Eau de Cologne What do you get when you cross a monk, a businessman and a miraculous liquid? In Cologne, Germany, you get the Ultimate Takeaway. In 1792, a Carthusian monk gave the secret recipe of a “miracle water” as a wedding present to a young entrepreneur. Believing this formula … Read more
I love African cities. There, I’ve said it. I love African cities! For most travelers to Africa the experience is traditionally about the wildlife – the plains of the Serengeti, the wetlands of the Okavango Delta, the tribal richness of the Maasai. True, Africa has the largest migration of … Read more
[wide][/wide] I was 16 years old. I was completely infatuated with the concept of becoming a chef and devoting my life to good eating. The year I spent living in Helsinki, Finland provided an amazing backdrop to taste, eat, and explore my developing palate in ways I would have never … Read more
I love to travel, but I got the travel bug a little later in life than most since I have my own business and never felt that I could get away. For the first seven years of operating The Hall Company I never left New York City until I realized … Read more
Although I travel on average two months each year outside the country, ironically I still consider myself a homebody. Few things on the road beat my dull, daily routine here in Harvard Square … walking Bello, my Bernese mountain dog along the Charles River, writing in my study, reading at … Read more
As the train crept slowly out of the St. Petersburg train station I gazed out and saw her, my kind-hearted stranger. She was smiling and waving as she blew a kiss, then turned and walked back toward the city. I waived and smiled back at Katirina, knowing that our paths … Read more
Changing yet Staying the Same People often ask me how a mother and her two daughters could survive in the travel industry for so many decades. Well, in our case it came naturally and the knowledge accumulated through the years provided perspective, a rich foundation and the courage to change. … Read more
After earning a position on the Executive Desk at American Airlines following a strenuous training program, I was in dire need of a vacation. With a prime contact at a web-based travel site and six weeks off, I was ready to go. I’d always wanted to see South … Read more
Jeanne Toulon Enjoying the beaches of Southern California while growing up in the 70’s, it was a lifelong dream to live in Hawaii. I envied the island lifestyle, the ocean, sun and the surfing culture. While in college, I was invited to spend my month long Christmas vacation with my … Read more
Just Smile My life for the last several years had been like Ryan Bingham’s in Up in the Air. As a management consultant at Booz & Company, I was on the road on average 40 weeks a year. Every Monday morning (or Sunday night) I would pack my bags, kiss … Read more
I can still remember the humidity and the aroma of jet fuel on American Eagle flight #4943, as the hatch of the small propeller plane was opened. My leather seat was worn from years of use, and the tiny plastic window on my left was sporting a web of cracks, … Read more
As a chef, learning about where food comes from is a vital foundation of our work in the kitchen. The opportunity to “live off the land” is something one should never take for granted and this has been a good part of my experience while working at The Glasbern Inn. … Read more
Variety is the Spice of Life I always had a strong interest in airplanes but when aviation became my business it really opened my eyes to other things rather than just the actual planes. For example, there are many exotic airports and tricky runways around the world that are only … Read more
The Music of Something Beginning The Regeneration of Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre Renaissance. It’s a term one hears a lot lately on the subject of the Drury Lane Theatre, along with Legacy and, perhaps most especially, Family. At a time when theater in general, and regional theater in particular, faces … Read more
