The New York Times • 18th July 2020

Where Being a Girl Scout Is an Act of Courage

On a warm Friday evening earlier this month, Nijerah Battle and Najah McLean walked about two miles from their homes in the Marion Gardens public housing complex here to a Girl Scout meeting...No girls in green uniforms. No cookies in sight.

The New York Times • 5th February 2006

Newark's Brazen Voice

A bit more than 10 years ago, Tracey Scott Wilson descended to the lobby of her apartment building to find a teetering tower of packages addressed to her. It seemed not only that all the manuscripts of her novel had been rejected, but that all 30 had arrived back on her doorstep the same day.

The New York Times • 18th July 2020

Softening Attitudes That Are Chiseled in Stone

Michelangelo "saw the angel in the marble" and carved until he set him free. Agostino Malatesta, a sculptor in Trenton, saw his painful past and frightening future and carved to set himself free. Played to perfection by Dan Lauria (of the television series "The Wonder Years"), Agostino — the central character in William Mastrosimone's play, "A Stone Carver" — is a bereaved Italian widower whose unkempt but beloved house is under threat of demolition for a highway ramp.

Condé Nast Traveler • 21st September 2020

Getting to Know Southampton's Native American Community

“You can say I walk in one moccasin and one shoe,” says Sagkompanau Mishoon Netooeusqua. That’s modern life for this descendant of the Montauk Tribe and member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, whose reservation abuts the tony hamlet of Southampton, New York.

The New York Times • 2nd April 2006

Mourning Becomes Lockerbie

The phrase "good grief" can be an expression of exasperation. But taken another way, it is perhaps even more confounding. After all, can grief ever be good? In Deborah Brevoort's drama "The Women of Lockerbie," based on the 1988 terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103, it is possible.

Fodor's Travel • 24th December 2021

The Humble Home That Launched a Thousand Fairy Tales

“This will all be ready for the Queen tomorrow!” Niels Bjørn Friis’s proclamation sounded like it was coming from a breathless servant in some fairy tale. But in real-life Denmark, real-life workers were buzzing around the dusty cobblestone streets of the pedestrian town of Odense, preparing for a very real-life queen to arrive in fewer than 24 hours.

AFAR • 8th June 2024

Love Tea & Lokum in Istanbul

Istanbul's Spice Bazaar may be a global tourist trap, but it isn't nearly as rage-inducing as the squawking group tours inside the Grand Bazaar. Here, a remnant of authenticity lives on in this 17th-century building, created by commission for Sultana Turhan Hatice.

Fodor's Travel • 23rd June 2021

I Was That Jacka** Tourist in Hawaii

Some destinations are so iconic, even if reality bears no resemblance to the idea of the place, people will engage in magical thinking and pinch their pennies, pack their bags, and go there anyway. For many Americans, Hawaii is that place.

The New York Times • 22nd January 2006

A Book Overdue, A Man Interrupted

It is a good thing that Plato is dead, because Glen Berger gives the philosopher a run for his money with his harrowing drama "Underneath the Lintel." The one-man show that at once questions the existence of God, our place in the universe and the importance of library fees, made its debut in Manhattan in the shadow of 9/11.

The New York Times • 21st May 2006

Bawdy and British, But No Monty Python

Joe Orton has received a lot of attention recently, largely because of Alec Baldwin's turn in "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" at the Roundabout Theater in Manhattan. The Two River Theater Company here boasts no movie stars in its Orton comedy, "What the Butler Saw," but it shares Roundabout's challenge to successfully bring British humor to an American audience.

The New York Times • 12th February 2006

When Mother Doesn't Know Best

We know that Ozzie and Harriet, the Cleavers and Donna Reed have been replaced by less ideal inhabitants in the home of the American Dream. And some of the least ideal among them are the members of the bitter and broken Bender family in D. W. Gregory's play, "The Good Girl Is Gone," now in its world premiere here at Playwrights Theater.

HuffPost • 18th February 2015

Are You Afraid of Detroit?

When I told my family that I was going to Detroit, there was a resounding "Why?!" Shocked faces. Mumbles. A well-traveled friend simply said, "Eeew."

The media hasn't been too kind to the Motor City, so most people who haven't visited seem to assume it's a wasteland of abandoned buildings and zombie workers from old car factories.

Travel + Leisure • 20th August 2015

Recreating an Old-School Jersey Shore Vacation

Some of America’s most iconic tastes, sounds, and sights were created along the 127-mile New Jersey shoreline, from Sandy Hook to Cape May. From the thrilling strains of a carousel’s calliope to the sweet froth on an egg crème, the best of the past is still within reach on these boardwalks and in these seaside towns.

Budget Travel • 18th August 2015

5 Things To Do In Seaside Park, NJ

Summer in New York City often means endless chatter about trips to the East End of Long Island and tooth-grinding preparation for an appearance in the Hamptons. But if your style is a bit more mid-century chill—when all a harried city-dweller needed was a tattered paperback, a low-slung beach chair and absolutely no one to impress—consider Seaside Park, New Jersey.

Roads & Kingdoms • 1st March 2016

Taking Shots With the Ski Bros in Tahoe

“No Snow Talk” is printed on a flimsy sheet of paper and tacked up on the wall behind a blonde, dreadlocked bartender. That’s a hefty edict here at The Slot Bar in North Lake Tahoe, where snow is what’s on everyone’s mind all day, every day, and into the night.

Fernwayer • 20th October 2024

Mexico's Hanal Pixán is Not the Day of the Dead

It is night, deep in the jungle of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The yellow candle in my hands is melting fast, wax dripping down my fingers and onto the damp soil between my feet. I’m one of nearly a hundred people gathered in this cenote, a sinkhole that yawns deep into the earth.

Fathom • 14th October 2024

The Women of Taos Are Not Messing Around

TAOS, New Mexico — Let’s start with the name. “Taos” doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, and that’s probably because you don’t speak Tiwa. Meaning “place of the red willows” in the language spoken by the Pueblo people, Taos, New Mexico, has been the home to this matrilineal community for more than a thousand years.

Fathom • 20th August 2024

Water, Water Everywhere…in the Utah Desert

The river’s current was pushing hard against the back of my knees, making them shake and making me nervous. I had to make a decision soon. Traveling to the wilds of Utah, I’d expected to get dehydrated or sunburned on a blazing-hot hike, but I didn’t anticipate trembling among the whitecaps of a cold rushing river.

Fathom • 15th April 2024

Beyond Barbecue: Debauchery & Diversity in Kansas City

Everything I knew about Kansas City came from song lyrics. “Everything’s up to date in Kansas City!” a perky line from the Broadway show "Oklahoma!" informed my childhood brain. Recently, I’ve been living with an earworm of Bob Dylan’s 1967 song, also called “Kansas City," and there’s the enduring R&B anthem (naturally, with the same name): “Goin' to Kansas City. Kansas City, here I come." Aside from a few lines in a handful of songs, I had no idea what the city was actually about. So I took a trip west to find out what all of the fuss was about.

Fathom • 5th April 2024

Celebrating the Beauty of Coffee in the Most Curious Places

The history of coffee is the history of humanity. Think about it: Generations of farmers all over the world are experts in cultivating the crop, and distinct café cultures have developed over time from Colombia to Japan, with countless stops in between. Even the artistry of the physical pour of the liquid differs by era and region.

Fathom • 25th August 2022

How to Have a Sustainable Stockholm Getaway (There’s Really No Other Kind)

From the moment I landed in Stockholm, Sweden’s dedication to all things sustainable was clear. Looking to refill my reusable water bottle before even descending to baggage claim, I quickly found a public fountain. Above it, a clean blue-and-white sign proclaimed, “The drinking water at Stockholm Arlanda Airport comes from Lake Mälaren. The water is environmentally friendly, fresh, of high quality. What’s more, it’s good!”

And, honestly, it was.

Fathom • 26th August 2021

Iceland’s Volcanic Eruption Is the Quiet Catharsis I Needed

The Geldingadalir volcanic eruption began, startlingly, on March 19 along Iceland’s gray and brooding southwestern coast. Startling, even for a country accustomed to volcanic activity, because nothing like this had happened on the Reykjanes Peninsula in more than 800 years.

Fathom • 23rd July 2022

Is NYC’s Governors Island Shedding Its Tranquil Past for a Glitzy Future?

Once home to little more than a few empty army barracks and an 18th-century fort, Governors Island in New York Harbor may soon become the glitziest spot in New York City. This summer, a sprawling Italian day spa and a Tulum-inspired beach club opened among the 172 acres of rolling green fields that long sat quietly in the waters between lower Manhattan and western Brooklyn, a short ferry ride away from the urban jungles.

Fathom • 25th August 2022

The World’s Happiest Country Brings Joy to the Skies

When I think about my happy place, an economy seat on a long-haul flight ranks close to last on the list. But leave it to the Finns, the people responsible for the happiest country in the world, to make air travel not only equitable but thoroughly enjoyable across every ticketing class.

Finnair may be a century old, but it’s one of today’s most design- and climate-forward airlines. With a brand-new business class cabin design and spiffy upgrades to premium economy and economy class, they have not compromised on a sleek Scandinavian design aesthetic in order to go green. Quite the opposite. They’re using innovation and style to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing passengers’ comfort and in-flight happiness.

Fathom • 9th June 2022

​Dream Design: Remarkable Places to Sleep in Denmark

COPENHAGEN - The Danes are known for their brilliantly creative design aesthetic — from ergonomic lounge chairs to perfectly sloped spoons. So why should their hotel design be anything less than dreamy? Travelers can rest their heads in spots as singular as a converted post office, a 14th-century castle, or a floating hotel on Copenhagen’s central canal.

HuffPost • 22nd November 2013

6 Must-sees in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Averting the crowded apple orchards and bumpy hay rides of autumn, I opted for a high-end weekend in Bucks County. This quaint corner of Pennsylvania is the very definition of the "country" to the proverbial "town," where New Yorkers, Philadelphians and others have come to escape their hectic workaday lives for over a century.

After my own frenzied day in Manhattan, Friday night found me in Holicong, Pa., for a luxurious stay in the 1740 Manor House at the Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm.

HuffPost • 13th October 2015

The Other Virgin Island

It's something of a partisan issue. The British Virgin Islands pride themselves on not having "sold out" like the U.S. Virgin Islands. They like to keep it real, keep it pristine, keep hotels just a few stories high and cruise ships at a minimum. So when a new resort opened on the 230-acre Scrub Island, it was a hot topic.

Fathom • 27th January 2021

Women Are Leading the Charge in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende may be the destination-wedding capital of North America, but this colonial town gives women plenty of reasons to visit besides getting hitched. In fact, countless creative entrepreneurs have taken to these cobblestone streets to chase their dreams (not the least of whom was Frida Kahlo, who hosted intellectual salons here).

HuffPost • 3rd June 2016

7 Days of Guilt-Free Drinking

"I drink with guilt, so I feel guilty most of the time," goes the saying for tipplers like me with Irish and Jewish heritage. Good news for us, it's Negroni Week, a time for cocktails mixed with a bit of charity. So instead of tying myself in knots over a few indulgences, I'll tie a few on.

Fathom • 16th July 2021

Discover the Quirky Charms of Wisconsin's Elkhart Lake

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin — The indigenous Potawatomi once referred to it as "the chosen spot," a serene crystalline lake surrounded by towering cedar trees. Today, Elkhart Lake is the name of not only a stunning body of water in central Wisconsin but also the quirky little town of 900 residents that surrounds it. Just 20 miles west of the shores of Lake Michigan, this village is chockablock with styles and experiences, from a sprawling Gilded

Fathom • 19th August 2021

Confronting the Black Experience in Miami

Black artists from London and Philadelphia are making waves in Miami Beach with Aṣẹ, a philosophical concept from Nigeria.

MIAMI BEACH – More than a year has passed since the promise of a global racial reckoning, and it’s time for an update. Vince Fraser, a British digital artist with roots in the West Indies, and Ursula Rucker, a spoken-word poet from Philadelphia, are investigating this and other urgent questions in Aṣẹ: Afro-Frequencies, an immersive new art exhibition taking place in the seemingly unlikely location of Miami Beach, Florida.

Latino Leaders • 3rd July 2021

The Tuscan Treatment

The word for heaven is the same in Spanish and Italian: cielo. In Tuscany, Italy, though, heaven goes by the name Adler Thermae. This luxurious spa and wellness resort, nestled within the Orcia Valley by the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni, is utterly divine.

Latino Leaders • 3rd July 2021

A World Away

The population of the United States should hit 300 million any day now. Thankfully, there are still some less inhabited places to go on the globe, but not many. In the middle of the Indian Ocean is Frégate Island Private, located within the archipelago nation of Seychelles. Sure, there's a luxury spa and white granite beaches, but more importantly there are never more than 40 guests on the island at any one time.

Fathom • 7th April 2021

I Don’t Belong on Turks & Caicos. But They Do

The indigenous people of Hawai’i are called kanaka. In the state of Indiana, they improbably go by “hoosiers.” And across the azure archipelago of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), the locals are “Belongers,” an epithet that needs no explanation.

These days, it’s never been clearer who belongs somewhere and who doesn’t. Basically, we all belong at home, because, Covid. But like non-Belongers throughout history, humans are compelled to journey to places they perhaps should not.

HuffPost • 10th March 2014

36 Hours in Houston: Daring Dining

I had less than two days on the ground in the Bayou City and like any good New Yorker, I immediately sought out food. No barbecue nor beans I found. Instead, my fork stumbled onto an unexpected variety of Middle Eastern, Mexican and Vietnamese dishes, each as delectably daring as the next.

Fathom • 5th November 2020

How to Enjoy the Safe Solace of Sonoma County — Wherever You Are

A damp wine cellar is the last place even the most avid oenophile would visit these days. The thought of visiting California’s infamous wine country may feel doubly daunting, as the Golden State recently became the first in the nation to log more than 600,000 cases of Covid-19. That said, in Sonoma County’s vast hills there are myriad ways to smartly — and safely — enjoy the fruit of the vine.

Brooklyn Based • 14th July 2020

A French promenade through Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill

Brooklynites won’t likely be welcomed in France any time soon, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t seek out some elegance in our own backyard. Who needs a stroll along the Seine when souvenirs of France lie just a few blocks away from the East River? Gift yourself a lazy afternoon in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill where enough République-inspired finds will stave off any mid-summer ennui.

Fathom • 27th November 2019

Haunted Houses, Whack-a-Moles, Bloody Saloons. A Wild West Road Trip.

It’s an odd place, Nevada. You can feel the spirits of suicidal saloon girls, bump into grizzled gamblers hoping for a pay day, or join the Burning Man throngs heading into the desert in search of meaning. There are still cowboys and rodeos here. Shootouts and steers. And damn good food.

Diverse • 5th April 2007

On The Rez

A deep dive into the American Indian College Fund's national advertising campaign "On the Rez." For three decades, the College Fund has provided scholarships and programming to improve Native American student access to higher education. The national fund-raising campaign holds up six tribal college students and reasons why they chose to pursue higher education close to home.

Tucson Weekly • 22nd November 2001

Indian Gifts

It's time to give thanks here in Tucson. And in that spirit, $5 and a new Christmas toy are the suggested donations as entrance to the weekend-long pow wow at Rillito Raceway Park. Let's all remember that if the Indians had not shown our gangly ancestors how to fry up some eel and squelch that scurvy, there never would have been a Thanksgiving in the U.S. of A. So, really, are a fiver and a yo-yo that much to ask?

Fathom • 13th March 2019

We Fell for the Beachy Old Florida Charms of Sanibel, Captiva, and the Barrier Islands

Florida is so much more than Miami nightlife or the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head to the quiet southwest corner of the state to discover the hazy, lazy golden days of old Florida, island by island.

Fathom • 26th February 2019

How to Live La Vida Local in Cancún, the Town You Only Think You Know

Cancún may have a reputation as an overrun spring break spot, but the numbers don’t quite support that. Of the five million visitors to the Mexican coastal town each year, less than one percent go for spring break.