These days, the big word in Norwegian drink circles is actually pretty small. It’s mikrobryggeri. “We’ve had microbreweries in the U.S. since the 1980s,” you scoff. True, and after three decades we’ve got upwards of 2,000. But consider this: The Vikings were among the first to brew hand-crafted beers. And … Read more
When it comes to art, one doesn’t tend to think about cartoons. An overlooked medium, it not only provides humor but a window on society that’s sometimes lost on the average reader. I wondered, for example, how much time the average read for a cartoon is, especially one that pokes … Read more
For everyone making plans to attend one or more festivals around the world, Norway’s in the middle of hosting its much anticipated Nuart Street Art Festival in Stavanger. Nuart began way back in 2001 exhibiting urban art but in 2005 Nuart chose to focus exclusively on street art, essentially art … Read more
I’m far up in the northern reaches of Norway, where my guide says it is the “last wilderness in Europe,” where the surrounding forests, he says, are filled with moose, lynx, bears and wolverines. Fourteen hundred miles, straight as the crow flies, is the North Pole and Russia is a … Read more
September is one of the most important months in the year for everyone in the fashion industry. With summer behind them, designers, models, buyers and PR professionals kick the industry into high gear with the start of fashion weeks all over the globe. Fashion insiders spend hours each day watching … Read more
“The Norwegians sure take their sun seriously, don’t they?” said Pop after he saw that we were fellow Americans touring Norway. We’d just zoomed past a few townspeople sunbathing in their backyards and a guy mowing his lawn shirtless. It was a hot, sunny day in Alesund, a popular fjord … Read more
Stuffy, staid English-ness? Yes, St. Ermin’s is just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Park and the ceiling lobby is finished in full on Rococo plasterwork rivaling the Sistine Chapel’s decoration. And true, it does feel like Mr. Darcy might walk down the grand staircase at any … Read more
It’s Friday Night and you’re in livin’ for the weekend mode. But you still don’t have a plan in place. If you’ve got a smart phone and are an app-junkie like yours truly, think about taking these nightlife apps for a spin. Wendr DEVICE: iPhone only for now – … Read more
I think my editor loves me and likes to see me suffer, by giving me some of the most taste-tempting culinary writing assignments imaginable: The flavors of Finland, Barbecue, and the Caribbean, among others. This time, though, I can’t blame him, because it was me who recently visited and absolutely … Read more
A William Wallace impersonator cuts a menacing figure on the cobbled streets of Edinburgh. His face painted blue and white – the colors of the Scottish flag – he wears a fur coat and wields a mock medieval weapon, while rhapsodising in a thick Scottish accent about freedom. In case … Read more
The TSA agent looks at my passport and back at me with a skeptical look. “You’re traveling to Tahiti by yourself?” I nod, indicating yes. While French Polynesia is often synonymous with “honeymoon” and “romantic getaway,” I want to see what it has to offer the solo traveler. I figure … Read more
When I told family and friends we were getting ready for a trip to Montana, here were the various reactions: “Montana? What are you going to do in Montana?” “Do you have family there?” “Are you guys doing that “yuppy glamping thing” I’ve been reading about?” The responses were simple: … Read more
We arrive right in the heart of all the Orlando, Florida action – rides and attractions everywhere you turn, and the kids don’t want to leave CocoKey Water Resort. Talk about location. This place is on International Drive, which is the main vein of all the fun stuff to do … Read more
Family. Nature. Comfort. These three words perfectly describe South Seas Island Resort, a three hour drive northwest of Miami on Captiva Island, accessible by car from Sanibel Island via Blind Pass Bridge. Put all preconceived notions aside, this is no stereotypical Florida resort but one with a special natural beauty … Read more
A gently stirred Negroni (the classic Italian aperitif with gin, vermouth and Campari) and crostinis slathered with a rabbit pate are my welcome treats as I take a seat on a tall stool at the pastorally designed wooden bar of Spinasse. I’m excited, as it’s a front row view to … Read more