I traveled to Paris and immersed in nearly 30 brilliant restaurants, cafes, and bars on a 9-day whirlwind trip that was completely focused eating and drinking. With a like-minded friend, we camped out in Oberkampf. Each day, we ventured out with the goal of squeezing-in 4-5 Paris food venues for […]
Portland’s array of uniquely local wine bars, with their carefully curated chalkboard menus, are reason enough to set sight on the Pacific Northwest. Situated adjacent to Oregon’s iconic Willamette Valley appellation, I certainly expected Portland to be a compelling wine town. But what blew me away is the extent of […]
I found myself in charming Salthill by fate. What had started as frustration, in not being able to find a hotel in Galway’s Latin Quarter, ended up as opportunity. Staying in Salthill was the best all-around Galway experience: a perch in a charming seaside village on the Wild Atlantic Way […]
Winters, California is on the cusp of becoming as much of a foodie destination as any of California’s myriad wine country regions. Yet the Winters region is that new breed of agritourism with much more than wine. Winters’ agricultural bounty yields craft beer, wine, olive oil, cheese, and honey. And […]
I don’t need much inspiration to make a beeline for a wine bar, but this past weekend National Rosé Day prompted me to go on a hunt for Rosé across the downtown Sacramento grid. Summer has definitely descended on Sacramento’s lush tree-lined streets and its sidewalk cafes are filled with […]
Galway's Westend is densely packed with charming cafes and coffeehouses, award-winning restaurants, cutting-edge cocktails, and both modern craft beer and traditional pubs.
Captivating Dublin is always vibrant, changing, and just… quintessentially Dublin. And it’s why I’m compelled to keep returning. I have been traveling to Dublin long enough to have some favorite go-to spots that I long for when I’m away. So, my recent Dublin discoveries have only intensified competition for my […]
Vibrant, creative, and packed to the rafters, the recurring Our Street Night Market infiltrates historic R Street’s up-and-coming arts district, proving that Sacramento is hungry for more. Our Street Night Market Takes Over R Street The “Our Street Night Market” play-on-words with R Street is intended to both stake local […]
From vintage pubs to converted churches, Cork City has some of the coolest, intimate music venues. Set in the south of Ireland and known as the isle's Rebel City, Cork is one of my favorite destinations for its small urban setting, great food, and a terrific Trad and folk music […]
Sager + Wilde is passionate about wine, and their thoughtfully composed ambiance makes it a perfect wine bar destination. The intimately curated and changing wine list would alone make Sager + Wilde worth the trek to East London. But it’s the perfectly constructed setting that will make you want to […]
Sutter Creek’s main street reels you back in time to its gold rush days. Tucked into California’s Sierra Foothills of Amador Wine Country, Sutter Creek is a worthwhile day - or more - in California wine country. Amador is one of California’s premier wine regions, particularly renowned for Zinfandel. Rolling […]
The streets of edgy Oakland are always in a deep expressive flux. Yes, Oakland street art has some amazingly eye-catching murals. But look more closely as you trek its urban streets. It is also densely layered with some amazing graffiti, stickers, and stencils. @artistmrblack Chalkupy in front of City Hall […]
The Botanical Garden’s graffiti-laced entrance portends its gin garden oasis. I discovered Liverpool's avant-garde gin bar one day, as I explored a stark graff-filled industrial alley in the edgy Baltic Triangle. Botanical's compelling façade is composed of a collage of colorful discarded doors, strewn with graffiti, that reflect its surrounding […]
How I approach travel planning is the same attitude that makes me picky about Instagram feeds. As a traveler who likes to get off-the-beaten-path from the usual guidebook fare, I rely on local bloggers and Instagrammers for the most current and inside tips. And for vicarious travel when I'm at […]
Every wine lover passing through Paris should trek to Oberkampf for its vibey wine bar nightlife. Just steps away from the touristy Marais, Oberkampf seems a world away. Essentially a micro ‘hood of the 11th arrondissement, and just above Bastille, Oberkampf feels like you’ve stepped well-off the tourist path. Don’t […]
Liverpool’s vibrant neighborhoods inventively leverage its industrial past. Compact and walkable, the best way to get a feel for this reawakened city is to trek across its micro ‘hoods. Liverpool neighborhood are filled with stunning architecture is a mesmerizing contrast of industrial, Victorian-Georgian-Edwardian, and contemporary. Armed with a plan, I […]
Austere-industrial and graffiti-filled with dramatic architecture, the Baltic Triangle’s up and coming art quarter makes Liverpool cool. I first found the Baltic Triangle as I plotted my Liverpool Biennial itinerary. Streets of The Baltic Triangle - Liverpool The Triangle is fairly off-the-beaten Liverpool path, so you have to actively seek […]
