If you know the difference between Thranduil and Thorondor (hint: one’s a fierce elf and the other a huge bird), then you’ve probably spent a good amount of time with your nose stuck in the Lord of the Rings books wishing you could visit Middle Earth yourself. Well, now you … Read more
Who couldn’t love getting lost in Rome? Wandering down vine strewn cobblestoned streets with hanging laundry and locals chattering away in fast Italian is one of my favorite memories. But, the charm of getting lost can quickly turn to frustration when you’re trying to find the Trevi Fountain but didn’t … Read more
Heck yes, shopping in Zurich is expensive. Apparently when it comes to the cost of living, Switzerland is not neutral. They are pro-luxury and pro-chic! My fave finds in Zurich ranged from every day needs to seriously sweet and fun souvenirs. Downtown Zurich Navy Boot was founded in 1991 as … Read more
Like pilgrims flocking to the Holy Land, Smiths fans travel for days to be here. No distance is too great for true devotees, who cross oceans and time zones to reach this temple of popular culture. I’m at the Salford Lads Club in Greater Manchester, a Victorian youth centre immortalized … Read more
Would you prefer a view of the Denver skyline or of the Rocky Mountains? That this is one of the first questions you’re asked as you check-in to the Four Seasons Denver is a good sign. This, along with the genuine cheerfulness of the reception staff, should clue you in … Read more
Standing on a downtown Nashville street corner waiting for the “walk” signal, my toes began to tap. I heard music. It wasn’t coming from a restaurant, bar or nightclub, of which there are many—it was playing from the metal box controlling the traffic light. Music is everywhere in this city. … Read more
The Paon Bali Cooking Class is much more than chopping, dicing and stir frying. Along with these basic cooking tasks and learning about tasty Balinese cuisine, it’s an enriching introduction to Balinese life and customs. Ni Luh Made Puspawati, who asks to be called Puspa, and her husband, Wayan Subawa, … Read more
When asked to describe his band’s style of music, Louis Armstrong once said, “what we play is life.” Anyone who has heard the goofy-grinned legend play some tunes can attest to the accuracy of such a description. From his brassy trumpeting to his signature scat singing, Louis Armstrong brought songs … Read more
Nota Bene is an island in the middle of a stormy sea. Tucked away in the slightly gritty Queen St. West theater district of Toronto, you almost wonder how it found its home there. But a home it’s found and it’s one that Chef David Lee is most likely proud … Read more
Built in 1985, The Kimberly Hotel is Midtown Manhattan’s last true Euro-style hotel with so elegant a feel that it creates the illusion you’ve stepped into a Victorian mansion. And the staff, from the poised receptionists to the ‘Clefs d’Or’ Concierges, treat you like royalty. Recently the hotel has undergone … Read more
There’s a surprisingly potent cultural thread weaving its way through Houston, Texas, a city of sprawling freeways and more mansions than you can imagine in an urban setting. Perhaps it has something to do with all that money from oil and energy and as it’s the 4th largest city in … Read more
Anyone headed to Vegas knows the drill. Take buckets of cash. But guess what? At The Linq, the newly constructed shopping and entertainment district right on the Strip, you can get a taste of Vegas’ high rolling style without draining your bank account. Targeted to the growing Generation X and … Read more
Ron Swanson, the burly Parks and Recreation character whose moustache alone is the pinnacle of American masculinity, perfectly summed up our western opinion toward vodka when he said, “Clear alcohols are for rich women on diets.” Vodka conjures up images of the Sex and the City girls sipping Cosmopolitans and figure conscious twentysomethings downing … Read more
Maine and lobster go together like wine and cheese or bread and butter. You really can’t have one without the other. The state and its signature crustacean are practically inseparable. Just as you can’t have New York City without hot dogs, Boston without baked beans or New Orleans without gumbo, … Read more
Built in 1929 by famed entrepreneur Carl Fisher, The Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina is a hidden gem at the eastern end of Long Island. The entire property has a fitting nautical theme, with guest rooms resembling something out of a Ralph Lauren campaign. That translates to an elegant … Read more