Summer in High Gear
My summer started off quite quietly, with June activities fairly sparse, matching a cooler-and-wetter-than-normal weather pattern. As soon as July hit, however, the temperatures and my schedule heated up. As I wrote a few weeks ago, our July Fourth weekend in Portland began with a visit to a U-pick berry farm. We followed that up with a gathering of friends on the evening of Independence Day for barbecued ribs and a potluck feast of sides and desserts as we waited for darkness to fall and fireworks to light up the night on a gorgeous summer evening. That Saturday we made our way to the Beaverton Farmers Market to take in the bounty of early summer. The local strawberries were pretty much done, but there were plenty of booths selling early peaches, apricots and several varieties of berries. We couldn't resist buying a half flat of raspberries. The produce stands also offered all manner of vegetables from potatoes, carrots and onions to summer squash, lettuce and the season's first tomatoes. By the time we had finished our shopping, the rapidly warming morning encouraged us to queue up for some rich and creamy ice cream ... and we weren't the only ones to decide that was a good idea.
Dog Days of July
July feels like it has absolutely flown by, with nearly nonstop activity every weekend. I have a lot of random little things I got up to in the last few weeks, from trying new restaurants to attending a clothing swap.
Tour de Skokie
The Tour de France just ended, but the Tour de Skokie runs through July. Unlike France, there is no bike race, but it involves bikes and a lot more. Tour de Skokie celebrates Al's Cycle Shop's 50 years in Skokie.
Dinner at Kalaya
My husband and I enjoyed dinner with another couple at Kalaya recently. The award-winning Philadelphia restaurant serves traditional Thai cuisine. Luckily for hungry diners, the restaurant relocated from its tiny space near the Italian Market to a much larger space in Fishtown.
PopFest Chicago
Because I was out of town, I missed the debut of PopFest in January. After hearing great reviews from friends who attended, I made sure not to miss its return last weekend.
Welcoming Home My Engaged Best Friend
Last week my best friend returned from England engaged! My best friend since childhood, she met her fiancé on a cruise in the Mediterranean. He is English, and they dated long distance for more than two years.
Olmec Trails: Culture and Legacy
I have looked forward to seeing the Olmec Trails outdoor art exhibit ever since hearing about it at The Hospitality & Tourism Summit a couple months ago. After a kickoff event last week, Olmec Trails: Culture and Legacy debuted.
Happy Birthday to Me!
This year for the birthday celebration we headed to Puerto Rico. This was our first visit to the island; what an adventure it was!
Flight of Butterflies
Last summer I wrote about a butterfly sculpture exhibit in Chicago's Greek Town. This summer a different butterfly exhibit came to Chicago.
#globility
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Jul 26, 2024Accor Unveils Its First Handwritten Collection Brand in the United States
San Francisco, a city renowned for its commercial hubs and cultural sites, will become the first destination in the United States for one of Accor's newest brands, Handwritten Collection. The city’s Hotel Stratford San Francisco, Handwritten Collection is a European-style boutique property located near Union Square on the famous Powell Street cable car line. The area will now have the Handwritten Collection name behind it. The property becomes Accor's third hotel in San Francisco, joining the Fairmont properties atop Nob Hill and at Ghirardelli Square.
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Hit the High Notes in Nashville
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Jul 26, 2024Bask in Nature’s Tranquility at The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo
When the two of us entered The Spa at Four Seasons Tamarindo, past the backlit boutique items and local artisan-painted wood carvings, the place wrapped us in a feeling of tranquility. Its stone walls, earth tones, woven wall hangings and furniture made of natural materials reminded us we are part of nature’s spectrum, the abundant windows showing native plants and trees outside.
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Jul 26, 20244 Boutique Hotels with Exclusive Wedding Buyout Offerings
Couples looking for an over-the-top wedding, consider one of these properties around the world, offering total property buyouts to say your “I do’s.”
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Reconnecting the World: GBTA Convention 2023 Spotlights the Vital Role of Business Travel and In-Person Connection
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Jul 26, 2024BermudAir Maximizes Choices for Travelers with New Options
BermudAir announced an expanded fare structure, allowing customers to choose from five fare types across economy and business class, up from the previous three options. Travelers can now select fares based on their preferences for lounge access, checked baggage, change fees, refunds and priority boarding.
Discover Hvar, Croatia’s, Best-Kept Secrets
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Jul 24, 2024SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites Introduces Custom Wine Itineraries
SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites offers guests personalized journeys to Mendoza’s finest wineries from Susana Balbo’s family. Immerse yourself in bespoke wine itineraries recommended by Balbo, Argentina’s first female winemaker; her son and third-generation winemaker, José Lovaglio Balbo; and her daughter, hotelier and wine tourism marketer, Ana Lovaglio Balbo.
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Colombia: A Different Kind of Beauty
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Jul 24, 2024Althoff Grand Hotel Schloss Bensberg Review
After a long drive from our previous destination, it was a relief to see Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg in our view. When we pulled into the hotel court, I felt like we were pulling up to a royal palace. Considering the hotel was originally built as a castle for Prince Elector Johann Wilhelm II of Duesseldorf and his wife, Maria-Luisa of the Medici family, my thought wasn’t that far off.