director and photographer Max Siedentopf shot against a metropolitan backdrop, underlining the same symbols that form the meaning of this bag: references and perspectives that together, know how to create that glam-utility that is the expression of a culture of appearance and practicality. Two elements that create a desire for beauty.
From time to time, one comes across a galaxy of new talents. NSB is the acronym for North Star Boys. The name for the group derives from the essence of The North Star, known as the anchor of the northern sky. Those who follow it often find new direction, leading to a certain destination.
Since ancient times, many Asians have followed the North Star as it represents both a beacon of inspiration and hope for the future. Thus, Oliver Moy and Sebastian Moy commend the advice of their mother. Mama Moy encouraged them to follow their ‘North Star;’ and she was convinced it would lead them to their dreams. Oliver maintains that, “I always wanted to be an inspiration and a voice for other Asian Americans, so I thought it was a perfect idea to call us the guys from North Star.”
Conjured by the Moy brothers, NSB is the first Asian American mixed media septet. The group consists of seven cronies: the Moy brothers, Ryan Nguyen, Regie Macalino, Kane Ratan, Darren Liang and Justin Phan. Furthermore, upon meeting Tyler Bray, at an industry mixer, he immediately witnessed potential and signed them to his management company. After all, they became an overnight internet sensation adored by millions.
Oliver wrote and produced the highly anticipated debut single, you are my star. This song is a hit! Approximately composed in 30 minutes, he recalls, “It was quite easy to write about how I feel at this point in my life, so after putting it together I went straight to recording on a computer.” Upon its release, it achieved instant success after being marketed by HitCo Entertainment–an imprint co-founded by L.A. Reid and Charles Goldstuck. The label’s immediate directives: artist development, innovativeness and multi-platform content creation. Lastly, HitCo possesses an impressive roster: Big Boi (Outkast), Dinah Jane (Fifth Harmony), Dixie D’Amelio as well as French Montana.
Soon after their inauguration (August 2021), they quickly achieved notoriety–largely attributed to their charisma, content fabrication and fan engagement.
Six months later, they far exceeded expectations and attained millions of followers across various social platforms: TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
During their 360 chat, NSB acknowledges Tyler as an extremely successful enterpriser. Subsequent to being saluted by Forbes 30 Under 30, Tyler wanted to formulate a collective of like-minded individuals whose sole directive is to “inspire and be the Asian representation in the media that they did not see growing up.”
Holding firm to their convictions, NSB hosted their inaugural meet and greet in Times Square for their devoted fans, affectionately referred to as Stars. “We had a great impact, because we expected 200 people to come and more than 1,500 came,” they tell us.
Behind the album release, NSB plans to embark on a major city concert series in The Big Apple, Chicago, Dallas as well as a world tour that kicks off in the Philippines.
NEW! EXPLORE THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS AND MOUNTAINS ON AN ELECTRIC SUPERCAR ROAD TRIP
Weeklong program is an eco-sensitive, road-tripping adventure in a Porsche
If you’re a fan of adventure and luxury cars, this new supercar driving program is for you. Adding the glide of a luxury electric car, you’ll travel through Norwegian fjords and the Sunnmore Alps on a supercar road trip, enjoying empty open roads and breathtaking scenery behind the wheel of an electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. The route is pre-programmed; you do the driving.
Driving the roads along mountain passes, bridges and labyrinthine tunnels will amp up the adrenaline for any driving enthusiast. And this time, it’s done in the most sustainable, exhilarating fashion: in an electric supercar of the highest renown.
Delivering a racetrack experience along the edge of the fjords, the emission-free electric supercar Porsche comes equipped with pre-programmed routes that journey through Norway’s stunning fjords and mountains.
The Porsche has room to hold everything needed for the six-day trip and smoothly handles the winding mountain and forest routes that have inspired Norwegian folklore. Set the car on cruise control, feel the power, and take in the ever-changing scenery outside.
You’ll enjoy a night in the art nouveau town of Alesund, where a boat ride among the fjords provides an extra sense of adventure. A night in a traditional Sami tent deep in the pine forests plus all hotel accommodations along the route support the program’s sustainability emphasis. All provide eco-toiletries in the rooms, locally sourced produce in the restaurants, and use only electric or hybrid vehicles. Onsite chargers are provided for your vehicle.
