747 'farewell tour'
Delta Air Lines will bring the Boeing 747 through Minneapolis-St. Paul for its farewell tour on Dec. 20 — likely the last time the legendary jumbo jet will provide passenger service at MSP. Delta will take its only remaining 747 on a victory lap to its four largest U.S. hubs. The jet will fly from Detroit to Seattle on Dec. 18, Seattle to Atlanta on Dec. 19 and Atlanta to the Twin Cities on Dec. 20. The flights are open to current and retired employees, who can purchase discounted tickets on the flights beginning at 11 a.m. Monday. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Delta customers can bid on tickets for these flights — which include access to the after-flight hangar party at MSP — using their SkyMiles. Delta will ferry the plane to its final resting place in the Arizona desert in January.
Kristen Leigh Painter
Wine country is open
As the recovery continues from last month's devastating Northern California wildfires, the iconic wine regions are looking to kick-start their hospitality and tourism industry with a simple message: We are open for business. Businesses are opening their arms to visitors, saying economic recovery depends on it. "There is a misperception that everything is gone," said Tim Zahner, chief operating officer of Sonoma County Tourism, but that is not the case. "Sonoma County has more than 1 million acres." The region has more than 1,200 wineries, and fewer than 10 were heavily damaged, according to Visit California. To draw people back in, some hotels are offering discounted rates. "We've made our rates very attractive," said Rick Corcoran, general manager of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. "This would be a great time to come and visit."
Mercury News
Actual breakfast at Tiffany's
When Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) ate a croissant at Tiffany & Co. in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," she was still, unfortunately, on the outside of the building. Since 1837, Tiffany's has been a luxury jeweler and not a place where you could actually have breakfast. That changed last week, with the opening of the Blue Box Cafe, at the company's venerable flagship store at 5th Avenue and W. 57th Street in New York. Located on the fourth floor, which houses a recently renovated home and accessories section, the cafe is a bright, airy space, with the "Breakfast at Tiffany" breakfast starting at $29. The offering comes with coffee or tea, followed by a croissant and seasonal fruit and rounded out with your choice of a buttermilk waffle, smoked salmon and bagel stack, truffle eggs, or avocado toast. Now Hepburn fans can truly have breakfast at Tiffany's, 56 years after the film's release.
New York Times
Ice festival
Winter months provide the opportunity to enjoy festivals and gatherings that celebrate all things icy and cold. The southwestern Colorado mountain town of Ouray, known for its picturesque jagged peaks, is home to one of the country's premier ice climbing festivals, coming Jan. 18-21. Competitors of all levels, climbing companies and spectators gather for the event and the opportunity to demo the latest ice tools, apparel and gear. Family members can access dozens of interactive and educational climbing clinics throughout the festival. For many, the highlight is watching the world's best ice and mixed climbing experts battle for the top prize (ourayicepark.com).
Dallas MOrning NEws
