The Paon Bali Cooking Class is much more than chopping, dicing and stir frying. Along with these basic cooking tasks and learning about tasty Balinese cuisine, it’s an enriching introduction to Balinese life and customs. Ni Luh Made Puspawati, who asks to be called Puspa, and her husband, Wayan Subawa, … Read more
When asked to describe his band’s style of music, Louis Armstrong once said, “what we play is life.” Anyone who has heard the goofy-grinned legend play some tunes can attest to the accuracy of such a description. From his brassy trumpeting to his signature scat singing, Louis Armstrong brought songs … Read more
Nota Bene is an island in the middle of a stormy sea. Tucked away in the slightly gritty Queen St. West theater district of Toronto, you almost wonder how it found its home there. But a home it’s found and it’s one that Chef David Lee is most likely proud … Read more
Built in 1985, The Kimberly Hotel is Midtown Manhattan’s last true Euro-style hotel with so elegant a feel that it creates the illusion you’ve stepped into a Victorian mansion. And the staff, from the poised receptionists to the ‘Clefs d’Or’ Concierges, treat you like royalty. Recently the hotel has undergone … Read more
There’s a surprisingly potent cultural thread weaving its way through Houston, Texas, a city of sprawling freeways and more mansions than you can imagine in an urban setting. Perhaps it has something to do with all that money from oil and energy and as it’s the 4th largest city in … Read more
Anyone headed to Vegas knows the drill. Take buckets of cash. But guess what? At The Linq, the newly constructed shopping and entertainment district right on the Strip, you can get a taste of Vegas’ high rolling style without draining your bank account. Targeted to the growing Generation X and … Read more
Ron Swanson, the burly Parks and Recreation character whose moustache alone is the pinnacle of American masculinity, perfectly summed up our western opinion toward vodka when he said, “Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.” Vodka conjures up images of the Sex and the City girls sipping Cosmopolitans and figure conscious twentysomethings downing … Read more
Maine and lobster go together like wine and cheese or bread and butter. You really can’t have one without the other. The state and its signature crustacean are practically inseparable. Just as you can’t have New York City without hot dogs, Boston without baked beans or New Orleans without gumbo, … Read more
Built in 1929 by famed entrepreneur Carl Fisher, The Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina is a hidden gem at the eastern end of Long Island. The entire property has a fitting nautical theme, with guest rooms resembling something out of a Ralph Lauren campaign. That translates to an elegant … Read more
Leave it to L.A. to start the latest trend in fashion. This one is rolling in on the heels of the food truck frenzy–fashion trucks. These chic boutiques on wheels are popping up all over the city fully outfitted with changing rooms, flat screen TVs, and the latest ready to … Read more
Often compared with Tokyo, Kyoto is Japan’s most manageable city, one of the world’s greatest walking cities, and perfect for biking, too. It’s laid out on a grid so getting lost is a choice rather than the inevitability like in Tokyo. Walk, rent bicycles, or even take public transportation which … Read more
Fourth of July may be over, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to retire your red, white and blue-wear just yet. July 14th, commonly known as Bastille Day, marks the storming of the Bastille in 1789, which started the French Revolution. Today, Bastille Day marks the storming of pastry shops … Read more
Sometimes you can tell a lot about a hotel just by its name. Take San Francisco’s Hotel Diva. The Diva Sidewalk of Fame in from of the hotel is just one of many subtle hints to come during your stay, its concrete blocks sectioned off with the foot and handprints of past … Read more
We all look forward to traveling, but flying? Not so much. After being cramped in a small seat for hours on end, you arrive at your destination needing a deep tissue massage and a good nap. Airberlin, Germany’s second largest airline, is banishing the days of unpleasant flight experiences with … Read more
Michelin-stars are all well and good, but some restaurants go beyond approval from the French. Steeped in history, Yan Toh Heen at the InterContinental Hong Kong, formerly the renowned Regent, has decades of glory to look back on as an unrivaled epitome of luxurious Cantonese cuisine. Recently renovated top to … Read more