The summer sun is in full force allowing buds to expose their petals as they transition from spring. Their thawed roots seep down to slurp the moistened soil. People head to their local green houses to offer a new home for the flowers. The Lobby Bar at One Aldwych hotel …
I want you to clear your mind for a second and try to imagine complete tranquility, envisage a paradise surrounded by luscious gardens, where nature roams freely, a gentle breeze that caresses your skin against the heat of the day, and one of the most picturesque turquoise oceans and white …
Long ago when Westminster (England’s political hotspot), was being raised from the ground, there stood a pub called the ‘Blue Boar’. As the local gathering spot, it stood true to its traditional English roots; British ales flowed, local music entertained and Gentlemen went about discussing their work affairs and political …
It’s impossible to ignore the meteoric rise of tequila within the world of craft spirits. Once derided as an inexpensive centerpiece for frat parties and bar crawls, Mexico’s most famous export is finally earning the respect its time-honored craftsmanship deserves. As well it should. Tequila is serious business, particularly in …
The name says it all: this pousada in a tiny beachside hamlet in the Brazilian state of Ceará is all about kitesurfing. Proprietors Dani and Hacky have incorporated the motif into the very design of the place: discarded kite pumps have been transformed into table legs, towel racks fashioned from …
A recent trip took me back to Acqui Terme in Italy’s Piedmont region. After having lived there almost two decades ago, I was thirsting for the region’s signature and rare wine: the sweet sparkling Brachetto. And then, of course the town is also conveniently an ancient Roman settlement famous for …
The sprawl of Los Angeles puts a quick small-town getaway in the “easier said than done” category. But enter Ojai, California, just 80 miles from Los Angeles and with many of the perks of a California paradise including good food, drinks, and beautiful scenery. Friday Like I do on most …
Before I went to Antwerp, I knew two things: 1) Antwerp is a European fashion capital, 2) my attire (old jeans and sneakers) would not be up to local standards. No matter, I told myself. Comfy kicks are more important than haute couture when you want to eat, drink and …
Cavallo Point is a picturesque property that sits on an enviable patch of land in the Marin Headlands, enjoying a bay-front cove near the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Beautifully restored white-frame and red-roofed buildings –built at the turn of the 20th Century when the property served as Fort …
You’ll leave the outside world behind when you step foot in the sumptuous Clift Hotel. Design comes courtesy of Philippe Starck who transformed the historic grand dame with sleek design, dramatic lighting, and playful flourishes. The lobby features a soaring 35-foot bronze fireplace and Through-the-Looking-Glass furnishings, such as a Salvador …
The Battery, an impressive members-only social club in the Gold Rush-era neighborhood of Jackson Square, hides 15 plush hotel rooms that are available to the public. The handsome, upscale rooms sport contemporary decor, hardwood floors, and a tastefully stocked bar. All rooms boast huge modern bathrooms and views of SF’s skyline (some …
Housed in the wonderfully ornate 1927 United Artists Theatre and office building, the Ace Hotel, Los Angeles is SoCal’s outpost of the famously hip hotel brand that is known for their cool mix of old and new. Modern furnishings and wall pencil drawings (Snoop Dog portrait, anyone?) update the interior but …