【推荐1】It’s Thanksgiving. It’s that time of the year again when families and friends gather around tables across the country to give thanks and celebrate the past year. Unfortunately, not everyone can make it at home for the holidays this year; particularly the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces(USAF) who are selflessly spending their holiday season sacrificing themselves for others.

The Guinness Brand will be making sure these men and women-and their “empty chairs”—are not forgotten with the brand encouraging drinkers of legal age to Raise Your Glass to Heroes on Wednesday, Dec.17.

Thousands of bars across the country will be participating on this date. The Guinness Gives Back Fund will donate $ 1 to Packages From Home—a charity that collects and gives out care packages for those in the USAF-for every adult consumer that participates, up to $ 10,000. More details to come on how people can be involved.

“The selfless men and women of the United States Armed Forces truly epitomize the values of the Made of More campaign and we could not be happier to support them during this holiday season, ”said Guinness Brand Director Doug Campbell. “As we spend time with loved ones in the coming weeks, it’s important that we take time to thank those making sacrifices(牺牲)day in, day out. Providing these individuals with some comfort items from home is the least we can do to show our gratitude and respect.”

Guinness’ Raise Your Glass to Heroes initiative(倡议)comes less than one year after the brand debuted(首次亮相)on the national television spot, “Empty Chair”. In the ad, a barman and local community keep the spirit of a deployed serviceman present in the bar by pouring a pint of Guinness beer and setting it down in front of an empty chair to remain undisturbed until the day that he returns home to a hero’s welcome.

To learn more, about the Guinness Gives Back Fund and Guinness’ efforts to support those who epitomize the Made of More, or to contribute to its fundraising efforts, please visit www. GuinnessGivesBack. com.

【推荐3】The Best Hotels in St. Kitts and Nevis

Neighboring St. Kitts and Nevis remain two of the most off-the-radar islands in the Caribbean. Their beaches are gorgeous and their mountainous coastlines are perfect for day hikes. Here’s where to check in when you go.

Park Hyatt St. Kitts Christophe Harbor

From the reflecting lily pools at its entrance to the wall of straw hats in the lobby, you’ll never forget you’re on sandy St. Kitts when you stay at the swish, five-star Park Hyatt fronting Christophe Harbor. We especially love that the 126 taupe-and-blue rooms are an about-face from the stuffy colonial leftovers you’ll find elsewhere on the island, which ensure those volcano and beach views are never upstaged. You’ll also enjoy water views from the Miraval Spa.

Belle Mont Farm

Calling all foodies: gourmet (美食家) meals are the standard when you stay at Belle Mont Farm, a 400-acre eco-friendly working farm built on the slopes of Mount Liamuiga, from where you can have/get a bird’s-eye view of the sea. Across the property, signs indicate when fruit is ripe to pick, while no less than six restaurants and bars showcase the island’s diversity. The one you absolutely have to hit is Kitchen, which specializes in fresh catches of the day and sources nearly every ingredient from St. Kitts or Nevis.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Despite its small size, this colonial beauty embodies the kind of over-the-top luxury you’ve always dreamed of: there are three infinity pools (无边泳池), pavilions with wrap-around verandas, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. golf course, a lavish spa with splendid water views, and rich activities are included, from a sailing school to tennis courts, guided hikes along rainforest trails, and even a beach waiter who roams the sands, handing out books and sunscreen.

【推荐2】Four of the Coolest Plant Shops in the State of California

Plants have given us comfort during the coronavirus pandemic, so it should come as no surprise that garden stores are more popular than ever. Here is a look at a few of our favorites.

All Time Plants

Location: 1322 Coronado Ave. Ste B, Long Beach, California 90804

All Time Plants is inside the coffee and bottle house. The storefront is now a hybrid coffee house-plant store-home store where visitors can shop for plants and home goods while enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or beer.

EnCactusar

Location: 3577 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park, California 90065

The COVID-19 pandemic gave artists Jackie and Julio the opportunity to turn their hobby into their own garden center, a small business at their Boyle Heights home. It is a kind of place where staff members will carry your plants out to your car for you while offering care tips. Open Saturdays and Sundays only.

Flyplant

Location: 1801 E 7th St, Los Angeles, California 90021

Flyplant was founded at the height of the pandemic, by Filipina with a passion for helping plant growing. Their shop offers customers plant and pot pairings, plant-themed costumes and gardening tools. Recently, they have added hands-on workshops, where guests can learn how to plant and care for their houseplants.

Folia Collective

Location: 5052 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, California 90041

Every plant at Folia Collective, from roses to ferns (蕨类植物), comes with a care card written by owner Danae Horst, a famous author in the field of home growing. Staff will ask you questions to help you pick the perfect plant and offer tips. Horst has houseplant gifts and, before the pandemic, hosted book signings and occasional cutting exchanges.

【推荐3】World’s Fascinating Libraries to Mark World Book Day

World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, is an annual event organized by the UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The first World Book Day was celebrated on April 23 twenty-seven years ago. Let’s take a look at the world’s fascinating libraries and enjoy the fun of reading.

Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading

Located in the center of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading is a library and cultural institution. It was built in the late 19th century. Open to the public since 1900, the cabinet has the largest collection of Portuguese literature outside Portugal, holding more than 350,000 books.

Stuttgart City Library

Stuttgart City Library is a cube outside with a hollow design inside. The hollow part is connected with misplaced stairs to create a unique sense of space. Since its completion in 2011, it has become a local cultural card and an “instagrammable” place for many tourists.

Library of Alexandria

The Alexandria Library in Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. The library, destroyed in 415 AD and rebuilt in 2002, is not only a library, but also a museum and scientific research institution. It is known as the Egyptian cultural center and a lighthouse of thought, culture and science.

Vasconcelos Library

Vasconcelos Library is located in the downtown area of Mexico City. It was designed by the famous Mexican designer Alberto Kalach, and named after José Vasconcelos, the philosopher and former president of the National Library of Mexico. It was completed in May 2006 and opened to the public.