Indice dei contenuti per March 2018 in Sunset

“Propagating is a great spring activity for indoor gardeners.”ARIANA TANABE OF PISTILS NURSERY Good news for apartment dwellers: Green-thumb projects aren’t limited to big yards. According to Ariana Tanabe, plant buyer and manager at Pistils Nursery in Portland (pistilsnursery.com), the process is simple. Snip cuttings with 3 to 5 nodes from the trailing tips of healthy, established plants—like no-fuss Scindapsus pictus, Tradescantia zebrina, and Monstera deliciosa—and drop the cut end into clean water, making sure 1 to 2 nodes are submerged. Any vessel will do, but a more elegant solution is one of Pistils’ locally made propagation vases (from $18; inset), which provides a clear view of emerging roots and cheerful leaves. Once the root reaches 1 inch (usually in 1 to 2 weeks), transplant into a pot filled with…

It’s the most romantic name in the world for a mountain: sky island. The two words conjure up a magical, lofty kingdom from Avatar or your favorite children’s book, and though they’re surrounded by land and not water, they possess all the island essentials. They are separate. They follow their own rules. And they are hard to get to. Rising from sparse grasslands or deserts, sky islands aren’t hard to define. They’re isolated peaks, shooting up out of the flatlands like the first stalks of corn in a summer garden. And they rise in more than one corner of the American West: from volcanic Mt. Rainier in Washington to Mt. Lassen in California toNevada’s Mt. Charleston, part of Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. Perhaps the least-known natural wonders, these heights are…

Portland’s east side has no shortage of buzzy hubs (we’re looking at you, Division/Clinton). In the past, residential Kerns—with its charming, tree-shaded bungalows —wasn’t really one of them, but that’s changed. Beneath the glowing marquee of an art deco movie theater, a madein- Portland bazaar has blossomed. Now you might find long lines of people clamoring for a taste of the latest viral food trend, while envelop-epushing art galleries wait at the ready to take in the spillover. It’s enough to make you think of Kerns as the nice kid in high school who went unnoticed for years— then came back from summer vacation a total catch. 10 A.M. In a town that practically worships coffee, Crema Coffee + Bakery (cremabakery.com) is an unfussy place to start the day, with single-origin…

WHEN NIKI NAKAYAMA was house-hunting in Greater Los Angeles, she had one rule: “If there wasn’t room for a vegetable garden, it wasn’t right,” says the chef and co-owner, along with her wife and sous chef Carole Iida-Nakayama, of the wildly popular restaurant N/Naka. At the heart of their modern take on kaiseki—a traditional Japanese cuisine involving one- or two-bite courses and impeccable plating—are seasonal ingredients. And what could be fresher than food grown in the couple’s own yard? Eventually they landed on a midcentury modern home in Culver City. The back quickly became a playground for their three dogs, but they saw potential in a sunny, 700-square-foot front yard overgrown with hedges and patchy grass. Enter Dan Allen of L.A.- and Oakland-based urban-agriculture design firm Farmscape (farmscapegardens.com), who replaced…

1. Add fresh compost to new or existing beds, plus a few handfuls of organic granular fertilizer. 2. Use a garden fork to turn in amendments and loosen up compacted areas; rake smooth and remove large chunks of clay. 3. Check your irrigation for breaks, leaks, and blocks before planting. 4. Follow spacing instructions on seed packets and plant tags. Picture each crop at their future fullest and give them room to thrive. 5. Mulch around seedlings with a 1-inch top-dressing to retain moisture.…

IDEA WE LOVE Contain yourself If clay soil has been holding your garden back, there’s a solution: Place pots right in the landscape. Here, planting a needle-leafed Grevillea ‘Long John’, which requires well-draining soil, in a large ceramic container with its preferred potting mix avoids tough in-bed conditions. “Just be sure to lift up the pot with bricks,” says San Francisco designer Heather Fletcher of Giant Landscaping (giantlandscaping.com). “There should be good air circulation between the container and the ground.” Finish the look with hardy complementary plants such as Lomandra longifolia ‘Breeze’ (which can handle in-ground clay), Coprosma ‘Rainbow Surprise’, and cistus that won’t detract from your potted favorite. Soften straight lines and edges by letting plants grow a little wild.MIKE IRVINE, SENIOR GARDEN EDITOR PLANT Get into the St.…

