Coming Attractions
Travel Stories
San Diego’s Food Scene
Restaurant Week returns to San Diego, September 25th through October 2nd, for its 12th annual farm-to-table epicurean celebration. Over 180 area restaurants offer three course, prix-fixe dinners in categories ranging from $20 to $50 per person. The lunch format, a two-course prix-fixe meal, is $10, $15 or $20 per person. Taxes and gratuities are not[…]
Perfect Combo! The Latin Food Fest & Five Star Tours
As if there’s not enough to do in August in San Diego, here are two to add to your “must do” list. The ¡Latin Food Fest! is one of my favorite events in San Diego. This fourth annual spectacular culinary celebration will be at the Embarcadero Marina Park North in San Diego, August 12 –[…]
Four Aces In Reno
There are times when a travel story meshes perfectly with a favorite pastime. So it was on a recent trip to Reno, Nevada, the “Biggest Little City in the World.”The visit included stays at the Atlantis, Peppermill, Eldorado and Grand Sierra Resorts; all four star, full-service properties. Best of all, I played in each poker[…]
Around Town: Maestro – Hershey Felder Channels Leonard Bernstein
Maestro – Hershey Felder Channels Leonard Bernstein The San Diego Repertory Theater’s run of Maestro ends July 17. Written by Felder, his tour-de-force as Bernstein presents him as a complex, narcissistic musical genius. There are interesting insights into his sexuality and a new slant (to me) on Bernstein/Felder’s view of the Black Panther issue. I particularly enjoyed his[…]
Fam Tours – Doing Them Right
I have been fortunate enough to be on both sides of the fam tour equation. My CV includes a 10 year stint working in sales/marketing in San Diego for the Hyatt Islandia, the Rancho Bernardo Inn and Paradise Point (then Vacation Village). It was followed by a thirty year run with my hotel consulting business.[…]
Pechanga – Jewel of the Temecula Valley
My wife and I decided on a quick getaway to Temecula, California, to try out a spot getting good buzz, Pechanga Resort & Casino. After a speedy check-in, we headed to Kelsey’s, one of 11 restaurants. It’s a sleek American pub specializing in hand-cut, barbecued meats and craft beer. It was our first of three[…]
Reno for Kids
Our grandson, Sam, was turning ten. My wife and I decided that a good way to entice him away from home was to tell him we were going to take him to Circus, Circus in Reno. It worked! We picked him up in Chico, CA and headed north for a scenic three hour drive going[…]
Destination: Paso Robles
It was that time of the year for a family reunion. Given my background as a travel writer, my duties have always been in the “Where should we go, what can we do and where can we eat?” categories. For this trip, I passed on the food assignment. Why? It’s become a nightmare. I yearn[…]
Shootout at the Nugget
It’s a scenic flight from San Diego to Reno, with ocean views to the western horizon on the port side. Once north of LA, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the southern tip of the Sierras glide by 30,000 feet below. […]
Excellence and Finest: Aptly Named
Excellence & Finest – Aptly Named Descending into Cancun is always a treat; the sea is a blue color, as beautiful as anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Within the almost 2 million square kilometers of Mexico, I discovered two spectacular resort gems named Excellence and Finest. The Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa was my[…]