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Viceroy Anguilla
July 10, 2011
This one is from my friend Bart, who just visited Anguilla. I’ve always been a fan of the Viceroy Santa Monica, but the pictures of Viceroy Anguilla look 1000 times more heavenly. Just as Bart mentioned–The art! The architecture! The view! You are going to want to check out the entire photo gallery on the website. It’s officially on my getaway wish list.
Location: Anguilla
Le Bilboquet – Manhattan
July 7, 2011
Here’s another recommendation from a good friend of mine who 1) spends a lot of time in NYC and 2) always makes time for a champagne brunch. Le Bilboquet is a small, chic French bistro and daytime hot spot on the Upper East Side, where you can spend several hours drinking and eating and people watching. The French fare gets solid reviews, although the service sometimes does not (think typical French attitudes). This one is probably best enjoyed sans the kiddos.
Location: Manhattan
Four Seasons Hotel – Austin
July 5, 2011
A last minute business meeting spurred a 24-hour visit to Austin with the family a couple of weeks ago. Usually we stay at the San Jose, mostly because we can take our kid and our big Labrador, and I also like the hip pool/bar scene and the ability to walk to Jo’s, Guero’s, Stag, etc. But with such late notice it was booked. So we went with the Four Seasons. I was quickly reminded of how brilliant the Four Seasons is for kids. Stuffed animals as gifts on arrival, wonderful rollaways or cribs, kid bath robes and bath products, kid options on the menus, and a family-friendly pool scene. Yet it still manages to feel like a luxurious getaway. While entertaining my two-year-old at the pool I met a few other Dallas parents who had come down for the weekend to do exactly that. I see a lot more visits in our future. And for those of you traveling without kids, it is certainly not so full of families to ruin your serenity. There are travelers of all sorts, as well as locals hanging out at the pool and restaurants. (Trio is especially good for fine dining.) Plus it’s downtown and right on Lady Bird Lake.
Location: Austin
Soho House – West Hollywood
June 15, 2011
Sigh. Here’s one of the places I was supposed to be last weekend before I got sidelined by a fever. (I’m convinced it was the stress from those close Mavericks/Heat games! Yay Dallas!). Soho House opened this spring in the sunny promiseland that is Los Angeles. It is a membership club, and offers dining, a club bar, private event services, and a screening room…all on the penthouse floors of a building off Sunset Boulevard, giving it 180 degree views of the city. There is also a roof garden with a retractable roof to accommodate dining in all weather. Rescheduling my trip so I can insert myself on that terrace as soon as possible. www.sohohousewh.com
Location: Hollywood, los angeles
Sip Sip – Harbour Island
May 2, 2011
If Rock House is where insiders go for dinner on Harbour Island, Sip Sip is their gathering place for lunch. In a house overlooking the famous pink sand beach, the hang out is known for its lobster quesadillas, cocktails, and people watching. Look for the bright green house, a short stroll down the beach from Pink Sands and Coral Sands, or just ask anyone on the island to point you in the right direction.
Location: Bahamas, Harbour Island
Rock House Hotel – Harbour Island
April 29, 2011
Every getaway destination seems to have one. The chic boutique hotel. Rock House Hotel on Harbour Island has 10 rooms, a lively bar, and the restaurant where fashionable vacationers congregate for dinner.
The bar area is next to the pool, which has private cabanas and outdoor dining. This is where you are seated for dinner if you come with small children, which we did. The main dining room has a view of the marina and the sunset. My husband asked how old kids have to be to sit in the main room, and the staff said they have to be in their teens. Mr. S then replied, “Well, she’s 2, but she’s old for her age.” Actually, the cool pool area suited us just fine. And thanks to our iPad, we had a lovely dinner. Most people were out without kids, but we did see a few others. French fries and pasta were available. The attire was beach-y chic. It reminded me of the fancier hangouts in the Hamptons.
As for staying at the hotel, it is on the marina side of the island, so you’d have to walk or take a short golf cart ride to the beach. But for those who like the well-designed boutique hotel, this is it for Harbour Island. Whether you stay there or just visit for a drink or dinner, do not miss the signature cocktail, the Goombay Smash, supposedly a favorite of Robert DeNiro. It was the best drink I had throughout our entire vacation.
Location: Bahamas, Harbour Island
Baja Cantina – Carmel, CA
April 20, 2011
I can’t find any good photos of Baja Cantina so you are going to have to trust me. When you are in a place as gorgeous as Carmel, you want to sit outside and enjoy the view, even if it is the endless green farmland rather than the ocean that you are admiring. This casual Mexican joint has an awesome patio, with heaters and a fire pit. It is a great place to eat with the kiddos and also has a fun casual bar scene. The food is fine, nothing spectacular, but I like the vibe of the place. It also happens to be next door to a “feed and hay” store that houses more animals than some zoos. The giant turtles, bunnies, donkey, goats, etc. provided great pre-dinner entertainment for my 2-year-old. If I lived in the area this would definitely be one of my hang outs. 7166 Carmel Valley Road (831) 625-2252 www.bajacantina.com/carmel.htm
Location: Carmel
A Dog’s Life – “Real Dogs” Wine
March 18, 2011
When our beloved Labrador Genghis was diagnosed with cancer, we hosted a “BarkStrong” party for him. We really just wanted friends and their dogs to come over for a playdate, but many guests brought bones, biscuits, dog toys and herbal remedies for our ailing guy. Then there was this one great gift that arrived for us…a bottle of wine with Genghis’ picture on it. Turns out you can customize bottles of “Real Dogs Rescue Reserve” at www.adogslife.net and a portion of the proceeds goes to rescue dog organizations. There are other customizable products as well, such as packages of natural dog food and treats. And yes, they have options for cats too. I love this.
Brackets – Dallas
January 19, 2011
It has been one of those weeks. I could really use a drink and some good pizza. I am thinking of heading to Brackets, which is the high-end sports bar now open where Trader Vics used to be. (So sad one of my favorites is gone!) There are TVs and a lot of games to enjoy, but I would go solely for the Il Cane Rosso pizza. Especially the garlic knots and pepperoni rosettes (pizza dough and pinwheel shaped pepperoni) which I have been craving since the last house party catered by the great ICR. By the way, there is other food too, and the menu beats any sports bar I’ve seen. www.bracketsdallas.com
Location: Dallas
Fearing’s Restaurant and the Secret Vegetarian Menu
November 6, 2010
I haven’t mentioned Fearing’s Restaurant in Dallas yet, because everyone in Dallas already knows it is one of the most popular upscale dining experiences in town. It is in a beautiful setting at the Ritz Carlton, with various indoor and outdoor dining options, and I particularly love the cozy, heated outdoor bar. The other night I was about to order the peppercorn soaked buffalo tenderloin over jalapeno grits and butternut squash taquito when Dean Fearing himself came over to our table to answer questions and see if we needed anything (how’s that for service?). I asked about vegetarian options. He quickly had a vegetarian menu sent over to me–an entire menu of vegetarian starters and main courses. It even included a vegetarian version of his famous tortilla soup. I never knew they had such a thing! My mixed vegetable salad with goat cheese and sampler plate of the vegetarian main courses (including some sort of amazing fried avocado) were all awesome. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.
Location: Dallas
