In the blink of an eye, my two years in France have come and gone. Nice and I have had a classic romance: I was infatuated with the light and the color when I arrived and then reality set in and I had to work hard to learn the language and ingratiate myself in order … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Arlequin Gelati – Nice, France One could be forgiven for mistaking gelato as a local delicacy in Nice. While there are no Starbucks to be found here, It’s hard to walk a block without passing a gelato spot. I am of the firm belief that Arlequin is the best in town. Roberto, the proud proprietor of the shop, … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Empress of China – San Francisco San Francisco is famous for being home to the oldest and biggest China Town in North America. And the heaving blocks of dim sum places, fish markets, and souvenir shops are certainly something any visitor should see. But its not always easy to choose from the hundreds of restaurants … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Matching Half Cafe – San Francisco San Francisco is full to bursting with cool coffee shops, but Matching Half Cafe in Hayes Valley is one of my favorites. For one thing, I adore the Peacock stained glass windows in the front of the shop. But beyond beauty, the place makes great coffee, the … Continue reading
No matter where I am in the world, i am always drawn to doorways. From brightly painted ones surround by tropical pants in Brazil, to gothic relics in ancient Italian fortresses, to rusting wrought iron in Lebanon, I love them all. The older, and more derelict the better in my book:
Today’s Tip: Caves Romagnan Caves Romagnan is a teeny, tiny, scruffy jazz club and wine bar directly across from my apartment and although I love hearing the music drift up to my balcony on warm nights, I never thought of going in. During the week, the place seems to be a favorite hangout for local … Continue reading
After living somewhere for a while, even a place as beautiful as the south of France, its easy to start to takes things for granted. I’ve been in Nice long enough now to finally have my own little routines and rituals but along with the comfort of knowing a place, I realized I was starting to … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Yonah Schimmel Knishery, Lower East Side, New York Yonah’s is a classic New York establishment if there ever was one. And for $3.50 their Knishs are a tasty, filling bargain. As the story goes, Yonah Schimmel, a Romanian immigrant, started selling potato knishs in the Lower East Side from a push cart in … Continue reading
It’s taken me more time than it should have to get to where I am with my French. I am still struggling with the basics, but I am finally starting to be able to have simple conversations with people. And my newly minted French voice is opening all kinds of doors for me both figuratively … Continue reading
Today’s Travel Tip: 26 Gadera, Tel Aviv I love this little restaurant in Tel Aviv’s Yemeni quarter. It’s a small, atmospheric place with a few tables and a bar inside and a few more tables outside on the patio. The menu is fantastic with fresh ingredients, a fusion of Middle Eastern and other cuisines and … Continue reading
After my discouraging first day at school, things have been looking up considerably. I am loving my class so far and miraculously I feel like my French is finally starting to improve. I never did find the elusive “U” bus but I managed to find the 22, which works just as well. I started off … Continue reading
After a summer of non-stop travel and excitement I am settling back into the apartment in Nice and trying to stay put for a few months. It is quite a change to be back and to be adjusting to the pace of life in the South of France. I spent so much time in the … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Crema coffee shop in Portland, Oregon Portland is nearly synonymous with coffee and Crema is one of my favorite coffee shops in the city. With a silver laptop sitting on each honey colored wooden table, and an artfully bearded or bespeckled face peeking out from behind each glowing screen, it could feel pretentious in this place. But … Continue reading
It has been just over one year since I decided I’d had enough of Washington, DC and set off on this adventure. Since then I have been to seven countries and countless cities. I have traveled by plane, train, subway, boat, motor scooter, bike, car, bus, and on foot. I’ve lounged poolside, hiked up volcanoes, … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Howard’s Cafe I love breakfast. Eggs, toast, potatoes, coffee – It is by far my favorite meal. Going out to breakfast is even better, and Howard’s Cafe in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset neighborhood is just about as good as it gets. No muss, no fuss, just a good old-fashioned diner, serving hearty portions … Continue reading
Everyone I have ever known that has been to Bali has told me: “it changed my life.” Each time I heard this, my cynicism about the place grew and to be honest I had very low to no expectations before I left. Bali was never on the top of my list of places to see. … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Bar Pilar During my tenure in Washington, DC I can’t tell you how many times the words “where should we go for dinner” came out of my mouth. In 2006 when I first arrived there, the pickings were pretty slim, but this bright star of a neighborhood bar came to the rescue over … Continue reading
Today’s Tip: Community Thrift Store I love thrift stores. It is one of the few things I really miss about the US when traveling abroad. And Community Thrift in San Francisco’s Mission District is a diamond in the rough. The bright pink building on Valencia Street between 17th and 18th always has a find or … Continue reading
Prolonged travel brings with it a myriad of new experiences, and some of the oddest ones seem to take place in the many security checkpoints of the world’s airports. In the intense heat of summer, I find wearing my hair piled up in a bun on the top of my head to be the most … Continue reading
Today’s tip: Vintage Heaven I love vintage things. The clothes, the furniture, the shapes and colors and prints of the past inspire me. So I was delighted to find Vintage Heaven on Columbia Road in east London. Right past the famed flower market, the little shop is full of vintage dishes, kitchenware, and decor in … Continue reading
