Victoria Brooke Markus 
So many cruises, so little time! Luckily, there are certain cruises out there that cater to your specific needs, whether you want something simple, extravagant or over the top. Smaller Cruise Ships Not all cruise ships are vast, floating resorts. When you’d rather hear the sound of the water than … Read more
When it comes to the timeless Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows, age is just a number. But it deserves a centennial celebration as prestigious as its past guests. Adoringly referred to as “The Pink Palace”, The Beverly Hills Hotel will celebrate its 100th birthday in style (as if it knows … Read more
*With contributions by Lucille Sitra This is a big hotel with an intimate soul. A stay at the Westin Diplomat involves a number of decisions – the first, between a room overlooking the Atlantic surf or its bright green expanse of golf course, then, which of its eight outstanding restaurants … Read more
Gleaming cafe lamps anchor the white table-clothed tables at Cafe des Amis and an alto sax and tinkling piano in the background signal the jazz age feel of the place. Is it another night in Paris? No, just trendy Union Street in San Francisco. Such is the nature of our … Read more
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Exhibit Believe it or not, there’s just too much weirdness going on in the San Francisco Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. So much in fact, that the weirdness is spreading into the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, capitalizing on the Guinness Book of World Records’ … Read more
Traveling may be one of your passions, but we understand you have other interests in your life. Why not combine the excitement of traveling with your zealousness for adventure, your passion for philanthropy, your fascination with art? The following passion points feature popular hobbies and interests that can be enjoyed … Read more
From the pristine marble floors of sumptuous shopping malls to the ad hoc stalls of mile-long souks, retail venues across the globe ultimately provide the same service for all their patrons: shopping. But just where can you find the most fashionable, trendsetting stores? The largest indoor gold souk? The metropolis … Read more
Mary Cassatt once commented on how she touched some people with a sense of art, saying, “They felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?” Well Mary, I think we found it. Between the old world atmosphere and the … Read more
In Miami’s South Beach, the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall is a nightly magnet for the tanned and the beautiful, with one phenomenal restaurant after another fronting the scenic promenade. If you’re spending a few days there, all the dining choices can easily become a quandary with a decision difficult to … Read more
Whether we’re abroad or just out of state, they are the ones who take us in, provide a comfy bed, deliver room service … all for a price, of course. After all, hotel owners have to make a living, too. But who are these owners, the lodging gurus who mastermind … Read more
With the majority of Finland’s winter spent in darkness, you might think it would dim the creative spark. Not in Helsinki at least, the newly appointed 2012 World Design Capital. Despite the dearth of light, Helsinki emphasized its bright design future with a New Year’s Eve 3D light show in … Read more
Finland’s flag may be blue and white, but during one week in summer, Helsinki proudly displays a more colorful spectrum for Pride, Helsinki. The biggest GLBT event in Finland and one of Helsinki’s biggest week long affairs, it has become an increasingly popular party in northern Europe. In the … Read more
Art is a reflection of the world around us, how we live in different environments and interact with many kinds of people. If you live in a busy city, perhaps you know how what I’m talking about. It’s hard enough to stop and smell the roses, let alone stop … Read more
Caution: the out of the box creativity infused in Finland’s design aesthetic may lead to an inferiority complex. Side effects could include gasping in awe followed by sudden, uncontrollable curiosity. Lucky for you, Finland’s renowned design superstar, Alvar Aalto, was used to designing with medical criteria in mind. After his … Read more
Granted, the terms love and anarchy don’t usually go together. In fact, we tend to think of them as polar opposites (unless you love anarchy, in which case, sorry for the assumption). But when there’s a festival that screens such a wide variety of films as the Helsinki International … Read more