Sure, you know that Sweden hit it big in the design world with IKEA, but did you know that Finland staked a claim, too? In fact, there’s even a Design District in Helsinki. In December 2014, UNESCO awarded Helsinki the title of “City of Design,” in addition to the status it … Read more
In the fourth and last installment of our Hot Destinations series, we’ve scoured the global map and chose singular places on different continents that stand out and have resonance. If you’re Europe bound you’ll appreciate our two suggestions, if only to savor a great glass of Alsatian wine or awesome … Read more
In the third of our continuing four-part series covering top travel destinations for 2015, it’s all about the differential. There’s never been a time quite like this in the travel industry. What once seemed out of reach because of budget is now more affordable than ever and if proximity was … Read more
In the second of our continuing four-part series covering top travel destinations for 2015, we look at three far flung international spots, one exotic South American capital, a destination in Africa, and three very different European locations. The European destinations alone merit consideration especially as one of the three has … Read more
It was a difficult task, but our editors have narrowed it down and we are ready to share with you our Top 28 Hot Destinations for 2015. Whether on or off the beaten track, these locations offer the most intriguing sights to see and interesting things to do. We cast … Read more
Croatia proves that cartographers have a sense of humor. Boomeranging up the Adriatic Sea into the Balkan Peninsula, the chevron-shaped nation, long a part of this empire or that coalesced out of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, and it did not prevail without a monumental fight. But good things are worth … Read more
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec wasn’t one for convention. At a time when Monet was taken primarily with nature and Renoir the world of ballet, Toulouse-Lautrec’s interests were a bit more prurient – the raucous sideshow of late 19th century Parisian nightlife. By having lithographs created from his sketches, he was quick … Read more
We’ve been fascinated with LUX Helsinki since we got wind of it two years ago. I mean, who doesn’t like light shows? And the idea of making something brighter when it’s too dark is just plain common sense. We set our stage on the dark wintry streets and avenues of … Read more
For many of us New Orleans conjures up thoughts of Mardi Gras celebrations and Creole cuisine. It’s true, I can think of no other U.S. city where history has established and solidified such a rich cultural identity. As a result, this fascinating southern destination is proudly cinematic, so much so … Read more
Lazing poolside at the San Juan Marriot, I watched grown adults having what looked like the most fun in years. All afternoon kids gleefully lined-up to slide down the pool’s waterslide. But all of a sudden an unlikely group approached the top—three college-aged guys, three 20-something gals, and a group … Read more
Nothing makes a New Yorker get out of town faster than a holiday and now that we’re closing in on the most important holidays of the entire year most diehard New Yorkers have their trips just about planned, or close to it. But no matter how many times we’ve done … Read more
Many of you know something about St. Petersburg but few of you know its secrets. Moscow’s little sister but perhaps Russia’s real capital at least in terms of culture, it’s a city that exudes the feeling of the artists, writers and poets that made it great. After years under Communist … Read more
The Czech Republic is rich in remnants of a flourishing Jewish community, at one time the largest and most vibrant in the world. While Prague is the epicenter of Czech Jewish memorabilia, tracking down Jewish heritage in other parts of the country can be a fascinating voyage of discovery, starting … Read more
The sun, the music, the food, the laid-back lifestyle … who doesn’t love the Caribbean? And with a wintry chill blowing much of the East coast, I wish I was there right now. When I’m in the Caribbean, my favorite thing to do is to bake in the sun and … Read more
If you like the hustle bustle of big cities, you’ll love Glasgow. But if you’re someone who prefers smaller cities with quaint tearooms, trendy cafés, and cozy music clubs, you’ll be equally charmed. Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, though relatively compact and home to just 600,000 people, about the same … Read more