When I told friends I was planning to tour Alabama, some of them said, “Really? Why?” The belief that the state has little to offer the traveler could not be further from the truth. I found out what the song, “Sweet Home Alabama,” really means. Besides music history...
The Rubin Museum of Art has a new exhibition entitled “Death Is Not the End.” This exhibition, assembled from the Rubin’s own collection, along with contributions from individual collectors and private institutions, is an examination of humanity’s burning...
Indiana might not cross your mind first when you think of wine or fine chocolate, but the state is making a mark in both arenas. Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard in LaOtto, Indiana has developed a partnership with DeBrand Fine Chocolates based in Fort Wayne, and...
The number one spot to visit in Memphis is, of course, Graceland – Elvis’ home. It’s so much more than his mansion, however, or even his estate. There are several exhibits, restaurants, a theater that holds live concerts, a soundstage, and an exposition center that...
“Who’s your favorite blues singer?” Abe Hudson, the owner of Real Delta Tours, LLC, asked me when he picked me up from the Clarksdale, Mississippi Greyhound station. I paused, but it didn’t take me more than a couple of seconds to definitively say, “Bessie...
(Photo of Center courtesy of the Muhammad Ali Center) The Muhammad Ali Center had a star-studded opening in November 2005 attended by Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey, and Bill Clinton, among other celebrities. Of course, now that Ali has passed away, the Center will take on...
In 1992, Mama said “let’s go into the hotel business!” With that declaration, a new concept of museum-hotel was birthed with the opening of Auberge Saint-Antoine, a 5 star luxury property in Québec City, Canada. The “Mama” is Martha Bate Price, the doyenne...
It was a snowy, cold, winter day but the colors, sounds and energy that radiated from the Soweto Gospel Choir turned the day sunny and warm for the cheering, crowded audience. The performance was entitled “Hope: It’s Been A Long Time Coming” and was held...
Located in the heart of Old Quebec City, just steps away from all the activities in this delightful Ville, is the UNESCO Heritage site of Le Monastère des Augustines; a wellness retreat with a story to tell. In 1639, three incredibly brave young Augustinian Sisters...
Nothing could have been more Swedish. Food apart, the cups, the plates, the cutlery, everything came from Sweden - including Orrefors and Costa Boda glassware. Even the dining room had a clean, functional, very Nordic look about it. I’m referring to Björk, the café...
Antigua, the “Land of 365 Beaches” is in the middle of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, a few degrees north of the Equator. Its culture has been strongly influenced by the British Empire, of which the country was formerly a part. I visited the island in...
Reaching for the sky en pointe… The artistic programs held at the performance center at Lehman College always draws an eclectic crowd comprised of all ages, races and cultures… sporting all manners of formal, antique, contemporary or just plain weird, dress. The...
I think the promotional slogan of Québec City should be “On mange bien ici” i.e. “We eat well here!” Great food is at the pinnacle of gastronomy in Québec. Absolutely fresh, local, seasonal ingredients are starring in Québecoise kitchens, whether eating at home or in...
Culinary Fireworks! Dining in Québec is a delight but for those that dine it is also very serious business! Modern gastronomy has arrived in Québec and has been influencing in a molecular-gastronomy manner a number of the younger chefs, with kitchens that can rival in...
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City is a playground for lovers of aviation, space exploration, and naval history. Besides World War II history, you’ll find the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a submarine, drones, and an array of...
Quebec City’s annual Winter Carnival is what they mean when they use the phrase “winter wonderland.” I experienced it this January, and while the temperatures were frigid, the hospitality was anything but. I attended the Carnival’s opening night ceremony, which...
After an absence of a few years because of COVID, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux had its yearly tasting at the converted bank hall that is now New York’s Cipriani restaurant on 42nd Street, across from the Grand Central Station. The tasting was organized by...
VIKING really, really, knows how to throw a party! On June 2, 2023 the newest ship in VIKING’s impressive line-up of 100+ ships was named VIKING Saturn ata ceremony held at Pier 88 on New York City’s Hudson River. During the party, raconteur Chairman...
Your Poop has a tale to tell! From the dawn of mankind until our Sun no longer shines upon us, there is one thing that we all have in common… we poop. The Musée de la civilization in Quebec, Canadahas taken the scintillating topic of defecation and mounted...
After all our years of eating in many top restaurants both in the US and Europe and a few in Asia, we have to admit that we’re not easily impressed… but impressed we were during this dinner a few days ago! A new restaurant opened in a town nearby, in Englewood, New...
I wanted to travel south, to be on the ground where the world shifted. I wanted to experience a persevering people—sitting in, standing up, marching, and registering to vote—who, against all odds, put their homes, jobs, land, and life on the line for equal...
Hotel ratings sometimes perplex me. Case in point: Hotel Napoleon in Memphis, Tennessee. This property is listed as 3-star, but it had all of the amenities I’m used to getting from a 5-star hotel, including a plush bathrobe and slippers. Most 4-star hotels...
If you want to get from east to west on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, you have to drive all the way around the island. There’s one single road that circles this deep green island because much of the terrain consists of mountains and canyons. So there are large...
I’ve been all over the world, but there are few places I love as much as New Orleans – especially the French Quarter. And The New Orleans Hotel Collection has a number of great properties in the city, including the boutique 4-star Hotel le Marais. This...
The Hilton is one of my favorite places to stay in Quebec City. It’s very near the historical section, and it has simply spectacular views from its top floor executive lounge. So if you stay there, I’d say it’s a must to spring for an executive floor room, where...
Now I know why several people have said to me, “St. Lucia is my favorite Caribbean island.” While all of the islands I have visited are beautiful, the drive from the airport showed me immediately that the land and seascapes of St. Lucia are particularly striking. The...