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AND LIFESTYLE NEWS AND TRENDS
TRAVEL
Rollin’ On a European River
 Offering a chance to see culture from the waterline in genteel fashion, river cruises on Europe’s waterways are booming: According to market researcher Mintel International, the number of passengers on European river cruises has grown more than 700 percent since the late 1990s. It’s a more intimate cruise (vessel sizes are constrained by the locks the boats pass through). And better still, companies are upping their amenities to compete, meaning you can dine in a Viennese palace before returning to your floating stateroom for a beaujolais cru from the local fields. — Ken McAlpine
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Deilmann claims the best passenger-to-crew ratio in Europe (2.5 guests for each crew member), with up to nine courses of fine dining on gala evenings. Among its offerings: special interest cruises (music, golf, cycling) and Elbe River cruises with stops in Berlin and Prague. deilmann-cruises.com
Tauck World Discovery
Tauck has launched three new European riverboats since 2006. The latest, the 361-foot Swiss Jewel, accommodates 118 guests, who might choose a stateroom or a 300-square-foot suite with floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies, and full-size marble baths. For true largesse, consider Tauck’s 24-day transcontinental Grand European Cruise. tauck.com
Captain You
Want to spend less and heave to your own whim? Rent a canal boat. In many European countries, the boats — basically RVs on the water (bedrooms, kitchens, living areas, bathrooms) — require no license or experience; it’s hard to get into trouble at top speeds of four miles per hour. Le Boat is one of the largest rental agencies. leboat.com
Viking River Cruises
The company’s newest vessel, the Viking Legend, debuted in July, boasting the largest suites on Europe’s rivers; on the Grand European Tour, she plies the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers for 15 days, visiting five countries. Or choose the Danube Waltz, an eight-day cruise along the Danube River. vikingrivercruises.com
French Country Waterways
Luxury hotel barges carrying eight to 18 passengers wend through the French countryside on six-night cruises that depart weekly. Meander through the Côte D'Or or explore the rich culture and vineyards of Burgundy, with niceties like private wine tastings in the chablis vineyards. fcwl.com
RESTAURANTS
360 at Five Sixty
 No mere restaurant, the new FIVE SIXTY by Wolfgang Puck is part of the Dallas skyline, slowly rotating atop the landmark Reunion Tower. With ever-changing views and floor-to-ceiling glass, it could have been named 360, but at a height of 560 dizzying feet, Five Sixty seemed even more fitting. This view can be enjoyed over cocktails and appetizers, or throughout a full dinner. Either way, guests will savor the Asian fusion cuisine the nation’s first celebrity chef is famous for, with Puck signature dishes such as "Chinois-style" chicken salad and spicy tuna tartare in sesame-miso cones. Even the Texas-size double-cut prime rib gets a makeover with wasabi-armagnac peppercorn sauce and drunken noodles. Whatever the flavor combination, diners will find the perfect pairing in the 325-label wine list. (214) 741-5560, wolfgangpuck.com — LARRY OLMSTED
On the Waterfront
Not a typical “waterfront,” Scottsdale’s Arizona Canal in the Sonoran Desert is the site of a newly emerging restaurant scene. At Canal, haute cuisine meets haute couture as enormous screens showcase runway models in the latest garb. The hottest newcomer: Digestif, where chef Payton Curry’s farm-to-table kitchen whips up seasonal Cal-Ital flavors including wild game and savory crostata. canalaz.com, digestifscottsdale.com
In Boston, the Fairmont Battery Wharf’s new restaurant Sensing features a menu created by Paris’ famed chef Guy Martin. Hit the nearby Fort Point Waterfront District for a pre-dinner cocktail at chef Barbara Lynch’s no-menu, cocktail party-style bar Drink, where fresh lime, lemon, and grapefruit juice are on tap along with quince and simple syrups. fairmont.com/batterywharf, www.drinkfortpoint.com — N.A.
Cinema Culinaire
Forget popcorn and soda. Andaz liverpool street 1901 restaurant has launched the world’s first Silent Cinema. Once a month, don a pair of wireless headphones and watch cult classics on a full-size cinema screen while devouring tongue-in-cheek eats designed to accompany the film’s most memorable scenes. andaz.com — N.A.
Slow Down For a Soufflé
Rise n°1 restaurant in Dallas has the art of lingering over lunch down to a science. After a hugely successful first year, Rise n°1 continues to impress with savory and sweet soufflés, artisanal cheeses, and intimate European ambience. risesouffle.com — J.T
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