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WINE AND DINE
AT VERMONT FESTIVAL
Join top wine makers from New England and beyond at the Burlington Wine and Food Festival, June 12-18, when world-class wines will be paired with mouthwatering cuisine by some of Vermont’s best chefs and artisanal food producers. Matt Cline, owner of Three Wine Company and creator of historical California varietals, will host a dinner series with Eric Warnstedt, an award-winning chef from Burlington-based Hen of the Wood. Don’t miss the Grand Tasting, June 18, when you can try wines from Italy to Oregon while sampling Vermont cheeses and dishes prepared by 10 local restaurants, listening to live jazz, and enjoying killer views of the Adirondacks. Tickets for Grand Tasting: $60 in advance, $70 at the gate, includes unlimited wine and food tasting, seminars, and a souvenir glass. Must be 21 to attend. Free bike parking. www.burlingtonwineandfoodfestival.com.
WHISK DAD AWAY
ON AN ADVENTURE
Take dad for an affordable adventure on the Cape Cod Central Railroad next weekend for Father’s Day. Dads ride for free June 18 (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) on the Cape Cod Central Railroad, Mount Hood Railroad (Oregon), and Texas State Railroad, and June 19 (4 p.m.) on the Saratoga and North Creek Railway (New York) and Rio Grande Scenic Railroad (Colorado). The caveat: You or another adult must go with dad and pay for a full-price ticket in the same class of service and on the same day (on all railroads except the Rio Grande). The trip includes an interpretive talk about Premier Rail Collection’s trains and their history, kids’ face painting and games, food samples from local vendors, and live entertainment. 877-726-7245, www.premierrails.com or www.capetrain.com.
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RAGNAR RACE MAKES IT
TO HAWAII ISLAND
Hawaii’s first-ever Ragnar running race launches this fall, October 14-15, taking teams of runners through a rainforest, alongside lava fields, and by pristine beaches on Hawaii Island. The route crosses seven climate zones and offers more elevation change than any of the 16 other Ragnar relay races nationwide. The roughly 200-mile race starts in Hilo and leads runners through Puna with its turquoise waves and black-sand beaches, through the lush area around Waimea, by the lava fields on the island’s west side, and to the sandy finish at Hapuna Beach. The relay exchange points along the route will have Samoan fire knife and hula dancers, shave ice, island music, and many supportive volunteers. Registration: $1,860 ($155/person) for a 12-person team, or $1,240 ($206/person) for a six-person team. Only 300 available spots. 801-499-5024, www.runragnar.com/home.
AMSTERDAM OPENS
A HIP NEW HOSTEL
Step into Amsterdam’s newest hostel in a trendy neighborhood on the city’s east side, and you’ll find a hip social space where guests gather for coffee, a bite to eat, beer tastings, and movie night. Generator Amsterdam, adjacent to the newly renovated Oosterpark, has a cafe that serves three meals and a range of healthy, artisanal and locally sourced dishes; The Auditorium, a lounge with everything from The Coffee Lab to lockable liquor cabinets where you can stash your own bottles; and The Library, where you can play ping pong or chill out with a book. The property offers bike rentals, meeting and work spaces, coffee master classes, and other programs. Consider the luxury Sky Suite Apartment, which has two bedrooms, a private kitchen, a living room, and views of Oosterpark. The Night Bar, an underground speakeasy-like bar, will open later this year. Nightly rates: $16.80 shared room; $73 private room; $112 suite. www.generatorhostels.com/en/destinations/amsterdam.
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STAY CONNECTED ON THE GO
The new Karma Go, a mini WiFi hotspot modem, lets you get online in the most unlikely places at top speeds. The sleek little device offers nationwide 4G LTE service using Sprint’s network, and lets you turn your phone, tablet, and laptop into a fast personal Wi-Fi network, connecting up to eight devices at once. Karma Go is a bit larger than its predecessor — it measures 2.9’’ by 2.9’’ by .47’’ — but it’s still slim enough to slip into a pocket. Pay-as-you-go data rates range from $14 for 1GB (that’s about 15,000 text e-mails to your best buddies) to $99 for 10GB (equivalent to about 280 minutes of high-definition video), and your minutes won’t expire. Also gain 100MB more data each time someone securely logs on using your Karma device. Or try the new contract free Pulse plan, which starts at $40 for 5GB. Works with Android and Apple devices. $149 at www.yourkarma.com.
SAFEGUARD YOUR CELLPHONE
Ready to take off on your summer adventures? Protect your phone’s contents and avoid potential identity theft with a sophisticated yet easy-to-use app. The Applock Face/Voice Recognition app uses advanced face and voice recognition to add an extra layer of security to your cellphone and keep thieves from hacking into the personal apps on your Android device, such as your banking, photo, e-mail, and social media apps. Download the app, choose your “unlock phrase,’’ such as Verify Me, Unlock My App, or Open AppLock, or establish your own phrase. The app records your voice and image, and then you choose which apps you want to lock and the level of security. Download the app from Play Store.
KARI BODNARCHUK
