Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Hyatt to throw St. Patrick's Day party Thursday

By Kim Se-jeongGrand Hyatt Seoul is throwing a party on Thursday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which was Tuesday.Called “Go Green at JJ’s,” the party will commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint from Ireland who was a Christian missionary and Bishop of Ireland in the 5th century, at the hotel’s entertainment bar, J.J. Mahoney’s.The Grand Hyatt lit up its entrance, garden and part of its hotel in green on Tuesday evening as part of its St. Patrick’s Day tradition. Namsan Tower in Seoul also lit itself in green. Around the world, the Great Wall in China, the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Moulin Rouge in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York joined in the tribute.The party floor will open at 7 p.m. and there will be no entrance fee. A band, LAVA, will play during the party. For more information, call (02)799-8609 or visit seoul.hyattrestaruant.kr.

Mar 17, 2015By Kim Se-jeong

Imperial Palace entices wine lovers

 Imperial Palace Seoul’s Deluxe room / Courtesy of Imperial Palace Seoul By Kim Se-jeong Marsala is a color named after a type of wine produced in Sicily, Italy, called Opici Marsala. It gets its rich golden tone from blending in older reserves of the same wine.Earlier this year, Pantone Color Institute, a leading U.S. company specializing in color-trend forecasting, color insights and customized color consulting for market branding, has chosen marsala as color of the year in 2015.Imperial Palace Seoul, which features luxurious European styling and the latest in technology, is currently fostering this theme by offering the Marsala Suite Package, an attempt to introduce the deep wine color’s elegance, as well as the taste of wine, to the local hotel clientele.Currently, they are offering a package that includes a one-night stay in either the Corner or Duplex Suites. The highlight of the package is a bottle of free Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet with a cheese platter or a tiny cake.“This is not the original Marsala wine, but it is very close to it

Mar 12, 2015

Ibis Styles Myeongdong attracts with price, style

By Kim Se-jeong French hotel company Accor’s Ibis brand has recently opened a new property in Myeongdong, Seoul.Located near Korea’s old film Mecca, Chungmuro, Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is covered with cinematic images throughout its 21-story brand-new building.Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is the second Ibis property in the vicinity ― Ibis Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong is located on the other side of the famous district ― and the fifth in the city ― the others include Ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong, Ibis Ambassador Seoul Gangnam and Ibis Budget Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun. Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong’s lobby“If you are a reasonable traveler in Seoul, Ibis Styles is an inevitable choice,” Joo Myeong-geon, a member of Ambassador Hotel & Suites and the hotel president, said. Ambassador is Accor’s Korean partner.Ibis Styles has a clear target clientele: International travelers aged between 30 and 45 who visit Korea for leisure. The hotel is particularly targeting Asian travelers and its sa

Mar 12, 2015By Kim Se-jeong

Ibis Styles Myeongdong attracts with price, style

HOTEL LOBBY

 The Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul offers a Spring Herb Promotion in celebration of spring from March 5 until April 12. The dishes include ohboktang soup, abalone bibimbap served with sautéed abalone and fresh seasonal vegetables. Seafood ssok noodle soup and broiled small octopus and seasonal ark shell with fresh vegetables will also be served. The price ranges from 25,000 won to 35,000 won including taxes and service charges. For more information, call (02) 3466-7277. The Lotte Hotel’s Italian restaurant Peninsula has invited chef Ugo Alciati for a special promotion between March 25 and 27.Dishes will include veal tartare with truffles and Parmesan cheese, carnaroli rice with cottage cheese and anchovies, traditional Piemonte-style pasta and cod with egg potato soup.Born in Asti, Italy, chef Alciati is the owner of Michelin starred family restaurant Guido since 2003 and is a pioneer in the slow and local food movement in his native country. He is a chef ambassador for Expo Milano 2015. Alciati will feature Italian cuisine using Korean ingredients. The mea

Mar 12, 2015By Kim Se-jeong

Four things to do in Venice

A view of the entire St. Mark’s Square from the Campanile bell tower. It may be a long line to wait, but this view is certainly worth it. / Courtesy of Rachel Sang-hee HanTraveling your way to the most romantic city in the worldBy Rachel Sang-hee HanThere’s nothing quite like Venice: the gondolas, the architecture, the cityscape and the history.And like many other Italian cities, it’s overwhelming to decide where to go and what to do. Especially when there are so many fellow travelers walking busily pass you with maps, books and cell phones. It’s not known to be one of the most visited and romantic cities in the world for nothing. The following four activities are just the tip of the iceberg, but some interesting ones I thought would be worth your time and wallet. Taking a ride on the gondolas in Venice is a must, but you don’t have to be too worried of being ripped off. They have an official price, so make sure you check before you step in. / Courtesy of Rachel Sang-hee Han1. BuranoFans of the K-pop princess IU may recall the streets lined with ver

