New Home Sales Fall 12.6% in January...

RISMEDIA, February 28, 2011—(MCT)—Sales of new U.S. homes fell in January 2011, almost completely retracing the strong gain seen in December, the Commerce Department recently estimated. Sales dropped 12.6% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 284,000. Economists had been expecting a pace of 300,000. For December, sales were up a revised 15.7% to a 325,000 level, compared with the previous estimate of a 17.5%...

Versatile Flowers That Are Beautiful & Delici...

There’s a saying among chefs: We eat with our eyes first. The more beautiful a salad or a serving of fresh fish, the more tempting it is to consume—particularly with a fresh bloom or two as a sparkling garnish. But flowers in our food are not just to look at these days. In Executive Chef Patrick Dore’s kitchen at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver, BC, chefs and mixologists are using edible flowers to enhance...

Top 10 Kitchen Trends from 2010...

More and more homeowners are remodeling and making the most of their space with these top 10 hot trends in the kitchen. 1. Kitchens are now featuring a “family room” feel with more seating and dining areas. 2. The most popular color choice for cabinets was white. It works well with almost any architectural style – traditional to contemporary. 3. Stainless steel appliances are still a big hit, especially the...

New Restaurants in Dallas Focus on Mexican Street ...

One of my favorite summer snacks is cut-up jicama with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of chile powder. I’ve been eating it since I was a kid and my mom, just back from a Mexico City vacation, copied what she had tasted off the carts of street vendors. It’s got everything: freshness, a little sweetness, sour, heat and a good crunch. I’d never seen it on a Dallas restaurant menu until last week, when chef Abraham Salum...

Dallas’ Deck Park Receives Additional $9 Mil...

Another $9 million in combined contributions from several families was announced Thursday for the Woodall Rodgers deck park in Dallas. The park bridging the Woodall Rodgers Freeway between downtown and Uptown near the Arts District, is under construction. The $9 million in donations announced Thursday will help pay for amenities in the park once construction is complete, including a pavilion, a concert venue and a dog...

International Real Estate: Apartment in Berlin...

A 1,250-SQUARE-FOOT APARTMENT WITH TWO BEDROOMS AND ONE AND A HALF BATHS An Apartment in Central Berlin 289,000 EUROS ($400,000) This apartment, on the second floor of a 1900 building, has original wood doors, parquet floors and ceiling cornices. It was renovated by its current owner, a designer, two years ago; the kitchen, bathrooms and hallway were entirely redone, including new plumbing and electrical. The kitchen has...

Urban Garden Challenge: Before & After...

The term walled garden has a very romantic appeal… in the country. In town, it rings like a nightmare. Feeling boxed in is a real no no, especially when you have limited space. And a lack of light will take away any pleasure from using the space. That is why I found this design, created by Maria Örnberg and Gavin Goldwyer of Greenlines Home & Garden Ltd, brilliant. They have also mastered the art of going minimalist...

January Home Sales Increase...

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Sales of existing homes recorded modest gains in January, the third straight month of month-over-month increases. According to the National Association of Realtors, homes sold at an annual rate of 5.36 million in January, up 2.7% from December and 5.3% higher than January 2010 sales. It was the first time in seven months that the monthly total was higher than the year before. “The up trend...

Adrift Float Spa Now Open in Dallas...

We told you this place would soon be ready for floaters, and the day has finally come. This new concept spa boasts float tanks for bobbing atop tubs full of salt water. Here’s how it works: 1. Check in, robe up, head to the relaxation room. 2. Hop in an anti-gravity massage chair and chillax with a full-body machine rub down. 3. Head to your assigned room, where your “cabin” awaits you. 4. Shower off with delicious bath...

Today Is National Margarita Day!...

Yes, the cocktail that mixes tequila and orange liqueur with lime, has actually become a National Holiday. So whether you truly stop when you taste a great Margarita, or you just need a reason to celebrate, try whipping up one of these cocktails that put a spin on the classic, but promise to taste just as good…or better. I was at Jorge’s a few weeks ago and bar manager Ignacio Cubillos created a fiery Margarita for me. ...