IDEA WE LOVE Let there be light There’s no reason to give up on the dark corners of your garden. Over a thick carpet of hardy miniature brass buttons (Leptinella gruveri), the fine golden leaves of Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ pair handsomely with the shimmering, green-veined foliage of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’. All three are perennials, happy in shady conditions beneath a tree or shrub, and as hands-off as they come. “Low-maintenance is an important criteria for me to like a plant,” says Tish Treherne, the Bainbridge Island designer behind this yard (blissgardendesign.com). “And this trio fits that bill.” If slugs are feasting on your hostas, try a shade-loving brunnera instead.MIKE IRVINE, SENIOR GARDEN EDITOR PLANT Before sowing any cool-season vegetables, warm up the soil by covering it with a sheet…

THE AROMA HITS you first, a heady mix of briny air and sweet, citrusy plumeria. A garland of the white and-yellow blossoms hangs between two palm trees at the entrance to a shady patch of lawn set just above an umbrella-dotted Maui beach. At the center stands an intimate dinner table draped with wildflowers and artisan ceramics—your first indication that this is no South Shore luau. The dreamlike party is the creation of Amanda Robson, founder of the Feast Hawaii pop-up dinner series. Each event revolves around a farm-to-table meal and intricate crafts that use local materials, inviting guests to relax and tune in to their surroundings throughout the evening. Tonight’s setting is the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, with the West Maui Mountains shrouded in a halo of…

BLACK SEA BASS with MELTED FENNEL and PRESERVED LEMON SERVES 4 / 40 MINUTES Ethan Bier, chef at Marciano Estate winery in St. Helena, California, cooks his recipe with a fruity extra-virgin olive oil and finishes with the estate’s more robust (and award-winning) Massiglia oil. Any mild white fish—such as halibut, snapper, or grouper—works well here. 2 medium fennel bulbs (1 lb. total), trimmed and cored (save fronds)1⁄4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling1 medium shallot, sliced1 bay leaf1 sprig each fresh thyme and rosemary Kosher salt1⁄4 cup anise-flavor liqueur such as Pernod; or 1⁄4 cup white wine plus 1/4 tsp. ground fennel 1 cup bottled clam juice or fish stock1 preserved lemon*, thinly sliced, or zest of 1 lemon1 pt. cherry tomatoes3⁄4 cup pitted mixed olives11⁄2 lbs.…

GOOD READ Ask James Syhabout what it feels like to put his first cookbook out into the world, and the answer is simple and immediate. “I can finally exhale,” he says. The 38-year-old chef, whose Bay Area restaurants run the gamut from the Michelin-starred Commis to the fried chicken– focused Hawking Bird, traces his own culinary and immigrant journey in Hawker Fare: Stories & Recipes from a Refugee Chef’s Isan Thai & Lao Roots (Ecco; $40). Published under Anthony Bourdain’s imprint and illustrated with images shot at Syhabout’s kitchen in Oakland and across the villages, temples, and night markets of Southeast Asia, the book is equal parts memoir and immersion into largely unfamiliar flavors. Along the way, Syhabout’s honest, tender narrative taps into our universal search for identity (with side…

Trust three ocean-loving friends with a passion for design to launch a versatile dive watch at a laidback price point. “Our watches are for everyday use, so they have to be appropriate for the beach or a business meeting,” says Marty Pomphrey, cofounder of Aulta Surf (along with sportswear entrepreneur Abe Allouche and Kauai-born power surfer Pancho Sullivan). The Hawaii-based line launched three years ago with a direct-to-consumer model and an emphasis on clean, classic shapes such as the Acuatico Automatic (from $230; above), which features a Japanese- made mechanical movement and is water-resistant to 200 meters. Comparing a day spent surfing with his buddies to “feeling like I’ve won the lottery of life,” Pomphrey nails his brand’s appeal: the essence of adventure, represented on your wrist. aultasurf.com.…

EAT Fuel up for the day with buttermilk pancakes at Mt. Charleston Lodge (mtcharlestonlodge.com), perched on a mountainside at 7,717 feet. GEEK OUT What are limestone cliffs doing in the middle of a desert? Get answers at the U.S. Forest Service’s hugely fun and informative Spring Mountains Visitor Gateway (gomtcharleston.com). HIKE From the Visitor Gateway, the 2.6-mile Acastus Trail weaves through pines and aspens. Should the altitude get to you, take advantage of the occasional benches.…

