Category Archives: Travel

Montreal Jazz 2020: Special Edition!

Posted on June 25, 2020 by

The 2020 Festival International de Jazz de Montréal is mounting a special digital edition that kicks off at 6 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 27th and runs through Tuesday, June 30 – don’t miss it! Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Festivals, Jazz Festival, Montreal, Music, Quebec, Travel | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Portland, Maine: Where To Stay?

Posted on June 25, 2019 by

My beloved and discerning friend Robyn is coming to Portland in September. Please recommend a downtown hotel, she asks. With an in-house restaurant. Closer to our place in the East End. And oh — can we make sure Nils won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in East Coast Travel, Farm-to-Table, Food and Wine, Lobster, Maine, Maine Travel, New England Travel, Portland Maine, Staycation, Travel | 3 Comments

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

Election Day

Posted on March 6, 2018 by

Interesting to be here during a national election, as Italian populists and far-right reveal their mutual discontent with taxes, unemployment and immigration. David has been wearing his “Bernie” shirt which yesterday inspired a €3 discount on a liter of Artumes.

Posted in International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Travel, Tuscany | Leave a comment

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

Sicilian Chocolate: Savory and Supreme

Posted on March 2, 2018 by

Chocolate is a sublime experience. My brother-in-law Stevie has eaten chocolate all over the globe, and he will tell you, there is nothing like a superb piece of chocolate. Here in Sicily, morning cappuccino is always served with little bite … Continue reading →

Posted in Chocolate, Food and Wine, International, Italian Travel, Off-the-beaten-track, Sicily, Travel | Tagged , | 3 Comments