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Eat Art at The Garden Restaurant & Explore European Artists in Philadelphia
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Escape the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia at The Garden Restaurant in the Barnes Museum! Helmed by Executive Chef Michael O’Meara, this artsy fartsy space has a seasonal, full menu celebrating local farms with fresh ingredients located inside Barnes Museum in the Art Museum area of Philadelphia… where the Rocky steps are. The space has a light-filled indoor dining room with art flanking the walls, an open kitchen and boasts views of a private walled garden with al fresco dining, weather permitting of course. With light and hearty options, house made desserts and a curated list of local beers and wines served by…
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All Aboard the Moshulu, the World’s Oldest & Largest Tall Ship with Restaurant in Philadelphia
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler The last time I visited the Moshulu Philly, it was to attend the launch of The Deck Philly which was in 2017, right before I moved to Arizona that New Year. Since then a lot has happened including Covid knocking out a ton of amazing restaurants and locations across Philadelphia which I’m discovering as I’m digging through archives on Explore with Cassie (formerly Explore-Philly.com) and having to throw in the digital trash sadly. The timing of all of this is very odd or maybe serendipitous, a lot of photos that are not supposed to be attached to the old site are somehow breaking…
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Westin Tempe, Arizona Offers Perfect Location to Stay & Play for ASU Crew
Story, photos (unless otherwise noted), videos by Cassie Hepler When I first moved to Arizona, I rented an Airbnb studio in Tempe called the hobbit hole somewhere downtown close enough to ride your bicycle but too far to walk especially in the heat. That was my first experience with Tempe, Arizona and I do have fond memories of it. My hosts were amazing and knowing I was relocating, told me if I found an apartment (or in my case, an Arcadia casita), they would gladly release the rest of my stay and even help me move. Talk about Western hospitality! So my first impression was excellent in this area. Known…
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Live Out Your Mermaid Fantasies in a Shipping Container Pool Studio
Story, modeling, styling and video by Cassie Hepler, photography by Brian Delfin Let me tell you a tail (tehe) about a little girl who always pretended to be a mermaid, swimming under the pool ladder to explore a new world. And my oh my, how many of us there are out there I learned shortly after this photoshoot with Photos by Delfin! It all started on a sizzling summer day in Phoenix, Arizona when we went to go shoot Monie Jae Boutique fashion photography at The Arizona Biltmore. We were probably heat exhausted after a full day shooting and didn’t even know it but Brian literally lay on the floor for…
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Build a Glamping Dome in Your Backyard with Phoenix Domes
Story by Cassie Hepler The price of housing is outrageous all across the United States. This is a not-so-fun fact we all feel from greedy corporate entities and our own government squeezing citizens for every last dime through creeping to 40% taxes on everything you do, eat, drink and where you live. I’m very goal-oriented and have been speaking to a number of think-outside-the-box brands over the years trying to find a solution to the housing madness. Fortunately, Arizona is pretty lax about additional living structures and especially now that the city of Phoenix has approved casitas in your backyard, glamping domes are a very cost effective way to secure…
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Your Architectural Adventure: Starting Your Own Firm
Starting your own architectural business is like designing a skyscraper from the ground up – it takes vision, planning, and a solid foundation. Whether you’re a seasoned architect ready to strike out on your own or a fresh graduate with big dreams, here’s a roadmap to help you build your empire. Image by GrumpyBeere from Pixabay 1. Define Your Architectural Identity Every great architect has a signature style. Whether you’re passionate about sustainable design, urban landscapes, or historic preservation, defining your niche sets the stage for your unique contribution to the built environment. 2. Develop a Rock-Solid Business Plan Think of your business plan as the blueprint for success. Outline…
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Cool Down at Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Welcome to my first time on the Oregon Coast but most certainly not my last… Checking off another travel box off the bucket list was visiting Portland, Oregon and driving out to the stunning Pacific Northwest Coast. Working with nearby Wilsonville, Oregon, I was connected with the friendly folks at Cannon Beach, Oregon and so happy it all came to fruition. With limited time and a pretty packed schedule, I was up and at ‘em, excited and ready to enjoy that salty air probably way too early Friday morning. What can I say, I love the beach! I also learned on the drive from Beaverton,…
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Hey You Guys! Calling The Goonies Movie Buffs to Astoria, Oregon
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I’ve been wanting to visit the Goonies house since I first saw the movie! And it was always on my to do travel bucket list – that and the Oregon Coast as well. So when the press trip worked out well for exploring Wilsonville, Oregon who then connected me with the Cannon Beach tourism board, it was on like Donkey Kong. However in my confused travel state, I didn’t realize it until well after I had explored the small beach town above and tacked it on to the drive back toward the airport as suggested by the amazing staff at the tourism center.…
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Relax in the Small Town of Wilsonville, Just South of Portland, Oregon
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Never travel for business during Spring Break! That’s the first moral of this story as I always have to learn things the hard way… I booked a flight at the crack o’ dawn through Southwest so I could hit the ground running on a Monday morning to make the week last extra long. In theory, it’s a good idea during any other time of the year and you will fly through security at Phoenix Airport with time to spare. But this time was a Spring Break shit show at 5 a.m. with lines crawling down the hallway with the progression of a snail.…
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Float Through The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler As part of a girls getaway to The Cassara Carlsbad in San Diego, California, my college bestie and I met up for a flower-filled feminine rendez-vous with the key highlight of visiting the glorious Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. And part of that experience includes being dropped off by the hotel shuttle right in front of the entrance to the flower fields even though it is walkable from The Cassara. It was still humid, cool and misty, especially for this Phoenician but not enough to need a sweater which worked perfectly for our pretty, flowing dresses and my curly hair. There are 55…
