Memories of the Coldest Place I’ve Ever Been: Winnipeg
One thing that’s all the rage these days is to send out a simple question to a whole bunch of attention-hungry bloggers, like me. I got a quick email asking me a simple question, what was my best and coldest winter season travel experience. So I sent in some pithy […]
The Fastest Way from Chicago to Pittsburgh, Hyperloop
People are excited in Columbus, Ohio because of a new way to travel–at 700 miles per hour–that might be coming right through their city. The Hyperloop One was first envisioned by Elon Musk in 2014, the man known for SpaceX and Tesla. But now serious people are exploring a […]
Valley Voices: A Nice January Surprise
I met Janice Beetle a month or so ago at an art opening. We chatted for a bit and I didn’t know she wrote a weekly profile column on MassLive every week. So I was tickled and pleased when the brief interview I did with her over email came out as […]
Zipping and Cruising in Antigua Barbuda
We had another stellar day of eco-tourism here on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, beginning first with another drive across the island into the Antigua Rainforest where we met up with a group of visitors for a zip-line in the thick forest. It’s fun to see how laid back […]
Antigua and Barbuda Give Me a True Escape from Reality
I’m visiting the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda this week, which was created in 1981, after years as a British colony. These islands, the first with 100,000 residents and the latter with just 1500, are wonderful places to enjoy nature, sip on fruity drinks, and savor perfect weather and […]
Where I Went in 2016
My travel year began up in Montreal Canada where I spent a few days touring the city and feasting on the great food. Then we drove two hours north to Mount Tremblant where we skied the big mountain and got to see the beautiful Laurentians up close. A highlight was […]
New Year’s Eve 2016, Recalling Past Eves and Future Hopes
It’s a blustery day on this, the 31st day of December 2016. I am comfortable in the mancave, contemplating blogs I’ve written about New Year’s Eve from year’s past. Here’s a link to my 2010 post, written down in New Jersey when I was visiting family. I enjoy recounting where […]
Yankee Swap is a Christmas Eve Tradition
Christmas Eve was a wonderful time at my daughter Kate and partner Jon’s house in Northfield. Part of this was seeing how happy Kate and the kids were in the big new house, and how well we all fit, 22 people, before and during the big dinner. The house is […]
Christmas Gifts–a Tiresome Forced Exchange, or a Joy?
I’ll never ever forget this commercial we used to watch over and over again, for a TV movie about a Christmas when Santa did not come. I remember the dramatic sotto voce, warning us that ‘Christmas is not coming this year.’ It was spooky and after 45 years I still […]
A Morning Routine, and Screens, Revisited
Last week I bit on one of those email offers that promise great serenity if you only click to their website. But on balance, I’m quite happy what I found–a list of “how to have a great morning” that I am trying to following now. This list, written by Benjamin […]
Anticipating a Winter Snow
No matter how old you are, you never get too old to appreciate and anticipate a coming snowstorm. For me, this brings me back to Blawenburg, New Jersey, where I grew up and where snowstorms took on an especially passionate resonance. We just loved it, and we used to pack […]
Holiday Stroll Brings People into the Street
Last night’s Holiday Stroll was a fun event but it was hard to enjoy with the wind chills so high and the temperatures at 29 degrees on the Silverscape Designs clock on Main Street. We bundled up and walked up the middle of Main Street, first watching people dancing in […]
Car-Free Main Street Is Coming Tonight to Northampton
Tonight, we’ll get a taste of what Northampton could be like all year ’round. That’s because the Downtown Northampton Association, the new version of the now-disbanded Business Improvement District, is holding its first Holiday Stroll, and Main Street will be blocked off and no cars will be driving through between […]
Madison Beach Hotel in Connecticut: Tonight’s Lodging
We are heading to the Connecticut shore tonight to enjoy a night at this wonderful beachfront hotel in the tony village of Madison. I only know it from its name, Hilton, and that I’ve been wanting to explore this part of the state for many years. Mary and I will […]
With the Right Shoes, Snow Doesn’t Stop a Runner
Today I spent time in the driveway with a broom, sweeping off the snow on top of Mary’s Subaru. Though the snow continued to drift down, I managed to get in a two-mile run, thanks to a special pair of shoes designed for just such a purpose. The shoes are […]
Wal-Mart to Double their Locally Grown Produce in 2017
If I were in the produce business, I would be giving out a few high fives about now. I read a recent issue of Packer News, the Business News Source for the Produce Industry, about Wal-Mart’s plans for the future. It’s good news for farms since the giant retailer […]
A News Fast is Looking Harder to Resist
I lived through the election of Ronald Reagan, twice, and George W. Bush, twice. So this is not the first time I have been on the losing side, yet, I’ve never felt more afraid and more angry about a new president. I am a news junkie—consuming news via the kitchen […]
Modarri Cars: The Fun is in the Assembly
Imagine what it would be like if you walked into an arena where more than 40,000 kids were playing with the newest toys of the season. They tell you that year after year, your toys have been voted as the kid’s favorite. That’s what happened with Modarri cars, the lego-like […]