The most stunning city of Europe shows off its Baroque past in style. It is said that first impressions last the longest, so keep your eyes open just a slit if you ride out of Praha Ruzyne airport during the rush hour. The cabbie might skirt the traffic and take a bypass to reach the … Read more
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
Cafés & Bars Café Rischart Scrumptious jelly doughnuts, delicious pastries and cakes are served in this traditional daytime café. Marienplatz 18 Oskar Maria A café with a literary ambience: food is served on designer dishes decorated with quotes by Oskar Maria Graf. The most sought-after tables are in the gallery or, in summer, on the … Read more
Restaurants & Cafés Cluck, Grunt, and Low Cocktails in Mason jars and some of the best slow-cooked meat in the city are available here. Try the wild turkey ice cream for dessert. 362 Bloor St W 416 962 5050 Joso’s Over-the-top decor (nude busts predominate) sets the tone at this seafood emporium. Customize your platter … Read more
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
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
Even Washingtonians whose daily pursuits rarely take them to the Mall regard this magnificent open expanse as the heart of the city. A grassy park with carefully preserved trees, the Mall stretches 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Capitol to the east to the Potomac River, just beyond the Lincoln Memorial, to the west. Alongside … Read more
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
Exploring Back Bay Afternoon Grab a patio table at the Parish Café and enjoy an inventive sandwich while gazing out onto the Public Garden. Stroll one block over to Newbury Street and peruse the impressive contemporary art galleries concentrated between Arlington and Dartmouth streets. Cross back over to Boylston at Dartmouth and sit for a … Read more
Alexanderplatz This is definitely Rome’s premier jazz venue. The management regularly books first-rate international talent as well as local musicians, and it serves excellent food, too. Advance reservations are highly recommended . Alexanderplatz Alexanderplatz Le Coppelle A long-standing hub of flashy dressers and socialites, there’s also a comfortable come-as-you-are feeling at this buzzing cocktail bar … Read more
Up Pine Down Pike Morning Begin your late morning promenade at the corner of Pine and Melrose with a strong coffee at Bauhaus Books & Coffee , a long-time Capitol Hill hangout. Walk along Pine (slightly uphill towards Broadway) but don’t pass up Vintage Chick next door to Bauhaus for used duds with an edge. … Read more
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
Saltimbocca This savoury veal dish is so good they call it “jumps-in-the-mouth”. A veal escalope is layered with sage leaves and prosciutto then sautéed in white wine. Bucatini all’amatriciana Named after Amatrice, the northern Lazio town high in the Abruzzi mountains where it originated. The sauce consists of tomatoes mixed with Italian bacon – guanciale … Read more
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
Restaurants Bridge Café Opened in 1791, this is one of the oldest establishments in the city. Inside the quaint building, there are checked tablecloths, and a surprisingly sophisticated American menu. 279 Water St at Dover St 212 227 3344 Bridge Café Harbour Lights Incomparable views of the harbor and bridge account for the crowds, although … Read more
A Ramble in El Raval Morning Start your ramble mid-morning by perusing the innovative temporary art exhibits at the CCCB . Here the two world’s have meshed harmoniously. The eye-catching blend of old-meets-new in this cutting-edge art space provides a fitting introduction to El Raval’s new identity. Head south along C/Montalegre to the Plaça dels … Read more
A Day By the River Morning Start at Waterloo with breakfast and a self-guided tour of the Marriott Hotel, based in the splendid former headquarters of the Greater London Council. Cross Westminster Bridge to visit Westminster Abbey and nearby St Margaret’s Church. Continue along Abingdon Street to Lambeth Bridge and re-cross the river. Have a … Read more
The sleek, shiny, white walls of the Museu d’Art Contemporani (MACBA) juxtapose the decrepit, ramshackle tenement buildings; Asian grocery stores sell herbs and spices next to what were once the most decadent brothels in Europe; and smoky, decades-old bars share dark, narrow streets with high-ceilinged art galleries showcasing video installations. The old-town barrio of El … Read more
Here there is a rich mix of things to do. Sights range from Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament to the Tate’s stunning art institutions, the Southbank Centre and Shakespeare’s Globe. In between there’s the spectacular London Eye and other entertainments around County Hall, former headquarters of the Greater London Council. Two new footbridges … Read more
Watersports for adventurous types, yacht lounging for the not so. Either way. Here’s a selection of the best destinations Hotel Eden Roc Ascona, Switzerland Influenced by its close proximity to Italy, Ascona is the dimming Swiss town graced with a unique pseudo-Mediterranean climate that appears to escape the rest of Switzerland. Though the snow-peaked landscape … Read more