BERLIN - Tyranny rules at many hotel bars, where the cocktail list is a bore concocted to trim "pour" costs and fatten the owner's profits. But not at Sir Rocco Forte's Bebel Bar in the ubermodern, steel and glass Hotel de Rome, fashioned out of the circa-1889, grim and gray former Dresdner Bank head office. Steps away from the Brandenburg Gate in once-walled-off East Berlin, you can sit at the bar and look out on ... [full story]

The "perfect storm" for holiday travelers is gathering fast this year. Packed planes, high fares even if you book ahead, more people vying for fewer flights, and the near certainty of winter weather delays. It's especially tough for business travelers on crunch deadlines and tight meeting schedules. But sometimes you can get lucky. I did recently, sort of. Shopping for a reasonable fare from San Francisco to Madison, Wis., 25 days before takeoff, Northwest and ... [full story]

MUMBAI, INDIA - The butler did it. He saved me from getting completely lost in this chaotic, exciting city, saved me a half-hour of high-powered haggling and saved me at least $40 in rupees. The convenience is worth 10 times that. Needing an inexpensive gym-style zipper bag to haul home files, press kits and gifts accumulated on my first trip to India, I was about to plunge into the steamy streets of Mumbai (locals still ... [full story]

Qualcomm Wednesday won one of its many battles with Nokia over patents and related licensing fees, as a Dutch court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Finnish phone maker. The action potentially removes one arrow from Nokia's quiver, but it does little to shift power in the conflict between the two telecom giants. Nokia said it has not decided whether to appeal. The Dutch court action was one piece of a busy news day for ... [full story]

Bend, Medford, Klamath Falls, Astoria, Seaside, Canon Beach, Tillamook, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Yaquina Bay, Waldport, Yachats and Newport now fall under the network coverage area Verizon Wireless customers in more Oregon towns can now access e-mail, everyday corporate data, the Internet and more at faster speeds; check out video on their phones; download music right over the air; and play 3D games -- as Verizon Wireless expands its wireless high-speed broadband network ... [full story]

The downtown Bend art community is about to get a heart of glass. Glass Symphony, a high-end art glass gallery is opening its new location at 916 NW Wall Street, after nearly two years in west Bend.  “Glass Symphony has established itself as Oregon’s most beautiful art glass gallery, and now brings its enlightened vision to downtown Bend, continuing the tradition of fine art in the community” says artist and co-owner Kate MacLeod. “We are ... [full story]

Beginning Nov. 23: Celebrity Santas, Trees of Joy, Carriage Rides & more are planned BEND, Ore. – The Shops at the Old Mill District will open a festive holiday season on November 23 at 10 a.m. as the first of 40 Celebrity Santas are available for pictures with families and children. Wagons Ho will bring in carriages from 2-6 p.m. for rides to view holiday lights and decorations throughout The Old Mill District.  Also on ... [full story]

SAN DIEGO - Even before the fires began to die down, Phil Fitzpatrick was preparing for a busy month. A director of personnel for ServiceMaster, a national company that cleans up houses damaged by fire or other disasters, Fitzpatrick was already fielding job requests even as the Southern California wildfires were still raging.   AFTER THE FIRES - Jason Evans of Paul Davis Restoration steam cleaned the carpet of a house in San Diego. He's so ... [full story]

Transplanted Los Angeles "Valley Boy" Skip Nessel claims he designed Elixir, his martini bar and restaurant in Jackson, Miss., "to feel like I was at very cool cocktail party with all my friends." He apparently has many pals, and Elixir makes new ones daily thanks to head bartender Cody Allen's photographic memory. "Cody meets you once," he says, "and never forgets your name or favorite drink." Elixir ( www.elixirms.com) almost defies description. Tucked away in ... [full story]

Darren Berkovitz works in Beverly Hills, Calif., for an Internet incubator - a company that creates Web sites. One day the subject of his girlfriend came up. He doesn't have one.   A HIRER POWER - Heather Blaise has used DoMyStuff to find 'virtual assistants' for various tasks, including development of a business plan. 'I think it's a great tool,' she said. CNS Photo by Earnie Grafton. He told co-worker Stacy Stubblefield he's too busy to look ... [full story]

For decades, a cartoon mustached Maharaja in striped turban and pointy slippers relaxing on a flying carpet, ruled the skies between the U.S. and India. The Air India mascot had zero competition wooing worldly, adventurous American tourists to visit the Taj Mahal, grand palaces and ride the elephants. No longer. With India's gross domestic product reportedly growing at a stunning 9 percent annually, with industrial production up 12.5 percent this year, with U.S. companies setting ... [full story]

BURNS, Ore. – The historic McEwen Ranch announced this week its 150,000 plus acres have been certified organic by the USDA’s National Organic Program. This is the culmination of a three-year process during which the land must be free of all chemical inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. With its organic certification, the McEwen ranch, which at one time was a part of the historic Miller-Lux cattle empire of the late 1800’s, is believed ... [full story]

If Madison Avenue ever opens a Catchy Name Hall of Fame, Embassy Suites has my vote. Each word conjures up visions of power, elegance, a private sanctuary for the well-heeled and well-connected. A place where diplomats hold back-channel conversations in total secrecy to free a political hostage or shore up a sagging currency. Maybe that's why I tend to think - and often book - Embassy Suites when I need a refuge on the road. ... [full story]