11 A.M. Start at the Salt at Our Kaka‘ako complex (saltatkakaako.com), a redesigned city block that serves as the neighborhood nexus. You’ll find cold brew and breakfast toasts at the trendy Arvo (arvocafe.com); mini succulents and other botanical gifts at adjacent Paiko (paiko hawaii.com); and art books and retro camera supplies at Treehouse (treehouse-shop.com). 12 P.M. Kaka‘ako was mostly bland garages and warehouses when artist Jasper Wong launched the annual Pow! Wow! mural festival (powwowhawaii.com) in 2011. These days, 90 continually changing wall paintings line the streets. You’ll pass many of them by walking east on Auahi Street, peeking down Lana Lane, then heading north to Mother Waldron Playground. 1 P.M. Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a seat at the casual but just-plain-delicious Piggy Smalls (thepig andthelady.com). Think twice-fried chicken wings…

At the geographic heart of San Francisco, the Cole Valley neighborhood exists in cozy quietude thanks to the hills that surround it on three sides. The Muni Metro light rail from downtown runs through a tunnel before reaching the intersection of Cole and Carl, so that one minute you’re in the dark, the next you’re stepping out into a quaint district full of beautiful Victorian homes. Here you can lose yourself in urban woods and side streets that make you forget about the busy, tech-driven energy of the City by the Bay. In fact, the only crowd you might come across is a line outside a much-beloved brunch institution, but don’t fret—this is S.F.’s calm place. 9 A.M. Just steps from Cole Valley’s central Muni stop, you’ll find Zazie (zaziesf.com), a…

DISPLAYED COLLECTIONS ADD A GRAPHIC PUNCH TO BUILT-INS. When Raili Clasen bought a 1950s beach bungalow on Lido Isle in Newport Beach, California, she never imagined herself actually living in it. The trashed property came with good bones and instead was meant to be her showcase flip, a way to put a unique and fun twist on the man-made island’s more traditional turnkey listings. “The one aha was the pitched living room ceilings with open beams that were untouched. That was the clincher,” says Clasen, who likes to balance modern sophistication with a not-too-serious surf style. “I wanted the project to feel like it was truly designed.” But her vision for the home, set among the more than 900 tightly packed houses across the island’s 100 acres, changed after contractors…

SERVES 6 (MAKES 24) / 11⁄4 HOURS In a frying pan, cook 1/4 cup finely diced onion with 2 tsp. canola oil until softened; let cool completely. Meanwhile, slit 1/2 lb. large shishito peppers* (about 3 in. long) lengthwise on one side to within 3/4 in. of each end. Mix onion, 1/4 lb. ground chicken or turkey breast, 3 tbsp. lightly beaten egg, 2 tbsp. minced shiso leaves*, and 1/4 tsp. each kosher salt and pepper. Stuff peppers with chicken filling. Heat a grill to medium (400° to 450°) with a perforated grill pan on cooking grate. Mix 1 tbsp. soy sauce and 1 tbsp. canola oil. Brush all over peppers, then tip them into hot grill pan. Brown on each side, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer to a…

IDEA WE LOVE Make waves Let’s be honest: A front yard covered in a thick, flat layer of old gravel can leave something to be desired. Jim Haggerty and Daniel Clemens, co-owners of Palm Springs–based Desert Landscape Design (desertlandscapedesign.com), offer an artful and practical use for lackluster rock. “Instead of paying to haul it out,” they say, “mound it up to give the garden contour.” The result mimics the look of windswept dunes topped with compacted, decomposed granite to keep everything in place. Finish the look with century plants (Agave americana) and golden barrel cactus—low-water stunners that grow happily in stone and sand. Less can be more—make an impact by mass planting a single variety.MIKE IRVINE, SENIOR GARDEN EDITOR PLANT Continue to plant cool-season veggies, including cabbages, root and leaf…

Driving over the mountains from the east coast of Canada’s Vancouver Island, I smack into a violent squall. Seriously, it’s like someone is dropping bucketfulls of gravel on my windshield. As the highway nears the ocean and enters Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, though, the rain slows to a drizzle. At the sight of a sign that says, simply, “Rain Forest,” I pull over without hesitation and step into one of the only true rain forests in temperate North America. The hood of my jacket zipped tight, I follow an elevated cedar-plank boardwalk through lime-green ferns and red cedars hung with garlands of moss and lichen. The boardwalk may be practical— designed to protect the fragile forest floor—but it’s also kind of magical, morphing into a staircase that twists up…

YOU could say my husband, Patrick McEvoy, knows his corned beef and cabbage. For decades he’s been cooking up his specialty every March 17 for 100 friends or more. Maybe it’s his Irish- American heritage that makes the dish come out beautifully spiced and succulent every time, or maybe it’s the glug of Guinness that goes in the pots. Whatever the reason, our annual party rocks, and this dish is the star. Not everyone wants to cook for 100, of course, so I’ve scaled my husband’s recipe to serve a mere dozen. However many people you host, be sure to queue the Irish music and ice down some beer for Half-and-Halfs (equal parts Guinness stout and Harp lager). Sláinte! PATRICK’S CORNED BEEF and CABBAGE SERVES 12 / 6 HOURS Over…

