A lover of Asia and all of her bounty, I recently had the opportunity to visit the small island of Taiwan, once known as Formosa, the literal translation of which is "beautiful island." A varied land that holds fast to tradition while embracing democracy and change, the more I explored,...

As Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year approach, cities around the globe celebrate with cherished traditions that delight both local revelers and holiday visitors. Parades on Seventh Avenue and Main Street, department store window unveilings on Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive, Santa sightings in sun and in snow and various...

When I first met Sherry Ott and Michaela Potter of Meet, Plan, Go last year, they were toying with the idea of hosting a night in cities around the country that explored career breaks and travel sabbaticals for the masses. The events would be...

The 21st Annual James Beard Foundation's Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception took place last night at the fabled Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. It was a good night for New York and a good night for women in food. A New York girl, attending my first James...

This past weekend, on the shores of Punta del Escambrón's Blue Flag beach, a festival of food descended on the sunny island of Puerto Rico. The fourth annual Saborea Puerto Rico: A Culinary Extravaganza! brought together 54 talented local and international chefs who took center stage in General...

Spring skiing has always been a draw for the hordes of outdoorsmen and women that descend on the Rocky Mountain's many ski destinations. There's nothing like freshly packed powder, a shining sun and mild temperatures to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. Home to the U.S. Ski Team,...

I've been watching as Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and now Libya used social media to effect change, reaching across global borders, social borders, and political borders in voicing opinions, gaining momentum for a movement, and taking the Middle East forward in an ever-changing world. As I watch history unfold, I'm reminded...

On the heels of Sundance's glittery 2011 Film Festival, an orgy of celebrity, celluloid, chalet styling, and (some) sport, I offer a first-timer's assessment of the scene. Depending on your priorities (and your tolerance), you can use the observations below to make your own decision on visiting Park City, Utah...

I was spending a rainy week in Santa Monica when I decided to take a yoga class one afternoon at a studio called Yogi's Anonymous that was recommended to me by friends. Yogi's is a modest facility opened last year by a transplanted New Yorker named Ally Hamilton....

The holidays in New York City can be overwhelming: overcrowding, overbooked restaurants, overpriced hotels, and an overload of cultural offerings. A life-long New Yorker, as a gesture of good-will, I've assembled a list of the Big Apple's many offerings for travelers and residents alike. For (window) shopping, visit the elaborate...

Forget Opus. Forget Screaming Eagle. This past harvest, the must-visit winery was Kenzo Estate.

When I hit the Silverado Trail last month for a few tours and tastings, it was Kenzo Estate that was on everyone's lips. "I'm going this weekend," or "I just...

The state of Maine has long been considered a summer destination. Portland author Michael Sanders and photographer Russell French refute that theory by transporting readers from an old post road inn in Kittery to a renovated textile mill in rough and tumble Lewiston and a sleek...

Simi Winery in Healdsburg is known for a lot of things. It's the oldest winery in Sonoma (1876) with a legacy in girl power. From 1904, Simi 's pioneer was Guiseppe Simi's daughter, Isabelle, who kept the place running through Prohibition with the production of sacramental wine. This sassy lady's...

A trip to Napa usually entails hitting some of the big wineries for tours and tastings. Robert Mondavi is a crowd-pleaser, ditto Beringer, Gallo, and Krug. But for me, it was the smaller vineyards, and the lesser-distributed labels that blew my palate...

Biodynamic. Organic. These are the kinds of descriptives that Robert Sinskey Vineyards uses when referring to their brand. These are also the kinds of descriptives that I don't really understand. Organics are simple enough -- growing produce through the use of natural fertilizers and non-chemical pest control --...

"Bordeaux varietal." You hear that phrase a lot out in Napa. And if, like me, you aren't completely comfortable with the lingo, you might get a little intimidated each time some wine connoisseur mentions something about a "bordeaux varietal."

The Bordeaux varietal isn't all that intimidating, though. It simply...

I finally made a pilgrimage that I've been meaning to make for years. It's a sacred trip for some, an annual trip for others. No matter the audience, the mention of a visit to this place always draws raves, guttural oohs and aahs, and much unsolicited advice. "You must go...

Rajat Parr, who was named one of 2009's top sommeliers by Food & Wine magazine, is the wine director for Michael Mina's restaurant empire. Now, he has teamed up with New York Times writer Jordan Mackay for Secrets of the Sommeliers. Published on October 12, I...

Stock market got you down? Looking for a career alternative? That was native New Yorker Jamie Kutch's reality in 2005 when he packed it all in for a chance to make wine in Sonoma County, California.

A former NASDAQ trader for Merrill Lynch, Kutch got laid off...

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, I find myself thinking back on a cultural appreciation thirty years in the making.

My life had hit a routine standstill. I had worked in New York's book publishing industry for nine years and successfully climbed the "corporate ladder." Yes, I...