Like temperature or mortality, service comes in degrees. Too little, and the hotel or store comes off, at best, as lazy. But too much and it begins to seem that it's trying too hard.
For nearly 50 years, Rizzoli Bookstore has captured the imaginations of bibliophiles with its sophisticated and stunning Old-World charm along with a drool-worthy collection of coffee-table books that the Italian publisher, is known for.
Ghirardelli may be San Francisco's best known chocolate, but production moved away years ago. Today, TCHO is the real San Francisco chocolate -- and it's the only place in town involved in the entire chocolate making process.
San Francisco is one of America's top bike destinations -- and Mission Bicycle is leading the charge. As the only shop in town that makes its own custom cycles, they'll help you design every component from frame size to color-coded tires.
Many hotels grant guests unique stays, but a select few go a step further by offering over-the-top services. While some are bit excessive -- even for our tastes -- others provide distinct experiences for their individual guests' needs that can make a vacation that much more memorable.
(Illustration by Stephen Webster) Amanda Jones, a real estate agent from San Francisco, toured her house one day last month and counted the numbe...
As the head concierge at the Waldorf Astoria New York, I've seen and arranged it all: from arranging live music performances for heads-of-state to teaching Japanese guest how to whistle down a taxi.
Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can pay for you to avoid the headache of a waiting room. And that's a start. Some wealthy household...
In this video, Raphael Pallais, chef concierge of The Plaza, shows some of the library's secrets -- from the fabled stacks that few visitors ever see to the collection of objects from literary giants like Charles Dickens.
In Hell's Kitchen, where so many new things have been brewing lately, the drink of choice is unequivocally wine.
Is there a city in America that cares more about locally-sourced food than San Francisco? If so, Antonio Barrios, chief concierge at The St. Regis ...
CBGB was once the center of New York's punk-rock scene on the Bowery. But do you know about the club's latest incarnation? City insider, Laura Cooper...
Miami is abuzz with symphony fever! Tuesday marks the opening of a new concert hall designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry for the New World Sy...
For those who have it all, I present you with the splurge guide -- a perfectly seasoned menu of luxury, from $10,000.
From a 60s mod fashion boutique to a tiny shop where Robert De Niro gets his shoes custom made, there's more to Madison Avenue than Prada, Gucci and t...
The southern comfort combo is exploding all over San Francisco. City insider Antonio Barrios, Chief Concierge of the St. Regis San Francisco, shares his picks for the top three chicken and waffle joints.
Tap into the years of knowledge and often-unlimited access a concierge has cultivated in their city.
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Thousands of unionized New York City doormen and apartment building workers have voted to authorize a strike this month,...
This is a small, intimate novel about an exceedingly well-educated concierge in a Paris apartment building and her relationships. Here are five reasons I think this book is essential reading for grown ups.
A much-coveted position, steps from the Champs Elysées, top-notch service and palatial interiors... Beloved of well-heeled travelers and Parisians alike.
The good news is that in addition to being an extremely non-bestselling author, I am also a concierge. The bad news is that I'm not very good at it.
