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New York 101: Taxis to Toques

Every time I go to New York it teaches me something. When I made my inaugural foray to Manhattan in 1980, I shrugged off the driver’s surprised look as I clambered into the taxi. It was only after I looked around that I realized the other passengers were all sitting in the back seats. A […]

The Anti-Resort

We have nothing but love for the Ritzes and Four Seasons, Amans and Oberois of the world. You can’t argue with plush décor and impeccable service. But luxury suites don’t exist everywhere, and sometimes the destination is all the better for its lack of 5-star accommodations. I discovered Cape San Blas on a last minute […]

Seen Francisco

When I go out for a wander in Hogtown (the nickname for Toronto, where I live) I rarely take a proper camera. Which is a shame, because carrying a camera often changes the way I see things. Going out with photography in mind somehow opens my eyes to the quotidian cool and quirky. I was […]

Shopping with Coup de Coeur

Shopping in New York City is as much of an art (or science) as truffle hunting in Italy or animal tracking in Botswana, so naturally we always have some ‘pigs’ on hand to help us out. Meet our Manhattan gurus and their favourite discoveries. As personal stylists and founders of Coup de Coeur, we’re always asked […]

Nolita Makes Scents

As a traveller, you know that moment. You open your suitcase for the first time back at home and catch a fleeting scent of your trip left clinging to clothes and souvenirs; it instantly takes you right back. I had such a moment a few weeks ago, and was instantly transported back to Nolita. Just […]

Dog Day Afternoon

As we approached the Mendenhall Glacier, I could see several tiny black specks in the distance. The helicopter landed, and I took my first shaky steps onto the glacier. I was greeted by the overwhelming sound of nearly 200 barking sled dogs, letting me know they were ready to run. I recently went on an […]

McCarthy Lodge

I am staring at a spoonful of carrot foam. Alaska has a way of surprising travellers, stripping them of their comfortable expectations, and I make it my policy when I visit the last frontier to come prepared for anything. But this—carrot foam—I am not prepared for. The foam is the first shot fired at the […]

Moody Reds

Working for a travel company means you are occasionally in danger of becoming rather blasé about hotels. Sometimes they all seem to blur into each other; one empty mini-bar at the end of a stay looks much like another. However, on a recent trip to California I had the good fortune to stay in a […]

Lobster Migration

“It’s imported.” The phrase has a certain cachet, doesn’t it? Imported caviar from Russia, imported Italian sports cars. Especially in New York City, it seems there’s nothing you can’t have if you’ve got the cash and you know the best source. And boy do we have an addictive source for you. We can’t really justify […]

Life With Drawl

I’m a sucker for an accent—it’s like a lens through which everything is filtered. And on a recent trip to America’s Lowcountry, while literally basking in the expansive local drawl, I fell head over heels for the Inn at Palmetto Bluff. First off, the sheer scale of the property is astounding. A 22,000 acre private […]

Unexpected Treasures

If the kids are already bored with their Christmas presents, I know a collector who might be interested. Toys are just one of his obsessions, and like any pig worth his weight in bacon, this collector has much more up his sleeve. To seek is to find, but to stumble upon is pure bliss. On […]