Latest news with #Gazebo
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gazebo Gardens has century-old roots in Fresno. Nursery is powered by beer, coffee and roses
Uniquely is a Fresno Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Fresno area so special. For more than a centurya beloved plant nursery in Fresno that's also known for its beer garden and food trucks has brought a sense of community to its customers and fans. Gazebo Gardens opened in 1922 at the edge of a growing Fresno, which has expanded beyond and now encircles the roughly 2-acre nursery whose footprint has not changed. Owner Scott Miller said he likes to call it the center of town, not only because it draws crowds for revelry every weekend but also because there's an argument it sits at the city's geographic center. 'If you look at a map of Fresno, this is the direct center of Fresno,' the 53-year-old said. 'You'd have a hard time finding a spot on the map that was more of a center of Fresno than this.' Gazebo Gardens is known for its roses. Miller's mentor, Bill Welzenbach, who died last year, was a well-known rose expert. The nursery sells a rose fertilizer that's named after him. But the nursery's green offerings go beyond that. Miller said landscaping and maintenance make up a large part of the business that employs 66 people, but his employees are knowledgeable and offer design tips free of charge for developing a garden for anyone who shows up with a picture of their yard. Miller said a hot summer day in Fresno in 2014 sparked the idea to make the nursery into a hangout. 'It was August, and the nursery business is just tough at that time of year. It was 110 degrees. There was nobody in here,' he said. 'What would make you want to be here on a day like this? And we just turned to each other and said, 'It'd be cool if there was beer.' ' He was also inspired by Cart Hop, a nonprofit that supported food trucks and events most commonly seen in Mariposa Plaza in downtown. What was a one-time event for the nursery expanded to thrice weekly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The craft beer on tap is accompanied by a half-dozen or so food trucks and local bands. 'Our business model became community center,' he said. 'We do a lot of community events here. Unless it's a fundraiser for a nonprofit, we never charge admission no matter what's going on in here.' People come, enjoy themselves in a place that welcomes children and dogs and pick up a plant as they leave. At least that's the hope, Miller said. One regular at Gazebo Gardens, Eric Schmitt, said for about a decade he has spent many mornings getting coffee and evenings with a beer at Gazebo. The cafe is one of the nursery's newer additions. He said he was grateful Miller took over the nursery, maintaining the 'texture of the neighborhood' rather than it being purchased by something corporate. 'They saved it from becoming a CVS, which would not have been a neighborhood asset,' he said. 'They did a solid for the area by keeping it the nursery.' He said the nursery-goers have the camaraderie of something like friends meeting at church. Though, he joked, he was afraid of too many people learning about his gem. 'It's like when you tell everybody about your nice spot, you kind of don't want everyone to be there,' he said, with a laugh. 'But there's enough space for everyone.' The community center aspect of the nursery hasn't gone unnoticed by Fresno academics. Gazebo Gardens is one of several local businesses highlighted by the Humanics Program at Fresno State. Sociology professor Matthew Jendian said he tries to expose his students to businesses and nonprofits that also make a positive difference in the community, and Gazebo Gardens is an example of that. 'It serves as a public space in the heart of Fresno — with a real train running along the back of the property — where members of our community can gather over good food and beverages and live music, fostering a sense of social cohesion within our city,' he said in an email. Miller was running a plant nursery on Olive and Vagedes avenues until he bought Gazebo in 2001, but he started landscaping at 16, he said. Gazebo is a family business, and his 20-year-old son, Quincy, is now heavily involved. The elder Miller has also been the president of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce for four years. Quincy Miller said many people tell him he sounds like his father when he's talking about the nursery, and that may be because they both so often use the word 'community.' 'The best parts about working at the family business, at least for me, is more from the business sense and from the community aspect of it,' he said. 'Having the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, they're all beautiful in their own way.' Scott Miller said the nursery does well with shoppers from throughout the city as well as the San Joaquin Valley. The location helps but he's also cultivated a feel of community right alongside the roses. 'I love it about the tower district. I love it about Fig Garden, and this business is built around it,' he said. 'If you are a regular here and you just walk through, you will have five or six people address you by name and say hello.' Gazebo Gardens, 3204 N. Van Ness Blvd., is open on the nursery side 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The beer garden is open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The list of food trucks and bands on the schedule, as well as all the rest the nursery offers, are available at