FREE INFORMATION There are two easy ways to request information: VISIT sunsetgetaways.com MAIL the attached post-paid card TRAVEL TRAVEL CHRONICLES 101 Albany County Tourism Board 102 Black Oak Casino Resort 103 Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce 104 Gilroy Welcome Center 105 Gray Line Alaska 106 Ketchikan Visitors Bureau 107 Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau 108 Oregon’s Tualatin Valley 109 Rancho la Puerta 110 Travel Medford & Southern Oregon 111 Ukiah—Hub of Mendocino County 112 Visit Buena Park 113 Visit Central Oregon 114 Visit Lompoc LLC 115 Visit Temecula Valley 116 Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau 117 ALASKA 118 Alaska Travel Industry Assoc. 119 Explore Fairbanks 120 UnCruise Adventures 121 ARIZONA 122 Arizona Office of Tourism 123 El Portal Sedona 124 Grand Canyon West 125 Lake Havasu City Convention &…

Baseball fans who flock to Arizona’s Valley of the Sun this month tend to focus more on spring training schedules than hotel interiors. Even so, The Scott Resort & Spa—currently undergoing renovation, in Scottsdale’s Old Town—is guaranteed to get their attention. Design firm AvroKO (the creative minds behind such eye-candy hospitality projects as SingleThread Farm in Healdsburg, California, and San Francisco’s China Live food hall) created a breezy, decadent space that feels like a tropical step back in time. Curved brass fixtures and polished ceramic tile provide glamorous counterpoints to the lushness of palm-fringed courtyards, rattan furnishings, and Cuban American–influenced cuisine. The 204-room resort is a refuge from Southwest heat, whether you’re sipping on a Sunset Limited at the bar or kicking back by the pool in a linen-draped cabana.…

“Use real and raw materials; don’t cut corners.”CO-OWNER EMMA CROWTHER From its custom candles scented with Santa Monica Mountain sages to the complimentary-use surfboards in a palette of vintage colors, every detail at the newly reopened The Surfrider Hotel evokes its Malibu, California, location. When design architect and developer Matthew Goodwin discovered the former roadside motel was up for sale, he jumped on a plane in pursuit of the iconic property—a 1953 landmark well-known in beach culture and frequented by many rock stars of the ’60s and ’70s. Along with his wife, creative director Emma Crowther, and business partner Alessandro Zampedri, Goodwin revived the dilapidated structure with its surroundings in mind. Imagine a judicious layering of natural materials using reclaimed-teak floorboards, jute rugs, raw linens, basket-weave pendant lights, and wabi-sabi…

HAWAII’S THIRD-LARGEST island is much loved by the masses for good reason—umbrella drinks, brilliant white beaches, aquamarine surf, vivid coral reefs. But there’s a lot more happening here than sand, sea, and kitsch. Home to cosmopolitan Honolulu, Oahu has become the place where the islands’ indigenous, Asian, and surf cultures (among many others) intersect with mainland trends. Increasingly, that means a dynamic and often more authentically Hawaii mix is replacing the old stereotypes. High-rise beach hotels have given way to midcentury-style boutique stays, and coconut knickknacks to Oahu-designed fashion. Sustainable farms are also growing fresh produce for a groundswell of hip new restaurants that wouldn’t feel out of place in Los Angeles. The campiness hasn’t disappeared altogether, though: It’s just that there are alternatives to go along with the occasional…

In 1950, Ralph Edwards —host of the Truth or Consequences game show —announced he’d broadcast an episode from a city that renamed itself after the program. Hot Springs, New Mexico, took the gig, though these days locals refer to it as “T or C.” Here, you’ll find artists, old-timers in work boots, and health seekers with crystal pendants lingering downtown for fiddle nights and taking long soaks in the area’s hot springs. Nearby, conservationist Ted Turner opened two wildlife ranches to visitors, and at Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic hopes to soon send customers into orbit. You know, just your typical New Age–meets-thespace- age fun. 6:30 A.M. Rise early and drive 40 minutes southwest for a customized safari at Ted Turner’s massive 156,000-acre Ladder Ranch (tedturnerexpeditions.com). As the spiky yuccas take in…

