Jeff Greif 
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
The Peninsula was one of the first luxury hotels to open in Beijing China and is still the epitome of class in a city that’s constantly changing. It was 1989, a year that ushered back the Western style hotel to China’s capital. This modern hotel tower rises out of a … Read more
Haven’t decided on a place to celebrate winter yet? Look no further! Even though Switzerland is perfect for skiing and snowboarding, there’s still many activities to choose from that don’t require goggles. Here are ten good reasons why your next vacation destination should be Switzerland! 1. The Matterhorn You’ve seen … Read more
Shhh! I’m letting the cat out of the bag … Ottawa. Move over Toronto and Montreal, Canada’s little sister capital is flexing its muscles these days. We were two lucky souls invited to partake in the super showing of the fall foliage in this city and for the life of … Read more
“Hey Thom,” I said, “We’ve been hiking for two hours already and we haven’t reached the glacier yet. How much longer do you think?” We’d started out from the little village of Briksdalsbre early in the morning and thought we were doing a half-day hike, but since our guide Ruben … Read more
Note from the TS Editors: This exhibit closed on August 18, 2013. “No one, no one gets the prize” sang Diana Ross on one of her most famous solo albums of her career, “The Boss,” but in fact, Mary Wilson got it. Over Mary’s career as a Supreme she amassed … Read more
By now we hope we’ve made it obvious that Norway is celebrating Edvard Munch’s 150th anniversary with a major exhibition that opened in Oslo on June 2. I bet you’re thinking … “great, I wish I could be there.” Well you can be, sort of. On June 27, a series … Read more
Chicago is a great city to visit both for work and for pleasure, with an array of things to see and do – the renowned Art Institute of Chicago, Lake Shore Drive, the Loop, Millennium Park with the centerpiece band shell designed by Frank Gehry and of course, shopping on … Read more
Mona Golabek is electrifying in The Pianist of Willesden Lane. In the play, now finishing up a run at Chicago’s Royal George Theater, she tells the story of her mother Lisa Jura from her teenage years in Vienna at the start of World War II to her immigration to America … Read more
Discussing airfares can easily become a long and detailed conversation and I think most would agree it’s a challenge to find the best ones especially in summer, peak travel season. The major factors to consider when trying getting a great fare are: advance purchase, date and time of departure, the … Read more
When in Miami’s South Beach, most folks head to South Point to either lounge on a daybed on the manicured sands of Nikki Beach and groove to the latest house music or to catch the sunset on Biscayne Bay over beers at Smith & Wollensky – both awesome experiences. But … Read more
If you’re thinking about heading to Canada this summer, learn your ABC’s … Alberta, Banff and Calgary. It was July and I was searching for my cowboy boots, which hadn’t been on my feet since that wild Halloween night when I dressed up like a cowboy. But this time it … Read more
It took a few twists and turns for the Miami Design District to become the white hot neighborhood it is now, boasting high end home furnishings showrooms like Fendi Casa and Luminaire as well as the likes of Cartier and Louis Vuitton. However, the dining landscape in the past had … Read more
The Squire loves a good guidebook both for planning a trip as well as when he’s on the road. Usually, he never has less than two when travelling. Some guidebooks are great for finding out what to see and do, while others give you sound bites on hotels and restaurants … Read more
I think I have a good reason to be proud … I’m an honorary Calgarian. That’s what I became after reciting the oath and receiving my “White Hat.” The hat is not only an enduring symbol of the Wild West and the cowboy but also of the Calgary Stampede which … Read more