“We created this program for guests to travel through the stunning Norwegian fjords in a stylish and comfortable manner without impacting the environment,” commented Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel.
Inclusions
The adventure aspect of the trip is paramount. Travelers will journey along the spectacular Atlantic Road known as “the road across the sea” with its imposing seven bridges and network of tunnels, travel deep into the magnificent mountains to the Troll Wall, the largest rock wall in Europe; take a ferry into the gaping Geiranger fjord; journey up a gondola for the views of the North Atlantic; and experience the fjords from the sky in a private helicopter.
The cutting-edge electric supercar achieves 283 miles on a charge and has a built-in “charging planner” that calculates the optimum route based on your charge status.
The menu each day features the region’s best local cuisine including seafood from hyper-local purveyors.
The seven-day, six-night drive the fjords itinerary is priced from £7899 per person ($9747 USD at the time of this writing) including all meals and accomodations, based on double occupancy; with accommodations in Brosundet, Storfjord and Union Oye; transfers; all activities; and use of the electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Flights are additional.
Day 1: Arrive in Alesund. From the window of your aircraft, you’ll see the crystal clear fjords and jagged peaks of the Sunnmore Alps. Transfer from the airport to the art nouveau town of Alesund to check into Hotel Brosundet. Once settled, you will board a boat and head out into the fjords to Flatsea lighthouse. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the lighthouse and make use of the jacuzzi and sauna before heading back to your hotel for dinner in Apotekergata No. 5.
Day 2: In the morning, check out and meet your driver who will take you to Hotel Storfjord in the town of Storfjord. Enjoy a welcome cocktail at the Lavvu, a traditional Sami tent set deep in the pine forests surrounding the hotel. Take in your surroundings and learn about some of the highlights of the trip ahead. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing and maybe head to the spa.
Day 3: After breakfast begin your personal driving adventure along the North Atlantic Overpass. Drive north toward the Atlantic Ocean Road. Your car will be packed with a delicious Storfjord picnic basket complete with local cheese, meats, berries and sparkling wine. Arrive at a dramatic overpass that is a marvel of engineering: your car will appear to fly over the Atlantic as you wind from island to island. The scenery is breath-taking and you can find a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy your picnic. On the return journey, take in the Sunmore peaks dotting the horizon. This will be your playground for the next few days as you adventure deeper into the fjords.
Day 4: Head to the mountains of Romsdal. The first stop will be at the Troll wall, the highest rock wall in Europe. Enjoy pastries packed by the kitchen and continue deeper into the mountains where the Trollstigen will appear with a winding road up to the summit. This is one of the most magnificent vantage points in Norway. Descend the Valdel Valley which will lead you back to the fjords. A ferry to Stranda offers a glimpse of things to come as the fjords get narrower and deeper. Pause at the view point between the tunnels and stare directly into the gaping chasm of the Geiranger fjord. The final destination is Union Oye – an historic royal oasis at the end of the valley. Check in and enjoy a delicious dinner before relaxing in the evening.
Day 5: After a night’s rest and breakfast of local produce, take the quiet roads winding towards the west and leave the fjords behind you. Before long you will trace the coastline towards Stryn, the perfect spot for lunch and a journey on a gondola to take in the views over the North Atlantic. As you head further inland, the fjord hamlet of Geiranger will come into view. Board the ferry, sit back and enjoy a cruise through the grandest fjord of them all with waterfalls cascading off the mountains. Disembark at Hellesylt and drive to Union Oye.
Day 6: A visit to the Sunmore region celebrates the seafood heritage of the region. You’ll visit an island off the west coast for a five-course seafood menu. On the return journey, skirt Storfjord as you arrive back for your final meal.
Day 7: For the final morning you’ll say farewell to you luxe Porsche supercar and take to the skies for an aerial tour of the roads you have been driving on. This trip provides an immersive experience as the helicopter weaves in and out of the fjords high over the mountain peaks. At the end, a private driver will transport you to Alesund Vigra airport for your departure.
OFF THE MAP TRAVEL
The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in Soft Adventure OTMT creates tailor-made holiday itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies. For more information on Off the Map Travel itineraries vist HERE.
