Sampling Chocolate in Brussels, Belgium

Can anything possibly sound better than that? Don't think so. Great NYTimes article with fantastic photos.

Check it out HERE.

Brazilian Party - Boulud and Muniz

Who knew Daniel Boulud had a passion for Brazilian food? Check out a great article from Food & Wine's April 2010 issue featuring Boulud's collaboration with São Paolo-raised artist Vik Muniz. "Muniz uses unconventional materials to create temporary artworks, which he then photographs for posterity. His favorite medium? Food."

Check it out HERE.

Setting the Bar High in Las Vegas - City Center

Check out this short article from WSJ. Magazine on the newish City Center complex in Las Vegas operated by the MGM Mirage company. The feature mentions CEO Jim Murren and talks of the major architectural stars (Daniel Libeskind, Norman Foster, Cesar Pelli, etc.) involved in the design of the various buildings and how the entire project was built with the environment in mind.

Will it be successful or crater due to poor timing and the awful economy? Who knows; only time will tell. For now, you can marvel at these statement buildings from afar.

Check it out HERE.

Fitzrovia - New Up and Coming London 'Hood

Travel and Leisure (Jan 2010) takes readers on a tour of one of London's newest up and coming neighborhoods - Fitzrovia. From T&L:

"Just north of Soho, near bustling Oxford Street, sits central London’s hidden neighborhood: Fitzrovia. Home to louche, boho types in the late 19th century (the Pre-Raphaelites and Oscar Wilde lounged in its bars), Fitzrovia’s leafy streets are lined with Edwardian-era apartments, Neoclassical mansions, and onetime warehouses. It hasn’t always been so appealing: 30 years ago when my father, an artist, bought a printing works in a mews to convert into a studio, Fitzrovia had become a grubby, rundown area. Vendors sold cars from the streets, fashion companies used warehouses for wholesale showrooms, and the only landmark was the Transformers-like British Telecom Tower, looming over it all. But in recent years, it has undergone an astonishing, if discreet, revival. Tired of the over-gentrified East End, gallery owners eyed Fitzrovia for its cheap rents and soaring spaces. New restaurants, bars, and hotels soon followed. Madonna even bought a building just north of Oxford Street for Kabbalah’s British headquarters."

Check out the feature HERE.

Intimate New Zealand

Known for its vast and beautiful landscapes, sheep shearing and for being the shoot location of the Lord of the Rings movies, New Zealand is definitely on the list of places to visit. Travel and Leisure (January 2010) takes us into the far reaches of this country with an intimate look at the people and their stories.

Check it out HERE.

Don't Buy Shot Glasses as a Souvenir!

So says a fun article in Travel & Leisure's January 2009 issue. When you travel and are looking for a keepsake or memento to remind you of your trip, don't buy stupid things like postcards, snowglobes, shotglasses or keychains. Buy 'unsouvenirs' or random objects that will jog your memory not because they were simply bought there, but because locals actually use them. If you're smart, you can find something that may even provide some utility back home. Onion keeper anyone?

Best places to look for things like that are: supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores, cookware purveyors, etc.

Check out the feature HERE.

Vancouver Guide - More Info

I've already mentioned that I wanted to visit Vancouver. Also in MJ's February 2010 issue was a mini city-guide offering readers the best places to catch the games, eat, drink and enjoy the city.

Check it out HERE.

Moroccan Escape

 

You know those magazines you find in the seatback pocket in front of your tray table on an airplane? Well they're pretty good for letting you know what movies will be shown, how to navigate random airports in Europe (Amsterdam Schipol anyone?) and sometimes feature really interesting content - mostly related to travel.

In the March 2010 issue of Delta Sky Magazine, a few good articles caught my eye. The first is great list of top sites and activities in Morocco's main cities and beyond.

(Unfortunately the website no longer features links to the full articles anymore - per a Delta spokesperson: "Effective with our July 2011 issue we have redesigned deltaskymag.com to offer more information on destinations and what to do when you get there. We’ll continue to promote top getaways, contests & offers and Sky extras including behind-the-scenes videos and other content such as our Profile features and Special Sections but no longer have current or past issues of the magazine online." However! They were kind enough to offer sending PDF versions of the files so I can post them here. I've pasted the images which should enlarge so they're legible once you click on them.)

Check out an extra photo gallery HERE.

Best Biking Cities

Also in Nat Geo Traveler's March 2010 issue was a list of the top North American cities for biking. Among the top destinations were New York City, Portland, Montreal and D.C. We can now join the ranks of Amsterdam, Munich and the top European capitals. The article has links to most of city sites with more info including bike routes and info on bike-share programs like Montreal's Bixi.

Check it out HERE.

Buenos Aires - Latin Passion, European Sophistication

Nat Geo Traveler did a great feature on Buenos Aires, Argentina focusing on the food, culture, architecture and sights of the South American capital. I used to think South America wasn't a place I wanted to visit, but I'm slowly changing my mind...

Check it out HERE. Great photo gallery HERE.

Textiles of Scotland

Also in T&L's November 2009 issue was a feature on the various textiles of Scotland - tartan, tweed, and cashmere - all apparently much better when handmade in the factories around the Highlands.

Check it out HERE.

Will Flea Markets Ever Appeal to Me?

Travel & Leisure did a feature in their November 2009 issue on the top flea markets around the world. I'm not usually a fan of rummaging through other people's old stuff, but maybe one day.

Check it out HERE.

Irish Castles - History, Family, Tradition

Take a look at Budget Travel Magazine's article on the "Real Castles or Ireland." Great photos.

Check it out HERE.

Who Knew Tofu Could Be Interesting?

Bon Appetit, in their February 2010 issue, takes readers on a journey to Kyoto where tofu-making is a fine art. "From elaborate feasts to street food - even donuts - freshly made bean curd is an essential ingredient." Who knew?

Check it out HERE.

Grappa!

La Cucina Italiana magazine has some great articles, photos and features on interestnig subjects related to Italian cooking and culture. Check out this article on Grappa HERE.

Who's Up for Vancouver?

I've always wanted to visit Vancouver (along with Seattle) and last year for the 2010 Olympics, lots of magazines had special features and travel stories talking up the locale and highlighting great things to do, see, eat, and explore.

Check out this Food & Wine Vancouver "Dine-a-Thon" feature HERE.

Paper Magazine - Andre Balazs Interview

Check out the interview with the famed hotelier HERE.

Mix of Cultures in Malaysia

In that same Asia-focused issue of CN Traveler (October 2009) there was a great article on the diversity of Malysia. Check it out HERE.

Mumbai, India - On the List

Interesting article on Mumbai from the October 2009 issue of CN Traveler. Read it HERE.

Paris in Film

New York Times film critic A.O. Scott reminds readers why Paris will always endure as the ultimate film setting.

Check out the article HERE.