Paris is one of the world’s most alluring destinations. So, when I recently met up with Le Cordon Bleu, Paris’ Chef Guillaume Siegler, to ask him a few questions about his adopted home from a resident’s point of view, I was not surprised by his responses. With a tenure at … Read more
Twenty years ago if you mentioned to anyone that you were going to Pittsburgh the response would’ve been “Why? Everything is covered with grit from the steel mills.” That was true then; today Pittsburgh has come a long way from its “steel city” days and is now a growing metropolis … Read more
The trolley car bell rings as it glides along Ringstrasse, Vienna’s grand boulevard winding around the city center in the shape of a ring. The trolley stops before Volksgarten, and I disembark to enter the majestic garden grounds. The grounds remind me of New York City’s Central Park except this … Read more
In July 1863, over 170,000 soldiers converged on the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in a battle that changed both the course of the Civil War and ultimately the nation. Every kid in America studied the Battle of Gettysburg in history class and memorized at least a part of President … Read more
“The Norwegians sure take their sun seriously, don’t they?” said Pop after he saw that we were fellow Americans touring Norway. We’d just zoomed past a few townspeople sunbathing in their backyards and a guy mowing his lawn shirtless. It was a hot, sunny day in Alesund, a popular fjord … Read more
I’m in Norway, a place that in summer is part of the “land of the midnight sun.” But I’m visiting in the dead of winter, embarking on an 11 day cruise headed toward the Arctic Circle. Is my timing off? Not at all. I’m on a hunt — a hunt … Read more
Snug by Oslo’s downtown harbor, it was once the city’s most disreputable corner. In the 18th century, Tjuvholmen—meaning Thief Island—was a shadowy haunt of rascals and reprobates. The quarter’s only redeeming feature was its site: several small islands jutting into the broad blue Oslofjord. But, for smugglers, that splendid waterway … Read more
Today, the intersection of the Bowery and Broome Street in Manhattan is perfectly pleasant – busy sidewalks line the streets where stylish pedestrians head to one or more of the many bustling boutiques or restaurants nearby. It’s become a coveted location for real estate agents thanks to its walking … Read more
Fiercely proud of its starring role as the birthplace of the U.S., Philadelphia, long lauded for its historical significance, is practically a cultural goldmine. Forget that Rocky famously put it on the map years ago running through its gritty Italian market and up the Art Museum steps. Today, the Mummers … Read more
Centuries of history, celebrated French cuisine, a towering cathedral on the river … Paris? No, I’m talking about Lyon, a city steeped in history and the home of Paul Bocuse, a culinary legend who changed French cooking forever. Compact and eminently walkable – you’ll need to burn off the calories … Read more
Traveling to the world’s top destinations for design – whether that means architecture, fashion, or even food – means more than just stopping by the local art museum. Here’s our guide to the finest of all things travel in the cities where ‘design’ is always spelled with a capital D. … Read more
When I lived in West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, cities across the border in the Communist East Bloc seemed a world away. Any travel to East Germany was especially restricted, and the red tape required for visiting wasn’t worth the hassle. But all that has changed, … Read more
She has been twice beheaded, lost an arm, been blasted off her rock, and covered in various colors of paint. It’s safe to say that Denmark’s iconic Little Mermaid statue has been through a lot. Yet, whether being displayed abroad in an exhibition or viewed from her native home perched … Read more
Most New Yorkers know that some of the best works of art aren’t in the museums. They’re either public works (Hello, Lady Liberty!) or, are on display semi-privately at many of New York’s finest hotels and galleries … free of charge! This spring and summer take in a new exhibit … Read more
If Lisbon is one of those places lower on your list of “must see in Europe,” re-think your rankings. Portugal’s capital city is a lively urban center chock full of attractions from medieval to modern. Whether you’re a history buff, a gastronome, a power shopper, or all three, you’ll … Read more