Having sat in the lap of luxury for most of our time spent in Marrakesh, we decided to get out on our own and rent a car. Our destination: the quiet oasis of Fez, a six and half hour drive from Marrakech, and well worth a few days. Fez is … Read more
I’m in the sleepy town of Southold on Long Island’s North Fork, an area known for its “wine trail” that includes more than 30 vineyards thriving off a sunny summer climate and temperatures cooled by ocean breezes. The North Fork is separated from the South Fork by the Peconic … Read more
Marrakesh, the ancient city in Morocco is having a renaissance. Sophisticated travelers are rediscovering the sights, sounds, and smells of this fabled city. The city is welcoming and safe and this October will see the opening of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in the famed Majorelle Gardens featuring the work … Read more
Northern France’s industrial port city of Dunkerque is known for several things: its eponymous battle (the subject of Christopher Nolan’s current film Dunkirk), its classification as part of the quirky “Ch’ti” region (which comes with its own dialects and all), and an absolutely insane iteration of the world’s carnivals that … Read more
Tradition. Innovation. Excellence. – Since 1931, thousands of students have followed these principles at Le Cordon Bleu in London, one of the top culinary arts, wine, and management schools in the world. Located on Bloomsbury Square, the stately entrance radiates grandeur and energy, and students dressed in white aprons with … Read more
In days of old, sailors were often tattooed with swallows that symbolized love and loyalty, given that the bird chooses a mate for life and returns to the same nesting area every year. Swallow East, a seaside restaurant on the docks in Montauk, similarly uses the bird to symbolize guests … Read more
If you dream of visiting exotic locales but worry about returning with an extra five pounds you’re not alone. Today’s savvy travelers are focused on keeping healthy and fit when away from their regimes. Relax! Whether you’re a hardcore health buff, a raw-vegan connoisseur or simply want to try different … Read more
Remember when the thought of having dinner in the restaurant of your hotel wasn’t exactly exciting? Guess what? Those days are long gone. From the still-on-fire Augustine at the Beekman Hotel, to the supremely popular NoMad at the NoMad Hotel and now over the bridges and through the tunnels to … Read more
There’s a reason the landscape of the USA was described in such poetic terms by Katherine Lee in America the Beautiful. From sea to shining sea, this really is one big beautiful country. Take a few days on the open road to explore the vast wide open spaces and glorious … Read more
A Le Cordon Bleu Cooking Class Experience First, a small confession: I’m not great in the kitchen. I can make a mean apple pie (provided I use a ready-made crust), and my husband calls me the “Soup Queen” (really, I just toss things in a pot and add chicken stock), but … Read more
Every spring and fall, the global fashion hive congregates in Paris and Milan for a much hyped week or so of runway shows, parties, dinners, and celebrity sightings. In the Paris phase of the circuit it’s tough to score access to the shows unless you’re a bona fide fashion editor … Read more
If you’re traveling to New Zealand’s South Island, chances are you’ll be passing through Christchurch, its biggest town. Well-known for its English heritage and beautiful gardens, the city of around 350,000 locals was a favorite tourist destination until February 22, 2011, at 12.51 pm local time when a 6.3 magnitude … Read more
When was the last time you had a great dinner in an airport lounge? Some airlines offer free snacks and small plates in their lounges as well as food for purchase but now American Airlines has upped their game. Last week the carrier broke out of the mold by opening … Read more
As I walk the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden, I admire a towering white tree. Bursts of fire-engine red emanate from its center, the tree’s slender white branches curling like Medusa as they reach for the sky. But this rare, glorious tree, situated on 250 acres of garden … Read more
“A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist.” You’ve picked forest mushrooms, enjoyed Arctic berries, and sampled Mediterranean … Read more