As far as I am concerned, you can’t overestimate the importance of a good hotel general manager, someone who is responsible for handling every whim of guests–dealing with any complaint large or small–as well as making sure everything from the restaurant...
I want a dog. A small dog with a big dog personality. But is it responsible for a writer who goes on the road at least every two weeks–New York, Miami, Hawaii, Mexico, Colombia, etc. etc.–to procure a pup? It is still far from clear, but I must admit that I wa...
On my recent trip back to New York, I couldn’t miss a pilgrimage to Frankies 457, one of my favorite haunts in Carroll Gardens. The restaurant enjoyed a buzzy opening a few years back; it was the perfect spot for dinner with friends or a lunch getaway in an area tha...
I am sitting in bed at New York’s Standard hotel staring out at the quintessential city view: the wide swath of Hudson River with its sailboats, tugs, and cruise ships; New Jersey on the other shore; and the Statue of Liberty in the distance. After a few months away...
If the answer is no, then I highly–highly–suggest you add it to your wish list. I made my second sojourn there last week and found it’s still made with my favorite ingredients: wonderful food (a cuisine that utilizes both ingredients from the coast and i...
I just got an e-mail from Rizzoli about a new coffee table book that the publishing house will release this October, Lamu: Kenya’s Enchanted Island. It got me thinking about my honeymoon, which I spent on the island, one of seven in an archipelago off the coast of K...
We are having a heat wave in Italy at the moment. Despite the almost unbearable 90-degree temperatures, May and June remain my favorite months here in Tuscany. We’ve got sunny skies; green fields full of wildflowers; cherries, zucchini, and artichokes are in season ...
II have never been to the Jersey Shore. Well, actually that’s not technically true: I went to see Velvet Revolver perform in Atlantic City. But I haven’t ventured to the beaches there, even though plenty of my surfing pals have brought me back good reports. Th...
I love Chicago. I started traveling there for work a few years ago, and I immediately became a fan, particularly after discovering some of the city’s great hotels and restaurants. Among my favorite stops? The Peninsula for its luxurious rooms and perfect location; t...
Where to catch Lily Allen, Kraftwerk, Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Franz Ferdinand, Kings of Leon, and other music-fest faves this summer What: OUTSIDE LANDS, August 28-30 Where: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco The Vibe: Jack Johnson and Ben Harper are alumni of this West Co...