JLF Architects Announces May 2022 Release of New Book “Foundations” Published by Rizzoli and Featuring 16 Stunning Legacy Houses
JLF Architects’ announces the publication of “Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects” (Rizzoli New York), debuting on May 3, 2022, and offering an in-depth look at 16 spectacular homes designed by the Bozeman, Montana-based firm in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho and New York. The 256-page coffee-table book, already receiving media acclaim, features 200 photographs of JLF-designed houses, thoughtfully sited amid breathtaking scenery and rooted in regional history, materials and methods.
JLF Architects announces the May 3, 2022, publication of the firm’s new book “Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects.” Published by Rizzoli New York, written by Seabring Davis with JLF Design Build and with some 200 photographs by Audrey Hall, “Foundations” highlights 16 stunning JLF-designed houses set amid remarkable scenery in the mountains, on the water, in the forest and the foothills of Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho and New York.
“Breathtaking houses that are built lovingly with noble materials and heritage methods, always presented in profound conversation with nature,” writes Rizzoli about the book, which has already received accolades from “BigLife” magazine in a feature on the “Modern Artifact” Park City house from the book in its recent Spring 2022 issue. And “Big Sky Journal HOME” applauds JLF Architects as the “esteemed firm [that] brings decades of experience to bear on rustic and modern design solutions” in its review of the book.
From their first project some 40 years ago, challenged with creating a Montana cabin to match existing log structures on a century-old homestead property, JLF pioneered the idea of reusing old materials. “Reclaiming the wood and rebuilding it into a new form kindled a movement in American architecture,” they write in the introduction to “Foundations.” “The early work stirred a revival of craft that launched JLF’s time-honored design-build philosophy … The authenticity of materials with their natural blemishes worn by axes, adzes, boot heels, horse hooves, and the elements seemed to belong to the Montana landscape. The buildings appeared as if they had always been there, enduring and timeless.”
JLF has taken its history-rich designs in increasingly contemporary directions in recent years, continually pushing its own limits to lead the way in what has become known as Rustic Modern or Mountain Modern design. Bringing a fresh contemporary approach to Old-World materials and methods, these JLF legacy houses retain the connections to regional history and the land that resonate deeply with homeowners, combining the highest level of artisanal craftsmanship with up-to-the-minute sustainable technology. As “Foundations” states, “Building a legacy house – large or small – with purpose is the definitive reward … we build houses that weather time, traditions, trends, and generations with practical grace.”
“BigLife” spotlights a spectacular Park City, Utah, project by JLF in “Building Dreams.” Appropriately featured in the magazine’s PLACE section, it recognizes the firm’s commitment to designing in concert with specific history and landscape since that first cabin design in 1979, which it calls “an origin story of resourcefulness and a pitch-perfect sense of place.” “BigLife” writes, “JLF has become renowned for the way that their projects are at home in their environs,” adding that the Park City house “perfectly marries the authenticity of place with a modern sensibility” and that the new book “Foundations” “offers insight into the intentionality that goes into each JLF project.”
“Big Sky Journal” reviews “Foundations” in its just-out popular annual HOME issue, writing of JLF Architects “working to build in partnership with the land through environmentally responsible, artful design” and sharing a quote from the new book to summarize the philosophy of the firm that has become known for creating “brand-new 100-year-old houses”: “The most sustainable thing we can do is design a house that will still be here in a hundred years, a place where people can gather for generations to come.”
“Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects” includes a foreword by writer, filmmaker and conservationist John Heminway, who similarly captures the mystique of a JLF house: “A home should be right in every way. It should impress, not through grandeur but through simplicity, authority, and grace. Ideally, it is located, designed, and crafted so thoughtfully that it appears the only imaginable structure for the landscape. Let others erect castles, as long as JLF can build you a home where, inside and out, you will feel better, be better … the home of the heart.”
About JLF Architects:
With over 40 years of experience, JLF Architects, pioneers in building houses with reclaimed antique timber and indigenous stone, continue as leaders in creating sustainable legacy houses that contrast rustic materials with the best of contemporary design. The award-winning Bozeman, Montana-based firm with offices in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah, applies distinctive solutions and Old-World techniques to create place-based houses closely aligned with the natural world and honoring history, from the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern Seaboard. Winners of “Mountain Living” Home of the Year, the JLF Architects and Big-D Signature design-build team unites passionate architects with dedicated builders to enable the collective imagination of visionary artisans working with visionary clients. For more information go HERE and follow JLF on Instagram and Pinterest.