DO THIS The new clean living TODAY’S METHOD FOR ORGANIZATION isn’t about acquiring bins and baskets to corral accumulations. In their first book, New Minimalism: Decluttering and Design for Sustainable, Intentional Living (Sasquatch Books, $24.95), Kyle Quilici and Cary Fortin begin with a guide to extreme spring cleaning and continue with rules for thoughtful acquisitions. “People tell us they hear our voice when they are mindlessly shopping,” says Fortin. “That’s when I know we’ve created holistic, long-lasting change—when their mentality has shifted along with their space.” With an emphasis on conservation and meaningful reuse, Quilici and Fortin share their fuss-free tips for a stylish, streamlined home. 1. IDENTIFY THE CLUTTER Countertops covered with everyday items indicate that cabinets and drawers are stuffed with nonessentials. 2. REDEFINE “FULL” If storage is…

IDEA WE LOVE Let there be light There’s no reason to give up on the dark corners of your garden. Over a thick carpet of hardy miniature brass buttons (Leptinella gruveri), the fine golden leaves of Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ pair handsomely with the shimmering, green-veined foliage of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’. All three are perennials, happy in shady conditions beneath a tree or shrub, and as hands-off as they come. “Low-maintenance is an important criteria for me to like a plant,” says Tish Treherne, the Bainbridge Island designer behind this yard (blissgardendesign.com). “And this trio fits that bill.” If slugs are feasting on your hostas, try a shade-loving brunnera instead.MIKE IRVINE, SENIOR GARDEN EDITOR PLANT Space for cool-season vegetables—like broccoli, leafy greens, peas, and root crops— is easier to justify…

IDEA WE LOVE Make waves Let’s be honest: A front yard covered in a thick, flat layer of old gravel can leave something to be desired. Jim Haggerty and Daniel Clemens, co-owners of Palm Springs–based Desert Landscape Design (desertlandscapedesign.com), offer an artful and practical use for lackluster rock. “Instead of paying to haul it out,” they say, “mound it up to give the garden contour.” The result mimics the look of windswept dunes topped with compacted, decomposed granite to keep everything in place. Finish the look with century plants (Agave americana) and golden barrel cactus—low-water stunners that grow happily in stone and sand. Less can be more—make an impact by mass planting a single variety.MIKE IRVINE, SENIOR GARDEN EDITOR PLANT Sow warm-season annuals this month, including cosmos, gaillardia, hollyhock, Mexican…

DAY 1 7 A.M. Wake up at the four-room The Francis Boutique Inn (from $160 U.S.; thefrancis.ca) in downtown Ucluelet. 8 A.M. Head south to Coast Guard Road and hike the 1.6-mile Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail (wildpacifictrail.com). 10 A.M. Down by the docks, Zoë’s Bakery & Café (zoesbakeryandcafe.com) is a wonderland of pies, muffins, breads, and galettes. 11 A.M. The Ucluelet Aquarium ($11 U.S.; uclueletaquarium.org) is the place to get up close with North Pacific sea creatures. 1 P.M. It’s all about oysters at the Ravenlady (ravenlady.ca) food truck; get them smoked, fried, and steamed in the Oyster Trio. 2 P.M. On your drive north to Tofino, stop at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (parkscanada.gc.ca). The Schooner Cove trail winds through the rain forest, then dumps you out on a magnificent beach. 5…

SUBTLE AND FRESH, a raw-fish creation called kokoda (pronounced kah-CON-dah) has swept into California. It’s sort of like Hawaiian poke and Latin American ceviche—an addictive chop of mild fish, coconut milk, red chiles, and lime. “The beautiful fresh burst of sea flavor takes me back to Fiji every time I eat it,” says Louis Tikaram, the cheerful Fijian-Australian chef at L.A.’s E.P. & L.P. restaurant, where kokoda is a star of themenu.His love for the laid-back, tropical dish goes back to when he was 6, and his Fijian-Chinese grandma would send him up palm trees, machete in hand. “I’d get a coconut, remove the outer husk and the solid inch of fibers underneath, and then crack the shell, scrape out the meat, and squeeze out the milk.” Recently he showed…

The whisper of spring has us dreaming of open windows, fresh-tilled soil, and line-dried sheets. To welcome the season and celebrate April’s home issue, we’re partnering with Marin County, California’s Rough Linen to give away soft, natural bedding for one very lucky mattress. The prize package (worth over $1,500) includes a duvet cover, flat sheet, shams and pillow slips, bedskirt or summer cover, and a coverlet. To learn more about our Instagram contest, visit sunset.com/roughlinencontest (Feb 15–March 14).…