Category Archives: Food and Wine

My Little Town

Westport is a quiet hunk of Connecticut shoreline originally populated by the native Pequot tribe. Nestled between the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound, this pretty tidal treasure is a mere 47 miles of commuter rail from New York City, … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine, New England Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Retro-Travel, Theater, Travel | 6 Comments

Florence Interlude

We zip into Florence to meet dear friends at Hotel Bernini. It is posh, next to the river. Our mood lifts and spirits brighten. Our friends help us see a jolly way forward: buying shoes! which always helps. We shop … Continue reading

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Costa Rica – It’s a Boy

Jess gets married, initiating a nifty and unexpected trip to equatorial Costa Rica. Best of all, we get Colin, the son we always wanted. Tamarindo is about an hour from Liberia airport. We take several wrong turns and realize, yes, … Continue reading

Posted in Caribbean travel, Food and Wine, International, Off-the-beaten-track | 5 Comments

Our Tuscan Paradise – Carmignano

The Carmignano Hills are lush and verdant. Even the fog is soft and sweet. Our annual climb up La Rocca yields arresting views into the bowl that is Florence, and the terra cotta Duomo at its heart. Our customary factory … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, Farm-to-Table, Food and Wine, International, Italian Travel | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

My Funny Valentine II

My friend Bob Greene is cool. He is tall, suave, and an excellent cook. Bob is a tennis writer who travels the world to watch famous and not-so-famous athletes whack a fuzzy yellow ball across a net at 100 mph. … Continue reading

Posted in Food and Wine, Maine, Maine Travel, Music, New England Travel, Travel | Leave a comment

New York City: Golden Holiday

Two sleepy friends shuffle onto the 5:00 a.m. flight from Portland to New York City. We arrive at MoMA in time for a members-only peek at the Picasso sculpture exhibition. Beloved and familiar works include Goat, Baboon, and the serene … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine, Lobster, Maine, New York City, Theater, Travel | Leave a comment

A Snail’s Pace in Italy

A passo di lumaca, proceeding at a snail’s pace, is a great way to experience Italy. We pull into our sleepy little town of Argegno’s tiny town square with stunning lake view, and our pulse magically slows. We have arrived. … Continue reading

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Summer Afternoon: New York City

I arrive at the Hotel Empire at 63rd and Broadway. “Beware the Eurotrash,” warns cabdriver Harry, squiggling up one eyebrow like Vincent Price. My companion, Theater Boy, is full of soulful angst. His mood is as dark as the cavernous … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, Cruise, East Coast Travel, Food and Wine, Maine, Music, Musicals, New York City, Theater, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Brunch, Booze & Blues: Montreal 2015

“Une brunch sans alcool n’est rien d’autre  qu’un triste dejeuner tardif.” Translation: A brunch without booze is just a sad, late breakfast. We’re in Montreal for the 36th annual Jazz Festival and deliriously happy. Fresh from Paris, my French is in … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, Canada, Festivals, Food and Wine, Jazz Festival, Montreal, Music, Quebec, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Montreal Jazz: Biggest and Best

World-Class Rendezvous Lucky me: I’m heading for the 36th edition of the world’s largest jazz festival, the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Celebrating a passion for music for over three decades, North America’s French-speaking metropolis annually welcomes fans to … Continue reading

Posted in Art and Culture, Canada, Festivals, Food and Wine, International, Jazz Festival, Montreal, Music, Quebec, Sustainable Travel, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment