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July 11th, 2009UncategorizedThis city of 2.5 million is a burgeoning cultural capital emerging from the dark days of apartheid on the strength of its diverse cultures, languages, and ideologies. Johannesburg is a cosmopolitan capital with a rich sociopolitical history, a thriving arts scene, and excellent shopping. -
July 10th, 2009Uncategorized
The secret strategies for making your Champagne dreams come true on just a beer budget. From local destinations to exotic locations across the world, this is your guide for the perfect escape plan.
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July 9th, 2009Uncategorized
Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle is flying to Mumbai to “rescue” the child stars who appeared in the Oscar-winning film.
It was recently reported that two of the child stars, who live in Mumbai’s slums, have had their homes destroyed.
Boyle, 52, is reportedly concerned about the welfare of the two children - Azhar Ismail, ten, and Rubina Ali, nine, after their shacks were demolished.
A trust worth £500,000 was set up to give the children schooling and apartments.
However, a source said: “Their lives do not appear to be any better.”
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July 8th, 2009UncategorizedI spent part of last week in Yosemite National Park, and one of my favorite finds was renting bikes in Yosemite Valley. The valley's few roads were clogged with cars, even on a weekday in mid-May, but the bike paths were blissfully empty.
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July 7th, 2009UncategorizedTo celebrate its 40th anniversary of uninterrupted travel between the U.S. and Finland, Finnair is offering nonstop flights between New York and Helsinki for $477 round-trip (including all taxes and fees). This is actually less than you would have paid in 1969.
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July 6th, 2009Uncategorized
Justin asks: I’m having a birthday dinner Saturday, and want a place with lotsa character - like Russia House. Any suggestions?
Check out Mie N Yu or Neyla in Georgetown, both ooze with transporting atmosphere. Rasika is a bit more minimal in decor, but still quite unique. for DC. Of course, there is always Marrakesh for authentic Moroccan food and bellydancing. Put the Buddha Bar on your list for next year. The Asian-French restaurant and bar with locations in Paris and Vegas, to name a few, leased 9,400 square feet at 455 Mass Ave and should be open at the end of 2009. -
July 5th, 2009UncategorizedI had traveled to Rome to join a host of Les Clefs d'Or concierges from around the world for our annual International Congress. Over the course of a week we had been feted and pampered and eaten endless amounts of incredible food; we had been given a private audience with the Pope (John Paull II, who my grandmother never really thought was a real pope because he wasn't Italian); we had meetings and galas and partied until the wee hours. I was tired.
My flight was on Air France, through Paris. I don't even need to explain how challenging Charles de Gaulle Airport is - everyone who has ever been there has a horror story. I arrived at the terminal from Rome, and had to run across the airport to make my connecting flight to Boston.
God decided that it should rain. And that I would get lost. And that the entire population of the earth should visit Charles de Gaulle airport at exactly that time and all of them would need to ask me directions. Asking a concierge a question, no matter where or when, triggers that instinct in every concierge to help. There simply is no other choice - it is a moral imperative.
Naturally, my flight - for the first time since the dawn of time - pulled away from the gate early.
Without me.
As I looked at the plane through the plate glass windows, I thought to myself, "well, it's right there; they could just wheel it back up a bit and open the door for me." As it turns out, I must have said it out loud, because the perky Air France lady behind the counter was looking at me as if I had suggested that Jesus was sitting on the fuselage wearing a beret and waving a French flag.
"Oh no, monsieur, I am very sorry," she said in a tone that made it quite clear that among all the possible emotions she could be feeling, sorry was not one of them.
"The doors are closed."
"Yes, but the plane is right there, and it's leaving early."
"Yes, it is."
"And I am here."
"Yes, monsieur, you are."
"Yes."
At this, she stood there looking at me with a perky smile.
Impasse.
Realizing that the plane was gone and nothing was bringing it back, I asked her what I should do. She let me know that there was another Air France flight, to Montreal, leaving in two and a half hours, with a connection home. She booked me on that flight. Everything was going to be fine. I would be able to change into dry clothes and --- oh. My luggage.
After exhaustive searching through the computer system, she informed me that unlike myself, my luggage had actually made the flight, and was on its way. It would be waiting for me.
Now, you all know what happened. I made the flight to Montreal and on to Boston, and my luggage was not there. After several calls, it turned out that my luggage, learning that I was flying to Montreal, had become so overcome by a need to be with me that it convinced Air France to fly it to Montreal to be with me. And there it stayed, having no-one to claim it.
For two weeks, I called Air France every day to ask them when I would be getting my luggage back. Over the course of those two weeks, I heard every imaginable permutation of "We're sorry, but..." I got to know several of them quite well; I began asking after individual Air France employees' children by name.
Finally, I told the guy at the other end that if he could not tell me where my luggage was - exactly - and when it would be delivered to me - exactly - then I wanted him to put me on hold; the very next person I wanted to speak to was the person who could give me the information I wanted.
"But this may take quite some time."
"I understand that, Jean-Francois. I am at work for the next 6 hours; I can wait."
I have never flown Air France since. -
July 4th, 2009UncategorizedBrand-new Spruce has style and substance By Mollie Chen I had strawberries yesterday and it was a sad reminder of what we on the East Coast are missing.
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July 3rd, 2009UncategorizedAnnie hearts Hayes St Grill po'boys By Mollie Chen The genial woman behind the Avis counter paused and looked at me. "You know," she said, "you can get a Prius for the same price." Sold.
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July 2nd, 2009Uncategorized
Oprah Winfrey and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working together and warning fans about Oprah Winfrey’s alleged “generosity”, Oprah Winfrey may be generous but not to the point that she would give away $1 million for the lucky winner of a contest supposedly sponsored by the Oprah Winfrey Show.Oprah Winfrey and the FBI said there is an email scam targeting Oprah Winfrey’s fans. The email will inform the recipient that they have been chosen to join the “Oprah Millionaire Contest Show” special where one lucky audience member will win the jackpot if he can answer a handful of current events questions. Nothing wrong there—except that the recipient of the email would be asked to send money for airfare, show tickets and hotel to a Seattle address. And before you fall for this hook line and sinker, be aware that the production company and the studio of Oprah Winfrey’s show are in Chicago.