Thom Meintel 
In the 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful, an old woman longs to return to her childhood home, a small Texas town called Bountiful. Unbeknownst to her, her memory of the place would be all that is left when she gets there, the town having been devastated by the Great … Read more
It took a little white but Florentine designer Roberto Cavalli finally managed to make the fashion pack sit-up and take notice. With a global empire of stores in 33 countries around the world, it’s safe to say he is well on his way to becoming an icon in Italian fashion. … Read more
It’s 9AM on a Saturday and Baked on Main Street is buzzing. Things get going early here in Whitehorse, the capital of the Yukon. With more than 10 varieties of home baked scones and over a dozen kinds of coffee, Baked is the town’s indie alternative to Starbuck’s up the … Read more
Las Vegas is a city of surprises. After all this is a town that sprung from nothing in the middle of the desert and boy, it never lets you forget it. So, when I pulled up to The Aria Hotel in a taxi I was ready for some eye popping … Read more
If you’ve ever yearned to check in to a swanky hotel and forget about checking out for awhile, I suggest you channel your inner “Eloise” at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona. The hotel’s Tower Suites are fully loaded with every amenity you’ll need for an extended stay in … Read more
If Sunset Boulevard’s Norma Desmond stepped out of the classic 1942 film and into the lobby of the Kensington Park Hotel in downtown San Francisco, she’d be right at home. The intricately detailed space makes quite a statement starting with the architectural details … soaring hand painted beamed ceilings and … Read more
Sitting squat on a forlorn block in the Union Square vicinity, San Francisco’s Hotel Nikko will not surprise you as a striking architectural gem, but no matter. As you step inside the towering concrete mass an instant feeling of Zen alters the senses, the sound of water gurgling, a perfect … Read more
If you can find the front door of the Hotel Union Square amid the motley storefronts on the lively block of Powell Street, you’re in for a surprise. Two stunning 10 foot mosaics grace either side of the entrance, a clear indication of the building’s 1913 landmark pedigree. Mind you, … Read more
When you think of the Everglades do you automatically see an airboat gliding through a swamp in the corner of your mind? I do. Those dime store novel vehicles conjure images of alligators and murky waters teaming with snakes and crocs. Well, you can get your fill of the real … Read more
A hush falls over The Idiot as you enter. It’s as if Dostoevsky himself was writing in the corner. That wouldn’t be much of a surprise as the warm, cozy atmosphere is perfect for tinkling with your latest poem or perhaps that song you’re writing. Soft music and a Zen … Read more
Yeah, … “there’s nothing wrong with a good grilled cheese every now and again”, chimed our server Christi as she raced around busing tables after taking my order. It was nearly midnight and Déjà Vu was still cranking out the daily special. After ordering a beer and checking out the … Read more
Michael Mina 74 has a subterranean feel, a cool cellar away from the south Florida heat. Tucked away from the madness of the Hotel Fontainebleau’s lobby, this is your go to for quick bites and yummy pick me ups when you’re spending some down time in Miami. Mr. Mina’s signature … Read more
Nestled on a tiny piazza amid the blessed chaos that is Naples, Italy is a rare find … the Palazzo Decumani. The 4 star albergo takes its name from its heritage – a former palatial residence almost hidden within the narrow streets and alleys of the Decumani neighborhood, a beehive … Read more
Let me say this straight out. It’s hard to go too long without Italian food. Blame it on my mom’s spaghetti and meatballs or the home made lasagna an Italian friend of mine used to make regularly. So it was with a sense of expectancy that we approached Capuletti, situated … 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