Restaurant Dwars, Amsterdam

Snuggled in between well-known beer producers, Belgium and Germany, The Netherlands isn’t acknowledged often enough for its contributions to the beer scene. Of course Amsterdam based Heineken is well known and wildly popular, but there are a number of craft breweries worthy of a taste.   And in Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighborhood, … Read more

28 Hot Destinations 2016, St. Helena

Travel Squire Announces the Hot 28 Destinations for 2016

From far flung places to urban spaces, our editors have narrowed down our list of the most intriguing places to take your next journey in 2016, places you should add to your “dream list.” The Top 28 Hot Destinations for 2016 offers visually pleasing sights and some very interesting things … Read more

Lux Helsinki Lights up the Night

>When it’s January in Helsinki, the night can seem endless.  And what’s the one thing that people are needing more of in the dead of winter in northern Europe?  Light, of course! And once again they’re going to get it. From Wednesday January 6 to Sunday January 10, the eighth … Read more

Mezi – Christmas Shopping in a Pinch

With less than 10 shopping days until Christmas many of us (including myself) are feeling the crunch.  How do we finish it all up in time?  Pssst … the Squire’s got a secret.  It’s Mezi, a text-on-demand shopping service App. Thanks to Mezi, you can do all of your shopping … Read more

New Year’s Eve in Times Square

New Year’s Eve in Times Square?  That’s a no-brainer, right?  Crowds of people packed like sardines standing for hours just waiting for the magic moment when the Waterford Crystal Ball drops at midnight. Fuhgettabout it! Take it from The Squire; you deserve a better New Years’ Eve experience.  And you … Read more

Germany, German Traditions

Exploring German Traditions

Standing in Germany’s Black Forest surrounded by dense canopies of dark towering evergreens, I fully expected to see Little Red Riding Hood skipping along to Grandma’s house with the big bad wolf undoubtedly lurking somewhere behind a tree. This geographically blessed region in southwest Germany’s state of Baden-Württemberg was the … Read more

Tanuki, Auckland, New Zealand

The Japanese Izakaya concept seems to have gained prominence far and wide in the last year and Auckland, New Zealand is no exception. Essentially Japanese bar food eaten with liberal amounts of alcoholic beverages, the movement has spawned variations and it’s possible that in another year it will have morphed … Read more

Celebrate Winter in Paris

From the TS Editors: I can’t help it.  When I hear a new Mylene Farmer disk, I’m like a moth to a flame. At the moment her new c.d. Monkey Me has me captive. Probably unbeknownst to most stateside, Mylene epitomizes the post 80’s French disco angel … her music … Read more

Onboard The Queen Mary 2 – Southampton to NY

H.M.S.  Victory  H.R.H. The Princess Royal, previously known as Princess Anne, is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh and is the sister of Prince Charles, who is the subject of the Tony worthy new show King Charles III now on Broadway at the Music … Read more

George Takei and Brad Altman. Photo courtesy of Richard C. Murray and RCM Images Inc.

The Queen Mary 2 – NY to Southampton

“Some people have been on the Queen Mary 2 making the same crossing many times before. But I’ve got one over on even those who are grizzled veterans of the North Atlantic crossing. I have boldly gone where no one has gone before on the Starship Enterprise,” quipped the affable … Read more

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – Monarch Rooftop Lounge

If you were one of the millions of viewers glued to your television screen last year during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade you’re certain of one thing.  It just keeps getting better year after year.  And let’s face it.  That is definitely not true of most things today. With … Read more

Matbaren Sashimi. Photo courtesy of Michael Tulipan.

Stockholm Drinking and Dining

With pristine seafood plucked from glistening seas, sustainably raised meats and a newfound devotion to seasonal produce, modern Swedish cooking has come a long way from meatballs and pickled herring. The food scene hasn’t yet made the city a must visit like Copenhagen, but chefs are carving out their own … Read more

New Orleans for the Holidays

Part French, part Southern and 100 percent enchanting, New Orleans is unlike any other city in the country.  In this famed place where Creole tradition abounds, legendary music, superb cuisine and of course, extra special cocktails combine to create a celebratory atmosphere for the holidays.  Every year during this time, … Read more

Germany’s Merry Christmas: Markets and More

My nose led me to the oven, heavenly aromas wafting from behind its doors.   Something delicious was baking and I had to have a taste.  I was in Dresden at the Striezelmarkt, the city’s Christmas market, and it was Stollen, a rich buttery cake with dried fruit, nuts and spices, … Read more

Power to Go

If you’re anything like me, then you travel with all your gadgets. Have you ever been away from home and discovered that your electronic devices just weren’t getting enough power?  You check-in to your hotel and as you’re unpacking you notice there aren’t enough outlets to charge your phones, iPad, … Read more