Belfast made a lasting impression on me. From the moment I set foot in the city, I wondered what took me so long to finally make it to this vibrant and friendly city. A week wasn’t nearly enough time to do Belfast right. I found Belfast to be perfect for […]
Belfast had been calling for a while… and I finally relented. I decided to plant myself in one of Belfast’s most charming, walkable, and oldest neighborhoods - the Cathedral Quarter. It came with promises of cool street art, great music pubs, and tasty modern restaurants. And it more than delivered […]
The Testaccio Market is a Rome foodie adventure, only a short metro ride from the Centro Storico. I love getting off the beaten path when traveling, but especially when food is involved. It's a thrill to wend your way through the Testaccio Market shopping for dinner ingredients, but even the most casual walk-through […]
Rome has some of the best wine bars in the world, yet it also has an emerging craft beer scene that now competes for my attention to lounge in cool bars and imbibe terroir-driven beverages. See my post on 6 Amazing Rome Wine Bars. While I typically design my Rome […]
After a whirlwind day in Naples we jumped on a ferry in the shadow of Vesuvius for an hour-long boat ride, headed to our island destination of Ischia and the resort of Punta Chiarito, set at the mouth of the Bay of Naples. We quickly left Naples in our wake. The impetus for […]
In my travels to Italy over the years, I had pondered Naples. But even with numerous trips to nearby Rome and the Amalfi Coast, time after time I reluctantly decided to pass Naples by. I had read articles and heard personal anecdotes that Naples was dangerous and crime pervasive. So, […]
On a recent Sunday in London, I headed east to explore Brick Lane street art, having no idea what awaited me. I was at the end of a month-long trip traveling around Europe, and I was in the mood to just chill and wander London with no set plans. When I […]
I could spend my days ensconced in Soho, wandering its charming, cozy streets from cafe to galleries to eateries to bars, completely content that I had fully experienced London. London is enormous, and best navigated by Tube. But when I think of it as series of neighborhoods, I don’t find […]
If you love photography there’s probably a show for you somewhere in the world in 2016. Photography is a powerful medium as art form as well as its ability to capture a moment in time. This list of photography events covers some great events across museums, galleries, festivals, and conferences. […]
Easter is next Sunday, and I thought long and hard about heading to Dublin for the centennial of The Easter Rising. But ultimately, I decided not to brave the fervent crowds, which will certainly descend upon Dublin this weekend for this momentous occasion in Ireland’s history. Instead I’ve gathered together […]
As I begin to think about where I will travel this year, “what’s on” in the world influences where I may go. My initial search has resulted in a list of 60 compelling art shows around the world. You’ll see that I’m a big fan of modern and contemporary art, but […]
I first descended into Nero’s underground world of the Domus Aurea on my first trip to Rome in 2002. Also referred to as Nero’s Golden House for its once abundant gold leaf, I was awestruck by this ancient architectural masterpiece. I didn’t realize then just how lucky I was to […]
2016 Oakland Restaurant Week is in full swing and will run through January 24th. This annual event, which brings together the community, takes place every year at this time and is a great way to kick off the cold, rainy New Year. Oakland Restaurant Week is an opportunity to try out […]
Rome Wine Bars are my favorite way to dine when I'm in town. After I’ve been in Rome for a while and satiated myself with pasta, pizza, and fritti - the Rome dining experience can start to feel a little homogeneous. From restaurant to restaurant you will typically find the […]
Verjus is an enthralling dining adventure from beginning to end. It was an exhilarating experience that left me perfectly happy to have dropped $150 on a meal… and look forward to doing it all over again. A bit of a travel splurge, but well worth it. From the moment I made my online […]
I was thrilled when I discovered that my last day in Paris this fall would coincide with the opening day of the “Picasso Mania” exhibition at the Grand Palais. Based on past visits to the Grand Palais, I knew it would be wise to purchase my ticket in advance. After […]
Also see new Paris Cafe additions in My 9-Day Paris Food Obsession. I recently packed too many activities into five too-short days in Paris, but I always prioritized passing time in a favorite Paris cafe. Patronizing a Paris cafe these days may instill ambivalence or inspire defiance. To me it’s the quintessential Paris sightseeing activity. I’m satisfied to […]