As I sat at my desk (11hrs into my typical work day), I looked up and stared out the office window for a moment to contemplate.  I let out a pathetic sigh and thought…Where the hell did my summer go?  I was tired and desperately in need of some time to recharge my oh-so depleted batteries.  I revisted my travel blog to decide where I could escape to.  What about Miami?  It’s on my travel wish-list for this year, so why not now? 

I had considered the idea of going to Miami this year, but Kathleen didn’t seem the least bit interested.  She hit me with an emphatic…”No, it’s too damn hot, and I’m not interested in going to that cultural cesspool”!  As all these thoughts swirled around my head, I reached a moment of absolute clarity:  “If Kathleen can’t come with me, I’ll just go myself.”  I closed my laptop, looked up at my colleague Emma and said:  “I need to unplug and will be taking a long weekend next week”.  She smiled at me an replied:  “Good, you need it…so do it.  Will you be spending time at home?”  ”Nope,” I said, “I’m going to Miami.”    continue reading »

The plan was set…Venue selected…Invitations distributed…Food and drink handled…The only thing remaining? Hoping that we’d have a strong turn-out for the big day.  Would people show?  Well…over 70 people made an appearance, check!  Would it really be a big surprise?  Well…My dad was shocked beyond belief (trust me), check!  Would the entire event go off without a hitch?   Well…All appeared to have a great time and everything ran smoothly, so I’d give that a big check too!

I always knew the party had the potential to be something really special for my dad.  At a minimum, it had the foundations of a great party…Food, family and drink.  However, when the prospect of including former soccer players that my dad had coached back in the day was considered, I was both intrigued and inspired.  Combine that with a heart-felt speech and an amazing gift…Boom!  Forget special, we might even be able to enter the realm of spectacular. 

The emotional, yet prideful, look on my father’s face well after the event said it all.  He didn’t have to say anything as I knew what he was thinking:  Spectacular it was… continue reading »

Washington DC is just a fun place to visit, no question about it.  Museums (which I love) are of the highest caliber in the world and all within close proximity of one another.  Oh yeah, did I mentioned that they’re all free?  Great for the budget traveler.  Food is about what you might expect…It’s fantastic.  Ambiance?  The feeling of historical significance hits you like a 2×4 when you walk the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or any other memorial for that matter.  It always get me when I take a moment to stand in very spot that Martin Luther King delivered his “I have a dream” speech.  Just incredible.  The balance of architecture and open space is quite impressive throughout the district.  Quite frankly, it’s visually stunning.  

I’ve experienced DC a number of times in the past, but my fiancé (Kathleen) has not.  It was really important to me that she felt what the political mecca of the world was all about.  As I’ve been working in DC for the past few months, it was just a matter of convincing Kathleen to make the trip – it didn’t take long.  I also invited her friend Tara to partake in the weekend’s festivities.  They both braved the long drive and we started our excursions on a Friday.  

My close friend, Joe, would essentially be our tour guide for the weekend.  Not only does he have a heart of gold, he also has an ultra-convenient SUV that easily transported us around the city.  What a blast!  It might not seem like we experienced alot but I can assure you, we squeezed a lot into our trip. 

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Does anyone else out there find it exceeding difficult to find a TV show that both you and your significant other can enjoy together?  Well, it’s a regular challenge that both Kathleen and I deal with on a regular basis.  She’s obsessed with her morbid crime documentaries or dry Egyptology shows, where as I enjoy silly shows like House or So you think you can dance.  We all have our vices…But every once in a while there’s a show that really works for both of us.  The Cake Boss is one such show.

The show is about Buddy Valastro, who  is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States.  He’s the master baker of Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey.  He’s the BOSS, hence the name.  He basically supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law.  The show blends the artistry of cake-making and the drama associated with running a family business.  There are a bunch of characters on the show, which bring us endless entertainment. 

While watching a recent episode, Kathleen and I thought it would be a cool idea to visit the actual bakery in Hoboken.  We joked around about a few times, but I didn’t actually think we’d ever end up going.  I mean, it’s not like it’s just down the street.  We’re talking about a 2 hr drive.  Well, as you might have guessed by now, we chose a date and stuck to it.  We’d be accompanied by our close friend Tara and Kathleen’s brother, Joey.  We chatted and laughed the entire way there.  It was great!  continue reading »

Ahhh, nothing beats a home-cooked meal.  I take great comfort in a nice meal prepared by myself or Kathleen while relaxing at home.  We don’t cook often, but when we do it’s always enjoyable.  Part of the reason we don’t cook very often is because I’m usually away from home four nights a week while traveling for work.  This means I’m essentially forced to eat out just about every night.  Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy eating out just as much as the next guy.  I really do!  But…as you might imagine, it’s not always the healthiest option.  Especially when you’re consistently hitting nice restaurants.  I don’t know about you, but I almost feel obligated to try the most popular dish when I visit a new place.  Most popular doesn’t always equate to the healthiest.  And of course…My meal is usually accompanied by banter with colleagues and a few drinks.  It can be good times, but it can also get old really quickly.  Not the company, but the rich food!

So when my old buddy Joe said his wife Linda wanted me over to dinner, and she’d be cooking, I was thrilled.  She’s an amazing cook and I view them both as family, so I knew I would have a great time.  I even got to spend some time with their beautiful little boy, Kameel, whom I bonded with over potato chips prior to dinner.  What a cute kid!  I decided to document this evening as it’s a rare instance where I was actually treated to a home-cooked meal on the road.  And in my book, that’s a pretty special occasion.  Thank you both for the great night! continue reading »

In my humble opinion, New Orleans is a “must visit” location for all walks of life.  It’s not only reserved for intoxicated frat boys looking to consume as many hurricanes as they can whilst stumbling down Bourbon Street.  Oh, no…It’s so much more.  My time in New Orleans, over Memorial Day weekend, was eye-opening to say the least.  I was blown away by the diverse demographic of people both visiting and living there.  Young, old, black, white, men, women, children, etc.  It’s a delicious jambalaya melting pot of cultural goodness. 

People are exceeding kind there, not to mention extremely laid back.  I could not have thought up a better slogan for the city then the one they already have:  “The Big Easy”.  Absolutely spot on!  And what about the live performers on just about every other street corner?  Incredible.  The music-filled air in the French Quarter placed me into a state of enchantment.  Especially for those truly gifted musicians.  As I walked down Royal Street, I recall being mezmorized by a petite Asian women who was playing the violin in such a way that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.  It was sublime, and felt like it was being played just for me.  Architecture you ask?  Well, I adore the Creole townhouses that line the Quarter.  They’re notable for their large courtyards and intricate iron balconies.  Stunning.  continue reading »

As I prepare to move onto my next project in Washington DC, I recently took a moment to reflect back on my long term project that has now concluded in New York City.  It was challenging to be sure, but the experience and relationships I forged during that period were incredible. 

I’ve always made a point to document my significant travel experiences, both good and bad, so I never forget.  To be honest, that’s the “true” reason behind why I blog about my travels.  So I don’t forget!  Haven’t you ever gone on an amazing vacation, when after some time passes, you forgot some of the key details that you recalled being your favorite in the first place?  Me too!  Although my time spent in New York was the furthest thing from a vacation, I definitely had some memorable moments — moments that I will never forget. 

With that said, I felt compelled just the same, to document some of the unique nuances that I’ll undoubtedly miss.  Now, I’ve made a number of NYC posts over the past year, but the following video montage brings together some highlights that will always help me remember the little things.  It’s fairly brief, so don’t be afraid of the length.  Also, I could not have chosen a better audio track to compliment the video, so be sure to turn up those speakers.

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Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth largest city in the world with a population of 12.8 million.  Istanbul is a megacity, as well as the cultural, economic, and financial centre of Turkey.  The city covers 39 districts of the Istanbul province.  It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country.  It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents.  Now, let’s move on to some additional perspective of the personal variety.   

Let me come right out and say it:  I loved Istanbul!  The city’s charms instantly captured my heart – even the irritating ones, like the overzealous street vendors and the psychotic drivers who weave their way through tourists and locals alike.  The historical relevance of the country, as you might expect is, extraordinary.  Take, for instance, the fact that this, in its incarnation as Constantinople, is where the “Roman Empire” persisted after the fall of Rome in the Fourth Century for nearly a millennium as the Byzantine Empire.  Oh, and welcome to Ottoman rule for the next 600 plus years. 

How about the architecture, you ask?  Well, the best way I can think to describe the city is that it’s a cultural melting pot of epic proportions.  It’s not everywhere you see a Muslim mosque that evolved from one of the greatest basilicas in Christendom.  Crazy, right?  Hagia Sophia is nothing short of spectacular.  After spending two minutes in that ginormous spectacle of architectural brilliance, I was struck with one profound thought:  It must have taken a megalomaniac of the highest caliber to bring that sanctimonious wet dream to fruition.  Thanks, Justinian!  We marvel at your pomposity even to this day.  In a good way, of course.  continue reading »

We hope you’ll joins us to celebrate Liz’s 30th Birthday for a Casino Night theme party at the Waucoma Yacht Club. Feel free to dress like James Bond or in your favorite cocktail dress. There will be professional craps and blackjack dealers, a Texas Hold’em table and Roulette wheel. Everyone will receive $1,000 in play money at the door redeemable for prizes at the end of the night. There will also be a DJ for everyone’s dancing entertainment and an open bar. Gifts and presents are discouraged (although Liz always welcomes a good bottle of Champagne…!)…Looking forward to your presence Saturday evening at the Waucoma for Liz’s 30th. We’ve been receiving calls about what to wear and cocktail dresses and tuxedos are encouraged if you’d like to dress up. Otherwise make yourself comfortable but be aware their may be a few James Bonds in attendance (bonus play money if you’d like to dress up as one of the Bad guys or a “Bond Girl”.

How cool does that sound?  I’d like to start off by saying that Kathleen would not allow me to purchase a tux for the event.  She droned on and on about how I wasn’t even wearing one to our wedding and how it would be weird if I bought one for the party.  Hmmm, I guess she had a point, and after some pathetic pouting I conceded by throwing on my trusty pinstripe suit and was ready to roll.  Kathleen got herself nice and dolled up as well! continue reading »

I caught David Mamet’s RACE recently as I was instantly drawn to seeing James Spader’s name as a cast member.  I loved him on Boston Legal, so after a little research, I learned that he basically takes a darker version of Allan Shore (Boston Legal) character to this rather controversial theatrical drama.  That was all the insight I needed!  So I recruited a friend and hit the show. 

James Spader was exactly as I expected…Incredible and so natural on stage.  I had low expectations for David Alan Grier, but he too was very impressive — this really surprised me to be honest.  I thought Kerry Washington was OK and didn’t really care much for Richard Thomas.  With all that said, the play was wonderful and totally worth the price of admission. 

RACE in itself can at times be a tricky subject to discuss openly.  Stating that this piece confronts the gray areas of racism would be an absolute understatement.  Rest assured, it does not tip-toe around any racial sensitivities.  So be prepared to be taken out of your safe zone.  In fact, more then once I found myself thinking:  ”That is so messed up he said that…I can’t believe it made me chuckle”.  Granted, the humor was by design, but the underlying  message is such a powerful one that it stuck with me for days afterwards.  Go watch it!  You’ll see what I mean.   

I dug up a the following review for the show, which I thought was pretty fitting: continue reading »