I came across this article in a Canadian magazine on Cuba. The colors and texture immediately grabbed me. I love the notion that a bed bookends our life cycle, and the intimacy of that whole concept. I hope to meet with these photographers on my next trip to Cuba in March. In the meantime,...
Read more »
Walking home late at night all by myself, outside of town, over the river and past the last restaurant, past the overgrown properties that are now derelict, but still somehow grand in their silence and stature – albeit a little eerie in the shadows. Past the jungle creeping onto the old cobblestone streets. Up...
Read more »
Make no mistake, Beijing has an edgy, cool and contemporary vibe, hidden just under the surface of the government-run tour packages. You just have to dig a little. But per the divine Craig Barbour, a good friend who lived in Beijing while working on the Olympics, Beijing has a number of hip bars and...
Read more »
First triathlon under our belt. And boy are we glad its over! The weather for The Santa Barbara Triathlon Sunday could not have been more beautiful. Gorgeous and sunny – perfect temperature to spend an hour (or so) at the beach. For our first triathlon, we figured we better take it easy and do...
Read more »
SF Marathon Redoux Stuart, Katarina and I ran the SF Marathon last weekend. Stuart, God bless him, ran the full marathon. Kat and I, on the other hand, did not. We did half – the front half – undoubtedly the most beautiful 13 miles of any marathon I can think of. The Starting Line...
Read more »
Bali Eco Cycling Adventure While in Bali a couple of months ago, I had heard about Bali Eco Cycling Tours a fun bicycle day-trip in Ubud. The initial appeal was the fact that the route was downhill. Sounded very do-able. Then read a great review on them in The New York Times and coming...
Read more »
The Ford’s foray to Bali, testing their physical stamina, relationship-building skills and freakish swelling effects on feet and hands. 8:30 PM Wednesday – Los Angeles Stu and I are heading to Bali. The countdown clock officially started when we left the house. First leg is a 14-hour flight from LAX to Taiwan. Even before...
Read more »
Cuba blowing my mind. This is a country living in a different time and a different world. You walk down the street and lose perspective – and yet you get that its only a matter of time before these incredibly beautiful neo-classical buildings and homes are going to be de rigeur among the global...
Read more »
One day while in Bali, I had the occasion to visit three seriously chic, high-end resorts with my friend Kristin, a young Australian architect who happens to design resorts. Kristin’s mission was to take in the details – the aesthetic cues – the trends – the blend with the environment. The lines. The flow. ...
Read more »
I recently had the good fortune to travel to Bali on a surf holiday, where base camp was to be a fabulous villa in Seminyak. Because I was only staying in a hotel for one night – the dreaded first night of arrival after 24-hours of flying, I thought best not to splurge on...
Read more »
I am in Bali. If I weren’t so out of body, I might not believe it. Certainly the jet lag is not adding to any recognizable dimension of reality. After having checked into an utterly charming hotel on the recommendation of my friends at i-escape.com, I am finally ready for the moment when I...
Read more »
I blame House Hunters International for my latest junket into delusion. This HGTV show is a mainstay in our home. It affords us an opportunity to snoop in someone’s home – in fact – three homes – in some foreign locale while never having to pull our carcasses off the couch. It serves to...
Read more »
According to a recent mention in the NY Post, it seems St Barts is once again teeming with God-awful showbiz/mogul types, who in one-week’s time, will pump more money onto those sleepy shores than George Clooney will spend on the uber-sophisticated satellite monitoring system he’s funding out of his own pocket to prevent civil...
Read more »
The T Salon Tea Tour to India March 9 – 19, 2011 eat…drink…think The T Salon, a very cool, eco-chic sustainable tea shop in NYC and LA, has put together an amazing journey to India, and is inviting fun, like-minded and curious tea enthusiasts to share in what will no doubt, be an incredible...
Read more »
I have been fortunate enough to celebrate another year on this earth. What I have found that thrills me in my middle years – among other things – is elephants. I had not such familiariaty for the species until traveling in Cambodia, where I was coincidentally reading “Like Water for Elephants”. That’s when I...
Read more »
Ensconced in Philadelphia. Staying at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. What a great find! When was the last time you were in a cupola? 19th floor. 30′ ceiling. Wrap around balcony. 360-degree views. I had the whole place furnished in my mind – couch there. Conversation pit there. Beaux arts building – grand. Original...
Read more »
Pursuant to my self-incriminating piece on salsa dancing, I guess I must be a glutton for punishment as I’m at it again – this time its Zumba, and I am loving it. Zumba is a combination of hip-hop, Calypso, African, Salsa, Merenge, Indian – even some Polynesian. I happened onto it one day without...
Read more »
Recent reports indicate that the famous restaurant /eco-project, The Yellow Treehouse Restaurant is coming back as a venue for private/corporate functions and events. Great news for companies running incentives to New Zealand and looking to create a spectacular experience. The Yellow Treehouse Restaurant, which operated from December 2008 to February 2009 as part of...
Read more »
Having a wonderful time in Sayulita? Check. Trying to figure out a way to get back sooner than later? Check. But how will I make this happen? Hmmmm. I’ve got it!! I’ll arrange to have a custom surfboard made for Cooper! That’s PERFECT! Not only will it be useful (I am already envisioning all...
Read more »
Oh yeah, that would be me. Dancing in a carved out space in the living room, between the dog bed and the TV, music blaring, windows wide open, and trying desperately to keep up with the pros salsa-ing on “So You Think You Can Dance?” Short answer? No, I have no illusions that I...
Read more »
Boy and his Bowls
Serving up my take on life one bowl at a time
Ramshackle Chic
An eclectic state of mind
An Indian Summer