Telegraph
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Bond might be changing, but its Jamaican birthplace remains blissfully unaltered
On my first evening at GoldenEye, Ian Fleming's former estate turned hotel, there was a power-cut. I was getting ready in the bathroom of my taffy-pink beach hut for the weekly rum happy hour at Shabeen bar when suddenly… kaput. The only light available to me fell in golden stripes via the louvred windows. I shoved on my flip-flops in the near-dark, making it to the drinks as the sun cast fluorescent orange lines across the heather sky and candyfloss clouds. Reggae carried on the breeze while the barmen shook cocktails to the beat. Young and old couples, sun-kissed from the day's good weather, sat at candlelit tables; a group of friends, here for a wedding, multiplied as the evening went on. It struck me that the entire scene might be akin to what it was like to be a guest of Fleming's at the original GoldenEye, which, when it was built in 1946, consisted of a single, modernist house. It still exists, and is now the premium villa on site, with a few added luxuries (outdoor showers and bathtubs, plus three additional separate bedrooms). The sunken garden, pool and Fleming's writing desk remain. Fleming hosted everyone from Prime Ministers to photographers, actors and artists, who quickly became known as Jamaica's north-coast jet set. Days were spent swimming, snorkelling, playing canasta and sinking rounds of Vespers (still on the menu today) – though Fleming never missed a morning writing Bond, which was entirely conceived and written here in Oracabessa. Today's GoldenEye features a total of 51 beach huts, villas and lagoon-side cottages. It was bought, in 1976, by Bob Marley at the recommendation of one of his producers, Chris Blackwell. Marley changed his mind and immediately sold it on to Blackwell, whose own history was intertwined with the property. His mother, Blanche, was a neighbour of GoldenEye and used to look after it when Fleming wasn't there. She loved to swim on the reef there and later became Fleming's muse, the inspiration for both Pussy Galore and Honeychile Rider. Chris Blackwell even worked as a production assistant and location scout for the first Bond film, Dr No. Film stills of Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder coming out of the sea, in that culture-defining white bikini, hang on the walls of the Gazebo restaurant. Blackwell, who was later credited with bringing Bob Marley to Britain and the US, and went on to manage the likes of Cat Stevens, Grace Jones and U2 under Island Records, propelled GoldenEye into what it is today: something more than just a hotel, with deep cultural cachet. He writes, in his introduction to Jamaica Vibes, Assouline's coffee table tome: 'The idea of hotels became as interesting to me as the music. The idea of making something happen, finding new ways to meet people and put people together, was fascinating.' Indeed, it remains a hive of activity – not only honeymooning couples and weekending Kingstonians, but a slice, still, of creative paradise, favoured by stylists, fashion editors and the A-list, many of whom have planted trees around the estate. You might spy names such as Plemons, Dunst, Moss, Carter and Crawford on unassuming little plaques. One Sunday afternoon at Button Beach – my favourite spot owing to the sea trampoline, non-stop tunes and jerk drum – I spotted a British supermodel at a nearby table with a Jamaican music producer. A brand was also shooting its new campaign during my stay. When they weren't working, the crew and a different model hung out in the blue-tinged Bizot bar or at the weekly beach curry night. Days after I got home, I spotted the model on the cover of American Vogue. With all this going on, I expected to see Blackwell. He has a house on the lagoon, and is known to swing by the hotel's many sociable happenings. But 'Mr B', as he is known among staff, was not around. I was disappointed but not entirely surprised – he is an octogenarian after all, and late last year it was announced that the two other hotels that make up his Island Outposts hotel collection, Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains and The Caves in Negril, are up for sale. Could he be winding down? Not entirely, according to Marika Kessler, his wife and Chief Executive of Island Outposts, with whom I spoke after my stay. 'You know, Chris is 88. This is his legacy. And all the properties he's found in Jamaica, they're all iconic to this country,' she told me over the phone from GoldenEye, their dogs causing mischief in the background. 