Boston – Around Town : Back Bay (part 1)

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The easily navigated grid of streets in Back Bay bear little resemblance to the labyrinthine lanes around Downtown and the North End. In the mid- 1800s Back Bay was filled in to accommodate Boston’s mushrooming population and by the late-1800s, the area had become a vibrant, upscale neighborhood. Home to many of Boston’s wealthiest families, … Read more

Toronto – Around Town – Downtown (part 3) – Shopping Bloor St & Yorkville, Shopping Downtown

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Shopping Bloor St & Yorkville Shop window on Bloor Street William Ashley China Fine crystal, china, and tableware, exquisite gifts, and expert staff ensure that you won’t leave without some choice purchase wrapped in elegant gold paper. 55 Bloor St W Holt Renfrew World-class department store featuring high fashion, as well as more affordable clothing … Read more

25 Reasons To Visit Zurich (Part 1)

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Nora Baldenweg highlights the top attractions of the sophisticated Swiss city, from spectacular architecture and breathtaking Alpine views to shopping, alfresco dining and nightlife. 1.    Thermalbad & Spa The spa’s mineral-rich water, Zurich Zurich’s new thermal baths, offering an “Irish-Roman” spa ritual, are stunningly located in the former premises of the Hurdimann brewery. You can … Read more

25 Reasons To Visit Zurich (Part 2)

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11. La Stanza La Stanza, the popular espresso bar, just off Pradeplatz, brings an Italian flavor to the heart of the financial district This popular espresso bar, just off Pradeplatz, brings an Italian flavor to the heart of the financial district. Many locals say it serves the best espresso in town. Sit on a cosy … Read more

25 Reasons To Visit Zurich (Part 3)

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19.  Kaufleuten Kaufleuten Show off your moves on Zurich’s best-known dance floor, while enjoying the theatrical seeting of this plush party location chandeliers, heavy velvet curtains, opulent furnishings and a large theatre stage make it a mainstay of Zurich’s party scene, with a reputation far beyond Swiss borders. It also has a great line-up of … Read more

A Blooming Treasure

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What is it? A Grade I-listed country-house hotel with 35 acres of gardens attributed to pioneering Victorian horticulturalist – and forefather of the English natural garden – William Robinson. The house is hidden in 1,000 acres of forested grounds, so it feels secluded and remote but is in fact only 12 miles from Gatwick Airport. … Read more

Modern-Day Master

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Live like a Venetian in a plush palace designed to be anything but conventional, says William Cook. The Krug Lounge at Palazzina G With 20 million visitors every year and an abundance of historic buildings, Venice has never been short of hotels in all guises. Now former rally driver Emanuele Garosci has added a cutting-edge, … Read more

See You At The Cape (Part 1)

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Secluded, laid-back and authentic, the French oyster capital of Cap Ferret is a haven of seaside sophistication, says Jonathan Bastable. Photographs by Helen Cathcart Cap Ferret is akin to the Côte d’Azur – but without the bling and desperate exhibitionism You may have seen Cap Ferret without ever having been there. It was the backdrop … Read more

See You At The Cape (Part 2)

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Oyster-farming on the cape is nearly always a family business, because the beds are passed down from one generation to the nest, like the estates of the English gentry. In many places, you are likely to be waited on by the wife or the daughter of the oyster-farmer who brought your meal ashore. There are … Read more

See You At The Cape (Part 3)

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The cycle paths on the cape pass through dense pine forest. The trees on the Atlantic side, under the action of the powerful west wind, all lean back at the same slight angle, like neat italic handwriting inscribed on the powder-blue notepaper of the sky. I pedaled off in search of a coastal spot called … Read more

Barcelona – Around Town – Barri Gòtic & La Ribera (part 3) – Shops Gifts, Garments & Goodies, Cocktail & Conversation Spots

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Shops Gifts, Garments & Goodies Escribà Confiteria i Fleca If the glistening pastries and towering chocolate creations aren’t enough of a lure, then the Modernista store-front certainly is. Buy goodies to go, or enjoy them on the spot in the small café. La Rambla 83 Como Agua de Mayo Try this tiny boutique for original … Read more

Seattle : Around Town – Capitol Hill (part 1)

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Discover one of Seattle’s most electrifying neighborhoods on the long ridge that stretches northeast of downtown. The large gay, lesbian, and transgendered resident population helped to create a vibrant culture reflected in street scenes that hover on the outside edge of mainstream society. But Capitol Hill is much more than a magnet for self expression, … Read more

Seattle : Around Town – Capitol Hill (part 3) – Shops, Places to Eat

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Shops Chartreuse International The emphasis is on contemporary housewares and collectible 1950s furnishings by international designers such as Herman Miller, Starck, Alessi, and Eames. 711 E Pike St Bailey/Coy Books One of Seattle’s smaller book retailers  that specializes in gay and lesbian literature and periodicals. The staff is exceptionally well informed and friendly. Edie’s Big … Read more

Munich – Around Town : Downtown & Old Town (part 3) – Downtown Shopping Tips

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Downtown Shopping Tips Schrannenhalle The old market hall was recently restored and rebuilt. The 150-year-old glass-and-iron construction now plays host to an eclectic range of craft wares. Viktualienmarkt 15 L Beck am Rathauseck Department store with a great selection of fashion, lingerie, stationery, and music. Marienplatz 11 Hugendubel, Marienplatz Largest store for books in the … Read more