Masterpiece Ball 2014: What Are You Wearing!?
Here are some of the most inspiring looks from 2013’s Masterpiece Ball. Got your tickets? A most excellent Christmas gift! http://www.wgby.org/downtonabbey
Hauling Out the ‘Blower, Because You Just Can’t Borrow Them Here
Last winter I learned a valuable lesson. That is that every household in South Deerfield must own and maintain their own personal snowblower….because you just can’t borrow your neighbors. It’s like a lot of things, the saying goes…if you need to borrow it more than two times you probably need […]
Where We Went: It’s a GoNOMAD Annual Tradition to Share
It’s the time of the year for our annual Where We Went Column, when each of our regular contributors to share a narrative about where they went during the year. Some years the stories are pretty long because each place still resonates with the writers and they want to put […]
Christmas Is Coming, and That’s Still a Good Feeling
Christmas is so much different than when I was young. Does it take being 55 to realize this? I think back now, I have more than 50 Christmases in my memory that I can lucidly recall…I think about each year and when we put on Christmas music they flood back […]
The Masterpiece Ball Will Bring Out the Downton Abbey Fans Again
I am looking beyond the holidays today, off to a magical event that was the highlight of last winter. That would be the upcoming Masterpiece Ball in Celebration of Downton Abbey, to be held on Friday January 3 at the Log Cabin. What a wonderful night it was last year! […]
Television Has Never Been Better
Television has never been better. I say that thinking about a fair number of my friends and acquaintances who eshew the box, and don’t miss a chance to tell you that they don’t own a TV. But they’re missing so much! There are a few moments in America when everyone […]
Thanksgiving’s Been a Time for Travel, but Not This Year
Mary told me the other day that Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday of all. She likes the big family gatherings, and spending time cooking with her sister Annie. What I like about this holiday is that it lasts longer than many holidays what with that Friday in between that everyone […]
The Yotel NYC Gives Me Just What I Need in a Hotel, and Nothing I Don’t
I’m happy to be settled into the Yotel on 10th Avenue in NYC. I have driven by the big purple sign for this place many times and I’m finally staying in my ‘queen cabin’ here in the 25th floor. This UK company has plans for many more hotels, and now […]
Aldi’s Is Beloved and Now Organic. Wow!
Meet the only store that Wal-Mart fears….Aldi. The German-owned chain of small grocery stores has a lot of reasons behind their spectacularly low prices, and a story today on a foodie blog called forthemammas.com explained some of them. It starts with the size of the stores…none of them giant […]
If You’re Moved to Help Typhoon Haiyan Victims, Here’s How…
In the wake of the recent Typhoon Haiyan disaster in the Philippines, Projects Abroad is calling for volunteers to help with valuable typhoon recovery work. To help in areas that have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan, Projects Abroad is directing resources and efforts in the Philippines toward providing volunteers to […]
Paul Burch and the WPA Ballclub Brings Us Back to 1936
On a trip a last week to Belize, we sat with a group of journalists from Mexico City. “You should come to our Valley,” said Paul Shoul, my photographer travel buddy. The sophisticated Chilangoes were interested…because Paul is right. For anyone who loves great music, great food, smart locals and […]
Threat to MBTA Might Make Commuter Rail Better in Boston
I read a small article that may have a big ramification in the Springfield Republican when I was having my car serviced. It said that in Boston, the MBTA, the people who run the T, are facing a challenge from another company that wants to bid on running the bus […]
All of a Sudden He’s Facing Federal Charges
After what happened at LAX last week, with the crazed gunman shooting a TSA officer, things must be tensing up at airport checkpoints around the world. My friend Reed found this out the hard way three days ago, and now his whole life has been turned upside down. It began […]
Belize’s Three Distinct Environments: Rainforest, Pine Forest, and Soft Sand Beach
I can’t think of another country where I could have had the range of experiences I’ve had in the past two days. We spent the first four days here in the western part of the country, in a state called Caya. Our first accommodations were at Chaa Creek Resort, in […]
Butterfly Falls at Hidden Valley Inn and Resort Is the Most Wonderful Swim I’ve Ever Had
I’ve swum in infinity pools, and in rivers and lakes around the world. I’ve been refreshed and I’ve gazed upon cascading waterfalls and clicked my camera like everyone else. But today in Northern Belize, I am confident that I’ve discovered the most wonderful swimming hole on God’s green Earth. It’s […]
A Car Massage en Route to the Hidden Valley Inn and Reserve in Northern Belize
We woke up this morning in the brilliant tropical sunshine, after a few very loud birds and some howler monkeys chimed in. A giant tree branch fell in the forest, waking up a few of my compatriots but I never heard a thing. We had breakfast at the Chaa Creek […]
Chaa Creek Resort in Belize is Proud of their Organic Gardens and Eco-Consciousness
A glorious cacophony awoke me around 6 am this morning at the Chaa Creek Resort in San Ignacio Belize. It was the sound of thousands of birds, each with their unique sound, telling me to wake up. There are so many birds here it’s hard to keep track, along with […]