'The properties are so precious… They have a soul. [Selling them] is like finding a nanny for your newborn.' I sense that it may take a while for the sale of the other two hotels to go through – that the new owners will have to fit with Blackwell's vision. For now, though, it's all about GoldenEye: 'There's so much of [it] that we would love to share with the world. We have looked at development plans […] for the land beyond GoldenEye, which is all waterfront property.' It certainly will be shared with more of the world now, thanks to new daily flights (in high season) via American Airlines from Miami to Ian Fleming International Airport, 10 minutes from the hotel. Prior to the pandemic, Pantrepant, the couple's other home, an 18th-century farm in Cockpit County (whose ingredients you'll see on restaurant and spa menus), was available for guests to stay at upon invitation. Kessler hints that something like this may be back on the table, but remains tight-lipped about details. She does, however, share that there are plans for a recording studio on site, bringing Blackwell's musical legacy, in her words, 'full circle'. Next year will also mark 80 years since Fleming built the original house. The anniversary comes at a time when Bond's future is unknown. Last month, custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson announced they had given creative control of the franchise to Amazon-MGM Studios. The news has been met with resistance by everyone from former 007s to William Boyd, who suggested Amazon might make a theme park dedicated to our favourite spy. GoldenEye, thankfully, will remain protected from all the fervour. Save for some subtle nods to Bond – including a dedicated corner of the lobby with books and old photographs of Fleming and his friends – any references are understated. Even the entrance on the main road is an unmarked gate. One morning, near the end of my stay, I took a bright orange kayak out in the milky green lagoon in the hope of spotting turtles on my way to the spa. In true Crusoe-esque fashion, you moor on a platform before being led to your treatment room. It was quiet and still, save for my paddle cutting through the glassy water and the odd 'good morning' from guests stretching or reading on their lagoon-side terraces. I didn't see any turtles – or any more supermodels – but I did see Blackwell. He was having coffee with friends on the balcony of his house, occasionally getting up, if I was not mistaken, to change a record. Fleming once said his simple desire for GoldenEye was 'to be able to work there and look at the flowers and fish, and somehow to give pleasure, whether innocent or illicit, to people in their millions.' With his literary legacy he certainly accomplished the latter; the property itself remains just for the lucky few. Jade Conroy travelled as a guest of GoldenEye, which offers beach huts from £514 and one-bedroom Lagoon Cottages from £876.
Web Release
11-03-2025
- Web Release
Savour an Authentic Eid Al Fitr Celebration at JA Hatta Fort Hotel
By Editor_wr On Mar 11, 2025 As Hatta's only mountain resort, JA Hatta Fort Hotel has become a favoured spot for those seeking adventure and relaxation, and Eid Al Fitr is the perfect time to experience its unique charm. Exclusively from March 30 th to 31 st , the picturesque destination welcomes you and your loved ones to mark the occasion with a lavish Emirati lunch buffet at Jeema or a mouthwatering BBQ lunch at Gazebo, both offering 50% off for kids aged 7 to 12 and complimentary dining for children 6 and under. To make the occasion even more special, little ones can also enjoy camel and pony rides alongside the resort's other thrilling activities. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Hajar Mountains, JA Hatta Fort Hotel is the ideal retreat for reflection and immersing yourself in the great outdoors this Eid. Renowned for its adventurous spirit, guests can explore rugged bike trails, conquer mountain peaks, or enjoy some friendly competition with padel, archery, airgun shooting, and mini golf. A haven for families, the resort is also home to a variety of animals for guests to interact with, and with the addition of camel and pony rides this Eid, it's a wonderful way to create lasting memories. Emirati Lunch Buffet at Jeema Savour the taste of tradition this Eid Al Fitr at Jeema, where a sumptuous feast of Emirati flavours awaits, priced at just AED 125 per person. Make yourself comfortable amid inviting interiors and panoramic mountain views while indulging in a buffet-style spread of tempting light bites, salads, hearty mains, and indulgent desserts infused with fragrant spices like saffron and cardamom. Embrace the spirit of Eid as you gather with loved ones, sharing cherished moments over a feast that celebrates tradition, flavour, and togetherness. When: March 30 th and 31 st from 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm Offer: Upgraded Emirati lunch buffet featuring local delicacies and beverages Price: AED 125 per person; 50% off for kids aged 7 to 12; Complimentary for kids aged 6 and below *For bookings and more information, please call +971 4 8099 333 or email? [email protected] BBQ Lunch Buffet at Gazebo Gather your nearest and dearest at Gazebo for an irresistible BBQ lunch buffet, where breathtaking resort views set the scene for quality time together. Available exclusively on March 30 th and 31 st , the Eid celebration begins with succulent meats and vegetables fresh from the grill, paired with tempting sides and refreshing beverages. With 50% off for kids aged 7 to 12 and complimentary dining for those 6 and under, it's the perfect chance to bring the family together and fuel up for a day of outdoor adventures. When: March 30 th and 31 st from 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm Offer: Upgraded BBQ lunch buffet or a la carte menu Price: AED 125 per person; 50% off for kids aged 7 to 12; Complimentary for kids aged 6 and below *For bookings and more information, please call +971 4 8099 333 or email? [email protected] Savour an Authentic Eid Al Fitr Celebration at JA Hatta Fort Hotel Comments are closed.