Mar 12, 2015

Hongdae -cradle of Korean underground music

Session players for Yoon Duk-won of band Broccoli, You Too perform during their gig at Rolling Hall in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on Feb. 6. / Korea Times photos by Nam Hyun-wooRolling Hall owner recalls club's history, worries endangered music scene By Nam Hyun-wooIn the mid 1990s when Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain retired glam metal with high-pitched vocals and shredded guitar solos from the mainstream rock scene, bands influenced by him started to mushroom in Korea.Naturally, demand for live clubs where those bands could perform soared and they sprouted.  One of them was Rolling Stones in Shinchon, western Seoul. It was founded in 1995, but has since moved to Hongdae, the Mecca of Korean underground music, and was renamed Rolling Hall. While many other clubs shut down because of financial problems, Rolling Hall has weathered obstacles during the past two decades and become one of few still operating in Hongdae.A session player for Yoon Duk-won of band Broccoli, You Too sets up his drum kit before a gig at Rolling Hall in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on Feb. 6.Popular bands such as

Mar 5, 2015

Hongdae -cradle of Korean underground music

Lotte's Pierre Gagnaire chosen as world's best chef

By Kim Se-jeong Lotte Hotel announced Wednesday that Pierre Gagnaire of its French restaurant Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul was named best chef in the world for January by Le Chef magazine.The restaurant Pierre Gagnaire a Seoul is located on the 35th floor in the new wing of the hotel and is Gagnaire’s only restaurant in Korea. He runs restaurants in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. According to the magazine, 512 chefs were reviewed for the recognition.Pierre GagnaireGagnaire was born in 1950 in Apinac, France. His first restaurant in Saint Etienne was closed in 1996 due to financial struggles. In 1997, he opened a new restaurant in Paris and this earned three Michelin stars in 1997. Michelin stars are the most credible recognition of a restaurant and its menu. His academic collaboration with French physical chemist Herve This helped him further explore new ingredients. His Korean colleagues at the hotel have also expressed reverence for his experimental mind.Lotte Hotel’s collaboration with the star chef dates back to 2008. The hotel was near the completio

Feb 26, 2015

Lotte's Pierre Gagnaire chosen as world's best chef

Dresden: traveling to 'Florence of the Elbe'

 Thanks to the River Elbe, architecture and cultural artifacts, Dresden earned the nickname 'Florence of the Elbe' and 'jewelry box' over the years. / Courtesy of Rachel Han Sang-hee By Rachel Sang-hee Han STUTTGART, GERMANY ― Germany is located in a very strategic position when it comes to traveling. Both big and small countries surround the nation: to the north, there’s Denmark, to the south there’s Italy, the west the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and to the east there’s France, Belgium and the Netherlands. So it’s quite natural to think about traveling out of the country, but there are in fact interesting, lesser-known German cities that offer more than beer and sausages. Like Dresden, nicknamed “jewelry box” or the Florence on the River Elbe.Dresden is the capital of the Free State of Saxony region, a federal state of the eastern part of Germany, and shares the border with the Czech Republic and Poland. The River Elbe runs through the city of 2.4 million, creating a very Prague-like atmosphere. In fact, there are many Czech tr

Feb 26, 2015

Dresden: traveling to 'Florence of the Elbe'

Telling stories through pottery

Ceramic trash gains new life This is the eighth in a series of interviews with notable artists recommended by the Korean Artist Project, an online platform promoting Korean art. — ED.By Kwon Mee-yooBroken ceramic shards, once a part of fine Korean pottery, are piled on top of each other to form an organic shape. The shape is bumpy and irregular, but it has a unique balance. This is Korean artist Yee Soo-kyung's "Translated Vase."The artist, 52, breathes new life into the ceramic shards as if she were weaving memories to create a story or putting together a puzzle. She then glues them with epoxy and places gold leaf on the seam. It is a labor-intensive process. It takes months to complete a large ceramic sculpture taller than the artist herself.Two chandeliers of Yee Soo-kyung’s “When I Become You” on display at Daegu Art Museum Courtesy of the artist and Daegu Art MuseumAlso stylized as Yeesookyung, Yee majored in painting at Seoul National University. Her earlier works in the 1990s were mostly conceptual installations, video art and performances."I think

Feb 26, 2015By Kwon Mee-yoo

Delving into the world of Alsace wine

 Also nicknamed the “Venice of France,” Colamr is known to be the backdrop of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s “Howl’s Moving Castle.” / Courtesy of Rachel Sang-hee Han  By Rachel Sang-hee Han Stuttgart, GERMANY- As much as I enjoy drinking wine, I have to admit I am not yet an expert. I have come to the point where I can distinguish good wine from bad, but when it comes to the specifics, I’m afraid I need a bit more training.Europe is one of the best places to learn more about wine, namely France and Italy. Wine tours and wine tastings are especially helpful, since you can taste various types of wine at the same time and really compare and recognize your favorites and learn more about the history, taste and pairings. So when there’s a chance to join a wine tour, take it and you’ll probably come home with a lot more knowledge on the subject, not to mention a lot of bottles to enjoy with friends and family. The Alsace regionStrasbourg is the capital city of the Alsace region and a favorite travel des

Feb 12, 2015

Travel & Food