Category Archives: Art and Culture

My Montecatini

Posted on February 23, 2020 by

Montecatini Terme is a happy Tuscan mix of art, culture, and legendary spa scene. Belle Époque is the graceful era between 1890 and 1914 when Montecatini developed its elegant spa-style. Art Nouveau bathhouses set in a verdant, landscaped parks offered … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Food and Wine, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Opera, Theater, Travel, Tuscany | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Florence: Fashion & Friendship

Posted on January 8, 2020 by

I arrive on a golden Tuscan morning, hire a car and check into centrally located Hotel Malaspina. The B&B’s cheerful staff, robust breakfasts, Wifi, rooftop terrace, cozy rooms and free valet parking (yes, I said free valet parking) make it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Food and Wine, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Travel, Tuscany | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Art in Bloom: The Sequel

Posted on May 22, 2019 by

An exuberant spring festival at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts offers guided tours, workshops, and high tea. A little stodgy, a little corny, and very Boston, Art in Bloom inhabits a deeply old fashioned groove with garden clubs and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine | 1 Comment

Boston: Art in Bloom, Part 1

Posted on March 29, 2019 by

Spring Green As another endless winter slides into dreary mud season, I plan a Boston getaway in search of signs of spring. I begin my odyssey at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). First stop: Henri Matisse’s Geraniums.  Neil Welliver … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine, Lobster, New England Travel, Theater, Travel | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Born To Run

Posted on November 12, 2018 by

My pal theater boy somehow scores tickets to Bruce Springsteen on Broadway. Magic, sleight of hand and surprise are just a few of his many gifts. We arrive rumpled and in need of a recharge. It is not quite noon. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Documentary Film, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine, New York City, Off-the-beaten-track, Theater, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Montreal: Off the Beaten Track

Posted on July 17, 2018 by

Oh Canada It is July 1, Canada Day, and we’re basking in the grace and civility of this world-class city despite the surprising heatwave — it’s 95 degrees and climbing. We walk the riverbank in Montreal’s Old Port stalking a cool … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, East Coast Travel, Farm-to-Table, Festivals, Food and Wine, International, Jazz Festival, Montreal, Music, Off-the-beaten-track, Travel | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Mediterranean Mother Lode

Posted on March 4, 2018 by

In Sicily I often wonder, “Where are the women?” Sometimes it seems they’re behind closed doors, as men stroll the streets in affectionate pairs and groups. At last, we find the mother lode of Sicilian women in Catania at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Food and Wine, International, Italian Travel, Sicily, Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Festa!

Posted on February 26, 2018 by

Here in Sicily, whatever the season and no matter where you are, there is a festival gearing up somewhere. Lucky for us, our little city of Noto is no exception. Every town has a patron saint — Palermo has Santa Rosalia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Festivals, Holiday Travel, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Sicily, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Magnifici Mosaici

Posted on February 23, 2018 by

In case you think all we do here is eat and drink, you are only half right. Here are images from a day among the astonishing mosaics in the Villa Romana del Casale, in the very small town of Piazza … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Sicily | Tagged | 2 Comments

ChoccOfficina Noto

Posted on February 22, 2018 by

This sun-drenched sleepy corner of Sicily is our home for a month. When we’re not pinching ourselves, we walk the ancient streets at a leisurely pace. We live here and are not in a hurry. We have coffee, dawdle over books, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Culture, Chocolate, Farm-to-Table, Food and Wine, Holiday Travel, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Sicily, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment