“The French Riviera is a place where the combination of sea, sun, and the simple pleasures of life never fail to inspire.” – Brigitte Bardot British and Russian aristocrats started arriving on the Cote d’Azur in the 19th century. Its’ fame began not as a…
There is a certain “je ne sais quoi” for dining experiences which stay in your memory bank year after year. These often magical moments are much more than the creative craft in the kitchen. It could be an important celebration, the unique aesthetic ambiance of the restaurant’…
Southern California has been a big part of our family culture for many years. As a child Marla often stayed in Laguna Beach with her family. We did the same when our girls were young. We came often, especially after we built a warehouse for our business in Irvine over…
A friend of ours who absolutely loves to travel and takes about 6 overseas trips a year recently asked if I wanted to join him on a Butterfield & Robinson cycling tour of Tuscany. I have cycled in Tuscany twice before and remember how difficult the riding was, but also…
2022 was amazing on so many levels! Wonderful moments with family, friends, and an adventure or two. After Marla’s doctor gave the “OK” for European travel we were all in for 3 weeks. It was a hard recuperation! I was overly excited and take full responsibility…
Sometimes we need a break! A little fatigue has set in from the pressures of life, too much social media, Netflix/Amazon Prime, and unending emails and texts. We need and love connection but there are days when some quiet escape sounds pretty darn good! Where do we go? I…
San Francisco’s Chinatown has always been a favorite destination on trips with our grandchildren over the years. For the twins this was a totally unique experience. The photo above is our intrepid travelers at the “Dragon Gate” on Grant Avenue. This is a favorite bench of the…
After Marla was admitted to the hospital in Santa Rosa I waited in the parking lot for a few hours hoping I could see her but that was impossible due to COVID! I sadly drove back to Bodega Bay and help Stacy get everything into the car at our rental…
Big trips with the family are a rare event these days. COVID-19, business commitments, daughters and sons-in law schedules, and grandchildren’s academic and athletic programs can totally mess up grand schemes and best of plans. In 2020, I saw a window of opportunity and immediately began…
Many of you are enjoying “Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy” on CNN as he travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the country’s regional cuisines. The show is wonderful… but a little dangerous for me. I find myself obsessively craving pizza, cacio…